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angelwings-crossbowstrings · 7 months ago

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Blood Ties Chapter 20

Series Masterlist

Warnings: Graphic depictions of illness; allusions to major medical procedure; accidental violence (m on f); allusions to child abuse

A/N: Finally. I make no excuses and a lot of apologies. Daryl is going through it right now but it's not just my normal whump. Reader gets to find herself again. I say that as vaguely as possible but you'll see at the end and in coming chapters.

A day and a half. A full fucking thirty six hours. The group still hadn’t returned. While it was logical to be concerned for their safety, you just couldn’t seem to look any further than the man on the bed no more than a foot in front of you. His fever raged and his breathing deteriorated, shallow rattles and painful fits of coughing. Still, those were less distressing than the moments he would wake, not remembering where or when he was.

During one such episode, you had been a peer from school. An innocent girl who had followed him home one day to catch crawdads in the creek behind his house. His one friend that he had to hide in the crawlspace until he could get his father to beat on him instead of looking for you. He didn’t have any friends. You were special, he said. The bruises were worth it.

Of all the ways to get Daryl to talk about what had happened to him, this wasn’t what you had expected.

To make matters worse, he had become violent, waking in a rage that no one could understand. He was swinging punches and trying to leave the bed, Lori holding you away from him while Hershel of all people tried to subdue him alone. It was the grating of his own voice against his throat that had brought on the coughing, the force of which had eventually tired him out.

You had appreciated the concern but had asked Lori not to come between you and Daryl again. Though she had retreated in a huff, Carol later assured you that she was only concerned for the safety of you and the baby. She wasn’t angry and she wasn’t judging Daryl for something over which he had no control.

Things were quiet at the moment. You hummed and carded your fingers through the archer’s hair. He had been sleeping without interruption for a little over an hour, but his breaths were seeming even more labored.

You were beyond exhausted. Two or three hours of sleep, barely eating between bouts of nausea, you were nearly to the point of being confined to that sickbed right alongside Daryl.

“How’re the patients?”

You didn’t lift your head, only your eyes. “Baby and I are fine. Daryl sounds worse than when you were here earlier.”

“Let’s take a look at you two and then I’ll examine Daryl.”

There was no point in arguing. You didn’t have the energy. Sitting up straight in the chair, your back protested from the time spent bowed over the edge of the mattress, but you continued the journey to relax against the backrest. Your hand never released Daryl’s.

Hershel motioned toward your sweater in a silent request for permission and received a mumbled knock yourself out in reply. Baby Dixon was still for the moment after hours of kicking and rolling and seemingly trying to fit a foot between your ribs. The veterinarian smiled gently upon removing the stethoscope and rolling down your sweater. You were grateful for the small gesture, likely would have left it up if he hadn’t taken the initiative.

“Heartbeat’s strong. Seems to be doing just fine according to my limited knowledge. You really should get some rest yourself. Eat something, drink more.” His stethoscope was already nearing Daryl’s chest when you noticed it; the twitch of a hand before fingers curled into a fist.

“Daryl, no!” You weren’t meaning to hurt the old man, inwardly wincing when you heard the thud of his body hit the floor. You were just quick enough to shove him out of the way, Daryl’s fist barely grazing your cheek instead. “Hey, you’re okay. It’s Y/N. You’re sick.” You kept your voice soft, right next to his ear, holding him firmly in a way he couldn’t escape in his weakened state.

“Hershel! Y/N!” Carol and Lori burst into the room, Beth just behind them. You heard the girl begin to cry and tend to her father but the other two were quiet.

“Where—dunno—can’t think—”

“I know, Daryl. It’s the fever.” He was coughing into your shoulder, his skin hot and dry where it touched yours. “You’re safe. I’m here. Thumper’s here.” The archer made a sound in his throat and by some miracle, you knew what it meant. Otherwise keeping your hold on him, you fumbled for his hand and pressed it firmly to the side of your belly. “Feel that? You woke them up too.” Your lip was wobbling, your voice threatening to do the same. “They just want their daddy to rest now so they can too. How ‘bout it, hmm?”

You pulled back slowly, steeling yourself for whatever it was you would see in his eyes. You almost whimpered when there was nothing short of exhausted recognition.

“D’I hurt—”

Your cheek burned and felt wet, but you shook your head. No, you wouldn’t tell him while he was like that. “I tripped. Face-planted. You definitely would have laughed.” He didn’t believe you, that much was obvious, but thank heavens for Thumper and a well placed punt straight to Daryl’s palm. His reaction was sluggish, head bowing to watch his hand rub circles over that spot.

“Hey, kid. Go—easy on—your mama.”

“How about you go easy on their mama too and drink some water for me?” With your hand behind his head, you slowly guided him to his mountain of pillows. “Just a bit, okay?” He gave no answer. His palm continued to caress your bump. You wondered if he would still be so affectionate once he realized you weren’t alone in the room.

With one hand raising his head slightly, the other tipped the cup to lips. He didn’t drink as much as you’d hoped but it was something. His eyes were closed but his fingers remained steady, curling and straightening over where you could feel the ripples of movement. It was as if they could sense one another. Daryl was calm, only the cough moving him at all. The baby’s movements were gentle waves below his hand.

You didn’t dare move, allowing him the comfort he likely didn’t even know he was seeking. If you were being honest, you were relaxing a little as well. With a sigh, both tired and contented, you slouched but stayed next to him.

“Is he okay?” You asked, finally rolling your head toward the others. Beth and Carol were getting Hershel to his feet, Lori pacing behind them with an expression you just didn’t like.

“I’m perfectly fine.” The man answered for himself, patting Beth’s hand so that she would release him.

“I’m so sorry.” You whispered, risking placing your hand over Daryl’s. When his fingers went still, you gently guided his palm back and forth over your belly.

“You did nothing wrong, Y/N. I should have been more—”

“He’s going to seriously hurt one of us.” Lori interjected, continuing her pacing. You shot her a warning look, eyes narrowing when she shook her head. “I understand this is out of his control, but this is Daryl and out of all of us, he’s hardwired for violence.”

“Lori, you should go.” You spoke quietly, not willing to disrupt any rest the archer might be getting. You could only pray that he hadn’t heard her careless comment.

“We should just take shifts to come check in on him. You could rest and eat, we’d probably hear him cou—”

“Are you seriously suggesting I leave him alone up here?” Where the anger was coming from, you had no idea. Maybe it was the exhaustion or the concern for Daryl that was constantly eating at you. It hardly mattered, you’d made it clear that she was crossing a line. Your tone was dripping with venom. “Carol.” You beckoned, eyes remaining on Rick’s wife. “Please, take Lori downstairs before I say or do something I would definitely regret.”

“Come on, Lori.” You heard Carol say quietly, a heated glare continuing between you and the other woman as she was led from the room. Once the door closed, your anger dissolved as quickly as it had materialized. “Beth—Hershel, you know—”

“We know he’d never hurt any of us on purpose.” The girl said in that sweet southern tone of hers. “You neither.”

“Having two expectant mothers in one room with enough charged energy was just asking for an explosion of some sort. Now don’t you stress yourself over it any further.” As he neared, Hershel squeezed your shoulder. “Think you might be able to keep him from becoming agitated long enough for me to take a listen?” He lifted the stethoscope.

You nodded with a sniffle, wiping away a tear. “Yeah. If you can go around, I have an idea.” The old man rounded the bed while you crawled up beside Daryl, gently pulling him onto his side and against your chest. Once situated, you pulled his hand back onto your belly, and though he didn’t move it, you felt him relax a little further into you. “Daryl.” You whispered into his hair. “Hershel’s gonna listen to your lungs. The stethoscope is gonna be cold but your skin is hot from the fever. I’m right here. And it’s just Hershel.”

You carded your fingers through his hair while Beth leaned over you to clean the cut on your cheek, hands just as gentle as her father’s. There wasn’t so much as a flinch when the cold instrument pressed against the archer’s back. You paid attention to the his reactions—or lack thereof—but you also watched Hershel and the way his expression fell. It was then you knew he would tell you nothing good.

“His right lung is full of fluid. It’s hindering his ability to breathe normally. The cough is still productive?” You nodded slowly. “May I see?” Well, that was disgusting but Beth carefully pinched one edge of a cloth and carried it to Hershel. You didn’t care to have that ick on your fingers.

Your attention turned back to Daryl, his weight heavy on your side, chest rattling, cheeks flushed, and lips pale. When would the group be back? Were they okay? Should you plan to leave?

“Y/N.”

“Hmm?” You didn’t look up from stroking the archer’s cheek until your name was said again. The expression you were met with was grim. You had your concerns about the pink frothy liquid that accompanied the mucus. Fuck. You should have told Hershel immediately. “What is it?”

“If I don’t do something about the fluid in his lung, it is possible he may—for lack of a better term—drown.”

“When they get back—” He cut you off with a shake of his head.

“This can’t wait that long. We don’t know if—we’re not sure when they’ll return. I need to see if I have anything that I can use. What we were able to grab from the farm was extremely limited and even that has been cut in half with being on the road.” Hershel was mentally running through inventory as he began to leave the room with his daughter in tow, turning but not meeting your eyes. “I’ll need him awake for this.”

Start waking him up now. That’s what he meant. You were horrified. You had no idea how to thoroughly explain to Daryl what was going to happen, because you didn’t know. Why did he need to be awake? ‘Oh, you’re going to drown slowly if we don’t do this now.’ How badly would it hurt?

“There’s a—time an’ place—to be pullin’ on—a man’s hair an’ this—ain’t it.”

You sputtered out apologies and let go immediately. “I didn’t even realize—I’m so sorry.” He wasn’t even looking at you, half lidded eyes blinking slowly and staring toward the wall. Your tight grip returned but this time on his bicep, pulling him more snugly into your side but easing when he buried his face against your sweater to cough. Gross, but what could you do? “Daryl. Do you think you could try to—”

“Heard the—the old man. M’awake.”

