#anyway they met when they got asked to cut the cake together and totally hit it off and now they're dating :)

[phoenixiancrystallist]

Month 2, day 7

Happy birthday to my husbando Ignis Scientia and best girl Aerith Gainsborough! :D

I had nothing planned so I scribbled this out relatively quick, by which I mean over the course of like an hour and a half lol. This is nowhere near a finished piece, more like a scribbly, sketchy thumbnail for a proper piece of art, but honestly it was kind of nice to draw something new instead of working on an old WIP

I have a few alternative ideas I want to try so I might do those for a bit to give myself a break from animating :)

[fruitcoops]

Eve, I LOVE binging your masterlist. I was wondering if I could request a short lil story where someone reminds Jules that since Remus + Sirius got married, then Sirius and Reg are his brothers now too and Jules gets really excited about having TWO more older brothers after Coops' wedding? If not, totally fine!! Have a great year!!

Part 2 of the Coops Wedding series! It’s finally here after my computer was possessed and deleted the first version--this one is just over 4k words, so I hope that makes up for the delay! Sweater Weather credit goes to @lumosinlove <3

Preparations II Part 1

Remus had never been much of a dancer—despite his speed on the ice, he had two left feet and only the barest hint of rhythm. However, dancing at his wedding was a different story.

Sirius twirled him in a small circle, smiling from ear-to-ear as their friends and family spun around them to the beat blasting through the speakers. They still had three hours until sunset, and Remus was planning on spending every second of it with Sirius’ hand in his own. He pulled him in for another kiss—our tenth today? Twentieth? One hundredth? Who cares—and pulled away with a laugh as Jules and Katie bumped into the backs of his thighs.

“Watch it!” he called, ruffling Jules’ hair as they passed in a dramatic tango. Katie shrieked with giggles as Dumo swept her into his arms, spinning her around with a broad smile. Hope took Jules’ hands while Phil Collins began to sing about love, happiness, and everything Remus was already holding in his arms.

“Hey!” Sirius said over the music, giving Remus a squeeze.

“What?”

“I love you!”

“I hope so!” Remus laughed, spinning Sirius under his arm before reeling him in to bump their noses. “Not bad for a wedding we planned in six weeks, eh?”

Sirius shook his head, grinning. “We were engaged for ten months. How did we put that off for so long?”

“Because we’re busy all the fucking time.”

“We’re not going to be busy for three whole months,” Sirius said giddily as he picked Remus up a few inches with ease. He paused for a moment, scanning his face as if he was trying to memorize it.

“What’re you thinking about?” The were close enough that Remus hardly had to raise his voice above a murmur.

“We get to do this every day for the rest of our lives.”

His words hit Remus like a semitruck of affection and tears prickled his eyes as he leaned down for a kiss; Sirius set him down to kiss him properly, hands gently bracketing his jaw. “You are the most incredible person,” Remus said against his lips. “How the hell did I get so lucky?”

“I could ask you the same.” Sirius smiled and rested their foreheads together. “Come on, I think Celeste wants to cut the cake soon.”

Remus looked over at the folding table on the other side of the dance floor and stifled a laugh; Celeste, in her pretty blue party dress, was adjusting the cake by millimeters and glanced at her watch every few seconds, as if she was afraid people were going to leave. “I’m dying to know what she eventually decided on for the flavors.”

Sirius hummed his agreement and pulled Remus along by the hand—they didn’t even have to say anything before the rest of the small crowd followed them and gathered around the table. “Wait, wait, wait!” Celeste gasped, taking her phone out of Dumo’s pocket. After a few seconds of quiet, she nodded and centered it on them. “D’accord.”

“Ready?” Remus set his hand on top of Sirius’ and the hilt of the knife, pushing slowly down as it cut through the white frosting in a smooth glide. It was perfectly baked; not a single crumb stuck to the blade as they pulled it out.

“Here we go,” Sirius muttered as they took the first piece out. “Vanilla!”

“Orange, actually,” Celeste said, beaming. “The next layer is chocolate.”

“Celeste.” Remus gave her a tight hug before passing her along to Sirius, who bent down so she could kiss his cheek.

“Merci, maman,” he said quietly. “C’est parfait.”

“Surprise!” She did little jazz hands before handing them two forks from the end of the table. “Oh, this is so exciting. You have to try it, I don’t know if it’s good. I’ve never made an orange cake before.”

“Hurry up, Cap, we’re hungry!” Logan called from the back of the crowd. Sirius pulled a face at him and carefully slid the piece onto a paper plate before linking his elbow with Remus’.

Remus took a forkful of the cake and held it to Sirius’ mouth—just as he went to eat it, Remus scooted it to the side. “Ope, a little to the left, love.”

“Remus.”

“Oh, you almost had it! Not quite that far.” He could hear Jules giggling and grinned, moving it two inches to the right as Sirius tried to get it a third time.

“Remus!”

“What? It’s not my fault you can’t catch a fork!”

Sirius finally grabbed his elbow and held it in place to get the cake into his mouth, narrowing his eyes at Remus. “Only you would be mean to me on our wedding day.”

“I’m not being mean.” Remus kissed his nose. “Just keeping things interesting.”

“Yeah, yeah, alright.” Sirius got his own bit of cake and held it up. “Close your eyes, sweetheart.”

The second his eyes shut he regretted his decision, but before he could shout a full paper plate of cake smacked into his face with a splat. Everyone gasped, then burst out laughing as the plate fell back down onto the table. Remus slowly wiped frosting from his eyes, flicking it down onto the grass. “That was mean.”

“That was payback,” Sirius corrected.

“See, I would believe you, except I know you’ve been planning to do that for at least three days.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised you didn’t do it first,”

“C’mere, you.” Remus reached half-blindly for his tie, pulling him in for a sugary kiss and feeling around with his other hand for the plate. He pulled away and, before Sirius could open his eyes, smushed the leftover cake right onto his forehead.

Sirius licked his lips. “Celeste, the cake is fantastic. Do you think it’ll moisturize?”

She was laughing too hard to respond, but she blew him a kiss in between drying her eyes. Remus took a napkin of his own and wiped his face off, licking as much of it off his hands as he could. “Oh, please don’t wait for us to clean up,” he said, motioning the still-laughing crowd forward. “We’ll be here for a while.”

“Whose fault is that?” Sirius teased.

“Yours!”

They ended up ducking into the kitchen to wash up while Dumo and Celeste passed out slices of cake. “I hope there will be some left over for us,” Sirius said as Remus washed the crumbly frosting from his hair. “From the little I got, it was amazing.”

“Yeah, she nailed the orange flavor.” Remus leaned on the front of the sink, watching people mill around or return to the dance floor for one more song before enjoying their cake. The buzz of their mingled voices dripped with joy and he smiled to himself, soaking in the feeling of his family’s happiness.

Warm arms encircled his waist as Sirius’ chin rested on his shoulder. They said nothing and waited in utter silence until Remus laced their fingers together and headed back out into the summer sunshine.

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

An hour later, a dozen mismatched plates of food laid decimated on the folding table with a quarter of a wedding cake left as James headed toward the dance floor alone, clutching a piece of paper. He stopped just in front of Remus and Sirius’ table and winked at them.

“Hey, everyone. If you don’t know me, which I find difficult to believe for a number of reasons, I’m James Potter, the groom’s best friend. Yes, both of them.” He paused for a moment to let the laughter roll through. “However, I didn’t want a fight to break out over who got to have me as their best man—”

“There was no fight,” Remus corrected with a grin. “The loser got you, Pots.”

“And a lucky loser he is,” James shot back playfully before clearing his throat. “I met Sirius Black six and a half years ago, when he was eighteen and awkward. We were both awkward, actually, but he had this uncanny ability to make it look cool while I tripped over my own feet.

“The minute I met Sirius, I knew we were going to be friends. He was quiet, a little shy, and didn’t really know how talk to people. In that way, we were exactly alike.” The laughter was even louder that time and Sirius shook his head. “Ah, who am I kidding. I adopted Sirius as my best friend because I thought it would be hilarious to corrupt him.”

James glanced down at Sirius with a smile. “While I attempted to make an extrovert out of him, I learned several important things: number one, he is the least extroverted person I’ve ever met. Two, he is one of the kindest, funniest people on the planet. And three, my life had been severely lacking without him in it.”

A soft ‘aww’ washed over the group and Remus ran his thumb over Sirius’ knuckles.

James looked back at the other tables as he continued. “Sirius Black is known to most of the world as one of the best hockey players of our time. To me, he’s the dorky little brother I never had, and I am so, so proud of him. I’ve had the privilege of watching him open up, not only to me, but to everyone else on the team that he loves with that big soft heart. When my son was born—you all know my son, right? I think I have a picture here somewhere—”

“No!” half the group shouted as James grinned.

“Just making sure you’re still awake. Anyway, when my son was born, naming Sirius godfather was literally the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I kinda sat back went ‘hmm, who is the first person I can think of to entrust with my child’s life?’ and the only natural decision was the one who is terrified of children.”

“Terrified is a bit of a strong word,” Sirius complained, though his eyes were shining.

“My bad, you’re petrified by children,” James corrected. “But in all seriousness—sorry, couldn’t resist—in all seriousness, I couldn’t think of anyone better suited to the job. I think that tells you everything you need to know about Sirius, actually. Even when he’s scared to death, he goes out of his way to help people when they need it.

“Sirius, however happy you are right now—and you’re basically glowing—I need you to know that it’s one tenth of how happy you have made the people you love.” James’ voice got a little tight and Sirius took an unsteady breath. “You are a natural leader and a great hockey player, but most importantly, you are an outstanding friend. You deserve every good thing coming your way, today and for the rest of your life. As your best man and your best friend, I’ll be there whenever you call.”

Sirius sniffled as James wiped his cheeks dry and turned to Remus. “Loops, take care of my little brother, alright?”

“You got it, Pots,” Remus said, barely above a whisper.

James nodded, then raised his glass of champagne. “To Sirius and Remus, and all the happiness they deserve.”

A loud cry of “cheers!” went up, followed by thunderous applause as Sirius got up and wrapped James in a full-body hug, nearly knocking them both over. They separated after a moment and James stood on his toes to kiss the top of Sirius’ head before they went back to their respective places.

“You okay?” Remus murmured, linking their hands together again.

“Fuck, I knew he was going to make me cry.” Sirius shook his head with a smile and sniffled once again. “Yeah, I’m alright.”

Lily raised an eyebrow as she stood James’ place. “Y’know, Re, I seem to recall you promising me a microphone if I did this.”

“Sorry to disappoint!” Remus called back, feeling a flutter of nerves in his stomach. Lily had refused to share any of her speech with him; when he tried to sneakily grab it once, she shoved it down her shirt and glared until he left the room.

“I’ll get over it.” She rubbed her fingers along the edge of her paper and sighed. “I’ve written and rewritten this speech about a dozen times since Re asked me to do it, but just being here—” She took a moment and blinked back tears. “It’s different. Just ignore me if I cry, okay?

Lily cleared her throat and turned back to the paper. “I met Remus Lupin six and a half years ago, on the same day James met Sirius for the first time. Personally, I think we should make that day a national holiday, since it irrevocably changed the course of both our lives. James found his best friend and little brother, and I found my Remus.

“One of the first things you will notice when you meet Remus is that he is friend shaped.” Several murmurs of agreement rippled through the crowd and Lily winked at Remus as he flushed pink. “Told you so. Honestly, Remus is one of those people who just exudes kindness. When I found out I was pregnant, he was the first person I told besides James. I knew Remus would not only keep my secret, but also be there in whatever capacity I needed because he cares. Truly, madly, deeply.”

Lily looked over to them with a soft, fond expression that made Remus’ stomach twist into knots. “In Sirius’ vows, he said you were sunshine through dark clouds, which is quite possibly my favorite descriptor of all time. It’s really sappy and cute, for one thing, but also true. Re, you bring light and warmth wherever you go. As someone who has been on the receiving end of that light, I can tell you that it is absolutely overwhelming in the best way. There are few places I feel safer than around you.

“And now we’re here, where you just married the love of your life.” The first tear slid down Lily’s cheek, dipping into her dimple as Remus’ own tracked down his chin. “God, Re, this is incredible. You two get to be together for the rest of your lives, and the rest of us have the best seat in the house to one of the greatest love stories of this century! I mean, c’mon, how many people can say they’ve made it through everything you did?”

Lily sniffled and raised her glass, though she maintained eye contact with him the whole time. “To Remus and Sirius, who remind us all what it looks like to be in love, even when the whole world tries to stand against you.”

A second ‘cheers’ began, but Remus was already on his feet and crashing into Lily, pulling her close as she clutched the back of his suit jacket. “I love you, Lils,” he choked out. “That was fucking incredible.”

“Love you too, Re.” She pulled back and carefully smudged her hands under her eyes to keep her makeup intact. “Ugh, sorry if I ruined your jacket with the waterworks.”

“You’re in good company.” She kissed each of his cheeks and fluffed the front of his hair up, making them both laugh as she took her seat again and Remus moved past his table with a last look to Sirius.

His mother’s eyes grew shiny with unshed tears as he held his hand out and guided her to the dance floor, where they swayed back and forth as Here Comes the Sun started to play, gentle and smooth. “Oh, you,” Hope managed as the lyrics began and Remus twirled her slowly. “I bet your father’s crying even though he’s not dancing.”

Remus glanced over to their table—as always, she was right. “He is. God, you’re good.”

“That’s what happens when you’ve been married for twenty-seven years,” she said, eyes crinkling. “Someday, that’s going to be you.”

He huffed softly. Don’t cry on mom, don’t cry on mom, don’t cry on mom. “You can’t just say stuff like that. It’s like kicking me while I’m down!”

“Little darlin’, it seems like years since it’s been clear,” she sang with a grin, tapping his nose. “Here comes the sun, dodododo, here comes the sun, and I say…”

“It’s all right,” Remus finished under his breath. The dance was over in an instant and after a thousand years at the same time—all too soon, people were clapping as they made their way back to the tables and Sirius walked over to Celeste.

She covered her mouth with her hands as he offered an arm, then nodded and accompanied him to the dance floor. He whispered something and she laughed, looping her arms around his neck with a bit of a stretch as a French song Remus had never heard came through the speakers and softened their smiles.

They talked quietly as they danced; Celeste was as elegant as ever and Sirius could be quite graceful when he put his mind to it. She traced his cheekbones with her thumbs and he closed his eyes, looking utterly at peace. Remus’ heartstrings tugged at the sight and he rested his chin on his hand, letting the waltz roll over him.

More applause followed their dance as Celeste held him in a tight embrace until a more upbeat song began and couples mobbed the dance floor. Sirius downed half his water in one gulp before sitting down with a heavy sigh, and dropped his forehead onto Remus’ shoulder. “You looked good out there,” Remus said, running a hand through his hair.

“So did you. I can’t feel my feet anymore.”

“I think we’re supposed to dance at our wedding.”

“I’m so hungry.”

Remus groaned; between the endless congratulations and conversations after the ceremony, they had no time to enjoy the assorted dishes people brought. “Same. We should go somewhere after this.”

“Other than home?”

“Home…” Remus trailed his lips to Sirius’ ear. “Is for other plans. Food happens elsewhere.”

“Good plan,” Sirius said, a little breathless as he sat back up and stood with a stretch. “Come on, sweetheart, the dance floor awaits.”

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

Thirty minutes after the sun set and Adele’s perfect fairy lights lit up the backyard, the party finally started winding down. Finn had fallen asleep with his head on Leo’s shoulder about ten minutes prior, but nobody had the heart to wake him; as the best dancer of the group, he had been a hot commodity for anyone looking to show off in addition to whirling both his boyfriends around.

Jules stumbled over to Remus and curled up in his lap without warning, snuggling his face into his chest with a jaw-cracking yawn. Regulus came up behind them a moment later, resting his hands on Sirius’ shoulders and scaring the daylights out of him. “Jesus f—frick, Reg!” he yelped, holding a hand over his heart.

“Sorry.” He didn’t look very apologetic as he turned to Remus. “Jules has been asking for you.”

“Oh, yeah?” Remus looked down and brushed the soft bangs from his eyes. “What’s up, buddy?”

“I love you,” Jules mumbled. “You got married. That’s so cool.”

Remus smiled. “It really is. Thanks for being the ring-bearer, by the way. You did a great job.”

Jules made a muffled noise before wrapping his arms around Remus’ waist with a sigh. “Mmkay. G’night.”

“You can’t fall asleep yet!” Remus tickled his side lightly. “We’re almost done, I promise.”

“What time is it?” Jules cracked an eye open and fumbled for his wrist, turning Remus’ hand over to check. “It’s not even ten! Why am I tired?”

“You’ve had a busy day. Do you know where mom and dad are?”

“Still talking.”

Remus surveyed the crowd and quickly spotted them next to the cubs, sipping water and sharing a piece of cake. He stood carefully, making sure Jules was steady on his hip before heading toward the table with Sirius and Regulus in tow. “We’ve got a tired munchkin,” he whispered when they arrived, depositing Jules into the chair next to his mother; within moments, Jules laid his head on the table.

“Love you, Re,” he said as he tucked his arms under his head. “Best big brother.”

“Best of all three?” Logan gasped in mock-surprise.

“Three?” Jules sat up straight and gave him a confused look. It was made extra adorable by the crooked cowlick decorating the whole right side of his head. “I only have one.”

“Now that Remus and Sirius are married, you’ve got two more big brothers,” Logan reminded him. “Regulus and Sirius count.”

“That’s crazy,” Jules yawned, cocking his head at the brothers. “Re is still my favorite, but you’re awesome and I love you, too.”

Regulus made a soft sound and Sirius kissed the top of Jules’ head. “Don’t tell anyone, but you’re my favorite Lupin,” he stage-whispered, laughing as Remus rolled his eyes.

Jules frowned. “You married one of us, and it sure wasn’t me.”

“Alright, second favorite,” Sirius conceded with a grin as the rest of the table laughed.

“Mama, I’m tired.” Jules traced the bead patterns on Hope’s dress.

“Okay, lovey, we can go home soon.” She raised an eyebrow at Remus and he nodded. “Do you want to say some goodbyes first?”

“We’ll see everyone tomorrow. ‘s okay.”

Lyall gathered Jules into his arms, then turned to Remus and pulled him close with a kiss to his forehead. “So proud of you, kiddo.” He looked over at Sirius for a moment. “Take good care of him, eh?”

“Sir, yes sir.” Sirius pressed a kiss to Remus’ temple as they separated, then moved aside for Hope.

She scanned his face for a moment, then touched their foreheads together. “Good luck, baby. Not that you need it, but you deserve it anyway.”

Remus pulled them both back in for a family hug, feeling Jules drape a drowsy arm around the back of his neck. “Thank you so much for being here. It means—it means everything to me.”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Lyall whispered. “Now go, you two haven’t eaten anything tonight.”

“Thank you,” both of them breathed at the same time, sending the whole group into a fit of laughter.

They said a few more ‘thank you’s and goodbyes until the other Lions started a loud, incoherent cheer and all but chased them toward Sirius’ car, where a small ‘Just Married’ sign had been stuck on the back window. They were planning on keeping the wedding a secret from the media as long as they could—the reaction would be even more hilarious the longer they waited.

“What if—” Remus broke off into snickering as they pulled out of the Dumais’ driveway. “What if nobody notices?”

“What? That we’re married?” Sirius gave him a disbelieving look. “People are going to figure it out so fast, no matter how many times Pots changes the subject.”

Remus hummed and rested his hand on Sirius’ thigh as he drove, tapping along to the rhythm of the radio; the route was familiar to them both, even after the chaos of the day. A slow, unstoppable smile made his cheeks hurt. “We got married.”

“Damn right, we did.”

“Scuse me for a moment.” Remus rolled down his window and cleared his throat, then leaned out and whooped loud enough that people in the next state would probably be able to hear it. He calmly closed it once more, fighting down a smile. “Sorry, I just had to get that out.”

Sirius slowed and rolled his own window down, sticking his head out into the empty night air. “I got married!” he shouted at the top of his lungs with a wild grin. “I have a husband now! Just thought you should know!”

“Husband,” Remus mused as the car started moving again. “Hmm. I like the sound of that.”

“Me, too.”

[kirishimaswife2819]

Cheesy Romance || Denki Kaminari x Reader

Masterlist

Pairing: Denki Kaminari x Reader

Requested by Anonymous: May I request one where the reader is just unapologetically whipped for Denki and makes it their life task to just. Romance him in the cheesiest way. Make him blush. Make that boy feel loved. He deserves it. Either way, thanks for sharing your writing, I'm excited for every new post!

Summary: You’re whipped for Denki Kaminari and flirt with him all the time, and eventually one day he confesses his feelings to you

Word Count: 1.7k

Notes: a/m=action movie, y/f/c=your favorite candy, and d/f/c=denki’s favorite candy (idk what his favorite candy is, so you can make it whatever you think it would be)

A/n: You didn’t specify what kind you wanted, but I assumed you wanted headcanons, but I totally ignored that assumption and decided to turn it into a little drabble about them getting together, but then I got carried away and this ended up being longer than I intended it to be, so I hope that is okay. I kept the same idea about the reader being whipped for him, and flirty, I just turned it into a oneshot instead of headcanons. I also added in a scene of them going to the movies together and I don’t know how movie theaters work in Japan, but I’m sure it’s similar to how American movie theaters work, so I just went with that. Anyways, thank for requesting! I hope this is okay! - Danielle <3

“Morning Kaminari!” You happily said, walking into the kitchen. Kaminari was sitting at the counter, eating a bowl of cereal.

“Morning L/n,” he replied.

“How did you sleep last night?” You asked, pouring yourself a cup of tea/coffee, but before he could answer, you spoke again, “Do you want some?”

“No thanks,” he replied, “And I slept good.”

“That’s good!” You replied, “Do you have any plans for today, since we have the day off?”

“Yeah, Kirishima wanted to go see some new action movie,” Kaminari explained.

“Ooo, do you think I could come along?” You asked.

“I don’t see why not, check with Kirishima first though,” Kaminari said, giving you a small smile.

“Okay! I’ll go do that!” You said, walking away with your cup of tea/coffee in your hand.

Ever since you got to know Kaminari, you were always so flirty and sweet with him. He honestly wasn’t used to it. Usually, he was the one flirting with girls, who didn’t flirt back or show any interest in him. But you had approached him and started being nice to him, and your flirting actually worked on him.

He could still remember the first time that you had made him blush, which was a rare occurrence for him.

For whatever reason, everybody in class 1-A had agreed to meet up and watch the sunset together. Everybody was sitting on blankets, with some snacks, all talking together. You were walking around, trying to find somewhere to sit. Ochaco and Izuku invited you to go sit with them, but you rejected their offer and instead, approached the blanket that Denki, Bakugou, Kirishima and Sero were sitting on.

“Hey guys! Can I sit with you?” You asked, smiling at them.

“Fuck no-” Bakugou started but Kirishima cut him off.

“Sure! Go right ahead L/n! We have plenty of snacks!” Kirishima said, giving you a big smile.

“Thanks,” you said, sitting down in between Sero and Denki. You took the drawstring bag from your back and opened it, “I brought some snacks.” You took the bag of chips from the bag, along with a few different types of candy, and a few kinds of snack cakes.

“Wow, L/n! This is great, thank you,” Sero said, opening the bag of chips.

“Yeah,” Kaminari added on, “Thanks L/n.”

“Oh, Kaminari, I got you something,” you said, pulling one last thing from the bag, “I heard you telling Kirishima that they were your favorite.” You handed him a bag of his favorite candy, and his face lit up.

“Thanks! You’re so nice,” Kaminari said, opening the bag of candy, and eating a few, “Want some?”

“No thanks, I’m not really a big fan of those,” you replied, instead opening one of the snack cakes and eating it. After that, you all talked for a while. You and Kaminari were laughing at something the other had said, and eventually you both stopped, with huge smiles on your faces. As you looked at him, you noticed a little plant growing out of the ground behind him. You reached forward and past him, picking the little daisy out of the ground.

You returned to your previous position, spinning the daisy in between your fingers. After a moment, you made eye contact with Denki and gave him a small smile, before reaching forward and tucking the daisy into his blonde locks of hair.

“Can I take a photo of you? You look really cute with that daisy in your hair,” you said, pulling your phone out of your pocket. Denki nodded, not being able to say anything, as you came up beside him and held the phone out in front of the two of you, making sure the two of you were in frame, before speaking again, “Smile!”

And now, you had a photo on your phone of you and Denki, in which Denki had a daisy in his hair and a light pink blush on his cheeks.

Sometimes, Denki couldn’t believe that you actually liked him. At certain times, he figured it was some cruel joke that his friends were playing on him, and that you didn’t actually like him, but then again, you flirted with him way too often to not actually like him. 

Denki found himself being oddly nervous around you, for some reason. He had met and flirted with plenty of girls, but there was something about you that made him nervous to mess up in front of you. It was probably the fact that you had been the only girl to show interest in him and actually try to flirt with him.

He would be lying to himself if he said that your compliments didn’t make his day, because they one hundred percent did. He could be having the most shitty day, no matter whether he had slept bad, or Bakugou had said something mean to him, or he had failed a test, one flirty compliment from you and his whole day was better.

Kaminari was snapped out of his thoughts by your voice.

“I’m back! I talked to Kiri and he said I could come, this is going to be so exciting,” you said.

“Yeah,” Denki replied, smiling at you, “I’m glad you’re coming.” “Me too," you replied, filling your cup back up, “I should go get ready. See you later!” “See you,” Denki replied, watching as you walked away and back to your room to get ready.

“Six tickets for a/m, please,” Mina said, giving the money that you had all handed her to the worker. Everybody paid for their own ticket, besides Kaminari, you had insisted on paying for his and it was clear that you weren’t giving up, so eventually, after Bakugou screamed at him to just take it, he did.

“Here,” the worker said, handing her the slips of paper. Then you all took turns getting your own popcorn and drinks.

“Wanna share a popcorn with me?” You asked, looking at Denki, giving him a little wink, causing him to blush a bit.

“I guess, but I’m paying this time,” Denki said, going to pull the money out of his pocket.

“Nope,” you replied, taking the money from your own pocket.

“Why not!?” Denki exclaimed.

“Cause I don’t want you wasting your money,” you explained, as Bakugou finished getting whatever he wanted. Kirishima went next.

“But you’re wasting your own money on me,” Denki pointed out.

“It’s not a waste if I’m spending it on you, Kaminari,” you said, giving him a small smile.

“Denki,” he said.

“Huh?” You asked, giving him a confused look.

“You can call me Denki,” he explained, causing you to smile.

“Okay, Denki,” you said, “You can call me Y/n if you want.”

“Can you two stop fucking flirting and tell the lady what you want!?” Bakugou yelled, making you realize that Kirishima had finished.

“Sorry,” you said, “I’ll take a large popcorn, with two drinks, y/f/c, and d/f/c.”

“Okay, that’ll be $18.23,” the worker said, and you handed her your money, before she got your popcorn, and candy, and handed you to empty cups to get your own drinks. You handed Denki his candy and empty cup, before going over to fill up your own drink.

Denki followed you over, and got his drink, before you got yours. Then, you two headed back over to the rest of the group and went inside the theater. Bakugou made sure you guys were early so you got good seats. You ended up sitting in between Mina and Denki, with Denki having an empty seat beside him. 

“This is exciting,” you said, eating some popcorn, “I haven’t been to the movies in a while.”

“Yeah,” Denki responded, eating some of the candy you had gotten him. He was about to speak again, when you pulled out your phone, and unlocked it. His eyes went wide when he saw what your background photo was and he almost spit out his candy. There was a light blush on his cheeks as he spoke again, “Is that the photo you took of me with the daisy in my hair?”

“Oh, yeah. Would you like me to send it to you? You could make it your profile photo on something, you look cute in it,” you said, smiling at him.

“No, I mean, sure, I guess. But why’d you make it your background?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I really like you and it’s no big secret that I do, but if it makes you uncomfortable then I can change it. I just think you’re really cute, and a really great person, and I don’t think you get told that enough,” you explained, shrugging. Denki couldn’t believe what he was hearing, sure, he knew you liked him, but he didn’t think it was that much.

He was about to speak, but he was cut off, by the sound of a video ending. He looked over to see Mina holding up her phone and smiling.

“You two are so cute!” She said, bringing her phone back down to look at the video she got. You rolled your eyes, and jokingly hit her arm.

“Do you know the definition of privacy?” You asked, fake glaring at her.

“Nope,” she replied, smiling at you, before looking back to her phone.

“Hey, Y/n?” Denki asked.

“Oh, yeah, did you want me to change my background?” You asked, looking back to him.

“Oh, no, you don’t have to. I just,” Denki said, taking a deep breath, “I was wondering if you wanted to go on a date with me sometime?” Denki half expected you to reveal that you were joking the whole time and that you didn’t really like him at all. He had been rejected so many times, and he was really worried that you would reject him as well.

“Wait,ser iously?” You asked, your face lighting up, “You really want to go on a date with me!?”

“Yeah,” Denki replied, giving you a small smile.

“Yes!” You exclaimed, “I’d love to!”

“Are you two going to stop being fucking cheesy all the time, now?” Bakugou asked, interrupting, “It makes me sick to my stomach.”

“Sorry, Bakugou, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to get a million times cheesier,” you replied.

“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Bakugou said, sighing.

“Aw, it’s okay Bakubro, at least we don’t have to listen to Kaminari talking about liking her now,” Kirishima sat, patting Bakugou’s back as he slammed his head into the seat in front of him.

And that was the beginning of your wonderful and cheesy relationship with Denki Kaminari.

[buddyfromearth]

Object of Affection

For @gothamsworst​ because your entire penguin tag has put into me a great fire to write a sheepish significant other for him.  Mind you, I haven’t written fanfiction since high school so forgive me if I get something wrong (I’m still getting into DC and my parents think it’s embarrassing because I had a lobo phase out of high school.)

Notes: confessions of love; sfw (some slight implications at the end but it cuts off because that’s not going on this blog here); aw, gee, he brought a bouquet of flowers; hey who ordered flirting because here’s some; several headcanons in one go let’s go people; I can write pretty words I just mostly refuse to in favor of making it all comics instead; idea of flirting is just walking up with a bouquet and going “marry me”; I don’t know what I’m doing I’ve never written this guy before.

EDIT: fixed some things.

 Stuck between yearning for love and the fear of rejection was a difficult place to be. It was at least easier to know rejection than it was to have yearning for love going totally unanswered.  Oh, what pain it was. 

