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astaroth1357 · 4 years

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Demigod MC Series: Nyx

Nyx is a primordial goddess and the Greek personification of Night - the mother of Hypnos, Thanatos, Nemesis, and many more. She's a mysterious figure in their mythos as there's little surviving info about her cult. What is known, however, is that she was portrayed as beautiful, powerful, and feared by Zeus himself.

Demigod MC Series: Intro, Aphrodite, Hermes, Hades, Dionysus, Demeter, Athena, Hades Pt. 2, Poseidon, Ares, Hestia, Nyx

Lucifer

What happens when you take a being born from the darkness and place them in a realm of eternal night…?

The answer came when the MC first stepped out of the portal. Everyone in the room was wholly expecting a normal-looking, confused human they could get up to speed, however…

The MC's skin suddenly darkened until it was as black as a shadow, their clothes levitated around them as if they were defying gravity, and glimmering speckles dotted their skin like twinkling stars.

Even their eyes turned a pure, glowing white without irises or pupils… Like two crowning stars locked into a body made from the shimmering night sky...

They weren't human. At the time, Lucifer wasn't even sure he could say what they were... Breathtaking, certainly, but there was something else about them that he couldn't place… something… foreboding...

Diavolo must have had the same unease because Barbatos was put in charge of monitoring them. The butler would send reports to them both and the results would range from benign to nerve-racking...

They kept their distance from his brothers and most people, but their power seemed immense... Barbs would report seeing them making small items float or summoning a meteor shower from their fingertips!

Lucifer ended up actually tasting their powers only once. When they stepped in to protect Beel and Luke and he went to attack them…

The whole House began to shake and the candles of the tomb started going out one by one as the air grew intolerably heavy... He could have sworn he saw a vortex of… something... swirling at their feet...

He backed off immediately and Beel and Luke got off with a warning, mostly because he was trying not to look utterly petrified...

He's never met a more beautiful and dangerous creature in his life… Pact mark or no, this is probably the only person the firstborn will admit he never wants to have to fight because he'd lose, big time.

Mammon

He was expecting to find a human when he walked into the Student Council room, not an alien!!

Mammon was seriously scared of the MC when they first met because he legitimately believed they were an extraterrestrial sent to probe him!!... Or whatever else those scary movies say aliens do, lay eggs in his stomach?

He straight up avoided them like the plague until the Goldie incident more or less bound them together. But even then there was a distance between them he just couldn't place…

Naturally, it bothers a demon a bit if their master doesn't seem to like them, so he eventually cornered them one day to force them to tell him why they'd been running off!

As it turned out, the MC actually knew as little about their new form everybody else! They had been perfectly normal in the human world, but for some reason the Devildom supercharged them! They could tell that they were powerful, but had no idea how to control themselves yet and it scared them...

So Mammon became their first unofficial "coach." Not that he knew how to train them or anything, but he was the first person supportive enough to even try to help them learn their new powers.

It led to some… interesting misadventures. Like when the MC unexpectedly burst every water pipe in the House or when they got a little too frustrated and ripped the kitchen apart with an accidental twister, but hey, Mammon was always there for them at least.

Of course, because he's who he is, he's not above asking the MC to help him with his schemes for "training purposes…" Infiltration is more fun if you're weightless, after all!

Speaking of weightless… His favorite way to float is when the MC gets excited and hugs him. They can't help but levitate them both off the ground when they're that happy and it makes the whole hug that much sweeter.

Leviathan

It's… it's like he's in his very own Magical Girl anime!!! Uh, "I'm a Demon and this is My New Life with a Magic Starchild!!"-or something like that. 🤷‍♀️

He didn't even think their transformation was real when he first saw it! He really thought it was an elaborate body art cosplay but then their "freckles" rearranged themselves when he frightened them, so it had to be real!!

He'll declare that they're probably (literally) the coolest thing on the planet. They have the looks of an epic fantasy character plus insane powers to boot!

…though uh… they may need a training arc or two to learn how to control them… 😅

Since their powers are apparently tied to their emotions, Levi's seen them do a whole bunch of stuff that's not entirely on purpose... Like, they can make things float when they're happy and push everything down when they're sad.

So once he showed them one of those "tragic ending" animes for fun, but they cried so hard that they increased gravity and accidentally sent his bathtub crashing into the basement…

The worst of it is when they're mad, though. He made the mistake of making them play a rage game once and they ended up shattering all the glass in his room! His aquarium wall and Henry's fishtank included!!

They were able to make a zero G sphere of water in order to save Henry's life, but the cleanup was brutal… They were super sorry, but Levi took most of the blame himself anyway.

Honestly, he'd have been more mad but their body is clearly not something they can control just yet. Plus, it's so cool that he can put up with a little destruction anyway, you know?

Satan

Well, isn't that an interesting phenomenon?

Meeting a demigod is exciting enough, but one who reacted to the Devildom like that? It was pretty much unheard of!

Though he'd hate to admit it, Satan stalked the MC just as closely as Barbatos for a little while... But only because he was a little unsure of how to approach them…

They kept to themselves and their powers seemed "a little" unpredictable (see Levi's orphaned bathtub). Thankfully, Mammon ended up recommending the MC to him since Satan's one of the smartest guys around.

Satan made a better coach than Mammon, anyway. He was far more knowledgeable and actually able to hypothesize the strength their powers, which came in handy because uh… well…

Look. The whole realm 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs' over their appearance but they're all fools - no morons - for not noticing what potential the MC actually has. Satan was positive that the MC is the most powerful being in the Devildom, without question.

They had a complete control over gravity, atmospheric pressure, and even astronomical bodies… If they wanted to, they could literally pluck a planet out of orbit and send it careening into who knows what!

Want more terrifying? They could create near-matterless vacuums at the palms of their hands with the potential to suffocate, crush, or rip apart basically anything they wanted with implosive force….

Does he even need to spell out why that's utterly horrifying??

At least the MC seemed to be a genuinely nice person who wanted to control their powers better… Their emotions often got in the way but they tried their best.

He likes the MC a lot, but he'd be lying if he said that they didn’t also terrify him… They may have been pretty normal in the human world, but give them endless night and they may as well be a god...

Asmodeus

Oh… My… Father!!! They're GORGEOUS!!!!

From the moment their transformation completed, Asmo had never seen anything like them! He said that they were like a living droplet of the night sky!

They were magnificent!! They were radiant!!! He was posting pictures of them before they had even said their first sentence!!

So Asmo was pretty much patient zero for any and all rumors and hype about the MC after that... Apparently someone like them only visits the Devildom every one, maybe two, centuries so everybody was bound to get talking.

Thankfully, the MC's habit of ducking out of the House kept them from becoming a full on sideshow. Unfortunately, however, Asmodeus was relentless!

He'd beg them to try modeling or make videos with him because of their unique look! He'd lay on the praises, but it was a little... much. It wasn't until Mammon finally stepped that he backed off a bit.

Asmo sometimes forgets that not everyone puts as much emphasis on looks as he does... Though he meant well, he hadn't realized that the MC maybe wouldn't appreciate him making such a big deal out of their appearance change. Pretty as it was, it was still involuntary to them...

Of course, after they told him this he cooled off and stopped putting them out there so publicly but even still he could hardly keep his eyes off of them... unless he was looking in a mirror, of course. 😘

A fun fact about the MC: when they blush, their skin makes a pink nebula. And thanks to his antics, Asmo has seen their lively pink cheeks many, many times… 🤭

Beelzebub

Belphie would like them, wouldn't he...?

Beel's first reaction upon seeing the MC was genuine sadness, as seeing the stars with his twin brother still gone often brought him…

The sadness didn't last too long at least because Beel tried his best to see the MC more like a person than a work of art or an oddity. Sure, they looked different - like really different - but they still laughed, cried, and ate like everybody else so they couldn't be that different.

Though then again, most people don't end up floating in midair when they laugh… Eh, oh well. It's not like those little details bother him. 🤷‍♀️

He always remained certain that Belphie would like the MC so he told them a lot about him. Since his twin loved stargazing, it'd only be natural that he'd like someone who looked like the stars, right?

Aside from the occasional tangent about his brother, Beel would also help the MC with their training by letting them help him with his training!

Controlling gravity can be pretty nifty for strength/resistance exercises, so there would be days where Beel would just pull a Dragon Ball and walk around at 1.5 or 2 times Earth's gravity thanks to having the MC on his back!

Sure, lifting a glass of milk becane so difficult that he literally broke a sweat from trying, but he felt like he can juggle motorcycles afterwards so who's complaining? Not him!

Belphegor

……

………….

Was it some kind of joke?

The MC was not human. There was no way in heaven or hell that whatever he lured to the attic was supposed to be a human!!

Really, everything about the MC and their situation seemed directly designed to throw a monkey wrench into his plans...

One: They weren't human so how was he supposed to ruin Diavolo's dream? Two: They were clearly some kind of magical being so they could likely defend themselves…

But third ans most embarrassing of all... he honestly, genuinely, has never seen a more amazing person in his life. Blame it on his soft spot for the stars, but the moment the MC step up to his prison bars, he was smitten...

And. He. HATED IT!

Look, as much as he loved the night sky, he wasn't about to let some random non-human derail his anger! He was stronger than that!

He managed to hold onto his bitterness just long enough to make a halfhearted attempt on their life after they got the door open, but uh…

His brothers found Belphie when he fell through a newly-made hole in the ceiling... Said hole was made when his body slammed to the ground hard enough to crash through the attic floor... 😣

If the damage they caused wasn't enough to change his mind (which it was), then their distress when they thought they might have hurt him certainly did. Even their tears looked like stardust...

After far too long, Belphie got over his denial and began to properly love MC. If he liked stargazing before, he adored it now because he never even has to get out of bed! He can just roll over and follow the "stars" on the MC's body!

Unfortunately, that same love means it also takes a lot to ditch him if they get sick of being his personal night's sky… The brothers have found him floated up and sleeping on the ceiling on numerous occasions so the mortal can get some fresh air (clever MC)...

#obey me #obey me shall we date #shall-we-date-obey-me #obey me lucifer #obey me mammon #obey me leviathan #obey me satan #obey me asmodeus #obey me beelzebub #obey me belphegor #obey me headcanons #obey me demigods

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elysianslove · 4 years

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first of all can i just say congrats on the 500 like i'm so happy for you and you absolutely deserve it (huge bear hug :) ) now i had this crazy hcs idea and i immediately thought of you so long story short how would Karasuno , Aoba Johsai and Nekoma react to their sweet manager having powers similar to those of scarlet witch (marvel) or mirajane strauss (fairytail anime) feel free to pick whichever one is easier and thank you so much for indulging my crazy request. love u lots - safiyah <3333

oh my goodness thank you sm for your words here’s a bear hug <3 also also i was literally just thinking just how cool it would be to have like a supernatural au haikyuu thing and then you send me this wow we on some mind reading shit. anyways i really hope you like this. sorry it’s like hq on crack if you want a serious one lemme know hsjkhsk

karasuno high

they lose their shit.

every single one of them.

mentally they’re all like 12 (except daichi and mqybe ennoshita) so i definitely think they’d have a very childish reaction to it.

it’s so endearing though.

they find out while walking you home one night: it’s very stormy and they just wanted to make sure you get home safe because they worship the ground you walk on. cue like a fucking billboard nearly falling on you and the group of boys and your instincts just kick in and you stop it mid air.

noya’s still screaming even after everyone’s just gone silent and is gawking at the fact a billboard (or whatever the object is i can’t think rip) is hovering above them. in mid air. because of you. what the fuck?

daichi’s blood pressure drops he’s like somebody catch me im about to faint wtf is going on.

you kinda freak and just toss it away and run your way back home, as far away from the boys as possible.

but alas, you’re their manager, and you have duties to fulfill. so you show up to practice the next morning terrified for your life.

you’re not really sure why you’re so scared and nervous. you just are? it’s a huge part of who you are and it’d be a big bummer if the most important boys in your life didn’t accept it.

noya greets you with a really big hug

tanaka’s so loud but what’s new <3

daichi and suga just come up to you and gently ask if you’re okay because you ran off so quick yesterday

they all act super normal during practice but you can tell

you can tell

they want to ask so many questions they’re gonna explode

after practice, when coach ukai and takeda leave, and it’s just you, kiyoko, and the boys, it’s s o quiet. you would hear a pin drop.

you just sigh and go “you can ask”

your poor eardrums </3

they’re so fascinated by everything you say

kiyoko’s like “i had a hunch” like how do u have a hunch about something like this anyways what a queen

noya’s like “make me fly”

and tsukki in the back “drop him on his ass pls”

they definitely make you do so many things for them with it

cleaning duty is now on you because hello !! you can move things with your mind !!

kags doesn’t get it. he’s like. ok? and ? i can set volleyballs perfectly, hinata can jump really high despite his height, she can move things with her mind? so what?

i love him

they’re also crazy good at keeping it a secret?

not hinata tho he slips up so often like thank god the secret isn’t realistic or believable

he’ll be like “oh yeah? well our manager can move things with her mind!”

and suga just has to usher him away with a pained smile like “yeah she’s so incredible haha” while doing that thing moms do where they squeeze or pinch your shoulder if they’re mad at you in public

it feels like a weight lifted off your shoulders when they find out because the closer you grew to these boys, the more they felt like family to you.

aoba johsai

my favorite team

i hc makki as someone that smokes weed. pls don’t try to convince me otherwise. look at him. he’s a pothead <3

this is going somewhere i swear.

so you’re a 3rd year manager, meaning you’ve been with these boys a while now, specifically the third years of the team, so y’all are pretty close.

how they find out: it’s like 3am on a weekend, the seijoh 4 and some of the second years. you’d baked a cake with like all of them all at once in the kitchen, so it was now a mess, so you’re attempting to clean it up as fast as you can the way you know best — with your hands and your mind. makki walks in, high as shit, sees this and just.

“damn must be the weed.”

you don’t hear him. so. uh oh.

he was probably sent there by iwa to get water or something, so iwaizumi walks in and just yells so loud “what the fuck!”

it’s like they’re all summoned by this. they eventually all pile into the kitchen and you’re literally just frozen in fear with pots and pans and utensils and specks of flour hovering by you. and then you maintain eye contact with iwa as you lift one hand and direct the pans into a cupboard and slowly shut it.

“so it’s not the weed?”

they honestly. don’t act any different tbh

it’s like an added feature of yours that they appreciate.

oikawa asks you to read his mind to test if what happened that night was real and you just lift him up from off his seat.

“i asked you to read my mind tho hm”

yeah mind reading is just a regular thing now. they will slyly ask you to read the other team’s minds during a match and you’re like no that’s cheating. but you do. and you subtlety give them advice. like “hm i wonder if that team’s gonna do this specific attack”

also oikawa asks (read:begs) u to like help them make it through to nationals

you say “will it feel like a true accomplishment if i do?”

shuts his pretty face up <3

they also make you like. toss volleyballs to them. but with your mind. multiple of them. they take it as some stupid challenge idk these boys are dumb i love them

they also love throwing things at. YOU. LIKE WTF?

like haha dodgeball but it’s a group of 6’0+ athletes against just. you.

sounds fair

they also become insanely protective of you after they find out. idk how that clicks w them but. yes.

especially mattsun and iwa ? like men. relax.

anyways they would abuse the shit out of your powers genuinely but it’s okay it’s out of love <3

nekoma high

they. they’re idiots. all of them.

kuroo would probably be like but scientifically ! this makes zero sense

omg kenma would lose his MIND.

HES A GAMER BRUH

HED BE OBSESSED W YOU.

but lowkey bc none of that simp shit </3

ooou okay so you’re at a training camp and they sneak you in with them so you guys can play truth or dare

bc yk. you’re kids.

and y’all are going around and you just pick truth and someone asks what’s the biggest secret you’ve ever kept from us and they expect some dirty shit they’re nasty smh

and then you straight up go “i can move things w my mind”

and theyre like ok miss stop playin fr

keep in mind it’s dark as hell in the dormitory and eerily quiet and you shift one of the chairs in there, and it squeaks loudly

yamamoto jumps and looks at you w so much fear in his eyes. “that wasn’t you”

“bet?”

and then suddenly all chairs are moving all at once and yamamato deadass screams

kuroo’s shrugging like. “it’s just the wind,” like ur not in a closed off room w all the windows shut whatever u say sir <3

lev’s like

gone into shock. seriously someone go get him water or something.

when morning comes they’re all like hella scared to approach you except kenma and kuroo bc kenma— is in awe. kuroo — does not believe it.

you’re kinda :( that they’re scared of you and you approach them after the day is over and just apologize, and tell them you didn’t mean to scare them and that you’d never hurt them or even consider it.

they do a 180 bruh they just all go “awwwwww” and suffocate you in a group hug so you shove them all off for good measure lmao

kuroo still doesn’t believe it until you save his ass in broad daylight and he’s like ok maybe it wasn’t fake so what sue me

whenever there are training camps where other schools come they beg u to help them prank the boys

especially bokuto and hinata

and you do obviously

it’s hilarious watching them scream as something moves slightly. you never do it that it’s suspicious just enough to be like did that happen or is my mind messing w me rn

scarlet witch also has the ability to mess w people’s mind in the literal sense and whenever one of the boys pisses you off particularly you just make them see their biggest fear

kenma asks you to reenact some of his favorite gameplays for him

it’s literally just roleplay and you couldn’t care less someone catches the two of you you’re no pussy you can admit when you’re having fun

overall a very chaotic reaction

they don’t treat you any different they’re just like 100x more hyped about who you are. like the fact that you’re their manager is already a blessing and now this !!!

incredible <3333

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu headcanons #karasuno x reader #aoba johsai x reader #nekoma x reader #haikyuu au

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mobagehelllocal · 4 years

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“do you even lift bro?” ver iii - leech twins, jamil, epel, rook and lilia

Your headcanons for the fem reader bridal carrying the guys were GOLD! Can I request the same for Lilia, Jade, Floyd, Jamil, Divus, Epel and Rook? Thank you! -- from @shenanigansposts

A/N: It’s here! It’s back! It’s “do you even lift bro?”! Honestly, I’m still stunned at the response this series gets xD anyways. I’m sorry I’ve gotten slower on updates, but I don’t want to write with any negativity in my heart. I want to enjoy writing, because otherwise I know my pieces will show that. Creative works truly reflect the mood of the writer, so I try to always be in my happy place when I write so that these can be fun! ^^

Please do enjoy!

other versions: ver i (dorm leaders), ver ii (dire, divus, ashton), ver iii (this)

Jade’s head jerked up as you rushed into the infirmary.

“Jade! Are you okay?” you scrambled over to him in worry.

“Hello flower.” he greeted, quite cheerful, despite the fact that his ankle was in a cast. “I’m quite well really.”

You shot a look at his ankle--before you turned to the school nurse. The school nurse gave you a patient smile as they explained what happened.

“He didn’t break anything. He just twisted it from climbing that mountain today...” The nurse eyed your lover. “in search of mushrooms.”

“I was very successful.” Jade nodded sagely. “Mostro Lounge’s menu will be full with them. Flower, I insist you try them.” You tried to give him a stern look, but his genuine appreciation for mushrooms (of all things! mushrooms!) caused your lips twitch up into a smile.

“So does this mean he doesn’t need to stay in the infirmary?”

“He doesn’t.” the nurse confirmed. “Unfortunately we currently don’t have any crutches, and Mr. Leech is adamant about not flying--if you could call his brother perhaps? Or Mr. Ashengrotto.” the nurse suggested.

“It’s fine, I can handle it.” you waved a dismissive hand. The nurse arched a brow, and Jade shot you a curious glance--mind finally off mushrooms.

“Just... make sure he doesn’t put any pressure on his foot.” The nurse said, “we’ll be sending crutches over to his dorm by tonight... or tomorrow afternoon at the latest. I can write you a slip that will allow you to skip some of your morning classes.”

