#but apparently like a week ago someone came to our house looking for my aunt and asking our landlord if she lives here

[hexslvt]

ooooo i just told my mom abt the police detective calling me this morning abt my aunt and she's so mad at my aunt

[wed-in-the-apocalypse]

New towns, new faces.

Cairo Sweet x fem!reader

Warnings: Mentions of student-teacher affairs. Daddy and mommy issues for Cairo. Your mom died when you were young? I guess. Author's note: Sorry I haven't posted in so long, but I really hope you like this, and come back for more while actually enjoying yourself in my God awful writing. "I am eighteen, and entire unremarkable." She'd written in her book, though the very name, 'Cairo Sweet', suggests otherwise.

... You had never stepped outside of Southern California in your 18 years on this earth; it was all too new. It was exciting of course, but what did you know about Tennessee? Or where you were supposedly moving to?

You had asked your father about it as you two packed your last bags for an early flight the next morning at a motel.

"Where we're going..." He started, finding the words. "It'll be good for us. The town is small, but it's quiet and really quite beautiful. There's even a small forest next to our new house that I think you'll like."

You nodded along, not entirely listening.

You loved your father, you really did, and you were grateful for his efforts to give you a better life. But you would miss your city, your friends, and your best friend, your cousin Hannah. Whom you've known since before you could recite your ABCs.

"Glued to the hip, those two," your aunt would chuckle to your father at the mischief you'd get into. You'd miss her too.

"--Y/N?"

Your head snapped to your father, who was now zipping up his suitcase. That amused, worn smile adorning his tired face he got every time he caught you zoning out.

You had been so consumed in your self-pity you forgot to pay attention. You tried for a sorry smile. "Sorry... You were saying?"

He sighed, moving the case so he could sit on the bed.

"Nothing of interest it seems," He smiled, then turned to a more serious tone, "But I do want you to know something about the school you'll be going to."

Now were you interested. "What is it? Is it bad?"

He nodded, "It is, mostly. There was a recent student-teacher affair. Some English teacher engaged in inappropriate conversations with an 18-year-old girl, and apparently more."

"Oh."

"I just want you to know," he reassured, "And I need to know that if anything like that happens, if any teacher asks you questions or makes you do things that make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, tell me. Or anyone. Getting pressured to do something wrong doesn't make you a bad person. Just... promise me you'll be smart?"

You smiled. "I promise. And I know that." He sighed, at least a little relieved. "Good, I'm trusting your instinct."

---

That was four weeks ago, and you're now starting to become accustomed to the ways of this town. The wilds of nowhere, Tennessee. People here are nice, tight-knit. It was a small town, and most of the people knew each other. It was cozy, you could reach a farmer's market in just a mile or two, and finally, your father let you get a cat.

So that was where you were currently, at a pet store.

You were walking across the store, cooing and wanting to squeal at all the cute furry faces. You were a bit of an animal person. And your father was asking the employees about every animal you seemed to like a little more than normal.

You bumped into someone as you passed by a particularly adorable kitten, and immediately apologized. "Oh my God I'm so sorry, I should've looked where I was going."

"No, no it's all right," She chuckled, her voice smooth and soothing. Her smile was charming and beautiful and had a slight accent. You wanted to stare but didn't. "Well, I'm sorry anyways. Were you looking at this cat too?"

"I was," She confirmed, a light smile on her lips as she looked back at the kitten staring curiously at them. "It's adorable, isn't it? I'm Cairo, by the way. Cairo Sweet."

"Y/N L/N." You shook her hand when she offered it, smiling kindly. "I was thinking of getting one, my dad finally let me," You chuckled.

"Really? I came here since, well, it's a little lonely in my home," Her voice was a little distant, but it quickly disappeared.

"And I think I could use the company." She put her hand to the glass of the enclosure, smiling as the kitten pressed its face to her hand over the glass. "I don't want to steal it from you, so I suppose if you want, it's yours."

"I don't really think of it as mine," Your nose scrunched up ever so slightly at the thought. "It.. oh, how do I explain it?"

"It dehumanizes them?" Cairo tilted her head, smiling.

"Yes. Exactly," You agreed. "I've never liked how people think they own them, per se. Pets are companions, not objects."

"That's an interesting take," She remarked, hands in her coat pockets. "You're very empathetic." "Y/N," You heard your name and turned to see your father

"Have you chosen one yet?"