The two of you laid in silence, not necessarily uncomfortable but with the looming fear of what was to come and if could even possibly help him. Your fingers ran a trail up and down his arm while his hand splayed out over your belly, eventually sliding around to your side to shift you toward him. Face to face, you could now clearly see the exhaustion, the way the illness was slowly tearing him down, and the resignation in his eyes.

“I’m scared.” The words slipped from your tongue unbidden, and though his expression didn’t change, he brought a fiercely trembling hand to your cheek, hot against your skin.

“Me too.” The admission shocked you to your core. Daryl always strived to be strong for everyone. Hell, it was what led him to his current position in the first place, trudging on while ill just to make sure you and the group—mostly you—were fed. “Didn’t fall.” His thumb barely brushed the bruised cut on your cheek. “M’so sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault.”

He opened his mouth, presumably to speak but quickly turned his face into the pillow to cough harshly, the force rocking his body hard enough to jar your own. You twisted to reach for a cloth, shushing him when his hold grew tighter, openly displaying his discontent at the thought of you moving away.

With gentle swipes, you wiped his face and then the pillow, folding the fabric before laying it above your heads for easy access.

“I don’t wanna do this without you. Thumper needs their daddy. And,” you swallowed, face crumbling and tears stinging your waterline, “I need their daddy too.”

“Ain’t goin’ nowhere.” Why the hell was he comforting you when he was the one being ravaged by an illness that would have been easily remedied in the old world? You really were weak, dependent. Where was the headstrong woman that had shown no fear on her own during the first days of the turn? “Stop—stop lookin’ at me—like m’already dead.” He tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, pulling away abruptly to cover a fit of barking coughs that left him groaning, face lined with pain while he gasped and heaved to catch his breath.

You had no chance to offer him any sort of comfort before there came a knock and Hershel entered, Carol at his heels. “We have what we need. Well, what can be used in place of what we need.” He held some sort of thin tubing, a syringe, and a plastic mixing bowl, while Carol carried a mostly empty bottle of whiskey, some gauze, tape, and a knife. Even with your wide eyes displaying a naked fear, Daryl never turned to look. “Is he awake?”

“Get it—get on with it.” He grumbled, weak but to the point.

Hershel merely shook his head with that fond smile he had developed toward your group since the farm. “Carol, could you sanitize the knife?” Seeing her pour a portion of the liquid over the blade made your stomach turn, or maybe it was your own illness rearing its ugly head to take advantage of your weakened state. Regardless, you looked away, finding Daryl’s eyes on your own. “First, I’ll need to find the right spot. You’ll have to be completely still for this, son.”

“Yeah, okay. Got—got it.” The archer wheezed. In your peripheral, you could see the veterinarian’s arm moving, pressing and counting the ribs in search of the correct site. Daryl was rigid, his eyes squinted but remaining open and focused on you with the occasional flitting down to where your swollen belly pressed against him. His hand fisted into the fabric of your sweater on your hip.

“Okay, I’m going to—”

“Just do—just do it for christ sake.”

The old man was still behind him for a moment, long enough to draw your gaze to his. He nodded, a silent request for you to do what you could to keep Daryl still and compliant. Drawing your eyes back to the dull blue that was watching you with such intensity that you felt crushed under the weight, well, that must have been enough for Hershel to continue.

Daryl made a noise in the back of his throat, the slightest spasm of pain indicating that the knife had pierced his skin. Hershel and Carol were moving behind Daryl, communicating through whispers and gestures while you felt Daryl’s arm begin to shake, your sweater pulling tight against your body.

“It’s okay. You’re doing so good, Daryl.”

His eyes suddenly clamped shut, your sweater rising away from your hip when he twisted his fist. The seconds felt like minutes that felt like hours of watching him tremble with fever, weakness, and restraint. Finally, there came the blessed sound of liquid hitting the bottom of the plastic bowl.

“Catheter is in place as best I can tell. We’re getting fluid. Don’t hold your breath, son. Nice and slow.”

You could tell he was trying, each breath a wheeze laced with pain. Slowly, you moved your hand from his arm to his face, just brushing your fingers over the stubble on his cheek. “We need to start thinking of names, you know. Thumper is cute but the baby isn’t a rabbit even though they feel like one sometimes.” Daryl’s eyes opened, tears pricking at the pinched corners. You knew he couldn’t answer you and so did he, probably couldn’t even if he tried. “I try to picture what they may look like. I hope they look like you, big blue eyes and maybe even a permanent scowl so that when they smile, it’ll be the most beautiful thing we’ve ever seen.” You thumbed away a tear that escaped down across the bridge of his nose toward the other eye.

When his throat spasmed, you thought maybe he was going to be sick but then he began to cough, loud and agonizing and dry. Your wide eyes found Hershel’s, the calm in the old man’s gaze fizzling out your terror.

“It’s okay. Just keep him still. The coughing forces out more fluid. It’s almost over.”

As painful as it was for Daryl, it was agonizing for you to watch him suffer with no way to help him. “It’s almost done. You’re doing great. Stay still and stay awake. Can you look at me?” He answered with the smallest of nods, an almost imperceptible movement. Carol moved closer to Hershel. It was torture to not know what they were doing out of your sight but at the same time, an immense relief. The zip of tape being pulled and torn was surely a sign of the procedure coming to an end.

But it was when Daryl drew in the deepest breath you had heard in two days that you felt yourself relax, truly and utterly just drain of tension, placing your forehead against his. “It’s over. Just rest now.” You focused on his even breaths, just the slightest wheeze, the barely audible rattle. He was limp against you, his hand still tangled in your sweater but no longer holding on. The archer was exhausted and sleep had claimed him almost instantly.

“Hershel?” You need not ask anything. He knew.

“It won’t last long, but it buys us some time. The incision was deep but small. I will examine him in a little while, make sure it stays clean. In the meantime, listen for any struggles with breathing. Let him rest.”

You nodded, your forehead brushing against Daryl’s. The used supplies had been gathered and the old man had already made his way downstairs. You caught Carol’s eye as she started to close the door.

“An hour.” You stated flatly.

“What?” The other woman stepped back into the room, her brow drawn.

“I’m giving them one hour. If they’re not back, I want the list and I’m going. There won’t be a discussion.” No room for argument. “You sit with him while I’m gone. You’re the only other person he really trusts.” She looked as if she might object, but when her shoulders relaxed, you knew you’d won. With a nod, she left the room.

Without Daryl’s desperate attempts to breathe, it was so quiet, a sound you welcomed and reveled in so deeply. Hershel had opened a doorway and you’d be damned if you’d let it close. Moving your arm below his to wrap around him, low on his back to avoid the incision, you used the leverage to pull yourself as close to him as you could with baby Dixon barring the way. The archer didn’t stir. Pressing your lips to his forehead, you felt the fever still burning hot, only fueling your determination to get what he needed if the group failed to return.

“I don’t care what you say or what you think. I don’t care why you think I shouldn’t.” You spoke softly, a near whisper. “I love you. And I am not losing you.”

Of course you had fallen asleep. Daryl was resting comfortably, albeit still feverish. You were cozy beside him. You felt safe while simultaneously feeling like you were guarding him. It had been more than an hour, that much was certain. Hershel hadn’t given a timeframe regarding how long the treatment would help Daryl and you were taking no chances. It was time to take things into your own hands.

As fate would have it, just as you began to disentangle yourself from Daryl, there were frantic footsteps on the stairs. Fuck. Daryl was too weak to move if walkers had wandered into the area. The door burst open without a knock, revealing a breathless blonde teenager wearing a brilliant smile.

“They’re back!”

You stared. It was all you could do, your voice had seemingly decided it was in just as much shock as you were. Besides, she had already disappeared, leaving the door wide open. A sob worked its way up your throat but you blocked it with your teeth, looking down at Daryl as he slept.

He would be okay.

The glare you had fixed on Hershel settled the maybe you should wait outside argument rather quickly. You weren’t leaving Daryl to be manhandled should he wake up confused.

A herd had blocked their direct path back. Of course one had. Because the world was cruel and unforgiving and the dead were always hungry and always looking for a life to take.

Rick, Glenn, and T-Dog were bringing up supplies while Maggie assisted her father with Daryl’s care. An IV was started immediately, after carefully searching for the perfect vein due to his state of dehydration. They didn’t have the cannulas to waste. Fluids were started right along with a bag of something called Azithromycin—an antibiotic, Hershel had said. They had scored several bags of each, along with a few other things that could be used for injuries or illnesses. But when they brought up the oxygen tanks, you could have sobbed.

The nasal cannula placement was what finally woke Daryl, bloodshot eyes scanning the room before you saw the first signs of panic. “Ssh. It’s okay.” You slid your hand under his and squeezed his fingers softly. “They’re back. Just let Hershal do his thing, okay? And then I’ll chase them all out. I promise.”

You were so relieved to see his usual scowl shift into place, even if it was somewhat diminished. “Fine.” He rasped.

“Good. Now, since I have your attention—don’t touch that—” you swatted his hand away from the cannula, “take these pills.” Hershel wanted around the clock alternation of acetaminophen and ibuprofen every four hours to get the fever under control.

With an utterance of something containing the word bossy he let you place the pills on his palm and tossed them into his mouth, swallowing them dry while you sat there offering a glass of water. There was a look shared between you that would have been amusing had either you had the energy to laugh. “Thanks.” He whispered, his hand shaking when he accepted the water. He only took a couple of sips but you wouldn’t hound him just yet. The fluids were going and he likely would take a while to feel like doing much of anything.

“We’ve done everything we can do for now. Just need to keep an eye on those bags and hang new ones when they’re empty. Keep giving the fever reducers and, son, try to drink when you feel like. The sooner you’re taking in fluids on your own, the better.”

“Leave that oxygen right where it is too.” Maggie added in a no-nonsense tone.

Daryl’s nod was sluggish, his chin almost staying on his chest during the gesture. The commotion, everyone moving, even while he did nothing more than take a couple of pills, had left him running on fumes. As promised, you were up, hand on your lower back to rub away the ache there as you used the other to shoo everyone out of the room.

