#black piercings. everything but black slippers UNFORTUNATELY

[b0ydeleted]

all black ballet fit ... for the soul

[yalocalfanficaddict]

Finally getting back into the groove of writing even with my chock-o'-block full schedule, haha! I just hope I did this justice as I REALLY want to try to portray the characters the way they were drawn! I sort of accidentally (not really) made this a two-shot but this could be read as a stand alone! Anyways, at the bottom of the post will have a link to the master-list and the other part of the two-shot so enjoy!

Tags: fluff, gen, bromance, developing feelings, canon compliance, Deaf!Bakugou, Pining!Kirishima

Word count: 2409

"Oi! You gonna come or not?"

"You bet I am!" Eijirou chuckles as he jogs after Bakugou. Slinging his arm over Katsuki's shoulder, the two boys grin as they walk out of the classroom. "Also, take that out of context right now, I dare you."

Bakugou grins and shakes his head, hiding his chuckle. "You idiot. Why do you have to make everything gross?"

Eijirou shrugs with a laugh of his own. "Well it's not everything, you just make it too easy sometimes. Besides, Kaminari is like, ten time worse."

As if coming in on cue for a comedic scene in a novel, Kaminari trots after them, arm raised and waving at them. "Yo, guys! Wait for me, guys!"

Unfortunately for Kaminari, he's too far away for the duo to notice him. Eijirou's attention is suddenly brought to Katsuki's ears, noticing something is off. His usual black and red stud combo on his ears are different. Instead, the red piercing looks wider and larger, maybe the size of a pea. Not to mention that it looks like a red hook going completely through his ears. Why didn't he notice sooner, Eijirou couldn't tell, but it did intrigue him. "So uh, I noticed you did a little something to your ears over the weekend. Were the other earrings too small or something?"

Bakugou grins at him and shrugs, but not hard enough for Eijirou to take his arm off of his shoulders. "I mean, yeah, I guess. Got a fucking problem with it?"

He quickly shake his head. "Of course not! But I'm just wondering what they are because I've never seen them before."

"I mean, these specifically are horseshoe tapers. But what I actually want to put in my ears after I stretch 'em enough are plugs or gauges. Don't want them to get in the way of becoming number one, so I'll probably just keep them small and not get anything bigger than twelve point seven millimeters."

Eijirou's eyes widen as a smile of astonishment tugs at his lips. "That's actually sick, dude! What are you at right now?"

"I'd say I'm around ten millimeters. It drove the hag batshit crazy when she saw what I did, but she's not the one doing it to her body so I don't give a fuck."

He laughs hard enough to lean on Bakugou a little, who lightly shoves him back. "Oh my God, how are you still in school? My parents would ground my ass so hard that I wouldn't be able to step a toe from my room."

Bakugou shrugs. "Well, they're both in the fashion world so I got away with it, calling it some stupid trend going around."

Eijirou chuckles, playfully nudging him. "Well who knows? Maybe you might actually start a trend!"

Laughing, the two boys venture into the dormitory common room. A few peers somehow make it there before them, but it doesn't matter. They switch from outdoor shoes to slippers, firing jokes and witty comments at each other. Grabbing a few snacks, the greetings from their friends fall on deaf ears as the boys keep poking and prodding each other before dashing up the stairs to their dorms in a race.

"Fuck you, cheater!"

"Says the guy using his explosions for a boost!"

They pant at the top of the steps, hands on the knees from how fast they moves in such short time. Bakugou puts a hand on Eijirou's shoulder, simulating a push down the stairs, leaving Eijirou to laugh as he swats the hand away and playfully throws him a light hit. "You're just salty that I won without my quirk."

"Shut up."

Scoffing, Eijirou leads him to his room before unlocking it and letting them both inside. Kicking off their slippers, Eijirou flops onto his bed as Bakugou takes a seat on the desk chair. Eijirou looks up with a sigh and a groan as he tugs off his tie. Bakugou chuckles as he watches. "Now what? I know your lazy ass doesn't want to study right now."

"Hey!" Eijirou pouts, tossing his bunched up tie at Bakugou. It falls pathetically at his feet but it doesn't matter to Eijirou as he unbuttons his top button to give himself more breathing room. "You know I'm not some lazy guy—"

"Well not physically, but you sure are academically with your doodling and dozing off."

Pouting turns to soft glares as Eijirou realizes that Bakugou isn't wrong. He does doodle, but it helps him focus. As for the sleeping part...he's never actually fallen asleep before. He would just close his eyes and listen, trying to focus better. Okay, yes, he did sleep in class, but it was one, or two—most likely six—times!

"Yeah...whatever. I do care about my grades, dude. I've just get distracted easily sometimes."

"Well then focus harder," Bakugou states, sounding like ever other authority figure in Eijirou's life.

"I know, I know, bro. Oh, and how your hearing aids treating you with your gauges by the way?" Eijirou asks, trying to change the subject.

Bakugou scoffs and pulls out the spare batteries Eijirou always leaves for him from the desk. "They're fine. I'm not some prissy little pansy that can't handle shit. What about your piercings and your quirk? Wouldn't you break the metal or some shit?"

Eijirou sputters out a laugh and tosses Bakugou a chip bag once he finishes with changing the batteries. "Well I tested it out with some weird earrings my eccentric aunt gave me and they surprisingly didn't break, but I didn't test them with Red Riot Unbreakable because everything breaks when I do that. So I won't wear things when out on the field."

They munch on their snacks for a moment in silence. It was a nice silence that they enjoyed often, despite how rowdy they can get at times. All their thoughts are calmed and Eijirou can't help but sneak glances at Bakugou as his friend scrolls through his phone. After a few moments longer, the quiet is broken.

"So did you see the stupid shit stupid Deku did while training today?"

"What? Like how he managed to catch Tsu in time when she fell from the ledge?" Eijirou asks around bites of food. He licks the seasoning of his snack off his fingers before continuing. "I mean, I thought it was cool that he had a such a fast reaction time. It's almost like your's now."

"Shut up!" Bakugou snaps and throws his empty snack bag at him. "That little twat has nothing compared to me! Besides, Frog Face could've saved herself."

"Whatever man, just teasing you." Eijirou laughs at the sulking pout Bakugou makes while swivelling away from him on the desk chair, flipping Eijirou off. He takes their wrappers and threw them in his trash bin before taking his computer from his bag. After flopping back onto his bed, he begins to look for movies to watch. "So what are you up for watching?"

Scoffing, Bakugou slowly gets up from the chair at the desk and crosses his arms over his chest. "I guess you don't give a shit about your grades, then."

"Well we can do it later! It's what the weekend is for—"

"I was being sarcastic, dumbass," Bakugou huffs, flicking Eijirou's forehead gently. "Let's watch something with action. Maybe that Banana Fish would be a good watch."

Eijirou's eyes widen for a moment. "Nah-uh, no way. That anime is too traumatic and gut-wrenching to watch. It's watch something more wholesome like Death Note."

"How the fuck is that more wholesome? It's basically a brat with a god-complex getting his morals fucked."

They go back and forth, briefly ranting about their opinions on the different anime they've watched, until they finally settle on something. Eijirou fusses with the brightness of his computer as Bakugou turns off the lights and climbs onto the bed to join him. The first episode of their anime begins and it's hard for Eijirou to stay silent.

"Just look at the art style! Studio MAPPA always knows how go to go crazy with details—" Eijirou points out before being cut off.

"Shut up," Bakugou mumbles, wanting to watch the episode in peace and quiet.

"Right..." Eijirou sheepishly mutters before accidentally pipes up moments later. "Oh my God, did you see that? Look at that! The intro song synced per—"

Bakugou doesn't even let him finish his sentence this time. "Shut up or I'll hit you."

"Sorry! Sorry..."

They stay in silence for what feels to be the whole movie, until a weight falls on his shoulder and Eijirou realizes that there's still thirty minutes left. Looking over at his shoulder to see what the weight was, his heart skips a beat when he finds Bakugou asleep. He watches at how Bakugou's lips part as he falls into a deeper state of rest. He grins at how Bakugou curls into him more, wrapping loosely around his arm. Was his heart beating in his chest that loudly or was it the main characters feet thudding against the pavement in their show? Brushing some of his bangs out of his eyes to give him a better rest, Eijirou gasps slightly once he realizes what feelings are fluttering in his chest.

"Do I like him?"

The whispering words are hardly audible, but it's enough for him to flush deeper at the realization.

"Do I have feelings...for my best friend?"

Eijirou needs a moment to collect himself and organize his thoughts, so he scoops him into his arms and carries Bakugou's to his room before going back to his own. Not knowing what to do, he calls the worst yet best person for this situation.

"Oh hey, Kiwi, what's up?" her voice chirps as she props her phone near something that sounds like running water. He must have caught her during her skin-care routine because she also had a green mask slopped on her face.

"Hey, Acid. I uh, need to tell you something."

A wicked grin stretches over Ashido's face as she leans on the bathroom counter while turning the water off. "I fucking knew it."

The blush on his face only darkens, exposing more of his recent revelation. "Knew what?"

"Well it was obvious to nearly over half the class that you two will be going out. Nobody knew who fell first and that doesn't really matter, but I'm still so glad that you decided to tell me first that you guys are dating!"

"Wait, wait wait. No, no, no. I'm not dating Bakugou. We're just friends."

Her brow furrow and she tilts her head slightly like how a cat would when trying to figure out a puzzle. "Really? Well it's fairly obvious with how much you and Bakugou spend time together that at least one of you has a crush."

There's a long silence that's filled with the sounds of Eijirou's breathing and Ashido's skin-care routine.

Slowly, he admits it and everything feels like it's coming into focus like donning proper lenses to clear blurry vision. "I'm—I have a crush on Bakugou."

"Oh so you fell for him first?" Ashido teases, earning a groan and another flush from Eijirou.

"No! I mean...maybe? I don't know." Eijirou got up and paced around his room as he spoke, flicking the light-switch on so he doesn't trip. "Not even Midoriya can read Bakugou to the fullest. Sure, we all have an idea or basic understanding about him, but he's just too...well, he's out of everyone's league to say the least."

Ashido says nothing as her wide smile only grows as she watches him through the video call. "Go on," she rags.

Eijirou finally decides it's a mistake to call the class head gossiper, so he huff out a sigh. "Not unless you promise me that you won't say a word to anyone."

She mimes zipping her lips shut and locking it before throwing away an imaginary key.

"Okay. Well, I think I like him because I can't stop thinking about him. I always want to spend time with him," Eijirou begins. "I think I like because despite his smile being scary to others I find it charming and I think it matches this rather feral energy he has. I like how energetic and passionate he is about hero work. He's also smart, really, really smart. I think I like him because I can't stop thinking about how I just want to run my hands through his hair and feel how soft it might be. I—"

Eijirou feels his throat close up as his cheeks flare up once again. He should've shut up ages ago. Ashido titters as she flops onto the bed with her phone in hand. "Kiwi...I think the word 'like' is way to little to describe how you feel right now."

With a sigh he nods. "I know, I know. Can you help me? You know in middle school that romance wasn't my strong-suite."

After a teasing silence, her grin splits impossibly wider. She's definitely enjoying this more than Eijirou thought. "Hm, I'd say confess to him on Valentine's Day. That way, once White Day comes around, you'll get your answer on what your relationship status is with him."

"But what if he gives me marshmallows, Acid? That's the worse thing to receive so what if that means I ruined everything?"

Ashido gives him an almost knowing look as she answers. "Oh, I'm sure everything will work out. He's your best friend, he'll give you at least a cookie or macarons. You're the closest person to him so I don't think you'll ruin everything."

He groans, the overwhelming feelings and thoughts running through his head is nearly driving him crazy. "Fine. I'll do it."

Blowing him a kiss, she chuckles. "Good luck, Kiwi! It'll all work out whether you stay platonic or not."

Eijirou gives her a weak smile. "Thanks, Acid."

With that, they hang up and Eijirou clutches onto his pillow as he tries to calm his flustering face. Why did things become so complicated so quickly—when did these feelings form anyway? Could he keep himself under control until Valentine's Day? So many questions bolt through his mind as he begins to hear his pulse from how hot the tips of his ears and his cheeks are becoming.

"I wanna be the one," he whispers as he kicks his feet against the mattress of his bed in a love-struck manner. "I might just be the one..."

Master-list, 2/2, main page

in their own little bubble

[wishingtobeinadifferentuniverse]

Spoiled Goods (Eomer x Fem!reader)

Word Count: 2181

Warnings: Dark, mentions of sex, bruises, etc. Not a wholesome story that's for sure. I'd rate it PG-13, so please don't read it if it makes you uncomfy, and if you do, well don't say I didn't warn you

Summary: Basically you get used by Wormtongue (Eugh) to keep Eowyn and Eomer safe, and then try and hide it from them. Don't ask how I got such a twisted idea, because IDK

A/N NOT IN THE BOOK OR MOVIES BUT IDC I GOT THE IDEA SO SUCK IT UP

The light shone in my face, piercing through my eyelids. I felt sore all over. And then I heard it. Harsh breathing next to me. Then I remembered what had taken place the night before. What I had sacrificed. But what I had saved. I opened my eyes, and slowly, carefully, got out of the bed. Wormtongue was still asleep thankfully, so I did not have to deal with him at the moment. I picked up my nightgown, putting it on as quietly as possible. Then I grabbed my slippers and slowly opened the door. I heard a bit of stirring, but then the snoring resumed. Once I was in the hallway, I ran as fast as I could, away from that room.

Turning around a corner, I slammed into someone. We both fell to the ground, and when I offered a hand to help the other up, I realized who it was.

"Eowyn, why are you awake this early?" I questioned.

She smiled gently, "I woke up earlier than normal, and I wanted to start some of my work early. Why are you up and walking around in your nightwear? Is everything alright?"

I faked a smile. "Yes Wyn, everything is fine. Well, I will be heading back to my room now!"

I tried to step around her but she blocked me. "Y/n, what is wrong? Your dress is all buttoned wrong, and you aren't even walking from your room. Remember, I know you better than anyone, so stop lying to me."

I faltered. Should I tell her? Should I tell her what I did? Why I did it? No, it would only hurt her. I smiled weakly again. "Wyn, I am fine. Now please let me go to my room." She relented and let me pass her. But she followed me down the hall and into my room. I should have known nothing would stop her from poking in my business. But at the moment, I could care less. I was exhausted, my body hurt, and I just wanted to cry.

We walked into my room and she went straight into the bathroom, where there was already water in the bath, probably meant to be used last night. She dipped her hand in it, testing the temperature.

"Why is there still water in your bath y/n? It was a hot night, so it is at a comfortable temperature. Please do not lie to me. You know how I feel about it." Eowyn said.

I stuttered. "I-I-I don't want to say. You would be disgusted with me. I am already disgusted with myself. "

She countered, "It can't possibly be that bad. You have always been a bit on the dramatic side. Please just tell me."

I could hardly utter the words to myself, much less to her. She would hate me. So I began to unbutton my nightgown. I would not tell her, but I could show her. She gasped when she saw the bruises on my chest, my arms, my thighs. I lowered my head in shame. It looked horrible, to begin with, but it would be even worse when she learned why I had said yes, why I had let him use me.