"I think I have," You smiled, glancing at Cairo who had an unreadable expression on her face. "Can we get this one?" You asked, motioning to the kitten licking it's white paw. It was black, with it's paws and ears white.

"All right," He sighed, relieved to be done with this. "Excuse me? Can we have this one?" He asked one of the employees, and Cairo turned back to you.

"Is that your father?" She asked.

"Yeah. And I guess I have to go now. It was nice meeting you." You gave her a smile, then began to go with your father as he now held the cat to sign the paperwork. Before she called to you.

"Y/N," She beckoned calmly, steady.

You turned, seeing her still with her hands in her coat pockets, no expression on her face but you could swear you saw curiosity in her eyes. You waited for her to speak.

"Can I have your number?" That surprised you. "I would like to keep talking to you, you give good company."

"Oh. Um, yeah, okay," You managed to get out, taking her phone when she held it out and typed in your phone number, handing it back.

She stared at it, then smiled and put it back in her purse. "I'll see you around." "I guess so," A small smile formed on your lips, and you gave her one last look before leaving with your father to the counter.

Soon you were out the store, a kitten in your arms, your father carrying some cat feed and a small list of things about the cat, and a new friend. You could say it was a surprisingly pleasant day.

--- So I want to know what anyone thinks of this. I think I've gotten better at writing, and I hope you enjoyed it. It actually took me a while, I had writer's block for a hot minute :/

[scented-morker]

⇢˚⋆ ✎ first "I love you's" with en-maknae line

*:･ﾟ✧ genre : fluff

*:･ﾟ✧ description : established relationship, bf!enhypen, gn!reader, first time saying I love you headcanons :D

*:･ﾟ✧ here it is!!! this is- pretty long, just a heads up 🤪

┈─ ꕀ ── ꕀ ── ꕀ ── ꕀ ── ꕀ ─┈

ଘ Sunoo ~ˊˎ-

He was having a hard time lately with all of the stress from the comeback and everything

He tried to hide it from you but obviously you noticed, like you were on FaceTime and he wasn’t even showing his face 😞

So obviously you were like 🤨 “Where did my sunshine baby go?”

Which actually made him show his face it was red asf

So when he hung up you were like k time to cheer up the love of my life

Which is exactly what you said in your brain and then had a nervous breakdown because ??the love of your life??

But you decided to push that away for now so you could get everything you needed together

You texted the boys and told them you were going to come over

They had noticed his change and thought it would be a good idea so they agreed, and some of them left while others promised to stay in their rooms

When you knock on the door the next day you hear “Sunoo can you get that?” from somewhere in the house and you know they’re doing their jobs

Sunoo wasn’t sure what he was expecting when he opened the door, maybe a manager or a crazy fan, but it wasn’t his s/o with a bag on their shoulders and holding a little bouquet of flowers

“Y/n!!” He immediately engulfed you in a hug, and you smile at his excitement, you definitely made the right plan

He pulls away, asking a “why are you here” to which you shove the flowers at him

“These are for you, um I hope you like them”

Your words came out kinda squished, most people don’t get their boyfriends flowers but you thought it was a really good idea, except now that you’re in front of him you feel kinda dumb, what if he doesn’t like them

“Thank you!! I love them!”

His eyes are sparkling and he tells you that he’s never been given a bouquet of flowers like this and that he’s so happy you got him some

And with your renewed confidence you tell him the rest of what you have planned, a self care day with movies and snacks and skin care and cuddling, lots of cuddling

And he just !!!

He gets so excited 🥺

Like “okay let’s start right now” and then picks you up and goes running the the couch, and you’re laughing almost directly in his ear and he can’t get any happier

So you spend all day together, just messing around and doing whatever

And then he falls asleep, right on the couch on your lap which like 🥰

He looks so peaceful and calm you can’t resist, so you stop playing with his hair like you were originally and lay your hand on his face, tracing his cute lil nose and all that

You start talking to him, quiet so you don’t ruin the mood or wake him up and you’re just like spilling your heart to this dude while he’s asleep, er, “asleep”

Like straight up “I was so worried about you, you were just acting different and I really hope you’re taking care of yourself like you should. My brain knew I had to do something, it specifically said ‘time to cheer up the love of my life’, which was also scary because love is scary you know”

He’s just laying there, eyes closed, trying not to lose his mind and just tackle you in a hug and kiss all over your face, but you don’t seem to be done talking yet so he waits