Absolutely nothing was stopping you from crawling under those sheets with him and sleeping for four glorious hours. You had asked Carol to keep an eye on that. Thank heavens he was lying in the middle of the bed. The side with the IV needed to be avoided.

Actually lying down with the intention to sleep, knowing Daryl was receiving the help he needed, you were just done for, already drifting off and somewhere between awake and asleep when you felt Daryl’s knuckles brush against yours. You took his hand without a second thought.

“Are you sure about this?” Carol asked, standing with you in the doorway of the bedroom. She was nervously glancing back and forth between you and Daryl. Aside from a few bouts of those harsh, barking coughs, he had slept the entire four hours and barely woke enough to choke down the pills before being pulled right back under.

“I’m sure.” You secured your knife in the sheath on your thigh and wiggled Daryl’s gun holster a little to the side so it wasn’t gouging into the bottom of your belly. Your rifle was long gone and you weren’t about to alert anyone else to your plans by choosing a different weapon. So with both your bag and Daryl’s crossbow on your back, you were ready to head out.

“You don’t have anything to prove, Y/N. We’ve lived off less. There’s a little jerky left and we have some cans—”

“I’ll be fine, Carol. I’m only going to be a few hours and hunt small game. If I happen across a doe that I can lift, I’ll take that chance, otherwise, it’ll be squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, or opossums. Yum.”

“What do I tell him if he wakes up and asks for you?” She shifted nervously.

“The truth. We don’t lie. If he tries to come after me, knock him out or barricade the door.”

She followed you to the top of the stairs but not down, staying close to Daryl as she had promised. “You really don’t need to go.”

“I do. I’m the only other hunter in this group. I won’t have him trying to go out sooner than he’s ready to make sure there’s enough.” You paused on the bottom step, staring at the door and then toward the kitchen where everyone else was gathered. Chewing your bottom lip, you climbed up two more so she could hear you without alerting the rest. “If I’m not back before his next dose, I’m headed west. That’s where they can look.”

Carol looked so stricken and unsure so you offered her a smile, as she always did for you. Finally, she conceded. “Okay.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

#murda writes #blood ties #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #the walking dead #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon angst #daryl angst #daryl x female reader #daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon smut #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl dixon x you #pregnant!reader #sick!daryl dixon

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tsyvia48 · 1 year ago

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Author & Mensch: Reflections on the impact of @neil-gaiman on my life, in essay and doodle

As a woman of a certain age, I am a well-practiced overthinker. Nerd, geek, know-it-all, intellectual, the names have been biting or praise depending on who wielded them. They’re all true, and I embrace them.

In the early days of adulthood, when I was a wee 20-something overthinking nerd, geek, know-it-all, intellectual (20+ years ago), I became deeply interested in image and text and text-as-image. While friends were watching and arguing over Survivor, I was obsessing over Peter Greenaway’s The Pillowbook and Prospero's Books and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. (To this day my copies of the Sandman graphic novels and the English translation of The Pillowbook of Sei Shonagon are proudly displayed on the good bookshelves—you know, the ones I want people to peruse.)

Sandman isn't merely good storytelling and good art, it teases at some of the fundamental questions to which my religion-major heart was consistently and reliably drawn. It modeled a way of rendering the questions—and suggested answers—I would never have imagined on my own.

In those days, I created an artist's book: an altered gift edition of Hamlet. I explored Ophelia’s femininity and the inevitability of her break with her mental health, caught as she is between Hamlet and her father. I imagined her story if she’d had true agency. I investigated the way art (fan art?!) had shaped my understanding of the play and my relationship to it. I layered in my story—my resonance and dissonance with hers—and my art, along with images of famous and not-so-famous paintings of Ophelia. I proudly named Greenaway and Gaiman as influences.

I imagined myself an artist. And, truthfully, I suppose I was one.

I read Good Omens back then, too, delighting over the religious tropes and subversions, the humor, and the fundamental faith in humanity that shone through.

In the two decades since then, below the din of “responsible” choices (that have mostly moved me away from imagining myself an artist) there has been a melody quietly bringing me comfort, shifting my perspective, and reminding me who I want to be. When I stop to listen for and name the music, I realize much of it generates from Neil Gaiman.

The Graveyard Book gave me comfort and hope as a new parent.

Ocean at the End of the Lane reminded me of the layers and the depths⏤the archetypes and metaphors⏤present in everything around me, if I am willing to seek them.

Neil’s anecdote about meeting Neil Armstrong has been a talisman against imposter syndrome. Or, more precisely, it has been a permission slip for forgiving myself when the imposter syndrome inevitably surfaces.

The episode of Dr Who he wrote (“the Doctor’s Wife”) changed the way I understand the entire Dr Who experience before and since.

Lucifer (tv), which his work inspired, gave me joy, comfort and distraction through a tough time in my life.

When, a few years ago, I realized he is Jewish, I had that swelling of pride and resonance that I always get when someone I admire shares that identity with me.

And now there’s the Good Omens tv series. It has opened something in me I didn’t realize was closed. Crowley and Aziraphale are helping me better understand myself, and love, and gender, and storytelling, and, believe it or not, Torah. I am writing again for the first time in ages. I'm drawing more often and with more joy than I’ve known maybe since childhood.

I’ve been getting back into my gratidoodle practice, drawing and writing what I’m grateful for. And when I decided to add Neil Gaiman’s face and some words about my appreciation for his work to my sketchbook, I realized he’s brought me full circle.

Text and image and text-as-image + Neil Gaiman + story is an old constellation for me. And once again, I find my thoughts dancing, shifting, blossoming to the quiet melody of (one of?) the greatest storyteller(s) of this generation.

And now that I am actively engaging with other Gaiman fans, I see how responsive and kind and encouraging he is to those of us who love his work, and his name is permanently etched on my heart: a benefactor, a teacher, a role model.

How satisfying and fitting that such a powerful and resonant voice, miraculously, thankfully, beautifully, also seems to be a genuine mensch.

B”H (thanks to God) that I am alive at the same time as such a one.

#I didn't realize I was going to write AND draw when I started this #but I felt I needed both #I wish I had a flatbed scanner #this photo doesn't do it justice #there's greater nuance in the color in person #Stories matter #Art matters #like, really matters #Neil Gaiman is a gift to this world #Good Omens #Crowley and Aziraphale #Ocean at the End of the Lane #The Graveyard Book #Neil Armstrong and imposter syndrome #The Doctor's Wife #So grateful for tumblr

#crowley x aziraphale #good omens #neil gaiman #david tennant #michael sheen #ineffable husbands #jewish good omens #aziracrow #jumblr #my art #ocean at the end of the lane #the graveyard book #the doctor's wife

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rubycruzin4abruzin · 6 months ago

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never been (stage) kissed

Summary: After years of being a struggling actress in Los Angeles, you finally land your big break! The only problem is, you’ve been cast opposite your longtime celebrity crush… Ruby Cruz. What will you do when the director demands a kiss between the two of you?

Pairing: ruby cruz x actress!reader

Contains: mature language, small amount of adult humor, kissing, fluff, thigh touching, in depth details of Hollywood movie shooting, anxious!reader, publicity tweets and comments, ruby being the sweetest girl EVER

Word Count: 3.1k

A/N: This is a Real Person Fiction. I’ve included a mass disclaimer of RPF guidelines here. Make SURE to click the link before reading, it’s extremely important for the safety of all Real People involved in this fiction.

———

You stared at the movie script in your hand, biting your lip to stop from squealing. After being in Los Angeles for the past five years, you had finally landed your big break.

You had known that you wanted to act ever since your mother signed you up to be a munchkin in a community theatre production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Of course, being a stubborn elementary schooler, you fought her on it, saying the songs were “stupid” and the costumes were “itchy.” But as soon as opening night came, and the lights hit your face, you put on a smile and celebrated the death of the Wicked Witch like it was something you’d been waiting for your entire life.

After the song's last note, deafening applause echoed around the theater, causing adrenaline to course through your veins. In that moment, you decided to spend the rest of your life chasing that feeling.

When you reached middle school, you joined their drama department, taking theatre as an elective class while occasionally participating in the school plays. Once high school rolled around, you began to take some of the more advanced classes, and even competed in a couple One-Act Play competitions. A lot of the people you started taking classes with eventually got bored and left to pursue other hobbies, but over the years you just fell more and more in love with acting, and became completely dedicated to your craft.

Instead of attending college, after you graduated high school you packed up whatever you needed and moved across the country to a small town about half an hour away from Los Angeles. The area was slightly sketchy, your apartment was small, and you had to work two jobs while sharing with four other roommates just to make rent.

Los Angeles kinda… sucked. But you had stars in your eyes and couldn’t be happier.

Unfortunately, you were kind of in for a rude awakening once audition season rolled around. Back in high school, you would book leads left and right. Now, it seemed like the only gigs you could book were background work, maybe a role in a rinky-dink student film if you were lucky. You always took what you could get, but you longed for something that could get your foot in the door.

One day, one of the short films you starred in entitled “Attack of the Killer Zombie Prom Queens” got entered into some film festival, and not only did it win an award you couldn’t remember the name of, it ended up going viral on YouTube, and not in a bad way either. Your performance in that film was astounding.

Plus, not that this was the sole reason the film blew up, but as an actress in your early 20’s who tended to take care of herself, you were kind of… well… hot.

Suddenly, you were getting recognized in public, signed with an agency, and landing more notable roles. You were featured in a music video for an up-and-coming country artist, booked a commercial for a costume makeup company (in which you brought back your look from “Attack of the Killer Zombie Prom Queens”), and even starred in three episodes of a new series on HBO Max.

Just when you thought life couldn’t get any better, one day you were coming back from what was either your third or fourth audition of the day, when you got a call from your agent on the drive home. You groaned, almost certain she was calling to schedule another “last-minute” audition. Sure you appreciated how hard she worked to get you booked, but you were also so tired after a long day.