The nurse quickly filled up a form, and you stopped in front of Jade. Your boyfriend eyed you in interest.

“How are you planning on helping me, flower? Floyd or Azul...”

“It’s fine.” you said dismissively again. “I’ll show you in a bit.” The nurse handed you the note, and you easily leaned forward, and slipped it into Jade’s pocket. (”Don’t lose that!” “Yes, madam~” he had chuckled, and you flushed.) You huffed, and before he could even blink--you easily pulled him up into your arms bridal style. Jade’s eyes widened, and the nurse shrieked in surprise.

“Wait! Put him down!” the nurse squeaked.

“Oh it’s fine. Jade’s actually pretty light.” you shrugged, and with a glance the nurse did notice that you showed no signs of strain.

“If you’re sure.” the nurse said, flustered.

“Yup. Thank you so much!” you shot the nurse a smile. The nurse went to open the door for you as you left the infirmary with a baffled Jade in your arms.

You turned your head, to see an uncharacteristically surprised expression on Jade’s face. His eyes were wide, and his mouth was slightly agape.

“I didn’t break you, right?” you asked, and he finally blinked.

“Aa. I just... did not expect you to be this strong, flower.” Jade finally said, his lips curled into a pleasant grin. “I had a general idea since you were always so willing to do the heavy lifting... Have you always been this strong?”

“Yeah.” you shrugged. “People often told me it was unattractive for a girl though. Said something about how it wasn’t cute.” you huffed. “I worried about it before but... I’m learning to accept it about myself.”

Jade tilted his head, and he raised a hand to cup your cheek gently. His hand moved, and curled under your chin to make your eyes meet his own.

“I think it’s very attractive.” you flushed, and Jade chuckled lowly. “Everyday I’ve been finding new things to love about you. This one is most definitely today’s ‘new thing’~” You could feel your face heat up even further.

“I--you’re unfair as ever Jade.” you sighed, and he shot you a pleased grin.

“I’ll make it up with some mushroom risotto.”

“You’ll have to tell me how to make it. I can’t make you cook in this state.”

“I injured my ankle, not my hands.” Jade raised a fine brow.

“Yeah but... Let me pamper you.” your voice grew quiet. “Let me do it this time.” Jade laughed gently.

“Very well, milady.”

“WAHAHAHAH! JADE! PFFFT!”

“What happened Jade--wait, Floyd! Don’t jump--”

CRASH.

“[Surname]!” you flinched, and turned around. You blinked in surprise as you see Professor Crewel stride up to you whilst he gritted his teeth.

“What did you do?” Ace whispered. You furrowed your brow and shrugged your shoulders. Nothing came to mind.

“Puppy, you get along with Mr. Floyd Leech, do you not?”

“I mean... Yeah?” you tilted your head, unsure where this was going.

“Good.” he exhaled. “Get him out of my classroom.”

“Huh?”

“Floyd... please...”

“Don’t wanna.” His voice was muffled because he had buried his face into his arms. He was seated in the center of the room, curled up. Crewel had pointed at him accusingly, then pointedly at you, before he turned away with a huff.

“Get him out of there before the next class, little puppy... or else...” he had twirled his baton in hand, and uninterested in experiencing whatever Crewel had in mind, you had chosen to speak to Floyd.

“Come on Floyd, please? Let’s go back to your dorm. You could just... sul--rest on your bed instead.” you tried to be gentle as you pulled on the much taller boy’s sleeve.

“You’ll hafta carry me out.” he said--stubborn as ever when he was in one of his moods. Since he couldn’t see your face, you exaggerated your eye roll.

“Fine.”

Floyd twitched in interest, and shifted his head just a fraction to see you draw close. With surprising strength, you yanked him upright, then swooped him up into your arms--bridal style.

It look a second for what was going on to register in Floyd’s mind, but when it did, he began to flop in your arms. It felt a lot like holding an incredibly huge, and slippery... well... eel? You snickered at your own thought as you tightened your hold on Floyd’s body.

“SHRIMPY!” he wrapped his arms around your neck in excitement, “Shrimpy! You’re carrying me! Look! You’re carrying me!”

“Floyd... I know... I am carrying you.” you said, amused, “don’t move too much because if you accidentally hit me, I’m going to drop you.” At that he calmed down. However, he did not stop his cheerful hum, as he swung his legs in the air.

You couldn’t help but think how adorable Floyd was in your arms.

And you were also very pleased that you had easily cheered him up with carrying him like this.

(You couldn’t say the same for most of the Night Raven College students though.

Floyd, as himself was dangerous enough.

Floyd, when defending you? He was even worse.

Now they find out that the person everyone assumed was Floyd’s weakness was actually insanely strong enough to bridal carry a 191 centimetre tall menace?

‘Monsters, both of them.’ was the terrified thought of every single NRC student who pressed themselves up against the walls at the sight of you strutting about with Floyd in your arms, barely winded.)

“Shrimpy...” he looked at you with glowing eyes--and your heart felt at ease as you see that Floyd was no longer feeling upset. “How are you carrying me?”

“I’ve always been strong.” you shrugged.

“You never told me though.” Floyd looked like he wilted at the thought and you couldn’t help but rush to assure him.

“It’s sort of like... when you had to explain magic to me. It’s difficult to explain something you’ve always known you had.” Floyd tilted his head at your response, eyes glimmered briefly in understanding. Floyd had always been smarter than people gave him credit for.

“So, how much more do you think you can carry?”

“Well I don’t know about that but I can...” you told him how much you were able to lug around back in your world, and a mischievous glow entered Floyd’s eyes.

“I’m not entertaining it.”

“Awww, but shrimpy! It will be worth it!” he pouted, and heart struck by how adorable he looked, you sighed.

“Alright, I’ll hear you out.”

“Hey, do you think you could carry Jade and I on either of your shoulders?” You paused, and looked at him in a contemplative manner.

“What in Atlantis, are you doing?” Azul’s shriek pierced the air.

“Oh... oh my.”

“Wahaha! Shrimpy quick! Pick up Azul too!”

Just as you were about to call out to Jamil, you noticed that his movements weren’t as smooth as it usually was--nor did they have Jamil’s typical grace. You frowned at that.

Jamil had the habit of overworking himself.

You were worried that he had done so--again.

Jamil raised a hand to his head, and sighed. His head pounded--a reminder that he hadn’t gotten enough sleep last night.

He was lucky that he had enough control of himself that none of the teachers noticed the way his attention slipped.

No one ever noticed.

Jamil had done his job well--he was ‘normal’ enough in the eyes of his professors and peers that his slightest missteps, and delayed answers were just a part of his ‘regular’ behavior.

‘I’ll have to convince Kalim to sleep earlier tonight if I want to perform at my one-hundred percent best tomorrow.’ he raised a hand to his temple, and massaged it. His eyes fluttered close as he pressed his knuckles against his forehead--alleviating the irritating feeling even for a little while.

“--are you okay?”

His eyes snapped open at the sound of your voice, and he instinctively gave you a small smile.

“Ah, [Name].” he nodded his head, “just a slight headache really.”

“It doesn’t look like a slight headache.” you peered at him thoughtfully. He gazed back at you, confused--did you--?

“Alright, I’m taking you to the infirmary.” you suddenly decided, and Jamil’s eyebrows raised in response.

“You--I’m fine, [Name].” he let out a soft chuckle. “There’s no need to worry.”

“You aren’t walking like you normally do.” he froze at your observation. “And you keep touching your head too.” you bit your lip, and the worry on your expression made Jamil’s heart skip a beat. “I’m worried Jamil.”

You--you noticed.

You--you paid attention... to him.

“You... noticed?” In his surprise, those words slipped out of Jamil’s mouth. You looked at him, and frowned.

“Of course I did--I.. I’m always looking out for you. Now let me take you to the infirmary.” You said firmly. Jamil stared at you--a little dazed, he’s not sure if it’s because he was genuinely not feeling well--or if he was stunned that you had chosen to look out for how he felt.

His feelings had always been second, if not disregarded so--

To know that you were concerned about how he felt...

It felt...

It felt... good.

When you pulled him into a bridal carry, it pulled him out of his stupor, and he flinched in your arms.

“What the... why are... how are you carrying me?” Jamil--speechless--now wasn’t that a sight to see? He always seemed so prepared, calm, and ready for anything Kalim threw his way. Yet for once, you’ve surprised him--so much so that he showed you such an unguarded expression. Eyes wide, and mouth hung open. You couldn’t help but giggle at it.

“I’m carrying you because if I don’t physically take you to the infirmary, you won’t go.” you paused, “and I can carry you because I’m just that strong.”

“That is...” his dazed expression sharpened, “please put me down. I can take care of myself.”

“No way Jamil, you’re terrible at caring for yourself.” you huffed in response, “so as your girlfriend, it’s my job to carry for you.” He twitched, one of his hands instinctively grabbed for his hood--you could see the slightest red on his cheeks, and that’s enough for you to grin goofily.

“You always take care of us, Jamil.” you added, “let me take care of you for once.” His flush darkened, and he did his best to hide his face--but unfortunately for him--well, he was in your arms.

You had a perfect view of his true feelings.

“Sorcerer...” he cursed softly in embarrassment.

You had a way with pushing past his defenses with that adorable expression of yours.

“Fine.” he said, grudgingly. “but Kalim better not see... this.”

“I’ll do my best.” you said, as solemn as possible, despite the wide grin that grew on your face. Jamil pulled up his hood and turned away from your face (as much as possible while in your arms). You tightened your hold on him briefly.

You hoped he understood what you wanted to say--

That you cared about how he felt--and that you always would.

There’s a dramatic gasp from somewhere behind you, and Jamil twitched.

“OH NO! JAMIL! WHAT HAPPENED!”

Jamil sighed, and sagged in your arms.

“I’m unconscious.”

“Sure, love.”

“Alright, since you all have a pretty good grasp on how to fly, you’re free to do what you want.” Professor Vargas grinned at the elated cheers of his students. “Just don’t get too close to the school or else Professor Trein will have my hide...”

Epel peered at you.

“You can ride with me if you want.” he offered, but you shook your head.

“We haven’t tackled double riding yet.” you said, and you nervously looked down. “and I prefer my feet on the ground until then.”

Because you didn’t have magic, and you refused to trust Grim with a broom--you managed to convince Crowley to write Vargas that you weren’t allowed to participate in Flying classes.

That didn’t stop Grim from attempting chaos with Ace and Deuce though.

“If you’re sure.” Epel frowned, “It’s very fun [Name].”

“Yup, I’m sure. Maybe next time? I’ll cheer you on though.”

That’s how Epel found himself high up in the sky. When he looked down, you immediately noticed and waved up at him enthusiastically. He gave a brief wave back, before he began to play around in the sky. He did quick, full loops that made him laugh in exhilaration. He played around, and tested to see if he could do some tricks from some videos he saw on the MagiCam...

On your end, you couldn’t help but just smile fondly at the way Epel laughed and enjoyed himself in the sky. You felt a little envious--who wouldn’t? While it was sad that you were the only one in the whole school who couldn’t do magic--it was another thing all together when you see Epel smile.

His smile made all of your negative feelings melt away.

You could content yourself with watching him enjoy himself in the sky.

‘If I told him he was cute, he would get furious with me.’ you sighed, but you smile anyways, ‘it’s still one of the things I adore about him.’ Your eyes wandered away from Epel as you saw a bunch of your other roughhousing with each other.

‘Geez...’ You turned your head to Professor Vargas who wasn’t paying attention to the sky. “Professor Vargas.”

“Hm?” he looked up, only to pale immediately. “Student falling!” You turned your head, and you expected to see the students messing with each other but--

It’s Epel!

You bolted upright.

One second, Epel was doing tricks in the air--and in the next--he was promptly pushed off his broom. In his surprise, he didn’t even try to grasp at his broom.

‘Ah, shit.’

Epel swore internally.

“Epel!” He twisted his head in your direction and realized you were running toward him frantically. He panicked as you readied yourself to catch him.

“Wait [Name]--”

With a hard thud--he fell right into your arms--and you only had to adjust your stance to ensure you wouldn’t fall to the ground as his weight settled in your arms. His eyes snapped open (when had he even closed them?) as he felt your arms wrap around his back and legs.

“Gotcha.” you sighed in relief, while Epel stared at you--stunned.

“[Name]...” he looked at you with wide eyes, and an open mouth. You’re sure if Vil was here, he would get ticked off that Epel was using his face for such a terrible expression. “you--how’d you--”

“Never mind that.” you exhaled. You fell to your knees as the adrenaline rush left you. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah.” Epel said, baffled. “I... since when were you so strong?”

“I always was. I just... never really... thought to say anything?” you shrugged.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” you looked at him, a little nervous. You knew how much Epel wanted to be taken seriously, and it was partly the reason why you didn’t want to tell him that you were insanely strong.

“Well... I... that is... I was worried what you would think.” Epel studied your expression, before a warm smile spread on his lips.

“You know what I think?”

“What?”

“We could train together!” when you looked up, you noticed that Epel had a particularly fired up expression on his face.

“You’re not mad...?”

“No?” Epel tilted his head, “I’m happy! This means you could give me tips on how to be stronger! We can be strong together!” Epel smiled widely. You’re struck by how beautiful this boy was (thought let him never know you though that).

“I... yes!”

Epel gave you a sweet smile in response.

You felt your heart warm at the tenderness in his expression--a sight he rarely showed anyone... anyone except you, of course.

“Together alright?”

“Together!”

"Mon amour, quick~ Catch me~”

You immediately dropped the book, and prepared yourself.

In the next second--Rook landed in your arms. He turned to you with a pleased glow.

“So you are strong enough to carry me~” he wrapped his arms around your shoulders. “Fascinating~”

“Yeah... I guess so.” you looked at him, perplexed.

“So why the sudden jump into my arms?”

“I just felt like it.” Rook hummed, as he tucked some of your hair behind your ear.

“Oh well... can I let you go?” you asked, your eyes fell on the book that had toppled to the ground at Rook’s sudden attack.

“Hm... no.” Rook’s lips curled up.

“Fair enough.” you sighed. “If I bend down, do you think you could pick up the book and put it back up on the self then?”

“Oh? You think you could do that?” there’s an interested but knowing gleam in Rook’s eyes. Likely chance, he already knew that much about you--and was just waiting to see if his assumptions were correct.

“I can try.” you offered, as you began to bend slightly for him to grab the book.

Most people found talking to Rook unnerving--primarily because there was always that certain... analytical look in his eyes. It would always feel as if he was studying you--trying to understand... all of you, really.

“Come to think of it...” Rook turned to look at you, patient. “How’d you figure out that I could do this?” You moved your arms slightly.

Rook only smiled in response.

You stared back--halfway between amused and confused.

“...”

“...?”

“....~”

“Yeah okay fine.” you sighed, and his smug aura somehow intensified...? “I guess I don’t want to know.”

There were a lot of things you still didn’t know about Rook.

Despite his... ah... love for learning(?) about other people--he was tight lipped about himself. Even to you.

“I’m glad we came to an agreement.” he patted your shoulder. When he moved to get out of your arms, your grip tightened and his eyes slid open to look at you.

Even if he was private about himself though...

You made it your personal mission to understand him--to learn more about him.

“Ohohoh~ Mon amour~ What are you doing~?”

“I think I’ll hold onto my boyfriend a little longer, you know~?” Your lips curled. “It’s time for me to learn about you.”

“You can try.” Rook smirked back.

That’s what he liked about you after all.

You didn’t think he was strange. You thought of his actions as a challenge to learn about him--just as he learnt about you.

“Hello [Name]~”

You looked up to see that Lilia hung, suspended upside down in midair again. His headphones were on, he had his controllers in hand--and he seemed to be playing a first person magic shooter game. He floated lower, just so you could reach him--and give him a greeting kiss on the cheek. You turned to the monitor curiously as Lilia finished beating up another player.

“How are you playing that upside down?”

“I call it upping the difficulty level~” Lilia laughed, as his thumbs moved across the controller in rapid speed.

“Aren’t you worried you’ll fall?”

“Nonsense.” Lilia shook his head, his short hair fell around his face. “I’ll handle it.”

“Right. I’ll be back with food then.”

“Please get me tomato juice!” he called out as he focused back on the screen. He floated low, as he planned to sit himself down onto the couch upon your return.

“Who was that?” a voice on the call asked.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Lilia said, and the voice that had ask--Idia that is--huffed in response.

“Could it be... your mom?” Lilia chuckled at that, but not for the reasons that his teammates believed.

“Could be a sister.” another one suggested.

“Or maybe... a girlfriend?”

“WHAT!”

At the suddenness of the shout, Lilia flinched in surprise and dropped down onto the ground. He had pretty sensitive ears--and since Idia (not that knew LilV and Lilia Vanrouge were one and the same--) had the bright idea to shout into the mic--it definitely messed with Lilia’s concentration.

However, instead of falling down to the ground--Lilia found himself caught... in your arms. You looked at him with a ‘I told you so’ expression, only to be caught up by his expression.

He gazed at you with surprise written all over his expression--from the way his brows were raised, to the glitter in his eyes and his slack jaw. It was certainly one you’ve never seen before--because there was little that could surprise Lilia these days. When he blinked away his stupor, he noticed the curiosity on your expression. ‘Why did you fall?’ your expression asked.

He pointed out at Idia’s name on the screen. Your brows rose.

“Idia yelled into the mic.” Lilia explained with a light chuckle after he made sure his mic was muted. He bore no ill will to the Ignihyde Dorm Leader. In fact, Lilia found him absolutely hilarious.

“They can’t seem to believe I have a lover~” Lilia giggled, and you shook your head--amused.

“--THAT’S TOTALLY UNFAIR.” Idia whined, and their other teammates either agreed or laughed along. “If there’s a god out there... please nuke LilV. He’s gotten too lucky--”

“Does... does he still not know?” you wondered, and Lilia stuck his tongue out mischievously.

“Well... he doesn’t go out much and I don’t really talk to him in school...”

“Fair.” you conceded, with an amused smile, as Idia cried about needing to plead with the Evening Star harder.

“On the subject of not knowing,” Lilia raised a brow. “I know I’m not exactly light and yet...” He crossed his arms as he stared up at you curiously.

“Oh... well, I’ve always been strong?” you said, unsure of where this was going.

“Intriguing!” Lilia hummed as he happily snuggled into your arms. “In that case, I should try falling into your arms more often!~”

“Please don’t.”

“I won’t hurt myself.”

“But that doesn’t mean I’ll automatically stop worrying, Lilia.”

Lilia peered up at you with curious eyes. You gazed back, and he realized that you were every bit serious about what you said.

“Sometimes I find it interesting how humans seem so much more mature than most faeries at my age.” Lilia mused.

“Well, we are forced to mature faster.” You pointed out.

Lilia hummed in a contemplative manner.

“In that case, would you carry me like this whenever I want?”

“Sure,” you shrugged. “It won’t really bother me.”

“Excellent, shall we remain like this for the night, then?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

The two of you shared a happy smile, as you settled in for the night.

#aiwrites #aiscenarios #ai lift series #twisted wonderland #female reader #twst #twst scenarios #twst jade #twst floyd #twst jamil #twst epel #twst rook #twst lilia

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emily-the-fae · 3 years

Text

Every Day is a Lullaby

A oneshot. This honestly came to my mind yesterday night, I do not know how well the idea turned out to be.

Fandom: Supernatural

Pairing: Arthur Ketch x OC

Warnings:probably language, blood, injury, background character death, brief mentions of sex, angst mith mix of fluff

Rated: T

Mr Ketch has many sides, likable and repulsing - but which one of his faces is truly his is sometimes an uncertainty even for him.

