#anyway she was awesome she stole from me and. kept on stealing but not from me this time.

[autism-corner]

dreams are so mean. what do you mean i dont have a girypop gf with whom im also in an alterego relationship with. what do you mean my alterego isnt called wallet.

[pretend-writer]

Demolition Lovers (Hargreeves x sibling!reader)

Summary: Klaus and Y/N helps their brother, Luther find a perfect date.

Title Reference: Demolition Lovers x My Chemical Romance

Word Count: 1.6k words

Warning: swearing, mention of sex

✤  ·  ✤  ·  ✤  ·  ✤  ·  ✤

It was a typical day at the Hargeeves mansion. Klaus and I hanging out as we lay across the couch next to each other, scrolling through our social media and sharing celebrity gossips that was trending that day.

Diego would then barge in, bothering us to get up and be productive but then end up eaves dropping and joining our conversation.

Then we'd have Vanya that'll feed us our daily snacks. She was like a mama bird; Hearing the rest of us complaining and bickering then feeds us the goodies to shut our mouth. It honestly worked every time and now I start to wonder if that was her trick all along.

After our snack was nap time, where Klaus and I would lay there for two to five hours, usually get up when the sun was down. Then we would plan our night, typically out for dinner or a night out if it was the weekend.

But our schedule, our precious paradise time was ruined by the one and only. Luther Hargreeves.

It wasn't supposed to be this way; Allison would go out to run errands, Ben worked all day like the responsible man that he was, and Five would just be Five, roaming town and doing God knows what. Luther would be home to research and dig through dad's old stuff.

Today however, wasn't the case.

He instead came in during mine and Klaus' precious nap time, groaning and yappin' about some girl on an app. Didn't know why he had to do this in the family room but there he was.

'Do you not see us sleeping here?' I complained as I lifted my head from the pillow, trying not to move a lot so that Klaus could stay asleep.

'Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean to be loud.' He apologized as he stared at his phone, depressed and upset.

Klaus rolled his eyes. 'Well you are and you're still here.'

Luther froze in place, continuing to stare at the screen. Klaus and I looked at each other, nudging one another to see who was going to talk to him first.

The both of us got up, sitting down side to side as we looked at Luther and back at each other. Klaus seemed like he was unbothered, so I sighed and broke the silence. 'What's wrong buddy?'

'Nothing.' Luther frowned.

Squinting my eyes, I grabbed the pillow from the couch and threw it on Luther's head. 'You bitch! You woke us up from our nap and you're going to say "nothing" is bothering you?'

'Ow!' Luther rubbed his head. 'Okay, okay. Damn. It's this girl on tinder, she doesn't want to go on a date with me.'

'Well, what did you tell her? Did you say something stupid?'

Luther got up, 'See. This is why I didn't want to tell you guys becau-'

'Sorry, sorry.' I stood up and pulled Luther back onto the couch. 'Mind if I see the conversation?'

His face immediately turned red, 'Uhm. Do you have to?'

'If you want me to figure out why she's turning you down, yeah.'

Hesitantly, he pulled up the messages he had with the girl and then passed me the phone. Scrolling through the messages, I shook my head. 'Luther, she's DTF.'

'Yeah, I know that's why I don't understand why she turned me down. She brought it up first.'

Klaus blinked, 'What do you think DTF stands for?'

By the look on Luther's face, I knew he was confused. He looked over at the ceiling, thinking for a while before he replied to Klaus. 'Don't tell me I was wrong this whole time.'

'So what do you think it says?'

'Uhm... Date This Friday?'

Klaus awed, shaking his head as he left my side and took a seat next to him. He wrapped his arms around Luther, 'Buddy. No. That's not what it stands for. But that's cute of you.'

'Wait, huh? So this whole time me and her were on the wrong page? What did she mean then?'

'She wanted to fuck you.' I blurted, I felt bad that Luther was so confused. 'It stands for Down To Fuck.'

It was a dead giveaway that he had no clue what his whole conversation really meant, his whole face turned redder than ever. He buried his face into his hands. 'Oh no.'

'I didn't think you were talking to girls, honestly.' Klaus chuckled. 'You clearly got game, your noggin is just a little... outdated.'

'I got what? Game? No, I just deleted Candy Crush, it was too addicting.'

Klaus kept his laugh in, curling his lips as he slowly nodded back at his brother. 'Oh my gosh.'

✤ · ✤ · ✤ · ✤ · ✤

It had been about two weeks, helping Luther get a dream girl that he deserved. Despite Luther being the annoying sibling, he had been there for me countless times and I wanted nothing but the best for him.

We've tried talking to the girls on the app, few weren't looking for anything serious, some trolling in the messages. After constant matching and messaging, Luther found someone he potentially saw a relationship with.

'Did you check your message from Claire yet?' Klaus asked.

'No. I'm kind of nervous, actually.' Luther laughed a little under his breath, shaking his legs as he gripped onto his phone.

Resting my hand on his shoulder, I reassured him. 'Don't be nervous, I'm sure she said yes to your date.'

Luther sighed, turning on his phone and scrolling through his messages. As his face lit up, he jumped off his seat. 'She said yes!'

Klaus got up and cheered, hugging Luther tightly. 'I knew it! So what time and where?'

'Ah- Uhm. Why... do you need to know?' Luther paused.

'Cause we're coming to watch.'

'No, no, no. I don't need you two spying on me. I'm already nervous as it is.'

'Yeah, Klaus let's just let him be. He's a big boy now.'

'But-'

'Let's give him the space he needs, Luther definitely needs his alone time with his girl.'

Klaus rolled his eyes, 'Okay. Have fun and tell me everything when you get home.'

A smile hasn't fade away since he saw the text; He was grinning widely than ever, never seen him this happy in my entire life. 'This is going to be so awesome!'

'Good luck buddy.' I smiled as I watch him do his little happy dance going up the stairs to get ready.

Klaus groaned, crossing his arms and pouting like a little child. 'Why can't we go spy on Luther?'

'But we are. I just wanted him to think we weren't.' I wanted nothing but the best for Luther, if it meant that he was going to have a perfect night with his perfect date, I was going to be protective of my brother.

'Perfect! I need to get my spy gear on.'

✤ · ✤ · ✤ · ✤ · ✤

With the binocular in my hands, I looked into the restaurant Luther picked for the both of them. 'Oh my gosh, he looks so cute with his little bow tie.'

Luther was blushing, talking nervously with Claire. It seemed like it was going well, no awkward moment or embarrassing moment between them.

I looked over at Klaus, who was being too quiet next to me in the passenger's seat. He had a rather thick file in his hand. 'What are you reading?'

'Claire's life.' Klaus chuckled. 'She's smart as hell, really pretty. I'd say we did a pretty good job helping Luther.'

'How did you get a file on her life?'

Klaus smiled innocently, 'Ah. I followed Diego into his ex's job and got Ben to steal it for me.'

'You what?' I leaned my head back, staring at the car ceiling as I sighed. 'Klaus, Eudora is my friend. If she finds out that you stole someone's files from the police department, she'd hate me.'

'My bad, Y/N. If it makes you feel better, Ben rejected me a bunch of times. I made a deal with him that he could take over my body for three hours for the files.'

'Whatever.' Looking through the binoculars again, I asked him another question. 'So you didn't ask Diego to get it for you?'

Klaus shook his head. 'Nah, if I ever told him I knew he'd want to come with us to stalk Luther. I wanted some Klaus Y/N alone time.'

'Aw.' I said but immediately stopped. 'Are you saying this to make me forgive you?'

'Is it working?'

'Depends how the night goes.' After a sarcastic smile, I snatched the file off of his hand. 'Why did you want to steal this anyway?'

'You ask so many questions.'

'I know.'

It was rare for Klaus to do "the responsible thing", that was more of a me, Allison or Five's criteria. I couldn't think of a possible reason why he'd go out of his way to take a file to investigate on this girl.

'It's Luther, you know. I wanted to make sure he was going out with someone that won't screw him over again.'

'That's the nicest thing you've ever said.'

'Luther better appreciate this because I'm not going to jail for this shit.'

I smiled at my brother. 'Don't worry. I gotchu.'

A loud scream came from the entrance of the restaurant, Luther approaching us quickly as he eyed the both of us.

'Duck!' I yelled at Klaus as we tried to hide ourselves from his sight.

'Don't bother. I saw you guys from the restaurant!' Luther said as he knocked on the window. 'Why are you guys here? You told me you wouldn't come.'

'I know, I know.' I rolled the window down and squealed as I reached for his bow tie. 'I just couldn't resist! You look so adorable, brother.'

He grunted, 'Stop. Guys go home, you're going to ruin this date with the woman that I love.'

'Woah! Love!?' Klaus and I said in sync.

Luther covered his mouth. He mumbled into his hand. 'Pretend I didn't say that!'

'Pretend?' I laughed, 'Luther. I can't pretend, I'm sorry. That was sort of funny. A little little little bit cute but mostly funny as hell.'

Klaus reached over me to grab onto his hand. 'Dude, you're already whipped but that's okay. But Y/N's right. It's a bit funny not going to lie.'

'I'm whipped?' Luther cocked his head. 'I don't do that sort of foreplay during se-'

'Luther, that's not what it means!'

[creativeskullcreations]

Buddy’s Problem part 2

Okay! Part two is done! Part three probably isn't gonna be until after the New Year, though, but it should be the final part.

Enjoy the story, and have a Merry Christmas! :D

As it turned out, being a campaign manager was pretty difficult, especially when Buddy had to travel to a whole different town for it. Filbo lived in a small farming town called Kinsing. Several other members of the expedition lived there too, though Wiggle, Gramble, and Cromdo lived in Gippsenburg. Either way, apparently Filbo wasn't very well known, having moved to Kinsing recently.

That was useful, and Buddy could totally work with that.

First was getting him nominated, which was easy as anyone could throw their name in. Filbo actually did that himself, though he needed some coaxing from Buddy to actually put it into the box. They then went out for burgers(not Bungers, thankfully) afterwards. They were joined by Beffica, who was shocked that Filbo was running for a real political position.

"Like, seriously? That's awesome you squeeb!" She gave him a soft punch to the arm, which he winced at. She didn't notice, or maybe just ignored it. "I didn't think you had it in you."

"Well, I mean, I ended up doing pretty good back at Snax- on Snaktooth, so I figured I might as well try for the real thing." He told her, rubbing the soon-to-be-bruise. "Worst thing that could happen is I'll lose to Robbzoni."

"Ugh, Robbzoni. He's the worst." She helped herself to Buddy's fries, even as he tried to yank the plate away from her. "He's the real reason we don't have anymore flowers by the roads. He kept stealing them, so eventually the town stopped replacing them."

"How the grump did you find that out, Beff?" Buddy asked before shoving the whole handful of remaining fries into his mouth. She just shrugged and went for Filbo's plate instead.

"I snooped, Bestie. Just like I always do. Did." She corrected herself quickly, looking away. "I, uh, used to do that."

"So..." Buddy searched for a new topic. "What do you do now, anyways?"

"Oh, I got hired as a reporter at CGN. It's a bit of a commute, but not so bad." She shrugged. "And my coworkers aren't so bad, either."

Ah, the rival for GNN. Buddy remembered all the fights that had broken out between reporters at events. He also remembered the time he raided their office with some of his coworkers and stole all of their paperclips. It was in retaliation for them stealing all the rubber-bands at GNN. Which was to get back at them for stealing all of CGN's staples.

Good times.

"Here." He dug out a bottle of pepper-spray and handed it to the shorter Grumpus. "You'll need this."

"Uh." She looked between him and the large canister. "... Thanks. I think."

"No problem." He took a long drag on his soda as the conversation drifted away from him. Which was just fine, as he was busy brainstorming anyways, writing down plans and ideas into his journal. So far he didn't have a lot, but he'd talk to Filbo about it later and see what they could do.

Maybe a party? Filbo always seemed to like them, back on Snaktooth, so maybe that would be a good way to win him some votes.

The rest of the time passed by in a blur. Events were held, debates, parties, even a couple of bake sales that reminded Buddy of his school days. Speeches were made, each carefully crafted to have the best effect on the small populace of the town.

Wambus was actually a big help with that. As a farmer himself, he knew what to say to get and keep the farmers on Filbo's side. So they ended up conferring with him a lot, which meant going to his and Triffany's house a lot.

He was a surprisingly good cook, honestly. The meals they shared there were some of the best Buddy ever ate. He really would miss those nights when everything was done here, but that was no reason not to continue the "quest" for Filbo.

It was one such night, where Wambus had grilled some delicious steaks and corn on the cobs. He also had some homegrown sauces that he'd brought from Snaktooth, which made Buddy a little uneasy. But, the older farmer seemed to know what he was doing with that so he let it go for now.

"You seem to be getting pretty popular, dear." Triffany was saying to Filbo as Buddy doodled in his journal. He flipped it around to show Wambus his idea of a steak-based Bugsnax, only for the farmer to just grunt in acknowledgement. That was good enough for him though and he put the book aside to eat some more.

"Heh, yeah." Filbo rolled his corn on the cob in some butter. "It's all thanks to Buddy, though. He's doing great on the whole 'campaign manager' thing."

"It's not that hard." Buddy shrugged. "Not like you're running for Minister of the Public or something. It's just a few events to plan, and, like, two debates."

"True, but it still seems like a lot of work." Filbo actually looked kind of concerned, but Buddy waved it off.

"It's... it's really not." He told them, even though it kind of was. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had a full night's sleep, but it was definitely before Snaktooth.

"It would be tiring to be around all those people all the time." Wambus agreed. "I could never do that."

"Of course not, dear." Triffany agreed. "That's why you're a farmer."

"Yep."

Buddy watched the exchange with a small smile as Filbo took over the conversation, asking after the sauce crops. Whatever problems the couple had, he was glad they were working them out. He didn't want to even think about what would've happened if their marriage had broken up like...

Well, it wasn't good to dwell on it.

Wambus was right though; it was tiring being a campaign manager. He was almost glad the elections were ending soon, if only so he could get some more sleep. And then focus on finding a real job, as his savings were starting to run a little dry.

Still, as he watched his three companions, he felt content with how it was shaping up. Filbo was excitedly explaining all his plans for being Mayor, from replanting the flowers around the walking paths to finally getting the pot holes fixed. He even started explaining his plans to renovate the park in detail before Wambus finally reminded him to actually eat his steak.

"Oh, heh. Right." He cut a piece off, then opened his mouth to keep talking. Buddy took the opportunity to grab his wrist and shove the fork into his mouth.

"Eat it." He told him firmly, to quiet giggling from Triffany. Filbo shot him a glare, but obeyed, chewing quietly. Buddy then grabbed a forkful of his own steak to chew on, ignoring Triffany's pointed look.

The rest of the night passed without incident. In Buddy's opinion, it ended too soon. But then, it always did. And soon enough Buddy was back at his table in his apartment, drawing up more plans for the campaign. Luckily, the people seemed to really like Filbo. Or maybe they just hated Robbzoni that much more. Either way, according to the mid election survey Filbo was looking to be the popular candidate.

Still, he couldn't relax yet, there was still too much to do. The election itself was tomorrow. People would vote in the morning and the results would be announced both that afternoon, and in the next morning's paper. There would be one last speech before the vote though, and Buddy wanted to make sure it was perfect.

However as the time got later, and he had started the speech pretty later anyways, he found himself unwillingly drawn into sleep. Even as he tried to fight it off with copious amounts of caffeine, he inevitably passed out.

When he woke up, it was to Filbo calling him. In a panic, he grabbed his papers and raced out the door, practically flying down the stairs and into his car. He broke several traffic laws, but he managed to get to Kinsing Town Hall just barely on time. As he ran inside, he tried desperately to sort through the garbled mess of a speech he'd written.

He made his way to the backstage area, where Filbo was talking to... someone. Buddy felt like he should know the other Grumpus, but his exhausted mind just refused to make the connection. In any case, as soon as the Grumpus had left he was rushing up to Filbo, rapidly spewing apologies all the way.

"Sorry, sorry! I think I still have some time to, uh, to-to fix this? Maybe?!" His voice rose an octave and he quickly cleared his throat and tried to laugh off the rising panic. "I was up too late I think. Working. On this." He gave another short laugh, internally wincing at how off it sounded.

"Hey hey, it's okay." Filbo had to grab his shoulders, forcing them down from where Buddy had unconsciously hunched into himself. "I've got this one." He told him. Buddy blinked in surprise, hands lowering and almost dropping his papers.

"... You... you 'got' this?" Just what did he mean by that? Was Buddy unneeded? Had he been unneeded this whole time?

"Yeah. Since you've been working so hard lately, I figured I'd just, y'know, handle my own speech for today. " He gave a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry, I probably should've told you sooner-Oh!" He jumped at something the Grumpus on stage was saying. "There's my cue! See ya later!" He gave a quick wave before rushing off to get on stage, oblivious to Buddy's aborted attempt to reach for him.

'He didn't need me...' Quietly, Buddy dropped his speech into the trash. He then went for the snack table they had set up to get some coffee. 'I don't know why I even tried.'

The speeches were said, and then the voting happened. The surprising part, at least to Buddy, was that as they each voted the other members of the expedition would come up to them. A couple offered a "Good luck" or two, but none of them really left afterwards. They all hung around, and talked.

It made Buddy feel even more like he shouldn't have come. Filbo had plenty of people to keep him company for this, he didn't need Buddy Nobody did anymore.

So he sat just a little bit outside of the group, speaking only when someone talked to him directly. Other than that, he just drank his coffee quietly and wondered when would be a good time for him to leave.

It turned out never. The others never forgot about him for long enough for him to be able to slip away. Floofty in particular seemed intent on watching him, and they weren't blinking. He knew this because he straight up had a staring contest with the mad scientist, and they didn't blink once.

Soon enough, voting had closed and the votes were being counted. Poor Filbo was anxious through the whole thing, but never said anything about regretting running for mayor. Buddy was actually kind of proud of him for that, if he was being honest. He knew how hard the light blue Grumpus could be on himself, and he was glad he had gained some confidence at least.

Even if it was just another sign that he wasn't a help to him anymore. That he wasn't a help to anyone here anymore.

But, when they announced that Filbo had won, that he'd done it and beat out longtime Mayor Robbzoni, everyone present cheered. And not just the ones from Snaxburg, either, but everyone else who was hanging around. As everyone congratulated the new Mayor, and the MC announced when the official swearing in ceremony would take place, Buddy gave a quiet sigh into his coffee. Mentally, he ticked this quest as complete, but no new objectives came to mind.

"Hey, Buddy!" He looked up to see Filbo waving at him, and gave a small wave back. "We'll all going to Gramble's place to celebrate. You coming?"

Would he go? No. There wasn't anything for him to do there and besides, he had to get started on job hunting.

"... You guys go on ahead. I'll... I'll catch up with you later." There. Now he could go home and the others could get started on whatever came next for them.

Filbo hesitated a moment, searching Buddy's face intently. Then he shrugged and turned to follow the others. "Well, okay. If you're sure."

And then he was gone, along with the rest. Buddy put down his still full cup and stood up, dusting his fur off. He went to his car, a tiny little red thing that really needed to be traded in, and drove down the road back to Gippsenburg. He had a stop to make before he went home to his apartment, and then maybe he could finally work on forgetting everything.

[hains-mae]

Flowers - Pt. 4

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 (end)

(Damian x Reader) Soulmate AU

The Flowers: @call-me-prodigy @annoylinglyaries @zphilophobiaz @comic-brew @biglilwing @awkwardspontaneity  @mariiecapo​  @distressedearie​@lozzybowe

(Feel free to shoot me a message or comment if you’d like to be tagged)

Rating: T

Ages: Damian and you are 16, everyone’s ages follow after.

Summary: Soulmate AU where the wounds on your soulmate turns into a flower tattoo on your skin, if it heals with no scars the tattoo goes away, if it heals with a scar then the tattoo stays.

Notes: Thank you so much, for all the wonderful comments, likes, and reblogs. You guys are awesome!

Disclaimer: I do not own DC. If I did, I wouldn’t make it as confusing as it is now.

A floating feeling encompassed me as I slowly roused. It was dark, wherever this place was. I wasn’t sure if I was truly floating or drowning as I felt myself fall in deeper. There was a calm light at the far end. Warm, and inviting.

I heard a sound. It was soft and rhythmic, like a beat, or was it more of a beep? There was a dull ache around my stomach and my lower back, which prevented me from moving. Not that I could move. My body felt heavier than a ton of bricks.

What happened?

Memories starting to swim around my head as I tried to remember. There were fragments.

Soft lights, and music.

Laughter and many figures dancing.

Men in suits.

Fiery hair.

Forest green eyes.

Perfume.

Paint, animals…

An explosion – I gasped lightly as the fragments pieced itself together.

A fight.

Damian…

The thought of his name pulled me straight into the light, away from the watery hold.

“Damian.” I mumbled as my eyes fluttered open.

“Oh sweetheart.” I heard a familiar voice sob beside me. My body didn’t feel as heavy as it used to, I was greeted with the face of my mom when I turned my head.

“Mom?”

She sobbed harder and hugged me. “Oh god, I thought I’d lost you.” Mom peppered my face with kisses. Her tears kept falling.

I lifted a hand and hugged her back as much as my body would allow.

“You’re here.” I sighed into her hair, inhaling her comforting scent. Without realising it, I had started to blink back tears. Everything that had happened, it was all so scary. I was sure I was going to die.

“I didn’t know what to do.” She pulled away and I wiped her cheeks. She wiped mine return and we started to giggle in relief.

“Mom, how did you – ” She seemed to know before I could ask.

“Wayne. Mr. Wayne had called. Said it was an emergency.” Mom told me, her voice wavered and she choked up again. “The last time I received a call like that was because of your father. I couldn’t… I didn’t know what to do, I rushed here as fast as I could.”

We hugged again. It really felt good to have her physically by my side.

The doctor came shortly after to check on my vitals. I seemed to have luck by my side that night. “Any lower and they would’ve punctured one of her organs.”, she told us solemnly. “And any later, you would’ve lost… too much blood.” Or in other words, bleed to death.

Mom clutched my hand all the while. She nodded in all the right times, and pursed her lips to keep them from quivering. I knew she was trying to stay brave for the both of us.

Once we were alone she pulled her chair closer to my bed.

Tucking her hair back behind her ear, she asked me. “Can you remember how you got here?”

I shook my head.

“Well… apparently Mr. Wayne’s personal assistant brought you here himself.” Her voice was steadier now.

“Oh… Oh!” I gasped, quickly getting up, and regretting it immediately. I winced at the sharp pain.

“Honey be careful. You’ve had stitches.” Mom eased me back down.

“Damian. His brothers. Everyone at the gala, are they okay?” I looked at her slightly panicked.

“They are.” Another voice joined us.

We whipped our heads up, Mr. Wayne stood tall at the door. “Everyone managed to escaped with minimal damage. I wish we could have prevented this.” He lamented, eyeing the machines and IV drop I was hooked onto.

My mother shook her head and

smiled at him. “You saved her, just in time. I cannot thank you enough.”

“May we come in?” He asked politely.

“We?” I tilted my head.

The man strode in after my mother allowed, and 4 more bodies filed in after him.

“Y/n!” Dick was the first to rush up to me, balloons in hand a cheesy teddy bear with the words ‘Get Well Soon’ stitched onto a heart. Following him were his brothers.

Tim waved. “Thank goodness you’re okay.”

“You gave us quite a scare, princess.” Jason came up next, with a silent Damian by his side. Damian held up a bouquet of flowers.

“You guys…” I felt so moved at their gesture. Stealing a glance at my mom, she looked so surprised it was funny.

“This is *insert your mom’s name here*, everyone. Mom, meet Mr. Wayne’s sons.” My mom gasped lightly and stood to shake their hands.

“It’s an honour to meet you.” She smiled at them.

“The honour is ours.” Tim answered for them. “Your daughter was very brave. In fact, she saved our little brother.”

Mom paused and looked at me for confirmation. I ducked my head to hide my flaming cheeks behind my hair.

“I did what I thought I had to.” I said in a quiet voice.

“Nonsense.” It was Damian who spoke up next, he tutted irritably. “Tt. Don’t downplay what you did.”

I could only stare at him, thankful that he was okay.

“These are for you.” He pushed the flowers to my face. “Thank you.”

The petals tickled my nose and I was sure I took in some pollen at the mere proximity. I sneezed a little, wincing again at the pain in my stomach.

“Ah, Damian, dear, I think you’re suffocating her.” My mom said gently as she pushed the flowers off my face.

The boy quickly apologised, turning a pretty shade of pink, as his brothers snickered behind him.

“They’re beautiful.” I smiled and took them from him. “I’m so glad you guys are all fine.”

Mr. Wayne cleared his throat. “My sons are right.” He smiled at my mom and gestured for the door. “Mrs. Y/l/n, may I please speak with you privately? I’d like to extend my gratitude. And the boys seem a little preoccupied with y/n.”

My mother looked a little flustered but got up anyway to follow him out the door.

As soon as they were out of hearing range I felt Damian clasp my hand.

“Why did you do it?” He didn’t face me as he asked, instead he played with my fingers.

I gave him a confused look. “Do what?”

“You took the blow. Why?”

His brothers had made themselves comfortable around me. Dick sat by the foot of my bed, Jason took up mom’s seat, and Tim stood behind Damian.

“I had to. He was going to hurt you.” I answered simply.

“I could’ve handled it.” His grip tightened slightly and he looked at me straight in the eye. “You’re not invincible.”

“And you are?”

“You still shouldn’t have.” He said, his voice firm.

“Why?”

“You know why.” His gaze was intense, and for a moment he stole a glance at the flowers beside me.

A wave of realisation hit me.

The soul marks. Oh – How did I forget?

“I’m fine.” I tried to keep my voice steady.

“Clearly.” He scoffed. “Being hospitalised is fine.”

I took my hand away from him, suddenly put off with his demeanor. “Why are you angry?”

“I’m not angry.” He defended. “I didn’t need saving.”

“You’re getting defensive.” I surprised myself when I answered back. Where was all this confidence coming from? “Do I need a reason to save a friend?”

“No, but now look at what you’ve gotten yourself into.” He lifted a hand and gestured towards my figure.

“You were in trouble Damian, I had to at least try!” My voice rose slightly.

“Need I remind you that – you could’ve gotten yourself killed!” He shot back.

“Well, that doesn’t matter! I’m here now aren’t I?” I snapped.

“What – of course it matters! If you had died –“

“And if you had died – who would’ve protected them!?”

I regretted it as soon as the words left me. Immediately I slapped a hand across my mouth, horrified that I just probably spilled the biggest secret I knew.

“What?” Damian looked at me in surprise.

All the angry tension dissipated, replaced with a feeling of dread.

“Forget I said that!” I blurted out quickly, suddenly feeling hot.

“No, continue.” Jason pushed as he leaned his elbows to his knees. “Why did Damian have to protect them?”

I darted my eyes across the room, looking for an excuse, praying my mom and Mr. Wayne would come back and break up this sudden tension. I caught Dick and Tim’s eyes, and they looked at me curiously.

“I – I really am not entirely sure. It was just a thought –“ The monitor stole our attention for a moment as my heart started to race. I shut my eyes and covered my face with my hands. Taking deep breaths I weighed in the decision of telling them. I was only 80% certain, after everything that had occurred, it was hard not to connect the dots.

His stature, his hair, his voice, and most of all that damn perfume. I guess no one really got that close to notice.

Should I?

Should you?

I mean this was inevitable.

Was it?

I groaned to myself feeling even more conflicted.

“Am I allowed to say it out loud?” I whispered meekly. “Wouldn’t it… you know… alert people?”

Damian looked even more confused.

I carefully took his hand, and held it closer to my chest, regarding the camera situated at the corner of the room. Steeling my nerves, I drew a small initial on his palm.

R

Dick’s breath hitched. His eyes growing wide.

Tim’s was next. Jason leaned back on his chair and folded his arms across his chest.

“But, how?” Damian looked stunned.

I tried to calm the heat on my cheeks that had now spread down my neck and ears. Playing it cool I  shrugged, and bit my lip.

“Your perfume.”

-x-x-x-

As soon as Mom came back with Mr. Wayne I felt a sense of relief wash through me. But he narrowed his eyes slightly, and I knew that he could sense the tension that was there earlier.

I gulped.

Then he broke into a smile. “I’ve taken the liberty of inviting the Y/l/n’s for dinner as soon as Y/n get’s better.”

My eyes grew into saucers.

Ah, shi-

“That’s great, dad.” Dick grinned broadly at us.

Their father’s phone beeped once and he fished it out of his pocket, his crystal blue eyes scanned the screen.

“Well, we best be heading back. It looks like we’ve got company waiting.” He told them.

They all nodded and got up.

“Get well soon Y/n.” Tim said as they all passed.

I was nearly astounded by their sudden change in character. It was as if the last five minutes didn’t just happen. Very good actors... but that was probably the price to pay when you were rich and famous. They played their part well.

Dick sent a dashing smile my way, and Jason did a mock salute. Damian on the other hand looked at me with calculating eyes. Brows slightly furrowed. He stuffed his hands in his pocket before following his brothers.

“Well isn’t this exciting?” Mom beamed at me.

I did my best to smile back with the same enthusiasm.

That night, Mom came back with her luggage, saying that she was able to take a week off from work to stay with me. I was secretly glad she did.

I couldn’t stop thinking about Damian being Robin though. Something was poking me at the back of my mind, like I was missing a connecting link to make the picture whole. I laid in bed and stared at the ceiling.

Everyone knew the Bats were related, brothers and/or what-not. At least that was the news circling around. But if it were true, then that would mean Dick, Tim and Jason were...

No, that can’t be.

Can’t be?  My inner muse scoffed at me. Are you serious right now? Damian Wayne is freaking Robin. And you’re thinking it can’t be?

Still, it’s purely speculation. If they’re who I think they are... then Mr. Wayne is...

I sighed deeply and pushed the balls of my palms into my eyes till I saw stars. My head started to hurt from putting too much effort. It’s not like they wanted me to know.

Would I be in danger because I know?

Would they try to erase my mind?

How much trouble am I in?

I don’t want Mom pulled into any of this.