"What happened?" Eowyn said faintly. She helped me into the bath and then sat next to it, waiting for me to continue.

"W-Wormtongue. He was going to have you and Eomer killed." I was trying to hide the fear, and how mad I was at myself. My eyes began to betray me, welling up slightly.

Eowyn's eyes widened with shock. "That, that horrible!" She could not even finish her sentence, her words distorting with her fury. Her cheeks reddened, clearly enraged. "How dare he even touch you without your permission! I should personally kill him myself! And Eomer helping me! No one is ever allowed to do this to you."

I lowered my eyes, feeling guilt spread through me. "Wyn...he had my permission," I mumbled, not daring to look at her. "But I had to, I could never lose you, or Eomer for that matter."

I heard her shift slightly, her skirts rustling against the floor. "Y/n," she said softly. "I am so sorry that this happened to you. But I do have a question. Why would he have threatened Eomer as well as me? You are not as close, and he has a more fighting chance against him."

I grew even more embarrassed, hardly speaking above a whisper. "Well, originally, it was only you. But last night, I was trying to get my mind off of what he was doing to me, and, well..." I trailed off.

"Well, what?" Eowyn prodded. "Nothing you say will change how I think of you. I don't want to pressure you, and I know talking will help. Please continue."

Still refusing to meet her eyes, I continued. "Wormtongue told me if I was to speak, I was only to say his name. But I got caught in the moment, trying to think of anything else, and said someone else's name instead."

Eowyn sighed in understanding. "So he added Eomer to the list. I see." She put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Y/n, why didn't you say anything before?"

"I was too ashamed to admit that I had submitted myself to that. It was only a one night deal, but I feel horrible and gross. I feel like spoiled goods, that nobody would want," I responded, finally gaining the courage to look back at her.

She smiled reassuringly. "Well, that is certainly a rotten situation to be in, but I wasn't exactly referring to that. I was talking about Eomer. I presume you have feelings for him. How I did not see this before, I do not know."

I looked down again. "Oh, that. Well, I guess so, but I didn't want to say anything, for fear of ruining a good friendship."

She nodded slowly. "Well, I think I will give you some peace, so please, wash up, and get ready for the day." She started walking out of the room before calling back, "Y/n? I do not think a relationship would be ruined if you were to say something."

Before I could respond, she shut the door, letting me be. I decided not to ponder her words, and just relax in the lukewarm water. I closed my eyes to block the sunlight out. What would Eomer think of me if he heard what I did? I am now spoiled goods. No one will want me after this. No one would want a wife who has been with someone else. I hate myself. How could I do this? No, I knew why I did this. It was worth it. Saving their lives was more important. I began to get out of the bath. I had to face the day  eventually.

As I pulled on my undergarments, I began to notice how dark some of the bruises were getting. My hips were the worst. They were covered with black and blue. Even the ones on my arms were becoming more visible. This was not good, not good at all. I pulled on my dress and darted to Eowyn's room, quickly knocking and entering without waiting. Unfortunately, someone else was there with her, hurriedly speaking.

"Eomer," I breathed, "May I speak with your sister? Alone."

He raised an eyebrow, but nodded, beginning to leave the room. But then he stopped short when he saw my arms. He looked at me with alarm in his eyes but continued to walk out the door. I hardly dared to move, or speak, until I heard the door close behind me.

"Eowyn, I need something to cover my arms better than the dress, it is too pale and you can see the bruises underneath. Do you have anything I might be able to borrow?" I spoke hurriedly, trying to get out of there before Eomer could come back. She nodded, understanding my urgency, and reached into her closet, ruffling through some stuff.

"Here this might work," She suggested, handing me a black, knit-shawl. "I know it is a bit warmer, but it is lightweight. Why are you in such a hurry to leave? If it is because of Eomer, which I am guessing it is, just talk to him. Or at least try. He cares about you a lot too."

I shook my head. "No, it was difficult to tell even you, and besides, caring about someone is different than what I feel for him. I need to go start my duties anyways." I curtsied and headed towards the door. I started down the hall, turning a corner and running into Eomer.

"I really need to check around the corners more often," I grumbled. He chuckled softly.

"How are you doing this lovely morn?" Eomer questioned gently.

I responded quickly. "I am doing just fine. Now if I may," I tried to sidestep around him, determined to leave a difficult conversation before it started. But he grabbed my wrists pulling me back and making me wince. He put my hand in his, showcasing the slight bruising on my wrists. Damn, I should have covered those up. He looked back at me, his eyes darkening.

Very quietly, but laced with danger, he said, "Who did this to you?"

I refused to look at him, slowly pulling my hands out of his grasp. He then began pulling the shawl to the side, gasping softly when he saw the bruises on my arm. He ran his fingers over them, slowly, tenderly. Then he took his other hand, lifting my chin, making me look at him. His eyes pierced mine, and again my eyes betrayed me, beginning to tear up a bit. He withdrew his hand quickly, thinking it was his fault.

"No, you are fine," I whispered. "And I-" My voice broke, I could not admit this to him. I could not tell him what I did. He would be disgusted with me.

"Y/n," his voice was deeper and gravelly, "You can trust me with anything."

I tried turning away again, but he stopped me. "Trust me," He pleaded.

I spoke quietly. "Grima was threatening to kill you and Wyn. I begged him not to, but he only had one way, one thing he wanted me to do in order to never hurt you again. I had no choice, but I hate myself because I let him. But now it is over for me. I am only spoiled goods, no one will ever want me as a wife. So there you go, that is why I was up so early, why I am covered in bruises." This time it was Eomer who turned away, his jaw clenching, his hand turning into a fist.

Then he turned back to me, softly cupping my cheek. "I will kill Wormtongue for even touching you, even if you said yes, he still took advantage of you. Y/n, you will never be spoiled goods, not to me." A tear ran down my face, after all the confessing, I was done, done with everything.

But suddenly I became aware of how little space there was between us, how I was backed against a wall, and how heightened my senses were. He brushed the tear away, his hand a bit calloused. He looked into my eyes, and suddenly I realized what he was looking for, what he was silently waiting for. I nodded, and then he pressed his lips against mine, slowly moving them. I reached my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me, our bodies pressed together. This was amazing and completely different from what had happened the night before. (This had ya girl turned on af) He moved his hands to the small of my back, pulling me even closer to him.

After several glorious minutes, I was the first to pull away but kept my forehead pressed to his. "How long have you felt this way?" I breathed, barely able to contain the joy I felt.

"Many, many years. I was too afraid to say anything."

"Too afraid?" I teased, "Now that is truly surprising."

He laughed, one of my favorite sounds, before pressing a kiss against my forehead. "My dear, please know that you are worth so much, and that, as I said before, you are not spoiled goods. Please, may I have the honor to court you?"

I smiled even wider. "Of course my lord." He picked up my hand, kissing it gently. "I do need you to do something for me," I said, my mood darkening a bit. "No one else must hear of this, for fear that Wormtongue might hear of it. I do not want to know what he might do if he were to hear of it."

Eomer nodded solemnly. "Anything for you, My Lady," he responded.

And so the days passed. Stolen kisses in the dark, going for walks when no one could see, hiding in plain sight. I could still sometimes feel the ghost of hands on me, but that moved on eventually. And soon enough, it was Eomer, only Eomer, and it was pure bliss. Enemies came and went, threats taken down. And I stayed by his side, as he stayed by mine.

[fan-art-ic]

By Chance | DT Secret Santa 2020

A writing gift for @zestyquetzalcoatl who requested a fic with Gladstone and Donald getting along and use of Paperinik for the @ducktalessecretsanta2020 event! Despite how the rockiness of everything that’s happening, I hoped I conveyed that they care about each other. Even moreso, I hope you enjoy this!

Posted on archiveofourown here

Summer, 1999

Gladstone and Fethry’s parents wanted to go on a wine tour through Calisota, so the two of them were dumped on Scrooge McDuck, their barely related ‘uncle’. However, since Scrooge had taken in Della and Donald as his wards, the geezer had become a bit more approachable, a tad more indulgent of his young family. Part of that was giving in when Della asked her uncle to let her cousins stay with them for a couple of weeks during the summer.

Gladstone considers Fethry more brother than cousin given how often their parents had the other family over. Fethry is a good kid, silly but reliable. Della is whip-sharp with all the subtlety of a rocket, but she’s the only one who can prank Gladstone without his luck saving him. It’s unfortunate for his wardrobe, but it makes seeing her so much fun. Donald…

He’s easy to rile up, is all Gladstone can really say. Or is it? That certainly hadn’t been the case earlier.

Scrooge was stuck in meetings the whole afternoon of their first day in Duckburg, so Della and Donald showed their cousins around town. While walking around, they passed an electronics store with a window filled with televisions tuned to the same channel. On the screens was a Kiwi, the name Angus Fergus - Channel 00 visible on the subtitle banner. The breaking news headline was DUCK AVENGER: ENEMY OR FOE?

Gladstone laughed. “Enemy or foe? What kind of question is that?” He watched briefly as a news clip of a dark duck-shaped figure jumped a fence. His cousins stopped so he wouldn’t be left behind and turned to face him.

Donald frowned, saying, “It’s not a question.”

Della jumped in at that point. “That’s the top reporter on the Duck Avenger,” and as she said the name, she moved her voice up and down and wiggled her fingers. Gladstone and Fethry laughed at her antics, and Donald’s shoulders hitched up.

“Top reporter?” Donald scoffed. “The Duck Avenger is only a menace to those who need menacing, and that reporter is a joke. He can’t even write a byline.”

“Do you even know what a byline is?” Gladstone joked and Donald started to grow red. Della jeered at her brother and Fethry mimicked her. Donald’s face darkened.

“Yeah, didn’t you fail that English test, Don?” Della brought Donald in for a noogie, but he escaped it easily. He nearly swung at her, but stopped mid-way, grimacing.

“You okay, Donald?” Fethry asked.

Gladstone watched as Donald looked at the groups of people walking past them on the sidewalk before blowing his emo-long bangs out of his eyes with faked nonchalance. The duck rolled his shoulder and all he said was, “I got clipped by some ninny on a unicycle earlier. Don’t worry about it.”

“A unicycle?” Gladstone and Fethry questioned at once, but were steamrolled by Della’s reply.

“Wow, Don, if a unicycle can take you out you better let me take point on the next adventure,” Della laughed. She then tacked on, “Do you wanna put an ice pack on it back at home?”

“Nah, let’s just keep walking. That new arcade Funzo’s is a few blocks away,” Donald brushed Della off.

While going to Funzo’s had been awesome, especially because Gladstone tried the Big Bass wheel and won the 10,000 tickets (and he played the claw machine, successfully grabbing a toy each time), Gladstone feels...

There’s this niggling emotion in his chest, and as Gladstone tosses and turns in his bed, he can’t help but wonder if there is something wrong with Donald.

Gladstone huffs and drags his luxurious pillow down his face. “This is stupid,” he tells the dark of his temporary room. He flops onto his side and pulls the down comforter over his head. Underneath the blanket, it is pitch black and with each exhale it becomes stuffier and hotter and more unbearable.

He bursts out and pushes the comforter away. Gladstone grimaces and closes his eyes. He opens them and then sits up, grabbing his pillow and pummelling it a few times. He lays it and then himself back down. Sighing, he closes his eyes again.

“Argh!” Gladstone gripes out loud and he beats his fist into the mattress. Why couldn’t he go to sleep? “This sucks.”

This is fine, though. He’ll just drink some water and then fall right asleep like a baby. That’s it, right, his luck won’t let him go to sleep because he’s dehydrated, no problemo-

He turns to the nightstand, where no matter Gladstone stays there is always a glass of water, there’s no glass of water.

“Seriously?” Gladstone squawks at his luck. “Seriously?”

He sighs heavily and glances at the door. “I guess I’ll just go get my own water.” Luckily, by the door are a pair of shamrock green slippers. Gladstone shrugs his bathrobe over his pajamas and finds the slippers to be exceedingly soft when he slides them on.

The door opens quietly on oiled hinges, and Gladstone slowly makes his way out of the guest wing of the mansion to the main steps. He’s certain there are closer stairs that would take him to the kitchen, but he’s yet to learn them. He could probably ask Della or Donald about it tomorrow. He passes by a suit of knight’s armor and the moonlight pouring in from the windows glints off the poleaxe menacingly.

Gladstone shivers and shuffles faster. He can’t imagine living in such a creepy place with creepy things all year. Would make him bananas. All these magical artifacts and mystic doodads must be at least half responsible for Scrooge’s weird habits, Gladstone thinks and then laughs at his own thoughts.

“I’m hilarious,” he says out loud and definitely doesn’t startle when a hushed wailing emanates from a collection of strangely-shaped clay. He shivers again, “Eugh.” Soon he’s at the main stairs and not a single step groans as Gladstone walks down.

A sharp creak snaps through the still air.

He freezes on the stair landing and he looks toward the sound. Towards the steps on the other side of the landing that lead to the west wing of the house, where he was told Scrooge, Della, and Donald’s bedrooms are somewhere located. Gladstone grimaces. On one hand, it’s probably nothing, just some treasure acting up a bit how that pottery had. On the other hand…

Gladstone can’t help but imagine his cousins and their uncle in trouble and somehow unable to yell for help, that creak being the sole sound to alert anyone, and Gladstone had just happened to be nearby to hear it. His hands fiddle with the bathrobe tie, and his head swings to look back-and-forth between the ground floor, just down the steps, and the other side of the mansion, up the steps.

“That didn’t happen, I didn’t hear anything,” Gladstone murmurs to himself.

Thud.

Gladstone glares incredulously. That sound was so soft and distant, but he undeniably heard something thud in the house. Right after he said...nope, no more tempting fate, Gladstone decides. He turns to walk down the stairs, but as soon as his foot touches the first step, he hears another creak. Gladstone huffs and the moment his other foot touches the next step, there is...

Nothing. He didn’t hear anything. That’s good, right?

Gladstone makes it halfway across the foyer before he whips around and races up the stairs. He speed-walks down the hall of the opposite wing, feeling silly as he cups his hands to his ears. He hopes he hears something. He hopes he hears nothing.

There! A muffled yelp pierced the still air and was cut off not even a second later, but Gladstone had heard it. He stops in his tracks, and as luck would have it, he’s in front of a branching off hallway. Gladstone sees a few doors down it, but the main one that draws his attention is wrapped all around in bright yellow CAUTION tape. As he reluctantly walks closer, Gladstone spots a tiny boat sticker on the door jamb.

He nearly sweat drops. Gladstone loves his cousin, but he knows it’d be tempting fate to knock on the temperamental teenager’s door in the middle of the night. And what would Gladstone have to say for himself, that he was worried? That there were some weird sounds that scared him? He’d be very lucky if the only thing that happens is Donald waking up, telling him he heard some spooky artefact, and closing the door in his face.

