#anyway time to go put on noise cancelling headphones so i can STUDY

[notsocatholic]

i swear to god. i thought i was losing my mind. i could faintly hear someone speaking like they were standing right outside my walls. but every time i looked out no one was there. then i started hearing music. true fear is an ominous threat of darude’s sandstorm at 08:43 pm on a friday in september from an unknown origin. i swear the bass is in my floorboards. i can smell the sweat soaked towels being flung through the air. i am alone in my living room & my dog is sleeping soundly & i can hear an announcer from the void of the backyard telling me to “pump it up! let’s make some noise!” but they remain formless. nothing else is making a sound, not even the crickets.

my heart is thumping through my chest. i am pacing a circle into the carpet as i check each window. the street lamps dimly show an empty street, & none of my neighbors have any lights on. i begin to believe i have finally snapped, & sanity is crumbling through my fingers with all the grace of a slinky down the stairs.

until i remembered i live less than a mile from the local high school.

anyway go team & also the tubas are fucking it UP

[infranuz]

ii. a kiss for u ig || snap out of it

“arisu, don’t you think it’s a bit too early to start the day? It’s barely 8” you groaned as your brother woke you up to get ready for the long day ahead of you. if you were to be honest you were starting to regret dragging kuina and chishiya all day yesterday and coming home so late. but hey, you got to hang out with them for a while.

“not even, usagi wakes up earlier than you and she doesn’t complain” arisu was all ready to go but you could tell he still needed some sleep. “and how would you know that huh?” he stopped dead in his tracks after hearing your words “because.. she told me, yeah, you know the other day she came over” even he sounded unsure of his words.

he quickly changed the topic avoiding your question “anyway, what did you do yesterday since you came home at 1 am..” he walked back to the dining room, setting down a plate on the table for cereal. “not this again, i get it. I need to get home earlier because of how dangerous it is out there, blah blah” you heard it all from yesterday's lecture he gave you about being out so late at night. 

“[name], I’m actually asking what you did yesterday..” he stared at you confused “oh.. well, we went to cafes, malls, specially the ones with bookstores in them, chishiya bought me some books as a welcome back gift” you smiled recalling the events from last night.

“so chishiya was the one that brought you” he could barely be heard as he crunched on his cereal. “yeah, man i should’ve taken a picture of him with his mittens” arisu suddenly spit out his cereal laughing. “YOU GAVE HIM THE MITTENS?!?” arisu giggled at the sudden image that popped up in his head

you could only laugh with him as he almost choked on his left over cereal in his mouth. conversation went smoothly after his little outburst of laughter, “are you done eating? usagi and karube said they’ll meet us at the park” arisu got up from his spot going to place his used plate on the sink to wash later.

or more like for you to wash later since he’ll normally forget and leave you to do the dishes.. “yeah I’m all done here, let’s go then I want to get back early” and truly you did, there was still some studying you had to do for an upcoming final you had for your classes. 

arisu nodded his head and grabbed your apartment keys along with a small bag, a present that you helped him pick out for usagi. it was just a simple $100 perfume that she had been wanting for the longest of time. 

you took the lead in walking out first, the sun's light immediately hitting your face. arisu took his time walking out and closing the door making sure it was locked. “this is why we need a car, sometimes I hate walking..” you silently whined, your legs still hurt from yesterday, sadly you would have to deal with it.

“well can you pay for one?” arisu looked at you with a mocking grin “shut up” you glared at him turning away. he laughed and turned his head forward once again. 

for a couple of minutes it was silent as both of you stepped into the city’s busy streets. sometimes it was kind of overwhelming to be around so many people, yet, knowing your brother was right beside you lessened the feeling a bit. arisu knew this so he handed you his headphones to cancel out all the noise surrounding you. you silently thanked him, taking them and putting them on.

all the peoples talking voices were eventually drowned out by your music “omg by new jeans again?, don’t you get tired of listening to them over and over again..” arisu peeked over at your phone to see what song you played, thankfully you couldn’t hear him so you only gave him a confused look pointing to the headphones.

he realized his mistake and laughed dismissing his question, before you knew it both of you had arrived at the park where you both quickly spotted karube and usagi having a conversation. you could see how usagi turned her head when karube pointed both of you out. 

you took off your headphones as you both approached them, the loud city’s noises were no longer audible. “arisu, name!” karube got between you two and hugged you both with a big smile on his face. you giggled, he would always do this when he had the chance. “hi karube” truly it had been so long since you had last seen the blond man. 

you turned to usagi, which correction was a bad idea because now you had to see arisus horrible attempt at flirting. you pushed him away as you greeted usagi “USAGII” you launched yourself at her, “name!!” she opened her arms wide to receive the hug 

arisu looked at you in disbelief and betrayal to which you stuck out your tongue to him. as you got off of her karube spoke up “so.. where are we going first??” he looked eager to start the day. “well first.. the movie that starts at 10, then we can walk around the plaza near there and lastly dinner..” arisu said as he recalled the plan.

“well then let’s get going, it's almost 10” usagi said as she showed you the time from her phone. great!! more walking.. you cursed at whoever decided to build the cinema so close yet so far from where you were. thankfully, karube noticed and offered to give you a piggyback ride, of course you didn’t refuse. 

not once did he complain through the walk, at some point you got comfortable enough to lay your head on his shoulder, slowly taking in his scent. a small hint of cigarettes and alcohol mixed with cologne was noted. still he did smell pretty good, in fact, it could probably put you to a peaceful sleep if it wasn’t for you fighting to stay awake. 

fortunately (for you at least) it was all in vain since you did end up falling asleep. arisu sighted in defeat when he caught sight of your sleeping figure. once again fortunately, you missed the movie thanks to your deep slumber,  truthfully you didn’t want to watch it either way. 

the only reason why arisu had even picked it was for usagi to get scared and cling on to him. really cliche right? point is by the time you awoke they were already walking by the plaza. karube was still carrying you on his back. 

“good morning [name]” karube spoke up as he felt your head lift from his shoulder and move to the side. “what time is it? I didn’t mean to fall asleep..""oh i don’t know maybe about 2 hours!?!” arisu glared at you “oh well, my bad but in my defense I came back home late and slept around 3 am..” you did stay up 2 more hours after getting home for educational purposes; studying. 

“im kind of thirsty, can we get drinks?” you could tell they had been walking for a couple of minutes now. “im also thirsty, but where can we find a-” usagi stopped her sentence as she spotted a small convenience store. “I’m sure we’ll find something there” arisu pointed out. 

“if you guys want, me and arisu can go get the drinks while you stay here, we won’t be gone too long” usagi turned to both you and karube. you looked over to arisu who now looked nervous, just to tease him you accepted her offer, his eyes immediately landed on you with a slight glare. you gave him your teasing smirk as they both slowly turned around and walked towards the store. 

“you can put me down now karube, thank you for the ride.” you tapped his shoulder to catch his attention. “yeah of course, anytime, you seriously looked like you needed it” he chucked, “yeah, I barely slept 6 hours when I normally get 8..” it may not sound like a lot for many but you truly needed those 2 extra hours.. he slowly put you down making sure you landed on your feet safely.

karube hummed, a second later a sudden question pops up “so, my kiss?” karube smirked at you, who only stared back at him surprised. you let out a chuckle with a smile that had appeared. you had jokingly offered a kiss to chota the day before to which he rejected and now karube wanted to take his place instead and as silly as he is he sounded serious dead serious.

you sighted in defeat “a kiss for you i guess, but only because you gave me that piggyback ride” you reach for karube’s face to bring it down to your own height as your lips land on his left cheek. you slowly stepped back and looked up to him. “i’ll take that as a win for today then” he smiled as he placed his hand over your head. 

you could feel your face getting warmer from that small interaction “dont get used to it..” right on queue arisu and usagi came back with 4 drinks on their hands. “a strawberry for [name] and a mango for karube” usagi mentioned so arisu could hand you your proper drinks. you thanked usagi since she knew what flavor you wanted exactly.

“lastly we have dinner, we can just go to some fast food place around here..” arisu checked his phone to search for any possible places you guys could walk to. karube suddenly nudged your shoulder to get your attention on him, “do you like sanrio?” you stared at him confused for the sudden question yet still answered “yeah, why?”.

without a word he took your hand and walked you to a nearby stand where you could take a notice of.. bouquets? but not just any type of bouquets, they were sanrio themed ones. those bouquets you would always see on Instagram or any social media for that matter. while you zoned out you were quickly brought back by karube as he handed you a cinnamoroll bouquet. 

a pretty baby blue color that matched your current outfit. “arisu mentioned you liked that show once ” karube said as he looked away with evident pink cheeks. this time it was your turn to speak but you felt as if no words could come out, as if your throat was drier than a dessert even after just having an ice cold drink. if you were to speak now you would only stutter like a fool. 

“thank you karube..” it was all you could let out as you turned back to arisu and usagi with the blond following behind you. while it was horribly awkward on your part, you seriously couldn’t find the right words to describe how you were feeling. your heart was beating so fast you could practically have a heart attack right then and there. 

your head turned back to karube, he was staring right at you before immediately turning his head the other way trying to make it seem like he was just looking around. this gave you the confidence to calm down from your flustered state as you giggled and clinged to his arm.

arisu and usagi only stared at the two of you not wanting to interrupt your little moment so they only walked ahead in the direction of whatever restaurant they had chosen.

maybe today wasn’t as bad as you planned it to be after all.

— IM SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO PUT THIS CHAPTER OUT.. my tumblr kept glitching for some reason.. I thought I was abt to loose all my progress at some point thankfully I didn’t. hopefully there are no mistakes, I reread it like 10 times.. + i hope it is to your liking, it’s almost 2k words I think.. sorry for so many words😭 I appreciate all the support I’ve been getting🫶🏼 I look forward to working on more chapters for this smau!! ps. I swear I will bring chishiya scenes soon <3

tags!! ,, tags!! ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝!! | if highlighted purple tag doesn’t work💔

@parkersmyth . @surshica . @spaceshattered-skies . @rainqissedd . @saltysoftgrungeofscience . @captivq . @vernon-dursley . @fishisahappydog . @trinmadol . @elernity . @naegisimp . @4vonly . @sincerely-raine . @yvrikoo . @sicksanji

[cherrybombfangirlwrites]

Hi!!! Happy WBW!

Now that you got me thinking about a new blorbo daughter....

Can you tell me what a typical week/day/routine looks like for Kylee? with her powers and her friends and all?

@bloodlessheirbyjacques (:

Hey! Happy WBW! Sorry this took so long I'm trying to come out of my school induced hiatus and clear out my inbox XP

But! Anyways, Kylee's typical daily/weekly routine includes:

She has a full schedule with A day and B day blocks in high school.

On school days, she wakes up at 6 in the morning. She puts on her clothes, does her hair, makes sure she has everything for school (all of that takes roughly an hour).

Then she eats breakfast, and usually walks to school or if it's too cold her mom drives her

She has english, history, and social studies in the morning and painting and chemistry in the afternoon on A days. On B days, she has english, study hall, and sewing in the morning, and in the afternoon she has math and spanish class.

(In the first book at least, she's a Sophomore)

After school she goes to the team's base aka garage to study/work on her art while the others plan out superhero stuff for that night (she uses her noise cancelling headphones)

Being Asher, he won't let her patrol past 10 on school nights, and midnight on nonschool nights. She doesn't really care, as she really needs the sleep

On patrol, she's usually the scout and uses her powers to sneak ahead and scope out the area/weaken defenses a little

Before bed she has a little stim time, then gets ready for bed.

On nonschool days, she spends most of her time at home, and the others can call her for an emergency (the only exception is when everyone needs to be at the base for something big)

After she graduates high school, Kylee has a lot more time for her art career and doesn't run out of spoons and burn out during the day as much, and can go out on patrols later and longer (turns out she's a night owl)

Thanks for also having brainrot about my blorbo Kylee I love her <3

Thank you @jacquesfindswritingandadvice /bloodlessheirbyjacques !

[foreverinthepagesofhistoryy]

Leaving my thoughts here. But domestic Leo and Alix at UWC. I feel like even 🇪🇸 mentioned once that UWC was like their personal time together to be together everyday. But like imagine a one shot just focusing on their UWC Days. Leo loves them because it’s a time where she can just breathe and not have to worry about expectations or the press. She’s almost normal. She’s just a girl in school who gets her girlfriend to tutor her in German 😭🤣 but seriously. These are just some of my thoughts but

1) Alix and Leonor are not roommates because Lacy is head girl and she’s Alix’s roomie, but Leonor’s dorm is like the next dorm down and Leonor can always tell when Alix is asleep because she snores the loudest over all the other first years.🤗 the first week of Alix’s stay lacy always comes to breakfast looking quite unkempt. Let’s just say a week later nobody judged Lacy who went into town to buy some noise canceling headphones.

2)Alix and Leo have their own spot on the school grounds where they can sit and get work done, but it overlooks the ocean and the welsh sky. Leonor never feels cautious or nervous about being extra touchy because almost everyone at UWC thinks that Alix and Leo are the cutest royal couple ever.

3) Leonor has always struck me as someone who succeeds very well in all areas of Academics so it’s only fair in the UWC universe for her to have a rule that Alix is not allowed to sit next to her during classes that require concentration. Especially chemistry. (It was only one time that Alix and Leo were paired up to use the Bunsen burners and everything was going well till Alix got distracted by Leonor putting on her goggles and Alix just turned into a ball of glue(because Leonor on goggles is cute apparently) and just let her notebook fall into the flame…) cue Lacy chatting with Leonor as they walk to the canteen, “listen you and Alix cannot sit next to each other in chemistry, it’s now a fire hazard”.

4)Alix and Leonor always study in the Library, in the deepest section, far away from prying eyes because one, Alix’s game of ‘one question per correct answer’ is not something the other students want to see when their cramming before a exam. But also because I feel like their is something so special about seeing a person grow (not only in mind but in spirit) and Leo and Alix just working side by side and growing together is just so cute…like that’s memories that will follow them wherever they go.

5) lastly both girls have their schedules memorized, so when Alix is done with a class she’ll almost always find Leonor waiting for her outside the classroom, I also feel like Alix is very big on morning walks to class.

I’m new to the UWC fandom so if this was a lot….😭 da

OMG I feel so bad that you are new to the fandom and I’m just getting to this 😭 I’m literally so sorry!

Anyway I’m literally dying. THIS is my lesbian dream and it is definitely 100% accurate on the WOTC world. All of this happened without a doubt!

Again I’m so sorry and hope you are still around to read this! SO SORRY this took me SOOOO long to answer! 🤍

[gayspaceheist]

    Jin, shoulderblades pressed against the front of the scuffed yellow couch, looked up from the mess of gun parts on the floor in front of them to discover that Hal had spread a quantity of blueprints around herself and was studying them intently, pen in her teeth. She had a second pen in her hand and reached over several different pages of schematic to scrawl a sloppy question mark over what looked, from the wrong direction, like either a pair of sliding doors or an escalator. Mina had gone to bed, which probably meant Mina had gone to put on her noise-cancelling headphones and text eight people simultaneously about engine specs, but Jin had been too engrossed in oiling gun barrels to have really noticed Mina’s goodnight, other than a faint half a memory, if they really reached for it, of Mina ruffling their hair and saying, goodnight asshole, with that fond and sleepy crook of her mouth that meant she was tapping out. 

   They had sort of forgotten that Hal was still here, engrossed in the ritual of parts and placing. Felt weird, somehow, like they’d missed tightening a part of the gun mechanism or hadn’t noticed the air purifier had kicked on. Almost asked what she was doing, to diffuse the ticking silence, but probably it was only ticking for them, loud and pressing, now that they’d suddenly noticed it was there. And anyway it was just Hal bent over her spread of maps and blueprints, checking exits and entrances again again again, trying to find flaws ahead of time. She’d been doing it off and on for days, like a protection ritual. Maybe it was. 

   Jin went back to cleaning the revolver, which no longer needed the attention. They thought for a minute, like someone had unthinkingly tabbed open the window blinds in their brain, about the night before the last go, when Zarrow had got extremely tipsy off a fizz she’d stolen out of Mina’s workroom minifridge, and had mimed the entire plan, twirling Pross across the floor of the workroom with such giddy zeal that Pross even fucking laughed, and then with her hand still in Proserpine’s had braced her back up against Jin’s in a dizzy parody of their usual gunfights. 

   They sat up, blinking, trying to tear the cobweb of memory off. Hal was looking at them, felt-tips down, so still, arm flung over knees, eyes wide and dark. Jin said, “What the fuck are you looking at me like that for?” and Hal pulled her mouth wry and long and weirdly sad. 

   A beat. And then Hal said, like it was a perfectly ordinary question, “Can I kiss you?” 