   Oswald Cobblepot, that troublesome Penguin known about Gotham as one hell of a man to cross, was madly in love.  Yes, an unfortunate feeling to have.  But he couldn’t help it.  Not this time, at least. 

   It was someone he’d seen around the lounge, lurking nearby where he’d watch the penguins. When he saw them around and was able to not make it awkward, he couldn’t help but stare at those eyes all green and deep like some dark thicket.  And those venomous eyes did plenty of staring back: he could feel their gaze fixated on him whenever he was working at the lounge. 

   Really, though, what did he know about this crush that had taken his entire heart by a single blow?  Well, he knew enough.  His eyes about Gotham told him that they weren’t much of anything besides a total hermit: mostly stayed home at a ground-floor apartment in a low-rent yet slightly decent part of town (as decent as the city could be, anyway), and had everything that was needed for living delivered to their door.  No car: only ever ventured out on a trike with a headlight on the front and a trunk on the back.  He wasn’t even sure what they did for a living. 

   At the very least Oswald knew he could find them lurking around the lounge.  So, that’s exactly where he went. 

   Of course, such an event was not something to go into completely unprepared.  He pulled out a nice suit, as usual, with all the fine accoutrements he was well-known for.  An umbrella in one hand and a large bouquet of bloody red roses in the other.  Even went out of the way to pick out cologne, albeit he preferred not to.  He wanted to make the best impression he could. 

   It was just that odd hour before the post-work rush.  Oswald hoped he’d not come in on a wrong night.  Trying not to draw too much attention, he made a long sort of awkward path over to where they usually were. 

   There they were, right at that surprisingly bare table he got used to passing by.  There was a pencil case pushed to one side, and it sat next to a tall glass of what he thought might be soda (of course, he wasn’t about to just try it: that would be a bit too much).  They were hunched over something in front of them, and their hands moved quickly with a pencil and a brush. 

   “Excuse me, my dear,” started Oswald, with a soft tone so as to not scare this beloved mystery away, “but is this table taking guests?” 

   They jumped.  Oswald feared he’d gone too fast.  Oh, wonderful, now he’d scared them off! 

   They looked up and met his eyes.  What was once a terrified look behind thick glasses quickly melted into something tender and rather curious.  “Oh.”  Their voice had an astoundingly flat affect, hinting at an origin out in midland farming country with the slight tint to it.  They cleared their throat, and moved their bag to the other side.  “S-sure thing, sir, sure.  Wasn’t expecting anyone to be over here tonight.  Normally people only ever come over to ask for free work from me.”  Their voice was soft and quiet as they spoke: an absolutely adorable sound that hit just right in his ears.  He could listen to it talk forever. 

   “Excellent.”  Oswald sat down directly next to them, putting the umbrella to rest on the seat beside him. 

   Their face quickly changed colors.  It went from a sickly pale in the lowlight to being absolutely taken over with blush.  “R-right, s-sure.  Please, forgive me for asking, but haven’t I seen you around here before?” 

   “Of course you would have seen me here before,” said Oswald, rolling his eyes slightly.  “I own this lounge, after all.” 

   “Oh, I…” They stopped for a moment, and their mouth was slightly agape as they appeared to slowly mentally register the weight of the situation.  Then their eyes shot wide open and they gave up a nervous smile with chattering teeth. “M-Mr. Cobblepot, sir.  I-I-I didn’t think I was something you’d… well, y’know, actually come over to see?” 

   “Quite the contrary,” said Oswald, moving in closer and putting an arm around their shoulder.  “You’ve captured my attention with how much you care about my darlings.  I see you in here and I can’t help but wonder if you’re some kindred soul.”  He gestured just slightly over at the centerpiece of the lounge, the namesake iceberg with a whole group of penguins he often spent hours watching on his days off.

   They looked over to where he gestured, and then they nodded quickly.  The nervousness quickly got itself out of that smile, and their entire posture melted into one of repose.  “Your penguins, right.  Right, the penguins!  Of course! They’re so cute: little communal flipper birds that just waddle around and honk and preen all day.”  They sighed and smiled, leaning forward and putting their head to rest in their hand.   “What I wouldn’t give for a life so carefree.”

   Oswald immediately had a few ideas come to mind.  Oh, he could take care of that: he could just bring them into his life and get them out of that awful apartment, pamper them with anything and everything they could ever want.  Ask them to move in with you.  Ask them for a date.  Ask them to share a drink.  No, no, no, that’s all too fast!  Play it slowly: perhaps they’ll melt into your arms if you go ahead just right.  

   “How often are you around here, hm?”  Oswald looked over from behind his monocle at this mystery figure that had caught his attention and proceeded to hold it in a vice-like grip, taking a moment to look at what he was dealing with.  Their figure was mostly obscured by big, bulky articles of clothing, but what could be made out was all thick and rolled together like some haphazard cake stacked up far too high for its own good.  It was very easy to look at.  “You seem to know enough about my precious little birds.”  “Perhaps a bit too much” was a phrase he wanted to add, but he wasn’t about to murder this feeling. 

   “I don’t really drink alcohol.  I only really come here to draw the iceberg and all the penguins,” said the mystery crush. “They’re so fun to smush together with their little shapes.  Their little flippers are so cute.  And their little feet are surprisingly complex once you get past all the flub and feathers.” 

   Oh, one of those artist types.  Wait, artist type.  Artist. Oh, this could be good: this could actually be really good for several different reasons!  Not just the romantic pursuit reason, either: perhaps their passion for the arts would include, somewhere in there, a passion for him. 

   “I see.” Oswald reached for the pad of paper they were so vigilantly guarding and said, “I can’t help but have a look at someone’s work regarding my darlings.” 

   A sickly pale hand with chewed-down nails shot over and clamped in on Oswald’s wrist. “Just a second there, Mr. Cobblepot. You have to promise me something first.”

   “Anything, my sweet, anything.” 

   “Don’t tell anyone what you see in this book.  It’s a lot of… well, it’s… bad.” 

   “Oh, I will most certainly be the judge of that.”  Oswald picked up the book, and then handed them the bouquet in return.  “Here, something for you to hold in the meantime.”

   Noting their shocked expression as they carefully took the bouquet in their arms, Oswald began to slowly browse through the contents of the book. 

   What they had said was indeed true: there were a lot of penguins in there.  They were doing all sorts of things: preening their coats, honking, spread out on their stomachs staring at each other, ambling across the ice.  They were all partway realistic, but there was some sort of fantastical flair to them. It was cute: just like them. 

   While flipping through the pages, though, he couldn’t help but notice other pieces. Things like the name of the lounge written out in poster type pieces with his penguins and their little iceberg on it.  There was, undeniably, a unique work of a penguin in a suit like his.  Curious, he turned the page. 

   And what he saw there surprised him greatly. 

   It was not only drawings of patrons with little notes about time scrawled around them that occupied the pages, but there were drawings of him as well.  Little notes here and there about the things he’d wear, the way he’d talk, and the way he moved.  Around one particular piece underlaid with purple markings was a portrait of him smiling: the note around this piece said “Handsome guy but who?”  It was surrounded by little scribbled hearts. 

   Oswald, in his stroke of peacock vanity that got to him every now and again, turned his head slightly as he was gently urged by these things.  “I see that you draw more than birds.” 

   The mystery crush looked over.  They caught a look of what pages he’d come to and they grimaced before sighing and hiding their face in their hands.  “Sorry about that.  I-I draw people a lot, just to stay aware of how to do it.” 

   “It seems you’ve become quite taken with me in these intimate studies,” said Oswald, casting a rather tempered gaze and a matching grin over at the object of his affections as he handed back the book.  “I must admit, I came here tonight thinking you wouldn’t reciprocate the feelings that brought me to you in the first place.” 

   “Oh, wow, feelings?”  The mystery crush smiled and chuckled ever so softly, rubbing their hand along the back of their neck as they took the book and put it back on the table.  “Goodness gracious, Mr. Cobblepot, I didn’t expect a gentlemanly type like yourself to be the romantic type.” 

   “Oh, but isn’t a gentleman always the romantic type?”  Oswald, emboldened by such a soft response, couldn’t help but to pull them in closer.  When they began to blush again, he grinned and pressed a gloved finger to their nose. “I can’t exactly help it.  And please, just call me Oswald.” He then picked up one of their hands and pressed a single, fervent kiss to it.

   “Ah, uh, I guess so,” said the mystery crush, “mister… oh, right, Oswald.  Right, first name basis now.”  Their face was getting hotter by the minute, and they began to stammer over all their words as they put the bouquet on the table.  “I, uh… would, would you be offended if I asked you something kinda personal?” 

   Oswald could already picture several personal questions and perfect little answers to go along with them.  He nodded and held their hands in his.  “Oh, but of course, my dear: anything you ask for, you’ll get it from me.” 

   “Oh.” The mystery crush nodded, their glasses falling down their face in the meantime.  When Oswald reached up and pushed them back to their previous position, they cleared their throat and quickly stammered out, “If you feel so strongly about me, would you mind if I moved in?  I, uh… they hiked the rent on my place again and I have to find a new one before the end of the month.  Don’t make enough.” 

   “Would I mind?  Of course not, dearest bird, of course not.  I have far too many places that need a colorful touch like yours.  You can come with me tonight, if it pleases you, my dear.”

   “You don’t have to be so heavy-handed with all the compliments.” 

   “Oh, but I believe you deserve every last one of them.” 

   “You’re far too kind.”  The mystery crush sighed.  “I hate to tell you this now, after all those compliments and affectionate talk, but I’m kind of a handful, I’m… look, I’m trans and if you’re not into a guy like me, I’m sorry.  I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m- I’m sorry.  We can just go away from this table and never speak about this again.  It… it’ll be fine if we do that.” 

   “Oh, now you just listen to me.”  Oswald put his hands to the mystery crush’s face and leaned it over so they were looking at him. “I don’t rightly care about whether you’re trans or not, and I’ll fund that for you so you can be happy.  You’re just far too pretty of a kindred spirit to be left so alone in such a big city.” 

  “I…” The mystery crush looked baffled. They froze for a moment or two, and Oswald wondered if he had said too much.  After a long silence, they sighed and smiled so big and soft that it couldn’t help but bring him to smile as well.  “Wow.  Thanks.” 

   “Oh, you’re ever so welcome, my dear.”  Oswald pressed his face up to theirs and quickly asked, “May I?” 

   “May you… oh, right.  Right! Yes, you may, Oswald.  You most certainly may!” 

   With that, Oswald couldn’t help but press a kiss to their lips.  Their lips were slightly chapped, and he couldn’t help but nuzzle his face just slightly against theirs in some affectionate attempt to bring intimacy to such a moment.  This move, while unexpected at first, was quickly reciprocated as their hands took hold of his shoulders. 

   Oswald pulled away with a troublesome little grin spread across his lips, and the object of all those affections smiled like this sort of intimacy was brand new to them. “I can’t help but wonder what your name is.” 

   “Look, my name is…”  They stopped for a moment, but then they smiled and just said, “Call me Lou for now. I can’t think of a name that belongs to me.” 

   “Then let’s find that out together.”  Oswald took his umbrella up and moved to stand, offering his hand to Lou.  “Come, I can have a crew bring your things to our home tomorrow.  Tonight, we shall simply be enamored little lovebirds.” 

   Lou laughed.  Their laugh sounded like the call of a bird, with its dragged-out syllables and its pitch. They snorted just slightly as they packed up their things.  “You’re very honest, Oswald.  I like that.  I like that a lot.” 

   “What’s a little honesty between significant others?”  Oswald smiled and shrugged his shoulders. 

   Lou put their bag back on their shoulders and put their hand in Oswald’s as they stood up.  They weren’t much taller than him, and those assumptions he had made about their figure were correct.  “It’s a lot. Let’s go.” 

   Oswald only put his arm around them as the two gently went hand-in-hand to where his driver waited. 

   “What are the plans for this evening, Oswald?” 

   “Oh, I do believe I have a few ideas beginning to come to be.  Just you be patient, my sweet, I’ll tell you when we’re alone.” 

[daughterofadeadman]

Double Sided

Pairings: Alec x Stiles

Warnings: Drinking, fluff

Description: The one where Lydia drags Stiles to a party and he runs into Alec, literally. College AU

Word count: 1468

"Whose party is this anyways?" Stiles asked clambering out of the car. It's not like he actually cared, he was just trying to delay the inevitable.

"Lightwood, you don't know him. He's totally your type though, tall with black hair and brooding basically a young Derek Hale by all standards. Now if you're ready we can go in." Lydia said making a show of throwing her hair over her shoulder.

"That is not my type. I'm more of a strawberry blond type of guy if you know what I mean." He said completely ignoring the comment about his stalling.

Lydia scuffed at his words, "You haven't been a strawberry blond type of guy since sophomore year. Now shut up and come and party with me."

Stiles sighed but gave in while slightly trudging through the neatly cut grass. It wasn't that Stiles didn't like to go to parties, he had lost his virginity thanks to one Junior year, it was just that he wasn't in the mood to be dumped. Lydia always left him when they went to parties together, merely because they attracted different crowds, and it always put a damper on Stiles night. Tonight would be no exception and he knew better then to think it would be.

The music vibrated through Stiles body like an electric shock the closer they got to the house. The two had to park down the road because of the excess of party goer's vehicles lining the street on both sides. "This guy most be known for throwing some great parties." Stiles thought looking at the number of people dancing on the lawn which was already littered in plastic cups.

Once Lydia and Stiles breached the threshold of the house red solo cups were thrusted into their hands. "Cheers." Lydia said tapping her cup to Stiles before downing half the cup.

"Cheers." Stiles replied taking a small sip. A look of disgust painted his features once the substance hit his taste buds. "Gross."

A laugh escaped Lydia's lips as she pulled Stiles to the dance floor. "Come on let loose." She yelled over the pounding of the base. Taking another gulp of her drink she began to dance to the music's beat. Stiles rolled his eyes but did as his bestfriend demanded.

Within a few minutes Stiles had finished his drink without throwing up. He did not enjoy beer, he was more of a whiskey guy like his father. If he was going to be honest he thought it was more enjoyable watching everyone get drunk then it was getting drunk, but he was doing this for Lydia.

The sassy girl had it set in her mind that Stiles needed a night out, and he wasn't going to take that away from her, not just yet. It wasn't until they both began dancing with other people that he slipped away to the kitchen.

The kitchen was really only separated from the dining room by a bar, which was covered in crushed or fallen cups. The great oak table was being used for beer pong and the counter held a couple being a little too intimate for Stiles liking. Rolling his eyes, he headed to the back of the kitchen hoping to find somewhere to sit down and wait out Lydia. Making his way through couples making out in the hallway he found himself in a smaller sitting room.

What he wasn't expecting was for a tall, dark, and handsome guy to bump into him on his way to the couch.

"Hey watch where you're-" The guy said before cutting himself off. His eye's met Stiles and a smile graced his face. A tattoo poked out from beneath his black tee shirt causing Stiles to wonder what it was.

"I haven't seen you at one of these before. I'm Alec by the way." He said before sticking his hand out, a red cup in the other. The smell of alcohol hit Stiles in the nose as he gripped the other boys hand.

"Stiles."

"Stiles." Alec repeated as if tasting his name. "That's different."

Stiles nodded as he watched the other boy bring the cup to his lips for a drink.

"Yeah it's a nickname." Stiles replied, eyes still glued to the plump lips in front of him.

"Stiles." He said again. "I like it."

"I'm glad that I have your approval." Stile sassed before he could stop himself.

Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he raked his fingers through his hair. Why was he being so rude in such a short amount of time? It must be a new record, even for Stiles.

Alec on the other hand smiled even wider. "Who is this Stiles kid?" He wondered taking another sip of his drink.

The two stood for a few seconds longer before either of them spoke up. "How are you enjoying the party?" Alec asked.

The pounding of the next songs base kicked in just as Stiles was about to speak. If he was going to be honest, he hated parties. They were just filled with drunk teenagers who would probably get themselves killed by the end of the night. He only came tonight because he cared about Lydia's opinion, and because he was ignoring one very grumpy twenty-five-year-old.

"I'm not." Stiles said before explaining how he felt leaving out the bit about Derek Hale. "I feel bad for the guy that through this party though. Even though I'm not enjoying it I wouldn't want to be him. People are totally trashing his house and I even think someone puked in the drive way. If I can find the guy I might even offer to help clean up after words if he isn't to trashed himself."

"Someone puked in the drive way?" Alec asked his voice taking on a strange note to which Stiles nodded.

"It's kinda gnarly."

"Oh god." Alec moaned wiping a hand down his face.

"Yeah like I said wouldn't want to be that guy." Stiles noticed the way Alec shot him a glare before shaking his head and smiling again.

"Yeah, me neither."

The pair began to talk about everything and anything in between, no topic was off limits. Stiles told him about how his mom past a few years back and how his dad was the Sheriff of a few towns over. They talked about Lydia, and how she is honestly so hot but terrifying at the same time. Alec told Stiles about his little brother Max passing away last year and his adoptive brother Jace who was totally around here somewhere. They talked about Izzy and how she got all the hot genes, something that Stiles wouldn't believe until he saw proof, and about how Alec's parents were off on business quite a bit. They even somehow started talking about Derek Hale and how he and Stiles were no longer a thing, part of the reason Stiles was forced out tonight.

"It's alright. Uh Magnus Bane, do you know him?" With a dismissive shake of the head Alec continued. "Well we were sort of a thing to so I know what you mean when you say you needed to get out."

The pair didn't stop there.

"What do you mean you have never seen Star Wars? It's like a national treasure! It's more important to this county then the next president. No this can't stand, next Friday you are making popcorn and I am coming to your house with the best movies seriously ever and were watching them."

"Stiles you've never had tres leche cake? That's insane, I'll have to make you some. Izzy absolutely loves it I swear it's great."

"Alec no you can't think that Bateman stands a chance against Superman. No, this totally makes you less hot, stop."

"Stiles, Stiles slow down I can hardly understand you."

"Pepsi is so much better than coke shut up."

The night was still long, and Stiles no longer regretted coming to this totally trash party because of Alec. The boys had positioned themselves against a wall, seeing as the couch was occupied. Stiles repeatedly pushed himself from the wall to emphasis his ever-changing points and Alec regarded his spastic actions with a smile. The two were content in their little bubble until Lydia popped it.

"Stiles there you are!" Lydia yelled over the music grabbing Stiles by the wrist. "I lost you forever ago, but I see you've been in good hands. Nice party by the way Alec."

"Nice party?"

A nervous chuckle escaped Alec's lips. "If I remember correctly you said you'd help clean up?"

[hankwritten]

By the Roots

Scout & Soldier, 2k

Part of the DontNeedADiscord Pride Week, Day 2: Family

Of all the people, all the people on the damn planet, it really shouldn’t have been Soldier that figured it.

“You there! I saw that, pipsqueak!” he demanded not two days after the team was first assembled, storming at me across the training yard like I’d already done something wrong. “Regulation warm-up is fifty pushups, not ten and then exclaiming very loudly ‘FIFTY’ as you do that last one! Do not think because you are a woman I will go easy on you. In fact! I will be riding your ass twice as hard so you will be encouraged to measure up to your clearly more dedicated male counterparts!”

There were a lot of things I could object to in that, a lot of things I was planning to object to, but one thing in particular surprised me so much it practically hit me upside the head. “Whoa, hey dude! I ain’t a chick!”

Soldier lifted his helmet with a thumb and peered down at me. “You are not?”

“No a’course I’m not!” I said, flabbergasted. “Would a chick have sick muscles like this? Or like this?” I should off each of my amazing and impressive biceps in turn, a little shocked that he wasn’t falling over in awe due to their sheer awesomeness. “I am peak dude, pally. Why would you even think that?”

“Your small stature, your chicken legs, your feminine jaw, your general weakness, the unending gab from your motor mouth-” Soldier ticked them off on his fingers.

I swatted down his hands. “Dude, jeez, I get it.”

He considered me again. “…You are sure you are not a very petite yet tomboyish girl?”

“Uh, yeah pally,” I scoffed. “I think I’d know.”

Twenty-two months later, my hard earned ponytail fitting snugly through my hat, I wondered if Soldier knew, somehow. That was stupid obviously—Soldier was completely bonkers even by the team’s standards, and if every weirdly nonsensical thing he’d ever said was true then I’d also be a spy from ten different countries and partially made of ranch dressing. But. I guess some small part of me liked the idea that it was apparent to someone. That there was some hard truth out there, and somehow Soldier was in tune with the weird songs of the universe enough to prophesize me even before I’d divined myself.

I was pretty far from the team’s campfire, the rush of the last hour still coursing through my system. It’d gone as well as I could have hoped, with everyone kind of knowing or at least suspecting by this point anyway, but I’d still been nice to get it all out in the open. A little family meeting of sorts. I smiled, watching them laugh and carry on with their drinking.

“Is something the matter, Scout?”

Spy’s voice startled me, but I totally didn’t jump or nothing, just turned my head as the creepy bastard slinked out of the dark.

“Nah,” I told him. “Was just a lot of adrenaline doing all that. Needed a moment to cool off. Not like I’m nervous or nothin’! Could’a talked about shit all day if those knuckleheads didn’t get it through their bozo craniums, but it’s just like after a run you take a breather to make sure you don’t get heat stroke or something-”

Spy held up a hand. “I understand. No need to elaborate.”

“Great. Cool. Just so you know that I’m not freakin’ out.”

He took a spot next to me, the rocks cool where the desert night came on fast and hit hard. We stayed like that for a while, him smoking, me staring with my chin in my arms.

“You come out here to say you’re surprised or something?” I asked, after the moon had ticked a little lower.

He blew a strand of smoke. “It wasn’t my primary goal, no.” He paused. “Though I was, to be sure.”

“Hah! Yeah you were! You should’ve seen your face.” I grinned, kicking a rock. “I can’t believe you were the last person to find out.”

“…I certainly couldn’t have been the last person to-” Spy stopped when he saw the shit-eating grin I was giving him. “Hm. Fine, I suppose I will take this as a loss to my professional pride.”

“Heh. Nice,” I snorted. “So if that isn’t what you wanted to talk about, what was?”

He hesitated a moment. “Scout if I have ever said something, to you or merely in passing that was…greatly insensitive, then I am sorry. I cannot hide the fact that this is not something I have experience with, and if my past ignorance has ever caused you distress then I apologize fully.”

I blinked. Was he serious? “Eh, don’t worry ‘bout it.”

“Ah, so I have made some faux pas. Again I’m sorry-”

“No,” I interrupted him. “I mean seriously, don’t worry about it. ‘Cause I don’t.”

Spy looked genuinely confused, already the second time that night when I’d barely seen him make that face in two years of working together. “Pardon?”

“I don’t really care about what you say,” I shrugged. “When it comes to things that bother me, crap my Ma’s shitty boyfriend says about how I look barely makes the list. After however many years of the way you’ve treated me, I’ve just kinda tuned you out.” I shrugged again. “How it is.”

“…Ah.”

I kinda missed when he was surprised, since that was at least easy to read. Now I didn’t know what to make of the mix of emotions crossing Spy’s face, only that I was sorta bored of the conversation.

“If that’s all you wanted to talk about, I’m heading back to the fire,” I said, smacking my legs as I stood. “Cold out here.”

I left Spy, not checking to see if he was still doing that thing with his face.

I honestly was planning on heading over to the fire, but I saw Soldier sitting on the bed of Engie’s truck, not doing anything but staring into space as he sipped his beer. It wasn’t even conscious really, I just suddenly found my feet moving in his direction, abandoning warmth for the lunatic with the bazooka. The weird things we do on instinct sometimes.

“Yo, Major General,” I greeted. “Feel like the smartest guy in the room yet?”

“I have never claimed to be!” Soldier said. “I settle for being the most tactically sound.”

“I meant about me, dumbass,” I rolled my eyes, then hopped on the bed next to him. I scooped up a beer while I was at it.

“You?” He might have been blinking at me under the helmet.

“One of the first times we ever met, you asked me if I was a chick.”

Soldier rubbed his chin, trying to recall. “…You said you weren’t.”

“Well I didn’t know at the time, dumbass.” I cracked my beer. “But now we all know, so congrats to you, pally.” I toasted in his general direction and drank.

“…How is it?”

“The beer or the chick thing?”

“Being a girl.”

“It’s alright,” I admitted, playing it cool. “The ponytail’s great though. Look! I can do this now.” I bobbled my head, showing that my hat stayed on no matter how hard I shook it. I kept bobbling until I almost fell off the truck, Soldier steadying me at the last moment.

“Careful, missy. You’re going to need to cut that soon if you don’t want it smacking you in the middle of battle,” Soldier pointed out. “That or braid it.”

My hand clamped defensively over the back of my head. “Nah, no way man.” Hearing how whiny that sounded, I tried to pass off my sudden movement as a stretch. “It’s fine. Plus I don’t even know how to braid.”

“…I could do it for you.”

Of all the batshit things Soldier had said to me over the years, this took the cake. “You? Know how to braid?”

I wanted to ask if he was pulling my leg right now, but his expression was just as dead serious as ever. He pointed downward and made a circular motion.

Hesitantly, I turned around, and felt him lift off my cap. The ponytail threaded out of it, and he tugged at the elastic until my hair fell free around my shoulders. I’d seen myself with it down in the mirror every morning before pulling it up, but it still felt odd to have it hanging free here in the same place we killed BLUs and got our guts blasted full of lead. Soldiers fingers carded through the loose strands, dividing them into chunks, but despite that it wasn’t nearly as weird as I thought it would be. It was actually…nice almost.

He wasn’t gentle—this was still Soldier after all—but the tugging at my roots was more pull than yank, a careful suggestion to go one way or the other. Nudging me towards something.

“How’d you learn to do this, anyway?” I asked.

“Used to do my sister’s,” he said gruffly. “Little sisters can’t do anything by themselves. They always try to follow you around, and then they get in trouble or fall in a creek or something.”

His fingers brushed against my neck every now and again. “As a professional little sister, that sounds about right.”

“You are not a professional little sister. You are a professional Scout. What sister-ing you do, you do on your own time missy.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

Soldier slipped the elastic around the braid’s end. I swung it around a few times, trying to see if Soldier had messed it up somehow, but only managed to almost fall off the truck bed again. Maybe that beer was really hitting me.

“…Thanks Solly,” I said, gently touching the braid’s end.

“Any time, private. If you need me to teach you, I will happily train you in the art of braids,” he declared. “And knot tying! But only if you meet my standards on the braid portion of the exam.”

I grinned at him. I’d done a lot of weeding, taking out the people and things I didn’t want in my life, but it was nice to know there were things I wouldn’t have to get rid of entirely. “Sure Soldier. I’ll think about it.”

[mrsbhandari]

Shutter - pt 5

a/n: bonjour!! sorry that this is a little bit later than i thought i would post it, i went to do a bunch of stuff today oop-- anyway, i hope you like this one!! also the instagram post described with nia and tyril is this one by the lovely lxdy-starfury because i like to think that they become good friends and share a love of books teehee.

warnings: there’s a section here that’s nsfw (masturbation) so uh yeah

words: 3k

tags: @lxdy-starfury, @huntress1024, @anotherbeingsworld, @brightpinkpeppercorn, @chaotic-ramsay-queen, @brycemaloliver

#

Jesus Christ. That was the first thought Naexi had when she nodded and Tyril slotted his lips against hers, effortlessly molding to her mouth as if they had been together for years. He tasted sweet, like funnel cake at the carnival and shared laughs as powdered sugar covered her mouth. In an instant, he hopped down from his stool and stood closer to her, gently placing a cold finger under her chin and positioning her head for an even better angle. Naexi’s head spun, feeling her mouth open and his tongue brush hers. She let out the smallest of whimpers, and all bets were off. He was borderline desperate to taste her, feel her, with his hands traveling down to her hips and pulling her close by her belt loops. 

He took her chin in one hand and tilted her to the side, exposing her neck and allowing him to trail his lips down her skin. Gasping, her fingers found his hair and the messy bun he’d thrown it in before tugging on the hair band and freeing the raven locks to fall down to his shoulders. She tangled her fingers into it, relishing how fluffy and soft it felt against her palm, images of it splayed out on the pillow below her and it hanging over her face as he looked down on her flashed into her mind, making her dizzy with desire for him. The feel of his fingertips finding their way under her sweatshirt and gingerly running across her stomach shocked her senses. His hands were cold, but soft, and gave her goosebumps wherever he stroked. 

“You’re so beautiful.” His voice was husky in her ear before his mouth pressed a soft kiss to her neck, smiling against her skin when he felt a shudder go through her body. Their time was cut short by a loud ringing coming from his pants pocket, making them both jump.

“Dammit--Hello?” he impatiently answered, lips swollen and hands still twitching against her skin. 

“You’ve been there a while, boss. Just wanted to make sure she didn’t force you to write her into your will and kill you.” Imtura sounded bored on the other end of the line.

“Is that even possible?”

“You’d be surprised.” 

“Ignoring that...ominous statement, yes, I’m fine.”

“Did she say yes?” Naexi gave him a confused look, but he just offered a small, embarrassed smile in return. 

“I...didn’t get a chance to ask yet.”

“Ah, I see.” She didn’t say anything else.

“Well...I’m going to go. I’ll be on my way soon.”

“Later, boss. Oh, and uh--” He could practically hear her grin through the phone. “--give her a kiss for me.” 

Tyril hurriedly hung up the phone and slammed it down on the counter, face flushing a bright red at Naexi’s laughter. 

“Was that the bodyguard I met at the shoot?”

“Imtura, yes. She’s…”

“Fantastic!” Tyril rolled his eyes.

“Sure, we’ll go with that.”

Trailing her fingers up his sharp jaw, Naexi gave him a small smile. “What did you want to ask me? Does it have to do with the ‘favor’?” He hummed and closed his eyes, enjoying her gentle touch.

“Yes, my father has a charity gala coming up and I would like you to come with me.” He opened his eyes and bit his lip, making Naexi wonder what else he could do to get any sexier. “As my date.”

“A fancy rich people gala....with the girl who hated you when she first met you because you’re rich....sounds like a disaster, Tyril.” She looked away, unsure, but the moment he leaned down to her ear and whispered “Please” in her ear, she knew she was putty in his hands. “Fine!” He grinned down at her, making her knees weak. “But you owe me.”

He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, one that had her leaning forward for more after he pulled away. “Anything.” His smile seemed to hold the promise of the world in it. 