“But I love you, I really do. And I think that makes it not so scary, because it’s you”

He opens his eyes and at first you don’t even notice because you’re looking off into space but he kinda shifts in your lap and you just 😳

“I love you too, like a lot and it took everything in me not to cut you off and just attack you with my love”

“Well I’m done talking now so you wouldn’t be cutting me off”

And he does exactly what he was planning, tackling you in his arms on the couch, laying there with you while giving you sweet lil kisses and whispering about how much he loves you

He’s definitely back to himself

ଘ Jungwon ~ˊˎ-

Now our dear leader is a lil shy, which we all love him for, but that meant y’all had been dating for like a year almost

An ‘I love you’-less year

And you were a little worried like ‘is this not a serious relationship to him’ but you kinda brushed it off because you’re pretty young and you would never want to rush him

And then it became very obvious that he was serious when he freaking INVITED YOU TO A FAMILY VACATION

Not like a board the plane were going to Hawaii for a month vacation, a thankfully more chill like family camping in log cabins together for a weekend vacation

And obviously you were terrified because ya know meeting the ‘rents (I am so sorry why did I say it like that)

But you weren’t gonna say no to your boyfriend especially when he was so excited

So flash forward to you and jungwon, fresh off of a 3 hour car ride (where you obvi played 10 months like 80,000 times), walking up to a cute little campground with like three big log cabins next to each other, real cute

And you walk into the main one where everyone is meeting and his family is like SCREAMING like absolute chaos and there are little cousins running around and everything

And for some reason it feel comfortable and one of his little cousins comes up to you and asks you to play obviously you do

By the time his family realizes he’s here and greets him you’re surrounded by children

Cue his older cousins like “I knew they were fake” “you don’t have to lie wonnie, it’s okay to be single”

But then he points over to the living room and you’ve got a little kid on your back and another on your lap and someone has used their play makeup to give you blue eyeshadow

You give him a really big smile when you see him looking over and literally everyone just 🥺🥺🥺

He thinks you’ve never been more perfect even tho you literally end up with a glitter mustache

Eventually his aunts make their kids leave you alone and you help them wash up to eat (as almost scream when you see your reflection because their first impression of you was of you looking like a whacko)

But then you sit down at the table where he’s saved you a spot and they’re all so excited to meet you and ask you all sorts of questions

You’re holding his hand under the table because you’re nervous but then he’s got your hands in his lap fiddling with your fingers and you aren’t nervous anymore

Literally every single person in his family gives you a hug before you guys go to the cabin you’re sleeping in and you ask him ya know like

“Do you think they like me”

And he’s like ??? They literally like you more than me and my cousins tried to fight me to the death for a seat next to you at the table

But he just goes “they love you just as much as I do”

And you just combust

“You love me???”

And it wasn’t even an accident, he was just like “yup, like a lot”

Then bam “I love you too”

And they lived happily ever after more like his aunts overheard and screamed to the rest of the family what just happened

ଘ Niki ~ˊˎ-

Niki had begged you all week to come over and visit and you finally found a day that you were both free on

You knocked quietly, announcing your presence before letting yourself in like the boys had told you to do

Once you had set your things down and taken your shoes off you set out on a mission to find your lovely boyfriend

Which really didn’t take long because you could hear him screaming in the living room as soon as you walked in

Apparently he was losing at whatever video game they were playing and was not happy about it

You went over to his spot on the couch, squeezing in next to him and he gave you a lil side hug and a kiss on the temple to say hello

You settled down in your spot, leaning on him with his arm still around your shoulder as the next round started

Although it was a bad idea because when he lost again you almost got elbowed in the head

After a few more rounds some of the boys decide to go out and get food even tho he definitely begged them to stay because he wanted to win at least once

“No bud, we’re hungry, and you kinda have a significant other you’ve been ignoring for like an hour” thanks heeseung

So they leave (except for jake who got stuck on babysitting duty)

And you’re like well he seems to like this game even tho he sucks at it so might as well play it if that’s what he wants to do

So you’re all like “hey bub what if I play with you” and he’s already shoving the controller in your hand and explaining how it works

He loves that you try to take an interest in the things that he likes, and he also likes that you’ve never played it before because that’ll make it easy to beat you

Which it definitely was, sorry you kinda suck at this game (even more than your boyfriend)

“Yes!! I did it!!! I won!!”

