#anyways hope everyone is having a good day

[summertimesadnessirl]

I have never been allowed to keep a comfort zone. If I ever leave anything alone it collapses and isn't there when I get back. That happens most of the time anyway. Like as soon as nothing stresses me out in my daily routine everything around me just magically implodes. I am not going to take this advice. Also fuck you.

Trauma makes you worse. You lose all your progress.

Then you wind up back at rock bottom and everyone laughs at you and says it's all your fault.

Then everyone expects you to lie and say it's good that your whole life imploded because that will force you to grow as a person.

I'm 35. I would like to be allowed to grow into a person who isn't afraid and suicidal all the time. I would like to have a stable life. Fuck you. I hope you fucking choke.

I hope your favorite mug breaks. I hope you get a new one and that breaks. I hope you fracture a metatarsal and have to spend 3 months in bed. I hope when you finish that, your best friend gets caught making fun of you in front of a bunch of people you don't know. I hope every job you get lays you off at 90 days or a year or three years forever. I hope you have a 420 credit score. I hope whenever you cook soup, the lid on the pot shatters and the soup is filled with broken glass. I hope every time you build something, someone comes along and breaks it. I hope you find out what it's like not to have a comfort zone you ignorant sanctimonious fucks.

(grabs you by the shoulders) you have to make room for new experiences in your life. you have to go through the unpleasant work of leaving your comfort zone, even if just for a few minutes at a time. because if you don't, your brain will trick you into stagnation. you will start to believe that the world can barely fit you in it. but that's not true. it's the opposite way around. you can fit the whole word inside of you. your task is only this: to welcome it with open arms

[meanbossart]

Drizzt Do’Urden s basically a thing from the podcast/live dnd thing that Astarion's player/Voice actor made. Drizzt is a hella famous Drow singer/bard that Astarion is a huge fan boy of and made fanfiction for

EDIT: I know that Drizzt Do'Urden wasn't created for the podcast. I know that he's a ranger. I know that there are 80 books written about him. Good lord.

Was scrolling down my inbox (I'm still taking a little blog break until the new year, I appreciate everyone's patience) but I won't lie this one has been on my mind ever since the topic came up. Do I think the live DnD games are canonical? No, of course not. Neil isn't Astarion's writer and his knowledge about the character is limited to his interactions with said writer in the studio, and otherwise pretty much as valid as anyone else's whos played the game... HOWEVER.

Astarion did have 200 years worth of down-time whenever he wasn't seducing drunks at the pub or getting skinned and prodded on the dungeon floor. I doubt that the guy had the opportunity to hone in crafts or enjoy his hobbies, but Cazador couldn't keep all of them occupied 24 hours a day EVERY day. Astarion was exposed to common culture through the people he interacted with at the bars, he obviously knows who Drizzt Do'Urden is, as showcased in the game itself (he runs a dumb Drizzt joke through himself like a crazy person if you click his portrait enough.)

Anyway, my point is; either before, after, or throughout the process of working through the God's catalogue and begging salvation to each and every one, would Astarion indulge in a little escapism? News, books, folk tales, heroic figures...? Probably. I think most people would. And while he doesn't reveal much about his personal taste in partners, drow seems to be a race that he's fond of, at least aesthetically. He's also mentioned prince-like figures and youth.

I'm just picturing a poor, downtrodden Astarion collapsed in his stinky bunk-bed at night and fantasizing about a deep-voiced, charismatic drow and his big cat, who somehow hear word of the horrific injustices taking place inside a gothic abomination of a palace in the high-town of Baldur's Gate shortly before breaking through Cazador's stained-glass windows, lacerating him in ways far too gory to be in the man's character, before shortly sweeping him off his feet once taken by his unspeakable beauty. I don't think he imagines much of what happens past that point, I doubt Astarion finds himself and Drizzt Do'Urden to have much in common... But he sure has heard that he's handsome.

Would he have run this scenario - however thinly-veiled as a joke - through Dalyria in a particularly slow night, fully expecting her to laugh it off so he could continue saving face, only to instead be met to the most accidentally-patronizing little coo and "You know it's good to stay hopeful!" out of her that made Astarion want to wrap his hands around her throat and strangle her in the middle of that pub? Probably. Did she casually try opening up conversation with him about Drizzt' antics whenever she heard something new about the folk hero? Occasionally. Is it cute? Only as much as it's horrifically sad, LOL.

Anyway. I bet she had a laugh after he brought Do'Urden's juiced up cousin home to meet the family. He's going to hear about this for the rest of eternity.

DU drow gets the "It's just an inside joke that got out of hand" version of the story, and he believes it! Because what about Drizzt Do'Urden could POSSIBLY appeal to his lover, after all.

[vrystalius]

Hello! How was your weekend? I hope you enjoyed it. Anyway, can I have the upper moon trio (Kokushibo, Douma and Akaza) plus Muzan reacting to having a girlfriend that’s just like or similar to Mitsuri? If it isn’t too much that is.

Upper Moon trio + Muzan having a Mitsuri-like S/O

Bubbly, energetic, sweet and strong— how will the Upper Moon trio and their king react to having such an adorable S/O?

Pairing: Kokushibo, Douma, Akaza, Muzan x gn!human!reader

Kokushibo

He is slightly perplexed by your sunshine-like personality since it differs so greatly from his, and yet, Kokushibo found himself falling head over heels for you for that exact reason. You express your emotions so freely and openly wich makes reading your thoughts so simple. One glance at your flustered face and he immediately knows what is going on in that pretty mind of yours. Your cheerful and bubbly nature counters his silent and cold demeanour, wich is stirring a protector instinct in him.

Holding you on his lap while you speak about as festival you visited and the different snacks you got to try out, Kokushibo quietly worries about how your stomach must be either about to implode or your organs about to shut down on you by the sheer amount of food you are able to eat in one sitting.

Also, whenever you compliment, coo or admire him, Upper Moon One feels like he could confront Yorichii in a fistfight and easily win. Your praises pride him immensely, even if the only visible reaction on him to your praise could be a microscopic smile or his eyes slightly softening. Although your cooing and fussing over him makes him want to curl up in your lap and let you coddle and cradle him for the whole day and night. Even the strongest samurai sometimes need to be loved properly every now and then.

“You are a very odd human. I like it.”

Douma

He absolutely loves your personality! You greatly amuse him with how easily you get flustered and how sweet you are to anything and everyone, unaware of some people’s intentions. Your naivety and innocence is a factor on how Douma fell for you. He thought about how he should charm you, but you simply smiling and batting your lashes cutely at him blanks his mind and he immediately forgets everything he wanted to say to you.

Your strength also greatly impresses him. Although he’s an Upper Moon, Upper Two nonetheless, you can still easily pin him down or do some emotional damage by rejecting his pleads for a cuddle or kiss, even though Douma kind of holds back during play-fights so you can feel even stronger and more confident. Anything to make his little lotus happier!

Sometimes Douma gets too annoyed or tired to keep his mask of emotions on for longer, so he retreats to his private chambers and recharges by having you shower him in affection. “Love transfer” or “Energy transfer” he calls it. With every kiss you plant on his face and lips, his smile keeps growing and growing, until Douma is finally satisfied.

“You’re so adorable, I could eat you right up! No, not literally— unless you’re into that?”

Akaza

First and foremost, Akaza admires your strength and durability, although you do get scared and intimidated easily. He just has to flex his arms a little and you already get discouraged to keep your playfight or training going. Outside of training though, he does get embarrassed when you squish his soft muscle and keep complimenting on his build. Whenever you worry about how could he must be getting due to his barely-covering clothes and his icy blood demon art, Akaza gets extremely flustered and shy about how you seem to care to much about his health, although demons cannot get sick. As far as he knows.

Your bubbly personality confuses him. How can anyone can be this naive and happy? Akaza wonders how you managed to survive in this cruel world on your own, despite knowing you can give out some good ass-kicking. He just thinks that you’re too trusting and good for your own good, especially since you fell for a demon like him. He doesn’t deserve your kindness and love at all but is eternally thankful for it anyway.

Another thing Akaza really loves to do is to watch you eat. It’s comforting to him to share such a human activity with you, even if he himself can’t participate (he tried once before, he got a really horrible stomach ache from just one bite and you had to hold him for the rest of the night), he likes bringing you massive amounts of snacks from all over Japan and sit next to you while you try them all out and describe the flavours to him. He sits there and listens to your animated explanations with a smile.

“How can you be so… soft? You’re too sweet for your own good, do you know that?”

Muzan Kibutsuji

You were quite easy to persuade into marriage it was almost sad to him. Although you are a fragile and rather pathetic human, Muzan found himself falling more and more for your bubbly and sweet nature. You’re incredibly caring, something he usually thinks of as a weakness and way to get extorted by others like him, and it makes him feel at ease whenever you talk to him about literally anything.

Usually he’d shoo his previous wives away or simply execute them when they get too annoying, but with you, Muzan wants to have you near him at all times. He even revealed his demon nature to you and you accepted him with a smile. A nervous smile, but a smile nonetheless.

He likes playing with your emotions in order to get a certain reaction out of you. Muzan’ll bring you beautiful flowers and shower you in the most thoughtful compliments just to see you blush and cover your face in embarrassment. It’s funny to him how easily you get embarrassed by him simply pointing out the obvious: that you are the most perfect being that was blessed to walk the earth at the same time as he did. For once in his life, Muzan thanked the gods for something that was gifted upon him.

Muzan barely shows it, but he does really appreciate the amount of warmness and energy you brought into his life. Surprisingly, with you around, he is much more merciful. Barely targeting and punishing Akaza for failing to murder a random child, more patience for Douma’s antics and Daki’s whining. He does demand some kind of reward for it afterwards.

“Must you always be so cheerful?— It’s distracting.”

(Despite his harsh tone, Muzan is trying to save his imagine of being cold and harsh. Don’t be confused, please continue be as cheerful as you like. It’s like an antidepressant for him.)

💠

I missed writing for my favourite demons </3 I hoped you enjoyed this one! I’m sorry that it took so long :,) I had a lot of fun writing this since I really love Mitsuri and am planning on cosplaying her after Douma!! I hoped I incorporated her traits well.

Anyways, make sure to EAT, SLEEP and DRINK enough <3

Take care of yourselves!!

[the-lazyyy-artist]

Pairing: Kunigami Rensuke x GN!Reader Synopsis: He left as a hero, and he returned cold and heartless. What adventures have made him like this? Would you still love him? Themes: angst, post-WC! Kunigami, set during Blue Lock's two-week break after their win against JP U-20 (chapters 150 - 153), reader is hopeful, Kunigami lost all humanity, established relationship, if you squint a little it's kinda like Epic's OdyPen lmao Author's Note: Epic The Ithaca Saga is ruining my brain chemistry. A mutual and fellow writer already created something like this but I wanna put my own twist on this hehe!

@thebestsetter ✨

Kunigami Rensuke was a hero before he became yours.

He always believed in goodness, helping everyone else, and acting like a big brother to those who needed his guidance. It's no wonder his morals bleed through his play on the field. To win each game fair and square while he showcases his skills. Watching how he turned into a knight in shining armor every time he stepped onto the field, defending his team from the enemy and scoring his goals was mesmerizing.

So, when he was invited to the Blue Lock Program, you weren't so surprised.

"How long will you be there?" you asked him once while you were on his bed, watching him go back and forth around his room, packing a small duffle bag of the things he might need in the facility. "That's something I can't answer right now, love," he replied, "it's something they never clarified in the letter. But let's say 2 or 3 months, give or take."

"Take care of yourself in there, okay? Show them the hero that you are," you reminded him, smiling up softly as he zipped the bag close. He was ready. Ready to face a new adventure, new challenges, and new foes and allies. You can feel the excitement radiating from him. "I will. Then when this is all over, I'm coming home to you with stories from my training."

"You're not leaving me behind, are you?" you teased, reaching for his hand. On his ring finger was a promise ring, the same one you wore. A symbol of his love for you and his promise to marry you. Your fingers gingerly held on to his ring, feeling the rough metal against your skin. "I will never. I'll always take you with me, remember? I'll be back before you know it."

3 days later, he left with a kiss, a promise, and a vision of him taking over the world with his aspirations.

A few weeks in, you received a call from him, happy and excited to talk to you. He told you about the things he's learned, the friends he's gained, and the foes he's made. He spoke about an Isagi, a Chigiri, and a Bachira, and how these people made him feel stronger with how they all blended on the field. You were proud to hear him grow and find friends.

"How did you get your phone anyway? I thought the letter said phones aren't allowed?" You asked him.

"We were given a star system where goals are exchanged for points that we can use for different privileges," Kunigami explained, "I exchanged my first goal for steak, and shared that with Isagi. Now, I exchanged two of my goals for my phone so I can talk to you."

Always so considerate. Your hero never changed despite the changes he's experienced in Blue Lock. With every point he earned, he'd always exchange it for phone time to call you and tell you about his adventures.

Suddenly, the calls stopped.

You're sure Kunigami wasn't the type to never make a goal. Was he getting into harder challenges in there? No matter how hard it was, you knew your hero would never back down.

Right?

It worried you. You kept looking at your phone, waiting for a call. You kept replaying your conversation weeks ago about a possible second selection and how it would play out, and you worried it was even more challenging than the team matches. Would he get out of it alive? Triumphant? Of course! Since when did you start doubting your hero?

You began to twist your ring, anxious about Kunigami as the days went by, each one feeling longer than the last. It's making you sick. He was never the type to just disappear without saying anything.

The announcement of an exhibition game with Japan U-20 made you feel hopeful again. Knowing your hero, he would be part of the starting 11. You saved enough for the tickets for you and your sibling to watch him play live. You were excited about what skill he gained in Blue Lock, and if he improved to be the best version of himself.

But why wasn't he there?

You know Isagi was there... Chigiri... Bachira... but where was he? Where's your hero?

The win was a blur. How can you even cheer for his team when he isn't there? It's impossible that he's benched too. Kunigami was never the type to warm the bench for the whole game. You wanted to ask Isagi... Maybe Chigiri because Kunigami has talked about him the most. Bachira might know too. But it's impossible to reach them, especially with how they disappeared into the building after the game.

"Where are you?" you whispered into the empty stadium.

Maybe it's time to let go. No. Kunigami made it clear that you would never let go. You'll wait for him to call. You'll wait for him to send you some kind of sign. Anything. Letting go is never the answer, he would say if he's beside you. So, with every passing day after the match, you never went anywhere without your phone, hoping soon he'd call.

How cruel must fate be that the only time you let your guard down was on the day he decided to show up?

Your mother opened the door for him, a gasp leaving her lips. She led him to your door and left him to talk to you. From the outside, Kunigami tensed as he wrapped his large hand around your doorknob, hearing your voice spilling out as he opened it slowly. And for a moment, Kunigami would like to believe nothing has changed. For a moment, all he could see was the light he held on to.

There you were, sitting on your desk as you studied with headphones on, singing one of the songs from the playlist he created for both of you to listen to. Clearly, in your little world, you didn't hear Kunigami enter and close your door behind him. Kunigami sighed, and then he opened his lips to say your name.

Oh, it felt like a lifetime since he spoke your name. Kunigami felt a piece of him remembering what it was like to say your name the first time he met you.

"Y/n."

No answer.

"Y/n," he said once more, a little louder. He saw you perk up a little.

You don't know if you're just imagining things or if Kunigami's voice sounded nearer than how you'd usually imagine it on the days you missed him. And then...

"Y/n."

You removed your headphones, standing up so quickly that your chair toppled over and fell to the floor with a thud. In front of you right now was your hero, the man you waited to return. You held your breath for a moment as you took a good look at him. He looks... he looks...

Tired. His build was bigger, but he looked tired. His hair was a thick mop of messy orange, his eyes...

"Rensuke?" You spoke with caution, "Is it you?"

Kunigami felt like he could fall to his knees the moment you spoke. But he wouldn’t allow himself to do so. You stepped away from your desk to walk to him, holding out your hands to touch him, that this wasn't a dream. He was cold, his cheeks, at least.

That was enough to break you. You embraced him, crying and grateful that your hero had returned. "You're back," you sobbed softly, "my Rensuke, you're back to me." You felt him lift his hands, but instead of embracing you, he gripped your shoulders and pulled you away from him. "Y/n," he spoke, his voice ragged but soft, "I'm not entirely back."

"W-what do you mean?" you asked, your teary eyes, wide and confused, looking up to meet his dull orange eyes. This was the first time you've seen him so lifeless. What the hell happened?

"I'm not the Rensuke you once knew. That version of me is gone."

"What?"

"I'm not the hero I promised you to be."

"What... I-I don't understand. What happened, my love?"