She believed it.

#

Tyril sat heavily on the leather couch of his apartment, quiet and empty without Naexi’s smile to brighten it up. The feel of her lips against his and her body in his palms was intoxicating, enough so that his head still felt fuzzy and his pants still felt tight. He’d never felt this way for anyone after Kaya left him, and half of him felt completely ashamed for thinking of Naexi that way. The other half of him was extremely turned on. 

Making an executive decision, he stood and walked to the bathroom, turning on the water and stripping down, waiting for it to heat up. In that time, he couldn’t help but think of how perfect she looked in the candlelight of her kitchen, shadows flickering on her face and sharpening the roundness of her face. He looked at himself in the mirror, noticing how hard he’d become at the thought of her so close to him.

“What are you doing to me, Naexi?” he whispered to himself, turning back to step in the shower. The hot water hit his muscles just right, washing away the tension buried so deeply in his shoulders. If he closed his eyes and dreamed, he could imagine that it was her hands running across his back, kneading her fingers into the flesh and trailing down to his sides. He shuddered and braced one hand against his shower wall, nails scraping the grout. He resumed his fantasy, thinking of her soft hands sweeping down over his hips before wrapping around his hard shaft. He gasped as he felt the pressure surround him, water dripping into his mouth and off his chin from the hair that was plastered against his forehead from the steady stream of the shower hitting him. Her hand moved and she was whispering in his ear, walking around to face him as she got him off, forcing him to look at her in those big green eyes that had him in a trance.  

“C’mon, pretty boy, come undone for me.” Then she was kissing him and he could feel himself reaching his peak and spilling over his hand, ripping him from his mind as he opened his eyes to see that he was alone in his shower with his rapidly softening dick in his hands under a stream of water that was no longer as comforting as it was just a few minutes ago. Laying his forehead against the warm tile, he closed his eyes again and pictured her pretty face as his breath slowed.

#

“You sly dog!” Mal clapped Tyril heavily on the back, making the latter man nearly choke on his coffee. Being friends with Mal typically came with the inevitable injuries from the man’s brute strength and touchiness, and Tyril often wondered how exactly he hadn’t ended up in the hospital from one of his ‘friendly’ punches. 

“I am nothing of the sort,” he deadpanned, keeping his gaze forward as they walked. 

“Aw, come one, killer, admit it.” Tyril sent a sidelong glance to Mal. “You’re falling in love with her.”

Tyril rolled his eyes. “It’s far too early to say anything as serious as that.”

“But you’re at least falling for her,” Imtura corrected, holding a long index finger up. “No offense, boss, but after Kaya left--” He winced at the name. “--you were a whole mess. Like, watching rom-coms while crying and eating ice cream kind of mess. Like--”

“Yes, yes, I was broken up that my fiancee cheated on me and planned on buying my company out with her lover, who just so happened to be my biggest competitor. I was a mess who immediately dismissed the entire idea of love because if someone could really hurt me that bad, then what’s the point of believing that there’s any good in the world?” Imtura opened her mouth to speak, but Tyril continued. “Which is why I throw myself into my work and shun dating altogether because I’d rather focus on the good I know I can cause rather than the unguaranteed good of someone to date and marry.” He realized that his two friends were staring at him. “Were you going to say something different?”

“No, I was just going to say that you needed to get laid. I think that proved my point.” Imtura and Mal laughed, exchanging a fist bump as they walked after Tyril. He just rolled his eyes. “Plus, didn’t Kaya also screw over your competitor, too?” 

“What’s your point?”

“I’m just saying that at least you’re not the only one.” 

“You’re right, I feel so much better now. No more therapy for me!” 

Mal exaggeratedly shivered. “Hearing you sound sarcastically happy is creepy.”

“Listen, all I’m saying is that it’s good that you’re getting back out there! I’ve had enough of you moping. My job would be so much more exciting if you did stupid stuff because you’re heartbroken.” 

“Plus, now you’ve got a total babe to go to the gala with,” Mal interjected, earning an exasperated sigh from Tyril. “What? I’m right!”

#

“You made out?!”

“Shhhhhh!” Naexi waved off a few nosy patrons of the store before turning back to her best friend, who was trying to silently freak out on the couch. “Yes, we did.” 

“If I don’t get a detailed play-by-play right now, I’m literally announcing to the entire store that you made out with a billionaire.” 

“Well, you already half-announced it.” Naexi explained what happened in her apartment to Nia, who would interject with random squeals and squeaks at certain points, nearly spilling her coffee on her friend at one point. Finally, when she was finished, Nia was bright red and fanning herself.

“Wow! And now you get to go to the gala! You’re like a princess,” she sighed, earning a scoff from Naexi. She was about to retort, but her phone buzzed on the table. 

PICTAGRAM: @tyrilstarfury is now following you.

Nia glanced over her shoulder at the screen. “Ooh, getting serious, hm?” she taunted, poking her friend in the side and giggling. Nia’s own phone lit up, detailing an alert on Tyril’s name in a tweet. “Uh-oh.”

“Uh-oh? What are we uh-ohing?” Naexi glanced over at the Zizzfeed account pulled up on her screen with a tweet reading “Who did Tyril Starfury follow on Pictagram?” with a link to an article featuring countless old gifs between sporadic sentences about the bachelor and his odd following of a random photographer’s account on social media. “What the hell?! How are they so fast?” 

“You’re famous!” 

“Did you forget that I’ve been published in multiple magazines, including Vogue, one of the most notorious fashion magazines in America?”

“I feel like Zizzfeed is like, officially famous, though.” 

#

“It’s not uncommon, I’ve always had news sites like that one sticking their noses into my business.” Tyril scowled into his glass of water. They were sitting on his couch, making his large apartment feel less empty with full kisses and even fuller laughter. She reached up a hand to trace his jaw, bringing his gaze up to hers. 

“It was just a little shocking, is all.” He reached a hand up to his hair and brushed a few strands out of his face. He seemed bashful, not at all like the typical powerful man she’d come to know in just a few short days. It made her heart melt. 

“I understand that this whole billionaire thing can be overwhelming, and I don’t want you to feel pressured to stay with me if it makes you feel uncomfortable with all the eyes that might be on you--”

“Tyril.” He stopped his rambling and looked at Naexi, all wide eyes and sweet smiles. “I don’t want to read any stupid news about you because I have the source right here. I want to be with you. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it earlier, but I’m here now, hm? Kiss me, please.” He grinned happily obliged, their lips coming together easily in an act that had his head swimming every time they did it. Her mouth trailed down his throat, leaving pinpricks of heat as her teeth nipped at his skin, sure to be the reason he would need to wear turtlenecks for the rest of the week. 

“You’re a troublemaker,” he murmured, breath heavy under her touch. 

“Let me guess.” She leaned back, but their faces were still close. It was torture. “You were a good little boy who didn’t associate with the likes of little girls like me.” She ran her finger over some of the new hickeys decorating his skin, making him hiss. 

“Let me guess...you were a little girl who teased little boys like me.” His hands wrapped around her thighs and effortlessly pulled her into his lap. 

“That’s because I didn’t realize how naughty those little boys could be.” She was straddling his hips and he felt like he was living the teenage years he never got to have, full of raging hormones and obvious hickeys and immature laughter. Her body was pure warmth in his hands, heating his body up from its usual cool temperature. She had a red sweatshirt on, complementing the dark gray sweater he had chosen for himself after what seemed like hours of deliberation, eager to look perfect for her. Those words surprised him. It seemed like every step he took revolved around those words. 

For her. 

#

Beside her, a phone buzzed and she looked at the headline that took up the top space of her notification bar: TYRIL STARFURY SPOTTED ON DATE WITH VOGUE PHOTOGRAPHER. She clicked on it and was immediately met with a large photo, no doubt taken by a paparazzo on the sidewalk across the street from a local ice cream shop they had visited together. The picture featured a typically stoic Tyril smiling with a dot of chocolate ice cream on his nose, placed there by his new girlfriend who just wanted to make him happy. She smiled down at the picture and saved it to her phone, sending a screenshot of the article to Tyril. 

NAEXI: I still think this was a cute look. Shame it didn’t last longer. 

TYRIL: I seem to recall the reason it didn’t last long.

NAEXI: Enlighten me.

Tyril let out a small laugh and sent an embarrassed smile to Mal, who gave him an odd look in across the table in their conference meeting. 

TYRIL: You insisted on licking any ice cream off me, remember? I’m surprised the paparazzi don’t have more scandalous pictures. 

NAEXI: I’m going to email the pap and ask if I can have copies of the rest.

TYRIL: You wouldn’t!

NAEXI: Too late.

NAEXI: He said yes!!!

# 

Nia’s attempted sneaky picture was thwarted by the loud shutter sound that jolted the both of them. Tyril looked up from his book with furrowed brows. 

“What are you doing?” Nia flipped her phone and showed him the picture, which turned out surprisingly good considering the jostling. 

“Can I post it? Look how cute you look!” she exclaimed, hopeful eyes matching his tired ones, framed by his glasses. 

“Sure,” he confirmed, smiling a little when she let out a little cheer. She was busy tapping away at her phone while he leaned forward and tried to catch glimpses of what she was doing when she pressed a button and laid her phone back on the table. His phone lit up with a Pictagram notification a few seconds later, telling him of how @niaellarious_x tagged him in a photo. 

He looked down at his hair that fell nicely over his shoulders and the turtleneck he’d been forced to wear by Naexi, who was ever enthusiastic when given any sort of access to the sensitive skin on his neck. Liking the photo, he scrolled down to the comments and skimmed through the hundreds already asking how Nia knew Tyril, settling on one in particular that made his heart pound. 

@naexi_c gorgeous 

#

“I’m thinking about wearing this one for the gala,” Naexi said, holding up a violet dress that hung limply on the hanger. From what he could see, it was long and looked smooth, and he tried imagining her in it, but could only envision her in what she was in now, a pair of shorts and yet another sweatshirt. On anyone else, he was indifferent to baggy clothing, but on her, it only left him wanting more. She seemed to know the effect she had on him, stretching often to allow a sliver of her stomach to be revealed. His fingers twitched at his sides as she did it again. 

“Are you not going to try it on for me?” She laughed and hung the hanger back up. 

“You’re not slick, handsome. I see right through you.” Reaching out a hand that he grabbed, she walked over to where he was seated on her bed. He placed his lips on the center of her palm and brushed his lips over the inside of her wrist. 

“You’re right, I should know that you look beautiful in everything.” 

She leaned down and placed a kiss on his cheek before moving to his lips, where she simply said, “Sap.”

#

“Finally! I’ve officially kicked your ass!” Mal pumped his fist, nearly throwing his controller out of his hands.

“This is Mario Kart, it’s not like it required any actual skill…” Tyril grumbled, taking a sip of water from the glass on the table next to him. 

“Hand-eye coordination, bitch!” 

“Mal!”

“Aw, c’mon, am I not allowed to celebrate my victory?” Tyril rolled his eyes and threw the controller down on the cushion, left dissatisfied by the soft clatter it made. Checking his phone, he missed Mal’s scoff. “I can see I’m no longer the only one in your heart. It wounds me!” 

“Everything wounds you,” Tyril muttered, smiling a little at the text that appeared on his screen. 

“When am I gonna meet this chick, hm? She seems to have left quite the impression on you.” Mal wiggled his eyebrows over the glass of whiskey he was about to drink. Tyril remained unfazed and kept his eyes on his phone. 

“The gala.” 

“Two more days of having to snap for your attention!” Mal set his cup down heavily and realized that Tyril was sucked into his phone again. He snapped his fingers above the screen. “Hello?!”

[zigtheeortega]

as good as gold

✿ pairing: mal x mc

✿ word count: 2971

✿ tags: @roguemal ; @violinet ; @nickyvalentinos ; @adrixnrxines ; @senatorraines​

✿ author’s note: okay so this is honestly the weirdest coincidence... i started working on this fic back in early march, and i abandoned it bc it was originally going to be smut, but i just never got around to finishing the actual smut because i wasn’t feeling it, and i wasn’t that confident in the plot. i totally forgot about it, until i read today’s chapter... and i saw parallels between this fic, that i’d abandoned, and the diamond scene/elite skill scene today with mal.

it made me a lot more confident in this because it made me feel like i genuinely understand mal’s character more than i ever thought? (there are parallels between his list of favorite things, stealth, the sneaking around, etc.) anyways, i wrapped it up and thought i’d post it; thank u andrew for writing one of my favorite characters ever and confirming actions and dialogue i thought he’d do ! andrew stans rise. (hope u enjoy pls lmk if u liked it!)

“Thank Gods they sent us. I’m dying to stretch my legs,” Mal said, tossing the gold coins in the air, the clinking of the metal ringing out against the walls of the abandoned safe house.

They walked towards the entrance, the fresh air hitting them, and their lungs were grateful for the relief. The mildewed stench had been unbearable, but they had to suffer through it. The bounty on their head was enough to turn anyone against them.

Their collective rations weren’t enough to keep them fed. With Tyril being the perpetrator, they agreed it was safe enough for Mal and Zilyana to visit the marketplace, as long as they laid low.

“You’re telling me,” she smiled, inhaling deeply. The scent of the damp, mossy alleyway was incredible in comparison to the moldy smell of their hideout.

She shielded her eyes, squinting at the intense light. They had not seen the sun in days, so the warm blanket was a semblance of hope. She’d rescue Kade soon enough; the warmth on her face proved that all hope wasn’t lost.

They walked in silence, weaving through the alleyways towards the marketplace. Mal stopped abruptly at the end of the alleyway, bracing his forearm against her chest to keep her from going any further.

She caught herself gaping at him as he peeked around the corner a couple of times. His windswept hair framed his face beautifully, curling around his defined jaw, the tips resting neatly against his beard.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, a smirk on his face. “Caught you staring.”

She averted her eyes, looking upwards. “Was not.”

“The blush in your cheeks betrays you.”

There was no hiding the violet heat creeping across her face and ears. She’d been drawn to his charismatic nature, his carefree, adventurous attitude one that she envied. He owed nothing to anyone, and he never thought twice about his perception to others.

But underneath the snarky, flirtatious facade, lurked layers of melancholia that she wanted so desperately to uncover.

He cocked his head towards the opening, signaling the coast was clear. “Thought I heard something. We’re safe.”

She scoffed, following closely behind him. “Your definition of safe is ‘not currently being chased’?”

He laughed breathily, and shrugged. “You hit the nail on the head. I’m like a honey trap for trouble.”

The sound of bartering shoppers hit them before the smell of fish and sweat did. “What’s the plan? They might recognize us,” she whispered in his ear, acutely aware of the proximity of their bodies.

She noticed him pocket the gold Tyril had given them for the food. “Mal, what –”

“Just trust me on this, kit. I’ve probably stolen as much food that’s in this marketplace, twice over. I can get us the food and we can keep the loot.” He tried stepping forward, but she grabbed a fistful of the back of his shirt.

“Or we could just stick to the original plan and use the gold for our food and go,” she said, tugging him backward.

“As long as we can have a quick escape route, it’ll be seamless,” he said, turning to meet her eye. “Trust me, Zilyana.”

And she did.

The mischievous look in his eye was enough to send her heart into a tailspin, but his mention of her name was what sealed the deal. It was a rarity that Mal traded in her nickname for her real name, so when he used it, she knew he was being honest for once.

She didn’t know what part of her compelled him to take her under his “wing”. Maybe he was tired of being alone. Maybe he was desperately crying out for someone to get to know the real him. Maybe he’d been calling out for so long, and she was the first to answer.

“I trust you, Mal.”

His eyes softened. She knew he hadn’t heard that in a long time. “Follow my lead.”

At the end of the last alleyway, there was a large fabric trade stand, with various cut and uncut fabrics of different colors and materials, finished garments hung from a clothesline.

He tossed a dagger into the wooden scaffolding holding up the stand, startling the old man at the booth. When he stood to inspect it, Mal snagged two black cloaks.

“These cloaks serve as both a disguise and a red herring. If we’re caught, ditch the cloaks as fast as you can. Then we can walk freely without anyone knowing what we looked like in the first place,” he said, slipping his hood on. “It’ll be a piece of cake.”

“And we’re distracting them and snagging their food? Seems cheap,” she said, putting her hood up, annoyed at her ears poking into the fabric.

“You’re distracting them, and there’s a reason old tricks still work, kit.”

----

Zilyana used her natural seduction to trap a few unsuspecting suckers, and Mal snagged the food, storing it on the roof of a taller building, just high enough to not be spotted from other rooftops if they laid down.

“I’ve never had an apple before,” she purred, stroking the vendor’s arm with the tips of her slender fingers. It was a horrible lie, but it was working.

“Y-you haven’t?” he stammered, clearly flustered.

“I’m not from around here,” she smiled, leaning forward, exposing just enough of her collarbone and the top of her breasts to reel him in.

“I don’t normally do this, but this one is on me,” he smiled timidly, handing her a bright red apple. Little did he know, Mal had been snagging item after item from his stand behind his back.

She took it from him, brushing her fingers across his knuckles. “You’re too kind. I owe you.” 

He blushed furiously, looking anywhere but her face. “I wouldn’t mind taking you out to my favorite tavern down the road––”

“Oh, I’m leaving town tomorrow,” she pouted, batting her eyes. “I wish we could’ve spent more time together.”

Mal emerged from the alleyway, watching closely. She didn’t know if he was capable of jealousy, but his nonchalance vanished when the vendor asked her on a date.

“I’m closing up shop soon, if you’re willing to wait for me.” He said, the blush still lingering on his cheeks.

“Balmed is that you? Oh my Gods, it’s been so long!” She exclaimed, looking at Mal, who still watched from the shadows.

The vendor turned quickly, noticing no one was there. He looked back at her, then double-taked, scrutinizing his stand of apples. “Hey…”

She sprinted past him, kicking the back of his knees so he crumpled, but it didn’t stop him from yelling, “Thief!” at the top of his lungs.

Mal grabbed her hand, whisking her down the dark alleyway. The sun had dipped just below the buildings, making the alleys a perfect getaway.

They rounded the corner, ready to discard their cloaks, but they spotted guards barreling towards them from both directions.

“What do we do?” She practically cried, gripping his shoulder.

“There’s two of us, and four of them, kit. You do the math,” he smirked, unsheathing his dagger.

“But that makes it sound like we should run–”

He whipped his arm forward, sending a dagger into the nearest guard’s shoulder before decking the other in the jaw.

Zilyana knew that Mal’s sheer dumb luck was part of the reason he was a notable thief. He somehow managed to survive in every situation, like a rodent.

She drew her sword and slashed the guard in front of her in one fluid sweep, kicking the other in the chest, sending him sprawling.

“That was a little too easy,” she trailed off, her senses sparking. She had no control over her elven senses, but they usually came to her when she needed them most, similar to a fight or flight response.

“I think the guards have us cornered but we haven’t met them yet. I can hear footsteps.”

Mal’s eyebrows rose. “We’re completely surrounded?”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”

“Alright? What are we gonna do?” she asked, hysteria begging to burst through her calm demeanor.

“The rooftop where we stashed the goods isn’t far away. I’d say five buildings or so over. After they pass, we’ll have to jump from roof to roof –”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. I’m not even in the right garments to jump right now,” she shook her head, gesturing to her casual dress.

“You’re just gonna have to flash the entirety of Port Parnassus,” he teased, turning to the wall next to him, covered in mossy vines.

He grabbed onto a vine and started climbing, her on his heels. The footsteps were within Mal’s hearing range by the time he got to the rooftop, so he extended an arm for her to grab.

She gripped his forearm, pushing herself off of the wall. It sent her flying into Mal, the momentum too much for the short distance. They fell over, her landing on top of him, chest to chest, their noses nearly touching.

She could see a snarky quip forming on his lips, but it never came. She watched his smug grin dissolve into admiration, his gaze softening as he glanced back and forth from her eyes to mouth. The lingering rays of sunlight struck their rooftop, hitting Mal’s face, transforming his dark brown eyes into a stunning liquid pool of amber, flecks of gold she’d never noticed before reflecting the light.

He reached up, pressing a gloved hand on her face, gently stroking her jaw. She leaned into the embrace, closing her eyes and sighing just low enough for him to hear.

A low growl rumbled through his chest, the vibrations passing through her own. He watched her, transfixed, through half lidded eyes.

“Have you always been this beautiful, kit? Or have I just been too stupid to notice?” He whispered, tenderly gripping her chin with his thumb and pointer finger.

She smiled, holding back a laugh as they heard the guards clamor down an alley nearby. “I don’t know if I’d say you were stupid…”

With his eyes trained on her lips, she leaned down, closing the distance between them, her parted lips meeting his. He could’ve frozen up – he could’ve pushed her away. Instead, he tangled his gloved hand through her hair, deepening the kiss.

He snaked his arm around her waist, his grip firm and commanding. He tasted sweeter than she could’ve imagined, his scent even more intoxicating up close.

He pulled away, searching her features. She couldn’t tell if he was thinking she’d regretted it that fast, but she was determined to ease his mind. Zilyana recognized the walls he put up; they were familiar because they mirrored her own. 

“Anything we do from this point on, I won’t regret. Don’t worry,” she whispered, stroking her thumb across his beard.

He looked at her like he was truly seeing her for the first time. Like he was safe with her. Like he wanted her too. 

The guards passed through the alleyway next to them, the clanking of their armor drowning out Mal and Zilyana’s labored breaths.

He pulled her close, tucking her underneath his head, his arms circling her protectively until the guards passed.

They stayed in the same position, embracing, until the sun set, making way for the midnight skyline freckled with glimmering stars.

After the street lanterns were lit, and the residents of Parnassus were tucked into bed, they were momentarily safe enough to discard the cloaks and sneak back to the rooftop where their food was stashed.

Once they were on the rooftop, Mal gestured to her to walk towards the edge of the building. She looked out at the edge of the port city, the vast body of water rippling, the waves flicking calmly against the docks, the water reflecting the moonlight.

“I never get tired of views like these,” he sighed, snatching an apple and taking a bite. “I love gold, but I love a pretty view more.”

She eyed him, brows furrowed. “Alright, I love gold more. But scenery is a close second.”

“Mal the Magnificent is getting candid? Color me surprised,” she grinned, watching his expression match her own.

“What can I say? You’ve grown on me, kit.”

And that was all the validation she needed. She was chipping away at his facade brick-by-brick, and one day his defense would crumble. 

She’d be the only one to witness the beautiful destruction.

She crossed the distance between them, facing him while he chewed and swallowed his mouthful of apple. Juice dribbled down his beard, and she wanted so badly to taste the sweet flavor of his lips again.

“You’ve grown on me, too,” she said, reaching for his hand with her own, hooking a finger around his. She used the other hand to delicately swipe her thumb across his facial hair, drying his face of apple juice.

He watched her in awe, looking at her as if she were the only being in the world.

“We should probably get back,” she whispered, refusing to break eye contact. “They might be worried.”

“Yeah, they might be worried,” he repeated, still staring at her, squeezing her finger with his own. “But I think it’s better we stay the night.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to miss a second of seeing the moonlight on your skin,” he said, eyes roaming over her face.

Her face heated, breaking eye contact first. She knew the violet tones in her cheeks would betray her calm exterior once again.

“I could look at you for hours…” he trailed off, stepping closer towards her.

Their bodies were barely touching, their faces close enough so that the wind made the tips of his hair tickle her cheek.

He took his leather gloves off, revealing his scarred, calloused hands, likely from the years of training with blades. He cupped her face in his bare palms, the heat from his hands counteracting the chill of the sea breeze.

It was the first time he touched her with his bare hands, and she relished in the contact. It was a feeling of intimacy she hadn’t felt before.

She’d been abandoned by her birth parents and adopted by a human family. When they passed, she felt not only the tremendous loss of her parents, but the longing to be wanted by those who willingly left her before.

She saw so much of herself in Mal. The classic signs of abandonment issues were blatant in his personality. He wouldn’t admit it to her then, but he’d grow comfortable with her and come around. And she’d be there for him.

She watched as he leaned in tentatively. She closed the gap between them, pressing her mouth firmly against his, wrapping her arms around his waist.

He melted in her grip, a low groan coming from his throat at the initial kiss. She parted her lips, begging to taste him again.

She drug her hands around his torso, meeting at his belt buckle, unlatching and untying until they fell to the ground with a clank. She slid her hands underneath the tail of his tunic, pulling upwards. She was met with the firm muscles of his stomach, a soft tuft of hair from his navel to the waist of his pants.

“Zilyana, I…” he breathed, eyes half lidded.

“I want you,” she finished, pulling back just enough so that she could meet his gaze.

His hair had become unruly, whipped by the sea breeze and the momentum from running through the alleys of Parnassus. Loose strands framed his face like vines on a stone wall, begging for her hands to wrangle them.

“You sure you want this? We can pretend like it didn’t happen when we go back,” he said. She detected a twinge of uneasiness in his voice, like he didn’t know what he wanted from her.

“We can work it out later, Mal,” she whispered, running her hands farther up his chest.

He groaned, both because he was trying to maintain responsibility and his body was responding to her touch. “You’re right. Fuck it.”

He kissed her fervently, ripping at the laced-up ribbons on the back of her dress. The air between their bodies crackled, their unbridled sexual tension finally reaching its climactic end.

She tried helping him out of his clothes, but stopped after a few failed attempts. “For a simple guy, you have a complex wardrobe.”

He laughed, the deep bass of his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves. “I can be flashy when I want to be.”

He stripped his tunic off, then his boots, before helping her slide out of her dress. Her undergarments were thin, just thin enough so that he got a glimpse of her naked body underneath.

He rested his hands on her waist, pulling him towards her. She grazed her fingers across his stomach and lower back, lightly touching the dozens of scars. He had a story behind each scar, and she wanted to hear every one.

He eased her onto the stone, gently, like she was as fragile as a priceless heirloom.

“Look at you, Zilyana… so beautiful,” he whispered, a hint of a smirk on his lips. “I told you I like a pretty view.”

She searched his eyes, the trace of golden flecks gone with the sunlight, and she smiled internally. She was learning to love gold, too, as greedy as it sounded.

----

[franklongbottxm]

A Panic and a Ceremony? || Fralice

DATED: November 18th, 1978 INCLUDED:Alice Fortescue (@a-force-of-alice) SYNOPSIS: The alter is set and everyone is finishing the final touches. With chairs holding hits of maroon and gold, flowers placed delicately on the perfect spots, and the bride and groom preparing for their big day. With guests starting to make their way into the ceremony hall, could there be something that messes with this happy day? Or will love conquer and find the couple standing happily at the alter? ,

Frank: Frank stood in the room that had been set aside for him to change, getting himself ready for the day that was too come. Getting to this day had been a bit of a struggle, but he didn’t question any part of it. Frank had started falling for Alice the minute he met her. Everything about her drew him closer. She was a force to be reckon with and he had no doubt that she would destroy anything in her way. He first asked her to marry him when she graduated and when he finished his Auror training. Unfortunately, he told her no because she wanted to wait and get a chance to live her life. He respected that, wanting to make sure she was ready as well. It wasn’t until about a year later when she finally told him to ask again, and he did. The word ‘yes’ had never meant so much to him. He loved Alice with everything he had, so spending the rest of his life with her meant the world to him.

As he finished tying his bow tie, there happened to be knock on his door. “Come in.” He called, double checking himself in the mirror before turning towards the person. It was Alice’s father telling him that Alice had requested his presence. “She knows we’re not supposed to see each other until it’s time.” Even though the statement held a sigh, there was still a smile on his face as he made his way down the hall and to her door. Taking in a slow breath, he paused before knocking on the door of where she was changing. “Don’t open the door because I want the first time I see you to be at the alter,” He spoke at first. “But what’s going on? Are you alright?” Frank leaned against the door a little, that way he could hear her better.

Alice: Alice refused to put on her dress until the very last moment, she wasn't sure why, wasn't that supposed to the moment it came together, so what was she waiting for.  Her mother kept fussing with her hair and Alice was far away. Loose curls dangled around her face and her mother twirled and fiddled with them. She really didn’t understand how she got here. Getting married, Alice of all people. Her mind drifted back to the night before, waking Frank up, saying she wasn’t going to marry him. She couldn’t. He could so much better then having her as a wife. Everyone said it was nerves that made her feel in such a way. But Alice couldn’t believe that, she wasn’t nervous about spending the rest of her life with someone, she was scared of being letting him down. Her father came in for a moment and Alice looked up. “Go get him.” Her mother started going on about how she wasn’t supposed to see him but Alice looked at her father. “Daddy, please.” He nodded and her mother threw up her hands. She needed to get something anyways.

Alice sat in the room alone for the moment, twisting her ring around and around her finger. She looked at her dress again hanging on the door. She could still run away. Alice looked around for a notepad anything to tell Frank goodbye, she shuffled around trying to find something. But the knock came and Alice stood in the middle of the room for a second before walking to the door. “We still have time to cancel. We can cancel this. Umm, I don’t think I can do this. I’m not cut out for this.”

Frank: Frank was leaning against the door, arms crossed as he listened to his fiancé on the other side. For some reason, Alice had this notion that he didn’t know what he was doing in all of this. A thought that there would be someone else out there that he would want to spend the rest of his life with. Fact of the matter was, there wasn’t. Alice had captured him the minute he met her. Just the young girl righting the bully, not matter the cost. He loved her more and more every day, and that was just increased with the idea of being able to spend the rest of his life with her.

There was a small sigh that passed his lips before he spoke. “Alice, you know I would never force into something you don’t want to do,” He paused for a moment. “So if you wanted to cancel, we will. I’ll tell them all to go home. But,” Another pause as he leaned a little closer to the door. “If there is a part of you that wants to do this, I hope you would listen to it. Hope you would understand that this isn’t some joke or something I haven’t thought through. There is no one I want to spend the rest of my life with then you. I love every stubborn part of you,” A laugh passed his lips a bit. “But we don’t have to do this. I’ll do whatever you want. We could just run and go on our honeymoon without getting married. If you want to go, I’ll respect that and give you your space. But if I not, if you want to do this, I’ll be the one at the end of the alter, looking very handsome I might add.”

Alice: Alice felt her chest clenching up and her breathing become faster. This stupid room with it’s windows locked up, how did she get out of here. She always knew they were never supposed to meet, their paths to never cross but it all went wrong. They did meet and he charmed her, slowly and gently removing the stone wall that she carefully built around herself. Her mother called her a storm. Her father called her a fortress. Everybody saw her as this chaotic, wild creature, stubborn to a fault. But Frank didn't, he saw her as something else entirely and she never understood how he did. 