Harper reflects on the changes on their relationship as they get out of a hunt gone wrong. While Ketch reconsiders some of his past choices... And reasons why he is still alive.

If he's a serial killer

Then what's the worst

That can happen to a girl

Who's already hurt

I'm already hurt

The first time Harper met him was a coincidence. It was long before the whole nephilim thing, long before she found out what kind of man he was, what kind of hunter he was. Yet even back then in the span of their first couple of meetings she felt he was no good.

A stupid hunting coincidence.

Harper was not used to hunting alone. She did that to herself - separated herself from the Winchesters. However much she loved Sam and Dean, she could not bear continuously being around them, not after everything that happened. Not after Charlie. Because no matter what Dean said or how Sam reassured her - it was her fault. Charlie was a great friend. Charlie had the brightest soul. Harper was late to help her and now Charlie was no more. It was all Harper's fault.

Driving away and going head first into hunting was the outmost Winchester way of dealing with the guilt and grief. Hunting alone while slowly coming out of her lowest phase - those were the circumstances under which Harper met Arthur Ketch.

The first time it happened it was a coincidence - two hunters choosing the same target is not uncommon. Harper was already on spot and all in the fight when he arrived. "Are you insane going into a whole vampire nest alone?" - those were the first words she ever heard from him. She might have been slightly insane, but he sure was a damn psycho. To be honest if not for him she would have probably ended up dead or turned in that vampire nest that night. Harper hates being honest about it.

The second coincidence happened just a few days after the first one - she would later on doubt if it was a coincidence at all. Perhaps it was. Harper would never really know - what she did know though was that he still had a small scar left above his left eyebrow - a mark of where she hit him with the grip of her gun, thinking it was the witch that was creeping up to her and absolutely not expecting to hear a male voice swearing after her blow. Arthur had not known her for 24 hours in sum and they were already making a scene after a hunt - Harper almost pitied she had not knocked him out straight away.

What happened on the next day? He caught her in the town and suggested to team up to avoid "future confusions". Rule number one how to become friends with Arthur Ketch: hit him in the face. Harper wasn't going to become friends with him - with any hunters for that matter - but fate seldom cared what Harper was going to do anyways.

Harper definitely lied to herself when she said that they were going to be only friends or that she was going to hate him after all the British Men of Letters invasion story. She didn't. Not with the way they met in the first place: him ripping her out of the claws of the angry remnants of the vampire pack - slightly concerned greyish blue eyes and a British accent was what greeted her at dawn that day, even though mid in fight she had accepted she would not see the sun again. It seemed symbolic how he saved her from giving up, from herself. And certainly not after the way their relationship went from mutual curiosity to blind semi-professional trust. Harper did not need a "friend" to console her: if she had wanted that she would have stayed around Sam - she needed someone unfeeling but understanding enough to see through her and consciously let it be.

She remembered it clearly - three hunts into their relationship - a month after their first encounter - they were sharing a hotel room. Two beds, late night after a hunt, she lied on her side and quietly cried. It was a demon hunt. The memories were too much. Arthur came into view and stared at her for a couple of moments before walking to his own bed.

- I'd say you can talk about it when you want to, but I doubt you will ever feel the necessity, - a brief caress of his hand against her shoulder. He did not try to relieve her, he allowed her to get to her own way of coping. For that Harper was grateful more than ever. - We all have skeletons in our closets, it's the downturn of the job.

Oh, dear Arthur, we are both now aware you knew far too well what you were talking about. Harper doubted any hunter had a closet cemetery as large as Ketch's.

Yet... Even after that - the awkward reuniting with the Winchesters, being pulled away from him as she came back to her old friends and witnessing, luckily from a safe distance, how the man she grew to trust without actually knowing him, uncovered darker and darker sides of his personality. What was worst - after she refused to join the BMoL, he would continue to sometimes keep her hunting company, going on like nothing happened. Like nothing changed. Why worst? It let the image of the heartless killer that she should have seen before her now connect and combine with the image of the man who would patch her up on her darkest nights and put a firm hand on her shoulder when Harper was too deep in memory to restrain herself. His presence around her became a reassurance in itself - because he did not have to know to understand. And because he simply had not been there - looking into his eyes Harper wouldn't get reminded of the times when everything was still right, wouldn't get reminded of that one time everything went very wrong. Probably those were the main qualities that helped him win a spot in her heart. Those and his unending casual flirting.

And now? After everything was over, after his very dark side was revealed, the confessions were made and the redemption was played, what did she think of him? The hunter, turned out just a very well trained assassin - he had served the British Men of Letters, he had served Asmodeus - now here he was separated from any commanding he ever had, living a hunting life of his own and sometimes collaborating with the Winchesters. Therewere many dark moments forgotten for the sake of peace. Many more had yet to come up - judging by how Ketch treated his own history and interests of others.

" - I wonder where Mick went, he was always so nice... Nicer than you, anyways. Pity he went away all of a sudden, - Harper mentioned once after a hunt.

- He did not go anywhere. I shot him in the head just like Hess ordered, - Ketch seemed calm and cold as steel. " Sometimes Harper thought that leaving BMoL would change him, but moments like that she realized how slowly the changes - if any - would have to occur. That night she simply walked away, not saying another word.

If anyone ever asked Harper how Arthur's spot in her heart had shifted after all the mess he had caused? She would say that he never even had one... And think that truth to be told there was no flame hot enough to burn him out of her chest - his name carved on her ribs would have been easier to get rid of than the bittersweet affection she harboured for the moral wreck of a man named Arthur Ketch.

If he's as bad as they say

Then I guess I'm cursed

Looking into his eyes

I think he's already hurt

He's already hurt

Despite that Harper never dared pursue a relationship. Why? She was very sure with people like Ketch the only right strategy was not to expect them to be capable of attachment. The flirting, the sweet promising looks he would give her after a well-accomplished hunt... Harper would dream of believing them to be genuine. She was very well aware thinking him in any way genuine was a risk she was not ready to take. She knew Ketch would not mind letting that affair happen - he made that quite clear. She also knew it would mean absolutely nothing to him apart from some company and a warm body in his bed. Arthur Ketch was cold, unemotional and taught himself well not to get attached to anyone - and even if that was not true, he tried his damn best to make it seem so.

Harper sometimes hoped she saw it in his eyes: a silent "please keep safe" when they would part after a hunt, a sparking "I missed you" when they would meet once again. Arthur sometimes hoped she would see it too - very deep in his soul, deeper than he would ever be able to admit even to himself.

In other words, the outcome of the new hunt would have presented itself sooner or later anyways. They were actually quite lucky to have it present itself the way it did.

The werewolf did not seem such a hard target - away from bigger packs, alone terrorizing the neighborhood - just because he could. Problem and solution crystal clear - a hunt where one clearly sees the root of evil is a blessing for a hunter that's used to all the versions of heartbreaking stories. What Harper did not so clearly see was the gun in their opponent's hands. To be more precise: she did see it, but a little too late.

Two gunshots rang at the same time: her silver bullet hitting right into the monster's heart and his normal one - ... Ketch fell against the wall, sliding down to the floor: his left shoulder bled, the bulletproof vest, even though being pierced in the thinner area, had preserved him from being too deeply injured - but not kept completely safe from wounding.

Several seconds of silence - making sure the werewolf is not a threat anymore - realisation and fear finally hitting Harper.

- Ketch?... Ketch?!... Arthur! - the hunter was too disoriented to answer and his silence was taken as a bad sign. - Oh Lord, Arthur, no! - gone are the self-restraint and professional coldness: the moment she sees blood on his chest, she rushes to his side, forgetting about everything else in the world. She needs to make sure he will be fine. He has to be. - Arthur, please, don't die on me! Arthur! - she calls for his attention, the hunter slowly regaining his senses.

For a moment there he believes he hears Tony. This reminds him of some of his unlucky hunts from the years before, though back then he had certainly had it worse. Besides this definitely was not Tony.

Tony would have said "Ketch's down" and carry on with the hunt, eyes on the target, and when the deed was done she would pass him with a short "How is it?" - more out of politeness than genuine caring. That was exactly what she did the only two times he had been seriously injured infront of her.

- Ketch, answer me right this instant, don't you dare fading out! - panic in her voice, genuine. The idea of someone caring as much as to panic at the thought of his death seems too good to be true - for him at least. Arthur feels hands investigating his chest, checking for the wound: cold thin fingers running over his blood-covered skin. Not Tony - Harper.

- I'll live, darling, it's nothing too serious, - attempting to sound confident, but his voice is rasp. It's nothing serious, but it hurt nonetheless: the blow on the shoulder was much harder than anticipated and the bleeding needed to be stopped.

Harper looks into the light blue, borderline grey eyes - he is staring up at her, his gaze unguarded only for a moment that lets her see the uncommon softness and hope in his expression - just for a moment - she believes the things she guessed about him were true, she believes the pain visible in his eyes is true, only by accident revealed to her. The state lasts only a couple of moments - but even that is more than enough for his visible emotions to imprint into her mind.

Arthur Ketch was able to feel. Arthur Ketch could be in pain. Arthur Ketch was capable of needing help.

I said "Don't be a jerk, don't call me a taxi"

Sitting in your sweatshirt, crying in the backseat ooh-ooh

I just wanna dance with you

Hollywood and Vine, Black Rabbit in the alley

I just wanna hold you tight down the avenue ooh

I just wanna dance with you

It was a wonder that the hotel clerk did not stop them on their way - Ketch looked positively dying - Harper was quite sure there was no legal thing that could have happened to him that would have explained this appearance. This was the reason normal hunters chose motels: less suspicion. Harper briefly wondered where he got the money to maintain his former lifestyle, since he was stripped of the BMoL funding, but she guessed there were other sources on his side and he was just too stubborn to change his ways.

When they stumbled into his hotel room, Arthur made a move to drop himself on the bed, but Harper grabbed him by the collar swiftly, dragging him away in the other direction.

- Ketch don't you dare stain the sheets, they'll report us, - she mumbled, pushing him to enter the bathroom and dropping him to sit on the edge of the tub.

He would have laughed if the sudden movement had not caused sharp pain to shoot through his damaged shoulder, making him wince. Alexandra. He had wondered for so long whom Harper reminded him of and out of all moments they shared it was this that made him realise. The memory reappeared in his mind so vividly now.

"Artie, no! Don't go to your room, you'll stain your carpet! Mum will kill us!" - and the older girl held him under his arms, guiding him to the kitchen.

He still remembered it: the years before school, before Kendricks, him and his sister mostly alone in the house with parents constantly away. Alexandra had brought him up before Kendricks had. Alexandra had a lovely voice, she would read him bedtime stories, she would sing to him, she was kind and caring - probably the only human being in his life that ever seemed to care. When he went to Kendricks was the last time he had ever seen her... Well, alive. Alexandra was kind and caring - and that was probably the reason why she had not made it through the training. In fact her death might have been the only reason why he survived and made it to the top - having no one care about you has a benefit: you don't have to care about anyone too.

After his sister's funeral life had never felt the same and Arthur had been quite certain before that it was for the better. Now, watching Harper rush about, trying to find the medical kit to help him, he thought that he had been terribly wrong all the damn time.

How long has she known him? A couple of years, not more, but the relationship between them reached beyond the borders of friendship or companionship. That little american hunter - the first time he saw her he thought she was suicidal, the second one - bold and full of sass. The following months proved her well capable of combining both while turning out to be so much more, one of which being: to be able to love Arthur Ketch. Of course he knew she loved him - this was among those traits in her that he openly treated with polite contempt and deep down envied more than anything.

He watched Harper come to his side, sliding his hunting gear off his shoulders - her movements so gentle, her eyes filled with worry and guilt.

- I'm so sorry Arthur, I should have... - you're always sorry. You always think it is your fault and none else's. This was most probably the main reason why it was so easy for him to openly reject her feeling: they both knew she loved him, they both knew he saw it, he toyed with her so many times, being suggestive, flirting. "As long as I enjoy the physical aspects of having an affair, the emotional attachment that other people believe necessary to form is rather pathetic" - he told her once. He actually said that, those were his words. I would like to fuck you as long as you shut your disgustingly human little heart. She stared at him for a moment, her beautiful face almost successfully hiding the hurt - then turned away silently, shrugging her shoulders. He was being a jerk. Harper never stopped him from that, Harper seemed to take it all in and believe he was right, believe that her feeling for him was utterly pathetic. That it was her fault.

- It was no one's mistake, love, it was an unlucky accident. Besides it didn't turn out that awful, - he trailed off. She was cleaning his skin over the wound now, preparing to apply stitches. Arthur could sense a little shudder in her at the word "love". He was so used to saying it that he forgot about all the connotations it held. Lord, was he bad at this.

Harper continued her work silently. She felt him studying her face and prayed to be finished as quick as possible - she did not need another heartbreaking hope and she had already made the mistake of looking into his eyes that night. When the last stitch was done, she turned away to put the materials aside and sensed him straighten up behind her back - Harper felt he wanted to say something else, but she could not give him that opportunity. She almost thought he would die that night - seeing him on the floor made her blood run cold - she did not need any more pain to add to the aftermath of the shock.

- I'm going to my room, but please call me if you feel worse during the night, - she spoke, not turning to face him, ready to walk out of the bathroom. Harper felt his hand grab her wrist in a rushed movement and turned abruptly only to see him staring back at her with unguarded softness in his eyes. The only time she remembered Arthur look at her like that was when she twisted an ankle during the hunt all due to his mistake. It scared her a little to see that expression on him.

- Why won't you just stay to keep an eye on me? - his voice low, with an undertone she so often heard when he flirted with her.

- You're a big boy, Ketch, we both know that even stitching you up was superfluous, you can perfectly well tend to yourself, - a smile. Harper tried to brush it off jokingly, ready to make her leave, but his grasp on her wrist only grew stronger.

- Stay. At least for this night. Please, - the smile disappeared from her face. He sounded wounded, he sounded like he really pleaded. Harper broke away from his grasp, taking a step back.

- You don't need a... - she shook her head.

- But I do, - he stood up, taking a step towards her, not letting her increase the distance between them. His fingers came up to caress her cheek gently. - Harper, stay, - she shut her eyes, standing still and quiet for a couple of seconds, seemingly fighting back emotions.

- You don't mean this, - she said, looking up at him sharply and confidently, but in a moment, failing to restrain herself, she continues more quietly and softly. - Why do you have to be so cruel to me? - he could see tears brimming in her eyes.

They stood frozen in front of each other, her face so close to his, her eyes watering - not because of this particular evening, but because of all those times before he had behaved in similar nature. It was the first time she had so directly addressed the issue of her feelings for him. "Why do you have to be so cruel to me?" She seemed to be waiting for an actual answer. Why was she always so kind to him? Like he was normal, like he didn't hurt her? Arthur leaned down, his hand still cupping her cheek, his lips touching hers gently and firmly.

Harper closed her eyes - not as a girl would do in a pretty romantic movie - she shut her eyes, pressing her eyelids together, holding her breath, shuddering. A single tear ran down her cheek.

When they parted, though his face still stayed just a few centimeters away from hers, Harper opened her eyes again, her breath shaking.

- Arthur...

His free hand circled her waist, pulling her closer to him, as his fingers slid away from her cheek, moving behind her head, running through her hair. Arthur leaned close to her ear, his breath ghosting over her neck.

- Because I hate how you make me feel like I can still have a life, like not everything is lost. I hate how you make me feel worth being cared about and able to care. I hate how you make me feel, - he said that rushed and quiet. Pressing his front to the side of her head, breathing deeply.

- And what if you are lying? What if this all is for the sake of one night? I'm tired of guessing if you have a soul or not, Arthur, I'm too worn out, - she wispered after some time, leaning her forehead into his uninjured shoulder.

- Then trust me this one time. I promise. Please.

- Why?

- Because I need you. I need you to feel alive.

Arthur felt her let out a deep breath, her petite form pressing itself to his, her arms sliding behind his back to hold him close. She raised her head, freezing for a moment before their eyes met, then leaning up - their lips meeting now less gingerly than the first time.

- Does that mean you'll stay?

- You're such an asshole, Ketch...

- I know.

Harper hid her face in his chest, sobbing quietly, her form shacking, worn out both physically and emotionally. Arthur kissed her temple softly, caressing her back, for once feeling like he did everything right. For once feeling like they had a chance.

Happiness is a butterfly

Try to catch it like every night

It's escaping from me into moonlight

#supernatural #spn fanfiction #arthur ketch x oc #this is written half at night and half on school breaks please don't judge me #i havenot revisited this fandom in such a long time #arthur ketch x reader #arthur ketch #sam winchester #dean winchester #british men of letters #angst #happiness is a butterfly #lana del rey #oneshot #songfic

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thebeautyoffanfics · 3 years

Note

Hey! I always loved your writing and you actually inspired me to write some myself so I want to request if it’s alright…

Can I have Hanako x f!reader who doesn’t believe in love (this having to due with her parents never getting along). She says that it’s just a little word people say to make them feel better about themselves and it’s a waste of time.

But she can’t help but fall in love with Hanako and gets on flustered when he’s around but tries to tell herself it’s not love. Oneshot please!

Thank you and feel free to ignore if you want!

hanako x f!reader

a/n: hello hello!! thank you so much for the compliment- that’s really sweet, and it genuinely means the world to me;; but, sure thing! (ahh, the fact that i wrote a rengoku fic about the reader feeling that way not long ago- this is a topic I’m familiar with, so I hope that it makes it turn out even better? haha) thank you so much for requesting, and I hope this turns out alright!!! <333 also, if you ever want to share your writings, do feel free to tag me/let me know somehow! I’m sure they’re amazing, and I’d love to read them, should you be comfortable with it!! :DD

bro i guess this request resonated with me bc i genuinely like,,, went off. So it’s,,, pretty long- i hope that’s alright haanofnaoinf-

warnings: implied parental issues?

word count: 2,363

Love was ridiculous. It was a stupid idea. An overused word, thrown onto any situation in which you felt something other than anger, fear, sadness, or disgust. If something made you even a little happy, you’d claim to love it. If someone showed you basic human decency, you’d claim to love them.

You hated it. It made you feel sick.

It’s not like you could control what everyone else did, you supposed. So, you’d continue on normally. If you didn’t fall in love, then there was no worry about falling out of it- that’s what you figured. That’s what you told yourself. Love wasn’t real in the first place- how could such an overused word hold any true meaning? It was like a 1st grade pinky promise. It was easily broken, as if it held any truth to it when the kids exchanged a deal. No matter how much either part of it trusted the promise, it made it no more real or true.

Yep… love was best put as a 1st grade pinky promise.

Maybe not-

Still, such a strong opinion on love, an unmoving opinion, with your own “proof” to back it up… made it hard when you thought that it may be put to question. You walked near the bathroom, the girls’ bathroom, and heard a girl from your class shout something. You couldn’t tell what, but you did notice her slightly annoyed expression as she left the bathroom.

Ah, the girl who seemed to be constantly head-over-heels for boys- particularly Minamoto-senpai, you had noted. It wasn’t like he’d return the feelings, you figured. It’s not like her “love” was anything more than an obsession.

Still, you figured there must have been some other girl in the bathroom. Yashiro probably had friends- she talked to Aoi a lot. Maybe the school’s princess was teasing her friend. You pushed open the door, noticing that all the stalls were empty. The only other entity in the bathroom was… a floating, slightly-transparent boy. He was laughing, and you went ahead and assumed it was at Yashiro’s annoyance.

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. Honestly, you just needed to pee, but it shouldn’t have surprised you. Little mokke running around the school constantly, weird things happening, a boy in the girls’ bathroom wasn’t life-changing. Or so you figured.