   Jin stared, words and thoughts drying up. Their ears were roaring like they’d gone to sit in the engine room. They could see, suddenly, exactly how it would go. How, if they nodded, Hal would close the few feet between them, and the way she would first slide one hand against Jin’s face, thumb skirting the still-tender bone beneath their eye. Jin understood with horrible clarity the way they would turn their face into Hal’s palm, the smell of felt-tip and skin-warmth, how they’d kiss into her hand and shut their eyes. The way Hal, so slowly and so gently, would kiss the thin tissue of their eyelids, first one, then the other, and the bridge of their nose; the way they'd feel the riverbed-lap of her breath, the firm tender warmth of her mouth. How still so gently she’d press her mouth to the corner of Jin’s, and Jin knew the way their mouth would open at the touch, and the long slow breath they’d let out like an uncapped valve, and the way they would at last bite very lightly at Hal’s lip and draw her in and their mouths would align, and she would kiss them and she would kiss them and she would kiss them, Jin’s bony knee hedging her in, her hand skimming their jawline and fingers digging in behind their ear, the way Jin’s hands would stay braced to the floor, wrists white with strain, until Hal’s other hand came up to cup their jaw with too much reverence and they would snake a hand into her hair to tug meanly, hungrily, balance back the energy between them, turn the kiss-- 

   Jin flinched back. “You planning to die tomorrow? What the hell? Since when do we -- that’s dying-tomorrow behaviour. What are you going to do now, pull out your wallet and show me pictures of your grandmother back home? Fucking hell, Goshawk, get some air.” They reached over to cap the bottle of gun oil, crumple up their rag. 

   Hal looked stung, and then embarrassed. “No, I -- never mind.” She stood up, brushing at her trouser legs, leaving the felt-tips and the blueprints on the floor. “Anyway, I’m out. I’m not getting anything else done tonight. Did Kventhe shut down the -- never mind, I’ll do it. Get some sleep, hotshot. Can’t have you going blurry tomorrow.” 

   Jin stared up at her from the floor, knee pulled up. Their mouth tasted like metal. They scrubbed a wrist across their face and then set to reassembling the revolver. “Okay,” they said, light and casual. “All right. Goodnight, detective.” 

   Hal turned crisply on her grey-socked heel, somehow, and went for the door, leaving her collage of schematics behind. Jin watched her shoulderblades move under the black tank and the dark curl of hair at the nape of her neck. The sliding doors swallowed her up. Jin leaned back against the couch, and thought very hard about the way the cheap synthetic upholstery prickled at the skin of their neck like radio static. Every bruise they could remember having ached at once. They shut their eyes. 

[flowerfan2]

Let in Light and Banish Shade

Just a little hurt/comfort Christmas Eve fic.  I hadn’t planned to get drawn into the Stranger Things fandom this year, but it happened.  Thanks to @kedreeva for that - and for answering my questions (and writing awesome ST fic).  Please reblog if you enjoyed this - I’m a newbie in this fandom and would appreciate it.

Wishing you all peace and joy in the new year.

____

Steve/Eddie, T, 2600 words.  A03.

It’s been months since they defeated Vecna, and almost as long since Eddie got out of the hospital, more stitches than skin but still somehow alive.  He knows he should be grateful to modern medicine or some shit, but it’s hard when he’s spending every other day hoping he doesn’t lose his mind from the pain in his head.

The headaches aren’t as bad as they were at first, and Eddie has figured out ways to avoid them, or at least try to.  He knows for sure that loud noises and bright lights can bring them on or make them worse, so he spends a lot of time holed up in his room, curtains closed and lights on dim.

Unfortunately, this really sucks, because Eddie is not so good at being quiet and staying still.  It’s driving him batty, and even if it’s not demo-batty, it’s still a problem.  He had thought for a while that he could still hang out with the kids, be their DM but just at a lower volume, but that didn’t work.  Dustin got him some kind of super-duper noise cancelling headphones to cover his ears, but then the kids just shouted louder and again, no dice.

He's able to kill some time every day studying for his GED.  As anyone who has ever met him could have predicted, though, it’s hard to focus on that for very long, even if reading didn’t make him feel like his eyes were going to pop out of their sockets.

Now it’s Christmas Eve, and to put the icing on the stale donut that is his life, he’s going to be stuck in bed with a headache instead of going to the Byers’ house for a party.  Robin stopped by the trailer a few days ago to tell him about it.  They’ve all been good about keeping tabs on him, Robin and Steve, mostly, since Nancy has been away at college.  Dustin, of course, can’t stay away for more than a day or two, and sometimes Max comes over, still limping but smiling more and more every time.  But even the most well-meaning visits are stilted.  Eddie wants to just be normal again.  To be able to carry on a conversation in more than a whisper, to hang out with a group of people all laughing and shouting over each other to be heard.

The invitation to tonight’s gathering featured Will’s drawing of a huge dragon resting quietly in a snowbank, looking out over a town filled with twinkling lights.  Even Hawkins can look pretty at Christmastime, Eddie has to admit.  Though there’s not much of a view from his trailer, even if the lights didn’t bring on a migraine.

Eddie is lying in bed, playing the game where he tries to figure out if his middling headache is going to get worse before it gets better, when he hears a knock on the front door.  This new (new-to-you, anyway) trailer’s door actually locks, and while he knows it won’t keep Vecna-level bad guys out, he figures it might at least slow down the good citizens of Hawkins that still think he’s a murderer.

Eddie slides out of bed and walks carefully down the hall, wishing he had socks on.  When he opens the door he’s not really surprised to see Steve, smiling shyly at him.

“Come on in.”

Steve nods and complies, his smile dimming as he gives Eddie an appraising glance.  “You look cold.”

That’s the least of Eddie’s issues, but also true.  His ratty t-shirt and old sweatpants don’t do much against the December chill.  “Yeah, well I was all cozy under my blankets until you came along.”

“Well, let’s get you back in bed,” Steve says, prodding Eddie in the right direction with a hand on his shoulder before shedding his coat and following him.

It’s not the first time Steve has shown up, packages in hand, delivering soup or cookies or even a box of Eddie’s favorite cereal.  Eddie knows Steve is fond of him, knows he hates how badly Eddie got hurt.  It’s part of what he loves about Steve, that he cares about his friends so deeply.  It’s pretty amazing that Steve includes him in that group.  He’s not always sure he deserves it, but on days like this, it’s awfully nice.

Eddie slides back under the blankets while Steve rummages in the backpack he brought along.  “Stay here,” Steve says, keeping his voice to that soft pitch he always uses with Eddie now.

“Where else would I go?” Eddie mutters.  He tries not to shiver, it makes his head hurt more, just lies still and wonders what Steve is up to.  A beep from the kitchen catches his attention, and then Steve is back.

“Close your eyes.”

Eddie blinks up at him for a minute.  Steve’s got on a dark red sweater, very appropriate for the holiday.  He’s probably just here to say hi before dashing back to the Byers’ party.  Dashing, indeed.  He thinks he might like this sweater even better than Steve’s sunshine yellow one.

“Eddie?”

“Um, yeah?”

“Close your eyes.”

But then I can’t see you, Eddie thinks.  “Why?”

Steve’s mouth quirks up at the corner.  “You’ll see.”

Eddie closes his eyes, and feels a warm, soft weight laid over them.  He touches it with his fingers.  It’s kind of a bean bag thing; Steve must have warmed it up in the microwave.  It keeps his eyes closed without Eddie having to think about it.  

“Robin’s mom went to some kind of spa getaway for work, and brought home a bunch of stuff.”  Steve shuffles closer and the bed squeaks as he sits down.  “Do you like lavender?  She had some oil, it’s supposed to be relaxing.  But I know smells sometimes make it worse…?” Steve trails off, his voice rising with the question.

“Let me try it.”  Eddie gives the proffered bottle a quick sniff.  It’s only barely scented, and doesn’t seem to make any more daggers shoot through his skull.  

“Pass the sniff test?”

Literally, Eddie thinks, and nods, careful not to dislodge the warm bean bag thing from his eyes.

A moment goes by, Steve shifting next to him, and then Steve touches his temples and rubs gently.  It feels great, Steve’s fingers tracing circles right where it hurts the most.

“This okay?”  Steve asks softly.

“Yeah, it’s good.”

Eddie doesn’t know how long it goes on. Steve’s fingers move up and down across his temples and across his forehead, so slowly and lightly that all Eddie feels is relief.

“Back here too?”  Steve’s touching his hair, sliding his hand back over his ears.

“Yeah.”

Steve continues massaging Eddie’s scalp, easing his fingers through Eddie’s hair.  He shifts a little as he goes, supporting Eddie’s head.  It feels amazing, and Eddie gives himself over to it, the gentle touches creating a soothing rhythm he wants to live in forever.

At some point Steve pauses, maybe thinking Eddie has fallen asleep.  Eddie takes the pillow off his eyes, lifts himself up on an elbow and squints at Steve through one eye.  “What are you doing here, anyway?”

Eddie hadn’t really meant to ask this question, but it’s been on his mind since Steve arrived.  It was bound to find its way out of his bruised head eventually.  

Steve bites his lip, then focuses on Eddie’s face and his expression changes.  It looks like he’s holding back a laugh.

Eddie considers, then turns his one-eyed squint into a full-on silly face, eyes scrunched together, mouth open and tongue out.  He even adds one hand on his head, fingers waggling.  

It makes his head throb, but Steve’s soft laugh is worth it.  “God, Eddie, I’m so-” Steve cuts himself off and rubs a hand over his mouth.

Something tightens in his stomach at Steve’s words.  “You’re so what?”  Eddie speaks louder than he should have, and Steve’s face falls as Eddie flinches at the sound of his own voice.

“Lie back down, come on, close your eyes,” Steve says softly, and he shifts, guiding Eddie back onto the bed, this time somehow rearranging them so that Eddie’s head is lying on Steve’s thigh.  The denim feels good under his cheek, and Eddie is in enough pain that he isn’t going to question exactly what’s going on.  If Steve’s really cool with this rather intimate approach to health care, Eddie’s not going to stop him.

Steve’s hand rests on Eddie’s shoulder, then he goes back to petting his hair, fingers sliding against his scalp.  Eddie relaxes into it, letting out a sigh of relief as the spike of pain fades.  It’s only then that he realizes that Steve has avoided answering his original question.  

“Did the party get cancelled?” he asks, trying not to think about how his lips are practically brushing Steve’s thigh as he speaks.  “Nancy not make it home yet?”

“No, she’s back.  Party’s still on.  But you couldn’t come, so I came to see you, duh.”

Steve’s Dustin imitation needs some work, but his deflection is clear as day.

“Last minute decision?”  Eddie waves his hand in Steve’s general direction, indicating his nice sweater and fancy jeans.

Steve takes in a long breath and lets it out slowly.  Eddie can feel his chest rising and falling behind his head.  There’s a pause, and Eddie thinks that Steve might be picking something up from the D&D sessions he’s been tagging along to, because the suspense is really building.

“I stopped by the Byers’ first, to say hi to everyone.  But I knew as soon as I found out that you weren’t going that I wasn’t going either.  I couldn’t have a good time knowing you were lying here hurting.”  

Steve’s hand on Eddie’s neck has stilled, and Eddie arches up against it.  He hears Steve’s puff of amusement as he starts moving again, the tension broken.

“Them’s some mighty strong words, Steve,” Eddie says lightly.  He’s wondered, from time to time, whether there could be something between them.  More than once there’s been a moment when he thought there could be.  This is one of those moments.

Steve doesn’t deflect this time, just keeps on touching Eddie, brushing his hair away from his face, stroking a finger along his cheekbone.  Eddie’s no genius, but he really doesn’t think they are still in platonic mode anymore.  

“What were you going to say before?  You’re so – what?”

In response, Steve suddenly shifts, sliding to lie down on the bed next to Eddie, catching Eddie’s head so he isn’t dumped off Steve’s thigh.  Before he knows it, Steve’s lying on his side facing him, his hand cupping his cheek.  Eddie briefly wonders whether he’s having some kind of hallucination, but when he blinks Steve is still right there.

“Eddie,” Steve says.

Eddie swallows hard and meets Steve’s eyes, hoping his heart doesn’t actually burst out of his chest.  “Yeah?”

“I was going to say, before I chickened out, that I am <i>so fucking glad</i> you’re alive.”  Steve’s voice is still quiet, but it’s got an intensity to it Eddie hasn’t heard before.  “I know it’s been hard, I know your scars probably pull and itch like mine do, I know these headaches suck and nightmares don’t make them any better, but you’re getting through it, you’re getting better, I see it, and I’m so glad to see it, glad is such a dumb word for how I feel, I mean, I” – Steve’s voice cracks, and he shakes his head a little and goes on – “I’m just glad you’re here.”

Eddie thinks he’s still breathing, must be, but it’s a near thing.  “I’m glad you’re here too.”  The double meaning is probably clear, but like an idiot, he rambles on.  “Here, you know, alive.  And, you know, here with me.”  He tugs on Eddie’s sweater as if to illustrate, and Steve grins.

“I get it.”

“You do, huh?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Steve takes Eddie’s hand, twines their fingers together, and brings their joined hands between them.  “You’ve been playing the guitar again.”

Eddie’s brain stumbles a little at this.  “Um, yeah, little bit, now that my head isn’t killing me every single day.  How did you know?”

Steve runs a thumb over the palm of Eddie’s hand and down to his fingertips.  “Getting your callouses back.  It’s cool.”

Eddie’s never been the subject of anyone’s attention like this before.  No one’s ever cared enough to notice details like this about him.  He must have let this thought show on his face, or maybe even spoken it aloud, because Steve just shrugs.

“’Course I noticed.”

He’s not sure Steve meant it to sound so profound, but he can’t help but hear it that way.  And Steve’s still holding his hand, lying here with him under the blankets, gazing at him like he’s never seen anything better. It’s overwhelming.

“Are you sure about this, Steve?  I’m kinda fucked up.”  Understatement.  “I don’t have much to offer you.”

Steve’s mouth quirks.  “Just a whole lotta love?”

“I’m gonna kill you, quoting Led Zep at me at a time like this,” Eddie mumbles as Steve leans in and kisses the words out of his mouth.

It’s a good kiss, Goldilocks perfect, not too hard and not too soft, with just a tease of tongue.  But it doesn’t go on for long before Eddie needs to stop and lay back down, his head spiking with pain again.

“It’s okay, relax,” Steve says, tucking Eddie’s head on his shoulder and pulling the blankets around them.  He feels Steve drop a kiss to his head.  “You’re okay.”

“What if we can’t ever kiss for more than thirty seconds because of my headaches?” Eddie whispers, mostly joking.  “What if it’s another Vecna curse?”

Steve laughs softly.  “We’ll figure it out.”

“You’re supposed to say ‘thirty seconds with you is more than enough.’”

“Oh, it’s definitely not enough,” Steve says.  “But honestly,” he says, voice lightening, “you’re right.”

“Fuck, Steve, I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Plot twist?”

“Of the best kind.”  

Steve lets go of his hand in favor of wrapping an arm around Eddie’s shoulder, his movements smooth and careful.  “I know you’re still hurting, if this is making things worse…”

“Oh my god, no, this is the opposite of making things worse,” Eddie says, letting himself snuggle closer, digging his chin into Steve’s chest.  “It feels great.  I mean, my head still feels like the demobats are tossing it around like a chew toy, but aside from that, all good.”

Eddie can practically feel Steve’s concern oozing out through his fingers as he cups the back of Eddie’s neck.  “Just rest, babe.  I’ve got you.”

Eddie obeys, sinking deeper into Steve’s embrace.  “You know, you’re kind of an awesome Christmas gift.”  Eddie lets his hand rest on Steve’s shoulder, his thumb gently brushing the soft skin on his collarbone.  “And here I thought I was just getting coal.”

“No way,” Steve says, almost affronted at the idea.

And even though Eddie appreciates Steve’s support, he can’t resist teasing back, his voice sinking low.  “Are you saying I’ve been good?”

There’s a pause as Steve takes this in and switches gears.  He hums softly, sending a shiver down Eddie’s spine.  “The best.”

Eddie’s not sure how he ended up here, but damn if he isn’t going to enjoy it while he can.  And if there’s a chance that this is real – that Steve Harrington is going to cradle him in his arms and whisper sweet nothings to him as he crawls his way back to the world of the living – he’s going to take it.  Turns out it’s not going to be such a bad Christmas after all.

Note:  The title of this story is from 1984's “Do They Know It’s Christmas?" - a song sung by a bunch of celebrities which despite its shortcomings raised millions of dollars for charity.

[sparkvn]

TBZ as your college campus boyfriend

↳ Warnings: sardonic, slight suggestive material, some of this will prolly make you physically ill, or super soft, mentions of studying, soft and hard tendencies, kinda gave up on some

masterlist!