She slid down against the wall, knees curled up against her chest. “How do you know. How do you know that isn’t just one huge mistake. Your mother seems to think so. And I’m sure she would be so happy to know I ran off. Thrilled really. How do you know that in five years I’m not gonna drive you crazy or in ten years you won’t be sick of me?” She heaved a sigh. “Frank.” Her tone soft, more soft then it ever was. “Frank. There so many things in this world that I’m not scared off. But I am scared of disappointing you.” she took another breath. “I’m so scared that I’m not going to be best person for you, I’ve always been scared of that.” She was careful not to rub her make up. “But the worst part about it, is I don’t want you to leave. Because I’m selfish and I want you all to myself. And the only thing that is gonna save me on that long walk down the aisle is knowing that it leads to you. But you deserve the very best and there are days that I know I'm going to be the very best. What then?”

Frank: Frank waited to hear what her response was going to be. Waiting to hear what she might have to say about it all. However, when her voice was suddenly lower than he expected, the man moved to adjust his tux, sitting on the ground with her. Even though she was on the other side of the door, he wanted to be as close to her as possible. He wanted to make this better, but this conflict with her was something she had to sort out for herself, and he knew that. “My mother wouldn’t be happy, because she knew I wouldn’t be. As much as you two don’t get along, deep down she just wants me to live a life that makes me happy. And you make me happy. Our life, makes me happy.”

As she continued, he was quiet, letting her get it all out. “Alice,” He said softly. “You aren’t going to disappoint me.” He said sincerely. “You’ve been worried about whether or not we fit together, or if I’ll get bored of you since we met.” He continued. “I’m telling you now, we’re going to have moments where we feel like we’ve disappointed each other, moments where we fight and question what next. However, we’re also going to have moments of laughter, and love, and being total bad asses being aurors.” There was another laugh that passed his lips and he paused once more. “I could talk for forever to convince you why we should get married, but the decision has to be yours in the end.” Frank told her, keeping his voice calm. “If you want to go, I won’t force you to stay. But if you want to stay and do this together, then I’ll meet you at the end of that aisle.”

Alice: Alice sighed. Frank had always been her voice of reason, which she knew she needed. And he was that. He was her best friend, the love of her life and he was so convincing. He voice was calm, and his was a voice she could melt into. Her could tell her anything and she’d melt and do it. That was the problem. Frank could convince her of anything. All her life Alice was defiant, she was do what she wanted and that was that. But the moment Frank said the opposite she stopped. But at the same time she knew what she wanted was Frank. For the rest of her life, to be by his side. 

Alice continued on the floor and sighed. The clocked signaled 15 more mins and she inhaled shaking. “I haven’t made up my mind, I’ve got 15 more mins. Just go. If you see me, you see me and we’re doing this. If you don’t I’m waiting in the car and we’re running away. Either way you don’t get off that easily. And we're stealing the cake. ” She got up and moved towards the cracked door. She paused. “13 mins. Just 13 mins. Love you.” She mumbled  before closing the door and turning to her dress again, still fiddling with her ring.

Frank: Frank would’ve never wanted to convince Alice of something that she didn’t want to do. However, he loved her more than he could’ve ever imagined being in love with someone. So the idea of seeing Alice walking towards him and the two of them starting the rest of their lives together was something he couldn’t get over. So when she spoke, he felt like there might still be some hope in the fact that they could make it. He got up from his spot, noticing her cracking the door just a bit. “See you in thirteen minutes. Love you.” Frank spoke before going back to the room where he had been in earlier.

Getting back in the room, he adjusted his bow tie a little bit before heading out towards where they were supposed to start. "What did she want, Frank? Are you two still doing this?" Augusta's voice sounded through the small room. "Yes, Mum, we're still doing this together." He couldn't promise what they were doing together, but they were. The thirteen minutes seemed to fly by and soon Frank was walking with his mother and father down the isle. Shaking hands with the officiant, he smiled brightly before standing tall, eyes looking over the people in their seats. Eyes finally settled at the entrance as it was almost time for the bride to enter and the wedding to begin. He felt nerves hit him as he waited, but he never let his expression show it. Whether or not she was going to walk down the isle, they were going to be together. He just hoped that they would just make it work, no matter how it happened.

Alice: Alice moved to her dress and touched the lace, letting her fingers trace the floral embroidery. Her mother walked in now and scoffed her name. "Alice! You're still not dressed! Honestly, hell would have to freeze over for you to be on time. Come on now, don't dilly dally, shoes on, dress on. Get going, your fiancé isn't going to wait forever." As her mother turned to grab her dress Alice let out a huge laugh, bright and loud. "What on earth?" Alice only shook her head and smiled, "It's nothing. Come on, your wasting time now, can't in this dress on on my own." Her mother sighed, and helped Alice finish getting ready. She placed her veil on last and played with a loose curl one last time, her mother took her hands and smiled. "Look at that. A vision." The tears started welling up in mother's eyes and Alice smile. "Mum don't cry, Not yet." Their was a knock at her door and her dad came in and his eyes welled up as well. "Oh not the both of you. Come on now. I'm actually late and I'm pretty sure my mother in law is fidgeting away in her seat." Her parents gave her that look that scolded her but silently. "What? You know I'm right, and I said nothing mean. She's family now I'm allowed to tease her a bit." Her father held out his arm and Alice took it. "I'll see you two out there."

Her mother left and for a moment it was just her and her father. "Alice, I know dads should give some sort of advice but you two are perfect for eat other. I know that much and I know you'll be there for each other. It's bittersweet, because I'm not hesitant about walking you down that aisle, because I know he'll take care of you and you'll take care of him. I'll never have to worry about that. But you're my little girl who dueled me in the office with a stick you found in the garden and now you're getting married. You have everything I wanted for you. And I want you to know I'm proud of you and I love you. But you're right about one thing. You're mother in law is probably ready to hunt you down. Let's go." Alice tried now to let her tears fall down her face and she smiled and nodded. "Right-o. Lets go." Alice walked with her father and suddenly the world faded because standing at the end of the aisle was Frank.

Frank: Frank stood tall at the alter, waiting to see his fiance walk down the isle towards him. The longer it took for her to arrive, the more he could hear soft whispers in the crowd and people looking around. He took a quick look to his mother who had her usual scowl, but he never lost his smile. He and Alice were meant to be, not matter how she talked about destiny. Something brought them together that day, and he was grateful for it. Even with the slight butterflies in his stomach, Frank was still calm and collected. He knew this was going to work out, he just had to wait to see how.

He knew someone was about to say something when suddenly the music started playing again and there she was. While Frank felt the bit of relief to see Alice walking towards him, he was mostly in awe. She looked beautiful beyond words, and his smile reflected that. His eyes met hers when she finally looked up, assuring her that he wasn’t going anywhere. The walk seemed to take longer than it did, but finally Alice and her father were in front of him, Frank moving to meet them at the end of the isle. He shook her father’s hand before turning to Alice, taking her hand and moving back towards the officiant. “You ready for this?” He asked with a soft smile.

Alice: She was glad her father was there because she was weak in the knees the walk, feeling as if it was miles and miles. But soon she was there standing before Frank, and she was holding his hand, her father walking away. She nodded. "Bit late but I've found veils take a moment to put on." She smiled. Looking back at all the people Alice felt all eyes on her and she was sort of taken back but looking back at Frank she calmed down. The officiant started speaking but the words were jumbled and all rushed together. It wasn't until Frank took her hand again that everything started to clear up. He was holding her ring and she looked up. Her smile grew.

Frank: Frank couldn’t stop the smile that was on his face as she gave her answer. It wouldn’t have been Alice unless she said no. What some people didn’t realize was that Frank was more in tune with Alice than they could tell. He knew that getting married wasn’t as important to her as it was to him, but he wanted to have Alice by his side for the rest of his life. He wanted to share every moment with her. Every fight, every laugh, every part of it all was something he looked forward to. While there were going to be times that they would feel like they disappointed one another, they would always come back to each other. He loved all the parts of Alice and wouldn’t want her to change. She was the storm he loved to watch, and the woman he’s loved for years.

The officiant speaking to them brought Frank back to the moment. He listened as Alice spoke, the smile on his face growing even more. Part of him honestly couldn't believe that he was getting to marry the girl he loved. He thought of the moment that he rushed to grab her hand when she was about to fight someone, protecting her from getting caught by a professor. He thought about how that moment felt, when they finally locked eyes and he just knew. He honestly couldn't explain it, but he never wanted to let her go. As the officiant continued to speak, Frank tried his best to listen, wanting to make sure he didn't miss the moment he was supposed to start repeating the words back to him.

Alice: Alice wanted to be here because Frank wanted to be here. She could have run away with him for the rest of her life, but she knew this moment was important to him, for them and being up on that alter with him meant the world. Frank was the only one who understood her, the only one who would ever be her perfect balance and she'd never let that go. Taking out his ring Alice held his hand and nodded when told she was to repeat the words. She looked squarely at Frank. And as she repeated her vows she remembered when they first met. She a scrappy twelve year old with biting remarks and unafraid of those much larger then her. She was no fear in her punches and fast hexes on her tongue. And he swooped in. Gripped her hand and whisked her away. Alice looked at his hand, the one she had been holding on for all those years since and she never wanted that to change. She placed the ring on his finger and smiled, catching his eyes  and she knew she made the right decision

Frank: He could’ve been convinced that they were the only ones in the room. With how she looked and the joy he felt knowing this was happening, he almost wanted it to be just them. He had wanted them to get married because he wanted it to be official. Wanted them to be connected in every way, and he was happy that she said yes. Feeling of the ring moving down his finger brought slight goosebumps to his arms, smile never fading in the moment. When she finished, it was now his turn to say those promises that he wanted Alice to know. His words were sincere and kind, speaking to her so she knew that he wasn’t going anywhere. She wasn’t going to get him to leave, or at least it won’t be as easy as she might think. He moved the her ring onto her finger, locking eyes with her and giving that famous soft smile he wore. It wasn’t long after that moment that the officiant continued his words before the final bit that Frank was looking for. “…I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Frank looked back to his now wife before closing the distance and leaning down to kiss her. It was exciting and different in this moment, knowing that he was kissing his wife. Knowing they would be together forever.

Alice: Alice was almost in disbelief that she had stood there for that long, but she had been holding Frank’s hand the whole time. If she had let go she probably would have run. Her eyes moved down to the ring on her finger for a moment, perfect and pristine, everything she was not, but it meant the world. His smile warm and it was home, it would always be home. She looked down at their hands one more time before looking back up as soon as you may kiss the bride was spoken Alice grinned, moving to her tippy toes with a small giggle as she kissed back. Despite everything she was feeling earlier the last few moments cemented it down for her. Alice placed her forehead against Frank’s for a moment before pulling away to face the cheering crowd of people. She looked back at Frank. “You’re stuck with me for life now, no turning back now.”  Alice looked down the aisle and then at Frank, as if to signal for them to start walking. “Frank, I just want to tell you that I’m really really hungry and nobody has let me eat today so please tell me the next thing that I get to do is have a bloody sandwich or something.” She whispered through a smile. November 20, 2020

Frank: This whole wedding was something they planned and now it was actually here, and done. Frank knew they weren't going to split up at any point. As childish as it seemed, he thought they were going to be together forever. They were together ever since that day, no matter how big they fought or what they did, they had always come back to each other. It was how their life was going to be now. As her forehead rested against his, he took in a slow breath. Moving with her, they faced the crowd together, hands interlocked as they looked at the smiles on their guests faces. Looking back at Alice, he laughed at her words. "Wouldn't have it any other way." He teased lightly, lifting their intertwined hands and kissing the back of hers. His eyes had made it back down the isle and he was about to start walking when he heard her whisper something to him.

Leaning down, he now wore a bit of a teasing smile as he whispered back to her. "You act like I don't know who I married." He spoked softly. "There is some snacks waiting in the room where we're going to sign our marriage certificate." Frank gave a small wink before kissing her cheek. With a small pull on their hands, he started them down the isle and towards the exit.

Alice: She looked over at her mother and father, they had tears in their eyes but they were smiling and waving. As they walked down she nodded and smiled at her friends and family who were there, excited for a moment of happiness in a wild and unstable world. "Its honestly cruel. Its my special day and no one let me a snack, that should have been the first thing they let me do." She teased as they moved away from the crowd to where they had to sign their certificate. It was a such a surreal moment, of course being on the alter made it official but something about signing the paper work just sealed the deal. "I'm officially Alice Longbottom, just saying it makes me feel all sorts of butterflies. Oh love it. Sorry about earlier though. I think I let my nerves get the best of me. Plus I would have felt bad if we took the cake and gifts without actually saying I do." She teased softly. "thanks for waiting."

Frank: Frank thought he might've actually caught a smile sitting on Augusta Longbottom's face, but he was never going to say anything about it. His father looked as pleased as he could be, seeing his son get married. His father adored Alice to know end, his mother would get there... at some point. "Well, most of them were probably just preoccupied with getting us ready and ensuring they don't get the wrath of Augusta with anything being out of place." He teased, knowing there was some real truth hidden with his words. While Frank and Alice got to make most of the decisions for their wedding, it was Augusta who organized everything and tried to ensure it went off perfect. Once their certificate was signed and it was just them in the room, Frank turned towards Alice and smiled, letting his head nod lightly.

"I have to say, I love to hear that, Mrs. Longbottom." He teased with a slight laugh as his arms wrapped around his wife. "I think everyone would've understood. Probably would've just called us those crazy kids and talk about how our morals aren't the same as they used to be." Frank joked, even giving a fake voice to it before laughing once more. As she thanked him for waiting, his expression turned soft and his head nodded lightly. "I'll always wait for you. No matter how it's going to end. You can always count on me."

Alice: Alice rolled her eyes knowing he was right. Sure he was teasing about his mother but she also knew that Augusta wanted this day to be perfect and she would do whatever it took to make it perfect. Other then Alice being a little late it felt like it was going pretty well. She blushed, her cheeks rising with warmth. Hearing her married name out loud was a sort of surreal experience but one she knew she'd get used to very easily. The only place she wasn't changing her name was work, mostly because she thought it would be too confusing with two Longbottom's. But that was a bridge she'd cross when she went back to work. "I think my mum and dad would have just rolled with it. Another day, another classic Alice move. Your mum on the other hand, I figured that we should probably ignore that wraith." Placing her hand on his cheek she was quiet for a moment looking at their feet and then looking up. "I know I can always count on you and I always will."

Frank: While Frank's mother was a lot to handle, he knew that she did what she did because she cared. His mother always did what she could in order to take care of her family, and to make sure Frank had the best day he could. While she wasn't the biggest fan of Alice, and probably wouldn't be, but she eventually she accepted the idea that Alice was going to be apart of their lives. Frank was in love, and she could see in his eyes that it wasn't going to fade anytime soon, if ever. With Alice part of the family now, Frank could feel the butterflies in his stomach, happy that he now had a wife and that he could start his life with Alice. "Don't worry, there are plenty of people out there that we will be able to avoid her for most the night. Although, I am curious what her speech is going to be like. Hopefully she'll be able to keep it short." He commented, letting out a small laugh.

Feeling her hand placed on his cheek, he leaned into it a bit, that soft smile still resting on his lips. "For the rest of our lives now." He replied, the smile turning a little goofy with his words before he leaned down to give her another kiss. As he pulled away, Frank let out a small breath, letting the moment sink in once more. "Alright," He spoke again. "Let's get you some food and then head out to our reception, yeah?"

Alice: Alice looked at Frank and raised her brow. "Her keep her speech short about you. And this momentous day that involves you short? Frank do you know your own mother." Her tone teasing but she was ready to brace herself for whatever was to come. "My dad will keep things short he's never been to fond of speeches and my mum has probably told him to keep it short. Thank goodness my uncle isn't talking, good gracious we'd be there for hours and hours." She laughed. She sighed as he leaned to kiss her, feeling as if she could float for days and days. She probably would be. Alice wanted to live in this moment for a little bit longer but she knew they needed to get to their reception, to thank everyone who came, to celebrate and live in this bliss for a little bit longer. "Right, a snack and then onwards to the party. I'm ready to dance the night away and eat four slices of cake!"

[snapchattingnct]

Champagne Giggles

Park Jisung x Reader

Genre: Mafia!au, fluff

Word Count: 2.6K

Warnings: underage drinking, minor religion mentioned

Notes: This was definitely supposed to be posted early but college started again and I got busy. But here’s my take on the “Champagne Giggles” prompt for @neowritingsnet Summer Writing Fest. It’s not 100% to my complete satisfaction but my sisters urged me to finish and post it so here it is~

Lifting the glass of champagne up his lips, Jisung admired the painting that was held up for display before him. His eyes touched over every inch of the canvas, taking note of each brush stroke and the colors that were carefully blended together. While the colors were much more muted, having had faded away through the many years, the painting was still stunning.  

Many of the people around him gushed and fawned over the artwork but he simply kept quiet as a sudden idea popped into his head. Without a second thought, Jisung pulled out his phone from within is his suit jacket. Pressing the phone to his ear, he continued to casually sip at his champagne, eyes surveying the rest of the art hall. 

On the third ring, a loud voice answered back, “Yah, what do you want?” 

“Have you gotten Mark anything for his birthday yet?” Jisung questioned as he eyed the painting in front of him with a smile. “Because if you haven’t. I think I just found the perfect gift.”

“Ohhhh,” Chenle hummed, interested caught. But then pausing, he asked, “Wait. Aren’t you at that dumb art exhibit in Positano?”

“Yup. It’s not that far of a drive. You’re already in Italy.”

He was met with silence on the other line. Continuing to sip at his champagne, Jisung waited for the information to register. Not long after, he was met with a resounding, ‘ohh’ before it increased in both volume and pitch. Chenle’s words soon became inaudible as he continued to shriek and scream on the other line in excitement. “Oh man, this is going to be so much fun! I’ll see you soon. I knew Positano was a good option. ”

.

Chenle had announced his presence with a hard clap on to Jisung’s back, startling him and nearly making him spill the champagne in his hands. Glaring the boy down, Jisung complained, “Give me a heads up next time when you’re going to do something like that!”

The orange haired boy simply shrugged his shoulders and smiled. Then turning his attention to the painting that Jisung was so invested in, Chenle whistled lowly. “Is that The Last Supper?”

“Nope,” Jisung replied. Then shrugging his shoulders in a similar fashion that the other boy had done before he added, “It’s about the closest you’ll actually get to the original one anyways. The real one would be harder to steal. Since it’s not just a painting but whole drywall that was painted on. Imagine trying to smuggle that out of anywhere.”

“Bummer,” Chenle pouted. 

“Hey, there’s literally only two copies of The Last Supper in the whole world. The important ones anyways. One painted by Cesare de Sesto, but that’s in Switzerland. And then this one, here, painted by Giampietrino.” 

Rolling his eyes, Chenle said, “I came here to help you steal a painting, not get a history lesson on it.”

“Yeah, well at least know what you’re even stealing, Chenle.”

“I came here to steal a painting for Mark’s birthday gift and that’s it’s literally the perfect gift for our Christian boy.” He grinned widely, eyes gleaming with uncontainable excitement. Leaning in closer he whispered, “So what’s the plan? Are two people enough to pull off this heist? Because the last time we tried to pull a heist off with the two of us, it didn’t end too well...”

Groaning at the memory of their failed heist in Austria, Jisung shook his head. “Please don’t remind me. That was one of the most embarrassing fails I’ve ever done in my whole life.”

“Trust me, I feel the same way too. That’s why I’m bringing it up, because I don’t want an incident like that to happen again.”

With a sigh, Jisung nodded. “Well, it would be ideal for there to be another person… but no one else is available. They’re all arriving in Italy tonight…”

Then as if the heavens above had heard their dilemma, someone suddenly came up behind the two of him, silent as a mouse, saying, “I can help.”

.

You watched in amusement as the two boys jumped at the sound of your voice, their eyes blown into saucers as they stared back at you as if they were a deer caught in the headlights. 

Frantically waving his hands in front of him, the taller boy smiled awkwardly, “No, no. It’s okay. You didn’t hear anything.”

“Oh, but I heard everything,” you countered back with a smile. “And I want in.”

“We have no idea what you’re talking about…” The taller boy continued to stutter out. 

“We’re stealing The Last Supper for your friend right? You need a third person for the job and I can be that person.”

Just as the taller boy was about to open his mouth and protest again, the shorter one, countered, “How can we trust you?”

“You can’t,” you smiled back at them in amusement. “Well you can, but knowing you two, you won’t trust me one bit even if I prove my innocence and loyalty to you. But what I can do is buy the two of you some time and give you the blueprint to this entire building, how does that sound?”

You watched as the two of them share a look and a moment of silence passed before the taller one turned around and extended his hand out to you. “Pleasure to work with you. I’m Jisung.”

Wrapping your fingers around his, you gave his hand a small squeeze. “Hmm, I know.”

.

After exchanging the basic pleasantries, the three of you ended up discussing the heist in some empty room of the art exhibit hall. Of course it was closed off to the public and locked but that was nothing too hard for Chenle to pick into. It was a basic lock, nothing fancy. So all that it took to crack it open was using the classic paper clip method. Child’s play, really. 

When the door clicked open, you weren’t even surprised. The moment that you had spotted Jisung hanging around in the art exhibit near The Last Supper for way too long, you figured he was planning something. And it became even more evident that he was full of mischief from the way that he kept glancing around the room, checking every exit and taking in all the securities in the room. Then came Chenle, who was a little too loud for such events like these. And when they huddled together, still standing before the famous replica, you had caught them. 

It was about time that something a little exciting happened around here anyways. You loved art but that didn’t mean that you could stand around all day and watch these paintings and not get bored. The two boys were the perfect distraction that you’ve been wanting all day long to happen.

With the building’s blueprints spread out on the table before them, you all began strategizing their game plan. 

“Okay, there’s a total of three main exits to the gallery room that houses the painting.” You pointed out as your fingers traced the paper. “But there’s also a private back door that only staff or security is allowed to use to leave. And there’s two vents directly above the painting that leads to the back exit.”

Nodding along as you spoke, Jisung commented, “So the vents are going to be our game plan. Where is the entrance and is there any security cameras?”

“The ventilation system is pretty basic, so it just cuts around the whole building in a loop. You can enter where you can exit. So you can use the back exit from the camera room to get in.” You told him. “As for cameras, you don’t have to worry about the main ones. I can handle those. The one that you will need to worry about is the hidden one out back. It’s out of range for me to control. A separate security company handles all of the ones outside.”

“I got it,” Chenle said with a smile, a dangerous glint in his eyes. 

“Then perfect!” Clapping your hands together, you pulled the blueprint from the table and began to roll it back up. “Sounds like an easy heist, no?”

“A piece of cake.”

.

It truly was a piece of a cake. It was way too easy. 

Not to mention, it made the whole job a lot easier since the exhibition hall was now closed for the night with only the hall’s manager and two security guards patrolling.  

It barely took five minutes for you to disable all of security cameras within the building and subbing blank recording over it. And it took Chenle less than five minutes to break past the firewalls and take charge of the cameras outside of the building. 

Giving Jisung and you a thumbs up, Chenle grinned brightly, “Let’s get this.”

Next thing you knew, you were crawling in the hot vents, sweating buckets as Jisung led the way in front of you. Chenle had used his magic and managed to shut down the entire air conditioning system so that you and Jisung could crawl through the vents. But with no air blowing, it was extremely hot and suffocating in the vents. 

You had changed out of your evening dress into a set of spare work clothes you had in your locker, consisting of a pair of black pants and polo shirt. Meanwhile, Jisung didn’t have that kind of luxury and was crawling through the vents still in his suit. How the boy was doing that and still living and breathing? You didn’t have a single clue because it was hot as hell. 

Within your earpiece, you listened as Chenle continued to give you both live updates on any movement in the cameras. “Coast is cleared. When you hit the next section, take the left vent and it’ll lead you directly right above the air vent of The Last Supper.”

“This is as easy as taking candy from a baby.” Jisung muttered in front of you. Then turning around to face you, he asked, “Why don’t you guys have better security around here? I mean you guys are housing some of the world’s most priceless pieces of artwork. You would think security would be more than than two lousy, lanky security guards.”

Shrugging your shoulders, you said, “Couldn’t tell you. I’m just the receptionist here.”

“Also, they really did not do a good background check on you if you’re up here climbing through the vents to help some random strangers steal a piece of artwork.” Jisung smiled before adding, “You’re completely over qualified to be a receptionist.”

“Why thank you. And I say the same thing every time someone argues with me over the prices of our exhibition tickets.” You laughed. 

In the short amount of time that you had met Jisung, you found that he was even more of a sweetheart than expected. He had the cutest nose scrunches and he had the prettiest eyes. Each time that he would smile or laugh, his eyes turned into cute, moon shaped crescents. And it was simply adorable. He was nothing but a stuttering mess at first but the moment he had warmed up to you, he wouldn’t stop talking. Not that you minded anyways. 

Snapping you out of your thoughts, Jisung tapped you on your shoulders, handing you the flashlight as he did so. “Alright, we’re here.”

True to his words, as the both of you looked down through the grate of the vents, you saw the painting in all of its glory. 

Carefully unscrewing the vent’s opening, Jisung lifted it, setting the piece of metal to the side. Then tossing you the rope, he told you, “Hold on tight. I may have eaten a slice of pizza too many before coming here.” 

With a roll of your eyes, you wrapped the rope around your hands and anchored it to the vent. “I’m sure I’ll manage, pizza boy.” 

For a boy his height and statue, Jisung swung down from the vents with ease. He was in his element one hundred percent just as Chenle was when he hacked into the security cameras. 

Jisung was barely halfway down the vent when Chenle’s voiced began yelling in your earpiece. “Oh crap! The manager’s coming back through for some reason! He’s moving from his office and heading in the direction of the exhibit hall. Eta four minutes.”

Yanking on the rope gently, you urged Jisung to move quicker. “You heard Chenle right?”

“Yeah, yeah.” Jisung waved his hand dismissing your distressed call. “I got this. We’ll be gone before his hand touches the door handle.”

“Well at the rate that you’re going, I don’t know about that.” As the words left your lips, Jisung had already reached the painting. 

Jisung sent you a smug smile over his shoulder as he pulled on the rope, his hands grasping the painting with the sound of Chenle’s frantic talking coming from your earpiece. “You guys need to get out of there asap. The manager is literally twelve steps away from the door.”

Mustering as much strength as you could, you began tugging on the rope, grasping it tightly with both of your hands. Adrenaline was pumping through your veins as your heart thundered within your chest. The thrill was too much and you couldn’t help but laugh out loud in excitement. 

“Oh my gosh, stop laughing and get out of there before he comes in!” Chenle screeched loudly, his breath coming out unevenly in your ears. The poor boy was nearly on the verge of hyperventilating. “Five more steps!”

The both of you were barely able to keep your laughter to a low volume when you finally pulled Jisung back up into the vent and quickly shutting the air vent’s door as you did so. 

.

The moment Jisung opened the vent’s door to the camera room, Chenle was already on his feet and unhooking all the wires from his computer, packing up at the light of speed. Chenle was nothing but a blubbering mess as Jisung helped you down from the vent, along with the painting in hand. 

“They’re outside, right in the back. I completely disabled all the cameras for the next two minutes and thirty six seconds. And we have exactly one minute and forty five seconds before the manager comes barrelling in here to check the tapes once he notices that the painting is gone.” 

Quickly tossing Jisung the screwdriver, Chenle added, “Screw the vent back on. Grab everything and lets go.”

You watched with immense fascination at how fast the two boys cleaned the place up, making it seemed like no one was ever in the room in the first place. Within seconds, the room looked spotless and Jisung grabbed you by the shoulders, pushing you out the door. When the three of you stumbled out the door, a sleek, black limo was already waiting out back. 

There wasn’t much time to fawn over the car as Chenle yanked the door open and ushered you all inside hurriedly, glancing over his shoulder nervously. But the moment that the three of you made it safely inside the limo, stumbling in as a mess of lanky limbs and a huge oil painting, Chenle broke out into a high pitched laugh. Cheering loudly, he banged on the divider and told the driver to take it away. 

Besides you, Jisung couldn’t help but send a huge smile your way before reaching across and giving Chenle a loud high five, the impact echoing in the car. Then sharing a look, the boys made eye contact for a brief moment before they turned their attention to the other person in the car. “Happy belated birthday Mark!”

A young man dressed to the nines in his deep burgundy suit, who was no more than a couple years older than you, shook his head, smiling and said, “You guys are completely unbelievable.” Then passing each of them a flute of champagne, he toasted, “Here’s to another successful heist you wild kiddos.”

[forlornmelody]

Three Robins Rose Has Kissed And The One Who Kissed Back

Rating: Explicit (there’s smut, and lots of swearing, and some implied drug use.)

Fandom(s): DC Comics

Ship: JayRose (Jason Todd/Rose Wilson)

AO3 Link: Here

Summary: Rose Wilson has a type and it is former protégés of Batman.

Note:  For the sake of this story, I'm assuming both the events of the Crisis continuity, and the New 52, happened. (But we're just gonna pretend DC didn't nerf Rose for daddy-fodder, kay? Kay.)

-*-*-

“Rose.” Nightwing stares down at her, narrowing his eyes, but his grin betrays him. “Something tells me you’re doing this on purpose.”

“What makes you say that?” The mat presses up against Rose’s back.

“That’s the third time today I’ve swept you off your feet.” Dick’s got her in a full nelson, one of his escrima sticks pointed at her throat. He’s not actually going to bust her, though. Nightwing, the former Boy Wonder, is too good for that sort of thing. It frustrates her to no end. 

“Maybe I need more practice.” Rose can’t help the playful lilt creeping into her voice. The blue and black look good on him--better because they hug his body in all the right places. All she has to do is tilt her hips--there. One flip and Rose leans over him, pressing both his wrists against the mat. 

“You? You’re better than this.” Somehow it sounds like Dick is commenting on more than her training room flirting tactics, and the smile slips from her face. Like he hasn’t hit on half his opponents already. Hypocrite. She’ll show him. 

Time slows as Rose closes in, so close she can hear Dick’s heart speeding up. Just as her lips are about to brush against his--Dick turns his head and her kiss lands on his cheek. “Oh come on.” Just like that--Dick’s on his feet, launching Rose off him.

“Focus, Rose.” 