Rensuke looked at you with a slight hint of vulnerability. He must not show weakness. It was drilled into him that he'll be ruthless, he'll become irrational if it means becoming the best that the world will see. But with the sight of you, it felt impossible. "They... changed me. I'm not the hero we both envisioned to be. I... I had to become cruel and let go of my beliefs... The Rensuke you fell for because he believed in doing the right thing fair and square is dead.

"That's why I decided you can no longer love me, Y/n. Because I can't."

You're not hearing this, right? Yet, he sounded so sure. His voice was firm, the same one he would use on his teammates.

"Who are you to decide that?" you asked calmly, reaching for his hand again. Your gaze lowered to his hand, callused and tired, yet the ring was still there. A little worn out than the last time you saw it, but he's still wearing it. Your fingers worked on twisting the ring off his finger, causing him to tense up.

"What are you doing?" he asked, a hint of panic in his voice. You looked up at him with determined eyes. "You once told me when you got these rings for us that if we no longer love the other, we should remove our rings.

"I'm removing yours for you, Ren."

The ring was almost off his finger when he suddenly closed his hand. You looked up at him, and there he was, the Rensuke you fell in love with. "Don't, please..."

"But you said you can no longer love me," you reasoned, still holding his hand. Rensuke stared at you, his walls slowly breaking down at the reality of what he just told you. A stupid, stupid decision because he can't stop loving you.

The whole time he was in the Wildcard Project, the only thing that made him hold on to the little humanity he had in him was the promise of forever in your arms when he returned. The ring on his finger comforted him on nights when he almost gave up because his dream of becoming the best came from you. He promised he'd bring you with him and that he'd come back to you. So, he persevered and came out triumphant... but at what cost?

"How could you even love a cold-hearted man, my love?" he asked, his voice now a mere whisper, slightly cracking, "I have nothing left in me but the drive to win. I am no longer the warm man you want to be with for the rest of my life. I did all I could inside that facility for us to reach our dream, but they drained me. How can you still love me if I have nothing to give you any more?"

"I would still love you because no matter what, you're mine. You're my Rensuke, the man who made me believe that love as pure as yours exists in this world," you replied, "I don't care how much you've lost in there. As long as you return in my arms, I know a part of you that loves me and believes in us is still in there. I know you're still in there, Ren."

And with that, Rensuke broke down in tears in your arms. The place he had always longed for in the days he felt so alone. The warmth that he always yearned for in the coldest and loneliest nights. He's home. He's here.

"If you didn't care about me, you should've removed your ring a long time ago," you added, "but the symbol of your love for me is still there. A little worn, but I know you still have love for me.

"I've waited for you to return. This is all that matters now."

"I love you," Rensuke said between his tired sobs, his orange eyes sparkling with a little bit of life. He's still in there, the hero you loved is still in there.

"And I love you."

[accio-victuuri]

I AM NOT HERE LIVE PERFORMANCE CLOWNING & other things

start the year right. post some cpn. 😌😌😌

earlier in the day, we got a rehearsal snippet, clowns already noticed that the building background looked similar to that of gg’s mv (anonymous/all the same). but personally, there was very little that wyb can do ( i think ) to alter that. cause the backdrop and city setup was more of the theme for hunan tv nye show. but i can understand why the cpn bells were ringing in our heads. plus during the performance, the similarity was really uncanny.

i think we already have more rational “connections” between their songs. and i guess it also doesn’t help that the captions made by their studios have a similar word in it.

• the colors on the side! Bjyx! HAHAHAHAHAHA! we clown over everything 😂😂😂

• i love what he wore for the first performance! i’m already over the moon that he sang with DZW and WH but he decided to wear that Amiri suit! and the photoshoot that went with it was exceptional too. So of course we have to pair it up with XZ.

and i gotta say, it works!

so delicate and beautiful! i actually prefer this husband matching clothes.

• the fireworks which makes sense to be added in cause there is a reference to it in the lyrics. but some noticed that it can also look like shooting stars — which leads us to kimi no nawa cpn. also the green flower thing he was holding in the photoshoot reminds us of the flower in gg’s album visual.

• His performance started 10:05 i think? which is a great coincidence. Or is it? i swear i didn’t even notice cause the content where coming out one after the other 😂😂😂

• This one is my favorite. It’s another one where we asks ourselves — why is it always them? sometimes we don’t even have to reach that much. it’s how in these two instances they said the same thing. some even thinking that WYB remembered what GG said and so he said it.

XZ: In the new year, be nice to yourself.

WYB: In 2025, I hope everyone will be nice to themselves.

they have same values and world view. that’s why they get along so well and are able to last this long. and of course i approve of this message. the boys are known to be really critical of themselves, but yeah, be nice to yourselves!

• this last one is actually what’s living in my head rent free right now because it’s related to a jewelry. my obsession. lol. and it’s a ring. people have been saying he had one on but of course he does, the TTXS ring. yes. he wore it. then he also had a coco crush ring on for his photoshoot (p1).

but there seems to be a third and unknown one (p2-4). 👀👀👀👀

it could be his coco crush rings stacked up but something tells me it could be different. and well, the placement of the ring too. idk. i’m so curious. we already have the bone necklace but i wanna know more about this mysterious ring. lol.

anyway, if it really means something we will see it again and have more details. till then, i shall look at all the photos. 😂😂😂😂

BONUS: a new sign board has been born! “Good night, I’m here.” 😭😭😭 BXGs are so clever in coming up with these.

there is also a video that looks like he smiled after reading/seeing another bjyx related sign. there was never any doubt in my head that he appreciates cpfs — because we are his fans. we support him.

-END.

[try-set-me-on-fire]

Tagged by @iinryer @butchdiaz and @eddiebabygirldiaz to do a 2024 year end fic round up! 125,710 words over 26 fics… damn… at least one fic a month and now I desperately want to try and finish something in the next few days so I dont break that streak for December… we’ll see… okay here we go! Thank you to everyone who’s read anything of mine, I had a lot of fun writing and I hope you had fun reading!

January

I got love to give, and give and give 1,638 words, rated T, melancholy and fluff, Hen and Buck bestieism

“What’s up with you, Buckaroo?” She laughs, poking his silly cheek.

“I love you,” he says, so sweet, looking even happier just to say it. “So much, Hen. Do- did you know it?���

“Yes,” she says, laugh still in her voice but chest a little tighter. “I know it, Buck.”

He drops his cheek to her shoulder, and then turns his head quick to kiss the spot. “Good. You’re the best. You should know it, a- a hundred- a thousand percent.”

—

Hen thinks about Buck at a party

the more we move ahead the more we’re stuck in rewind 4,278 words, rated T, the Buckley’s bad parenting

Bobby frowns at his phone, then leans over to show the screen to Buck. “May keeps sending me these memes,” he says the word wrong, and it makes Buck’s eyes sting for some reason. “And I just don’t understand what on earth this is supposed to mean.”

Buck coughs, mostly to cover up for the way his eyes are watery, and blinks at the screen. He doesn’t know how to say thank you, for any of it, but maybe he can at least figure this out.

—

After the factory fire, Buck’s parents show up at the station. It goes poorly. Written for the bad things happen bingo prompt: backhand slap.

only the best will do 801 words, rated G, silly wedding fluff

Buck gets a little intense about wedding planning. Chimney hides in the kitchen. Eddie is a man in love.

February

and I know I should go but I’ll probably stay 2,535 words, rated T, buddie hurt comfort

It’s unpleasant, enough that Buck screws his eyes shut and breathes and tries to pretend he’s someplace else. Chris is at the Wilson’s tonight, it’s their turn in the rotating childcare-for-date-night agreement that Hen seemed to have been eagerly waiting to sign them up for. It had been the third thing she said when they got together, right after congratulations and I’m so happy for you. Anyway, they’re going to go sit down at the Thai food place they usually only have the time and energy to order from home. It’ll be nice. Three months in and Buck still gets all giddy when Eddie holds his hand out in public. Or anywhere, really. He could slide their fingers together at the bottom of this stupid pit and Buck would feel all fluttery and starry eyed.

—

Buck and Eddie are both hurt on the job and a choice has to be made. Written for the Bad Things Happen Bingo square “Take Me Instead”

won’t you close your weary eyes 3,714 words, rated T, Buck and Bobby hurt comfort, parental feelings

Bobby doesn’t actually hear the warning shout. Or- it’s possible that he did, in the moment, but he has no memory of the sound. Just Buck, 20 or so feet away, turning towards him mid conversation with a look of horror on his face, mouth open around an unheard word, arm moving slow motion up in what he's sure is a frantic wave. He does hear the sound of impact, an almost comical series of hollow metallic bonks. They'll all laugh about this later, he thinks on the way down. Bunch of pipes dropping on the fire Captain's head. Pretty sure he saw that on looney toons.

—

Bobby gets a concussion and Buck stays with him. Written for the bad things happen bingo prompt: concussion.

March

the going water and the gone 31,547 words, rated T, cruise ship spec, Eddie missing presumed dead, angst with a happy ending

It doesn’t take long for Buck to be cleared to leave. He’s given antibiotics for the water he swallowed, a handful of bandages to cover shallow wounds, and instructions to take it easy. Horror clenches in his stomach. Eddie is gone and he gets off with Advil and a nap.

—

Eddie is missing presumed dead after the cruise ship sinks, Buck tries to keep his promises

I’d shine up the old brown shoes, I’d put on a brand-new shirt 3,565 words, rated T, friends with benefits buck/natalia, Eddie and Buck feelings realization through giving Chris dating advice

“No, I need, like-“ Eddie sighs so hard it almost sounds like static. “I need… guy help. Will you just come over?”

“Are you-” Buck turns away from Natalia and kind of hunches over the phone, making his voice quieter. “Are you having a penis problem?”

“What?” Buck’s never heard Eddie that high pitched. Loud, too, enough that Buck yanks the phone away from his ear and Natalia snorts with barely contained laughter behind him. When he brings the phone back in, Eddie is making a lot of blustery sounds, which Buck waits out until he finds words again. “Wh- No! No, I don’t have- I’m not having a ‘penis problem,’ Buck!”

Buck shrugs at the air in front of him. “Okay, Eddie, you’re the one who’s hiding in a bathroom and said you needed my ‘guy help,’ what was th-”

“Oh my god, Buck, I need relationship advice, okay!”

—

Chris is going on his first date. Eddie calls Buck for backup.

what useless tools ourselves 4,905 words, rated G, Buck in the hours after Eddie’s s5 breakdown

After Eddie chokes out what he can of a tragedy nearly a decade in the making, and after they go together to make sure Christopher is okay — the kid's eyes are wide where they meet Buck's over his father's shoulder, Eddie still trembling as he holds him — they sit back down at the kitchen table and Buck cleans Eddie's knuckles.

—

Buck, between the breakdown and dawn. Written for the BTHB prompt bloody knuckles.

April

when we’re barely awake in the heat of the day’s weight 1,037 words, rated M, buck/tommy early relationship tenderness

“You okay?” The man asks, voice rough with sleep though not too loud even with his mouth maybe three inches from Buck’s ear. He’s so soft. All his hard edges and he’s just so soft.

“Yeah,” Buck half-whispers, relaxing into him. “Sorry. It’s just, uh- been awhile since I woke up someplace new.” He hadn’t been paying much attention to ceiling texture when they’d stumbled to bed last night, either. It matches what little glimpses he had been paying attention to in Tommy’s charmingly vintage apartment. Brick exterior. Funny orange tiles in the kitchen. “Think it might have been since, uh…” Shit. He’d been to Natalia’s once for just a few minutes because she had an ornery roommate, and Taylor always came to his. Ali found him the loft specifically to have a nice place to wake up in after fucking. “Uh, Abby, maybe.”

—

Buck wakes up at Tommy’s place and they have a conversation about taking up space

you’ve got too much to wear on your sleeve 4,136 words, rated G, buck/tommy hurt comfort

“Uh, sorry.” He stares down at Eddie’s shoes. “I just think I’m- I’m kind of scared.” He eventually understood, intellectually, why Ali left him. It was a lot. She didn’t really get the scope of what she was signing up for. His leg had turned something fun and casual into something suddenly dead fucking serious. So, yeah, he understood, but he’s not sure until this moment that he really, actually understood. Tommy’s down that hall somewhere, and he got hurt at his job which is dangerous, and Buck is wondering how awful it would be to flee back through all the hallways and out of Pasadena to parts of the city he knows better, and go and find a nice safe girl with a nice safe job so his chest won’t ever feel like this. Or, only feel like this sometimes, with Eddie or Hen and Chimney and Bobby, or Maddie, people who he’s already seen bleed so he knows they can do it.

—

Tommy’s helicopter goes down. Buck fixes the station AC unit.

If you go down to Hammond you’ll never come back 1,339 words, rated G, early relationship buck/tommy fluff, madney wedding spec but more like madney wedding au really, prophetic daddy joke

“Oh, uh.” Eddie shrugs, stretches. “You know. Buck. It’s kind of… who he’s become, who he’s proud of being. I guess, I mean- we haven’t talked about it specifically. But yeah, I think… it’s like the turnouts, you put them on, feel good about who you are in them. And it’s the name he’s used ever since he came here, it’s- neat. Like, a clean break from when he… was young, and alone.” He shrugs again, smiles a little. “His friends call him Buck.”

Tommy’s thumb slips in the condensation on his glass. “Should I-”

“No.” Eddie’s voice is very soft. “I think… for most of his life only Maddie ever said ‘Evan’ and meant ‘I’m happy to see you.’ I think… it’s good, that he has that with you.”

Tommy just- tries to remember how to breathe normally for a second. “I am,” he says. “Happy to see him.” A funny, shaky little joy in his stomach every single time he looks up and sees Evan Buckley.

—

Eddie and Tommy talk at the wedding

May

that makes calamity of so long life 1901 words, rated T, buck/tommy fluff and angst, tragic backstories

The afternoon sun sneaking through the curtain lights him right up, glowing in his curls and against his cheek like the air itself can’t help but touch him. It makes Tommy feel kind of out of breath, kind of out of his depth. “Sometimes I think I must have made you up," he says, because the walls aren't melting but this still feels like a dream.

“I was.” Buck says it softly, and then blinks, like the words were out of his mouth before his brain could catch them. “Made up,” he says, a clarification that doesn’t make anything clearer.

—

Tommy learns about Daniel, and thinks about life and safety and caring about things

Autolysis 5,607 words, rated T, Bobby Nash goes in the blender, parental feelings, guilt grief and depression, food as a metaphor for love and what happens when you dont have enough of either

Buck dies, and he’s cold right away. They all are, this isn’t the kind of summer storm where the rain is almost warm. It’s freezing out here, even under all the layers of their gear. Bobby’s sure his own skin is corpse-cool, but he holds Buck and the harness pulls him stiff in his arms, and his body is cold, and he thinks Wait. It’s happening too fast. Wait. He’s dead, and Bobby lays him carefully on the gurney, and he rides up front with Eddie as they tear through the streets towards the hospital, frantic noise and movement reaching them from the back. He’s dead when they pull up to the doors. The human body begins to decay after four minutes, starts to consume itself, the final hunger. Bobby hears the crack of his sternum when Eddie’s palms press so far into his chest his heart starts to beat again. 43 seconds to spare.

-

Written for the bad things happen bingo prompt: make it look like an accident

June

big heart, I wanna let it bleed 2,106 words, rated G, buck joins the team a little younger au, buck and Bobby feels

Buck looks happy as a dog with a bone, glancing at Bobby with a mile wide grin. It's a familiar kind of look, though it takes until they're almost at the ambulance — Buck chatting away all the while — for him to place it, and it nearly makes him stumble when he does. Robert would give him that look when he made a new friend on the playground and got invited to hang out. Please, Dad, can I go? He's sure Buck didn't mean anything by it. Bobby doesn't have that authority in his life, nicknames and Springsteen concerts nothing that adds up to a tangible connection. And the kid- well, he's not a kid. 25 years old, can arrange his own playdates perfectly well.

July

I know the words, I know the sounds 2,147 words, rated G, buck/tommy breakup because one of them realizes their best friend they’ve been in love with forever is suddenly an option, oops wrong best friend

“I’ll step on your toes,” Buck warns, turning fully towards him and vaguely holding up his hands for Eddie to do whatever it is that needs to happen to make the dancing start.

Eddie snorts, moves one of Buck’s hands to his shoulder and holds the other, and taps his shiny dress shoe very gently into Buck’s big toe. “Do your worst.”

—

Buck and Eddie dance at Tommy’s wedding

and the air was full 397 words, rated G, storm chasers au

There’s a crack in the sky, lightning glowing white hot across his field of vision, and it’s behind Buck but somehow his eyes are lit up with it. The thunder comes less than a second later.

buff in, fan dry, wash out 1,758 words, rated G, art student au, Buck and Shannon are friends and that makes his crush on her recently divorced husband kind of awkward

The old drawing — something abstract, all bold sweeping lines — slowly disappears as it wears away and gets covered by sludge. He always feels a little guilty, getting rid of somebody’s work like this. A little inadequate, trying to come up with something good enough to replace it.