Sangyeon ⏐ 상연

▹ knows the sidewalk rule for sure

▹ has that bodyguard-esque vibe

▹ will make sure you get enough sleep so you're not tired the next day

▹ but will absolutely make sure you finish all your school work before letting you fall asleep though

▹ super angry to others when being overprotective of you

▹ won't let you drive and will always drive for you

▹ will study with you just to make sure you study

▹ "sit your ass down and write your notes"

▹ but if you tell him you're feeling unwell he'll take care of it and baby you

▹ asks you to text him when you've arrived at your class just to make sure you're safe

▹ strong arms that put you to sleep

Jacob ⏐ 제이콥

▹ may be infp but will talk to strangers for you if you needed him to

▹ very lenient with you

▹tends to let you skip classes to sleep

▹ but if you do it too much he will get frustrated and make you go

▹ is a teacher's assistant

▹ when you see him as a t/a in one of your classes you always try to catch his attention

▹ if and when he does get distracted he only shakes his head and chuckles before going back to work

▹ is a smartie pants

▹ "just give me the text and I'll explain for you"

▹ will massage your shoulders when you're stressed

▹ favorite thing to do is to place kisses on your temple

Younghoon ⏐ 영혼

▹ every male on campus is intimidated by younghoon but that's only because he's tall

▹ will scream at you if you interrupt him (affectionately ofc) and you only laugh at him

▹ you'll scream back at him anyways and it all ends in a fit of laughter

▹ buys you bread and feeds you pastries

▹ He finds it cute when your cheeks swell up with the sweets

▹ randomly sings black eyed peas when you're trying to study

▹ "Yo, I got that hit to beat the block. You can get that bass on below. I got that rock 'n' roll, that future flow"

▹ thanks to noise cancelling headphones, you barely hear him

▹ would try his best to help you, but ends up staring at the problem for 10 minutes before telling you he gives up

▹ will purposely make you look tiny in a selca by angling the phone all the way up over his head

▹ won't let you go to class without telling you that he loves you

Hyunjae ⏐ 현재

▹ on his serious smoldering agenda

▹ supports your every decision, if you wanna skip class, he'll be down

▹ the one that takes care of your drunk ass at campus party

▹ will take your face in his hands and kiss you before you part ways from him

▹ marvel fanatics, arguing about team iron man or team cap

▹ he'll glare at a male classmate if he finds that he's getting too cozy with you and your classmate gets the hint

▹ "ha its so funny how they get scared"

▹ absolutely would sneak you away to have a little fun in more ways than one

▹ everyone sees him as some serious brood, but he is the most adorable cuddly bear

▹ BEAR HUGS..full on bear hugs to the point you're breathing his chest

▹ the type to let you sit on his lap while you study, and will fall asleep with his arms around your waist and head resting on your back

Juyeon ⏐ 조연

▹ will unintentionally get your starbucks order wrong

▹ and would be too nervous to ask the barista to correct it so he just buys a whole new one

▹ world is too fast for him

▹ will be of no help on the subjects you struggle the most with, but tries anyways

▹ but will just be in the room for emotional support and it's all you need

▹ will gladly fuck your stress away when you need a break

▹ likes how your hand fits in his and makes your hand feel tiny

▹ "it's so cute how smol you are"

▹ thumbs the back of your hand and stares at you like you're art

▹ is the type to wrap you in a blanket before embracing you in his arms

▹ lots of head kisses

Kevin ⏐ 케빈

▹ has a new wallpaper for you every week curtesy of #moonscribbles

▹ but you'd rather have him as your wallpaper, and he wouldn't mind

▹ part time boyfriend, part time therapist

▹ All you need is his advice and words of wisdom to get through your semester

▹ will doodle on your homework and it's a surprise when you see them in class

▹ won't forget to end all his doodles with "-ily"

▹ STOLEN KISSES

▹ will take your hand to have a little slow dance to City of Stars if he thinks you're overworked

▹ "come on, just take a little break"

▹ but has others way to destress you up his sleeve

▹ the type to hold your hand and kiss the back of it every chance he gets

New ⏐ 뉴

▹ buys you the same pair of sunglasses as him, just because he wants to match

▹ is your very own fashion critique and won't let you leave looking like a mess

▹ Wouldn't be afraid to walk in a classroom full of students just to give you something you forgot and pecks you on the cheek leaving you shy and flustered

▹ His sullen expression will light up after waiting and seeing you get out of your last class

▹ Takes you thrifting after class ends and buys you items to dress you in

▹ Will most likely disapprove of your fashion finds

▹ "you buy that and I'll hide it till it rots"

▹ the type to look at you the same time you look at him before bursting into laughter

▹ not the type to be into pda, but will proudly pucker his lips waiting for a kiss in return, then continues on with his day like it didn't happen

▹ pushes you over to join his hello kitty agenda

▹ laughs about random shit until he falls asleep in your arms

Q ⏐ 큐

▹ the type to have correlating or matching phone cases with you

▹ bike ride datess

▹ will pull out his fake glasses that have no lenses to help you on a problem just for theatrics

▹ shushes you if you try to correct him

▹ takes his digital camera every where just in case you look extra cute (which is everyday to him)

▹ won't share his bubble tea with anyone but you

▹ HAND SQUEEZES, you both find it endearing

▹ will have a hard time walking properly if you find something hilarious and end up hitting each other haphazardly

▹ jumps in your arms when it's time for bed and loves laying on your boobs

▹ "ugh best pillow ever"

▹ wakes you up with kisses up your arm and shoulder and neck

Juhaknyeon ⏐ 주학년

▹ buys you food every time he meets up with you on campus

▹ after class, he'll take you to try a new restaurant every week if possible

▹ CONTAGIOUS LAUGH

▹ thinks its a joke and laughs when you ask him for homework help, but when you don't laugh he realizes it's serious and awkwardly does his best

▹ ends up solving all the problems for you

▹ likes to tickle you out of no where and finds it amusing how you crouch away

▹ will never let you see the bill even if you want to pay, he always pays before the meal ends

▹ loves to play rock, paper, scissors when you both come across a difficult choice where one wants the other

▹ "ah, I always win don't I"

▹ will kiss your pout away and let you have your way anyways

▹ has a very calming voice to fall asleep to

Sunwoo ⏐ 선우

▹ always on his angry baby-eyed raccoon agenda

▹ will get angry with you if you don't hold his hand when walking together and will grab your hand and put it in his

▹ will say the cheesiest shit ever

▹ “Well, here I am. What are your other two wishes?”

▹ you're the one who takes care of his drunk ass at campus parties

▹ will eat your food while you're busy studying and has the audacity to do it directly in your space

▹ such a flirt and tease

▹ approaches you and gets all touchy with you if he finds a male getting a little too close to you

▹ FULL ON PDA, he ain't scared of that, so many face pecks

▹ walks into your room mid study, just to plant a fat kiss on your lips

▹ "ok that's all I needed, continue with your studies"

Eric ⏐ 에릭

▹ will actually make you skip class to have a fun day

▹ so much damn energy, you have no idea

▹ will struggle with you on your homework even if he doesn't have to

▹ signs up in the same classes as you just to be close to you and obviously becomes the most active in the class

▹ will always take the blame for you if you get in trouble

▹ "i got you always"

▹ the type to swing your hand between your bodies because he finds it fun

▹ everyone on campus becomes physically sick seeing you guys

▹ literally feel your insides melt when you catch him dancing at the campus' studio

▹ isn't afraid to show you some of his moves.... preferably at home *wink wonk*

▹ has a talent for sleeping in, you have to shake him to wake him

▹ you're his living air, he can't live without you

[honeymark]

𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 | 이민형

Every relationship comes with a story. This is ours.

𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐃𝐄 𝟎𝟏 ; in which you & Mark tell your respective sides of your love story.

# 𝑫𝑼𝑹𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵 :: 15 minutes (3k words).

# 𝑾𝑨𝑹𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮𝑺 :: swearing, alcohol consumption.

『 The video opens with a shot of Y/N walking into the studio, hand-in-hand with Mark. The set is completely white ㅡ two white chairs are seated at a white table that has a set of white earbuds and white noise-cancelling headphones set atop of it. Y/N takes a seat in the chair to the right, while Mark sits in the chair across from her. 』

“Can you introduce yourselves?”

Mark: (points to Y/N) “You first?”

Y/N: “Sure.” (waves to the camera) “Hi, I’m Y/N. I’m 23 years old, and I’m an aspiring journalist.”

Mark: (smiles at Y/N, then turns and waves to the camera) “Hi, my name’s Mark. I’m also 23 years old, and I’m an aspiring author.”

“How long have you been together?”

Mark: (glances at Y/N) “Almost 2 years now, right?”

Y/N: (nods, then smiles) “It’ll be 2 years next Monday.”

“How did you two first meet?”

Y/N: “It’s kind of a funny story.” (glances at Mark, who’s clearly dreading this conversation already) “It was a random Saturday night, and I was taking the train back to campusㅡ”

Mark: “Oh my god, I still haven’t gotten over this story.” (covers his ears with his palms) “Go ahead, I’ll just pretend I’m not here.”

Y/N: (laughs) “So you know how there’s a charging outlet underneath every seat on the KTX? Well, I was minding my own business and using the outlet to charge my phone, but I kept catching the guy sitting next to me staring at me. Like, uncomfortably hard.”

Mark: (uncovers his ears) “I wasn’t staring at you that hard.”

Y/N: “You were looking at me like I dropped down from the sky.” (chuckles) “Anyways, I finally looked back at him and asked him if there was some sort of problem. And he just kind of awkwardly sat there for a second, and then finally pointed to my charger before telling me in this exaggeratedly hushed voice that I was using the wrong outlet.”

Mark: (covers his ears while squirming in his seat) “I can’t listen anymore.”

Y/N: “I was like, ‘No, this is the outlet on my seat.’ But he kept insisting that I was using the wrong one, and the funny thing was that he was getting impatient with me. So I looked down to show him where his outlet was, but he had a bunch of shit on the floor, so I ㅡ I still feel bad about this ㅡ I basically kicked all of it out of the way and, what do you know? There was an outlet underneath his seat the entire time.”

Mark: (sighs) “I’ve never been more embarrassed in my entire life.”

Y/N: “I thought you weren’t listening.”

Mark: (uncovers his ears) “I can’t help it!”

『 Y/N and Mark both burst into laughter. 』

“What was your first impression of each other?”

『 The video cuts to Y/N putting in the earbuds, then sliding the noise-cancelling headphones on over her ears. 』

《 HIS SIDE 》

Mark: “I...didn’t have a great first impression.” (laughs) “I figured she was just gonna ignore me for the rest of the ride, but she didn’t. She asked me where I was headed, so I told her that I was heading back to school. She told me she was heading back too, and it actually turned out that we went to the same college. We were even in the same department ㅡ the Media Communications department. Kinda like fate, right?” (smiles) “We ended up getting to know each other pretty well on that train ride and, honestly, I feel like we’ve been together ever since that day. We talked to each other every day, we studied together all the time, we sat next to each other at the department drinking parties ㅡ I actually got in trouble a few times for not giving my seat up to my sunbaes*.” (shrugs) “But it was worth it in the end.”

『 The video cuts to Mark putting in the earbuds, then sliding the noise-cancelling headphones on over his ears. 』

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “My first impression of Mark...I really didn’t know what to think, to be honest. I mean, it wasn’t the best, obviously. Just the fact that he was so confident, despite being in the wrong, rubbed me the wrong way. But I also thought it was funny, because he clearly wouldn’t have acted that way if he knew he was wrong.” (chuckles) “Things got really awkward after all of that happened. I’m the kind of person who hates that kind of uncomfortable vibe, especially since I was supposed to sit next to him for the next hour and a half. I tried to, you know, make small talk with him...and it worked, surprisingly. Turned out we were in the same department at the same university.” (smiles) “The ride back was unexpectedly really fun ㅡ we had similar likes, dislikes, goals, hobbies...we got along pretty well, for a couple of strangers, and we’ve been close ever since.”

『 The video cuts to Mark & Y/N, neither of whom are wearing any earbuds or headphones. Mark is trying his best to keep a straight face, but he breaks into laughter after Y/N turns her face away to laugh. 』

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Y/N: “Why do you look like you need to sneeze?”

Mark: “I was trying to be serious!”

Y/N: “That’s your serious face?”

Mark: (laughs, then sighs as he stretches his arms) “Dude, I can’t believe I was that convinced you were using my outlet. What the hell was I thinking?”

Y/N: “And the fact that you were annoyed with me was just the icing on the cake.”

Mark: “I probably didn’t leave a very good first impression.”

Y/N: “Not really, but I still thought you were cute.”

Mark: (gasps) “You thought I was cute?”

Y/N: (smiles) “Why do you sound so genuinely surprised?”

Mark: “I just ㅡ I guess I never thought about it until now.”

Y/N: “You think it’s just a coincidence that I always had a reason to hang out with you?”

Mark: (falls silent, then covers his mouth) “Oh my god, were you flirting with me? Babe, you were flirting with me!”

Y/N: (turns to the PD) “Can we move onto the next question?”

“How did you start dating?”

《 HIS SIDE 》

Mark: (sighs) “Damn, this is an embarrassing story, too.” (smiles sheepishly) “There weren’t a lot of guys in the journalism department at the time, so we all knew each other pretty well. There was this one sunbae that I was really close to, and every time we’d go drinking, he’d always end up getting drunk and crying over this girl he was in love with. And one day, he got so drunk that he couldn’t walk home. I asked if there was anyone he could call to come get him, but his answers weren’t making any sense, so I texted the first person that popped up in his messages. It probably wasn’t a good idea, but the ID was ‘My Love♡’, so I figured it was okay.”

Mark: “We waited a for a few minutes, and then Y/N suddenly came up to us. She was clearly surprised to see me ㅡ I’m sure I looked just as shocked ㅡ but what bothered me the most was how she didn’t even say anything to me when she got there. She just took his hand and left without even saying anything. I felt...betrayed, somehow, and I know how stupid that sounds, but some part of me felt so bitter that I didn’t even know she had a boyfriend. ‘Were we not close, after all?’ ‘Was it just me who thought we were best friends?’ I felt so irritated, but I didn’t know why.”

Mark: “Y/N and I were in the same group for a class presentation, and when we got together the next day to work on it, she was acting like  nothing happened...and for some reason, it only made me more annoyed.” (pauses) “She caught on to my attitude pretty quickly ㅡ well, thinking back on it now, I guess it was obvious that I was pissed about something ㅡ so on the way back from campus, she asked if I was okay.” (sighs) “I guess I wasn’t, because the second she asked me, I kind of snapped.”

Mark: “I told her I was fine and asked if that sunbae was okay, and she said he was. And...I know that I was the one who asked the question, but hearing her acknowledge that they were together made me feel even more bitter. I asked her how long they’d been dating, but she...avoided the question. She asked me what was going on...and I basically fell apart.” (pauses) “I asked her...why it couldn’t be me. You know, why couldn’t I be...her boyfriend...I didn’t know what I was saying. All of my feelings were just...coming out, and I finally understand that the bitterness holding me down was just...jealousy.”

Mark: “So...um...yeah. I said a few more really embarrassing things before she, uh, told me that she...didn’t have a boyfriend. So I...asked if it could still be me...and she said yes...and now we’re here.” (fans his face with his hands) “Shit, is it hot in here, or is it just me?”

*선배 (sun•bae) = refers to a colleague with more experience than you. in a university setting, it refers to anyone in the grades above yours.

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “There’s this oppa* in our department that I’ve been close to since elementary school, and I guess he and Mark became drinking buddies somehow. One night, I got a text from that oppa, asking me to come pick him up from a bar. It was already past 2am, and I had to get up early to meet my classmates in the morning, so I literally got out of bed and just walked out in my sandals to go pick him up. Like, I wasn’t planning on seeing anyone I knew, so I didn’t brush my teeth or put on proper clothes, I really was just planning on picking him up and going back to sleep...which is why I was so shocked to see Mark taking care of him.”

Y/N: “Like I said, I hadn’t brushed my teeth or anything, so I didn’t want to talk to him, you know? I feel bad about it now ㅡ it was pretty rude of me to do that, when I think about it now. I basically just pulled that oppa off of the ground, shoved him into my car, drove him back to his apartment, and went back to sleep.” (sighs) “I was praying that he didn’t think too much of it, but I knew there was something wrong when we met for the project the next day.”