Their sparring session continues, and Dick never once brings up the kiss. He drives her crazy, in more ways than one, but she seems to have him off-balance for now. Rose presses her advantage, and she pins Dick face-first against the Robin costume on display. Freezing, Dick sucks in a breath. Before Rose can ask what’s wrong, he shoves his elbow into her sternum, pushing her away. 

“Dick?” 

“Not now.” He doesn’t even look at her as he slams the door behind him. 

What’s his hang-up with his old costume, anyway? 

-----

Rose’s only on this team because of Dick, because even though he doesn’t lead the Titans anymore, what he says goes. Even when the Titans hate his decision. Even when they hate their newest member with a passion. Even though she tried to kill them before. 

But Rose knows more than just martial arts. And she knows just how to get under Tim’s skin. Or on top of it, rather. 

Click. Tim’s got her pressed face-first against the mattress and her hands cuffed behind her back. Somehow Rose suspects this isn’t a bondage thing. Too bad. She really liked the feel of Tim’s lips against hers. 

“Hot damn.” Eddie stares at them through the open door and Rose can literally see steam coming out of his ears. That might be normal for him. Rose hasn’t been paying attention, at least not before now. 

“It’s not what it looks like,” Tim says quickly.

“Yes it is,” Rose says even quicker. Sometimes Rose’s visions don’t help much. People’s choices determine the future and people can be oh so finicky. It drives her nuts. Fights are one thing--people either want to kill her or they don’t--the rest they have ingrained through practice or the lack thereof. Knowing whether someone wanted to get in her pants--well. Apparently, she hasn’t quite figured that one out. 

Tim pulls her cuffs off, extracting himself from the bed and putting some distance between them. “Put some clothes on.” Damn. She’s 0-2.

But with the way Eddie’s eyes linger on her as she slides her armor on? Maybe it’s not a total loss. 

----

First Stephanie giggles, and Rose can hear it echo across Gotham’s rooftops. “What are you doing?” Then her smile slips, and the silence is deafening. 

Rose leans in closer, both their asses teetering on the edge. “You and Tim are on a break, right?” Her lips part, and she can smell the lavender in Spoiler’s shampoo. Their breaths intermingle and she’s so close to--

“Rose, I’m straight.”

“Seriously??”

----

Honestly, Rose had given up trying at this point. Jason Todd--Gotham’s best, or perhaps worst bad boy--should have been an easy target. Except he wasn’t Rose’s target, not this time. Her employer wanted Roy Harper out of the picture--Jason was just in her way. And he rarely left his best friend out of his sight. And Rose thought Koriand’r would’ve been more of a problem. And with her out of town--possibly out of planet--this should have been a piece of cake. Just get off The Red Hood’s radar by getting into his pants. How hard could it be?

Way harder than Rose ever imagined. 

But the price on Roy’s head? Too high to pass up. With that kind of money, Rose would be set for life. No more relying on her dear dad to help with bills every so often. Or his car. Or his safehouses. She could even get her brother the care and protection money to keep him away from all those bent government agencies and mad scientists who wanted to dissect his brain, or worse, use him for their own ends. 

So, Rose stayed. Even after Jason turned her down, more than once. 

The first time, it’s on a mission in Hong Kong, where Rose just so happens to be going after the same target. The Jade Dragon--Kingpin and Slum Lord who owned half the Indian Ocean. Roy waits for them on the roof with their getaway ride, and Rose joins Jason in the elevator. Halfway up it just so happens to stall. She really outdoes herself. 

Jason’s blue eyes stare not at her, but at the emergency hatch. The back-up lights cast a soft glow on his skin as Rose closes in. “It’s probably a power failure. No way they don’t have backup generators in this place.”

“Yeah. But they don’t run the elevator when the power goes out--in case of a fire.”

Jason swears under his breath, eyeballing the distance from his feet to the ceiling. “So what. We’ve got about ten, maybe twenty minutes before they fix it?”

“Something like that.” Rose touches his shoulder. “Relax. Where’s your slumlord going to go? The roof?” The stairs don’t go to his penthouse. She checked. Something about a security risk. Rich wackos like him like to be airlifted out in case of emergency. 

Pressing his lips together, Jason lets out the breath he’s being holding for two minutes. “You’re right.” He slumps against the back of the elevator, staring at buttons like they’ve personally wronged him. “I just hate waiting.”

Rose slouches next to him, not quite touching him, but close enough to where they can feel each other’s heat. “I know how we can pass the time.”

Jason blinks, finally giving Rose more than a passing glance. “...You’re kidding, right?” He laughs softly, and it’s the softest she’s ever seen his expression. “We just met.”

The batkid who got hired for jacking the Batmobile’s hubcaps, who had a reputation of going just a little too far when beating up bad guys, who actually killed more than one villain who got under his skin. Jason Todd--the guy on ten international watch lists--a prude. Who knew? 

----

Except Jason isn’t really a prude, now is he? Nah. Rose’s caught him stealing glances at Kori more than once--always looking the other way when Kori’s boytoy Roy stands nearby. Hell, the way Jason and Roy fool around sometimes—Rose’s not completely convinced of the joke. She’s even found some saucy text messages in his phone, and more than one picture of a gorgeous flight attendant. An old flame--Rose guesses. 

But he doesn’t spare her a second glance. 

And it’s not like Rose doesn’t know what she’s doing. Infiltration isn’t her favorite--she’d much rather blow up The Starfire with a heavy payload. Simple. Quick. A big, beautiful explosion to light some fire in her eyes. But the fucking employer wants Roy’s head as proof. Says he and his friends tend to walk away from this sort of thing. Her employer seemingly has all the time and money in the world--so long as Rose completes the job. She’s starting to wonder what Roy did to piss him off. But she knows how to get under a guy’s skin--the right clothes, the right words, simple gestures to lure him in. 

The second time it’s after the mission, when they’re celebrating with drinks--with sparkling cider instead of alcohol (what is it with these guys?) Rose dons a bikini with his favorite colors--red and black and lounges on the deck chair next to Jason. Roy and Kori have the right idea--already having forgotten their bubbly beverages--drinking instead from each other’s lips. And Jason’s staring up at the stars. 

 Rose kind of envies him in that moment, floating on the water with nothing but wonder on his face. She swan dives at the opposite end, swimming her way toward him. The splash does stir his floaty, and Jason turns over to glance her way. Maybe, just maybe she has a chance. 

“Nice moves out there today. You dad teach you that?”

Rose shrugs. “My mom taught me a few things, too.” Mostly how to draw in close without her mark noticing. But nothing seems to slip Jason’s attention. 

Jason eyes her as her arms brace themselves on his thigh. “You really want me, don’t you.”

“Can’t fault a girl for trying.” And damn her, he’s gorgeous, and cut like a rock. Was it all his years in the batcave or his time with the All-Caste? 

But that’s not want hooks Rose the most. “Sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not like that.” It’s the softness in his eyes. She’s only seen it a couple of times in the past few days, but each time he looks at his friends like that Rose swears she’s being let in on a big secret. 

“Do not tell me you’re gay.”

Jason laughs, laughs, and Rose immediately knows she’s in too deep. “Gay? Straight? Labels. Who needs ‘em?” He stretches out on the pool mattress, and he lets the leg Rose’s leaning on slip into the water. “They’re just more rules.” 

“Then why…?” Rose doesn’t say it. Doesn’t voice the rejection sinking into her brain. Admitting it out loud would mean admitting failure, and Rose Wilson does not fail. 

Shrugging, Jason murmurs. “Don’t know you well enough, yet.”

----

Rose should’ve given up at this point. Gone for the easier kill, damn the consequences. Just snapped Roy’s neck while Kori was in the shower. And why hasn’t she? She hasn’t the foggiest idea. But if she’s honest with herself--Rose knows exactly why. 

Roy is Jason’s best friend. 

Jason would never forgive her if he found out. 

And why does it matter if Jason hates her? 

Damnit, Rose. 

This was exactly the kind of fucked up shit her dad warned her about. Don’t stick around too long. Don’t make friends. Don’t let your mark get under your skin. And what did Rose do? Exactly that.

Her employer doesn’t care if she seduces Jason Todd or not, so why does Rose? 

Damn it all to fucking hell. 

Rose beats the hell out of the punching bag, shaking the chain it hangs from with every strike. Each punch she lands inspires a new idea. Slip some arsenic in his drink. Stab him from behind. Throw him off the roof of the ship. Press a pillow into his face. Snap his neck. Snap his fucking--

“Rose?”

Her fist freezes midair, and she pants, not bothering to turn around. “Yeah?”

“It’s Roy. Something’s happened.”

Fuck. “Is he dead?”

Jason’s eyes tighten as he shakes his head. “We need to find him. Fast.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. 

----

Rose should be happy. Roy did all her hard work for her. Someone found him while he was on a bender, tied him up, and has been carving up his skin as if the answers themselves will bleed right out. 

Amateurs. A professional knows only to interrogate a sober target. Establish a baseline of what the hostage knows and then break them down with intoxication if need be. Break them slowly, only as much as needed. Dead hostages can’t answer questions. 

“Arsenal?” Jason whispers, tilting up Roy’s chin. He doesn’t respond, and his head flops down, heavy against his chest. 

Kory shoots the nearest window, a low growl escaping from her throat as glass shards rain down the side of the building. Rose jumps a little, despite herself. She doesn’t want to imagine being on the receiving end of one of those star bolts. 

“C’mon, Roy. Answer me.” Rose never thought she’d hear Jason beg, not like that. She can’t stand it. 

Walking over, Rose check’s Roy’s pulse and sighs in relief. It’s sluggish, almost too faint to feel. Rose could put him out of his misery right here and now and his friends would have no idea who killed him. Just slip her knife in to hit his artery and bam. Problem solved. Her fingers slip toward the knife on her belt, but Jason’s pleading gaze stops her cold. 

“Is he…?” Oh fuck. Jason has tears welling in his eyes. 

“Alive.” Rose can just see the barrel of the gun her employer will use to tie up loose ends. “Not for long, though.”

Between the three of them, Jason, Rose, and Kory carry Roy back to the ship where they can apply first aid, and the ship’s alien technology can perform a synthetic blood transfusion. Roy’s pulse slowly returns to something recognizable, and Rose sinks in her seat. She’s deciding between her safe houses when Jason’s fingers graze her jaw. 

Rose jumps out of her seat, using everything in her power not to deck him in the face. “The fuck…?”

“Hey.” Oh. Jason’s nose is so close to hers that she can feel his breath on her face. She can smell the mint he just put in his mouth. Never once did Rose imagine Jason could be such a sap. The heat of his fingers sears her skin, but she doesn’t pull away. Rose dares a glance down his lips and when she looks back up Jason’s already tilting his head to meet hers. 

His kiss is softer than she expects, lightly brushing his lips over hers, holding her jaw just enough so she can slip away if she wants to. Rose freezes, never expecting this after all this time, all those refusals. Jason starts to pull back before her brain finally stops dividing by zero, and she grabs the back of his neck, crushing her lips against his. Swearing softly, Jason meets her tit for tat, and they stumble out of the med bay and into the hall. 

Rose presses him against the wall, slipping her hands inside the opening of his favorite jacket, feeling the heat rising off his chest and the rush of his heartbeat. Part of her still expect to wake up from this dream in her bed alone, heart hammering, skin flushed, thighs damp with need. She mouths a silent prayer into his lips, to the god she never bothers to answer to, pleading to make the dream real, just this once. 

Jason’s hands wander across her shoulders, down her arms, and around her hips to her back. Rose steps between his legs, pushing his jacket off his shoulders. Breaking for air, Jason’s words come out ragged. “We...we should pick a room. Yours or mine?”

Instead of answering him with words, Rose guides him to his door and shoves him inside, tossing his jacket to the floor. Jason stares at her breathlessly, and she hesitates. “Too much?”

“Never.” His fingers wind in her hair, pulling her back into another kiss.

Rose drinks him in like she’s parched for thirst, scratching the edge of his hairline from the tips of his ears to the base of his skull. Jason sucks in a breath and Rose grins into his mouth. She tastes him, gasping softly as his fingers twist in her curls, pulling at her hair just enough. HIs other hand wanders just south of her waist and he freezes. Stepping back, Rose loosens her hold, looking him over from head to toe. 

Jason pants, taking her in too. “...Are we…?”

Leaning against the closed door, Rose folds her arms. “Are we what, Jason?”

“Is this a onetime thing or…” Jason’s eyes trail back in the direction of the hospital room and suddenly the tension between him and the other Outlaws make a lot more sense. 

Damnit. “I’m a merc, Jason.” Really, she should be happy with the kiss, more than the kiss, but this--former Robin proves hard to let go of. “I’ve stayed here too long as it is.”

Jason’s eyes narrow ever so slightly and Rose plasters on her poker face, hoping he hasn’t found her out tonight of all nights. “Why do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Push me away.” His voice wavers as he speaks, and Rose’s heart plummets to her stomach. Damn him. 

“What do you want from me?” And damn her too, that waver is apparently contagious. 

Jason steps closer, sliding his hand in to cup her jaw, the edge of his thumb grazing the bottom of her cheek. “I don’t want to just fuck, Rose.” His eyes close, and he brushes his nose against hers. “I want to--” He clamps his mouth shut, trembling slightly in his touch. 

The word teeters on the edge of his tongue, but it doesn’t come out, so Rose pulls it out with a snarl. “Loving me will get you killed, Jason.”

A sloppy grin forms on his face, and Jason nods at her. “Death isn’t as final as you think.”

“So what. You’re immortal now?” She’s grinning too, and she knows she’s fallen too far to get back up.

Jason brushes his lips against hers. “I sure feel like I am when I’m around you.” His next kiss probes deeper, and one hand tugs on her elbow. “Stay. After this is over.”

Her answer is right there, just inside her mouth, but Rose says something else instead. “Oh? You’re that sure I’m a good fuck?”

His lips smack against hers. “I’m not here to fuck you.”

“Jason--”

He silences her with a finger, and then he traces the edge of her lips with his fingertip. Rose resists the urge to pull it into her mouth and suck on it. She’s doomed. “I’m here to make love to you.”

Rose swallows, freezing on the spot. “I can’t promise you anything.”

His smile slips, and she desperately wants to put it back on his face. Rose doesn’t want to break his heart, not anymore. “Rose--”

“No one can.” Tracing the space where his heart hammers in his chest, Rose whispers softly. “Someone could break in ten minutes from now and shoot me in the head.” Standing up on her tiptoes, she kisses his forehead. “Nothing’s guaranteed.” Then she kisses the back of his hand. “Doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy it while it lasts.”

Jason watches her, his face inscrutable as ever. 

Shit. Did I make things worse? Rose opens her mouth to murmur another apology but Jason kisses her before she can say a word. He pulls her close, his hands seemingly everywhere at once, and yet she craves more of him. Daring to slide her hand up Jason’s shirt, she grins into his lips as he leans heavily into her touch, a groan escaping from his lips despite himself. She grazes the lines of his abdomen with her nails. “Oh,” Rose says softly. 

Jason Todd. Blushing. As he watches her. “Like what you see?” he says just as soft. 

“I haven’t seen anything yet.” She ducks down, pushing up his shirt and following its path with her mouth. 

“Fuck.” One of his wandering hands finds its way back to her hair, holding her head as she breathes against his stomach. “Rose.”

Rose stands up, grinning against his collarbone. “Getting there.” She finds the hollow where his neck meets his shoulder and lavishes her attention there, charged by the tightening of his grip. 

Jason pushes her to arm’s length, taking a ragged breath. He drags down the zipper of her jacket, taking in the sight of her skin inch by inch. Rose presses into his touch, admittedly reddening a bit herself. His lips part with hunger, but it's the wonder in his eyes that stops her in place—like he sees the stars flickering across her skin.  With his fingers he traces the scar on her shoulder and the ones that line her arms. Sucking in a breath, he circles the mark of a bullet on her chest. “That must’ve hurt.”

“Like hell.” Rose mutters, only to gasp when Jason presses his lips against it. “Jason.”

“Shh,” he says softly, breathing in her scent as he edges his fingers beneath her bra and the plastron it holds. He traces a path up her neck and across her throat until he makes it to her ear. “Let me take care of you.”

Why does the thought of him being gentle make her heart beat faster?  Part of her wants him to have his way, and take his time exploring her body. Another, much louder part wants to rile him until he takes her fast and hard. Rose grabs the edge of his shirt, looking up at Jason. He nods, and she bites her lips as she pulls it over his head. 

Holy shit. 

Rose thought she had a lot of scars. Jason has so many she doesn’t even know where to start. There are the bullet marks, the punctures, the rhythmic signs of torture, the line going up the side of his neck and into his hairline where a crowbar must’ve bashed his head in. It’s not until Jason tilts her chin up that Rose realizes she’s been holding her breath. “I’m still here,” he whispers, pulling her into another kiss. She wonders how many times he’s kissed Death on the lips, only to pull back when it wanted him most. 

“Soon, you’ll in bed.” She grins against his lips, finding the latch on his belt. “Booby traps? Really?”

He laughs once, running a hand down her breast, feeling the softness of her skin there. “Safety first.” When he gets to the lines of her abdomen, he swallows, drawing a grin from Rose’s mouth. 

Stepping back, Rose eyes the latch, her brain already processing the potential catastrophes, and the configurations that would enable them. “Gotcha.” The belt clicks open, without a single explosion or poison released. 

Jason blinks at her as she sets the belt aside. “I can’t decide if that’s hot or terrifying.”

Rose stands up on her tiptoes, whispering in his ear. “Why not both?” She punctuates her question with a bite on his ear lobe. The rumble of his groan stirs her chest, sending shockwaves between her legs. Hooking her thumbs in his belt loops, Rose pulls him closer, grinding up against him. 

“Rose--” He says, in pleading or in warning, Rose isn’t quite sure.

“What do you want, Jay?” She runs the tip of her tongue up the ridge, shivering at the way his ragged breaths stir her hair. 

“Bed,” he says hoarsely, “now.” He pulls her with him, and they tumble into the sheets, boots still on. 

It’s a race, then, to see who can get the other’s off the fastest. Four thunks, laughs, and tangled sheets later, Rose climbs up his body, guiding his hands to her belt. Jason’s removed plenty of belts, that Rose is sure, but it’s like he deliberately fumbles his hands against her skin, just so he has an excuse to graze his knuckles there. And damn him, her skin jumps every time. Fine. She’ll make him lose track for real. Rose plants a wet kiss against his lips, running her hands down his shoulders and his arms, guiding his fingers until her belt clangs against his bookshelf before sliding to the floor. “Better,” she murmurs. 

Jason runs his fingertips along the edge of her jeans, drawing his touch up and down her spine. “I could stare at you for hours, you know that?”

Rose snorts. “I can think of better ways to spend your time.”

Tilting his chin in challenge, Jason sits back. “Oh? Like what?”

Biting her bottom lip, Rose catches his wandering hand, and takes it to the button of her jeans. “Lemme show you.”

Jason holds his breath, unbuttoning her jeans and drawing the zipper down. He’s so quiet Rose starts to doubt what her late-night visions have been telling her for months. Maybe they weren’t her precognition talking. Maybe they’re just the wet dreams so many guys and girls have had ever since Jason donned a mask. Searching his eyes, Rose says, “We can stop--”

Holding her gaze, Jason replies, “I don’t want to.” HIs fingers follow hers inside her jeans and inside her underwear, and he sucks in a breath. “Shit, you’re wet.”

Rose blushes, despite herself. “You really all that surprised?” She presses his fingers in slow, small circles, holding onto the headboard behind him for balance. Then she moves his touch faster, harder, gasping against his shoulder. “Nn, fuck.” 

“Breathe.” Jason chuckles softly, pressing a kiss into her shoulder. He moves his fingers more independently now while she’s distracted. And Rose breathes him in, awash in gunpowder and amber, and that salty scent he bears after a fight. Always so uniquely Jason Todd that the smell of it sends Rose right over the edge. He shakes them both with his laughter. “And our pants aren’t even off yet.”

“Shut up.” Rose pulls back to look at him.

He smirks. “Make me.”

Jason doesn’t need to say it twice. Rose assaults his lips with hers, pushing him down into the mattress. Making quick work of his jeans, she pulls them down as he shimmies out of them. Boxers briefs, huh? They’re just a simple grey with a black waist band--for some reason she’d expected some sort of smart-alecy words printed on them.  Sliding down, she runs the tip of her nose up the line of his bulge, grinning as he writhes beneath her. While she sits up, Rose edges her fingers inside, feeling along his length, breathing in Jason’s unsteady gasps. Always so coy and cocky, and now he can’t form a single word. “Cat got your tongue?” she murmurs against his ear. 

Jason turns his head, kissing her long and deep, rolling them over. Rose lifts her hips so he can get her jeans off, and he kisses just south of her belly button. “Mm.” Glancing up at her, Jason grins, kissing harder against that spot, lavishing his tongue until she squirms beneath him. But she doesn’t beg, not yet. The lines in his back are coiled tight, so tight his body might burst at the seams, but Jason takes his time, kissing down her hips, her thighs, her calves. Swallowing her whine, Rose reaches for his shoulder, but Jason takes her hands, placing them back at her sides. 

“Patience, Rose.” He silences her protests with a kiss, diving back between her legs, edging them apart so that he has room. His lips find her ankle, the back of her knee, and Rose heart pounds as he gets closer and closer to her underwear. There’s no hiding her need for him now, with the way it soaks the front of her boyshorts. Jason samples the taste of her through the fabric, giving her one long lick. 

“Oh fuck.” Rose gasps and twists, and Jason has to hold her down with one arm slung across her abs. He peels her underwear off, testing her with different pressures and strokes. Every so often, she catches him looking up at her, assuring himself he’d doing it just the way she likes. Her insides clench, and she twists in bliss, but Jason doesn’t stop, only pausing briefly to come up for air. Even then, his fingers fill in while he wipes his mouth.

“Shh.” He whispers against her mouth, reaching over into his bedside drawer for a condom. Did she say something? 

“Yeah?” Rose asks, and her voice comes out hoarse. Fuck, she must’ve been screaming. While he slides on the condom, she’s reaching over for a bottle of water, downing half of it without giving a fuck to whom drank from it last.

Jason returns to her, surprisingly shy when they’re so close to merging their bodies. He gives her one chaste kiss, then another, letting her lead the pace. She winds one hand around the back of his neck, scratching the skin at the base of his skull. The other she uses to thumb the scar next to his eyebrow, the sharp line of his jaw, the sheen of sweat running down his neck to his collarbone, and that delicious line that runs down to the thatch between his legs. Guiding him inside her, Rose closes her eyes, letting his groan wash over her shoulder. 

Rose traces circles across his back as he thrusts in and out, only to grip his shoulder when he picks up the pace. Jason grins against her mouth, sliding his hand between them, and Rose jolts, clinging to him as she whimpers into his neck. “It’s okay,” he murmurs against her mouth. “You can let go.” His tone meanders between loving and teasing, and maybe for Jason there is no line between them. 

She doesn’t want to, not again before he does. But then Jason has to fucking whisper sweet nothings in her ear. 

“You’re so beautiful when you let go,” he says softly, and her world flashes white, much like it does on the cusp of a vision. Her body coils like a spring, and Rose hooks her ankles around his hips, drawing him deeper inside as she clenches around him. 

Jason’s eyes pinch shut as he loses his tightly held control, and Rose rolls her hips until he falls to her side. “Holy hell,” he gasps softly, muffled by his pillow. 

“Yeah.” Rose shouldn’t, but she can’t help but kiss his left temple, tucking them in and tossing the spent condom aside. 

She spends the night committing every line of his body to memory. And it helps soothe her in the weeks, months, and years ahead. 

---

The next morning, Rose rolls to get closer to him, only to find his side of the bed empty. In his place, Jason left a small, folded piece of paper, and Rose takes her time undoing all the creases. 

Rose,

You’ve no idea how amazing you are. I hope last night isn’t the end of it, but I understand if it is.

--Jason.

Beneath his name, Jason’s inscribed his number, and though Rose memorizes it within seconds, she always keeps the note close, in her utility belt or between her bra and her plastron, next to her beating heart. 

[punkscowardschampions]