You grumbled, making some comment you weren’t even sure you got, as you stepped into a stall. Not acknowledging him would surely be best. You were fairly new to the school, and it wasn’t like you were insanely fond of public restrooms anyway. You’d never have to see him again. Plus, if he was anything like the other supernaturals, you were sure he’d be a handful. That was your thought process, as you washed your hands, glimpsing up at the mirror hung above the sink- you caught another glimpse at him.

An old uniform. Brown, almost shaggy, hair. His eyes were amber, and rather large- the way he held his hands, you silently compared him to a puppy. Innocent face, playful eyes- almost too alive for a ghost. He turned his head, nearly making eye contact, but you continued to study his appearance. A white… bandage? Sticker? Something- stuck to his face, the kanji for “seal” written in red.

Weird.

“My, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost,” He spoke, bringing a hand to his mouth, as a mischievous smirk came to his face.

A pain in the neck.

Your eyebrows furrowed, as you looked back down, turning off the sink and drying your hands.

“Oh? Gonna pretend you didn’t see me? How cruel,”

Still, you ignored him. He couldn’t be serious. How was he so sure you didn’t simply think you caught something out of the corner of your eye? Was he messing with you, or trying to lighten the mood?

“I don’t think I want to associate with a pervy ghost,” You said, shutting the door behind you. As if right on time, the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over. With that, you made your way to class, hoping to not have to deal with any more paranormal things.

…

Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. As the rest of the day took it’s sweet time to pass, you sat, spacing out as you thought about that boy. He was one of the first humanoid supernaturals you had seen at the school- honestly, you half-hoped that all of them were cute little bunnies. Not… strangely eye-catching boys… how weird.

You sighed, clicking your pen, letting the quiet sound drown the teacher’s ramblings out a bit. Ca-click, click-click, ca-click, click-click.

“Y’know, people find that little sound annoying sometimes. It never bothered me, but teachers seem to be so sensitive about it.”

Jumping, you turned your head a bit, only to be practically nose-to-nose with the boy from the bathroom. Your heartbeat increased from the surprise, but you placed your hand on your chin, pretending to not have seen anything. Not only did you not want to give him much of your time or energy, but you definitely didn’t want to attract negative attention from the normal kids around you. Your eyes scanned the room, and you noticed Yashiro looking in your direction, most likely at the boy. Yes, she definitely saw him too.

“Waaah, Yashirooooo, the new girl’s totally ignoring me!” He sighed, floating over to her. She looked away as well, focusing intensely on whatever the teacher had to say. You weren’t even sure by this point, watching the two out of the corner of your eye. You stopped clicking your pen, watching as he stood behind Yashiro, leaning against her as he peered at her notes.

He glanced at you again, and you looked away. The boy, who you were now curious as to what his name could be, floated back over to your desk, glancing at your notes.

“You really aren’t paying attention, huh! Yashiro’s not much better- her page is mainly doodles. How on earth do you plan to pass like this, haha?”

You glared at him slightly, before lifting your pen, and clicking it open. Annoyed, you flipped to another page, and scribbled something down. He leaned forward a bit, looking at whatever it is you wrote.

“Leave me alone, toilet boy.”

He laughed, patting your back. “Toilet boy? What’s with all the insults, I barely know youuuuuu- plus, I have a name. I’m Hanako. School Mystery Number 7, Hanako-san of the toilet! Not ‘toilet boy’, nor a pervy ghost.”

You raised your eyebrows, writing once more.

“Wonderful. Now leave me alone, ‘Hanako-san of the toilet’.”

Days passed, and he certainly didn’t leave you alone. In fact, you grew to find yourself spending more time than you expected to with him. You assisted with supernaturals from time to time, even meeting his two other friends properly- Kou Minamoto and Yashiro Nene. You all slowly, but surely, became friends.

“I’m done wiping the mirrors,” You said, tossing the dirty rag into the bucket.

“I’m done mopping!” Yashiro exclaimed, sighing as she leaned against the mop.

“I’ve finished dusting too,” Kou added.

Hanako nodded, clapping cheerfully. “Great job, everyone! Can’t wait to see the same enthusiasm tomorrow!!”

The three of you collectively groaned, rolling your eyes. “Yes, yes, just like that,” Hanako laughed, moving his legs to sit in the air in a criss-cross fashion. Light conversation picked up, Kou talking to Yashiro, and Hanako throwing in a comment every so often. You stood, leaning against the sink, watching your friends look so happy. Hanako glanced at you, closing his eyes as he grinned.

Your heart rate picked up, and you felt your face grow warm. Your eyebrows furrowed just slightly, as you glanced away. It wasn’t the first time a little action like that made your heart go haywire. Not just your heart- your stomach, your legs, your arms. The moment Hanako grinned at you, hugged you, or emptily flirted, you felt as though you lost the ability to function. It couldn’t be love… no, you didn’t want to fall in love.

“Right, but it's getting late, guys. I should really head home,” Yashiro spoke, putting the mop up as she did so. Kou nodded, glancing over at the clock. “I’ve got to get home and work on dinner,” He said, putting the duster away, and grabbing his things.

Hanako glanced at you.

“I don’t really have any plans. I finished homework in class, so I think I’ll linger around for a bit more.”

“Alright! Be safe when you head home, (Y/N)! I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Yashiro spoke, waving as she left the room. “Bye guys! Be safe!” Kou added, leaving not long after she did. Silence filled the room for a moment, the only thing breaking it being the sound of your shoes as you made your way to the window seal. Taking a seat, you looked at Hanako expectantly.

“Well? Any more stories of the things I missed out on?”

...

“The Confession Tree?” You questioned, the other two humans long gone by now, leaving Hanako to recount to you previous adventures they had gone on.

“Yep! Yashiro and I took care of that one- it was honestly easier than most of them were. He’s still around, just nothing bigger than one of those pre-cut broccolis. The rumor was, you’d confess under him, and he’d make the feelings mutual~, buuut, it obviously got way out of control.”

“That’s so stupid.”

Hanako raised his eyebrows, not expecting such a distasteful tone of voice. “What is?”

“A supernatural forcing some kids to ‘fall in love’,” You made air quotes, before continuing, “it’s pretty gross. Love’s nothing more than some overused word. It’s tagged onto everything, and it’s basically used to make you feel better. It’s all a waste.”

For once, he was silent. Several questions began to circulate in his mind, but a part of him was… somewhat hurt.

“But what if I love you?” He questioned, tilting his head. His face felt warm, but he tried to steady his heartbeat. It wasn’t a direct confession. No, just a question. A ‘what if.’

You blinked, your face feeling warm. You understood- of course, it was nothing more than a ‘what if.’ “It wouldn’t be love. You’d be interested in me, only for the interest to go away eventually- even if it took a week. Even if it took years. Just… trust me, Hanako. I’m not the smartest person in the world, but- once you see it happen to the two people who are supposed to be there for you forever, you get the memo. It isn’t love. Never was, never will be.”

Those words you spoke… you didn’t like the fact that you questioned their sincerity. Especially when you were blushing, the boy who made you question those words looking at you with his big, rather beautiful eyes. “Or… that’s… what I think,” You added, the heat rising to your face only making you feel worse, as he blinked. His undivided attention on you- on what you said- made your heart beat much faster than you wished it would.

And suddenly, he was closer. Too close. Way too close. His eyes began to shut, as his face drew closer to yours. Your heart began to beat quicker than it had before- your face grew hotter than it already was- your eyes widened, as you silently questioned what on earth he was going.

One of his hands grabbed your wrist, and you looked over at your arm he was holding, then back up at him. His face was still close, so close you were sure you’d smell him if he still had a scent. So close he could probably feel the heat radiating off of your face, if he could still distinguish hot from cold.

“Then why is your heart beating so fast?” He finally questioned, thumb pressed against your radial artery, as if the warmth of your face wasn’t enough of a sign.

“Because- you’re… way too close.”

“But you aren’t pushing me away? I’ll scoot back if you want. I’m not a mind reader though, so just use your words.”

Your mouth felt dry. Why weren’t you saying anything? You could speak. Open your mouth and tell him to move. Take your free hand and shove him.

But… a part of you didn’t want him to move.

Hanako smiled once more, his eyebrows drawn together slightly, as if he were saddened by something. “I’m sorry that you were dealt a hand like that in life. It’s easy to look around and find all the negatives in life. But,” He leaned forward a bit more, nose nearly touching yours, “you aren’t your parents. You don’t need to follow in their footsteps. Don’t let their problems influence you so heavily to where you miss out on potentially great things. It’s okay to be sad about it. It’s okay to be scared. But it’s still your life, not theirs. If everyone’s overuse of it bothers you, then only say it when you mean it. Still, if you feel love, embrace it.”

Your eyes felt slightly prickly, as they watered up a bit. His sincerity… your racing heart. Maybe, just maybe… you were in love.

“I… think I love you, Hanako,” You muttered. You were scared. You were scared that he’d tell you he was joking- or that maybe this wasn’t love. Scared of so many things, stemming from one little word. Yet, you tried to embrace it.

“I love you, (Y/N). And nothing will change that,” He said, his smile widening. Quickly, he closed his eyes, closing the distance between the two of you. His lips were… cold. His touch was the only thing that reminded you that he wasn’t alive. Still, the warmth of his words made up for it, as you closed your eyes into the kiss.

His encouragement wouldn’t drown out the fear completely. He couldn’t take the memories away. But he tried… he told you that he loved you, so… you’d believe him. After all, you hadn’t heard him overusing the word. It only made that moment feel that much more genuine.

#anon #request #x reader #f!reader #x f!reader #oneshot #tbhk #jshk #toilet bound hanako kun #jibaku shounen hanako kun #hanako #tbhk x reader #jshk x reader #toilet bound hanako kun x reader #jibaku shounen hanako kun x reader #hanako x reader #amane yugi x reader

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silyabeeodess · 4 years

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FusionFall Headcanons: Dexter

While the boy genius is more than confident in his own abilities, he doesn’t really understand what landed him in such a high position in the war effort--enough to pretty much be called the face of the Fusion Fighters. Sure, he has public notice from running Dexlabs, but there were plenty of people with much bigger reputations than his own, like superheroes, who would logically fit the role much better. Even still, it doesn’t change the fact that Dexter has a ton of people looking up to and relying on him.

Dexter’s never really had many friends, and it’s a problem that only grew as he aged and started his company. When Dexlabs formed and he began hiring actual people, he always put up a barrier to maintain a very strict boss-employee relationship with everyone onboard. This couldn’t last forever though the more he had to work directly with others--his research participants causing the biggest change. Since he had to study them during experiments as much as any piece of hardware, he ultimately grew to know them better on a personal level. Not all of them were very... professional, either, coming from different backgrounds, so they didn’t always follow the boundaries Dexter fought to keep in place. Whether he’d admit it or not--even to himself--a lot of them grew on him.

Dexter felt extremely guilty over losing the volunteer(s) to his time-travel experiment. Yes, it was Dee Dee’s fault for interfering and the volunteers understood going-in that there would be some risk involved, but he never expected just how wrong it would go--the time machine destroyed, them left stranded at the literal end of the world, and the creation of wormholes. All he was able to do before losing contact at the initial start of the game was send them the error message we receive from Computress that let they know that they “had travelled much farther into the future than Dexter intended.” Thankfully, he was at least able to track approximately when they would reappear in the timestream--hence his confidence that “they would meet again” in the future.

The event actually strained his and Dee Dee’s relationship for a little while. Personally, he’s used to his sister’s antics by now that--while she can still be complete pest in the lab--he’s better at dealing with her: Dee Dee never meant any harm and they both care deeply for each other’s well-being. The trouble was that her actions put other people in serious danger. He blamed her a great deal for what happened and stayed furious with her for a long while. She stopped showing up at Dexlabs outside of visiting their parents and he refused to have anything to do with her. It wasn’t until the invasion had already started that they began to try to patch things up, neither willing to let the devastation around them give them any further regrets.

All the while, Dexter was in full-stress mode for the entire period the volunteers were gone. He kind of lives in this state anyway since he’s an absolute workaholics when it comes to his projects, so add their disappearance and war to that and you get one boy genius who rarely got to sleep. For the botched experiment, he had to find the volunteers, face their panicked families/friends, and deal with bad press for the company. When the invasion hit, he had to do everything possible to fend it off with the rest of Earth’s forces, from creating an insane amount of tech to battle Fuse’s army with to stepping into a number of battles himself. It’s a wonder he didn’t collapse, and the insane amount of pressure weighing onto him gave him all the more reason to work alongside Mandark when the time came for the two of them to swallow their pride and team-up.

Mandark gave Dexter a bit of extra grief for the experiment, but was also quick to reign himself back when he saw how bad the situation was. He hates Dexter as a rival, but there’s still a glimmer of a good person in there somewhere that knows when he’s crossing that kind of line, especially since he has his own subordinates he’s subconsciously gotten attached to. As such, he gave him a bit of a break up until the volunteers returned to the past.

Dexter’s a little closer to his scientists than he used to be now, but he still keeps a lot close to the vest--both personally and in his work. Several would complain that Dexter doesn’t really let anyone help with his experiments until they’re already pretty polished, leaving himself to the actual inventing while they handle late prototypes and such. This is taken to an even bigger extreme with his biggest/most challenging experiments. The only exception is when someone else comes up with an idea Dexter is impressed by. He’s already done so much since childhood that it’s extremely rare and he’s hard to surprise, but if he does genuinely think an employee of his has come up with a good idea that’s beneficial to the company and its tech, he’ll support it and give that person as much credit is due.

As mature as Dexter often behaves, he can still be pretty childish every now and then: He’ll fire insults, often calling people ‘stupid’ if he gets frustrated/annoyed with them, and he still loves a lot of the same media he did when he was younger--like the Justice Friends show. He’ll easily pick a bowl of his favorite cereal that comes with a toy over a fancy dinner with investors. He’s the kind of young adult that could help his parents’ with taxes one minute and then insist that he has to get the latest comic or limited addition Major Glory product--and how dare you if you try to talk him out of it, because he does his job well and has more than enough taros to spend now. He’s also still maintained quite the ego.

Dexter didn’t really mean to take a big of a role as he did in the war effort: It pretty much just fell in his lap. His position on things was very much ‘see a need, fill a need.’ Earth needed to fight Fuse, so he sent robots into battle and helped create nanos. Earth needed to stop the spread of the infection zones, so he worked with Plumbers to develop the forcefields used across the globe. His heavy assistance in both tech and combat, combined with Dexlabs’ fame to the point of becoming a newer household name, drew a lot of attention his way. Furthermore, Dexter’s more commanding personality--for better or worse--made him seem like a natural leader. Give him a pistol and let him take down a few fusion monsters himself and suddenly he’s the perfect figure to rile up an army. While Dexter was still worried about the volunteers, others were quick to forget about the failed experiment since the invasion was such a grave threat.

Because it can feel like the world is literally on his shoulders, Dexter can really hate it at times. He’s happy to have his contributions recognized, but he doesn’t see himself as a war hero. He’d much rather be working away in his lab to explore new ideas, but until they beat back Planet Fusion, that’s impossible. The first thing he wants to do when Earth wins is shut himself away for a while--far from any crowds or cameras--and get back to doing what he loves.

Despite this, he’s really happy when someone he knows treats him normally, as Dexter, not the genius or leader. Normalcy is hard for anyone to find anymore, and while he does want a certain amount of respect, his status is also tiring.

#fusionfall #headcanons #video games

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hoodwinkd1 · 4 years

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Your Eyes Whispered Ch 15

Ch 14 here.

Chapter 15: light hearted jokes

A pillow smacked his face, shocking Eris out of what had been an extremely pleasant dream. He almost snarled at the attack, turning onto his side, before remembering that the object of said dream was lying beside him.

“Sorry,” Rhia whispered, her eyes wide. “Did I wake you up?”

Her fingers played with the edge of the pillow still sitting between them. To Eris’ delight, she appeared to be in the process of removing the barrier, explaining the early morning attack.

“Not many people are brave enough to assault the High Lord first thing in the morning.” Testing the waters, he placed his hand next to hers, palm splayed open. The tumultuous ocean between them turned into a gentle stream as she took it.

Rhia let out a soft sigh. “Go on then, if you must. Lock me in the dungeons, imprison me for life.”

Was it his imagination, or had she shifted closer? Either way, Rhia looked entirely too tempting in the mornings. Her hair had fallen out of its updo and into complete disarray, but framed her face in a way that reminded him of cozy sweaters and falling leaves, of the brief moments he had ever truly relaxed in his life, of safety and of comfort.

He twisted their joined hands so he could press a kiss to her knuckles. “You shouldn’t dangle an idea like that in front of me. I may just keep you here forever, though certainly not in the dungeons.”

She hummed in response, releasing his hand to run hers through his hair. Her fingers continued to explore, drawing the most delicious shapes over his cheekbones, his nose, his jaw, and his neck. Eris would have traded all his fire power in exchange for the fiery lines her touch brought forth.

He also would have traded his powers in an instant for nothing at all. The unpleasant memory of the night before shadowed his thoughts, reviving the roaring self-hatred and guilt at causing her pain.

“Is this why you wanted to remove the pillows? I hadn’t guessed you’d be so affectionate this early.” Eris kept his tone light. She could take his question at face value or use it as an opening to talk about what had transpired.

Rhia grimaced. “Am I that easy to read?” She pushed his shoulder lightly, and he let himself fall onto his back. Eris almost lit the curtains on fire when she moved forward so they were chest to chest, one arm slipping on the other side of his waist. He curled his hand, the arm pinned underneath her, around her back, reveling in the simple touches. “The pillows were in my way.”

“We can’t have that,” Eris concurred. He grabbed the remaining pillow, resting against both of their knees and threw it over the side of the bed. He might have aimed too low and brushed her cheek. All’s fair in love and pillow fights, of course.

“Asshole!” Rhia launched herself on him in earnest this time, straddling his waist with her insanely gorgeous legs. She let a wisp of magic loose, pulling the pillow from the floor to her hands. Eris sat up, hands flailing to grab her wrists, but she got a good smack in before he could. He caught one of her hands and--

“This is too cute!”

Eris let out a snarl that could have woken half the palace at the intruder's voice.

---

Rhia desperately needed to catch up on inter-Court politics. She was relatively confident that foreign diplomatic officials weren’t allowed to show up in High Lord’s bed chambers without invitation or announcement. And yet, Carina Archeron leaned against the door frame.

“Take your time! Just letting you know I’m waiting in the sitting room when you’re ready for a chat.” The dark-haired female sauntered out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

Eris dropped her hand and pinched his forehead in frustration. “I would say she’s not usually like this, except...she is.”

Rhia sighed and removed herself from his body. She had hoped that in the morning light, maybe some activities would be marginally easier than the night before. “We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”

“I have some very choice words for her,” Eris grumbled. “No more showing up wherever, whenever like she owns the building.”

“Oh? Does she show up in your bedroom often?” Rhia raised an eyebrow.

Eris’ reaction was better than she’d hoped. The High Lord, halfway through putting on a new shirt, whipped his head around, almost ripping the fabric apart. “We haven’t, she’s not, I can promise you that there’s nothing to worry about--”

“I’m teasing, love.” She reached up and helped navigate the sleeves down his arms. “Do you have a spare dressing robe? And not one that was meant for your previous consorts?”

He bit the tip of her ear as he moved past her towards the massive closet. “You’ll be the death of me.”

Carina perked up when they finally joined her in the main room. “That was much quicker than I expected. Look, I even put up a sound barrier.”

Rhia could feel the magic buzzing, right as Carina popped it. At least she had more faith in their sex life than Rhia did.

“I’ll be brief.” She sat back on one of the golden chairs, watching as the couple settled themselves on the couch. “I am sorry for interrupting; I forgot you would stay the night. Anyway, long story short, my parents have invited Eris to come stay the week before the Winter Solstice.”

“How wonderful,” he replied drily. “My ideal vacation.”

