#bluebell had been there for a long time because he was biting due to his blindness and people not warning him before they touched him

[agave]

thanks to the person who donated and said "to send bluebell to college" bluebell is dead but I'll be sending steve in his place, hope that's ok

[b0nten]

BLUEBELLS, MINE ONLY.

[SYNOPSIS] ˚⁀➷｡ albeit rarely, rindou overthinks, but then he just stops and doesn’t think at all.

[NOTES] ˚⁀➷｡ i hope you guys like this!! part 2 for BLUEBELLS, YOURS TRULY. had such a fun time writing this and it’s just a lil goofy fic for lil goofy rindou and my lil goofy rindou enjoyers i love every one of yall!!!!

[MENTIONS] ˚⁀➷｡ reader smokes (she lights one cigarette), got inspired by jjk at one point but i’m not spoiling you, just pure chaoticness tbh

you can’t remember the last time you’ve been so excited. maybe when you got your scholarship? or when rindou asked you to be his girlfriend? who knows, but right now, you feel like you’re about to explode. you try to ignore ran’s messages, acting all offended he didn’t know you had to leave, but even when reading them, you can’t help but giggle and laugh and think about your oh-so-perfect plan.

“what’s taking him so long, though?” you wonder, and light a small candle. it’s grapefruit, and ran gifted you, blabbering on about how citrus makes the kitchen fresher. in boredom, you also slip a cigarette out of the pack, and put it between your lips, gently biting down the filter. the sweet taste of the watermelon spreads across the cellulose and you set the tobacco ablaze. “he better move quickly”.

meanwhile, rindou curses with every small push he’s subjected to. of course roppongi station is packed right when he needs to get somewhere fast. and not only that, but he also fucking lost the last last metro because he had no way to push himself into the wagon. fuck the hibiya line, fuck the salarymen and fuck everyone: now he’s gonna smell like sweat while he pleads with you not to break up with him.

“next station, ebisu. please disembark on the right side.”

one more to stop. next one’s his. he’s so ready for this, so so so ready. he’s got his little speech all planned out in his notes app, and he knows it by heart already. you’re not getting away and he’s gonna make you stay. he feels the adrenaline rushing through his veins. he-

a loud noise, light shake of the train and the lights suddenly shutting startle him from his reverie as he hears some belongings drop. god, he can hear that annoying sound even with stuffy ears.

“you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” next, the sentence he’s been hoping not to hear echoes through the speakers.

we are terribly sorry to announce that the hibyia line is currently out of order due to technical difficulties. please stand by while we repair the train.

impossible. no, not today. please, god, let him do this one thing right. he can’t fuck this up today, have mercy on him. this one time only.

rindou exits the wagon, fingertips massaging at his forehead. he thinks positively, thinks wishfully, thinks pink and does calming exercises until, soon enough, he can no longer do so. so, him being him, being the youngest haitani, being impulsive, being the scare of roppongi and being rindou haitani, he just heads straight for the exit. once out, he bolts, and doesn’t look back: faster than in his extreme juvenile days, he runs so fast he makes the first 10-minute stretch in five. he doesn’t care for the people he pushes past, the ones that shoot him disapproving looks from the sidelines — he’s running the olympics — and he’s not about to give up. his medal’s just a little jog across the meguro river, that’s what he keeps repeating to himself.

and slowly, but for what feels like an eternity to him, but surely, he begins to recognize his surroundings — from the family mart around the yamate tunnel to the school support center — he sees them and starts to run faster. he reaches nakameguro in record time, and heads from the station straight to your apartment. he doesn’t care for the sunny weather or the overbearing heat or the nice surroundings that he always walks you home along, his goal is set straight.

he prays his legs won’t pass out on the way to 4-chome, where your apartment building resides, and pushes past everyone yet again. had someone looked at him attentively, they’d think he was some maniac running around to get his long-overdue heroin fix. ah, the duality of tokyo.

when he sees the familiar build, he sighs. “number 32, not really tall, grey, and large balconies full of greenery” he still quotes the text message you sent him, every single time he visits. it almost became a mantra these last years and it didn’t help that it all looks exactly the same, nothing having changed these last three years.

“haitani-kun! are you visiting y/n?” a familiar voice spooks him from behind. “oh, i’m sorry! did i startle you?”

turning around, he recognizes the owner of the voice.

“hasegawa-san! nice to see you!” he bows, and the little old lady just laughs. “yes, i am visiting y/n. how are you?”

smiling proudly at her correct guess, she signals him to the entrance. “i was out on a walk! but here, let me get you in.” scanning the magnet against the receptor, a small light flickers green and a mechanism does its thing behind the white plastic. rindou pushes the door with ease, allowing your neighbor to go in first.

“you don’t have to wait for me, i know that look when i see it.”

chizuru hasegawa. gosh, does he love that woman. she’s been your neighbor ever since you moved to 4-chome from your old apartment after a gas leak forced you out, and she’s been nothing but sweet and caring. she took care of you when rindou couldn’t: taught you how to cook (better), brought you meals during finals when you were not leaving your apartment because you had to study, helped you with commentaries for literature (rindou just sat there and listened, he liked reading soseki with you, but writing essays was too much for him) and overall acted like a sweet grandmother, ready to share advice with you whenever she saw something was bothering you during afternoon tea sessions on her balcony. hasegawa cared and still cares cautiously for the person he loves most, so he can’t help but love her too.

she was also a mistery. the wisest and most well-read person he’d ever come across, and he was sure there’s probably few to no other people that came close to her power of knowledge.

“look at me, rindou.” her voice is the same soft-spoken tune he knew, but it was still somehow threatening. almost like ran’s when he says “i’m not gonna be nice the second time around.”

“yes.” he gulps, and awaits for her next words.

“you look stressed, you think she’s gonna break up with you, don’t you?”he nods, “but you know she loves you too. and there’s no other person on this earth that y/n wants to spend her life with.”

a knot builds up in his stomach, and it’s like the reassurance he needed so badly for the last two weeks finally gives him closure. but still, how did she figure it out in … less than five minutes?!

“rindou, ” chizuru softly speaks again. “let me see the other ring.” once she points to the piece of jewelry, the boy’s eyes widen in disbelief and he clutches his necklace. shortly after, he rummages through his sweatpants’ pockets.

left, right, left, right, left, right.

with every vain grasp he feels his heart-pace quicken and the sweat forming beads everywhere on his forehead.

left, right, left, right, left, right.

“no, no, no way…” he touches every part of his body, trying to make sure he didn’t accidentally put the ring somewhere else, but when he reaches the verdict that yes, he’s probably lost it while he was running over here, his heart shatters and he is disappointed in himself.

head lowering and salt-water lining his waterline, he covers his face in frustration. it’s like the world fell on his back and now it refuses to get off.

“you’ve made this so much easier for me!” she laughs and rindou’s face drops lower than before. hasegawa reaches into her hand-bag and takes out a small, red, velvet box. when she opens it, rindou’s mouth somehow falls agape yet again.

it’s two rings, they’re insanely beautiful, only they seem to be inside out — the inner parts have intricate kanji engraved all upon them, adorned with a few beautiful stones, leveled nicely into the metal, while the outside is simple, brass, still shiny albeit obvious years of not being worn or cared for at all.

“you know, i once had someone like you.” the old woman sighs, “when i was young, i met a very nice boy. and to make a long story short, i lost him due to some unfortunate circumstances.” she pauses before speaking again, “y/n is the daughter i never had, and when i look at her and then look at you, i see us. me and.. the first boy i fell in love with.”

a shiver runs down his spine, hoping she still continues the story.

“you see, rindou… evil spirits are more than evil, they’re malefic, to put it nicely.” the boy tilts his head to the right. “they’re like a pest, only they don’t really die. they’re always gonna be around. tell me, you haven’t been sleeping, right?”

“yeah.”

“and for two weeks, wow, that’s a lot.”

he thinks he’s dreaming. what is happening?

“and you feel like your ears are blocked, am i right?” he nods again, “and if i may guess correctly, you either have dreams of someone smashing your head, or y/n’s. and you wake up with a roaring headache. aaaand.. a lot of intrusive thoughts?”

“hasegawa-san, how do you know all that?”

“change out the ring with this one.” she instructs and rindou, though sheepishly, slides his golden ring off the chain and replaces it with the other.

“why.. ” he looks at the woman, “why did my ears unstuff?”

she simply laughs, and swats her palm around in the air. “i’ll tell you when you’re older. now, go.” she puts the box in his right hand and gently folds his left one over it.

he looks at her with eyes full of hope. whatever the hell is up with this woman, he doesn’t know. and frankly, he doesn’t want to. for the first time ever, he feels somewhat scared of a person who has no way of tackling him in a fight.

she nods, and that’s rindou’s signal to sprint up the stairs. luckily the building isn’t tall, so the fifth floor — the one you live on — is just a few skips of stairs away.

when he reaches the door, he knocks. not once, not twice, tens of times, like he’s a broken machine.

“rin!” you greet him, “ho-”

“marry me.” he’s not asking you.

your jaw hits the floor. he’s just as surprised, why should he lie to himself?

“marry me, y/n.” clumsily, he gets down on one knee and opens the box. your hands cover your mouth once you see the ring. “i don’t care if you want to break up with me for the time you’re going back home, i don’t care if you want to break up with me because of some other reason, because i don’t want to. it doesn’t have to be this year, or next or the next three or five. whenever you want is fine. just—”

“of course i’m not breaking up with you, you dumbass!” you exclaim, offended. you look to the side, cheeks flushed and smile begging to rip your cheeks apart, “yes.”

“w-what?” rindou stutters. he couldn’t even comprehend that he’s asked you to marry him, yet alone that you’ve said yes.

“oh my god, get up already!” you pull him up by his shirt, and then down, close to your face. “yes, i’m gonna marry you. i don’t know for sure if this year, or next or in three or in five, but i’ll definitely marry you.” you parrot his little speech, giddy and delighted.

he takes the ring out of the box, and slides it on your finger. then, CRASH. his lips come down on yours mindlessly, and he holds your entire body so close to his, as if you’d fall apart into a million shards and disappear any minute now. and his head feels lighter and he guesses that whatever hasegawa may have done with those rings, they’re also probably gonna make his nightmares go away too.

“you’re coming with me.” you break the kiss to make space for announcement.

“what?” rindou malfunctions, “you weren’t gonna break up with me?”

“no, rin. i just wanted to get you pumped but that took a very wrong turn, apparently. you’re coming home with me, this summer.”

oh, bless his little heart.

🏷️ taglist @sirachano0dles @idktbhloley thank you for reading <3

[queeniecook]

April 12

A lot had happened in Jillian Ambrose’s life in the past month. On the positive side, she had gotten a small raise at work and best of all, she and Dakota have grown closer. They are officially dating but still taking things slow. She is also getting paid to housesit for Vera and Caleb.

Jillian has felt a bit of a challenge taking care of Bluebell and the chickens but has actually been enjoying it. It’s kind of surprised her how much she is actually enjoying it.

The negative has been James’ reveal of Liberty Lee. Even though it has impacted Caleb and Vera the most, it’s also rippled over to her and Dakota’s lives. Dakota is extremely suspicious of James. He’s made it his personal mission to track the warlock’s activities. She’s tried her best to help him with her medium abilities but it hasn’t been much. She personally don’t like the guy.  She doesn’t know why but James’ seems to really dislike her. It doesn’t make sense to her.

Thankfully, Vera doesn’t mind Dakota stopping in to visit Jillian from time to time. In fact, Vera has encouraged it – as long as Jillian promises not to maul Dakota in the Grant-Vatore home.

They had just finished eating some omelets and making flirty eyes at each other when Dakota spoke.

“You’ve been a bit quiet today.” He comments.

Jillian bites her lip before nodding slightly. “I’ve been thinking about my house fire in Strangerville. It’s been playing over and over in my head the past few days. It’s just so weird that Temperance wanted to kill me. It’s almost like it came out of nowhere.”

Dakota nods his head, listening. He’s found it odd too.

“I mean, I interacted with her slightly during the challenge but there was nothing that would of made her want to kill me. If anything, she seemed more annoyed with Branson and Neia for being romantic with each other.” Jillian said, thinking out loud. There has to be a missing puzzle piece somewhere.

Their conversation shifted to Dakota’s father as time went on. They had been told through Jillian’s other side connections via her crystal ball that Thaddeus Laws is not on the other side. She had tried to get more answers in the magic realm but someone had interfered with her ritual. She had walked away with welts on her skin due to it, thankfully Dakota had seen what was happening and stopped things from progressing further.

“I’m not getting anywhere with my contacts. I’ve had this feeling since I really came into my powers that he’s alive.” Dakota tells her. 

Jillian thinks about the warm motherly presence she felt the last time. She hadn’t felt her before, the spirit seemed like she really wanted to help. “I could try getting in touch with the spirit I felt in the realm again.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt.” Dakota said almost immediately after she stopped talking. 

Jillian reaches over and grasps Dakota’s hand. “I think we both know the only reason that happened was because of James. He had to be the one that interfered. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

“I think it was him as well. He was there, it had to be him. I just don’t understand why.” Dakota comments, slowly rubbing her fingers with his own. 

“I don’t know why but that guy hates me.” Jillian states, enjoying the feeling of Dakota’s skin on her own. 

Eventually they move away from the table and the conversation. They wash the dishes and go to the living room to watch a movie.

[liquid-luck-00]

Queen Marinette

Queen Marinette

Here is a ~2000 word song fic that I wrote in place of working on my ongoing fics hope you guys like it.