I was reeling with anxious thoughts.

They didn’t react much when I had told them. It was more awkward than the silence Damian and I endured during our first encounter. When mom arrived they just smiled politely and waved me goodbye.

What did that mean? Or am I looking too much into this?

Maybe you’re looking too much into it, my muse’s words echoed.

I decided sleep was for the best. My mother had taken a cushioned chair at the far corner of the hospital room with her feet propped up the coffee table. I giggled, despite myself.

Finally after fidgeting for what felt like forever, my eyes started to grow heavy. It was nearly 2 in the morning. I yawned and slowly let myself slip into the embrace of sleep.

Until I heard a tapping on the window.

All traces of fatigue vanished as soon as I saw the shadow. It opened the window and slipped in soundlessly.

“Robin.” I breathed.

I pressed a button beside my bed to push myself up so I was in a more seated position.

He didn’t respond. We stared at each other for a good few minutes. Neither of us really knowing what to say.

“Tt, this is ridiculous.” He grumbled under his breath and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I’ll say.” I said without humour. “In just a short time I found my soulmate, then learnt he’s living a double life.”

Robin stole a glance at my mom and arched a brow under his mask. It crinkled to the movement.

I shifted my head from side to side and told him, “Mom’s a deep sleeper.”

Hoping I reassured him, we lapsed into silence again.

I bit my lip nervously.

“I’m not in any trouble. Am I?” I hated how weak I sounded.

Robin regarded me for a moment.

“No. I’m actually impressed with your deduction skills.” He answered, making his way to the chair beside my bed.

My heart rate sped up slightly.

“I wouldn’t expect any less from my soulmate.” He smirked at me as the heart monitor picked up my gradually speeding heartbeat.

“I’m not sure if I should thank you or...” I gasped only realizing then. I pointed at the camera.

“Don’t worry. Hacked it before I entered.”

I gave him an incredulous look.

“What happens now?” I tried to decipher his emotions under the mask. I suddenly found myself wishing I could see his eyes.

“I don’t know.” Robin leaned into the chair to make himself more comfortable. “How do I know I can trust you?”

I looked away, tilting my head just low enough to let my hair fall and create a curtain between us.

“My dad used to be with the GCPD.” I started. “Ever since I could remember he was always chasing after justice. Dad used to talk about you vigilantes a lot. He admired the Bats. Said he wished he could do more to make Gotham safer. Better. Greater.

He played fair. But corruption and crime were better at the game.” Fisting the sheets, I willed my hands to stop shaking and to keep my voice even.

“He paid for it with his life.” I bit my lip to keep it from quivering. “So I created the marbles. I’m not great at fighting, not the best with a weapon either. But I know science like the back of my hand. If I could help, even just a little — I would be honouring my dad’s memory. He believed in you. All of you. And I guess it was contagious because I started believing in you too.”

I gathered my courage and faced Robin. “That’s why I took the blow. And I’d do it again if I needed to.”

...

...

... to be continued ...

[fanmoose12]

Once upon a time, there lived a young woman. She was kind, caring and so very smart. She was also stubborn and careless, as her friends often described her.

Her greatest passion in life was knowledge, and so once upon a time, during a ball at the King’s palace, the woman decided to sneak into the royal library to steal a very important book.

And then, unfortunately, she was caught by a Prince.

“Mike, please.”

“No.”

“Pretty please?”

“I said no.”

“Pretty, pretty please?” Hange batted her eyelashes, staring at Mike with an endless implore.

Mike shook his head. “Hange, no. I’m sorry, I really want to help, but I can’t. I can get beheaded for this. You will certainly be beheaded.”

“That’s only if I get caught,” Hange answered cheekily. “And if I do, you know I won’t tell anyone that you were involved. So don’t worry about this.”

“I don’t worry about myself,” Mike sighed heavily. “I worry about you, Hans.”

“I’ll be fine,” she rolled her eyes. “No one will see me, I promise.”

“There is no way I can persuade you to change your mind, right? What is so important about that book anyway?”

“I’ve heard it has information on some undiscovered herbs. And if I find them, I can use them to make a better medicine. Just think how many lives I can save!”

“And why can’t you just ask Erwin to get this book for you?”

“Didn’t you hear me?” Hange glared at him. “This book contains forbidden knowledge. Erwin doesn’t have a permission to go into that part of the library. Or so he claims.”

“And the best idea you’ve come up with is to sneak inside the palace during the ball to steal that stupid book?”

“Hey, that book is not stupid!” Hange protested. “And my plan is awesome! During the ball, all guards will be patrolling the entrances and the main room. No one will think of guarding the library! I will walk in and out completely unnoticed!”

Mike scratched his chin. Hange’s plan actually sounded well-thought. It also sounded way too easy. And that’s what concerned him the most.

“So what exactly do you need from me?”

Hange beamed. “I only need one thing!” she assured. “Only your invitation to the ball and that’s it! I know that as a guardsman, you’ve received it!”

“I was planning to give it to Nanaba…”

“Well, you can give her Erwin’s invitation,” Hange shrugged. “It’s not like he will invite anyone.”

“Then why can’t you just ask Erwin? Why come to me?”

“Em…” Hange looked to the side, avoiding Mike’s eyes.

“Hange…” he said lowly, glaring at her. “Did you tell Erwin about your plan?”

“Heh,” Hange nervously giggled, fixing the glasses on her face. Still refusing to meet Mike’s gaze.

“Goddamn it,” Mike rubbed his forehead tiredly. “Why didn’t you tell him?”

“You know Erwin!” Hange threw her hands into the air. “He wouldn’t have listened to me! He’d say that my plan is stupid and reckless, and that I should just forget it!”

“And he wouldn’t be wrong,” Mike noted.

Hange scowled at him. “It’s you who are wrong. My plan is good, and it will work. Erwin won’t even know that I was in the palace. Please, Mike, you’re the only one who can help. I’ll be careful, I promise.”

“Fine,” Mike finally conceded his defeat. When Hange looked at him like that, with fire passionately burning inside her eyes, her resolve as strong as steel, he just couldn’t refuse.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Hange jumped onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You’re the best friend in the world, Mike!”

“That I am,” he smirked, hugging Hange back. “But no word to Erwin about this.”

“Of course,” Hange agreed.

“And try not to run into Nile. He’ll throw you into a jail the moment he sees you.”

Hange grimaced. “I almost forgot that this asshole will be attending the ball as well.”

“He’s the Captain of the royal guard,” Mike reminded her. “Of course, he’ll be there.”

“Alright, I’ll keep an eye out for him. Well, thanks for your help again,” she fondly smiled at her friend. “But I need to go now!” Hange rose to her tiptoes and swiftly kissed Mike’s cheek. “I’ll see you around!”

Before Mike could say anything, Hange was already gone, probably on her way to run into another trouble.

 ***

“Have you been in the palace before?” Mike asked, as he, Nanaba and Hange stood in the corner, watching the nobles swirl around the ballroom.

“No, I haven’t,” Hange said, taking a sip from her glass. The corners of her lips slightly lifted, as she swallowed the wine. As much as she liked to bitch about royals, they certainly knew how to pick their alcohol. Maybe, she should have followed in Mike’s footsteps and become a member of the guard, as well.

“Then how are you going to find the library?” Nanaba questioned.

Hange shrugged. “I have never been to the palace. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t know how to find a library.”

“Of course,” Mike shook his head in exasperation. “You stole the palace’s blueprints from Erwin’s study.”

“I didn’t steal,” Hange huffed, offended. “I borrowed. I intend to return them.”

Nanaba giggled, throwing her arm over Hange’s shoulders. “Oh my goodness, you’re something else.”

“That’s a huge understatement,” Mike muttered under his breath.

“So, why the King decided to throw a huge ball now?” Hange asked, ignoring Mike’s words. “Today is not some holiday, right?”

“You don’t know?” Nanaba raised her eyebrow. “Prince Levi is going to become King soon, and King Kenny wants to find a wife for him.”

“Oh,” Hange took a better look at the crowd, gathered in the ballroom. Indeed, most of the guests were women. Young, beautiful and rich, they looked so much different than Hange.

Well, she mused, as she took another sip from her glass, it wasn’t like she came here to seduce the Prince.

“I take it the Prince hasn’t shown up yet,” she noted.

“The King isn’t here either,” Nanaba said.

“And that’s good,” Mike concluded. “That means that as Prince’s advisor, Erwin isn’t present as well. And Nile will surely be accompanying The King.”

“So you’re saying I shouldn’t stay here for long, when they enter the ballroom,” Hange nodded. “That’s what I was planning to do anyway. I’m actually waiting for the royal family to enter, so I can quietly sneak out, using the commotion.”

“Be careful,” Nanaba reminded. “I really don’t want to come to your execution.”

“I think my head will look great in the basket,” Hange joked. “Or maybe, they’ll even put it on a stick!”

“I take my words back,” Nanaba gave her a hard gaze. “You’re terrible, and so is your humor.”

“Aw, come on!” Hange laughed. “I know you love me, Nana!”

“Unfortunately,” she rolled her eyes, hiding a fond smile.

“Ladies, get ready,” Mike jerked his head in the direction of the big doors. “The King and the Prince are here.”

And in the next moment, the doors opened and the music stopped. A tall, proud man with a golden crown on his head and a wide grin on his face entered the room.

“That’s King Kenny,” Nanaba whispered in Hange’s ear. “And that’s,” she pointed to a shorter guy, who followed him. “That’s Prince Levi.”

Hange cocked her head, curiously regarding the young man. He had black shiny hair, his skin was almost white as a paper and his eyes were narrow. He regarded his guests with a displeasured, almost annoyed expression.

Hange huffed, as she turned away from that man. All those people traveled through the whole country just so they could meet him, and that’s how he greets them? Why even organize the ball, if you don’t enjoy it?

Truly, she would never understand those royals.

But there was no time to dwell on it now, she had an important job.

“It’s time for me to go,” she whispered to her friends, briefly squeezing their shoulders.

“Good luck,” Nanaba kissed her cheek.

“Don’t get distracted,” Mike advised, softly patting her hair.

Hange saluted to them with a crooked smile, and then disappeared into the crowd, heading to the side doors of the ballroom.

 ***

Levi lazily regarded the crowd of guests, gathered below him. Nobles from the whole kingdom sent their offspring to the capital, all of them hoping for one thing – that one of their daughters will be lucky enough to become his wife.

It disgusted Levi. Looking at all those young girls, who gazed at him with so much hope and who cared for nothing more than a crown on his head, he felt sick.

“See someone you like?” his uncle whispered into his ear, placing a hard hand onto his shoulder.

“No.” Levi curtly replied, shaking off Kenny’s arm.

“Too bad,” Kenny hummed. “Because if you don’t have at least one dance until midnight comes, I’m picking your fiancé myself.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Levi hissed. “Don’t you think that I should choose my future wife myself?”

“Then fucking choose already, Levi,” Kenny said seriously. “You are almost an adult and I can’t keep organizing those stupid balls for you, if you don’t even talk with those women. Get your ass off that throne and go to them. Talk, drink, dance. You won’t be able to find someone, if you continue watching them from afar.”

“Alright, alright,” Levi rolled his eyes. “I got your point, now leave me alone.”

“Good luck,” his uncle patted his shoulder. Then he granted Levi his wish and went to mingle with the nobles.

“The King decided to share with you some of his wisdom?” Levi’s advisor and his only friend, Erwin, said with an amused smile.

“Something like that,” Levi grumbled, his eyes once again scanning the ballroom. Trying to find a woman, who repelled him the least.

And as he kept looking, Levi noticed a figure, which walked away from the crowd. A woman in an awfully bright green dress separated from the rest of the nobles and headed towards the side door. Levi narrowed his eyes, watching her movements.

“Is something wrong?” Erwin asked. He followed Levi’s gaze, but before he could see that woman, she already disappeared behind the door.

“I need to check something,” Levi said, starting to move. That woman was definitely a thief, and Levi had to stop her. What kind of King he would become, if he lets some strangers rob his palace? “I won’t be gone for too long. Stay here and watch Kenny. If he asks where I am, tell him I went to the bathroom.”

“And where are you really going?” Erwin furrowed his eyebrows.

“I’ll tell you after I’m done,” there was no time to waste, after all. The thief could disappear with her booty any moment.

 ***

Levi slowly made his way through the palace’s corridors, straining his ears to hear something, except the muffled sounds of music from the ballroom. As he continued to wonder around, entering each room and finding nothing, Levi started to regret coming here all alone. Maybe, he should have taken Erwin with him. Or better yet, he should have asked Erwin’s friend, the guardsman named Mike, to accompany him. Everyone in the palace knew about Mike’s exceptional ability to pick up the faintest of smells. He would have come in handy in this situation.

And then, when Levi almost lost all hope of finding the thief by himself, when he almost turned back to return to the ballroom, he saw it – a faint, flickering ray of light beneath one of the doors. Levi raised his head. He was standing in front of a library.

So that woman decided to steal a book? That was something new.

Carefully, he laid his palm on the door’s handle, trying to open it as quietly as possible. A moment later, he walked inside the room, stopping in the middle and looking around. He was surrounded by rows and rows of bookshelves, but there was no sign of the thief. Levi’s eyes darted from corner to corner, trying to locate the intruder.

He walked further into the room and there, he finally found her. The woman was standing inside the small section of a library, which was separated from the rest of the room by heavy, tall gates.

So she was looking for the forbidden books, huh?

However, the gates didn’t seem to be much of an obstacle to that woman, as she successfully managed to get past them. Now she was facing away from Levi, shifting through book after book.

She was so absorbed in her task that she didn’t even notice Levi’s arrival.

Well, he couldn’t just miss the opportunity to scare the shit out of her, right?

So Levi cleared his throat. “What the fuck are you doing?” he asked and watched with amusement how the woman instantly froze. Her shoulders shook slightly, and Levi almost smirked, as he waited for her to scream in panic.

But she didn’t.

Instead, the woman turned around, an innocent smile on her lips. “I’m sorry,” she said in a sweet, slightly confused voice. “It seems like I’ve turned the wrong corner. It’s not bathroom, is it?”

“Really?” Levi crossed hands on his chest, his cold grey eyes boring into that woman. He took another look at her – she had a long nose, large forehead, thin lips and messy brown hair that reached to her shoulders. There was also a big, round glasses on her face. Fucking four-eyes, Levi thought to himself. “Do you often shit in the library?”

And then, that four-eyes shocked Levi again – she started laughing. Loudly and boisterously, with her head thrown back.

“Alright, alright,” she raised her hands in a placating gesture. “You’ve caught me, I was actually trying to steal a book.”

“You don’t say,” Levi deadpanned.

Four-eyes giggled again, as though not realizing that Levi could say one word and that pretty head of hers would instantly appear on a spike. Not that Levi found her head, or anything about that woman, to be pretty.

“So now what?” four-eyes cocked her head to the side. “Are you going to call the guards?”

Yes, Levi almost said. That was what he had to do. Even if he had caught her before she managed to steal anything, four-eyes still was a thief. And thieves had to be punished. By cutting their hand or their head, it all depended on how much annoying the criminal was. And that woman… she was extremely annoying.

But then Levi got an idea.

“I won’t tell anyone about your sorry attempt, if,” he paused, carefully regarding her. “If you do me a favor.”

“Anything,” four-eyes replied without hesitation.

Levi nodded, satisfied with her eagerness. “I need you to dance with me.”

It was an amazing idea, and Levi mentally congratulated himself on his quick wit. Kenny’s condition was that he had to dance with at least one girl until midnight. And if he dances with four-eyes, who was obviously a commoner, Kenny would never agree to let Levi marry her. And that meant that Levi would get another few months of peace and quiet, without boring tea-parties and lengthy walks through the gardens with annoying foreign princesses.

Yes, excellent idea.

Although, the bespectacled woman obviously didn’t share his opinion.

“You want to dance with me?” she asked, completely dumbfounded.

“Weird. I saw the glasses on your faces, and thought you were blind. But it turns out, you are actually deaf, huh?”

“Oi!” four-eyes glared at him. “I’m not deaf! Or blind! I just don’t understand what you want from me.”

“And you don’t have to,” Levi shrugged. “All you need to do is to have one dance with me, and then you’ll be free to go.”

“You promise?” she looked at him suspiciously.

“I swear.”

“Alright then!” the change in four-eyes was instant. One moment, she was carefully regarding Levi, and in the next, she grabbed his hand with a wide, almost wild grin. “Let’s go and dance, shorty!” she exclaimed, dragging him out of the library.

As he followed that strange woman, Levi couldn’t quite understand one thing. Four-eyes was at the ball, she had to know who he was. But she acted like she didn’t care in the slightest. She behaved around him like he wasn’t a crowned Prince, but a simple commoner.

And, surprisingly, Levi liked that. A lot.

Maybe, this girl wasn’t as annoying as he initially thought.

 ***

Their hands were still linked, when they entered the ballroom. And as soon as they appeared, all eyes were on them. The guests, who were previously dancing, now stopped, staring at them with unmasked surprise.

“I don’t like all this attention,” four-eyes whispered.

“Don’t mind them,” Levi whispered back, dragging her to the center of the room.

There, he stood and laid his hand on four-eyes’ waist. As he turned to face her, Levi realized that she was taller than him.

Annoying, Levi mentally tsked. Good thing he wasn’t going to actually marry her.

The scowl on his face deepened, as everyone still continued looking at him like he had grown a second head. Even the musicians stopped playing, too shocked by his arrival. Levi sent them a vicious glare, and, thankfully, they got the hint, resuming their work.

The guests started to dance again. Levi and his mysterious companion joined them.

“Is it a good time to tell you that I don’t know how to dance?” four-eyes asked, that infuriating grin still plastered on her lips.

“It’s fine,” Levi grumbled, turning his face away to hide his wince, when she stepped on his toes.

However the discomfort, Levi was somewhat pleased by this fact. He was sure that Kenny was starting to go insane, as he watched them dance. Yes, he couldn’t have found a better dance partner, Levi was sure of it.

“This dress is terrible, by the way,” Levi commented, as he spun her around. “And your hair is awfully messy.”

“Oh, forgive me,” four-eyes snapped. “I couldn’t have known that I’ll be dancing with the Prince himself. If I had, I would have taken more care about my appearance.”

“So you know who I am?” Levi gasped. “Then why do you act like—”

“Like I don’t care?” she cut him off. “That’s exactly why. I don’t care. You may be a Prince and a fucking heir to the throne, but that doesn’t mean you’re in any way better than me.”

Levi didn’t know what to say to this, staring at her with wide eyes like some kind of an idiot. This woman in front of him… however, annoying and infuriating she was, but she amazed him. She was the first one to treat him like this, like he was just a human being, like the crown on his head was nothing more than a piece of useless jewelry.

“What’s your name?” he asked, a little breathlessly.

She smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief. “That’s a secret.”

“That’s unfair!” Levi frowned. “You know my name.”

“Life isn’t always fair, your highness.”

Oh goodness, that four-eyes was so annoying! To call her infuriating – that was definitely an understatement. Levi had never met a person who pissed him off so much. Even his uncle didn’t have that kind of effect on him. Although… Levi couldn’t deny it – she also intrigued him. He wanted to know more about her, to untangle all of her mysteries and enigmas, to find out the meanings of each of her smiles.

“Alright then,” Levi huffed. “How should I call you?”

She shrugged. “I don’t care. It’s totally up to you, your highness.”

“Don’t call me that,” Levi hissed. “My name is Levi. And if you don’t care how I address you, then I’ll be calling…” he trailed off, studying her expression, “then I’ll be calling you four-eyes.”

“Four-eyes?” the woman laughed. It was a loud, completely unladylike sound. Levi liked it.

“Yes,” he nodded, his arm reaching out to touch the side of her face. “Because of those stupid glasses.”

That seemed to catch four-eyes completely off-guard. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly. She looked completely ridiculous, and Levi mentally patted himself on a shoulder for surprising her. He imagined it was a rare look for her, and he was glad to wipe off that cocky grin from her face.

However, before he could really relish in this sight, the song ended. Four-eyes took a step back.

“Well, we’ve finished our dance. It’s time for me to go,” and maybe, it was just Levi’s imagination, his stupid wishful thinking, but she seemed reluctant.

“No,” he didn’t mean to sound so desperate.

He also didn’t mean to grab her palm once more, squeezing it tightly in his own.

Four-eyes looked at him in confusion, her gaze darting to their joined hands. “You promised that you’ll let me go after this dance.”

“And I will,” Levi assured her. “But I… I want…” what exactly he wanted? Levi didn’t yet know the answer to this question. But he knew that he didn’t want to let go of her just yet, that he couldn’t say goodbye to her right now.

“I want to have a walk with you. Please, just ten more minutes,” he hastily added, when a hesitant expression appeared on four-eyes’ face. “And then you can go.”

“All of you nobles are so demanding,” four-eyes shook her head. “But if you want it so much, then fine.”

“Thank you,” Levi said sincerely.

Then, ignoring the stares of his guests, Levi led four-eyes out of the ballroom and into the palace’s gardens.

“I have to admit,” a smile bloomed on four-eyes’ lips. It was so beautiful, so sincere and happy that Levi’s breath hitched in his throat. “Your gardens are amazing.”

“You should see them in spring,” Levi said, ignoring the beating of his heart. It was so loud he was sure that four-eyes heard it, too. They still held hands, and Levi caught himself thinking that he didn’t want to let go. Not now, not ever.

“Maybe, I can sneak into your palace then,” four-eyes chuckled.

“You don’t have to,” Levi blurted out without thinking.

“Huh?”

“I mean…” Levi stuttered. “You don’t have to sneak in. You can visit. Anytime you want.”

That same surprised expression returned to four-eyes’ face. But this time, she quickly masked it with a grin. “Are you giving me a royal permission?”

Levi felt a smirk tug on his lips. Four-eyes’ mischief was contagious. “Yeah, something like that.”

They reached a small bench, hidden behind two large trees. Levi sat down on it and four-eyes joined him, sitting so close that her shoulder brushed against his. She raised her head to stare at the sky, her eyes sparkling as bright as the stars above. Levi couldn’t look away.

“I guess asking you about your family will be pointless?” he quietly asked.

Four-eyes shrugged. “I don’t really have a family. I live with a friend.”

“Just a friend?” Levi wondered why he suddenly got so nervous.

“Just a friend,” four-eyes replied with a smile.

“And what do you do? Or is it another secret?”

“Not really,” she said. “I am a scholar. Of sorts.”

“Of sorts?”

“Well, you won’t find my books in any libraries.”

“What do you study then?”

“Herbology.”

“Oh,” Levi breathed. “That’s why you needed that book.”

“Yeah,” four-eyes twirled a stray lock of her hair. “I wanted to find if there are any plants I haven’t discovered yet.”

“You left the book at the library,” Levi remembered. “You should go back and take it.”

“What?” her brows shot up. “You want to give it to me?”

Levi shrugged. “It’s just lying there now, gathering dust. I’m sure it will be more useful in your hands.”

“You know,” four-eyes softly chuckled. “You are very different from the others nobles I’ve met. I have never thought that Princes are so kind.”

Levi stared at her, not sure what to do next. He wanted to say something, to tell four-eyes how wonderful she is, how different from everyone Levi knew. He was still thinking on how to translate his feelings into words, when they’ve heard an unmistakable sound of the dangling armor.

“The guards!” four-eyes immediately shot to her feet. “They can’t see me! I need to go!”

She almost turned around, ready to run, when Levi grabbed her wrist. “Wait!” he was surprised by the desperation in his own voice. “Will we ever meet again?”

Four-eyes smiled, leaning in to kiss his cheek. “If you manage to find me, Levi.”

She winked at him and then ran away.

The sounds of the dangling armor were getting closer. Soon the members of the royal guard reached Levi.

“Your highness,” Nile bowed to him, panting heavily. “We were looking everywhere for you!”

“The King was worried,” Erwin added, coming to stand next to Levi.

“I’m fine,” Levi grumbled. “Just wanted to get some air.”

“The woman who was with you,” Nile said, “Where is she now?”

“Why do you ask?” Levi crossed hands on his chest, regarding him coolly.

“I think I’ve seen her before,” Nile answered. “And I—”

“You’re mistaken,” Erwin cut him off. His usually calm voice now sounded almost angry. Levi cocked his head to the side, watching his advisor. Did he know something Levi didn’t?

“No, Sir Erwin, I’m sure that it was—”

“You. Are. Mistaken.” Erwin repeated. He and Nile glared furiously at each other.

Levi observed their exchange with interest and confusion. Something definitely was up, but he couldn’t outright ask Erwin about it. Not yet, not until Nile was nearby.

“Captain!” the voice of one of Nile’s subordinates interrupted the tense silence. “I think I’ve found something!”

Nile immediately started moving, but Levi was faster. In several quick strides he reached the knight and snatched the object he had found from his hands.

It was glasses, the same glasses that were on four-eyes’ face. Levi stared at them for a long moment, the events of this night replaying in his mind.

“What’s this?” Erwin asked, standing behind his shoulder.

“The glasses!” Nile exclaimed. “They probably slipped from her face, while she was running. Good job, Marlo,” he nodded to his subordinate.

“We don’t know if that’s hers,” Erwin instantly protested. “They could belong to anyone.”

Levi felt like they were going to continue arguing, so he just turned around, heading towards the palace. As he walked through the gardens, he carefully hid the glasses inside his pocket.

***

As soon as Levi entered the ballroom once more, Kenny immediately came to his side.

“So my eyes didn’t betray me?” he asked, elbowing Levi in the side. “You were actually dancing with someone?”

“Maybe, you should go to the healer, old man,” Levi said, “Ask him for a pair of glasses, if your eyesight is so shitty.”

“Glasses?” Kenny guffawed. “Like the ones that girl was wearing?”

Levi gave his uncle an unimpressed look.

“Alright, alright,” Kenny raised his hands in an apologizing manner. “Tell me about her. What is her name? Where is her family from? How much land do they have?”

Levi looked to the side, pointedly ignoring Kenny’s eyes.

“Oh no,” Kenny gasped. “Please don’t tell me that she is some commoner.”

“I won’t,” Levi shook his head. “I don’t really know if she’s a commoner or not. She refused to talk about herself. I don’t even know her name.”

“My goodness,” Kenny closed his eyes and sighed. “Please don’t tell me that you want to marry her.”

“Fine,” Levi agreed. “If you don’t to want to hear it, then I won’t tell you.”

“Levi!” Kenny lamented. “You’re killing me! You’re killing your own uncle!”

“Good,” Levi retorted. “Then die.”

“How could you choose her?” Kenny continued, ignoring his nephew’s cruel words. “Why didn’t you fall in love with some nice girl from a noble family or a rich princess from a faraway kingdom? Why her?”

“I don’t know,” Levi replied simply. “I don’t know why I like her so much, but I do.”

“So what? You don’t even know her name, how are you going to find her?”

“I’ll think of something,” Levi shrugged. “I’m not going to give up so easily.”

“You’re as stubborn as your mother, gods rest her soul,” Kenny’s voice was unusually soft. “Fine, if she is the one you want to marry, then so be it. You’re a big boy, I can’t tell you what to do anymore.”

“Thank you, Kenny. That means a lot.”

Kenny sadly shook his head, his eyes watching the ballroom. “All those pretty ladies came here just for you,” he said quietly. “And you’ve chosen some commoner over them. Poor things.”

“They’ll get over it,” Levi mumbled, remembering four-eyes’ smile and laughter.

He wasn’t regretting his choice in the slightest.

 ***

The next day, Levi burst in Erwin’s study. He walked up to his desk and slammed his hand onto the hard wood, right next to Erwin’s face.

“You know something, right?” Levi asked, glaring at him.

If Erwin was surprised by his sudden arrival, he didn’t show it. When he raised his face to look at Levi, there was an innocent and slightly confused smile on his lips. “I am your advisor, your highness, it’s my job to know a lot of ‘something’. I’m afraid you need to be more specific.”

“Cut the bullshit!” Levi growled. “You know that girl. The one I’ve danced with.”

The smile didn’t leave Erwin’s face. He sat back in his chair, his posture relaxed. However, his eyes were hard as he watched Levi’s every move. “And what makes you think so?”

“Don’t take me for an idiot,” Levi narrowed his eyes, his scowl deepening. “I’ve seen your face when I’ve shown you those glasses. And I’ve heard how you were trying to protect her from Nile.”

“Excellent observation, your highness,” Erwin spread his hands, admitting his defeat. “But I still don’t understand what you want from me.”

“I want you to tell me about her.”

Erwin’s jaw tightened. “No, your highness. I’m afraid I cannot do that.”

“You’re protecting her,” Levi noted. “Again. Why?”

“Why do people protect anyone?” Erwin lifted his shoulder in a half shrug. “Because they care.”

“So you don’t just know her! You care about her.”

“She’s a friend,” Erwin finally admitted.

“And you won’t tell me about her?” Levi asked, sitting on a chair across from Erwin.

“I won’t.”

“Even if I order you?”

Erwin chuckled. “I’m sorry, your highness. But there are some things that are more important than duty.”

“Shit,” Levi rubbed his forehead. “Not that I actually expected you to tell me anything, but… I’m still disappointed.”

“Well, if you tell me why are you looking for her, then maybe I will help you.”

Levi gave him a flat look. “Why do you think I’m looking for her?”

“I don’t know,” Erwin said. “That’s why I’m asking.”

“Asshole,” Levi muttered. He knew that Erwin was doing this on purpose. But well, Levi really needed his help.

“I want to see her,” Levi felt how a blush immediately appeared on his cheeks. He lowered his head, avoiding Erwin’s amused gaze, and continued. “I want to talk to her, and… get to know her.”

“You…” Erwin stared at him in disbelief. “You like her?”

“Yes,” Levi replied, lowering his head even further.

“And do you… do you want to marry her?”

“Yes,” Levi repeated. “If she accepts, of course.”

“You’re not sure?” Erwin chuckled.

“How can I be sure? Four-eyes is unpredictable as hell.”

Erwin’s chuckle turned into a laugh. “You don’t even know how accurate you are.”

“So?” Levi glanced at him beneath his fringe. “Do you agree to help me?”

“I… will assist you,” Erwin said.