To your surprise, when you picked up the phone, she ecstatically announced that you had booked a huge role.

In a feature film.

Starring alongside your celebrity crush… Ruby Cruz.

You had to pull over on the side of a highway to keep from swerving out of excitement.

Ruby had been your celebrity crush since you saw her in the Disney+ series “Willow.” Her masculine ambience, her devil-may-care attitude, and the way she swung her sword had you absolutely drooling. Somehow, you finished the entire series in two days, and immediately ran to IMDB to add Every Single Thing she’s been in to your watch list.

Now, you stood in front of the building where your first read-through was supposed to take place, the script for “Aliens of Atlantis” resting in your shaking hands. You gulped as you pushed open the door, wondering how you were going to keep your cool around Ruby when the very thought of her practically sent you into cardiac arrest.

Walking into the reading room, you were met with several chairs arranged into a circle and sounds of chatter from the other actors. You recognized a few of them from some smaller projects, even recognizing one from a movie that had come out the previous year. Your eyes scanned the room for Ruby, heart beating out of your chest when they landed on the back of a choppy brunette bob.

When Ruby turned around, you swore her blue eyes sparkled under the fluorescent lights. She caught you staring at her from across the room, and shot you a wide toothy smile before walking over to you.

“Hey,” she started. “You must be Zephyra.”

You blinked at her. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Zephyra.” She repeated. “You’re playing the alien queen of Atlantis, right?”

She furrowed her eyebrows at you slightly and tilted her head, worried she may have gotten you mixed up with someone else.

Her words clicked in your head, finally. “Oh! Yes! I’m playing the role of Zephyra.”

Ruby’s smile returned as she let out a lighthearted chuckle. You swallowed, trying to keep your cool. You still had trouble wrapping your mind around the fact that you were standing in front of the Ruby Cruz, and having a semi-successful conversation.

She stuck out her hand, offering a handshake. “Hi, I’m Ruby. I’m playing Calantha.”

You took her hand, electric shocks vibrating through your body at her touch. “Nice to meet you.”

After removing her hand (much to your displeasure), she turned to walk back over to her seat, but not before flashing you a smile over her shoulder. “Can’t wait to work with you!”

God, why did she have to be so cool?

The table read went fairly well, in your opinion. The movie was about Calantha, an underwater adventurer, finding the lost city of Atlantis during an expedition. Once there, she finds the city being ruled by aliens who’s spaceship crashed near the area about 100 years ago. Calantha finds Zephyra, the alien queen, who makes her promise to keep their secret, and in return, Calantha will help her run the city.

You were playing Zephyra, of course, since being in “Attack of the Killer Zombie Prom Queens” proved you looked hot even in otherworldly makeup. You kind of thought there might be some romantic or even sexual tension between Calantha and Zephyra, but you brushed it off as you thought that might not be the artistic intention.

Once filming started, your days were basically exclusively spent on set. Not that you were complaining, you loved every second. Even after coming home at 1am when you left for work at 6am, a blissful smile would be painted across your tired face.

The only thing that bothered you was that you barely ever got to talk to Ruby on set. It was more your fault than hers. Every time you two were working together, your brain short circuited and you couldn’t get out anything more than a few dim-witted babbles. Ruby was always so sweet about it though, always lightheartedly chuckling at your barely-comprehensible speech, sometimes even giving your upper arm a squeeze if you felt especially nervous.

You knew she meant well, but any touch from your celebrity crush was sure to do the opposite of calming you down.

One day, during a filming session, you and Ruby were meant to be sitting especially close to each other. You were sure you felt some romantic tension between the two characters, but you chalked it up to your crush on the actress and tried to downplay it. The director, however, seemed very frustrated today, this was the nineteenth take of this particular scene and he still wasn’t happy.

“Cut!” He yelled, letting out a frustrated sigh as you and Ruby turned your attention towards him.

“Everything alright, sir?” Ruby asked, making you glad you weren’t the only one who noticed his irritation.

“This scene… it’s missing something.” He brought his hand to his chin and squinted at the both of you. “Do we think we could add a kiss? Right here?”

Your heart stopped, and all the moisture disappeared from your mouth.

It wasn’t like you hadn’t kissed people before. You had your fair share of dates back in high school, that wasn’t the problem.

You’ve kissed, but you’ve never stage kissed.

Sure you had plenty of acting experiences, but the roles you played never required kissing. Instead of playing Aurora, you made a fabulous Maleficent. While Elle Woods locked lips with Emmett, you were busy portraying a hilarious Paulette. And of course, nobody wants to make out with a zombie prom queen.

You had no idea if there was any difference between actual kisses and stage-kisses. Obviously, sex scenes in movies weren’t real. But kisses? What if there is a difference and you go to kiss Ruby on camera and make her uncomfortable? What if she pushes you away? What if she gets mad? You don’t know how you’d recover from something like that, and your mind swarmed with plans to flee the country if that did happen.

Ruby opened her mouth to answer the director, before looking at you for confirmation and noticing your overly-panicked state. She sent you a reassuring smile, and placed a gentle hand on your back.

She turned to the director. “Could we pick this up after lunch? I think my scene partner and I have some things to discuss.”

The director agreed, and since it was still about thirty minutes to lunch, decided to use that time to record some “room noise.” You and Ruby were meant to sit still and quietly, the only thing you heard being the echo of your heartbeat in your ears.

Suddenly, you received a text notification, causing sound to go off and the director to groan and shoot you an annoyed look. You mumbled a quick “sorry” before switching your phone to vibrate and looking to see who texted you.

After wolfing down a sandwich from the craft services table, you stood in front of the trailer with Ruby’s name on the door, wringing your clammy hands while deciding whether or not to knock. You took a deep breath, raised your knuckles, and knocked three times, taking a step back after.

She answered almost immediately, staring down at you with a comforting grin. “Hey, come on in.”

Walking up the stairs and into Ruby’s trailer, you couldn’t help but notice how much cleaner it was than yours. You weren’t necessarily sloppy, but your vanity was covered in various bottles of blue face paint, while your floor held multiple alien-like prosthetics. Ruby’s was tidier, with a small couch pushed up against the wall, and her vanity holding nothing but some makeup basics and a half-full can of Dr. Pepper she had been drinking right before you walked in.

Ruby took a seat in her vanity chair and took a sip from her Dr. Pepper, motioning for you to sit on the small couch. “What’s going on? You didn’t seem too comfortable with the kissing scene.”

You gulped, staring down at your lap. “It’s not that…”

Ruby sat up, leaning forward to gawk at you. “Oh my god… have you never been kissed?”

“What? No! Of course I have…” you trailed off. “I just… I’ve never stage kissed before, and I know you have, so is it any different from regular kissing? I feel so stupid for asking and I’m so sorry but I didn’t wanna do it wrong while filming and I’m kinda embarrassed that I don’t know the answer so that’s why I wanted to ask you privately because I didn’t wanna fuck up…”

Ruby stared at you, silent and wide eyed. You felt your heartbeat in your ears as you tried to decipher what she was thinking. Suddenly, she threw her head back and let out a hearty laugh. Your heart sank. Here you were being awkward and vulnerable in front of your crush, and she was laughing at you.

Just before you decided to get up and walk out, Ruby calmed down, wiping away a tear and smiling apologetically. “I’m sorry, I promise I’m not making fun of you. I didn’t mean to laugh, really. You’re just so cute.”

You felt your cheeks burn at her words. She thinks you’re cute?

Ruby threw her soda away in a nearby trash can and moved to sit next to you on the small couch. She criss-crossed her legs, turning to face you while pondering how to answer your question.

“So… stage kisses are different from regular kisses, but they’re also not, you know? Like, we’re kissing but we’re not like… kissing.”

She peered over at you, studying your facial expressions. You looked more confused than ever, so she continued her explanation.

“So, if you’re asking if my lips will physically be on your lips… then the answer is yes, they will. But they’re not exactly like the real thing, because it’s more of a demonstration to the audience rather than an act of passion between two people.”

“A demonstration?” You cocked your head. Ruby nodded.

“Yeah, so say the camera was over there…” she pointed out in front of you. “…then you might cup my jaw, or cradle the back of my head. But if you were to grab my face or something like that, it’d look pretty awkward in a fifty-fifty profile shot.”

You nodded in understanding. “Ok… I think I get what you’re saying.”

“There are also different types of kissing.” Ruby continued. “Like, it should portray how your character feels about the other character. When Zephyra has scenes with Calantha, how does she feel?”

You gulped, focusing on your lap again. “Well, to be honest, it kinda feels like there’s a lot of romantic or sexual tension between our characters, but I’ve sort of been suppressing it because I’m not sure that was the intention.”

“But you feel like Zephyra is attracted to Calantha sexually?” Ruby asked. You nodded. “Great! You don’t necessarily have to make it explicit, but something like that can help you dive deeper into your character.”

Ruby scooted closer to you, taking your hands in hers. She gazed at you with half lidded eyes, causing your breathing to accelerate.

“I want you to kiss me.”

Ruby’s words barely resonated in your head, there was no way you heard her correctly. “You… huh?”

“For practice.” Ruby clarified, letting go of your hands. “Like you would during filming. Is that ok?”

An involuntary swallow forced itself down your throat as you nodded. You couldn’t believe you were about to kiss your celebrity crush, even if it was only for practice.

You pressed your hand into her warm cheek, pulling her close and quickly pecking her lips before retreating away. Your face burned from embarrassment while Ruby cocked her head, clearly confused.

“That’s it?” She asked. “My bad, I didn’t realize Calantha was your grandmother.”

Ruby moved closer and cradled the back of your head, entangling her fingers into your soft locks. You felt your hands sweat as her big blue eyes gazed into yours. “I was thinking maybe something more like this…”

She crashed her lips into yours, causing warmth to explode in your chest. Her fingers played with your hair as you began to kiss back, and your arms wrapped around her waist. Holy shit could she kiss! You could barely fathom how soft her lips were, tasting faintly of Dr. Pepper and vanilla lip balm. As hard as you tried to act professional and pretend there was a camera in front of you, every inch of your body screamed at you to succumb to your most primal instincts.