Y/N: “He seemed...off. Like, he wasn’t ignoring me, but at the same time, he definitely wasn’t talking to me. I didn’t want to talk to him about it during the meeting, in case something was really going on, so I waited until after to ask him about it.” (pauses) “I asked him if he was okay, and he said he was fine, but he started talking about the oppa from that night. He basically thought we were dating, so I...” (pauses) “I made it clear that I didn’t have a boyfriend. And then he asked me if he could be my boyfriend, and we’ve been dating ever since.” (smiles)

*오빠 (o•ppa) = refers to an older brother/male, from the perspective of a younger female.

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Mark: “Why am I the one with all the embarrassing stories?”

Y/N: “It’s a cute one, though.”

Mark: “You aren’t embarrassed by me, Y/N?”

Y/N: (pauses, before turning to the PD) “What’s the next question?”

Mark: (jaw drops) “Wait, whaㅡ”

『 The video cuts to the next question. 』

“When did you realize you'd fallen in love?”

《 HIS SIDE 》

Mark: “I don’t think there was a specific moment where I realized. It was more just like, ‘Oh, okay. I’m in love with her. I guess that makes sense, since I feel like I’m floating whenever I’m with her.’ I think...my love for Y/N is something that grew over time, like a plant.” (smiles softly) “I know that’s cheesy as fuck, but I mean it. It started out small, but it’s grown into something that’s become undeniable.”

『 Mark pauses, his gaze falling on Y/N, who’s dancing in her seat to the beat of the music in her headphones. He smiles, a light chuckle slipping from his lips. 』

Mark: “Yeah, it’s undeniable. I’m in love with her.”

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “I remember that moment so vividly.” (smiles) “It was January 2nd, Mark’s first day back to Korea. He spent the majority of his winter break visiting his family in Canada, so we weren’t able to see each other for a few weeks. We made plans to meet up as soon as he got back, and I remember just looking down the sidewalk and seeing his bright, ‘Mark Lee’ smile.” (pauses, then nods) “Yeah, I knew in that moment that I absolutely was in love with him. The way my heart soared as soon as I saw him...like, I know that I missed him, but the sheer euphoria that I felt seeing him...I thought I was going to cry. You only feel something that deep when you’re in love, you know?”

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Y/N: “Was there a specific moment when you realized?”

Mark: (shakes his head) “No, I don’t think so. The feeling’s always been there, I just didn’t know it was love at first.”

Y/N: “Are you sure it’s love, now?”

Mark: “I’m 100% sure.” (smiles) “What about you? When did you realize?”

Y/N: (shrugs)

Mark: (laughs) “Wait, what d’you mean byㅡ” (mimics her shrug)

Y/N: (chuckles) “I’m just kidding. Remember our first date when you got back from Canada last year?”

Mark: (nods) “Yeah, of course. I was looking forward to it so much, I couldn’t even sleep on the flight back home.”

Y/N: (smiles) “The moment I saw you was the moment I knew I was in love with you.”

『 Mark scoots to the edge of his seat and leans forward, pressing a quick kiss to Y/N’s lips. They exchange soft “I love you”s before shyly turning to the PD for the next question. 』

“What is your partner’s biggest strength and weakness?”

《 HIS SIDE 》

Mark: “Her biggest strength is...it’s hard to choose one.” (pauses) “Y/N is really, really patient with people, especially with the people who don’t deserve it. Like, she’s literally the second nicest person after God. I feel like one of the biggest reasons why she’s doing so well in the field is because she’s patient enough to deal with the mess that comes with journalism. But I also kinda feel like that’s her biggest weakness. Some people like to take advantage of her patience. They’ll be late to appointments, they’ll say offhanded comments, they’ll miss deadlines ㅡ all because they know that Y/N is patient enough to deal with it.” (sighs) “Sometimes her friends and I get worried about her. We know she’s an adult and that she can take care of herself, but some people are just...really bad, you know? But yeah, Y/N is really patient. Too patient.”

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: “Honestly, I think Mark’s biggest strength is also his biggest weakness. Mark is the most hardworking person I know. He’s ambitious, driven, focused, and he doesn’t stop until he’s reached his goal. It’s one of the things I love about him.” (pauses) “But at the same time, I think he sacrifices a lot of his wellbeing to reach his goals. He forgets to prioritize himself when he’s in the zone. Sometimes he’ll forget to eat, or sometimes he’ll go a day or two without sleep. Sometimes I won’t see or hear from him for a couple days, even though we live with each other. He’ll just stay in his office until he’s finished with whatever project he’s working on.” (pauses) “I just...I don’t want to sound annoying, but I get worried, you know?” (smiles softly) “As much as we all nag him about it, we know he’ll be okay. He’s Mark Lee, after all.”

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Mark: “You probably said I work too hard, didn’t you?”

Y/N: (nods) “And you probably said I’m too patient, right?”

Mark: (nods) “It’s the truth! You’re too patient with other people. One of these days, someone’s gonna try to scam you.”

Y/N: “I’m not dumb enough to get scammed.”

Mark: “Has [bleep] paid you back the $300 she borrowed?”

Y/N: “...no...bㅡbut she said she’ll do it soon.”

Mark: “When is ‘soon’, Y/N?”

Y/N: “...yeah, okay. Maybe I see your point.”

“Do you see a future with your partner?”

《 HIS SIDE 》

Mark: (nods, then smiles) “Yeah, I do. And I know that we’ve only been dating for a short time and that everything is still new and that there are more obstacles that we’ll need to overcome in the future, but I also know that I want to be by Y/N’s side through all of it. I want to give her strength, just like how she gives me strength when I’m going through shit. I just...I think a lot about what I want my future to look like, and every time, I never think about Y/N not being there. Being together just...it feels right.”

《 HER SIDE 》

Y/N: (smiles) “I do. It probably sounds silly to a lot of people, especially since it hasn’t even been 2 full years since we started dating, but I don’t want a future without Mark in it. I mean, we’ll both be fine, even if we do decide to end things one day. But I know that I’d be so much happier if he was in my life. He’s my best friend, my partner-in-crime, my voice of reason.” (pauses) “I want to be with him for as long as the universe will allow us to be together.”

《 BOTH SIDES 》

Mark: “I do.”

Y/N: (smiles) “I know. I do, too.”

Mark: “I know.” (smiles) “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making you happy, Y/N.”

Y/N: “That kinda sounds like a proposal.”

Mark: “Maybe it is.”

『 The interview ends. Mark stands up first, then takes Y/N’s hand before helping her out of her seat. They share a quick kiss before bowing to the staff and thanking them for their hard work. Mark takes Y/N’s hand, and they walk off-camera to exit the studio. The video fades to black. 』

[sapiowoman28]

I can, I can't : Part 1 of 3

Pairing: Jaemin x female reader

Gener: best friends to lovers au, smut, fluff

Warning: mentions of sex, masturbation (Female)

Summary: Jaemin and Y/N are part of a group of best friends. One day, things change.....

They called themselves the dropouts. Brought up in good Catholic families, active within the Church community as kids, Catholic school education... the works. They then grew up and stopped going.

It wasn't some group thing were everyone agreed to stop going altogether at the same time. It was more like, one by one, they stopped going.

Jeno was the first to stop, at 15, after his parents got divorced. He became angry and withdrawn. By 16 he was mixing with the wrong crowd - think underaged drinking, partying, It was only after a close brush with the law that he - literally and figuratively - sobered up and decided to focus on healthier pursuits like education and sports. Thankfully too, the old Jeno that everyone knew and love came back.

Then were was Renjun. Renjun was always the one who wasn't really into religion anyway. He was more apt to believing in aliens and ghosts. His mother kept him going for as long as she could. By 18 he was out.

Haechan, as he got older, became a sporadic goer. After moving out on his own to live with the guys and Y/N in an apartment closer to campus, he stopped too.

Y/N? The older she grew, the more she learnt about the importance of gender equality. The more she embraced feminism, the more she found some church teachings hard to swallow.

All was left, of course, was Jaemin. Now Jaemin, he was still a "good boy", faithfully going to Church every Sunday. It wasn't that he was extremely religious. It was more that he had gone to Church every single week all his life. To not go one week felt odd and different.

The good thing was, nobody made fun of him or tried to stop him from going. Jeno even woke him up on Sunday mornings before he went for his 10km runs just so Jaemin would get to mass on time. (Mass is what Catholics call a church service.)

Y/N enjoyed hanging out with her friends. She was like one of the boys. It had always been like that since they were young. Everyone who knew Y/N knew she was not to be messed with. Not only was she capable of kicking anyone's balls, she also had four bros who would come after their ass too. In fact, guys who were interested in dating her would often try to get in good standing with the four guys so life would be easier for them. So it was hardly surprising that Y/N had never had her heart broken.

The problem was, Y/N was the one breaking hearts. Commitment wasn't her strongest suit, and more often than not she'd break off with whoever she was seeing with very trivial reasons, First she was dating Xiaojun. Then 7 months later she broke it off with him because apparently he "sucked at making out". The truth was, Xiaojun was good enough in bed but Y/N wanted to date the more exciting Yang Yang after meeting him at a frat party her gal friends dragged her to and making out with him. So Yang Yang it was. For a while she was happy. But then 10 months passed and Yang Yang was history. Now it seemed, was some guy called Lucas.

"Now, before you guys misunderstand, Lucas is not my boyfriend." Y/N declared over a pizza with Jaemin one Saturday night. "He's just... a friend..."

Jaemin raised his eyebrow. "You mean a friend with benefits? Cos based on what we have to hear every single Friday night, none of us think you guys are friends. Speaking of which.... Jeno wants me to talk to you."

"Let me guess, you lost rock paper scissors. Again. And that's why you're the one speaking to me."

"Well, we have house rules to follow..." Jaemin started, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

"Jeno and his stupid house rules." Y/N sighed. "What now? I can't bring Lucas home?"

"It's getting kind of weird for all of us...."

"You guys bring girls home all the time!" Y/N protested.

"I don't." Jaemin said. It was true.

"Jeno does. Haechan does. Even Renjun! Remember that weird Yoga chick he was seeing?"

"But they're not loud. Lucas sounds like he has a loudhailer in his throat and it's weird hearing him......we end up having to use headphones."

"I've tried asking him to tone it down. But he gets too excited when I blow him..." Y/N grinned as Jaemin covered his ears with his hands, not wanting to hear the details.

"Look, Jeno says he appreciates that YOU have gotten less loud since that time you were dating Yang Yang. But Lucas he's just.... too expressive. Can't you do it at his house or something? It's not the moaning as much as the dirty talk, you know?" Jaemin's voice was getting tinier and tinier.

"If Jeno has a problem, why can't he tell me himself?" I know it's not Haechan or Renjun who are complaining. Haechan's always gaming with his stupid headphones on and Renjun's always listening to music on his noise cancelling ones."

Jaemin sighed. "Don't put me in a tough spot, Y/N..."

He looked at her with puppy dog eyes.

"Fine. I'll speak to Lucas. But I'm only doing it cos of you, cos you good Catholic boy and virgin and all."

Jaemin rolled his eyes. "For the last time, Y/N, I'm not a virgin!"

Lucas took the news surprisingly well and he was happy to have her hang at his apartment instead. Which turned out to be a better thing, since his apartment was bigger and his housemates were never around. Y/N wondered why she insisted on making out at her apartment to begin with.

"I'm surprised Jeno was the one with the problem.." Lucas said after they had made out and she was snuggling in his arms.

"He has all these rules. The worst part is he makes Jaemin speak to me instead of telling me directly."

"It makes sense. You and Jaemin are close."

"I'm close to all four of them."

"No no no." Lucas said, "Each of them has a different thing with you."

"Explain, Mr Wong." she said, looking up at him.

"I think Jeno knows both of you have strong characters so he has Jaemin speak to you instead when there's an issue so you guys won't argue. He prefers to keep things light, so the most you're gonna get is Jeno making fun of you for having a thing for foriegn men."

"What about Haechan?"

"Haechan's your gaming bestie. You talk about gaming, and game together. But he'd kick the ass of anyone who gives you trouble."

"I think I'm least close to Renjun."

"I don't think it's that. It's more Renjun is kind of in his own world. He's like that with everyone. But he feels close to you guys."

Y/N was impressed.

"What about Jaemin?"

"Jaemin's like your total opposite. But you guys get each other. I like him. He's a good guy."

"Yeah he's a virgin." Y/N joked.

"He's a good looking guy! Heck, if I was a chick I'd go after him man!" Lucas said, his eyes expressive as always.

"Well, he's a good guy. I've never seen him bring a girl home."

"Come on man, when it comes to hormones, even good guys turn bad."

Lucas was driving her home when she got a call from Jaemin.

"Wassup?"

"Are you alone?" Jaemin asked. He sounded strange. "I need help."

"Are you ok?" Y/N asked. "I'm with Lucas. Where are you?"

"Oh. I'll call someone else..."

"Don't be an idiot, Jaemin. Where are you?"

"Hospital." he said. "Can you come? Just don't tell anyone anything. Not even Lucas."

She found him in a bad state at the hospital. Sitting in a daze, blood stains on his crumpled shirt. Y/N had never seen Jaemin look so small.

"Hey" she half whispered. He looked up.

"I can go now. I got an x-ray done. My nose is not broken. And it's finally stopped bleeding." he said. "I already collected my medicines. Mostly painkillers."

"What happened?" she asked.

"I don't want to talk about it." he said.

"Let's get home and get you out of these bloody clothes. And then you can tell me after you've had a good night's sleep."

"Can i sleep in your room tonight?" he asked. It was an unsual request. "I'm feeling quite shaken."

"Yeah. Sure. Let's do that."

It was 2am and he still couldn't sleep. She could feel him toss and turn next to her.

"Jae."

"Sorry."

"No, I can't sleep either."

He sat up.

"I need to get my ID card back. Can you follow me tomorrow?"

"Your ID card?"

"I was fooling around with a first year chick in her house. Her parents came back and caught us. Her dad took my ID away, said he was going to lodge a police report against me for tresspassing his house and taking advantage of his daughter. Well, that's after he beat me up."

Y/N sat up. This was interesting, she thought.

"She's 18?" she asked.

"Yeah."

"18 is legal you dumbass." she slapped her forehead.

"I thought it was 21.."

Y/N groaned. "I can't believe you're so stupid."

"But the trespassing thing?"

"They don't have a case Jae. I'm sure you can prove you were invited there. Even if she lies and said she didn't invite you. They can't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt."

"I'm so glad you're studying law."

"And Jaemin?"

"What?"

"It's illegal for him to detain your ID. YOU can report him."

"Oh. I didn't know that."

"Can you go sleep now that you know you're not actually in trouble?"

"Yes. Thanks Y/N." he said, turning to face the opposite side.

But Y/N couldn't sleep. Her mind was running a million miles a minute. Jaemin made out with someone. What was he like when making out? Was he gentle? Was he sweet like he always was to everyone? Was he a dom or sub? What did he do with the girl? Did he have fun?

Her own thoughts made her sick. Feeling a stir in her stomach made her sick. This was her best friend she was thinking of. She had to stop. Maybe she needed a shower.

Taking a towel with her to the bathroom, she shut the door, stripping quickly and getting under the hot jets of water. Damn it, Y/N, she scolded herself. Not Na Jaemin. What happened to your thing for Chinese guys?

She soaped herself trying to escape the mental picture of Jaemin, between the girl's thighs, lapping on her clit mercilessly, his eyes twinkling like they would whenever Jeno or Haechan said something witty. Suddenly, she was thinking of him between her legs, lapping at her core.

She brought her fingers to her clit, rubbing them from side to side. She leaned against the bathroom wall, moving more aggressively. She was wet. Biting her lip she pushed two fingers into her pussy, thrusting them in and out, the sound of the shower masking the wet noises as her fingers moved.

The muscles in her stomach were tightening. She could no longer hold back, thinking of Jaemin thrusting into her, looking at her with an intense gaze. She wanted him bad.

Slowly she came undone, as she moaned into her hands while cumming.

Suddenly, someone was knocking aggressively on the bathroom door. Y/N froze.

"I need to pee!" Haechan shrieked. "Hurry! I need to go back to my game!"

"Give me 2 minutes I'll be done." Y/N said, drying herself with her towel and getting dressed, mind still dazed from thinking about Jaemin. She knew their friendship was never going to be the same ever again.

She was just wondering how easy or hard it was going to be, to get Jaemin to join her on the other side.

[kadavernagh]

One Way or Another || Leah & Regan

TIMING: Current  PARTIES: @kadavernagh @phoenixleah SETTING: Regan’s Apartment SUMMARY: Our resident fire bird hatches a plan to see what the eff’s up with Regan.

Leah shouldn’t have gone to Portland.  She shouldn’t have accepted apathy from Kaden when she first brought up her concerns about Regan, and she shouldn’t have left town before there was a plan in place to at least figure out what was wrong.  Now, Regan was promise binding people and screaming at them, and losing herself more and more to the mystic unknown of a goddamn rotten skull.  She should have just stuck to owl pellets. 