“Alright,” Levi nodded. He wasn’t hoping for anything better, anyway. “Then organize the search.”

“The search?”

“Yes, I’m sure four-eyes lives somewhere nearby.”

“So?” Erwin asked, not exactly following where Levi was going with this.

“So I’m going to visit every house in this goddamn city until I find her.”

“And how will you know that’s her?”

Levi smirked, putting the glasses on Erwin’s desk. “I have this. Whoever those glasses fit should be my wife.”

“Should I spread this message?” Erwin said, already preparing his quill and a paper.

“Yes,” Levi nodded, getting up. “And be ready, Erwin. We’ll start our search tomorrow morning.”

Erwin barely acknowledged his words, as he already started writing his message.

 ***

Levi was starting to regret his plan. Maybe, he should have asked Erwin harder. Or torture the information out of him, because, as it turned out, there were a lot more young girls in the capital than he thought.

He had spent his entire week, going from door to door, looking for that damned four-eyes. And still, there was no sign of her. Levi had lost count how many women he had seen in the last seven days. But none of them resembled his four-eyes even close. And none of them had eyesight as shitty as hers.

It was hard for him to admit, but he was beginning to lose hope. What if she didn’t actually live in the capital? What if she was from another kingdom? What if she had heard about his search and decided to hide, having no interest in marrying him?

Those questions plagued Levi’s mind every time he visited yet another house and saw another girl with bright hopeful eyes. Another girl, who would try on the glasses and then try to convince him that she could see something through them.

“Let’s visit another house and then call it a day,” Levi announced, his voice weary and quiet.

“As you wish, your highness,” Erwin nodded.

Levi decided not to use a lot of people in this search. He didn’t want to make a lot of fuss out of it, so, as a result, his only companions were Erwin and his friend, guardsman Mike.

The three of them turned the corner and appeared on a small, narrow street. There were only five houses there, and Levi scanned them carefully, trying to decide which house they should visit. As he continued to think, he noticed that Mike and Erwin were strangely nervous. Mike even fidgeted with his sleeve. However, Levi ignored it, too tired to wonder about their weird behavior.

“This one,” Levi pointed to the house in the middle. “Let’s enter this house.”

Beside him, both Erwin and Mike loudly exhaled, although they were holding their breaths for too long. As he glanced at them, Levi saw that both men were smiling ever so slightly.

Levi shook his head, he could ask them about it later.

He came up to the chosen house and loudly knocked on the door.

“It’s his highness, Prince Levi,” Erwin shouted. “Please open your door.”

A young man appeared on the doorstep. He was tall and had light brown hair. Levi almost opened his mouth to apologize for disturbing him, obviously, four-eyes couldn’t live here. Even if there was some girl, who lived here, she was probably married to that man.

Levi didn’t know what possessed him to do it, but he rose to his tiptoes and looked behind the man’s shoulder.

She was standing with her back facing him, but Levi recognized those brown messy locks instantly.

Heart was racing in his chest, as relief and happiness threatened to overwhelm Levi. He wanted to shout out to her, to grip her shoulders tightly, shaking her and asking why the fuck she made everything so complicated. He wanted to look at her face and get lost in her eyes. He wanted to take her in his arms and never let go.

But still, he had to do everything properly.

So Levi bowed his head, trying to keep his composure. “Good sir,” he addressed the man in front of him. “I hate to disturb you, but do you live alone? Or are there any young women living at this house?”

The man was obviously a little confused, his eyes darting from Levi to Erwin and Mike behind him. His gaze stayed on Mike for a little longer, and when Levi glanced up, he saw that Mike was mouthing something to him.

So Mike knew four-eyes as well? Motherfucker, Levi thought annoyingly.

Thankfully, whatever Mike had told him seemed to work, as the man took a step back, allowing them to enter.

“My lady,” Levi said to four-eyes and bowed again, this time with a purpose of hiding a smirk on his face. “Would you be so kind and try those glasses on?” Erwin came closer, handing them to her.

“And why should I do it?” four-eyes asked, and Levi almost growled. If he had any doubts that it was really her, now they were gone. No one annoyed Levi like she did.

“Because I’m a Prince and I say so!” Levi exclaimed, glaring at her.

“Oh really?” four-eyes raised her brows, putting hands on her hips. “So just because you’re a Prince I should do everything you say? If that how it works in your world, your highness?”

Somewhere behind him, Erwin and Mike started laughing, but Levi paid no mind to them. He could get angry at them later.

“Just come here already and take those stupid glasses, so I can finally marry you!”

Four-eyes instantly deflated. Her hands fell limply at her sides and she stared at Levi with utter incomprehension.  

“Well, I think we’ll leave you alone for now,” someone awkwardly said. Levi didn’t know who it was, it sounded like Mike’s voice, but he wasn’t sure, he was too busy staring at four-eyes. “Hange, scream, if you need me!”

“Hange?” Levi whispered, taking a tentative, small step towards her. He wanted to take her by the hand, but he wasn’t sure if she wanted the same, so he remained in one place, standing not too far, and not too close to her. “That’s your name?”

Four-ey— no, Hange nodded timidly.

“That’s a stupid name,” Levi slightly smirked, trying to ease the uncomfortably tense atmosphere. “It fits you.”

For a moment, it seemed like Hange wasn’t going to rise up to his rouse. She continued to stare at Levi with wide, unbelieving eyes. But then she shook her head slightly, a mirthless laugh coming out of her throat.

“It is a stupid name,” she rasped, her voice husky. “It is also a commoner’s name.”

“I don’t care,” Levi protested fiercely.

“But you should!” Hange replied just as passionately. “Look at my house, look at my clothes and my face! I’m not rich or pretty, o— or any of those things you Princes need! I’m messy and weird and I know nothing of the court’s etiquette or som—”

“Hange,” Levi took another step forward, until they stood so close their chests touched. He stared deeply into her eyes. “I don’t care.”

She blinked a few times, surprised at their sudden proximity. Levi watched her every move, searching for any sign of her discomfort. If Hange was disturbed by his actions, he was ready to let her go, to walk out of her house and leave her alone. For now, though, she didn’t seem repulsed by him. It filled Levi with hope.

“I don’t care if you’re not pretty like all those girls, or that you have no money or castles,” Levi began, his voice steady and calm despite his wildly beating heart. “I only care about you. Since that night… at the ball… I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I constantly wondered what you were doing or who you were doing it with. I tried to imagine your room or what books you like to read or what you eat for breakfast. I want to know more about you, Hange. I know I’ve said that I want to marry you,” Levi ran a hand through his hair, suddenly flustered. “But I didn’t mean that I want to do it right now. We can spend some time together… hang out and get to know each other.”

“That sounds nice,” a smile suddenly appeared on Hange’s lips. Levi didn’t even realize how much he missed it. “I would like to do that, but… let’s take it slow, alright?”

“Of course,” Levi nodded. “I don’t want you to feel pressured. If there is something that makes you uncomfortable, please tell me immediately.”

Hange’s smile slowly turned into a smirk. “You know,” she drew out. “I was really wrong about you. You’re not nearly as arrogant as I first thought.”

Levi gave her an unimpressed look. “Unfortunately, you’re just as annoying as I expected. But… I like that.”

“And you’re very rude,” Hange winked at him, grinning from ear to ear. “But lucky for you, I like that too.”

“C’mon,” Levi took her by the hand. “Let’s get out of here, or your friends will think that I’ve murdered you or something.”

“Mm,” Hange nodded. “I think Moblit’s been panicking all this time. And Mike is probably two seconds away from breaking down the door.”

“Erwin will stop him,” Levi said, having complete faith in his advisor.

Hange burst out laughing. “You don’t know Erwin like I do. Believe me, if something’s happened to me, he’ll be the first one to run at you with a sword in hand. Well, technically,” she twirled her hair, smiling innocently. “Technically, Moblit will be the first one to do that. But fortunately for you, he doesn’t have a sword.”

“Tch,” Levi scowled. “I’m their Prince and they’re my subjects. Why are they more loyal to you?”

“Because you’re a grumpy and rude monarch,” Hange giggled, ruffling his hair. “And I’m cool and funny!”

“Yeah, I got,” Levi rolled his eyes. “I’m a sore loser, and you are so very awesome. The gods have smiled down upon me, when they decided for us to meet.”

And despite his harsh tone, Levi actually meant it. And judging by Hange’s soft smile and the way she squeezed his hand tighter, she saw right through him.

[concealeddarkness13]

WHG 15 Post-Games Brains and Brawn Part 4

This is a day or two after part 3! Tagging: @sparkles-and-hens, @knmartinshouldbewriting, @maple-writes (also thanks for Skyler!), @pen-of-roses, @thoughts-of-nora, and @ratracechronicler!

Churi was looming over me as Triel’s crew was being tortured behind me. I jumped up, trying to get around him, but he just pushed me back down and grabbed my hair. He pulled me up by my hair and laughed. “You think you could escape again? You fool girl. You’re my property. I won’t ever let you go, and anyone who tries to protect you will be destroyed.”

I scratched at him, tried to loosen his grip, but he just kept laughing and laughing…

I woke up with a gasp and sat up. Shit. It had just been a nightmare, but I still sat there, hunched over, shaking. Churi would never leave me alone. I would never be free of him. Sobs escaped my lips, and I curled up on myself tighter. Was I just endangering everyone more by being here? I was a liability. I couldn’t even fight to defend anyone. I was useless.

The door cracked open, and I grabbed my knife that was under my pillow. Until I noticed that it was just Skyler. But why did he open the door? Was there trouble? I lowered my knife and quickly wiped my eyes to get rid of any traces of tears. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”

He stared at me. “Uh, you tell me.”

Oh shit. He had heard me. I frowned. “What? I’m fine.”

“You think I’m an idiot?” Double shit.

Time to distract. I set my jaw. “What are you doing up anyway?”

He leaned against the doorframe. “I…I couldn’t sleep.” Sounded like he had bad dreams too.

I nodded. “Me neither…But just because I had too much caffeine. Do you want to walk it out?” I needed to get my mind off the nightmare anyway.

He nodded back. “I know somewhere nice.”

Oh boy! I jumped up. This would be awesome! A nice distraction.

He led me out of the building and down a few blocks to an actual airship! I had been on Triel’s, but seeing another one would be awesome! I smiled and just stared at it.

“This is ours.” He opened the door and hopped in, turning around to help me get in. Which was probably good, since I wouldn’t be able to do that on my own with my leg injuries.

Once we were inside, I grinned and ran my hands along the walls. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.” He closed the door behind me. “Volt says she stole it years ago.”

“That’s awesome!” Wait. I paused and frowned a little. “Wait, how do you steal an airship? Isn’t it kind of hard to hide it well?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. She and Rick won’t talk about it very much.” He led the way into the cockpit where he sat down and checked some of the gauges. “Paint? I never asked.”

Paint was probably correct. I watched him for a little bit and cocked my head. I didn’t know anything about airships. “What are you checking for?”

“There was something wrong with the ventilation system a while ago, but it seems to be holding up now.” He got up and stretched. “I can show you around.”

Awesome! I grinned. “Thanks! I love airships! I just don’t know much about them, so I might ask dumb questions.”

He smiled. “It’s not that big so it won’t take long.” He brought me to a room that had a table and some couches. It looked so cozy! “This is the living room, and there’s a little kitchen off over that way.” He pointed to a doorway off to the side.

Damn. I hadn’t realized it, but I was hungry. “Ooh! Is there popcorn? I tried it earlier, and it’s now my favorite food.”

“Maybe?” He ducked into the kitchen and came back with a bag of the awesome stuff, and he handed it to me. “Don’t know how long it’s been here.”

“Holy shit,” I whispered. I stuffed some in my mouth and smiled. It was sweet! I hadn’t eaten sweet popcorn before. I offered some to him. He had to try it.

He took some, but he made a face after he ate it. How could he do that about such an awesome food? “This must have been Rick’s. He likes sweet things more than I do.” Oh. Understandable. He waved me on, and we kept walking.

We walked through a narrow hallway with doors on either side. Skyler pointed out the rooms as we walked. “This is Volt’s room, and this is Rick’s, and this one is storage…” He paused in front of a room at the end of the hallway. “And this one’s mine.” He opened the door to a small, cozy room. “I think it used to be more storage or some kind of prep area since the hatch to the cargo hold and engine rooms are in the corner here.” He nodded at a hatch in the floor in the far corner.

The engines! That was so cool! I grinned. “This is awesome! It’s so small and safe.” I walked over to inspect the hatch. “I’ve never seen the engines of an airship before. Shine doesn’t let me down there.” I glanced over at him, trying to plead with my eyes.

It must have worked. “Just don’t fuck with anything.” He opened up the hatch and led the way down the ladder. We passed through a mostly empty cargo hold before we made it into a room with tons of machines.

I grinned. “This is awesome!” I yelled the last word to hear it reverberate against the machines. “I can’t believe this is all it needs to fly! I’d never want to come down.”

He didn’t say anything for a moment. “Have you uh, ever flown in one?”

“A little in Triel’s, but I’ve only been with her for a month. I hadn’t thought it would last that long with how much the Shades were hunting me. But Triel had covered her tracks well.” I paused as I rubbed at the scars from my time with the Shades. Why was I even saying this? But I still continued. “I didn’t think I’d ever escape them again this last time.”

“We can take a short flight, if you want. It’s probably best to get it running since it’s been a while.”

I grinned, pushing the other thoughts away. “That would be amazing! I love flying! Thanks!”

He led me back to the cockpit and pointed at another seat, while he sat in the seat he had been in before. “Don’t touch anything.” I sat down as he mumbled something to himself while he started up the airship. I just stared as the airship lifted up, high above the Capitol. It was amazing! The Capitol just looked like a group of glittering lights in the darkness.

He glanced over at me. “What do you think?”

I couldn’t stop staring at the Capitol. “It’s beautiful. I never thought the Capitol could look beautiful. But it does from above.”

“It’s nicer from here.” The airship started to gently move forward, and I grinned wider. This was just so amazing! I couldn’t stop staring at the world below.

At least until he spoke again. “What happened with the shades?”

Shit. I froze for a bit before I smiled over at him. “What do you mean? I’m not scared of shade.”

He frowned, his eyes flitting to where my scars were. Double shit. “You know what I meant.”

Well, I had to explain now. I opened my mouth to do so a few times, but I couldn’t find my voice for a bit. “They—they took me when I was a child and gave me this stupid magic. And then tortured me when I ‘had the gall’ to fight back against their control. I only just escaped a few months ago. And then I had to go back as a victor, and they took me back.” My voice was getting faster and faster as I spoke. “And I fucked everything up because if I could have just not let the crew know what was going on, they would have forgotten about me and helped rescue everyone else instead.” I stopped myself and tensed. I had said way the hell too much. He hadn’t asked me for my life story. “I’m sorry. You don’t really care.” I looked away from him, back out at the Capitol.

It took him a bit to say anything. “I…I do. Care, I mean,” he mumbled. “That’s…A lot.”

I swallowed hard. Why the hell would he care? “Well…thanks for caring. And…I had a nightmare about them. That’s why I was up. Not because of caffeine.”

He nodded out of the corner of my eye, pausing again before he spoke. “Yeah. Me too.”

Sometimes, it felt good to talk about things. And I could not confirm nor deny if that was the case for me this time. But I wanted to offer the opportunity to him. I glanced over at him. “Do you want to talk about it?”

He stiffened and hesitated, and when he spoke, it was even quieter than before. “My mother handed me over to Indigo one day and I thought she was just taking me for a few days but then she told me what was going on and her people came and took me and kept me in a little room and I didn’t know what was going to happen.” He took a long, shaky breath. Shit. I couldn’t imagine that. “I don’t remember a lot. I figured out they put something in my food to keep me easier to handle but they were still rough, and mean and scary.”

What could I say to that? Comfort wouldn’t be any help. And I sucked at comfort anyway. I sucked in a breath. “I couldn’t imagine that,” I whispered. Churi had always been honest about what he was going to do. That was the one thing I could say about him that was positive in a twisted way. “I really will punch her in the face if I see her again.”

“Most of the time they would talk about me but not really to me like I was more of a thing, or maybe a pet.” He glanced at me. “They didn’t cut me up like you though so I don’t know. There’s that.”

Comparing pain? Nah. I wasn’t going to let that happen. “At least they had always been pretty honest in what they were going to do to me. So, there’s that.” I stared at the Capitol and crossed my arms. It didn’t look so pretty anymore. “But I understand being treated as not human. Churi would always call me his property.”

He cringed at my last sentence. “I think the only reason they didn’t hurt more than they did was so they didn’t leave marks.” He started mumbling. “A few of them would say things like I’d be worth a lot more than others because I was pretty, handsome when I grew up.”

That reminded me of Meras picking out one kid who had grown up to be pretty by her standards. The Shades had just been calling him monster and boy before that, but she chose to name him Kallias only after he was pretty to her. I curled my lips in a snarl. “Sounds like Meras. Pieces of shit.”

He nodded as he had the airship turn gently. “Yeah, they were.”

We stayed silent, both staring out at the Capitol. But when I looked over at Skyler, he looked so upset. Was there a way to distract him from the bad thoughts? I ate some popcorn, trying to think, but then I glanced down at the popcorn and smiled a little. It was a good projectile. I aimed a piece at his head and threw it, hitting right on his forehead.

He looked over at me with a frown, and I shrugged. “I just thought you should have some more popcorn.” He just kept staring at me, but then he held out a hand for some popcorn.

I gave him some. But then I hit him again in the face with another popcorn.

He grinned mischievously back at me and yanked the controls, so that the airship took a sharp turn instead. I yelped and spilled some of the popcorn.

He laughed a little. “Don’t tell Volt I did that.”

I laughed back as I tried to clean up the popcorn. “I won’t. I deserved it anyway.”

He smiled as he leveled the airship again. “Actually, maybe don’t tell her we did this at all. I’m not really supposed to fly without her or Rick on board.”

I grinned back. “But you have me. Surely, I’m a responsible adult. Anyway, I think you’re doing awesome.”

He snorted. “Somehow I don’t think you qualify.”

I clutched my chest, as if he had hurt me. “Rude.” I paused and turned back to the Capitol. It was still pretty, just not as much as it had been. “But thanks. This is amazing.”

“Thanks for coming with me.” The hovercraft started slowing down as it got back to the place where it was. “And listening.”

“Same to you.” I held out a fist for him to fistbump. “Friends?”

He looked over at me with surprise, but then he smiled and fistbumped. “Yeah. Now be quiet while I land this thing.”

We got back down safely, and we walked back without saying anything. Sometimes, silence was fine without having to fill it.

[emmy-writes-sometimes]

Living Room Graduation

You’re due to graduate from college, but due to COVID, it was cancelled. Chris, your neighbor, and his brother try to give you a graduation anyway.

-

           You were gutted, to say the least, about your graduation being cancelled. Actually, your entire final semester was cancelled, your parents were stuck with your grandparents in Maine, and you had a huge old house to yourself and you couldn’t even have anyone quarantine with you. So you were at your worst, skipping Google Hangouts classes to re-watch the same TV shows you’d seen four times to binge all of the Lord of the Rings movies (you don’t even like them really, they’re just on Netflix), to sleep for fourteen hours a day, and only leave the house for curbside pickup or your weekly Starbucks run. You were completely and utterly done with life at that point.

           It was around seven when you realized the trash collector was supposed to come in half an hour, so you sprung out of bed, threw on some shorts, and tried to make it. You probably looked like a mess, and it only slightly comforted you when you saw your neighbor, Chris, walking his own trash out in a sweatshirt and sweatpants. He was a sweet guy. He was an actor, he was in some of your favorite movies, and he had the sweetest dog who would sometimes come to your front yard and roll around. His brother, Scott, had been quarantining with him. At least they weren’t alone.

           “You forgot too?” Chris asked across the driveway. You were probably six or seven feet apart.

           “Yeah, my parents usually do this,” you responded. “But they’re stuck in Maine, so I’m here.”

           “Oh, no! Hey, aren’t you supposed to be finishing college? Boston U, right? Is it pre something?”

           “Pre-law,” you responded. You put the trash can down and crossed your arms in the cold, still talking to him. “I’m deferring law school for a year to try and get an internship and pay some of my loans off. I guess you’re not working right now, either?”

           “Nope. I got a series coming out on Apple, but nothing’s filming right now, so Scott and I are just kind of sitting ducks,” he answered. “I gotta go take the dog out for a walk, but you should come over at some point as long as you don’t have coronavirus. We’re good company. And we’d be glad to have you.” You smiled.

           “Thank you,” you said with a smile on your face. “Yeah, it’s freezing, I’m going back inside to put some pants on.” He laughed as you turned and walked across the driveway, bare-footed, until you reached your front door and slipped inside.

           From that March evening, you were a regular at the Evans house. You came over for breakfast, lunch, even dinner sometimes. You and Scott would sit on the couch, Dodger between you, and watch TV for most of the day until you had to tune into class, when you’d run home. As it started warming up, you started using their pool. You missed your family, but Chris and Scott were quickly becoming some of your favorite people. Chris even networked you with one of his lawyers who was helping him with a political website he was coming out with, earning you a remote internship for the summer.

           May came and your spirits were low, despite the fact that you had Chris and Scott all but living with you. You hated the fact that you couldn’t even protest for your classes to be graded so your GPA remained at a 3.89 and wouldn’t round up. You hated that your parents still weren’t home because they were taking care of your grandparents still. You hated being in that big farmhouse, all alone, even though your friends were next door. You hated the fact that you couldn’t do any school traditions or even remotely celebrate your graduation. But you tried to keep yourself occupied, like watching all of the Marvel movies with Scott just to annoy the shit out of Chris.

           “Oh, come on! I don’t look that bad!” Chris defended as you were watching the first Captain America. He was making lunch for the three of you (because you and Scott only wanted to postmates in and Chris insisted on making food), so he was in the kitchen just behind where you and Scott were laughing and commenting.

           “Dude, no one looks good in polyester stars and stripes! Just admit it!” You said to him. He groaned and jokingly shoved you into the couch. “I’m sorry. You just make it so easy to make fun of you.”

           “I could say the same. You weren’t fooling anyone when you put that sweater on while you were tanning outside.” That was right – you had put a sweater on over your bikini the day before when you were at their pool, trying to cover up the fact that you were attending class and tanning at the same time.

           “Oh, that’s different!” You said, walking into the kitchen just to punch him in the side. You’d seen how he worked out and that was definitely the most vulnerable part of him.

           “Hey!”

           “Guys, no roughhousing!” Scott called, not even bothering to look behind you. Your phone chimed, signaling that you had class in ten minutes, and you sighed.

           “Go on and use the office,” Chris said to you, “and I’ll have lunch after.”

           “Thank you,” you replied, grabbing your laptop and running up the stairs to Chris’s office area. He always kept it the cleanest room in the house, but it was filled with pictures of him and his co-stars, pictures of him and his family. Your favorite was a framed picture of Dodger right in front of his computer.

           You logged into class and the Google Hangouts noise started playing loudly. Chris looked up at the ceiling before walking over to Scott, knowing that you were getting ready for class and wouldn’t be back down. He sat down next to his brother and pet the dog who was always at his side.

           “Okay, since her graduation got cancelled, I wanna do something,” Chris said to Scott. “She deserves it. And her parents aren’t even here to see her graduate.”

           “Well, what do you want to do?” Chris sighed, taking his phone from his pocket, and looked up your college’s website. Then he saw the COVID information page, which had plans for graduation on it.

           “It looks like they’re doing a virtual graduation with all of their names and pictures and everything. So maybe we could screen it here, give her a nice brunch and some alcohol, make her feel not so anti-climactic,” he suggested, handing Scott the phone. The graduation was going to be on YouTube, so it was easy to pull up on the TV. And they could lure you over under the guise of something else and surprise you with it.

           “Alright, then, how do you wanna do this? We have to make some excuse to keep her out until that time.”

           “Just… You go with her on a Starbucks run or something after class today. Find a way to make sure it’s the one across town. That’ll give me enough of a chance to make some food and put some stuff up and go over to her house and steal her cap and gown.”

           “Christopher, you are a mastermind,” Scott said. “Remind me never to piss you off while we’re in quarantine. You have time, money, and motive.” Chris chuckled and went back to making lunch, bringing the meat out to the grill while you were still in class.

           Over the next few days, you didn’t suspect anything. You went along with everything, as usual, and Chris was even alone with you as you walked Dodger. He managed to keep it a secret, even though he wanted to burst and tell you that you shouldn’t be sad on your graduation. The week leading up to it, he forced you to use the office space almost every day. He gave you food and coffee, he made you take breaks for your sanity, and he made you get nine hours of sleep every night. Finally, the day before graduation, you burst into the door.

           “Guys!” You said loudly, holding a printed piece of paper. “I contested to get my classes graded instead of pass fail and they did it! I have a 3.9 now!”

           “That’s amazing!” Chris said, walking over to give you a hug.

           “What? That’s awesome!” Scott got up off the couch and hugged you too. Even Dodger looked excited.

           “So now I can actually say I have a 3.9.”

           “Let me see it!” Chris took the paper from your hands, looking at all of your grades. Despite all of the meltdowns and classes you skipped, you managed an A in every single one of them. “I’m so proud of you!” He said, hugging you again.

           “I’m going to go call my parents,” you said.

           “Oh, by the way,” Chris said, grabbing you before you could make it out the door. “Come over tomorrow at 8:30. No questions asked, alright? And wear something cute?” You gave him a look before turning around and leaving.

           “Dude, you basically spoiled it!” Scott said, elbowing his brother.

           “What happened to no roughhousing?” Chris asked. He ran away before Scott could do anything. He had some work to do, if only for you.

           The next morning you showed up at their door at exactly 8:30, carrying a six pack and hoping that whatever they had planned would allow you to get drunk. You’d finally passed out after watching Baccalaureate and the awards ceremonies all by yourself. Your best friend was the valedictorian, too, and you called her to cry about it. But you were up bright and earlier than usual when Scott opened the door and shuffled you in. Red and white was everywhere – they’d pulled out some Christmas decorations that were red garlands, Chris had literally put glitter confetti all over a table, and there was a cookie cake on the table with your name on it.

           You teared up as soon as you saw the cookie cake. You could smell breakfast, too. He’d made you an entire meal, bigger than the usual kind. Both of the boys were wearing red, too, and you beamed. They’d planned you an entire graduation party in their living room because you couldn’t go to yours.

           “What?” You asked. They both just laughed and embraced you in an Evans sandwich.

           “I stole your cap and gown too,” Chris said, “you should really lock your doors when you’re over here for class.” You laughed.

           “Thank you, so much, guys.”

           “It’s the least we can do. We’re proud of you. Come on and get some food and alcohol and we can cry through the ceremony together.” You laughed again and started making the rounds in the kitchen, grabbing a little bit of everything except for some extra bacon, and you let Chris pour you a massive glass full of alcohol for yourself. He brought out your gap and gown and your cords and stoles and made you put them on. The ceremony started at 9, so you weren’t too pressed for time. But you sat down between the two of them, Dodger right on top of you, and watched as your name eventually came on screen. Both boys cheered and nudged you, clinking all of your glasses together.

           “I’m so proud of you,” Chris said, “really.” You leaned into his shoulder and then Scott’s, just grateful that you had them.

           “I’m really glad we took the trash out at the same time,” you said with a sniffle.

           “Oh, don’t cry! Come on, we have alcohol!” Scott said. That just made you laugh.

           “Come on, kid,” Chris said as he messed up your hair. “Let’s get some cake.”

A/N: I’m sorry this is so short but I hope you like it! Congrats to anyone in the Class of 2020!

[mythologyfolklore]

Born to be a kleptomaniac!

(A/N: My take on how Hermes stole Apollon’s cows. Bad news: this includes transphobia. Good news: Zeus and Apollon say trans rights.)

.

He had just been born – though through his eyes, his birth hadn't been as joyful as it should have been.

“My daughter! My pride and joy! I will call you Hermione¹ and you will be my beautiful baby girl!”

That had been her first words onto laying eyes on her newborn.

But everything about it sounded wrong, so wrong.

Daughter … little girl … and Hermione?! Really???

Gods came into the world with fully developed minds and knowledge beyond mortal ken and they grew up extremely quickly. That was how this little boy knew who he was – and who his mother thought he was.

Speaking of her, she had just cleaned up the mess from his birth and gone to sleep off her exhaustion, after placing him in a crib.

However, the baby boy refused to just lie in his crib and be bored out of his mind – especially, when his mother had upset him so in the very first minute of his life.

So off he crawled and out of the cave (how? He was a god, that's how!), leaving his sleeping mother alone inside. She would be fine.

Once out in the sun, he couldn't help but be in awe. What a beautiful place the world was! So wide, so colourful, so full of life!

Suddenly, he tripped and fell. As he looked around, sniffling because his knees hurt, he found that he had tripped over a peacefully grazing tortoise. The pain was instantly forgotten.

The little boy laughed, as he picked the tortoise up: “Hello, little thing!”

Then he carried his new-found toy off and killed it. Poor tortoise, but her afterlife would be awesome! After scratching off the flesh, he took the shell, the sinews and a few small bones and fashioned out of them a brand new instrument. “Lyre”, he named it.

For a little while, he tried his new instrument out, plucking the strings and composing little songs.

Then he got hungry.

And wandered off to find some food.

It wasn't long until he came across a giant herd of cattle. Now that was it! Perfect lunch!

The little god grinned mischievously and hatched a plan.

With great care, he selected fifty cows that were grazing separately from the herd. And with a snap of his fingers, he twisted their hoofs backwards to make it look as if they were walking into the opposite direction (damn, was he a genius or what?).

He let them feed some more, while he lit a sacrificial fire, then picked two of them and slit their throats. After butchering them, he portioned their meat into twelve and sacrificed the portions. Eleven for the Olympians, one for himself.

Then he made haste to get home before nightfall.

Sadly, his mother was already awake, as he crawled back into the cave.

“Hermione! There you are, I was so worried! What have you been up to?”, she scolded.

The divine baby frowned at her. “Don't call me that! I'm not Hermione! Also, I haven't been up to anything! I just wanted to look at the world!”

“Of course you're Hermione! Also, you're lying! My own daughter!”