I saw a post a while ago where Damian would call Mari Queen/Your Majesty as she was a princess, but i cant find the post anymore but the idea stuck so here we are.

~~~~~~~~~~

The League of Assassins also known as the League of Shadows is one of the Earth's best kept secret society second to Themiscyra home of the Amazons and Atlantis of the Atlantans. However there is one that only a handful know and whispers of their existence are mythical in the cosmos. Only known to the head families, or rulers, of Themiscyra, Atlantis, and the League of Assassins.

That would be the Kingdom at Miraculi.

Marinette is anything but a normal girl. She is the crowned princess of Miraculi as well as being the reincarnation of the goddess Tikki. She is creation herself, but on top of that she was blessed by the other gods as well, meaning she is able to wield their gifts as well. She is Princess Marinette Dawntreader of Miraculi.

But right now she wants to be anywhere but the palace. At the age of eight she just met her betrothed and let's just say he did not make a good first impression.

In front of her stood Damian Al Ghul the heir of Demons and next head of the league of shadows. The league is the guard of Miraculi, ensuring that the existence of the Kingdom remains peaceful and in turn the Kingdom of Miraculi supplies the magic of the Lazarus Pit. The concealment of Themiscyra and Atlantans able to survive under water are other blessings provided by Miraculi. But back to the pain on hand, Damian Al Ghul.

"Tt. you really do look the part of a princess" she was in a long flowing dress with long sleeves as she had finished her classes for the day. "Fragile and helpless."

"Yes and you appear as a demon" she shot back. "self-absorbed and arrogant" she turned on her heel "keep up little Prince" she called over her shoulder.

They got to know each other better but he was always so cold and distant. But they grew to love each other. Damian left to be with his father when they were 10, but they still stayed in contact. Then when they were 13 she got news that broke her heart, Damian was dead.

She couldn't stay in the Kingdom without remembering him. She needed distance and new scenery wouldn’t hurt. So she brought it up to her parents, and they were reluctant, but Diana Princess of Themiscyra brought up the solution Marinette would be staying with Sabine Cheng, an Amazon who was granted leave of Themiscyra , and her husband Tom Dupain.

That was how she found herself in Paris as an 8th year introducing herself as Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

That was how she also met Adrien Agreste. He was kind and sweet. He was new to school life just as she was new to life outside of Miraculi.

But not long afterwards did Lila Rossi enroll at Du Ponte.

With a quick search on google revealed most of her tales to be just that, fiction.

Adrien and Mari dated for two years before he ended the relationship. It was because she

wouldn't stop trying to reveal Lila's lies. That it was hurting his image that he was seen with her. That if only they knew the truth it would be enough. Well, fine, goodbye Adrien was her only thought. Her head held high.

Cross my heart and hope to die

I don't need another guy

To fight my battles, to overshadow me

Don't ya know I'm dangerous?

Fire burnin' in my blood

I got this handled, I don't need rescuin'

Unfortunately for him she didn't stop trying to get her class to see the truth.

A side effect of the liar's influence was that she was ostracized from the rest of the class.

But that wasn't a priority. Miraculi was going to become public. So she had a revealing ceremony to prepare for.

But before that she was asked to join as a joint member of the Teen Titians and Young Justice.

She was to meet with the two teams at Mt. Justice so she was looking for Kaldur, Aqualad, as she exited the building.

She was making her way towards him when she heard it.

"Princess" Adrien called and pulled her to look at him.

You can call me a princess all you like

'Cause you love to keep me helpless by your side

But that ain't what I want, I'ma show you

"Can I do something for you Agreste?" she asked as calmly as she could. "Because if not I am meeting a friend I haven't seen in ages."

"Just make up with Lila" he started "she isn't hurting anyone. And when you do everyone will be your friend again."

She smiled and noticed Kaldur closer than before. "Kaldur good to see you again how was your flight?" Adrien turned to see who she was talking to, and Kaldur after a second of shock responded.

"Uneventful, is everything set?" he asked giving her a way out.

"Yes" Mari answered "Sorry Adrien, another time"

"B- 02 Aqualad, B- 34 Omni"

She was in a black formfitting sleeveless top that rose to form a mask covering her face to her nose. Dark red combat boots that were tucked into black motorbike pants. A red belt with a forest green sash that faintly resembled a skirt just under it. Her gloves and arm guards were black and grey, and all over were golden accents. Her hair was cut short and was pitch black and her eyes were a golden color with flecks of green. (Outfit)

After quick introductions she noticed him, Robin of the Teen Titians, was standoffish but was familiar oh so familiar. Then she saw his hand twitch towards his sword and tapped the butt of the hilt twice before dropping his hand.

That was all the confirmation she needed. As everything fell into place.

That little jerk.

Batman asked for her to spar, to assess her combat skills. As she predicted Robin stepped in to be her partner.

She pulled two red batons from the small of her back and they began. Yes they were evenly matched but then she decided to mess with him. She turned back time to feign a right but ducked and swept his legs from under him. With him distracted she created a Mirage of herself and another to make herself invisible. She snuck up behind him used venom to freeze him and flip his cape over his head while her Mirage took his sword.

"Tt. unfreeze me" he practically growled she noticed almost everyone flinch and took a step back.

"You sure that's what you want, while I have your sword?" she taunted. She noticed a few shot her looks of sympathy. Odd. As Robin stayed quiet. "Fine" she dropped venom and he charged "Have it your way little Prince."

She jumped and he seemed to freeze mid charge but she didn't. She created a shell-ter around him.

Which he crashed into. He stood up and was gaping at her.

She dropped shell-ter and was making a few final decisions with Batman, while Robin still hadn't moved 30 minutes later and his mouth still agape. By this time Nightwing had come over.

"I think you broke little wing" he chuckled.

"You think so." she responded with a slight question. "Close your mouth your going to catch flies Al Ghul."

"Yes, Your Majesty" he finally snapped out of his stupor.

She saw Nightwing and Batman share a look and then look between the two of them.

I'ma show you

How to treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

So treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

They explained the role of Miraculi in the world. How they had met and knew one another. Their engagement and finally the reopening of the Kingdom to the world. By now she dropped her transformation, meaning her eyes were back to bluebell and her hair was a midnight blue, and the bats had taken off their masks.

Then an idea hit.

"Your plotting something" Damian snapped her out of her planning.

"Plotting makes it seem malicious" she paused "I'm planning."

"I'll bite, what are you planning?" Nightwing, Dick as he introduced, asked.

"How would you like to come to my coronation and be some of the first outsiders in Miraculi?" she responded.

Eyes on me like I'm a prize

But you better recognize

I'm not your angel 'cause I belong to me

You can call me a princess all you like

'Cause you love to keep me helpless by your side

But that ain't what I want, I'ma show you

As she guessed the news of Miraculi opening up was all the news was covering. The hidden Kingdom known only by the Amazons and Atlantans, officially, was all everyone was talking about.

The fact that the opening was set for the coronation of the princess added to the suspense.

About a month before our teacher had news. "Due to a special invitation our class has been invited to attend the Princess’ coronation in Miraculi" that was when the class erupted.

In a week Lila convinced everyone she personally asked the Princess to invite the class as a favor to her. That she grew up in the castle with her and was made a lady in waiting. Two weeks until the coronation, she asked Damian to tweet that 'he can't wait to see his best friend again in Miraculi.’ Which caused a small discourse with a boy called Jon Kent of how he was Damian's best friend. Where he answered with 'female best friend. Better Kent' That Lila used to say it was her, and that he only used best friend instead of girlfriend.

I'ma show you

How to treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

So treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

The week before they left to Miraculi, in order to show them around. Before landing Mari changed into an emerald green dress with a mandarin collar. A jacket and belt with a duster in a dark silver trimmed with gold and matching gloves. Her hair was in a side braid and a thin golden circlet on her brow. A few of her classmates glared at her but she didn't pay them any attention. (Outfit)

She was the last out of the airport and you could feel the tension in the air. Lila was spouting some nonsense to the guards that were sent to retrieve them. Then they noticed her, every guard formed a straight line to the captain as they dropped onto one knee and bowed their heads. As she passed them they stood up.

"Captain Chase it is good to see you again” she smiled as he also rose.

"The honor is mine Princess" he bowed again.

You can call me a princess all you like

'Cause you love to keep me helpless by your side

But that ain't what I want,

She turned back to face the class. "Welcome to Miraculi, I am Princess Marinette Dawntreader. I hope you enjoy your stay. The guards will escort you in these carriages to the castle for your stay." she mounted Yin (Silver), who Captain Chase brought for her. "I will ride ahead, as they are in capable hands." She smiled and rode off towards home.

The next week was amazing. Between tours of the Kingdom her classmates were part of an honorary court, to glimpse into the Royal life.

Damian almost cut off Lila's head the first time they met. Most of the class realized that if Lila lied about knowing Marinette, well the Princess but Lila hated Mari, and dating Damian, what else had she lied about. Turns out they can use google and Mari received several apologies and offers to be friends. She accepted the apologies but not their offers.

"Why?" was a consensus of the group.

"You realize that you were deceived, but that does not excuse your actions. As I am also assuming you wish to be friends because of my status." That seemed to force them to think, thank Kwami.

I'ma show you

How to treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

So treat me like a queen (Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Boy, you better bow down on your knees

Can I get a "Yes, your majesty?"

But the best part of this week was after the apologies was hearing them all, Lila included, only address her with 'Your Majesty’.

[monsoonblooms12]

Detectives by Chance: Chapter 8- The Final Bow

Series Summary: It was supposed to be a usual weekend for the four. Coffee, fun, friends and love. But an unexpected case changed their lives in a way they had never imagined. A mystery - a murder - many secrets… Will Ethan, Pooja, Alexandra and Mark, be able to survive? Or will the circumstances twist and break their lives forever?

A/N: This is the end. The end of the first ever series, the first ever fanfics I ever wrote. It's melancholic you know? Bidding adieu to Open Heart and Detectives by Chance all at one? Anywho, I hope you enjoy this piece💕

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey X f!MC (Pooja Sharma)

Rating: Teen (to be safe)

Warnings: Blood, Murder, Swear Words, Gun Violence

I would recommend reading the previous parts first, because I am sure this makes little sense without knowing what happened previously.

Read the previous chapters here!

The trail from the crumpled door to the back ground felt likes hours of navigating through the blazing desert, no one in sight.

The scarlet memoirs of the wounds that now covered her skin did not give her much relief either. Blood soaked into her shirt, colouring it red from cream at a steady rate. Lazy tracks formed as solitary drops slipped down to meet the ground.

Papers clutched with a death grip, her resolve did not waver. After all the goose chase she had done in the manor, she was sure she could do this. But then again, there was not much of a choice there.

Ethan's POV:

A hazy screen appeared before his orbs as they slowly, timidly, fluttered open, as if scared to look around. A blackness had spread around him, and his mind could not make out if it was a musty old dungeon or some place else.

Soft scents of the intoxicating vanilla and bluebell perfume gently let him know of their presence, and he sighed in relief.

Wherever he was, he was close to her.

And with that knowledge came a subtle sense of calm, a realization that as long as he was near her, he wouldn't mind even dying.

He just wanted her, his strength, with him.

He tried to get up, and the wince of pain came almost immediately. His legs ached due to the cramped position in the short space of wherever. As he managed to pull himself up from the sleeping position, a very faint jingle of keys could be heard in the background of his groans.

Then with a click, the front door flew open and he unclearly made out a thud of some kind of folder in the front passenger seat. Soon the driver's seat was occupied as well, and the engine was raved to life.

The scent of vanilla and bluebell grew strong and he knew it was her.

"Pooja?" He whispered so lightly that for a second he wondered if he had even spoken it aloud.

"Ethan! Oh thank fucking god you are- Ah!" She was cutoff mid sentence by a horrifying but muted shriek which had escaped as she tried to close the door.

"Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay!" Worry laced his tone as her other hand painfully completed the supposedly easy task.

"You are okay and I've everything we need to save Lex & Mark. That's all that matters, E."

"What about you?"

But her attention had already shifted to the driving the automobile. She had always been like that, too unconcerned about herself. As well as he knew her, he was sure she had been biting her lip a tad bit harder with every moment just to keep painful screams at bay.

"It doesn't matter."

A shrill roar suddenly invaded the eerie, uncomfortable silence of the abandoned area. The voice was human, but the intensity of the sound reminded them more of an enraged tiger trapped in a cage, ready to pounce at the chance of freedom.

Staying here for a second more could be a dangerous idea.

A slow pain spread though his forehead, an after-effect of whatever that was forcefully injected during his investigation of the murky place, too dishevelled to call it even an office, let alone a hospital. The ache became all-too-consuming, his struggle to keep his eyes open turning futile. The blackness grasped him steadily as consciousness bid adieu and the dangers of the world in front of him, at bay.

End of Ethan's POV

Pooja's clutch on the steering wheel was so hard that the fingernails that dug into its material left deep moon shaped indents, as a mark of their visit. The teeth pressed so deep into her lip that it had drawn blood. The gap of the missing tooth felt like an aftermath of the reckless rescue operations she had led at the building.

Why did her mind refused to cooperate with her now, when she had finally made her way out?

Another line of thought began to form, but before it spread it's being, a second horrifying scream broke through the audible silence like a dagger.

Sweat of hardwork was now the cold sweat of fear. A sense of great danger that lingered now completely flooded every chamber of her heart & she refused to stop.

Digging her teeth into her lips, tears streaming as every movement made her want to shriek and wail in agony, she revved the engine, turned the steering & fled out of there.

————————————

A rash drive followed. She sped through the roads, going straight without a turn until she was sure the they were not being followed.

A safe distance away, she stopped. Every moment was precious now, but she was done. She could not do this anymore.

Hell, she could not do anything anymore.

The left portion of her shirt that she wore was now soaked in scarlet, the stench of blood growing on her. She doubted that if she wasn't a doctor, she would have thrown up or passed out by now.

Pooja looked behind, the scarce daylight making it a difficult job to be done. She was quite sure that Ethan had been overcome by another bout of unconsciousness and the feeling of helplessness spread through her chest, forming a hollow through its path.

Her head felt light too. The injuries were starting to show effects, although the overwhelming sense of failure and danger had already numbed their pain.

Taking a deep breath, and another, and another, she tried to centre herself, though not to much avail.

Something she had realized was now, the necessity to keep moving was a need & not a want.

A slow kick on the gas pedal & she carried on her journey to the final destination.

————————————

At the police station, the unfolding of events occurred like a film sequence set on fast forward.

Pooja had barely made it there, an urgency ringing through her mind, a constant worry that she was late, too late. But thankfully, she wasn't.

Dragging her foot (her entire body, at this point) she entered and almost fell face down on the station floor.

Hastily handing over the evidence she had meticulously collected and suffered all the injuries for, she tried to explain what she had found.

Officers repeatedly asked her to calm down, but she refused. The three of them, Ethan, Alex and Mark, They were her family. They always mattered more than her. They always will.

At last, all she managed was to point a finger at her car, before her body gave up on the fight. A small smile of satisfaction decorated her tired, overworked features. It was a win. A well deserved one. A strange sense of pride, overwhelmed her as she slowly faded into unconsciousness.

————————————

It has been 36 hours since the ghastly raid of Miles's manor.

The evidence collected opened a lot of tied knots, the page from Miles's diary, even though muddy, serving priceless for the investigation. Almost everything got crystal clear from it.

Pooja underwent a major surgery, and was still under bedrest. Minor to Major, there were a plethora of injuries that needed to be treated. Recovery was going to take a long time but her response had been up to the mark.

As for Mark and Alex, the court deemed them not guilty for any of the charges made against them & they were released. The very instant they rushed to the hospital, tears streaming down endlessly both in gratitude & in worry.

Miles Danvers, as expected, was not found. The manor was investigated after the release of Mark & Alex, a big mistake, and nothing was left behind except a few beeping machines & broken furniture. The investigators now await Pooja's recovery for interrogation & to close the case as soon as possible because stories of a deranged murderer roaming around the dark streets doesn't exactly spark a rush of serotonin through the citizens.

Meanwhile in a dark, gloomy alleyway:

It had been seconds too long. The man's pace faltered at slightest sounds, fingers fidgeting the two ring that shone under whatever little light reached the area.

Why were they not here yet?

But his wait was cut off soon. Muffled footsteps echoed like, every step closer increasing their intensity. Even though he had been expecting them, his heart leapt up his throat, which tightened in fear.

He turned around, not being able to make out their faces. But at the time, he found it to be a blessing in disguise, because he was sure he would have thrown up from the fright of being the cause of their anger.

A hand extended out, the silver bracelet dangling from it gleaming in moonlight. It gripped the lapel of his coat, and a scared murmur escaped him without caution.

The person on the other side, let out a slow growl of rage, boiling blood coursing through their veins. The man's teeth chattered, the cold pressing against his skin even more as a chill ran down his spine.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, the touch of cold metal against his neck made him shudder.

It was... It was a gun.

"Thi..s, Th..., This w-was not what, w-what we plann-nned upon." He quietly muttered, shocked that sound still escaped through the dryness of his throat.

"What were you supposed to do?" The person, no, the man, That man, growled, the evil of his heart almost visible in the spoken words.

The man stood soundless. It took two hard knocks of the metal to make him speak.

"K-K-Kill"

"And what did you do? Let her escape with a bagful of evidence." The words were being hissed now, with so much intensity that the man was surprised that he hadn't peed his pants yet.

"And since" The gun was displaced and he let out a sigh of relief. "You did such wonderful work, you deserve to be rewarded."

And before the man could even process what just happened, a single shot pierced through the fog settling around, and hit right in the forehead.

Seconds later, his lifeless body met its origin & any sign of life in the alleyway seized to exist.

End Note: Open Heart ended and it feels unreal. I have had a weird, wonderful journey with it. I would have never come to tumblr, make edits or write fanfics if not for it. It is a series which many of us, me included, hold close to our heart.

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who provided their precious thoughts over the past chapters of this series. I always have & always will hold Detectives by Chance close to my heart, because it has some of my earliest fanfics & it was the beginning of a wonderful journey for me. So if you took your time & have followed this story from the start, I am so very grateful for you. Thank you❤

With OH ending, many have chosen to continue in this fandom & some have decided to move on. Whatever your decision may be, I hope you be happy & have a good time ahead💕

Detectives by Chance gets a Bonus part, with no relation to the storyline, like not an epilogue, but something that will answer the lingering questions. As for if this is really the end of DbC or not, I will let you guys decide that😉

Tags (Please let me know if you want to be added or removed or if I forgot you):

Perma: @gkittylove99 @neotericthemis @udishaman @aestheticartsx @twinkleallnight @schnitzelbutterfingers @sophxwithers @sweatyrysconnoisseur @nikki-2406 @choicesfanaf @trrfanaddict @starrystarrytrouble @gardeningourmet @parkbarks @mvalentine @lovablegranny @mercury84choices @helloayz

Open Heart (All fics and edit): @lucy-268 @maurine07 @bellcat2010

Ethan x Pooja (fics): @aleynareads @stygianflood @choicesaddict5 @mysticaurathings @jamespotterthefirst @ilikemenbutonlyethanramsey

@choicesficwriterscreations @openheartfanfics

[hateswifi]

Rising from the Ashes: Of the Past and Nightmares

So this is Part Eleven here is to my Master List and Part Ten.

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

"So how'd you get to Gotham from Paris?" Jason asks, plopping down on the couch in the living room.

"Oh easy the glasses, it's called a miraculous, this one is the horse miraculous that grants the power of teleportation," Marinette said, tapping her glasses. "I have a kwami named, Kaalki. The kwami that transforms me into Ladybug is Tikki the goddess of creation. My partner, Chat Noir, has the god of destruction, Plagg. We are balanced."

"Your partner, Chat Noir, is Adrien. Kagami is Ryuko. Luka is Viperon. Chloe is Queen Bee. I'm assuming at least, you don't seem like the type to pick people you don't trust," Damian asked. "But if Chat Noir is your balance does that not make you soulmates?"

"Yes and no. We're not the soulmates you might be thinking of. We are best friends platonic soulmates if you will. We are meant to be in each other's lives and we can’t live without each other," Marinette explained. 

"That makes sense, but who is Tikki and Kaalki?" Jason asks. 

Marinette lifts her hair and they fly out. "Meet Tikki and Kaalki. I have other kwamis as the guardian, but they are in the miracle box at the moment," Marinette explains, holding out their favorite food.

"Hi, guys!" Tikki chirps, landing on her head.

"Oh my gosh! They're adorable! They're so small and precious!" Dick cooed, standing up to move closer to them. 

"I can bring other ones out at different times. Kaalki is just the one I had out due to her transportation powers. I would show you Plagg, but they don't show up on camera," She explains, petting Kaalki's head.

"Miss Marinette, do you have the miraculous of the peacock? I wish to catch up with Duusuu," Alfred asks.

"You had Duusuu before she was taken?" Marinette asks, shocked.

"Ahh yes, is she alright?" Alfred asks.

"She was in the hands of an evil miraculous holder recently, Hawkmoth's partner Mayura, but I think seeing a previous holder would help. Tikki, is that true?" Marinette asks.

"That is correct Mari, it would help wit the cleansing," Tikki said. "Could you also take out Wayzz?"

"Of course I would be able to," Marinette said, standing up leaving Damian's embrace. She opens her bag and takes out the miracle box she takes out the turtle and peacock miraculous after she put the horse miraculous away. "Alfred, would you be able to wear the brooch? I wore all of them once and passed out afterward. Master Fu advised against wearing more than three. I'll need it back after."

"Of course, Miss Marinette," Alfred said, taking the brooch and pinned it to her jacket. Marinette puts on the turtle miraculous. 

"Hello Master Marinette, it's good to see you again," Wayzz greets, bowing.

"Wayzz, please call me Marinette," she answers.

"Wayzz I must speak with you," Tikki says, flying off. Alfred had already walked off to catch up with Duusuu.

"So those are some of the kwamis," Marinette said, snuggling into Damian's embrace.

"What do you mean you passed out after wearing all the miraculi?" Damian asks, kissing her head.

"During the akuma called Kwamibuster, every time Chat or I got hit we would lose our transformation. I went to Master Fu and asked to take all the miraculous so I wouldn't have to reveal my identity. I came up with this brilliantly over the top plan that worked. I'll show you the video Alya took some time. The miraculi are only supposed to be worn one at a time because of the power it holds," Marinette said.

Wayzz flew into the room saying. "But Marinette is the best guardian and holder of Tikki's miraculous that we've had and she somehow was able to pull it off."

"Diana's mother was a Ladybug," Alfred informed them, reentering the parlor.

"That's why she feels familiar," Tikki realizes, landing on Marinette's head. They all chat together, taking turns to ask questions to the kwamis. At the end of the night, Damian decides it's too late for her to go home. Damian leads Marinette to a guest room beside his room. They're standing by the door when he decides to give her the present he bought her.

"Angel, can you face the door for a moment," Damian asks. She turns away from him. He opens a small bow and takes out a necklace, a white gold infinity heart. "Can you look at me now?" She turns back around. "Beautiful," he breathed.

"The necklace?" Marinette asks her bluebell eyes sparkling.

"No, you," he leans down and kisses her softly.

"Prince, you're too nice," she said, breathlessly breaking the kiss. "Goodnight," She says, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. She then entered the room and closed the door quietly behind her. She falls onto the bed lovestruck. Damina places his head on the door and happily sighs before walking to his room. She changed into her pajamas which is a Jagged Stone hoodie and leggings.

Not long after she fell asleep she woke up screaming from a nightmare. Damian rushes into the room as she is sitting up out of breath. "Angel are you ok?" he asks, sitting beside her rubbing her back.

"Ya it was just a nightmare," she whispers, into his shoulder.

"How often do you wake up to nightmares?" he asks, kissing her head.

"More often than I would like to admit," she whispers. "It has been worse since the fire."

"Want me to stay with you?" he asks.

"Please?" she asks looking up at him and blushes. "Umm... Damian, why are you shirtless?'

His face goes completely red looking down at himself. "I... I heard you scream, Ummm... kinda just ran into here, and normally I sleep shirtless," he explains. "Do you want me to grab a shirt?"

"No, please don't leave me," she says, yawning. He lays down and wraps an arm around her. She looks at his arm.

"What happened there?" she asks, tracing a scar.

"When I first moved in with my father, my mother got captured by my grandfather's successor. While father put mother into the Lazarus pool I chased after him, we got into a fight. At one point he put swords into both my arms to stop me from fighting," Damian explains, holding her closer. "Now go to sleep."

They fall asleep with her partly on top of him one hand in his hair the other over his heart. He has one arm around her, and the other hand was on top of hers. Damian didn't normally like touching but sleeping like this with Marinette. 

 "Oh my gosh!" Dick whispered to Jason, peeking in the room. 

"Come on leave them alone, remember privacy?" Tim whispered, pulling both of them away from the door by their collars. "If you wake Damian wake up, he will murder you. He won't care about Father's rule." 

Damian woke up to them talking, but couldn't move to murder them due to his Angel still peacefully sleeping on him. He fell back asleep waiting for her to wake up. After an hour or two, he's woken up by Marinette moving on top of him, she was trying to get out of bed without waking him up.

"No, Angel, please don't leave," he groaned, pulling her back into his embrace.

"Dami-- Damian," she stutters, trying to wiggle out of his strong embrace. "Alfred just called us for breakfast." She finishes trying to sit up again.

"Fine, but next time we're going to stay a bit longer," he says, into her ear, his chin on her shoulder. "I... I mean if there is a next time."

She kisses his cheek. "I would love that. Maybe watching a movie of your choice next time," she smiles, getting out of bed. He quickly follows. They take a seat on stools at the island where plates of waffles sat on the counter. 

"So you wanna tell me what woke you up last night?" Damian said, pouring him and her a glass of orange juice. 

"Well I have constant nightmares over the last standoff against Hawkmoth," she explains, taking a sip of OJ.

"What about the last battle?" he asks, sitting down beside her after he put the OJ back in the fridge.

"You know how Jon saw a healing stab wound?" Marinette asks he nodded in response. "Well, I took that stab wound trying to save Adrien from falling off the Eiffel Tower, he was grabbing Kagami. While I was trying to pull them up I got stabbed, Luka then knocked into Hakwmoth knocking him off the Tower. When he was falling he somehow made it on to a lower platform and ran back to his liar near the end of his transformation," Marinette sighed, taking another bite. "My nightmare was me trying to catch you, but I couldn't catch you, then everything she had said about me was becoming true." she hisses at the mention of 

"Who is she? What could she say to make you react like this?" Damian asks, taking her hand.

"Oh... Ummm... her name is Lila Rossi but it... it.. it isn't important," she stammered, wiping a quick tear that was threatening to fall.

"Marinette, Angel, she must have hurt you in some way if you're reacting this way to here," Damian said, wiping the stray tears.

"She turned all my friends against me with her lying ways. Adrien knew the truth but couldn't truly help me in any way due to his father's overbearing nature. After he found me crying on a roof during one of our patrols, he drew the line there and helped me with Lila's antics," Marinette explained.

"What did she lie about?" Damian asks, pulling her into a hug.

"What didn't she lie about is the real question," Marinette snickers into his still shirtless chest. "She always lying about connections, she is still currently ruining my ex-classmates' lives. She fell down the stairs and said I pushed her, I got suspended. She faked a couple of different disabilities to gain the sympathy of others. She stuck the answer key to a test in my bag and framed me for cheating. Gabriel the retired Hawkmoth, has admitted to Lila willingly let herself be akumatized multiple times. She threatened me and told me she would separate me from my friends until I was all alone." He is silent, but she can feel his heart rate speed up. She looks up at him, fury was spread across his face. "Prince, please say something," she whispered, placing a hand on his cheek.

He takes her hand and  kisses her palm and says, "Angel, no one plans homicide out loud."

"You can't kill her, sadly," she said whispering the last part. "Also one more thing you should know about, apparently you adore her and you guys have had an on and off relationship from childhood," she smirks, her bluebell eyes sparkling with mischief as he gags. They finish eating breakfast together and after cleaning up Damian escorts her home. 

When she arrives home she unpacks and washes her clothes, then starts Scarlette's bridal shower outfit. She makes a cornflower blue button-up blouse and a white high skirt with white sheer fabric on the top of the solid underskirt. She sent a picture to Scarlette and let her know she could pick it up on Sunday. She also recommended pairing it with a pair of pastel pink high heels and clutch. 

Life went on, she started building a name for herself with the help of Diana under the name of Nette. She told Diana that Marinette knows that she is Wonder Woman and that she is Ladybug. Diana laughed it off saying that she knew Marinette had Tikki from the moment she entered the store, part of the reason Diana hired her so quickly. She was intrigued by the holder of creation. Damian and Marinette continued to go on dates. Damian came home with Marinette for Chinese New Year, he also wore a disguised just in case. In March, Damian asked Marinette if she would move into the manor with him, she declined because she has a year contract on her apartment and she doesn't want to mooch off of him.

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

Tag list (Open):

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[janaikam]

Oh wow she’s posting fic two days in a row :O.

This is a lil something I wrote a while back for @the-picayune for her amazing work on the @mlbforblm drive. 

Summary: In which, Ladybug decides to cheer Adrien up by helping him adopt a hamster.

Adrien loved looking over the Parisian landscape. Watching Parisians and tourists alike rush to their destinations oddly enough calmed Adrien. Especially on days like today. He just needed time to himself and time to just be a teenager. No photoshoots. No fencing. No overbearing fathers telling him what to do.

Here on this random rooftop, Adrien is just some rambunctious teen who somehow got on top of the building. No one seemed to really notice him, or if they did they just ignored him. Perhaps this happened a lot in this neighborhood. Random kids climbing onto roofs. Not calling any law enforcement unless the kids got hurt. Just a normal everyday neighborhood.

How he wished he could’ve grown up here. His life would’ve been so much more interesting if he was allowed to just climb on top of things and play with other kids. Just normal everyday Adrien Agreste.

“What’s up, stranger?” Ladybug greeted, landing beside him on the roof.

A few weeks ago, Ladybug had found him on a roof—it had been his mother’s birthday and his father didn’t want him going out with friends—and the two of them had started talking. It turned out they had a lot in common, and it was an even better way to unwind than just watching people go about their business.

Ladybug rarely asked why Adrien was on the rooftops, she just kept him company until one of them had to leave. Most times it was Adrien who had to go first, and Ladybug always offered to take him back to the mansion. That was his favorite part about being friends with Ladybug as Adrien. He loved being carried bridal style by Ladybug, though he would never admit it to her.

“Nothing much. How’s life being a superhero?” Adrien asked, picking at some thread on his jeans. They were an old pair due to be thrown out, but they were so comfortable that Adrien couldn't bear to part with them.

“Same old, same old. Hawkmoth thinks he can defeat Chat and I with his lame akumas, Chat and I defeat them, and Hawkmoth runs away crying like a baby.” Ladybug plops down on the roof. “How’s the model life?”

“Terrible. Apparently, I can’t get a hamster because it could bite me and ruin my ‘perfect’ model body.” Adrien pouted, remembering the conversation with his father. It had always been his dream to have a hamster, and he really wanted to get a jump on it.

Ladybug snorted. “That’s stupid. Following that logic then models shouldn’t have dogs, yet some do. Who gave you that dumb excuse?”

“My father.”

Ladybug squinted and stared at him. He wasn’t really sure why, and it was kind of making him nervous.

“C’mon, let’s go to the pet store,” she finally said, standing up and reaching a hand out to him.

“What? Why?” He stood up, confused on what was going through his lady’s mind.

“You do everything your father asks of you, and he’s a turd about it. So, we’re gonna get you a hamster ‘cause you deserve it.”

“OH MY GOSH YES!”

XXX

Adrien thought it would’ve been harder to find the perfect hamster, but it was surprisingly easy.

The pet store Ladybug took him to had a small number of hamsters for adoption, which he was grateful for. Adrien had wanted a hamster for, um well, as long he could remember really. He was so worried about picking the wrong little fella that if he had so many options, he’d end up getting them all.

Maybe it was the way that she ran over to the hamster container or the way her bluebell eyes lit up as she pointed at the different hamsters that made Adrien suspect that Ladybug herself wanted to own a pet hamster. He couldn’t help but wonder what her reason was for not getting one herself.

Despite whatever reasoning she had, Ladybug had been a really big help by giving him facts that he hadn’t considered. Like how much space, food, and toys his new friend would need. All very important things that Adrien hadn’t thought much of. He mostly researched which breed is the fluffiest.

He was very satisfied when Ladybug and him decided on a slightly chubby hamster. The hamster was female and had white fur except for a small patch on her stomach that was a light brownish color.

Thankfully, there were no issues with adopting the little fella, so Ladybug and him were able to get in and out of the pet store without attracting too much attention. At most, there might just be a sighting notice on the Ladyblog and a brief mention on the news, but nothing too terrible. He would feel so bad if the press thought he was dating Ladybug right after he convinced them he wasn’t dating Marinette.

Ladybug took him to a new roof and carefully set Adrien and his new hamster down. Setting the bag with pet supplies down, Ladybug took up the spot next to Adrien.

“So what are you gonna name her?” Ladybug asked, watching as the hamster crawled around Adrien’s hands.

“I’m not really sure. Maybe Humbo?”

Ladybug stared at him, probably wondering if he was joking. He was. Mostly.

“Adrien Agreste, that has got to be the worst name for a hamster I have ever heard.”

Adrien couldn’t help but laugh at Ladybug’s priceless reaction. It was the best thing he’d witnessed all year. Ladybug joined him as he laughed, letting out her adorable little chuckles.

Man, this was quite possibly the best day ever.

“What’s your brilliant suggestion, then?” Adrien asked once their laughter fest was over.

“What about Shortcake?” Ladybug suggested, grabbing the hamster from his hands. “It’s cute, and I think it suits her quite well.”

“Yeah, that’s a good name. Shortcake.” Adrien smiled, watching Ladybug play with Shortcake.

[starshine583]

New Friends Ch. 19

(So this chapter is basically an aftermath to a lot of the stuff that’s happened so far. After this chapter, I am going to stop weekly updates so I can take the time to develop more of the plot line. Enjoy!)

Ch.1 / Ch.18 / Ch.20

Felix always hated the idea of love. It was too unpredictable, too messy. Not to mention, It was also completely unnecessary. He never understood why everyone seemed so taken with the concept. Even watching his parents made him sneer as he grew older. They acted as if their marriage couldn’t fall apart in seconds due to some minor arguments. No, he’d decided a long time ago that love wasn’t for him.

But standing here now, holding Marinette close with her lips on his. He realized it wasn’t all that bad. The electricity from her touch coursing through every corner of his body was an addicting feeling. Her hands coming up to dig through his hair drove him crazy in a way he didn’t know was possible.

“I love you too.” She mumbled against his lips, sending his heart soaring. 

He opened his mouth to reply when the person sitting closest to them loudly cleared their throat.

Marinette and Felix flushed, stepping apart. He’d forgotten they were in a restaurant.

“Why don’t we start walking back? Lunch period is almost over anyway.” Marinette suggested, rendering him breathless with her soft, bluebell eyes.

Felix nodded lamely and laced his fingers with hers. “Is this alright?” 

The shining grin on her face was all the answer he needed as she gave his hand a loving squeeze. “It’s perfect.”