Lux & Dash

Lux: Good pilgrim, praytell Lux: is your hair just like that or do you have a routine Lux: I must know Dash: what's yours naturally trying to hang like? I'll hit you with what's outta this world 🐤 Lux: full samara, senpai Lux: turn off the tube QUICK 🙄 Dash: 🤣 bummer Dash: 🥥 oil is far out on all hair types even 🔪🔪🔪 Dash: aloe vera will make her 💪 Dash: lemme 🤔🤔.... Dash: do you fuck with 🐣?? Lux 🙇 down at your feet, oh lord is the most high place! 🙌 Lux: the chooks here lay too many for us non-strict-vegans to get through Lux: save my hair AND cut down on our foodwaste? Lux: I will be ♕ and you will be ♚ Dash: 2 🥄 🥑 oil, same of 🥥 & aloe vera gel Dash: 2 raw 🥚 Dash: heat it & leave that baby on for time Dash: 30 mins ++++ Dash: 🚿 with whoever Lux: the CP of my hair is gonna rival Rapunzels Lux: 💃💃💃 Lux: I promise to never ever clock you with a 🍳 Dash: 💛👼👑 Dash: you'd be choice with her 🌺🌺🌺  look Lux: 😘 plant 🌱 for every 🌺 and compliment you gimme then we can talk about april showers coming earlier than anticipated☔️ Dash: right on Lux: Is your full name Dashiell/ can I call you that anyway Lux: because its really fitting and if you care to know I shall tell you for why Dash: it's not but if you're down I can be down too Lux: SO; here was my thought 🚄 climb aboard and ride the rails with me for a sec here Lux: Dash ➼ Dashiell ➼ meaning page boy ➼ page boy = ring bearer ➼ ring bearers of the One Ring ➼ Samwise Gamgee = you AM I RIGHT OR AM I RIGHT Dash: 🤯🤯👍 Lux: I know, allow me to scoop up the remainder your 🧠 from the ceiling and put it into a handwoven jute tote for you to take home Lux: I been knew you love food as much as him, its like 1845-49 up in here after you've come around 🥔💀 Dash: tight gestures like those 👐 gotta keep you in the groove here 🥰 Dash: trust you to pick up on a royal appetite Lux: I'm the holy daughter returned, boy Lux: only eating manna from heaven, though if anyone in this place could make a 😋 cake like back home, I'd let them eat it Dash: set to call you that when I fall in with my 🎺 but do you go by anything shorter on top? Lux: Hebrews 13:2!!! Lux: so that explains where you come from Lux: more in a cloud of smoke than holy light but they could only get so many details dead on in the good book Lux: I'm Lux, of course, X if the mood takes you but I can't make it any easier for you Dash: here to make us 👀 the light, yeah? righteous 👼 Lux: The mission of making my parents proud of me again is not one I am currently embarked upon but service to God and all his creations was always their jam Lux: supposedly Lux: but if you're here to get me to renounce my sex, along with the devil and all his works (duh), oh angelic messenger, I still have to decline Dash: aere perennius is the vibe I'm picking up from you, Lux Dash: it'd be a heavy mission Lux: You owe the world a forest for that one because words like that evoke so many cardinal sins within me Dash: do you know about 🎋? Lux: Tell me Dash: it's a tanabata tree, for wishes Dash: they set the bamboo afloat on the river or on 🔥 after the festival Lux: We must participate here Lux: and one day I will go to where the festival is meant to be and you must come because you introduced me to the magic Dash: we can go to Japan, Sao Paolo or LA, they all have 'em Lux: Of course Lux: I seem to have traveled in the wrong direction Lux: to the wrong coast and onwards Dash: at least you ain't separated from your lover by a 🌌 Dash: that's the legend that goes with the festival Lux: oh Lux: how heartbreakingly beautiful Dash: but they are allowed to meet once a year on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month Dash: it's not a total downer Lux: so young Dashiell believes it is better to taste heaven but the once than to never know it at all Lux: good Lux: I like you Dash: I try & get my kicks tasting as much as I can as often as I can Dash: though yeah, once over never Lux: can't take on the 🌌 Lux: though perhaps you can, with a name like a superhero Dash: no sweat 💪 Dash: if I don't ✂ my hair off 😏 Lux: 😱 Lux: I do have weak ankles! Lux: you avoid barbers and I'll avoid heels that are taller than... Lux: five Lux: no six inches Dash: 👌👌 Dash: if you avoid any heel I'll be able to reach you way out though Dash: no 🛹 jumps 💫 Lux: YET Lux: until you remember where you parked your chariot of fire, you give me reason to kick off my heels, and I'll happily do it Dash: 💃? Lux: Both in worn levis, both in torn T-shirts Lux: of course, that's the only way Dash: there's a tanabata song, I could sing it for you Dash: the translation at least Lux: 😻🙏 Dash: it'll be a blast Lux: 🚀🌠 Dash: have you 👀🎸? Dash: mine's MIA Lux: you can borrow my girl Lux: for one song Dash: I won't hog her like a flake, digging the trust too much Lux: you can abuse my trust just go easy on Dolores Lux: she's a folksy kinda gal, if you kick it punk rock she'll 😳😩 Dash: she'll stay 🍒💖 I'm about a gentle touch Dash: what kind are you? the words are the festival's but I don't know the 🎶 Dash: I'll make it yours, like Lux: as angelic as you look Lux: a sinner can only but hope not Lux: how about you sing it for me but play it like its yours Dash: cool with me Lux: then the song can be ours Dash: I think you're unreal Dash: the most Lux: Oh, because I am Lux: and you are perfect because you know that's a compliment Dash: this fly by of yours is gonna last some time, yeah? Lux: though not compelled by God or a power higher than my own Lux: this is where I'm meant to be Dash: me too Lux: I know Lux: I divined you out of 🌟✨☀️🌌 Dash: we planting that forest to grow together or on opposite sides? Lux: one 🌎 one 💓 Dash: roots are gonna get tangled if you keep laying down your 💓 next to mine Lux: I can grow anywhere Lux: you don't need to worry about me Dash: 🌻 Dash: you're gonna make this place better, I feel it Lux: you have family here? Lux: in the commune Dash: yeah Lux: do you like it here Dash: I love it Lux: I do too Lux: its Lux: loving Dash: when did you come through? have you met every 🐤 & 🐈? cos you should meet everyone Dash: feel all the love Lux: I've been in Dublin about... a month, two Lux: feels like forever Lux: but here I'm a total 🍒 Lux: I met Hazel completely by fate at a women's health drop-in she was running a few weeks ago, told her my story and here I am Dash: farm tour 1st 🍀 tour 2nd Lux: Coming Lux: 🎸 in tow Dash: safe Lux: and sound Lux: I'm just tryna catch a mirror moment Lux: not enough, if I had any complaints but 🤫 Dash: which room's yours? I'll make space to hang another one near Dash: then the 🌙 Lux: we'll end the tour there Lux: my contribution Dash: now that's sound Lux: Do you know about me? Dash: what about you? Lux: That I don't have girl parts Lux: I won't be accused of that kind of trickery Dash: I won't accuse you of any Lux: ☺ Dash: you set the pace, I'm in it Lux: You're keeping up spectacularly Lux: now, where does my tour start? Dash: orchard Lux: 🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍇🍈🍒🍑🥭 Dash: there's the best 🍏🍎 tree, easy to climb whatever shoes you're wearing Dash: you can see the whole farm from the top Lux: [Show up honey] Dash: [😍 at her we all know] Lux: [dressed hyper-femme as always and way more dressy than most here we know, doing a curtsey like 🤭] Dash: [holds out a 🍎 like he's the 🐍 & she's Eve, looking cute and tempting] Lux: [obviously taking it and taking a sassy bite] Dash: [into it obviously hand holding through this orchard tour for Winnie's sake] Lux: [gonna climb this tree] Dash: [do it kids] Lux: [gonna have to help her even though she's left the heels behind] Dash: [thankfully he's not that much of a dick that he won't, imagine just like byeeee] Lux: [😂 no one needs anyone falling out of a tree rn] Dash: [we aren't killing either of you off so just enjoy the view] Lux: ['it looks so big from up here, when you're in it, it feels...close'] Dash: ['it's big but the fam's bigger' gives her a look like you'll see, genuinely buzzing cos does love it here] Lux: [the biggest smile 'why don't you live here?'] Dash: ['my mum & dad don't, & that's their biggest drag, they ain't hip but they ain't real hassle' casually don't mention that Cosmo exists okay then] Lux: [nods 'everyone should get as much family as they can'] Dash: ['you can meet 'em too, it's cool'] Lux: [excited puppy look like really?!] Dash: ['my mum used to be a rad skater & now she sits around bench racing at her own bone yard, it's a good space to hang loose'] Lux: [just listening like no way! 'what about your dad?'] Dash: ['he's more easily bugged, we don't always vibe, but shit stays chill'] Lux: ['yeah but what did he used to be? before he got old and boring too'] Dash: ['he played football' with a shrug cos so uninterested we know] Lux: ['ooh, was he famous?'] Dash: ['not really'] Lux: ['bummer'] Dash: ['you wanna be famous?'] Lux: [is thinking like hmm 'I don't NOT want it but its not my number one all-time dream...not even top ten'] Dash: ['what is?'] Lux: [puts her index fingers to the corners of his mouth to make him smile] Dash: [laughs] Lux: ['you?'] Dash: ['I'm thinking we should start a band' shout out to Ali your lowkey grandma] Lux: [a look like um yes, how have you not and putting three fingers up to let him know its made the list] Dash: [starts to climb down like come on, so much to see] Lux: ['don't ditch me!' and running after him] Dash: [takes her all around the vegetable patches next, introducing her to any peeps they come across] Lux: [living laughing loving honestly we can skip] Dash: [imagine all the cute animals they would have, I hope none of them die in the fire I'll cry] Lux: [lmao animals usually bolt when fire so they should be fine, unless they then get hit by cars or some shit] Dash: [I'm saying they are all A okay bitch] Dash: [post tour skip] Dash: gotta hit home Dash: later? Lux: Undoubtedly 😊 Dash: we'll jam Dash: 🤔 band names Lux: I'll throw it out there Lux: I wonder if anyone can drum drum Lux: not just drum circle Lux: I'll ask that too Dash: I'm jazzed Lux: 🎺 Dash: you play the harp 👼? Lux: ☺😋💕 Lux: If only Lux: there are bass' and banjos and plenty of acoustics Lux: I'll go thrifting and see if I can find one Dash: wait for me Lux: we should see how many wild instruments we can find Lux: one for everyone Dash: your 🧠⚙️ is far out Lux: but not far enough you can't reach me Dash: 🌌 can't stop me, yeah? Lux: nope Lux: not as long as you got that hair Dash: [selfie like it's still there] Lux: Thank God Lux: don't need to 😢 today Dash: you don't need to cry any day baby Lux: Keep me smiling Dash: I've got you Dash: we all have Lux: 💕 Lux: I really thought I knew family and community before this, you know Lux: but I was wrong then and this is better Dash: right on Lux: You're adorable Dash: I've got 👀 for you too Lux: I know Lux: your 👀 are like Lux: coffee Dash: 🧠⚙💖 Dash: yours are like jumping into a river Dash: they get bluer the deeper you go Lux: oh Lux: I think I want you back here now Lux: where did you go again Dash: 🛹🗲 Dash: my parents place Dash: you wanna meet me there? Lux: I'm not in the mood to meet your parents right this second, forgive me Lux: but by the time I've finished dinner here and 🚲 over Lux: sounds good Dash: idk if they're there cos I'm not yet Lux: so we can be alone alone Lux: that'd be novel Dash: yeah Dash: it feels like so much empty space Dash: for the number of bodies who live in it Lux: do you feel lonely there Dash: nah, it's got a good feel Dash: I grew up in it Lux: That's a feel you can't buy Dash: I'll show you my 👶📸 Dash: they're wild Lux: you musta been so cute Lux: your face is still 👶 now Dash: no ✂ then either Lux: so mowgli Dash: oh no, is this a trippy topic for you? Dash: I didn't think Lux: it's okay, I like hearing about happy kids Lux: its a sin to be envious of or covet other people's happiness Dash: Lux Lux: 😊? Dash: I don't think I believe in sin Dash: so if you wanna harsh on my good vibes, you know, I won't be 😡 Lux: Oh, sin is very real, its just whether you believe you'll be punished for the sins that are written about Lux: I appreciate you but I've got nothing to be 😡 about either Lux: 🤞 Dash: you can hit me with a shut up any time Dash: I'll still dig you Lux: I enjoy our conversations Dash: yeah? Lux: absolutely Lux: you're a beautiful 🐺 boy Dash: you're the most beautiful 🦊 Lux: never stone cold Dash: nah, the hottest Lux: I feel it Dash: 👍 it's the mood you gotta stay in Lux: with you around, that shouldn't be a problem Dash: we'll keep vibing Lux: did you like it Dash: you want me to say what I know you could tell Dash: I'll write you a 🎶 Lux: First hit for the band? Lux: I'll be famous after-all Dash: I've been listening Dash: I understand what you want Lux: and you're gonna give it to me Dash: that's my action for sure Lux: roll 20 please Dash: come be alone with me Lux: dash dash dash Lux: you're so pretty and fun and cool and I want you again Dash: [sends her the deets to where his house is] Lux: so far Lux: I must like you huh 😏 Dash: yeah it's a drag where I live Dash: but it's new heights that you like me Dash: 🚀💕 Lux: why wouldn't I? Dash: idk Dash: do you know about me? Lux: I know enough to like you Lux: what do you think would make me unlike you Lux: let's compare Dash: it's not all laid back the shit that other girls say Lux: you're a 💔 Dash: I'm not out here making a game of it like that Dash: but it's happened for real Lux: Oh dear Dashiell Lux: my heart was broken long before I got here Lux: and I've had to severe and untangle roots so much deeper than yours could ever be Lux: I told you, there's no need to worry about me, you can't hurt me Dash: that's fucked up Lux: Perhaps Dash: can I make it any better? Lux: no Lux: but that's okay Lux: now is better, there's no need to fix what's been Dash: I wasn't being plastic before, you're home now Lux: I feel it Lux: I have no choice but to give up my old definition but I'm less scared and 😢 at the prospect of the redefinition now, forced though it was Dash: it'll be okay Dash: we'll make it happen that it's only that Dash: or like better Lux: you're not a bad person Lux: I can tell Dash: if I'm someone you like, I'm cool with it Lux: good Lux: I need people right now, you know Dash: everyone at the farm, they'll be what you need Dash: they are for me Lux: what do you need them for? Dash: a blast Dash: my other fam want me to change some shit I do Lux: 🚀👌 Lux: I get that Lux: is it stuff you can't change or don't wanna Dash: idk if I recognise the difference Lux: sounds like a can't, then Dash: stepping into new 👟 feels like a bad scene Dash: I fuck with the ones I've worn in Lux: That's up to you Lux: I like new shoes Lux: maybe they're just worried your feet are getting all scrunched outta place Dash: yours are groovy though Dash: not handed down Dash: they fit you Lux: I had to steal 'em though Lux: and when my dad found 'em they sent me away Dash: a 🦊 like I said Lux: have you seen the fox and the hound? Dash: nah Dash: it's disney yeah? Lux: Yep Lux: I'm gonna make you watch it Dash: I'm about netflix & chill Lux: We'll chill first Lux: its real sad Lux: 😭 Dash: I be trying to chill with you nonstop though Dash: how bad do you want me to 👀 at things other than you Lux: 🤭 Lux: maybe your cinematic education can wait Lux: if we're truly to make the most of alone alone time Dash: lay it on me that I'm an ugly crier another day Dash: we're making beautiful things happen Lux: you're Lux: just like Lux: seraphic Dash: around you, I gotta be Lux: nu-uh Lux: I can't tell Lux: I fell out of God's favour like a long time ago Dash: you can tell Dash: you're still 👼 Dash: the fallen ones were the most beautiful anyway, yeah? Dash: god's a jealous 🐈 Lux: All angels are beautifulc Lux: and genderless actually, like God Lux: beyond our limited understanding, better Dash: cool Lux: for them Lux: its self-idolatry if you want it for yourself Lux: 🚫 Dash: if I want you for myself, what sin is that? Lux: you actually wanna know? 'cos I've always thought this particular subset of sins sounds unintentionally hot Dash: I'm listening intently Lux: peccata clamantia Lux: The sins that cry to Heaven for Vengeance 🤤 Lux: they're the ones that God will deliver his justice upon, lots of people only know about the seven deadly Lux: but they're the least serious, actually Dash: shit Lux: guess that's why it feels so good Lux: shall we? Dash: 🌌 & god trying to stop us but I'm 💪 Lux: you want me Dash: yeah Lux: then you can have me Dash: show up Lux: I am Lux: ⏲ Dash: right now though Lux: if only my bike had wings Dash: that can be your festival wish Dash: mine too cos I've waited fucked up amounts of time for you Lux: 💡 Lux: your mind, boy Lux: though patience is evidently not your virtue, I'm not mad about it Lux: at all Dash: idc about virtues if you're a sin Lux: you're making me all pink Dash: it's a beautiful colour for you Lux: you're the loveliest 🐺 I've ever known Dash: I wanna be Lux: you are baby Dash: you're like a song I can't get out of my head Dash: & it's the most Dash: I'm so connected to every word Lux: You make me feel really...high but it that warm, soft focus way where there's no bad thoughts or feelings at all, no doubt or regret or shame creeping in, just the good washing over you again and again, like that split-second after you cum but Lux: prolonged Lux: its crazy, you're crazy Dash: we can live in it Lux: lets Dash: I'm in Lux: 🎡🎢🎠 Dash: 🎪🤹 Lux: 🤡 Dash: 🦁🐯 Lux: 🐘 Dash: 🍿 Lux: 🥜 Dash: 🐿️ Lux: 😱 Lux: how could you Mr Squirell Dash: he's gotta eat Lux: He could've just asked Dash: he don't know you like that Dash: thought you'd say nah Dash: I tried to persuade him he wasn't right on & you're 👍 but I must not 🗨🐿 Lux: 😂 Lux: he's more than likely from my homeland, I'll speak to him Lux: can't understand your accent Dash: gabh mo leithscéal Lux: 🤗 what did you say?! Dash: pardon me Dash: is 🗨🍀 on your list? Lux: I've always wanted to Lux: no one at my father's church really spoke it Lux: or would teach me if they did Lux: will you? Dash: my mum taught me Dash: hers never spoke it either Dash: your turn to bring me an 🍎 Dash: but yeah Lux: 😣 damn Lux: someone else here might, I've heard loads of languages flying about Dash: eu também sei português Dash: also from that side of the fam Lux: I 👀 that Dash: Arlo & his brother & sisters are my cousins Lux: Ahh Lux: that's cool Lux: they're so cute Dash: there's many more but they don't live at the farm Dash: you have to catch 'em when they fly by Lux: I'll be sure to do that Lux: do they all have lots of kids, how are there so many Lux: no offense Dash: started with 11 Dash: & most of 'em had 👶s Lux: ELEVEN Lux: 🤔💡 Lux: are you mormons? Dash: 🌼 children ☮ Dash: it was a big-ish fam before that though 👵 had 8 Dash: & she's no hippie Lux: why are you an only-child? Dash: I'm not Dash: I've got an older brother Lux: oh, me too! Lux: he's 13 years older Lux: I was a miracle mistake baby Lux: where's yours Dash: at ⚽ training I think Dash: that's his bag Lux: oh he's not 👴 Lux: you didn't mention him before Dash: he's 18 months + on me Dash: but we're in different 🌌 Lux: I feel you Lux: it musta been nice when you were kids though Lux: I loved when there were kids in the congregation but people always moved on, from God or physically Dash: nah, it's been hassle from the jump Dash: he's 🏆🥇💪 Dash: I'm 💫🚀👀 Lux: you don't like him huh Dash: he's a drag Dash: we're usually jiving 🥊 there's no ☮ & 💓 Dash: messes with my equilibrium Lux: You gotta protect yourself Lux: I get it Dash: I knew you would Lux: 'course Lux: its the same with my brother and my mom Lux: they still 💓 me but they can't see me Dash: do you 💓 'em? Lux: oh of course Lux: they're my family Dash: do you wish you could see 'em? Lux: I wish I still lived with them Lux: but I understand why I can't Dash: do you get to 🗨? Lux: no Dash: can't you? if your dad didn't find out? Lux: No Lux: not unless I'm going to make efforts, make changes Lux: and I can't and that's two eternal sins Lux: at least Lux: could make a case for 3 Lux: so they have to turn away, you see Lux: they all love me but there's nothing they can do until I do Dash: I'm sorry Dash: that everything's so heavy for you Lux: you don't need to be sorry Lux: not your transgressions Dash: but I don't want you to change Dash: & idc if it's a sin Lux: you're sweet Lux: they just want to save me from hell Dash: we're gonna have to live forever Dash: to save you Lux: We better find the philosopher's stone Lux: or the fountain of youth Dash: the 🐿 will help Dash: he digs you now Lux: he's a wizard Lux: knew it 😏 Dash: most animals have magic Lux: true facts Dash: 🦊s who are unreal 👼s especially Lux: you're such a flirt Lux: 😋 Dash: yeah 😏 Dash: that's my magic 😍💖 Lux: I can't disagree Dash: 💭😘 Lux: you can dream 'til I get there Dash: I'm 👀 for your 🚲 Lux: I'm meant to be up on the balcony, not you Lux: love some role reversal Dash: yo don't be on the rebound, Romeo 💔 Lux: awh you jealous Dash: 🤣 Dash: of someone you forget at the start of the play as soon as you 🕰 me? nah baby Dash: but it's salty to the other 💘 Lux: It saves her life Lux: she's fine, honestly, thriving Dash: okay then yeah, I am jealous Dash: of her thrive Lux: poor boy Dash: it's no bummer, like Dash: she ain't gonna be immortal, that's me & you Dash: our fam Lux: there's only so much magic to go around Dash: however much there is, we gotta use it right Lux: 🎺 that's holy decree Dash: & royal 👑 Lux: okay sweet prince Lux: 🤭 Dash: if I go solo from the band, there's an outta sight name Lux: you could do so many covers 💜 Dash: it'd be groovy Dash: but I ain't leaving the group Lux: not before its started Lux: have some loyalty, boy Dash: yo not ever Lux: we gonna do a blood oath Dash: use your hair as a 🔪 before the 🥑 & 🥥 hits Dash: or the ✂ I don't Lux: 😂 you're horrible Lux: and its far too limp for that Dash: nah your hair is 💣 Lux: ☺ Lux: really Dash: yeah Lux: it grew quite fast Dash: 🔮✨ Lux: I'm gonna grow it as long as I can Dash: there might be a better recipe Dash: I'll 🗨 to every 🐤 on the farm Lux: I wish I had curls like them too Lux: most of them Lux: alas Dash: you can borrow mine Lux: you're the bestest friend in the whole 🌌 Dash: ��🤝👐 Lux: let down your long hair then Lux: I think I've arrived Dash: [let her in and give her a house tour boy] Lux: [we clearly need Cosmo to come back like Dash did in that convo jussayin] Dash: [payback tbh so yeah we do] Lux: [she'd just be chatting up a storm, awks] Dash: [casually steer her to your room as fast as you can like] Lux: [just being like wanna come watch fox and the hound lmao] Dash: [she's so cute bye] Lux: [at least Cosmo won't be rude to you, even if he is like umm] Dash: [just thinks she's high probably] Lux: [most likely] Dash: [rude but fair] Lux: [when is your brother not as far as you're concerned] Dash: [exactly dr phil] Lux: [anything else we wanna though?] Dash: [we know what's up I think we can post it]

[imagine-loki]

A day full of surprises

Birthday special

TITLE: A day full of surprises

CHAPTER NO/ ONE SHOT: Oneshot

AUTHOR: beetrootgirl

ORIGINAL IMAGINE: Imagine it’s your birthday and Loki surprises you the whole day at any occasion he can.

RATING: Everyone

NOTES/ WARNINGS: Just ignore what I said earlier. Just ignore it. The temptation to post it was too strong and I was free, so here you go.

This is what I would want on my birthday but sadly my birthday comes during exam time so I couldn’t even celebrate it properly or invite my friends;( And for extra information I currently have my exams going on and my birthday is also near on 26th Feb. But anyways, Enjoy! And give me all the hearts and comments about this cause I’m unsure. Photos and gif are not mine. Credit to the owners. *whispers* A kiss at the end.😇

~~~~~~~~~

The sunlight from the window was reaching your closed eyes and you buried your head more under the pillow. It was 8 months ago when you had moved to the avengers tower because of your now trickster boyfriend.

It all started 8 months ago when Loki had returned with Thor because Odin thought it best to punish Loki by sending him back and making him learn about and help the midgardians he once tried to enslave.

You were sent by shield as his handler because of your ability to not let anyone ever make you emotional. Being the hard hearted girl who was so tough from the inside and out , it didn’t matter what Loki did or said to you.

But he soon took it as a challenge and pretended to love you so he could break the wall which you had made for your emotions. But he fell for you eventually and his love for you melted your heart too.

So now you were sleeping in your room, on your bed after last night having a very long argument about how Loki spoiled you every time and that shouldn’t happen tomorrow, on your birthday.

Birthday. Then you remembered that today was your birthday. You had really forgot about it. You opened your eyes still in the pillow and turned around and sat up with a very big smile on your face.

As soon as you sat up, rose petals showered on you from the ceiling. You couldn’t help but giggle at that. And in your excitement you forgot to look at your room.

When the petals stopped falling and your eyes left the ceiling, you finally looked at your room. Which was filled with teddy bears of all sizes! You gasped at that.

When Loki had finally broke your wall of securing your emotions, he came to know that you really adored and loved teddy bears, telling him that you had many in your childhood. But you had hid it from him as long as you could because of the personality you had before you met him.

You slowly got up from the bed and looked around you in a childlike glee. You noticed the biggest one at the far end of the room, holding a bouquet. You got close to it and saw a note on it.

When you opened it there was nothing written, but after a second a green mist surrounded it and appeared the words, “Happy birthday, darling.”

A voice said from behind. A voice that you knew was behind all of this. You turned around and saw Loki standing there with the kindest and sweetest smile that he gave only to you.

You hugged him tightly still giggling over the surprise. You looked up at him with a bright smile and he took both your hands in his and kissed them and said, “A very happy birthday to you.”

You hugged him again by the neck and kissed his cheek for a long time and said thank you in his ear.

Loki gave you another smile and said, “You should get ready, darling. Everyone’s waiting for you in the common room.”

You replied, “Okay. I’ll be there shortly.”

With that he vanished in a green shimmer and you totally forgot about the fact that he spoiled you. Again. You’ll get him afterwards. But for now, you had to get ready.

~~~~~~~~~

You got ready and was now in the elevator to reach the common room. When the elevator doors opened everyone cheered, “Happy birthday, (Name)!”

You got out of the elevator and everyone circled you and greeted you. You never had friends in your life till then.

When everyone finished greeting you, Loki stepped in with a grin plastered on his face. Then you glanced around the room to find balloons everywhere and again from the top something showered over you. But this time there were heart balloons.

When it stopped showering Loki walked towards you with a heart balloon in his hands and presented it to you. You took it giggling and with a snap of his fingers he burst the balloon and you had a beautiful silver pendant in your hand with an emerald green gem attached to it.

You gasped again and couldn’t believe your eyes. Loki gently took it from you and clasped it around your neck and stood in front of you again. You took the gem in your hand and your eyes turned teary, “Oh, Loki! You’re so sweet.”

He smiled at you. Then your expression turned into worry, “Loki, this must be too expensive, and those bears too.”

He looked at you with adoration and answered, “Nothing’s too expensive for my darling.”

“But, Loki-”

He shushed you with a finger to your lips and said, “Today’s your day, darling. No buts.”

Then you all sat to have your breakfast and after finishing you got up and went to put the plate away. When you returned Loki came up to you and asked, “Darling, come with me. Let’s go celebrate your birthday.”

“Come on, Loki. You just gave me so many gifts. I don’t want anything else now. Please.”

At that he made the saddest puppy-dog eyes and pouted and you just had to agree, “Fine. I’ll come with you.”

~~~~~~~~~

You both went on a short walk from the tower to the nearest park and you still couldn’t quite understand what was going on in Loki’s mind. There were people present, obviously.

He stopped all of a sudden and gestured for you to see something. You looked in the direction he pointed and saw violinists who started playing at the sign of Loki.

The sound was so good. But not only that. Some little girls with flower tiaras started dancing with the melody. People started to gather around. One of the girls came and gave you a flower crown too.

When the performance ended an old lady came forward and gave you a bunch of sunflowers. The violinists and all the people in the park cheered, “Happy birthday!”

You looked at Loki who had a flower crown too and asked, “One more surprise?”

He smirked and said, “Oh darling, it’s just the beginning.”

When you exited the park Loki suggested to go to a mall and you agreed knowing that he would do what he want. You both walked aimlessly not knowing what to do. It was almost lunch time and you both decided to eat something.

While you both were eating you felt Loki was going to do something. You kept glancing here and there trying to get a hit at what his next surprise was. But it came unexpected!

Someone came and served you something. When Loki opened the lid there was a cake inside. He snapped his fingers and the candle lighted itself and everyone started singing the birthday song for you.

~~~~~~~~~

When you both exited, you were unable to contain yourself. There was still half of the day left. And Loki had already going on something in his mind.

You went to see a movie together but nothing happened there. Till it finished it was evening and Happy was there with a car waiting outside the theatre.

You both went back to the tower and once inside you decided to go to your room but Loki stopped you, “(Name). We have a party in 2 hours. Will you please go and get ready?”

“Party? But Loki, I don’t want a party.”

“As I said. No buts. Go and get ready.”

You agreed and went to get ready for the party. When you opened the door of your room all your teddy bears were gone. Instead there was a gorgeous blue dress on your bed with earrings that matched your pendant.