Cue the trash talk because he’s a little devil spawn sometimes

“See that I woooooon, you didn’t even stand a chance against me, I’m a master at this game”

And you’re just sitting there like you hadn’t seen him get absolutely demolished by everyone else literally like 30 minutes ago, just shaking your head

“Ya know you’re lucky I love you or I would have smacked you by now”

You laugh when you say it and he joins in before going dead silent after like 3 seconds

“Wait you what?”

“I said you’re luck I lo-”

And then you go quiet too bc dang did you really just say that and now you’re all nervous

But then he just goes

“Yeah I kinda love you too”

And then he makes sure to spend some actual time with you, not just beating you in video games for the rest of the day

“WAIT ‘KINDA’???”

┈─ ꕀ ── ꕀ ── ꕀ ── ꕀ ── ꕀ ─┈

[yespleasetommyshelby]

Love in the 21st - Jay Halstead Fic - Two

"Alright, Halstead, Dawson, Lindsey, you guys breach first, the rest of us will follow behind." Voight instructed receiving nods from everyone as the first three made there way up the metal staircase of the old motel. Just as they reached the top bullets started flying as three men burst out of the room and ran for it round the back of the building, residents screamed and tried to duck to avoid being hit in the crossfire.

"Everyone move out and find them, Platt, you're with me!" Voight yelled through the coms, everyone holding their guns up as they raced to catch the shooters.

Following Voight's lead we made our way to the room that was our original target, I kept my gun up as Voight slowly pushed the door open fully and stepped inside, me right behind him. The rooms were covered in blood, noticing a trail on the floor I motioned over to Voight who nodded and began to follow. The trail led us to a bathroom where the body of a man was laid over the bath tub that was full of blood, but his head was resting on the sink, he'd been decapitated.

"Jesus Christ." I whispered to myself as the rest of the team came in after losing the suspects.

"That's Rev." Jay spoke as he took a closer look at the lone head sitting and watching.

"Get forensics down here, let's head back to base." Voight instructed walking out of the room. I started to follow until I heard what sounded like a sniffle coming from a closet in the hall.

"Hey, anyone checked in here?" I asked raising my gun as I received shakes of the heads from my team. Keeping my gun raised I slowly opened the door only to find a teenager sat in the back corner, looking scared out of his mind. "Hey, it's okay, what are you doing here?" I asked reaching out and watching as he slowly took my hand pulling himself up.

"They just barged in, I ran and hid in here, I could hear him crying man, he was begging for his life." The boy said as he stared at the ground, almost like he was reliving what just happened.

"What's your name kid?" Voight asked coming up besides me.

"D'Anthony, I'm just a runner, I swear!" He said holding his hands up in defense.

"It's gotta be a cartel, beheadings are their thing." Antonio said as he walked over to the three of us.

"Alright, lets head back to base, you're coming too kid." He instructed patting the boy on his shoulder.

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

As we arrived back at the district Voight and Al took D'Anthony down to an interrogation room and came back up all of half an hour later with the name of a Columbian cartel hitman, Pulpo. That was an hour ago and since then we've got no closer to finding this guy's real name, let alone where he is.

"I gotta go talk to a CI, keep on digging and find me something on this piece of crap. Everything we do stays in-house, you tell me the truth so that I can lie for you." Voights loud voice carries through the bullpen as he walks away without a second look.

----

"This guy is known as Coop," Voight starts as he slaps another picture up on the board. "My CI says that this guy will know where Pulpo is, lets move out." He says, everyone rushing to the armory to get their gear.

As we approach Coop's place with our guns raised Jay signals that the door has been left open slightly, slowly and quietly making our way inside we clear the house room by room and it's empty, except for the body of man laying in a puddle of his own blood whose head sits on top of the counter lifeless, its own smaller puddle of blood slowly dripping down onto the floor.

"I guess this is Coop." Erin says taking a closer look at the lone head.

"Someone's cleaning house." I thought out loud receiving nods of agreement from my team members.

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

"Hey Officer Platt, how's it going?" My Aunt's voice makes me jump as I walk past her desk towards the stairs leading to intelligence.

"Hey Sarge, how's it going?" I asked turning and leaning on the front of her desk.

"How's intelligence treating you?" She asked handing a patrolmen a set of keys without looking at them.

"So far so good, well, other than the cartel cutting peoples heads off." I said sarcastically just as the patrolman Kim, that I'd met earlier walked in looking rather pissed.