“I'm a boy!”

“No, you're not! Don't argue with me, I gave birth to you! Now tell me, what have you done?! No honest person is out at night!”

He bit his lips (yes, he already had teeth). Why did his own mother not understand? It was true, she had given birth to him and he loved her for that, but she just didn't-

“Answer me!”

He sighed: “Alright, fine! I stole a few cows from some random huge herd I found in Pieria and sacrificed two of them to the Olympians! Happy now?”

“YOU WHAT?! HERMIONE, THAT WAS THE CATTLE OF APOLLON, THE BOW WIELDING GOD OF LIGHT AND PLAGUES!!! HE WILL HAVE YOUR HIDE FOR THIS!!!”

But “Hermione” snickered, because “she” already had a plan.

“Don't worry”, he giggled. “I'll be fine and so will you! I just don't want to live in this dark and gloomy cave for the rest of my immortal life! I want more! I want to be an Olympian! And if Dad says no, I will just become a thief for real and steal their stuff, until they give in! And if Apollon gives us Tartaros, I will just bust into Delphi and steal all the pretty stuff they have there, just for you! Don't wreck your head, I have everything planned out!”

“Sweetie …”, Maia sighed and pinched her nose. Just what kind of goddess had she given birth to?!

.

In the morning Apollon descended onto the Earth to check on his cattle. But as he counted them, he found to his horror, that fifty of them were missing! But there was no way they could have just wandered off! Someone had stolen them! So the god of light went off to look for clues.

Nearby he encountered an old man, who was tending to his grapevines. Apollon assumed an innocuous mortal form and approached the old man.

“Excuse me, can you help me? I was tending to my cattle in Pieria – a herd of white cows with curved horns – but some of them have gone missing. Strangely, my bull and herding dogs are still where I left them, but my cows have strayed. Did you perchance see anything out of the ordinary? Anyone taking them away?”

The old man thought for a moment and scratched his head. “Hmm … now that you mention it, there was something. Last evening, I was digging around my vine plot to check for vermin, when something strange happened. I saw a little child – a toddler at most, can you believe this? – driving a group of cows just like the ones you described. The infant had a staff and kept jumping from side to side and driving them backwards. I know that sounds insane, but-”

“Thank you, that's quite enough”, Apollon interrupted him. “Thanks for the help. Have a nice day!”

Then the light god hurried away to find the … uh, cow-stealing infant. It was a newborn god, without a doubt – probably a new half-brother, Apollon suspected. And sure enough, a bird with long wings (underneath the sunlight he couldn't tell what species it was) flew above him and confirmed his suspicion. Apollon was the god of prophecy, he knew an omen when he saw one.

And there on the ground he found another clue: the tracks of cow hooves. The tracks were pointing into the direction of the meadow, where they had been grazing.

Beside them, there was a different set of footprint: those of a tiny child. Weirdly enough, they were pointing into the opposite direction.

In less than a second the blond god put two and two together and grew even angrier.

“That little brat is going to get it!”, he hissed and followed the child's footprints, until he arrived at a small cave in Kyllene, Arkadia.

Despite his anger he couldn't help but frown, that a small child was living in a cave – still, justice had to be served. He climbed down through the opening and was greeted by the startled face of a goddess. He knew her: Maia, one of the starry-haired daughters of Atlas and Pleione and one of Apollon's many (many) second cousins.

Right after apologising for the sudden intrusion and telling her what the matter was, he demanded to see the baby.

She shifted uncomfortably. “My daughter Hermione? She would never-”

“Let me see her”, he repeated firmly.

Unwillingly Maia stepped to the side, revealing the crib which her child lay, seemingly sleeping.

.

The little one had curled up and pretended to sleep, as soon as he had sensed a foreign presence.

He kept his eyes tightly shut and simply concentrated on the voice of his mother and the other one, which clearly belonged to a grown man (and was definitely the loveliest sound he had heard so far in his young life, but this wasn't the moment for that). That voice belonged to Apollon, no doubt.

Steps that weren't his mother's approached his crib and stopped in front of him.

He could tell, that he was being looked over, but instead of talking to him, Apollon turned to Maia: “Cousin, didn't you say this child is your daughter?”

“… Yes? Why are you asking?”

“Because this is not a girl.”

The boy's heart skipped a beat – could it possibly be …

“What is that supposed to mean?! How can you possibly know my child better than I, who gave birth to her?!”

“Him”, Apollon corrected coolly. “I'm the god of prophecy, that's how I know. And if you love your son, you will deal with it. Now, back to you, you little rascal. Stop feigning slumber. I know that you're awake.”

Damn it!

Slowly the infant cracked his eyes open and tried to look confu- holy Khaos! That expression was nothing short of murderous!

The baby had to think fast and in an attempt to appear totally cute and innocent, he stretched out his tiny arms and pretended to be completely entranced by the beauty of the older god's countenance.

“Pwettieeee!”, he squealed.

For a few seconds the older god did look disconcerted. Sadly it didn't last long.

“Nice try, but I'm not falling for that. Now …” his murderous scowl of murder returned (such a shame, it didn't suit that pretty face), “… where. Are. My. Cows? I know you took them! Spill it, or else.”

The infant pouted: “Why those mean words? I'm just a wittle baby, I was just born yesterday! I couldn't take cows! What are they anyway? I don't know them, all I know is my metera²!”

Apollon laughed, but clearly didn't believe him.

Damn it times two!

“God of lies and thieves!”, the blond chuckled. “That's what you are, little one! That's what your title will be among the Athanatoi³, you mischievous little cattle thief!”

Apollon gathered him in his arms and proceeded to carry him off, despite Maia's very vocal protests and pleas.

Still the little god was smirking on the inside, because everything was going just as planned!

He wriggled around, as if struggling in the older god's hold and with a wave of his hand sent forth an omen (how? Divine magic, that's how!). Startled, Apollon dropped him, but he landed safely on the ground. The light god descended and picked him back up, not without teasing.

The little boy pulled his wraps closer to himself, demanded to know, where his older brother was taking him and kept insisting, that he was innocent of any accusation of thievery.

Apollon only frowned: “Stop lying to me, you little brat! You stole something that belongs to me and I will get it back and you will face the consequences!”

They kept bickering like this and getting increasingly frustrated, until at last, they arrived on Olympos and bust right into an assembly.

Zeus didn't seem surprised in the least, when his favourite son strode in with a child in his arms.

The Scale of Judgement behind his throne certainly wasn't – the weights (each resembling one of the quarrellers) were swinging up and down, awaiting the decree of Moiragetês⁴.

The new-born god couldn't help but note, that Apollon was almost Zeus' splitting image (unlike himself) – same long, blond curls and body type, same knowing glance, even though Apollon's pale skin and golden eyes differed from their father's black eyes and tan.

“Hi, Dad!”, the infant cried cheerfully and unwrapped one of his arms to wave.

The King of the Skies chuckled and waved back. “Hello there, little guy!”

“ZEUS!!!”, Hera screamed and jumped up from her throne. “NOT AGAIN!!!”

“Not now, my drop-dead gorgeous, stunning wife”, Zeus cut her off and turned to Apollon: “Well, my son, what matter is it, that you're bringing in front of the Olympian Council?”

Apollon glared at the baby, before explaining to their father: “This little criminal here stole my cattle!”

“Did not!”, said criminal protested.

“Did too!”, the god of prophecy spat, “And then he had the nerve to act innocent and tell me that he didn't know, what I was accusing him of!”

“I didn't steal anything!”, the child whined. “Dad! He just burst into my Mama's cave and made false accusations and threatened me, even though I was just born yesterday! Help me, he's crazy!”

“Excuse me, how dare y-”

But Apollon broke off, when Zeus burst into roaring laughter.

.

The King of the Gods laughed so hard, that it began to thunder outside and he could hardly keep himself sitting on his throne. Just like Apollon, he saw right through the ruse – yet he still couldn't help but be incredibly amused by his newest spawn's antics.

His laughter was contagious, some of the other Olympians snickered along.

Even Hera couldn't help but grin. “He pulled a prank on Apollon and called him crazy? I like this one!”, she chuckled.

With these words Zeus' good mood was doubled.

“Why, you cheeky little rascal!”, he snickered. “Oh, you're my son, alright! Seriously though, give your brother his cows back. And you, Apollon, calm down. Siblings shouldn't have a falling-out over trivial matters like this. By the way, little one, you made a sacrifice to us Olympians last evening, didn't you? But you sacrificed twelve parts, instead of just eleven.”

“YOU SLAUGHTERED MY COWS???!”, Apollon roared, flaring with fury. “FATHER, HAVE HIM LOCKED AWAY THIS INSTANT!!! TAKE AWAY HIS IMMORTALITY! THROW HIM INTO TARTAROS!!! ANYTHING!!! HE HAS TO PAY!!!”

Zeus held up his hand. “Apollon, I thought I told you to calm down. Now, my youngest, won't you tell me, who the twelfth portion was for?”

The baby beamed at his father. “It was for me!”, he cried cheerfully.

Kronion grinned proudly and fondly: “Ah, I see! You sly little fellow, you!”

He took his newest child from Apollon's hands and held him up.

“My dear fellow gods!”, he addressed the assembled, “We shall be the Council of Eleven no more. From now on, we will be the Dodekathoi, the Big Twelve. So, what is the name of our newest member, my son?”

Of course Zeus knew, that Maia had given their child a name – but he also knew that it was the wrong one.

And sure enough, the baby shook his head.

“Very well, then. I will give you one: from now on you're an Olympian and your name shall be Hermes. Welcome, dear Hermes, to our crazy family! Still though, lead your older brother to where you hid his cows and give them back.”

.

The little boy was ecstatic: he had accomplished his goal to become a member of the council and he had a name – the perfect name!

The only thing that blemished his happiness now was Apollon – or to be specific, the light god's extreme moroseness.

Hermes lead his older brother to the hidden cattle, just like Zeus had told him to, but the blond just didn't stop frowning!

But as he drew them outside for Apollon to see, the light god seemed to relax just as little bit – however, that lasted only until he finished counting them and glowered at Hermes.

“It's only forty-eight. Where are the last two?”

Awkwardly the youngest god pointed to a nearby rock. The hides of the cows he had sacrificed still lay there, drying in the sun.

“Well, my sacrifice had to come from somewhere …”

Apollon gasped, stared at the hides, then at his new baby brother.

“Th-th – h-how?!”, he stuttered. “How the Tartaros did you – how did an infant flay and butcher two grown cows?!”

Hermes shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh, well …”

But his nonchalant expression turned into a frown, when he saw how Apollon tore his own hair.

“Letoides, stop! You'll ruin your pretty hair-”

“Holy Khaos, you're already this strong! Only a few hours old and already a cattle thief strong enough to kill two adult cows! That's terrifying! How will it be, when you're grown up?! By Tartaros, you need to be restrained!”

And before Hermes knew it, he was being fettered.

Alone, he laughed, shook the binds off himself and transferred them onto the cows instead.

The light god gawked at this display of magical power, then his face darkened yet again.

Hermes was about to tell him to stop sulking over some stupid cows, when he saw the genuine distress in the older god's eyes.

“Well, that's just peachy!”, Apollon cried, distraught, and resumed tearing his hair (lovely, rich and long tresses of gold, flowing from his shoulders like cascades). “So I can't even make you face the consequences of your actions! No, you just get to do whatever you want without repercussion, whilst I don't even get the satisfaction of making you pay for what you've done! I'm the aggrieved party! You robbed me! Where is the justice in this?!”

The god of light took his anger out on a massive boulder, hitting it with so much energy that it melted.

For a moment Hermes was genuinely scared, but only until the other just plopped down on a rock and buried his face in his hands. Sadly he regarded his older brother. This wasn't right. He didn't want him to be so upset about something stupid like this.

Suddenly he had an idea. From underneath his swaddles, he pulled out his lyre tuned it.

Apollon looked up in interest.

Hermes strummed the strings with his stubby little fingers and began to sing:

“Praise to the Mousai, fair-voiced daughters of Mnemosyne and of cloud-gathering Zeus!

Praise to the richly tressed daughter of Gaia and Ouranos who gave birth to song and dance!

Hail the goddesses of the fine arts and may they inspire me in my endeavour!

Hail to the happy Olympians, the gloriously crowned, golden-throned gods … ”

And he sang of what he knew about the gods, the sky and the earth, the dawn of creation and how everyone had received their portion and domain.

Throughout his singing he perceived, how Apollon's expression gradually softened, until the god of light was completely and utterly entranced by the music.

For good measure Hermes improvised a little hymn to Apollon to dispel any remains of resentment. The blond blinked in (evidently) pleasant surprise and laughed heartily, when the child started to wax poetic about how pretty he was.

“Am I being serenaded by a toddler?!”, the blond asked incredulously. “This is messed up!”

“No, no! I'm not trying anything weird, I just want to cheer you up! Please don't be angry anymore. I didn't mean to make you so upset by stealing those cows.”

“Those?” Apollon motioned towards the nearby cows, which were still grazing despite the osier roots keeping their legs in place. He sighed: “You know what, just … keep the stupid cows. I have so many of them anyway.”

Hermes beamed up to his older half-brother: “Really?”

“Really. But tell me, you wily, little trickster, where did you learn this? And where did you get this marvellous thing? I have never heard anything like it!”

“That's because I invented it yesterday”, Hermes explained proudly. “I'm calling it lyre.”

“I adore it!”, Apollon exclaimed, “I'm friends with the Mousai, but even their music has never touched my heart like yours just did! Such a crafty little genius you are and you've just been born!”

“Awww, thanks! You're a genius too!”

Apollon chuckled and patted his thighs. “Come here, you little coaxer.”

“Yaaaay!”, Hermes squealed and jumped onto the Archer's lap, lyre still in hand.

“I see a great future ahead of you”, the blond prophesied. “I see glory in your name. I see you as a worthy member of our Council, a proud occupant of a golden throne. I see you and your mother honoured among all the gods. And I shall shower you with rich gifts and see to it, that all of this comes to fruition, if you will listen to me.”

“You mean you won't throw me into Tartaros?”, the little trickster grinned.

The Far-Shooter chuckled: “No. No, I won't.”

“Yay! Hey, if I give you my lyre and teach you how to play it, can I be the god of shepherding instead of you? And then you can be the god of music?”

“Very well”, Apollon nodded, summoned his whip in his hands and handed it to Hermes. “From now on you're the god of animal husbandry.”

The brunet laughed heartily, handed his lyre to Apollon and taught him how to play it.

Then they drove the cattle to where they had been before and returned to Olympos.

Thenceforth the Archer and the Trickster were always of one mind.

.

---

.

1) If you're stumbling over this name, Hermione is, in fact, an ancient Greek name and the female version of Hermes. In the epic cycle around the Trojan War, Menélaos and Helene of Sparta (whom you might know as Helen of Troy) have a single child named Hermione. 2) metera - Greek for "mother" 3) Athanatoi - plural form of Athanatos ("Deathless/Undying/Immortal") 4) Moiragetês - "Leader of the Moirai (the Fates)/Guide of Fate", an epithet of Zeus (and Apollon, but mostly Zeus)

[our-time-is-now]

July 16, 2019 (3): Tar and feathers

(previous play)

You can find more information about the authors, translators, content warning and additional information about the plays in the pinned post on our blog.

Tuesday, 1:34 pm:

David: *takes his plate and the two hot chocolate mugs to the kitchen and then looks toward the jetty where now only Matteo is left* *smiles and somehow yearns for him right now* *therefore goes to join him and plops down on the jetty next to him* *briefly wiggles his eyebrows and grins slightly* Na? *then leans forward and kisses him briefly* *murmurs against his lips* Missed you… *puts his hand on the back of his neck and briefly runs it through his hair*

Matteo: *has turned back toward the lake and thought about jumping in, but then felt too lazy* *hopes that David didn’t also go on the walk and was just about to force himself to get up and go look for him when he suddenly sits down next to him* *beams when he wiggles his eyebrows* Na? *leans toward him at the same time David does and also kisses him* *smiles at his words* Me too… *immediately scoots closer to him and wraps both arms around his middle* *puts his head on his shoulder and murmurs* Was that enough bond-building?

David: *smiles when Matteo says that he also missed him and wraps one arm around him when he leans against him* *puts his head onto Matteo’s and briefly closes his eyes* *hums in acknowledgement of Matteo’s question and eventually asks* For today and with regards to Alex, yes… *presses a kiss to his forehead* And what have you been up to without me? Besides missing me, of course…

Matteo: *murmurs* Good, you’ve been gone for long enough… *then grins slightly at his question* I’ve also worked on deeper bonds… with Mia… *laughs slightly* It’s really weird, we’ve known each other forever, have been living together for several months, but we’ve never really talked… *shrugs one shoulder and pushes David and himself backwards so that they can lie down* *leans onto one elbow so that he can look at him* So in case you’ve planned double dates, we’d be ready now…

David: *nods and grins slightly* I think so, too… *then lifts his eyebrow and looks at him slightly astonished* Really!? *then listens to him and laughs quietly* *lets Matteo push them down and looks up at him when he leans on his elbow* *draws up his eyebrows in amusement* Really… you’d be ready… so now only Alex and you and Mia and I have to build a deeper bond… then nothing will stand in the way of that… *grins and reaches for Matteo’s free hand to entwine their fingers* *then asks* Did you only talk about double dates or also about other things?

Matteo: *grins when he looks so astonished* *then shakes his head with a laugh* No, that would definitely be too much work… that has to be enough… *squeezes his hand a little and absentmindedly runs his thumb over David’s skin* No, also about other things… like how suuuuuper awesome our guys are, for example… *grins slightly* And about how sometimes intuition wins over plans.

David: *grins* Well, maybe something like a bond will also develop during the double dates. You don’t have to plan everything… *squeezes Matteo’s hand back and smiles when he moves his thumb over his skin* *nods at his words about guys* Yes, that’s true, I can confirm this… *briefly thinks about his next words and smirks slightly* Because nothing goes as planned, anyways?

Matteo: *laughs slightly* You can confirm that you’re super great or that Alex is super great? *shakes his head but then nods, after all* Yes and no, because sometimes it works better if you trust your intuition instead of trying to have everything under control… *then grins* We were actually talking about how we managed to get our suuuuuper awesome guys… and in those cases, intuition helped more than a plan.

David: *looks at Matteo in confusion and then laughs when he realizes that they talked past each other* Oh… we… yes, okay, of course we’re also super awesome… I thought you were talking about the others… I mean Hanna, Jonas, Carlos and such… *frowns at first because he still doesn’t really know about which situations exactly the intuition, plans and control refer to, but then gets the explanation* *groans quietly and laughs* Yes, okay, with us nothing went according to any plan whatsoever… *then looks at him* And with Mia and Alex neither? How did those two even get together? Or don’t you really know that, either?

Matteo: *then laughs slightly* Ohhhh, no, our guys as in our boyfriends… *then grins and nods* No, plans led to even more confusion in our case… *shakes his head and then nods* Well, I know some of it. Actually, he used to be together with Kiki, or they had a thing going on at least, but he never really was truly interested in her… that’s also why Carlos dislikes him so much… well, but Alex was apparently already into Mia, but she kept him at a distance because of Kiki… how exactly everything worked out in the end, I’m not really sure… but at some point there was quite a bit of conflict between Kiki and Mia… Carlos had mentioned something when Kiki and Carlos just got together, but Kiki was still mad… *laughs slightly and then shakes his head* Somehow, none of us get together completely normally.

David: *listens to Matteo when he tells the story of Mia and Alex and remembers that Alex mentioned something about the others rightfully not being his biggest fan* *wonders if he meant the situation with Kiki* *nods when Matteo says that Mia had kept Alex at a distance because of Kiki and can somehow understand that Mia and Kiki had some conflict because of it* *then has to think about what Matteo had once told him about Hanna and Jonas, that before Hanna, Jonas had been with Leonie and that Leonie and Hanna used to be best friends and then thinks about Carlos and Kiki, about whom he hasn’t heard a strange story yet* Hmmm… apart from Carlos and Kiki, right? *then looks up at him and smiles* Well, and in our case, at least there wasn’t anyone else involved who could have been hurt…

Matteo: *listens to him* Right! Apart from Carlos and Kiki! Well, apart from the Alex-thing… but well… that maybe doesn’t really count… *then laughs at his words* True… the fact that I had a girlfriend sounds made-up to me now, as well… *grins and slightly pulls on his hand* At least she quickly got over me, right?

David: *puts his free hand over his eyes and groans when Matteo mentions Sara* *then laughs quietly and shakes his head* Somehow I’ve always suppressed Sara, even back then… no idea why… *then looks at him again and shrugs his shoulders* But you weren’t a couple that was constantly hanging around each other… maybe that’s why… *then nods* Yes, at least there hadn’t been much drama… at least nothing I was aware of…

Matteo: *laughs when David groans and even more at his statement* Yes, weird… I really wonder why… *looks at him in amusement* *then shakes his head* No, on the contrary… at some point I ran out of apologies to /not/ hang out with her… *shrugs one shoulder* Well, until her confrontation in the hallway… and an angry post on Instagram… I’d say I got off easy…

David: *nods when he says that he got off easy and adds* /And/ I wasn’t as close with Sara as Hanna and Leonie or Mia and Kiki. *shrugs and grins slightly* Okay, maybe I’m a bad person but I don’t feel like I stole something from her… *sighs quietly and slightly pulls on Matteo’s hand* And now please let’s stop talking about Sara… I would love to continue to suppress her existence…

Matteo: *laughs again* Because you didn’t steal anything from her… *moves their entwined hands up and down* I’ve always belonged to you, anyways. *smiles slightly and then nods* Good plan. *leans down to him and kisses him tenderly*

David: *smiles pretty broadly when Matteo says that he’s always belonged to him anyways and realizes that his heart is doing a little jump at his words* *nods slightly and quietly says* I agree… *puts his free hand on the back of Matteo’s neck when he leans down to him and returns his kiss while he runs his hand through his hair at the back of his neck* *then looks him in the eyes, smiles and kisses him again* *lets go of his hand to wrap his arm around Matteo und pull him closer* *quietly murmurs* I’d like to say that we’ll jump into the lake again, but right now I’m way too lazy and it’s way too comfortable with you to make myself do it…

Matteo: *smiles slightly when he says that he agrees* *then also looks at him and buries his hand in his hair when David lets go of him* *lies down halfway on top of him and kisses his neck* *laughs quietly* It’s still early, we can stay here for a while and still jump into the lake later… *then lifts his head again to kiss him properly* It’s very likely that someone’s going to interrupt us soon, anyways… so we can still go into the lake then…

David: *can feel goosebumps when Matteo kisses his neck and closes his eyes* *only nods slightly when he says that they can still go into the lake later* *then feels Matteo’s lips on his again and runs a hand under his shirt on his back* *touches the soft skin there and returns the kiss* *grins slightly at his words and murmurs* I’m surprised that we haven’t been interrupted yet, anyways… *pulls him back down to him by his neck to kiss him some more*

Matteo: *can feel a pleasant shiver running down his back when David’s hand slips under his shirt* *slightly shakes his head and murmurs against his lips* Don’t jinx it… *kisses him again and this time deepens the kiss sooner* *runs his hand along David’s side and then also lets it slip under his shirt* *they are making out like that for a few minutes and then they can hear Carlos from far away: “Well, look at that, Davenzi! What are you up to? In broad daylight?”* *then also hears Jonas: “Man, Carlos, I told you to leave them alone.”* *pulls away from David very reluctantly* *kisses him again quickly, murmurs “more later” and then turns around onto his back next to David and looks up into Carlos’ laughing face* You better have a really good reason, Carlito… what’s up?

David: *slightly shakes his head when Matteo tells him not to jinx it and when Matteo deepens the kiss forgets that the others are close-by in the first place* *sighs quietly and feels his heartbeat speed up when Matteo’s hand slips under his shirt* *is about to suggest that they move to the tent several times – not because he remembers that the others could see them, but because he simply wants more – but doesn’t want to ruin the moment* *suddenly hears Carlos’ voice and sighs quietly when they have to stop their kiss because of him* *nods at Matteo’s words and smiles slightly* *is surely a little red and flushed in the face when he finally looks up at Carlos with raised eyebrows* *only sees him grin at Matteo’s question and can’t really process anything before Carlos lets himself fall down on the jetty between/on top of Matteo and him and sees him looking from one of them to the other* *moves a bit away and laughs with a groan* Dude, you’re completely wet! *realizes that Carlos ignores him and instead hears him say: “There’s even a really good reason! I really miss you guys and had to realize that you’re both cheating on me!”* *sees him first looking at Matteo punishingly: “You with Mia!” and then punishingly at him: “And you with Alex!”* *laughs and draws up his eyebrows* Ohhh… that sounds like someone’s jealous!

Matteo: *is really a little annoyed that Carlos interrupted them and even more so when he just sits down between them* *therefore moves away a little* *but then hears his words and can’t help but to grin* Awwww, poor Carlos… *then throws an arm around his shoulders and hugs him* But you know that we don’t love anyone like we love you!

David: *grins when Matteo pities Carlos and when he wraps an arm around him* *sits up, but then shakes his head at Matteo’s next words and looks at him* Umm – that’s not quite true! I do love you more than him! *grins again and sees Carlos looking mock-offended* *then hears Jonas: “David, how can you do this to him!?”* *shrugs and murmurs mock-shamefaced* Sorry… *then sees Jonas also sit down: “Well, he’ll get over it somehow!”* *hears Carlos: “I’m not sure, yet… as long as I have Matteo’s love for me, then maybe…”*

Matteo: *looks at David a little reproachfully because of course he didn’t mean it like /that/* *but then has to grin at Jonas’ words* *squeezes Carlos a little and says* Of couuuuuuurse… I told you I don’t love anyone the way I love you… *then murmurs to David* That has nothing to do with loving him more, only in a way in which I love no one else… *sees Carlos gape at him: “Does that mean you love David more than me?”* *hears Jonas laugh* Umm…. Yes? You also love Kiki more than me, right? *sees Carlos tilt his head: “Hmmm I have to think about this…”* *then sees Abdi suddenly sit down next to David: “You have to think about what?”* If he loves Kiki more than me… *then hears Abdi laugh: “Don’t let Kiki hear this…”*

David: *a first pfffs with a grin when he hears Matteo’s words but then hears his murmurs and smiles happily* *then laughs slightly indignantly at Carlos’ question* Excuse me… and what about Kiki!? *then hears Matteo asking about Kiki as well and laughs again when Carlos says that he has to think about it* *then sees Abdi sit down next to him and adds to Matteo’s explanation* Carlos is sulky and jealous that we love each other more than him… *then draws up his eyebrows in mock-offense and points at Carlos, who is still sitting between him and Matteo* He even drove a wedge between us! *then sees Abdi looking at Carlos mock-scandalized: “So my love isn’t enough for you!? Now you also flirt with Davenzi!?”* *sees Jonas roll his eyes and shake his head in amused annoyance*

Matteo: *laughs when David says that Carlos drove a wedge between them and reaches his free hand out over Carlos to David* *then feels Carlos getting up with a jerk and his arm, that had been around his shoulder, falls to the ground* *hears him talking while he goes over to Abdi: “I’ve decided that I love Kiki the most and that I don’t want to drive a wedge between you two.”* *immediately scoots closer to David with a grin* *sees Carlos sitting down next to Abdi and Jonas scooting next to him* *says a little amused* Good that we could clear this up… *hears Jonas: “We all love each other, anyways, just differently…”* *then hears Carlos: “Definitely, Brudi, and Matteo even more since he has David!”* *slightly rolls his eyes and leans his head against David’s shoulder*

David: *grins and reaches for Matteo’s hand when he holds it out to him* *then laughs quietly when Carlos gets up and declares his decision* *nods satisfied* Good decision! *also immediately scoots closer to Matteo when the space between them gets empty again* *then nods at Jonas’ words but immediately frowns at Carlos’ words* *immediately asks* Huh? What’s that supposed to mean!? *puts his arm around Matteo’s shoulder when he leans onto him* *then hears Carlos: “Well he’s a lot more sociable… not as passive anymore… happier and stuff like that.”* *is still frowning and keeps looking at Carlos questioningly* *then laughs quietly* Does that mean you didn’t love him as much when he was less happy!? *doesn’t really understand that train of thought* *does think that it’s nice to hear that Matteo seems happier since they got together but finds the logic a little strange that the others love him more because of it*

Matteo: *presses his head a little more against David’s shoulder* *actually doesn’t want to discuss why which one of them loves him more or less* *hears Carlos’ answer and also thinks that he’s happier and more sociable* *hears David’s question and murmurs* It’s okay… *hears Carlos, who seems to struggle a little: “Umm no, of course not… I’m just saying… well…”* *then hears Abdi helping him out: “It’s just that Matteo is now more open now… well… you haven’t been around before, right?”* *swallows slightly and then lifts his head* By the way, Matteo is sitting right here and can hear you. *hears Carlos again: “Yeah, man, Brudi, you know how we mean it… well… we always love you… and stuff…”* *shrugs one shoulder and puts his head back down*

David: *looks back and forth between Carlos and Abdi and slowly nods when Abdi says that he wasn’t there before* *then smiles slightly at Matteo’s words and presses a quick kiss to his temple* *murmurs* Sorry… *then looks back at the boys and says* Well, you are right when you say that I wasn’t here before and didn’t notice as much. But I do think that a person doesn’t change completely just because you’re suddenly in a relationship. Okay, you probably really are happier, but things like openness or sociability don’t change because of it… *then hears Jonas telling him: “Huh, but you’ve said it yourself that you’re now also more open than in the past…”* *looks at Jonas and shrugs* Well, yes. But that isn’t only because of my relationship with Matteo but much more because of the experiences that I made with him and the people here in Berlin.