You lifted one hand from her waist and moved to rest it on her mid-thigh, causing a gentle moan to escape from her lips and a shiver to run down her body. Startled, you moved back, throughly convinced that you majorly fucked up.

“Shit, I’m sorry!” You exclaimed, pulling back your hand like it had touched fire. “I wasn’t thinking, fuck. I got too swept up in the moment. I shouldn’t have touched you, that was completely unprofessional.”

“Hm…?” Ruby blinked, still in a daze. “Oh. Oh! You’re good! Don’t be sorry. I liked it. Really.”

Ruby grinned at you shyly. You stared back at her, a question you weren’t quite sure how to ask lingering at the tip of your tongue. “Ruby, are we still… practicing?”

Her smile faded as her eyes went wide, her gaze dropping to her lap. It was her turn to be coy, a sight you’d never seen before.

She dropped her voice to a low whisper as she choked out her question. “Do you want to be?”

Before you could even open your mouth to answer, your phone alarm screeched from your jacket pocket. You took it out, groaning as you turned it off.

Ruby furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “What was that?”

“My alarm,” you answered. “I have to go.”

“But lunch isn’t over for another twenty minutes.” Ruby pointed out, trying to hide her disappointment.

“Yeah, but I have to head back early so they can touch up my makeup and fix my prosthetics.”

Ruby sighed in understanding. She supposed your costume might have a bit more upkeep than hers. Your prosthetics did look a little wonky after the lunch break, never mind your smudged blue lipstain that made her apprehensive to look in a mirror.

You collected yourself and turned to walk out, but looked over your shoulder before opening the door. “Uhm… Ruby?”

“Hm?” She answered.

You wrung your hands anxiously. “Do you think we could maybe… do this again? Sometime?”

Ruby’s head shot up to look at you, and a playful smile spread across her face. “Do what? More kissing lessons?”

You rolled your eyes as she chuckled, then gave you a lopsided grin. “I’d like that. Lunch again, tomorrow?”

A blush pink color sprinkled across the apples of your cheeks as you smiled back at her, trying your best to stay cool and suppress the giddy feeling that was bubbling inside of you.

“See you then.”

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ripleylove · 5 months ago

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I need just you and nobody else.

requested by @stellakiddsblog saying: Rhea x reader Reader is autistic and gets overstimulated at and has an episode during Rheas match backstage and the workers are franticly trying to calm her down and it makes it worse till Damien grabs Rhea

pairing: Rhea Ripley x autistic fem reader.

warnings: Rhea uses very soft tones with reader,for someone could be triggering so I put a warning :)

genre:angst + fluff

summary: while going to the bathroom during raw,a lot of interviewers started to bother you,and you get really upset and overstimulated,but Rhea is always here for you.

A/N: a big thank you to @bibibi-tchx for all the support cause I would've fucking fell asleep. (And thanks for the help and the support clovey clove muah xx)

⋆ ˚｡⋆𔓘⭒๋࣭

This was the first Raw you went to,you always watched it on tv but this time you were really here. Your girlfriend Rhea insisted that you should have watched her match,and you gave in.

It was really crowded and very noisy, and Rhea noticed that,so she softly put her hands on your ears,while you hugged her tightly,feeling secure from all the dangers of the world.

The Raw episode was going to start in two hours,and you already felt excited for your girlfriend, because you knew she was going to win.

She took your hand in hers,and she brought you to thr locker room he shared with The Judgment Day.

While she was doing her makeup,with her signature black lipstick and the words "dirty dom" on her cheek,you couldn't help but think what would happen while Rhea wasn't with you,scared that something bad would happen.

Your girlfriend noticed that you spaced out,and she asked you: "Baby,what's in your cute little head,mhm?". She comes closer to you,her eyeliner long forgotten,and strokes softly and sweetly your now red cheek.

"It's jus' that I'm bit worried,what if somethin' happens?" You said with a worried voice, and Rhea's eyes soften.

"Baby it's okay,nothing will happen if you're in our locker room. You have Damian,Finn and Dom to protect you. You're safe sweetness. And if something happens to you,I'll make sure to kick their asses!" She said while still stroking your cheeks,and you let out a giggle after the last sentence. You were sure now: nothing is going to happen,you're safe with your and Rhea's friends.

The laughs of the both of you were interrupted by the noise of the locker room's door open. Damian,Finn and Dominik waved at you,and Rhea told them to keep an eye on you while she's out on the ring (and she might or might not have threatened them,saying that if something happened to you she'd kill them with her own hands,but nobody knows.)

She finished doing her makeup,and she started putting her gear on. Her hair were done by an hairstylist, slicked back with little braids on the side.

Before leaving to go to the ring,she kissed you sweetly, as if that was a good luck kiss that would help her succeed.

You were in the locker room watching Rhea fight Becky Lynch when you suddenly felt the need to go to the bathroom.

"Damian,is it okay if I go to the bathroom? I'll come back as soon as possible." You asked Damian,who was scrolling on his phone. "Sure Y/N,but don't get lost,okay?" You nodded as a response,and you went out of the locker room.

You saw a few interviewers coming to you,asking if you were Rhea Ripley's girlfriend and if you were with her only for money.

"Listen- I- I-" You tried to speak,but the words got caught up in your throat,trying desperately to escape but with no use. Your breath was starting to become unsteady and your hands were heavily shaking.

Soon enough a crowd started to form around you,making you panic even more.

Damian noticed that you were out of sight since 20 minutes,and he decided to look for you. He saw a lot of people in one single place,and he wondered what was happening.

He pushed aside all of the people that were blocking his vision,and saw your crying and shaking form.

"Go away! Leave her alone!" He shouted,and your hands quickly covered your ears. "Hey,hey,hey. You're okay now. Can you stand up?" His voice was unsure,but he was trying his best to comfort you.

You couldn't talk,and you just wanted Rhea to hold you and to reassure you.

"You don't wanna talk? It's totally okay. Should I call Rhea?" He asked,and you nodded. You were still crying and trembling from the fear and the anxiety,but you would do anything to have Rhea next to you.

Damian called Dominik to tell him that he had to get Rhea and bring her backstage because you needed her,and he quickly did what he was requested to.

Just as Dominik was going to get her,she hit a finisher on Becky Lynch and she won the match.

Dominik ran down the ramp towards Rhea and he told her why they needed her,and saying that she ran backstage was an understatement.

"Where is she?!" Rhea asked Dominik,and he pointed the direction where you and Damian were with his finger.

Your girlfriend quickly found you on the floor,with your knees in front of your chest,and your head buried in your arms.

"Oh,sweetie." She got on her knees next to you,and she pulled you in a comforting embrace,that you were waiting for a lot of time.

"Rhea I-I am so sorry f-for interrupting y-your match" You tried to say through your sobs and your sniffles and her heart broke at the sight. "Baby,it's okay,it's not your fault. They didn't have to overstimulate you like that and they could have minded their own business. And I won by the way,so you didn't interrupt anything." She smiled sweetly to you,while picking you up,and you clinged to her like a koala.

You went in her locker room,and,from her bag,she picked a little blanket she kept just in case. She laid you on the big couch that was in the corner of the room,and pulled the little blanket over you.

"Baby,rest for a bit. I know you're tired with all of that crying,and I'll stay right here close to you until you fall asleep. Okay,sweetheart?" You nodded,and closed your eyes and you were quickly knocked out in at least 5 minutes.

Rhea gave you a kiss on the cheek,and stood up to go out of the room,where The Judgment Day was.

Her eyes darkened,looking at the three men.

"So,what did I tell you before? That if something would have happened to her,I would have killed each one of you with my own hands,right?" She chucked while cracking her knuckles.

"Oh shit"

"We're fucked"

taglist: @stellakiddsblog @bibibi-tchx

#rhea ripley #rhea ripley x reader #rhea ripley fluff #rhea ripley imagine #rhea ripley oneshot #rhea ripley angst

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mazzystar24 · 5 months ago

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I think the world would start healing if shows brought back the 90s and early 2000s energy this includes but is not limited to:

No less than 20 episode long seasons

So many seasons it makes people go omg that show is still going? And you see characters literally go through over a decade that you genuinely have a cradle to grave level of connection with them and you’re like I GREW UP WITH THEM

Gratuitous use of soundtrack (that HITS for some odd reason even though most of it won’t be songs you have on your regular playlist but will soon morph into a large portion of your music taste)

See point one and give me filler episodes - I’m talking silliness and character building and bottle eps and so many things

Tropes up the wazoo we have truly stepped away from the classics and tropes are tropes for a reason cos we love them

Overdramatic love confessions I’m talking full blown monologues and rants and all that fun stuff stop being afraid to be cheesy and sappy cos I personally eat it up

Rain scenes

Road trip or like some form of going away eps

Bands and famous artists just randomly showing up to add to the playlist of it all with a live performance (this isn’t relevant to 911 but so many shows did that it’s never not funny to me like the cranberries? whatchu doing here?)

#am I tagging the show that I personally need to start channeling this energy? yes I am #as a favour to me personally Tim please🤲🤲#shush I know I’m suppose to be revising but my phone bought up one tree hill and now I wanna rewatch #911 #buddie #evan buckley #911 abc #911 fox #911onfox #eddie diaz #evan buck buckley #buckley diaz family

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thebestofoneshots · 1 year ago

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Gilded Constellations | wolfstar x reader

Series Masterlist | Previous episode

Pairing: Wolfstar x Reader Word Count: 6.2 K Warnings: None Prompt: It's all about planning. This IS a wolfstar x reader fic, but it's incredibly slow burn. They won't start all dating each other until we're very deep into the story, but I promise the long wait will be worth it.