—

Eddie stops by the printmaking studio as Buck and Shannon work

August

get out of the waves get out of the water 1,856 words, rated T, Eddie pov of going water and the gone

Eddie’s foot slides out from under him and his first thought is Oh shit, sorry. He’ll find that funny, eventually.

—

Lost at sea, Eddie dreams

Autobiography 13,152 words, rated M, Buck’s turn in the blender, unreliable narrator but its hardly his fault no one tells him anything about his own life, depression and suicidal tendencies, past assault, pet death that may or may not have happened, 😬, also a twine game

A dog runs into the street after a ball and gets hit by a car.

September

every moment points towards the aftermath 1,755 words, rated G, friends at the table crossover/au but you dont need to know the podcast to read but also you should listen to the podcast, they’re wrestlers, they live in New Jersey but it’s Weird

For awhile, in the beginning, every time Eddie meets Buck the other man has blood in his teeth.

October

should we talk about the weather 20,059 words, rated M, au where some people are drift compatible but without the giant robots, madney fluff and buddie angst and hen + chim bestieism

And then, in Los Angeles, 2018, Eddie had met Buck. Then, huddled over a man with a bomb in his leg, Eddie had needed gauze and Buck’s hand had moved. Then, in the parking lot bathed in the light of an ambulance on fire, Buck had inhaled and Eddie's lungs expanded. And, well, that was that.

cut through the knot 9,924 words, rated M, oh boy Bobby is in the blender again, the whole thing is a therapy session with Frank, long list of content warnings on this one I’ll just leave them on ao3, did you know i love that guy. i love that old man. sorry Bobby that i keep doing this to you

“I’ve been doing fine lately.”

“I’m glad. That’s not what I asked.”

Bobby frowns at Frank, who’s sitting as relaxed and neutral as he always is. “You’re a therapist. Don’t you need to know my… current mental state, something like that?”

“Sure,” Frank smiles just the tiniest bit. Bobby doesn’t know if that means he’s succeeded or failed at something. “But I asked: why are you here?”

—

Bobby goes to therapy. Written for the bad things happen bingo prompt: self harm

right here with you 1,112 words, rated G, the 118 basically in a cuddle pile as penance for what I put Bobby through in the last one

Bobby’s not convinced it wasn’t a stumble — he’s pretty sure he saw a kind of panicked look on Chimney’s face between the whirling limbs — but Buck lands on the couch somehow. There’s a lot of cushion space unoccupied, but he ends up half on top of Bobby, sort of sideways, sort of leaning against Bobby’s chest. He twists his head this way and that until he finds an angle that’s not too sore to look up at him. His grin is big and goofy, eyes a little vacant in the way that comes with strong painkillers, and Bobby laughs down at him.

—

The 118 recuperate after a rough day. Written for the bad things happen bingo prompt: cry into chest

November

3 new short fics in the all my life, there you go series

Family 1,211 words, 118 family feels, new buddie, Eddie and Maddie friendship

Phone calls 1,938 words, Eddie calls Buck drunk from wine night and confesses his love

Hand kisses 1,022 words, angst, Eddie’s moved to Texas and is centimeters from a big gay realization but is already trying to marry Buck anyway

Phew!!! We got through it! Hello down here! @colonoscopys @wildehacked @shitouttabuck @bigfootsmom @devirnis @chronicowboy @gayeddieagenda @homerforsure @ anyone who’s tagged me or I’ve tagged and who’s urls I’m forgetting, anyone who sees this and wants to brag, you dear reader, please share your stuff if you wanna!

[trashisstillhere]

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

HAVE THIS QUICKLY AND RUSHED BAD LAZY DOODLE I QUICKLY MADE FOR THIS DAY!!

It’s the boys and the two men’s all staying together watching the fireworks!

Man, time felt like it has gone too fast this year and I’m still not fully ready for 2025. I have been anxious just thinking about it this whole time, not knowing what to expect next as this now past year has not really been that crazy good…some bad stuff here and there, my self esteem and thoughts of myself still down in the dumps and all.

But hey, at least I’m still alive and well! Surprisingly. If my younger self got to hear how far she has gotten without a single thought of just finally ending it all like she almost thought she would end up doing back then due to the harsh reality she had to deal with, she wouldn’t believe it at all.

Anyway, no time for going through folders of the past of little me. Let’s for now just hope that this year will at least be bearable and not too much and overwhelming…. Tho i probably shouldn’t be getting my hopes up just yet.

That’s all I have to say for!

[bomber-grl]

For the 1k event can I request either Percy or nico with a gn, or male reader with enemies to lovers. I’d imagine that the reader fought on Kronos side of the war and maybe pulled an Ethan or something and switched at the last minute or was on their side all along.  

౨ৎ‧₊˚ ⋅ 1k Follower Celebration! .°˖✧

Prompt list [x]

Trope: Enemies to Lovers | Pairing(s): Percy x Gn!Reader| Art Creds: @/Frostbite.studios(instagram)

A/N: I think the trope may have gotten lost in translation- although it’s still there (?) anyway I hope you still like it 😭

Definitely wary and really depends on what you did during your time in Kronos’ army

If you took more of a backseat and joined merely out of pressure from your siblings then he’d be more understanding with you and your situation

Now, if you had somewhat or tried to hurt anyone he cared about while in Kronos’ army then he will hold resentment but he’s inclined to help you, that’s just his nature.

Let’s go for the latter, for more of a dramatic flair

The first time you had met Percy Jackson was during a side quest that wasn’t relevant enough to remember-

until now…

Your breath ran ragged as you came to a stop. It was difficult to think when you’ve done everything but sleep for the past few days.. or was it weeks?

Your first few coherent thoughts in a while had been cut short when you turned around in the alley to face the monster that had been stalking you for what seemed like an eternity.

You knew you were going to suffer in the fields of punishment as consequence for how you’ve lived your life but you didn’t think you’d get a free trial.

Your eyes caught on a sword that glimmered in the dim sunlight as it teared into the monster, it went in, and then out- and honestly? if anything It seemed like everyone was interrupting you today.

The monster stiffened up and immediately turned to dust- as they always did.

Once the dust got out of your line of sight, your eyes were immediately drawn to the figure that was behind the monster and by extension, your savior.

He approached you, his face of determination and kindness- that was short lived as his face contorted into something similar to disgust or hatred, honestly it was hard to tell the two apart- but he quickly held a hand out.

“So, this is what happened to you” His hand was still outstretched as you took it, it was firm and oddly sweaty as you stood up and then released each others hold on one another.

“Doooo.. we know each other?” Your question obviously made him even more upset(?) but he shook it off.

“You really don’t remember?” He seemed exasperated as you shook your head, he sighed. “Look, I’ll explain what I said later but we’ve gotta go now or that monster won’t be the only one we’re gonna have to fight.”

He didn’t even ask before he started hauling ass- or rather- yours as you were dragged along across alleyways and sidewalks alike until you made it to what seemed like a moderately busy and safer road.

Percy stopped, causing you to stumble into him“I know I said I was going to explain later, but I’ve really gotta go, sorry?” He quickly gave a nod and ran the opposite direction you came.

Well, that was both odd and intriguing. But damn is the curiosity of what he was yapping on about going to bug you.

- some time later-

Ok, so this may or may not be a bad idea but you’ve been stalking the guy that saved you that day and found his base.

It seemed like a a good idea at first but even if you began to think critically, there was no backing out now.

Now you were too close and you figured if he killed you (which heroes tend NOT to do) then you wouldn’t have lost anything but your dignity- which in all honestly was in a shambles at this point.

You quickly made your way onto the fire escape and climbed a behemoth amount of stairs to get there- but alas you’ve made it just outside of the window of the apartment you often see that guy come into.

So, with caution, you step inside and look around.

In all honesty? It was both warm and welcoming.

Two words you weren’t aware were in your vocabulary. Everything from the relaxing scents to the picture frames of the very lived in apartment- it almost made you tear up.

Embarrassingly enough.

Not like demigods could ever have a chance at a so called “normal life.” Not like you’d ever give up your experiences and people you’ve met and loved to start over with one either. Just that it was foreign- and heart crushing knowing you’ll never have a normal life in the same breath.

Your lamenting will get you nowhere.

Annnnd You also let your guard down. There was a creak of the floorboards coming from behind you causing you to whip your head around- almost ready to brawl.

But instead of that teen guy you saw a few weeks ago- there was what appeared to be a middle aged mortal woman.

She was holding something, cookies. Blue cookies. Bizarre color choice, but you wouldn’t comment on that.

It was rude.

She didn’t look necessarily surprised either and smiled kindly at you, she was beautiful.

“Would you like some?” She offered the cookies on the plate that laid in her hands to you, and like any good house guest, you took some.

After a few minutes of munching on said delicious cookies, she turned to you again, “a friend of Percy’s I take it?” She laughed and sighed exasperatedly, as if this was a normal occurrence.

“You could say that” she seemed content with that answer, she was about to speak but you were deeply and utterly betrayed by your body as your stomach growled.

Your face flushed in embarrassment but she didn’t mention it.

Her kind eyes filled with concern, “want something to eat? I was making dinner but I don’t think Percy would mind if you dug into it before he has the chance to.”

She was being casual about it but you could tell she wanted you to take her offer, you nodded and she ushered you in.

Thirty minutes you told yourself, but that turned to an hour and another and another.

You found yourself utterly charmed and enamored by this mortal woman you’ve come to know as “Sally Jackson.”

The first few moments were awkward- at least on your part. Especially when the questions came but it felt nice to talk, it had.. been awhile.

The conversation was drawn out so long that you didn’t feel alarmed when she got up from her place at the couch to welcome Percy in as the door opened- that’s how comforting the woman’s presence was.

However, it suddenly occurred to you to panic as Sally spoke to Percy, telling him of your presence. His confusion disappeared as his eyes flickered towards yours but he didn’t say anything.

In the three hours you’d stayed over- his mothers’ told you many things and included in those things was the fact that Percy was a terrible liar.

The rest of the evening was filled with “subtle” glares and Percy being “sneaky” behind his mother’s back.

Sally Jackson was no fool and began to suspect you two had a not so nice history but chose ignorance and kind words for the evening.

It was until it was getting late that Sally excused herself and made it clear she expected Percy to escort you like any good host.

And then there were two.

-

“So..” Percy eyed you “what are you doing here?”

Your retort came quickly “oh I don’t know trying to find the guy that has nothing but empty promises.”

“Empty-?!” Percy looked offended “just because I didn’t explain to you who I was and how you knew me??”

You stared at eachother, and then you spoke, “yes?”

Percy thought for moment then nodded his head and sighed “yea you’ve kind of got a point.”

And so went the tale about how you two initially met which kind of made it even more confusing but it sort of rings a bell.

“Oh! I get it you’re the guy that tried to slice-“ Percy turned red and quickly interrupted you.

“Not important right now since my group kinda beat your guys in the end .”

You shrugged “guess so.”

There was an awkward silence until Percy spoke up again.

“So.. do you have a place you’re staying at?” His question was sincere but you couldn’t help but feel upset at it.

“Yea” you shuffled your feet while avoiding his gaze.

“Where?”

“…”

After a few seconds you answered “depends on the night.”

Percy stayed silent for a few seconds and then blurted out “you can stay here for the night.”

Your gaze snapped from the floor to his in a second from shock “seriously?? I-“

“But this doesn’t make us friends” Percy’s eyes narrowed, making sure you still know you two have beef.

“Not like I thought it did, just surprised at how nice you are.. almost makes me sick“

“What’d you say?”

“Nothing..”

Percy sighed, “whatever, I’ll bring some blankets and pillows for you to use, you’ll be sleeping on the couch” he paused “if that’s alright.”

“Yea, I’ve slept worse places”

With that he gathered some blankets and pillows from some place else in the apartment, came back and gave them to you on the couch.

“Here, and you’d be best leaving as soon as possible.”

You snuggled into a comfortable position, “not like I’d wanna overstay my welcome.”

With that Percy went back to his room and you tried your best to fall asleep.

Which, happened as soon as he left.

Now, if you may have- by chance- happened to have been woken up by Percys racket while getting water and then being too loud when you two started fighting, causing Sally to wake up and be confused and then prompting you to try to leave after- only causing Sally to be shocked and-

Well let’s just say you ended up having breakfast with the family, Paul included (who was honestly happy meeting one of Percy’s “friends.”)

You and Percy ended up running into each other no matter how much he tried escaping you and vice versa

You’d be walking down the street and bam

On a train and bam

It even seemed like monsters that were chasing you/him were trying to bring you two together

It was like fate was playing some sick trick on you two

Which wouldn’t be completely out of the question

Quite reasonable, actually

It was so often that you two just surrendered and decided to go for a burger or two.

It was the seventh time this week. The seventh time and it was only Tuesday.

Last week was pure hell but now you were sure of it. You were gonna die.

You trudged through the crowds of useless mortal flesh best you could as you rounded the corner.

Not like fighting was an option when you- yet again- had the weapon flung from your grasp before you had a chance to even react.

Damn you’ve really gotta get a new weapon or else you really will be cooked.

You started wondering how you even lasted this long.

You looked back only to see the number of enemies behind you had grown- Two, four- six?!

At this rate you’d need a miracle.

You turned left and to another corner only to bump into the- unfortunately not last- person you expected to see.

“Hey Percy, a little help?” You were already out of breath and weaponless.

“Yea, let me take care of them first” he pointed to the monsters following not to far behind him and started getting the job done.

-

After all the was left of the monsters was ash and dust, Percy turned to face you.

“Look-“

“I-“

You had talked over each other.

“No you can-“

“Go ahead-“

It happened again, and again and again-

“Okay! ENOUGH” your shout had spooked Percy but he still stayed silent.

“Since apparently we’re bound by whatever shitty string this is- might as well just accept it.”

You thought Percy was gonna object or say something sort of mean.

Not that he ever was, but then again not like you were buddies.

“Sure, I was actually gonna say the same thing.”

You were surprised but hid it “cool.”

“Yea, cool.” You two stood there in silence when Percy spoke up again.

“So, wanna go for some burgers?”

“Yea I could go for some”

You started following after Percy when he looked back at you- just to confirm.

“Doesn’t mean we’re friends though.”

“On the same page as you are”

You two continued walking, “good”

Your response came after his, “yep”

-

Despite the insistence that you weren’t friends, it really began to feel that way.

Weeks passed and although you’d hardly see Percy - other times you’d see him all the time.

In which eating together became sort of a norm.

You’d come over to his apartment and eat dinner, or you’d magically see each other in public and eat something at a fast food joint.

Eventually - slowly but surely- you got closer, and closer.. and closer.

One night Percy had you over.

Occasionally Sally would buy fast food as a special treat and tonight was one of those nights.

You two decided to hang out on the fire escape tonight though, and a new topic of conversation was practically a losing game for you.

You tried your best munching on the fries you had shoved in your mouth best you could as you tried to plead your innocence.

“I swear! I swear I was on your side the whole time” Percy laughed, “I still don’t believe you.”

You paused, “at all?”

Percy repeated, “at all.”

“Blasphemy! Why won’t you believe that I was on your guys’ side at all??”

Percy laughed again as I drank his soda, “oh, I don’t know maybe because you literally referred to mortals as burdensome flesh bags?? Well before meeting my mom.”

You shrugged, “I don’t know, still sort of convinced your mom’s a goddess in disguise.”

Percy shook his head at the ridiculousness of the situation, “I kinda see it.”

You two shared a good laugh as the night went on but then the conversation slowed down, and it was just quiet.

Not as awkward as it used to be though.

“Genuinely though” Percy spoke, causing your head to tilt his way “what did happen?”

You ate the remaining fries left and spoke, “I don’t know honestly, I guess my heart really wasn’t in it anymore.”

Percy hummed in acknowledgment.

You spoke again, “I am, sorry though. I know many demigods at your camp passed because of the war but I’m still bitter.”

Percy glanced at you, “about what?”

You looked him dead in the eyes, “your team only lost like what? 15 demigods? Ours lost hundreds and sure- maybe they were evil but some of them were my friends, my siblings.”

Your voice cracked, fuck.

Percy sat straighter, his eyebrows furrowing “what are you trying to say?”

You sighed, more frustration bleeding into your tone and embarrassingly enough- tears began lining your waterline, “I’m saying, Percy, you lost a lot. But not like many of us on Kronos’ side. You still have your best friends, family, hell you don’t have just one but three places you can seek refuge at. So pardon me for being a little bitter.”

You didn’t need to look at Percy to feel his rage. You’re sure he lost a lot of people too, even felt invalidated by yours words, but he didn’t say anything and except accepted your words- he was just a good guy like that.

“I can see that”

Conversation died down between the two of you as you cleaned up your “dinner” and left his apartment in silence.