~~~~~~

To say the class was shocked when Felix and Marinette came to school hand in hand was an understatement. Even Lila gasped at the new couple as they took their seats in the back.

“What the heck is this?” Alya blanched, gesturing towards their entwined hands.

“What does it look like?” Felix asked, as if it was obvious- which it was. To make it completely clear, though, he placed a sweet kiss on Marinette’s forehead. 

The ravenette blushed, but leaned into his touch with a fond smile.

A whole new wave of surprise washed over the class at the sight. They’d never seen Felix show so much affection before.

Some thought it made sense, whether it be because the two already spent so much time together or simply because “Sweet and Sour” work well together was for you to decide.

Others- such as Alya -either couldn’t wrap their heads around it or flat out rejected the idea entirely. 

Adrien fell into the latter category.

Marinette and Felix.. They were dating?

Sweet-as-sugar Marinette was dating Salt-incarnate Felix? He just couldn’t see that happening. But a glance at the back proved that was exactly what was going on. 

Felix and Marinette sat together, hands held and shoulders touching. Marinette smiled her bright smile he hadn’t seen directed towards him recently as she talked. Felix smiled warmly down at her- a rare smile Adrien had only caught a glimpse of twice in the last month.

They were very much in love, and for some reason that made Adrien’s stomach twist. Why did it bother him so much?

~~~~~~

“Unbelievable.” Alya grumbled, watching Felix and Marinette from afar as they talked to the “Marinette squad”. Everything looked normal, standing on the front steps of the school, except Felix had his arm around Marinette, hugging her close every now and then.

“I kind of saw it coming.” Nino admitted with a shrug.

Alya glared, though not necessarily at him. “What do you mean you saw it coming!” 

Her boyfriend frowned, tipping his hat. “Well, they always hang out together.. And Felix doesn’t talk to the rest of us. So it makes sense that they ended up together.”

“What about Adrien?!” Alya nearly flailed her arms in exasperation. 

Nino scoffed, something he’d been doing a lot when the blonde was mentioned. “What about him? He never showed any interest in her anyway.” 

The words were bitter, a hidden layer underneath that Alya was dying to know about. He still wouldn’t tell her what happened between them. 

“Well, wasn’t Marinette bullying Lila because of Adrien?”

Something akin to anger flashed in the DJ’s eyes, but he didn’t say anything.

Alya frowned, turning back to the couple just in time to see Felix kiss Marinette’s cheek. Their group cheered in response, quickly swallowing Marinette and Felix in a group hug. They all looked so happy that it made Alya sick. If Marinette wasn’t interested in Adrien anymore, why was she still hurting Lila? Nothing was making sense. 

“Hey guys! Are you ready to go?” Lila suddenly asked, pulling Alya from her thoughts.

“Yes! We are gonna have a blast at the ice rink today!” Alya said excitedly, linking her arm with Lila’s.

Nino shifted uncomfortably. “About that.. I can’t go.” 

Her face immediately fell. 

“Why not? We’ve been planning this since last week.” 

Nino’s gaze flicked to Lila, then to the school stairs. “Sorry, I’ve got a lot of homework to catch up on.” 

A sniffle brought their attention back to Lila. 

“You’re not coming? I was so looking forward to all of us hanging out together.” The brunette lamented, resembling a kicked puppy.

Alya almost sat down from shock when she saw Nino briefly roll his eyes. What was his problem today?

“Look, I’m sorry, but I’m not coming. Have fun.” He replied shortly, already walking down the school steps.

She thought she was full on hallucinating when she caught a glimpse of Nino and Marinette subtly waving bye to each other.

“You don’t think he’s mad at me, do you?” Lila said tentatively, hugging her chest as she watched him leave.

Alya immediately shook her head. “No, no! I’m sure it’s not your fault. He’s just going through some things.” 

Lila nodded, though she still seemed unsure. “Okay. I trust you to help him out.” 

The red-head smiled. That’s right. She was his girlfriend, and it was her job to help him out when he needed it. She would get to the bottom of this. If Nino was actually starting to talk to Marinette again, that would explain why he was being rude to Lila. 

Alya’s eyes filled with determination. She couldn’t stop Marinette from going down the wrong path, but she would be able to stop Nino. She had to, no matter what.

~~~~~~

Marinette grinned from ear to ear as she swung her and Felix’s joined hands back and forth. He told her he was in love with her! This was the best day of her life!

“Ugh, we’re so close! Why can’t Andre just pick a spot and stay there?” Aurore whined, studying the GPS on her phone. 

“It’s not as special if you don’t have to put in effort for the ice cream.” Luka pointed out with a smile.

The group had been overjoyed when she and Felix announced their love for each other, and immediately suggested a trip to Andre’s to celebrate the new couple. Marinette eagerly agreed. This would be her first trip to Andre’s with someone special!

“I think walking to a shop would be enough effort.” Wayhem commented, gaining a snort from Aurore.

“Stop complaining. Andre’s right there.” Kagami scolded, pointing ahead to the ice cream cart in the distance.

Aurore and Wayhem perked up and, upon spotting the cart themselves, broke into a sprint to get to the ice cream truck. 

Luka laughed and picked up the pace with Kagami, leaving Marinette and Felix behind.

“Are you sure you want to share an ice cream? I thought you didn’t like sweets.” Marinette asked, looking up at her boyfriend. Her boyfriend!

The blonde met her gaze with a soft smile that melted her heart. “I don’t, but this sounds special to you. So I’ll try it anyway.” 

Marinette didn’t know her grin could get any wider. 

She stepped up on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re the best.” 

Felix’s cheeks tinged pink, but he chuckled. “For trying ice cream?” 

She giggled, grabbing his arm with her free hand and leaning on his shoulder. “For everything.”

Felix squeezed her hand, lightly caressing the back of it with his thumb. “I love you.”

Marinette hummed. She wanted to listen to him say those words to her over and over again. 

“Guys, hurry up!” Aurore urged, now holding a chocolate ice cream. 

“If you take any longer, we’re gonna have to walk to Andre’s new location!” Wayhem joined in, holding a cotton candy and lemon ice cream.

Marinette laughed, while Felix rolled his eyes, but they picked up the pace nonetheless.

“Ah! A new couple! It’s as clear as day from the look you share.” The ice cream vendor cooed. He spun his ice cream scooper in his hand and scooped a few different flavors from the ice cream buckets, packing them all onto one cone.

“May this ice cream help you seal your love, so you can overcome any trials you face.” Andre said happily, handing them the cone.

The two thanked him, before sitting with the rest of the group on the benches.

“So, which one of you guys confessed first? It was Mari, right?” Aurore asked once they sat down. 

Marinette and Felix blushed. They hadn’t filled them in on all the details yet.

“Actually, Felix said it first.” Marinette said shyly, glancing towards Felix. She could tell he was flustered about the whole thing. I mean, who wouldn’t be a little embarrassed about blurting out a declaration of love in front of a restaurant full of people.

To their surprise, Aurore scrunched up her nose in annoyance while Luka and Wayhem laughed. 

“Seriously? I thought for sure you’d be the one to tell him!” She huffed, taking something out of her pocket and roughly putting it in Kagami’s hands.

“Was that- did you bet on us?” Felix asked, a hint of agitation in his tone.

Everyone turned sheepish except for Kagami, who gave a smug smirk. 

“It was easy money. How could I refuse?” 

“But you’re rich!” Aurore flailed her arms, obviously still bitter about losing the bet.

Kagami only shrugged, taking another bite of her ice cream.

Marinette couldn’t help laughing towards their antiques.

“You know, I hope things never change.” She sighed blissfully, looking over her group of friends with a fond smile.

They returned her smile, nodding in agreement. This circle of friendship they had formed was something to be cherished. 

And the relationships. She thought to herself, watching as Felix took a bite of their ice cream. He kept his expression neutral, but she saw his eye twitch, signifying his dislike for the dessert.

Her heart swelled with love and happiness. Yes, she had something good, and she would make sure to cherish every bit of it.

~~~~~~

Adrien was still thinking about Felix and Marinette’s declaration of love well past school hours. Even as he jumped across rooftops to go meet his Lady for evening patrol he couldn’t stop thinking about it. Felix had never shown any signs of emotions besides spite and anger before. How Felix could look at Marinette so fondly and be so gentle was beyond him. He heard they even went to get ice cream together at Andre’s. Everyone knew how big of a deal that was.  

As Chat Noir neared their traditional rendezvous point to start patrols, his previous thoughts were set to the side when he started to hear laughing and talking. One voice was easily recognizable as his Lady. No one else had a laugh like hers.

Bouclier and Ladybug were sitting on the rooftop together- way too close, in his opinion. Were their hands touching?! -and they seemed to be laughing it up about who knows what. Her laugh was so heartfelt and whole that he would usually be elated to hear it had it not been for the fact that he knew Bouclier was the cause. Whatever happened to it being just them? Chat Noir and Ladybug. Yin and Yang. Why was she so intent on hanging out with other guys and ignoring him?

“I hope I’m not interrupting.” He spoke up, barely containing a growl.

The two jumped and looked back at him with a mix of surprise and embarrassment.

Too absorbed in each other. What if I had been a villain? 

“Oh, Chat Noir. You’re here.” Ladybug said light-heartedly, standing up. No, ‘hey Chat. How was your day?’ No ‘I’ve missed you, Kitty’. Just ‘oh, you’re here’. Did he even matter to her anymore? Or had he been some cheap amusement for her until she was able to have a new playmate?

His Lady didn’t acknowledge his silence, instead starting a ramble about the patrols. “So, since we have Bouclier now, I was thinking we could take West and East like usual, except Bouclier would take North. Then we could all meet up at the South and-”

“Yeah, yeah. that’s great, Bugaboo. Can I talk to you for a sec?” He interrupted, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and guiding her to the other side of the roof. This had gone on long enough. They needed to take action before Bouclier caused a serious rift between them. 

Ladybug glanced back at the turtle-themed hero, who now on his feet, and motioned for him to stay put. Perfect. She could tell this was a serious conversation.

“Do you really think having Bouclier on the team is necessary?” Chat Noir asked once they were “alone”. 

Ladybug’s eyes widened in surprise, then she gave him a small glare and crossed her arms. “Yes, of course he’s necessary. We need all the help we can get, Chat.” 

Chat held up his hand defensively. “Absolutely! I totally agree with you, My Lady. It’s just.. Does he have to be a permanent hero? The temporary ones have worked fine so far.”

Ladybug sighed in frustration, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Bouclier lightens the load for us. It’s easier to manage the job if we have more people to spread the responsibilities to.” 

“But we’ve always been fine before!” Chat pointed out. “Sorry, LB, but three’s a crowd, and I, for one, don’t enjoy being singled out.” 

Ladybug’s gaze shot back up. “Wha- you- no one is being singled out.” 

The black-clad hero crossed his arms and pulled a small pout. “Yeah, you say that, but then you’re off joking around with that guy during fights. I’m telling you, he’s going to cause trouble and I want him off the team before he comes between us.” 

He really hoped she would agree. That Ladybug would think it over and realize where he was coming from. The dynamic between the Cat and the Ladybug was a delicate thing that needed to be protected if they were to capture the akumas. They shouldn’t risk tipping the scales on some random guy who’s filled with nothing but spiteful remarks.

Unfortunately, though, Ladybug wasn’t exactly understanding as much as she was rageful. 

She sharply inhaled, getting right in front of him so he could see exactly how much fury swam behind her bluebell eyes. “Let me tell you something. Bouclier is a brilliant addition to the team who has helped us so much in the week that he’s been here.” She jabbed her finger into his chest. “And I will not take him off the team just because you are jealous.”

Chat Noir scoffed in disbelief. She thought this was only about jealousy? I mean, yes, that was the core of it, but there was still more than that. Their dynamic was suffering because of Bouclier, and since neither of them could leave- their miraculous were too important -then it only makes sense that Bouclier should be the one to go. It was like she didn’t even listen to him because of his feelings for her! 

But fine. He can see how far their partnership goes, if they ever even had one in the first place. 

“If he’s such a brilliant partner, then I guess he won’t have trouble covering my section of patrol.” He huffed, stomping over to the edge of the roof and taking out his baton. Obviously, he wasn’t needed there. Ladybug and her brilliant addition should be able to do just fine without Chat Noir.

He ignored her protests as he propelled himself towards the mansion. Let them patrol the city on their own. Then see what she thought about having permanent heroes on the team. Ladybug would come running back to him before patrol tomorrow night.

~~~~~~

The next day at school, Nino scribbled down as much information as he could about Lila and all of her lies. If he wanted to convince the class that she was lying, he’d have to have proof and would need to be able to counter any excuses she had. Now, this might be going a bit overboard since he wanted to talk with his classmates privately, but you could never be too careful.

Who should he start with though? Juleka and Nathaniel don’t really pay attention to the drama, right? He should be able to sway them over easily, maybe ask them to talk with Marc and Rose about it..

“What are you doing?” Mylene asked next to him.

Nino jumped, scrambling to flip his notebook closed. “O-oh -uh- nothin- nothing much!” 

After his argument with Adrien two days ago, he knew he couldn’t sit with him anymore. So he changed seats to be next to Mylene. She was so quiet, though, that he would sometimes forget she was there. 

Mylene frowned slightly, eyeing his notebook with suspicion. “Sorry, you looked really focused for a second. I was just curious.” 

He smiled nervously and looked down at the notebook as well. Lying was never really his forte.

On second thought, why would he need to lie? He wants to convince the class right? Why not start with Mylene?

“Actually, do you mind if I talk to you about something? We’ve gotta be quiet though.” He began, re-opening the notebook and giving Lila a cautious glare.

Mylene nodded, curiosity reflecting in her eyes as she inched closer. 

Nino got back to his page of notes, lowering his voice to a whisper. “You know how Mari said Lila was lying? I think she’s right.” 

Mylene reeled back, shock written all over her face. “Why would you think that?” 

Nino pushed the notebook over for her to read. “I thought something was off so I tried to look up some of her stories, but I couldn’t find any. She hangs out with a bunch of famous people, right? Wouldn’t something like that be in the news or on a post somewhere?”

Mylene didn’t respond as she read over the notes, her frown deepening the further she got. Finally, she set the notebook down and looked at Lila, who was happily chatting with Alya.

“I don’t know, Nino.. Lila’s super sweet. I have a hard time believing she’s actually been lying to us.”

“What about Mari?” Nino argued. He was getting close! She was almost on board! “Wasn’t she super sweet? Think about how she was before Lila came. Or even after. Has Mari ever done anything unfair or mean to us?”

Mylene quietly thought it over. Nino didn’t interrupt. He knew changing your views on somebody could be pretty hard, especially when they had no concrete evidence to go off of.

She then sighed, fiddling with the metal spirals on the notebook. “No.. you’re right.. Marinette wouldn’t lie like that, would she?” 

The guilt she felt was clear, but Nino couldn’t help getting excited. She believed him! They were going somewhere with this!

“It’s hard to take in. Go ahead and investigate for yourself, too. I need all the help I can get.” He admitted, stealing his notebook back to continue writing.

“Help? For what?” Mylene asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

Nino glanced at the brunette in front of them again. “For exposing Lila for the person she really is.” 

Mylene followed his gaze, bitterness slowly spreading  across her features.

“I’ll talk to Ivan.” She said dutifully. “You can keep working on the list, and we’ll talk to who we can.” 

Nino nodded with an appreciative smile, before turning back to his notes.

One down, too many more to go.

Tag List: @unabashedbookworm@bluerosette23@minightrose@kuroko26@im-here-for-the-content@angstyrastuff@clumsy-owl-4178@fanboy7794@choaticneturcl@bigcheeseyboi@burntnugget-tae@ayuchan07@honorisfortheweak@knightrose15@mjisntme@rhub4rb@simplythebestbug@wilhelmares@zebrabaker@dargeon-lissa @kristycocopop @alumneia @kaydenth3gayden@thornangelic727@flirtshobi @whatamessofwords @offically-over-it @flashflashitsash@thewingting @aegyobutpsycho2 @zoeytheweeb@zeyheartstaylor@friedchickening @roseinbloom02 @totalgaydrama @god-is-dead-and-so-am-i @bitterheart12224 @krunchy-tuna @trapezoidoxide @izzynuggets @imfreakingmagical@vixen-uchiha @dani-ari @azureocean33 @tinkerbela @drama-queen-supreme @nerdyleafeon @tinybrie @jarofbuttons  @crazylizardlove @hauntedfreakdeputyhero@legendaryneckjudgestudent @coniferyl @chocolatecustarddanish@evil-cricket @derpingrainbow @crazylittlemunchkin @worlds-tiniest-spook-pastry @never-neverland @hetalia-lover-is-here @resignedcatservant @maritrash28 @cadencehood @kiara-rose-blackthorn

[noncanonlove]

Trust

This piece is a companion piece of Compromises and its predecessor Choices.

Draco tightened the knot down until the silk blindfold was snug, but still comfortable. He gently tapped the tails with his wand, satisfied now that they wouldn’t budge until he removed them.

He spun her around and looked her over. Jeans, a jumper, her favorite fall boots and her Gryffindor scarf. He inhaled secretly, silently, and caught a whiff of himself on her. Once he scrutinized her more closely he could just see a bit of a t-shirt underneath the jumper at the collar. Must be one of his, but he couldn’t understand why she was wearing it. Neither had gone anywhere since the day before last.

He looked over the loaded clothes hamper and peeked into the breast pocket of his coat, ensuring that the picnic basket was still there before shrinking and adding the hamper in there with it, charming the pocket closed afterwards.

She jumped slightly when he closed his hands around her shoulders, a grin shooting to her lips as he directed her through the house and out to the back yard where his broom waited. At the presence of its owner, it practically vibrated until he took it in hand. Hermione had went stiff as he mounted it and wouldn’t so much as budge when he went to guide her onto it.

“Draco Malfoy, is that a broom you’re trying to get me on?” she asked somewhat shrilly.