Chapter 18: Friends will be friends

Somehow, the pranks you'd pulled with Remus had ended up all over the school, hidden by students in the most inconspicuous places so that distracted and unsuspecting kids would stumble upon them and get a good jumpscare. Steven SkeIIignton, as he’d gotten baptised by Marlene who’d gotten a hellscare later on the Halloween party, was still in the closet, and had already gotten at least 20 kids to jump out of their skin in the past week.. .

As a matter of fact, it was often the gophers who would nonchalantly ask their friends to retrieve an item from the wardrobe or hand them a sweater they claimed to have left inside, all in the hopes of giving them a good stratle. And the cycle would just repeat itself. At some point, people even started being wary when asked for small favours like that. It was hilarious.

Meanwhile, James was determined on making his date with Lily absolutely perfect. He did not want to rush it, and so he had you, Sirius, Remus and Peter wake up even earlier so that you’d talk about possible plans. It must have been like 4:30 in the morning when you heard a knock on your door the first time. You hadn’t been sleeping well at all, so you rushed to see who the hell would be knocking on the door only to find James’ head poking out from the invisibility cloak.

“Hurry, you’ve gotta come with me,” he whispered.

“I’m in pyjamas?” You argued, and you really had only a pair of shorts and a light shirt, your covers had a warming spell, so you didn’t need much warm clothes, even with how chill the November night had already gotten in Scotland.

“Doesn't matter, I’ll tell Sirius to lend you something if you get too cold. Now come, it’s urgent!”

You rolled your eyes, picking your wand up and did what James asked since it sounded important. Once you stepped outside he quickly wrapped the cloak around the two of you, holding it carefully above your head, you were huddled beside him as he guided you up a couple of stairs. Since you were still a bit sleepy, you didn’t quite register he was taking you back to their room until you saw their door “James, an emergency?!? What happened?” you asked genuinely worried now.

“I’ll tell you once we’re in the room, we don’t want anyone to see us,” he said as he opened the door and brought the two of you inside. He took off the cloak and you took a couple of steps from him, without James’ body heat irradiating onto you, the sudden drop in temperature made you wince.

“Do you not have a heater in this room?” you complained.

He just shrugged and then clapped his hands loudly “All right boys, wakey, wakey!” he shouted, before using his wand to turn on several lights around the room, you squinted as he did since your eyes were not used to so much brightness.

Peter was the first one to startle awake, looking at you and James very confused, “(Y/N)?”

“Get your own girlfriend and stop dreaming about mine Wormtail!” Sirius, who had the covers on top of his head to avoid the light, said irritated.

“I wasn’t-“ The boy started.

“–She’s here,” Remus said, sitting up on his bed, and rubbing his eyes. He was wearing a soft brown plaid pyjama shirt, and didn’t have all his buttons done, he kinda looked like the softer version of his sexy pirate outfit from the party. But like, really soft and cuddly.

“Who’s here?” He asked, finally kicking the covers off his head, and hollymotherofmerlin, that’s what he looks like just waking up? You wondered as you tried not to shamelessly stare at the way his hair was beautifully sprawled on the bed. “Stashine? What are you doing here?”

You turned to James, “Yeah Prongs, what am I doing here?” You asked, arms crossed over your chest, mostly because of the cold.

“I need your help.”

“For what?” Asked Peter with a frown. You shot him an annoyed look. “Didn’t mean it like that…” he added. You were all too sleepy for decency.

James went and sat on top of the rug in between the beds, and motioned for you to sit next to him. “Come on, I didn’t wake her for you to stay in bed all day, hurry up!” he urged the rest. Peter stood from his bed, he wore a long sleeve white tee and a pair of red plaid pants, and he sat right in front of the two of you. Remus stood up and sat next to James, almost across from you. He had matching pants and a pair of fuzzy socks on. Sirius unsurprisingly was the last one, he lazily brushed his hair with his fingers before he stood up, he had a black queen shirt and his pants had electric guitars stamped all over them. You wonder where he’d gotten those muggle clothes when James spoke again, “Ok kids, we need to plan this together.”

“A prank?” Remus asked.

“You’re bringing her in?” Asked a leery Peter.

“She’d be of great help actually,” chimed Remus, a little defensively.

“She really would! Didn’t I tell you about the libra-“ he started.

“-It’s not a prank you wankers!” James said, interrupting the little fight Sirius and Peter might just start “All though I do think you’d be useful in a prank,” he said turning to you and thinking of the Magical Theory project you’d been working on.

“Jee, Thanks Prongs!” you responded, almost sarcastically, “but if it’s not a prank, then… What's the emergency?”

“There is no emergency, I said it was urgent.”

“James, mate, you either tell us what the hell is going on in your head or I’ll go back to bed,” Sirius threatened “It’s like 5 am.”

“4:30 actually,” you corrected him.

“4:30!? PROOONGS!” Peter whined.

“It’s about Lily!”

“You brought me here for Lily?” You asked with a frown.

“You woke us up because of your crush?!” Remus complained, he was about to snap at James and go back to his bed. As much as he loved his friend, he needed his sleep. He did not want to be snappy all day because of a lack of it.

“It’ll be just a moment, then you can go back to sleep.”

“I thought you were flying today,” Remus said and turned to you, you had your arms wrapped around your legs, and you were rubbing them every now and then, “You cold luv?” He asked. You nodded.

“I meant you and Peter,” he responded “These two will come flying earlier today anyway, the game’s just around the corner, I have to make sure they’re in top shape.”

Remus extended his hand and pulled a sweater from the chest at the end of his bed, before throwing it at you. “Thanks Rem,” you said, pulling the sweater over your head, it was so big you could even cover your legs with it, which you did. And fuck, she looks adorable, Remus thought before mentally slapping himself for it.

Sirius then used his wand to levitate his cover above your head, letting it gently fall over your head, “It’s pretty cold in here, right Starshine?” he asked softly. Sirius could sometimes be so gentle it startled you, but you nodded, turning a little red as you wrapped yourself around the covers. Remus’ sweater wasn’t too warm, but it was soft, and it smelled like chocolate and old books, exactly like the boy, which you had always considered a very pleasant smell, nice, it’s nice, your mind whispered. Meanwhile, Sirius’ cover was still warm since it was the one he had been using earlier, it did not feel like it had any charms on it, which meant it was all just Sirius’ body heat, you wondered how nice it’d be to sleep beside him as you snuggled yourself deeper into the clothes they had borrowed you, relishing on the soft combination of scents.

“Can we focus?” James pressed.

“You haven’t told us why we’re here, James,” You reminded him.

“It’s about the date,” you nodded, prompting him to continue, but it was a little hard to take you seriously wrapped in so many covers like that. “I want it to be the best date of her life.”

“Take her to Hogsmeade,” Peter proposed.

“Take her flying,” Sirius offered, “it always works with girls.”

You threw him a surprised look “Does it?”

“Worked with you, didn’t it?” He told you with the sweetest little face he could pull off.

“You’re such an idiot,” you said as you went for a playful hit on his shoulder, but he stopped your hand and pulled it to his lips instead, kissing it softly.

“Maybe, but you love me anyway,” he responded cockily, leaning his cheek on your hand.

“How about a date in the Room of Requirements?” Remus said loudly, trying not to sound bitter as he interrupted the two of you.

You were still staring into Sirius’s eyes when he spoke but turned to Remus when what he said piqued your interest “The what?”

“The Room of Requirements. It’s this room that sometimes shows up, only when you really need it, and it basically becomes whatever you need it to be. I stumbled into it when I was looking for my homework once, and it was this massive lost objects storage room,” he explained.

“But then he went with me and it turned into a room with a huge cauldron on the inside, basically enough space for us to brew the potion we wanted to brew for a prank. That’s how we discovered it was magical,” James explained.

“That sounds incredible! But… What if it turns into something that scares Lily away?”

“Like what?” James asked, confused.

“Well… I don’t know what you require Prongs, but if by bad luck you think the wrong thing and a freaking bedroom shows up, Lily will probably never talk to you again.”

All the boys laughed at that, even Peter, who seemed to be a lot more at ease now “She just called you horny mate,” he told him in between chuckles.

James had just gone red, which caused everyone to laugh even more “That rules out the Room of Requirements,” Remus said with a playful smile.

“But we should go, tho, seems like a cool place.”

“Not scared of what may show up, Starshine?” Sirius teased, leaning onto you.

“Why? Are you?” you teased back.

James cleared his throat, “Any other ideas?” he asked, looking straight at you “Where would you take Lily on a date?”

You thought about it for a second, “To a picnic by the lake,” you said simply “I’ve seen Lily sketch a few things on a little notebook that she carries around with her all the time.”

“It’s her journal,” James clarified.

“How do you…?”

“He tried to steal it once,” Remus said casually.

“Dude, that’s awful.”

“I was 13! I genuinely thought it’d be a great idea,” he clarified “Besides it was Sirius’ idea.”

“I said it as a JOKE!” The other said, it seemed like a small little quarrel was about to start regarding that particular incident, which just made you look at the two of them, diverted.

“The journal…” Remus said to you, asking you to finish your earlier thought.

“Right, so, she likes drawing,” James stopped staring at Sirius and turned his attention back at you “I’d get some art supplies or something, and take her to a nice place by the lake so we could draw something together, take some of her favourite treats from the kitchens, and maybe some soft music too, she likes ABBA a lot. Then I’d go for a walk with her, while our paintings dry, and just be super nice and listen to her talk. She knows so much, it’s always fun to hear whatever she has to say, so it’d be fun for the two of us.”

“You’re lucky she’s not your love rival Prongs, she’d definitely sway me with a date like that,” Remus teased, as if you needed to take him on a date to sway him.

“You draw?” you asked him, he shook his head “Sirius does tho.”

You turned to your boyfriend, amazed “I’ve never seen you draw.”

“He only draws when he’s alone, I discovered by accident,” Remus answered instead.

“You should show me one day,” you told Sirius with a soft smile.

“Good luck with that,” Remus responded, “he almost beat me once for taking his sketchbook from his hands.”

“Wait, really?” You asked the taller boy.