Oh wait, it slowly dawns on the teenager. He is that lucky! He’s incredibly lucky every single day, why would this be any different? All he needs to do is knock, lay his fears to rest, go to bed, and lay himself to rest. Everything will be fine. He'll go back to sleep and the sun will rise and everything will be fine. Gladstone sucks in a deep breath and exhales in a whoosh. He knocks four times, just enough force to catch attention if Donald is awake, but not raucous enough to wake him. A muffled curse filters through the door. Gladstone frowns and folds his arms awkwardly. The door opens a few inches to reveal the sleep-squinting eyes of his cousin.

“Gladstone?”

He laughs weakly. “Ah! Donald, just the duck I wanted to see…” Gladstone means to say more, but is distracted by the dark shadows under Donald’s eyes. Or, more, around the eyes…?

“Did you need something?” asks Donald. His eyes are looking away from Gladstone’s, and his fingertips around the door are flecked darkly.

Gladstone blue screens for a second before finding some words to say, “I was wondering if you knew anything about the pottery near my room! Such fascinating pieces of, uh, artwork.”

The door shuts without answer and the goose scrambles. “Wait! No, I uh, I actually was, I’m worried,” he stammers out, and the door opens back up, a little more than before. Success. If only it wasn’t at the sacrifice of his dignity. “You see, they’re really freaky, and were making some weird moaning wailing noises? And I just couldn’t get to sleep!” Gladstone grins bashfully. The door opens fully, and there stands Donald, rumpled and grumbly but definitely awake.

“Move to a different room tonight. Tell Uncle Scrooge in the morning about it, he’ll give them a lecture,” Donald advises him, actually more helpful than Gladstone thought he would be. “Go back to sleep, Glad.”

“Well, uh, sounds good,” Gladstone says. The door begins to shut and Gladstone blurts out, “Why are you wearing boots in the middle of the night?” He had barely noticed them at first, but now it’s striking him as super weird.

Donald squawks. His eyes flick down and then back up to meet Gladstone’s. His cousin goes to slam shut his bedroom door, but before it closes Gladstone shoves his hand in between and blocks it. He hisses loudly in pain and Donald’s eyes go wide. The door reopens and Donald starts to reach out to Gladstone, who’s withdrawn the injured hand and stuffed it in his mouth to muffle his yelps, but then the duck aborts the gesture. When Gladstone finally lets go of his bruised hand, Donald flicks the side of his beak.

“Idiot,” he rasps. “Don’t put your stupid hand in the door.”

Gladstone declines to respond because with the door open more, he has a better view of his cousin. Donald’s feathers are badly ruffled, his tee-shirt oddly bulky on him like he’s wearing something big underneath, his black boots dirty and scuffed. Now, Gladstone can tell that his eyes aren’t swollen with only a lack of sleep but also with bruising.

He whistles lowly. “That’s a hell of a shiner, Don.” His cousin’s shoulders jump to his ears and he snarls at Gladstone.

“Shut up! You didn’t see any of this!” Donald stands taller and moves to block Gladstone’s view of the room, but Gladstone uses that to push him out of the way and walk in. As he walks by, he spies a thick piece of blue fabric spilling out the back of Donald’s shirt. He quickly reaches out and grabs it, pulling it closer to inspect. It has more weight to it than Gladstone expected and the underside is a deep coal black.

“Is this a cape?”

Donald whirls around to face him, and man, oh man has Gladstone messed up. If looks could kill Gladstone would be worm food. The duck’s shoulders start to shake and Gladstone can practically see steam whistling out his ears. Oh man.

“Get out of my room! You didn’t see anything! GET OUT-” Donald’s volume exponentially rises and Gladstone rushes to clamp the duck’s bill shut before he grows loud enough to wake up everyone else. Donald shakes in his grasp for a few seconds but regains his calm quickly enough that Gladstone feels somewhat certain he won’t start yelling again. Donald breathes heavily and with a dark look at Gladstone, he turns his back on him and stalks over to his bed. “Get out of my room,” his cousin orders, pulling his blanket over his head. As if that would be enough to dissuade a curious (not scared!) gander. Gladstone eyes the haphazard mess around the room. Piles of clothes, overflowing trash, an open window letting in an unusually cold summer draft. He shivers. Then he looks closer at the window.

Dark, two-toned smudges litter the windowsill. The floor below the window is oddly clear of any mess in a rough circle. Gladstone knows for a fact that there is a climbable trellis right outside Donald’s window. Della had pointed it out during his and Fethry’s first tour of the manor grounds, bemoaning the fact that lame straight-lace Donald got a sneak-out-able window and she didn’t.

Gladstone had laughed then, but now he was severely doubting the idea that Donald never snuck out.

“Donald? Is this…” Gladstone walks closer to the window and bends over. He picks up something small and black, rough in texture and sort of sticky. Spread out in his hands, he can see it’s a domino mask like the ones comic book superheroes wear. His trailing off must have been telling because after a few seconds Donald forcefully tumbles out of bed and snatches the mask from Gladstone’s hands.

“It’s for a school play,” Donald says harshly before shoving him towards the door. “Get out of my room.”

“Is this blood?” Gladstone asks as he stares at the reddish residue on his fingertips. “Donald, I want an explanation.”

“Yeah, well I want a thousand dollars, and you don’t see me getting it,” the duck says brusquely.

“Do you want a thousand dollars? I can give you it.” It wouldn’t even make a dent in his savings with how his parents make him deposit all the twenty-dollar bills he finds and cash prizes from sweepstakes he unwittingly wins.

Donald’s feathers fluff out a bit, and Gladstone realizes that was the wrong thing to say. “I, uh, well I mean, are you okay?”

His cousin gives him a disbelieving look and pauses in his attempts to push Gladstone out. The goose notices a small patch of darkened feathers on the side of Donald’s head. He reaches out to poke it. “You’re hurt?”

Donald bats his hand aside. “Just leave, Gladstone. Forget all this and I’ll let you get away with as many jokes as you want tomorrow.”

Tempting. Very tempting, in fact. For a second, Gladstone wavers. He and Fethry are in the works planning a prank on the Duck twins for the next day, and it’s a doozy of one that definitely would result in getting chased up a tree. His tree climbing skills are lacking…

“Nope!” Gladstone replies. “C’mon cuz! What’s the big secret? Some adventure you don’t want your sis getting in on?” His response gets him a tired look. Gladstone frowns. He’s just getting nowhere tonight. How untypical. This calls for drastic measures.

“Look, Donald,” he says seriously, and steps aside and away from the door. He levels a look at his cousin and is returned with an exhausted, stony stare. “I don’t want in on…” Gladstone gestures around the room, “whatever this is. I was worried earlier, but, eugh, this pains me to say, but I was worried about you.”

His cousin’s stunned expression is enough to make Gladstone continue. “You seemed off earlier, and this is like, REALLY wildly weird, whatever you’re up to, and, I don’t know, are you actually okay?” Donald stares at him, his face closed off and blank. Gladstone fidgets a bit awkwardly; bald-faced honesty is not his usual policy and the longer this silence drags out the heavier the sinking feeling in his stomach gets.

Finally, his cousin sighs harshly and looks him in the eyes before glancing around his owm room. Donald sighs again, but reaches out and closes the door with a click. Gladstone backs up to give him space and sits down in the desk chair to the left of the bed.

“You can’t tell anyone about this,” Donald begins quietly. “Not Fethry, not Della, not Scrooge, not your folks, you tell anyone and not even your luck will save you.” Teenage bravado or not, a shiver runs down Gladstone’s spine.

“Okay.”

“You promise?” Donald marches up to him and sticks a pinky finger in his face. Gladstone curls his own pinky around it and swallows roughly.

“Promise, Don.”

Donald breathes in and it’s like all the tension in him had been cut in two. With a deep sigh, his shoulders sag and the duck stumbles a few steps backward to sit heavily on the bed. He awkwardly draws up one leg and encircles his arms around it, and scratches at his elbow. In the soft moonlight pouring in, Gladstone can just make out a bandage clip peeking out of feathers. What craziness is Gladstone stepping into this time?

Donald mumbles...something into his elbows and knee, his face too buried for Gladstone to hear. “What?”

Donald mumbles again.

“What?”

Donald’s fingers clench. Unclench. He lifts his head to glare at the goose. Reluctantly, as if the very words pain him, Donald says, “I’m the Duck Avenger.”

Gladstone’s eyes bug out.

“WHA-” Donald moves lightning-quick, lunging forward and clamping a hand around Gladstone’s beak. He lets go after a second. Gladstone continues, volume adjusted, “-what do you mean you’re the freaking Duck Avenger? You’re saying you’re a vigilante? Did you hit your head?”

“Yes,” says Donald. “At least several times.” Gladstone has no response to that.

His cousin...is a vigilante. What did Gladstone know about the Duck Avenger? Not well-liked by news reporters, not well-liked by police, not well-liked by criminals. Criminals. His cousin regularly goes out and sneaks around at the dead of night getting...who had Gladstone heard about? The mayor?

“What was the deal with the mayor?” Gladstone asks. Donald frowns and seems a little caught off-guard.

“He was embezzling funds from Duckburg taxes,” explains Donald. “Using people’s money for his own fancy, schmancy pool at his big fancy, schmancy mansion, instead of fixing potholes or funding something worthwhile!”

“You live in a fancy, schmancy mansion with a pool,” Gladstone points out. Donald glares at him.

“It’s not the same!”

“Okay, okay!” Gladstone raises his hands in surrender, and he changes the topic. “So, like, you go out and expose politicians and punch robbers and stuff? Like Superdog or Wonder Warble?”

Donald scratches the back of his neck. “There’s a bit more to it than that, but uh, yeah.” The duck sits taller. “I avenge. I avenge on those taking advantage of those not in power. Or is it I avenge those not in power…” the teenager trails off.

“Neat!” Gladstone interjects as he can empathize with being brain fuzzy late at night; this is all so confusing without thinking about grammar of all things. Ugh, grammar.

“Wait, so how’s being a mysterious vigilante going to work when summer is over and school starts?” asks Gladstone. He starts to spin himself in the desk chair. “Are you going to just ‘avenge’ on weekends and holidays or…?”

Donald shakes his head and then yawns so big Gladstone hears a joint pop. He shivers. Eugh, gross. Whoa, he’s dizzy. He stops spinning the chair and realizes he’s missed half of what Donald has said. “Wait, back up, can you repeat that?”

His cousin rolls his eyes but obliges. “I was saying that I’m gonna go out whenever I can. If I’m not unconscious from the latest adventure or I don’t have a huge exam the next day, I want to be out there,” Donald turns his head to look out the window, “making a difference.”

Gladstone is seeing all sorts of hidden depths to his cousin tonight. Yikes, what to say to that kind of statement, jeez. “We got plenty of time to make a difference, Don, we’re not even out of high school,” Gladstone reasons. “Right now, we’re just learning the ropes and being crazy kids, no need to really stress about it that much. Making a difference is for adults.”

Donald shoots him a sharp glare that settles into a deep scowl. “Of course you’d say that.”

“Of course I’d say what?”

“That we should let the adults handle it. That we should wait to become adults to handle it. Some of us-” Donald visibly bites off the end of his sentence. Gladstone frowns. The duck continues, wrestling with his words. “I,” he stresses, “I am not waiting to do something. That’s not...It’s not something I can do.”

Gladstone stands up from the desk chair and starts pacing. One, two, three, four steps, turn around, walk back. One, two, three, four steps, turn around, walk back. One, two, three, four-

“Glad?”

The goose stops pacing and stands still for a moment. Gladstone ignores his cousin for a second to inspect his hands, where they’d held the mask earlier. He rubs his fingers together and some of the light brown, dried blood crumbles off his white feathers. He turns to look at Donald.

“Donald.” Gladstone hesitates before repeating himself from earlier, “Are you okay?” He hopes his cousin sees it for the out it is. Let Gladstone win once tonight. His cousin frowns and scratches at his elbow. The bandages shift around the arm. Gladstone looks away.  

“Am I…are you okay?” Donald deflects instead.

“I’m peachy keen,” Gladstone replies with pronounced cheer. He rocks back on his heels. “So, you are okay? You’ll live to the morning?”

Donald catches on, frowning at first before finally saying, “Yep, all good. You can go back to bed now.” Gladstone laughs weakly.

“Good to hear! Good to hear…” Jeez, now the duck almost looks downcast because Gladstone wants out of this frankly strange conversation. His stomach churns uneasily and Gladstone really just wants to dart out the door and chalk this all up to a weird dream. He turns and begins to walk toward the door, but before he crosses the threshold, Gladstone spins around and rushes up to the duck.

“Gladstone?” Donald says and then groans, “Mind the ribs!” as Gladstone quickly, tightly wraps his arms around his older cousin. He holds the hug for four seconds before letting go and stepping away immediately.

“Well, goodnight, Don,” Gladstone says. Donald looks back at him.

“Goodnight, Glad.”

The goose nods and then makes his way out of the room. Just before he closes the door, he hears Donald’s tired voice ask, “You won’t tell anyone ‘bout me?”

Gladstone swallows roughly and it takes him a moment to respond. “Your secret’s safe with me.”

“ ‘Kay...goodnight…”

“Goodnight, Don,” repeats Gladstone and he closes the door with care. He walks back to the stairs and goes down to the kitchen. He remembers that reporter, asking if the Duck Avenger is the enemy. The shadowy silhouette of the Duck Avenger jumping a fence. Gladstone pulls a glass out of the cabinet and pours water into it from the pitcher. He sets the pitcher down and there’s a slight brownish tint on the white plastic that hadn’t been there before. Gladstone wipes it away and drinks from his glass. A mayor embezzling funds, that would require breaking and entering to figure out, getting into secured files or going onto the mayor’s, well, ex-mayor’s property, trespassing. That’s just one thing Gladstone knows about, and who knows how long Donald will keep superheroing? If he ever gets caught…

Gladstone finishes off his water and rinses the glass, setting it to dry on the mat beside the sink. He walks back to his room and slips under the covers. He stares up at the ceiling. His cousin the vigilante. Out there, trying to make a mark and fixing injustices. Although Gladstone isn't quite sure his cousin is really old enough, when he thinks about it he can find it pretty cool of Donald. Hopefully, he won’t have to think about it all. Tomorrow, he’ll have to talk to Fethry about changing their prank plans. Maybe something with not quite as many roller skates.

Gladstone closes his eyes and waits for a new day to begin.

[freshstartbaby]

Chapter 2

PREVIOUS PART

Nov - Quand vient la nuit partie 2

“Appearances are often deceptive because a broken heart is invisible and its scars are indelible”

It’s been a while since Florian did not drive. It was a weird feeling to have back a wheel in his hands. But he couldn’t deny it, it was releasing. There was a kind of freedom in driving that Florian missed a lot.

Three years wasted. Three damn years. It could have been more, but it was already too much. Florian didn’t like to waste time. It is too precious. Even if he was caring, disciplined and charismatic, everything could shut down if you dared to waste his time. Unfortunately he wasted his own time by his own negligence.

He was snitched on. Someone gave his name. Usually he was persuasive and very inconspicuous. It was good qualities for someone who made fake money. But some new partner wasn’t tough enough. He knew his name. He knew it not even a week after he was locked. He will take care of it. But not right now.