She let out an anxious breath, adjusting the snug noise canceling headphones over her ears one last time before she tentatively knocked on Regan’s door, unsure if she was ready for who was going to meet her on the other side.  Regan did not know she was coming, and based on how she reacted on the internet all those weeks ago, she wasn’t going to be happy to see her.  Leah did not have a plan- more of a strange, staggered set of goals she hoped to accomplish before Regan inevitably kicked her out. The easiest goal- see Regan.  Look at her and study her and get a better idea of what might be plaguing her.  The hardest goal, and perhaps the stupidest- find the skull and sneak it into her bag.  Not only would it put some proximity between Regan and the wretched thing, but she’d have a much better chance at figuring out what was wrong if she could actually study it.  She gave the door another knock, though she hadn’t been waiting all that long. 

There were still so many bones here that needed to be brought to the cabin. Regan paced, appraising her collection. Rabbits, raccoons, deer, mice, otters – and of course, Bell, who sat off in the corner, a perpetual good boy. Her more recent and favored coyote rested on the couch, its hollow gaze turned toward her. It always seemed to be. “Let’s do the deer first.” Regan finally decided, taking the coyote’s silence as approval. The walk to the cabin was sizable, and she could only carry so many bones at once without risking them. Carefully, she picked a deer skull off the shelves, turning it over in her hands. It was a large one from an adult female, and one of the first skulls she’d found here in White Crest. There was a knock. The coyote informed her, so lost in admiration as she was. A second one came. Who would dare? Unless it was Marina standing at her door, Regan wanted nothing to do with others. And she would have felt Marina.

Agitated by the disruption, Regan swung the door open, thunder building in her lungs. It cleared when she saw who was standing there: Leah. Her stomach dropped. Not here, not her. What if – but the coyote instilled its confidence. It would be okay. Regan’s mouth flattened into a terse line when she saw the headphones. How insulting. “Can you even hear me?” She tried, the deer skull in her hands a source of comfort even against the slight. “Do you really think those headphones would do anything? If I wanted to, I could put my hands on your shoulders and rend you apart.” Careful, the coyote cautioned, but it was pointless; Leah clearly knew something was amiss. So why pretend otherwise? It was giving her a stomach ache, anyway. “Are you going to tell me why you’re here? Or should I just inform you that you’re going to leave?”

Leah pressed her lips together in a tight line as the door began to swing open, bracing herself for whatever might meet her.  Physically, Regan looked like herself, just like all the times they’d met before (besides their first meeting, of course, when she was barely two inches tall).  But there was something off… something behind her eyes that felt different and distant and… wrong.  She let out a huff, raising her hand to delicately touch the outside of her headphones.  “Of course I can”, she said, as if it should have been obvious.  “They wouldn’t do much, no, but they’d do more than no protection would.  But I’m not too worried about that anyway, Regan, because I’m not afraid of your scream.  I never have been.”  Back when Regan was first discovering who she was, it had been so important for Leah to let her know that she wasn’t a monster, that what she was was wasn’t to be feared.  And maybe whatever was coursing through Regan now should have struck fear through her heart, but her fae never would. 

 “You probably could have done that before, you know”.  Before what was unspoken, the implication was clear without Leah having to speak it out loud.  Regan knew about her brittle bones, though, but Leah doubted she knew just how brittle they could be, especially since she didn’t exactly know the cause. “But just because someone has the potential to do awful things does not mean they’ll do them.”  

Her eyes flashed down to the skull mulling in Regan’s hand, and then back up to her eyes.  Was that it?  Was the coyote skull Kaden said she’d been talking to?  How could something so unassuming cause so much damage?  “Well, since you’ve blocked my calls and messages, I had no other way of contacting you.  A bit rude, if you ask me.”  As she spoke, she pulled her backpack around to her side, pulling out the library’s new copy of ‘Skeleton Keys: The Secret Life of Bone’, and holding it out to Regan.  “We just got this in, and I thought you might like it.” It was a sad excuse, she knew, but hopefully a believable one.  

Regan’s hand slowly drifted away from the skull she was cradling to rest against the door’s edge. Leah had not yet provided her with a reason she shouldn’t slam it shut. It would protect– but the coyote, having been convinced that the jig is up, was now adamant on confrontation rather than a door in Leah’s face. Her eyes ticked to Leah’s. “You should be worried about precisely that, actually.” Regan’s lungs buzzed with movement, but she would not let it control her. She would not scream while holding one of her cherished skulls. “I knew nothing before.” Though she’d hissed the word, anger seeping into her voice, her disdain was more directed at her past self than at Leah for the comment. “I thought I was human. I lacked precise control, any control. I didn’t even know what I was capable of. So you can forget before. Before is gone.” She remembered the heaviness she’d once felt in mourning her old life, how she’d sobbed in training, sobbed for the last time. Deirdre spared no honesty. They both knew that Dr. Regan Kavanagh was dead. Now she was something else, having found purpose in her duty.

“Do you like it?” Regan asked of the skull Leah was studying. “Not that your answer makes a difference. If I wanted to converse with you, I wouldn’t have blocked you.” But… Regan paused for a flicker of a second, as if remembering something. No, that wasn’t why she’d blocked her. That wasn’t it at all. She wanted– she didn’t want to hurt– her forehead tensed, but she shook it off, the coyote’s pull acting as an anchor to reality. Something was wrong. She wasn’t sure what. The coyote disagreed. Regan glanced down at the book, seeing bone illustrations on the cover, and reached out. Surely it should be hers. “This isn’t why you’re here,” she remarked, her bearings now settled, “but I will take it if you will leave.” A deal. And part of Regan knew it was the biggest kindness she could offer Leah right now.

Leah did not break her gaze at Regan. She bore down, in fact, in an attempt to signal to Regan her stubbornness and trust in her ability to control. “You knew plenty before.  And you spoke about what you knew with more passion and care than just about anyone I know.  And just because you’re losing yourself to something awful right now does not mean you’re a different person than you were.”  She still didn’t quite know if she was talking to Regan or whoever was possessing her, but deep down, she hoped the real Regan was listening. “You’re the same person you’ve always been, Regan.  The same wonderful, smart, admittedly sometimes naive person. And I’m going to find you again.”

Her eyes flickered back down to the skull, and slowly a plan slowly began to form in her mind.  She needed to get that skull away from Regan.  She needed to figure out what kind of hex or curse was on it so they could start taking the steps to exorcize her.  For a moment, Regan’s words sounded distant and muddled in her head.  But when she looked back up toward Regan, there was a flicker of something else- something so deeply Regan that it couldn’t be denied.  The moment was so fleeting she nearly missed it.  It must have been the same experience Kaden told her about.  She was still in there, somewhere.  She bit her lip, nodding wordlessly.  She wasn’t stupid enough to verbally make a deal with a fae, but she was going to leave once Regan had the book.  She was going to leave as fast as she could.  She watched Regan carefully, pushing the book toward her direction with her right hand.  

“You saying all of that only indicates that you knew nothing of me.” Right? Regan asked inwardly, awaiting a response from her partner. Yes, nothing. She doesn’t understand anything about death, or Fate, or servitude. And if she thought the coyote was something awful, she knew nothing now, either. And yet, the coyote seemed to… waver. It was uncomfortable. Leah both knew too much and knew nothing at all. “And you know nothing of us–” The word slipped out, a byproduct of her internal conversation with a coyote skull that could somehow transmit its controversial opinions into her head from the couch. There was no explaining that one, even if she wanted to. Correcting it would bring attention. “I’m not a person, I never was. Calling me one is almost insulting, denying my absolute dedication to my duty. We have been over this.” But there was the book, and more to be understood about why Leah was actually here. And the coyote, in its pride, would not have her slam the door. Regan gave up on clutching it with her free hand, instead reaching out, her fingers curling around the book’s spine (the lesser of spines). She met Leah’s eyes, every bit of focus pouring into them, trying to match the look Leah had given her earlier. “Deal or not, I will be taking this. And you will be leaving.”

It was all Leah could do to shake her head, as somber and stubborn as ever.  Regan was wrong, and this wasn’t her talking, and Leah would not let herself be discouraged by her falsehoods.  Us.  Curious. In Leah’s experience, possession was mostly a takeover, but ‘us’ implied more of a shared experience than two souls fighting to be at the forefront.  It was a sliver of information, a crumb at best, but it was enough to ensure that the plan Leah had formulated was the smartest route she could take now.  Even if it was stupid.  “I didn’t say human.  I said person.  You’re as much of a person as I am, Regan.  Fae and all.” Regan and her coyote companion’s stubbornness would not trump Leah’s, not if she had anything to do with it.

Their eyes may have been locked, but Leah’s focus was anywhere but Regan’s face.  She knew what she had to do now, she only wished she decided to wear better shoes.  “I will be leaving, thank you.” The moment Regan’s hand and attention were focused on the book, Leah’s was off of it and onto the skull.  As quick as she could, she snatched the skull out of Regan’s hands and bound down her steps before she had a chance to look back.  She used all of her strength and all of her focus and ran as fast as she could, sure that Regan was bounding after her and would catch her at a moment’s notice.  But somehow, she made it to her car.  And somehow, she got it to start.  And somehow, she made it home with the skull in hand, ready to poke it and prod it and research it until she knew for sure how to get Regan back.  

[thoughtfullyyoungduck]

Never felt the rain

Summary:  Could you write something with Bill having a young daughter and when she asks him to go playing outside in the rain while he was working, he brushed her off, so she went out on own her own and got lost, so Bill thinks she went missing like Georgie?

A/N: here you go anon, I hope you enjoy! Please let me know what you think, it would mean a lot! Also, thank you for requesting this, it had me writing again after a long time and I really missed it, so thank you

Bill has a habit of writing as soon as rain starts drizzling from the sky. He doesn’t usually maintain a schedule, especially not after going back to Derry for a second time an gaining six friends who flitted straight back into his life and who each deserved as much of his time as the others, but when it rains, he forces himself behind the computer.

He draws the curtains shut, puts on a pair of noise cancelling headphones, and hopes that the downpour stops soon. According to his therapist, it’s because the weather reminds him of the day Georgie died and he turns to writing as a distraction, and while she might not be wrong, Bill prefers not to think about the specifics. All he knows is that as soon as dark clouds gather, he retreats to his study.

Audra knows this, and has, to Bills great shame, been a victim to his snappish behavior when he gets disturbed, so she leaves him be, and takes their daughter, Lily, on a mother daughter retreat. It’s their own routine that work well for the both of them, and so far, there haven’t been any problems with it.

Today, the bad weather struck out of nowhere, the rain spatters drumming their own beat on the windows and the foundation of the house, and Bill and remembers how bleak Georgie’s last day on earth had been. He retreats to his study in quiet without informing his daughter or wife about his plans, and slips into an imaginary world, where there’s no rain or bad memories.

He gets lost in it, thankfully. The rhythmic tapping of his keyboard and his own hushed voice lull him into a state so fully focused it allows him to forgo his environment. That includes ignoring the rain, but also the wooden door opening behind him as a small child sneaks in, big blue eyes full of a playful innocence.

He doesn’t hear Lily calling out to him, and is only notified of her arrival when her hand tugs on the sleeve of his shirt. It startles him, a cursed ‘Jesus’, slipping from his mouth before he clamps his teeth over his lips to stop more from tumbling out.

‘Daddy’, Bill reads of his daughters face, before he finally clads off the headset and hears her voice filter through.

She’s Georgie’s age now, and she resembles him a lot. For one, she looks up to her dad with as much wonder as her uncle did, a daddy’s girl through and through. She has the Knick for adventure too, though Bill is not sure that’s always a good thing.

‘What is it honey?’ He asks her with a soft voice. He suppresses the twinge of annoyance, now he’s broken out of his concentration, it’s hard not to notice the outside, and it’ll be difficult to reenter his writing groove.  

‘Can we play outside?’ She suggest, lips contorted in a devious little smile that proves that Audra must have said no to her question, and she’s now trying her hand at the person she has wrapped around her finger.

Bill’s gut reaction is to agree. How could he not, when he made the promise to himself to always be the best dad he could be, ever since finding out Audra was pregnant. He swore to himself that he’d never neglect his child, never put her on the backburner for anyone or anything, and that he’d enjoy, relish in every memory he’d be allowed to make with her.

But, he can’t. Not in this situation. Not when Pennywise only came back a mere four months ago, and he was forced into painful memories and past mistakes. Not when he’s relatively convinced that IT’s gone for real, but not 100% assured.

He smiles painfully, and gently pulls his daughter in his lap. It’s not so much that he’s trying to spoil his daughter, it’s just that he loves spending time with her as much as she adores spending time with him. His heart twinges painfully at the notion of disappointing her.

‘Not right now Lil, Daddy’s working.’ He presses a kiss on the top of her head, and squeezes her a bit tighter when a particularly hard downpour causes his heart to clench painfully. If only he had given Georgie a hug like this before letting him out that day.

It’s far too late for that regret now, but he won’t allow the same fate to be bestowed upon his daughter.

‘Please?’ Lily pouts, blinking her eyes in a way that is entirely disarming. She’s so good at convincing, she would make an excellent actress one day. ‘It’ll be so much fun.’ She leans in closer on Bill’s lap, bumping her forehead against Bill’s chest. ‘I promise I won’t step in any puddles.’

It’s a complete lie of course, and Bill can’t help but grin at the idea of Lilly thinking she’s being sneaky about the whole thing, but still, he can’t concur.

‘Later, alright buttercup? And I promise that I’ll spend an entire day with you tomorrow?’

Lily doesn’t smile, so Bill does the one thing he’s become a pro at since becoming a dad; ticking her until she can’t help but laugh.

She shrieks instantly, squirming away from Bill’s fingers as the dance over her sides until she’s nearly toppled of his lip in her haste to escape him, and then giggles long after Bill’s stopped.

Once that too dies out, she bites her lip, seemingly scanning her chances of getting him to agree on going out anyway, but then she concedes.

‘Alright then’, she says a little bit disheartened, but agreeing none the less. She slitters back out as quiet as she came in, but not before a kiss over her shoulder and waving at Bill.

‘See you later dad.’

Bill smiles and waves back, crushed by love and grief battling in his heart for the upper hand, then he puts on his headphone, covers his ears, and he neglects to hear the front door open and lock with a deafening pull.  

----

In the end, it’s the guilt that makes him give up only a half hour after Lilly came in to ask for his time. He peruse the last line he’d written, he hadn’t managed to find his flow after the interruption anyway, and closes the document of his new book for the day.

He still can’t find the strength to go outside in this weather but perhaps he can convince Lily that watching a movie and snacking on popcorn is a much better activity then getting wet and cold.

He shuffles into the kitchen, where Audra’s is already at, and wonders if they have enough corn to put together homemade popcorn.

‘Do you think Lily will want to watch a movie? I’m thinking Disney might be the way to go?’ He inquires Audra absentmindedly while scouring the pantries for the ingredients he needs. He knows, just from the sounds of Audra’s voice that something’s the matter.

‘She’s not with you?’ Audra chokes out, voice pinched in panic.

Bill’s heart stops for a full second, before rabbiting so hard his chest feels like exploding.

‘What?’ He asks, but the words feel foreign, like he’s not the one saying it.  Audra’s responding look is enough to give him all the answers he needs.

----

The rain remains unforgiven towards Bill, the background of the yet another great tragedy in his life. Cliché as it is, it does help cover up his tears, about the only positive thing in his situation right now. Audra is next to him, on the same level of utter panic as Bill’s, but he hopes for her sake that he appears more composed then he actually is.

He viciously wishes for the losers to be with him now, but calling them would take up to much time and they live too far away to be of any aid anyway.  

His neighbors are aiding in the search, but they’re not enough. He doesn’t trust them like he trust his friends, he doesn’t want the life of his daughter depending on strangers.

They keep telling him that she’s fine, that she’s most likely having the time of her life without realizing how her parents are in shambles, but Bill can’t believe that. Lily’s been out for at least thirty minutes, that’s the time they noticed she had disappeared, and even Bill is shivering his socks off. He can’t afford to think about how cold Lily must be.

He separates from the group of searches after the weird glances he receives unsettled peeks when he ducks on his knees and calls out for his daughter in a sewer. Audra, who knows in part what happened to Georgie, lets out a sob.

Bill feels bad for leaving his wife all by herself, but he wants to cover as much ground as possible. He can’t wait at their front porch praying for Lily’s safe return, he knows from experience how feeble that is.

The options of where Lily could be are limited. Her friends live too far away for her to have walked to them, and there was only one place kids of her age liked to hang out. Still, when the park turns up nothing, he scours the area surrounding it, yelling out Lily’s name until his voice skips and a hoarse tone underline his words.