Matteo: *slightly presses his lips together when he realizes that the discussion continues* *then hears Carlos: “Yeah, but, huh? What are you accusing me of now? We’re telling you that Matteo has gotten more open thanks to meeting you… that’s the same thing?”* *slightly shakes his head and then hears Abdi: “I mean, Matteo really always has been a funny guy and such… but before, he was just more closed-off… there’s no denying that…”* *swallows hard and thinks that before, he hadn’t been out and that he had been putting on an act half of the time* *but really doesn’t want to enter into the discussion*

David: *shakes his head when Carlos says that it’s the same thing and was just about to start giving him an explanation when Abdi adds something* *doesn’t really know what he should respond to first* *laughs quietly and says a little bewildered* A funny guy? *can’t believe it that Matteo is reduced to that* *sees Carlos staring at him in confusion: “Bruid, I really don’t get what you’re trying to say…”* *sighs* To me it just sounds like you are reducing Matteo to what he’s like since he got together with me. Of course he was more closed off before… But he also wasn’t out – and you really are closed-off in a situation like that because you’re carrying a huge secret with you… *only then realizes that he’s talking about Matteo again while he’s present and squeezes him in apology* *but is a little angry right now and just hopes that Matteo will give him some sort of sign if it gets too much for him*

Matteo: *hears David’s little speech and really loves him right now because he gets it even though he hadn’t been present* *but also thinks that the others just don’t get it because they never had to come out* *then hears Jonas: “Brudi, I know you don’t like to hear this, but I’ve really known him for quite a while and there’s nothing wrong in saying that he’s in a better mood now. Besides, we’ve been friends with him before, as well.”* *then also hears Carlos add: “What else should we have said?”* *feels the urge to just get up and leave so that they can argue about it without him present* *almost has to laugh when he realizes that this must be David’s flight instinct that has somehow affected him* *then hears Abdi again: “Yeah, seriously, it’s really cool that you defend him and stuff but we really didn’t mean it in a bad way.”*

David: *looks at Jonas when he talks and is slightly annoyed by the fact that he’s playing the “we’ve known each other for so long” card again* *then looks at the other two and listens to them and wonders why no one is addressing what he just said* *sighs quietly and runs his free hand over his face* I know that you didn’t mean it in a bad way… and also that you’ve known each other for a long time and yes, it’s nice that you’re happy that Matteo is in a better mood now… *briefly looks at Matteo and groans* Sorry, really! I know we should stop talking about you but… *looks at the others again* … for me it’s about the fact that I sometimes feel like you somehow don’t take all of that so seriously… Of course Matteo is also a funny guy, sure. But he is so much more and he’s been like that before, as well. And that doesn’t change because of me! And if he’s more open since we got together then I might be a tiny reason for it and the fact that I make him happy for some reason, but it is mostly because he can be himself now – that he’s out. But those traits that are showing now after he came out, they have already been there before. You must have seen this since you’ve known him for so long! *looks at the others apologetically and sighs* I have no idea, maybe it’s not so easy to understand if you never had to come out… *sees Jonas looking at him seriously and eventually shrug: “Maybe you can really only fully understand it if you had to come out, but I still understand somewhat what you mean… maybe we should have questioned things a little more or something… although: Hey, of course I know that Matteo isn’t just a funny guy… that there’s more to him!”*

Matteo: *slightly shakes his head when David apologizes and waves it off* *thinks that they’re in the middle of it now, anyways* *then hears David’s outburst and is really pretty surprised by it* *thinks that he’s hitting them with quite a lot of things but is still more touched than anything else* *hears Jonas’ response to it and thinks that if one of the three of them knows, then it’s Jonas* *then also hears Carlos react: “Ey, Brudi, I’m really sorry if it came across like that, that we reduce you like that…”* *is a little surprised that he addresses him directly and looks up* *murmurs* It’s okay… *then also hears Abdi: “Yeah, sorry, Brudi…”* *sits up a little straighter again* It’s okay… I didn’t really make it obvious that something was going on with me… *then looks at David* It’s okay… really…

David: *hears the guys’ reactions and nods especially at Jonas’ words* *then smiles slightly when Abdi and Carlos apologize to Matteo, even though he’s not really sure if they understood what it’s about* *returns Matteo’s gaze and nods briefly* *presses another kiss to his temple before turning to the others* *is even a little sheepish now and quietly says* I really didn’t mean to attack you or anything. I’m sorry if it came across like that… *sees the others nod and sees Jonas grin slightly: “Okay, so that the mood isn’t completely ruined now we could maybe come back to my original statement and agree on the fact that we simply love each other for who we are!?”* *then hears Carlos: “I’m totally in favor of that! Brudi-love and so on!”* *grins slightly and also nods* Sounds good!

Matteo: *smiles slightly when he feels David’s kiss* *grins at Jonas’ comment* *nods* I agree! *quickly presses a kiss to David’s lips and whispers* Thanks… *then hears Carlos: “Ey, Brudis, at least we really don’t have to worry about Matteo any longer… if someone shits on him David will be there straight away with tar and feathers!”* *grins slightly and shrugs one shoulder* Kiki would do the same for you…

David: *returns Matteo’s kiss and briefly runs a hand through his hair* *looks a little surprised when he thanks him, but then smiles slightly and quickly kisses him again* *grins at Carlos’ words and wraps his arm a little tighter around Matteo* Yes, I always have tar and feathers with me… a whip and a baseball bat are too bulky for my taste… *hears the others laugh and realizes that he is a little more relaxed again* *then sees Alex stepping onto the jetty wearing swimming trunks and the swim binder and sees him stop in front of them, hesitate briefly and eventually hears him ask: “Hey, does anyone of you want to join me in the water again?”* *smiles and briefly looks at Matteo questioningly: “I’d really like to… what about you?”* *can see Jonas jumping up out of the corner of his eyes and hears him declare: “I’m in!”*

Matteo: *grins slightly about the tar and feathers* Can’t hurt… *looks up in surprise when Alex stops in front of them* *briefly grins at David when he asks if someone wants to join him* *can imagine where Alex’ chumminess is coming from all of a sudden* *then nods* Yep, I’m in… but my binder is in the tent… you can already go in, we’ll join you in a minute… *gets up and sees that Jonas and Alex have already jumped into the lake and that Abdi and Carlos are talking about something else* *quickly pulls David closer again and kisses him again* You really didn’t have to come defend me like that… but still, thanks…

David: *nods when Matteo says that his binder is still in the tent* Yes, mine as well… we’ll quickly go get changed… *sees Alex and Jonas nod and disappear into the lake and was just about to get up when Matteo pulls him closer again* *immediately smiles, wraps his arms around him and returns his kiss* *shakes his head slightly* It wasn’t supposed to be a “defending you”… *grimaces slightly because it did end up like that and sighs* *kisses him again for a moment and then murmurs against his lips* It just sometimes annoys me when I feel like the others can’t see how great you are… *kisses him again and then smiles* But you’re still welcome…

Matteo: *grins slightly when he says that he didn’t plan on doing that* *already thought so* *smiles into the kiss and also afterwards when he hears his words* *kisses him again and then again just because he can* Nice that you see it like that… *grins and then takes his hand and goes to the tent with him*

(next play)

[dessarious]

Misconceptions, Miscommunication, and Misinformation Pt50

Inspired by @ozmav Maribat AU

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The rest of the week was fairly uneventful until Friday. Adrien had grown sullen and quiet for the most part around the time that Discorde had shown up. Right after Damian had helped Ladybug break into the mansion the boy had been in a panic for days. Accusing everyone of stealing something from his room. He refused to say what but Damian had his suspicions. Giving that he’d stopped accusing Damian specifically as soon as the new black cat showed up was a rather obvious tell. Marinette refused to confirm his hunch.

Friday during lunch Damian actually stayed at the school for once. He’d been trying to avoid Luka and Marinette made sure he was always at her house when it was likely Damian would be there. When he brought it up she just gave him an innocent look and said she just wanted to have her friends around as much as possible because she had so few of them now. She wouldn’t admit to forcing them together, but he knew that was her goal.

That was how he ended up listening to a debate between his classmates, Adrien included, about which holder was better and why Ladybug had a new partner to begin with. The fact that any of them questioned the why made him once again want to stab people for their stupidity.

“That’s ridiculous! Of course Ladybug replaced him. All he was doing near the end was making her job harder. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn he was working with Hawkmoth to try and defeat her.” It was a good theory actually especially given who they were, but if the hurt and anger on Adrien’s face was any indication it wasn’t a correct one.

“That’s insane, Chat never would have sided with Hawkmoth. So what if he decided to have a little fun during attacks? It’s not like there’s any real damage once Ladybug casts her cure. Maybe if she’d just paid more attention to his feelings they’d have been more productive.” Just about everyone was looking at him like he’d lost his mind, and that included the ones her were defending the former hero.

“Being a hero is serious business and the last thing anyone needs is someone screwing around when they should be protecting people. What if one day Ladybug’s cure doesn’t work? What if the damage stays for some reason?” Damian really hadn’t meant to get into this debate but hearing this from someone that had fancied themselves and hero pissed him off to no end. “What if his playing at being a hero got one or both of them killed? Oh wait that’s right, he did get himself killed on a regular basis didn’t he? Or mind controlled, or trapped, the list goes on. Chat Noir was good at one thing and one thing only, and that was harassing girls that wanted nothing to do with him.”

“You take that back!” While not unexpected Adrien’s outburst sank Damian’s opinion of him even lower. He honestly hadn’t thought that was possible. “If Ladybug would have just admitted her feelings for him none of this would have happened. She’s the selfish one, turning him down over and over again instead of just giving him a chance and admitting she was wrong!”

Everyone in the room was either edging away from the boy or glaring at him. For his part Damian sent a text to Marinette and Chloe for good measure to let them know there was likely to be an Akuma very shortly, unless of course Gabriel had some reason not to Akumatize his son. It certainly wouldn’t be because he cared about him but perhaps it wouldn’t look good for his brand if the sunshine boy became a villain. Being targeted by them would gain sympathy but even knowing that Hawkmoths victims weren’t given a choice it wouldn’t play well with international buyers and there were a lot of them in town for the fashion show this weekend. It might also hurt his chances to recruit the Functional Fashion designer.

As they made it through lunch with out any purple butterflies showing up Damian took it as more proof that Hawkmoth and Gabriel Agreste were in fact the same person. Sure Hawkmoth didn’t Akumatize every person who got upset but this school was known as his favorite target and there were more students with bad feelings right now than just Adrien. For his part the boy just sat there and pouted for the rest of the break, but at least he wasn’t still spouting nonsense.

Talk in the cafeteria slowly came back to life with a different subject which was of course, the fashion show. Even people who generally had no opinion on the subject felt the need to chime in about one subject and that was the big reveal. Functional Fashion had been a huge hit with people who hated the fashion industry for making clothes that weren’t in any way practical not to mention cost more than most people made in a year. So naturally there was a running debate about which fashion house they would go to, if any.

“There’s no way they’ll end up working for one of the major brands. They’ve said multiple times they’re happy working on commission without a big name to bloat their prices.”

“Then why do a major reveal at all? They could just announce their identity on their website and be done with it. This seems like a ploy to get attention from the fashion community.”

“Well it is a show for amateur and up and coming designers so it is a bit of a shitty move to put that much attention on yourself rather than the people who need it.”

“What if they were going to put their pieces in the show but were afraid they’d be figured out anyway? Maybe this is just so they can do things on their own terms.”

It kept going on and on. Damian didn’t add to the conversation and neither did Adrien though he did look rather interested in it. Damian did wonder how Marinette had convinced someone so set on secrecy to show up in public like this. He remembered a specific post on their site that said they were worried some people in their life would try to steal her ideas or claim she stole them herself. They were dealing with a lot of people lying about them and… and he was such an idiot.

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[kingreywrites]

Time and time again

Words count: 3636

Eugene Appreciation Week Day Seven: Birthday

Summary: Throughout his life, Eugene was confronted with the concept of birthdays, and the fact that he didn't have one, being an orphan and all. He didn't care, anyway - birthdays were dumb.

Read on ao3

@fishskiin

Note: On this last day of the EAW, I wanted to thank once again the people who organised it, because they are awesome! I loved participating and seeing all the other partcipations, so thank you so much!!

Eugene was four, and he was jealous. Today, Erica - an older girl who was mean to everyone - got the right to not do any of the chores, and had an extra serving at dinner. When he asked miss Hannah about it, she answered curtly that it was Erica's birthday and, as such, she deserved to have a nicer day than usual.

Eugene thought it was awfully unfair. He was sure that he never had a birthday and, anyway, who decided which kid got the right to have one? Because Eugene would like a word with them, Erica definitely didn't deserve it. She was insufferable. She was always accusing someone else of her mistakes, and Eugene had already been punished twice in her place, when he did nothing!

"Give it back!" Eugene demanded, on his tiptoes as he tried to reach his pillow, that Erica was holding high above his head. She laughed and it was an awful shrilling sound. "Erica! Give it back or I'll- I'll…"

"You can't do nothing, Eugene," she smiled, "it's my birthday, they won't get mad at me."

"Well I don't know who decided that, but that's dumb!"

That was apparently the wrong thing to say, because she laughed even harder, even letting go of the pillow - and Eugene immediately gathered it in his arms, blushing since he knew she was mocking him.

"No one decides it, you idiot," she snorted, "but I guess someone without parents wouldn't know."

Humiliated, Eugene fled the scene, pillow in his hands, and tried to ignore how much his heart twisted each time someone brought that up. Erica was the idiot here, because she might have parents, but she ended up in the orphanage anyway - and Eugene believed that one day, his parents would come back for him. No, he knew they would. And that day, Erica'll bite her tongue.

He continued his little investigation though, because he was now officially intrigued by the concept of birthdays that parents apparently gave. How did they decide the date? Did it change each year? He didn't understand why he hadn't heard of this before, but he guessed that Erica was the first one to really insist on being celebrated - and he didn't like talking to others too much, anyway.

He bugged miss Hannah a week about it before she finally caved, and took him aside five minutes to explain.

"Birthdays are simply the day you were born," she sighed, tired as usual, "each year, you celebrate that day. It's not that complicated."

"But why don't I have one?"

"Well, the person that left you there didn't leave a note, so we don't know what day it is. Is that all Eugene?"

It wasn't, really, but miss Hannah was already gone. Eugene thought about calling her back, because that didn't make much more sense. After all, he didn't have a name either at first, and they gave him one, why wouldn't they be able to choose a birthday too? But, as he thought about it, he realised that they wouldn't want to have a special day for each and every kid. Plus, they already didn't have the best ideas for a name - Eugene was a pretty lame one. Perhaps it was better that they hadn't chose a birthday date.

Well, if Erica liked birthdays, it probably meant it wasn't that cool anyway. Eugene was four and he decided he didn't like birthdays.

------

Eugene was ten, and he was in so much trouble. He hadn't mean to, really, but he maybe kinda stole a little from a store. Miss Hannah was going to kill him, and if that didn't work, Arnwaldo would laugh at him until he died of shame probably. The bad thing, actually, wasn't that he stole something - he had already stole a lot of things from street vendors, even if it was only food until now. But, he figured that, with a satchel, he could store more food on him, and share it back at the orphanage, so it wasn't that bad.

No, the real problem here was that he got caught. By a mountain of a man who could probably kill him if he wanted.

"Uh, hi sir," Eugene squeaked, taking a step back to a wall, now officially stuck. "I was- I mean- There is an explanation for this-"

"Is there?" The man grumbled from under his black beard. "Let's give it to the guards, then."

Eugene paled, clutching the useless satchel tighter. "The guards? Oh no, no, no need, they're very busy being, you know, guards!"

He laughed. The man didn't laugh. Eugene stopped laughing.

Miss Hannah was going to kill him, slowly and painfully.

"Flynn!" A voice that Eugene knew all too well cried out. "Thank god you're here!" Arnwaldo exclaimed tearfully, pushing the vendor out of they way to go and hug Eugene. "Play along," the other boy muttered, before turning on his heels and hugging the man looming angrily over them, "oh, kind sir, thank you so much, you found him! I was so worried!" Eugene's best friend wailed.

Eugene hesitated, unsure of where Arnwaldo was going with this - well, except that he called him Flynn, meaning that he had to call him Lance, their recently chosen shenanigans-names. But Arnwaldo was always good at getting them out of a pickle, even if said pickle was a big muscular and menacing man who wanted to kill Eugene, so he trusted him.

"That's enough," the man growled, pushing Arnwaldo away.

"Yeah, that's enough Flynn," Arnwaldo nodded, putting his hands over his heart dramatically - an adverb that should be employed as a whole for Arnwaldo entire demeanour. "I know that you're hurting, pal, I know-"

His voice broke and he sniffed so loudly Eugene had to do everything not to burst out laughing. The glare of the vendor was enough to dissuade him though.

"Listen, kid-" the man tried to interrupt.

"Please, sir, you have to understand! It's his birthday!" As he said that, Arnwaldo tore the satchel from Eugene's hands and shook it in front of the man's face. "Little Flynn is eleven today!"

"And that gives him the right to-"

"It's also his parents' death anniversary!"

Eugene cringed, but the man kept silent - a fact that Arnwaldo was quick to take advantage of.

"This is all so tragic," he whimpered, the back of his hand going to his forehead, "they were off to his birthday party, ready to give him the gift of his life, when they were both hit by falling roof tiles!"

"Both of them?"

"It comes in threes," Arnwaldo nodded wisely, unaware of how ominous he sounded. Eugene tried to look as pitiful as possible when the man glanced at him. "And you'll never guess exactly what gift they were planning to give poor little Flynn!"

"... A satchel, I suppose," the vendor sighed.

Arnwaldo and Eugene nodded eagerly at the same time. Then, Eugene remembered himself and went back to looking sad - if a little hopeful.

The big man sighed - again. He pushed a hand through his hair, looking a lot less threatening for a moment, before biting out "Fine. Take the damn satchel if you want, but don't come back."

"Thank you sir!" Arnwaldo yelled, already halfway to the door.

Eugene smiled awkwardly and tried to run to the door too, but a big hand stopped him mid-movement.

"That satchel is going to be your gift for whenever your birthday truly is," the man said, and Eugene gulped as his piercing stare seemed to bore through him. "But kid, whatever you think you'll get out of stealing, it's not worth it."

Eugene nodded and fled the scene, catching to Arnwaldo a few streets down. His friend was laughing as he threw him the satchel, and Eugene looked down on it, the first "birthday gift" of his life. What the vendor didn't realise was that Eugene himself had no idea of when was his actual birthday. He fiddled with the satchel's material all the way back to the orphanage, even as he joked with Arnwaldo about what just happened.

Late at night, when everyone was asleep and he could think peacefully, he decided today could as well be his birthday, since, until now, he changed the age he gave to others on each new year. He didn't celebrate his birthday anyway, because he didn't have any and because it was dumb, but he could chose the date when he changed the number. It was totally not the same thing.

Eugene just turned eleven, and he fell asleep clutching a satchel to his chest.

------

Eugene was fifteen, and he was in love - well, Flynn was. Maybe.

Today was the Baron's birthday and Flynn gave him a stolen gold statuette, which seemed to please the man. Well, as much as this gruff, always angry man could be. Flynn knew that the Baron didn't like him that much, and it was shared sentiment, but he kept trying because of Stalyan - and because Lance and him didn't want to die, but that was beside the point.

They had organised a party in which everyone seemed to be plotting the murder of everyone else, especially Flynn's, but, anyway, he never managed to relax entirely in this castle - except when he was with Stalyan. Who was, for now, somewhere lost in the crowd, while Lance had been a no show, probably too busy getting into trouble.

Flynn sighed, leaning on one of the swan's statue he found pretty cool, wishing he could be anywhere else but here. Well, not quite - wishing that he could be alone with Stalyan. Speaking of the devil…

"Hey stranger," Stalyan smirked, popping from nothing and nearly giving Flynn a heart attack. He salvaged his reaction by leaning more heavily on the statue, as if it was suave move from the beginning - though, going by Stalyan's raised eyebrows, it didn't work.

"Hey Stalyan," he answered smoothly, his voice barely cracking anymore, "enjoying yourself?"

"Please," she scoffed, "you know that if I could, I'd kill every person here. Plus," she whispered, taking Flynn's collar and tugging forward, "I was missing my favourite guy."

Flynn would have answered if his brain didn't short-circuit at the kiss.

"By the way," Stalyan said, once she left him red-faced and out of breath, "I was wondering something."

"Huh?" Flynn answered dumbly, his heart still beating loudly in his chest.

"Well, I realised that I didn't know when your birthday was."

Just like that, Flynn snapped to attention. It was true that the subject hadn't been breached yet, even when Stalyan celebrated her own birthday, but until now, she hadn't asked and he hadn't wanted to bring it up. Taking a deep breath, he figured that it was time to come clean - it wasn't like he hid it because he didn't trust her, he was just a little embarrassed.

"I don't have one," he announced with a shrug, going for casual, "you know, being an orphan and what not."

"Yeah, no need to go into the whole tragic backstory," Stalyan laughed - she really didn't like when Flynn was sappy, so he tried his best not to be. "But, seriously, you never even chose a date yourself?"

Flynn hesitated. For a few second, he thought about telling her about the day he chose, and why he chose it; he thought about telling her that, if she really wanted, well they could act as if it was his real birthday and he'd do his best to bear it; and maybe, casually, he could let it slip that Flynn wasn't exactly his real name. She deserved to know, didn't she? And being Flynn, as natural as it was to him now, was only part of him - but love was about openness, he was sure, he had read about it in books.

Flynn opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Stalyan shrugged, a smirk on her lips.

"It's certainly easier to remember," she smiled, "and I hate thinking about gifts, anyway." Flynn chuckled, but it sounded strangled to his own ears - which Stalyan didn't notice. "That's what I like about you, Flynn: everything is fun and easy."

She disappeared back into the party with a flick of her hair, and Flynn ignored the pit in his stomach as he tried to convince himself that she was right - it was easier that way. Plus, birthdays were dumb anyway.

Eugene was fifteen, but he wasn't Eugene - he was Flynn, and his greatest quality was that everything with him was fun and easy.

------

Eugene was twenty-two and he had the best year of his life - impressive, especially since dying didn't even chirp at his happiness too much.

He was in love, for real this time, and he was lucky enough to be loved in return, by the greatest woman on Earth no less. Rapunzel was his sunshine, she made the world a better place just by existing, and made him the best version of himself - because, simply by being nearby, she made him want to be a better man, she made him someone he actually liked to be, backstories and quirks included.

Which didn't mean that their lives were absolutely perfect - this year had been great, but it had brought its lot of trouble.

This night, Eugene was just about ready to fall down on his bed and sleep for at least a week. Lately, his days had been packed full with concerns about Varian's turn to villainy, concerns about the King's ever growing secrets, concerns about Rapunzel's state of mind and, overall, concerns for about everything. That was without counting the healthy dose of trouble that was to be expected in their lives, plus Rapunzel's upcoming nineteenth birthday that he wanted to make perfect. All in all, Eugene was a busy man, and when he finally found his way back to his bed at night, he felt like it was his right to stay in it for his mandatory eight-hour beauty sleep.

Pajamas and night-mask ready, everything seemed to be at its rightful place - until his door was banged open, startling a scream out of him.

A manly scream. He'd swear it in front of a jury.

Scrambling to get his mask out of his face, he turned on his feet and was relieved to see Rapunzel in front of him. Then, he saw that she was frowning sadly at him, and he got worried, all thoughts of sleep erased from his mind.

"Blondie? What's wrong?" He asked, going to take her in his arms but she evaded him and went to sit on his bed. He frowned, nonplussed, and watched her fiddle with the sheet under her hands. He called her name again, making her raise her head and meet his eyes - there was a sad glint in her own, something he hated to see.

"You know you can tell me everything?" she started hesitantly.

"Of course!" He nodded, before sitting next to her and taking her hand in his. Thankfully, she didn't avoid his touch this time - instead, she tightened her grip around him, lowering her eyes. Eugene wanted to ask her what was wrong, but he didn't want to push her when she was obviously trying to get up the nerve by herself.

"And… You know that, sometimes, I may not think about doing something that's normal for everyone else? Because of-" she bit her lips, and took a deep breath. "Because of the tower and Gothel."

"Sunshine," Eugene whispered, taking her cheek in the palm of his free hand now that he recognised the guilt churning in those eyes, "yes, I know that. And I also know that you're being vague intentionally but, whatever it is that you think you didn't do well enough, I'm sure we can solve it."

Her wavering smile was hardly a comfort and Eugene was seriously getting worried about what had happened. Rapunzel still had trouble with social codes, but that translated into hugs and overeagerness - the whole castle was used to it and, frankly, Eugene didn't see what was the big deal about it. Even Cassandra had warmed up to it, and it did good to the foreign royals to receive a Rapunzel hug from time to time. Honestly, Rapunzel was way harder on herself than anybody else, but something was different here - she was worried about his reaction, particularly.

"I'm so sorry Eugene," she breathed out mournfully, "I never asked you when your birthday was."

Oh. Oh.

"And I mean," she kept rambling, "I understand how hurt you must have been, especially since you already gave me so much on my birthday but I sincerely didn't think to ask! Which is wrong of me, of course, but this year has been so hectic and I didn't even think of it and now my birthday is in three days but you never-"

"Sunshine," Eugene interrupted softly, stopping her movements by putting his hands on her shoulders, "I'm the one who should be sorry."

"What? But-"

"It's- Well, I kinda avoid birthdays discussions all together. I was happy that no one asked, but I'm sorry that it made you feel so bad when I did everything I could to not come clean about it."

Eugene sighed, closing his eyes for a second as he knew he had to tell her now. Stalyan's words for so long ago still echoed in his head sometimes - no need to go into the whole tragic backstory, Flynn - but he knew that it was different with Rapunzel. She wanted to know him, know every part of him, and it was unfair to keep the birthday thing from her just because it made him uncomfortable. She didn't deserve to blame herself for his weird hangups.

Going by her inquisitive and unrelenting gaze, he didn't think he could avoid this discussion anyway.

"I don't have a birthday," he announced, going for casual and missing by a mile. "Whoever left me at the orphanage didn't leave one, and the caretakers didn't give me one either."

"That's… That's awful, Eugene," Rapunzel gasped and he shifted, uncomfortable.

Yes, to her it probably sounded horrible - her birthdays had been a symbol of hope and dreams all her life, he knew how important it was to her and he knew how she treasured being able to make someone happy on their birthdays. Actually, he had thought that this question would pop up sooner, but apparently she just… trusted him to tell her. And he didn't. (He still felt bad about that one.)

"It's not, really," he smiled, "I can't miss what I never had! Plus, it's easier to remember," he winked.

Wrong thing to say - she looked devastated now. A determined - and quite scary - glint in her eyes, Rapunzel took his head between her hands and pulled him toward her own face, ignoring his startled yelp.

"I'm gonna throw you the best birthday party ever," she promised fervently, "or better yet, twenty-two birthday parties, to catch up on those you missed. Are you free tomorrow? We'll start tomorrow, you'll see, I will-"

"Hold on tiger," Eugene chuckled, more touched than he'd be willing to admit. He put his hands over hers and made her let go gently. "Your birthday is in three days, let's take care of that first."

"But I had eighteen of those, and you never had one!" she insisted.

"Hey, Rapunzel," he said softly, "thank you, really. No one really cared about my non-existent birthday before. But, in three days, you'll have your first birthday with your family, and me, and it's important to me that you focus on that first."

Her eyes bore right through his and she deflated, apparently convinced that he was being honest. And he was - he may not care too much about his own birthday, but hers had too been the best day of his life. And she deserved to be the centre of everyone focus that day, even her own - he wouldn't want her to be busy organizing his birthday.

"Alright," she nodded, before perking up. "You're right, anyway, your birthday can't be at the same time that mine because it needs to be yours and yours only! Oh, that means I can chose the date and surprise you!" She exclaimed, and he laughed, feeling warm and happy and - even if he wasn't going to admit it - excited at the prospect of finally getting a birthday.

Eugene was twenty-two, and he spent the night smiling as he listened to Rapunzel trying to determine what month suited him best.

------

Eugene was twenty-five - uhm, twenty-six, apparently, and, for the first time in his life, he had celebrated his real date of birth. It might have involved a lot more kidnapping and near death experiences than he ever expected, but it was still one of the greatest day of his life.

Rapunzel had wanted to propose to him so, honestly, there wasn't a lot of things that Cassandra could do to make this day bad. Eugene was just too happy.

A movement jostled him from his slumber and he blinked his heavy eyes open. Rapunzel was warm against him and her room was dark, making him notice that he had fallen asleep here - and perhaps he should make his way to his room, but he was too tired and too comfortable to care about it enough and force himself to move.

"Sorry," Rapunzel mumbled, the source of the original movement, "go back to sleep."

Eugene hummed and hug her tighter to his chest, his eyes already closing again. He kissed her forehead lightly and snuggled her, drawing a soft laugh from her.

"Best birthday ever," he whispered, and he fell back asleep with a smile, knowing that she would try to outdo herself next year to make a liar out of him.

He was looking forward to it.

[malecsecretsanta]

Merry Christmas, starsarefallinglikerain!

For @starsarefallinglikerain. Merry Christmas Chiara! Enjoy. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Online Magnus and Alec bond over Stephen King movies. Offline things are completely different.

Read On AO3

*****

Stephen King, matchmaker

Alexander97: When Carrie's arm came out of her gravesite, I jumped.

Banetastic: I've seen the movie a hundred times and I jump every time.

Alexander97: John Travolta.

Banetastic: John Travolta.

Alexander97: LOL, he was only in it for a few minutes, but he was great.

Banetastic: After I saw Saturday Night Fever, I wanted to marry him.

Alexander97: Really?

Banetastic: Yes, only thing is, he's not into guys. Shame.

Alexander97: Yeah, that would be a deal breaker. This was before Kotter?

Banetastic: No, I think he did the movie while he was doing the tv show.

Alexander97: Oh. I wished I had Carrie's powers.

Banetastic: You wanted to kill your schoolmates?

Alexander97: No my father.

Banetastic: Oh.

Alexander97: Anyway, Carrie and Tommy were so cute together.

Banetastic: Yes they were. Too bad they didn't get a happy ending.

Alexander97: The first time I saw the movie, I wrote a fanfic about them getting married and having kids.

Banetastic: That's wild.

Alexander97: Yes. Tommy got a job in an office and Carrie did sewing at home. They were so in love and were married forever. I was fifteen or sixteen at the time.

Banetastic: I would love to read it.