“They’ve also extended the invitation to you.” Carina winked at Rhia. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell them about your hero worship tendencies.”

She glanced over at Eris, who’d gone surprisingly stiff at the statement. “Isn’t that normal? Letting a fellow High Lord bring guests?”

“Of course it is,” Carina continued. She shifted in her chair, crossing one leg over the other. “Half of Prythian has heard the news of your mating.”

Eris let out a low growl. “I’m sure Rhysand has the purest of motives here.”

“Ignore him. Rhia, they stressed that you’re invited to come, even if you must come alone.”

Eris growled louder this time. “Not a fucking chance.”

Rhia whipped her head to face him, mouth gaping at the blatant demand in his tone. He never, not once, had said anything territorial or commanded her in anyway. “And who are you to stop me?”

“I would never stop you.” Eris clenched his jaw. “I just want you to see this charade for what it is.”

“Is it? A charade?” She directed the question at the Heir of the Night Court, who looked increasingly uncomfortable with every tense remark.

“I wouldn’t be here if I thought it was anything less than genuine,” she insisted. “Eris, you know I’ve never taken their grudge seriously.”

He leaned forward in his chair. Rhia tracked the movement of his arms as they slid down his thigh, hands joining together and elbows resting on his knees. “Tell me, then, with complete certainty, that the Inner Circle has no plans to investigate our relationship. That they have no desire to inspect my mate for themselves. That they have no beliefs that she might be in any danger.”

“What?” Rhia almost choked on nothing. “They can’t think — they have no reason to believe that you would harm me.”

Eris looked down into his palms, searching for something in the creases that brought her so much comfort. “You know our history. Of course they have reason to believe I would treat you maliciously.”

Carina glanced between the two of them. “Yeah, so third wheeling a fight isn’t really my idea of a grand time. I might just go—“

Eris cut her off. “Answer my question or return home with our most insincere apologies.”

“I don’t know! I didn’t ask and I honestly didn’t consider it.” Carina uncrossed her legs and stared him down, intensifying her gaze. “I swear on all the stars in the sky, I only came here with good intentions.” Her eyes jumped to Rhia and her smile turned apologetic. “And if they did pry, it’s only because they happen to be the nosiest assholes in this world.”

Rhia wanted to sweep this entire conversation under the rug and never address it again. She knew that Eris, like he would with any topic, would let her do exactly that if she asked him to.

But something in her heated. Some fire in her core, some deep-seated instinct urged her to defend, to protect, to snarl at any threat with every drop of her power.

“That isn’t fair. They have no right to judge what’s ours, without proof or complaint.” Her words were quiet, but the look from Eris screamed so loudly that she blushed. “If they have any sort of motive, then I have to decline.”

Carina dipped her head. “I can send that message to my parents. If you did say yes, I would set down clear and strict boundaries for your comfort.”

“Thank you. It’s not a yes or a no at this moment.” Eris’ response was much calmer than before, drawing a soft sigh of relief from her lungs.

Rhia offered a weak smile to the other female. She genuinely wanted to bond with Carina, sought friendship with one of the few Fae Eris trusted, and this conversation had deterred her from that goal. One last question lingered, though.

“I know the history between our Courts is tense, and rightfully so,” she began. “But truly, what purpose does it serve to antagonize Eris like this? After successfully allying with him for so long?”

Carina shrugged. “They always have to be the hero. My parents and family have centered themselves in one narrative for too long, unable to really break the molds they were forced into.”

“My father grew more powerful than anyone expected, than anyone knew how to handle, all while facing scorn from both halves of his bloodline. He had to comprise his own beliefs when dealing with the Illyrians and the Hewn City, yet never could find a way to actually fix the problems. My mother was thrust into almost unlimited power and given a hyper-dedicated soulmate at 19 years old, with no worldly perspective or aged experience.” Carina bit her lip, as if holding back a grin before adding: “oh, and of course they both died for Prythian, so that really set the entitlement in.”

She waved a hand casually, wiping away the fact that she had just analyzed the two most magical beings in this world with utter candor. “Whatever, enough about them. Think on it, and send me a note when you decide. Either way, I’ll still visit and demand the latest Autumn gossip.”

She winnowed before Eris or Rhia could move, a person much too used to always getting the last word.

“How are you feeling?” Rhia leaned back into the couch cushions and placed her hand on his shoulder.

Eris draped his hand over hers and squeezed. “I don’t think I ever feel normal after conversing with Carina,” he admitted. “But I’m no longer angry. I apologize that you had to see that.”

Rhia snorted. “You’re much too calm normally. I can appreciate some rage now and again.”

“Never at you.” He leaned over to kiss her knuckles. “Not ever at you. If you’d like me to rage at someone on your behalf, however, that’s completely acceptable.”

“A wonderful sentiment.” The hand on his shoulder slid behind his neck, while its twin danced across his abdomen. “I would like to see the Night Court someday.”

Eris hummed. “I’ll make sure you see all the Courts and the continents beyond, if you wish.”

“Even Illyria?” she teased.

“Nope.”

“Why the hell not?” Rhia pouted. Rhia hadn’t felt any actual desire to go to the bitterly cold mountains, but his denial struck her as a bit odd.

Eris glanced up at the ceiling. “It’s embarrassing.”

“Well now I simply must know,” Rhia giggled. “Or I’ll assume something much worse than what it is.”

She watched him scrunch up his nose in the most adorably frustrated way. “The General and I....we don’t mix.”

“Eris,” she sighed. “You can’t let this grudge eat away at you like—“

“It’s not the grudge.” A blush crept up his neck. “It’s not me that, well, I don’t want you meeting Cassian.”

Rhia swatted him. “Is he so horrible? Or are you worried I’ll take one look at his hulking body and fall madly in love?”

A beat of silence. Another. Too much time passed, and Eris still didn’t respond to her taunt.

“No.”

He groaned and pulled her closer to him, hiding his face in her curls. “It’s not what you’re thinking! It’s beyond silly, I know, but he did manage to take not one, but two betrothals from me.” His voice went soft. “It’s silly to even think this.”

Rhia bit her tongue, trying to think of anything comforting or sweet to say. She couldn’t do it. A giggle slipped out, and Eris shot his head up.

“Don’t you dare laugh at me.” His eyes flashed in warning, pushing her over the edge.

Rhia gasped for air as the laughter fully overtook her. She covered her mouth. “I’m sorry, I’m trying to be serious but...” Another laugh interrupted her sentence. “That is so incredibly ridiculous and superstitious!”

Eris glared at her. “My ego is utterly shredded right now, thank you very much.”

“I love you.” She finally calmed down enough to press a light kiss to the edge of his mouth. “I love you and we’re mates and I promise I won’t leave you for the General of the Night Court.” She kissed the other side of his mouth, punctuating her words.

He wouldn’t risk her pulling away, gripping her waist to keep her against him. She teased him with a few more pecks, adjusting her position to hover directly on his lap.

“Kiss me, you cruel, despicable creature.” His breath fanned her neck and she smiled against his forehead.

A heartbeat later and they were tangled up in each other, lips and tongues and limbs coming together as one. Rhia gasped when he bit her bottom lip and Eris purred when her nails dug into his shoulders.

"Promise me we won't be interrupted this time," she breathed, as he moved down her jaw and back to that one spot on her neck.

Eris smiled against her skin. "I've tripled the wards."

She licked her lips, drawing his attention back up to her face. Slowly, torturing them both, her fingers grazed the neckline of the dressing robe, gliding it down her shoulders, letting it fall off her arms. He looked at her with all the intensity and desperation of a drunkard on his last bottle of wine.

She leaned forward, kissing her way from his chin to his ear. "Should we try again?"

-----

thank you for reading!

tag list: @moonbeamfenrys @qamariana

#eris #eris vanserra #acotar #acosf #sjm #sarahjmaas #autumn court #you are in love

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blookmallow · 3 years

Text

well that sure was a lot

i finished midsommar and completely loved it but that sure was a lot to process lmao

first off its bizarre to me that i mostly saw people talking about this as if it was like... some Insane Cultist Girlfriend who ruined her boyfriend’s life dragging him into her nightmare festival when that’s. not what happened at all???? dani had nothing to do with any of this she wasn’t even the one who wanted to go in the first place she just got dragged into it the same as everyone else. pelle was the one who brought this on them all

and dani did make the choice to let christian be killed in the end but like. this is after this girl has gone through traumatically losing her entire family at once. and going through days of bizarre and frightening rituals she doesn’t understand, surrounded by strangers who speak a language she can’t understand, her friends have started going missing, she just saw christian cheating on her, it’s a culmination of trauma building and building in an environment of isolation where time feels wrong, they’re cut off from everything familiar and completely at the mercy of these strangers who they’re starting to realize might (and do) fucking kill them, being fed things with drugs in them with little to no warning, you can NOT judge her by the same moral standard as just “girl caught boyfriend cheating” without. literally everything that led up to that moment

anyway pelle is such an interesting character to me because he comes across as so genuinely sweet and caring, and there’s never the like. dramatic change moment where we find out he’s actually violent or actually evil or something. we find out what he’s done. we find out he brought all these people here from the start, probably for the purpose of this ritual. so he probably completely expected and probably even planned for them all to die here. he probably was planning for/hoping for dani to become the may queen and stay with them from the beginning. so like. ultimately all of this was his fault. but he never Changes. i think that’s what really gets me about all this is everyone in this commune comes across as so full of compassion and kindness that when they start... fucking sacrificing people. its such a bizarre shock and they do it while still keeping that kind and patient demeanor

its this really fascinating atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re the weird one for being shocked and disgusted by the obviously horrific things they’re doing. i can maybe understand the suicide ritual, the idea was to give your life willingly instead of growing old and having your health slowly deteriorate, so there’s a core concept in there i can understand, and the elders who died did so willingly. there’s something to be said for living a life Knowing when your death will occur and how (apart from like, accidents or illnesses that might prevent you from reaching that end date) and being able to prepare absolutely for it like that. i wouldn’t want to live that way but i can sort of see what they’re getting at. but then you have, like. they absolutely planned from the beginning for their Guests to die here. nobody consented to that. nobody wanted that. members of their own group choosing to be sacrificed is horrific enough but at least it was their choice. but they all just remain so calm and serene the whole time. they literally choose a sacrifice with what amounts to a giant bingo shuffler thing. everyone in the crowd is smiling pleasantly while they’re discussing who among them is about to be burned to death

and also!! pelle tells dani he lost his parents in a fire. im betting that ritual was what killed them.

like the “does he make you feel held? does he feel like home to you?” thing felt so genuine and i think he really honestly did want dani to join his Family because he feels she deserves better and believes his home is better and she will come to understand, like i dont think from his perspective any of this was malicious

except that you realize all this still hinges on the fact that he knew and planned for all the rest of his friends to be killed. like i cannot get my head around that lmfao. he seemed A Little Charmingly Odd at the beginning but otherwise seemed like a normal, sweet guy. how can someone who grew up in that kind of environment seem so normal outside of it. how can he cope with those two drastically contradictory norms. he Knew he was inviting all his friends to come and die. i guess maybe he felt it was important enough that it didn’t matter??

anyway uh. heres some interesting shots i wanted to comment on

the contrast here between the two couples

the other two (i forgot their names i am sorry) are standing close and affectionately together while theres. this BIG blatant space between dani and christian. and how often he just looks completely blank around her or does not look at her at all

this guy greets them all the same but then fully embraces dani, says “welcome home” and is very specifically looking only at her when he says “we are so very happy to have you” so im wondering if the intent for her to stay and become the may queen was actually planned from the very beginning

the “contest” could be staged altogether so they always try to leave the newcomer as the last one standing, it could be that every may queen was a girl taken in from somewhere else and indoctrinated into the group the same way

dani overlaid with the sacrificial pyre in this scene transition

to this shot at the end

im also realizing now when dani’s on the. mushroom tea at the start of the trip she hallucinates the grass growing through her, and as she becomes the may queen she becomes more and more covered in flowers - the commune’s influence on her grows through her like the flowers (consuming mushrooms to enter a transcendent state also fits with “the land growing through her” so to speak)

we also see pelle tending to the garden in one scene. he’s helping the flowers grow. he’s the one pulling dani further into the cult

im late to all this since. i forget when this came out but a significant while ago that people arent actively talking about it as much now but pls do come talk to me if anyone’s got Thoughts

#liveblog general #media analysis

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crimson-snowfall · 5 years

Note

Omg I only have a week break from uni too but I still have work to do that’s due as soon as we come back, my mental health needs more than 1 week to properly function again Can I request how Leo, Theo and comte headcanons on how they would be like with a kid, maybe the mc accidentally got pregnant and whoop now a toddler is In their life

Hi anon I notice a lot of TLC requests (Theo Leo Comte) and I’m starting to wonder if you’re that same anon or if these three just so happens to be a fan favorite. Anyway it’s okay I don’t mind I think it’s just kinda cute, but from now on I’ll endearingly call anons who request these three men the TLC anons.

Anyway I’ve been thinking about how these vampire would be like as a father and I sure am glad someone requested it. I gave names to their children to make this easier to write and as you can probably tell it’s just derived from their dad’s names one way or another except for Comte’s because that’s not his real name but let’s just go along with it

Ikevamp HC request: Theo, Comte, & Leo with a kid

Theo

Theo was incredibly surprised when you gave birth to Theophilus. For a moment, he got a little worried that you had an affair with his brother because the baby literally looks like Vincent; he has his uncle’s hair color and even got the lighter shade of blue of his eyes.

However, as soon as Theo took the baby from your arms so he can inspect him closer, the baby promptly frowned at his father, and that’s all it took to extinguish all doubt. There’s no mistaking it– the boy is definitely his, because there’s no way something from Vincent nor you can make a scowl as mean as that just a few hours after being born.

Personality-wise, Theophilus is just a little Theo who looks like Vincent. But even his father claims that he wasn’t even as mean nor as spoiled as his son when he was his age. He says this in the presence of his older brother, who just laughs it off.

Theo tries to be a doting father to his little Theo, but the boy seems to enjoy tormenting him. He’s declared war against his own father, claiming that he will never let him have you… completely ignoring the fact that you being his mother also means that you are his father’s wife.

Theo finds it ridiculous most of the time but enjoys bickering with his son. However, he tries his best not to give little Theo any reason to cry, because the boy likes to play dirty and would come fake crying to you the moment his father says anything that’s remotely mean.

Your devious son would then proceed to monopolize you for rest of the day under the pretense that he needs protection from daddy who’s been mean to him again.

Sometimes Theo still couldn’t believe his eyes, for never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that someone who’s a spitting image of his dear angelic brother could be so cunning and spoiled. Not to mention that Vincent barely showed any signs of immaturity due to the circumstances of their childhood, so Theo seeing his own son act so childishly by trying to steal you away from him is quite the sight for him.

The only time Theophilus openly shows affection for his father is when Theo offers him a piggyback ride. Little Theo completely forgets his one-sided rivalry with his father and even calls him the best dad in the world, something he would never say out loud under normal circumstances.

Comte

Comte couldn’t remember the last time he cried as he held his newborn daughter in his arms. Colette looks a lot like you, except for her hair color which she clearly inherited from her father.

As someone who’s been spoiled a lot by Comte, you thought you already have a good idea how much he’s going to spoil his daughter, but this doting father takes it to the next level. There are nights you’d have to drag him to bed because he’d go on for several nights without a blink of sleep just from watching his daughter sleep.

Much to your relief, Colette didn’t grew up to be a spoiled brat despite Comte relentlessly spoiling her. Instead, she inherited your modesty, but you could tell that she would grow into a fine young lady since she seems to have inherited her father’s distinct mannerisms that exude nobility.

Comte’s doting nature also made parenthood unbelievably easy for you; a good example would be whenever Colette cries, there’s a guarantee that Comte is already there by her side by the time you get there, wiping her tears and asking her what’s wrong.

One of Comte’s greatest worries though, is that his dear daughter never asked for anything. When you told him that there’s nothing else Colette could possibly ask for since he’s giving her nearly everything already, Comte insists that there must be still something that she might want.

Comte’s doting father case is definitely a hopeless one, and deep down you wish Colette never wishes for anything ridiculous like the moon even as a joke, because who knows what lengths her dear father might go through just for that.

Leo

You give Leo a son who takes after him a lot. He was silently wishing that you would give him a cute little daughter who takes after you, but your son is a proof of your love for each other so he cherishes him deeply as well.

Lionel likes his father a lot, and soon as he could walk and communicate, the boy is virtually inseparable from his dad. Leo is now rarely seen laying around anywhere the mansion since his son has basically locked him up in the library with him.

You often find both of them passed out in the library chairs every now and then though, stacks of books covering a wide array of subjects on the table. At some point you genuinely wondered if it’s about time you move in with them there.

Unsurprisingly, Leo is insanely lenient with his son. Lionel has inherited some of your sense and is not that much of a problematic child as you would’ve expected him to be if he had completely taken after his father, but sometimes it is Leo’s wild suggestions that puts both of them in rather awkward and/or dangerous situations.

Leo also tends to cover up for his son on the rare occasions the boy actually causes mischief by himself. At some point, Lionel asked his father if he’s what people would call a masochist.

“Cucciolo, you’ll only understand me once you find yourself a woman as wonderful as your mother.”

In case you’re wondering, I just looked up a list of Italian terms of endearment and just went along with “cucciolo” because with the rate of cara mias we get with Leo I highly doubt that he’s gonna call his son with his proper name either.

Btw my ask box is now closed (lol u could tell anyway cuz it’s gone). I got a ton of requests this vacation and uni starts again next week welp I didn’t even get the chance to watch an anime ;w; I’ll be opening it again once I’ve posted all the current requests in my inbox… and perhaps I’ll be updating the guidelines as well with regards to the schedule, university schedule is such a pain, and at the rate requests are flooding me soon it will be a several month’s wait before people actually get their requests. I might also start posting some status updates (more particularly on the publication schedule) of requests on my main blog @crimson-snowfluff … yea just maybe idk yet but I’ll try to let you know somehow.