You smiled at your adorable boyfriend and went to get ready.

~~~~~~~~

When you entered the room where the party was held, all your friends were there, even people you didn’t know or have never met were there. The avengers commented how pretty you looked in the dress.

At the far corner Loki stood staring at you with wide eyes. He had thought that you were the most beautiful creature in the universe. But now, you looked even more beautiful.

He smiled towards you when he caught your eyes and you went up to him, “I love the dress. And I love you so much more than that.”

“I love you too,” He replied.

Everything went in a blur after that. You cut the cake, danced with Loki and got presents from everyone. At last Loki came with his own present.

“Loki, I don’t need anything from you now. Love, please, you did enough for me today.”

He replied, “Nothing’s enough for my darling.”

He took out a little box from his pocket and kneeled on one knee to everyone’s surprise. He looked at you with so much love in his eyes that it melted your heart.

He asked, “(Name). In this short amount of time I have grown so close to you that I cannot live without you now. So, if you allow me I want to ask you a question. Will you marry me?”

You just stared in shock, your eyes full of tears. No words came out of your mouth. But you finally forced out, “Yes! I’ll marry you Loki. Yes!”

His smile brightened and he took your hand in his and slipped the ring on your finger which had the same emerald gem.

You kissed him deeply, sitting on his leg and he reciprocated.

Everyone cheered loudly.

You both separated with your foreheads touching and your eyes closed. You said breathlessly, “Loki, this is the best birthday I’ve ever had. And it’s because of you, not only your gifts, but because of your love for me.”

And then your lips met again.

THE END

[thorne93]

Whirlwind Romance (Part 5)

Prompt: You’re getting married to Chris Evans… Everything in your life is perfect… Except when you break the news to your two best friends: Tom Hiddleston and Sebastian Stan

Word Count: 1976

Warnings: language, anger, angst, adult themes??

Notes: This is for @carryonmyswansong challenge (Double Season, Multifaceted, 500 Follower Celebration, Writing Challenge!): Prompt – You’re marrying the wrong person! Beta’d by @like-a-bag-of-potatoes bcuz shes amazing and @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo@carryonmyswansong for letting me brainstorm with them. Got this idea from @formyfandoms… Fic image made by the super bomb @mrs-dragneel-stark-solo

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

February 9th had arrived, which meant only one thing -- a killer birthday bash to honor your best friend.

Tom and you had actually gone to RADA together, which is how you met. Not only that, but you discovered you both had a large interest in literature. You studied in the States, and he in Europe, naturally, before coming to RADA. The two of you instantly hit it off, graduated together, and stayed great friends for the past thirteen years. And only a friend of your magnitude knew how to throw a party for him.

If this was a party for Seb, it would be low-key. A cake, a few presents, maybe some drinks. No more than twenty guests. But for Tom, he liked theatrics, a bit. He liked soirees, he liked big scenes where he could dance the night away. And that’s exactly what you gave him at your Los Angeles home.

It was a surprise party of course, Tom had no way of knowing. You kept everything very hush hush and offered him a drink at your place, but when he got there, a whole crew of all your friends burst out when you turned on the lights. Tom’s mouth fell open in an appreciative smile before turning to you to pull you into a one armed hug and a kiss to the hair to thank you.

Everything was catered, drinks were served all night, everyone was dancing and partying, playing very drunk party games. It was only at the very end of the night, when nearly everyone had gone home, or passed out at your place, that you and Tom were still up, a little buzzed, and talking.

The two of you discussed the wedding a little further, trading ideas, brainstorming. All in all, it was a wonderful night.

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

Chris was in New York, working on Broadway… well, more like rehearsing on Broadway. The two of you hadn’t really discussed the wedding any further, since you needed to decide on a location before you could settle anything else. But with him working, and you about to start filming, there hadn’t been much chance.

Sebastian had some filming and interviews to do in town so he swung by your place one night when he wrapped up early. It was only two weeks later when Sebastian was at your house.

“So any news on the wedding?” Sebastian asked as soon as he plopped down on your couch.

“None, too busy,” you noted simply.

“Man, I hear that. I couldn’t imagine planning a wedding with the schedule you two have.”

“Tell me about it.”

“What about an engagement party?” he inquired.

You groaned, your head falling onto the back of the couch. “I totally forgot. Thanks for adding to my list of shit to do,” you teased in an exhausted tone.

“Hey, anything for a friend,” he shot back. “Man, I’m starving. What have you got to eat in this joint?” he asked as he stood and went over to your fridge.

“Let me see,” you remarked, not looking up from your phone. “Water, smoothies, fresh fruit...oh, and nothing. I have nothing.”

“Well that’s about to change. Get your ass in the car, we’re going shopping,” he ordered.

“Sounds like a plan!” you excitedly responded. Usually, unless Chris was around, you ate very little, the joys of being an actress. You had to ensure you were really slim for this upcoming role, but Seb ate like a horse, and it gave you an excuse to eat like a normal human being every now and again.

You and Seb piled into your car, and you set off down the road to the grocery store. As soon as Don’t Stop Believin’ came on the radio though, you two turned into the hugest dorks in the city. As soon as the singing started, you two joined in, causing a duet inside your sedan. The two of you were belting out as loud, and as well as you could.

As you got out of the car at the store, the two of you were still laughing and poking fun at each other’s singing.

“Oh, I can’t hit high notes?” you asked incredulously. “What about you? Mr. Doesn’t-Know-The-Words-To-Any-Song,” you teased.

“At least I’m in key,” he muttered.

“For the wrong words!” you insisted loudly with a laugh as you grabbed a cart. The two of you took off into the store. “Okay, so what are you in the mood for? Chicken parmesan? Chicken noodle soup? Hamburgers?”

“One of each?”

You laughed. “I wish, but no, only one. What’s it gonna be?”

“Well, your salisbury steak is unbeatable,” he noted with a hint of longing in his voice as he gave you puppy eyes.

You rolled your eyes playfully before heading off to grab the meat, as if you could ever say no to him. Well, within reason.

“Seb, do you want potatoes or rice for a side?” you asked, before looking up to find him. Only to realize he was gone. For a split second, you panicked, where the hell did he go? “Seb?” you called out a little above speaking volume.

“You’ll have to find me!” you heard from over the aisle.

“Sebastian!” you called back, a tone of annoyance in your voice. “Sebastian!” you stressed. “You’re a grown man in a store,” you huffed as you pushed your cart out of the aisle into the main aisle.

No response happened and you knew what this was going to lead to so you stealthily moved around the store trying desperately to find him, but in this grocery store, it was nearly impossible.

“Dammit, where did he go?” you muttered as you pushed the cart. Finally, you caught a glimpse of him at the end of an aisle. “Stan!” you shouted. “Don’t… move!” you warned before laughing, seeing him disappear again. At this, you abandoned the nearly empty cart and broke into a sprint, following where he was going, or where he would’ve gone. Finally, you realized you needed to get ahead of him.

You were tiptoeing in and out of aisles, keeping low to the floor, trying to spot him, but so far having no luck. Just as you were creeping around one corner, someone grabbed your shoulders and shouted, “Ah!” making you nearly jump out of your skin.

You shrieked, embarrassingly loudly, and spun quickly, only to smack the shit out of his arm.

“You son of a bitch!” you laughed. “Don’t do that!”

“I think… I won that round,” he said, leaning down and getting in your face, making you stick your tongue out at him. “Oh, real mature, Y/N, real mature.”

“Are you serious right now? You just initiated a game of hide and seek inside a grocery store,” you accused as he started to walk away.

Without looking back, Sebastian grabbed a box of rice and threw it over his shoulder at you, forcing you to think fast to catch it.

“Rice for dinner, to answer your question,” he replied with smugness in his voice.

“I’m gonna poison your dinner,” you promised in a mutter he probably didn’t hear.

Once the two of you grabbed your things and got back to your house, the dinner preparations began. You asked Seb to cut onions while you prepared the meat. Before the two of you began, you had turned on the radio to cook to -- a ritual of yours. When an upbeat song came on, Sebastian started singing loudly and shaking his hips, making you grin and laugh.

As soon as you got the patties ready to go in, you slapped them in the skillet, the two of you still dancing around each other. At one point, he grabbed your hand and twirled you away from him then back in, until you had to pull away to check the patties.

“Ah, allow me,” he said, bowing forward.

You stepped aside, pressing your smile into a firm line before saying, “Be my guest.”

He took the skillet and started to pretend to flip it before you shouted, “No! Don’t!” while laughing. You took the skillet from him and flipped the burgers correctly with a spatula.

“Spoil sport. I would’ve had it!”

“Or you would’ve ruined your dinner. Why don’t you work on something safer, like the rice.”

“Oh, you mean this rice?” he asked as he took a few grains and threw them at you one by one.

“Yeah, those. Try throwing those in a skillet, would ya?” you asked with a stern, yet playful smile.

“Yes, mother dear,” he mocked before throwing a few more at you.

“So help me, Sebastian, I will throw your special dinner in the trash…” you warned.

He came up right behind you and lowly whispered, “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Oh? And why wouldn’t i?”

“You’re too hungry. Besides, you hate wasting food,” he stated before skipping off to fill the pot full of water.

“You’re too confident,” you said, shaking your head.

“And you’re too predictable,” he noted with a happy grin.

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

“Ugh, that was amazing,” Seb complimented before falling back onto the couch after the meal. The TV turned on in the background, just for noise.

“Thank you,” you said. “You weren’t so bad yourself,” you teased.

“What time is it?” he asked before glancing at his phone. “Shit, it’s almost midnight. I need to go check into my hotel.”

“Hotel? What? No. You’re staying here,” you insisted.

“What? I couldn’t do that,” he said, shaking his head, starting to get up.

“It’s no trouble. You take the master and I’ll sleep on the couch,” you offered, getting up as well.

“I’m not kicking you out on your couch,” Seb responded as if you were absurd. “Speaking of, who buys a house without a guest bedroom?”

“Someone who needs an office?” you reminded.

“Right, to work on all those charities,” he remembered, almost as if muttering to himself.

“Mhm. Anyway, you take the bed, you have to be somewhere early in the morning. I’ll take the couch.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically. “Fine, if you’re gonna be a pain in the ass about it.”

“I always am,” you assured with an amused smile.

“Goodnight,” he said as he headed off to your bedroom.

“Night,” you quietly returned.

As soon as Seb got situated in your room, you got a call from Chris.

“Hello?” you said, wondering why Chris was up this late.

“Hey, babe,” he greeted in the most exhausted tone you’d ever heard.

“Hey, hun. What’s up? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he assured in a tired voice. “Just wanted to hear your voice.”

“It’s nearly 2 am over there, what are you doing up?”

“Rehearsal ran long, then I had to go get something to eat, and I ran into some fans…” he explained, sounding worn out from just explaining it.

“Oh, do you want me to let you go?” you wondered.

“No, no, that’s fine, sweetheart. Have you thought any more on a location?”

“For the wedding? Not really. I think I want some place warm though,” you tried.

“So… a beach?”

“Yeah. Maybe.”

“So, that leaves California and the south…” he slowly said.

“Or, we could always do it in a garden,” you offered, holding your breath. “There are gardens all over the US that we could use.”

“A garden sounds really nice, babe, I’d like that. Why don’t you look up some of the prettiest gardens and we’ll take a look?”

“Alright,” you said, excited the wheels were finally moving on this.

“Alright. Great. Well I’m gonna hit the hay, I just really needed to hear your voice. I miss you so much.”

“Miss you too,” you said, leaning on your couch, feeling lonely, missing his presence.

“Talk to you later?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay, goodnight then. I love you.”

“I love you too. Night.”

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

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[annaaugustphoto]

Chapter 2: Tuesday, May 14th, 7pm... 9pm.

[MAY14 – 7PM]

(Alex Basketball Court In Apartment)

“I still can’t believe you setup a freakin’ basketball court in your apartment.”

Micah took another terrible shot and hit nothing but… rim.

“Yea dude, I know. Sick right?”

Micah’s friend took a shot… nothing but… net.

Quick backstory, Micah’s friend’s name is Alex. He sometimes went by A.J. Although, he also had been known to respond to Mr. Jones, depending on who was calling him. Mr. Jones was a nickname he gave to himself from his favorite song of all time “Mr. Jones” by a band named The Counting Crows, you’ve probably heard of them—Alex mostly just liked the song “Mr. Jones” because his middle name was Jones, but additionally, the music was catchy, and it made for a good karaoke song choice, Alex isn’t exactly the kind of guy who’s big on deep meanings in things, if you know what I mean—His full proper name is Alex Jones Footman. Micah and Alex go way back. The two of them met at a summer sports camp in Maine when they were kids. Alex was absolutely amazing at sports—and Micah was absolutely terrible. For some unknown reason Alex always made it a point to pick Micah for his teammate, turning what could have been a truly terrible summer camp experience into a not so bad one. Micah felt forever in debt to him for that.

Micah walked up to the net and looked behind the backboard. He pushed his face flush against the wall and spoke in a muffled voice back to his friend standing behind him, he talked as if he were trying to reach a distant stranded small animal stuck between the walls, or, like when you’re halfway behind a couch trying to plug a charger into an electrical outlet that you can just barely reach. “Dude, how on earth did you mount this? Did you just screw the backboard right into the wall?”

“Yea dude. Just went to the hardware store and picked up a few supplies. I printed out some make your own instructions from online. It was cake bro.” He took a few more shots in a row from various angles making every single one before tossing the ball to Micah.

“You are such an idiot. You know you’re not getting your security deposit back, right?” Micah took another terrible shot and missed entirely.

“Totally worth it.”

The two shot hoops for a while and in-between watched a basketball game. Every now and then they would share a few snippets of conversation.

Alex threw the ball into the air above his head and caught it again from his sitting position on the couch. He got up bounced the ball once then took a shot. Nothing but net, yet again. He picked up the ball and turned to face Micah.

“Catch!”

He tossed the ball in Micah’s direction. Mr. not paying attention caught the basketball with the side of his face. Micah let out a loud yelp. Alex nearly fell over laughing, “Oh shit! Bro are you ok?”

“Yeah I’m fine. “ Micah mumbled while rubbing the side of his head and keeping his eyes staring down towards his lap. “What the heck was that for?”

“I’m so sorry dude! I thought you would see me throw the ball! What are you doing anyways? Checking your phone. You’re always on your phone.”

“Yeah.” Micah said in a distracted distant voice. “Us IT nerds like our phones.”

“Let me guess, you’re either reading work emails, or you’re on that stupid dating site again.”

“It’s one of those things.” Micah stayed in his same distracted tone.

“Dude, you need to go out with me one time. I’ll be your wingman. I’ll help you score big time!”

“Sure, okay. Sounds good.” He continued to scroll and type on the phone, distracted.

Alex sighed and plopped back down onto the couch, ”So what happened with that girl you were talking to on that dating site?”

“Which one?”

“The last one? I don’t know, the red head?”

“She disabled her account today.” Micah put his phone back into his pocket. “I’m kind of annoyed. She sent me a message just last night about how she was supposed to volunteer in the city this weekend. Then I logged in today at work to message her back and her profile was in disabled state. It’s so annoying.”

“Maybe she found someone else dude. You gotta pounce on that as soon as you can bro. You gotta just get in there and get on that. Don’t wait too long.”

“Okay, I mean fine maybe she did find someone else. But I’m saying it’s rude.. We’d been talking for a few weeks—“

“WEEKS!?!?! Whoa, whoa, whoa bro! What did I just tell you? Pounce.”

Alex made a cat like motion with his hands.

“Well, I didn’t want to scare her away by seeming too forward. It’s… You don’t want to come off as creepy or weird or desperate—So I’ve read. Anyway, it doesn’t matter now. I can’t ask for her number, she’s long gone. It just seems rude though. I spent all that time and effort putting thought into typing those messages. And then she just disables her account without an explanation! It’s just… rude.”

“I guess. That’s your view of things. Maybe she doesn’t see it that way.”

Micah fell silent. He didn’t care to continue this conversation. It was pointless. What was the point? Once someone was gone from your life, they were gone. That was it. That was that.

They returned their attention to the game.

Alex and Micah slouched side by side on the small green couch in front of the large screen flat panel TV perched precariously on a very small Ikea coffee table with one busted and then patched up leg. The coffee table was placed so that the wall supported half the weight of it—you know, so that it wouldn’t fall over.

Alex and Micah were both fairly tall guys. Alex, an even six feet and Micah was just shy at five foot eleven inches. Though they were almost the same height, their bodies were vastly different. Micah was a lanky tall. He had the artsy look. That’s what most people told him at least. He wasn’t sure how a T-shirt and jeans look qualified as “artsy” but he always seemed to take the compliment. Better than “IT nerd”. His friend Alex was a slick and suave muscular build that made him appear as though he worked out constantly, which he did, which is why he had that look. Suddenly the game cut to a commercial.

“Commercial break, name and, go!”

“Now?”

“Now isn’t a name.”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“This is exactly why we need to play!” Alex chided.

“Fineeee”

“Fine isn’t a name either.”

Micah punched Alex in the shoulder.

“Ouch dude. What the heck? You know I’m just messing with you. I figured you needed some cheering up since you got digitally dumped today and all.”

The Fake Name Game, or Fake Name Go, or sometimes name and go, or just Go as they more commonly referred to it, was a game that Micah learned at summer camp with Alex. Him and Alex used to play it while shooting basketball during free time almost every day and almost every summer they were at camp together. The game basically entails the following: One person starts by asking the other to fabricate some sort of name that is not their own. Using a friend or family member name is also not generally allowed.

It’s up to the person who initiated the fake name request to grill the other person until they finally crack and the lie is exposed.

Sometimes the fake name game is short lived. Other times, it can go on for quite some time. This particular game lasted exactly the same amount of time that the commercial break did, what are the odds?

“So what happened with you and Jen?”

“Which one?” Alex asked getting up off the couch and picking up the basketball to shoot some more. He took a shot just as one of the players on the TV took a shot.

“Seriously? I don’t know dude, the one you were with last time we talked.”

“We broke up, kinda. We’re still talking every so often”

“And by talking you mean…”

“Yep. She can talk ALL night. If you know what I mean. She’s got a way with words. But the sound of her voice is the most annoying thing I’ve ever heard. How about you bro? Besides bad luck on the dating sites. You getting your…”

“—I’ve… I’ve got nothing.” Micah stared out the open window at the glowing Pour House sign down the street.

Micah got up from couch and picked up a spare basketball. Alex had half a dozen sitting in various spots around his apartment; think hidden Easter eggs when you were a little kid. Oversized Easter eggs that look like basket balls, because they are basket balls. Micah took a shot and missed entirely.

“Micah, I hate to be the one to tell you this, but you should just give up.”

“Give up? Really?”

“Yeah you haven’t made a basket yet bro.”

“Oh. You mean basketball. I’ll consider your suggestion.“ He tossed the ball to Alex. “See I have one theory that most of the girls that sign up for dating sites are just window-shopping. They don’t actually want to take anything home. They just want to try it on… see how it fits.”

“And that’s a problem why?” Alex took a shot and hit nothing but net. “My guess is this… they recently broke up with a guy… they bad mouth him to all their friends. But she secretly still wants him. The friends—buying all the bad mouthing—suggest signing up for a dating site to ‘get over’ him. I’m sure tons of girls have that scenario.”

“And how would you know that?”

“That’s what my last ex-girlfriend did after I broke up with her. Who knows, you probably even chatted with her on that site. It’s funny how small the world can be.” Alex took another shot and finally missed.

[MAY 14 – 9PM]

(Anna Edits and Daydreams)

Anna took another bite of the pizza that she had stopped and picked up after her phone call with her mom. It was cold by now. She’d been working for 3 hours straight. She placed the pizza slice back on the plate next to her computer monitor and peered into the glowing rectangle in front of her. The computer screen, a virtual photograph, displayed the latest lucky couple to claim each other forever and ever. Another happily ever after.

“So pretty,” She whispered half to herself and half to her cat sitting on her lap.

Another beautiful and happy bride, that wasn’t her, taunted her from the computer screen. A mix of emotions flowed through her. She felt jealous, very jealous. Then she felt angry. The anger melted into sadness and finally a longing. There’s got to be someone out there for her she thought. She bit her bottom lip and drifted off into daydream.

She began to imagine herself in place of the bride in front of her on the screen. The photo was—for all intents and purposes—perfect: newly wed bride and husband out on the dance floor. The DJ announcing “Can we get the newly weds out on the dance floor? Just the newly weds… everyone else please take a seat. This dance is for the lucky Mr. and Mrs. only”.

The lucky Mr. and Misses danced away. The idea of true love consumed her. In her mind she swayed in his arms. The song was slow. The dance was everything, perfect. Everything was perfect.

Anna let her heart overtake her mind. She felt a wave of intense emotion sweep over her, a yearning for a love story, her love story. The daydream became so vivid and so real. It was as if she could actually picture herself dancing before of all the wide-eyed onlooker-wedding guests glued to their seats. Not a single guest’s attention strayed. No uneaten remaining piece of cake was stabbed at with a fork and consumed instead of watching the newlywed’s dance. No candid photograph was taken with the disposable tabletop cameras. All eyes were on the couple silhouetted by the lights on the dance floor.

The music filled her mind and her heart. The music played on and she danced away.

The screensaver kicked in and brought her back to reality. Her playlist on the computer music player application continued on. Well, daydream over I guess. She looked down at her cat and noticed he was staring back at her as if to say “What about me? I love you!”

She sighed and closed the open picture.

“Someday” she whispered to herself.

Simon changed his look to ‘Fine, I see how it is’.

Simon is Anna’s cat. Entirely grey without a single hair of fur anything but gray. It was fitting. He was wise beyond his cat years. Like a wise old man in cat form. With gray hair covering his entire body. That meant he was extra wise? He always knew the right thing to say back to his owner, even in his own little cat body language.

He was probably just saying: feed me, or perhaps pet me; but his owner, Anna, interpreted it as I understand exactly how you feel and I’m completely empathetic to your cause. At that point he would put a paw on her hand and look her in the eyes to convey the meaning “stay strong.” At least, that’s the way she saw it. He was really just putting his paw on her hand to say “please pet me?” Either way it was a win-win! Anna always felt better and Simon got his way. I mean, what do actual intentions really matter if the outcome is good? Right? Right.

Anna looked down at Simon and then leaned over to hug him in close. He acted like he wasn’t into it, but he totally was. He let out a small meow to signify she should follow up with a little scratching behind the left ear. Anna complied. As she sat with a purring cat on her lap she thought about love or the lack thereof and if she would ever find someone.

Okay, so, quick backstory, Anna was pretty in her teens. I mean, she drove all the boys wild in school. They would stare at her in math class and drool. But she just wasn’t interested in any of them. They were all a bunch of buffoons—Especially at that age. She was interested in… a refined man—A man with grace and chivalry—A man that would take her hand and hold the door for her; and mostly wouldn’t drool. Really, they would drool, this is not an exaggeration of the truth, this really happened on more than one occasion in both middle and high school. Of course, when she arrived at college she put herself entirely into her studies. She just didn’t have time for boys. Sure she had a few come and go but they were just slightly older versions of the same boys from high school. Well, that’s not entirely true.

She had a very big crush on this one. He turned out to be gay. And then she had a relationship with another one that was only a relationship when his friends weren’t around. And, finally, there was… Sigh… Oh what does it matter, it’s over and done with.

After college with the stress of trying to find a job and dealing with life in general she lost her hourglass figure that all the guys seemed to care about. I mean, she wasn’t exactly skinny before but she was fairly fit. It’s not that she didn’t workout. She works out, she gets up every morning and goes on a run—Okay, fine, nearly every morning, look, what are you the running police? Anyway, her body just decided that it wanted to do something other than what she had imagined in her mind. It’s not that she’s out of shape at all. She’s perfectly in shape. She’s just not the shape that any of the guys she seems to meet seem to want. Again, Anna gets up “every” morning, in fact, to go on a run. She doesn’t always go on the run, but she gets up every morning, so that counts. Sometimes she goes on another one at night even! Or, a first run if the first run didn’t happen. Although, if she has a lot of work sometimes, she skips the second run. Like tonight, she skipped the second one as well, and got pizza instead. But most nights and mornings… okay, most nights, she goes on a run. Look, she goes on runs, she’s doing a couch to 5K… It’s called a couch to 5K for a reason, because you’re supposed to include the couch part, that’s where you start. So, she’s starting with the couch part, okay, running police… back off, the 5K part will happen eventually. And, so, sure she orders a pizza or eats a bowl of ice cream every now and then but who doesn’t? Okay running police? And you know what, she even goes to the local YMCA to use the pool once a week, or, every other week. What are you the swimming police too? No, you’re not because there are no swimming police, there’s lifeguards and they tell you not to run. See, running police, this is why she wasn’t running, she was just trying to listen to the lifeguard. Sometimes there’s too many people telling you conflicting things, run, don’t run. I mean which is it!? Anyway…

She was pretty. No, she still IS pretty. And she’ll find someone. She’ll find her gentleman. She’ll find a guy that will treat her with respect and not demand she eat a stick of celery for all three meals.

[notafeeling]

Waving Through a Window

A/N Here’s this... thingie that I wrote for @analogically-prinxiety as a part of the fic exchange. Also huge thanks to @princeyandanxiety for putting up with my constant questions and helping me edit this.

Chosen Prompt: 1 - Soulmate AU

Pairing: Analogical (Anxiety/Logic), side Royality (Prince/Morality)

Genre: Soulmate AU, High School AU, fluff, angst, hurt/comfort

Word Count: many 8.6k (the k stands for kill me)

Warnings: panic attack, like a paragraph dedicated to this One Shove, heaps of swearing (courtesy of Anx) and uh... I think that’s it?

Summary:

Soulmates share an emotional bond where they can feel what the other is feeling. That has always been just an unimportant  fact that Virge has lived by. It was the same as someone saying ‘water is wet’ or ‘the sky is blue’. When Virgil’s old neighbour moves away and Logan’s family moves in, things start changing.

“I heard a family’s moving in next door. I didn’t think it would be bought so soon, what with the roof predicament and all that!” Virgil’s mum laughed as she dumped potatoes on her son’s plate. When she turned around, he stabbed his fork into the vegetable with as much force as he could muster.

“Didn’t Kelly from across the road say that they have a son around Virge’s age? Maybe you two could become friends?” His dad suggested, non-too subtly. Virgil barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. His mum glared at her spouse, who merely shrugged. “What? I’m just saying, he has to get over Patton sometime. Better sooner rather than later.”

“Christian!”

“Sweetheart, I’m just saying, it’s been almost two whole months-“

“I can feel that you’re just worried for him, and I understand, but now is not the time.”

Virgil pushed his chair back, wincing as it scraped along the floor. “I’m going to my room,” he muttered, then marched up the stairs. He slammed open his bedroom door, stormed in and turned on his computer. As he waited for the ancient thing to boot, he couldn’t help but to mull over what his father had said. Really, he was right.

Patton had moved away at the start of the summer holidays. Virgil could almost picture his window sliding open and his unusually upset best friend climbing in. He had rushed over to hug him, and then pulled back to ask who he had to kill. Pat chuckled, wiping his tears before explaining everything. How his parents had sat him down and told him about his mother’s job opportunity that required her to move away. How they told him it was for the best. How they were leaving for good.

The worst thing about it was that they hardly got to spend any time together before Patton left. His neighbour was so busy packing that, despite literally having a roof connecting their windows due to some idiot architect, they were restricted to Virgil coming over to help or midnight stargazing on the aforementioned roof. It was hell.

Patton, for the first time ever, was gone and Virgil was only just realising how dependent he had been on him. They were hardly ever separate, always having sleepovers or casually hanging out at each other’s places. That was all ruined. And Virge didn’t know what to do.

He was brought back into the present by the sudden bright glare of the monitor. His eyes flicked to the time. 6:03pm. Great, he was late for their regular Skype calls. Not by much, but still.

Virgil opened up Skype to see that Patton was already online.

Patton-cake: ‘Took you long enough!’

virge: ‘sorry, i lost track of the time. are you gonna call?’

Patton-cake: ‘Is everything okay?’

virge: ‘yeah.’

Patton-cake: ‘If you say so. Also, I have a surprise for you!!’

virge: ‘?’

Patton-cake is calling.

Wary and confused, Virgil clicked accept. As the call connected, he quickly went over all the possibilities of the surprise in his head while he fidgeted with the end of his hoodie. What was Patton planning? Did he make something for him? Oh no, he had nothing he was able to give in return-

“Virge!”

The familiar, overjoyed voice was enough to get him to relax. This was Pat. He never expected anything of him.

“Hey, Pat.”

Patton’s gaze softened. “Virgil, you don’t look alright. Anything I can do for you?”

The boy shook his head. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”

“Well, that’s never good!”

Virgil snorted at the classic Patton joke. He had made that one countless times before, but to hear it again was… comforting. Maybe nothing had changed after all..?

“Anyway, Dad told me yesterday that someone is moving next door.” (Virgil pulled a face at this.) “Make sure whoever gets my old room doesn’t steal you from me!”

Virgil scoffed. “Oh no, I’m still heartbroken over losing you, I could never move on that quickly – unless, of course, they actually appreciate the greatest band of all time, My Chemical Romance-”

“Hey, I did appreciate them when you showed them to me that one time!” Patton interjected, making Virgil grin.

“Even all the swearing?” His friend hesitated. “I knew it! I bet you wouldn’t listen to all of Black Parade! Jeez, Pat, did you ever even truly love me?”

Patton rolled his eyes. “Oh, stop it, you know I love you! You’re almost as dramatic as Roman, I swear!”

Virgil frowned. “Who?”

Pat slapped his forehead. “Whoops! There goes the surprise.” He turned away from the screen. “Alright, get in here!”

The door behind him opened and a guy came up to Patton, casually leaning on his shoulders. The stranger scanned Virgil before breaking out into a smile. “So you’re Virgil?”

Virge shrunk into his hoodie. This guy was far too confident for his tastes. “Yep. I’m Patton’s old neighbour and best friend. It’s nice to meet you…” He trailed off. What was his name again?

“Roman Prince, at your service!” Roman exclaimed, puffing out his chest. “I’m Patton’s boyfriend and soulmate.”

Virgil’s eyebrow twitched. Surely he misheard him. There’s no way that this guy could possibly be-

“It’s true!” Patton giggled. “We met a month ago at this community art class I’m taking. Since I’m new, the people running it thought it was best that he show me the ropes! We only found out about our soulmate status two weeks ago.”

Two weeks. Virgil counted and realised they’ve had at least five calls during that time, and only now did Patton mention this Roman?! Didn’t he remember the pact they made, that they’d tell each other when they found their soulmates straight away? Sure, they were seven at the time, which was almost a decade ago by now, but still.

Meanwhile, the other was far too caught up in his rambling to notice his friend’s silence. “I tripped over my shoelaces – you know me, always clumsy – and hit the floor super hard. At the same time, Roman gasped in pain, but nothing had happened to him!”

“Once I finished checking he was okay, I put it all together and realised that this adorable cardigan-clad guy must be my soulmate! We tested this out by having Patton watch sad videos while I was in a different room. I felt more sorrow than I have in my whole life! The saying ‘distance makes the heart grow fonder’ is true, but in the opposite way it was meant for.” Roman paused his spiel to kiss Patton’s cheek.

Who did this clown think he was? Of course Virge knew that – everyone did. It was common knowledge that your emotional bond with your soulmate grew more intense the closer you were, and yet Roman was treating Virge as some kind of moron.

The couple got lost in their own banter then. Virgil wanted to vomit. They’ve only known each other for four weeks, and already they seemed closer than he and Patton, who had been best friends for as long as they could remember.

He cleared his throat, and the two romantics finally seemed to realise he was watching their sickeningly sweet display. “I have to… finish some holiday homework. I’m sorry to cut this short. Pat, I’ll talk to you soon, and Roman… you better take care of Patton.”

“Trust me, I will.”

As he left the call, he saw the way prince prat gazed adoringly at his friend, and this both comforted him and upset him. Of course, Virgil knew it was pretty much inevitable that he would be replaced one day. Patton was the best person he knew and so deserving of all the love in the world, it was a wonder that he even became friends with someone as sour as Virge in the first place.

The next day, he woke up stressed. This made no sense to him, considering the situation with Patton was more anxiety-inducing than stressful, until he finally came to the conclusion that it was his own soulmate. That was odd. His soulmate was usually rather calm. That was something Virge liked about this total stranger – that whenever he was having a bad day and his insecurities made him believe that asking Patton for help would annoy him, he allowed himself to focus on the other’s emotions, trying to guess what they were doing.

As much as Virgil tried to act cynical about soulmates, he not-so-secretly thought that it was really nice to think that everyone had someone for them, even if their relationship with their soulmate wasn’t romantic at all. Being able to be loved by someone utterly and truly was one of the most comforting concepts to him. And to understand how your soulmate feels and to experience it yourself… When Virge felt the world was crashing around him, it was one of the only things to console him.

Now though, he wished he could reach through their invisible bond and telepathically convey that they should focus on him. Virgil’s soulmate deserved to rely on him for once, especially since he knew that they had been experiencing rather conflicting emotions over the past week, torn between fear and relief.

Whatever was going on with his soulmate, he wanted to help. Unfortunately, there was simply no way, not until they met. If they met.

Virgil’s overthinking was cut short by his mum knocking on his bedroom door. Groaning, the teenager dragged himself out of bed. He threw on his hoodie and pushed up the sleeves, ignoring the fact that it was summer and swelteringly hot.