“If we’re done with date planning, can I go back to bed?” Peter asked.

James took a look at his watch, and nodded “Sure, we’ll meet tomorrow at the same time for the details,” he said.

“Prongs, 4:30? Two days in a row? for real?!” Remus asked, a little annoyed.

“Yeah, we could just do it after classes or something.” You offered.

“Yeah, as if sneaking you into our room in the middle of the night wasn’t hard enough,” James answered.

“I could just… walk in?” you said with a little frown.

“Nope, too suspicious, Lily will notice, she’s clever like that.”

“I could just tell her you’re helping me get some quality time with my boyfriend.” You said, pointing at Sirius “You literally sleep in the same room, no one will think anything of it.”

“Except that you’re shagging Sirius,” Peter said casually.

“It’s her boyfriend though, and they won’t shag with the rest of us here,” Remus said logically.

“Who knows?” Peter said with a shrug “Maybe they’re into that kind of stuff, wouldn’t be the first poly wizards in the history of the world.”

“Poly what-?!” You asked confused.

“-Shut up guys! That’s… It’s not entirely a bad idea…”

“Poly isn’t a bad idea?” Peter asked, just to fuck with James.

“What? No, not that Wormtail, shut up! The other thing…” He turned to you, “We bring you here with the excuse that you’re gonna see Sirius, and then we plan the date,” James said.

“You don’t mind that luv?” Remus asked with a little frown, always so considerate.

“‘Course she doesn’t, we’re dating,” Sirius said matter-of-factly as he placed his arm over your shoulders and brought you closer to him.

“Sirius.” Remus said sternly “She’s a girl, it’s not the same for them, there’s double standards.”

“Why don’t we meet in the Room of Requirements instead?” you suggested, “No one finds out, no one thinks we’re shagging or whatever, and no one suspects we’re planning James’ date either?”

“Gosh, you’re so clever, aren’t you Starshine?” Sirius said as he brought you closer and placed a kiss on your head, or at least over the covers you had around it.

“Sounds good enough for me,” James said with a smile.

“Fantastic, I’m going back to bed,” Remus said as he stood up and walked straight into his bed, gently laying down and covering his face with a pillow. Peter followed suit, although he just threw himself on the bed head down. Sirius only laid his head on top of yours, since you had yours on his shoulder already.

“We’re going flying now, aren’t we?” He asked with a sigh.

“We are indeed,” James said animatedly, a smile playing on his face, he was the biggest morning person you’d ever met, you definitely couldn’t relate, even if you loved flying as much as he did, mornings were just tough on you. From what you were looking at, Sirius was the same, in fact, James was the odd one out of the entire room.

“I should go change,” You said, as you motioned to get up.

“You can’t!” James said, moving his hands in the air, panicked, “Lily will ask why you weren’t in the room, she might be awake by now.”

He wasn’t wrong, Lily might be awake by now, she sometimes woke up earlier to add final touches to her homework or do some of the readings you were left by teachers “But I can’t go flying with shorts and a shirt, I’ll freeze!”

“Keep my sweater,” Remus mumbled, still from under his pillow.

“Problem solved,” James said with a smile.

“The shorts, James.”

“You could just stay and cuddle with me,” Sirius offered with a shrug “James can go flying by himself. Promise my bed is warm and we could–”

“–No way! Quidditch match is in a week, you can’t skip flying now!”

Sirius took a deep breath and groaned, patting you lightly on the back so you’d stop leaning on him as he moved to his own chest, rummaging through it and picking up a pair of pants that didn’t fit anymore “You think this would fit?” he asked.

You raised your eyebrows, and then tilt your head lightly, analysing the situation “It just might,” You said taking it from his hands and putting it against your body.

“Sweet, go change then,” James said as he pretty much pushed you into the bathroom, he was damn lucky you’d put on a pair of trainers when he asked you to come without a warning of his plan.

You sighed once you were inside their bathroom. You couldn’t help but look around a little as you put on Sirius’ pants. Their bathroom was almost a mirror to yours, it had a small cupboard next to the sink with a lot of potions, aftershave and even some Sleekeasy’s, you wondered who was the one that used it, since clearly, it wasn’t Potter, even if his dad had invented it. Probably Peter, you thought, he always has a rather put-together look going on. When you were done you realised the pants fit well enough, all thought they were a little loose on the waist. You put your trainers back on and threw some water at your face and hair, to get it to somehow look decent, it’d gotten even messier since you’d placed Sirius soft covers over it.

When you walked out of the Bathroom James was sitting on his bed while putting on a pair of shoes while Sirius was putting on his thick quidditch sweater. “Got a hair tie?” You asked him.

He turned to you and nodded “Come,” he said softly as he patted his bed. You did as he rummaged through his side table “Want me to tie it for you?”

You almost gave him a questioning look but shrugged in the end, turning around so he could do his thing. He was soft, a lot softer than you remember him being in the Great Hall a couple of months back, but you weren’t moving as much this time either. And he also had a brush this time, he gently brushed your strands a couple of times before he started to softly pull your hair back. You visibly relaxed as he was running his fingers through your scalp, allowing him to make your ponytail however he wanted. When he was done he leaned closer and pressed a cheeky kiss on your neck.

“Done luv,” he said as he buried his head deeper into your neck, enjoying the way you smelled today.

“Great, let’s go!” James said, completely oblivious to how much Sirius was enjoying himself. The boy gave him an annoyed look as he separated from your neck, but James wasn’t even phased. He was used to Sirius’ temperament, and he also knew he loved flying with you in the mornings.

The three of you walked down to the courtyard and James started giving you exercises to warm up. After that, he gave you a couple of instructions and had you speed back and forth from tower to tower. He was flying beside you as you sped through the buildings and avoided the obstacles that came on the way.

He also had you practise resistance, “The match might be long, we need you to pay attention to everything that’s going on and not to lose concentration because of tiredness.” he told you, he had you hold yourself in the air by grabbing onto the broom with your hands and also practise the same trick you’d done on the trials, over and over again, until your arms were trembling. All the while he had Sirius beat the quaffle back and forth, with the help of a spell that had it bounce back at his face every time he shot it away.

“Prooongs, I’m tired,” He complained, as he flew to the side so the quaffle wouldn’t hit his face “Aren’t you Starshine?”

“Yeah,” you sighed as you let yourself fall on your broom, allowing your head to rest on the handle as you laid flat on it “And we should probably,” you yawned “start going back, we have class in 30 minutes, I still have to put my uniform on.”

“Watch out!” You heard James scream as Sirius’ bludger rapidly sped towards you, you raised back into a sitting position and flew downwards as you grabbed onto the ball with both hands, trying to slowly reduce its speed.

“The chest.” You struggled to say as the quaffle fought its way out of your grasp, Sirius flew straight down and opened the place where you kept all of the quidditch stuff, you flew right after him and forced the bludger into its spot while the grey-eyed boy wrapped the protection chains over it. Once the bludger was secure, you let yourself fall on the ground, exhausted.

James rushed down when he realised the commotion his little practice had caused, it was far away from the worst thing that had happened on morning flights, especially since you had joined them; you and Sirius would constantly do stupid shit that could get you three kiIled, especially because James had somewhat of a lack of self-control, and all that Gryffindor bravado mixed with the endorphins of flying, almost always had him joining your little shenanigans “You ok?” he asked “please tell me you’re not hurt anywhere,” he said as he reached closer to you and started inspecting your hands “we can’t have out star keeper injured just before the ga–“

“–James!” you reprimanded. “Quidditch?! Really?”

“You know I didn’t mean it like that!” he told you, a small regretful frown on his face.

You scoffed playfully, “I sometimes forget James’ priorities consist of Lily Evans and Quidditch, exclusively,” you joked, though you knew it was a lie, technically James’ priorities consisted of: his friends, getting Lily Evans to like him back and Quidditch, in that order. Unless a quidditch game was around the corner in which case, number three became priority #1.

“‘M sorry luv. Are you ok? Not because of quidditch this time.”

You laughed but nodded “Yeah, ‘m good. I just… want to lay here for a bit.”

Sirius threw himself next to you, “We’ve got class.”

“I know,” you answered, “I’m just… really freaking tired today, didn’t sleep well either.”

“‘Cause of Prongs?” he asked, and you felt him reach for your hand, tracing small patterns with his finger over your palm.

You shook your head, “Not that… I’ve got those nightmares again.”

He turned to you, a sympathetic look on his face “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, you know that, right?” You nodded, not sure how much Sirius would be able to do against your nightmare. But leaned in to give him a soft kiss on the cheek, but he was faster, and he moved to give you a kiss on the lips “Been wanting to do that since I saw you standing in my room,” he said “That and other things.”

“Ugh, get a room! I swear, We were better off before you two started dating,” James complained as he started gathering up his things.

“Shut it Prongs, you’re just jealous,” Sirius said before giving you another kiss.

“20 minutes to get to class.” James reminded you then. Sirius groaned, but finally stood up, extending a hand to pull you as well. You took it gladly and stood next to them, as you levitated the chest towards the storage room under the bleachers.

“How about I go change and bring your cloaks while you gather some food for me? We can meet just outside the great hall?”

“That’s a brilliant idea!” James told you as he pulled a pair of keys outside of his pocket, and threw them at you, you caught them with ease “Mine is hanged next to my bed.”

“Mine’s on my dresser,” Sirius added.

“Sweet, I’ll hurry up and meet you in a bit, deal?” You said, before taking off.

“What about my goodbye kiss, Starshine?” Sirius shouted.

“I’ll give you a hello kiss when we see each other again instead Puppy,” you said casually, throwing a wink his way.

Once you arrived at your bedroom, you realised everyone was gone. Which made sense, the girls should have gone down for breakfast several minutes ago, it was you who was lagging behind. You quickly took off the clothes the boys had given you and put your uniform on, taking Remus’ sweater along with you when you walked towards the boys’ room. You used James’ key to open the door and went straight to James’ bed, taking his cloak in a swift motion before realising Remus was still in his bed.