So much for trying to get closer to him, or people at all

-

After that you didn’t see each other all that much

It was expected when you insulted him in his own home

Even the monsters seemed to be coming less- that said a lot considering they’d been a nuisance to you both at some point.

And then, you saw him.

And he saw you

“So, are you gonna try and talk to me at all?” A voice rang from behind you.

You hadn’t expected to be interrupted or even interacted with at all, you typically weren’t.

You stood up and faced him, “what’re you doing at Central Park? On a quest I presume?”

-if that disgusting orange t-shirt were anything to go by.

“I’m sorry”

Your head whipped up to face him, “what?”

He spoke again, “I’m sorry, I know things got kinda awkward between us after that” he rubbed his neck then put the cap back on riptide.

“I was pretty insensitive”

You stared at him before giving your own apology, “me too, I’m.. sorry too. I was taking my frustrations and grief out on you when you have no control over what happens.”

You stared at the ground.

“Thanks” you finally lifted your gaze to meet his, he was smiling- almost relieved.

“Yea..”

“Uh, can I ask you something?” You perked up, “sure?”

“Look, I know you’ve been pretty alone and having issues with just surviving-“ he looked embarrassed to be even bringing that up.

“What about it?” You were wondering where he’s going with this.

“Why don’t you come to camp halfblood?”

He blurted it out. You both stared at eachother before you let out a laugh. A good laugh.

“I’m sorry-“ you started laughing again “what? Are you really joking right now?” You were laughing, as one does when someone proposes an idea so insane.

“Yes”

oh.

OH

“Look, even if I do consider going there I won’t fit in-“

“Why not?”

You scoffed, did he really forget? “I defected, I betrayed you guys for some shitty titans that - in retrospect- weren’t any different from the gods. The side that killed many of your fellow campers’ siblings…need I go on?”

“Ok that’s a pretty good point but you don’t know until you try?” Usually Percy could convince you of anything. He was just hopelessly determined like that but this time.. well it just wasn’t working.

“No.” You began walking away.

“Wait! Just consider it?” He walked up to you, surprisingly fast.

“No, just leave me alone Percy” you moved your shoulder so that his hand would miss.

But he just.. wouldn’t relent.

He followed you all around Central Park, not once, not twice, but 10 fucking times!!

You turned around “what?!! Why do you keep following me if we’re not even friends??”

Your little outburst seemed to have surprised him a bit, be he didn’t even hesitate before he spoke.

“I actually do see you as my friend now, as weird as that might be.” He smiled bashfully at you- as if that’d change your mind.

“Oh.. well that doesn’t mean I’ll walk myself to a trap and wait to be jumped.”

You turned back around and began walking off again.

You heard Percy faintly sigh

Finally, he gave up

-

You were a fool.

Percy kept trying to convince you to fully make amends with those camp halfblood goons

It didn’t work, you let your guard down.

Which was actually becoming a bad habit by now.

You sat on the roof of Percy’s apartment. The view was beautiful.. almost as beautiful as he was.

Not like it was a weird thought, seeing as from what you could gather from his stories, it was a fact. He had somehow managed to pull so many people it was almost laughable. Though, now you were starting to see the vision.

“Hey!” It was distant, familiar and coming from the ground.. it was Percy

“Come down here!” You leaned over the edge of the roof that let you see Percy’s distant form on the ground below. “My moms cooking something and wanted you to come over and eat”

You sighed, the cold air rushed against your skin on the roof just right. You decided to follow Percy inside as you leapt off the roof and landed next to him.

“Well? Let’s go” you smiled, and Percy smiled back at you.

You went inside the building and climbed up the stairs, the door to his apartment opened and Percy ushered you in, the warmth of the apartment wasn’t the only welcoming factor.

-

After dinner you joined Percy outside on the fire escape. He turned to you, “have you reconsidered?”

Confusion must’ve been evident on your face, “reconsidered? Reconsidered what?” You laughed, not sure what he was cooking up.

“My offer, yknow about coming to Camp Halfblood”

Oh.

“Look, I was really rude to you last time when you asked so I’m sorry about that. But I haven’t changed by mind, I don’t think I will.”

Percy stood straighter, “why not? I mean, I know it might be difficult because of you being on Kronos’ army and stuff but there’s got to be another reason.”

You sighed, “I don’t know, I guess it’s just hard for me.”

“Hard for you?”

“Yea” you rubbed your hands together, chasing away the cold. “I guess I’m just used to being alone. It’s a miracle I even managed to befriend you at all Percy” you smiled at him but it fell from your face as you stared at the moon“I.. I guess I’m just scared.”

“Of what?”

…

“I don’t know”

“Well, what if I were the one that introduced you? To everyone I mean”

“I guess”

It took awhile, for you to build some courage that is.

Anxiety had you in a chokehold when you two decided to take the Chariot of Damnation to Camp halfblood

Though, the actual ride didn’t seem to make you feel nauseous or anything- not like the same could be said for Percy.

You were welcomed in like any demigod but once the situation was explained by Percy- well there were a few stares and chatter.

Not like it was anything compared to.. well your entire life.

It wasn’t all that bad, you sat at your godly parents table at dinner despite Percy’s want for you to sit at Poseidons

It wasn’t until you were all served that people were getting up from their seats.

They were all approaching the fire that was lit at the center of the pavilion and began giving their offerings.

It was.. disgusting.

You sighed, you knew you didn’t belong in this place and only proved yourself an even bigger fool with your false hope.

You stood up and snuck away, hoping you wouldn’t be noticed

But of course, Percy did

Finally, finally you made it to the lake that you heard about from the other campers chit chat. You sat down near it, playing with the loose sand and occasional rock.

It was late, and you heard most campers would get ripped to shreds but you simply didn’t care. You stayed there, and then you heard a stick snap.

You weren’t alarmed as it was immediately followed by Percy’s familiar and comforting voice. “Hey, why’d you leave?”

He sat down besides you on the sand and looked your way. He wasn’t upset.. more like concerned.

“I think the idea of giving offerings to the gods is absurd.”

Percy nodded, “figured, but just wanted you to confirm before making an assumptions, no matter how obvious.”

“Sorry” you spoke hesitantly after a bit, I mean he was so happy to bring you by and this is how you reward him.

“It’s fine, how do you feel though?”

“I’m fine, just wanna know if that’s gonna be mandatory.”

Percy laughed, “pretty sure, but that can’t be the only thing that caused you to be upset, right?”

“Yea, you’re right.” You sighed and continued distracting yourself by playing with the dirt.

“I guess the whole day was just terrible, I know people like to talk but if this is how it’s going to be everyday then I’m not so sure about staying here.”

Percy sighed, “yea I guess so”

You stood up and began walking back the way you both came from.

Percy shot up from his seat, “where’re you going?”

You turned to face him slightly, “back to New York, where else?”

“Seriously? Can’t you atleast stay the night?”

You turned back to face the front and started walking, all while Percy followed after you wondering how you could be so difficult, and occasionally voicing some of those thoughts.

Finally, you neared the entrance of Camp halfblood when he shouted something so absurd and clearly reckless.

“Can’t you just stay here with me?”

You paused and whipped around to face him, “what?”

Percy stammered, “look, I-“ he sighed “can’t you stay here, knowing that you’ll be here with me?”

Confusion racked your brain, like the question was so outlandish and absurd “Why would I?”

Percy seemed shocked but he answered bashfully and reluctantly, “because.. don’t you like me?”

He stared at you while you stared at him.

You blinked “What.”

“You heard what I said” he turned slightly away from you before seemingly deciding to be confident, I mean he might as well be at this point.

“I asked because…Hey!” You turned back around and marched right out of camp as he pursued you not too far behind.

Your ears were burning hot, a stark contrast between the cold wind gliding off your face as you continued -undeterred- to wherever.

‘Was he an idiot?? How could he even.. maybe you did like him..’ you slapped yourself and continued as Percy followed you.

‘No way you actually started considering the possibility’

Percy ended up helping you find a way back “home” and to say the lightning fast car ride back in the grays sisters’ taxi was awkward would be a severe understatement.

Days passed per usual and so did how it usually was with Percy

Except for the fact that whenever you two spoke it was like he was holding back and hoping for something all in the same breath.

It was confusing and tonight you had enough of that beautiful idiots weirdness.

Ambush it is.

Ok so maybe you shouldn’t have ambushed Percy in his own home, yknow just a thought.

Considering Percy immediately pushed and pinned you against the wall by the entrance on pure reflex.

He immediately released you and looked shocked, he backed away releasing you “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“-Wait, why are you here? I barely got home and my mom and Paul are out.”

“Exactly”

“Exactly?”

“Perfect time for an interrogation, don’t you think?” Percy laughed just the way you loved almost offensively. “Seriously? You could’ve just asked me whatever you wanna know, not “ambush me””

He giggled at his own air quotes.

“Yea well I didn’t know if you actually would.”

Percy smirked, “try me.”

“Fine, why are you so weird after that night?” Percys smirk evaporated and you pointed an accusatory finger at him, “so you are aware of what I’m talking about, so I’m not imagining it?”

Your question was pure rhetorical, I mean you already knew but wanted to make sure your assumption was right.

“Yea, didn’t think it was that obvious though” he rubbed his neck.

You spoke “Painfully so actually, so let’s get this out of the way-“

Despite how confident you tried to seem, you felt your face heating up, “what did you mean by asking me if I liked you? And what were you gonna say before I just walked off?”

Percy looked a bit bashful and surprised at the questions but he sighed and glanced at you, “I.. wanted to make sure.”

“Make sure?”

“Yea”

“About what?”

Percy laughed, and smiled at you his smiles always managed to leave you breathless“I wanted to make sure you liked me, the way that I like you”

He toyed with the keychain on the house key but still maintained eye contact with you.

You were speechless. If you were shameless your jaw may have even fallen to the ground.

You didn’t expect Percy to actually confess to you but before anything else could be said you hugged him. The first time you ever made any physical touch in the entirety of knowing him too.

You leaned in close to his ear as much as possible before whispering, albeit in between stutters, “I like you too”

How embarrassing, you knew you haven’t been touched this long but the fact even uttering a few words got you all twisted was definitely something.

Just when the situation couldn’t get any more embarrassing- the door opened and there stood and Sally and Paul.

Both you and Percy faced the two people standing at the door.

Great. You really wish a hole would swallow you up now.

——

Hope you enjoyed and so sorry for taking so long!

[abizarreyodelingincident]

Shovel Love (Roy)

Roy Harper met the love of his life long past the time he had given up hope for himself. Back when he was only the things he had survived. 

Former sidekick, former addict, former father. 

He might have been past caring, but that didn’t mean he had the right to stop fighting. To stop trying to make a difference. So what if he took some reckless missions? So what if he worked alone, away from everyone else? (They didn’t want him around anyway.)

It had caught up to him in the end. 

He had been betrayed at the height of victory. When he thought maybe, he had done a bit more good in the world and helped an oppressed people topple the regime that crushed them. The revolution had triumphed. And yet, they turned on him all the same.

Roy really should have seen it coming, and some parts of him might have had. Some parts of him might not have minded, not truly. 

(He hadn’t hoped that anyone would show up to save him from his screw-ups. He had learned that lesson a while ago. But he was a fool for love, and maybe… )

Yet before the firing squad was assembled, someone broke him out. 

Why was Roy Harper spared the sweet release of death that day?

Because Starfire and a former Robin heard about the execution and swooped in to save the day. 

Not the former Robin he would have thought though.

(Dick… fuck, Roy and Dick had been matchsticks and gunpowder for a long time now. He wasn’t sure how to just be friends with his best friend anymore. He had not expected Dick of all people, and he had not shown up.)

Admittedly, Roy had had very few thoughts about Jason Todd before the man drove him away from a military base surrounded by tanks and explosions. 

“The only reason I’m here is ‘cause if anything happens to you, that would make me the worst former sidekick ever.”

Bit of an off putting second first impression, right?

And yet… 

And yet. 

Roy had never had someone choose to meet him at the bottom of the barrel. Everyone always expected him to climb out first. 

(He stayed. Of course he stayed. Where would Roy even go from there? No one wanted him. He could deal with a little sarcasm.)

It took a long time for Roy to realize… 

Black sheep to black sheep, did it really matter if one’s wool was darker than the other’s? 

***

Everyone left him. Sooner or later, everyone left Roy Harper. That was the way of the world. 

Dad. Brave Bow. Ollie. The Titans. Lian, oh God, Lian. 

He knew it was his fault. Always his fault, but he just wished someone would stay. 

Even Kori had to leave. For a time. For her people. How could Roy not understand? He did. Of course he did. Gave her his blessings, for all she didn’t need them. But that never made it hurt any less. 

Jason… 

Roy was waiting for Jason to leave too. To get tired of him. 

He’d never been a clinger. He knew. Fuck, he used to know better than to do that. People never wanted all he needed to give and receive. Roy was always too much. Not enough. He had learned a long time ago to be very careful about how much he needed people. 

But this time, just this time, Roy couldn’t help himself. 

(He’d given up hope before. Someone had met him at the bottom, and he hadn’t told him off for not being able to climb out immediately. Maybe that was why.)

He knew he was screwed when random clients started thinking of Arsenal and Red Hood as a matched pair. In for a penny… 

In for a bank account emptying advertising campaign. 

Jason’s unimpressed glare at the Red Arse billboard made Roy grin with all his teeth. Jason had theatrics in his soul, a flair for the dramatic, a passion for the loud and the explosive. He was not fooling Roy with that. He was thinking it was funny. And, judging by the slight blush as he repeated their duo’s name, he was also having other thoughts. 

However, with the ads, other heroes started reaching out to him. 

The first time, Roy might have had an honest to God heart attack. 

He hadn’t even been sure people remembered his phone number at this point. It had been so long since anyone had reached out without heroics attached. 

‘Are you doing alright, Roy?’ Victor. 

‘You breaking into merc work with ads?’ Wally. 

‘Red Arse?’ Dick (Dick! The busiest motherfucker this side of the ocean!) had texted. ‘And you make fun of my jokes?’

Roy hadn’t known what the catch could be. Besides the obvious of it being only a temporary thing that would leave him gutted later. He had answered every text, because he could not afford not to talk to the few people that bothered to think of it. He’d given all of his old friends their check-in, and debated with Dick about who’s humor was the best (Roy). It felt a bit like the old days, the Titans days, before it all went to Hell. 

“Eyes on the prize, Arse,” Jaybird would snark, pulling Roy away from his coms before another one of their missions. 

For a bit, that seemed to be the cycle. Roy would have to be blind not to notice how the messages always seemed to chime in after Red Arse had made a splash in some news. It could only pick up after some dumbasses tried to livestream Arsenal’s death poll. 

Roy stared a bit at the smoking corpses on the ground. He was not particularly shocked, maybe displeased that it had been his own invention that had done such a haunting job, but… 

Whoever hears the bleating of the black sheep but others of his kind? 

“Over three hundred thousand people you don’t know from Adam voted to kill you,” replied the angry ram. “For fun. Because they could.” 

Three hundred thousand… Eh. The people that cared about whether Roy lived or died always seemed smaller than what Roy believed. Story of his life.

“You think I give half a damn about what those people think of us? Of me? Show’s over!”

Two quick bangs of gunshots. Shattered glass and sparking ruins of electronics. 

The two of them left alone, Roy, beaten, extended no mercy but the anger of a former Robin. 

“Jaybird… ”

Jason froze. His whole body stuck in place for a split second, an eternity for a bat, and he muttered something his hood distorted past understanding. Whatever he had been thinking of had slipped out of his mind. 

He crossed the distance between them, and leaned in to whisper: 

“You got that stupid ass nickname stuck in my head, Harper.”

Roy could not be anything but smug (shaking with disbelief, awed, hopeful).

“I knew you’d come to love it.”

Rough hands helped him away from the restraints. Lifted him up to his feet. “Not what I said.”

“It’s okay,” Roy whispered, softer, his arm wrapped around Jason’s shoulders. “You don’t need to admit it. I already know.”

“... You deserve to hear it anyway. You’re too good a person not to be told.”

***

It started with the Titans. 

They always were the one that knew him the best. For all that Jason liked to stay strictly professional in the mask, Roy liked a little spice in their missions. Someway, somehow, it got out. It could have been as simple as the way he looked at his boyfriend obliterating some underworld big shot, or as invasive as a full profile that showed their shared bank account and lease. 

A few weeks into honeymoon bliss, Jason and Roy returned from a mission to find Donna, Garth and Wally waiting for them in their living room. 

Naively, Roy pulled them all into a group hug. “Guys! What are you doing here?”

“We came to see the neighborhood, obviously,” Wally drawled, but his eyes were laughing too. “So boogie!”

“And only fifty percent of your living space is occupied by knicknacks too,” Garth added. 

“Jaybird’s influence,” Roy replied easily. 