‘P-p-please.’ He screams with his head thrown back towards the sky, his stutter going unnoticed. ‘H-haven’t you t-t-taken enough from m-m-me?’ He’s unsure who he’s calling out too.

Bill’s attention is pulled towards a curtain that wobbles open, and old lady peeking from behind it, judging him with curious eyes. The first one to gossip apparently, but the last to help. Just as with Georgie. Bile threatened to spill as Bill walks on.

With his energy running low, as does his hope, Bill concedes to try and walk in the other direction of his home, to see if anyone else has had more luck than him. Then, seemingly using up all of Bill’s luck for the rest of his life, a wobbled; ‘Daddy’, cries out.

He’s never backed up so quick, and when he lays eyes on Lily, he’s never run that fast towards her either. It’s the pure and utter fear you experience as a kid, when you get lost in a comic in the store and you swivel back around to your mom, but she’s gone somewhere and you can’t find her.

That’s the feeling that linger when you lose someone close to you. And when she pops back up, that’s the utter relief Bill gets to taste now.

He’s back on his knees before he can comprehend it, and his hand curls around Lily’s back and head, cradling her so close this chest it’s nearly suffocating. Bill weeps, caressing his daughters hair as he checks her over.

‘Oh honey’, he chokes, swelling multiple times to force back the lump of tears.

Lily’s crying too, though it seems more out of reluctant than anything else.

‘I’m sorry dad. I just wanted to go out and play. But I fell and I think my bike is broken. I’m really sorry.’

Bill sorrow laughs. He can’t stop the ridiculous laughter that’s so absurd.

‘Lily, I couldn’t care less about a bike’, Bill explains, and he means it every bit. He pulls her back in a tight hug, allowing himself ten more seconds before he has to let go of her.

‘Please don’t ever do that again,’ he whispers, leaving a quick kiss on her head. He holds her as close as he wish he could have done to Georgie, if he had been found alive too. Maybe later, tomorrow or the day after, he’d have a more firm conversation about how sneaking out is not okay, but today, the relief wins over every other emotion or lecture.

‘Is mom mad?’ Lily asks, her own arms clenched around Bill’s shirt so tight it’s clear that she also had a large fright.

Shit, Audra. In an instant, Bill picks up his daughter, arm holding her up by the knees. She’s old enough to walk, but Bill has longer legs and walks faster.

‘No’, he assures her, despite a conformation of Audra. He’s sure his feeling are rekindled in his wife too. ‘But we have to let her know you’re okay. She’s worried too.’

‘Okay’, Lily agrees easy, her head resting on Bill’s shoulders. The rain isn’t that cold anymore, now that he has his child back in the safety of his arms.

----

That evening, Bill, Audra and Lily are cuddles together on their couch, watching Aladdin. Lily has long slipped to the land of dreams, but Bill and Audra want to keep her close for a little while longer. Maybe they’ll all spend the night here anyway, regardless of future back pains, but that’s a discussion for later.

Bill swipes one of Lily’s curls from her forehead gently, smiling when she snores deeper, then settles again.

‘Love you buttercup.’ Bill says, in his mind, he thinks, ‘I’ll never let anything happen to you.’

[amesstm]

Nice Receive!

WC: ~2K

A/N: So... I couldn’t figure out Social Dummy, because I am a dummy :D And since no one told me if they wanted an actual schedule or not, we will now work around my work hours which is a lot because my gm is evil :)

~series masterlist~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weekend passed quickly with much needed rest being earned. Yet, there was that voice in the back of your mind urging you to do some form of exercising. After all, this was your last year in high school and the last time you could go to nationals.  

In fact, your volleyball team had been mourning the loss of their libero loudly in the group chat. Everyone joked that they would have to take down the 189.5cm man somehow. It seems that you had an army now, with your cousin Yu as its commanding general.  

For now, that wasn’t your concern because all you could think about was the upcoming exams. Yuki was studying more often with her boyfriend, which meant that you had the dorm room to yourself. Even Yuki was putting her studies before her volleyball practices because she skipped the one yesterday. So here you were with your text books and notes all laid out before you as if the words would jump off of the page and into your brain.

But after an hour of trying to focus on what was literally right in front of you, you gave up from the sensory overload. You sighed and collapsed onto your bed, hoping that the bed would swallow you. You closed your eyes and breathed slowly to prompt your muscles to relax. Perhaps you should start meditating.  

A soft knock interrupted your thoughts, immediately causing the irritation to return. But you opened the door and saw it was your whole volleyball team. Of course, the coach wasn’t there, but the manager looked like she led the brigade to your room.  

Your manager Tamako bowed with a smile, “We come in peace.”

She held up a pompompurin kotatsu plushie and you quickly forgot about your past irritation. You waddled towards her and clutched the plushie in your arms. “I accept your peace offering.”

The volleyball team cramped into your small room. The first-year opposite hitter Hana leaned in with wide curious eyes like that of a newborn baby, “Is it true that you and Ushijima-san like each other?”

Hana’s adoptive-mother, second year setter Karin shushed her, “They don’t know it yet!”

Hana poured and whined, “But it’s so obvious!”

You tilted your head and blinked, “What do you mean?”

Captain Hoshimi, the mountainous middle blocker, sighed, “You two are so oblivious.”

“Anyways,” Tamako cleared her throat, “Yuki says that she knows you’re dying to be on the court again. Obviously you can’t but you can watch!”

A part of you felt bad, knowing that Yuki was worried about you this whole time. You were about to open your mouth but she added, “Hoshimi has noise-canceling headphones.”

“Oh, okay that should work!” You grinned and sprung with life.  

Finally, you were able to be in the gym again. It wasn’t a formal practice, so everyone was just playing together. Unfortunately, you still had to sit on the bench. Of course, you were used to it since you were the liberal and weren’t always on the court; but every time the ball hit the floor, you couldn’t help but think that you could’ve gotten it.  

You watched Hoshimi block Hana with great speed and height. Although Hana had immense talent for her age, she needed much refining. You were sure that Tamako’s fast scribbling was notating all of this down even if she was off-duty.  

Still, you couldn’t hear what was going on. Everything you absorbed was purely on seeing the ball fly or land and feeling the vibrations of the ball landing or being smacked. So, you also didn’t hear someone approaching you and calling out your name. 

A light tap on your shoulder finally caught your attention. You whipped your head to see Ushijima talking to you, but you only saw his lips moving. Although you couldn’t hear, you said, “I can’t hear you. These are sound-proof.”

He nodded and sat down next to you instead of trying to find a way of communicating. It’s not like you two could learn some form of sign language or Morse code in a few minutes.  

Yet, there was that comforting silence. Sure, you were always flustered around Ushijima but now? Now, you’re on a different playing field – or court for this scenario. The embarrassment and hesitation scattered away, and the confident and radiant personality Ushijima always heard of came to light.  

After Hoshimi’s team won the set, Hana came panting to see how you were doing. She also wanted to check on her ship but that’s besides the point. Karin wandered towards you three, like a mother hovering around her chick. You decided that it’d be safe to remove the headphones since there weren’t ball smacking across the court now. “You guys did really well!”

“Did I?” Hana asked, red from huffing. “I think I could do so much better.”

“Try opening up your shoulders to Karin more,” you said, making the young spiker tilt her head. “You limit your options when you close yourself off from your setter. You’re only a few centimeters taller than me, but you’re still considered short on the court. Opening yourself up should make a difference.”

Ushijima watched you, observing the way you speak like a coach. No, nothing like Coach Tanji. On the contrary, your advice was constructive and kind, but still precise. Your voice’s volume didn’t raise above speaking level, which was another big difference. In the short time that Ushijima was considered “short”, he had to learn how to spike in ways similar to how you would have to.  

Once you were done advising Hana on what to do, the next set began. Soon, Hana was scoring more points. With each one, she would smile at you with all the brightness of the sun. You would smile back and raise your thumbs up in pride.  

Tamako tapped on your shoulder and asked if you could follow her a bit towards the back. You whispered in Ushijima’s ear, “I’ll be right back.”

It took him a minute to process that you were just that close to him that he could feel your lips almost on his earlobe. After controlling his rush of emotions, he nodded. Ushijima wondered what you two were talking about. Maybe it had to do with Hana’s improvement or the earliest you could return to playing. Either way, Ushijima continued watching the girls play, waiting for you to return to his side.

Hana soon excelled quickly, getting in quick spikes that couldn’t be received soon enough to get back into play. They’d smack onto the floor and then fly away. As Hana got more and more in the game, her spikes became quicker but also more forceful. There was no doubt that Hana would become the ace of the girls team when she got even better.  

But then one of her balls went astray. Ushijima noticed that this ball had a certain angle to it as she hit it at a cross. Knowing where the ball would go next, Ushijima rushed off of the bench just as the ball was about to hit you. He managed to receive the ball in time.  

On the other hand, you were also prepared to come in contact with the ball as you placed yourself in position. Of course, you might’ve been scolded for playing before you were allowed to, but you were sure that you could handle it. But Ushijima got to it before you could.  

After his dig, the ball bounced back into court but no one went to catch it. He looked behind towards you, eyes wandering over your face to see if you were shaken. Yet you didn’t look fazed at all. Instead, you grinned, “Nice receive!”  

Now, you definitely noticed a change in Ushijima’s stance. His shoulders drooped in relief and his features softened. His eyes looked at you as if you were the only one he cared about.

“Are you okay, Y/N?” Hana asked, running towards you in worry. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she examined your state.  

You shook your head with a soft chuckle, “I’m fine, Hana. That was a really good spike!”

Hana crumbled underneath your compliments. Then, she turned towards Ushijima and bowed deeply from her hips. “Thank you for receiving the ball before it could hit her!”

Ushijima stated with seriousness etched into every centimeter on his face, “I won’t let another ball hit her ever again.”

To the team, it was practically a declaration of protecting you – which they swooned over. To you, it sounded like he didn’t want you playing. “But I’m the libero?”

With your confusion, the team sighed with dejection. Hoshimi groaned, “You’re so dumb.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You complained, eyes aimed towards Hoshimi.  

“We’ll tell you when you’re older,” Karin said, sticking out her tongue.

“I’m literally older than you,” you replied with a raised eyebrow.  

“And denser, too,” Karin jabbed back, earning a snicker from Hana who followed her mother’s behavior.  

You rolled your eyes, choosing to ignore the duo. “Anyways, I’ll see you guys tomorrow.”

You returned the headphones to Hoshimi and started to walk towards the exit. But you felt a presence behind you and saw Ushijima looking at you expectantly. “May I walk with you?”

“Of course,” you smiled.  

As you two walked, you were surprisingly calm. Perhaps that moment in the gym reminded you that the superstar of Japan was just another human being. Of course, he was someone with fans who would do anything to be with him and recruiters who would fight to have him on their team. But something about him seemed more human to you.  

Another thing that surprised you was that Ushijima was a slow walker. Perhaps you were always used to walking fast because you always rushed to catch up to your taller friends, but walking with Ushijima was a different pace. Now you could take the time to absorb the scenery around you.

When you approached a ledge that had a brilliant view of the sunset, you just looked at it in awe. Was the sunset always this beautiful? Japan was known as the Country of the Rising Sun. Then again, you wouldn’t be awake enough to enjoy the sunrise even if you were awake.  

But this sunset? You actually took the time to look at it. You didn’t walk past it like you would usually do because the sun would always set. But as the pinks and oranges cascaded from the sun to the rich purples and indigo of the night sky, you couldn’t just walk away. “Has it always been this beautiful?”

Ushijima noticed that you stopped to admire the sunset, so he stopped, too; but all he could look at was you. Something about the way the spring breeze brushed your hair away from your face so the golden hour could paint your features was captivating. “Always.”

You looked behind your shoulder to see that Ushijima got closer to you. “Haha, sorry. I didn’t realize that I had stopped.”

“No, it’s fine.” Ushijima said, opting to sit on a rock that laid along the side of the road. “Sit with me, we can watch it longer.”

You took the opportunity to sit on the rock closest to him. Again, with that comforting silence. There was no need to speak because you two could just enjoy each other’s company. Then Ushijima spoke, “Will you play volleyball professionally?”

Of course, you had contemplated it but it didn’t seem completely viable. Sure, you were among the top three liberos in the country. Yes, you would love to continue playing the sport that you’ve dedicated so much time to. But could you really do that? “I’m not sure, yet.”

Ushijima’s gaze left the sunset to look at you, so you returned his gaze. “It’d be a waste of talent not to.”

The breath you were intaking halted dramatically. “You’re right. It would be.”

“Will you at least play in university?” Ushijima asked, hopeful that you would at least continue then.  

“Absolutely,” you chuckled. “I don’t want to say goodbye to years of my life just yet.”

“You should play professionally,” Ushijima stated, his confidence in your ability making your heart flutter. For some reason, the sentence felt really familiar but you couldn’t remember why.  

Anyways, you didn’t know what to say. When you finally spoke, it was to say goodnight. Ushijima left you at your dorm room and with plenty to think about.  

When you finally collapsed onto your bed, you pulled out your phone. There was a notification from Hana. You opened your phone to see it was a picture of you and Ushijima watching the sunset. Underneath was a caption saying, “Nice receive ;)”

[anxiouslyfred]

Hoods Down Now

Summary: Remus loves his soulmark. He also has a bad habit of yanking down any hood he sees someone wearing. This leads to a less than good impression on his soulmate with Patton decides to introduce him and Roman to Virgil

/\/\/\/\

Remus loved the mark on his shoulder. He'd honestly had people ask if they could copy it for a tattoo a few times, although that was rare. He always wanted to show the entire thing off, just because the design was a wonderful contradiction, an octopus perched in the centre of a spiders web. The octopus fitted neatly where his neck met his shoulders while the web stretched around the back of his neck and down his arms.

He'd even decided to study textiles so he could damage all his tops and jackets enough to show off the mark while remaining functional. Remus wasn't here for collars completely hanging open unless he could control how or why, and showing off his soul mark was not a reason he'd do that. Just looking promiscuous was.

Roman had joked for a while that Remus's refusal to let anyone keep their hoods up was because he was looking for his soulmate. At the very least it was a good excuse to get them out of bad situations when strangers got annoyed over their hood suddenly being yanked down.

The times people still yelled enough to get them banned from shops were really the only thing which taught Remus to avoid doing so to people he didn't know. People he was just about to meet however, well, they could have their hood yanked down and then they'd explain. If they're going to be introduced whomever is doing the introduction should have spoken about him already anyway.

Today the introduction was to someone called Virgil that Patton had been mentioning for a few months. Really he had only wanted to introduce Roman to the guy, but could never limit an invitation when there were other people he knew around to hear it. He had at least asked Remus to try not to be as loud and obnoxious as he usually was, since Virgil has some issues with loud noises or unpredictable movements. That was something he had very much intended to follow, as long as he could still bounce in place, except the person Patton was stood with had their hood up, with a scarf wrapped around it even, despite the weather slowly getting warmer.

That wouldn't do for  Remus and he's running ahead of Roman before the other has even spotted his friend.

Yanking the hood down he realises 5 things:

Virgil's headphones had also been on top of it and were broken with how hard they hit the floor.

This person was very attractive and extremely angry about their hood being yanked down.

Roman and Patton were also very annoyed and alarmed by the action.

He could have just made a very very big mistake.

THERE'S A MARK ON VIRGIL'S NECK IDENTICAL TO HIS OWN!!!

Remus stands frozen for a few minutes as the three people he was with yelled, gestured and basically tried to scold him for the action. None of the words sunk in given he was currently frozen registering he'd found his soulmate entirely by mistake.

The yelling continues even as he reached up to untie the laces that currently make up the shoulder of his top, letting his collar hang open as his free hand reached towards the very angry emo before him. “We're matching.” He mutters, finally getting Patton and Roman to stop speaking and look between them in confusion.

“Am I meant to fucking care when you just broke my headphones, you fucking prick? Who the hell just does that to a complete stranger?!” Virgil carries on yelling, slapping Remus's hand away.

Patton coughs a little there. “Kiddo, I did try to warn you that Remus tends to yank hoods down when he sees people wearing them. This is Remus, and um, Roman too. Though I guess we can go somewhere else if you want to just be with Remus for a while?” He shuffled a bit while making the introduction, honestly looking like he was about to drag Roman away without anyone else's desires being heard.

“See, not a complete stranger. I'm the brother of a friend of a friend. We're practically besties already and that's before we're soulmates.” Remus nodded, keeping his hands back but leaning as close to Virgil as he could.

“That's still strangers, and you still broke my headphones for no reason. We're still in a mall that's only going to get busier as the day goes on and I don't have enough to replace my headphones this month. Do you want me to tear you a new one now, or wait until I'm actually panicking due to how crowded this place gets when I have nothing to calm me down because you just broke my headphones.” Virgil lectured, stepping back and picking up the headphones to rattle in Remus face as he spoke.