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lemonietrinket · 4 years

Text

Warnings: body insecurities (kept vague, but focusing around chest and stomach), general feelings of upset, tears, swearing (1x f**k) Yuta x Fem!Insecure!reader

~~~

“Hey love.”

Yuta’s voice brought you out of your book, quickly drawing your attention towards the opposite end of the sofa where he sat.

“Yeah baby?”

“I’m cold.” You watched as his hands, strong and tender, patted his thighs. “Come and sit here?”

You felt discomfort rise in your heart as you tried to dip yourself away from the request. “But I’m comfy here.”

His beautiful chestnut eyes were unwavering. You knew it was difficult to not collapse under his gaze, but normally you would put up a fight and try to look into them in return. Now, you couldn’t bear the feel of them staring into your soul—you didn’t want to admit to him what was down there.

“But you’ll be comfier on me,” he counters.

You knew he was right, and deep down you wanted to rest your full weight upon him and let yourself sink into his touch, but something always stopped you. Insecurities were powerful things after all. You knew you’d stayed silent for too long, and by now the time had passed to try and come up with an excuse, and so you opted to try and focus on the good and ignore the weight in the pit of your stomach.

Taking your time to place the bookmark between the pages, stalling so obviously that even you noticed it, you left your book and slunk across the cushions to where he sat.

Readying yourself to sit with your back to his chest, he stopped you. “Sit facing me?” He pouted shamelessly.

You did as he suggested, slightly concerned about how you couldn’t wipe the worry off your face and out of your mind. The pit grew in your stomach, twisting and turning, because it hurt to have your insecurities hold you back, for this to have been the first time you’d sat like this, even though you’d longed to ever since you started your relationship with the man of your dreams.

But that was where the problems were situated. You’d never had any problems with him holding you from behind pressed flush against his chest, or even entwined side to side. It was just the front.

“Love, are you ok?” Yuta’s voice was soft and careful as you sat upon his lap, your back rigid and your body leant away from him.

You nodded, pulling a smile as genuinely as you could. “Yeah!”

“But you’re not, are you?” Of course he saw through it all. “Why won’t you lay against me, love?”

You were stunned into silence. You’d spent so long ignoring the issue that you had no idea how to respond when it was finally, and inevitably, brought up.

Yuta’s hand reached up tentatively, careful to move only where you could see them, before resting against your cheek, his eyes searching for any signs of discomfort there. He caressed the skin he found there, touch delicate as if he was afraid to hurt you, as he continued, “Because even when I hug you, you pull away, a-and I’m worried that I’m going to one day place my hand where you don’t want it and hurt you, and...” he trailed off as he searched for the words.

You’d never seen him this serious, in fact you’d never heard him stutter. His features were hard set but creased, his eyes were darker but glistening. He was no longer playful, he was worried. He was scared something was wrong.

You meanwhile could not put any words into your own mouth. You sat with your hands clasped at your chest, willing the constriction in your throat to ebb away so you could regain control of yourself.

“Please, love, tell me what’s hurting you so I can help,” he pleaded, thumb drawing the tresses of your hair away from your face, “or if it’s my fault so I can stop, I don’t want to hurt you anymore than I already have, if I have.”

Your thoughts swarmed. He couldn’t be more wrong. It was you that had pushed him away physically this whole time, it was you that had not let his hands rest anywhere near your torso. You’d been so adamant yet hadn’t thought about the toll on him.

Tears spilled straight into his finger tips, and he calmly collected them, letting the outpour of your insecurities sink into his skin.

You took the deepest breath you could manage—you couldn’t blame yourself for it. Insecurities were a part of life, but that didn’t mean you had to let them rule it.

“It’s not your fault, Yuta, it’s not anything you’ve done, I promise you it’s not,” you explained as clearly as you could. Swallowing thickly, you willed yourself on, “It’s just that... I have these insecurities... I don’t like...” your hand vaguely gestured to your chest as you gave him a brave look, “you must know that this is hardly what people want. It’s hardly normal. Or cute. It’s not attractive, I’m not symmetrical—”

“No one is—”

“But I’m not small either, Yuta! Neither am I big! I fall between two stools and I don’t feel worthy of either appreciation and this just reminds me of it,” you sighed, biting the inside of your cheek, “I don’t want to push you away, but I hate the fact that I look the way I do. And there’s nothing I can do about it! I can’t wear my dream clothes because of it, I’m paranoid that people will notice because it’s right there, and I can’t help but just... not let you hold me there.”

You hadn’t noticed your eyes had fallen to look at the arm of the sofa, staring plainly at the black leather as his hand cradled your cheek. As you realised you owed him the courtesy of at least looking at him, you lifted your gaze only to find his eyes wet. He wasn’t crying, but there were signs of tears in the frames of his eyes. His beautiful, deep hazel eyes.

“Y/n, love, why didn’t you tell me sooner,” he said, his voice the quietest you’d ever heard, “I know one person’s words is not going to change years of worry and hurt but please listen to me when I tell you that I think you are beautiful. And that there is nothing wrong with you. And that you can still wear your dream clothes, and not fear that anyone will notice because they won’t—”

“Didn’t you?”

“Yes, but,” his voice was desperate, his other hand stroking your temple nearly frantically, “not in the way you would imagine, I only spotted the padding one time—the more important part here is that I don’t think any less of you. You’re still my love, you’re still gorgeous and you’re still the hilarious, insanely clever woman I fell in love with, and these things only make you more special to me.

“No one is ever the standard, and I would never expect you to be,” he slowed down, the frown in his features easing, “I just want to hold my girl like she wants to hold me. And if anyone tries to tell you any different then they can literally go and fuck themselves.”

You felt your defences crumple as your face melted, sobs wracking your body. Not out of pain this time, but rather out of his words. They’d what you’d been waiting for, for years, and the small irrational part of you had begun to swell and say they would never come. But there they were.

You sank into his chest, his arms wrapping around you protectively whilst you cried openly into his sweatshirt. No more pushing, no more hiding. You had nothing to fear; you could finally make your way along the road to recovery. It wouldn’t be an easy journey, and there would be times where you’d lose your way, but you weren’t alone, and that was a start.

~~~

AN: Is this entirely self indulgent? Yes. Was it necessary for my own mental health? Yes. Is it a problem many people face? Yes. Therefore it is here.

After seeing many fics on here focus around feeling worried about body insecurities, as someone who also has these insecurities I thought I’d add some emotional support to the mix too. Though this one focuses around something else, not just about being bigger than society’s standards (though kudos to all the fic writers who do offer emotional support around this topic, you’re amazing!) I hope it finds its home somewhere out there, as I can’t be the only one. I know I haven’t been specific to what it is, but, if you know, you know.

Anyway, everyone who doesn’t fit and conform to society’s standards, and are afraid that people will find you unnattractive and won’t want you, please stay strong!

I know I’m just some weird writer on tumblr but I promise that you are beautiful, you are valid and important and people will adore you for all of your quirks. It’s important to remember that you are more than your body too, and that is what people fall in love with in the end, so even if things seem hard, do not lose hope

There are nearly 8 billion people on this planet, there’s got to be at least one amazing one for you, and you’re going to be one amazing one to so many.

peace, Lemonie

Masterlist

#nct x reader #nct angst #nct 127 x reader #nct 127 angst #nct oneshot #insecurities #yuta x reader #yuta x reader angst #yuta angst #yuta x insecure!reader #yuta oneshot #yuta drabble #yuta x reader drabble #yuta x reader fluff #yuta insecure reader #nct insecure reader #yuta nct #yuta nct insecure reader #yuta drabble angst

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silke-doomflare · 4 years

Text

Meet the character: Ainu

BASICS

► Name ➔ “Ainu”, the tiny lalafell answers politely and bows. “Ainu Wanyuudo. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

► Are you single ➔ “What an odd question.” She eyes you up and down, her eyes slightly narrowed. “Why are you asking? Are you up to something?”

► Are you happy ➔ She rolls her eyes. “’Happy...’ One of those words I’ve never truly understood. Oh well, I guess I’m happy enough. I have a job I like and steady income... Actually I’m making the most gil of our family, apart from my mother.”

► Are you angry? ➔ Ainu smiles widely. “Funny that you asked, since I haven’t been this angry in ages. It takes quite a lot to make me angry. This certain thug tried to murder my mother not too long ago, and I’m plotting a vengeance worth of such a deed”, she states casually, like she’d be talking about weather.

► Are your parents still married ➔ “I only have my adoptive mother, and as far as I’ve understood, she prefers to stay alone. Which I, of course, perfectly understand. Romance would only be a risk and hindrance in the criminal underworld.”

EIGHT FACTS

► Birth Place ➔ “Kugane. I stayed there for the first half of my life, and the second half I spent traveling and training around the far east.”

► Hair Color ➔ “Black?” she asks slightly confused, and glances upwards at her bangs. “Yep. So it’d seem.”

► Eye Color ➔ Ainu rolls her eyes again. She marches closer, looks up to you and pulls her lower eyelid slightly downwards, so that you can see the blood red orb clearly.

► Birthday ➔ “I have no clue about the exact date. I only know it’s sometimes around spring.”

► Mood ➔ “...bored. I am so... bored! You see, I was given this interesting assignment a couple of months ago, but my target has done nothing. Nothing! Either he chickened out just because he’s a coward, or somebody told him I was after him, and he chickened out because... well... he’s still a coward.” Ainu lets out a frustrated sigh. “I do know I have quite a reputation, but I wish people wouldn’t back off from the game because of it. How shameful. One should finish what one starts.”

► Gender ➔ Ainu raises her eyebrows. “Seriously, have you considered glasses?”

► Summer or winter ➔ “Summer absolutely. Working is easier in summer. No footprints.”

► Morning or afternoon ➔ “Afternoon. Most of my work consists of night shifts, and I’m more of a night owl anyway.”

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

► Are you in love ➔ She snorts and looks at you scornfully. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced any kind of love. I grew up in an environment where such a thing didn’t exist. Besides, as far as I’ve been observing people around me, who are in love, it seems more like a nuisance than something worth pursuing.”

► Do you believe in love at first sight ➔ “I don’t believe in love at all.”

► Who ended your last relationship ➔ Ainu lets out a frustrated sigh. “It should be obvious at this point, but I have never had that kind of relationship. First of all: I would be insane if I let another person that close to me. And secondly: even if such a miracle happened, it would eventually fail, because the other party couldn’t handle everything a pact like that with me would bring with it.”

► Have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ “I think I... maay have broken my mother’s heart at some point. She’s been trying so hard to save me. Though, I’m not quite sure what she’s trying to save me from. She should know by now that I’m not one of those people who need saving.”

► Are you afraid of commitments ➔ “Commitments? Do you mean my pacts with my customers? No, I’m not afraid of commitments. If I had to name one of those few things in this messed up world I find meaningful, it would be my reputation and bringing honor to the shinobi who trained me.”

► Have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ “Do hugs received from others count as me hugging them? They do? Then I’ve been hugged, yes.”

► Have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ “If I have, I’m not aware of it. However, in theory it could be entirely possible. People - well, mostly my family - keeps telling me how cute I am, so I wouldn’t be surprised if others would’ve noticed my charm as well.”

► Have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ “Hm. You nosy little cockroach just had to remind me, just for the sake of some interview? ...yes, I have broken my own heart. By believing that if I just was a good girl, she’d love me. If I just tried hard enough, I’d eventually gain her acceptance. And after she had left, I kept believing she’d come back for me. I wasted too many years telling lies to myself. Should’ve realized sooner the only living thing you can trust is yourself.”

SIX CHOICES

► Love or lust ➔ "Lust. Not that I’d be interested in it, but definitely lust rather than love. I think I already made my opinion about love clear earlier, yes?”

► Lemonade or iced tea ➔ “Iced tea, absolutely. I don’t know about you people here, but we drink quite a lot of tea in the east - both hot and cold.”

► Cats or Dogs ➔ “Cats. In general, I don’t like animals, but the less trouble they are the more I could say I like them. Besides, do you have any idea what a pain badly trained dogs can be especially to us smallfolk?”

► A few best friends or many regular friends ➔ Ainu repeats the word ‘friend’ and sneers. “Now there’s another thing I never learned to understand. People talk about friends like they’d be a good thing. I don’t call them friends, but backstabbers. I’d rather not have any of them.”

► Wild night out or romantic night in ➔ “Wild night out - alone.” Ainu smiles charmingly.

► Day or night ➔ “At night I feel most alive. Almost everyone else is asleep, and I’m free to do whatever I want, to whoever I want.”

FOUR HAVE YOU EVERS

► Been caught sneaking out ➔ “In the beginning of my training. I wasn’t used to suddenly having so much different rules to live by, so naturally I rebelled. I couldn’t understand why my mother... - Asagi at this point - would dare to leave me there. Anyhow... I soon realized one couldn’t be a good shinobi without discipline, so I never did it again.”

► Fallen down/up the stairs ➔ “I don’t think I have. My balance is unparalleled.”

► Wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ “Love”, she answers without thinking. Right after her mouth is twisted into a slightly creepy grin. “But that was before realizing it’s not necessary.”

► Wanted to disappear ➔ “Oh, a couple of times actually, mostly back when I was still in training but had just started practicing with real targets. Not to brag, but nowadays I’m quite good at what I do. Nevertheless, even I can’t completely avoid mistakes. My area of work is one of those were mistakes will likely cost you your life. So, yes... after being sloppy I’ve had angry targets chasing me. Without my training I wouldn’t have had a chance escaping them with these tiny feets of mine.”

FOUR PREFERENCES

► Smile or eyes ➔ “I don’t care about either, but if I had to choose one... smile. To be honest, I don’t like to look people in the eye. From their eyes it’s fairly easy to tell are they lying or not. It annoys me, when people are saying something, but their gaze tells they don’t mean a single word.”

► Shorter or Taller ➔ “Shorter. I hate it when people look down on me like I’d be some piece of shite they accidentally stepped on.” Ainu falls silent for a moment, and after a while, shrugs. “Then again... it’s also quite hilarious when people have to bow or kneel before me, when they want to whisper or give me something. I guess being a stump also has its’ boons...”

► Intelligence or Attraction ➔ “Attraction of course. The more intelligent people are, the more trouble they usually give me. I prefer situations where I’m the smartest one around.”

► Hook-up or Relationship ➔ Ainu’s unimpressed expression hints she’d probably rather watch paint dry or grass grow than talk about this kind of subjects. “Well... if I had to choose... hook-up. That wouldn’t tie me to anyone in any way. The less I have people around me the better.”

FAMILY

► Do you and your family get along ➔ “My current family? We get along just fine. ...Apart from some minor disagreements usually considering work and how it’s supposed to be done. Sometimes it makes me wonder would they listen to me more if I had born roegadyn instead.”

► Would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ Ainu giggles, but there’s no genuine amusement in her voice. “Well, at least it hasn’t been normal, if that’s what you mean. It... could’ve been better. I admit seeing happy families and people having fun with their friends tend to make me somewhat bitter, even angry. But perhaps those things just weren’t meant for me. I’m capable of things those regular people are not, and I believe the Kami have bigger plans for me than some boring everyday life.”

► Have you ever ran away from home ➔ “No, but I probably should have.”

► Have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ “Yes, and that’s the exact reason why I should’ve ran away. If I had just realized sooner what was going on... But meh... I guess it’s unreasonable to expect a five-year-old or younger to understand your parent is actually a piece of filth you would be better without.”

FRIENDS

► Do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ Ainu lets out a frustrated sigh. “Since you seem to be unable to grasp the concept of not having friends, I’m just going to answer your friend-related questions by using my family members instead. Does that sound good? Good.”

► Do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ Ainu pouts while shifting her hands behind her back. “Mostly. My adoptive sisters are both as... tolerable as siblings can be, I think. I’m not so sure about Bella, though, and what she’s going to do with her life. Same with my aunt, Silke. Those two are the only law-abiding citizens of our family - as far as I know at least - so that kind of forces me to keep my eye on them. If a betrayal were to happen, they’d be my main suspects.”

► Who is your best friend ➔ “Aya”, Ainu answers without a moment of hesitation. “If I had to name one thing I truly appreciate in people - besides not stabbing me in the back, obviously - it would be their ability to return my friendly bantering and not get offended by it.”

► Who knows everything about you ➔ Ainu smiles sunnily, before answering: “No one. Though mother is probably quite close to it.”

#ffxiv #ffxivrp #ffxiv rp #final fantasy xiv #dunesfolk lalafell #meet the character #ainu wanyuudo #character info

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hms-chill · 5 years

Text

Impossibly Real

Summary: As Alex has a whirlwind four years at Georgetown, Liam's time at the University of Texas is a bit more typical. He finds a nice boyfriend, and that boyfriend has a nice family, and it's all far too good to be true. - Alternately; I've described this to people as "Spencer's parents all but adopt Liam because HE DESERVES IT"

Massive thanks to @literallylen for looking this over/helping me with pacing!

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It doesn't quite feel real. There's no way he's meeting Spencer's parents, and no way they'll like him as much as Spencer seems to think they will. Spencer's parents are important to him; they were the first people he came out to. They've been close since he was a kid; his mom lost a pregnancy or something when he was young. And nothing's come of it yet, but with much less grief, Spencer and Liam are getting to be close, too. They'd spent nearly every day talking over winter break, including Christmas Day, so maybe it makes sense that Spencer's parents want to meet Liam. Maybe they'll be upset that he's pulling Spencer away from family time, or maybe they just want to meet their son's friend. Maybe it's normal for parents to want to meet their kids' friends, especially if their kids might start dating said friends. Liam's far from convinced that Spencer is even the slightest bit into him, but their mutual friends seem to think it's only a matter of time. One in particular has been trying to set them up since November. So, even if this might be nothing, Liam spends about forty minutes trying to decide what to wear. He has a snapchat group helping him, but they can't seem to agree on anything; someone says traditional but someone else thinks that's too plain. His next outfit has personality, but someone worries that it won't fit in wherever they're going. Eventually, they agree on something unique but classic just as Spencer texts that they've finished moving in and are headed for Liam's dorm, leaving him no time to shave. So he meets his best friend/crush's parents well dressed but scruffy.

They don't seem to mind. They offer their pronouns when they introduce themselves, and they ask him about his classes and his major and lacrosse. Spencer says he loves watching Liam play, and while Liam's blushing, his dad says that they'll have to come up for a game some time. And it's nice. It's really, really nice. And the next week, Spencer asks him out for coffee. Halfway through, they agree that it is, in fact, a date, and Spencer insists on paying for them both. It doesn't feel like it can be real, that he can be arguing about paying for coffee with his boyfriend, but it is. Somethow, impossibly, wonderfully, it's real.

It all feels even less real when Spencer casually mentions that, if it's alright, his parents would like to come to a lacrosse game and take them out for dinner afterward. Liam doesn't say that his own parents live in town and don't come to his games. He doesn't say that he'd fully believed Spencer's dad was joking about wanting to come. Instead, he says that would be great. So they come, and they all get dinner together afterward, and this time he's Spencer's boyfriend, and his parents don't mind. It doesn't feel real, but it is somehow. And it takes a bit, but one day he realizes he's calling Spencer's parents more than his own, asking for a third opinion on an internship offer or for a recipe for Spencer's favorite meal. And they don't mind that Spencer's dating a boy, or that he's asking them for help, they just help him and tell him that they're glad to know him. And, somehow, this is his life.

It's the week before finals and everything is insane when Liam accidentally calls Spencer's mom mid-meltdown instead of Spencer. He nearly panics when he hears her voice, because while they've been getting close, he's still trying to convince her that he's somehow worthy of her son. This version of himself isn't one that he ever wanted her to see, but she doesn't care. It feels too good to be true, but she calls him "honey" and talks him through everything that's stressing him out, staying calm and helping him remember that things will all work out in the end. Two days later, a care package full of homemade bread and snacks and notes of encouragement arrives on his doorstep. That doesn't feel real, either (his parents don't send them, so he's never gotten a care package before), but he takes the box inside and texts her a thank you as he munches on her homemade trail mix and slices some banana bread for breakfast tomorrow. She responds that he'll have to let her know what his favorites are so she can make them next time, and it all seems impossible, but it's real. It's real, and it feels really, really good.

Spencer goes home to San Antonio for the summer, but his parents end up spending a lot of time in Austin. Liam's staying in his apartment downtown so he can work at his internship (and not live with his parents), and though he sees his parents occasionally, it's much more common for him to see Spencer's. Once his dad is in town with an extra ticket to a baseball game, and another time, his mom offers to take Liam out for coffee so they can swap recipes before she hosts friends. He tells her he always grates the butter when he's making shortbread instead of chopping it, and the next day, she sends him a picture of shortbread cookies and a text about how they're the best ones she's ever made.

When they move Spencer in for fall semester that year, he suggests they do something outdoors, and Liam doesn't even think before he suggests going to Covert Park. It's the most natural place he can think of; it's where he grew up having picnics and spending time with friends. And he doesn't quite realize it until later, but driving through Tarrytown without seeing his parents doesn't feel strange. It feels normal to lead his boyfriend's family up the stone steps to the overlook, carrying an honest-to-god picnic basket as the sun starts to set. It's golden hour, and Spencer's mom insists on taking pictures, and those pictures end up on Instagram, and it all feels normal somehow. He expected some moment of clarity, some time when it would click that this is the life he gets to live, but it hasn't come. Instead, it's all just settled into a new sense of normalcy that's better than anything he could have ever imagined.