"Listen, I got a cousin in the morgue downtown, I need you to go and grab me something." Trudy started as she wrote an address down on a slip of paper before siding it over the desk towards Kim. "It's a small gold ring with a diamond, he wears it on his pinky finger of his left hand, get it and bring it to me." She instructed apparently not realising just how weird that sounded.

Kim turned to me looking just as confused as I felt. "I'm sorry Sarge, what?" She asked in disbelief as she looked at the address on the paper.

"The man owes me money, he's not getting out of it just because he died. Now go." She spoke shooing her away, with another odd look between me and Trudy, Kim slowly walked away looking back over her shoulder at me with a raised brow, I shrugged since I didn't have a clue what was going on right now.

"What cousin exactly?" I asked as I looked back at Trudy.

"On my mothers side, you wouldn't have met him, he borrowed four hundred bucks a couple of years ago and I want my money back." She said nonchalantly shrugging and going back to her computer.

"Right." I said slowly nodding. "I'm gunna head back upstairs, we do have a Colombian hitman to catch." I sighed turning and walking up to the hand scanner to buzz myself up to intelligence.

"Be safe!" She called just as I went through the gate.

"You know I will be!" I called back without turning around.

"I pulled Coop's phone records, there's multiple calls to the same number in the last week or so, problem is it's a burner phone and it's gone dead." Jay announced just as I got to my desk.

"Can you find out where the phone came from? There could be security footage of the guy who brought it." I said looking over at Jin, intelligence's resident tech guy, who nodded his head.

"Give me two minutes." He said before disapearring back to his tech cave, as I like to call it, Jay right behind him.

"The phone was brought in a store down on the south side, known territory for the Columbian Cartel." Jay says as he comes back up from the cave.

"Take Platt, go get me a name." Voight nodded before walking back into his office.

"Let's go mini sarge." Jay smiled as he walked past my desk. Narrowing my eyes at him I couldn't hep but laugh slightly, grabbing my coat and following him out.

----

"Ready?" Jay asks as we got out of the car and started walking to the store that sits on the corner of the street.

"You know I am." I grinned cheekily at him before pushing the door open and walking in. "Hey, we need a name of a guy that came in here just over a week ago and purchased a burner phone." I said getting straight to the point shrugging when Jay raised an eyebrow at me.

"I don't know what you're talking about." The guys said shrugging his shoulders and avoiding eye contact, a lone receipt apparently much more interesting than the two intelligence officers stood in his store.

"Come on man, we know it was brought from this store, so we aren't gunna leave until you give us the name of the guy who brought it." Jay told him motioning between the two of us only receiving a shrug in reply. Alright, we tried talking, let's do it my way.

"Hey Jay, a lot of stores round here get robbed quite often, right?" I asked looking over at him, leaning against the counter casually as the store keeper watched me with caution in his eyes.

"Uh, yeah, almost everyday." He nodded going along with me with a slight confused frown.

"And most stores keep a weapon of some sort behind the checkout right?" I asked him again receiving a nod and a confused look in reply. "I'm assuming you've got something behind there, am I right?" I spoke turning to the shopkeeper this time.

"Um, yes I have a bat, but it's totally legal man, it's only for self defense, I've never even used it." He admitted holding his hands up with wide eyes.

"Can I see it please, Sir?" I asked holding my hand out for the bat. With a sigh and a slight nod he reached down under the checkout and pulled out a wooden baseball bat that, like he had said, didn't look like it had been used.

Nodding my head slightly I held it by the handle tightly and suddenly swung, knocking down a display of sweets that was at the front of his store. Ignoring his yells for me to stop I took another swing, knocking bottles of this and that off of the shelves, he's lucky they were plastic or he would've had quite a problem there.

"You got to stop her man, come on." The guy yelled at Jay who was watching with a slight grin on his face, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders at the man.

"Give me a name and I'll stop." I told him shrugging while slightly swinging the bat by my legs.

"I don't have a name." He yelled looking between me and Jay, who just raised an eyebrow at me.

"Alrighty then." I shrugged before I swung the bat into his shelves once more, only aiming to knock things off the shelf, not cause any real damage, but he didn't need to know that.

"Fine! Omar! Omar Rojas!" He yelled just as I raised the bat to swing again. "Just stop! Please!" He pleaded.