Alexander97: I forgot what it was called. LMAO, I don't even remember what my handle was. But I'll look for it.

Banetastic: Great. It's getting late.

Alexander97: True. We start talking and time flies by. Good night, Bane.

Banetastic: Night, Alexander. Until tomorrow.

Alexander97: Until tomorrow.

(Banetastic has left the chat. Alexander97 has left the chat.)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The elevator door opens, Alec steps in, pushes 'L', then leans against the wall. The door closes and the elevator descends. Alec nervously watches the floor indicator count down the floors. He swallows as the elevator stops on '5'. The door opens and HE walks in.

HE smiles at Alec, "Good morning."

Alec lowers his eyes as he mumbles, "Good morning."

HE steps to the other side of the elevator as the door closes and the elevator descends. HE continues to look at Alec, "It might rain today."

Alec mumbles, "Yeah, I have an umbrella." He waves it.

"Yeah, I have one too."

The elevator door opens at the lobby and Alec runs out the elevator. He gets to the front door of the building and sees HIM coming up behind him. Alec opens the door then holds it.

HE smiles as he reaches for the door, his fingers brushing against Alec's, "Thanks."

Alec mumbles, "You're welcome." He sees a bus at the corner and runs to the bus stop. He gets there in time and pays his fare. He finds a seat at the back of the bus and sits down. The bus leaves the stop and pulls into traffic. Out the corner of his eye, Alec sees HIM walk to the bus stop, shaking his head. Alec relaxes, that was close.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Magnus' sigh has nothing to do with missing the bus. In fact, he sees another one coming up the street. No, he's bothered by the man with wide shoulders. Well, 'bothered' is probably the wrong word. 'Frustrated' would be a better word.

Magnus has lived in the building for almost five months and try as he might, Magnus barely gets a sentence out of the man.

He gets a quick peek of beautiful hazel eyes, that he would love to get lost in, before Mr. Shoulders becomes interested in his shoes. Magnus can tell that Mr. Shoulders is damaged goods, but that's okay. It's what has kept Magnus in business for six years. He runs a self defense center. Most of his students are women wanting to protect themselves, but he also has a few male students with the same haunted look in their eyes as Mr. Shoulders.

Magnus sighs as the bus pulls into the stop and he gets on. He pays his fare and sits down. He moved because he needed a change of scenery. He noticed Mr. Shoulders the third day he moved in and has been trying to strike up a meaningful conversation with him ever since.

But to no avail. Mr. Shoulders looks everywhere but at Magnus. He mumbles a handful of words to any question Magnus may ask.

All Magnus knows is that he lives on the eighth floor, and he found that out, purely by accident. Magnus was in the elevator when he heard somebody yell, "Hold it please." Any other time, Magnus may not have hit the 'open' button, but he recognized Mr. Shoulders' voice and smashed his finger on the button.

The door reopened and Mr. Shoulders was there balancing four bags of groceries in his arms. His smile quickly disappeared when he saw Magnus, but he got on the elevator and stood in the back as far away from Magnus as he could get. When Magnus asked him what floor he needed, he hesitated before mumbling, "Eight, please."

Magnus was tempted to offer to help, but he didn't want the other man to have a heart attack, so he got off at his floor without another word.

Magnus doesn't care for anybody else in the building. In fact if it weren't for Mr. Shoulders, Magnus may have found another place. But he's a patient man and he knows that he will eventually win Mr. Shoulders' trust and hopefully his heart.

It's only a matter of time.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Banetastic: Christine was an awesome car.

Alexander97: And she was gorgeous.

Banetastic: And protective.

Alexander97: More like possessive.

Banetastic: A bit of both. But you can't blame her. She's been waiting a long time to get a guy and she saw Arnie first.

Alexander97: LMAO, she tried to kill Leigh.

Banetastic: Because she stole Arnie.

Alexander97: So if somebody tried to steal your significant other, you would kill them?

Banetastic: Hell yes.

Banetastic: Alexander, you still there?

Banetastic: Alexander?

Alexander97: I'm still here. I was just thinking about it.

Banetastic: You okay?

Alexander97: Yeah. I guess I don't know what it's like to love somebody that much to kill for them.

Banetastic: Love makes you crazy. And if somebody tries to hurt the one you love, anger makes you crazier.

Alexander97: And dangerous?

Banetastic: Definitely dangerous. I hope I didn't scare you?

Alexander97: No, it's fine. I just never saw it from Christine's POV before.

Banetastic: I totally see it from her view and she ended up winning Arnie in the end.

Alexander97: You think Arnie is driving around Heaven in Christine?

Banetastic: Or Hell. But they are definitely together.

Alexander97: That makes me smile. Oh gee, look at the time. Gotta go. Good night, Bane.

Banetastic: Good night, Alexander.

(Alexander97 has left the chat. Banetastic has left the chat.)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Magnus is walking down the block, when he sees a familiar pair of shoulders locking the door to the Public Library. He's tempted to say something, instead he continues to the bus stop. Out the corner of his eye, he sees Mr. Shoulders walk over and stand by the fire hydrant.

The bus arrives and Magnus pays his fare. He walks to the back of the bus and sits down. He takes out his phone and bows his head, so he can watch Mr. Shoulders take a seat by the back door.

Sighing, Magnus checks his emails. Mr Shoulders stares forward during the entire ride.

As the bus approaches their stop, Mr. Shoulders stands and waits by the back door for the bus to stop. Magnus lets two people get in between them as he steps out the bus.

Mr. Shoulders walks down the block to their building. Magnus stays five strides behind him. Mr. Shoulders takes out his key and unlocks the front door. He steps into the building and holds the door open.

Magnus walks faster. As soon as Magnus' hand touches the door, Mr. Shoulders lets the door go and walks to the mailboxes. As Magnus walks over, he watches Mr. Shoulders open the mailbox for '8D'. Magnus gets his own mail as Mr. Shoulders walks to the elevator and pushes the button.

Magnus walks over as the elevator arrives and they both get in. Mr. Shoulders pushes '8' then stands in the back corner looking down at his mail. Magnus pushes '5' then sighs as he watches the door close.

The elevator goes up and stops on the fifth floor. Magnus smiles at Mr. Shoulders, "Good night."

The other man mumbles, "Night", without looking up from his mail.

Magnus steps off the elevator and walks to his apartment, shaking his head.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alexander97: Johnny's life sucked.

Banetastic: Johnny had a great life. He had a job he loved. A girl he was going to marry.

Alexander97: Then the accident happened.

Banetastic: True. Sarah should have waited for him. They were in love. She should have waited.

Alexander97: Five years?

Banetastic: Love doesn't have an expiration date.

Alexander97: Whatever. Brooke Adams is married to that guy from Monk.

Banetastic: Yeah. Tony Shalhoub. Poor Monk. After Trudy was killed, he was messed up.

Alexander97: Do you believe in love, Bane?

Banetastic: Of course. Don't you?

Alexander97: No.

Banetastic: Wow. Not even love for your parents or siblings?

Alexander97: I don't have siblings. I guess I loved my mom but I was terrified of my dad.

Banetastic: Oh.

Alexander97: Yeah. My dad shot my mom, she ended up dying, then he chased me outside. The cops told him to stop and when he refused, they shot him.

Banetastic: Wow. I'm so sorry, Alexander.

Alexander97: Yeah, it happened when I was 10. I lived with this foster family until I was 18. I've been on my own since then. I haven't spoken of it to anybody since it happened. Until now. I like talking to you. You make me feel safe, Bane.

Banetastic: I like talking to you too, Alexander. And I'm glad I make you feel safe. By the way, Bane is my last name. You can call me Magnus.

Alexander97: Hello Magnus. I'm Alec.

Banetastic: Nice to meet you, Alec. Where do you live, maybe we can get together for coffee?

Alexander97: I saw on your profile, you live in Brooklyn, New York. So do I.

Banetastic: Perfect. So coffee?

Alexander97: I don't know. I'm not much of an outside person.

Banetastic: Outside person? LMAO. I can understand your caution. Think about it then get back to me?

Alexander97: Okay. But we can still talk here?

Banetastic: Of course. One thing has nothing to do with the other, Alec.

Alexander97: I'm glad. Like I said, I feel safe talking to you.

Banetastic: And I enjoy talking to you. I got an early class tomorrow morning, gotta go.

Alexander97: Okay. Good night, Magnus.

Banetastic: Good night, Alec.

(Alexander97 has left the chat. Banetastic has left the chat.)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Magnus taps his foot as he waits for the elevator. He checked Google and the library is closed on Saturdays, so he hopes Mr. Shoulders is sleeping in. The elevator door opens and Magnus wants to cheer when he sees that the elevator is empty. He gets on and hits 'L'.

The elevator gets to the lobby and the door opens. Magnus walks over to the mailboxes and looks at the name for 8D.

A. Lightwood

Magnus groans, that doesn't help him. Albert, Alan, Andrew, Adam, Alfred, Anthony, Aaron, the list is endless. He walks out the building and looks at the intercom. That also just has 'A'.

Discouraged, Magnus walks to Dunkin Donuts. He enters and walks to the counter. He gets his usual breakfast of a large coffee and toasted cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese. He takes his order to a table at the back and sits down. Magnus enjoys his breakfast as he looks around. He sees Mr. Shoulders, aka Mr. A. Lightwood, walk over to the counter. Magnus is tempted to get his attention, but restrains himself.

A. Lightwood gets his order then leaves, without glancing around to see who might be in Dunkin. Magnus sighs as he finishes his breakfast.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Banetastic: They changed the ending in the movie. Originally the little boy dies.

Alexander97: Stephen doesn't pull punches.

Banetastic: No he doesn't. But I love how protective Donna is. 100% mama bear.

Alexander97: The mechanic reminded me of my dad.

Banetastic: Oh?

Alexander97: Yeah, he terrified me, that's why I've only seen Cujo once.

Banetastic: Oh.

Alexander97: I'm kind of tired. I think I'll go to bed early.

Banetastic: Wait, Alec. What about us getting together?

Alexander97: I don't know.

Banetastic: Please. I enjoy our conversations and it would be awesome to actually talk to you.

Banetastic: Alec?

Banetastic: Alexander?

Banetastic: You still there?

Alexander97: Yeah.

Banetastic: There's a Dunkin near me, on Church and Flatbush, we can meet there for breakfast. Lots of people. We don't even have to talk. I just want to meet you.

Banetastic: Alexander?

Alexander97: Ok. That Dunkin is close to me too.

Banetastic: EXCELLENT. That's great.

Alexander97: When?

Banetastic: Tomorrow? Unless you have to work?

Alexander97: I don't work on Sundays. Tomorrow is okay.

Banetastic: Is 10 too early?

Alexander97: 10 is fine.

Banetastic: How will I know it's you?

Alexander97: I'm not sure. Oh wait. I'll bring a book with me. Christine. It's all beat up. I'll set it on the table.

Banetastic: Awesome. I can't wait to see you tomorrow.

Alexander97: Yeah. Good night, Magnus.

Banetastic: Good night.

(Alexander97 has left the chat. Banetastic has left the chat.)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Magnus checks his watch as he waits for the elevator. Ten minutes to ten. He doesn't want to get to Dunkin before Alexander. He wants the other man to get comfortable before Magnus shows up. That's assuming Alexander is an early bird.

Magnus doesn't consider himself a violent man, but he would love to have twenty minutes with Alexander's dead father. Just to teach him how it feels to be on the receiving end of a punch or two or ten.

He takes a deep breath, he needs to calm down. He doesn't want to scare Alexander and have him run out of Dunkin.

The elevator arrives and Magnus gets on. He pushes 'L' and watches the floor indicator light as the elevator goes down. He gets off the elevator and leaves the building. He walks to Dunkin.

He glances around as he enters, and sighs when he sees Mr. Shoulders at a table in the back. Magnus continues to look around as he waits on line. He notices a book on the table, next to Mr. Shoulder's hand.

A well read paperback copy of Christine.

Magnus closes his eyes as he mentally kicks himself in the ass.

A. Lightwood, as in Alexander Lightwood.

Magnus opens his eyes and smiles at Josie. She laughs, "The usual?"

He nods, "Please." She rings up his coffee and bagel.

Magnus watches Mr. Shoulders aka A. Lightwood aka Alexander out the corner of his eye. He's eating his breakfast in between quick glances at the door.

Josie hands Magnus his order, "Have a nice day."

Magnus smiles, "I hope so. Thanks." He walks over to Alec's table.

Alec looks up, panic in his eyes, "Can I help you?"

Magnus smiles gently, "I'm Magnus."

Alec's eyes widen as he looks at his book then back at Magnus, "Oh."

"Is it okay if I join you?" Alec nods without a word. Magnus puts his coffee and bag on the table then sits down, "Thanks."

Alec mumbles, "You're welcome."

Magnus takes a sip of his coffee then takes the bagel out the bag. Alec picks up his muffin. They eat in silence.

Magnus keeps his head down as he eats. He watches, out the corner of his eye, as Alec's shoulders relax. He smiles as he enjoys his bagel.

Magnus quickly looks up when Alec starts to stand, "Where you going?"

Alec bites his lip, "I want more coffee."

Magnus nods as he finishes his own coffee, "Okay. I could use a refill as well. I'll go." He stands up. Alec reaches into his pocket. Magnus smiles, "I got it, I'll be right back." He walks to the counter as Alec sits back down.

Josie smiles, "You still here?"

Magnus nods, "I'm with a friend."

She glances over, "Tall, dark and timid?"

Magnus laughs, "You know Alec?"

"Yeah, he's here almost every morning. In fact, he's asked about you a few times."

"Me?"

"Yes. He sees you at your usual table and asks if I know who you are."

"Interesting."

She nods, "I'm glad you two found each other. You make an adorable couple."

Magnus smiles, "I'm trying."

"Good. He needs somebody like you."

"Like me?"

"Protective. My sister takes your self-defense class on Wednesdays."

"Oh."

"Anyway, what can I do for you?"

"A couple of coffees please. Damn, I forgot to ask him what he wants."

She winks, "I got you, don't worry about it." She rings up the two coffees. Magnus pays with his credit card as she makes them. She puts the two cups on the counter, "Here you go."

Magnus picks them up, "Thanks." He walks back. He puts the cups on the table then sits.

Alec gives him a slight smile, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." They enjoy their second cups of coffee in silence.

Alec finishes, gathers his trash and stands up, "It was nice meeting you."

Magnus finishes his coffee, "Wait, we still have the whole day. Let's go see a movie or go to the aquarium or the zoo."

Alec picks up his book, "I have to go grocery shopping."

"Fine. I'll go with you."

Alec shakes his head, "No, that's okay. This was nice, but I gotta go." He walks away quickly, drops his trash in the garbage can and leaves Dunkin.

Magnus sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose, "Damn it." He stands, picks up his empty cups and bag and walks over to the garbage can. He shakes his head at Josie as he drops the trash in, "I was so close."

She gives him a slight smile, "You giving up?"

Magnus smiles, "Hell no."

She laughs, "Good for you. Good luck."

"Thanks, I'm going to need it." Magnus leaves Dunkin.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Magnus grabs a bottle of beer out the fridge, opens it and tosses the cap in the sink. The takeout trash is in the garbage. He walks over to the sofa. Now he's ready to watch tv. He sits down and reaches for the remote, that is on the coffee table. Drinking his beer, he goes through the channels and smiles when he sees that The Dark Tower is starting.

As the end credits roll, Magnus checks to see what's on next. The Shawshank Redemption. Magnus tells the empty room, "Another great movie." He runs to the fridge for another beer, then gets comfortable on the sofa again.

When the movie is over, he eyes his tablet on the other side of the sofa, where he left it last night.

Usually when he's done with tv, he logs into the chat and talks to Alec. But after this morning, Magnus isn't sure if Alec is still interested in talking to him.

With a sigh, he puts the remote on the coffee table then reaches for the tablet.

He puts it on. Once it's ready, Magnus hits the chat icon, which automatically logs him in.

Alexander97: Magnus are you there?

Alexander97: Magnus, you said one thing has nothing to do with the other.

Alexander97: Magnus I'm sorry, please talk to me.

Alexander97: Magnus

Alexander97: Magnus

Alexander97: Magnus, please don't leave me.

Magnus quickly puts the beer bottle on the coffee table then starts typing.

Banetastic: Shit, Alec. I'm the one that should be apologizing. I was watching tv.

Alexander97: Oh.

Banetastic: Yes but now I'm here.

Alexander97: I should tell you that I kind of knew it was you.

Banetastic: Knew what was me?

Alexander97: About a month ago, I finally got enough nerve to look at the mail boxes for the fifth floor and saw 'M. Bane' for 5F.

Banetastic: Oh?

Alexander97: Yeah. Then the other day, when you said your first name was 'Magnus', that was too much of a coincidence.

Banetastic: I see.

Alexander97: So I wasn't really surprised to see at my table this morning.

Banetastic: Then why did you run away so quickly?

Alexander97: I was scared.

Banetastic: Of me?

Alexander97: Yes and no. I wasn't scared OF you, I was scared of you rejecting me.

Magnus closes his eyes as he shakes his head. He mutters, "Ten minutes with his father, that's all I need."

Banetastic: Nonsense.

Alexander97: Easy for you to say that now. But I'm sure once I started talking you would have noped right out of Dunkin.

Magnus grits his teeth. He stands holding the tablet in a tight grip. He walks over to the cabinet by the door and grabs his keys. He leaves his apartment, locks the door and walks over to the stairway door. He's in no mood to wait for the elevator.

Banetastic: That's crazy talk. We've been talking for almost a year here, why would you think that?

Alexander97: It's easy for me to talk online, where I can change stuff if I think it sounds stupid. If I SAY something stupid, I can't erase it.

Magnus shakes his head as he takes the steps two at a time to the eighth floor. He lets the stairway door slam as he walks to 8D. He knocks on the door.

Alexander97: Oh my god, Magnus. Somebody is at my door. Why? I don't know anybody in the building. Besides you. So who could that be? I'm scared. Magnus what should I do?

Magnus takes a deep breath, then slowly lets it out, as he thinks, "Five minutes tops."

Banetastic: It's okay, Alec. I'M at the door.

Alexander97: You? Why?

Banetastic: So that we can talk.

Alexander97: We are talking.

Banetastic: Face to face.

Alexander97: Oh.

Banetastic: Alec come open the door.

Banetastic: I'm just going to stand here until you let me in.

Magnus glances at the elevator as the door opens and a woman steps off. She eyes him coldly as she walks down the hall. Magnus smiles at her as she walks past him. She stops at the end of the hallway, unlocks her door then quickly enters her apartment. The door slams and Magnus hears her lock the door.

Magnus rolls his eyes as he returns his attention to his tablet. Out the corner of his eye, he sees the door open. Magnus looks up and smiles.

Alec holds the door open, "She's a mean lady. She might call the police if you stay out here any longer."

Magnus nods as he walks into the apartment, "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Alec closes the door.

Magnus looks around the apartment. A couple of armchairs, a small television and three bookcases are all there is in the living room. There's a table with four chairs in the kitchen. A laptop is on the table.

Alec gestures to the kitchen, "We can talk there."

Magnus smiles, "Ok." He walks to the table and sits down. He puts his tablet on the table.

Alec walks over, "You want coffee?"

Magnus shakes his head, "No thanks."

"Oh." Alec grips the back of the chair, where his laptop is, with both hands, "I have iced tea."

Not liking how tense Alec is, Magnus smiles, "That sounds good."

Alec smiles as he lets go of the chair and walks to the fridge, "Cool." He takes out a pitcher. He gets glasses out of the cabinet and fills them. He puts the pitcher back in the fridge then brings the glasses to the table. He walks over to the counter and gets a tin of cookies. He brings it and a handful of napkins to the table, then sits down. He closes the laptop and moves it to the side.

Magnus silently watches Alec move around the kitchen. He seems relaxed and happy. Magnus likes seeing this side of Alec. He takes a couple of cookies and places them on a napkin, then takes a drink of his iced tea, "This is good."

Alec's eyes sparkle, "It's Mona's recipe. Three parts 4C iced tea mix with one part Kool Aid lemonade mix."

"Mona is?"

"My foster mom."

"I see."

Alec nods, "My dad didn't allow sweets in the house. We didn't even have bagels. Just white bread."

"I'm sorry."

Alec shrugs as he eats a cookie, "It's okay. The Whitmans were nice people. Mona and Ted. They didn't have any children of their own. They were killed in a car accident two weeks after my eighteenth birthday. They left everything to me. I sold the house and moved here. I kept some of the furniture and sold the rest."

"You've been with the library since you moved here?"

Alec nods, "After I graduated college, I got an internship at Grand Army Plaza. A children's librarian position opened up in the Spring Creek branch. I was there for over a year then transferred to the Flatlands location."

"Children's librarian? Interesting."

"I like it." Alec stands and gets the pitcher of iced tea out the fridge. He refills their glasses. He sits down after putting the pitcher back, "So what do you do?"

Magnus smiles, "I own a self defense center."

"Oh."

"You interested?"

Alec shakes his head, "No, thanks. I can't see me hitting anybody." He folds his arms across his chest and lowers his head.

"I understand." Magnus mentally kicks himself. He quickly changes the subject, "So what is your favorite Stephen King movie?"

Alec looks up as he thinks. He takes a drink, then slowly smiles, "Dead Zone. It would be cool to touch somebody's hand and see their future. But only good things. Like who they would fall in love with or how many kids they would have or that new job they will get."

"I don't know if it would be possible to limit what you can see."

Alec shrugs, "I don't want to see death, just happy things."

Magnus nods as he reaches for Alec's hand and gently holds it in both of his, "You know what I see right now?"

Alec looks from Magnus' face to their hands back to his face, "What?"

"I see you and me eating dinner tomorrow night at a nice Italian restaurant in Downtown Brooklyn."

Alec smiles, "Really?"

"Yes really."

"I'd like that."

"I keep my car in the garage, it's easier to go back and forth to work on the bus. I'll pick you up at the library."

"I'm not sure what time I finish."

Magnus nods. He reaches into his back pocket with his right hand, "Damn, I left my phone in the apartment. Give me your phone, and I'll give you my number."

Alec nods as he lets go of Magnus' hand and stands up. He runs into his bedroom and gets his phone off the nightstand. He runs back to the kitchen and hands his phone to Magnus. Their fingers touch briefly. Alec smiles as Magnus types his cell number into Alec's contact list.

Magnus texts Alec to his cellphone, then hands the phone back to Alec, "This way I can put your number in my contacts. Tomorrow, when you find out what time you're leaving, you can text me."

"Okay."

Magnus smiles as he stands, "Thanks for the tea and cookies. See you tomorrow?" He picks his tablet up.

Alec nods, "That's a definite yes." They walk to the door. Alec opens it, "Until tomorrow, Magnus."

"Until tomorrow, Alec." Magnus leaves the apartment. Alec closes the door then smiles as he leans against it.

Magnus walks to the stairwell and goes downstairs to his apartment. He unlocks his door, smiling he says, "Thank you, Stephen King." as he enters the apartment then locks the door.

-the end-

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Carrie, Christine and Dead Zone are my favorite Stephen King books and movies.

A/N: I took a bit of artistic license with locations. There IS a Dunkin on Church and Flatbush Aves, but the building that Alec and Magnus live in doesn't exist. There's a bus stop next to the Flatlands branch of the Public Library, but it's on the other side of the library. I wanted Magnus to walk past and see Alec locking the door. The actual next stop is three blocks away.

[fullmetalscullyy]

a conspiracy theory - chapter 5

co-written by @snowdog49 and @jeanhaavoc

summary:  Detective Roy takes on a challenging task… To find Olivier Armstrong’s sword. However, he has a beautiful woman to distract him along the way. Will he, Jean, and Ed be able to find the sword in time, or will they succumb to the conspiracy?

warning: graphic depictions of violence

tags: conspiracy, pining, unresolved sexual tension, private detective au, royai, havolina, mystery, violence, modern au, coffee shops

rated: m | words: 4697

read on ao3

Ling had insisted on Roy and Ed meeting at his apartment, which was fine if Roy knew what he was going up against. When he parked the car and got out, the apartment proved to be the whole house. It was on the river’s bank, two stories, and a large garage. The lawn was well kept, with a large tree shadowing the grass and a cherry tree on the other side by the garage. There was a silver motorcycle parked out front in the driveway as well as a black sports car. Roy had to roll his eyes. If there was ever a definition of a politician’s kid, Ling was proving himself one even before meeting Roy. Ed stared at the bike, then back at Roy, who just kept walking up to the door. He half expected a butler or some kind of servant to answer the door, but instead, the young man himself did. Ling was barefoot with dark jeans and a white t-shirt on, covered by a sports coat. He grinned ear to ear and waved them in.

“Mustang right? Come on in!” He was cheery and almost carefree. His shoulders were relaxed and his legs walked easily as if he was inviting friends into his home.  

Roy already found Ling almost too happy. He was just a little taller than Ed, black hair pulled back with wild hairs in front of his face. He had on this goofy smile and a bounce in his step. He had nothing to hide, and it showed in the way he welcomed them both into his house without another thought. Roy noted that behaviour, but didn’t think there would be a reason to agonize over it later. After all, he was just a kid.

As they walked through the hallway, Roy noted the house was decorated rather normally, and Roy felt as if Ling’s parents were going to come out at any time. The living room had a couch and a coffee table, a big TV on the wall above the fireplace. It wasn’t ‘fancy’ by any means, but neither modest. Taking in more of his surroundings, Roy noted the large picture of the Xing capital on the wall.

“Is that your bike out there?” Roy heard, pulling him from his observations. He turned to look over at Ed.

“Yeah!” Ling nodded excitedly. “It’s the X-3005!”

“That’s freaking sweet!” Roy couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Ed so happy. His face lit up like a child’s on Christmas Morning. “I was trying to get my girlfriend to let me buy the BDR-889 but she says I’m only going to hurt myself.”

The young Xingese man laughed, holding his stomach as he did so. “All girls would say that. No! Don’t sell yourself short. The X class is where it’s at,” he gushed. “The BDRs are bikes for commuters. I will give credit where it’s due, they have great gas mileage, and they’re incredibly reliable, but they just aren’t as powerful.”

Roy’s eyes widened as he saw the connection right away.

“Come check out my garage!”

And just like that, his protege and Ling walked through the house and into the garage. Slightly bewildered, Roy watched the two of them walk off without him. Roy didn’t even think they remembered why he was there, or even if he existed at all. That was fine, though. It gave him time to walk slowly through to the garage after them, and take in as much as he could about the house.

It was quiet, the boards creaked under his feet. There was Xingese music playing in the garage and he heard Ed laughing. The kitchen was full of dishes, and there was a pizza box on the counter. It was finally starting to look like a young man lived there. On the dining table, in the same room, there was a computer and several books. As Roy rose onto his tiptoes to see as he passed by, he noticed Ling was studying law, Amestrian Law. He nodded and walked down the hallway. There were more pictures of Xing, and one of Ling, and what he guessed was his entire family. There were nearly 20 people in the photo. Maybe they were his friends? There were older people in there too. Roy tilted his head as he began to wonder who was in the picture.

“My girl Lan Fan hates it!”

Roy raised his eyebrow. Ed was doing exactly what he needed to be doing. It’d loosen Ling Yao up just enough so that he’d talk more casually.

Roy peered carefully into one room as he walked by, noticing that it had a few sets of weights in it. On the wall sat a few Xingese-type swords. They weren’t Amestrian at all. Leaning slightly further in the doorway, he also noticed some kunai knives. They sat more as a decoration on the wall, though Roy was curious if Ling knew how to use them. There were two mats on the floor, a mirror on the wall, and resistance bands on the floor. He nodded, his hair swaying as he returned to the hall. There were stairs on his left before he reached the garage, but Roy decided not to push his luck. He’d seen enough in his slow sweep. The house was just too clean. It was too big for just an Ambassador’s son to be living in by himself.

“No way!”

Roy gave in and walked the last few feet towards the garage, coming to a stop so he could lean on the doorframe. Ed was sitting on a jetski with a huge grin on his face.

“I’m serious,” Ling nodded excitedly. “We can go out! I’ll take you anytime!”

“This weekend?”

Ling nodded to Ed.

“This is freaking awesome!” Ed thrust his hands into the air.

Roy couldn’t help but laugh.

“Even for a twenty-year-old, you have so many toys.”

Ling laughed loudly again. “I’m eighteen. I just look older.”

Ed’s hands fell to his side. “You’re younger than me?”

“How old are you?”

“Nineteen.”

“But,” Ed blinked with a sad face. “You’re taller than me…”

The two stared at one another for what seemed like too long. Roy finally spoke. “I don’t mean to interrupt. I just have a few questions to ask, then I can let you two go back to the jet ski.”

“Sure,” Ling crossed his arms and turned to face Roy.

“You remember Selim Bradley’s birthday party two weeks ago?”

“Oh yeah,” Ling nodded as he put out an arm to lean on a car in the garage. It was another sports car that now had Roy distracted. “Crappy party. There wasn't a birthday cake. There was this rich fudge stuff and they gave me a little spoon.” He pinched his finger and his thumb together to indicate ‘small.’ “There wasn’t an actual meal, just o’dourves. They were good though. And they didn’t have beer either! Usually, I don’t mind wine, but a beer would have been great since they didn’t have a regular birthday cake.”

Roy nodded his head slowly.

“I actually brought the kid a birthday present and didn’t even see the kid!”

“I just wish I went to a party that had o‘dourves,” Ed commented quietly behind Ling.

“Well,” Ling turned now to face Ed. “I was there by proxy. Ambassador Fu likes to take me so that I can learn the tricks of the trade.” He faced Roy. “To be political,” he made quotation marks with his fingers.

Roy nodded slowly. Didn’t Raven say…

“I really didn’t want to be there. My girlfriend, Lan Fan was having a bonfire. I left as soon as I could. Bonfires have better food anyway. I think I ate fifty marshmallows.”

Ed laughed. “That’s easy.”

“Next bonfire,” Ling pointed his finger at Ed, challenging him. “You are on!”

“Okay,” Roy interrupted calmly as he raised his hand. “So you left…”

“Yeah. That was that.”