It feels like it should feel weird, but it doesn't. He was never close to the parents of girls he dated, but that was different for a variety of reasons. He'd been trying harder with his own parents, for starters. By the time he and Spencer got together, he'd all but given up on his parents, figuring he'd ruin any relationship he built with them by coming out anyway.

Maybe that's why his relationship with Spencer's parents feels so incredible; it's something he's given up on having with his own parents. And maybe that's why, when he and Spencer have their first fight, it feels worse than any other fight he's ever had. It comes just before midterms the spring semester of their junior year, when they're both stressed. Spencer's planning to accept an internship offer in El Paso, a nine hour drive from Austin, and Liam's feeling abandoned, left stuck while everyone else moves on. It comes to shouts and ends with Liam storming out, sitting in his car outside Spencer's apartment for at least twenty minutes before he realizes Spencer's not coming out to try and fix things.

The next day, he has his first midterm, and Spencer's mom texts him to wish him luck. He can't bring himself to tell her that he'd been stupid and made Spencer mad, so he just thanks her. She sends him a picture of a care package headed his way the next day, and when it arrives two days later, he can bring himself to thank her, but let her know that he and Spencer aren't doing well and she doesn't need to keep being nice to him. She responds that she knows and doesn't care, because she loves him. She and Spencer had talked the night of the fight, and while she thinks they'll get back together soon, she tells him in no uncertain terms that it doesn't matter. He may have started as just Spencer's boyfriend, but he's become family, and they hope that if Spencer does go to El Paso for the summer he knows he's still welcome in San Antonio any time.

He cried in the car the night he and Spencer fought, but he thinks maybe he cries harder at that. He tells her he loves her, and her husband, and that he's overwhelmingly glad to know them. She replies with a series of heart emojis and a reiteration that she loves him no matter what.

He'd texted Spencer a few days ago, a quasi-apology where he insinuated that if Spencer cares about him or their relationship, he won't take the internship. Spencer hadn't dignified that with a response. Now, Liam texts him a genuine apology, explaining his fear of losing Spencer but telling him he's already saving up for a plane ticket to come visit and expects to see the best that El Paso has to offer. Spencer calls him, and they talk for a long time. That summer, Spencer takes the internship, and halfway through, his parents surprise Liam with a weekend trip for all three of them to go visit. Maybe it should feel weird that it's so easy to travel and spend time with Spencer's parents. Maybe it should be weird teasing Spencer's dad about getting them to the airport so early, or getting coffee (one cream, three sugars) for Spencer's mom while she naps on his shoulder, but it isn't. Not at all. It feels far more normal than traveling with his own parents would. Somehow, this feels like the most normal thing in the world.

His whole relationship has started to feel normal. He's gotten used to the drive over to Spencer's house in San Antonio, gotten used to meeting them at a restaurant just past the touristy part of the river walk or coming over for dinner and games. Over the past year, he's found every possible reason to come to San Antonio and swing by to say hello, and he's gotten used to visiting for special events. So, when Spencer's family is doing Thanksgiving on Friday that year, it makes sense to drive over and meet his extended family. He can't quite believe it when no one acts like Spencer having a boyfriend is weird, keeps waiting for someone to yell when Spencer kisses his cheek as he reaches for an extra serving of potatoes, but they don't,and it's all perfect and normal to spend Thanksgiving with his boyfriend. Then he's back for a late Christmas celebration in December, and he's staying at Spencer's for his family's New Year's party, and he wouldn't tell his parents, but Spencer's family holidays are a million times better than his own. He brings gifts for Spencer's parents, and they have one for him sitting under their tree, and he realizes in a heartbeat that visiting their house has started to feel like coming home. Somehow, miraculously, he's started to feel like he belongs here. It's all the most natural, normal thing in the world.

The normalcy of the relationship is shattered a few months later. Spencer gets a job offer from the company in El Paso, and Liam's already accepted one in Austin. He'll be here for at least a year or two before they transfer him anywhere, and they don't have a location in El Paso. So, when Spencer asks him out to a nice dinner, Liam knows what's coming. Spencer's going to tell him that he took the job, because it's the best career option, so they'll have to either break up or date long distance for a while. And that's fine. Liam can take it, he's sure. He can sit in a nice, public place and be told that the man he loves is abandoning him. It's fine.

Spencer doesn't drive, so Liam picks him up. He's wearing a suit and greets Liam with a kiss, so maybe this isn't a breakup. In the restaurant, Spencer proposes a toast to Liam's new job, and Liam can feel it coming. He manages to say that they should toast to Spencer's new one in El Paso, too, and his voice barely even shakes as he does. Spencer just blushes and lets his cup dip a bit, rubbing the back of his neck and muttering something about telling them no.

Liam can't believe it. He'd told them no. They were the best place for his career, but he'd turned them down because El Paso was too far from the people he loves. Instead, he's taken a job in Austin, in the neighborhood where Liam will be working. He says he wants to stay closer to home, and could be talking about his parents, but he takes Liam's hand as he says it and looks him in the eye, and Liam would make out with him right then and there if they weren't in a crowded restaurant.

They're sharing an overpriced dessert when Spencer casually mentions that they could start looking for a place to move in together. Liam nearly chokes on his ice cream, but he nods, because really, like Spencer's saying, it makes sense. They'll both be working in the same area, and their current roommates are both moving away. And he really, really wants to move in with Spencer. It just... doesn't feel possible. He'd imagined something like this, but it's always been a pipe dream. Moving in with a boyfriend has never felt attainable, no matter how much he wants to. But Spencer's staying in Austin, so it will work, and they can start looking for places to live. They'll get lunch in a week or two and compare listings they've found online. And it can actually happen.

It's at that lunch that Alex Claremont-Diaz calls Liam to ask if he's bi. Not how Liam's doing, not even if Liam's queer, but it he's bi. And dear god. Liam has to spend a good minute with his Bloody Mary before he can even begin to apologize to Spencer, but Spencer just laughs so hard he cries and says he doesn't care. He says it'll be a great story to tell later, and Liam takes another long, long drink in an attempt to process the whirlwind of chaos that is Alex. But they shift from Liam's awkward past into conversations about their future together, and they schedule tours of a few apartments, then FaceTime Spencer's parents for their opinions on things. And it feels like any conversation they've had about their future, so far down the line it's nearly impossible. So Liam just sits there, making choices and going through the motions and waiting for it to all feel like it's happening.

Maybe, he thinks, it'll feel real when they decide on an apartment. But they tour places, talking about how Spencer's table would fit perfectly in this breakfast nook and they could fit a joint office into this room and still have space for one of Spencer's parents' pull-out couches in case anyone comes to visit, and it still feels like a dream. They pick one, and they agree to keep Spencer's bed and Liam's couch, and it doesn't feel like it's actually happening. They show Spencer's parents the location when they pick them up for a spring break trip to Houston, but it doesn't feel like they'll actually be moving in there together.

Maybe it will feel real when they've cleared out their current apartments, but even when he sees Spencer's funky-smelling couch sitting outside Goodwill in his rearview mirror, it doesn't feel real. Spencer takes his hand and kisses it, and Liam smiles at him, and it all feels fake. They move in together in two weeks, half his apartment is in boxes and a good portion of it is at the Goodwill behind them, and it still doesn't feel real.

Maybe it'll feel real when he tells his parents. He ends up doing it via phone call, sitting on his bed while Spencer leans against him and acts like he's not listening. They react about as well as he expected, but they've also finished paying for his college, and their involvement in his life over the past few years has been steadily declining. It's not like this is much of a surprise. So when he gets sick of his dad's shouting and hangs up, when he flops back onto his bed and Spencer climbs up to hold him close and say he's sorry, Liam's not as upset as he could be. He's got a new family, and he can now spend every holiday with them guilt-free. And maybe it's the knowledge that things aren't really going to change much, or the fact that Spencer's cuddling is getting slowly sleepier and infinitely cuter, but he can't bring himself to do anything more than kiss Spencer's forehead and tell him he loves him. Any fallout from this feels as impossible as his moving in with Spencer.

Maybe, their move in together will feel real when the day comes. Maybe then, it'll really sink in. But he wakes up on a sleeping bag and packs the last of his stuff into a weekender, and it doesn't feel like he's actually moving to share an apartment with Spencer. It certainly feels like he's moving, just not like he's moving in with his boyfriend. Maybe it would feel real when he loads the last of his boxes into Spencer's dad's pickup, but by now, he's so close to them that they'd be helping him move anywhere. So even as he follows Spencer's dad to their new building, even as he's grabbing one end of the couch to help haul it into the elevator, it doesn't feel like he's actually moving in with his boyfriend.

Spencer's already moved most of his stuff in, so they find him and his mom in the middle of ordering pizza and garlic bread. They walk in as he insists on extra garlic bread, because he and Liam can and will eat an order each. His dad gives them a hard time about leaving all the hard work to them, then teases his wife about not knowing their boys, and Liam feels a warmth in his chest. Spencer sees the little smile and wraps an arm around Liam, and Liam feels more loved than he ever could have imagined. They get most of his stuff moved inside by the time the pizza gets there, and they eat at Spencer's table in the breakfast nook, his parents talking about what a nice area, and a nice apartment, and it seems like they'll be really happy starting their lives together here. And slowly, it starts to feel like they really will get to live here together.

Spencer's parents take them out to an early dinner and insist on paying, but then they're gone, and it's just him and Spencer in an apartment that's theirs. They're mostly unpacked when Spencer reveals a bottle of champagne and calls Liam to bed, and they cuddle and toast their new home together. And the next morning, Liam's making eggs and coffee's brewing and Spencer comes up behind him to nuzzle into his shoulder with bare feet and sleepy morning kisses. It hits all at once that this is his life now, and Liam has to close his eyes and take a deep breath before he gets overwhelmed.

When Liam wakes up to a series of texts early one October morning, Spencer's still cuddled up close, whining when Liam shifts away to check his phone and learn that Alex is not only very bi, but also apparently dating the Prince of Wales. Liam is justifiably outraged, but Spencer is waking up laughing at him, all sleepy kisses and owlish blinking in the early light, complaining that if Liam is awake enough to be this livid he can be awake enough to start their coffee for the morning. So maybe Alex got himself a prince, but really, he has Spencer and Spencer's family, so Alex can keep the world's most eligible bachelor all to himself.

He realizes exactly what this means for Alex a few hours later, when someone texts him a link to some journalist's deep dive into the letters. He's debating contacting Alex, reaching out to see if there's anything he can do or if that would just make it worse. The decision's made for him when a sleezy journalist from Fox News calls in the middle of dinner to ask about their past. The next day, he texts Alex that he'd told him to screw off and is there if Alex needs anything.

He gets a heavy envelope in the mail two days later, and it's got an invitation for him and a plus one to attend President Ellen Claremont's election night rally. It's got a personal note from Alex on the back, stating in no uncertain terms that he expects liam to be there, and Spencer really wants to go, so they do. Alex runs into him in the most literal sense of the word, stopping long enough for introductions and to borrow their bikes before moving on to the next thing, every bit the tornado he's always been. But Spencer's happy, and they FaceTime his parents from the rally as soon as Texas goes blue, and they're throwing their own party in San Antonio. As the night winds down, as Liam wraps an arm around Spencer and they walk back to their shared apartment and their shared life, he can't imagine ever being happier.

On AO3

Author’s Note: I have spent an ungodly amount of time sitting with no wifi in the past four days (my family traveled from Iowa to Texas and back again), so we interrupt our regularly scheduled study guide programing to bring you this self-indulgent fic about Liam. What can I say. I saw a gay boy with unsupportive parents and went feral. (Also? Liam says he can't imagine being happier, but he's going to be so happy he cries when Spencer proposes to him.)

#LISTEN Y'ALL #THERE IS NOT ENOUGH LIAM CONTENT OUT THERE #and god damn it he deserves the world #Alex put this boy through so much shit #like i love him but come on Alex damn #rwrb #liam (rwrb)#Spencer (rwrb)#red white and royal blue #red white and royal blue fic #rwrb fic #rwrb fanfic #my fic: rwrb #I wrote this for me but y’all can read it

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perspective-series · 5 years

Text

Kingdom Perspective (15)

By: @arc852 and @hiddendreamer67

Warnings: Fear, panic, kidnapping, keeping/treating people like pets, threats, unwanted touching/grabbing, crying, and almost drowning.

First Chapter || Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

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Roman woke up bright and early the next day and looked down at Virgil, still asleep. He smiled sadly, knowing today was their last full day together. He managed to get out of his duties today though, thankfully. He could spend all day with Virgil, without endangering him. Today was going to be a lazy hang out day, Roman decided. So instead of getting up and dressed like he normally did he snuggled back into the covers and waited for Virgil to wake up.

It was quite a while later when Virgil finally began to stir. He blinked his eyes open, surprised that he had woken up on his own. Usually Roman the early bird got him up at the crack of dawn. Instead, Virgil rolled over to see the giant prince was still in bed, watching him.

Virgil raised an eyebrow, an amused smile on his lips. “Good morning.”

“Good morning sleeping beauty.” Roman chuckled. “Have a good rest?”

“Mhmm.” Virgil sat up. “But why no wake up call? I thought being a prince was a full-time gig, you get fired or something?”

Roman snorted, cover it up with his hand. “Uh, no. I took the day off. I figured, since it’s our last day together we could have a bit of a...lazy day. Where we just hang out.” Roman explained.

“I didn’t think you had a lazy setting.” Virgil observed.

“I usually do not but I am willing to make an exception for this.” He motioned towards the both of them and then offered his hand to Virgil. “Feeling hungry?”

Virgil just nodded, climbing on.

Roman got out of bed and looked between the desk and the door before heading towards the door, Virgil still in hand.

“Where are we going?” Virgil asked, having never accompanied Roman when the giant got food. Usually he was still asleep; or busy being mad at Roman.

“Well, I figured you could come with me to pick breakfast up.” Roman paused for a moment. “Um, if that’s okay?” If needed he could turn around and drop Virgil off in his room.

“No, yeah, that’s fine.” Virgil shrugged. “I mean, unless someone’s gonna attack you again while you get toast.”

Roman chuckled sheepishly. “Yeah, no, we’ll be fine.” Roman continued towards the kitchen, shifting his hands to move Virgil onto his shoulder.

“Greetings everyone!” Roman called out. The cooks nodded at him in greeting. “What’s for breakfast today?”

Virgil quickly grabbed onto the collar of Roman’s pajamas, paling slightly as he remembered just how tall Roman actually was. Not wanting to fall, Virgil scrambled closer to Roman’s neck for stability.

“We have prepared oatmeal today, sire.” A cook said, motioning towards the bowl. Roman hummed, frowning as he thought about Virgil eating the oatmeal. Yeah...that wasn’t to work.

“Could I have some toast as well? Perhaps with some jam?” Roman asked. The cook simply nodded and retreated further into the kitchen to get it. She returned with another plate of toast and jam and gave both the bowl and plate to Roman. Roman nodded. “Thank you.”

He turned and left, heading back towards his room.

“Careful!’ Virgil warned, grip tightening as he was moved up and down with Roman’s steps.

“Sorry.” Roman slowed down a little, making it to his room and setting the plates down on the desk. He then grabbed Virgil off his shoulder and set him down as well. He took a seat. “Alright!” Roman tore off a piece of bread and jam and handed it to Virgil.

Virgil glanced at the food, only now noticing how Roman had specifically requested a cleaner meal. “...thanks.” Virgil said genuinely, taking the bread and taking a bite.

“You are most welcome.” Roman said, digging into his oatmeal. After taking a few bites, he looked down at Virgil. “Honestly, I...can’t believe you leave tomorrow.” Roman chuckled sadly. “Where has the time gone?”

“...mostly there.” Virgil admitted, pointing over towards the cage still sitting at the other end of the desk. Though the time might have flown by for Roman, to Virgil most of it had dragged on.

Roman winced. “Right.” Roman was silent as he ate the rest of his breakfast.

Virgil frowned down at his own portion of food. Why had he said that? Now he had ruined the mood again.

Roman set his dishes off to the side to take back later. “All done?” He asked, looking between Virgil and the plate of toast.

“Yeah, I’m good.” Virgil nodded, pushing away the rest of the food. There was always so much food, it was insane. This place could easily solve all the starvation problems on Earth.

Roman nodded and put the dish with the other one. He then turned to Virgil. “So, what do you wanna do on this lazy day of ours?” He asked.

“Well, I don’t know.” Virgil admitted. “Usually a lazy day for me consists of netflix binging all day, but something tells me you don’t have that.”

Roman blinked. “What’s a netflix?” Or binging, for that matter.

Virgil snorted. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

“No, I’m serious.” Roman said. “I… I know next to nothing about your world...or your life for that matter...Though, I supposed I never really asked, huh?” He had been so caught up, seeing Virgil as a pet, that he hadn’t cared about his previous life. The thought made Roman sick. How could he have ever been like that?

“I just assumed you didn’t care.” Virgil rubbed his arm. “But I mean, to be fair, I didn’t ask a lot about your world either.”

“Well...to be honest, I didn’t, at first.” Roman admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I do now. And I don’t blame you for not asking anything. After all, why would you want to know more about a world that treats you like a, um, pet.”

“Indeed.” Virgil pulled a face, remembering his first few days here. “To put it in kid-friendly terms, I was, and still am, not this place’s biggest fan.”

“Yes, I can understand why.” His people still saw Virgil and Patton as nothing more than pets, after all. “But, um, if you wouldn’t mind...could you tell me a bit about your world? And maybe what your life is like?”

“What do you mean?” Virgil asked. “I mean, there’s certainly a lot to tell, but I doubt I could give you a history of the entire Earth in a day. Nor do I want to, that sounds like far too much work.”

“Well, no, I don’t expect you to tell me that much. Let’s just start with…” Roman thought for a moment. “Well, let's start with you and go from there.” Roman grinned.

“Me?” Virgil leaned back, wondering where to start. “Well, I started in your typical nuclear family. Two suburban parents, an older brother who set impossibly high standards. Grew up in his shadow. Then one day brother goes missing, drama drama drama, I get shoved into the limelight where I fail spectacularly, aaaand now I’m the family disappointment serving coffee to make my way through community college.”

Virgil said this all with an almost playful tone, rushing through his explanation. He wasn’t fond on repeating the same details of his tragic life; he had already had to relive that pain so many times.

Roman winced. “That sounds...rough.” To say the least. “How, uh, how long has your brother been missing?” Roman asked, hoping it was an okay question to ask.

“A year, year and a half?” Virgil shrugged, pretending he didn’t know when the answer immediately came to mind: 15 months. “Thomas was just there and then one day...he wasn’t. Vanished without a trace. Mom was heartbroken, kept going on about how her darling baby boy was missing. I kept getting sent out to look for him, saying it was my fault he went missing. I mean, they weren’t exactly wrong.” Virgil gave a dark chuckle. “Last I saw him was when he stormed out of the house after we got in an argument. I told him I never wanted to see him again.”

Roman’s eyes widened. “Oh. Oh I am...so sorry.” Roman didn’t know what else to say. “Is it...alright if I ask what the argument was about? I mean, you don’t have to tell me, of course! Just, if you want to.” Roman had to admit he was curious but the subject still seemed a bit sore for Virgil, so he understood if Virgil would rather not talk about it.

Virgil blinked, surprised he felt like sharing. He never told anybody this much. “Well, ah… it was actually about me. Thomas was trying to help me, saying I needed to get out more and get my life back on track. I mean, he was right, I was headed down a bad path, but I didn’t need to be told that, ya know? Plus I’ve always had this thing about talking to new people, Thomas always made it look so easy with all his friends and…” Virgil cringed, remembering how those friends had all flocked to their doorstep looking for Thomas after he went missing.

“Well, anyway, I lashed out.” Virgil continued. “I told him to mind his own business and that it’s my life to ruin if I so choose.”