Right now, he had to find Rebecca and Youri. Wherever they were.

« This day will definitely never ends. «  he thought

He didn’t want to fight. Just know where they were and have a little conversation. Was she crazy ? What went through her mind to think she could leave ? And take his son with her. The only thought about losing them gave a headache to Florian.

He took a deep breath and grabbed a cigarette. While he was lighting it he shook his head slowly. Florian knew Rebecca, and he knew that if she had the audacity to make a move so bold, she must be upset. Enraged maybe. It’s not her type. Even less with him. But when she was, he must lay down.

He took Alexei’s phone. Florian couldn’t take his own, it was perfectly destroyed before police arrived to arrest him. But he made sure that Alexei had the location of Rebecca on his phone. He just prayed that she didn’t turn it down. She didn’t.

« Gott sei Dank / Thanks god » Florian whispered to himself

At least a good news today. When he finally arrived at the address, he discovered a hotel. Florian parked and closed his eyes tightly and let his head drop on the head of his seat. She took his son to a hotel ? He better be a five stars or she better book a suite. He only wants the best for his blood. He only wants the best for her.

Florian stepped out of the car, trying to bring together his last drop of strength. He walked through the door and went to the receptionist.

« Good evening Sir and welcome to the Newton Hotel, how may I help you » the receptionist said in an enthusiastic tone

« Good evening, could you tell me if Mrs Shakur Rebecca booked a room in here ? «  he asked laying on the counter

« Everything for you Sir » she answered which a flirtatious smile

Florian kept a straight face. He didn’t have time for that. He wasn’t here to play. He already has too many issues. Too many women issues. He didn’t even take a break since he is out. This flirtatious vibe ? It was the last of his problems.

When the receptionist realized he wasn’t down for it, she looked back at her screen and looked for the name he gave her.

« Yea Mrs Shakur booked a room today, do you want me to call her ? Who is asking for her ? » the receptionist said while grabbing the phone

« Can I have the room number ? » Florian said looking at her

« Unfortunately sir, I can only give it to you if Mrs Shakur allowed me to »

« Come on... » Florian looked her badge where her name, Deborah, was written « Deby, I’m sure you can do an exception for a gentleman » he said licking his lips while looking at her

Florian knew what effect he could have on women. He was good looking, it was a observation. He didn’t really enjoy taking advantage of it, but when I needed it, he did it. Without any regret.

« Deby, at what time do you end your shift ? «  he said in a low voice

The young Latina woman looked left and right, making sure that no one was listening while she played with her black beautiful hair

« In two hours » she said bringing back her flirtatious bright smile

« Maybe we could spend some time together after that, I will love to » he said biting softly his lips after ending the sentence.

It was too much for the young lady. She grabbed a piece of paper, noted something on it and gave it to him quickly.

« Call me if you don’t see me » she whispered

« I will for sure, but Deby, what about the room number ? I need to handle some small business down there » Florian said, putting the paper in his trouser pocket.

« Room 834, take this elevator with this card, and go down the hallway to the right » the receptionist said while showing him the elevators « please don’t kill anyone »

« I be a good boy don’t worry » Florian said going through the way.

When he arrived in front of the door he felt exhausted. He wanted to cry so badly. But he couldn’t allow it. Florian didn’t want to argue. He wanted to take them in his arms and take them home. But this scenario will be hardly feasible. He shook his broad shoulders and finally knocked.

The door slowly opened few seconds later revealing Rebecca. They looked at each other, chest moving hard by heavy breath.

« Can I come in ? » Florian asked in a soft voice

« No, we getting out » Rebecca answered « wait a minute »

She closed back the door and looked at Youri who was playing with his tablet. He looked back at her mother.

« Who was it Mumy ? » the boy said while he put pause on his game

Rebecca put on her slippers and looked at herself in the mirror

« Put your slippers on baby, and put a jacket on, we getting out a little » she answered him while putting some fragrance

When the little boy was ready, she looked at him to make sure he was looking right and that his shoes were put in the right order. She finally opened the door and let her son see his father.

« Tata ! » Youri screamed before jumped in his father arms

« My champ » Florian said hugging his blood thigh

Rebecca closed the door behind her and went through the elevators

« Where are we goin Mumy ? » Youri asked

« There is a chill area down there, let’s go » she said pressing the elevator button.

She crossed her arms and looked at her son and Florian, hugging and kissing each other.

—-

Youri was playing not too far from his parents. Far enough not to hear their conversation. But close enough to them to see him.

It’s been five minutes since they were sitting on the opposite side of the couch. No one had the balls or the emotional strength to start the conversation.

Rebecca didn’t want to say things she will regret, because she knew she was hurted at the moment. She had so much to say, but it will go out too crude if she talks now. So she chose the silent mode.

Florian didn’t know where to begin and didn’t want to upset Rebecca more than she already was. When she was in silent mode he always felt Damocles sword on top of his head.

« Youri’s German is really good » he said

Rebecca wanted to roll her eyes so bad.  Really ? He came to talk about Youri’s German level ? She tried to play it cool and finally answered

« Yea he is taking classes » she said crossing her legs

« How much time are you staying here ? » Florian finally asked softly looking at her

« I don’t know » she told, looking straight in front of her

« You don’t know ? » Florian repeated, not really ok with this answer

« I don’t know » she said again, still not looking at him

« What do you mean you don’t know Rebecca ? » he told in a low voice

He was trying to hide that the situation was upsetting him, but with this kind of answer, it’s gon be hard.

« What don’t you understand exactly in this sentence »

He looked at her for few seconds and looked straight in front of  him. Now he had to support her attitude. He was with the worst version of Rebecca right now.

« If you wanted act dumb and have an attitude you didn’t had to bring my-«  without looking at her he felt Rebecca eyes pierced him « our son here » he said rubbing his beard

Rebecca started laughing. Florian rubbed his eyes. He was fucked

« Act dumb ? Your son ? » she laughed once more and looked back straight in front of her « Oh Florian, jail must had fuck your brain, you forgot all about me. You want to talk to me like shit ? Who the fuck you talking to ? Are you really calling dumb the woman who took care of your son since three years by herself. And by the way, I didn’t know men could make babies on their own. » Rebecca said in a straight voice

« Can I offer you some refreshments ? » a waiter who pass by asked them

« No it’s ok thank you » Rebecca said with a large smile, trying to look right

Florian kept looking at her. Not really sure about what he heard. She never talks to him that way. She wasn’t like that. They weren’t like that.

« Why did you come here exactly ? Why come here, take Youri and disturb him ? »

Florian said

« Are you kidding me ? Flo please stop acting like that. » she said rubbing her temples

« Acting like what ? Like I care about you. »

Rebecca smiled while she shook her head. He was trying to play her. She wasn’t falling for it. Not anymore. And deep down she wanted to beat her own ass for falling for it for so many years.

« Florian, you do not care about us. You showed it once again today. You knew how important it was for us. And once again you didn’t choose us. I came here with our son so you can understand I’m not your prisoner. It’s not because you put us in a big house, got us monitored by a bodyguard and gave us money that I can not leave you. You took us for granted for enough time» she chuckled « Leave you, sorry, i don't think it fit us well since we’re not together and we don’t really exist. »

She stopped talking when Youri came running to them with his tablet.

« Can we take a picture ? » he asked showing all his teeth

« Ow baby Mumy is not looking really good right now, take one with Tata » Rebecca said trying to hide her clenching jaw.

She was emptying her bag, but she couldn’t lose face either in front of her son or in front of Florian. She was trying so hard to look strong.

All those words were in her mind for a lot of time now, but she never confessed them to anyone. And now that she was speaking them out loud it was... just so true and so hurting. Tough reality was hitting her hard.

What hurted her the most was that she was in this situation because of her own decision. Her own hopes.

« Please just one of three of us, I don’t have a lot of it » Youri said in a pleading voice

Rebecca licked her lips and smiled softly. She looked at Florian, staring into space.

Youri had to rub his daddy thigh to catch back his attention for the picture. After taking few ones, the little boy walked away again.

Rebecca’s words were resonating in and messing with Florian's head. Even if he knew it, he didn’t want that breaking point to come.

« And please stop acting like few nights in a hotel gon disturb our son, when he had to live with a ghost father his entire life. Hear me out, I will never try to take away your son from you. But don’t act like I’m a bad mother. I'm just done going last. » Rebecca said finally looking at him

Florian was speechless. It was like his soul was out of his own body. Was it a dream ? More a nightmare. He felt every beat of his heart and every blood pulsation in his hands. Was she leaving him ?

He didn’t find the words and the excuses he listed before. It was like they were all gone after what Rebecca said. It was so hard to hear.

« I’m sorry. » Florian finally said before clearing his throat. He looked back at her, finally catching her eyes since the beginning of the conversation

Rebecca swallowed hard.

« I’m so sorry you feel that way. I'm sorry about the way I acted. I’m sorry calling you dumb. I never wanted to say you were a bad mother, I know how amazing you are. »

Rebecca sniffed trying to keep her face straight and not to cry. But it was so hard once she was drowning in his eyes. It was so hard. If her ego wasn’t hurt so badly, she might be in his arms right now. Telling him how much she missed him. How much she wanted him.

But he made a choice today. And she made hers.

« Look, use the house card for the hotel, stay how much you need to. Just tell me when you leave. I will text you my new phone number when I get one. » Florian said in soft voice while getting up and coming in front of her

She looked up at him, nodding her head for only answer. He ran his tongue over his upper gum looking at her while she got up.

She was looking so good. He missed her. More than in one way. While Elizabeth has the right to come for conjugal visit, Rebecca has to fill the lack of Florian by other ways. And it was killing him. Because only god knew how much he missed her.

« Whatever you decide, I be there and the house doors will always be open. You know that Becky, it’s yours.» Florian said grabbing the side of her neck while brushing his thumb on her jaw.

She nodded her head once again. Except that this time tears dropped her eyes. He was the man who hurted her the most, but he was also her best friend and her soulmate. It was such a hard war.

« Shhh baby don’t cry, we gon find a solution » Florian said, taking her in his arms.

What Florian really meant was trying to find a solution where it was not an option to lose her. Even if he hurted her, he wasn’t giving up on his rib.

—-

Last step. Florian took his time for this one. It’s already been more than one hour since he came back to his crib in Yorkville.

Sitting in his arm chair he watched the neighborhood move in front of him. Once called German Broadway, he appreciates being here. It reminds him of some places in Munich.

He tried to draw strength from the city to get up and manage his last duty. But it was more difficult than he thought. Mostly after what Rebecca told him. Minutes kept flowing and Florian couldn’t get up.

« Flo, is that you ? » a sweet soft voice said behind him.

Florian closed his eyes before turning back to his wife.

« Lizzy what are you doing up darling ? »

Elizabeth walked through him slowly before sitting on his lap. She rubbed her eyes before putting a lock of blonde hair behind her left ear. She ran her fingers in his beard before kissing his forehead.

« Welcome home baby » she whispered

Elizabeth Strauss. Daughter of Eugen Strauss and Natalia Strauss. Only child, she was always been really close to them and she has always been their biggest pride and investment.

Thanks to that, she didn’t have difficulties when she came to the US, six years earlier. His parents made sure she could move there just after marrying Florian.

They also made sure she could talk English, French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese and had a degree in a recognized European university. She was just brilliant.

Unfortunately Elizabeth also had trouble. More than one. But Eugen and Natalia made sure to manage them and kept them hidden from the public eyes.

« Come get some sleep, you must be exhausted » Elizabeth said

She got up, grabbed Florian’s hand who was on her back and pulled it. Florian got up slowly and followed her.

« Let me take a shower first » he said letting go her hand « I join you, go rest, it’s late »

He watched the shadow of his wife go away in  the dark place before going through the bathroom.

When he laid down in his bed, he finally felt more relaxed. He knew his troubles were far from being solved. But it was less tense than few hours ago.

And being in his bed ? His own bed. Damn it was priceless. Florian was a big and tall man, jail’s bed was torturous for him. He turned to his left side, inhaling the sheets when his eyes felt on Elizabeth.

She was a beautiful woman. He couldn’t deny it. Everytime he looked at her, he didn’t know what he felt. She was kind and caring. But she wasn’t Rebecca.

It was like that since their six years of marriage and also since they knew each other, he didn’t know so much about her. They had some conversation, he knew her qualities and her defects. He even knew the name of her main co workers. But he didn’t feel the same way toward his Becky.

He laid back and thought about the day who fucked up what he wanted for Rebecca and him.

—-

Few years earlier

The road to the Munich airport was silent. Florian and Rebecca were sitted in the back of a cab.

She was looking at the landscape through her shades while he was looking at her. He tried to make contact. He knew they needed to talk. But he didn’t know if she was ready for it.

Florian put his hands on her thigh but she didn’t react. The nine flight hours will be hard since she didn’t even want to talk.

When they arrived at the airport the cab man helped them to get their suitcase out of the truck and thanked them. Florian thanked him too but Rebecca didn’t answer.

She stopped making efforts two days ago.

It was embarrassing Florian but he also understood it. Everything didn’t go well this week.

Florian decided that time had come to introduce his girlfriend to his Family. They were both so excited about it. Rebecca even started learning some German, so she could make basic conversation.

They spent the first day making a tour town. Florian showed her everything single spot he loved and she liked the stars he had in his eyes when he was telling her stories about them.

The day after, they finally got to the family house. It was at this moment things started to get bad.

Florian already talked about her to his family, even showed her. But as a friend. Now that it was more than that, some of them weren’t down for it.

Florian was kind of over taken by the situation. He didn’t know what was the issue. She was smart, kind, warm and beautiful. Moreover she was making him happy. It was the most important, wasn’t it ?

Obviously nobody wanted to tell him what was the issue. The only thing he could see was heavy sharing looks between some of them.

Florian reassured her the first night. And the second. She wasn’t stupid, something was wrong. But she kept trying to be herself and make a good impression. All she got was weak smiles and cold faces.

She couldn’t understand a word they were saying. So she hoped that her boyfriend would be a good translator, but sometimes she felt he rather not.

Rebecca thought she had come with her mate and that they had each other back no matter what. But at the end of the day she didn’t feel that way.

« How you find her » Florian asked to his parents, his shoulder in the kitchen door frame

They looked at each other drinking their coffee, then at him.

« Come sit son » his father said

« She seemed to be a nice woman. » his mother said, turning the page of her newspaper.

Florian looked at her waiting for the next part. He didn’t like the cold face she had on since they were here

« But ? » Florian said

« But maybe you should reconsider this. » she said

« Why ? What’s wrong ? » he said, putting his hands on the table.

« Baby, maybe in the US it’s ok, but you got to think in the long term. You maybe have things in common I can hear that. And she really seemed nice again. But don’t you forget you also have a lot of differences. She doesn’t even speak German. Are you planning to marry her ? Is she even Protestant ? What about your children, how are you going to raise them ? What about the legacy, Munteanu had always been-«  his mother stopped her sentence feeling that she was losing it

Florian stared at her. Not really sure about what he heard. His parents raised him with values and respect and diversity was one of them. He always had plenty of people of color for friends even in the business. And it never seemed to bother them. What was this suddenly reversed speech ?