Nodding his head Jay patted the owner on the back. "See, wasn't so difficult was it?" He asked sarcastically as he stepped over packets and bottles that were littered over the floor to get to the door.

"You might wanna tidy up in here, its a bit of a mess." I smiled sweetly at the man before throwing his bat on the ground and walking out to be met by Jay.

"Hey, don't get me wrong that was real badass, but not exactly by the books." He laughed as we made our way to the car.

"Yeah well, what is it Voight said? Tell him the truth and he'll lie for me?" I asked with a laugh climbing into the car, him following with a laugh of his own.

Hey guys! So, I don't actually know how to creat links and what not on here (I'm on mobile) so I've tagged the series as 'love in the 21st One/Two/Three etc..

[rainydayhogwartsimagines]

Uhm hey! I love me some Draco hehe... What about a slytherin reader that's deaf? Both of them knew each other already since she's from a rich pure blood family? And just Draco protecting her from mean people (even tho he is a bully) and just like their relationship throughout the years (without voldemort and those shenanigans pls... I want Draco to be a happy boi, also both of them have cheesy moments like every 5 seconds)

Cheesy and cute? UHM FUCK YEAH MY DUDE

Warnings: Swearing. Obviously.

You met Draco when you were nine.

Your parents introduced each other and Draco said something but you didn't respond to anything.

It confused the kid, why weren't you listening to him? At all?

"And this is Y/n. Our daughter... She's deaf." Your father finally said making it register.

Draco didn't know how to talk to you but you had this journal that you just whipped out.

"I can answer yes or no questions." You wrote down.

He nodded. Okay... "Have you enjoyed your time here?" He asked.

You gave a "meh" response.

"How can... How can you talk to me?" He asked.

You started writing again.

"I read lips." You wrote.

Draco could work with this.

So you two ended up talking all night and you had a ton of fun with him.

Your parents saw the excitement on your face after you left and set up more dinners with the Malfoys.

So Draco started learning sign language. He was able to learn that quick too.

The next time you came over Draco was able to sign his name, ask how you were doing, "slow down" and "I only know a little right now".

You and him became quick friends and Lucius was lowkey grateful to see his son open to up to someone who wasn't Crabbe and Goyle.

When you two were together you'd show visible happiness and your parents were psyched because you hadn't done that before.

They'd tell you "Hey we're going to the Malfoy's" and you'd smile.

Your next few birthdays were spent with them and Draco's were spent with you.

By the time Draco and you entered hogwarts Draco knew how to use sign language almost completely.

You were naturally nervous about going to a place with a LOT of people who most likely didn't know sign language. Draco kept close to you though.

Dumbledore did issue a warning about you that you were deaf so no one would just walk up to you and start talking and be offended by no response.

The sorting ceremony happened and you were sorted into Slytherin and Draco was naturally like "FUCK YEAH MY BEST FRIEND IS WITH ME!" And you were pretty psyched to be with him too.

However a lot of kids who knew Draco were surprised to see him use ASL and so quickly too.

You would sign back and everyone was literally the embodiment of the "???" Meme.

Students around you were confused on how this was a means of communication but went with it.

However there was the added challenge of the fucking passwords on the doors.

They had to basically assign a kid to always be with you so you could get back in to the common room.

Any guesses to who the kid was? If you said Draco then congratulations, buy yourself something pretty.

Draco was always with you and if he was for some reason unavailable, Snape actually would help out.

To everyone's surprise, Snape actually didn't hate your guts

He seemed to almost enjoy your presence and he knew sign language as well so if you needed something he understood.

Course, this gave Harry Potter the wrong idea about you at first.

He didn't get the memo apparently that you were deaf and he was alarmed that you got along with both Draco and Snape.

He watched your every move like a fucking hawk.

And then he saw Draco use sign language and uhm.

He felt fucking dumb.

Harry actually went off and learned it on his own time

Draco was sitting in the library and Harry asked if he could sit with you two.

In sign language.

This shocked both of you because Draco thought he was the only kid who could do that

You nodded and Harry told you he was trying to learn

So Draco and you became somewhat of a teacher for Harry

Hermione, to everyone's surprise, already knew sign language.

She has a deaf Aunt apparently.

Ron learned it too and suddenly all of the Weasley's were interested in learning.

Draco was excited to see you have a friend group.

Like yes: he loved being your friend. But he wanted the best for you and he wanted to see you interact with other people too.