“Regardless,” Donna said, “it’s been too long, Roy. We’re glad to see you again.”

“It’s good to be so popular. What have you all been up to?”

From there, it devolved into Titans stories, if under a different name. They’d grown up, and the characters had grown up too, but there was a panache that was too typical of their old days to be called anything else. Roy was all too happy to contribute his own, even if he did not receive help when accused of lying. 

Jason hovered around the edges of the room, setting things up and putting away Roy’s stuff. He expertly slid away from Roy’s attempts to introduce him, with an infuriating amount of bat-like sixth sense. He knew exactly what he was doing too, the ass, winking everytime Roy failed to get his hands on him. 

He played the host instead, supplying snacks that Roy was not even aware had been in their apartment. Damn, now he had even more questions. 

Eventually though… Donna caught his attention and asked: “Roy, could we talk? In private?”

Jason chose to ignore the obvious tension with deliberate obnoxiousness. Clapping both Garth and Wally hard, he pulled them out of the living room. “I’ll go make tea. Those two can keep me company or whatever.”     

Wally rolled his eyes. “Yeah, let’s do that.”

Roy frowned. That… hadn’t sounded quite right. But okay, Jason was a big boy, he could deal if Wally was being pissy or something. They were all heroes here. 

Donna cleared her throat, sitting down and inviting Roy to do the same with a nod. 

“So, we came because we heard about-”

Jason popped his head back around the corner, and grinned when Donna repressed a jolt of surprise. “Lemon, no sugar, right?”

“...Yes,” she replied.

Carefully.

Roy’s eyebrows ticked at that. 

Donna Troy had rarely needed to be careful around Roy. 

“You heard about… what?” he prompted. 

“I don’t want to say this is my place, but we were something once… and I thought I should tell you something.”

Roy raised an eyebrow and leaned back into his couch. “Okay?”

“It’s the story of the time I teamed up with Kyle Rayner and Jason Todd, to find Ray Palmer and ostensibly save Reality.”

Every instinct cultivated by his heroic career rang the alarm bells, but he owed it to Donna to listen to what she had to say. 

So he listened. 

And his heart sank. His fingers grew cold as he heard what she said, what she explained in as many pretty, diplomatic words, and skipped over the part that seemed most important to him. 

“I…” Donna finished, still so poised. “I understand this is not a pleasant end to the story. And perhaps things are different now, but I would have been remiss to keep quiet. I do understand the desire to give him a chance. I thought the same too back then. But in the end… ”

“That’s the reason you dropped Jason? Because he shot you in a bid to convince an enemy he had switched sides to try to save Reality?”

Donna’s expression was so sympathetic Roy could have screamed. 

He nearly did. Instead, it came out as an incredulous, snide thing. “Because he did exactly what Nightwing would have done in his place?”

Donna’s mouth clamped shut. The realization, obvious on her face, through her widening eyes and her sharp intake of breath. Not that she misspoke or read things wrong. That she lost Roy entirely. 

And it hit him, it hit him all ot once, and Roy found his head falling into his hands. A crackling of despair spreading throughout his chest, a cold sort of disbelief. Why? Why was it always the hurt ones that were afforded so little grace? 

He looked up, through his fingers, through his sorrow, and he forced himself to look straight at Donna and her own shock. 

“He… He always speaks so fondly of you. He’s never had anything bad to say about you. I thought… I really thought, maybe, you were worth his admiration.”

She seemed stricken. Paler. Her hands, neatly folded in her laps, reached forward. 

“Roy, I-”

The hurt in his chest bloomed into anger. “Donna, I think you should leave.”

She rose from her seat, a real panic settling in. 

He didn’t her speak again. She had said enough. “I don’t want you in our apartment anymore. Right now, I don’t want to look at you. You wanted to talk, so we did. It told me all I needed to know. I’ll thank you to never drop by again uninvited.”

Her expression crumpled. For a second, it even looked like she would muster some kind of apology, but her resolve returned, her eyes steel again, and she offered Roy a quick nod before walking out. 

His chest hurt. What… what had that all been about? Donna… Roy had no idea why that had been her line in the sand. She’d dealt with worse. She’d dealt with more annoying. Yet, it had not only been enough to give up on Jason, but to tell Roy to do it as well? 

He… 

Fuck, Garth and Wally.

Roy hadn’t expected to be able to interrupt whatever would be said. Both Garth and Wally were experienced heroes in their own rights, and the kitchen in their apartment was nowhere near isolated enough to muffle the sounds of the other rooms. All three men stood at reasonable distances from one another, dotted around the kitchen, Garth at the far end seat, Wally by the fridge (obviously) and Jason at the counter, with the kettle whistling steam behind him. 

It was a pretty small thing, all things considered. Jason blinked for a second, looked a little confused or maybe off beat. But Jason was a bat. 

And Wally was a goddamned speedster. 

“Wallace Rudolph West,” Roy hissed, the full force of his fury bearing down on his friend.

Wally obviously winced, eyes darting around to Garth. Who looked uncomfortable, if not guilty. 

That was another thing, he realized. Neither of them seemed guilty to be caught or of what they had been doing. Maybe, just maybe, he could have found this whole song and dance embarrassing and a little touching. If he didn’t know that they meant it. 

Whatever fucking threats they had made, they were sincere. 

They had had the audacity to show up to Roy’s home to try and scare off his partner. 

They might not have appeared guilty, but when they saw the look on Roy’s face when he started marching into the kitchen, they did start to back away. 

“Roy, don’t get mad on my behalf,” Jason said, lifting the tray with the tea cups and walking past the two shame-faced Titans.

“Why not? Nobody else is clamoring for that role.”

“With good reason,” Wally muttered, because sometimes his mouth really did outspeak his brain. 

Roy whirled on him, scowl morphing into an outright snarl. “Fuck off! Both of you!”

Wally jumped a good two feet in the air. But, damningly, stayed rooted inside Roy’s kitchen. 

“Are you deaf?! Wallace. Fucking. West. GET THE FUCK OUT, ASSHOLE!”

Garth put up his hands, offering a gentle smile. “Roy, how about we-?”

“OUT!” he shouted as he grabbed hold of the salt shaker and flung it exactly where Wally’s nose had been a fraction of a second ago. 

Colors blurred around him, a split second, the afterimage still burned in his eyes. And then they were gone, and the door to his apartment slammed shut. 

Roy marched right up to it and loudly turned on the locks. 

He waited, listened to the shuffling of feet, to the faint whispering, and finally footsteps fading. Only when he was certain they were gone did he let himself fully digest what had happened. 

Damnit. 

“What did they say?” he said, talking to the door, to the fucking plank of wood that was now separating him from people he used to love so much. 

He couldn’t bring himself to turn, to see anything like fear or doubt or annoyance on his Jaybird’s face. He couldn’t bring himself to face the reality yet, that people he would have eagerly welcomed into their home might just break his newest one. 

“Nothing much,” Jason’s voice tickled the back of his neck, 

He groaned, trying to push down the guilt and fear. “Jaybird…”

There was a brief silence. 

“Wally promised to freeze me in the speedforce for eternity and Garth said something about drowning me. Bit harder to hear him while Wally was demonstrating his ability to make good on that threat.”

I will shoot their kneecaps with bomb arrows. 

“I’m sorry. They should not have said that.”

Jason shrugged, his voice even, unaffected. “Eh, I’m used to it.”

Roy finally turned around, and dared look at his boyfriend’s face. Jason was… well, the same was ever. He had that slanted half-smile tugging at his lips, that hollow swagger. This hadn’t changed anything for him. Roy could cry in relief. It hadn’t changed anything. 

“They… Jaybird, I did not want them to do that.”

Jason raised an eyebrow, and tilted his head to the side, to the slant of his lopsided smirk. “Yeah? I know that, Roytoy. I don’t blame you or whatever. If anything, it’s almost sweet. It’s good to know that people do care about your heart. It’s too good to be disregarded so easily.”

Roy gently pressed a hand against Jason’s chest. “What about your heart? Doesn’t it matter?”

“I’ve always been an exception.”

Roy narrowed his eyes, but Jason did not relent. Did not falter. He had always been an exception. And Roy knew enough of his boyfriend’s history to know how that was the worst part of it all. 

“Hey, who knows?” he injected some false cheer in his voice. “Maybe in a bit, I’ll be the one hiding from some bats?”

Jason immediately chuckled. 

“You’re lucky you’re handsome, and smart, and loyal, and so fucking talented, and-”

Roy snorted. “Oh my, all those things?”

“And more. So much more,” Jason replied with a smirk, before dipping Roy over to land a sinful kiss on him.

***

Roy was indeed lucky to be all those things Jason had listed, because no one, be they civilians, heroes or villains, came out and threatened Roy to treat Jason right. 

The Red Hood hadn’t made a lot of friends amongst those. And so few that knew Jason Todd was alive cared about that fact. 

Whilst more of Roy’s family and friends came, they all seemed to close around Roy protectively. They might have heard what he had told the original Titans, because they always seemed to find Jason when he was alone, where Roy couldn’t see. Couldn’t hear. Couldn’t react. 

It drove him nuts!

He could even tell when someone had given Jason the shovel drivel, because he always seemed a little more bemused than not those days. 

(One day, Roy feared, he would come back to an empty apartment, and congratulations from the rest of the hero community that he’d finally escaped the Red Hood’s evil claws.)

The closest might have been Rose, but her primary goal had still been to check on Roy himself.

To talk a bit. About Lian.

She hadn’t expected to get attached, when she’d taken the babysitting job. A silly notion. No one could ever resist his Pumpkin’s charm. 

(she was perfect she was gone oh god she was gone)

It was almost nice. 

“If you do break up with the hunk, send him my way,” Rose had told Roy, winking and laughing at her own not-quite-a-joke.

She had not offered any comment for the opposite scenario, and from her, that said it all. There wouldn’t be a hunk to rebound with if Roy was the one broken up with. Ravager had all the tools needed to make it happen. 

“In your fucking dreams, Rose!” Jason had laughed, tossing the TV remote at her head. 

(She refused to apologize or pay them back for slicing it in pieces. Self-defense, she claimed.)

(Jason reluctantly let Roy tinker something up, and their seven-in-one remote with control over radio signals across half the city was a thing of beauty. Of beauty!)

Still no bats leaving him boobytrapped mail or leaving him with overview pictures of himself at some random store. 

(Until Dick-)

***

Roy showed up alone for Christmas dinner. He was the last to arrive. 

The cold seeped through his coat as he hesitated before ringing the doorbell. He could go back. He had time to rush back home and put on his costume and dismantle the ring with the Red Hood. His family would understand. The hero life sometimes called at inconvenient times. 

Except… 

He thought back to the arrow Jason had slapped down on their kitchen counter once, and the encounter that had ended with Ollie and Roy screaming, and the one time Dinah had laid a hand on Jason’s wrist to speak to him softly, dangerously. 

Roy knocked and waited for the door to open. 

His latest set of adoptive parents greeted him with warm smiles and hugs. Inviting him inside. Asking about the journey. Roy had missed the feeling of his family embracing him. 

Soon though, Ollie’s eyes narrowed, obviously darting around for a sign of Jason. They darkened even further once he realized Jason was nowhere in sight. 

“No sign of the Hood, huh? Did he finally stop playing his game or is he just scared to show his face tonight?”

He should leave. This was exactly why Jason had ‘found’ a lead on a massive case just in time to miss the family function. He should explain. 

Roy stayed rooted on the spot. Silent. 

Dinah slapped Oliver’s shoulder and shot him a look. 

“Oliver, can it.”

“What? You also-”

The second hit, more forceful, managed to shut Ollie up. A miracle.

The good feelings of their earlier greetings felt like a distant memory. Why? Goddamnit, why were they all like this now? Nobody seemed to be talking to him about this. Shouldn’t his opinion be the most important part to them? 

Not the first black-haired assassin you’ve dated, Harper, a sardonic voice that sounded like Jason drawled from the corners of his mind. 

“Come in, Roy,” Dinah said, helping him with his coat. “Please. Everyone was waiting for you.”

***

(They put a plate for Lian. Dinah said a speech. Roy cried in his brother’s and sister’s arms the entire time.) 

(He didn’t think he’d ever run out of tears for his little girl.)

***

The evening was already ending when Roy’s dream of a pleasant time with his family crashed. 

The wine had started to flow. A couple of cups here and there. One for each of Roy’s siblings that were still underage. None for himself. 

A few for Ollie. 

“You didn’t answer me earlier,” he drawled, sitting on the couch, glaring at the Christmas movie playing on the big screen. 

“About what movie to watch?” Roy replied, bemused, gesturing at the TV. “Sorry, but I say Connor picked a good one.”

“About your mob boss boyfriend.”

It was as if all heat had been sucked out of the room. The lights burned, the scented candles wafted their cinnamon scent, the big wool blanket over his shoulder was only stone. His siblings on either side of him, walls. 

“He didn’t show up. Why? Scared of meeting the family? Too big of a commitment?”

“Ollie,” Dinah hissed. 

Roy blinked. “You are not doing this to me right now.”

“Damnit, Roy! How many people have to tell you the Red Hood is bad news? He’s on multiple ‘most wanted’ list! Have you even read the files the Bat wrote on him?”

“Yes! And unlike most of you, I actually know Jason!”

Emiko rolled her eyes. “It’s Jade all over again.” 

Roy glared at her, stung. 

“He hired goons to kidnap your sister! He dueled her with a blade.”

“Hey!” Mia protested. “Don’t make it sound like it was some traumatizing experience. I fought that jerk just fine. But it was a dick move to blow up my school.”

“He saved my life multiple times. I’d have died a dog’s death if not for him. Does that not matter either?”

A stunned silence cut right through the brewing arguments.

“Roy,” Connor said softly, “of course we care about that.”

“I don’t know. Sounds like Ollie would have preferred I stayed away from Jason. And dead.”

Ollie went pale. “N- no, Roy, son, never. I - I just. We keep hearing-”

Dinah let out a resounding sigh and took pity on him. Well, on Ollie, not on Roy. Because she turned to him and with her best ‘therapist voice’ said: “Your friends said you stopped talking to them.”

His grip tightened over his blanket. “Did they mention ‘why’?” 

Again. Another series of exchanged looks charged with meaning. 

They had. Of course they had. His friends did not think they had done anything wrong. They were simply looking for Roy, who was overreacting.

“Ha!” Roy scoffed, rising to his feet and shrugging off the hands that attempted to pull him back. “Yeah, I’m not talking about that tonight. No fucking way.” 

“Why is he not here then?” Ollie called back after him. “Why won’t he come with you?”

Roy almost punched right through the hallway’s walls. 

“Why do you think?” he yelled at the top of his lungs. “Why would anyone want to spend time around you?!”

Roy’s words seemed to have actually hit, as Ollie staggered backward. His eyes went wide, more alert, less clouded by the few glasses of wine he had had. He cringed, alternating glances between Roy, Emiko, Mia and Connor. They shifted awkwardly, trying to find proper words for this.

Whatever. Roy was not staying to listen. Jason had had the right of it. He should not have come.

“Wait.”

Dinah caught his hand. He freed himself, but slowed down around the corner of the living room. The closet with his coat was tantalizing close.

Dinah glanced at it, then took a deep breath. 

“We’re worried that you’re isolating yourself from your support system, Roy. That’s not healthy behavior in a new relationship. Please, don’t blame Oliver for being worried. He… he is well aware that he screwed up with you before. Can we please talk about it?”

Anger was gripping at his throat. Choking him. This boiling flame was spilling from his chest into his limbs. He didn’t want to talk about it again. He didn’t want to have to keep defending his choice in partner with more heroes. He wanted to lean against his Jaybird on the family couch and hold hands under the blankets and laugh at something his siblings had said. He wanted to be trusted and loved and cared for. 

He wanted to leave. 

But leaving would just make them more determined to get involved, wouldn’t it? Was there anything Roy could say or do to make people stop judging his lover?

“Cutting off toxic, two-faced people who have failed to be there for me for years certainly is healthy,” Roy said, acidic. “I’d have thought you would agree.”

Dinah grimaced, avoiding his harsh glare. “Yes, if you really think that’s what they are, then you are right. But-”

“But what? Jason’s not making me do anything. Hell, half the time, he keeps telling me not to get mad when people threaten to gut him. Do you think it feels good to hear that, Dinah? Do you? Somehow, you have all gotten into your heads that I appreciate this behavior. I don’t. They know it. And if they’re not going to apologize, I don’t see why I should let them back in my life. Not that it would make a difference, when people only show up when they think I’m falling off again.”

“Roy, we all care about you.”

“Maybe you do,” Roy conceded. She had been one of the few still there to help him back then. He had not forgotten that. She was half the reason he had given Ollie a chance too. “But this is not how you show it. This is not what I need.”

Dinah held out a hand, almost reaching for Roy, but thinking better at the last second. 