“Virgil…” Honestly, Roman couldn’t picture Logan going missing like that, suddenly and without warning. And having those be his last words to him? Roman could picture the guilt Virgil must be feeling. “Well...I mean, there is always a chance you’ll find him again. Right? And then you can make up.” Roman tried to give Virgil a comforting smile.

Virgil gave a humorless snort at that. “Yeah, sure.” The human rolled his eyes. “It’s been over a year. If Thomas was still around he would have shown his face by now. Either he’s dead, or… he never wants to see me again.”

“I don’t think that’s true!” Roman exclaimed. “By the sounds of things, your brother really cares about you. I doubt one argument, no matter how intense it was, would change that.”

“Okay, fine, whatever, Thomas was perfect.” Virgil snapped. “I get it, he’s a saint and he would have forgiven me even if I didn’t deserve it but instead he went and got himself mugged in an alleyway or something.”

“Hey, I’m not saying he is.” Roman said. “I’m saying that as a brother myself. I...look, I’ve already told you Logan and I have never really...clicked before. He’s always gotten more attention since he was next in line and I was left behind, and all that.” Roman looked away. “But...even so, I...care about my brother. I always have and I always will. And if anything were to happen to him, I…” Roman sighed and turned back to Virgil.

“All I am saying is, nobody's perfect. Not you or your brother but...if that whole argument started because he was worried about you? I honestly cannot see your brother not forgiving you.” Roman paused for a second. “After all, you forgive him, don’t you?”

“Of course I forgive him.” Virgil let out an involuntary sniffle, his eyes having begun to tear up. He wiped at them furiously, hating the way he was showing weakness. “I just haven’t forgiven myself.”

Roman wanted nothing more than to reach out, scoop Virgil up and comfort him. In fact, his hands were already starting to reach forward but he restrained himself enough to ask. “May I?” He asked softly.

Ugh, now I’m being pitied again. Virgil felt his tears begin to drip down his face as he nodded, knowing that despite everything, he was in desperate need of some human- er, giant- contact.

At the nod, Roman wasted no time in scooping Virgil up and holding him close to his chest. “I’m sorry you’re going through this...and that I can’t be more help. You deserve forgiveness just as much as your brother does. From him and yourself.”

Virgil’s tears turned to sobs at Roman’s words, having never heard anybody tell him he deserved forgiveness, too. Virgil clutched at Roman’s shirt, clinging to it desperately as his chest tightened, breathing getting difficult as his tears threatened to overwhelm him.

“It hurts.” Virgil admitted, referring to a pain greater than physical.

“I know.” Roman said softly. He gently rubbed Virgil’s back as he continued to cry. “You’ve been holding this in for so long. I’m so sorry you had to go through all this alone.” Roman knew all too well about dealing with things by himself and how just...bad it felt.

I miss him so much. Virgil found himself unable to even convey his thoughts as his breathing became shallow, and his energy had to be refocused into the sole act of crying his eyes out. Soon Virgil’s bubble became a hazy mixture of signals, only vaguely aware of the world around him as he focused on steadying his breathing to Roman’s own. It was a pleasant sensation, feeling Roman’s great chest rise and fall with a steady rhythm. It was a constant, something Virgil desperately needed at the moment.

Slowly Virgil’s breathing began to even out, lulled back to a normal pace with the help of Roman’s touch. Virgil let out a long sigh, feeling incredibly exhausted and vulnerable now that the wave had passed.

Roman kept Virgil to his chest, still rubbing his back gently. “How are you feeling?” He asked softly.

Virgil nodded, keeping his head decidedly down. “...sorry about that.” Virgil muttered. He cringed, noticing what a mess he had made on Roman’s shirt.

“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Roman smiled. “I can tell that you needed this.”

“Ugh, yeah I did.” Virgil winced. He hadn’t realized just how much he missed having someone around who would listen, someone who actually cared. And to find that in Roman? The giant prince who kidnapped him? The whole thing was so bizarre.

“Thanks.” Virgil said quietly. “That was...that was good.”

“I’m glad.” He finally pulled Virgil away from himself and looked down at him. “How about we get some lunch. Get your energy back up, hmm?”

“Mhmm.” Virgil nodded, covering his mouth as he gave a yawn. Though they had slept late, Virgil now felt like he could simply fall back asleep.

Roman noticed how worn out Virgil was now and bit his lip. “Or, we could take a little nap. Whichever you prefer.”

“No, no, I’m good.” Virgil insisted. He certainly didn’t want to ruin Roman’s day by sleeping it away, especially since it was the last day they’d have. The least Virgil could do was be there for him back, just this once. “We can do lunch.”

Roman grinned. “Fantastic! Do you wish to accompany me again? Or would you rather stay here?”

“I…” Virgil paused, realizing he just wanted to do what would make Roman happier. After all, he felt like he owed Roman after that. “Whatever you prefer.”

Roman frowned a little at that. “Well what I prefer is whatever you prefer.” Roman said.

“Uh, no you don’t.” Virgil crossed his arms stubbornly. “I know you’ve got a preference.”

“Maybe I do.” Roman admitted. “But I am done doing things you don’t want to do. So please, tell me what it is you would rather do so that I may respect your decision.”

“Okay, well my decision is that I want to forfeit my decision to you.” Virgil retorted. “So by all means, I insist: what do you want?”

“I want you to tell me what you want.” Roman huffed. “I do not want to make the same mistakes again. So please just tell me.”

“You’re not making a mistake if I’m telling you to do it.” Virgil grit his teeth.

“Well, how do I know you aren’t just saying that because you think it’s what I want.” Roman paused. “You...aren’t doing it because of that...are you?”

“...no.” Somewhere along the conversation Virgil had gotten lost. He shook his head, getting annoyed. “Whatever! Just do what you want.”

“...Alright.” Roman sighed and set Virgil down on the desk. He grabbed the dirty dishes as he stood up. “I’ll be right back.” He then exited the room and headed towards the kitchen.

Virgil glared at the door, sensing that Roman was only doing this because it’s what he thought Virgil wanted: even after all that hassle, Roman was trying to be considerate.

How dare he.

Roman huffed as he dropped off the dirty dishes and grabbed lunch, heading back towards his room. He entered his room and set the plate down, which held a simple ham sandwich. He then took his seat and busied himself with cutting a small piece for Virgil. He purposefully didn’t say anything to Virgil during all this.

“That’s not what you wanted to do.” Virgil crossed his arms, giving Roman a hard glare.

“Maybe not but I know it’s what you wanted.” Roman said, sliding the piece of sandwich more towards Virgil. “And like I said, I am done doing things you don’t want to do.”

“That’s not true, I was fine with either.” Virgil took the food begrudgingly. “Look, if I really cared I could just take you up on that day of doing what I say you still owe me. As it stands, seeing you all cooperative is just...creepy.”

“What? How is that creepy?” Roman was just going to go ahead and ignore what Virgil said about their deal. He had forgotten about that and wished for it to stay that way. “I’m trying to listen better. I’m doing exactly what you wanted me to do in the very beginning! What? Do you want me to go back to how I was before? Making you do tricks and keeping you in a cage? Taking you wherever I wanted without so much as a warning? Is that what you want?” Roman was glaring at the human now.

“No!” Virgil ducked his head, a bit intimidated. “Obviously not, but that doesn’t mean I have to dictate every little thing we do either!”

Roman dropped his glare and sighed, looking down at the table. “I just...I’m trying, okay? I’m just trying to make up for how much of a jerk I was to you. For how much of a...monster I was.” Cause he had been, hadn’t he? He was sure Virgil had seen him that way. And honestly, he couldn’t help but agree.

“I understand that, Roman.” Virgil assured him. “And I appreciate it. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up all your wants and opinions too. Putting me in charge just feels...weird. We can just be on equal footing, like normal people.”

Roman nodded. “Yes...equal footing. That sounds...nice.” Roman lifted his head and gave Virgil a small smile. “It’s just…” The smile went away. “I’ve uh...never really been on equal footing with anyone before.” Even Logan had always had a higher status them him.

“Right, the whole royalty thing.” Virgil had almost forgotten about that. Of course, looking at the elegant decor adorning everything from the rug to the bedspread to even Roman’s shoulders, it was hard to miss.

“Yeah.” Roman confirmed. “Everyone is either below me, or above me. I’m in this...weird middle ground.” And Roman hated it.

“Isn’t only one person above you?” Virgil asked, tilting his head as he considered that. “If Logan dies, do you become king?”

“Well, yes.” Roman said. “But before that, it was always my father, then my brother, and then me. And then everyone else in the kingdom is below us. But my father and brother were more on equal footing than I was ever allowed to be. Logan even got his own throne, something I never received. Though...I suppose his old throne is mine now…” That was strange to think about.

“Congratulations.” Virgil’s mouth crept into a slow smile. “So, if we’re on equal footing, does that mean the throne is half mine?”

Roman’s lips quirked up. “I don’t think it works that way.” He chuckled. “Anyway, all I’m saying is that I’m used to either telling people what to do, or listening to people tell me what to do. There isn’t a whole lot of...compromising going on. But I would love to give it a try.”

“Great.” Virgil rubbed his hands together. “So, first rule of compromising, you lay all your cards on the table. Lay it on me, Roman. What do you actually want to do today?”

Roman blinked. “W-Well...I wasn’t lying when I said I just wanted to spend today relaxing and hanging out with you. Especially since I’m going to be so busy starting tomorrow, with all my new duties. And with you leaving tomorrow...this is really our last chance to just...hang out.”

“Right.” Virgil nodded in understanding. “So what do you want to do to hang out?”

“Well…” Roman thought for a moment before an idea came to mind. He grinned. “We could go swimming!”

Virgil’s eyebrows shot straight up into his hairline. “...swimming?” That certainly wasn’t what he had expected.

“Yeah! We have our own private pool here inside the castle. No one else except my father, Logan and I are allowed to use it. So we would be all alone.” Roman explained, knowing Virgil didn’t want to be around other giants.

Unless one of those two decides to go for a dip. “Wouldn’t that be a little...unsafe?” Virgil tried to be gentle in his critiquing, not wanting to shoot Roman down completely, but the idea of swimming with a literal giant was quite terrifying. The waves would be like a tsunami.

Roman hummed. It could be quite dangerous. It would be as if Virgil was swimming in the ocean with how deep the pool would be to him. But...that gave Roman another idea. He grinned and stood up. “I’ve got just the thing!” He ran to a small storage box he kept in the corner of his room and rummaged through it. When he found what he was looking for, his grin grew.

“What if you used this!” Roman walked back to the desk and revealed a toy boat he had had as a child that he never had the heart to throw away. “And look! It’s just your size!”

“Why do you even have that?” Virgil asked incredulously. It looked like quite a vessel, but Virgil realized it must have been just a toy to Roman.

“Got it as a kid and I never had the heart to throw it away.” Roman shrugged. “But see! You can use this in the pool, you don’t even have to get in the water!”

“Does it even float?” While it looked sturdy to Virgil, if it was only meant to be a toy there was a high chance that it wouldn’t perform very well as an actual boat.

“Of course it floats. I’m a prince, I only got the very best toys.” Roman said. “Come on, let’s give it a try! If it doesn’t end up working out, we’ll just stop and figure out something else to do.”

Virgil glanced at the boat again. He didn’t think this was a very safe idea, but he trusted Roman. One day of risky adventures wouldn’t kill him...hopefully.

“...okay.” Virgil agreed, trying to look upbeat rather than anxious. “We can try it, I guess.”

“Great!” Roman exclaimed. He set the boat down and ran into his closet the change. He came back out in a pair of shorts and a simple tunic. “Did you want to change too?” Roman asked.

“Well, I don’t think it really matters.” Virgil glanced down at his clothes. He had a feeling he’d be getting wet regardless, but he didn’t have many clothes to begin with, and the majority of the time he would be on a boat. He should be fine.

“Alright.” Roman grabbed the boat in one hand and offered his other hand to Virgil.

“Do you know how to sail?” Virgil asked, climbing on. He certainly didn’t.

“I’ve sailed once or twice but if anything I can just push the boat along.” Roman said with a shrug. He exited out of the room and headed down a hallway he hadn’t taken Virgil down before. When he got to the double doors he pushed them open and motioned inside. “Ta-da!”

Virgil’s eyes went wide as saucers, barely able to comprehend the sheer magnitude of the body of water before him. Virgil was unable to tell if it was merely gigantic to him or extravagant for a pool regardless, but given he was inside a castle Virgil guessed the later. The water spread out for what could actually be several miles, and if someone had declared this to be an ocean rather than a swimming pool Virgil would not have doubted it for a second.

“So? What do you think? Pretty great, right? We have people year round who tend to it to keep it looking this good.” Roman spoke, coming more into the room. He set the boat and Virgil down on a side table as he pulled off his tunic.

“It’s big.” Virgil nodded, vocalizing the first adjective that came to mind.

“Yes and trust me, it’s big to my kind as well. Nothing but the best for royalty.” Roman explained. He went over to a side closet and got out a towel, putting it over one of the chairs surrounding the pool. He then held out a hand for Virgil. “Ready?”

“I guess so.” Virgil said, climbing on, but as he glanced at the water Virgil couldn’t help but think about the fact he wasn’t a very good swimmer.

“Great!” Roman grabbed the boat with his other hand and then headed over towards the pool. He got in slowly and then moved a bit away from the steps. The water came up to a little above his waist in the shallow end but he thought here was a good place to set Virgil up.

He put the boat down and then carefully held the hand holding Virgil next to it so he could climb on. “She’s all yours captain.” Roman chuckled.

Virgil gave a two-fingered salute, then focused on the task at hand. He steadied himself by putting his arms out as he stepped onto the boat, feeling it rock beneath him. Quickly Virgil grabbed onto the main mast, centered in the middle. Slowly the rocking returned to a gentle swaying motion.

Roman grinned. Virgil just looked so cute on the boat. “So? How is it? Everything seem to be in order?” He studied the boat carefully to see if it was tilting or sinking but it seemed fine.

“Well, I’m still afloat, so I count that as a win.” Virgil gave Roman a nervous smile, feeling the Giant’s movements cause the boat to rise and fall with a greater magnitude than before.

“Perfect! I knew it would work.” Roman grinned. “Now, I’m going to go for a quick lap. I’ll be right back.” Roman said, ready to actually swim a little. He moved a little away from Virgil and the boat before going under and swimming to the other end.

Virgil moved carefully closer to the edge, peering over the side. Underwater, Roman’s shadowy form almost looked like some sort of monstrous sea creature. It was weird, looking all around his tiny boat. It truly felt like he was adrift in the middle of the ocean.

When Roman was on his way back, he could help but get an idea as he looked at Virgil and his boat. With a mischievous smirk on his face, he went under and started to slowly sneak up on Virgil.

Virgil glanced back where he had last seen Roman, only to realize the prince was missing. Virgil did a double-take, trying to peer into the further waters. How did one lose a Giant?

Roman quietly rose up behind Virgil but only up to his nose. He saw that Virgil hadn’t spotted him yet and grinned before pulling himself under the water again.

“Roman?” Virgil called out, cupping his hands to his mouth. Virgil began to get worried. Was Roman alright out there? But what if he wasn’t? There wasn’t exactly anything Virgil could do about it. By the looks of things, this boat didn’t have any oars. Virgil smacked his forehead. Of course, why would it? It was just a toy, after all.

Roman figured it was time and slowly rose up fully behind Virgil, putting on a fake evil laugh. “Well, well, what do we have here? A puny captain sailing into my territory?”

Virgil felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up despite himself. He whirled around, finally spotting Roman as the boat swayed. The human felt a sense of relief wash over him, glad to see his anxiety had just run wild again. Roman was fine.

“What’s with the evil voice?” Virgil raised an amused eyebrow. “Are we playing make believe? What are you, twelve?”

“How dare you!” Roman said, staying in character. He narrowed his eyes. “This is very real and I advise you think twice before you insult the sea monster of the Sanders Seas.”

“The sea monster of the seas doesn’t exactly look very threatening.” Virgil glanced up and down Roman’s body. “He also doesn’t look like he’s made for the sea.”

“Well, uh…” Roman faltered for a second before coming up with an excuse. “This is my humanoid form. If you were to see my true form, you would die on the spot.” Nailed it.

Virgil let out an audible snort. “Uh huh. And what exactly is the sea monster going to do to me if I keep insulting him?”

“Well…” Roman smirked and then sent a small splash of water toward Virgil, causing the boat to bob in the water quite a bit. “Let’s just say I hope you’re good swimmer.”

“Hey!” Virgil took a quick step backwards, narrowly avoiding getting wet. He gave Roman a glare, grabbing the mast once again as the boat tipped dangerously.

“Now you see the danger you are truly in?” Roman said with a smirk. “If you do not leave this place then I shall send you to your watery grave...or maybe I shall go a different route. After all, I’ve never had the pleasure of tasting a human before.” The thought made actual Roman want to gag but he figured a sea monster would say something like that.

“You wouldn’t dare.” Virgil searched Roman’s face, trying to see how far Roman actually would dare.

Roman sunk down and got closer so he was practically face to face with Virgil. “Do not test me, little one.”

This close, Virgil felt tempted to throw something at Roman. He glanced around, looking for a viable item. Only now did Virgil notice a chest that was attached to the side of the ship. Virgil went over to it, surprised when it actually opened. He had half expected it to just be a decoration.

Reaching in, Virgil found a variety of pirate-like tools, all human sized and clearly toys. He pulled the armful out, dumping them onto the deck.

“Why do you have these?” Virgil turned to Roman, inspecting the toy sword from the set.

Roman blinked, breaking character for a moment. “Oh! Those are my old accessories for my old pirate doll! I don’t have the doll anymore...but I guess I kept all his add ons on the boat.”

“So I’m your replacement pirate doll?” Virgil raised a judgemental eyebrow. This game was beginning to make a lot more sense.

“What? No!” Roman huffed. “I just thought we could play a little game...to make this trip more fun. That’s all…”

Virgil stared at Roman thoughtfully. The human had never been very good at make believe games, but he could tell that this was something the prince wanted to do. And Virgil had agreed to come here so Roman could have fun… thus decided, Virgil decided to give it his best.

“En guarde, beast.” Virgil smirked, throwing the oversized plastic pirate hat on his head and pointing the sword in Roman’s direction.

Roman blinked and then grinned before getting back into character. He chuckled. “You actually think that puny thing is going to do anything against me? Don’t make me laugh.”

“Stay back, uh, matey!” Virgil swung it in Roman’s general direction, using the techniques the Giant taught him before. “This is my pirate ship, and I’ll be a dead man before this vessel is threatened by the likes of you!”

Roman leaned back as Virgil swung, once again standing to his full height. “I can arrange that.” Roman grinned evilly and then sent another wave towards Virgil and the boat.

“Woah!” Virgil clung fiercely to one of the ropes, the boat tilting precariously before settling back down. Virgil felt his heart still pounding from the slight scare, but for once the fear was exhilarating.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Virgil shouted, scurrying up to the crow’s nest to get as high as he could, facing Roman with his weapon once more. “Come at me, you coward!”

Roman’s eyes narrowed. “Oh you have asked for it now.” He lifted his arms up. “By the power of the water and sea, I summon a wave to wipe you out!” Roman flopped his arms into the water sending another wave, one that was bigger than the other, towards Virgil.

Virgil’s eyes widened, watching the wave approach that reached above his head despite his heightened altitude. “...uh oh.”

A moment later the wave came crashing down, soaking Virgil to the core and completely tipping the boat. Virgil clung to the crow’s nest as best he could, but the sheer momentum forced the human to release his grip and he was flung over the side, sinking below the waves.

#gt #Giant/tiny #thomas sanders #sanders sides #infinitesimal!sides #au #human!virgil #human!patton #giant!roman #giant!logan #platonic #Kingdom Perspective #part 15

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