“Yeah?” He yawned as the door opened, barely acknowledging his mother’s strangely fancy clothes.

She gasped when she saw her son’s attire. “Virgil! It’s midday!”

“It’s summer,” he grumbled under his breath, but she didn’t grace him with another retort.

“Change your clothes into something nice!” Not bothering to give a further explanation, his mum hustled past him and to his closet. She chucked a pair of jeans at him, along with the least worn-down shirt. Looking over her son, she grimaced at his hoodie, but knew it was pointless to even think about asking him to take it off. Without another word, she hurried off downstairs.

As much as Virgil would love to ponder over what in the hell his mother was doing, the stress had spiked. His own anxiety began to flood his veins. Deciding there was nothing better to do, he hauled himself to the window and slid it open, then climbed out onto the roof. He usually hated doing this during daytime for the fear of someone seeing and thinking he was a freak, but he found he didn’t care at this particular point in time. Odd.

Virge leant back and closed his eyes, allowing himself to get some rare sunlight.

A loud thud, curse and consequential scolding disrupted his brief moment of relaxation. Startling upright, Virgil scanned his surroundings and spotted a large moving van parked outside the other house. He glanced over the edge of the roof to see that just below him was a box of belongings with its contents sprawled out across the concrete and beside it, a bespectacled teenager staring up at him. He stared back, entranced by a peculiar familiarity he instinctively felt towards this stranger until his mind made the connection. The moving van, his mother’s nice clothing… This was his new neighbour.

And whoever this newcomer was, his first impression of Virgil would now forever be that of some creep who sleeps on rooftops. Realising this, Virge’s eyes widened and he scrambled back inside, heart hammering. Shit, shit, shit. Why did he do that? He looked like a fucking coward! He must never show his face again.

Virge flopped onto his bed face-first and drew the hoodie tighter around him, willing the mattress to open up and swallow him for an eternity. Behind his teenage angst, there was an underlying curiosity, but it definitely wasn’t stemming from his own feelings. A few minutes later, a sharp knock forced him to return to reality.

“Virgil, son, come and meet our new neighbours!” His father called through the door before thudding down the stairs, undoubtedly to have civil conversation with the neighbours about how weird his son was.

“I’ve already met them,” Virge mumbled to himself. Despite this, he knew that his parents expected him to be down there, so he might as well save himself the hassle of failing to convince them that he shouldn’t meet them.

Trudging downstairs, he kept his eyes focussed on the carpeted floor. So focussed, in fact, that he didn’t notice the other person until he ran into them.

“Shoot- uh, you okay there?”

When Virgil finally found the will to open his eyes, he found himself on the floor staring up at the guy from earlier. Fuck. The stranger extended his hand, but Virge picked himself up and dusted himself off. “I’m mentally cursing my existence, but otherwise, I’m great,” he murmured. He rubbed his head and winced, but everything else seemed to be in working order, so he wasn’t too bothered.

“Are you definite?” he asked. “I wouldn’t wish our initial exchange to be tainted by this infelicitous event.”

Virgil frowned, trying to decode whatever language this weirdo was speaking in. There was a beat of silence until he realised he was expected to reply. Pushing past his embarrassment, he finally properly looked at him.

Holy shit.

He gulped, and stuttered at a response, trying not to seem affected by this absolute nerd who somehow looked good in the most ridiculous formal getup Virge had ever seen. Really, what teenage wears a polo shirt and a tie when meeting neighbours? Plus… he was fucking tall. Especially to someone as short (ahem, less-than-average height) as Virge.

“Yeah, uh… Yeah, I’m fine, just- just a little sore.”

Heat rushed to his cheeks as the other simply stared at him. Oh god, he sounded like an idiot, now he has to avoid this person at all costs. Virgil dug his nails into the ends of his sleeves and debated hightailing it down the stairs, but was stopped by a hesitant hand on his shoulder.

“Wait- I should introduce myself. My name is Logan.” Logan extended his hand and Virgil shook it.

“I’m Virgil- though, if you want, you can call me Virge.” Realising he was still gripping Logan’s hand, he dropped it as if it were a hot pan and jolted backwards.

The other teen raised an eyebrow at him, but didn’t make a comment on it. “Which do you prefer?”

“Virge. It’s less awful than Virgil. Sometimes I wonder what my parents were thinking naming me that, but then I remember that my mother’s name is Amelie.” He laughed but stopped when Logan frowned.

“I like the name Virgil. It was the name of a Roman poet I’m rather fond of.”

“You like poetry?!”

Logan crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. “Yes. It’s a form of art deserving of more appreciation, but some people refuse to see its value.”

Huh. Virgil didn’t take this guy as someone to get so defensive this easily, but he rushed to explain nonetheless. “No, I agree with you, it’s just that I love poetry! It’s my favourite thing to do in English and I was surprised that someone else liked it because no one ever does, and so I often don’t tell people that I write poetry as they always laugh-”

Logan raised a hand to cut off his rambling. “Relax. I understand, and I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions. You said you write poetry? Would you care to show me sometime?”

Virgil bit his lip. “I don’t know, it’s really bad. The only one that isn’t horrible is far too long and kind of depressing, so it doesn’t matter-“

“Nonsense. If you put that much effort into it, then I’d love to read it.” Logan looked him in the eyes and Virgil couldn’t make himself believe that the other was lying.

“Well, anyway, we should probably go downstairs and – ugh – socialise.”

This time Logan did laugh, and Virgil was filled with a warm glow.

-

“So how was meeting the new neighbours?”

“Awful.”

Patton looked sceptical. “Awful? I got nonstop texts about this Logan guy. You seemed pretty obsessed with him.”

Virgil scoffed. “No. It’s just that he’s a nerd! Like, take every stereotype of a nerd ever to exist and compile them together and you get Logan. He wears a tie- a tie, Patton! And he uses these big fancy words and I can never understand any of them. God, he probably thought I was an absolute idiot! I mean, I kept rushing through my sentences and then I told him about my fucking poetry! He thinks I’m so lame, and that’s not even including the fact that I embarrassed myself in front of him two whole other times! He hates me, Pat- god, what an absolute dick.”

Patton wouldn’t have been able to help it if he tried. He giggled. “Yeah, you don’t care about his opinion at all.”

“Shut your face hole.”

He raised his hands up in mock-surrender. “Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t hate you.” Before Virgil protested, he continued. “Did he say he does? And, if he’s as much as a nerd as you’ve made him out to be, he probably thought you were cool for writing poetry!”

“Me? Cool? Yeah, right.” The teen shrunk into his jumper and rolled his eyes. “And he may not have said he despises my existence, but that’s because he’s nice!”

“I thought he was, in your words, ‘an absolute dick’?”

Virgil’s eyebrows jumped up in shock at the swear. “Quick, someone call the cops, Patton just fucking swore! Fucking shit, I bet that Roman bastard is the motherfucker responsible for this.”

“Speaking of soulmates, maybe you and Logan McNerd are destined to be!”

“Wha- Are you delusional?! We have nothing in common!”

“Well, you’re both nerds aren’t you? I’d say you’re absolutely perfect for each other!”

Virgil turned off his computer then and there, not even bothering to end the call properly.

-

In the following weeks, his parents and Logan’s parents had become… annoyingly close. Their mothers were often found drinking coffee together at one of their houses while their dads went off to do… whatever dads did. Virgil assumed it was something stereotypical such as play catch – but without their sons, obviously. On second thought, maybe it was better if he left the imagination up to someone far more capable.

Meanwhile, while the parents of the families were bonding, the teenagers appeared to be attempting to set a record for the “most antisocial kid of the year”. So far, Virgil was winning. Logan actually tried to talk to him, but whenever he did, it always ended in awkward small talk that made Virge’s skin crawl. Instead, he took to spending his days hiding away in his room, either playing on his phone or ranting to Patton and occasionally Roman (and yes, after further consideration, perhaps Roman wasn’t too much of an asshole, though a tad arrogant) about Logan’s insistence to read his damn poems.

They, of course, only waggled their eyebrows, which infuriated Virgil more than Logan’s nosiness did. It was both a curse and an extraordinary blessing when school started up again.

He now had an excuse to avoid Logan. Plus, it gave him a chance to finally deal with the new intensity of his soulmate’s emotions. Virgil’s heart ached when he thought about all the possible reasons as to why they were uncharacteristically sensitive, but he shoved his worries aside as he knew that there was nothing he could really do about it.

Still, no matter how much he wanted to, he shouldn’t focus on that. Not when he was rushing through the crowded halls in an attempt to make it to his last class for the day. So far, he had been lucky enough to not have Logan in any of his periods – apart from lunch, which didn’t really count because he could easily ignore him. (And besides, Logan seemed to have found friends. Why would he want to sit with Virgil, who was all alone now that Patton was gone?)

In fact, he was so invested into getting to class on time, that he didn’t notice Logan lining up outside his classroom until Virgil was standing right next to him.

“Hello, Virgil- ah, Virge,” Logan greeted.

The shorter one glanced up in surprise. He popped his earbuds out (so long, Fall Out Boy) and pushed his hair out of his eyes. “Hey.” The silence that followed made Virgil cringe. “So, uh, you’re in AP English?”

“It would seem so.”

“Right. Yeah, obviously.” Virge coughed and shifted his weight. “What teachers do you have, if you don’t mind me asking? Maybe I can tell you how to deal with them.”

Logan smiled. “That would be wonderful. I have Miss Clark –“

“Lucky. She’s pretty chill and lets you play music in class, as long as you’ve done all your work.”

“- Mr Williams –“

Virgil scowled. “Just don’t even try to speak in his class if you don’t want to fail, no matter how smart you are. Also don’t bring up any politics around him – you do not want to hear his views.”

“Noted. Let’s see… There’s also Mr Pierce, Mrs Smith, Miss Kyle and Mr Sanders, who I believe teaches this class. He is surprisingly late though.” Logan adjusted his glasses once he finished listing them all off, but before Virgil could reply, their English teacher sprinted into view.

“I’m sorry I’m late!” Mr Sanders panted, doubled-over in an attempt to regain his breath. “You see, I pulled a prank on Mr Pierce and he smeared makeup over my shirt so I had to change, and then of course I just had to get back at him, so I hid his laptop. I’m currently a fugitive, so you all must work to hide me. If he comes in here, tell him I’m dead. Understand?”

Giggling, the class nodded, and began filing in. Virgil made a beeline for the back left corner, which was right next to a window he usually loved to gaze out of. This time, though, he glared at the pane, cursing the heavens for putting Logan in this class. He didn’t want more awkward conversations with the guy!

The universe however didn’t seem to get the memo, as Logan plonked his stuff on the desk next to Virgil’s. Of course Logan had to ruin his favourite subject for him.

“Is anyone sitting here?” He asked, already moving to sit down as Virgil shook his head.

Mr Sanders clapped his hands, drawing their attention to the front. “Listen here, as much as I hate to make you all do actual schoolwork during school on the first day, we might as well get straight into it. This unit we’re focussing on poetry –“

Virgil felt like bashing his head against a wall when Logan nudged him.

“– and you’ll be working in pairs. Just whoever is next to you is fine, but I know that I can’t stop you from choosing your own groups.”

Logan looked at him expectantly and Virgil shrugged, relieved and also anxious. At least he didn’t have to go through the embarrassment of being the only one without a partner, right? It wasn’t like this day could get any worse.

Mr Sanders came over and stood between the pair. “Now, Logan, I know for a fact that Virgil is an excellent poet. In fact, I have one he wrote last year right here.” He fished around for it and produced the semi-crumpled paper from his folder and handed it to Logan, much to Virgil’s mortification.

-

“It’s the worst, Patton! Sure, Logan may not be an intentional asshole but he still is one! You should just see the way he acts! Everyone always praises him because ‘oh, you’re so smart, Logan!’ or ‘whoa, you’re so hot’ and I’m sick of it! All he does is wear glasses and a tie – anyone could do that! Hell, I could do that! And he’s Mr Sanders favourite student – after one fucking week, Pat, one week! I struggled for three years to be his favourite and then Logan comes along and does everything perfect and just – argh!” Virgil threw his hands up. “Why does everyone think he’s attractive anyway? Sure, he’s got the nerd aesthetic, and he acts clueless when being flirted with, which I guess makes him even more loveable-“

Patton opened his mouth, smirking, but Virgil cut him off. “If you say what I think you’re going to say, I will end this call.”

The brightly-clothed teen on the screen giggled. “All I’m saying is that if you didn’t care about him, you wouldn’t spend so much time focussing on him!”

Virgil rolled his eyes. The truth was, he had been purposefully focussing his fury onto Logan, because it was a constant. Recently he’d been feeling all kinds of weird, and it was throwing him off. Not to mention, the only other consistent emotion was the hollow, dull ache of loneliness that had refused to leave him no matter what he did. Needless to say, Virgil didn’t feel like focussing on that.

-

Despite the assignment, Virgil and Logan ignored each other for the most part. It had become routine for them. They’d exchange friendly conversation in class and smile at each other when they passed in hallways or caught a glimpse through their windows, but otherwise, they remained distant. Virgil had started complaining less and less about Logan, and he only ever did anymore because that was what Patton (and Roman, when he was part of the call) expected to hear.

Still, though, Virge had figured that he could at the very least rely on Logan. Or he did, until…

All he had been trying to do was get to the front of the cafeteria as soon as possible so he didn’t have to wait forever in the line. Really, he should learn to become more spatially aware as he ended up slamming into someone and knocking their tray of food onto the floor.

“Fuck- I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean-” Virge cut his apologies off with a gulp once he saw who it was. He didn’t exactly know the guy, but from the jersey, he knew that the big oaf currently towering over him was on the football team. The shove to his chest was expected, but that didn’t help the fact that Virge now lay winded on the cold floor, while the other students around him sniggered to themselves.

He picked himself up, ignoring the throbbing pain in the arm that he had landed on, and started to hurry away before his day could get any worse. It was then that he caught sight of Logan hiding a smile behind his hands.

Cold rushed through his veins and seeped into his stomach, making the tight ball of anxiety expand until he felt that he couldn’t breathe. Before he knew what he was doing, he was sprinting outside the cafeteria, far too aware of the judging eyes trained onto his retreating form.

Once he regained control over his body, he realised that he was in an empty bathroom. Thank god, he thought as he allowed himself to slump against the hard plaster walls. He could finally sob in peace.

Meanwhile, Logan’s acquaintance, Yasmin, was snapping her fingers in front of the intelligent teenager’s face.

“Yo, Lo-” (Logan cringed at the abbreviation of his name and the butchering of the English language) “- I know my jokes are hilarious, but did you see that weirdo who just ran out of here?”

He furrowed his eyebrows together. “Weirdo?”

“Oh my god, please don’t tell me you missed that?!” Seeing Logan’s blank stare, Yasmin smacked her forehead. “Jeez, for someone so smart, you’re not that observant. That loner dude – the one with the strange name – he got shoved by Harrison-”

“Who?”

“The fucking star of the footie team, how do you not- okay, not important. Anyways, the weirdo got knocked to the ground and then just sprinted away. I’m surprised no teacher has gone looking for him yet, but then again, the teachers at this school mostly suck unless you get someone cool.”

As Yasmin ranted away about another irrelevant topic, Logan worked to put the pieces together in his mind. Strange name, huh? And to think he just ran instead of brushing it off like most others would… Could it be?

“Excuse me, I have to leave your presence to check something.” Logan started walking off.

“You know, most humans say goodbye, or I’ll talk to you later!” Yasmin called after him. He smiled, but otherwise continued without a word. She wouldn’t be too bothered, and that was what he liked about her. Sure, she wasn’t the most intellectually stimulating conversation partner, but she at least understood his… unusual mannerisms.

He rubbed his right arm as he exited the room, suddenly realising it had been hurting for the past few minutes. When he touched it, he let out a pained hiss. What did he do to it? He rolled up his sleeve to check, but couldn’t see anything. Odd.

Unless…

Logan made a mental note to record his theory later, but for now, he had to focus on finding his elusive friend.

-

“He just- he fucking laughed, Pat. He laughed.” Virgil had his head in his hands as he finished recounting the miserable event to his two, heavily-pixelated friends.

“I will destroy him,” Roman muttered darkly. “He’ll regret daring to even think about doing it by the time I’m through with him! I’ll- I’ll-”

He was stopped by Patton’s hand on his shoulder. “Ro, dear, calm down. And Virge, I’m sure he wasn’t laughing at you! From what you’ve told us, he doesn’t seem the type to just… do something as cruel as that!”

Virgil shrugged, tightening the hoodie around his face. “Patton, I love how you try to see the best in everyone, but-”

“If you say a bad word about yourself, I will drive myself and Pat up there to punch you in the face.”

Virge chuckled weakly and scrubbed his eyes. “Good luck convincing Patton to hit me. He wouldn’t even hurt a robber in self-defence without asking them to talk out their problems over some tea first.”

“Tea solves everything!” Patton jumped in. Virgil raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘case in point.’

“Indeed it does, my love.” Roman leant down to kiss Patton while Virge pretended to be disgusted.

“Get a room!”

-

Virgil shrugged off his hoodie and the shirt underneath. He grunted when the fabric pulled past his arm. Once it was off, he examined it closely. A large bruise had blossomed across the skin of his upper arm, the sight of it making Virgil grimace. He touched it lightly and yelped, immediately regretting his curiosity.

At least it wouldn’t be too hard to conceal. It was now autumn, and the low temperatures gave him an excuse to wear his jumper around everywhere (as if he didn’t already).

A rush of guilt and concern swept over him out of the blue. That was peculiar. Virgil tried to come up with a reason to the sudden worry, but came up blank. Figuring that was a problem for another day, he got ready for bed.

As he was going about his routine, he caught Logan’s stare through their windows. When he moved to wave, the other snapped his gaze away. Virgil let his half-raised hand fall limply to his side as he bit back the disappointment bubbling in him. If Logan didn’t want to talk to him, then that was alright. Perfectly fine. Just great.

Whatever, his mind spat bitterly as he yanked his blinds close. He didn’t care about the asshole anyway.

He didn’t care. Not one bit. Not even when the digital clock on his bedside table shone “2:00” into the darkness but he was still unable to sleep, and there was only so much time he could waste on his phone before he got a headache. However, this was only because his soulmate – he assumed it was his soulmate – was stressed out over something.

Huh, he huffed, stressing out at 2am? They were definitely soulmates then.

The thought brought a wry smile to his face, but that was immediately ruined by Virgil seeing light seep through the cracks in his blinds. Surely it wasn’t morning already? He checked the time yet again – nope, still two o’clock.

He sighed and sat up. It wasn’t like he was going to get any sleep anyway, so maybe getting abducted by aliens or kidnapped by burglars would make his night actually interesting.

Instead, when he pulled up his blinds and peeked out, he saw Logan hunched over his desk with his light on. He couldn’t figure out if he was relieved or disappointed.

On one hand, he wasn’t going to die, and on the other, he was always up for dying.

He was far too tired to be anxious, so without a second thought, he climbed out onto the roof and made his way over. When he knocked, Logan startled in his seat, making Virgil smirk. Recomposing himself and adjusting his glasses askew position on his face, Logan opened the window.

“Good evening, Virgil,” he greeted, stifling a yawn.

Virgil smirked when he saw the tie hanging loosely around his neck and the mess his hair was. It seemed Mr Perfect wasn’t perfect after all. When he took this in, he realised that there was no way this guy would have laughed at him earlier that day (yesterday, now).

“Try morning.” Logan stepped aside and Virgil hopped in. “Dude, it’s like 2am. Why are you even awake?”

“Why are you?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Don’t avoid my question.”

Logan stared for a moment, calculating, before he slumped against a wall and sighed. “I’m studying.”

Virgil snorted. “Like studying is going to do you any good at this time of night. I’m surprised you can even keep your eyes open long enough to focus on anything.”

“I can’t, that’s the issue. You don’t seem tired though.”

“I’m used to it,” Virge shrugged, then plonked himself down onto Logan’s bed. The owner of said bed frowned at him, and Virgil briefly felt concern flicker through him, but shrugged it off.

“Anyway,” Logan said, snapping out of his trance, “What were you here for?”

“Aliens, mostly, but then I figured you might be more interesting than you look. Mr Sanders’ new favourite pet staying up late? Woah, you must have some kind of secret life where you actually take risks. The next thing I know you’re actually going to go out onto the roof between us.”

“The roof is highly dangerous so I doubt I will. Also, I assure you that I do not lead a secret life.”

“That’s exactly the kind of thing someone leading a secret life would say.”

Logan tilted his head at Virge. “...Okay,” he murmured finally, before he let himself smile at the antics of his neighbour.

Virgil broke out into his own grin, and soon, under the influence of a lack of sleep, they laughed together, not stopping until their guts ache. For the first time in forever, there were no conflicting emotions in Virgil, just sheer happiness.

It came to an unspoken agreement that they would share a bed tonight, as Virgil was obviously far too tired to safely walk back and Logan… well, he’d come up with his excuse in the morning. He grabbed his one and only hoodie and handed it to Virge, who had been hugging his arms tight to his body.

“I noticed you seem more comfortable with yours, but since it's all the way in your room, I figured you could use mine. Unless you didn’t want to, which I understand. In fact, I’m sorry for overstepping my boundaries, just forget it-”

Virgil snatched it out of his hands before it could be pulled away. Blushing, he put it in, claiming he was cold. Logan relaxed and, without any more thought, got into bed. Although they were comfortable, each kept to their own sides as to not accidentally annoy one another, with Virgil on the very edge of his side. They fell asleep quickly after that.

Beep!

The incessant blaring of an alarm aroused Virgil from his slumber. He was vaguely aware of an ache somewhere, but couldn’t be bothered opening his eyes.

Until Logan spoke. “Good morning, Virge.”

He blinked awake. “Logan? Why are you upside down?” He muttered, before letting his head drop, which consequently made the rest of his precariously balanced body topple over the edge of the bed.

As soon as he stopped groaning, a hand grabbed his own and hauled up so he was face-to-face with a somehow fully dressed and laughing Logan.

“You know, if you continue your habit of collapsing, you’re better off wearing a helmet.”

Virgil scowled. “Fuck you.” He rubbed his head, trying to assess the damage, and saw Logan mimicking his actions. Virge raised an eyebrow. “Morning headache?”

Logan bit his lip, eyes glazed over as he stared off into space. Virgil clicked his fingers in front of his face until he looked up. “I said, do you have a morning headache? Because if so, I’ve got some painkillers in my room, since I get headaches a lot-”

“No, it’s fine. Besides, you should probably get moving if you don’t want to be late for school.”

“Fuck.” He went over to the window, but before he stuffed himself into it, he turned to Logan. “I’m sorry for invading your space and all that last night, I don’t know what came over me-”

“Don’t worry, it was fun,” Logan cut him off.

“What?” He asked, incredulous.

Logan looked him in the eye. “It really was. I don’t think I would have gotten much study done anyway, and you helped me relax. So thank you.”

Virgil coughed and averted his gaze. “No problem,” he murmured as he slipped away.

Logan watched him go, wondering when he would realise that he was still wearing Logan’s hoodie. Oh well, it wasn’t like he was ever going to wear it. Might as well put it to good use.

-

“Are you okay, Virgil? You haven’t complained about Logan once this call and I’m starting to fear for your sanity.”

“You? Caring about me? Jeez, someone alert the news, the world must be ending if Roman cares.”

“It’s not caring, it’s me not wanting to witness you finally snapping and killing someone!” He defended.

“Now, kiddos, let’s not fight each other-”

“I’m older than you,” Roman interjected.

“I’m…” Virgil paused, before realising he was the youngest of the lot. “Fuck.”

“Nice to meet you f-”

“I swear to fucking god, if you swear and make a bad joke, I will murder someone because there is no way this is my reality.”

Roman was quick to clamp his hand over Patton’s mouth. “Anywho, seriously though, why haven’t you been ranting about Logan? Did he do something?”

Patton nodded as best as he could. Through Roman’s hand, he managed a muffled sentence. “Yeah, did he?”

Virgil shrugged and faced away from the screen, mumbling into his hand. “Maybe he isn’t as bad as I originally thought.”

“What was that, Virge?” Patton asked, finally free of his restraint, while Roman wiped his hand free of Patton’s spit on the seat in disgust.

“I said, maybe he isn’t as bad as I originally thought!” Virgil near-yelled.

The two soulmates exchanged glances, then turned back to him. Patton wiggled his eyebrows while Roman recited Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18.

Virge let his head flop to the desk and suffered non-too silently while the two teased him. After a few minutes, he heard a knock at his window.

“Give me a sec, guys.”

He was more surprised to see Logan there then he should have been. Regardless, he opened his window and let Logan tumble in. Virgil snickered as he helped his friend up.

“Oh, how the tables have turned. Anyway, what are you doing here? I thought you said the roof was dangerous or something.”

Logan blushed. “Well, yes, it is highly dangerous if one were to fall, but it’s also the fastest way to get to you. Besides, if appropriate care is taken, then the risks are minimised. You seemed distressed and I was also finding myself missing your company.”

“Wow, I thought you were joking when you said he speaks like a textbook!” Roman yelled.

“Shut up!” Virgil hissed.

“I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?”

“No, it’s fine, I just wish some people would learn to shut their mouths.” Virgil sighed and decided it was now or never. He pulled Logan over to his computer and plonked him in the seat in front of it. “Logan, these two assholes are Patton and Roman.” As he said their name, each waved. “Patton used to live in your house and he’s been my friend since forever. Roman is his bastard soulmate that I’ve grown to not hate… as much.”

“Hey, you prick!”

“As you can see, we’re all very close,” Patton talked over Roman. Then he turned to Virgil. “So, this is the guy that’s taken over my room and friend?”

Logan was taken aback by the accusatory tone. “I, uh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you or anything-”

“Knock it off, Pat,” Virgil scolded while Patton broke down into laughter.

“Oh, Virgil, he’s adorable! I can see why you’re obsessed with him now!”

“That’s not- Patton, shut the fuck up.”

He tsk-ed mockingly. “Language, Virge!”

“English,” Logan murmured, drawing the attention back to him.

“Logan using sarcasm?” Virge commented. “Wow, the world really must be ending today.”

“Most likely not today, however at the rate we’re going, humans will end up making this planet inhabitable, as we are a useless species seeming hell-bent on destroying ourselves.”

There was a beat, and then Roman, Virgil and Patton started laughing.

Logan frowned. “I don’t understand, what joke did I make?”

Virgil pat his shoulder. “It’s okay, Logan.”

...He was still very confused, but decided not to question it.

-

In the following months, they had begun to spend more and more time together. It was a common occurrence for one of their parents to come inside Logan’s bedroom and see Virgil wrapped in Logan’s hoodie or for them to spot Virgil subjecting Logan to fantasy movies against his will.

Currently, Virgil was lying on Logan’s bed, tossing the Rubik’s cube he snagged from his friend’s desk up and down while the other was hunched over his notebook writing down what Virge assumed to be ideas for their poetry project. He was half-heartedly suggesting themes when Logan turned to him.

“You just gave me the greatest idea – you’re a genius, Virge!” The sincere compliment made him drop the Rubik’s cube onto his face.

“Yep. As you can see, I’m the smartest of the smarts,” he drawled.

“I’m not joking.”

“You never do, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re an idiot to think that I’m intelligent.” Virgil let a coy smile play at his lips, but Logan didn’t seem to see the funny side.

“Virge.” The seriousness made him glance over. “You understand how language works to extract emotions for the hearts of an audience. I only understand the basic theory behind it, but I never know how to put it into use.”

Virgil rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but you know heaps of other stuff. English is just one thing I’m not shit at – and even then, that’s only poetry wise.”

Logan was silent for a moment. “...I don’t like it when you speak down on yourself like that.”

“Well, you gotta get used to it sometime,” Virgil snapped. He regretted it almost immediately, but there wasn’t a way he could take it back now. He just had to deal with the awkward silence.

Thankfully, Logan excused himself under the guise of getting them some water. As soon as the door closed softly behind him, Virgil figured he may as well try to make it up to him. He went over to his desk, intending to go over his notes and maybe start working on their poem which was supposed to have a theme of love – ugh, so cliché and general. Instead of whatever nerdy, poetry-related header he expected, he saw, in Logan’s same neat handwriting: “Hypothesis: Virgil is my soulmate.”

Under it are some dot points labelled “Evidence in Support of the Hypothesis” and, as Virgil flipped through a few pages, he realised it wasn’t just some. He was surprised at the sheer amount of writing on the pages and gulped when he got to the end. There was no “Evidence Against”.

He went back to the start, hands shaking. All this in what… six months? One thing stood out: the very first note that was only one word, much unlike the others which had an extraordinary amount of detail. “Bruises.” He paid no mind to the date beside it, and touched his arm, as if the bruise he had gained all those months ago was still there.

The memory of the odd worry that had overcome him the night after the incident was suddenly brought to the front of his mind. The window. Logan. Fuck. Was he his soulmate? The new information was too much too fast and Virgil let the book drop onto the desk, not caring nor seeing when it slid off onto the floor. His breath was coming in short gasps and fuck fuck fuck, he hadn’t had a panic attack in ages.

All the coping mechanisms he had ever learnt seemed to flee his mind and he was left breathless against the rough carpet (when did he fall?) of Logan’s room.

Logan, however, was rushing as fast he dared with two cups of water in his hand up the stairs. Something was wrong. He could feel it. He put one cup down when he got to the door so he’d actually be able to turn the handle, and it was lucky he did, because as soon as he entered to see Virgil pulling at his own hair, he dropped the other in an instant.

It was the first panic attack he had ever seen in real life and he tried to remember the methods various websites had suggested when he got curious. He spotted the notebook sprawled on the ground not too far from Virgil and realisation washed over him. He had caused this.

That doesn’t matter right now, his mind hissed. Help Virge. Logan gently shut the book and placed it on his desk and attempted to shove aside the steadily rising anxiety settled deep within him. “Virge, please,” he whispered, loud enough to be heard but not enough to scare him further. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to invade your privacy like that. I knew it was probably the wrong thing to do but I couldn’t help it… and look what’ve done. Virgil, I need you to breathe with me. You can do that, I know you can.”

He began to exaggerate his breathing and slowly but surely edged closer. Virgil noticed and flung towards him, making Logan yelp, but he settled once he realised Virge just wanted – needed – something to ground him. He allowed his friend to clutch his shirt as they breathed in and out together and after a while, the panicked feeling started to subside. Logan grinned in relief and the back of his mind started murmuring about soulmates, but Virgil was more important than some stupid theory.

Logan rubbed his back as Virge sobbed into his shirt, assuring him that it was going to be alright and other sweet-nothings he wouldn’t usually promise. He had always made exceptions for Virgil. He encouraged him to keep breathing as he stood them up, supporting Virgil as they made their way over to the bed.

Shocking Logan, Virge didn’t let go once they were lying down. He was mostly silent and pliant now after having worn himself out, but he trusted Logan to take care of him.

As he was drifting off to sleep, he felt Logan press a kiss to his hair.

“I’ll always do my best to protect you,” Logan breathed, and Virgil found himself believing it.

The next morning, Virgil wasn’t in bed with him. For a second, Logan feared he screwed it all up, but then Virgil wandered back into his room yawning and wearing the hoodie Logan lent him. Logan watched him for a bit, before Virgil finally turned to face him.

“So,” he began, “we should probably talk about last night.”

And they do. Virgil told Logan that he wasn’t mad at all, and revealed that it wasn’t that he hated the idea of Logan being his soulmate, but it was just so unexpected and overwhelming. He also admitted to thinking he was unworthy, which Logan refuted immediately.

However, he could still sense Virgil’s underlying doubt. He chewed his lip and toyed with the idea, before deciding fuck it. “Can I kiss you?” He asked.

Virgil’s eyes widened and Logan almost took it back, but then he nodded. Taking a deep breath, he leant in and-

Everything just felt… right.

There were no cliché fireworks or sudden sparks of emotion, but it was more like they had clicked into place. Any trace of unease melted away as they pulled apart, and they both felt at peace.

And then they laughed, because everything seemed so obvious now. How could they not be soulmates?

“So, Virge,” Logan began, still grinning. “I believe the next step is to ask you to be my boyfriend.”

Virgil nodded, too overjoyed to say anything, but Logan already knew his answer.

-

A week after the kiss, Logan and Virgil were anxiously waiting for the Skype call to connect. Or, at least, Virgil was. Logan was debunking his anxious rambles with calm reasoning and a gentle hand rubbing his back.

“I can’t do this,” Virge muttered.

“I know you can,” Logan stated. Before Virgil could reply, Patton and Roman’s faces came into view.

Patton took one look at the scene before he leant back in his chair with his arms crossed. “Alright, what happened? Did you kill someone?”

“If you did, I’ll help you hide the body,” Roman offered.

“Virgil?”

The boy unfroze and took a deep breath. “I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?” Patton frowned. “You sound serious. Are you okay? Did you actually kill someone?”

“What- no, not that. Everything’s fine, but um-”

“We have recently discovered that we’re soulmates,” Logan finished. Virgil shot him a grateful smile.

There was a moment of silence. Logan felt Virge’s anxiety steadily rising, so he squeezed his hand. Then Patton broke out into a huge smile.

“I called it! I mean, it was so obvious that you two loved each other from the bottom of your shoes – get it? Because the bottom of shoes are soles and you two are soulmates?”

The other three groaned in unison, but otherwise enjoyed each other’s company. 

Virgil could get used to this.

A/N In other news, I still suck at endings. Now for the tag list (which I’ve been slacking off on):

@imin-loveanon @dan-yuna @thebaagelboy @velocifoxy @skylions-den @starlight-sanders @pippa-frost @prinxiety-logicality-ss @meginoi @tahneetalks @sanderscribbles @321angst @andy-the-anon @taki-random @gravitygallifreyfalls @idk-and-idc-and-idr @obviouslyelementary @inalandofmythandtimeofmagic @justaweirdowithspooks @cosmic-melodies @i-am-me-i-am-sam @tssanderssidestrash @pointless-blog-name @pretty-mr-sanders @sanders-sin @watch-me-introvert @analogicalityhell @just-a-slytherin-with-salt @thedemonsofmysoul @ibelily @marktaunisruiningmylife @iaminmultiplefandoms @cutie5780 @parrawyn @lovelylizzylady @leesacrakon @unconventional-blackgirl