“Did you see a sword?”

Ling scoffed. “No.”

“You didn’t see a military sword?” Ed clarified.

Ling shook his head. “I would’ve been all over that.”

Roy nodded and sighed loudly. “I’m guessing you’re not one to show off swords of all kinds?”

“The only real sword is from Xing,” Ling laughed loudly. “Sabers are of Amestris. I think you also have a few rapiers, but Aerugo traditionally fights with rapiers.” Ling took a fencing stance and acted as if he was fencing. The young man was very amusing, and free talking.

“You don’t want an Amestrian sword?”

“A saber? Naw,” Ling snorted a laugh. “I’m from Xing. What would I do with a saber?”

“Just to show off. I saw your work out room. You have some nice swords on the wall.”

Ling nodded. “But you don’t see any saber -” he stopped and his face became serious. “Are you insinuating that I stole something of King Bradley’s?”

Roy chuckled. “Maybe…”

“No, Man.” Ling shook his hands in front of his face. “Stealing is low. I’m the Xingese President’s son! I do not stoop that low. In fact, I’m offended that you even insinuated it!”

“No offense meant,” Ed quickly called from behind. “We just have to ask. We were asked to find it and were hoping you knew where it was.”

Ling shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t have it. I ate a few of those fancy finger foods and left.”

“No sword?” Roy asked seriously.

Ling shook his head.

“I’m sure you hear quite a bit, being in and out of official offices.” Roy reached into his pocket. “Will you call me if you hear anything, anything at all?”

Ling shook his head and put his hands in his pockets. “Not my thing, Mr. Mustang. It’s not my property, not really worried about it.”

“Can you give me a call,” Ed asked, walking up next to Ling.

“Yeah, le me get you my info and we can go out tomorrow or Sunday and ride some waves!”

Ling and Edward pushed past Roy and into the kitchen. He nodded with a grin.

Ling was as innocent as they could get. But a frown soon followed on Roy’s face. Now the investigation was getting deeper than a stolen sword. He walked to the front door and leaned against it, hearing the two young men exchange contact information. It was obvious that Senator Raven lied about it being invitation only, and it was Bradley’s house. He scratched his cheek in thought.

“Are you going to see King Bradley?”

Roy turned to see the two walk from the living room to the entryway.

“It was his house. Oh! I have tickets to this dinner they are having. The Bradleys like to entertain, but they are so annoying.” Ling dropped his head to the side with a groan. “They talk too much. Anyway, it’s some fundraiser for exchange students… or something like that. I have no idea. It’s invitation only. You should go! Maybe you can talk to someone there!”

“Will there be the same crowd there?” Ed walked next to Roy.

“Mostly. Maybe more.” Ling ran over to the mantle and grabbed two letters from it, handing them to Roy. “That will get you in. Free fancy food and wine!”

“Thanks!” Ed raised his hand and the two high-fived.

“See you Saturday!”

Roy opened the door. “Thank you for your help, Ling,” Roy called as he walked out the door.

They walked calmly to the car, Ed trying not to jump in excitement too much and remain professional. Roy could see right through it.

“You did really well in there,” he complimented.

“Huh?” Ed opened his door.

“Just… Good job.”

“What did I do?”

Roy just grinned and got into his side of the car. “You did everything you should’ve done.”

*          *          *

A headache was beginning to form fairly quickly in Roy’s head. He’d spent too long looking at the same photographs, with his mind going into overdrive, trying to write up motivations for possible suspects. His eyes drooped as he looked at his computer screen, typing up the last thought he had so that he didn’t lose it. Even that felt like an extreme effort. Hitting period, he sat back in his chair, defeated at the moment. This was taking too long. Everything felt unorganized and he had no solid lead yet. He hated it. He needed results, he needed something to go on, he needed…

“I need a coffee,” he muttered to himself.

A good boost of caffeine would fuel him for the rest of the afternoon. Rebecca and Jean were already out on their lunch. Edward had left to do the same shortly after the couple, mumbling about going to meet his girlfriend, Winry. Roy had been adamant he’d work through lunch and try and get a solid lead by the end of Friday afternoon, but that goal was slowly becoming impossible. Admitting defeat and locking the office door, Roy made his way tiredly to his car.

Although there were two coffee shops closer to the office than Metric Coffee, Roy felt he needed some good coffee for his lunch break in order to get him through the rest of the day. Plus, they did delicious doughnuts. He could use a doughnut.

He pulled up across the street in his car and parked. As he crossed the road, his heart leapt in his throat as he spotted a familiar-looking dog outside. He faltered in his step before picking up his pace to almost jog to the cafe. Feeling flushed, Roy pushed open the door, as his eyes instantly searched for a familiar blonde head. Despite the excitement, he reminded himself that there was more than one Shiba Inu in Central.

Looking down the line, he didn’t see her. Riza wasn’t at any of the tables either. His face fell, and he sulked as he moved to the line. She wasn’t here. Roy exhaled loudly, feeling disappointment wash over him.

It was short-lived. To his left, he caught movement out the corner of his eye, slightly behind him. The door to the customer toilets opened, and Riza walked out of it. She turned, making sure the toilet door closed softly, before shouldering her purse more securely, and moved to join the back of the line. She didn’t see him, he was too far up the line, and she didn’t seem to be paying much attention to her surroundings. She was dressed in what had to be her work clothes, wearing a simple white blouse and black dress pants. A black cardigan covered her shoulders, which looked light enough that it wouldn’t be too warm to wear in the summer heat, but would also protect against the gentle breeze outside.

Roy took a step forward in the queue, momentarily distracted. His emotions whiplashed as excitement coursed through him. He opened his mouth to call out to her, but promptly closed it. If he didn’t say anything, he would be able to buy her a coffee like he’d offered to.

“What will it be, Sir?” the server asked politely.

“A black coffee, please.” Indecision ruled him for a moment before he grinned with confidence. “And a caramel latte as well, please.”

“Of course.”

With both drinks in hand, he walked towards her, unable to keep the grin off his face. Noticing movement out the corner of her eye, Riza looked up from her phone. Her eyebrows had been drawn together again, a deep frown on her face as she studied the contents of her phone. However, her expression relaxed as their eyes met, and a smile spread across her face in a way that made Roy’s heart skip a beat.

“Hey,” he greeted. It was like he was welcoming a long lost friend back into his life, that’s how happy he was to see her.

“Hello, Roy.” She glanced down at the drink he’d extended to her. “What’s this for?” She looked slightly confused at the offer, but still looked happy to see him.

“I did say I would buy you a coffee,” he reminded her.

“You did,” she agreed dryly. “That was very kind of you.” She took the drink from him carefully but their fingers still brushed, her fingers slipping alongside his. Roy felt a jolt go through his hand and he tried to hide his breath stuttering and the way his hand flinched at the electric sizzle of their connection. He kept his eyes on her drink and ignored the strong urge to look up to see if Riza had a similar reaction. Instead, he heard a sincere, “Thank you, Roy.” He glanced up at her face this time, noticing the softening smile gracing her features.

“Don’t mention it,” he beamed. His fingers were still tingling after brushing against hers, a feeling he relished. Roy slipped his free hand into his pocket, making a fist as the warmth there continued to spread through his hand.

“You got my order right as well,” Riza commented with a raised eyebrow. “I’m beginning to think you really do stalk me,” she smirked.

Roy held up both hands in surrender. “I’m not. I promise,” he urged. “I overheard you order it the last few times and I took a wild guess of what you might like today,” he joked.

“I’m kidding, Roy,” she laughed, patting his shoulder playfully. Her smile reached her eyes as she grinned at him. “Listen...” Riza turned to look outside to where her dog was waiting patiently for her. “I’m going to take a walk to the park with Hayate on my lunch break. Do you want to come?”

“Yeah, of course!” He was ecstatic. She’d offered him the chance to accompany her and he wasn’t going to turn it down. Riza eyed him for a second, clearly amused by his enthusiasm, but Roy didn't care. His headache was very quickly dissipating and his mood was rising exponentially. He hadn’t even realized he’d forgotten about his doughnut.

So, the two of them walked to the park with Hayate, each sipping at their hot drinks. They crossed over the street into the shade. Every so often there would be a break in the buildings and the sun would pour through, turning her hair golden. Roy felt as though he was caught in a trance every time he noticed the change in colour. That was his downfall because she must have felt his eyes on her. Riza looked over and found him staring. A light dusting of pink covered the bridge of her nose and her cheeks as she looked away. He felt embarrassed for gazing at her so openly so he coughed nervously, tearing his eyes away.

“Do you always walk Hayate on your lunch break?” Roy asked.

Riza nodded. “I do. My apartment isn’t too far from my work, so I go home and pick up Hayate to let him out for a while.” She glanced down at the pup. “I don’t like leaving him home alone all day.”

“He seems to be a very well behaved dog,” Roy commented, watching Hayate sniff at the ground as they walked.

“He is. I hit the jackpot with his temperament. He’s the calmest dog I’ve ever met.”

Hayate would stray off towards something that caught his interest as they walked, but wouldn’t pull or walk too far from Riza’s side. His tongue lolled happily as he explored the world, curiously looking up at people who passed by them. Every time someone showed some interest in the dog, his tail would begin to wag.

“That’s good then,” Roy considered. “Especially if he’s home alone quite a lot.”

Riza agreed. “It certainly makes things easier. I haven’t come across him destroying anything yet while I’m at work,” she chuckled. “But I like to think that he knows better than to try a stunt like that.” She tilted her head forward, narrowing her eyes playfully at Hayate.

Hayate barked in response, walking closer to Riza’s side and remaining there.

They arrived at a crossing, so stopped as they waited for traffic to stop. Roy noticed Hayate heeled perfectly without any need for a command from Riza. Across the road, the greenery of the park stretched out before them.

“I normally take Hayate to the dog park instead of walking around the park itself,” Riza explained. “It means I can let him off the lead and not worry too much about where he will wander off to.”

“Is he a wanderer?” Roy smiled.

“Hm… He likes to explore.” Riza glanced down at her dog affectionately. “And can get a little hyperactive if he finds something really interesting. But he always comes back.”

The park was busy. Like them, there were business people sitting on benches and chatting as they enjoyed their lunches. A couple of cyclists passed by them, giving poor Hayate a fright. He jumped and scurried close to Riza’s side as they walked towards the dog park. Riza stopped in place, crouching to soothe him. She smiled kindly at her dog, explaining that it was just a bike that had given him a fright, letting out a short laugh. From her tone, it was like a mother talking to a child. It endeared Roy to her even more.

Again, he was caught staring, but this time Roy grinned at her as Riza straightened and they continued to walk.

“Poor dog,” Roy commented. Hayate still stuck close to Riza’s side as they walked, head looking around for any more potentially frightening things coming his way.

Riza shook her head fondly. “He doesn’t like cyclists.”

The dog park wasn’t too busy, but there would be plenty of dogs for Hayate to play with if he decided to venture their way. People were walking around the path inside the fenced-off area. Owners sat at the various benches spread around the park while their dogs either sat obediently by their side or running around and playing with other dogs. Riza crouched and let the Shiba off his leash, giving him a free run of the park. Anywhere he went they’d be able to see him. Riza was happy to let him go off and do his own thing.

“I normally sit for a while as Hayate runs around for a bit.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” Roy agreed. It would give them time to finish their drinks. Roy didn’t have anything to eat, but he could always pick something up on the way back and eat it at his desk. It was only then that he remembered about his doughnut quest. He felt he didn’t need it now though. Talking to Riza was a better remedy than any sweet treat.

From her purse, Riza pulled out a prepacked sandwich and began to unwrap it. She glanced up at him expectantly. “Do you have anything to eat with you?”

He shook his head, lifting up his coffee cup. “This will fuel me for a little while.”

“You should still eat,” she frowned. Looking over her shoulder, Riza turned to look for something. “There’s normally a food van around the park.” She turned back to face him but looked past his shoulder, still searching. “I don’t know where it is though. That sells hot food.”

He appreciated the effort, but reassured Riza he’d be fine. “I’ll pick something up on my way back to the office.”

“Are you sure? We can walk around and look -”

“I’ll be fine, Riza. I swear,” he chuckled. His expression softened as she met his gaze. “I promise, I will eat. I may be a bachelor but I can still look after myself,” he smirked.

“Good.” Riza relaxed.

He hoped offering up some more personal information about himself would steer the conversation towards getting to know each other better. Riza had been a mystery to him for so long that he was eager to learn more. From what he already knew and had witnessed, she endeared him. Even as she ate her lunch, she took dainty bites of her sandwich and met his gaze while they spoke, but every so often she would glance away to check on Hayate.

“So, will it be a busy afternoon for you once you go back to work?”

Riza shook her head. “It’s a Friday and work can slow right down in the afternoon. However, I do have some reports due for an audit soon.” She shrugged. “It’s easy enough, just a lot of paperwork to trawl through.”

“I hear you,” Roy replied.

“Will it be a late one for you?”

Roy grimaced. “Probably. I think I’ll need more coffee later,” he laughed. “But I don’t mind too much. I get intrigued easily by cases and often fall in deep if they’re good.”

“And your co-workers don’t mind working late?”

Roy shook his head. “They’re not required to do overtime. I wouldn’t ask them too either unless they were really interested in a case, so they’re free to go whenever they want to. I’ll probably just order some take out later and eat it at the office.”

“I’m lucky then that I don’t have to work late at the office.”

“Would anyone mind if you did?”

She offered him a wry smile. “Someone is fishing,” Riza snickered.

Roy was confused by her comment, then his eyes widened. “Oh no! No, that’s not what I meant,” he stammered. “I meant, if your friends would mind if you worked late. It’s a Friday night, after all. Surely you have some big plans?”

She chuckled, shaking her head. “No. I’ve got no plans this evening. I foresee a large glass of wine in my future while I sit on my couch with my dog.” She glanced back over to check on Hayate. He was busy chasing a large labrador.

“I’m surprised,” Roy replied. “I mean, that kind of night in does sound great…” He wished he had a plan like that for this weekend, but duty called. “But I would’ve thought a pretty lady like yourself would have grand plans for the weekend.”

Her cheeks turned a light pink and she dropped her gaze with a smile, observing her sandwich and picking at the wrapper. Roy grinned to himself, enjoying how beautiful the light blush looked on her cheeks.

“No grand plans,” she replied.

“Okay then… Well, what would you say to dinner sometime then?” he ventured.

She lifted an eyebrow. “So you were fishing then?”

“That’s for me to know,” Roy smirked.

“And for me to find out?”

“Come to dinner with me, and you might find out,” he quipped. He wasn’t desperate, it was an innocent offer, but he couldn’t rid himself of the jolt he’d experienced when their fingers brushed together earlier.

“Hm, that’s a lot of effort just to try and find that out,” she hummed, lifting her cup to take a sip of her latte. Riza looked at him expectantly after her light challenge.

Roy’s stomach dropped. “Lunch then?” he asked.

Riza regarded him quietly, then her expression softened. “I can’t do lunch any time soon.”

Roy’s face fell, but he nodded in understanding regardless.

“So, I guess, dinner will just have to do.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she spoke.

The widest smile spread from ear to ear across Roy’s face. “Great! I mean, great. Good. I know it’s short notice, but how about tomorrow?”

Riza cocked her head to the side in thought. “Tomorrow should be fine.”

“Where do you want to go?” Roy asked eagerly.

“Nowhere uptown,” Riza shook her head. “Anywhere else… Will be fine.”

Uptown… Roy nodded. He could do that. He didn’t particularly enjoy that side of town either. It was too fancy for his tastes, and his wallet. Simple meals were far too expensive, and after his week of dealing with rich people and their associates, Roy was more than ready to just unwind and go somewhere simple with good food.

“It’s a date.” Excitement and happiness coursed through his body.

Riza laughed quietly at his statement and glanced down at her paper cup. After a brief second, she looked back up at him with a small but entirely genuine smile on her face.

[missmitchieg]

Triple Threat And The Fantabulous Redemption of One Carrie Wilson - Ch 3

Carrie went through the rest of her day with a smile on her face and a sparkle in her eyes, excitedly texting her dad that she was going to Julie’s after school and would be home by dinner. “Remember, Kayla! Dirty Candy’s got a rehearsal tomorrow! Don’t be late!” She called to her friend across the hall before quickly catching up with Flynn and Julie, wrapping her arms around their shoulders with a grin. “Are we ready, ladies?“

“Oh! Hey, girl. Yeah, we’re ready.“ Flynn smiled and wrapped her arm around Carrie’s waist.

“Sweet. We have so much to talk about and catch up on!“ She said as she started the walk to Julie’s with them. “Like how you came across the cool hologram boy band.“ She said and gave Julie a small smile, curious to hear how on Earth that happened.

“What? Nah, you don’t want the boring details of that.“ Julie deflected quickly. “And they’re not a boy band. They’re rock stars and they all get very offended if you call them a boy band.“

“Ooh, so-rry.“ Carrie laughed as she stepped in time with Julie and Flynn, turning her head toward her. “What about you, Flynn? Hey, you still a little Brat or have you seen the hot pink light?“ She asked, remembering one of the big arguments they used to have when they were younger.

“Once a Brat, always a Brat, Barbie Girl.“ Flynn grinned and flipped her hair. “Clearly you’re still the same pink princess you always were.“

“Always.“ Carrie confirmed with a nod. “Latest movies have been so bizarre, though. You know they used the plot of Princess And The Pauper and made the pauper a pop star for one? They remixed To Be a Princess.“ She huffed and gave an irritated eye roll.

“Wait, what?“ Julie almost shrieked and gave Carrie a shocked look, remembering that Princess  Anneliese   was her favorite Barbie character and doll and Princess And The Pauper was her favorite movie when they were little.

“Yeah, and not even well! It was so bad! And the next day, I really thought it was some crazy messed up fever dream, but no! Dad was there when I watched it and he was confused, too! They really have gotten so lazy, they’re just re-using old plots that were perfect and ruining them with weird, random changes! Like, if you’re going to remake a Barbie movie and remix and rewrite one of the best songs from it, you could at least do it correctly!“ Carrie ranted and sighed dramatically, making both girls laugh a little at her antics.

“Yikes. Barbie Girl betrayed by her childhood idol. Hurts, doesn’t it?” Flynn asked and gave her a look, referring to the time when Flynn’s favorite dolls were no longer on shelves and making Carrie wince slightly.

“But I heard Bratz came back, didn’t it?” Carrie asked her, getting a nod. “Any news about your favorite doll, Chic?“ She asked Julie, easily falling back into the habit of calling the girls by their nicknames.

Julie pouted and shook her head, slumping her shoulders. “Absolutely nothing. It’s like they just want everyone to forget they ever made them.“

“That’s evil.” Carrie rolled her eyes again, shaking her head in dismay.

“It’s awful, Carrie!” Julie huffed.

“And it’s not like I can do anything about it, either! I’m just me!” Carrie pouted sympathetically and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

“Maybe my dad can. I can ask him to make some calls. Yell at some idiots who clearly don’t understand the mistake they’re making here.“ She offered. “I mean, you don’t just upset Carrie Wilson’s friend and get away unscathed. You get away with a hole in your wallet.“ She smirked.

Julie grinned at Carrie, squeezing her back tightly. “You’re the best, Barbie girl!“ She said happily, making Flynn smile at them. “I missed having a friend as powerful as you.“ She said and Carrie shrugged, strutting in front of them.

“Well, you know. With great power comes great responsibility and all that. I’m just using my power to make my friends happy, because that’s one of my many responsibilities.“ She said simply and the girls just laughed and let Carrie lead.

Carrie smiled and kept walking in a comfortable silence with them, making a mental list of every question she had and everything she wanted to tell them. She really did have so many questions and so many exciting things to tell them about. She perked up as they arrived at Julie’s and walked inside, greeting her dad with a grin.

“Hey, dad. We’re home.” Julie said, waving at her dad looking at pictures on his laptop.

“Hey, Mr. Molina! Long time, no see!“ She said as Julie went to raid the fridge and cabinets to get some snacks and drinks.

“Carrie! Haven’t seen your face around in a while!“ Ray grinned giving Flynn a side hug. “Hi, Flynn. You girls have a good day at school?” He asked and they all nodded, Julie glancing with a smile at seemingly nothing for a second before handing Flynn a bag of cool ranch doritos and a can of 7-Up.

“Oh, you know. School was school. The usual. Hey, Barbie Girl. Cherry cola still your favorite?“ She asked and Carrie nodded, taking the can handed to her.

“Thanks.“

“Good thing Carlos loves cherry cola too. Dad, please don’t tell him I stole one for Carrie. We’ll be in my room.“ Julie said and led the girls to her bedroom, sitting in bed with their snacks.

Carrie looked around at Julie’s bedroom with a smile and sat next to her, taking a sip of her cherry cola. “Your room is cute, Chic. A little different than I remember, but cute.“ She noted, perking up when she saw a familiar box on a shelf. “Hey, is that your dream box?“

Julie looked up and nodded, biting into a dorito she stole from Flynn’s bag.

“Do you still keep the Chanel charm I gave you in there?“ She asked, biting into an oreo cookie.

“Yeah. I’ve thought about putting it on a bracelet, but I don’t wanna lose that. It’s-“ Julie smiled, stealing another dorito from Flynn and getting a “Hey! Not your doritos!“ from her. ”It’s one of my favorite memories of us.“

Carrie looked at Julie and gave her a sweet smile, wrapping an arm around her neck. “It’s one of my favorite memories, too. It was a really good day.“ She said softly, remembering how excited Julie was to have ”a real Chanel charm, mom!“ in her possession now.

She hummed and grabbed another cookie as Julie looked up and excused herself to go do something, unhooking her arm from Julie’s neck. “So Brat.” Flynn looked up, watching Carrie curiously.

“What’s the story on the hologram boys?“ She asked, deciding not to beat around the bush.

“OH. Um. They are- WERE a band from Sweeden. And Julie met them on twitter. And they started skyping and then did the hologram thing and here we are! Now they’re Julie’s band.“ Flynn said and took a swig of her drink, seemingly ignoring Carrie’s squinting eyes.

“Uh huh... Sweeden. That’s what Julie told you?” She asked and Flynn nodded.

“Yup! That’s what she said.“

“And Julie leaving suddenly, that wouldn’t have anything to do with the boys, would it?“ She asked suspiciously, crossing her arms. It totally wasn’t that she didn’t believe her best friends. They were just both acting too weird. Like that time when they showed up at her house unannounced, asked for water and Flynn was telling her and Nick about a racoon or whatever was in her backyard.

Flynn shook her head and looked up when Julie came back in, offering her an oreo.

“Everything good?” She asked and Julie nodded, taking the cookie.

“Yeah, we’re good. Hey. You guys wanna paint each other’s nails like we used to?“ She asked and Carrie nodded her head,  deciding to drop it for now.

“Sure. I’m do for a manicure, anyway.“ She said, deciding she could try again another day.

“Pink glitter for you, I assume?“ Julie asked and Carrie nodded with a smile, watching Julie grab a bottle of polish remover and cotton balls, hot pink glitter polish, a shiny purple polish, and a dark red polish that matched Flynn’s skirt perfectly.

“Hey, I have this exact glitter nail polish in my collection!“ She noticed with a smile and got to work on removing her week old, slightly chipped baby pink nail polish.

Julie chuckled as she started to paint Flynn’s nails expertly, gently holding her fingers still. “Maybe we’re not so different after all, then.“ Carrie nodded at Julie’s comment, laughing softly.

“No, the pink princess and the purple rock star really aren’t that different. The red rap goddess isn’t different from me, either. But she is awesome.” She said, making Flynn smile at the compliment.

“Thanks, Barbie Girl.“

“Just being honest, Brat-“ “She’s just speaking truth, Brat-“ Carrie laughed when she and Julie spoke at the same time, making Julie and Flynn laugh, too.

“I missed this so much. I missed my girls so much.“ She said, leaning her head on Julie’s shoulder.

“I missed you, too, Carrie. We both missed you so much.“ Flynn nodded at Julie’s words, looking up.

“You know... You and Dirty Candy sounded really good at Eats&Beats.“ She said with a smile. “It was so cool, it made me forget why I ha- Thought I hated you.“ She corrected herself quickly. “It was really good choreo and dancing. And I guess those outfits were pretty cute, too.“ She said, making Carrie chuckle.

“Oh, really? Not “too Barbie-like” for your tastes, Brat?“ She joked with a smirk. “You know, I actually came up with that look. I dreamed it up, drew it out and I had the outfits custom made.“ She told them proudly, making them grin at her in surprise.

“Ooh, the pop princess is a fashion designer on the side now, is she?“ Julie teased with a smile as she finished Flynn’s left hand and started the other.

“Oh, you know me, girls. Always looking for something else to be good at. Always looking for something else to be praised for.“ Carrie joked and rolled her eyes at herself, shaking her head.

“You were always the best dancer out of the three of us.“ Carrie smiled at that, looking down.

“Really? I always thought you deserved the title “best dancer“ out of us three, Flynn.“ She admitted softly.

“Me? No. I’m the rapper and the DJ out of us. Julie’s the singer and the pianist and you’re the dancer and apparently, the fashion designer.“ Flynn told her and Julie nodded in agreement, capping the bottle when she finished.

“Yeah, what Brat said. You’re totally the most graceful dancer in the room right now.“ Julie told her, speaking as if she really did believe it, surprising Carrie.

“Oh. Thank you, girls.“ She said softly, feeling her smile grow.

“Yeah, you’re amazing! The way you spin around? I can’t do that without falling over or getting dizzy.“ Julie grinned and laughed at herself.

“And that footwork, girl!“ Flynn said, blowing on her nails to dry them faster as Carrie opened the purple nail polish bottle.

“I work really hard to be that good.“ She said, sitting straighter.

“And all that hard work pays off.“ Julie confirmed for her. “And your voice is good, too! Not just your dancing.“ She said and Carrie smiled.

“Well, you know. Singing runs in the family.“ She bragged and flipped her hair, giggling with them. “Come here, Chic. Time for your nails.“ She said and Julie shifted to get closer, taking one last cookie in her mouth before she let Carrie start painting.

“You were really good at school, too. That song was stuck in my head for, like, an hour after.“ Julie laughed.

“That’s the goal. Get Dirty Candy stuck in everyone’s heads so they come back to our music videos on youtube. Hope one of them is a music rep and we get a deal. Become mega famous like dad.“ Carrie told the girls as she painted Julie’s nails.

“Or, become mega famous like Dirty Candy deserves because you guys are really good and deserve the recognition no matter who your dad is.“ Flynn pointed out and gave Carrie a look.

Oh. Carrie didn’t think about it like that before. She always just figured she would be in her dad’s shadow no matter the recognition she and her girls got. She knew they were good, but she knew her dad would always be bigger. She told Julie and Flynn as much, blinking when they both once again insisted that Dirty Candy was just as good and deserved just as much recognition as Trevor Wilson.

“Thanks, girls.“ She said after a minute and smiled, quickly finishing up Julie’s right hand and grabbing her left.

“Hey, we’re just telling the truth. You and your girls have real talent.“ Julie smiled and squeezed her hand.

“As do the two of you. And your band.“ Carrie said as she resumed painting Julie’s nails before remembering something. “Oh, hey. My friend Kayla wants to know if your bassist is single.“ She told her.

“Oh, Reggie? Yeah, he’s very single.“ Julie confirmed with a quick nod and a grin. “Kayla is Purple Candy, yeah?“ She asked and Carrie nodded.

“She’s got a huge crush on him.“ She giggled. “It’s kinda funny. He’s usually not her type, but he just does something to her.“

“And she does something to him.“ Julie smirked.

“She does?“ Flynn and Carrie asked at the same time, making Julie laugh.

“Ooh, if you two only heard the way that boy talks about ‘that pretty girl that smiled at me at Julie’s school’. It makes me and Luke laugh so hard. And- OH. And Alex, my drummer, he’s a Dirty Candy fan!“

Carrie grinned at hearing more about Julie’s band friends, laughing softly. “Oh, is he? Tell me more about your boys, Chic.“

“Alex really likes dancing. And he loves your music. Almost as much as he loves drumming. And Reggie, he may look like a super cool rock star, but he’s a total dork off stage.“ Julie giggled. “And Luke-” She blushed, growing shy. “Luke is so sweet. He gives really nice pep talks and he’s really supportive and encouraging when I’m nervous or when Alex gets really anxious.“

Carrie smirked and Flynn snickered at the dreamy, far away look in Julie’s eyes, finishing up her nails.

“-And he’s really funny and smart and cute and his lyrics are so good and-“ Julie blushed red and shut her mouth when she realized how much she was gushing about Luke and that Flynn and Carrie were laughing at her. “And- Well, you heard what Flynn said I sound like at school. He’s that. And so much more.“

Carrie snorted and nodded, capping the purple nail polish bottle. “Yes, and she was not exaggerating at all.“ She laughed, making Flynn cackle. “Your little crush on him is so cute, Julie.“

“So cute!“ Flynn nodded, still cackling into her hands.

“He’s obviously special to you. And I hope I’m right that your Luke feels the same about you. I hope you two find a way to be together and he treats you right. If he doesn’t, I’m here to cry to. After I pummel him like roadkill.“ Carrie said, making Julie and Flynn laugh again.

“Thanks, Carrie. I really appreciate that.“ Julie smiled gratefully and blew on her nails, shuffling to let Flynn in her spot to paint Carrie’s nails.

“Hey, that’s what friends are for.“ Carrie shrugged as Flynn opened the bottle with a smile, starting to paint Carrie’s nails.

“I’d hate to be the boy that hurts you, Barbie Girl.” Julie joked with a smirk.

“Ehh, I wouldn’t and don’t pity the next dumb boy that hurts her. He deserves whatever fury she unleashes on him, and what fury I unleash on him, if he loses his mind and hurts her.“ Flynn shrugged.

Carrie laughed at that and shook her head, covering her mouth with the hand Flynn wasn’t painting. “No. No. I’m so over boys right now. I’m not looking for a new boytoy at the moment. I’m just gonna live my life.“ She told them.

“You’re not gonna try to get back together with Nick again?“ Julie asked.