« Munteanu had always been ? » he repeated the sentence so he can have the last part

« White. Your mother means that Munteanu had always been white » his father said

—

Rebecca put the last touch of her make up before checking on herself. She squinted her eyes, not sure that she had well hidden her dark circles. She left the bathroom and checked that she had everything she needed in her bag.

She grabbed Youri’s backpack when her phone started ringing. She looked at her screen, cleared her throat and accepted the call.

« Good morning Tory »

« Hi boss, you’re ok ? »

« Yea I’m great and you ? Do you need anything ? » Rebecca said putting her purse on her shoulder and closing the door.

Tory was one of her employees for two years now. She was a talented black seamstress. Her advices were useful to Rebecca more than once. And that’s exactly why she chose to work with her.

When Rebecca decided to launch her own clothes line, Second Skin, she wanted to be an inclusive company. But above that, she wanted to surround herself with talented, experienced, fresh, even daring people of color.

Tory was one of her associates she trusted the most. Not just because she already had a lot of experience but mainly because was a hard worker. Whatever happened to her, she always showed up or find a way not to give up on the team.

« I’m good, but my daughter felt sick this morning. I think she caught the flu. I call you to tell that I will work from home today, Lucy will bring me the fabric »

« Oh I hope it’s not too bad, take your day if you need to » she said walking walking through the hallway

« No it’s ok, I can make it. I will warn you if it goes bad and I can’t make enough pieces » she answered

« Ok keep me update, good luck to you »

She said looking at the elevator doors

« Yes ma ‘am, have a nice day »

« You too, thank you for calling me Tory »

Rebecca let slip her phone in her bag and left the elevator. She walked down the hall and went through the food area. She stopped for a second, looking for her men, when she heard Youri called her. She snapped her head and started walking towards him.

Florian looked towards her. His heart skipped a beat when his eyes finally met her. It was like he had forgotten how beautiful she was every time he saw her.

This morning, he showed up early in their room asking her if he could catch up the breakfast he missed. What she agreed, of course. She knew Youri will be delighted by this, she was down for it.

But her heart was still heavy from the last day. So she decided to let them have some time together.

Florian got up, welcoming her to the table. He put his wide hand on her waist and pulled her in a side hug.

One part of her wanted to make him sit, sit herself on his broad thigh and hug him for the rest of the day. But the hug was fast, almost running.

Florian kept her wrist when she got down to kiss Youri. He wanted her in his arms. Why does she get to be this fast ?

While she was making sure her son had eaten everything he needed for his breakfast, Florian caressed Rebecca’s hand, noticing that something was missing.

They both sat, face to face. A waiter came to ask Rebecca if she wanted to order something.

« May I have a lemon tea please « she said softly

She touched Youri’s head, smiling at him and looked at Florian. He was staring at her neck and looked at her eyes. She landed back her eyes through her son quickly.

Florian stuck his back to his chair, rubbing his beard, still looking at her neck. Something was missing there too. And he didn’t really appreciate it. He blinked a few seconds when her tea arrived.

He chewed his inner cheek and cleared his throat

« It’s all you gon have for breakfast ? » he pointing at her cup of tea

« Yea, I’m not hungry at all » Rebecca said touching the tea bag

« Mmh, you used to be greedier in the morning « he told her, with a salace tone, looking at their son then back to her

She didn’t answer, just blew on her tea. She wasn’t playing this game.

---

Few years earlier

« Daddy » Rebecca whispered arching her back and grabbing her pillow

It’s all she could say. It’s all she could have screamed or whispered. She suffered every Florian’s thrust. And she loved it so much.

When they were in a regular dating relationship, Rebecca and Florian had few sharing hobbies. Food, Night clubs, weird films, nap and sex. Morning sex was their favorite.

He had a shitty day the day before and he crashed to Becky’s crib. She cooked and set a chill zone for him. He even had the right to be massaged.

The way her fingers were touching him was sinful. He knew she knew what she was doing. He will take care of it tomorrow. He knew it wouldn’t be a big deal for her.

But the morning after, he was waking up by wet kisses in his neck and a fucking beautiful woman on top of him. She was too good. And she needed to be rewarded for this.

Florian kept thrusting in her deeply, earning moans and preases. The view he had gave him the need of an endless memory. Her skin, her flesh, her stretch marks. This view was priceless.

The combination of sounds he was hearing triggered something in him. He knew he would bust out if he didn’t focus a little.

Florian let his head drop to the back and breathe hardly. He shook his head, trying to get himself together before slapped Rebecca’s ass.

« You’re driving me crazy » he tried to say before slapping her ass once more « You know that »

She couldn’t answer anymore. She was about to cum. Her face was stuck to the mattress and split was slowly dropping from her mouth.

She was addicted to this feeling. The goosebumps on her skin, his large hands gripping her hips, the giggling of her small boobs, the hard trust and of course her coochie overstimulated.

She found the strength to put herself on her elbows and looked back at her boyfriend smirking at her.

« There you go » he grunted grabbing her neck

She wanted this activity to last forever. She wanted to start every single day this way.

---

« I can drop you » Florian said, lighting his cigarette in front of the hotel door.

« I took my car, thanks for proposing »

Rebecca said grabbing her car keys in her purse

« You’re sure ? » he asked a second time. Maybe she will accept. She was tough in business, but he used to manage her. He used to.

« Yes. Youri say goodbye to Tata, we’re gon be late for school. » she told rubbing her son back

Youri stepped closer to his father hugging his thigh. Florian got down and kissed his blood forehead.

« Have a nice day Champ, be the greatest you can be, alright ? » he whispered

« Alright ! » Youri said smiling at her dad

« I love you son » he told him

« ich liebe dich auch / I love you too Tata » hugging him tight

Florian got up and took another puff of his cigaret looking at Rebecca. She  stepped toward him and hugged him quickly. She didn’t really want to, but she didn’t want Youri to feel animosity between them.

Once again Florian found this hug too fast, so he grabbed her wrist trying hold her back.

« Hey have a nice day » he said putting some of her braids behind her shoulder

« Yea you too Florian » Rebecca said grabbing Youri’s hand.

She unlocked her car, settled Youri in his chair and closed his door. She was ready to jump in her car when Florian called her

« Becky ! » he said loud enough so she can hear him

She snapped her head looking at him.

« Where are your attributes ? »

It is how they used her jewelry. A queen shouldn’t have to be out without her attributes, he said.

Rebecca looked at the ground and raised her shoulders

« I quitted the job » she said before getting in the car.

Being a side chick, raising her son with a ghost baby daddy, hiding that the love of her life was working for illegal businesses, feeling like she wasn’t good enough for him, pretending all this situation was ok, yeah, she was quitting it.

Florian looked at the car getting away.

She did what ?

—-

Wassssup yall

Let me know what you think

Xoxo

NEXT PART

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[sasuhinasno1fan]

Little kitty on the roof who could see spirits- Adrien AUGreste Day 8

So I was gonna do this day but then couldn’t think of anything so I wasn’t going to, then when I was trying to think of an idea of what to do for day 9, I was thinking of, oh dinner for his mom’s birthday and then I thought of Ghost Whisper and when Melinda was thinking about his grandmother when her birthday was coming up and suddenly, I had to do this prompt, but with a much different twist. There is a minor mention of death. Hopefully you enjoy. @adrienaugust Little Kitty on the Roof

“Little kitty on the roof, all alone without his lady.” Adrien hummed to himself as he walked through campus of his university. He just got out of his Ancient Asian History class and he had time before he’d met with his friends for dinner and he didn’t want to go back to the mansion. He was sure his father found out about him moving out. He didn’t want to deal with that.

“What’s that song you’re singing?”

“Ahh!” he spun around to see a little girl staring up at him. There were a few factors that made something very clear to Adrien. One was that everyone passing looked at him, not her. Another was the clothes she was wearing. They suited the time period the university had first been built. The last one was the burst of emotions he was feeling. Ones that didn’t belong to him, but to the spirit of the little girl in front of him. He pulled out his phone and placed it on his ear before gesturing for the little girl to follow him.

“Oh, me?”

He nodded as quickly as possible before walking off, hoping she’d follow.

“So, what was that song? And why can you see me? I’ve been here a long time and no one’s been able to see me.”

“Let’s just say I’m different. I can see people like you. Come on.”

It was easy to find an out of the way bench so he wouldn’t have to have his phone pressed against his face the whole time.

“The song?” she asked again.

He let out a sigh. “It’s from a legend. My mom has been able to see ghosts or earthbound spirits since she was a child, same time I could see them. she did a lot of research and found a story about the first two people who claimed to see spirits. It’s said that they could do it with these artifacts. The little kitty refers to one who loved the other seer with all his heart. Unfortunately, his lady didn’t feel the same. She actually used the artifacts to bring back someone who died that she’d fallen for. The song is a warning about falling for someone.”

“Oh.” The little girl said. “That’s so sad.”

“Well,” he said thinking about Nathalie and his father’s change in relationship after his mother passed. He loved Nathalie, but it was always a sore spot that his father grew much closer to Nathalie not long after his mother’s passing. “It seems to be the truth. Now, how about you? why are you still here?”

As he listened to the girl explain his story, he thought about what she’d said. It was sad that the seer had one sided love. After seeing what his father had done after his wife’s passing and the extra struggles from just growing up with people thinking he was strange, not to mention the one time he trusted someone with his secret only for it to blow up in his face, it felt all too real. Who’d want to date a guy who saw the dead?

                                ____________________________

Getting woken up at 2 am to a fire wasn’t the best thing in the world. Though according to the fireman who came to corral him and others on his floor out of the building, the fire was taken care of but the interior had collapsed into the next building.

“Keep moving please.”

“Ah!” Adrien yelped as one of his slippers fell off. Before he could get it, the fireman directing them scooped it up and pushed him over to the other side of the caution tape. “Hey, I can walk myself.” The minute he was on the other side, his slipper was thrown on the ground with a tired ‘you’re welcome’ from the firefighter.

Adrien huffed and broke the rules by going on the opposite side of the tape to get his slipper. He’d dealt with rude spirits, but it was always the living that made his temper rise with their attitude. He moved to text Nino and the others when he heard his name being called.

“Adrien! Adrien!”

“Mme. Night? What’s wrong?” M. and Mme. Night were neighbours on his floor. While for the first couple weeks, people had been clamouring to see the former model, the Nights had easily beat the crowds back, all while offering him home cooked meals and checking up on him.

“My husband! He’s still inside!” the woman cried, her white hair seeming perfect for being woken up so early.

“Are you sure? Maybe he went around the corner?”

“No! he’s still in there! He’s at the bottom of the stairs!”

That’s when he felt it, the rush of emotions. Mme. Night was dead, but she wouldn’t move on until she knew her husband was safe. It was the least he could do to help the couple who looked after him.

He ducked underneath the tape again, heading toward a fireman who pulled his helmet off to reveal black hair with faded blue and aqua blue eyes. “Excuse me?”

“Sir, you’re supposed to be behind the barricade.” Adrien could tell from the voice it had been the rude one from earlier.

“There’s a man inside.”

“No there isn’t. everyone’s been cleared out.”

Using the same voice, he did with people who would be stubborn about the messages he had, he said, “Yes there is. Please believe me.”

It must have gotten through because the fireman stopped a passing co-worker and the two went back inside. He let out a breath and ducked back, going to the woman’s spirit.

“It’s on the first floor.” She kept moaning, clearly worried.

“They’re going to find him.”

Not long after, some announcement came through the radios as all the fireman stopped and even the hose was shut off. Everyone stood in tense silence before another announcement came through.

“We get 2, we found them!”

Before he knew it, the firemen came out supporting M. Night, sounding weak and coughing but alive. Mme. Night was fireman carried out and placed on a stretcher, confirming what Adrien knew. She was gone.

“I want you to check on him ok?” Mme. Night asked.

“I will, I promise. Thank you, for looking out for me. I won’t forget that.”

“I also hope you won’t forget how special you are. My husband isn’t going to keep trying to find you someone so you’d better keep looking ok?”

He wanted to roll his eyes, like he usually did when the question came up, but he couldn’t find it in himself to do that now. “I will.”

He watched as she passed where her husband was, passed the same rude fireman who was checking over him with such comfort, he didn’t think it was the same person. She walked into the building and when she walked into the light, the ripple of power caused one of the windows above to shatter. He had to be the only person who didn’t flinch and he noticed a pair of aqua blue eyes looking at him. He looked away, mostly to hide his tears.

Little kitty on the rooftop, all alone without his lady. Being alone seemed to be a theme for him.

                                               _________________

Nino and Alya and even Marinette insisted he stay at the DJ’s apartment longer. It was nice to talk to the only friends he had who knew about his ability and talk about Mme. Night. After the funeral though, with M. Night moving in with his daughter, Adrien knew he had to get back to life. Of course, all the snow and the week long sleepover left his refrigerator in shambles. He needed to go shopping, even if it happened to be pouring out. He was actually glad he didn’t take his mother’s umbrella as a sudden gust of wind turned his umbrella inside out, whacking someone he didn’t see until the last minute. One certain familiar fireman. With all the soot no longer on his face, he was able to see the piercings in his ears and the small holes on his bottom lip.

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. Please, let me. I can fix that. Remember me?”

“Yeah. You threw my slipper at me.”

At least he looked ashamed. “Tossed.” He looked even more ashamed as he broke one of the pegs, rendering the umbrella useless. He was glad he didn’t bring his mother’s own out even more. “Sorry. I’d be glad to buy you a new one.”

“Uh huh. I hope you’re better at putting out fires. It’s fine though.”

“I’m Luka. Luka Couffaine.”

“Adrien Agreste.” Other than a raised eyebrow, Luka blessedly didn’t ask any questions. “I should go.”

“Where to?” well, wasn’t someone Mr. Eager?

“An umbrella and groceries. I was at my friends’ place for a week and everything went bad, not to mention my place is covered in soot.”

“You know, I’m pretty starved. Let me take you out for something?”

“In this rain? Every place would be crowded.”

“Ever hear of the Umbrella Room?”

The Umbrella Room turned out to be Andre’s ice cream cart, but honestly, Adrien was fine with ice cream for dinner. Luka was turning out to be quite different than he thought. He was actually really nice and cute and he made Adrien feel comfortable.

“Ice cream for dinner, I can hear Nathalie crying.”

“I think she can forgive you.” Luka took Adrien’s wrist, making a circle around it with his fingers. “If my mom saw you, she’d try to stuff you full of food.”

“I’m always happy for a home cooked meal. But I have a feeling it might end up in a few fires?”

Luka laughed. “There’s a reason I joined the Fire Station. I want to be transferred to the Paramedics division though.”

When he was a sullen person, Adrien could easily see that.

“I have to ask though. You knew that old man was still inside. How?”

Adrien shrugged. “Lucky guess. I knew them and didn’t see them.”

Luka shook his head, keeping his gaze on Adrien. “No. You definitely knew they were there. Will you ever tell me?”