Great Merlin, she’d flown a thestral bare back to London and here she was afraid of a little broom ride with him. Well, according to Potter, with literally anyone, but still.

He dismounted, leaving the broom hovering next to them. He spun her to face him, his hands moving up to cup her face.

“Would I ever, ever let anything happen to you?” he asked quietly.

“Well no, but,” she said hesitantly, getting cut off by Draco, who knew better than to let her get anywhere.

“Would I not give my very life for yours?” he stroked her cheeks tenderly as he asked.

“Yes, of course you would,” she murmured, rubbing her nose against his before he pressed a kiss to her mouth.

“Don’t you trust me?” He replied, just as quietly.

“Of course I do,” she said, shoulders sagging.

If she’d seen the way he brightened at his win she’d surely have smacked him.

Draco took a brief moment to savor the victory as he turned her back into position to mount the broom after he got back on it.

He’d made good on his promise to her in the bedroom three weeks ago and admittedly life had gotten largely better and dare he say, almost to how he remembered it before all of this Veela absurdity had awoken inside him.

He could only imagine what Hermione really thought, deep down, about his need to have this be as close to a normal relationship as possible, but it was important to him. He’d never admit it even under threat of the cruciatus, but ever since his father had told him in detail about how one day he would court and woo a woman to become his wife he’d secretly been dreaming up plans for when the time came and there was no way he was abandoning them now. Hermione was worth courting properly regardless of the circumstances. At Draco’s request Lucius had recounted his own courting process, including as many details as he could remember. It was easily one of Draco’s favorite memories, how they’d sat before the fire together over tea and Lucius had become unusually unguarded.

He shook off the memories as he got himself situated.

Draco maneuvered her onto the broom in front of him, settling her as best as he could before he kicked off. Biting his lip not to laugh at her panicked squeal, but it was likely she felt it as his chest shook with it if the slap to the thigh was any indicator. He floated not five feet off the ground, pausing to get her sorted first.

He’d made to remove a hand from the handle but she’d grabbed his arm in a death grip once he’d lifted it no more than six inches.

“Hermione, let go of my hand, please,” he asked.

“But-” she was interrupted.

“I thought you said you trusted me,” he said, inflecting a bit of hurt into his voice, an old habit of his to soothe her into letting him have his way.

He could tell it was with great effort that she peeled her fingers off of his person, trembling like a leaf. He pressed a kiss of thanks to the back of her neck as he slid his arm firmly around her waist, bringing her tightly against him.

Apparently this was the right move because he felt her slowly relaxing against him infinitesimally. She laid her head back on his shoulder, still leaning snugly against him, and took a deep breath in and out.

He guided the broom higher in the air and looked at the view, saddened that she couldn’t enjoy the glorious fall evening. It made him resolve to take her on more broom rides until she realized that with him, at least, it could be a good experience.

She’d tucked her face against his neck and had been breathing him in during the ride, which pleased something within him. It was blissfully satisfying for Hermione to seek comfort in him, especially in that manner.

He’d guided them easily across the forest until he spotted the clearing he’d been to earlier in the day while she’d been out.

They touched down with ease, he helping her back to her own two feet before dismounting and propping it against the enormous old oak.

She waited quietly, tilting her head this way and that to try to determine if she could figure anything out about their location based on sound alone.

He unshrunk everything and set up the picnic, thrice charming the blanket to be cushioned before he turned back to her and removed her blindfold.

She gasped as she looked around the area. They were beneath an enormous, old oak tree in a large clearing surrounded by trees that had changed to a myriad of colors with the season and were slowly losing their leaves, some of which floated across the surface of the small pond. It was completely silent and so she guessed how far they were removed from anything. Her eyes drifted across the fairy lights that had been placed all along the branches above them as well as the trunk of the tree, then followed the large circle of wide, squat urns that were filled with bluebell flames.

It wasn’t dark yet, but she could tell that the area would be well lit even after the sun went down. Her eyes drifted to the picnic blanket he’d set up, feeling warmth bloom in her chest. It filled her in lazy tendrils and she couldn’t stop the stupid, happy grin from curling across her mouth. Her hand squeezed his and she decided that the broom ride had been worth it.

He could feel her happiness and appreciation tingle at the edges of his consciousness, basking in it before leading her to the blanket. They sat close together and he served her a small plate with a bit of all the offerings before pouring them wine.

They slowly ate, talking about any and everything. She regaled him of tales from Hogwarts, particularly of how they’d rescued buckbeak, to his exaggerated, plaintive sigh. She’d laughed hard at that, throwing hear head back with it, as if he could keep the grudge that long. He couldn’t stop his own silly grin as he drank her in.

He signaled her to excuse him a moment as her laughter began to die down. He retrieved a small stereo from behind the tree and charmed it on. The dulcet tones of Ella Fitzgerald and the accompanying 50′s jazz horns filled the area, to her great surprise. He returned to the blanket and offered her his hand, silently asking for a dance.

She let him pull her up before sliding her arms around his neck. Another smile curled her mouth as his warm hands rested on her hips, pulling her against him as they swayed, heads tucked against one another.

Many songs later she looked up and marveled. It was fully dark, but much to her earlier guess, the area was still well lit. She couldn’t stop the thought of how she hoped her wedding one day would look similarly enchanting, a dreamy expression drifting across her features. She felt something else too, a hint of power that told her that this area was rich in old magic. Sacred, something whispered in her mind and suddenly the date meant even more important to her. Nobody had ever done anything remotely like this before and it made her fall that much more in love with him.

“May I kiss you?” he murmured.

She nodded and then his hot mouth was pressed against hers, gently at first, then ever more hungry, as if he were a man starved. Her hands tangled themselves in his silky hair as his hands splayed across her back and held her against him.

He broke the kiss, pressing their foreheads together as they breathed heavily.

“I would like to pleasure you,” he requested hoarsely.

She could only nod, stealing the opportunity to nip at his lips.

He walked her backwards over to where she discovered he’d summoned his favorite wood and leather wing back chair. Somehow, amongst the flickering lights and the fall foliage it looked like it belonged there, a throne drenched in magic.

He undressed her slowly, taking in the sight of her as if he’d never seen her before, paying each newly discovered area its due with his mouth and stroking hands. By the end, she was naked, small shivers running through her at the thrill of the situation.

He sat in a slouch, pulling her into his lap, situating her so that her back was to his chest, her legs draped across his thighs to hang along the outside of his. He pulled her hair to the side, his mouth exploring along her neck, nipping and kissing a range from her ear to her shoulder. His hands toured her reverently, up her outer thighs and sides, around her rib cage to cup her breasts and tease her nipples. He drunk in each and every groan, sigh and stuttering breath, watching her greedily.

“Put your hands on the arm rests,” he breathed against her.

She did as asked and he rewarded her by drifting his hands down across her quivering stomach, her pubic bone and along the tops of her thighs as far as he could reach. Her flesh was so sensitive from all of the focused attention he’d given her in combined with the old magic she still keenly felt. She watched under hooded eyes as his long, thin fingers drug trails up her inner thighs and across her lips. Her hips jerked against his when he parted her finally with one hand, stroking her exposed clit with the other before sliding down to her slit. She was already slick from his previous attention, to his immense pleasure. He gathered some on two fingers, returning them to her clit where he began to rub slow circles.

Her groans and keens spurred him to move faster, the one hand keeping her spread returning to toy with her breasts, pinching and rolling her nipples in turn between long, nimble fingers. She began squirming against his lap, making him hiss as she ground into his hard cock.

He nipped at her lobe again, “Let me pleasure you,” he requested hoarsely in her ear.

She made herself go limp against him, her knuckles white from gripping the arms. It was hard not to participate but somewhere in the back of her pleasure hazed mind she recognized this experience as a way to show that she trusted him as much as she professed to. She’d allowed him to undress her in a strange location, no questions asked and carnally pleasure her, asking her to rely on him to bring her satisfaction. Hermione had never been able to give up that much of her control before, ever.

Her moans turned to keens as he drove her ever closer to the brink. All it took to rip the screams from her throat and turn her vision white was a small bite to her shoulder, the action juxtaposing so sharply with all the other care he’d bestowed upon her. She’d expected him to stop but had to firmly stop herself from squirming against him again when he’d merely slowed down after she came back down.

The hand on her breast drifted down to stroke her lips for a moment before he slipped two fingers inside her, experimentally feeling her from this angle until he found the sweet place that made her keen again, paying rapt attention to it as he pumped his fingers in and out.

“Draco,” she whimpered, the desire to squirm strong.

He shushed her soothingly as his fingers increased their pace until she screamed for him again, fluids rushing out to coat his fingers.

After she began coming down he slowed his fingers to a stop and gathered her up, cuddling her close against him.

“Thank you,” he breathed into her hair.

“I should be the one thanking you,” she said drowsily.

“Nonsense, this is the best evening I’ve had in years,” he gently insisted.

She merely hummed in appreciation and burrowed closer against him.

He drank her in for a while as she rested content in his embrace. Finally he silently summoned all of their things and his broom, shrinking everything and returning it to a pocket. He pulled out the silk covered portkey from a pouch that had been stuffed down next to the cushion and held out the bauble for her. She looked slightly relieved to not have to ride a broom in this state and touched the small glass orb, blinking when she suddenly found them back in their living room.

He didn’t give her a chance to stand, however, carrying her to bed and tucking her in, stealing one more kiss before she was gone to dreams for a while. He lay there beside her, head propped up on one arm as he watched over her.

So few people trusted him and it amazed him to no ends that she did entirely.

He rubbed at his sternum absently. He’d been drawn to the area every time he’d went flying but had found himself increasingly compelled to land there. Once he had given in, he discovered why. Old magic of the purer variety was concentrated there and it was what had drawn him in. He couldn’t think of a better place for this evening aside from there. It had helped anchor the bond they were building together. It would have happened anyway, but this was special and rare. Something he couldn’t not give to her.

He looked forward to feeding that voracious need for knowledge on the subject that would come roaring back to life tomorrow. He would also have to talk to her about returning there for other things but he had a feeling she wouldn’t mind. Part 4/? of the series is Reminders

[hottestthingalive]

Bluebells (2)

Chapter 2: Bulbs

Ao3 Link here.

Chapter 1 here.

Notes: Yay, second chapter is here! Expect the next one... any time between next week and a year. 

Plot: Virgil isn’t okay (I promise), life sucks, and things get gayer. 

Tw: Cursing, disappearances, mental and physical abuse

-

Morning came in the beeping of a shrill alarm.

Scratch that, Virgil decided as he sat up blearily, shutting off the alarm immediately. Doesn’t count as morning if it’s still dark out. 

He grabbed his phone, wincing as the bright light shone into his retinas. 2:31 A.M, the screen said. He was doing pretty well, then -- as long as he got to the coffee place by three, he’d be able to complete a four-hour shift in time to get to school at seven thirty. 

Ugh. He hated the night shift, but his boss liked having the cafe open 24/7, and he ought to be grateful; it was the only time (other than the weekends) that Virgil was able to actually work at, and due to the shitty time the pay was pretty good. It even made up for the lack of tips. 

He got dressed quickly, throwing on his patched sweatshirt over his ripped jeans and torn shirt. Makeup was fast, too, just some cheap foundation and dark eyeshadow under his eyes to hide how crappy he’d been looking lately. No sleep will do that to a guy, he thought, doing his best to hide the dark shadows under his eyes, or at least make them look like eyeshadow. Say what you would, being an emo these days had some perks -- people thought the exhaustion and ragged clothes were for aesthetic, or some bullshit like that. 

Virgil was out the door quickly, locking it behind him and tucking his keys into his pocket. The boards on the porch creaked under his sneakers, and he grimaced at the noise. Creepy as all hell, that. 

As he walked in the darkness towards the better part of town, avoiding the patches of light given by the streetlamps (What if I get mugged?), he reached into his pocket and pulled out his headphones, plugging them into his old phone. Sure, it was dangerous to listen to music while walking alone at two in the morning, but this particular street bordered the woods, and no one wanted to cause a commotion near the home of the fey. There was a reason all the rich homes were in the center of Torbrook, sheltered from their mythical neighbours by human shields.

The ironically-called Sleep was standing at the counter when he arrived, sipping from an obnoxiously large cup and wearing his sunglasses inside. Because of course he was.

“You’re early, Anxiety,” he drawled, tossing a black apron across the counter. “Go sit down. You want a coffee?”

“I’m here to work,” Virgil deadpanned, tying on the apron, “not to buy shitty coffee.”

“Listen, we get a free drink for every shift, and you look like you need it,” Sleep retorted. “Do you ever sleep at all?”

“I need the free drink for later, when I get off,” he said, avoiding the question as he set his bag down in the back room, using his extra time to check his phone. 

Sunnyside had left him a voicemail. 

“Hey, Anxiety,” a voice said into his headphones. “It’s Beck, from the Sunnyside Hospital for Elderly Care. You still have some unpaid bills from last month -- do you want us to email them to you, or mail them? Please get back to us as soon as possible. Thanks!”

Crap. 

“Everything okay?” Sleep asked, giving him a concerned look from the doorway. “Need me to stick around for a bit?”

“I’m good,” he said, mind scrambling for an explanation. “My, uh, my grandma forgot I had a shift today. She got worried.”

“I’m surprised Robin’s even letting you work here. She was always so protective,” Sleep grinned. “I haven’t seen her around town lately. How’s she doing?

Protective? the voice in the back of Virgil’s head screamed. She's in a hospital! How is she supposed to be protective when she thinks I’m living with my aunt and that her shitty insurance is paying all these bills, while as far as anyone else knows she’s just getting a bit reclusive in her old age?

“She’s good,” he said, forcing a smile onto his face as he went to stand behind the counter. “Bossy as ever.”

“Tell her I said hi,” his coworker nodded. “Alright, if you’re good, Anx, I’d better get going. I want to get a short nap in before school starts.”

“Got it,” he agreed, standing. “See you in English.”

“Bye, girl!” Sleep trilled, waving as the door slammed shut behind him. 

He dropped the smile almost instantly, glaring down at his purple nails. Four hours. He just had to get through four hours. 

“Morning, Anx!” chirped Morality, coming through the doors of the cafe. Virgil sighed internally. Morality was always so cheerful. It didn’t make any sense. “Can I just get that nice caramel thing you made for me last time?” He passed his thermos over the counter, still smiling. 

“Sure,” he nodded, taking Morality’s cup and grabbing his own. His coworkers, Oak and Swift, had come in half an hour ago, thankfully early, so he passed the containers to Swift as he untied his apron. “One caramel latte, and for me, as much espresso as you can get into a cup.”

“Anxiety, you’re going to give yourself a heart attack,” Oak deadpanned, but she took his place at the counter. “Have fun at school, kid.”

“When has school ever been fun?” Swift pointed out, before xe turned to face Anxiety. “I’ll give you three shots.”

“Five.”

“Three.”

“Four,” Oak said, “but no more coffee for the rest of the day.”

“Fine, parental figures,” he rolled his eyes, picking up his backpack. “Four.”

“Hey, I thought I was your parental figure friend!” Morality cried, managing to look betrayed even as he giggled. 

“You’re the paternal figure, popstar,” Virgil told him, hopping over the counter to protests from both Swift and Oak. They didn’t have to wait long for their drinks, and soon the two of them were in Morality’s car, sipping on the life-giving substance. 

Morality was unusually quiet, had been since they left the cafe, and finally Virgil broke the silence to ask “Hey, everything okay?”

“Oh, it’s fine, kiddo,” he grinned, but the smile quickly faded. “It… It just sounded like you made a pun with my name.”

“...Your real name?” Virgil said, blood running cold. “I’m so sorry, Mor, I didn’t -- I swear, I don’t know it--”

“No, of course you don’t,” Morality nodded, smiling again, more genuinely this time. “I’ve just been a bit jumpy lately. The forest’s been so… quiet. We’re entering spring -- shouldn’t we be seeing more faeries?”

“Only Seelie,” Virgil shrugged absentmindedly, staring out the passenger-side window at the foreboding trees in the distance. “Unseelie will mostly be returning to their realm for the winter.”

“I don’t know how you remember that stuff,” the other teenager sighed. “I can never keep track.”

He hadn’t meant to say that. Shit. “I always liked those stories,” he said, chuckling weakly. It was enough to fool Morality, or maybe that was just because he had spotted his boyfriend. 

“Sweetheart!” Morality called, rolling down the window. “C’mon, you’re gonna be late for school!”

“Thank you, love,” smiled his boyfriend, sliding into the backseat and kindly ignoring Morality’s blush. “Anxiety, I see you’ve stolen the front seat again, you heathen.”

“Best friend privileges,” drawled Virgil, taking a sip of his coffee. “Morning, Princey.”

Prince rolled his eyes, before leaning forward and stealing Morality’s thermos and drinking from it. “Listen, One American Reject, I’ll have you know that while I respect and honor best friend privileges, I will still attempt to steal the seat closer to my boyfriend at any opportunity.”

“Fair enough,” Virgil nodded. “That was one of your better nicknames, too.”

“Thank you,” he grinned as Morality started the car. 

“Anxiety and I were just mentioning how we haven’t seen much activity from the forest as of late,” Morality said. “Put your seatbelt on, honey! Have you noticed anything?”

“Er… I haven’t seen as many fey recently, no,” Prince answered, biting his lip as he fastened said seatbelt. “It’s dangerous to go near the forest, anyways -- they might be there, and we just haven’t spotted them.”

“But usually I see something,” Morality countered, drumming his fingers on the wheel. “It’s just… concerning.”

“Speaking of fey, did Mariposa make plans for the play again this year?” Virgil asked Prince, turning in his seat to face Morality’s boyfriend. “She always tells the actors about her weird precautions first.”

“What do you mean, plans?” Prince raised an eyebrow. “I’m new, remember?”

“Oh, Ms. Mariposa always gets worried that the fey will try to attend the school play,” Morality laughed. “Apparently they did one year? It was ages ago. But she always goes all out to try and protect the auditorium during rehearsals and performances and stuff, all salt lines and horseshoes, and she paid the school to make sure the doors and windows have iron on them. She even hangs bells everywhere! I get performances, kinda, but rehearsals? Tech’d notice if anyone snuck in, and they can’t exactly be actors!”

“They could, actually,” Virgil said, and then mentally smacked himself. Sleep deprivation was going to kill him.

“Really?” his cheerful friend asked, surprised. “I thought they couldn’t lie!”

Apparently, I’m the one who can’t lie today. “They can’t,” he agreed reluctantly, because he’d dug this grave and now he had to lay in it. “But acting is different from lying. People are aware you aren’t actually that person, that whatever you say on stage isn’t necessarily true, and they’re faeries, so they exploit that loophole.”

“How do you know that?” Prince inquired, staring at Virgil with a strange expression on his face. 

“My gran. She, uh, used to tell me about meeting some Seelie once, when she was young, and was wearing an iron pendant. They… tried to tempt her by telling her about celebrations they had, and mentioned a performance,” he lied through his teeth, thinking fast. “She was confused, like you were, Mor, and they told her that.”

“I didn’t know your grandmother had almost been taken,” remarked Prince. “Could I ask her about it? That necklace sounds… fascinating.”

Virgil felt himself tense, even as Morality chirped “Oh, I love Robin! She’s so nice! Remember those cookies she used to make for us?”

“They were great,” he nodded, plastering a smile across his face. “But, uh, she’s been kind of sick lately. Not really up to visitors. Sorry.”

“Oh, alright,” Prince nodded, suddenly all bright cheer again. “What were you saying about those cookies, love?”

He tuned out, head pressed against the soothingly cool glass of the window. Those bills were going to suck to pay -- mortgage payments were due soon, too, along with the money needed for everything else. His aunt wasn’t going to be any help at all, the bitch, but his job at the cafe didn’t pay enough for all of the money he owed.

The money just didn’t add up. A sigh escaped him, quiet enough that Morality didn’t notice. He was going to have to dip into his college fund again, huh?

Virgil liked to sit near the windows in classes. Sure, it could be a bit distracting, but even with the coffee, he was too exhausted to pay attention anyways. He liked being able to sit and watch the trees in the distance, observe the squirrels in the large elm that grew beside the school. 

An acorn dropped onto the open windowsill, rolling towards Virgil slightly.

And, of course, there was another reason he liked this placement. 

Elm trees didn’t have acorns. He knew this, had known it when the very first of the nuts had appeared, when he had picked it up in curiosity and noticed it was a little too light. Acorns weren’t heavy, of course, but they had some weight to them. He’d popped off the acorn cap with his fingernail, noticing the smell of sap, and his suspicions had been proven correct -- the nut was hollow, with a folded, thin wedge of paper curled inside.

Peeling out the paper had been difficult, but with one hand doing as he pretended to rummage inside his desk and the other feigning note taking for the teacher’s benefit, he had managed to extract a note. 

He did much the same thing with this new acorn, glad that his seat was in the back of the class and that Ms. Vlinder, his math teacher (and Ms. Mariposa’s wife) was writing out a long problem on the board. Stashing the hollow nut in his desk, he unfolded the paper on his notebook, as stealthily as possible. 

Anxiety,

I should be able to meet you later today -- Advice has agreed to cover for my absence. I’ll see you then, unless plans change. The usual spot.

You’re probably reading this in math again, so stop procrastinating on your work, please. Just because you do not like the subject does not mean you should neglect it. Besides, it would probably take up less of your time (like you keep complaining it does) if you actually took the time to do it in class. 

Logic

He grinned to himself. Well, that was something to look forward to, at least. 

“Anxiety,” said Ms. Vlinder, raising an eyebrow at him from the front of the classroom. “What are you reading?”

His face flushed red. “Um… nothing.”

“Well, whatever it is, it doesn’t look like calculus. Save it for after class, please. Now, can you answer the question on the board?”

He’d gotten lucky, thank god -- the question was one from last night’s homework, and he’d actually done it for once. Virgil muttered his response, slouching in his seat and trying to ignore the heat on his cheeks. Morality cast him a glance, mouthing Are you okay? from his seat closer to the board. 

Virgil nodded briefly at him, stuffing the note into the pocket of his sweatshirt. 

“Stay for a second, Anxiety,” Ms. Vlinder told him as the bell rang for lunch. He did so, fidgeting nervously where he stood. 

“Do you want me to stay?” Morality asked quietly, coming up to him as the other students left the classroom, casting a glance at their teacher. 