He would have shrugged it off. He would have burned from any attempt to comfort him now.

Roy gestured vaguely to the living room where Ollie’s voice could still be heard. “This? This is hurting me. You are all trying to break one of the few good things I have left. I can’t deal with that. And if it comes trues because of you-”

Roy clamped his mouth shut. He pulled back. Stepped back. 

“Roy… ”

“I need fresh air. I… I have to go, Dinah. Thank you for the meal. Give everyone my best wishes.”

***

Snow blanketed the cemetery with a pure, untouched coat of glimmering white. The sounds of the city felt far away, dampened by the winter. They were alone, this early on such a cold day. Just Roy and his Jaybird, walking up the little hill in silence, a bouquet between them. 

Lian would have been rolling down that hill with gleeful shrieks. 

Every day, he saw the world how she would have seen it, and it stabbed him every damn time. It had been years now, and Roy had long since learned that nothing would ever patch up the giant gaping hole in his heart. Nothing would ever truly let Roy heal from losing the light of his life. 

He was a fool, blindly reaching out in darkness. 

He didn’t have a full heart to give anymore. Most of it was in the ground with his little girl. Who would accept such ragged, hollowed feelings? Who’d still think he was worthy of loving with so little to offer in return?

Who, but a man scorned by everyone that should have loved him? 

People that should be on their knees thanking the heavens for a son returned to them. People that, in truth, cursed whatever forces had brought Jason Todd back from the dead. 

Roy felt like scum, like he was taking advantage of the horrors inflicted on his partner, like he used him because no one else would have someone as broken as Roy fucking Harper. 

He felt like scum, because even then, he was too selfish not to cling to the one man that still thought he deserved to be loved. 

Jason helped him kneel down by the tombstone and placed the flowers down. 

Roy traced the name half hidden by the snow. 

“What is it like?” he heard himself ask, a soft lament in the wind. “Being dead?”

The strong body that was pressed against his side tensed. 

Roy’s stomach twisted. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked. That was cruel.”

A gloved hand closed over his, warm, strong. The slight squeeze pulled him back into his body, away from the clouds of grief that hung overhead. He raised his head, and was met with a saddened smile. Jason’s eyes were a glazed mirror, a pool of a love so tender it struck Roy straight at the heart. 

“It is peace.”

Roy felt the remnants of his ragged heart splinter further. Oh Jason. 

“Eternal peace.” He held Roy’s hands between them, at chest level, at heart level. “Death was a kindness to me, Roy. There was no fear, no pain. No time at all to miss anyone, true bliss.”

He watched their breaths mingle, the wisps of white that tangled and dissipated. He watched, with a longing, with a homesickness. 

“Death is something that was denied to me. It is Life I was cursed with, Roy. And no matter how often I glimpse the other side, the world refuses to let me go back.”

Even if the world changed its mind, Arsenal would have something to say about that. 

“Jaybird, promise me.” Roy retrieved his hands and pushed them against Jason’s chest, trying to make him feel the strength of that wonderful heartbeat. Cupped his chin, like he was holding the world. “Promise me you will live. Promise me you can find value even in something as worthless as my love.”

Their foreheads met, Jason’s eyes still so bright. “I wouldn’t hurt you like that Roy. Heroes have never managed to understand me. They don’t scare me. Death doesn’t scare me. Nor does pain. I won’t leave you for anything. Because… your love isn’t worthless, Roy. Your love is everything.”

It was so little, in the face of that violence. Roy couldn’t be worth the wrath of every paragon of heroics on this side of the ocean. He knew he had never been before. 

Despite all this, he still leaned forward, still caught his Jaybird’s lips. He kissed him with the hope that there was a way out of the barrel, that maybe, two sets of hands would be enough to climb, and if not, to stay warm while winter passed. 

Roy kissed his Jaybird with the promise to love him as no one else dared. 

“You deserve everything. I’m sorry I’m the only one willing to give it to you.”

Jason’s eyes were shining, his lips wobbling and his face a splotchy red. But his voice was steady, as commanding and strong as the Red Hood on the battlefield. 

“She is at peace, I promise you.”

Roy’s breath hitched. Please, he thought, please be true. 

A thumb gently wiped a tear he hadn’t felt fall. “And you will see her again. Give or take a couple decades, I hope.”

Roy leaned in, and kissed his man again. He let himself get lost in the tenderness of that touch, of their embrace. Let this warmth try to compensate for the ever cold in his chest. At times, it almost seemed like it would. At times, he wished that it would. 

Roy was lucky he was handsome and smart and loyal and so fucking talented, because it had landed him this wonderful partner. This man who offered him the sweetest horror, the scariest reassurance, without ever losing that awed look in his eyes, and that softness in those blood-soaked hands. It was blunt. It was harsh.

And by all that was good, it was real. 

You will see her again. She is at peace. 

A sense of content settled over him, and he couldn’t bring himself to be ashamed. Couldn’t fight this one moment of joy. Even if he didn’t deserve it, he let himself feel it. 

“And when that time comes,” Roy whispered against his Jaybird’s lips, “I’ll introduce you.”

“That sounds nice.”

Roy did not comment how ‘nice’ sounded like an impossibility in Jason’s voice. He squeezed his boyfriend’s hand, and smiled at the tombstone. Let’s get a headstart.

“Sorry, Pumpkin. I bet you thought it was gross that Daddy was kissing someone, didn’t you? It’s okay now, Daddy got it out of his system. No more kisses, only stories. And he has lots of stories to tell you.”

“Funny stories,” Jason added with a daredevil smirk.

“Hilarious stories,” Roy nodded. “Daddy even got to fight an army of mimes! You were right, Pumpkin, the white make-up did hide their nefariousness!”

“They’re too clown-adjacent to be anything else,” Jason snarked. 

“But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s get back to the start. Our romantic getaway to Paris!”

And Roy let the words flow out of him. Description of the city came to him with a poetry he never had, cut by as many intermissions to reply to the thoughts he knew his smart little girl would have had. Brave tales of the valiant Arsenal and his grumpy, snarky partner Red Hood spun around a web of hushed, excited words around a quiet snow-covered landscape. And Roy kept on speaking, kept catching up Lian on the life Roy was forced to have without her until he could join her. And Roy spoke, until morning passed and the sun reached its apex. And still he had more to say. More to explain. More to say (I love you, Pumpkin. I love you more than the world.).

His favorite parts though might be the moments when Jason took hold of the story, when he snapped a quip that derailed Roy’s embellishments and pushed the story back to Earth. When he stepped up and started recounting the mission gone sideways in much more cynical terms, yet with twice the enthusiasm. 

Roy could almost see his little girl instead of that tombstone. He could see her sitting top of it, bundled up with six layers because Roy got sick easily as a kid and she was like him. He could almost see how she would kick her legs and lose a boot in the snow and then refuse to let Roy help her put it back on. 

Jason would deadpanned something then : “Yeah, Roy, don’t interfere. She’s got it.”

Something like that. Because he’d side with her. Of course he’d side with her. 

If only you two had the chance to meet. 

It was a pretty dream. Roy could picture it without trouble. Roy would be sitting on their couch, Lian on his knees with one of her books, and Jason, coming from the kitchen with some hot chocolates and a quip. It would be perfect, the three of them. 

But they were only two. 

What a pair they make. A father who lost his child and himself, an undead son who came back unloved. 

“I love you, Lian. We’ll come by again soon.”

“Can’t wait to meet you, kiddo,” Jason quipped, and who could tell if he was serious? 

Roy elbowed him anyway. Jason huffed a laugh, slipping an arm around Roy’s waist. Then, he froze, looking ahead. 

His family. All of them carrying their own bouquets. They were a collection of Lian’s favourites, looking like they’d been personally arranged by Dinah this morning. 

Roy felt a rush of affection for them. 

Then, he saw the way eyes darted toward Jason. 

No.

Roy could not do this. He could not do this here, in front of his daughter’s grave. 

“Ollie, if you dare say even one wrong word right now, it will be the last you ever speak to me.”

“Son, I-”

He noticed Roy’s glare. 

Ollie’s mouth clicked shut. His expression shifted as if he was trying to figure out how to phrase his thoughts. But he did not speak. He deflated suddenly, shooting Roy an apologetic look. 

The Arrows moved off the path. 

Jason actually seemed impressed. He would be. How often did people hold their tongues around him? 

“Let’s go home, Jaybird.”

[atleastpleasetelephone]

Gentle on My Mind - Chapter 8

Initially set in 1967 when Elvis is filming Clambake. Feeling miserable and trapped after the Colonel banishes Larry and the spiritual texts, Elvis invites Gloria to keep him company through the last five days of filming. Gloria is an aspiring movie editor and more importantly she's a lot of fun. Will she be what Elvis needs to get him out of the depressive funk he's in?

Catch up with the other parts here.

Many thanks to @sissylittlefeather being my beta reader on this one.

A/N: Just to say there's some fairly dark stuff in this chapter, so please do have a look at the warnings before you read.

Pairing: Elvis x OC - Gloria, a budding film editor.

Word count: 4.3K

TWs: Infidelity, vomiting, graphic descriptions of childbirth, sexual assault (Elvis is not involved), descriptions of an abusive/coercive partner (again, not Elvis), fainting, crying, teasing, oral (m and f receiving), face fucking, size kink, edging, panty sniffing!Elvis.

Elvis knows she’s gone for good as soon as he wakes up and sees the empty bed beside him. He almost feels like he dreamt the whole thing, but as he looks around the room he sees the evidence that he didn’t. The burn on the carpet, a streak of make-up on the mirror, the polaroids on his bedside table. He picks them up and looks through them, staring at the lipstick marks she left and her lazily scrawled message. 

If she loves me, why did she leave?

He starts to cry, big, heaving sobs. His Glory. Gone to get married. 

***

As she says her vows, Gloria feels like she’s outside of her body, watching someone else do it. She keeps telling herself that this is the only thing she could’ve done, the right thing, but it doesn’t feel like it. She watches the Gloria who’s getting married smiling as Roger pushes the ring onto her finger. Watches everyone looking at her, her friends and family, her daddy beaming proudly. She desperately tries to get back into her own body as Roger kisses her, tries to be present in that moment, but her mind still wanders back to him. It’s only been a week since she lay in Elvis’ bed and told him she loved him. It’s not long enough to get him out of her mind. 

***

Roger tells her to throw away her birth control that night, and she does it gladly. She can’t wait to be a mama. Roger makes love to her slowly and passionately, and she finally finds herself almost back in her own body again. They go on their honeymoon the next day. He’d initially tried to suggest Hawaii, but she almost flinched at the word. Instead they fly to Cabo and spend the week on the beach there. Lazy living, cooking and eating outdoors, sex twice a day, cocktails whenever they want. She’s happy, for hours at a time. And then something reminds her of Elvis, and she feels a twinge of sadness. That will pass though, it has to. It’s not as if she’ll see him again now. And she has so much else to look forward to. 

***

The house they move into together is still in ‘Frisco, but a part of the city where she knows no-one else. Her friends are a long and frustrating car ride away, her family too. She walks around the big, empty house and plans the furniture she’ll buy. Wandering into one of the other bedrooms, she holds her belly as she daydreams about the nursery she’ll design for her baby. Not that she’s showing yet, and it’s too early to tell anyone, but she knows. 

In those first few weeks in the house she doesn’t even get the polaroids out. They’re hidden in a book, and she almost forgets about them. Her baby is growing inside her and she’s busy planning and buying, painting and instructing delivery men. Roger comes home every day to a home-cooked meal and he kisses her on the temple and calls her baby. They have sex a couple of times a week, and she tells herself she doesn’t need any more. Soon she’ll be a mama anyway. Sex isn’t that important now. 

***

10 May 1969

Glory!

On vacation in Hawaii and I had to send you a postcard. Congratulations on your wedding, I hope you and Roger are very happy. The sun is shining here and we’ve spent a lot of time on the beach. Yisa loves it here! Maybe tonight I’ll try and cook something on the BBQ. 

Love

Your big boy xx

***

Gloria nearly faints when she sees the postcard. Her legs feel weak and she thinks she might be sick. She sits down on the floor and reads it over and over again. How could he do this? Send her this? When he knows she lives here with Roger? How does he even have her address? Her stomach rolls again and she runs to the bathroom to throw up. 

***

“I DON’T WANT TO PUSH!” 

Gloria feels outside of her own body again, watching the woman on the hospital bed, sweating and bloody and screaming that she doesn’t want this anymore. The doctor tries to talk her down, tells her that it won’t be much longer even though she’s sure that’s a damn lie. Roger left ages ago, he can’t stand the sight of blood and she’d already cussed him out and tried to punch him. Eventually they give her some insane cocktail of drugs that help her give birth but do nothing for the pain. They give her stitches for the tear and hand her a crying, wrinkled newborn. She holds him and cries, not sure whether they’re tears of sadness or joy or both. She’s not in a hurry to do that again. She names him Corey.

***

11 October 1969

Glory,

I’m in Hawaii again and thinking of you. My first shows in Vegas were back in July and August. I wonder if you saw anything in the papers about them. I wonder if you think of me at all. I hope we see each other again some time. I’ll leave tickets on the door for you when I play Frisco. I don’t know when, but I hope to soon. 

Your big boy xx

***

Gloria is in too much of a daze to be upset when she finds the postcard. It’s lucky that she scooped up the mail first, lucky Roger didn’t see it. She hides it with the other one, and the polaroids. Staggers to bed and lies down, hoping to get some sleep before Corey wakes up again. 

She lies in bed that night, waiting for Roger to finish brushing his teeth. He gets in next to her and pulls her close to him, immediately starting to kiss her neck. She grumbles. 

“C’mon, baby.”

He pushes her nightie up and starts to pull her panties down. She stares at him in disbelief. She’s so tired. 

“Roger… I’m still not ready…”

He shakes his head, pulling his pyjama bottoms down and starting to stroke himself. 

“It’s been such a long time, baby.”

She tries to wriggle away from him. He hadn’t wanted sex for a long time. Ever since she’d started to show, in fact. She tried to initiate, but he just rolled away. Even though she’s had her stitches out now and the doctor gave her the okay to have sex again, she feels like she never wants anything else near her vagina. All she can think of is the pain and the tear and it all still seems too raw. 

“Roger, no.”

He leans on top of her, pushing her legs open roughly and starting to push his dick inside. She whines. 

“You’re my wife,” he tells her, firmly. “And I want you now. Be quiet.”

She cries silently as he rapes her. She doesn’t think of it as rape at the time, doesn’t think that’s even possible when you’re married. But later on she realises it for what it is. She said no and he carried on regardless. 

***

The months pass by slowly, the house is finished and Gloria has nothing to do in the days apart from taking care of Corey. There’s not even any housework to do since Roger hired the maid. Gloria thinks she’s too pretty to be a maid really, but the house is always spotless. She fell pregnant again not long after she gave birth, and it’s not long now until she’ll be in the hospital again. As soon as she found out she started to look for news of Elvis in the papers. Left Corey with the nanny and took herself to the movie theatre to see Change Of Habit. She looks at the polaroids every day, and sometimes sits in the bed she shares with Roger and touches herself, looking at them and thinking of Elvis. She re-reads the postcards too. Missing him more than she imagined she could. 

Her second birth is a lot easier, and this time it’s a girl. She names her Jacqueline, Jackie for short. She knows that Roger will want another child so she calls her sister and asks for help. Her sister’s husband goes with her to the doctor to help her get back on birth control. She doesn’t tell Roger and prays he’ll just give up on the whole thing. She hates him touching her, but what choice does she have?

***

“Elvis! She’s here!” 

Those are the words he’s been dying to hear, thinking about them so hard he almost wonders if he’s hallucinated them. 

“What?” He snaps. 

“Gloria. She’s here, E.” Joe repeats. 

“Well move her to a box, make sure she can see properly. And get her backstage afterwards. Don’t lose her.”

Joe nods and just says yes. He decides it’s best not to get into the fact that he’s already moved Gloria and her sister into a box and told them he’ll collect them afterwards so they can go backstage. He’s never seen Elvis so agitated. 

Elvis’ stage fright is worse than ever before. He can’t believe she’s finally going to see him perform. He has to do everything right. Panicking, he runs to the bathroom to throw up.

***

Gloria stares at him as he comes onstage. He looks incredible in white and she can’t help being reminded of Walter Hale. He launches into That’s All Right at almost double-time, ripping through the words and the music as if he’s in a race to reach the end. She feels like he calms down a few songs in, and his eyes finally flick up to hers. She stares back at him and doesn’t know quite what else to do. She tries to make her mouth curl into a smile but she can’t do it. All she wants to do is cry. 