He wasn’t demanding an answer like most. He was waiting for Adrien to give him an answer.

“One day.”

                                        _______________________

“He sounds like a dream.” Alya teased as he joined his friends for the last bits of lunch before their shared English class. He’d already had lunch with Luka at the fire station.

“He’s…nice. Ok, more than nice. I haven’t felt this great since, you know.”

“Do you think you’d ever tell him?” Nino asked.

Adrien played with his ring. “I don’t know. I mean ‘little kitty on the roof’ and all that.”

“Please tell me you don’t still think that story is true? Just cause you see ghosts doesn’t mean you’ll be alone for the rest of your life. I know you’re are still upset about how quickly your dad moved on, but you know how in love with her he was. And that relationship with they-who-will-not-be-named doesn’t count. We never liked them and you said your mom didn’t either.” Alya said.

It was funny she mentioned his mom. It hurt that she was still Earthbound but he’d been so stuck on the song she’d taught him, she never thought he’d take it so seriously. She told him she wasn’t going anywhere until he saw he could be happy with someone. After his first official date with Luka, she appeared and wouldn’t stop talking about him like the sun rose and set on him. So far, there was nothing to dissuade her but still. It was kinda embarrassing.

“She’s right Adrien. You were so scared out of your mind to tell us and nothing we’ve heard so far says he would be worse than, you know. Plus, it sounds like he’s so gone for you. I don’t see him using any artifact to bring back a dead lover.”

“Well.” He started, remembering the long-haired guy he’d seen around Luka at times. “Not a dead lover. There’s definitely love when I see him, but it’s familial love.”

“Wonder what he thinks of you?” Alya said. “But seriously, forget how this kitty is lonely without his lady ok? You are happy with your lord. So, stop waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

He didn’t have to see his mother to know she agreed.

So, when Luka called him, telling him he had news one day and he saw that ghost hovering near him, he decided to take a chance.

“Luka, I’m so proud of you! you got the transfer you wanted.”

“Which means I’m a rookie all over again but it’s fine. Medical school was way too much for me but I still want to help people and now I can.” The ghost looked proud of him too. “Adrien, is something wrong?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just…this is gonna sound really random, but did you lose someone in your life?”

Luka looked confused. “Um, yeah. My older brother, Sass. Why?”

Adrien took a deep breath. The last time he did this, it blew up in his face and he didn’t know if he could live through that again. “He has long hair, same blue eyes as yours and snake bites. Wearing something an 80s child would be proud of.”

Luka looked really confused now. “How do you know that?”

“This is gonna sound really weird, so just bear with me here ok? I can see ghosts or Earthbound Spirits, as my mom called them. Always have been since I was a kid. The reason I knew M. Night was still inside the night we first met? The spirit of his wife came to me and told me so. That’s why they were both there. She had passed on and she couldn’t let her husband to pass on. I’ve seen your brother around you and…”

“tell him I still remember him stealing my violin. He broke a string and wouldn’t give it back until he figured out how to redo it.” Sass told him.

“You stole his violin and when a string broke, you wouldn’t give it back until you fixed it.”

Luka hadn’t pulled away from him, though he kept shaking his head. “How do you know that?”

“Tell him he actually looks better with snake bites than I thought. I kept poking at him that he wouldn’t wear them as well as I did.”

He told him what Sass said and it seemed to click for Luka. “You can see ghosts, spirits sorry. Mom hated Sass’s snake bites and Juleka wouldn’t even consider piercings until she found some pairs she loved from Mom’s collection. You’ve been doing it since you were a kid?” Adrien nodded, feeling the nerves starting to slip from him. “But wait. I guess you help them move on, right? Sass died when I was 10. Why is he still around?”

“I stayed to keep an eye on my family. Once I knew they were happy, I knew I could go. Luka was there when I died though. He still blames himself.”

Adrien felt for Luka. To hold on to those feelings and still be willing to give a smile. “He stayed to make sure you and your family was happy before he left.”

“He’s still waiting on me, isn’t he?” Adrien nodded, and Luka let out a wet sounding laugh. “God, he’s so stubborn. Please tell me he didn’t tell you to date me.”

“No! no, he didn’t. I’ve been so scared of dating people. Last person I dated and told about my, um, secret, threw it in my face and made me feel like I wasn’t worth it.”

“Then they’re an idiot.” He said like he was stating a pure fact. He couldn’t help but feel his heart warm that. “I’m not going to change my mind about how I feel about you, even if you didn’t see my brother. I haven’t felt as happy as I am now until I met you. I don’t think that’ll change anytime soon.”

Maybe this little kitty wouldn’t be so lonely after all.

[blahblahwritings]

Our Place

A/N: I am trash and I’m sorry I haven’t posted but here is a little fic for you lmao. Forgive me xoxo.

Words: 823

Warnings: None? Mention of nightmares?

He was having another nightmare. The recent mission to take down a Hydra facility hit him pretty hard so you couldn’t blame him. Another agonizing scream ripped through the night. Steve had made it clear that Bucky liked to be alone whenever it happened but he sounded so… broken. His howling continued. So lonely. It broke your heart.

  Throwing off the covers, you shuffled to the edge of the bed, swinging your legs off the side and into your slippers. Then, you made your way across the room with a fluffy blanket wrapped around your shoulders. Upon grabbing the door handle, he could be heard opening and clicking his door shut again. He might get more upset. But you hated the thought of him suffering like this so you clenched your jaw and twisted the handle. You had to try.

 It was pitch black. You couldn’t see two feet in front of you but if he saw you coming, he could run off. Taking your time, you padded through the corridor of the sleeping quarters, towards the kitchen. You’d often wander in drunk after a night out to find him there when he couldn’t sleep so it was your best bet. Unfortunately, you were clumsy. Instead of being covert, you bumped into everything, including the bins, producing a loud metallic clang. Then you stubbed your toe on the sofa, a string of profanities leaving your lips as you moved forwards.

Entering the kitchen, you slapped the wall on your right in an attempt to find the light switch. There he was. His eyes were red and still puffy, focused on a glass of water in front of him. His eyebrows furrowed, as if he was in pain, and you felt your chest contract as your took him in. What could you even say? ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ ‘Wanna talk about it’ of course he doesn’t, he doesn't know much about you or your abilities. Abilities. That’s it.

You took a seat opposite him, taking care not to make too much noise or move too fast. He didn’t move a muscle, eyes still trained on the glass in front of him. Not wanting to spook him with too much change, you started small. An area next to his glass, no bigger than your palm turned to grass, capturing his attention. His expression moved from anguish to confusion and alarm. He leaned away from the kitchen island as if ready to run. Next, a tiny green stalk grew and flowered, displaying bright indigo petals. Looking up, his grey-blue eyes found yours and you gave him a small smile causing him to tilt his head a little.

“How?” he mumbled.

You didn’t reply, instead holding your hand out to him. He hesitated but when he looked back at you, you nodded before he slid his much larger flesh hand into yours. All a sudden, the kitchen became a beautiful clearing in a forest. Deep blue and vibrant orange flowers surrounded the two of you as the sun rose warming your faces. A few deer stood at the edge of the treeline, somehow undisturbed by the two of you sitting there. His head moved around, taking in his new surroundings with a look of awe on his features. When he looked back at you his mouth opened and closed as he stumbled over what to say. It was silent for a beat before he found his voice.

“Beautiful.” Was all he said as he stared into your eyes - currently a swirl of dark indigo - as you used your power of illusion. Your heart fluttered as a fox stepped up to him; its golden fur shone in the light of the morning sun. It sniffed his metal hand. With a chuckle that melted your heart, he gently pet the animal before it ran off into the taller grass. As you looked at the spot where it disappeared, you heard him sniff. Your head to snapped back to Bucky whose eyes were glassy again.

“Is this too much? I’m sorry, I can-” Your illusion began to fade.

“No! No it’s okay I just- it feels so real, it’s incredible- you’re incredible, Y/N.” He croaked. His throat was still raw from whatever horror he had re-lived earlier. The little confession had you reeling. This was your special place. A place you would go whenever something bad had happened or you couldn’t sleep. You beamed at him and the illusion came back, the sun somehow brighter this time as his eyes pierced into your own. “Thank you.” He added, his smile reaching his eyes and making them crinkle at the edges. 

From that night, whenever he couldn’t sleep or had a nightmare, he would come to you, asking you to take him back. It was once only your place, but it was now his too and you were infinitely glad that it made him as happy as he made you.

[toomanysurveys9]

What’s something you always wear, even in the shower? my nose piercing. What’s your favorite thing to wear to sleep? pajama pants and a big shirt. What is or was your favorite stuffed animal growing up? i don’t think i had a favorite stuffed animal. i had a favorite baby doll. that was named jacob. and a favorite barbie (had the bendy arms and legs.) Have you read any book more than five times? probably. if i didn’t, i wouldn’t get to read really. i still need to get a new library card. and we haven’t had money for a bookstore trip. How did you feel after your first kiss? butterflies. happiness.

What type of underwear do you prefer? jacob prefers when i wear thongs. i prefer boy shorts, though. What was the first movie you’ve seen in a movie theater? i don’t remember. What’s your state or country’s minimum wage? $7.25/hour in good ol’ indiana. What moment in time did you truly feel “awe-inspired”? one moment is when i found out i was pregnant with wyatt. with eliana, there was a lot more fear. and disbelief. but still love. What’s your least favorite food? seafood of all kinds. What’s your favorite constellation and why? i don’t have one. when i was younger, i liked the dippers. i think that’s fairly typical. If you could have any hairstyle you wanted, what would it look like? i don’t know. i’m kind of tired of my current hair. i don’t like that it’s parted down the middle, and even the length is getting on my nerves. Gold, silver or bronze accessories? silver. Do you have any allergies? i’m allergic to grass. it’s a pain in the ass. Do you like the smell of cedar wood? yeah. Shower curtain or door? we have a curtain. i wish we had a door instead sometimes. Do you wear slippers? i do not. What’s your favorite pattern? i don’t really have one these days. Do you watch any big sports games? not really. i’m not really into sports. i sometimes enjoy when we go to the minor league baseball games nearby. Can you play any instruments? i know the very basics of piano, but that’s about it. If you could learn any language that you don’t already know semi-fluently, what would it be? spanish would be beneficial. What’s your favorite topic in history class? ancient egypt always fascinated me. Do you believe in love at first sight? not a romantic love, but general love, yes. i’m a mom. What’s one dream that ruined your day when you woke up? there have been dreams where things are going better than they were in real life that were upsetting when i woke up and realized it was just a dream, as well as dreams (or nightmares, rather) that were so bad that i woke up scared and upset, and then spent the rest of the day in a funk. Have you ever burned yourself? so many times. Do you own a hair dryer? we have one, but it’s not technically mine and i very rarely use it. What age did you learn to make toast? i don’t know exact age, but i was young. What color’s the mat in your bathroom? dark gray. What’s something in your bathroom you constantly run out of besides toilet paper? shampoo. conditioner. body wash. hand soap. EVERYTHING... besides baby shampoo/lotion/body wash. What kind of watch do you wear? i don’t wear a watch. i just use my phone. How much did the shirt you’re wearing right now cost? i don’t remember. i think it was part of a buy two get one free or something similar. Are you still friends with anyone from middle school? not really. Do you hope to advance at your current job? i’m a stay at home mom. Would you like to marry whoever you’re seeing right now? i am married to him. Have you ever thought to yourself that you’re the luckiest person in the world? when i think about my kids, but that’s about it. What’s your favorite color to paint your nails? i used to paint them black, when i did. What time of day do you most enjoy looking at the sky? sunset. it hurts less. What’s your dream vehicle? 1967 chevy impala. has to be black. or maybe blue. What was the best thing you ever did for your parents, legal guardians or parental figures? i can’t think of anything all that great that i have done for them... we bought this house and they’re living with us, but right now they’re paying for just about everything because jacob’s work hasn’t been very steady lately. we barely can afford diapers. so it’s helping us more than them at this point. i’ve helped them with bills and things in the past when needed. and i’m always there to help with whatever still, but that’s just part of being a family. they help us more often than not, too. i don’t know. Have you ever worn a suit? i have not. Would you rather make 2D or 3D art? 2d. i hate 3d because i suck at it so much. Have you ever made a list of questions for Tumblr? nope. Do you prefer candles or incense? candles. bath and body works has my favorite. If you marry, would you do a traditional wedding or get hitched? we did a more traditional wedding. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve done with binder clips? i don’t think i’ve done anything weird with them... Do you still go trick-or-treating? if you count taking the kiddos trick or treating. i love doing that. Have you ever won a costume contest? i’ve never even been in a costume contest. What’s something you’ve done every summer for as long as you can remember? spent a lot of time at lakes. this year has been too rainy so far, unfortunately. Do you touch things for no reason? not usually. Do you eat candy corn? no. i don’t like it much.

[arplis]

Arplis - News: 30 Best Kindle Unlimited Romance Books Available Right Now

If you’re new to Kindle Unlimited, here’s your chance! Amazon is offering a free 2-month subscription to new customers, giving you access to thousands of ebook and audiobooks. Below is a 30-strong list of some of the best Kindle Unlimited romance books I’ve read. I’ve divided them up by subcategory of romance, and tried to spotlight many brilliantly-written, lesser-known books which deserve your attention. As of writing, they’re all available on KU.

Book descriptions are taken from Amazon, but for some books I particularly enjoyed I’ve added extra notes. It’s worth saying here that Amazon are very generous with their free KU subscriptions. I got a whopping six-month one back in 2018, three months in 2019, and I’ve just taken them up on another one-month trial they (inexplicably) offered me. Worth it!

Best Kindle Unlimited Romance Books: Fantasy Romance

#1. Red Winter (Red Winter #1) by Annette Marie

Emi is the kamigakari. In a few short months, her life as a mortal will end, and her new existence as the human host of a goddess will begin. Carefully hidden from those who would destroy her, she has prepared her mind, body, and soul to unite with the goddess – and not once has she doubted her chosen fate.

Shiro is a yokai, a spirit of the earth, an enemy of the goddess Emi will soon host. Mystery shrouds his every move, and his ruby eyes shine with cunning she can’t match and dares not trust. But she saved his life, and until his debt is paid, he is hers to command – whether she wants him or not. On the day they meet, everything Emi believes comes undone, swept away like snow upon the winter wind. For the first time, she wants to change her fate – but how can she erase a destiny already wrought in stone? Against the power of the gods, Shiro is her only hope…and hope is all she has left.

[I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS SERIES ENOUGH. It’s a beautifully rendered fantasy world grounded in Japanese mythology, with a breathtaking romance and incredible plot. Technically YA but absolutely don’t let that put you off. I’d also recommend Marie’s Guild Codex: Demonized series, a new adult paranormal series available on KU.]

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#2. Zodiac Academy: The Awakening (Supernatural Bullies and Beasts #1) by Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti

What happens to the students who anger the cold-blooded Dragon Shifter, vicious Vampire, black-hearted Werewolf and cruel Siren who run this school?