“Why were you even wearing them on top of your hood then? That literally reduces how much noise they muffle and only increases the chances they'll break.” Remus snapped back, pouting before he sighed. “If I replace them and we drag this pair to a park instead, can we discuss being soulmates? An impulsive act should not deprive me of that.”

“I was trying to listen for you coming, bastard. Patton had actually warned me you might try this. I kind of thought you have eyes enough to at least move the headphones before yanking the hood.” Virgil glared, but copied the sigh, using it to start some deep breathing. “Just replace the headphones if you have enough to. I don't care if we change our plans for the afternoon or carry on going for a meal and then to the movies as intended.”

Remus nodded, already bouncing again as he looked around for the nearest music or technology shop. “All these insults are beginning to sound like pet names, thunderclap. You got a particular brand you want me to get or should I just take the broken ones and try to get an identical pair?”

“Try and get identical, but if you can't just get good quality, preferably with a cord so they won't completely fall if you do that again.” Virgil shoved the headphones into his hand with a shake of his head.

“We'll walk towards the restaurant while you do that.” Roman decided before turning to Virgil and holding his hand out. “I'm Roman, delighted to finally make your acquaintance, Virgil, especially given that your my brother's soulmate.”

“Patton, next time you want me to meet your friends, we're doing it at your house so I can get knives out to make them keep a sensible distance.” Virgil growled, shoving past them to start walking back through the shopping centre, hood being pulled up as he went.

Remus snickered to himself at the words. He hadn't deliberately tried to find his soulmate, but from that conversation he couldn't wait to get to know Virgil better.

Looking demented by running into a music store yelling for noise cancelling headphones while waving some in the air was just a bit of  extra fun.

/Trip through the shops later\

Remus wasn't going to yank Virgil's hood down a second time. He might be impulsive but the insistence on needing the headphones to reduce the noise of the mall was enough of a clue that Virgil would need his hood up for comfort more than before.

Instead he announced his arrival by trying to balance the box with the new headphones on top of his head, snickering along with it. The trio had already sat down in the restaurant and from what had been said before Remus started trying to balance the box, Virgil had got roped into a debate about Disney films by his brother.

“So do you just not know the word hello, or is there another reason I need to practise my posture?” Virgil asked after a moment, tilting his head back a little.

“You could just take the headphones from me instead? I'm trying to be nice and not yank the hood so putting stuff on top of it can be a balancing game instead.” Remus said, beaming when Virgil snatched the box into his lap, turning to raise an eyebrow at him.

“Did whatever decides soulmates seriously match my anxious mess with someone who wouldn't know impulse control if someone whacked him round the head with it?”

Remus pulled the seat next to him so they were as close together as he could make them. “Looks like it and you even have a brain between your ears that isn't deluded by Disney.”

Roman protested and Patton actually tried to make a point that people could enjoy things in their own ways but Remus was too focused watching Virgil bite back a snicker and shrug to listen.

The first impression wasn't good but Remus had a feeling that wasn't going to be held against him beyond as a funny story now.

[adiabolikpastel]

Title: Lunar Eclipse Masquerade

Shu pt. 3

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1,587

Pairing: Shu x Callista (mxf)

ღ Neither Shu nor Callista are thrilled about this arrangement. However, they may just need to bite the bullet. ღ

Mun Yu: We did it! These are the last pieces of the LEM story. The end to our Lunar Eclipse. I hope that you have enjoyed the ride, and gotten to know the stories on this blog better! Tune in at the end of it all for Authors Notes!

☆+ ﾟ .+ .ﾟ.ﾟ｡ ﾟ ｡. +ﾟ ｡ﾟ.ﾟ｡☆*｡｡ . ｡ o .｡ﾟ｡.o｡* ｡ .｡

Despite what most people think, demonic beings are very social creatures. The elites hold countless balls and parties, celebrating their immortality together, and entertaining one another with stories. Typically, they are done in celebration for something – though this is not always the case. All types of beings from across the Demon Realm will come if the host is of high enough prestige.

There would be no such host if it was not for Karlheinz. Seated as the head of the Bat Clan (vampires), Karl’s reach spans far. Being the widow for the former Demon King’s daughter, and having children of the first blood, an invitation from the Vampire King is not one to refuse. Though why would you? In his immaculate castle within the Demon Realm, Eden Castle, it is always quite the spectacle. While the celebrations held in his Human World mansion are nice, nothing compares to a true night of pleasure within the true home of the King.

On this night, there was to be a Masquerade in honor of the first Lunar Eclipsed Moon in over two years. While this night may serve each species differently, the idea to celebrate its return was simply too tempting. For this reason, Karlheinz took it upon himself – or rather – his house, to host the event. This extended to his offspring as well, regardless of their personal agenda. Members of every social elite race accepted the offer, and gathered for a truly unforgettable evening

The two walked along side one another through the gardens of Eden Castle. They were in full bloom – though Shu could not remember a time when they were not. His mother once told him that the gardens of this castle were only like this because of Karlheinz. The magnitude of his father’s power was truly incomprehensible. The pure amount of energy it took to, not only, preform magic, but to then have spells on consent – without being affected – that was on a level that Shu could only dream of reaching.

Callista couldn’t help but fell awkward about her current situation. This entire scheme was only presented to her days ago, and she had thought her father was going to turn the Vampire King down. Then again, perhaps he was put into a position in which he couldn’t refuse. Even so, she had thought her father was adamant on her rejecting this union.

However, when he came to her just moments ago, he seemed… different. As if his entire outlook on the idea had changed. No matter what she tried to say in protest, he simply dismissed her words. Her father simply kept saying that this was the best match for her. That through this marriage she would be taken care of. Well, despite what he said, Callista was more than happy staying forever with her parents.

Being able to stay with her younger brothers, tutoring them in their studies, working towards being a teacher herself – that was the life she wanted. Not to be married off like all her sisters. Well, not all of them – but still – she was not in love with this idea. It was obvious that her husband to be was not either.

“… The flowers here are lovely.” She broke their silence, hoping to be able to start a dialog with him. To no avail, it would seem. He simply walked on, leading her further away from the Castle. Just what was he planning? Surely he wouldn’t take a lady so far out alone. What if someone saw them as such without an escort? “Lord Ririe, perhaps we better go back? What would people say, seeing us two alone like this?”

Shu had planned on taking her far enough away so that he could possibly enjoy a taste of her blood. That would surely send this ‘innocent’ woman a lesson. However, that all seemed like such great effort now. She brought up a point about people seeing them – it would be annoying if they started to talk. Especially if Reiji found out. He’d never hear the end of it.

Instead, he walks over to the fountain, sitting on the walls that surrounded the water flowing inside. Shu let’s out a yawn, and removes his mask, letting it fall into the gathered liquid. Then, without any explanation, he brought himself down, and settled in to take a nap. This night had been nothing but exhausting. He could use a small nap.

Calli watched as the vampire laid himself down onto the fountain. What? Why was he doing that? Didn’t he care if his cloths got wet? What about catching a cold. “Lord Ririe, you shouldn’t lie there.” She looks around to see if anyone was watching them. A few scattered guest were about, but none paying them any attention.

“… Noisy… Let me sleep.” Shu mumbled, trying his best to focus on the calming sounds of the water. He wasn’t able to bring his headphone, which normally helped cancel out all the noise around him. Perhaps that had something to do with his panic earlier.

Unknowing how to handle this situation, Callista did what she would do if this were one of her brothers. “Very well then, if you insist on being difficult –" She wanders off to admire some of the new by flower bushes. If he was going to be rude and sleep, she would have some fun. After examining a few different types, Calli picks a couple of the blossoms.

With her arms full, she returns to the fountain, sitting next to her escorts head. With some hums, she beings twisting the stems into one another. Shu could hear the soft melody through the drops of water. He knew the tune she was humming, “… novice …” He says smirking softly. The familiar music was clearly Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

“Is it now? I happen to think it fits this night well enough.” Callista responds, smiling softly. She continues to craft her mixture of flowers. “Seems you are cultured to some degree, calling me a novice. That must mean you know more advanced pieces?”

Shu did not respond, instead he settled into his position. There was no point in having a conversation with her. Perhaps if he simply slept, she would go tell her father, and he would be finished with this mess. Just as he was thinking, he felt something slide onto his head. Followed by a small giggle.

“Haha… These flowers suite you, Lord Ririe. We almost match now~” Callista muses touching the feathers that were strung through her own hair. She waited for him to say something. Anything.

Silence.

With a small sigh, Calli looks up to the moon. “… I did not choose this either. If it were up to me, I would prefer a life like my sister. She has no husband, and travels the realms as she pleases.” She twirls one of her feathers. “That is the life I always wanted, as most of my kind do. It’s not like us to be caged in one place. Yet here I am… being given away. Doesn’t seem fair.”

Shu could understand her plight. After all, getting away was something he tried to do his entire life. “… There is no escape.” With a light grunt, Shu lifted himself up. The cement wasn’t comfortable anyway. “That bastard does as he pleases. Until he is defeated – there will be no way out.” This revelation was more for himself than for her. He understood that if he ever wanted to be free from all of this – there was no other option.

While it would be hard work, Shu had no choice but to ascend to the throne. None of his brother had what it took – hell, he barely did. However, it was the only way to be free. “For now… you will have to stay by my side. Until the day comes when I can free us both.” Shu looked at his fellow demon. Neither of them wanted this, however, they were without another option.

Calli was unsure about trusting this man. Not only had she just met him, but was he truly capable of besting the strongest demon known in the realm? “I suppose there is no other option.” She stands from the fountain’s wall. “I will be in your care then, Lord Ririe. Until we are both free of these obligations.” She offers him her hand, to shake on their agreement.

Shu sighs, scratching his head. “Drop the, ‘Lord Ririe’.” He lazily moves his hand into her extended palm. “It’s Shu.”

“I wouldn’t dare call my intended so formally.” She blushes slightly. “Shu-san then, will that do?”

Shu smirks slightly, “You could always sell it and call me Darling.” Callista’s face glowed in the darkness from his taunt. Just because their agreement was temporary, didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy her while it lasted.

“Th-That is hardly appropriate.” She stammers. Moving to settle herself, Calli looks back towards the Castle. “In any case… the night is almost finished. Perhaps we could being our façade with a dance? I have waited all evening for one.”

Shu looked towards the Castle as well. Just moments ago he had been set on leaving. Giving up on Reiji’s crackpot idea. Content to a life spent on the run from his father. Now. Now there was a bit of hope. Perhaps with an alley like this woman, he could best his father.

“Very well…” Shu stands and offer’s his arm to her. “Only one… unless you want to be my pillow for tonight.” He comments looking down at her breast. Damn they looked soft. For a moment he thought of forcing her to take him up on the idea.

“My goodness, perhaps I mistook you for a gentlemen. You’re words are quite something.” She did her best to brush off his comments. As fake partners go, Shu wasn’t hideous. In fact, Calli found his blonde hair and deep blue eyes attractive. There was something to be said about the beauty of the Bat Clan.

Callista laced her arm with Shu’s, the two heading back into the Castle. There were less guest then before. She could see her father laughing loudly with a group, good to see he was in high spirits. As the two of them made their way to the dance floor, a familiar tune began to play.

“Heh, this must be some kind of joke.” Shu comments, moving one of his hands to rest on Callista’s waist. “Remind me to remove this song from my collection.”

She giggles, it must be in fates design that the two of them find one another in this moment. Calli moves so her back is to Shu, extending her opposite hand of his. “Now don’t be so harsh, as I said, this melody suites the night.” She smiles back at her partner.

Unknown to the future, but sure now of their intertwined fate. Shu places his hand under her extended one. “Perhaps you are right.”

☆+ ﾟ .+ .ﾟ.ﾟ｡ ﾟ ｡. +ﾟ ｡ﾟ.ﾟ｡ ROUTE END ☆*｡｡ . ｡ o .｡ﾟ｡.o｡* ｡ .｡

[thebestworstidea]

Spa Day (Monstrous Roommates)

(on Ao3)

Virgil was vacuuming. He didn’t particularly care for it, but he had pulled entirely too much fluff out of his computer keyboard the night before; so when he woke up late afternoon alone in the apartment, he’d hauled the vacuum out and started at one end, working towards the other.

He’d never known a werewolf before Patton. He’d heard about them of course; vampires tended to be ridiculous snobs and loved to gossip. It was Remy’s accepting attitude not his need to consume all the tea that set him apart from the rest of the - as Logan had put it- “Blood drinking community” but that didn’t mean what he’d heard was necessarily accurate. The point was Virgil had no idea how Patton managed to shed while in human form. Technically they had a waiver on the lease for Logan’s ‘mobility dog’ but the landlord was cranky as fuck about it, and Patton spent most of his time inside the apartment in skin, not fur. This somehow did not stop the apartment from filling up with mounds of fluffy white and brown fur, especially in the spring.

Logan had said the first couple of springs after they’d moved to Florida were especially terrible, and he had tried to keep up by brushing Patton daily, Patton had a picture of himself sitting sheepishly next to a pile of fur that looked as big as he was, which he found hilarious. Logan had offhand commented that being in an entire house of werewolves was worse, and it made Virgil’s head spin. How did they not simply have carpets of felted fur? It was a mystery.

He’d changed the vacuum bag once and was on his second pass through when he heard the front door unlock and made a face. Patton always said he was going to vacuum, but he hated the noise, and even wearing noise canceling headphones, he tended to rush and miss spots in his desire not to be that close to the machine. Virgil shut it off and stuck his head around the corner into the hallway.

“Sup.” he said and blinked, because Logan was by himself, hanging up Patton’s service dog harness and taking his shoes off.

“Good evening, Virgil.” Logan said pleasantly. Virgil drifted over, kissing Logan on the cheek, before settling back on his heels.

“Not that I’m not thrilled to see you, but didn’t Patton go with you today? You had class in that lecture hall with all the stairs, and the horrible acoustics.”

“He did, but Roman met us as we were leaving campus, and said he was stealing Patton for a spa day. I went to the library alone to study afterwards. Are they not back?”

“Nah, I’ve been alone since I woke up. Been vacuuming.”

“Thank you.” Logan ducked down and gave Virgil a kiss which he smiled into, and maybe kissed back a little. They parted and smiled a bit at each other.

“I don’t know enough about spas to know if it’s been a long time or not.” Logan admitted.

“Me neither. I mean, Roman’s talked me into a pedicure, but that’s not, like, a spa experience.” Virgil had to grin remember the horrified expressions on some of the other customer’s faces as they’d come in, though whether it had been for his gothyness, Roman’s skin tone, or their blatant homosexuality was a question for the ages. White women of a certain type were just too much fun to wind up. It had been kinda nice, even if it had taken some real will power to let someone touch his feet. “Should we text him and find out when they’re coming home?”

“Or we could enjoy the quiet.”

They shared a smile, but Virgil shook his head. “I mean, I’m going to finish vacuuming, so I don’t know how quiet it will be.”

“Well the two loudest members of the household are gone, so I expect very, vacuum and all”

They shared another smile at their boyfreinds’ expense.

Virgil had gotten the vacuum back into storage, and was sitting quietly in the kitchen while Logan made dinner, when the door unlocked and Patton stomped in, looking quite out of sorts. It wasn’t very late, not even seven. It looked as though the ‘spa’ had included a haircut, his curls trimmed back to only a gentle tostle at the top.

“Love, please.” Roman begged following him in. “You look wonderful!”

“Logan tell Roman I’m not speaking to him.” Patton sniffed.

“Over a haircut?” Logan asked, bewildered.  Patton turned and glared at Roman. 

“Patton, darling” Roman said, failing to his knees and taking Patton’s hands. “Tell me how I can earn your forgiveness sooner. I genuinely thought that you’d enjoy it!”

“What happened?” Virgil asked, pulling an earbud out. “How could a spa day piss Patton off?”

“Spa day.” Patton scoffed. There was polish on his nails, but oddly applied.

“It wasn’t a spa day?” Logan asked.

“I will give him that it was a very high quality dog groomer.”

“Oooh.” Logan winced. “Roman, I’m sorry, Patton isn’t speaking to you.”

“You looked like you were having fun!” Roman protested. “You were very good.”

Patton tensed up, his hair shifting on it’s own before he pulled his hands out of Roman’s and going over to hug Virgil hello. Roman fell face first on the vinyl flooring and didn’t move.

“I take it I shouldn’t compliment the shampoo?” Virgil asked, kissing Patton’s cheek in case that sent him into the dog house with Roman.

“It’s for a glossy coat and anti-flea and tick.” Patton mumbled into his shoulder.

“I wonder how long that’ll last?” Virgil said thoughtfully.

 “VIRGE!”