“Nah, don’t worry about it,” he shook his head, mustering up as much false bravado as he could. “Save me a spot, though.”

“Of course, kiddo,” grinned the other teen, before also leaving the room. 

“Are you doing okay, Anxiety?” Ms. Vlinder asked once the room was empty, eyes on Virgil. “I normally wouldn’t ask, but you’ve been extra distracted lately, and your grades have dropped. Even in English, and you’ve always been praised by Mx. Cee for your work in that class. Do you want me to talk to your grandmother?”

“I’m fine,” he muttered, stuffing his hands into his pockets and curling his fingers around the note in an attempt at comfort.

“My wife mentioned seeing you when she went to pick up our coffee this morning,” the teacher told him, frowning. “That would have had to be a very early shift, Anxiety. Are you sleeping alright? Do you want me to talk to the counselor-”

“I need money for university,” he interrupted, the practiced falsehood he’d told everyone about his job falling easily between his lips. “I’m fine, really. Can I please leave?”

“...Okay,” she finally nodded. “Have a good lunch.”

“Thanks,” he said quickly, grabbing his backpack and practically running out the door before she could change her mind. 

His friends liked to eat lunch out in the courtyard. It was easier for all of them, the cafeteria being too loud for Sleep and too stressful for Virgil. For March it was relatively warm, and it was an unspoken tradition for every member of their small group to find themselves near the same elm tree that bordered the math classroom for lunch break now that the cold had finally broken. So that was where Virgil went, slipping out the doors with his hood up, ignoring the brief chill of the wind. Morality waved to him, patting the ground besides him, Prince arguing with Sleep about something. 

“Why are you fighting again?” Virgil sighed as he sat besides Morality, setting down his backpack to lean against it. “What did Princey do now?”

“Me?” the dramatic male asked, aghast. “Why me?!”

“We were debating who your mysterious boyfriend might be,” grinned Morality, elbowing Virgil. “That’s who gave you that note, right?”

“Spill, girl,” Sleep drawled, taking a long sip from his Starbucks cup. Where did he even get that? Torbrook didn’t have a Starbucks! “Is he hot?”

“I don’t have a boyfriend!” Virgil protested, face red again. “The note -- stop rolling your eyes, Sleeping Beauty, I don’t! -- is none of your business.”

“Aw, you think I’m beautiful!” cooed Sleep, as Morality protested “It is certainly our business! We’re your friends, and as such we have a right to know about your love life! It was in the best friend contract, Anx!”

“No, it wasn’t,” Virgil rolled his eyes. The ‘best friend contract’ had been something he and Morality had made when they were nine, meant to be a joke. Morality’s mom had helped him frame it, and he’d hung it near his desk. It still was on the wall in his room. “I wrote that.”

“Well, I deedn’t expect that to work, anyways,” Morality grinned, and Sleep and Virgil groaned, Princey letting out a snort. “Still, though!”

“Yes, Anxiety, tell us about your mysterious lover’s note!” Prince exclaimed, pretending to swoon. “Every last detail of your courtship! Tell us about your Romeo; did you make the first move, or did he? Have you kissed yet? Do we know him?!”

“I’m certainly hoping I’m not Juliet, because she was thirteen and he was a grown adult, and also they died,” Virgil deadpanned, though internally his mind was racing, scrambling for an excuse. He seemed to be doing that a lot, lately. “Also, no, no, and no! I’m not dating anyone! The note was from a friend of mine who lives outside Torbrook. We, uh, met up over the weekend, he left it for me because when I got there he was out to buy groceries, and I just realized I accidentally grabbed it from his house.”

“You never leave town,” Morality shook his head. “Try again.”

“Actually,” Sleep interjected, actually looking interested now, “last Sunday he wasn’t at work for once. Asked me to cover for him. Are you telling me you actually went to visit this friend?”

“Yes,” he sighed. “Now they get it. We all know I’m doomed to be alone, anyways.”

“If you keep talking bad about yourself I will physically fight you!” Morality screeched, tackling Virgil into a hug as Sleep rolled his eyes in fond exasperation and Prince snickered at them both. 

After school, he found himself walking home. He never accepted Morality’s rides on the way back from school, always coming up with some excuse or another to walk. Virgil suspected the cheerful teen believed he was sneaking off to see someone, which would explain how that idea had started, but the truth was that he simply couldn’t let his best friend figure out that his grandmother wasn’t in the house. As far as Morality or anyone else knew, he was living with his grandmother in their nice house near the edge of town. As far as his grandmother knew, he was living with his aunt in her apartment a few towns away, and their shitty insurance was being supported by said woman. Only he knew the truth: that when his aunt had come to visit his grandmother in the hospital when she’d first been admitted a few months ago, she’d sat down with him at the dining table and told him that he wouldn’t be staying with her. 

“I have nowhere else to go--” he’d tried to tell her, but Caroline (she had no other title, having grown up outside Torbrook) had stood up from her seat, eyes shards of ice. 

“I’m not having Lydia’s child in my home,” she’d spat, and Virgil had recoiled at the mention of his mother. “My sister poisoned everything she touched -- she was driving, that night when she died, wasn’t she? Killed your father and your sister, and finally took herself down too. I wouldn’t be surprised if she did it on purpose. She was like that.”

“She -- it was an accident!” he cried. “Don’t talk about Mom like that!”

“I will talk about her any way I damn well please, Anxiety,” his aunt snapped. “You’re just like her, you know. You even call yourself after her! You could have chosen anything, and you decided on a goddamn disorder!”

“Gram told me-”

“I don’t give a fuck what she told you. That woman’s batshit crazy. She tore apart our family to come back to this town, and when I thought the cycle would finally end with her, my idiot sister forgave her, and granted her custody of her child when she died.” Caroline had paused there, picking up her bag. “You’ve been poisoned by both of them, Virgil, and I’m not risking my own life or happiness to deal with helping you just to let you go back after the old bitch dies. The old woman will be gone within a month without money for her treatment, you know that, and I’ll take you in then, finally get around to fixing you.”

She glanced at the rainbow flag magnet sitting on the fridge, holding up a picture of Virgil and his grandmother smiling together at the camera, her expression twisting from simple hatred into something ugly. “Maybe we’ll finally be able to get that gay bullshit out of your head, then.”

“Who am I supposed to stay with?” he’d asked, quiet and resigned, because he understood what was happening, had known deep inside the moment that his grandmother had told him to call Caroline that things would go wrong. 

“Just stay here,” she’d rolled her eyes. “You should be able to care for yourself, Virgil, you’re almost an adult. I’ll see you in a month, when she’s gone.”

He’d felt like laughing, even with the dark bags under his eyes and the crippling exhaustion he hadn’t yet learned how to manage, when his aunt had come back a month later, expecting to see her mother on her deathbed. The confusion and anger on her face when she’d seen Robin sitting up in her bed, hooked up to an IV but chatting merrily with a nurse, and had heard the old woman say “Oh, Carol, hon! I know we’ve had our differences, but I’m so glad you’ve been able to put them past you to care for our Anx, and help with the bills. The doctors say I should be out by August, dear, just in time to see him off to college. How will I ever thank you?”

His aunt had looked at him, standing on the other side of the bed, where his grandmother wasn’t looking, and he’d grinned, twirling his finger near his temple in gentle circles, the sign for crazy, and pointed at first his grandmother, and then himself. There had been a brief flash of fiery anger in her eyes, before Caroline had returned her gaze to her mother. “No need,” she’d smiled benevolently, and Virgil had to give it to her; she was a brilliant actress. “We’re family, after all. It’s what Lydia would want.” 

(He’d regretted taunting her later, when she’d thrown his grandmother’s favorite vase against his head as he tried to leave the house, trying to escape her wrath. She’d been screaming that he was poison, as toxic as his mother and grandmother before him, when the world fuzzed to black, and had left Virgil to wake up a few hours later with his bright purple hair dark with water and blood. He’d only seen her a few times since, when they’d met outside the hospital to visit his grandmother. They’d never mentioned it, and if she noticed how he was constantly on edge around her, she didn’t tell him.)

Virgil snapped himself out of his thoughts, unconsciously rubbing the back of his head. The injury had healed, now, but sometimes he found himself touching the spot anyways, especially after certain nightmares. 

He glanced around as he ducked into a gap between the trees, shifting to the right through a bush to find himself on the rough path he’d carved out over years of walking through these trees. 

It had been too long since he’d visited, he saw -- the grass had begun to regrow, and he muttered silent apologies to the forest as it was crushed under his torn sneakers. A faint breeze swirled around him, lifting the branches, and he grinned to himself. Virgil wasn’t much for gods, capital G and singular or otherwise, but he’d always believed these woods held a magic all their own, even beyond the faeries that used it as a portal between his realm and theirs. The place seemed to hum with it, a quiet force all its own, and he half-believed he’d only ever survived his adventures into it because it let him, had perhaps even guided him to the field of flowers when he was young. 

It was only a matter of minutes before he reached the clearing, and he shivered as the sunlight hit his skin fully, the afternoon sun’s warmth combatting the cool breeze. 

“There you are,” he heard from behind him, and he whirled around at the familiar voice.

“You’re starting to look like Slenderman,” he grinned at Logic, who had grown taller again.

“Those legends were inspired by my people,” the faerie said, rolling his eyes. “And I will have you know I am of perfectly average height for an Unseelie. At least I am not the size of the average mushroom, like those flowery nitwits.”

“Don’t be rude,” Virgil scolded, but he was still smiling, and pulled Logic into a hug even as he said it. “I missed you,” he muttered into his shoulder.

“...I missed you as well,” Logic told him, warm against the crisp March breeze. “It has been a long winter.”

“You look exhausted,” he pointed out, frowning as he pulled away to examine the shadows under the faerie’s mismatched eyes. “When did you last sleep?”

“I’m not the only one,” retorted the other, taking his hand and pulling him further into the sunny space between the trees. The grass was soft as the two sat, Virgil taking off his backpack to put it besides him. “I told you you would need adequate rest to ensure your head healed properly.”

“It’s fine,” he grumbled. Logic still moved behind him to check, examining the skin on the back of his head. “It really is, L. The magic did the trick -- no pain, no dizziness, nothing.”

“It looks alright,” the faerie conceded, although he still seemed perturbed. “Be careful, though, Anxiety. It may have been a while ago, but head wounds can have lasting effects.”

“I know,” he nodded, turning to face Logic again. “Now, why do you look like you haven’t slept since August?”

“I could say the same to you.”

“Logic.”

“It has been an… eventful winter,” sighed the dark-haired faerie, lying back in the grass. “There has been strife in both courts for years, but everything has gotten worse now. The heir to the rule of the Seelie Court has gone missing.”

“What? How is that even possible?” Virgil asked, staring down at him. 

“He disappeared in late summer, at the very end of August. Both courts have assumed they are being framed for what happened.” Logic closed his eyes, frustration seeping into his words. “I’m… friends with him, I suppose. I’m a bit worried about him -- Prince was never known for his intelligence.”

“Prince?” he blinked, a cold wave of suspicion washing over him. “Short, dramatic, acts like he stepped out of a Disney movie? Acts like the universe personally affronted him and will only accept an apology if it brings cookies?”

“You know him?” asked the faerie, eyes flashing open as he sat up. “When did you meet him? How? Did he hurt you?!”

“He sounds like Morality’s boyfriend,” Virgil told him, a mix of confusion and anger and fear rising in his chest. “Princey moved to town just in time for school to start -- they started dating in January. Apparently they had Christmas together, some cute fairy tale kiss under the mistletoe.” He’s vaguely aware his breath is quickening, but the blood pounding in his ears is far too loud to concentrate. “Oh god, L, what if he hurts Mor?”

“We cannot be sure your Prince is the same as mine. It could just be a coincidence,” Logic told him, moving closer to hold Virgil’s shoulders. “Breathe, Anxiety. It is alright. Do you remember the pattern you taught me?”

They did a breathing exercise, a four-seven-eight method Virgil had once led Logic through when they were fourteen and the faerie had been having a panic attack. He’d had no idea Logic remembered. 

“We’re going to have to figure out a way to definitively identify whether they are the same person,” he heard a while later, once he had calmed. His head was on Logic’s lap. He didn’t remember lying down, but long fingers were running through his hair and Virgil was far calmer than before, so he shrugged it off. “There’s no way he’d be willing to accompany you near the forest, right?”

“I doubt it,” he shook his head. “Everyone’s scared about this place. How’ve you been getting the messages to me? Could we use that?”

The faerie sighed. “Unfortunately, no. I’ve been making use of the birds in the area to do that -- a little magic, a promise of food, and they do whatever I wish.”

They sat in silence for a time, each with thoughts running rampant through their minds. Something tugged at Virgil’s attention, and he focused, trying to remember what he’d forgotten…

“His eyes!” he exclaimed, startling them both. 

“What?” Logic asked, a trace of amusement in his voice. “What about them?”

“Shouldn’t they be like yours, if he’s a Seelie?” said Virgil, sitting up. “All… fey-ish?”

“That isn’t a word.”

“Shush, you. Point is, shouldn’t I have been able to tell he was a faerie because of that? Or because of his ears? Do Seelie also have the pointed ears, or is that just your lot?”

His eyes widened. “An illusion, of course! Anxiety, you absolute genius!”

“I try,” he grinned. 

“The solution would be to pose as a human, accompany you to your place of schooling, and speak to him myself!” Logic exclaimed. “Do you have any human clothing I can borrow?” He hesitated. “Only if it is alright with you, that is. We can come up with another solution.”

“Actually, that works out,” Virgil told him. “I lied to my friends about visiting someone out of town over the weekend -- they’re going to ask for photos or something for proof, knowing them, so you can stand in as my imaginary friend.”

“What were you actually doing?” Logic asked, frowning, and Virgil mentally cursed. Why was he so goddamn perceptive? “We haven’t seen each other in a few months, so it was not on my behalf, and I have never known you to lie without reason.”

“...I was visiting my gran,” he confessed, staring at the blades of grass under his hands. “She hasn’t been doing too well lately, and my aunt still isn’t helping with money. I’m probably going to have to take more shifts at my job, and I wanted to see her without my aunt there for once before I started having no time to.”

“You told me once that it was strange that my people made me work even as a child,” Logic said, voice quiet. “You are clearly not doing well, Anxiety, and your health is precarious enough as it is. You should have gone to human doctors for that head wound, and you appear exhausted.”

“I’m fine, L,” he snapped. 

“No, you aren’t!” 

They both were startled by his shout, and Logic pinched his nose in faint exasperation. “I apologize. That was unnecessary. But I think you really should inform your grandmother of the situation. At this rate, even if you save her, you may kill yourself in the process.”

“She’ll make Caroline take me in, or ask a friend of hers from out of town. I can’t leave Torbrook now,” he shook his head. “I can’t. I’d be leaving you, and Mor, and… and God, L, there’s some sort of curse on this place, and I want to go to college, I want to see the world before I’m dragged back here!”

Everyone, even the fey, knew of the strange power of the town, and its effect on its residents. Virgil had watched people try to leave for years, to go to college or to just finally escape, and yet somehow, every single person, even the ones who hated the place most bitterly, were dragged back, unable to stay away permanently. It had happened to his gran, he knew -- she’d left, married a man she’d met in college, had his mom and Caroline, and then when both of the girls were ten, had found herself divorcing her husband and returning to Torbrook. Robin had hated herself for it, said so to Virgil after she’d had a bit too much wine, but she hadn’t seen another way -- the place had seemed to pull on her soul, and she couldn’t drag her new, innocent family along with her. 

The only people who had ever seemed to permanently escape were the ones who had accidentally revealed their names, and Virgil suspected that was only out of pure necessity. They could only survive on the outside -- returning to Torbrook was a death sentence, or worse, with any faerie or opportunistic human ready to use their true names against them. It was what had happened to Taylor, formerly called Yellow. They had accidentally told their true name at a party, gotten a bit too vulnerable, and one of their friends had told the whole school. They’d left town the next day, and hadn’t been back since. Their parents had occasionally visited them, but never seemed able to permanently stay with their child, much as they wanted to. Eventually, the visits stopped, and then so did all communication.

Taylor could have been dead, for all anyone knew, the pull of Torbrook doing to them what it had done to all the others who had resisted -- first sickness, like the flu, a shivering weakness, and eventually… 

Well, after a girl called Fortune had died in the hospital near her college, the doctors unable to help her, no one had wanted to risk it. 

So Virgil couldn’t leave Torbrook, even if he wanted to. He was saving every second for college, and maybe for a trip after that if he got lucky. 

He wouldn’t.

Abruptly, he stood. 

“Anxiety, I-” Logic began, and Virgil knew him well enough to know the other was about to apologize, and he couldn’t take that, not then. 

“Meet me here again in a few days, okay? I’ll bring clothes and stuff, and I’ll let the school know you’re a visiting student. They let that kind of thing happen, usually assume it’s a cousin who was born here who got the sickness. Super lax about it, weirdly.” He was aware he was babbling now, as he grabbed his bag, but he couldn’t stop himself from speaking. “Sunday should work, yeah? You can come with me on Monday, I can say we drove down from your home together.”

“Anxiety, what if it is him?” Logic asked, interrupting him mid-tangent. “Not only will we face the wrath of the next ruler of the Seelie Court, but will also expose the fact that we have been… consorting.”

“I’m not letting Mor get hurt,” said Virgil shortly, stepping back to leave. “I don’t need my best friend getting kidnapped by a faerie on my plate, too. I’ll see you Thursday.” He turned, and, without giving Logic a chance to respond, left the clearing. 

It was Sunday before he knew it, and Virgil was exhausted. All of his friends had noticed that he was more tense, more tired, more snappish -- he remembered muttering something about college admissions, which made sense since the letters were supposed to be coming in the next couple weeks, and they passed the mood change off as heightened anxiety. If Sleep noticed him picking up more shifts than ever, mowing lawns and doing whatever he could for money around town, he didn't say anything, and Virgil was grateful. Besides, Sleep himself was an insomniac -- he would just be a hypocrite.

Not to say Virgil had insomnia. More than anything, he wanted to fall onto his bed and sleep for a week. But he couldn’t, not yet.

He asked for the day off for both Sunday and Monday. His boss didn’t protest, telling him to go get some rest in a quiet tone. Sleep didn't make fun of him like usual, either, and there was no teasing him about going to see a boyfriend, only a quiet thumbs up.

The forest was quiet when he entered, a bag over his shoulder, and he shivered. It was disconcerting. Virgil had gotten used to noise, blasting music over his headphones as he worked, and then in lectures or with his loud friends every other moment. Faint birdsong, wind in the trees, dirt under the combat boots his gran had bought him two Christmases ago -- he wasn’t accustomed to them anymore. 

Perhaps that’s why Logic could sneak up on him so easily. 

“You look awful,” the faerie said bluntly from beside him, startling him enough that he almost tripped. He got lucky -- Logic reached out to steady him, concern shining in his strange, mismatched eyes. “Anxiety, you… you look worse than when I last saw you. Are you doing alright?”

“I’m fine,” he said, trying for a smile. Judging from the look on Logic’s face, it wasn’t convincing. He patted the bag. “Look, I brought you clothes. Got a couple of outfits. And, bonus-” he reached into his coat, pulling out a hairbrush and the scissors his grandmother had used to use to cut Virgil’s own hair when he was young. “We’re finally going to make you presentable, Tarzan.”

“How dare you?” Logic exclaimed, but there was no heat behind his words, just a quiet underlying concern that Virgil almost hated more. “My hair is perfectly fine!”

“Listen, you look like a member of Aerosmith,” Virgil rolled his eyes. “I’m thinking we can put it in a bun. Or maybe cut it even shorter! I’m just saying, you’re cosplaying a rocker from the 80s.”

“My hair isn’t that messy, or that long!” the faerie protested, but he let Virgil lead him to an old tree stump and sat down, albeit reluctantly. “Not too drastic of a change, Anx, or I swear, I’ll turn yours pink.”

“Eh, I needed a new dye job, anyways,” Virgil shrugged, and narrowly dodged Logic’s attempt to swat at him. 

Half an hour and much swearing later, the disheveled hair was brushed through and tied into a bun. Logic looked unbelievably cute. It was not fair in the slightest -- Virgil’s dark gay heart wasn’t built for this kind of shit!

Alright Virge, stop checking out your friend. he snapped at himself mentally, handing Logic his phone to see his new look as he reached into the bag. He’s a faerie, firstly, and also, you’re doing this to save Mor. Haven’t got time for this, you disaster gay. 

“I will confess, this does suit me,” the faerie smiled, looking up at him. “You’re quite good at this.”

“My gran taught me,” he shrugged, before dumping the bag of clothes onto Logic’s lap. “Pick an outfit.”

“This is not the same kind of clothing you wear,” blinked the faerie, looking through it. 

“You’d hate wearing my clothes, and they wouldn’t even fit you,” he pointed out. “I brought you… I dunno, nerd stuff. Should make you look respectable and smart, or whatever -- we’re going to play into all the stereotypes, today. Besides, people ought to think of you like you are, not like some emo.”

“You think I’m smart?” Logic asked, staring up at him. 

“You’re the smartest person I know, dumbass,” Virgil told him. “If you don’t want to wear any of that, it’s fine, I packed a T-shirt and jeans, and you could borrow my hoodie, I just thought it was kind of more your style-”

“No,” the other smiled, and wow, Virgil was really gay. “You… yes. I would prefer to be thought of as smart or respectable, I just didn’t realize that was something that could be done.”

“Anything’s possible when you harness preconceived prejudices,” he grinned in response.

Virgil couldn’t mask his amazement when Logic whispered to the forest, convincing the plants to grow together to make him a screen to change behind (he’d always been fascinated by magic, even when they were kids), but forced himself to stare at his phone when the faerie went behind it. He’d read through the same Tumblr post four times without understanding a word of it when Logic said “Anxiety?”

He’d chosen a black polo and a dark indigo tie, a shade that perfectly offset both colors of his eyes, paired with dark pants and his rabbit-fur boots. He looked hot.

“You… you’re going to need different shoes,” Virgil choked out.

“Oh, yes, I suppose I will,” Logic nodded. “Here, I am going to attempt an illusion.” He ran his fingers over his ears, and the points vanished, rounding. The rest of his features softened, less harshly fey and more human. He paused at his eyes, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” the human asked, as they had yet to change. 