Fred and George would never prank you because that's just a dick move, but my God did they go to you for advice and alibis.

You didn't mind it either

When you were all able to go to Hogsmeade, Harry wanted you to meet his Uncles

You were down but also worried that they wouldn't know sign language

But apparently Harry had wrote to them like "Hey uhm guys, I met someone cool but they're deaf, can you learn sign language"

James already knew how to do it because Sirius's go to excuse was "You're deaf and I'm blind" when he did something... Not so legal

Sirius learned it from Remus

Remus learned it before becoming a substitute for Quirrell just in case

Lily learned it because she wanted to know

Peter also learned it from Remus

When a group of adults other than the Malfoys and your parents started talking to you in sign language you actually cried

Draco was panicked and they were all worried until you signed "No one except Draco has cared this much before"

From that point on you were to BE PROTECTED BY YOUR NEW ADOPTED FATHER JAMES

James is literally "I just met Y/n five minutes ago but if something happened to her I'd kill everyone in the room and then myself"

You loved hanging out with these adults and when they invited you for Christmas your literal response was "Only if Draco comes with"

So there you were at the Potter house, Draco next to you the whole time

He loved seeing you happy oh my God

He'd see your smile and it'd make his whole week.

You'd go to bed and sometimes Draco would stay up downstairs and read

Sirius talked to him one night though

"So. How long have you loved her?" Sirius asked.

Draco looked up from his book.

"...What?" He asked.

"How long have you loved Y/n?" Sirius asked.

"How did... You know?" Draco asked.

"Because James looks at Lily the same way you look at Y/n." Sirius told him.

So Draco vented a little bit and Sirius basically told him "Draco. Boy. Just GO FOR IT."

When you all went back to school you had your first wonderful experience with bullies

They tried to fuck with you

Bad choice.

Terrible choice really.

Ron nearly killed them, along with Draco

Fred and George pranked them later with some... Explosives?

Harry jinxed them

Hermione just did the normal thing and REPORTED THEM.

You almost felt bad for those two guys.

You felt glad though that you had this group of people who would go to the moon and back for you

Your parents suddenly had a very crowded house during the summer

But they didn't mind because they all made you happy.

Draco and you would take these walks in the garden though.

It'd just be you and him.

The whole group kind of shipped it and wanted you two to have some alone time.

Draco would talk to you and you'd smile and laugh at some of the things he'd say.

He seemed very happy with you.

Draco would have small moments with you where you'd be cold and he'd lend you his jacket or keep an arm around you.

Fred and George became DETERMINED to get you two together

When the Triwizard tournament happened Draco signed up as a "Meh. Why not"

And got selected...

He was wanting to die internally the whole time he was with the other champions

He was so used to being around you that he would sign when he spoke verbally.

Viktor and Fleur were very confused until they met you.

One day they strolled over to say good luck and there you were, signing.

Then it made sense like "OOOHH HIS GIRLFRIEND IS DEAF"

And the group had to correct them "No no, just friends... For now" "Wait what--" "Shhh Draco, look at the pretty girl"

Then came the first trial with a dragon.

That's the first time the group had heard Draco scream... Like a little girl.

You were on the edge of your seat, very worried though

When he managed to get the egg you were relieved.

He ran into the tent and literally collapsed.

The boy was COVERED in soot and dirt but you didn't care.

You hugged him and he was panting because he just ran a God damn marathon running from the dragon.

But you looked at him and he looked at you and... Well you kissed

Rita Skeeter ate it up and published an article and Draco nearly killed the woman.

She made it sound like he was with you because you were deaf and he pitied you

Like no. That shit does not fly with Draco

Guess what: his father did hear about that

Lucius LAID INTO THAT WOMAN HOLY FUCK

You didn't care though, you now had Draco

He'd always be showing you some sort of affection, playing with your hair while he read, sleeping in the common room with you on his chest

Because you couldn't speak, he would write you little poems and you loved them.

Fun fact: Draco is actually really good at putting up hair.

Whenever you needed to have your hair up for something Draco was the one that did it.

He always had scrunchies on hand and if he noticed your hair bothering you in class, he literally does not care who's watching he'd pull it back and just do it then and there.

Well one day Mcgonagall walked up to you while you were with Fred and George and asked for your assistance

She basically told you that you were needed for Draco's challenge

And so Draco was very confused when you weren't there.

"Where's Y/n?" He asked.

"Mcgonagall said she needed her for something, we haven't seen her since." George answered.