Elvis sees her looking sad and keeps trying to do things to cheer her up. He messes with lyrics, he karate-kicks the air, he talks about all sorts of nonsense between songs. Somewhere around Blue Suede Shoes it seems to have worked, and he finally sees that beautiful sunshine smile of hers. He wonders what has happened since he saw her last to make her seem so melancholy. He doesn’t have much time after the show before he’s driven to LA, but he has to find out what’s wrong with his Glory.

Her sister had raised an eyebrow at the way Joe had run up to her and made them move seats, the look on his face had suggested that Gloria meant a bit more to his boss than just someone he’d worked with on set a few times. But she isn’t one to ask questions. She doesn’t think Gloria is happy with Roger, and as she watches her sister watch Elvis, she thinks that this is the happiest she’s seen her for a while. 

***

Gloria trembles all the way backstage, sure her legs are going to give out. When she finally gets there he’s almost too much to deal with, it’s like he’s glowing with some kind of ethereal light. 

“Glory? Glory!” 

Elvis catches her in his arms as she faints, carrying her to the nearest couch and shooing people out of the way. She comes round and his blue eyes are the first thing she sees. 

“Elvis,” she whispers. “Is it really you?”

He nods. “Really me, Glory. Just take it easy now. Ya fainted, honey.”

“I’m Patricia, her sister.”

Elvis looks up quickly at the slightly stern tone. Making sure Gloria is propped up against the back of the sofa he stands up and shakes her hand. 

“Pleased to meet ya, Patricia. Do you go by Patricia, or Pat? Did ya enjoy the show?”

Patricia wobbles herself under his intense gaze. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen a man so attractive, never mind had all of his attention focussed on her at once. 

“Y-yes, thanks. And, uh… Pat… is fine.” She finds herself blushing like a teenager.

“Good. Glad ya liked it, Pat. And thanks for coming with Glory-a…” he quickly switches to her full name. “I uh.. I had really wanted to see her.”

Pat isn’t stupid, and Elvis carries on laying it on thick. It’s not long before he’s cleared out the entire room, including her, telling Joe to look after her for the next hour or so. He has to find out what’s wrong with his Glory. 

“You feelin’ better, honey?” He asks, after she finishes a glass of water. 

“Yes. Yeah. I think so.”

“You sure?” He strokes her cheek gently with the backs of his fingers. 

She looks at him for a moment and then shakes her head, bursting into tears. “No.” She grabs his shirt and presses her face against his chest, her body shaking. 

“Oh, baby. What’s wrong?” 

He holds her to him tightly, shushing her and kissing the top of her head. “You can tell me.”

“It’s n-nothing. I’m just tired.” She hiccoughs. 

“Is it Roger?” 

She lets go of his shirt and looks up at him, wiping her eyes. “No. Not Roger.” She can’t tell him. Can’t tell him she’s got trapped in this marriage with a man she hates. She doesn’t know what he might do. “Just um… the kids… making me tired.”

His face lights up immediately. “Kids?”

She smiles a little and reaches in her purse for the photos that her and Roger had had taken the other week. “Here. Corey and Jackie.”

“Oh Glory. They are both so beautiful. Just like their mama.”

She smiles a little more. She does love her kids. Even if they keep her awake most of the night and can’t hold a decent conversation between them. 

“Have you got a photo of Lisa?” She asks. Of course she knows what Lisa-Marie looks like. Everyone does. But she wants to see him puff up with pride again. 

“Yeah… yes… here,” he grabs his wallet and pulls out a tiny photo. 

“She’s beautiful.” She looks up at him through her lashes. “Just like her Daddy.”

He beams back at her, taking the photo back and tucking it away again safely. 

“Did you get my postcards?”

She can’t help smiling again. “Yes. Although you shouldn’t sign them off like that! What if Roger had seen?!”

Elvis chuckles. “Maybe Roger needs to know he has some healthy competition.”

“Elvis!” She shoves him playfully. 

“Oh you never used to call me Elvis, Glory.”

She narrows her eyes at him, still smiling despite herself. “I never used to be married.”

He shrugs, grabbing her and putting her on his lap. “It’s never stopped me.”

She can’t stop giggling now. “Well I know that! Do you think that’s a good thing?!” Her hands settle onto the back of his neck as he pulls her closer to him with his big hands. 

“Cilla’s not the girl for me, Glory,” he tells her, his hand moving to her face, pulling her towards him for a kiss. 

She lets him kiss her a little, then pulls back. “Oh really. And who is, exactly?”

“I think you know the answer to that.”

He pulls her into another kiss and doesn’t let her out of this one so easily. Her heart is beating wildly, and she feels familiar warmth spreading between her legs. She feels guilt too. She’s married. 

They pull apart, breathing hard, their noses touching. “Did you like the show?” He asks. 

She nods. “You were incredible. I loved the gospel songs. And the outfit.” She smirks. “And your dance moves.”

He sniggers. “Why are you saying it like that?”

“Those aren’t dance moves, big boy, those are sex moves.”

He blushes and laughs and tries to deny it. “N-no, I jus’... feel the music…”

“Oh yeah, yeah. You feel the music. I’ve seen you move your hips like that before and there definitely wasn’t any music!”

They both dissolve into gales of laughter then. He thinks how good it is to see her laugh like this again. He’d been worried about her when he first saw her. Maybe she is just tired. 

When they recover his thumbs are stroking her hip bones. She looks down and then back up at him and smiles, almost shyly. He smiles back and picks her up, putting her back onto the sofa and climbing down off it himself, until he’s kneeling on the floor. He puts a hand on each of her knees. 

“I’ve gotta go to LA tonight, but I’ve got a bit of time to make ya feel good. If ya want me to.”

She doesn’t hesitate, nodding and then croaking out a “yes,” just to make sure. 

He smiles that cute, lopsided grin of his, and then starts to kiss her knee, then the inside of her thigh, pushing her dress up as he goes. She spreads her legs for him, willing his mouth where she wants it. But Elvis is in the mood for a little teasing, and when he reaches the top of her thigh he skips over her panties and starts kissing down the other leg. She moans a little. He looks up, his eyes full of mirth. 

“Y’got somethin’ to say, honey?” Words buzzing against her skin. 

She snorts air out of her nose. “Thought you were making me feel good?”

His head moves back up again, pressing a single kiss to the outside of her panties. “Ya telling me my Glory doesn’t like to be teased no more?” 

She almost squeaks, feeling the words against her pussy, watching him close his eyes and so obviously breathe in her scent.

Chuckling to himself, he kisses the fabric again, a little harder, pushing it against her pussy and then licking where her arousal starts to seep through. Her hands reach to tangle in his hair, pulling his face against her. She feels him laughing against her again. 

“Elvis!”

He moves his head back. “Uh-uh. Ya don’t call me that.”

She groans, pulling his head back where she wants it as hard as she can. “Big boy…” she mumbles. “Please.” Letting up slightly on his head in the hopes he might move her panties out of the way. 

His hands slide up her legs and a finger hooks her panties to one side for just enough time for him to lick a quick stripe up her, making her cry out. Then he lets them go again, breathes in her scent and almost nips her with his teeth through the fabric. She pulls his hair. 

“You’re making me crazy!”

Squirming against him, wrapping her legs around his head now and hoping that will give her what she wants. She can feel when he’s grinning, when he giggles against her, that he’s finding this whole thing very entertaining. Even gripping him with her thighs, rolling her hips and basically grinding against his face isn’t getting her any closer to orgasm. She lets her legs flop open and lets his head go, groaning in frustration as her head tips back and her eyes close. 

Elvis wastes no time taking her panties off and diving right into her pussy, making her moan and throw her head forwards again to look at him. He’s not giggling anymore, he’s doing everything he possibly can to make her come as fast as possible, and it’s working. Her hands find his hair again and she grips it between her fingers as she rides his face, his tongue deep inside her as his nose presses against her clit. 

“Oh fuck. Fuck…” she mumbles, feeling herself about to snap. 

His hands push her legs even further apart and he somehow buries his face even deeper in her pussy, coaxing that dizzying high out of her. He loves watching her come undone, the way her voice breaks, the arch of her back pushing her breasts forward. With one final moan she comes and he licks her patiently through it, trying to somehow keep breathing despite the way she’s holding him against her.

“Oh my god,” she murmurs as she lets him go, flopping back onto the sofa again. 

“Was it good, baby?” He teases, that amused little look on his face again as he wipes it with his shirt sleeve. 

She opens her eyes and shakes her head a little, grinning back. “Oh yeah. Okay. It was good.” Rolling her eyes a little. “You’re still the best I’ve ever had. Come here.” Patting the sofa cushion. 

He grins and does as he’s told, expecting a kiss or a cuddle. Surprised when she leans over and undoes his belt, unzips his pants and pulls his dick out. 

“Payback time.”

His eyes go wide. “Oh honey… no… I mean…”

“Awwww. Big boy doesn’t like being teased?” She taunts, running her tongue around the head. 

He groans. The way he’d just treated her this was going to be torture. 

“Please, Glory,” he tries. 

She just giggles a little and then takes him in her mouth, swirling her tongue around. His hand immediately moves to the back of her head, fingers in her hair. Just as he’s starting to forget what she’d said about the teasing, she pulls off him and licks the tip a couple of times like a lollipop. He throws his head back and groans. 

“Oh, you think that’s bad?” 

Wrapping her hand around him, she starts to pump his dick, picking up speed as she slides her mouth back around him again. Feeling his fingers grip her hair, pulling it a little, hearing his breathing speed up until he’s panting and she’s pretty sure he’s close… and letting go and just slowly licking him again. 

“FUCK.”

She moves her head back off him entirely and leans an elbow on his shoulder, looking into his eyes. His face is red and he’s breathless, and she can’t help but feel he looks a little furious. 

“You gonna say sorry?”

He bites his lip. “No.”

She bursts out laughing and he can’t help joining in. “No?”

His eyes dart around the empty room and then he looks back at her, almost sheepishly. “Do it again.”

She’s only shocked for a second, and then she immediately goes back to work on his dick, not wanting him to change his mind. Getting down off the sofa, between his legs, she works him slowly until he’s whining for more, and then starts to pick up speed, her other hand massaging his balls. Sliding her mouth over the head again, she flattens her tongue against it, listening to his tells, watching his face, knowing the exact time to pull away and go back to stroking him agonisingly slowly. 

The noise he makes this time actually makes Joe burst into the room. 

“Boss! Oh… ah… sorry…” Joe blushes and then immediately disappears again. 

“Fuck’s sake!” Elvis shouts after him, then looks down at Gloria and can’t help laughing. 

She’s almost hysterical, her head against his thigh, laughing and laughing at Joe’s facial expressions. 

“Oh God he looked so worried!” She finally manages to get out. 

Elvis smirks. “He should. I’m gonna fucking kill him later.”

“I better not do that again. The police might break down the door this time,” she quips, and before Elvis has a chance to answer her mouth is all around him again. 

She takes him in as far as she can, then starts to bob her head up and down, his hand grabbing her hair again to help her. She squeezes his balls as she moves faster, and he rewards her with a loud satisfying groan. Starting to thrust into her mouth, his hips snap upwards, his hand holding her head still now so he can fuck her throat. He doesn’t last long like this, groaning again as he comes hard, his orgasm hitting him like a train and making him slightly dizzy. His hips jerk a couple more times and then he lets her head go, sighing as he flops against the sofa. She gets up and onto his lap, kissing him gently. 

Their foreheads pressed together, he hums with pleasure. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.”

They’re silent for a while, and then he opens his eyes again and sighs. 

“I have to go soon.” 

She nods silently. 

“You want your panties back?” 

That makes her giggle again. “You want to keep them?” She asks immediately. 

He somehow finds himself blushing again. He’d taken the other pair she’d left in the Clambake trailer home with him, and used them until they no longer smelled of her. He was a little embarrassed the first time he touched himself while breathing in her scent, but that soon wore off. And then so did the smell. He found himself disappointed that he hadn’t pocketed another pair when he’d seen her last. So… yes he really does want to keep them. But it doesn’t seem like the sort of thing he should say, so he just continues to blush and avoid eye contact. 

“Oh, you do,” she teases. She has no idea how she’s going to get around going home without them on, but right now she doesn’t care. “You keep them then.”

He looks up at her, finally making eye contact again. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“I miss the way you smell…” he whispers, almost giggling again in embarrassment but desperate to tell her somehow. 

She hums softly in reply, thinking that she misses the smell of him too. 

“I’ll have to see you again to let you have another pair…”

He pulls her against him tightly. “Please. Please don’t say this is the last time… fuck it. Come on tour with me. I’ll take you everywhere I go and your kids can come too… somehow…” he trails off, knowing what he’s asking makes no sense. 

“You know I can’t do that,” she tells him, pushing his hair back off his forehead. “But I promise this won’t be the last time.” She pauses for a second, and then decides to carry on. Saying it deliberately this time. “I… I still love you.” 

“I love you too, Glory,” he replies. 

***

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[nabipumpum]

‧₊˚🖇️₊˚⊹Best girl ᵂᵒⁿʸᵒᵘⁿᵍ ˣ ᶠ!ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

Pairing - Jang Wonyoung X fem!Reader

Genre - fluff

Synopsis - When you met Wonyoung, you never imagined that she would fall in love with you, but she did, so she became a safe connection for you, giving you comfort without even saying anything to you, Wonyoung showed you that connection is worth much more than outer beauty.

Warnings! non idol!au, relationship established, Wonyoung gets jealous. Not reviewed!

Word Count: 1.455

A/N: This one has not been proofread and I also did it in a hurry and sleepy way, so I don't think it's that good, sorry for any mistakes. Anyway, happy new year and happy holidays to all 🤍

Ive masterlist

You clenched your fingers into the fabric of your sweater and sighed heavily as you watched your girlfriend look through a few pieces of clothing, hoping she would choose quickly so you could go home again.

The cold air that came in every time someone opened the store door hit you like little needles, making you shiver even though you were bundled up in warm pants, a fuzzy sweater, a scarf, and boots with at least 3 pairs of socks to warm your feet properly.

“What do you think of this one?” the girl showed you a white skirt.

“Honey, it’s winter, why do you want a skirt?” she lowered her arms dejectedly, as if her question made no sense to her.

“Because summer clothes are cheaper in winter.” she looked at the skirt again “Don’t like this one?” You looked at the piece of clothing, analyzing it and imagining how it would look on the girl.

"It seems good." she smiled and put it in the bag along with some other blouses she had picked up. “Are we done?”

“Aren’t you going to get anything for yourself?”

“I already have enough clothes.” She rolled her eyes and wrapped her arm around yours.

“You're so annoying…” she poked your corner lightly, you laughed and pushed the girl's hand away.

You and Wonyoung met at school, that typical cliché of popular X nerd in which suddenly the popular girl finds herself in love with the nerd she didn't even know existed before, so Wonyoung made you fall in love with her in an instant, even you not believing that she really wanted someone like you, not that you thought you were ugly, but compared to the long list of suitors with you, you never thought you would have the slightest chance for a girl like her.

But then Wonyoung was inviting you to join her and her friends at lunch, or inviting you to the cafeteria near school, then to a park, then to hang out on the weekends and you get into this routine of hanging out together almost every day, until she confesses to you, since you were too shy to do it first.

Somehow Wonyoung changed a lot of things in your life, making you get used to going out with her to parties or getting to know her entire (and huge) circle of friends, then making you become friends with her friends too, then she taught you how to do more elaborate makeup or taking photos that suit you better.

Wonyoung, besides being a friend, was an incredible girlfriend, always being by your side and offering you support whenever you felt bad or overwhelmed, making you forget your problems or making them seem irrelevant when you were with her. Everyone saw Wonyoung as the most beautiful girl in school and so that was it, but you saw and see much more than that, because for you she was the best girl in the world.

“I just don’t think I need any more clothes.” you guided her to the register while she was still saying that you needed to get something.

“So many clothes here would look perfect on you, you should at least look.”

“Wony!” you scolded and the girl laughed.

“Okay, okay, I give up.” she moved closer, brushing his shoulders.

“Yes, it seems like you are telling me that my clothes are old and ugly.”

“Huh? I didn't say that! I said you should buy something, you’re putting words in my mouth.”

“Same thing.” the girl objected but stopped when you arrived to pay, she handed the bag to the saleswoman and then looked for her card “No more stores, right?”

“Just because I’m tired.” you smiled in victory, over the years of dating you ended up getting used to walking for a few hours in the mall or going in and out of random stores in the city center, but sometimes all your feet need is a rest.

The girl paid and took the bag of clothes and basically pulled you out of the store, looking a little annoyed and then walking slower as you left.

"What happened? I’ve never seen you want to leave a store so quickly.” the girl looked at you and then looked ahead again, sighing heavily.

“That attendant kept looking at you, seriously, she was almost drooling over you.” You laughed and stopped the girl, her body almost bumping against yours.

“Are you jealous?” she rolled her eyes before looking at you again.

“Wipe that smile off your face, it’s just because she was staring at you like she’d never seen a woman before.” you agreed.