“Oh! I didn’t tell you yet! No, we’re never getting back together. But we talked it all out and we are friends. Just friends.“ Carrie smiled. “Well, on the condition that I don’t force him to watch The Bachelor and The Bachelorette with me anymore.“ She laughed. “Oh, he always got so bored so fast with those shows.“

Julie snickered into her hand, leaning her head on Flynn’s shoulder. “Oh, dear. Whatever will Barbie Girl do with Danforth-Evans now that she can’t watch trashy reality shows with him?“

Carrie almost snorted at that, but stayed still so Julie could finish her nails, chest heaving with laughter. “I’m sure our darling boy can find other things that both of us will enjoy doing together.“

“Our darling boy. That’s nice.“ Julie smiled and Flynn nodded with a grin.

Flynn finished painting Carrie nails and blew them dry, rolling her eyes fondly when she promptly pulled out her phone and took pictures of her nails for instagram. She smiled, though, seeing the caption on the post:

“Nails courtesy of my girl, rap goddess, bomb DJ, graceful dancer and favorite little Brat, Flynn 💖“

Flynn and Julie both liked the post and commented red and purple heart emojis on it, posting their own nails to their instagrams.

Carrie grinned as she liked and commented pink heart emojis on both posts, almost immediately getting a few texts from confused classmates who thought they all hated each other still. She kindly replied to the texts and put her phone away, just talking to the girls about everything and nothing for a few hours.

She left after a while to go home, telling everyone she promised her dad she’d be home for dinner. She hugged the girls good bye and walked out, heading home. She grinned as she thought about everything they’d talked about, looking down at her expertly done nails.

Step five... Semi accomplished? She thought and shrugged after a second, getting home quickly and walking inside. She was at least friends with Nick and hanging out with Flynn and Julie again. That had to count a little bit toward being a better person, right? Carrie thought so. She shut the door behind herself and walked toward the dining room, perking up when she found her dad. “Hi, daddy!“ She grinned happily and hugged him.

“Hi, baby! You have a good time at Julie’s today? How was school?“ He asked, happy to see his daughter so happy.

“Yeah. We talked a lot and we painted each other’s nails- She has the same polish that I do! And we posted it all on instagram because of course we had to.” She giggled again. “And school was school. Made up with Julie and Flynn. Made up with Nick. But we’re just friends now.“

She smiled as she sat down to eat with him, telling him all about her day. She felt her smile grow as he relaxed more, clearly not thinking right now about whatever it was that had been bothering him. Good sign. Good sign. She went up to her bedroom a while after, deciding to go to sleep soon if she wanted a good start tomorrow. She had a lot to do and a lot to say. She got ready quickly and laid in bed, slowly falling asleep.

[dakotacrisis]

Transferred (10)

When I plotted this story out it was only meant to be 10 chapters...not the case now.

There is a fox in the bakery today.

---

“Quinn, you can no longer claim that you are not that bad when you are sick. I hope you realize that.” Nanette teased as the girls and Quinn walked into class the following week after everyone’s flu had disappeared.

“The whole Flu-demic thing doesn’t count.” Quinn objected. “I was sick and so not in my right mind.”

“Marinette was sick and she didn’t get akumatised.” Kagami pointed out.

“This is victim blaming!” Quinn dropped into their seat, “I’m not talking to you bullies.”

“We’re only teasing, Quinn.” Marinette assured them, “We know it wasn’t your fault.”

“I’m still interested in that new Ladybug that showed up halfway through the fight.” Nanette said, “No one seems to know what happened there. Not even Chat Noir seemed to understand what was going on.”

Marinette looked over at Kagami who was keeping a stoic face in front of the others. After Marinette had gotten her miraculous back and few good hours of sleep she checked the Ladyblog to see if there was any footage of Kagami as Ladybug. It was so weird seeing someone else do her job. But Marinette knew Kagami was clever and strong enough to do it. Maybe she could be her unofficial backup in case Marinette ever got sick or injured again.

Class started and Kagami and Marinette went to their seats in the back. Mr. Babineaux started his lecture on Shakespeare and talking about the different plays they would be reading and discussing in class.

“Marinette,” Kagami whispered, “Now that you’re feeling better I have a request for you.”

“And what is this request?” Marinette whispered back. She was trying to keep notes while also listening to Kagami.

“Do you know about the Next Big Night Fundraiser?” Kagami asked.

“Of course. It’s only the biggest arts fundraiser in France. Adrien told me the both of you were attending.”

“Yes. Adrien invited me as his plus one to the event and Mr. Agreste kindly invited my mother to join as well.”

“That’s so cool you get to go.” Marinette only ever got to watch it on TV. One day she’d make it there to support all the classic as well as the up and coming artists, designers, musicians, writers, and actors. So much talent in one room!

“It is. But I need to find something appropriate to wear to the event. I have nice dresses and outfits in my closet but I need something new for this night.”

“You want me to help you pick out an outfit? Go dress shopping?”

“No. I was actually hoping you would design a dress for me.”

“Design you a dress?” Marinette tried not to squeal, “That’s an awfully big responsibility. It can’t be just any ordinary dress either. You’re sure you want me to be the one to make it?”

“Absolutely. There’s no one I trust more to make me a spectacular dress.” Kagami smiled at her. “When I mentioned it to my mother I was expecting her to rebuke me. That I shouldn’t get my dress made by, for lack of a better word, a novice. But she seemed rather open to it. I’d say almost encouraging.”

Marinette recalled the talk she had with Mrs. Tsurugi when Kagami was acting as Ladybug. Had she actually taken her advice?

“That’s great. It will take some time so we should start as soon as possible. When are you free?”

“Mlles. Dupain-Cheng and Tsurugi,” Mr. Babineaux was tapping his foot, “Is my class getting in the way of your conversation?”

“Sorry, sir,” Marinette apologized, “Won’t happen again.”

The rest of class Marinette couldn’t bring herself to focus on the lecture. She kept imagining different dresses to put Kagami in for the fundraiser. She hadn’t had a chance to make anything formal that would actually get any use. Sure there was the ballgown she had created that Lila ruined by taking away her credit but it was more of a passion project. This was actually going to be seen by critics and other designers. It had to be perfect.

“Marinette!” Nanette shouted finally tearing Marinette’s attention from her sketchbook.

“Huh? What happened?” Marinette looked around. When did she end up in the library?

A dozen other students were shushing them but Nanette didn’t care. “What are you doing? You haven’t looked up from that sketchbook in like an hour.”

“Sorry.” Marinette closed it, “Kagami wants me to help her design a dress for a fundraiser she’s attending and I got a little carried away with ideas.”

“I don’t mean to sound like the mom friend but you should be focusing on your maths homework.” Nanette edged the textbook towards her, “You’re still behind from being sick.”

“I know,” Marinette opened the textbook and got to work.

After finally finishing the last of her homework the trio departed for home. Marinette was flipping through her sketchbook again looking at all the quick designs she had created during class. So invested in her work she didn’t register that someone was waiting outside the bakery for her.

“Hey, Marinette,” Marinette looked up to see Alya standing next to the shop door, “I don’t know if you’re busy or even want to see me but I was hoping we could talk.”

“Oh…uh sure. I guess.” Marinette didn’t know what to make of this. She had let go of her grudge against the class long ago. It was too much effort to keep mad at people that didn’t mean anything significant to her anymore.

The girls walked upstairs to the living area and sat down on the couch.

Several moments passed of them sitting there not quite looking at each other. Tikki bumped around in Marinette’s purse to get her attention. Someone needs to break the ice.

“So,” Marinette hated that it had to be her, “What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Right,” Alya sighed, “It’s um...well I...sorry. I do have something to say I’m just panicking.”

“That is a fat mood.” Marinette mumbled under her breath. Alya must have heard her cause she snorted softly.

“I wanted to come by and say that I’ve been thinking a lot lately.” Alya said, “Mainly about your departure from the school and your allegations against Lila.”

“Have you now?”

“Yes.” Alya met her eyes with determination, “I was wrong. I was wrong about you and I was wrong about Lila. She’s not at all who she claims to be.”

“Is that so? How’d you come to that conclusion?” Marinette couldn’t help the sarcasm. It was the only way to disguise the glimmer of hope blossoming in her chest.

“The day that you and Lila got into that whole fight and it looked like you stole everyone’s stuff I thought I had a pretty clear picture. It wasn’t anything pretty and I didn’t want to believe it but the facts as they were presented led me to an assumption. Then when you actually left the school I started to rethink some things. Cause I know you. You’re strong and brave. You are not one to back down from a fight and I don’t know you to intentionally start them for something as petty as jealousy.” Alya was fidgeting with a curl in her hair.

“So you’ve changed your mind?” Marinette pried.

“I did my research.” Alya’s voice had taken an edge, “I started having my doubts about Lila when you left and then not two weeks after you were gone she was still saying stuff about you. Trying to spread rumors that I just didn’t buy. Like, she tried to say you used cheat codes during the gaming tournament a couple months back? I’ve played against you. You do not cheat. You got steamed when you noticed I used one once. Then there was some crap about you stealing your derby hat design from a sketch she did and I knew she had to be lying. One, because I know your signature style. Two, I’ve seen your sketchbook with the design in it. And three, she wasn’t even here! She was still living abroad when all this happened.”

“I think Adrien told me about those lies too. I figured that everyone would just believe them like they believed all her other outlandish claims.”

“Oh, yes, I debunked the heck out of all those.” Alya tapped her phone. “Did some research and I was able to prove half of the things she had told us were untrue in ten minutes of searching. I honestly can’t believe anyone ever believed it. Including me.”

Alya’s hands shook and she looked at Marinette with tear filled eyes, “I should have listened to you. I should have believed in my best friend but when the time came for me to have your back I didn’t. I let Lila drive you out of school with her lies and her manipulation of our class and I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am. I should have never doubted you and I sure as heck shouldn’t have got in your face about it.”

“Alya--”

“No. Let me finish. You need to hear this.” Alya took a deep breath and wiped away her tears, “I am so sorry, Marinette. You’re my best friend and I treated you like a misbehaving child. Even if you don’t forgive me or want anything to do with me after today I’ll understand. I just wanted to let you know that you mean so much to me and I’m sorry I let someone else come between our friendship.”

“Alya,” Marinette reached for her hand, “I forgive you. I think I forgave you a long time ago. Also, if we’re doing apologies then I suppose I should say sorry for smashing a muffin on your head. It was the frustration lashing out and I shouldn’t have done something so stupidly boorish.”

“Girl, do not even try to apologize for that. If the positions were reversed I probably would have done the same if not something even more barbaric. I had it coming with how I acted anyways.” Alya laughed dryly.

“Doesn’t mean I don’t still feel guilty about it.” Marinette sighed. “Does this mean that we’re okay now? You still want to be friends with me?”

“I should be the one asking you that.” Alya said, “Can you still want to be friends with the world’s crappiest best friend?”

“No. I want to be friends with the girl who loves me enough to swallow her pride and take the time to rethink her ways and ask for forgiveness. That girl is pretty awesome.”

“I’m gonna cry again.” Alya took off her glasses and pressed her eyes into her hands, “I freaking love you, Marinette.”

“I love you too,” Marinette hugged her best friend. “You can make up for the emotional distress by letting me whip your butt at Ultimate Mecha Strike.”

“Deal.”

After a few more minutes of tears and assurances that everything was better between them again they moved onto video games. Alya filled her in on all that was going on at the school and ranting about the lies Lila was telling. She was pretty sure that Lila’s lies were losing their credibility with every new fib. She would be shocked if anyone in class was believing in her anymore. Not that anyone had the guts to call her out. That little liar would probably just pile on even more to confuse them.

“I am so tired, Marinette,” Alya dramatically dropped her head into Marinette’s lap.

“Tired of getting beat?” Marinette smirked.

“Not that. I’m tired of the emotional strain that has become my life. With you gone things at school and at home have been bleak and boring and too annoying to even care about anymore. Everyone has been in a haze for weeks and it is really starting to take its toll.”

“It’ll get better eventually.” Marinette patted her head, “How about we go downstairs and grab some emotional support macarons from the bakery?”

“Yes! Please! I’ve been too awkward to come here since you left and I am dying for those macarons.”

“Your cravings shall not go unsated anymore. Salted caramel, right?”

“You know it.”

Marinette stepped out of the living room and into the stairwell. Once she closed the door she started doing a little giddy dance. Alya believed her! Alya knows the truth! Alya and Marinette are friends again! Yes! Yes! Best! Day! Ever!

“I’m glad you and Alya are friends again, Marinette.” Tikki zipped into the air, “It looks like you are too.”

“I missed her so much, Tikki. I didn’t realize just how much until today. Even more I’m just glad she knows the truth now. I feel like this weight has been lifted off my shoulders having her with me again.”

“That’s great! You deserve it.” Tikki nestled her head against Marinette’s cheek, “Now how about you sneak me one of those macarons too?”

“Sure, Tikki,” Marinette grabbed an assortment of macarons from the shop and excitedly told her parents about how she and Alya were friends again. They were happy to hear it. They had missed having Alya around too. Not that they didn’t adore her new friends but they knew that there would truly only be one Alya in Marinette’s life.

---

“ALYA AND I MADE UP!” Adrien almost fell off the couch as Marinette’s delighted shrieks blasted over the phone.

“That’s great.” He righted himself, “What happened?”

“She came over and we talked and she said that she believed me about Lila and--I am just really happy right now!” He could practically hear her happy little bounces through the phone.

“Is that Dupain-Cheng?” Chloe asked him.

“Yes,” he tried to push Chloe away politely, “Her and Alya made up.”

“Gimme that.” Chloe pulled the phone from his hands. “Dupain-Cheng, what did she say to you? It’s Chloe, who else? What did Alya say to you? Did she mention anything about exposing Lila? Okay. Good. That’s none of your concern. Goodbye.”

She hung up.

“Chloe!” Adrien took his phone back, “Why did you highjack my phone call?”

“Shh, working,” Chloe was on her phone and dialing someone. “Hey, listen closely because I--do not hang up on me, Cesaire! Do you want to expose Lila or not? Yes I know she’s a liar, please try to keep up. I think we could help one another. My place, tomorrow, bring your research and don’t breathe a word of this to anyone. Bye.”

“What was that?”

“Insurance that all my work doesn’t go down the drain with one stupid blog post.” Chloe sighed as she leaned back on the couch, “Come here, I wanna post a selfie of us.”

“I am still highly confused as to what just happened. I thought we weren’t going to focus on the project tonight.” Adrien scooted closer so they could both fit their faces into the screen. “Oh wow, we look like clouds.”

“I love these Korean face masks,” Chloe took a couple photos before posting one on her Instagram. “Spa night with @adrienagrestebrand #weareclouds #treatmyself”

“I needed this.” Adrien relaxed as they hit play on Haunted Cabin III: The Cursed Lake. “I can’t remember our last spa/movie night.”

It was a monthly thing for Adrien and Chloe dating back to when they were little kids. They would have a relaxing spa treatment, pig out on the couch, and riff bad horror movies all night before crashing at four AM. It was one of the only times Adrien could get his father’s permission for a sleepover.

“I still think you should have done more than just a clear coat on your mani-pedi. I got actual gold flakes in my manicure.” Chloe flashed her sparkly nails. “We could have matched.”

“You know my father doesn’t like it when I wear nail polish. Last time I came home with painted nails he had Nathalie read me the riot act because it didn’t look professional.” Adrien sighed, “Also, we already have matching robes, face masks, headbands, and slippers. Do we really need more?”

“You forgot the foot massagers.” Chloe kicked off her slippers and stuck her feet in the quietly rumbling machine. “And the answer is always yes.”

---

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (11)

---

(tagged)

@immatureidiot101 @ladylb @lady-flora-of-slytherin @zazzlejazzle @lamestplaceontheinternet

[natsunoomoi]

FFVII Thoughts

-This whole thing with Jessie is so much filler it’s mostly unnecessary. Plus I feel like the whole impact of Jessie and her arc and even this filler is detracted by her being a former actress. Like I mentioned before I feel like her being an actress and known for toying with men kind of takes away from her crush on Cloud and makes it seem cheap. Also even though she’s someone’s daughter who is more tech inclined, I always thought of her as an engineer herself and like a former Shinra engineer that quit would have been a more powerful message than that of an actress. Even if you keep her Dad getting sick it adds an extra layer. Like say she worked in R&D and they like pushed an experimental mako enhancement for the plant too soon and she warned it would make people sick and it made her Dad sick. There’s a lot of ways her story would have been better and fit more nicely into the narrative. :/

-Even though Jessie annoys me, Biggs is kind of okay but he comes off to me as a little cliche. Wedge is kind of a little nicer.

-Aww, they took out the pickpocket on the train during the ID scan. That would have been a lot harder to deal with, but yeah.

-Good lord they stretched out these areas.

-Completely lost in this lamp and platform maze, but after a long time I finally figure out how to get out even with the items.

-Another maze and more reactor context change.

-Robot change where you can screw it over. That’s interesting.

-Yay Aerith!

-Dang Reno. You hard.

-OMG stupid ghosts get out of the way. I bet I have to trek all this way back to get this materia.

-This church is now also a crazy rat maze.

-Now onto roof rat maze.

-Ugh, why do I have to take the long way just to avoid Rude?

-Let me explore the town!

-Cloud and Aerith are way more helpful in this game. The kids have a secret hide out. Cool, I guess.

-Chadley is seriously simultaneously frustrating and useful.

-Yay I can go back and get crap from the church.

-Okay, so sneak out. Why tf is there a pot right outside my room that I can’t see?

-Okay, so there’s Aerith. We have a secret tunnel-ish. So many ladders. So much up and down.

-Out of that maze and yay they kept that scene where Aerith brings up Zack. Still not sure I’m liking all the foreshadowing cuz this was a spoiler in the original game.

-Tifa looks nice in that outfit. Like in general in this game though. They gave her a pretty thoughtful makeover that like captures the essence of her original profile, but also with some added tweaks in style that I actually like better. Like she didn’t have those thigh highs before, but those are a nice touch. And instead of her mini skirt her skirt is actually a skort and is pleated. Plus like the better boob support.

-Good lord Wall Mart is so involved now. So many alleys. Get out of the way yo!

-Leslie seems kind of cool, but I’m not sure cuz he works for a creep.

-Ugh hussle of trying to figure out how to get in. This sponsorship thing is new. I guess Corneo got more exclusive in this game.

-I have to go to the coloseum? Ugh, why?

-This crowd is full of haters.

-Okay winning over the crowd....

-I have an extra battle? WTF is this BS. I almost wish it was the Turks making a surprise appearance. That seems like a silly stupid thing the original would have done.

-Obviously Cloud caught someone else’s attention.

-Yay! Finally dress up time.

-Awesome. I’m doing a bunch of quests now.

-Whoops I didn’t level up my materia all the way. I got most of them so it’s doing fine but just the medicine thing.

-I saw a lot of people complaining about Jules, but he wasn’t so bad? I just needed to remember the rhythm and what I was doing by saying it so I could keep track of the pattern.

-Ugh, Johnny where you taking me? I have to wait for someone not yet.

-Oh Aerith looks nice. I like her outfit.

-Okay time to dress up Cloud.

-Whoa, Folia is a honeybee? Teh shock.

-What is this mini-game? It’s hard to keep rhythm and sometimes I actually can’t see the queue. Why do you design a mini-game where you can’t see the thing clearly?

-Oh shit I missed a track because I didn’t want to sit there and keep playing a frustrating mini-game. D:

-Yay! At least I got the cute dress. But real talk I kind of miss the old way to dress up Cloud only cuz I would want to see what the different colored wigs look like, but that whole storyline is very trans insensitive. Or even drag insensitive, so I understand why they changed it.

-Andrea is kind of cool. I was worried they were going to make him into some kind of flaming stereotype, but actually although he definitely has some flare, he’s a pretty well balanced character and none of the characters really judge him for his personal choices. Although definitely some judgement for the stuff they make them do, but that’s fair because you’re being subjected to it. Good on Cloud for following along.

-Okay time to take down this fat loser. So how does this work? How do you know who he’ll choose?

-Wait does he just choose Cloud every time? That’s a little less fun. I liked dressing Cloud up as the prettiest princess so that you could get him picked.

-This bit of them threatening Corneo’s private parts is still one of my favorite things. It was teh shock when I saw it the first time back in the day and I still enjoy it now.

-Ugh, the sewer. Also a lot of denial. But ugh the sewer.

-My sister was right. The train graveyard is creepier.

-Oh crap I forgot to steal from Eligor. !@#$@#%

-Alright climb the pillar. This is kind of slightly more fun with the extra scenes from Reno and Rude.

-Whoa, they saved Wedge. Cuz he originally totally ate it. Like straight fell off the pillar several stories and was unresponsive.

-Biggs and Jessie still die. That’s fine. I actually feel less sorry for Jessie dying than I did with the original. :/ I think because they managed to actually make her irritating with how over the top they made her.

-Aerith and Marlene is so cute!

-Helicopter shots are annoying, but I like hearing Reno. It’s sad that Fujiwara Keiji died two days after this came out. This is like the last thing he did probably. But his voice fit Reno really well. I don’t think it fit Ardyn well. Ardyn I think deserved a lower register, but I think Square gave him the part probably because of his diagnosis cuz I think Ardyn’s in-game struggle in a sense reflected his real life trials in some way only in the game he became immortal. Real life not so much, but immortalized in a sense through these works. I wonder if Square would have wanted it to come out sooner so that maybe he could have played it himself a little bit before passing, but they had to push the date for quality and stuff.

-I don’t know why, but I really like looking at Reno’s open shirt. Like I think the way they did his abs are a bit different from Advent Children. I think his shirt is even open wider than in AC. *checks* Yeah, it is. AC it’s buttoned up toward the top and just the top one or two are left open. And okay for real Remake has his shirt open even more than even in the original. Nevermind him buttoning up more for AC, but like in original FF7 polygon Reno and original Nomura art Reno looks like it’s only unbuttoned to about mid-pecs. Remake Reno is like down to like the top of his stomach. I guess I can’t complain about the equal opportunity fan service.

-Tseng is actually done pretty well, but I keep looking at him cuz he just strikes me as odd.... Oh wait is it his hair? Is that a hair tie? I don’t think he had a hair tie before. I think we were just supposed to assume he had his hair slicked back and kept in place by gel or hair spray. Also his face is interesting cuz I think they tried to make him actually look Chinese, but I think he just turned out looking kind of like Tamaki Hiroshi. Oh and Suwabe-san!

-LOL Rude carrying Reno like a rag doll.

-And there goes the plate. Oh, no, Wedge. I guess he did die. But the kitties. ;o;

-Let me explore Wall Market! Ugh, fine.

-That Kyrie chick seems kind of a little annoying. I kind of want to let Barret hit her. But I’m probably biased because I had a hot mess of a flatmate with that name and she like didn’t clean up after herself and left dirty dishes in her room and like pushed it up against her roommate’s bed. >.> Like passing responsibility over them to someone else. And I think she maybe broke one of my cups? And like tried to use my stuff without asking? Maybe stole some stuff too but idk. And like worst of all was like she sold her car so she could get money because she couldn’t hold down a job and like needed money and instead of like you know paying rent and bills, she spent it on shoes and make up and left the receipt out for us to find.

-Wall Market is...different in the day time.

-All teh quests.

-Okay Kyrie is still kind of annoying and stupid when you talk with her one on one, but she at least seems better than my flatmate.

-Oh old lady is the Angel.

-Findin’ all the birds. It kind of strikes me that they added this in cuz of how much time it takes to get places and it’s kind of like XV and even the XIV MMO, but not. I guess it’s a staple now with their newer titles because of how grand they make the scenery.

-Down in the sewer again....

-I just really wanna find Corneo’s stash.

-OMG I got a chase this little asshole now.

-Okay so now Leslie. Leslie is a good guy after all. Not a bad new character too. Nice decent development and stuff.

-But gdi Corneo’s still alive. I mean, I knew that cuz Wutai, but ugh.... I think he deserved at least a punch in the face.

-Okay so anyway I guess I’m going up now. Just going to finish up stuff before I go past the point of no return. Get all teh things I can from the coliseum and all that.

-Climbing, climbing. Oops I missed a thing. Was I supposed to?

-Gdi this helicopter thinger is annoying. I can’t slash any boxes. Just kick them around.

-Okay done so I guess I’m going in.

-...Is this a parking lot?

-Oh okay so here’s the entrance.

-Shinra headquarters actually looks like a bigger version of Square Enix’s headquarters in Higashi Shinjuku. I’ve been there pretty recently and also like to cut through the office building to get to Artnia cuz I don’t want to walk all the way around. Decor and stuff and specifics are definitely different, but like the double tower U-shaped look with the walkway in the middle thing is very much how the building is in Shinjuku. Specifics with the stairs and escalators are also different, but kind of the same deal with some amount of ambient lighting at night time and the lobby and such is still mostly open in the evening for people who work late or want to pass through. Some of the doors being locked or like certain staircases and such being roped off are a thing as well. I just know this cuz I often go to Artnia around dinner time when I’m there, so it’s generally after hours already.

-I think even the parking lot situation might even be the same? I’m not sure because I usually take the subway and that let’s out into the mini mall downstairs, but parking if you go there and do that is like subterranean for sure and would be the first layer if it was on a plate.

-I mean, the HQ is also technically kind of on a plate also. Cuz the mini-mall is like below normal street level, but it’s like more cool with like a Lawson’s and restaurants. Coming up from the subway is also a lot similar POV-wise to coming up through grappling hook too in terms of perspective.

-Getting the key. Getting a glove on the way. This part is kind of cool. I always liked this part of the game in the original too and exploring an empty office.

-This is suspicious. I have to take a tour...?

-I guess this is interesting to learn about the company and stuff.

-Weird movie theater. Oh look a spoiler hallucination in the theater. It’s nice to see more of Sephiroth.

-Oh yeah the mayor. That’s a bit of a change that he’s secretly Avalanche. Whatever cool. Yay I got a weapon.

-I gotta do a battle simulator. Oh great I guess if I want items I have to sit here and do all the simulators.

-Oh look it’s Chadley. I have turn ins. Take my stuff.

-Okay so hike upstairs....oh shit they’re going in. Sneak slowly behind and like go around and explore stuff.

-Found the toilet. Haha. Tifa yells at Cloud if he goes in the wrong one. Good.

-This is a nice bathroom.

-Okay up in the vent.

-Interesting extra context and oh yeah Palmer saw Sephiroth.

-Hojo is more gross looking than I remember. Like piled on extra creep factor for him.

-Following into the lab. I guess I should be glad he wasn’t a dumbass and trying to mate Aerith with Red XIII.

-Interesting that it’s only now that they’re really making good use of Those Who Fight Further. I don’t think I’ve really heard it all that often before.

-Yay! Yamaguchi Kappei!

-This part getting serious with Sephiroth is appropriate, but kind of different with him starting to freak out.

-Oooh, Turks scene! It’s nice that they know they are fan favorites now and they put them in more scenes. I wish it would actually play their theme every time they show up like it used to. That’s what made them badass too.

-Aww, Aerith’s room.

-Interesting they are talking in Aerith’s room instead of getting captured and Aerith talking through the wall.

-Shinra science experiment...You’re probably not entirely wrong.

-Huh, wisdom from Red XIII. That’s different context.

-Wow, that’s different. Pointing out a different greater enemy so early. I guess it makes sense Aerith would know because of the whispers she hears, but also it kind of sucks the mystery of the progression of the original story.

-Dang, Sephiroth and Cloud confrontation-ish now? Not going to mysteriously take a body and stab the President?

-Oh joy another crazy rat maze.

-Hojo is definitely more gross than he used to be.

-Oh, nope. Just different order. There’s the trail of blood.

-Well, “blood”. Jenova blood is now apparently purple bubbling ooze.

-President Shinra is just hanging?! DISAPPOINTED. I liked it better when you just showed up and he had a giant sword in his back. Also wondering if you’d be blamed for it, but yeah, sword in the back!

-This is what you get for showing mercy. :/ Sword in back was better.

-Oh shut up already so Rufus can take over.

-Oh you get to watch the sword in the back.

-WTF. He’s not supposed to stab your party.

-Ghost things protecting fate is weird. But also I have some theories like the game is conscious that it’s a remake or something and for some reason they’re repeating history, but some things are different because people don’t do things in exactly the same way but certain things are fated to happen so they have to be preserved.

-Interesting that this game shows the cloaked figures going back and forth between Sephy. Kind of takes away the fun from years of debate on the subject about wtf is happening.

-And here’s Rufus. Still better than his Dad.

-I like that there’s more Turks footage than the original.

-Kind of nice that there’s more tender moments between Tifa and Cloud or rather we can experience them bonding more first hand.

-Did they make Wedge die in a different spot?

-Motorcycle bit is a bit different. Boss on motorcycle is kind of hard. Died once.

-I think it’s just cuz it’s a Remake that they added him here, but Sephiroth is at the end of the highway and I kind of think it sucks. :/ Cuz like it shouldn’t be like this.

-Why is Zack alive? Oh I think this is a flashback. Aww, this is supposed to be a hidden thing. ;o; Stop feeding them all the stuff. Let them find it.

-Whisper monsters...Okay this is just some kind of an AU. Like not really entirely a remake, but a different game in the same timeline cuz Sephy figured out somehow how to alter time and space. Aerith knows kind of what’s up because she became god essentially during AC. Would also explain why the game itself is giving away so many damn spoilers too.

-Holy shit, is Zack dead or not? D:

-Okay I looked up a thing and it said his death is ambiguous, but he’s never seen. Zack was an actual SOLDIER too so he could be a cloaked guy for all we know. But also at the end of AC it was both him and Aerith chilling together welcoming people to the lifestream so who the hell knows what she did.

-Biggs is alive?!

-So okay, if this is an AU things can change and I’m less gripey about the weird things that happened. Cuz it’s like just another pinpoint on the timeline that kind of has pseudo time travel and when you repeat things over again they’re not always exactly the same. I suppose for Square itself it’d be kind of boring to make an actual Remake because they don’t want to take away from the original and they want people to still buy that too cuz it was so good even though the graphics didn’t age so well. Instead they slapped Remake on a new title and trolled us all into thinking they actually did it when actually it’s like a timey wimey thing.