He was soundly asleep, his chest rising and falling slowly, looking ever so peaceful. You stared at him for a minute, not realising you were staring until he frowned and moved a little in his sleep. Peter had clearly left a while ago, his bed a total mess, since he had rushed down to get a good fill of breakfast. You approached the boy “Hey Rem!” you whispered, as not to startle him, but he didn’t budge, which prompted you to move closer to him and gently place your hand over his shoulder, shaking it just slightly “Remus, class is about to start.”

Remus, still half asleep, and thinking you were Sirius, grabbed your arm and threw you onto the bed next to him, placing his forearm over your chest to hold you down in a move that you could only describe as a martial arts movement you’d seen in comics at some point.

You gasped, it all happened too fast “Ooofff... if you didn’t want to wake up, you could’ve just told me…” you joked as you stared right into his eyes, he was hovering over you, pressing you into the bed a little harder than what would be comfortable.

“Dollface?” He asked confused, quickly getting off you “I’m sorry, I thought you were Sirius.”

Dollface? That’s a new nickname, you thought. “Do you normally push Sirius onto your bed like that?” you asked with eyebrows raised as you sat back on the bed to look at him better.

“It’s an inside joke,” Remus explained “Sirius did it to me once when I tried to wake him up.” He yawned, “Why are you here again?” He asked, a little confused.

“Came to get the boys’ robes,” You said, lifting yourself over him, who was sitting on the other side, to try and find James’ uniform that you’d grabbed previously. Remus held his breath as your hand crossed over his lap casually. Can she hear my heart racing? he wondered. The robe was now pooling on the floor, no longer neatly ironed as it had been, you winced when you noticed the state it was on, and let yourself fall back on Remus’ bed as if it were your own with a sigh “James went a little savage with training today,” you complained “I feel like my arms will fall off.”

Were you being a little dramatic? Probably, still, Remus felt like the only person you could complain to, you didn’t want to appear weak to anybody, let alone James who was way too preoccupied with the game, but with Remus it was different, you genuinely felt like he wouldn’t judge you for being tired, or for not managing to quite keep up with the other boys’ stamina.

“I might have something that could help,” He told you looking through his drawers.

You shook your head quickly, “Nu-uh, last time I took some of your medicine Remus, I ended up so freaking high I kept blabbering about how pretty Lily’s hair was, how nice your hands are, and how thirsty I was for Sirius.”

“You… like my hands?” He asked with a frown, taking a look at them, especially at the scars on them.

“And that wasn’t the only thing I said either,” you responded with a sigh, finally standing up, “We should probably go,” You told him, as you grabbed his sweater from the spot you’d left it next to your bag “Where do you put your dirty clothes?”

“What for?” He asked, turning around “Oh, that?” He approached you and took it in his hands before giving it a whiff “It’s not dirty,” he said before plopping it over his head.

“Didn’t I sweat it?” You asked with a little frown.

“Nah, it smells fine,” he said casually as he walked over to the bathroom, that was a lie, it didn’t just smell fine, it smelled bIoody delightful. He gave it another whiff as he sat on the edge of the tub and then quickly remembered what he was doing. Cursing himself for it and banging the wall, causing a potion bottle to fall on the ground and break into hundreds of tiny little pieces.

“You all right?” he heard you asking from the other side of the door.

“Yeah, fine, fine.” He said as he pulled his wand out and whispered “reparo.”

When he was out of the bathroom, Remus already had his school pants on, he didn’t bother to change his pyjamas nor his sweater before he plopped his robe on top.

“You found Sirius’ robes?” he asked as he approached you, you were rummaging through some of the drawers next to Sirius’ bed.

“He said on the dresser, but he didn’t say where on the dresser,” you complained.

“Bottom left drawer,” Remus replied simply, he was over at his desk, gathering some books and placing them on his bag.

You leaned down to get it and finally found the robe, pulling it out just to have a small sketchbook drop from it. You opened your eyes wide as you picked it up, looking back at Remus “Is this the–“

“–Yeah,” he said.

“You never got to see it, did you?” He shook his head in response. You looked at the small notebook, so tempting. Not only for you, in fact, it was just as tempting for the two. “Imma… Imma put it back…”

“Yeah, great idea,” he said and helped you close the drawer after you put the notebook back in the dresser.

“We’re super late.” He told you.

“Let’s run!” You said with a smile as you approached the door.

“Weren’t you knackered?”

You shrugged “We need to get to class anyway,” you said, nodding your head with a smile, Remus thought it was the most tempting smile he’d ever seen in his life.

“Fine then, let’s run.”

The two of you started running right after, down the stairs, through the common room, out of the portrait and towards the other set of stairs. You slid down some of the stairs’ handles and then continued running. Remus was keeping up with you easily, and he was having lots of fun. He was actually admiring the way your hair flowed behind you when you turned to him “Come on, we gotta hurry!” you said with another one of those diverted smiles that made him want to kiIl himself for liking you so much. When the two of you finally arrived outside of the great hall, Sirius, James and Peter were already there.

“Told you they’d come together,” Peter told Sirius “You woke Moony up, didn’t you?” he asked.

“Yeah,” you said, leaning down and using your own knees for support as you regained your breath “he sleeps like a log,” you added.

“I wouldn’t say that…” Remus said, also panting a little.

“You ran all the way here?” James asked. You only nodded. “That’s great for strengthening your legs,” he said with a small approving nod. You threw his robe at him “Oi! Careful luv.”

“Stop pestering her about quidditch you plonker,” Remus said, finally standing straight, and handing Sirius his robe, their fingers brushed lightly as he did and he almost flushed. Fucking hell, this needs to stop. He made a mental note to call Alice later, she was really good at helping him forget, or at least distract enough to calm the urges down a little.

“Well then, let’s get going,” Sirius said as he handed you a sandwich wrapped in a napkin.

“You didn’t get anything for Rem?” you asked as you walked alongside them toward the classroom.

“Wormy didn’t tell us you hadn’t eaten until we were outside,” James said apologetically.

“No problem, we can share,” you said, giving it a bite and handing it over to the boy so he could do the same, he seemed rather hesitant “Unless you think sharing food is gross… We could cut it or–“

“No, it’s fine.” He said as he took the sandwich from your hands.

“It’s not like you’ve never exchanged saliva anyway,” Peter shrugged casually.

That had Remus choking on his bite and coughing a couple of times, you took an empty water bottle from your bag and whispered “aguamenti,” before handing it over to him. You then placed your hand over his to drag it closer to your mouth and give the sandwich another bite. Remus had gotten so red at that point you started to worry, maybe he was actually choking on something, he wasn’t. “Remus are you–“

“I’m fine, just, I choked for a second,” he lied. In truth, he’d actually gotten flashbacks to the time you’d both kissed when you randomly grabbed onto his hand and thank Merlin it seemed like he was choking because if he hadn’t he was sure Sirius would punch him in the face for it, and maybe he actually deserved it.

You all got to class a little late that day, Professor Bins had you practise a couple of cleaning spells as a punishment. But the five of you executed them so impeccably, that he ended up giving you house points for it.

Later on that day, you were sitting alongside the girls in the Great Hall during lunch when you heard the owls started to arrive. A few minutes later, a package wrapped in brown kraft paper dropped down right in front of you.

“Is it? it?” Marlene asked.

“I think so,” you nodded, ripping the paper open, only to find your quidditch sweater, along with the rest of the uniforms, you smiled widely when you saw it proudly put it on “It’s stunning.”

Marlene nodded in agreement, she still remembered the day she got her first Quidditch uniform delivered. Sirius was walking towards the table and as you were adjusting the sweater and whistled. You dеadpanned at him as he approached you with a cheeky grin, biting his own lip to avoid making it bigger “It suits you.”

“Thanks Puppy!” you replied, smiling as well. He sat beside you, unnecessarily close, not that either of you minded.

“All of your gear is here?” He asked as he looked through the rest of the items in the bag.

“All the new stuff at least,” you responded. The rest is already in my room, especially the protective stuff; James gave me some from when he was smaller, they’re still in great condition.

“Oh, you’ll take my goggles then.”

“I’ve got some of my own.”

“I’m aware,” he said. “But if you’re wearing James’ clothes, then you should also wear something of mine.”

“Why?”

“Because.” You frowned at his answer.

“For luck,” Peter intervened. “You know what they say, something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.”

“You can’t wear something blue on a match against Ravenclaw,” Tom intervened, even if he wasn’t a player, he was very passionate about Quidditch, mostly because he was friends with a bunch of players.

“Isn’t that for weddings?” Beth intervened as she placed a piece of bread in her mouth.

“No, I’m pretty sure it’s for luck,” Peter repeated.

“It is for weddings,” Lily said then, “It’s a muggle thing. Besides, if she’s wearing some of the old stuff from James, she wouldn’t need anything else. That would be enough for the borrowed thing.”

“Oh, I know! You could wear blue undies!” Tom said suddenly, you threw him a warning look “What?” he said, “Ye lads ’re looking for problems, I’m getting solutions.”

“I’ve got this really old hair broach you could wear.” Beth offered.

“So that’s… Something old from Beth, something borrowed from James, something blue: Tom’s idea for the underwear, and something new,” Marlene said, pointing at the bag filled with new equipment as she said the last bit.

“Brilliant, now she can get married,” said Mary ironically, “Will you really do such a ridiculous thing for luck?” She said, turning to you.

“I, for once, think she’ll look great in blue undies,” said Tom with a shrug. That earned him a kick on the shin from Sirius, “Auch!” he complained “I was just saying.”

“You’ll still wear my goggles right?” He asked, throwing you his puppy eye look.

You sighed but nodded “Sure thing Puppy, I’ll wear your goggles.”

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A/N: I had the absolute worst time trying to post this episode and I kid you not I almost cried out of distress. But it's finally working! Thanks to many tests and also to our lord savior ChatGPT who helped me find the pesky/problematic words. Hope you enjoyed the cute Remus moments, much love!

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