They pay in blood. But what’s that got to do with me? A helluva a lot more than I’d like…

I just discovered I’m a Fae with unspeakable power, an heir to an entire kingdom, and a threat to those four ruthless supernaturals who are also in line to rule this world.  And I’m a twin. So she’s damned to the same fate too.

They want to hurt us. They want to break us. And they’ll stop at nothing to make us bow at their feet.

My Gemini sign meant little to me until now, but the stars rule this world. They define my Elemental magic, determine my nature and twist my will. But I’ve never bought into daily horoscopes, so I’m not gonna start now. I’ll determine my own fate. And I’m here for one thing and one thing alone: the inheritance my royal parents left in their wake.

There’s just one catch…

We have to graduate before it’s given to us. So until then, the heirs won’t stop fighting to get rid of us. And I have the awful feeling they don’t just want us gone, they want us dead.

[While it’s not quite Harry Potter, this is an insanely fun New Adult enemies-to-lovers romance which has wonderfully assertive heroines and great world-building. Another trope it features is teacher-student romance – the student is 18 – if you’re into that!]

#3. Stolen (Alpha’s Control #1) by Addison Cain

No one will take what’s his…

The Commodore stole her off the streets in broad daylight—the first Omega female discovered in Bernard Dome in generations. He took her with violence while none intervened. He broke her, swearing he’d put her back together.

Brenya Perin was ordered to submit.

Bernard Dome is the jewel of Europe, a bastion of art and culture, pleasure and decadence. But life in the city depends on the occupation chosen for you at birth. There is no subversion, no question of who rules. There is no freedom. And there is no interference from foreign Domes… until a new threat arrives from a distant continent. Shepherd’s right hand man, Jules.

Peace has a price, a price the Commodore of Bernard Dome is willing to pay… so long as the rare Omega remains his.

[This is technically a sequel series to Cain’s bestselling Born to Be Bound books, but I prefer it to that series and it can be read as a standalone. It’s a dark, scorching Omegaverse romance featuring total power exchange, disturbing but incredibly memorable. For a few more details on Cain’s background and Omegaverse in general, click here.]

#4. Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

Willa Knight: Dweller. Slave. Non-magical being.

In Minatsol, being a dweller means that you are literally no better than dirt. In fact, dirt might actually be more useful than Willa. Her life will be one of servitude to the sols, the magic-blessed beings who could one day be chosen to become gods.

At least her outer village is far removed from the cities of the sols, and she won’t ever be forced to present herself to them… Until one small mistake changes everything, and Willa is awarded a position to serve at Blesswood, the top sol academy in the world—a position that she definitely did not earn.

Under the sudden, watchful eye of the gods, she will be tasked to serve the Abcurse brothers, five sols built of arrogance, perfection and power. They are almost gods themselves, and under their service she is either going to end up sentenced to death, or else they are going to ruin her so badly that she will wish for it.

Either way, she is in trouble.

[An absolutely hilarious series; I love how it actively undermines a lot of romance cliches. Note: the heroine ends up with more than one hero. See here for a fuller explanation. The series straddles the line between YA and NA, becoming more explicit in later books.]

#5. Air and Ash (Tides #1) by Alex Lidell

After a lifetime of training, seventeen-year-old Princess Nile Greysik, a lieutenant on the prestigious Ashing navy flagship, sails into battle with one vital mission—and fails.

Barred from the sea and facing a political marriage, Nile masquerades as a common sailor on the first ship she can find. With a cowardly captain, incompetent crew, and a cruel, too-handsome first officer intent on making her life a living hell, Nile must hide her identity while trying to turn the sorry frigate battleworthy. Worse, a terrifying and forbidden magic now tingles in Nile’s blood. If anyone catches wind of who Nile is or what she can do, her life is over.

But when disaster threatens the ship, Nile may have no choice but to unleash the truth that will curse her future.

[Astonishingly good world-building and a deeply satisfying romance. Reminscient of Tamora Pierce. This one is YA.]

#6. Wicked Ugly Bad (A Kinda Fairytale #1) by Cassandra Gannon

Scarlett Riding is NOT an ugly stepsister. Cinderella is the evil one in the family and Letty is determined to prove it. Unfortunately, that’s kinda hard to do from behind bars. After the debacle at the ball, Letty and her sister Dru were dragged off to the Wicked, Ugly and Bad Mental Health Treatment Center and Maximum Security Prison. While Cindy’s planning her dream wedding, her two stepsisters are being forced to endure life in the dreariest dungeon in the land.

Luckily, Letty has a plan to change that unhappy ending. If she can just get to Prince Charming and prove the glass slipper doesn’t fit Cinderella’s foot, she can reclaim her life. In order to do that, though, she needs to convince The Big Bad Wolf to lend a hand in organizing a jailbreak.

Marrok Wolf isn’t sure what to make of the idealistic redhead in his group therapy sessions. With fifty counts of Badness on his criminal record, Marrok’s used to being surrounded by crooks and scumbags. Scarlett wants to lecture him about equal rights for trolls! When the little do-gooder comes up with an elaborate plan to break their entire “share circle” out of prison, though, Marrok is certainly willing to go along with the plot. And not just because he wants to see her naked. The woman may not be wicked, ugly, or Bad, but she’s definitely the only one who can save him.

Together with a wicked witch, a timid bridge ogre, an evil prince, and other villains straight out of a storybook, Scarlett and Marrok are about to make sure that Baddies finally have a happily ever after.

[A wonderfully funny adult spin on Little Red Riding Hood, and one of the best romances anywhere – let alone KU. Gannon deserves a lot more attention than she gets.]

#7. Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee Smith

He ascended from the darkness years ago—Azrael the Eternal, Azrael the Undying, Azrael Who Is Death—bringing with him the black rains, the fires, the souring of the sky, and the Eaters. Now he rules in the walled city of Haven with his favored Children and his dead court, while all that is left of the living struggles to survive in the ruins of a world that used to be their own. But even as extinction looms, humanity will never surrender to their monstrous conqueror.

For Lan, this brutal life has been the only one she’s ever known, but she still believes it can change. If the war can never truly end until the Eaters are ended, she will go to Haven, to Azrael himself, and demand he end them. To her surprise, she does not immediately die the hero’s death she expected. Instead, Azrael offers her a chance to convince him, and all she has to do is submit herself to the chill embrace of the lord of the Land of the Beautiful Dead.

[This book is very hard to describe. It’s part psychological horror, part dystopian romance, part fantasy. I have never read a hero like this one. It’s very long, and not a feel-good book, but so unforgettable that I return compulsively. Hands-down one of the best Kindle Unlimited romance books out there.]

Best Kindle Unlimited Romance Books: Paranormal Romance

#8. The Baker’s Guide to Risky Rituals (Sweet Pea Mysteries #1) by Kathryn Moon

Josie Benoit, gourmet patissier and kitchen witch, may not be a Sweet Pea native but she’s made the small town her home and she intends on keeping it that way. When trouble rolls into town on the seats of shining motorcycles, and the safety of her home and her own reputation are put at risk, Josie bands together with her coven to protect her world from a dark influence.

If only that dark influence wasn’t so deliciously handsome.

King Beleth is not a demon to be trifled with. Leader of the Hell’s Bells MC and one of the great warlords of the Bowels, Beleth takes pride in his work and has the patience of a… man who knows what is best is worth waiting for. Known as Bell—to his friends, which you are not—he’s come to Sweet Pea to dismantle the core of good at the heart of the little town. But upon arrival he discovers three things that might just get in the way of his work:

Sweet Pea is more disgustingly adorable than they were warned. The town has a coven of witches protecting it. He’s developing a sweet tooth.

[A funny, not-totally-cosy paranormal romance mystery. Features a heroine with Haitian roots who practises voodoo; great insight into non-European cultural systems!]

#9. The Unlikeable Demon Hunter (Nava Katz #1) by Deborah Wilde

Nava Katz cares about two things: perfecting the art of being a hot mess and her hard-working twin brother. But she accidentally torches his life-long dream when she disrupts his induction into a secret demon-hunting fraternity and steals his destiny.

Horrified she’s now expected to take his place, Nava is faced with something she never wanted: a purpose.

The society isn’t cool with a woman in their ranks and teams her with a surly but smoking-hot ex-rock star to keep her in line. Too bad he’s exactly what Nava’s always wanted: the perfect bad boy fling with no strings attached, because a hook-up with him is as dangerous as the vengeful demon out for blood–her brother’s.

And Nava’s the only one who can save him.

Odds of survival: meh.

Odds of a good time before she bites it: much better.

[A snarky, kickass heroine paired with an Indian hero, enmeshed in Jewish mythology. What more could you want? Admittedly I have some issues with the way the romance develops in later books, but this first installment is gold.]

#10. A Dead and Stormy Night (Nevermore Bookshop Mysteries #1) by Steffanie Holmes

After being fired from her fashion internship in New York City, Mina Wilde decides it’s time to reevaluate her life. She returns to the quaint English village where she grew up to take a job at the local bookshop, hoping that being surrounded by great literature will help her heal from a devastating blow.

But Mina soon discovers her life is stranger than fiction – a mysterious curse on the bookshop brings fictional characters to life in lust-worthy bodies. Mina finds herself babysitting Poe’s raven, making hot dogs for Heathcliff, and getting IT help from James Moriarty, all while trying not to fall for the three broken men who should only exist within her imagination.

When Mina’s ex-best friend shows up dead with a knife in her back, she’s the chief suspect. She’ll have to solve the murder if she wants to clear her name. Will her fictional boyfriends be able to keep her out of prison?

[Another reverse harem romance, this time where the heroes are characters from English literature. Holmes pulls it off impressively well – much better than I expected; it’s funny, sexy, and sweet. There is also a disabled heroine (she’s going blind).]

#11. Rhapsodic (The Bargainer #1) by Laura Thalassa

Callypso Lillis is a siren with a very big problem, one that stretches up her arm and far into her past. For the last seven years she’s been collecting a bracelet of black beads up her wrist, magical IOUs for favors she’s received. Only death or repayment will fulfill the obligations. Only then will the beads disappear.

Everyone knows that if you need a favor, you go to the Bargainer to make it happen. He’s a man who can get you anything you want … at a price. And everyone knows that sooner or later he always collects.

But for one of his clients, he’s never asked for repayment. Not until now. When Callie finds the fae king of the night in her room, a grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye, she knows things are about to change. At first it’s just a chaste kiss—a single bead’s worth—and a promise for more.

For the Bargainer, it’s more than just a matter of rekindling an old romance. Something is happening in the Otherworld. Fae warriors are going missing one by one. Only the women are returned, each in a glass casket, a child clutched to their breast. And then there are the whispers among the slaves, whispers of an evil that’s been awoken.

If the Bargainer has any hope to save his people, he’ll need the help of the siren he spurned long ago. Only, his foe has a taste for exotic creatures, and Callie just happens to be one.

[While I didn’t find this NA paranormal romance to quite live up to my expectations, it’s still well-written with an intriguing premise.]

Best Kindle Unlimited Romance Books: Contemporary Romance

#12. Fear Me (Broken Love #1) by B.B. Reid

I don’t believe in fairy tales and Prince Charming.

I believe in fear.

He taught me how to be afraid.

We first met on a playground on a wonderful summer day. It was the first time he hurt me and it wouldn’t be the last. For ten years, he’s been my tormentor and I’ve been his forbidden. But then he went away, and yet I was still afraid.

Now he’s back and wants more than just my tears. You see…he thinks I sent him away so now he wants revenge…and he knows just how to get it.

[Warning: a dark enemies-to-lovers romance. While the writing is a little stilted at times, and there are plenty of grammatical errors, I found myself unwittingly sucked into the engrossing plot.] 

#13. Ruthless Knight (Royal Hearts Academy #2) by Ashley Jade

Cole Covington is the most popular heartbreaker at school. Every guy wants to be him and every girl wants to screw him. Except me. His devastatingly good looks, golden arm, and flirty smiles don’t do it for me anymore…because I know what’s lurking underneath the star quarterback’s gorgeous armor.

At least I thought I did.

Sometimes the most beautiful people…hide the ugliest truths. And sometimes the only way to save someone… is to walk beside them through hell. _ Sawyer Church is the bible-thumping nerd of Royal Hearts Academy. Girls pick on her and guys don’t notice her. Except me. Sweet, curvy, and sarcastic, she’s impossible to ignore. No matter how much I try. Everyone at school has her pegged as the chubby, Jesus loving geek, but unlike them—Sawyer’s real and never pretends to be someone she’s not.

Until I ask her to be my fake girlfriend.

Sometimes the most beautiful souls…hide the greatest pain. And sometimes the only way to save someone… is to fight for them.

[I promise this is much, much better than the blurb might suggest. It features a plus-sized heroine who’s confident in her beliefs and doesn’t let the hero (who’s incidentally half-Indian) walk all over her. I was really impressed with the way the author tackled some of the heavy issues in this book, namely drug abuse and body-image issues. The prose is a little overwrought at times and I loathed the first installment in the series, but this book is awesome.]

#14. Untouchable by Sam Mariano

Senior year was off to a rough start: lube in my locker, panties on my front porch, unimaginative name-calling. See, I got a player suspended from the football team for harassing me, and in my small Texas town, you don’t mess with the football players—even if they mess with you first.

I didn’t care if it was an unpopular thing to do; I stood up for myself… and in doing so, opened Pandora’s Box.

I never dreamed I would attract the attention of locally worshipped star quarterback, Carter Mahoney. Never imagined his coveted attention would turn out to be such a nightmare. Beneath his carefully constructed façade lurks a monster, a predator looking for the perfect prey to play with. Now, since I’m the girl no one likes or believes, I guess I’m the perfect target for his dark games and twisted desires.

After surviving my first encounter with his casual depravity, all I really want is for Carter to leave me alone.

But all he seems to want is me.

[Warning: this is a very dark, though very emotional and well-written, ‘bully romance.’]

#15. Heart Thief (Black Market Billionaire #1) by Skylar Sweeney

Billionaire Rex Bennett broke my heart, and now I’m coming for his—for real this time. My greatest enemy stole a miracle heart from its maker, and I’m going undercover as his Sexy Secretary to take it back, at least if his offers to fondle his gun and spice up his coffee don’t drive me to the wild side first.

Rex shattered my heart years ago, and I was sure it would never beat the same… until a single kiss from the man I despise pieced it back together. Do I stay true to my vengeance and steal the heart he needs to survive or do I succumb to passion and allow the maker of the heart to die?

[This debut novel is a little rough around the edges, but there’s an original premise + hilarious banter between the protagonists!]

#16. More than Enough (Postgrad #1) by Bria Felicien

All Jamila wants to do is figure out this “adulthood” thing. Step 1: Find a new job.

With his second career about to begin, TJ is ready to settle down. Step 1: Start dating again.

When TJ and Jamila meet, they don’t know what to do with each other. Other than complicate everything.

#17. The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata

Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing. She shouldn’t feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she’s beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn’t find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He’s asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

[Zapata’s books are famed for being emotionally-intense, slow-burn romances. While my personal favourite is Under Locke, this is worth a read too.]

#18. The Kingmaker (All the King’s Men #1) by Kennedy Ryan

Power. Passion. Betrayal.

Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.

My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, I’m determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and will do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.

And neither will I.

[Some great diversity here – the heroine is a member of Yavapai-Apache Nation, and the culture constitutes a large element of the book.]

#19. Giving Chase (Havenwood #1) by Riley Hart

KELLAN I wasn’t supposed to fall for my older brother’s best friend. Unfortunately, that ship sailed when I was a teenager, even though Chase Hawthorne always treated me like nothing more than a younger sibling. Things were worse after my parents died. Chase was sweet and supportive, which only strengthened my feelings for him. But then he’d act like I couldn’t take care of myself, and that part didn’t go over well with me. Yeah, I had a habit of screwing up. I’d always been the weird boy in our small town, but just like my big brother, he took overprotective to a new level. Until one night when I was eighteen and Chase and I hooked up. It was a ding to the ego that he left town right afterward. Ridiculously, I’m still not over him.

CHASE I betrayed my best friend, Griffin, the night I messed around with Kellan. So I ran–first to the Marines, then into law enforcement. Ten years later, I’m back home, this time as a patrol officer rather than a troublemaker’s son. Oh, and unable to keep my hands off Kellan Caine. There’s always been something about him…the way he stands strong in who he is, even when he’s standing alone. I’m trapped between someone I want more than anything and Griff, the guy who’s like family to me. Yet the more time I spend with Kellan, the harder it becomes to deny there’s something real between us.

With my dad stirring up trouble, and me going behind my best friend’s back, everything’s a mess. The more tangled the web gets, the more I realize I need Kellan. And that there might be something in the Hawthorne family history that’ll make me lose both Kellan and Griffin for good.

#20. Permanent Ink (Art & Soul #1) by Piper Vaughn & Avon Gale

At twenty-three, graffiti artist Poe Montgomery is going nowhere fast. His second chance comes in the form of a job offer from his father’s best friend, Jericho McAslan, owner of a popular tattoo shop, Permanent Ink.

Between their age gap, tension with Poe’s father, Poe’s struggles to focus, and Jericho’s determination to keep their relationship strictly professional, their chance at love seems as fleeting as a tattoo stencil.

But when Poe makes his deepest desires abundantly clear, Jericho can no longer resist their burning attraction or the idea of his own fantasies becoming reality. If they can find a way to rewrite their rocky start, they might have a chance at transforming their temporary arrangement into something that lasts forever.

[A cute May-December romance featuring a bisexual hero and some daddy kink.]

#21. The Sergeant (Cuffs, Collars, and Love #1) by Christa Tomlinson

Sergeant Logan Pierce: He leads his squad with cool efficiency, taking down rough criminals while keeping his team safe. But behind closed doors he sets a darker part of himself free. As a Dom, he’s controlled many submissives, but never had one for his own. That’s because there’s only one man he wants: Officer Clay Foster.

Officer Clay Foster: Over the years he’s noticed his Sergeant’s secretly admiring glances and suspected his attraction. One night, with one kiss, he’s proven correct. Clay dives headlong into the rough passion of BDSM that Logan introduces him to. He submits to Logan’s control, accepting the sweet shackles that bind him to his Sergeant. But secrets, both his and Logan’s, force him to leave the newfound safety of his Dom’s arms.

Logan refuses to let go of what he’s wanted for so long, Clay as his own, proudly wearing his collar. Can he safely guide Clay through the obstacles that separate them until he can claim his submissive once more?

#22. Call the Coroner (Staniel #1) by Avril Ashton

A clash of wills between predators…

He’s been living underground for a long time, but the only thing guaranteed to bring Daniel Nieto back to the surface is the identity of his wife’s killer. With the whisper of one name, he puts it all on the line for vengeance. He’s got plans for Stavros Konstantinou.

The title of monster fits too well for Stavros to want to be anything other than what he is. Time spent in Daniel Nieto’s dungeon, chained and tortured, will never change that. Starved of food, sunlight, and freedom, he waits for an opening to turn the tables on the only man who’s ever come close enough to scare him.

Somewhere between the slide of knife against skin, and the drip of blood on cold concrete, things change. Grief and hatred collide with lust and obsession, and this time Daniel and Stavros are on the same side. This time, they’re fighting a losing battle against a connection forged by much more than a love of violence and bloodshed.

In a war this bloodied, what do you do when the bodies start hitting the floor?

[Warning: a very dark M/M romance.]

#23. Nothing Special by A.E. Via

Detective Cashel ‘Cash’ Godfrey is big, tattooed and angry so people typically keep their distance. He’s fresh out of the police academy, however, no one is looking to partner with the six foot four beast with a huge chip on his shoulder and an inability to trust. When Cash scans the orientation room he wasn’t expecting to find sexy hazel eyes locked onto him. Eyes of the handsome Detective Leonidis ‘Leo’ Day.

Leo is charming, witty, hilariously sarcastic and the only one that can make Cash smile. He’s proud, out and one bad-ass detective.

Together Cash and Leo become the most revered and successful narcotics detectives Atlanta’s ever seen. Able to communicate and understand each other, without even having to voice it, they quickly climb up the promotional ranks.

When Cash saves Leo’s life in a raid that turns deadly, Leo begins to see something in the big man that no one else does…something special. But Leo fears he’ll never break through the impenetrable wall that protects Cash’s heart.

#24. Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1) by L.J. Shen

Emilia They say love and hate are the same feelings experienced under different circumstances, and it’s true. The man who comes to me in my dreams also haunts me in my nightmares. He is a brilliant lawyer. A skilled criminal. A beautiful liar. A bully and a savior, a monster and a lover. Ten years ago, he made me run away from the small town where we lived. Now, he came for me in New York, and he isn’t leaving until he takes me with him.

Vicious She is a starving artist. Pretty and evasive like cherry blossom. Ten years ago, she barged into my life unannounced and turned everything upside down. She paid the price. Emilia LeBlanc is completely off-limits, my best friend’s ex-girlfriend. The woman who knows my darkest secret, and the daughter of the cheap Help we hired to take care of our estate. That should deter me from chasing her, but it doesn’t. So she hates me. Big fucking deal. She better get used to me.

#25. Six of Hearts (Hearts #1) by L.H. Cosway

When Jay Fields, world-renowned illusionist, walks into her dad’s law firm Matilda is struck speechless. Not only is he one of the most attractive and charismatic men she’s ever met, he’s also a mystery to be solved.

Jay wants to sue a newspaper for defamation, but all is not what it seems. Matilda is determined to discover the true story behind Jay, however, when he becomes an unexpected roommate, she is not ready for how he will wheedle his way into her affections and steal her heart.

The man is a mystery wrapped in an enigma, and though she can’t yet see the bigger picture, Matilda can’t resist following along for the thrilling and heart-stopping ride.

[A bit of a fever dream of a book, full of tricks and illusions.]

#26. Titanium (Breathless #1) by Anna Katmore

My world shattered when I met my match.

I pride myself on keeping control of everything. Always. My only weakness?Reckless challenges. After losing my car to the new street racer in town, Sebastian gives me a chance to get it back. His condition: two hours in my playroom. No safewords allowed. While I only ever do girls in there, I accept. And when he kisses me, I reach my fucking limits.

Once in a lifetime, you meet a unicorn.

Raffael is pure Nordic ice. Controlled. Determined. And drop-dead gorgeous. Winning his car was a lucky strike. Winning his heart when he’s so afraid of the truth, turns out to be the hardest challenge I’ve ever raced to complete.

[While this an adult M/M romance, Katmore really excels at YA contemporary romcom. Her Grover Beach High series is also on KU and I highly recommend it!

#27. The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar

They say it takes twenty-one days to form a habit. They lie.

For twenty-one days she held on. But on Day Twenty-two, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.

Because on Day Twenty-two, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

#28. Melt for You (Slow Burn #2) by J.T. Geissinger

Socially awkward Joellen Bixby has a date every Saturday—with her cat, a pint of ice cream, and fantasies of the way-too-handsome Michael Maddox. She’d give anything to win over the unattainable CEO of her firm, but how can she when she blends in so well with her cubicle? The answer may be closer than she thinks.

Cameron McGregor is a cocky, tattooed Scottish rugby captain who just moved in next door. He’s not Jo’s type—at all—but the notorious playboy is offering to teach the wallflower everything he knows about inspiring desire. Though a lot of women have rumpled Cam’s kilt, Jo is special. Far from the ugly duckling she thinks she is, in Cam’s eyes she’s sharp, funny, and effortlessly sexy. Now, thanks to him, Jo is blooming with confidence and has the man of her dreams within reach.

Unfortunately for Cam, he’s just helped to push the woman of his dreams into the arms of another man—and now he’s in the fight of his life to keep this beauty from getting away.

[SUCH a great book, with sizzling UST between the characters. Also one of my favourite tropes! Can be read as a standalone.]

#29. The V Girl by Mya Robarts

In post-apocalyptic North America two emerging nations are at war and sexual slavery is legal. Lila Velez desperately wants to lose her virginity before the troops visit her town and take it away by force. She makes plans to seduce her only friend. Lila does not love him, but he is the only man who has shown her true affection, an affection she is willing to take as a substitute for love.

Lila hides a secret that will bring her closer to Aleksey Fürst, a foreign, broody man who she distrusts because of his links to the troops and his rough, yet irresistible appearance. He offers Lila an alternative to her plans, a possibility that terrifies her…and tempts her in spite of herself.

With threats looming at every turn and no way to escape, Lila fears that falling in love will only lead to more heartache. The consequences of laying down her arms for Aleksey and welcoming hope might destroy more than her heart. They might force her to face the worst of her nightmares becoming a reality. Is love possible in a world that has forgotten what the human touch is?

#30. Falling for a Knight (The Wild Knights #1) by Té Russ

While vacationing in Trinidad, world-renowned photographer Roman Knight unexpectedly acquires a new muse, Cynthia Tremaine. Their chemistry is off the charts and they can’t resist giving into a night of passion together.

Neither of them expected to see each other again after they parted ways…but fate seemed to have other plans.

See here for more recommended KU books!

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/30-best-kindle-unlimited-romance-books-available-right-now

[ecotone99]

Winston

“Winston?”

The century-old house towered over overgrown trees and dead shrubs in the moonlight. Matt wanted nothing to do with the long abandoned place, standing on the dirt lot in only his slippers and pj bottoms. Unfortunately, his dog, Winston, had run into the lot, escaping their own yard during a 2am potty break that had become routine in recent weeks.

Winston yelped from inside the back door that stood open. Matt was sure he had never seen any of the doors open since he lived in the neighborhood, and he had lived there his whole life. He considered going home, back to bed, to dream wholesome dreams and forget the gloomy house, but he loved that dog.

The steps creaked and groaned as Matt peeked into the door. An abandoned kitchen slept in disuse, empty shelves and layer of dust on everything.

“Winston?”

Whimpering — from upstairs.

“Damnit,” Matt whispered.

A doorway stood at the back of the kitchen. It was a narrow hallway that led to what must have been the dining room, and it had a small, winding staircase on the side. He took the staircase up, each footstep echoing through the empty house.

Upstairs, the front staircase was on the other end of a long hallway. Doors lined each side. A faint light came from a door in the middle.

Matt tiptoed to the middle room, the mystery of the light causing Winston to become a forgotten afterthought.

A gaslit lamp rested on a table near the back wall and filled the room with a soft yellow light. The table sat next to a baby crib.

He shuffled to the crib, quietly. Inside a tiny baby cooed and babbled, dressed in an old nightgown and cap. It had its eyes closed.

“What are you doing here little guy?” Matt asked and leaned in closer.

The baby opened its eyes and the blackness of its empty sockets stared at Matt. He hadn’t noticed that the baby’s skin was as dry and yellow as old newspaper. The baby pierced the silence of the house with a high pitched cry.

Matt stumbled backwards, losing a slipper, and fled to the hallway. He turned and froze.

A woman stood by the front staircase. The moonlight illuminated her long white dress and dark hair from the back, covering her face in shadow. Although she had the same eyeless sockets as the baby, she bared her rotted black teeth in fury, sensing an intruder.

She shrieked and lurched forward, hissing, groping along the wall, and reaching for Matt every few steps with long filthy fingers.

Matt stood still. His mind was mush and his legs were like cinder blocks.

The baby cried. It happened as the woman passed by the lit room. Her face eased. She turned and wobbled trancelike into the baby’s room.

Matt scrambled to the staircase, tumbled down, and tripped on the back stairs, falling face first into the dirt.

Winston licked his face.

submitted by /u/Vice-Monkey [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/shortscarystories/comments/eunloq/winston/ via Blogger https://ift.tt/2RUjZ41

[therebelwrites]

Protect Yo Damn Brand!!!

Consider yourself a company.

Every company/organization has branding standards. (Working at Target requires you to wear red and khaki; police officers have to wear standard uniforms; corporate jobs require business attire; working in customer service requires patience and people skills; being a mechanic requires knowledge of cars and a willingness to get dirty, etc.)

In order to live for greatness, maximize happiness, attain the life that you TRULY deserve and become the FULLEST version of yourself, you must (1) CREATE and (2) ADHERE TO the standards of your own brand.

Like a large, multinational corporation, you must NEVER deviate from the standards of your brand after they have been established. EVER! (On-duty police officers are never allowed to wear jeans or leggings (LMAO!!); Target employees can never wear yellow shirts; customer service workers can never yell at their customers; lawyers don’t get to wear slippers in court; military personnel can nerve wear long, unkempt hair.) To do any of these things would be grossly against the brand of the corporations being represented, thus, strictly forbidden.

Imagine what YOUR life would look like if you followed the same standards for your OWN brand as seriously as you do for the brand of your employer!

For example, TheRebelWrites does NOT fancy artificial waking mechanisms (alarm clocks LOL), so when choosing a company to which she will contract her skills for monetary compensation (who Ima work for and with and possible around), as well as a subject/place to teach the world’s children, she runs the potential client’s request through her rigorous branding standards.

As luck would have it, unfortunately waking up early 5 days a week to work for someone else is NOT in line with TheRebelWrite’s brand.

So projects requiring this time commitment are summarily introduced to and rejected by my CEO (me! LMAO!), as they are against brand standards.

And no one gets to create, alter or edit my brand standards but yours truly, just as I would not be allowed to wear a black shirt while working for Target.

This also applies to relationships, friendships, living situations, travel destinations--everything in life. (Does being in an abusive relationship comply with your brand’s standards? Does hanging around people with no motivation to achieve something greater? Does wearing cheap underwear? Does witnessing societal injustice? Does NOT taking action to manifest your dreams? Does eating fake ass cheese? (Broke or not, I buy REAL cheese!) Does living on a noisy street? Does being subjected to random drug testing? Does working in a toxic environment? Does living in a place that has no natural lighting? Does living in a cold, rainy city? Does working for pennies? Does always having to cover your tattoos and remove your piercings? Does never being able to express your true thoughts? Does traveling to a place with no green space???)

You see, once you have created your brand, you will realize that YOUR desires and brand are infinitely more important than those of some corporation...and it’s all UP from there!!! xD