“Eyes are… harder to hide,” the faerie confessed. “For fey they are quite literally the windows to the soul. I believe I will require an external object near my face to mask my eyes to cast the spell on.” He bit his lip. “If we restyled my hair to have bangs a bit like yours, I could use that, but I do not wish to ruin your hard work.” 

Virgil frowned, thinking back, before snapping his fingers. “Princey carries around contact solution in his bag! I bet that’s how he’s doing it -- casts the illusions on the contacts, pops them into his eyes, good to go.” He grinned. “You, Logic, are lucky I am so blind.”

“Excuse me?” he frowned. “I think your vision is alright. I wouldn’t have let those scissors near me, otherwise.”

“I wear contacts too, most of the time; good excuse for my weird eyes, people who don’t know me assume they’re colored. Plus, glasses don’t match my aesthetic.”

“What aesthetic?” Virgil glared at him, and Logic snorted in laughter.

“Don’t be rude, nerd. Anyways, I carry around my spare pair of glasses just in case, because if I lose a contact I can’t see without them. I was going to have to switch over to them soon -- don’t have enough money to buy another box -- but I can lend them to you for now, and we can cast the spell on them. Will the prescription affect you?”

“Let me see them,” Logic frowned, and Virgil pulled his glasses case out of his coat, handing the frames over.

The faerie tried them on, frowning briefly before running his hand over them. The glass shimmered for a moment, and suddenly his eyes only had color in the iris, one a paler green than Virgil’s own, the other a dark blue. “There. And I can see through them fine -- just have to change my own ability to see to do so. Easy shapeshifting spell.”

Virgil smiled despite himself, looking at the different colors. “We’re still eye buddies, huh?”

“I wasn’t about to give that up,” Logic grinned as he rolled his new eyes. It was so much more obvious when he did that, now that he actually had evident whites and pupils. “How do I look?”

Virgil stepped back, passing an appraising glance over his friend. “Very human,” he decided. “Also, very nerdy, so welcome to the weird kid club, L.”

“Excellent,” he said, voice dripping with sarcasm, before his features adjusted into something more serious. “Are you sure you want to do this, Anxiety? For all we know, your Prince isn’t mine at all. I can think of no reason for him to disappear for so long into human society.”

“I can’t risk Morality getting hurt,” Virgil shook his head. “We’re doing this.”

“Alright,” Logic nodded, before his face split into a sly smile. “Now that I look human, though… There are some things you’ve mentioned in Torbrook I’ve always wanted to see.”

Virgil laughed despite himself. “Well, you should probably stay with me tonight, for appearances’ sake anyways… Okay, sure. Let’s go see the library, and then we can stop by my house.”

“How did you know?” the faerie asked, startled, as they started collecting the supplies Virgil had brought.

“Magic,” he grinned, and Logic punched him in the arm without any real force. 

“Ass.”

“Dork.”

Even as they laughed, fear’s cold claws sunk into Virgil’s heart. He swallowed. What if Prince was who they thought he was?

What would one of the most powerful fey in the Seelie Court do to the human and the Unseelie that exposed him? 

He glanced over at Logic. The faerie was beautiful when he smiled, even with his teeth disguised to look duller and more human. The sun streamed through the trees, lighting up his dark hair and contrasting the shadows painting fragile pictures across his skin. 

What if Prince hurts him? the little voice in the back of his mind whispered. 

No. He wouldn’t let that happen, Virgil decided, pushing the fear deep, deep down. Not to Logic, or Morality, or Sleep, or anyone he cared about. 

The world was so shitty, as it was. He wasn’t about to let the few people that made living in it bearable suffer.

“Anxiety?”

Logic’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see the faerie looking at him. “Yeah, L?”

“It’s going to be alright,” he promised, reaching out to hold Virgil’s hand. “Everything’s going to be alright.”

“Okay,” he nodded. And it helped, really, because he knew faeries could only tell the truth, or at least what they believed was the truth. Logic was the smartest person he’d ever met, and if he really believed that… 

Everything would be alright.

[hunterxassasin]

Dark Cupid pt 2

Here's the second part! Debating on making a little epilogue piece involving Master Fu, not sure yet, especially since there doesn't seem to be much interest in this oof

Here we go!

--

In a moment of pure panic Plagg managed to tug the ring off of Kim's finger while he was listening to whatever Hawkmoth was telling him. 

The black kwami phased through the wall, eyes wide. It was obvious he was distressed. Kim.being akumatized was not a good thing at all. He was the black cat for crying out loud! Crimson Bliss needed him, especially since she was practically useless on her own. 

Thinking about it, he quickly remembered that there was one another hero in town, someone who had a permanent miraculous, someone who just happened to be running down the hallway trying to find Kim.

With a heavy sigh, Plagg flew after him, only glancing behind him once when he heard a loud crash, like glass shattering. Dark Cupid was on the move, and it was now or never if he was going to give Chien Renard a crash course in kwami fusion. 

Plagg hissed when Adrien ducked behind a corner, quickly following him. "Excuse me, but could you stop running for a minute it's kind of important" Plagg drawled, a smirk growing on his face as Adrien stopped mid transformation phrase. 

"What the-" Adrien trailed off, blinking as Plagg held out the ring to him. He glanced at Trixx, and the orange kwami giggle, putting a paw to her face. 

"Oh my! It looks like you'll be playing double the hero today, kit." She ran her paws through her tail, nodding her head as Adrien took the ring. "Go on, he only bites when he's hungry."

Plagg shot Trixx a glare, but said nothing more to her. "I'm Plagg, the black cat kwami. Hēisè Panthère isn't available right now and Crimson Bliss isn't going to be able to fend off this Akuma without his power." The quick, flimsy explanation was thankfully enough for Adrien to slip on the ring, changing it into a silver one that matched the chain around his neck. 

"Just say your usual transformation phrase, and then 'Trixx, Plagg, unify!' And you'll be good to go."  It was the quickest explanation be could give, made even faster due to the screams that could be heard from the other end of the school. 

Adrien gave a determined nod, taking a deep breath. "Trixx, let's pounce!" He called his transformation to him, Plagg watching as the boy became Chien Renard. "Trixx, Plagg, unify!" 

As soon as his new transformation finished, Noir Renard was dashing through the corridor, following the echoing voices of Crimson Bliss and Dark Cupid.

He skidded to a halt outside once he spotted his partner. "It took you long enough to get here Chien Renard!" Crimson Bliss shouted, without even glancing at him.

"Sorry, I got a little held up, what's the status, have you found where the Akumatized object is?" 

Crimson snorted, pointing up at Dark Cupid, who was shooting random civilians with his arrows. "It's that disgusting looking pin that's keeping his arrow holder thingy on his back." She looked over at Renard, eyes widening. He looked different. The black on his suit was more prominent and his eyes were a much darker shade of green, along with the whites of his eyes which were now green. "What the hell?"

Renard shook his head. "It's Noir Renard, Blissy, and I'll explain later." He looked back up at Dark Cupid, who's attention was now on a girl with dark hair. 

"How dare you stand by and watch me humiliate myself, Marinette! This is all your fault!" Dark Cupid cried out, notching his arrow into the bow. 

"You try and distract him, I'm going to help that girl!" He called, not paying any attention to Crimson as she rolled her eyes but went ahead with the plan anyway. Renard quickly scooped Marinette, holding her close to his chest. 

"Are you alright?" He asked, setting her down in a secluded part of the school.

"I'm fine, but Kim. . .he's not. I need to help him." Determination laced her voice, but she was held back by one of Renard's hands. 

"You can't, it's too dangerous. Crimson Bliss and I will help your friend. For now, you just stay here, out of danger." 

With those words he sped off, and idea in his head.

---

Marinette groaned as Noir Renard left her alone. Seriously? She could help! She wasn't useless just because she didn't have super powers. In fact, she was pretty sure Crimson Bliss was useless, even with super powers so that had to say something. 

The girl paced back and forth, when suddenly an idea struck her. She raced back into the classroom and threw open the discarded box of candy apples that had been tossed around in the fray.

Marinette grabbed a few of them, running back towards the battle that was going on in front of the school.

Once she reached the two superheroes again, she had to dodge out of the way of a stray arrow Dark Cupid had launched. "Renard!" She called, causing the hero to stop mid-flute playing. 

He looked distressed at the sight of her, but said nothing as he swiftly approached. "I told you to stay put!" 

"I know but I had an idea." Marinette held out the candy apples to him, and instantly he remembered his own idea. "All we need to do is get his hands sticky and then he can't shoot arrows anymore." 

Noir Renard grinned, nodding his head."Great minds think alike, we had the same idea. I was just going to send Crimson to get some of those." He took the apples out of her hands, pointing back towards the school. "Thank you, Marinette. But I need you to go hide. This Akuma seems to be after you, and I don't want a civilian hurt." 

He spun away, dashing over to Crimson Bliss, who was currently trying to figure out why her lucky charm had given her a rock of all things. 

"It's not that hard, Crim, here's the plan. . . ."

---

Marinette hid herself in a corner, one where she was still able to see the battle unfolding before her. It wasn't the best vantage point, but it would have to do for now. 

Noir Renard drew Dark Cupid's attention to him, giving Crimson Bliss a chance to get closer to the Akuma. He tossed one of the candy apples at him, which Dark Cupid caught. The Akuma snorted and tried shaking it off of his hand, but it was to no avail. 

With a growl, he flew towards the fountain, dipping his hands in it. "NOW CRIM!" Renard called, and Crimson ran forward, but Renard's warning had been heard by Dark Cupid as well. 

He spun around, and slammed his fist into the side of Crimson's head, causing her to fall into the fountain. "Nice try, lovebug, but you're little fox over there doesn't seem to know what subtly is." He grabbed his bow and notched an arrow, aiming at the superheroine who was currently trying to fix her hair. 

However, when Dark Cupid tries to let the arrow fly, his hand was stuck once again. With a glance behind him, he figured out why. Noir Renard was standing behind him, a cheeky grin in the heros face as he held up a candy apple. 

The Akuma lunged for Renard, but he was on the defensive. "Chataclysm!" He called, shoving his hand forward to the heart shaped pin. 

It crumbled to the ground, releasing a purple and black butterfly. 

Crimson Bliss hurried over once she saw it had been released and swiped it into her yoyo. "It's time to de-evilize!"  She called, releasing the newly purified white butterfly. With a heavy breath, Crimson turned her attention to Noir Renard. 

The two high fived each other, grins on their faces. "Another job well done I'd say. But you should probably use the miraculous cure. I'll help the victim get back to school." Crimson gave a nod at his words, throwing the rock up into the air. 

"Miraculous Bliss!" 

Ladybugs swarmed the area, fixing all the damage caused by Dark Cupid. Noir Renard smiled, nodding his head. "Trixx, Plagg, divide!" He was soon back to being just regular old Chien Renard, Plagg floating next to him.

Renard handed the ring over. "Thanks for your help Plagg, I hope you can get the ring back to Hēisè safely." 

"I'm sure I will, take care, kid." Plagg flew off, glancing back as Chien Renard helped Kim off the ground. He quickly made his way back to the classroom and into Kim's bag, settling down for a well deserved nap.

---

"Here, let me help you up." Renard offered his hand out to Kim, who gratefully took it. 

"You go to school there, right?" He asked, pointing to the building looming ahead of them. 

"Ya. . .but I'm not sure they'll want m-" 

He was cut off by someone running into him. 

Marinette slammed her fists against Kim's chest, pressing her forehead against him. "Lê Chiến Kim, You're an idiot!" She looked up at him, tears welling up in her bluebell eyes. 

Kim rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit more than taken aback. After what happened, he wouldn't have ever thought Marinette would be the one to come to him after all this. "I'm sorry Mari. . ." He mumbled, holding her tightly to his chest. 

Renard gave them a soft smile, and nodded at Kim as his necklace beeped. "I'll leave you to it." He bounced off, disappearing someone to detransform. 

Marinette let Kim hold her for a while before pulling away, fury and disappointment lacing her eyes. "I can't believe you! You knew exactly what was going to happen, I'm sure Max even told you multiple times that 'the probability of Chooé saying yes is a 0.01 percent chance' and yet you still did it" She stamped her foot, looking up at the boy in front of her. 

"You're so stupid! You got yourself akumatized over Chloé of all people!" 

"Mari I-"

"Oh don't 'Mari' me, you did this to yourself. I can't believe you'd try to date someone like Chloé, after what she did to me, after what she did to you!" 

"I didn't get akumatized because of Chloé I got akumatized because of how I feel about YOU, Marinette!" Anger laced his voice, his fists balling up at his sides. "The fact that you didn't say anything to me before or after I talked to Chloé, if you're that upset by me being akumatized why didn't you run after me when I left the room?!" His breathing was heavy, but he looked like someone had just beaten him up.

"I just thought that maybe if you saw me moving on you'd realize you made a mistake. . .or that I was trying to be better for you. But I guess that didn't work." 

Marinette blinked, shaking her head. "Kim. . .I know you're trying to be better, you haven't fought with anyone in the class in what, 2 months? But that doesn't mean I'm ready to get back together, or that you should try and make me jealous by dating Chloé of all people!"

The two fell silent, not looking at each other. Marinette finally spoke up again, after what seemed like an eternity of silence. 

"Come on, let's go back to class."

[mintchocolateleaves]

Vanishing Point (1/?)

Summary:  Humans can lie. Todoroki Shouto knows this. And yet, he can't help but feel there's no one more honest than Midoriya Izuku. Faerie!AU.

A/N: I’m really in a BNHA mood at the moment. And I was talking to some people about the possibility of a faerie au. This is the result - please enjoy!

He’s not supposed to enter the forest.

It’s one of the earliest things Shouto remembers being taught, far sooner than the lessons on seasonal court proceedings of his fellow fae. The forest bordering the Summer and Spring courts is forbidden, although he’s never been given a straight answer.

Not that he’s been lied to either. It’s impossible to lie in the land of Faerie, something that Shouto feels is more a shackle than a freedom. But rumours aren’t lies, and so because they’re simply speculation, it doesn’t matter if the words are true or not.

Some say that the forest is home for various imps, all of them ready to cause mischief to those who belong to the courts. Others say that there are vicious beasts ready to tear apart any faerie that steps foot inside. Perhaps Shouto’s favourite rumour, is the one that indicates that there’s a gate that leads to another world, the one where humans live.

Even if human beings are deceitful and capable of betraying the promises they make, Shouto doesn’t hate the idea of them. Maybe the thought of them brings unease, but the idea of a whole different world, something not run by dictators or vicious power hungry fae… it’s something that leaves him breathless.

So even though he’s not supposed to head into the forest, he does anyway. There’s always a short break between his morning classes, aimed at teaching him faerie politics, and his afternoon magic classes where he can get away.

It’s the only place that Shouto can escape to, and so it’s a welcome release whenever he can step foot past the first trees. Every time he enters, the faerie looks between the same two trees, their branches intertwined like steepled fingers, placed in such a way that they block his entrance.

Every time, Shouto leans down, whispers into the earth, to the roots that squirm beneath and begs for them to allow him entry. Most days, the branches curl inwards, like hands curling into fists, offering him a small pathway to rush down. Other days, they remain relentless, stubborn as they refuse him entrance.

On those days, Shouto’s certain he can hear the birds above laughing at him. He tries not to let any contempt show in his body movements, in the way he breathes – Tree’s may not be able to see, but their roots are finetuned to the slightest movements, trained to soak up the warmth in people’s actions and to push away the coldness.

Today, the trees are benevolent. They allow him in. He leaves behind two plum blossoms, one at the roots of each tree as a gift in exchange and makes his way inside, adjusting his bag over his shoulder to a more comfortable angle. One of the branches flick out at the last minute, patting him on the shoulder.

Trees always love gifts from the winter courts. It’s only in the absence of good things that you come to appreciate that which is truly beautiful. Or rather, that’s been Shouto’s experience so far.

“Thank you,” he whispers, as he steps past. Past the first few trees, there are more, vines spindling around tree trunks, climbing up towards the clouds. They never make it though, and Shouto is never sure whether it’s because their ambition is too much, or whether the trees know when to limit them.

He doesn’t like them, so instead of looking at them too much, he glances away, eyes searching for the thin, muddy path, rocks having been trudged into the dirt in an attempt at leading the way.

Leading to what… Shouto isn’t sure.

“How far can I risk going in today?” Shouto asks himself. Sometimes, he gets brave and follows the path for twenty minutes before freezing and turning back. Other days, he walks for five before deviating from the trial and wandering between trees, plotting the area into the parchment he brings along with him.

He decides to go further. His body is still aching from yesterday’s endurance training with his father, and he wants to escape more today than before. The further away he is from the suffocating warmth of the summer courts, the better.

It’s probably only his upbringing that keeps Shouto from running. It’s unbecoming in a fae of his class, and so Shouto trudges forwards, a slow gait as he glances around at the wildlife. Butterflies flitter around him, many resting on the bluebells that are littered around the trees in small colonies. Others land on fallen fruit, drinking in the nectar that resides inside.

There aren’t many birds today, and Shouto isn’t sure if that’s part of some omen, or just because it seems much more… quiet today. The trees are talking, but only in whispers, as if they’re worried about someone overhearing. The butterflies don’t seem very fussed, but they’ve always been ditzy, more social than is probably functional.

Shouto turns, searches for an explanation and finds nothing. The lack of… explanation… only leaves him more curious, determined to head further into the forest to see what’s changed.

And so, Shouto does. He surges on, keeps going forward.

He walks for nearly half an hour before he sees it. A moving swirl of green just out of the corner of his eye. Tensing, Shouto shifts his centre of gravity, bending at the knees and readying himself for some sort of contact.

He wonders if he’s going to have to pull inside himself for strings of magic, on the ties to nature that he’s been ‘blessed’ with due to his status within the seasonal courts. Just to be safe, he probably should.

He feels ice rush through his veins, and holds it there, waiting for the first signs of danger.

The swirl of green pops out from behind a bush, glances towards him and offers a small smile. Shouto raises an eyebrow, lets the magic return into his surroundings. It’s just another fae?

“Oh hey,” the stranger says, and his words, while spoken in the same language – it’s either that, or the forest is translating for him – sound different, with less of a poetic lilt to them. “I wasn’t expecting to find anyone else this far in the forest?”

Shouto takes a few steps forward, squinting his eyes. The language sounds strange, choppy, and while they’re the correct words, they don’t exactly sound… right coming from his mouth.

“We’re not…” Shouto glances at the grass, long strands hiding wildlife, bugs that would never speak to the fae. He says, “we’re not that far in?”

The boy tilts his head, frowns. He says, “it’s… I’ve been walking for ages now… this is… this is the furthest I’ve been in before?”

Shouto steps nearer, squinting his eyes. There’s something wrong with the boy he’s looking at, something completely wrong with the way he is. His ears, for one, are unlike any he’s ever seen before – rounded and altogether dysfunctional for hearing long distances.

“We seem to have come from opposite directions then,” Shouto sighs. Then: “which court are you from?”

The boy frowns. Shakes his head as he asks, “courts?”

“Your season.” Shouto tries again. Maybe there’s some sort of language different, which would explain the choppy pronunciation he seems to speak with. Except, Shouto’s pretty sure that the only fae that don’t speak the language of the courts, are those from the wild hunt – a group of Fae that travel around the lands and take no heed of the courts’ rules.

“My season…” the boy lifts his hand up now, rubs on his chin. He doesn’t seem sure of himself at all, muttering under his breath, words too quick in succession for Shouto to catch them. After a second, he says, “well, my surname has a character in it relating to freshness, so if I had to choose one, I’d say Spring?”

Shouto blinks.

Opens his mouth, closes it and blinks again.

“You’re not from around here are you…?”

The other boy raises an eyebrow. He says, “I was about to ask you the same. I’ve never seen you in here before, and I spend most of my time running from Kacchan in the forest.”

Shouto pauses. What exactly is a… Kacchan? A threat? If this person’s been running from it for an extended time, then surely, it’s some sort of monster, right? But how could he have no idea of such a thing existing within the land of faerie.

The boy gets closer now, as if he’s deemed him not to be a threat. Shouto can’t sense any magic in his blood, wonders whether he’s got some strange ability that would make him so certain of himself. His muscles stiffen.

“Wow,” the stranger says now, eyes widening. His jaw doesn’t drop, exactly, but it remains parted in a small ‘o’, as he leans forward to look at Shouto. Now he says, “your ears are so pointy, I feel like I could pierce myself with them. It’s almost as if you’re a fairy or something.”

Saying it as if he doesn’t know faeries exist. Shouto’s not sure there’s anyone alive that doesn’t know of their existence, at least, not in this world. So – does this mean the rumour of another world existing has some truth to it after all then?

“I am,” Shouto says. “A faerie. That’s where we are – in the land of Fae.”

The boy squints his eyes. He says, “no we’re not. We’re right by Hinohawa. And plus – as much as I believed when my mother told stories about them when I was younger, I know faeries don’t exist.”

It’s not every day that Shouto is faced with his very existence being denied. He bites into his lip, tries to think of some way to explain. And then, very briefly, he wonders why he’s deciding to try at all. Shouldn’t he be wondering what this means for the stranger opposite him?

If faeries don’t exist to him, then what the hell is he?

There’s only one explanation, right? He asks, “you’re a human, right?”

The boy squints, but ultimately, nods his head. He says, “of course I am. That’s what you are too, right?”

Shouto pauses. He asks, “can humans use magic?”

He receives another squint, and then. “No – Magic doesn’t exist, so we can’t exactly–”

“So, if I use magic,” Shouto continues, “then that’s a way to prove that I’m a faerie?”

He receives a shrug, and a muttered ‘well, I guess’. It’s an answer enough, and even though he’s aware that human’s lie, and he could be being lied to now, to get Shouto to reveal his power, he decides to risk it anyway. He takes a moment to think of how he wants to use his magic, and pulls inside his stomach, reaching for threads of nature that will aid him.

He uses the magic of the winter court, feels for the air and the moisture within it. There, he cools it down, watching as water molecules slowly freeze, frost drifting down onto the ground, melting against the cool earth before it can settle.

The boy, eyes wide, does not seem capable of believing it. Shouto wonders, briefly, whether shock will cause him to deny it.