“What, you hate ticks, and I hate taking them off you!” Virgil protested, and pulled Patton into a hug before he could pull away, petting the short clipped hair on the back of his head. Relenting Patton sat in his lap. “You look super cute. Considering they cut it while you were a wolf, it translated well.”

“I know.” he mumbled very quietly. Roman hadn’t moved, as though he’d just given up on the world. “It really was very nice.”

“Are you teasing Roman?” Virgil whispered in his ear.

“A little. He bought me the most enormous apology ice cream.” 

Virgil sniggered.

“I’m kind of wondering how long I can draw it out. It was a nice thought, even if it was super tacky.”

“You’re a bad man Patton Hart.” Virgil whispered and kissed him on both cheeks. “Do we get to see the whole effect?” 

“Fine, since it’s done anyway.” Patton hopped out of Virgil’s lap, and Logan slapped a lid on the pan as Patton changed forms, since that tended to result in an explosion of shed fur. Nothing happened. Patton stood with his fore-paws on Roman’s back, making him moan piteously, and raised one leg, posing. He was substantially less fluffy than usual, close cropped, with a bit of extra fluff left around his face.

“Tahdah!”

“They groomed all the shed out!” Logan said, astounded. “That never would have occurred to me; after the brushing failed.”

“This is so much cooler. Like, 80% cooler for sure.” Patton said.

“What?!” Roman did his best to push himself off the floor, but was weighed down with a great deal of wolf. “You manipulative jackal!” he cried. “You LIKE it.”

Patton lay down on top of him, laughing, and licked the back of Roman’s head.

“Well, technicaly I didn’t say I didn’t. Just that it was tacky to promise me a spa and bring me to a groomer.”

“Logan, tell Patton I’m not talking to him.”

“Why is it always me?” he demanded.

[yokelish]

Heart of a dog.

An OC for BSD no one asked for? It’s more likely than you think. A day in life of an original character by Yokelish no one asked for? Absolutely. I don’t have to, I know, but Misha has been on my mind recently, which worries me. Mostly, worries me about me. Anyway.....Here he comes. I just want to make sure for myself that I can tweak my writing style a bit. I am very humorous.You can read it, of course, and you can take it as an example of how not to write an original character. 

Anyone, here’s a thing I made for my kouhai, check that if you are more interested in canon characters. 

✏ Universe: Bungou Stray Dogs  ✏ Characters: Mikhail Bulgakov OC ✏ Word count: 3,094 (too many tbh) ✏ Warnings: mentions of alcoholism, drugs, smoking, and a dead animal.

Heart of a dog.

If there was a god above, then he must know how awful it felt to wake up in the morning. There was nothing as worthy of collective loathing as mornings. Extra sprinkles of revulsion get the mornings involving work. Mikhail covered his eyes when picking up the ringing phone. The light hurt him just as much as the idea of getting up from the bed. The ringing was tenfold louder and more annoying in his head, hitting the walls in his skulls like a smith’s hammer. Every sensation felt like an assault on his already shaky sanity.

“You have a patient in an hour,” said familiar voice on the line. Misha groaned. It wasn’t her voice that grinding on his nerves, it was the idea of having to do work today. The woman on the phone sighed with deliberate loudness just to let him know all about her frustration. She was the only person who could stand having him. Mostly because he payed her a pretty sum but that wasn’t the only reason.

“You have no option,” Nadejda reprimanded. There was a sound of typing on the other side, but it ceased quickly. “It’s Olga Danilovna.”

He took a deep breath. There was no mental exercise to prepare for that. “Dear, I don’t pay you for ruining my day the moment it begun.”

“Right, you pay me to do my job,” she spoke sternly. “And if my job ruins your day the moment it begins, I’m sorry, get a better life.”

“Understood, the blame is mine. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“You better be here in an hour.” Nadya hang up the phone first. The annoying sound of a call ending assaulted his hearing. The sensations of the outside were coming on too strong, they were attacking, they were frustrating. Everything was too sharp, too bright, too loud. His head was pounding with the reminders of how Misha had spent the last three days. It was nothing close to productive.

Mikhail got up from the bed with a groan of a man who was drinking for days straight. He wasn’t dry for an hour, as the saying was. He sighed, and groaned, and regretted the drinking. He would do it again. The clothes on the floor didn’t bother him. There was never anyone to pass judgement. There was never anyone to tell him to get his life together either. There was simply no one. Barefoot he walked across the room, picking up and collecting articles of clothing that would go in the wash now. There was an hour for him to get to the office, which wasn’t impossible, but it meant he had to move around his small apartment faster. And he doubted his mind and body could comprehend moving faster without sending the surroundings spinning. Everything was too overwhelming now. It wouldn’t get better for a while.

The cold water splashing against his face brought some sanity back. It felt good to be reminded the drinking had yet to kill him. It was nice to be reminded he had a job only he could do. It felt good that he was alive and capable of doing something. It was all a comforting lie to get over himself and his hangover.

The cold air of the outside smelled like that of a big and polluted city. The sounds were loud but distant, multiple but common. Nothing new was added to the picture he witnessed day after day. It’s an old painting he studied for hours, every stroke, every shade, every perspective too familiar. Nothing about it was new or surprising or remotely pleasant. It simply was and it was only ever changing in ways that didn’t matter. The city he got too familiar living in. The air, the sounds, the broken pavement underneath. The sun was hiding or finding comfort in the heavy grey clouds foretelling rain. The sun, too, didn’t want to see the city. This weather was for the better. The bright and shiny would sulk the mood. That would go against his already ruined day. Bulgakov stopped walking only to get the cigarettes out and start one. The smoke felt good in his lungs. It smelled better than the city too.

Fortunately, it didn’t start to rain while he was trying to get to his office on time. Doctor Bulgakov appeared in a somewhat acceptable state in. Unfortunately, he didn’t make it within the given time frame. And, unfortunately, there were no excuse for him available either.

“Late.” A stern, annoyed, but factual statement. The voice belonging to the woman of the hour. Mikhail shook of his coat and carelessly hung it. Nadejda was sitting at the receptionist table looking very annoyed herself, staring daggers at the other woman. Such were the days featuring Olga Danilovna.

“Hey there, Dan. It’s been a while,” Mikhail shifted his attention to the child in a wheelchair. He was a blonde boy, aged eleven, with a pet cage on his lap. The cage covered up with a blanket. By the size of it, Misha would guess it was fit for a rabbit.

“Hello, Doctor Misha,” the boy replied slowly, patting the blanket-covered cage as if the animal could feel it.

“I guess it’s your leg this time.”

“It hurts.” As honest as a child could be. Nothing wrong in admitting being in pain. Danila was staring at the wall mindlessly, repeating the same motions with his hand.

“Just hold on a little longer,” the doctor assured. “It will be over soon.”

Bulgakov unlocked the door to the examination office. It smelled the same as always: sickeningly familiar smell of disinfectant that turns sweet to senses over time. It smelled more like home that anything else. Nadya was always a good keeper. She kept his office as pristine as she kept his dirty secret. Well, the secret wasn’t awfully dirty but, as all secrets are, problematic to keep in check. It had to be controlled who knew and who didn’t. If too many people knew about it, life would become very uncomfortable very quick. And Mikhail was a person of comfort.

For the sake of formality, he put on white medical coat over his sweater. He took the cage off the boy’s lap and placed it on the table. Danila barely reacted to the change, dropping his hand on his lap the moment the cage was gone. Bulgakov peeked inside. Inside was, indeed, a rabbit.

“You really like animals, Doctor Misha. Where do you keep them all?” Danila asked. It was a gift of being a child to be so oblivious to the obvious.

“Me? No. I have a friend who lives on a farm. He adores them,” Bulgakov lied and did so naturally. At some point, he even thought of a name for said friend, how big the farm was and what animals lived there now. A well-repeated lie was a believable lie. The more it’s told, the more it turned into the truth of things. It wasn’t a stretch of intellectual thought to count all the pets that came into his office along with the patients and conclude a remarkably simple outcome: those pets never went home with him. But he wouldn’t break a child’s heart so cruelly. In six weeks, Dan’s leg would be perfectly healed. And the rabbit would be six weeks older. But six weeks is too long for his mother to wait. A broken bone is a note in the medical history of an upcoming sports star. Mikhail never bothered to remember what exactly Danila played.

Mikhail came to inspect the boy’s leg. The safest bet in his line of work is to assume the worst possible injury: broken. But on the plus size, it seemed to be broken only in one place.

“Put your arms around my neck and hold on as tight as you can,” he said to the boy. Tiny hand grabbed around his neck without much force behind it. “On a count of three. One.” He carefully hooked his arms under Dan’s legs. “Two.” The doctor mentally braced himself. “Three.”

It wasn’t terribly difficult. It was only the weight of a child, after all. But Misha was having a terrible hangover and, thus, everything seemed more difficult than it should have been. Danila was now sitting on the exam table. Not that there was anything else to examine. And even if there was some injury unseen to the naked eye, he hardly had the equipment for it. Taking care of the child was a job for the mother. Bulgakov offered the headphones to the child. A useful thing to protect the child from a conversation that a child should not be privy to.

“Well, you know the drill, Dan,” Mikhail said, helping the boy to lie down comfortably on the table. “Headphones on, eyes closed, full relaxation.” The patient nodded, putting on the noise cancelling headphones on without questions. Danila was a good child just not equally blessed with good parents.

After making sure that Dan couldn’t hear a thing, Bulgakov returned to the rabbit in a cage. Lovely animal: calm, big, with a shiny fur. Misha took the rabbit in his arms and started to gently stroke the animal to calm it. It was warm, and alive, and completely defenseless.

“You look like you’ve been drinking for two days straight,” Olga Danilovna observed. Misha couldn’t tell if she was judging or simply stating. Not that he cared for either of those things, it was mere curiosity. He rarely could decipher any emotion within her unless it was anger and irritation.

After a quick mental math exercise, he forced a smile on his face. “Actually, it was three. I’ll take it as a compliment.”

“You think you are funny,” she mocked him. “Nothing worse than a man thinking himself funny.”

“I thought there was nothing better than a man acting like a clown,” Misha replied, grinning. “And nothing worse than a man thinking himself awfully charming.”

Olga shook her head, fake blonde hair perfectly styled with too much spray, and rolled her eyes. And that was the end of that conversation. However, there was something else on Bulgakov’s mind, something he doubted was worth mentioning. After all, it wasn’t any of his business. The last thing he needed to do is to pass any judgment on people who paid him. It was an excellent advice, most importantly, it was an instruction he gave himself. He couldn’t be wrong about that. And so, he didn’t listen.

“You drugged him,” he stated simply. There was barely any judgement in his voice. There was no point in judging a client, least of all, a client that wouldn’t listen. But a warning wasn’t something Olga Danilovna would accept either. A challenge, however, she could listen to.

“I gave him painkillers, yes,” replied Olga.

“No, I expected painkillers, that’s why he wasn’t crying by the time I showed up. I am saying you drugged him. I noticed the slowness in his reaction time. I saw his eyes up close.”

“What did you expect me to do? He is still a boy and can’t handle pain very well.”

Bulgakov sighed. What was he expecting to get by starting this conversation, anyway? Danila was his patient and nothing more. And the only reason the kid even was a patient was because his mother could afford to pay. It really wasn’t any of his business. He should forget about it. Mikhail continued to stroke the animal in his arms, offering whatever little comfort he could. And taking in all the comfort the rabbit could provide. It was alive, and warm, and with a soft fur. It felt lovely to hold a rabbit in his arms.

“I have to ask, though,” Olda Danilovna started to speak again, “would you be able to treat a concussion?”

“A concussion? Are you serious, Ol’?” he could even tell why he was getting riled up. “He’s eleven. Get him into swimming or some other Olympic sport.” Never mind, after some quick digging, he remembered that he had a personal dislike towards Olga Danilovna. Money can buy a service; it cannot buy positive personal bias unless for testifying in court.

“And what of it? Even if he wins the Olympics and brings home gold, he will peak before he’s twenty-five and then what?” Olga crossed her arms on her chest. Cold-blue flame flickering in her eyes dangerously — a warning. “Be a PE teacher? A swimming coach? No, thank you. And answer my question, damn you.”

“Sure, I can,” Mikhail answered, giving up. Arguing with a woman such as herself would only bring headache. Her voice was as sharp as her glare. And he was still recovering after a hangover.

“Would a rabbit suffice?” she continued to question.

“Depends on the severity,” the man shrugged. The rabbit in his arms was acting like a perfect companion. Perhaps, whatever little comfort he could offer was just enough to keep it calm. “If there is an open wound gushing out blood from his head, then no, you’ll have to find something bigger.”

“Like what?”

“Well, there are plenty of stray dogs on the streets.”

“Screw you.”

“Understandable.”

Cutting the conversation short, Bulgakov took his seat behind the table. The rabbit still cradled in his arms. He knew the pain that would follow render him useless, he’d collapse on the floor and then live with the embarrassment of such memory. Not that he cared for it, but for the sake of formality. The pain intensified and was only made worse by the remains of the hangover. If it made his head pound and body feel weak, now he could safely say he knew exactly what getting hit by a car felt like. It was a pain to the tips of his fingers, clouding his mind, rendering him mute and weak. The only positive about this state was that he was familiar with this. It was a pain that never got better; it never got worse. It was stagnant and familiar, which means he got used to it over time, with each use. He learned to live with it. Today just happened to be a little worse due to careless hangover. His hand rested on the still warm rabbit’s fur.

“You can take him, Ol’,” Bulgakov rasped as if dying from thirst. “Nadejda Andreevna will process the payment.”

Olga Danilovna didn’t waste a second more, running up to her son and getting him up from the table. In a hurry she could pass for a warn and loving mother, she even examined the previously broken leg. She asked if anything hurt. Olga could pass for a caring mother and not a woman who wanted to live out her ambitions through her son. With his leg perfectly healed, Danila wheeled the chair himself.

“Thank you, Doctor Misha,” the boy said with a smile before leaving the room. His reactions were a little faster this time around.

Mikhail, however, barely had the mental capacity left free from the pain to comprehend the words and offer a reply. Nonetheless, he managed. “Be careful next time, Dan.” He offered a feeble wave of his hand before the boy left. When the door closed, Misha slouched on the table, resting his forehead against the cold wood. It was offering no relief whatsoever, but it felt grounding. A sensation to tether him to reality, otherwise, he would allow himself to drift away from it. The rabbit’s fur felt less warm. That was even less of a comfort. It stopped mattering the moment he picked his phone this morning.

It was all a little useless. Nothing but a play of a repentant man. One actor theatre: he is on stage and is the audience. He didn’t count seconds, cared not for minutes it took for Nadya to come in through the door with a glass of water. He heard the door opening, her light steps, but didn’t want to raise his head just yet.

“You’ll survive, right?” Nadejda asked with amusement in her voice. He was rendered useless, true, but not helpless.

“Bastards live a long life.” A glass was placed on his table. Mikhail chuckled, amused by the thought that rushed through his pounding head. “Careful, dear, I’ll start to think you are a warm and caring human being.”

“That will be your grave mistake,” she replied.

“Doesn’t sound so bad.”

“Take your pills and, please, with water. It’s not in my interest for you to choke on them.”

“I shall.”

“You want me to take care of that?” she asked coldly, uncaring. That was why their arrangement was most perfect. That was why he hired her and why she remained by his side. There were few reasons why she could stand to work for such a horrible, irresponsible boss. Not only because he could pay her a pretty number. Not only because they were legally bound by a contract, preventing Nadejda from getting her hefty paycheck in case of Bulgakov’s strange death. It wasn’t only because she could keep her pretty mouth perfectly shut. But because Nadejda was aware of her self-serving nature and did not care. Nadejda Andreevna did not, in fact, care for anything but herself.

Mikhail placed the rabbit on the table and took out a cigarette from inside his pocket. He put one in his mouth. Nadya wordlessly offered a lighter. The smoke felt good inside his lungs: warm, calming, and perfectly harmful.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll take care of it,” Mikhail replied, evenly breathing out cigarette smoke. He reached in the drawer to get the pills out. Something to dull the pain, something to bring more senses back to life. Nadya was leaving the room in her usual catlike steps.

“You’ll lock up, right?” she asked, stopping in the doorway.

“Sure,” Misha nodded.

“See you when I see you.”

“Right back at ya.”

The door closed behind her. Soon, the office would be completely empty. He would leave, locking up for the day. Soon, the pain from his body would disappear completely, gone without a trace. His state would return to what it was when he woke up. Soon, there would be nothing bothering him but the hangover. The pounding would get less intense as time passed. By the end of the day, he should fell relatively fine. Soon, he would be heading home where he’d get to be as miserable as he felt like to be. Soon. Right after he would bury this obviously very dead rabbit on the table.