“Why don’t you just admit it?” she laughs and walks away, pulling you back to walk.

“You didn’t even notice.” In fact, you couldn't even look at anyone else when you had Wonyoung right there next to you.

“I didn’t even look in her direction.”

“You better never do.”

“Was that a threat?” She looked at you.

"Maybe." she looked ahead again, not giving an answer when you questioned her about her answer, only giving you a smile until you arrived in front of the building “We should watch a movie.” you got into the elevator and you agreed “You make the popcorn.”

“How new.” You felt a light slap from the girl on your shoulder and you laughed.

-

You put the popcorn in a large container and separated two glasses of soft drinks, Wonyoung was responsible for arranging the sofa to make it more comfortable and certainly full of sheets and pillows.

You held the glasses and the bucket of popcorn, carefully going to the sofa, avoiding dropping anything, until Wonyoung reached the glasses and helped you place them on the coffee table.

“What did you choose?”

“An action movie, it sounded interesting.” you agreed as you snuggled together with the bucket of popcorn between you and you lightly leaning against the girl.

Watching a movie at least once a week has become a routine between the two of you since the beginning of your relationship, a silent way of spending more time together and conveying security to each other, you always being there to hold her hand when She's scared, assuring you that everything is fine and that there's no reason or anything for her to hide or feel afraid, or when she looks at you with that puppy dog look when the popcorn or soda runs out and you go get more.

Wonyoung feels better when you stroke her head until she falls asleep even during the movie and you just carry her to the bed and make her comfortable and then you sleep together.

She also can't help but just pull you in and capture your lips in a quick kiss, just because she feels like it and can't and won't wait until the movie is over to do so.

-

After the movie, you sank into bed with a new book while you waited for your girlfriend to get out of the shower, the warm blanket and fuzzy pajamas made you feel on cloud nine with the comfort and rest your body finally needed.

The words of the book enveloped you completely, you being completely immersed in the story and not even noticing the outside world, not even when your girlfriend came out of the bathroom and lay down next to you.

You finally heard a loud sigh and looked at the girl next to you.

“Hey, baby… I didn’t realize you had already left, I’m sorry.” you approached and planted a soft kiss on the girl's forehead.

“Can we sleep?” her fingers played with the hem of your shirt.

“Just let me finish this chapter.” She agreed and walked over, hugging your waist as you returned to your own world, immersed in the story again for a few minutes until you finally saw the beginning of a new chapter, signaling that you should close it and lie down, so you did it. You left it on the beside table next to the bed along with your glasses.

Then you looked at the girl clinging to you, you probably took a while since she ended up sleeping, you watched her for a few minutes, just admiring her.

You know that Wonyoung is beautiful, everyone knows that, but you are happy that you are the only one who can kiss her, or admire her while she sleeps, or watches a movie, also the only one she would be jealous of an attendant who to you would never be half of what she is. Wonyoung is the best girl you've ever met.

[zecretsanta]

To: @stegginsketches

From: @goggles-girl

Merry Christmas! Hope you enjoy this drabble, I enjoyed writing the three's sibling dynamic.

Sometimes, Luna liked to pretend the small pinging noise was the chirping of a bird. 

It was so tranquil inside the B Garden, the smell of dirt and the trickle of water unlike anything else inside the Rhizome. She could sit there for hours and hours if demand would allow, as if she were at a beautiful path instead of stuck on the moon in a facsimile of the world she had been created to help save.

"Um, helllooooooo? Anybody there? Moon to Moony???"

Lagomorph's shrill voice echoed over the loudspeaker, disrupting the tranquility of her sanctuary. She knew it would come eventually if she ignored his pings for long enough, but the sigh came nevertheless.

"I'm here, Lagomorph. Has Miss Kurashiki arrived early?"

"Yessir! Her ship is docking as we speak. Better hop to it, or the doctor will be angryyyyy."

“I’ll be there momentarily. Thank you, Lagomorph.”

With her hands folded in her lap, the android took one last look around the garden. Anytime Akane Kurashiki came to visit, things got extra busy and moments like this were few and far between. She knew it shouldn’t matter to her, she was programmed to be an assistant to Dr. Klim and nothing else, but it only made the quiet moments even sweeter.

After trekking down hallways and taking an elevator, Luna found herself in the large warehouse room that would one day be the starting point of the grand plan Dr. Klim and Miss Kurashiki had been working towards over the years. Every footstep echoed hauntingly off of the walls, with nothing inside the room to deafen them. Sometimes when Dr. Klim wasn’t forcing him to study some intense scientific field, Kyle would visit the room and see how long he could get his shouts to echo off the walls before fading out.

The large door that Luna had been told would hold a 9 someday had already been opened, presumably by Lagomorph. She passed through the opening and continued her walk down to the lift, whose gears were whirring away. 

After a few moments, an older woman came into view, a ponytail full of nearly grey hair falling over her shoulder. She wore a long purple dress and a smile that was somehow warm, weary and distant all at once. Luna wasn’t sure how it was possible as an android, but she still felt a shiver come across her form. Miss Kurashiki always had a certain demeanor about her; a sense of knowing, as if she was 10 steps ahead of everyone else at any given time. It made Luna uneasy, even though Akane treated her better than any of the other three people she shared the moon base with.

“Good morning, Luna.”

“Good morning, Miss Kurashiki. I hope your shuttle was smooth.”

“Oh, nothing worse than the usual bumps here and there. Though as I age I certainly don’t take them as well as I used to.”

“I would be happy to bring some extra medicine to your quarters before bedtime, if you would like.”

“That would be lovely, Luna. Thank you kindly.”

The two of them began to walk back down the hallway toward the rest of the Rhizome. These walks were usually uncomfortable for Luna, who wasn’t sure how to make small talk with the Mistress. However, today Miss Kurashiki had brought a container with her-a wooden box with a hinged lid.

“Miss Kurashiki, could I take that box for you?” Luna offered. She knew from experience that the older woman was stronger than she looked, but so was Luna, and she didn’t have to worry about pulling her back. 

“Oh that’s very kind of you. This is actually for you and Kyle anyways. I know how hard you two have been working and thought you could use a little break.”

As Luna took the box from Akane, she heard a small tinkle of bells coming from inside. Any predictions about what could have been inside the box immediately slid from her mind.

“I hope you like it,” Miss Kurashiki said. Luna thought she detected a hint of a giggle under the words. “It’s the right time of year, but I haven’t celebrated it in a while, so I thought you might get better use out of it.”

*******

"Um, Kyle?"

"Yes?"

"I still don't think the tree looks right," Luna said, pushing past the impulse to feel timid in the face of the young master.

"Seriously? What is wrong now?" His voice carried a strange tinniness to it as a result of the suit Dr. Klim required him to wear to keep him healthy on the moon.

"I think we need to fluff the branches more before we put too many ornaments on it. There's a lot of gaps, especially on the right."

The teen let out a huff. "Really? I don't think it's that bad..."

"Sorry Junior, but Luna is right, your tree looks like Swiss cheese!" Lagomorph interjected, projecting himself onto the wall next to the tree.

"Well, I have never even *seen* a Christmas tree before. How am I supposed to know what it looks like?"

The three of them were gathered around a short, plastic fir tree that Kyle had sat on top of a round table in the lounge. Luna and Kyle were perched on round stools next to the table, the box Miss Kurashiki had given them resting on the floor between them.

“I simply carrot take this anymore!” Lagomorph exclaimed. His form was suddenly replaced with a picture of a tree similar to the one in front of them. This one, however, was much bigger, taking up a whole corner of the room it was in, floor to ceiling. 

It was also quite gaudy, Luna thought to herself. There were dozens of ornaments, lights, and ribbons covering almost every square inch of greenery. The overwhelming nature of the decorations told Luna the picture was clearly from the before times. After the Radical 6 outbreak and the ensuing chaos, the ratio of people to items made trinkets and baubles easy to come by, but everything Luna knew about the prior days indicated that opulence was often shown by the amount of stuff a person owned.

“Lagomorph, that’s ridiculous. There is no way our tree is going to look like that,” Kyle huffed at the screen.

“Sure Junior, but you’re missing the point of the picture. Look at the branches! Aren’t they pawsitively sticking out everywhere?”

“Lagomorph’s right, I think if we just spread these out a little more we’ll have a much fuller looking tree. And then we can start putting the ornaments on it.” Luna handed the young man a shiny green orb almost as big as the palm of her hand. As soon as Kyle took it, the ornament felt as if it shrank three sizes in comparison to his gloved hands.

“Sorry Luna, but I do not think that I have the dexterity to wrap these ornaments around the branches to stay on the tree the way I think they are designed to.” He continued to fiddle with the branches, slowly getting rid of the gaps within the tree.

“Lagomorph?”

“Yes, Mooney?”

“What other Christmas traditions are there? Is there anything else we could do to celebrate?”

“Welllll, another hopportunity I stumbled across is that people hang their socks up overnight!”

“What on earth?” Kyle puzzled. “How could that possibly be a way to celebrate a holiday.”

“Donno. Seems like some Earthlings believe a deity would come by and drop gifts inside. Some kind of saint?”

“We might not have a deity to put gifts inside, but we can still hang them up,” Luna declared. “This is the first time we celebrate a holiday, and I want to make sure we do it right!”

*******

A few hours later, a weary Akane and Sigma stumbled into the lounge, each with a pair of socks in their hand. The smell of turkey lightly wafted through the room, making both of their stomachs growl.

“Good, you made it! Just in time for dinner, too!” Luna set a tray of warmed up rations down on a small table in front of the plus red couch in the lounge. 

Kyle was already sitting down, his hands folded in his lap. “You brought the requested items too,” he said, a hint of excitement in his voice. “Please take one of the sticky pads and place your sock on the wall.”

The two older figures followed his gaze to the far wall of the room, where three socks were plastered up against it. Just in front of it sat a green Christmas tree, haphazardly decorated with green and red baubles and gold strings. 

Akane couldn’t help but let out a giggle as she took in the scene. “Well, I didn’t expect you to get to work so quickly. Seems you really got into the Christmas spirit.”

“But Christmas isn’t until-” Sigma’s words were cut off by a stomp of Akane’s foot.

“They’re having fun, no need to put a stop to it now,” she whispered to him.

“But this is valuable time we could be spending in the lab! Or studying.”

As she watched Luna lay out three relatively unappetizing plates, Akane waved her partner’s insistences away. “It’s good for the boy to have some time to enjoy being a kid. Besides, we may have our proclivities against the Christmas season, but it’s good for us to have a break too.”

With only a few more grumbles, Sigma moved to the couch while Akane hung up their socks as part of a tradition that neither Kyle nor Luna seemed to fully grasp. After the four of them were seated, Luna grabbed her glass (full of water only for show), raised it up above her head, and smiled at everyone in the room.

“Merry Christmas, everyone!”

[elderberries-and-honey]

The point in the school year where the promise of summer lingered just within reach, making it impossible for the students of Ravenwood's schoolhouse to concentrate. Outside beckoned them beyond its walls, and the warm breeze that drifted in from the open schoolhouse windows made the days feel extra long.

For all except two students - Oscar Baudelaire and London Holt. The brightest boys in their class.

Throughout the years, they swung back and forth like a pendulum as being the 'smartest', though both were good at their respective subjects. Oscar seemed to have an aptitude for learning different languages and his ability to memorize important dates and events made him best at history, while London amazed everyone with his quick-learning math skills, and had a natural-born curiosity when it came to science that couldn't be taught.

Despite their innocent rivalry, they remained civil, mostly out of respect for Florence, and even appreciated each other's genius occasionally. At least until their teacher, Ms Hoffman, told them about a special grant that was being awarded to their school that year. A grant that would allow them to study at a prestigious boarding school in Windenburg.

Oscar could hardly believe it; this was a real chance to study alongside some of the smartest children in the entire world! And, in Windenburg of all places!

He'd read all about Windenburg's history, how they became their own country and learned about their culture; he had even learned how to speak the very basics of their unique language. Oh, it would be a dream come true.

Before hope could even dawn for him, Ms Hoffman explained a small catch: only one of her students would receive the grant, and it would be decided by their final test scores.

For the entirety of their walk home, Oscar fretted over not being chosen for the grant. It felt like some kind of cruel joke the universe was playing on him. What a magnificent thing to be teased with, only to possibly slip away from his grasp in the end?

Not even Atticus and his friend Darius running around him in circles, playing a game of tag, could pull him from his thoughts of self-doubt. He was smart; he knew that, even in his pity...but was he smart enough?

Suddenly, a voice penetrated his thoughts. "I don't know what you're so worked over," Darius said in-between gasps of breath, continuing on with their game as he spoke, "it's just a stupid school."

Normally, Oscar wouldn't pay this sort of talk any mind. His brother didn't take his education seriously at all, and neither did his silly little friends. But with what felt like the weight of the world pressing on his shoulders, he couldn't help but to retort, "you only think it's stupid because they wouldn't take half-brains like you two!"

Atticus immediately came to Darius' defence, putting an end to their childish antics for just a moment. "It doesn't matter if you get in...Mom and Dad won't let you go, anyway!"

Atticus' quick-witted reply hit Oscar like a ton of bricks, but not because there was any real malicious intent behind them. More so because they were likely to be true. He stood before both of the other boys feeling like a fool for not having considered this yet.

[starhvney]

hi everyone!!! thanks for the feedback on what i’ve posted so far! here’s a lil update from me :) the reason i haven’t posted any more requests is because i’ve made it to my vacation spot! i get to ride on a cool steam engine train today, so i’m very very excited hehe! i’ll get more writing done on the 12 hour ride home lol

as for those of you waiting on the next chap of subject 3, i’m desperate to post it too 𖦹 ´ ᯅ ` 𖦹 but i think i’m going to wait until i get back on new year’s day to finish the chapter. i’ll also push everything else aside to get the last chapter out after it :)

anyways, hope you all are having a good day/night! talk to you all when i post soon!

[undertalerainbow]

Can you get the... | Animatic Meme | Asriel and Chara Dynamic Concept

When hearing this audio, it helped me a lot to figure out the dynamic I wanted with these two characters. With how long Undertale has been around most of what'd been done with these characters has already been done, so what I'm doing may not be new but it isn't something seen a lot so I hope y'all will like the concept. Asriel and Chara have a lot of care for one another, but that doesn't mean there aren't flaws. Chara in Undertale Rainbow didn't fall down in the best state of mind which still affected them even when they were fully integrated with the Dreemur family. As a result, Asriel made it his mission to make Chara the happiest kid in the Underground. Thus they fell into the role of Asriel being an indulgent caretaker of Chara, saying yes to every request. Whilst Chara, never had that support and is still a child at the end of the day, took advantage of it. This dynamic might've been fine if they lived long enough to grow out of it, but this was a toxic combination once the Buttercup idea filled Chara's head. I want to be very clear: BOTH are responsible for their fates. Chara knew what they were doing and shouldn't have asked that of Asriel. And Asriel knew this was too far and should've stopped. The buttercups didn't instantly kill Chara after one dose, and they needed more and more over the course of DAYS to kill them, but Asriel never stopped this once, and Chara of course egged it on too. But that's not the only thing. It's one thing to aid in this, after all, it's for a good cause freeing everyone from the underground, but that didn't happen. Asriel couldn't kill those humans out of fear and his kind heart. This just wasted Chara's sacrifice and became the catalyst of so much heartbreak and other sufferings in the Underground. As the EPIC: Musical song Ruthlessness would put it: "You are the worst kind of good 'cause you're not even great. A Greek who reeks of false righteousness, that's what I hate. 'Cause you fight to save lives but won't kill and don't get the job done.". There was no room for half-measures here, he had to either be all in or stop it in its tracks. He did neither, now they're both in limbo. Neither blames the other for what happened, rather they blame themselves. Asriel wished he wasn't such a coward and had just done what Chara said, or even better yet said no to Chara so they could be a family still. Meanwhile, Chara wished they hadn't asked this of Asriel, they knew what he was like and still did this anyway. It was cruel to put him in this position, thus they see themselves as a corruptor or better yet a demon. This is what the final frame means, not what others think of them nor what is true, but rather what they think of themselves. They both wanted to play hero till reality slapped them in the face. Now no one's happy. I thought making Asriel more of a caretaker personality instead of "owo crybaby who can't do anything wrong" that I've seen growing up would be refreshing to write. Plus it also translates well to flowey, as flowey was a guardian/caretaker of a sorts for all the kids, whether they liked it or not. Like he was watching over Frisk from the distance like a damn mother hen- Cowardice is going to be a huge theme for Asriel and Flowey in the story, which is a flaw gained by his father and something he needs to overcome. I hope you like the Animatic and the concept, sorry for the long read, if you made it to the end you earned a yippee Clover

This yippee clover was made by tbh-daily, this is not mine

[phantom-peachie]

something really embarrassing happened today