“No way,” the other whispers, glancing at the frost that’s forming in the air. Green eyes spark with something Shouto doesn’t know how to read, an emotion so unlike that of any he’s seen before. “I guess that proves everything then. I’ll believe you then.”

No denial?

“You believe me? Just like that?”

He receives a nod. And then, “well, what’s there to question any further? I’ve just seen the evidence, denying it would just feel… wrong?”

Well, this is… surprising?

“Wait, so are courts and seasons the way faeries distinguish themselves?” He’s back to rubbing his skin, mumbling under his breath. “And magic, how does it differ between people. Do you all have the same control or is different among each variation of those courts. Are there those without magic…”

Finally, he seems to stop, looking up at Shouto with clear eyes.

“I can’t answer all of your questions,” Shouto says, “I need to head back soon.”

“Then just answer two,” the other says. Shouto nods his head, he can allow two at least, they’ll probably be the easiest to answer. “What should I call you?”

If he’s grown up with stories of faeries, then he probably knows that there’s a power in handing over a name. Shouto doesn’t want to use his forename, doesn’t want to pull the risk, especially to a human who can’t be trusted not to pass the evidence on, even if they claim otherwise.

That leaves only his household name. Well, it’ll do, he supposes – it doesn’t give power over him without the addition of his forename, and so, it’s enough for him to use right now.

“Todoroki.” He says.

“Then,” he hesitates for a moment, as if committing the name to memory, “then you should call me Midoriya. It’s nice to meet you, Todoroki.”

Shouto offers a nod. He says, “and you, Midoriya… what was your other question?”

“Oh, yes.” Midoriya shifts, crosses his arms. He says, “well – I’ve obviously got myself quite lost from the original area I was in, running from… well… I just – how do I get back?”

[prissyhalliwell]

Fairy Gardener prompt: The Blue Fairy comes looking for Belle or confronts Rumple when he's out somewhere about Belle. Rumple pretends to have no idea what she's talking about and protects his little fairy friend. :)

Author’s Note: Check out the amazing fan art of Fairy Belle by @rumpledspinster. You can also find this chapter on AO3.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Gossip travels fast in the Enchanted Forest, especially when carried on the speedy wings of fairies. Rumplestiltskin had expected the Blue Fairy to make an appearance within a day or two of their trip to the marketplace, so he was hardly surprised to find her on his grounds the next morning.  

His only warning that the fairy queen had arrived was a squeal and a streak of white light as Belle flew through the open window to the other side of the Great Hall, hiding behind a fat tome on the bookshelves.

Rumplestiltskin grinned. He’d been looking forward to this meeting.

With a wave of his hand, a black dragonhide coat appeared over his simple silk shirt, covering him like armor. Blue was expecting the big, bad Dark One, so it seemed only polite that he should dress the part.

A moment later, he appeared silently in the garden. Big shows of smoke were for impressing those with little or no magic ability; such theatrics would be wasted on someone like Blue, whose power was in league with his own. Besides, if he was quiet about it, he had a much better chance of surprising her and putting her on edge. He could hardly pass up such an opportunity.

Unfortunately, the blue bug was waiting for him and didn’t so much as flinch when he popped into existence only four feet in front of her. He didn’t let it disappoint him for too long though, knowing there was still much fun to be had in the next few minutes.

“I’d say welcome to my humble abode, dearie, but we both know I’d be lying through my teeth.”

As disapproving as ever, Blue met his gaze and frowned. “You have one of my fairies. Return her to me now.”

Rumplestiltskin ignored her words, and began to circle around her, enjoying how she had to turn along with him to avoid leaving her back exposed. “I’m well by the way, thank you for asking. I’ve been having some landscaping done around the castle, as you can see. I have the most incredible gardener, Belle - ”

“Return Bluebelle to me at once, Dark One,” Blue demanded, her voice high and grating.

“Or you’ll do what exactly?” He stopped, giving her his most malicious grin, the one he liked to think reminded people of a crocodile. “You’d have killed me long ago if you could. We both know that’s not a real threat.”

He saw her eyes grow cold with fury, but she didn’t argue. As much as he disliked her, Reul Ghorm had walked this earth centuries before he had been born. She was not stupid.

“You’re fond of deals. What do you want for her?”

“She’s not for sale.”

The words left his mouth before he could think, but once they were out, he realized they were true. Belle was too valuable an informant - albeit an unwilling and sometimes unreliable one - to give her up, especially considering how anxious Blue was for her return. He wasn’t sure what use a garden fairy like Belle was to the leader of the fairies, though. Perhaps Reul just needed to keep up appearances so that her reputation as ‘protector of all’ wouldn’t be tarnished. Either way, her anger seemed to be genuine, whether she cared personally for Belle or not.

Then again, maybe she was just angry that he had gotten the upper hand for once. She seemed under the impression that Belle was his captive, which amused him to no end. He was looking forward to ridding her of that notion. Her expression when she discovered one of her own had joined forces with the Dark One willingly was sure to be one he’d cherish.

Blue scoffed at his words. “Everyone has a price. Even you.”

While that was true, he knew she’d never give him the one thing he’d trade anything for. She’d taken Bae away in the first place, after all. She’d never help him be reunited with his son. Just as he would never forgive her for ripping his family apart.

“What exactly did you have in mind, dearie?” he asked, interested in what she’d be willing to offer. Her answer would tell him exactly how much Belle meant to Blue.

“Perhaps if I knew why you kidnapped her in the first place, I could suggest something fitting.”

Rumplestiltskin giggled. Here was his chance to wipe that smug look off of Blue’s face. She’d never had a deserter in her ranks before, and the idea that someone would not only voluntary leave but defect to the enemy would be unthinkable to her. He’d imagined many times how she would react - would she go red with rage and start yelling at him? Or if he was really lucky, would the pressure be too great and her head would simply pop off? Unlikely scenarios, of course, but pleasant to visualize all the same.

He had just opened his mouth to tell her exactly what had happened, when a memory of Belle, face bright with terror and crouching behind a book, leapt to the forefront of his mind. If he told Blue the truth, Belle would never be able to safely leave the Dark Castle again. She’d be marked as surely as he was, and while he had enough power to protect himself from any magic Blue and her minions might throw at him, Belle did not.

In truth, he’d be signing her death warrant.

Suddenly, the prospect of seeing Blue blue in the face didn’t seem as important. He’d made a deal with Belle and if she somehow got herself killed, he would have wasted the last few months, not to mention jars worth of his favorite tea, for nothing. He wasn’t willing to risk that. The battle today was not important; the war tomorrow was.

“You know, I just remembered that I don’t make deals with annoying fairies.” He made a shooing motion with his hands. “Also, you’re trespassing on private property. And I don’t like you.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “You can’t be serious. How in the world could she even be of use to you?”

With those words, Rumplestiltskin saw his chance to have his proverbial cake and eat it too. He’d have to thank Jefferson later. “Why, she tends my garden, dearie,” he said, lacing his voice with all the innuendo and suggestion he could.

Blue’s eyes grew large and her mouth floundered open in what he thought was a fairly good impression of a guppy before finally regaining control of her voice. “You’re disgusting.”

He could tell she wasn’t quite sure whether to believe his insinuation or not, and that was fine by him. It was more important to keep Blue confused and questioning his motives. If she thought Belle and he were somehow involved sexually, that just meant her imagination was more creative than his, because he certainly had no idea how that would work.

Not that he was at all interested in such a thing. He was beyond those kinds of urges at his age. As far as he could figure, his affair with Cora had been an irregularity, most likely a mid-century crisis of some sort. Thank goodness he was safe from anything like that ever happening again.  

“Well, I am the Dark One. Disgusting is one of the job requirements.”

Blue’s wings began to flap faster and for a panicked moment, he thought she was about to charge him. But she merely gave him one of those infuriatingly calm smiles of hers. “This isn’t over,” she said haughtily, before flying out of his garden.

He made sure she was truly gone before adding an extra level of protection spells over his grounds. It wouldn’t due to have her sneak back later and kidnap Belle. He hadn’t gone through this whole charade just to lose his best employee.

Appearing back in the Great Hall, he was surprised to find Belle not in the bookshelf where he’d left her, but sitting on the windowsill where she would have had a perfect view of his and Blue’s entire interaction.

She looked up at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “You didn’t give me away. She still doesn’t know I’ve betrayed her.”

Rumplestiltskin grunted. “She also thinks we’re fornicating in the rose bushes, so I wouldn’t thank me just yet.”

The blush that spread across Belle’s cheeks was rather adorable. He scolded himself for bringing up such a thing.  

“Regardless of how you did it, thank you,” Belle said, sincerity shining out of her eyes. “For saving my life.”

The tight feeling in his throat was unfamiliar. He cleared it quickly. “No matter.”

His words did nothing to dim Belle’s smile. She flew up until she was level with his face and kissed him on the cheek.

It was just a brush of the lips, so feather light that it felt like he had only imagined it.

Belle’s smile was more self-conscious now, but no less bright. “Well, thank you anyway.”

Rumplestiltskin nodded once, slightly dazed, before disappearing from the Great Hall and reappearing in his lab. He had some books on fairy hierarchy and culture that he wanted to read through. Settling in for the foreseeable future, he tried to push away thoughts of the last couple days so he could concentrate. If he rubbed at the spot on his cheek while he read for the rest of the morning, he pretended not to notice.

He missed the next two meals, choosing to spend the remainder of the day locked away in his lab, reading late into the night. When he went down to breakfast the next morning, he braced himself, preparing to be greeted by an overly cheerful fairy. Instead, he found Belle sitting sulkily at the table in the Great Hall, her eyes suspiciously red.

Torn between wanting to know the cause of her crying and avoiding the topic at any cost, his cowardice won out and he pretended that this breakfast was no different than any of the dozens before it. Despite his attempts to make conversation, Belle seemed more interested in staring at her food than discussing the weather or her plans for the garden. He even tried baiting her a few times to see if she would bite, but the fight seemed to have gone out of her.

Eventually, he returned to his lab, hoping that whatever strange mood had settled over her would be gone by tea time. But when the afternoon rolled around, Belle was still moping the same as she had that morning. When she appeared at the breakfast table the next day, eyes just as red as the morning before, Rumplestiltskin began to grow truly worried.

“Is everything alright?” he asked hesitantly. “You haven’t been your usual annoying self lately.”

The comment earned him a brief quirk of her lips, but nothing more.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“It is not nothing,” Rumplestiltskin said, his voice coming out in a half growl. “You’ve been crying.”

Belle reached up to rub at one of her eyes, as if to rub the puffiness away. “It’s stupid.”

He gentled his tone. “I’d still like to hear it.”

She looked up at him then and he realized it was the first time she had met his eyes in over a day. He held her gaze for a long moment as she seemed to think her words over. “Alright, I’ll tell you, but you have to promise not to laugh at me.” She took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. “At first I was elated after Blue left. I was so afraid she’d take me away and that I’d never see you-your garden again. I was so happy that I could stay here. But then…” She trailed off, suddenly interested in picking at the folds of her dress.

“Then you realized you could never leave here,” Rumplestiltskin said, finishing what he knew in his heart she had been about to say. Though he might have fooled Blue for now, she would most likely find out the truth eventually, and his little fairy would have a target on her back bigger than her wingspan. Belle was too kind to admit that the idea of spending the rest of her life at the Dark Castle with him had kept her up the last two nights crying.

“Sort of,” Belle said. “Let’s just say I realized there was only one path before me and it - it may not be the one I’m interested in.”

He nodded, hearing confirmation of his thoughts in her words. While he’d never been under any illusion that Belle and he were friends - theirs was a business arrangement after all - he’d thought they at least enjoyed each other’s company. Sure, he had been mistrustful of her motives and manipulated her for the better part of a month or so, but apart from that, they’d seemed to co-exist rather well together.

There had been a turning feeling in his stomach for a while now and he finally recognized it for what it was. Guilt. He had been the one to take Belle out on his deal and parade her in front of the other fairies so they could report back to their queen. If he hadn’t done that, Blue might not have found her for a while, if at all. He had effectively trapped Belle here forever. He’d taken her freedom away in one spiteful decision.

For once, he truly felt like a monster.

Wallowing in his own self-pity wasn’t going to improve their situation though. Belle needed a distraction, something that would take her mind off things. His thoughts immediately leapt to Jefferson and he decided to invite the man to tea. He inwardly groaned at the idea, but committed to it all the same. Clearly, he was getting soft in his old age. He never would have considered such a thing in his 200s.

He sent an invitation by magic to Jefferson within the hour, the envelope bearing his personal wax seal of the Dark Castle in black. It added a certain authority to his correspondence, something he could never have afforded in his former life. Belle had always teased him about how pretentious it looked until he had shown her Regina’s blood-red seal that was designed to look as if blood was dripping down the envelope. Belle had conceded that his wasn’t quite as tasteless as the Evil Queen’s and he’d considered it a victory.

As he greeted Jefferson at the door that afternoon, already anticipating the delighted expression that would appear on Belle’s face, he reminded himself of the real reason he was going to so much trouble. A happy fairy was a talkative one and Belle would be much more inclined to share her past history concerning Blue with him.

Within minutes of Jefferson joining them for tea, Belle’s spirits had already improved. By the time they finished their first cup, she was talking animatedly with Jefferson, her giggles filling the air as he related some of his more ridiculous adventures for her. The light had returned to Belle’s eyes and she gazed fondly at the Hatter as he began yet another factually inaccurate story.

Throughout it all, Rumplestiltskin sat at the end of the table, watching them with narrowed eyes. Perhaps, he reflected, this had been a bad idea, after all.

[snastle]

New rescue rats: Edie, Tilly and Bluebell (one old abused girl and two pregnant fosters, one needs special care)

(I’ll get some pics shortly, they’re all exhausted right now and sleeping off a good meal.)

I adopted Edie yesterday, the old rat I was waiting on. She’s 3 years old at her owner’s estimate, and her two young cagemates were delivered to the rescue yesterday SEVERELY malnourished. (I mean every bone sticking out, they look like dogs from sad facebook videos. I can feel every vertebrae and rib and thier hips are like two rocks, it breaks my heart.) Apparently their food had been restricted to twice daily and was mostly peas and other things that seriously do not make up the high protein requirements of rats. By the smell and filth of their fur, the cage wasn’t being cleaned regularly either. They’d lived in a caravan with no vet care ever. She has a severe respiratory infection, I wasn’t sure she’d make it through the night after the stress of moving but she did! I’ve been making a supplemental food mix (which has been working, Hetty has been losing about 5g per two weeks the last month due to age/myco, but since I started on it she’s gained 5g since her last weigh and her conditioning is excellent) of eggs, tuna, creamed corn, coconut oil, and spinach, it’s a disgusting smelling wet porridge but the rats go wild for it. Poor Edie gulped it down all day yesterday, she just would not stop eating. She weighs 200g. For reference my smallest girl who hasn’t yet filled out into her adult body is 310. Edie just wants to be close. She’s slow and rickety, and gently climbs onto you just to lie down. She’s clingy, this close to the end, so I’ll be having her on me a lot, she’s in my sleeve while I type this. However long she has left she’ll at least have antibiotics, decongestant, food all the time, a clean cage and all the cuddles she wants, as well as someone to keep an eye out for the right time to have her PTS, which is important too. (Tilly’s cagemates are being rehabilitated at the shelter so they can hopefully be adopted out to a pet home one day, but Edie needs a gentle home and constant care for next next weeks/months of her life, so I took her.)

I also went on a road trip to get three other rats I’d seen a few days ago. A snake food breeder who realized she didn’t have the time or stomach for it had gotten rid of all her snakes and feed rats, and had three rats who were pets that she wanted to rehome. Only problem was, they were two girls and a boy, all in the same cage. FFS. So she was refusing to sell as food, but nobody would take them as pets because of the pregnancy, they were screwed and in poor living conditions, as the owner has a special needs daughter who had fallen sick, adn couldn’t care for the three pet rats any longer. The shelter owner did the driving, and I paid for the rats. They were in a tiny empty cage being fed bird seed plus whatever dinner scraps were left. Not good. The boy is very undersized for his age (likely due to the awful diet) but seems healthy enough. I gave him to the shelter, he’ll be screened and rehomed probably very quickly, as he’s beautiful, young and snuggly. The girls I’m fostering while they give birth. The plan is that I’ll take them through it, raise the babies as pets and rehome them myself or through the shelter. But these girls have some issues, which is part of why I needed to grab them, nobody would have taken them. Bluebell is a ‘blue’, a desirable and recessive coat colour that feeder breeders often use to make an extra buck on the side from blue babies. She had her tail snapped in a cage door long ago, and has a kink and a scar there. She has a mild RI but is a beautiful, gentle and inquisitive girl, I think I might adopt her after the birth. (Lets be real, I was always going to get attached.)

Tilly is Bluebell’s daughter, she’s special needs. She has a head tilt that she was apparently born with (meaning it’s most likely a brain tumor rather than damage from infection) which makes her walk in circles and fall when she climbs. Apparently she was withheld as a pet instead of snake food because the owner thought the tilt was cute. -.- She’s nervous because of this, and very underweight. She explores things by test biting, (which I’m okay with in her case), and although the breeder said she nips and attacks, I’ve been gentle with her and careful not to startle her and I haven’t had any problems at all. Bluebell is definitely pregnant, already starting to show, and although Tilly isn’t showing yet she almost certainly will be. Tilly is struggling to integrate with my rats because of how nervous she is, even a gentle sniff has her screeching, which riles my girls up until they start actually being upset and dominant. I’m doing slow intros but for now the three new girls are in a separate cage. I’m not keen on rehoming Tilly, as she needs special care for her tilt, but she’s accounted for, if she can’t live with my girls she’ll go in with the two pets of the rescue owner, one of which has a tilt herself (but whose quality of life is still good, obv.) and the other who has a birth defect. So long as her quality of life remains worth living, she’ll stay with one of us.

I will likely have to put the girls on antibiotics at some point, which means hand-raising the babies since the meds come through in the milk and will harm them. I can’t medicate them while they are pregnant, but after the birth I’ll make the call about which option puts them and the babies more at risk based on how they're doing. I can foster these girls because I just got on holidays from uni, since raising requires 2 hourly feeds of sucking milk off a tiny paintbrush, and rubbing their little bellies with a wet cotton bud to make them digest and poop, etc etc. However the situation pans out I’m really glad these girls got out of the situations they were in, and I’m looking forward to seeing them all (hopefully) recover and gain condition.

[crypticcravings]

Memories Remain, Chapter 2

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Also on AO3

Ladybug swung through the streets of Paris--which were fairly quiet, even for a weeknight--and nearly whooped with joy. It was a good day, and she was celebrating with a patrol--which was really just an excuse to don her spots and swing above the rooftops with the lack of crime in her city.

Marinette had turned in the preliminary designs for her capstone project that morning, then that afternoon, she'd put the finishing touches on three commission projects before dropping two of them in the mail, and emailing the third client about a pick-up. It was her day off from the bakery, and she had run out as soon as she could, loving the feel of the early February air whipping through her hair. The only thing that would have made the day better would be seeing her partner, though that was unlikely.

Marinette shoved the pang of loneliness aside and landed on the top of one of Notre Dame's towers. She looked over her city and relaxed for the first time in what felt like forever.

Yet as she sat down, stretching her arms over her head and extending her legs out in front of her, her brain nudged at her with a tiny anxiety. It was the feeling she typically got when she had a major assignment coming up, but she knew her next draft of designs and fabric mock ups weren't due for another week, and she didn't have any pending commissions. The source of her anxiety could only be one thing: she was worried about her cat.

What was that saying? Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

That couldn't have been more true. Over the years, seeing Cat Noir less and less had made her miss him more. She was worried that she was losing him as they grew apart. Her life was becoming so routine--get up, help prep the bakery, get a morning coffee, go to class, work, commissions, sleep, then do it all over again the next day. She was so busy with everything that she hadn't even noticed how….normal things had become since Hawkmoth's defeat.

Not that normal was always a bad thing, but considering the majority of her childhood/teen years had been spent as a spotted super-hero defending Paris from supervillains of various affiliations, normal was, well, abnormal. She loved that her city was peaceful. Crime was at an all-time low, and the super villains had been quiet for a few years. It was a good thing for everyone.

But Ladybug couldn't help but almost wish for at least a little excitement. Something to break the monotony of her daily life. Something that would let her see Cat Noir for even a little bit…

Ladybug must have fallen asleep up there, because the next time she opened her eyes the sun had moved to the horizon. It was almost setting.

She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She'd never get to sleep after napping for so long. Maybe she should swing by that coffee shop, then prep some dough for her parents after the bakery closed…

"A little late for a cat nap, isn't it, My Lady?"

Ladybug was on her feet in an instant, hand already on her yoyo.

"Woah, there, LB, it's just me!" Cat Noir held his hands out in the universal sign for "I'm unarmed" and grinned at her. "Long time no see, Bugaboo."

Ladybug's face split into a huge grin as she relaxed her stance. She tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach, but she couldn't ignore the slight heat rising in her cheeks. "Chaton!" She threw her arms around him in a tight hug. She felt his hands come to her waist and she realized once again how much taller than her he had become. The top of her head was barely above his shoulder. Yet even with the height difference, she never felt more at home than when she was in his arms. Years of tumbling around together in battle would do that to a person. "What are you doing out and about?"

"I could ask the same of you. It's been a while since I've heard about a streak of spots flying through the city."

Ladybug laughed as she reluctantly stepped out of Cat Noir's embrace. "I had a good day and wanted to enjoy my freedom a little bit."

Cat Noir sat down on the slope of the roof and Ladybug followed. "I'm glad you had such a good day. I was flipping TV channels and saw some footage of you out patrolling. I wondered if I'd catch you out and about still."

"Well, you caught me."

Cat Noir pointed out, with humor in his voice, how dangerous it was for her to fall asleep on top of a tower. She told him that, compared to all of the reckless stunts he had pulled over the years, she was entitled to one or two of her own.

The pair shared jokes and told vague stories from their civilian lives to catch each other up on everything they had missed in the past few months apart. Cat Noir had gotten a new job--his last one hadn't been giving him enough hours. Ladybug was in her last semester working towards her masters degree. He'd gotten a haircut. She was considering one. The weather was awfully nice for this time of year, wasn't it?

It wasn't until the sun had nearly set over the horizon that the pair considered parting ways.

Ladybug was feeling uncharacteristically shy as their rare meeting drew to a close--like a middle schooler with a crush trying to form her words around the guy she liked.

"So…uuum. I guess it might be a while before we see each other again, huh," Ladybug murmured.

Cat's eyes filled with regret. "I guess you're right."

Ladybug cast out her yoyo out and prepared to swing off, but turned back to give Cat Noir one last one armed hug. "Take care of yourself until next time, okay? You've gotten really skinny lately. Make sure you're eating enough."

His eyes crinkled with mirth at her concern. "Thanks, mom. But try not to stay away for so long this time."

"Back at you, kitty. Let's not wait until summer to see each other again." Ladybug winked before leaping off the building, the rush of the wind and the remaining exhilaration from seeing her partner/best friend again ran through her.

Adrien didn't return to his apartment until after dark. Seeing Ladybug had to have been the highlight of his week--maybe even his entire month.

"She hasn't changed at all, has she Plagg?" He sighed and flopped down dreamily at his kitchen table.

The tiny black Kwami rummaged around in the cabinets. "What are you talking about? She's totally different from that awkward kid back in the day."

"That's not what I mean. I haven't seen her since…what….Before Christmas? Maybe longer? But every time I see her, she takes my breath away." He sighed, tapping mindlessly on the small pile of bills that called for his attention. "She has this…air, this essence about her that never changes. Like, the atmosphere around her is charged with her aura. Like she carries the light with her, you know?"

Plagg made a disgusted sound and tossed something to the floor. "The only thing I know, kid, is that no matter how many years go by, somehow you get sappier with each one." There was more rummaging about in the cabinets. "At least you used to talk about real things. 'Oh, your bluebell eyes. The way she smashed that Akuma's face in. Blah blah blah'. But now you're obsessed with her aura?! The air around her? Blegh."

"I don't care, Plagg. You know what they say: Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

Finally, the clattering stopped. Plagg, having apparently found what he was looking for, floated over to Adrien's side with a box of cheese crackers. "You really need to get laid, kid."

Adrien whacked at his Kwami, but missed.

"Face it kid, you've been pining over LB for years now. You either need to do something about it or move on."

Adrien sighed and slumped down, head hanging over the back of the chair. "Maybe you're right, Plagg."

"Come on, kid, I mean you've been whining about--wait. Did you just say I was right?"

Adrien winced. He should have known the words would come back to bite him in the ass. "Don't let it go to your head."

Plagg's grin could have rivaled the Cheshire Cat. "Too late for that." Adrien rolled his eyes and chose to ignore the gloating black cat.

Plagg really did have a point.

Maybe it was time for him to quit pining and take action. After all, he wasn't a fourteen year old kid anymore. Neither was Ladybug. Plus, the danger was out of the way with the absence of super villains lately.

Maybe he needed to grow a pair and finally do something about this pining heart of his.

Marinette walked home from the coffee shop, macchiato in hand, and reflected on her day.

She hadn't expected to run into her cat, but the fact that she had…

Marinette felt heat rise in her cheeks. She pressed a hand to the side of her face to feel the warmth of her own skin. She closed her eyes and sighed, reveling in the sweet feeling of butterflies in her stomach, almost like a giddy anticipation of things to come. Seeing Cat Noir again had settled her resolve. It was time for her to meet him--the real him. With all of the danger gone, she could finally and safely reveal herself to her partner.

What would it be like to be able to call him whenever she wanted? To finally text him all of those memes she had saved on her phone?

And sure, things might be awkward at first, but seeing the man under the mask, getting to know him for real, maybe they could be something more…

Marinette wiggled a bit in her excitement, and danced in place, not caring about the stares of pedestrians around her.

She was ready. It had only taken ten years, but she was finally going to tell her partner everything.

[tessalivesandbreathesbooks]

Love at Last

Love as Last is an AU set in the human world where you're going to find characters from both, ACOTAR and ToG. You'll learn the life and struggles of the characters as the story progresses. 

I want to thank @owlawesomeness for helping me write some parts of the chapter and helping me with some gramatical problems. Please, check her blog and her website, where she posts her own fanfiction! She’s incredibly good, way better than I am, you won’t regret it.

Chapter 12 (AO3)

Feyre's POV

Feyre shook her head in disbelief as she stared at her phone and all of her unanswered texts and ignored calls to Tamlin. For some reason he hadn't deigned to share with her, he had decided not to show up at school today and, even though she had tried to get in touch with him throughout the whole day, she hadn't been able to. He had been purposefully ignoring every single one of her messages and it made her feel beyond mad.

She was well aware that this was all some kind of revenge for the way she had stood him up yesterday to be with her friends and family instead. It upset her how exaggerated Tamlin’s reactions were to every single one of their problems; as if he were always right and she were only an ill-mannered kid who needed to be taught a lesson. The worst part was that she wasn't neither as surprised nor as livid as she should have been. Maybe it was due to the fact the she had seen it coming or maybe the fact that she didn't care. Not as much as she used to, and not as much as she should. Not anymore.

Tamlin was still her boyfriend, but lately it didn't feel like it. He had changed. He wasn't the amazing boy she had fallen in love with anymore. He had become someone else entirely. Someone she wasn't sure she could be with ... nor love.

She felt like she was suffocating under his weight. His words, his behaviour, his actions ... they always made her feel worthless and miserable, as if she wasn't enough. In that aspect, everyone was right. She deserved someone who made her want to live, who stood next to her and not ahead of her, someone who let her fight her own battles. Someone who loved her for who she was, and not for what they wanted her to be.

She looked at her phone and closed her eyes. Tamlin wasn't going to answer, not today. He would make her beg for it, for his forgiveness. He was going to leave her in the dark for as long as he thought convenient to make sure she understood how wrong she had behaved and how deep her actions had hurt him.

But she wasn't going to fall for it, not anymore.

Things have changed. She had changed. And maybe ... maybe it was time to -

All of a sudden, Feyre was startled by a knock on her door. She cocked her head and asked. "Yeah?"

Nesta's voice came through. "It's me, Nesta. Can I come in?"

Feyre sighed and threw her phone away. She would continue worrying about her relationship later. "Yeah, sure."

Her bedroom's door opened to reveal Nesta trailing behind. Feyre smiled broadly at the sight of her and Nesta grunted. "I'm going to make this quick: how do I look? And please, be honest."

Nesta spun around and looked at her expectantly. She was wearing a mini black dress with high neck and cut out back with some black stilettos that made her look sexy and dangerous. She had left her hair down, a mass of wavy curls that streamed down her back in soft waves, and she’d put on the slightest touch of makeup. But perhaps the most mesmerizing thing of all were her eyes, which sparkled in the dimness of the room.

Feyre had always been mesmerized by Nesta's eyes. It was strange how much Nesta’s emotions could change the way her eyes looked from afar. While both of them had blue eyes, Feyre's eyes were nothing like her sister's. Nesta's eyes were like the ocean, something iridescent and flecked with every shade of blue that changed depending on how she was feeling. When she was angry, they were ice and glass, sharp enough to scar. When she was happy, they became crystals of shimmering light, brightening the world around her. When she was sad, they became waves crashing against a lonely shore. In comparison to all of that, Feyre's eyes were as dull as a dying bluebell.

Nesta was different than Feyre in so many ways, she was someone authentic and extraordinary. Feyre admired numerous things about Nesta. Things like her honesty, her sense of loyalty, her inner fire ... but more specifically how she always showed herself for who she was, for what she was, and for how she fought for what she wanted.

Nesta was a force of nature that lived by her own rules and Feyre wished she were anything like her.

Maybe everything would have been easier then. If she were anything like Nesta, her life wouldn't be such a wreck. Tamlin would have never used her the way he did. She would have had the bravery to stand up for herself long ago and none of this would have happened.

But maybe there was still time to make things right. She would talk to Tamlin and she would end this. No matter how much it hurt her, she had to end it. It was time to let it all go, it was time to breathe again.

"So?"

Feyre looked up at the sound of Nesta's voice and smiled. "You look beautiful. Cassian is definitely going to fall in love with you all over again."

Nesta rolled her eyes, "Right."

"I'm serious. You look fantastic."

Nesta nodded absently. "Thank you." She bit her lip as she fidgeted with the hem of her dress. Finally, she exhaled a breath. "Feyre, are you sure I can pull this off?"

Feyre frowned. "What do you mean?"

"It's just ... this is all so new to me. I'm not sure how to do any of this. You know, the dating stuff."

Feyre looked at Nesta and smiled. "It's okay, Nesta. Just be yourself and everything will be alright."

Nesta sighed and sat next to her on the couch. "Feyre ... I'm mean, grumpy, moody, insolent and cold. I don't think he's going to like that."

Feyre shook her head softly. "Since when are you so hateful towards yourself? You are an amazing girl, Nesta, once you allow yourself to be. And Cassian knows that. That's why he's going out with you tonight." Feyre grabbed Nesta's hand and looked at her eyes, which were open and vulnerable. "He's seen all of you, even the bad parts, and he's still here. He's not running away."

Nesta shook her head and sighed. "I guess you're right. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"Exactly."

Nesta took a deep breath. "Okay. I can do this." She smiled and squeezed Feyre's hand before letting go. She got up from the bed and head straight to the door, pausing abruptly at the threshold. Nesta looked at Feyre again, cocking her head. "And hey, weren't you supposed to be with Tamlin? Didn't you two agree to meet today or something?"

Feyre grimaced. "Yeah."

Nesta narrowed her eyes. "So, where is he?"

Feyre shrugged. "I don't know. He's still mad, I think, for what I did yesterday, so he's probably not going to come. But it's not like I know because he hasn't answered any of my messages."

Nesta rolled her eyes. "He's such a child."

"Yeah."

Nesta shook her head and then muttered, "Well, you aren't staying here on a Friday night just because your boyfriend is an idiot."

Feyre arched her brow. "What do you propose?"

Nesta smiled devilishly. "Call Rhysand. Weren't you two supposed to go out tonight anyway?"

Feyre blinked. She hadn't even considered that possibility. "Do you ... do you think he won't mind? Maybe he has plans."

"Then ask him. It's not like he's going to bite you or anything."

Feyre laughed nervously. "Okay, okay. You know, if I didn't know you I'd say you were trying to set me up with Rhys."

Nesta smirked. "Maybe you don't know me as well as you think." Nesta looked at her watch and suddenly her eyes widened. "Oh, sorry, but I need to go. If you need anything, call me."

Feyre nodded. "Alright, I will. Now go have fun with Cassian."

She hurried towards the door, pausing briefly to shot her a glare. "And call Rhysand."

................................................................................................

Minutes passed by as Feyre stared at her untouched phone. She had considered calling Rhysand a couple of times now, but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to it. She was nervous, more than she dared to admit, but she couldn't understand why.

Hanging out with Rhysand the other day had been the most fun she had had in a long while. She hadn't realised just how badly she had needed, how badly she had needed to be with someone like Rhysand: someone who not only understood her, but also loved her for who she was.

While Tamlin insisted on keeping her on a leash, protected and safe, Rhysand set her free. With Rhysand she could be herself and that was something she had missed during these past weeks. And perhaps that was the reason she was nervous ... because what she was starting to feel for him wasn't something one feels for a friend.

She didn't want to admit just how much she wanted to be next to him, how much she yearned to cuddle against his side and breathe in his scent, how much she wanted to see that beautiful smile of his again and the way his violet eyes sparkled when he looked at her.

She wasn't ready to acknowledge any of this, even when her heart was begging her to.

Feyre took a deep breath in and finally gathered enough courage to reach for her phone, only to find it already ringing. She looked at the incoming call and smiled as a soft, warm feeling settled in her heart.

She picked it up. "It's been two days. I almost thought you had forgotten all about me, you prick."

She heard Rhysand chuckling at the other end. "If you missed me so dearly, you could have left me a message. Or call me. Hearing your creative mouth work on new insults is always my favourite thing to do. I thought you knew that, Feyre darling."

She couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face. "Aren't you the sweetest thing."

She could practically see Rhysand smiling at the other end. "I try."

She smiled stupidly at the phone. "So, did you call me only to say hi or is there any motivation behind?"

Rhysand sighed. "I just wanted to know how you were, what you have been doing. I would have called earlier, but I didn't want to risk getting you even in trouble. I don't know how much time you spent with Tamlin these days."

Feyre blinked. "Oh."

He chuckled. "Yeah, so ... tell me. What have you been doing?"

She stayed quiet for a few seconds before finally saying. "Same as always."

Rhysand's end was quiet for a while before he said. "Is he mad at you again?" At her lack of an answered he growled. "I can't believe it. I didn't think he could become more egocentric and idiotic that he already was, but it's as if he thinks this is a competition he wants to excel at. I swear he is -"

Feyre cut him off. "Rhysand?"

"Yes?"

"I think I'm going to break up with Tamlin."

At that Rhysand went quiet. She gulped. "I don't think I can keep going on like this, as if nothing were happening.  He's breaking me, Rhys. He's not the same boy I used to love and ... I think it's time to finally let go. Does ... does that make me a horrible person?"

"No, no, Feyre. Of course it doesn't." After that, he stayed quiet for a few more seconds before finally saying. "Look, I - I don't know what to say. This caught me by surprise."

Feyre closed her eyes. "Just tell me if you think I'm doing the right thing."

"You are. I know this is hurting you because you poured your whole heart on him, on your relationship, but the truth is you've always deserved more, Feyre. You deserve the world and beyond."

Feyre's lip trembled slightly. "Maybe it's selfish thing to ask, but can you come over? I don't want to be alone right now."

"Of course. Just give me a second to gather my things."

"Okay."

"Alright, see you soon."

"Wait, Rhys?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

His voice was barely a whisper when he said. "Anything you want, Feyre, it's yours."

….................................................................................................

Feyre laid on her couch with her eyes closed, listening to the soft sound of the wind whirling through the trees outside her window as she waited for Rhysand's car to appear. Fifteen minutes have passed, but he hasn't arrived yet.

She felt sad and empty inside, as if a void was sucking the life out of her. She had loved Tamlin with her whole heart and now she felt as if she were giving up ... and maybe that's what was she was doing. Perhaps that was what needed to be done.

Breakups are never easy, but ... sometimes it's for the best. Sometimes you have to give up on some things to find others and sometimes it's okay to let go. Maybe if you let Tamlin go, you end up finding someone who makes you even happier. And he will do the same.

That was what Nesta had said and perhaps she hadn't been wrong. The more she thought about it, the more she doubted any of them were happy with the way things were going and that, somehow, told her this was the right decision. This breakup, even if it hurt both of them, was the right thing to do.

And then ...

... then there was Rhysand.

Feyre groaned. She didn't want to feel what she was feeling towards Rhysand. She shouldn't be feeling such things. But she couldn't help it.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door that made her open her eyes. She drew in a breath and released it slowly, letting it shudder out of her.

No matter how she felt for him, no matter what Nesta said, she knew Rhysand held no interest in her. It was impossible that someone like him held any interest in someone like her. He was here to help her because he was her friend and she was his and ... whatever she felt for him came after that.

She rose from the couch and quickly raced down the stairs to unlock the door. She smiled as she opened the door in a single movement. "I didn't know you for being such a slow -"

But her words faltered as she saw who was standing there.

Tamlin stood just outside her door, his deep green eyes piercing as he took into the sight of her. As he noticed the subtle change of her demeanour at his sudden appearance his stance grew ever bleaker.

"Hey."

Feyre gulped. "Hi."

Tamlin's mouth was a thin line. "You don't sound happy to see me."

She felt something crack within herself at that sentence. She could feel the magnitude of Tamlin's rage under his tone, a wave whose force threatened to strike her until she could no longer get back up. The sight of it made her want to recoil.

But Feyre took a deep breath instead and looked up at him with a stare that matched his own. She wasn't going to let him scare her. She wasn't going to back down. Not today. "That's because I'm not."

His eyes narrowed. "Were you expecting someone else? Did you forget, Feyre, that we were supposed to meet today?"

"No, but maybe you forgot to charge your phone. Why didn't you answer any of my messages or calls?"

"I was busy."

"With what?"

He growled. "Since when do you care? I thought you only had time for your amazing friends and family."

Feyre rolled her eyes. "So that's what this is about, right? You are still mad because I decided to go have lunch with Nesta and not with you."

"And how did you expect me to be?"

Feyre sneered. "I expected you not to behave like a jerk and to accept that, apart from you, there are other people in my life that matter as much or even more than you do."

He took a step towards her and she lifted her chin. His eyes were murderous as he drank me in. "I don't know what's been happening to you lately, Feyre, but I don't think I like it."

"What happens is that I've realised I don't want to live like this, like some caged animal. If this is the way you're going to keep treating me from now on, then ... "

His eyes narrowed slowly. Then he said with terrible softness. "Then what?"

She forced herself to look into his green eyes, into his rage and despair before saying. "Then we are done."

He didn't say anything for what felt like forever, but there wasn't any need to it. She could see it in his eyes, who had gone from rage to despair to sorrow. And now ...

Tamlin's growl made her shiver. "You can't be breaking up with me. There is no way you are doing that."

Feyre shook her head softly. "Tamlin, this is for the best. It's -"

"No."

Suddenly, he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her outside without mercy, making Feyre stumble to the ground. She whimpered as she hit the ground and looked up, only to see Tamlin advancing on her. She stood up, but not fast enough to get away from him, to prevent him from grabbing her by the neck as fear started to travel down her spine.

"Tamlin, please. Walk away."

But he wasn't listening. He growled and the sound of it sent shivers down Feyre's spine. "You. Are. Mine."

"Tamlin -"

"No, you don't get it. You don't get to break up with me. You are mine, Feyre. Mine."

The pressure on her neck increased slightly threatening to choke her. She struggled, trying to get away from him, but it was futile. He was stronger and there was nothing she could do.

All of a sudden, he pushed her hard and she hit the ground. She gasped and closed her eyes as pain shot through her head from the impact. She tried to scoot away from him, but again her efforts were short-lived as he put himself above her and crashed his lips against her.

She writhed beneath him and kicked, but it was no use. He was pinning her hard against the ground making her movements clumsy and useless as he kept kissing her, as his tongue invaded her mouth and tears made her way down her face. In the end, she stopped struggling and decided to wait for it to finally be over.

When he finally lifted his head, there was no emotion in his eyes. No clue that this person before her was the boy she used to love.

His eyes were feral and dark when he said. "You are coming with me."

"No."

He growled. "Feyre -"

"I said no. Let me go, Tamlin. This isn't you."

"Everything I've done ... all I've done for you and you pay me back like this. Can't you see it, Feyre? I did it all for you. Because I love you."

"Tamlin -"

"Get away from her. Now."

Feyre turned around to see Rhysand, whose eyes were cold and rigid as they beheld Tamlin. She felt Tamlin stiffening, his whole body going rigid. "So this is who you were waiting for? Rhysand? You are breaking up with me for him?"

But Feyre just stared at Rhysand. Something eased in her chest at the sight of him and suddenly she felt safe ... brave. He was here. Rhysand was here.

Rhysand's stare was fixed on Tamlin as he said, his voice menacing and cold. "Get the hell out of here Tamlin."

She felt Tamlin tremble with restraint as he watched Rhysand. "Now everything adds up; our constant fights, her bickering, her random behaviour ... you are the reason behind all of it. You manipulated her. You turned her into your whore, into your puppet. You turned her into this."

Rhysand narrowed his eyes at him. "I only gave her the freedom you denied her. It's not my fault this is happening, it's yours."

Tamlin's focus was solely on Rhysand, but Rhysand wasn't watching him anymore. His eyes were locked with hers as he gave her one simple nod.

Tamlin growled on her, oblivious to her and her movements.

And she understood.

Feyre used the distraction to free her hands from Tamlin's hold and used them to punch Tamlin hard in the jaw, making him stagger and roll over. He groaned in pain, but she didn't care. He had almost ... the thought made her want to throw up. She quickly got up off the floor and run towards Rhysand, who was watching her with relief. She threw herself into him, hugging him tightly for a second before releasing him.

"We should get out of here."

Rhysand looked over her shoulder at Tamlin, who was still on the floor, his green eyes unbelieving. "I just know the place. Come on."

She started walking to his car, but she couldn't resist peeking over her shoulder one last time. Tamlin was still laying on the floor, his face no longer incredulous, but sad and broken. And, in spite of everything, the sight of it broke something within her too.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, but her words were lost in the wind.

….................................................................................................

As Rhysand manoeuvred through the streets, utter silence reigned in the car. Neither of them knew what to say to make things better ... to make it all disappear.

Feyre couldn't yet believe what had just happened. What Tamlin had done ... what he would have done if Rhysand hadn't come for her ...

She had loved Tamlin. She had trusted him. She had thought of him as charismatic, generous, caring. She had believed him to be an understanding, thoughtful. She had never let herself consider anything else. But now ...

Now she didn't know what to believe.

Feyre's eyes closed. "Had it really been that obvious?"

Rhysand didn't look at her as he kept driving, his eyes concentrated on road before him. "No. No, I would  have never believed it either if I hadn't just seen it with my own eyes. What he almost did to you ..." His hands tightened on the steering wheel . "I will never forgive him for it."

Feyre fought back the tears that threatened to fill her eyes. She knew he meant what he said. If given the opportunity, Rhysand would make him pay back for what he'd done to her, for treating her the way he had, for making her feel like she didn't deserve anything. For some reason, Rhysand cared deeply for her and that made her feel slightly bit better.

As long as she had him, she would be fine. She might be hurt and broken, but she would heal someday.

"Rhysand."

"Yes?"

"I know things are going to be hard for a while. It's going to take me some time to heal and get over Tamlin and the way he's been treating me, but ... I want you to know something."

He looked at her with a puzzled expression."Okay."

"I want you to know that I would repeat it all over again. I would go through this again, without any doubt, if that meant getting to become your friend. You're the only right thing I've done, Rhys."

Rhysand's eyes were bright as he looked at her. "Feyre ..."

Both of them were silent after that, as Rhysand kept driving until he arrived at his destination. As soon as he pulled over, she crawled back to his arms and he held her tightly. She closed her eyes, letting his warmth and scent envelop her.

She was hurt, but she would recover. Everything would be fine. She would be whole again.