Draco's heart DROPPED.

The second that that shot went off he had no hesitation jumping in.

He was the first one out of the water with you.

He was PISSED that they would do that to a student they knew was deaf

You assured him though you knew what you were getting into when you agreed to help them though and he calmed down a little.

Draco did not let you go though, he kept a arm around you the entire time he was out of the water.

He was scattering kisses across your face apologizing over and over again and you kept signing "Draco I'm okay"

Then Fleur came up empty handed and you were looking at the lake like "DRACO. BABE. DO SOMETHING. PLEASE."

And because Draco would literally go to hell and back for you he jumped right back in.

He came back up with the kid and you were so happy that he did that and almost tackled him right back into the water.

He was smiling and holding you close.

Warming up in the Slytherin common room with cocoa and talking to the group

Slytherins watching you all like "Gryffindors aren't supposed to be in here--" and then all of you plotting their deaths in your heads.

Slytherin just becoming used to them being there.

Try saying no to you. Like truly. Do you want to be that asshole?

Draco asking you to the Yule during the dance course

You nodding enthusiastically and making him laugh before pressing a kiss to your forehead.

Him seeing you and nearly dropping to the ground.

Him enthusiastically signing "YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL"

Your smile not leaving you the entire night

Draco signing "I love you" for the first time

You signing "I love you" back.

Draco going into his last trial and literally screaming like a little girl when that maze seemed to reach out and almost grab him.

Draco running and somehow finding the cup and winning.

You kissed him of course because CELEBRATION BIATCH

Slytherin celebrating but you and Draco slipping away and celebrating with the group instead.

Draco giving the money to Fred and George because he literally does not need more money.

Now that a bigger group knew sign language you were able to take other classes that wasn't limited to what Draco could do

Most of your classes were still with him though but you did enjoy herbology

You were literally the only student who didn't need ear muffs during the Mandrake lesson.

You actually loved herbology

You met your friend Neville there.

And then you met Luna

Both of which already knew sign language.

They were your buddies and you loved being around them

Your final year was approaching and you were taking an extra class but no one knew what for

You wouldn't tell the group, all they knew is that Dumbledore and Mcgonagall were both in on this.

Then there was one morning where the group was eating breakfast.

"Hi." You yawned and everyone didn't think anything of it until they realized.

You just spoke. Like... Verbally.

Everyone lost their shit and found out your were doing speech therapy.

You were a little insecure about your voice but Draco thought it was ADORABLE.

Your last year approached and while you rarely spoke it was still nice to see that you were doing things outside your comfort zone.

So graduation happened and Draco was talking about the future and something very unexpected happened.

You were watching this boy sign enthusiastically about how he loved you to James and the marauders and you just..

"Draco will you marry me?" You asked.

Everyone looked at you surprised and Draco smiled.

He said yes of course and so you got married

You, Fred and George all worked together.

You made their potions and grew whatever herbs they needed

Draco became a healer (I am absolutely convinced he does this after graduation) and starts a push for more accessible options for possible deaf students at hogwarts

You guys have a kid, Scorpius who is fluent in sign language (he's not deaf though)

James is the babysitter. You don't even have to pay the man

Just call him "Hey James we need you to watch our kid"

And he'll show up like "My daughter has called me"

Fred and George love seeing you happy when you work at the shop

Draco will occasionally pop in for a visit during the summer and he'll help out too.

You may have had a couple of mandrake accidents.

You kind of forget that the plants make noise and when you move the baby plants it knocks people out.

But it's okay because you never forget with the adult mandrakes for some reason.

Neville and Luna some times help out with you and you all have fun

Neville always faints for some reason.

"Didn't I give him ear muffs?" "He just fainted." "Again?"

You love to just look at your family when they're over.

Draco, Scorpius, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, James, Lily, Lucius, Narcissa, your mom, your dad, Luna, Neville, Molly, Arthur, Remus, Sirius, Peter... All of them... You loved the crap out of all of these idiots

Yes. They're idiots

But they're your idiots.

[lauraashley93]

I don’t love you anymore

Part 2:

This is part 2. Don’t worry, there WILL be a part 3 but I just felt this was getting REALLY long and I wanted to continue it so it wasn’t SO much. So, please enjoy part 2 :)

Reader is trying to move on after her and Angel’s break up. But are either of them really truly happy? Will they find there way back to each other?

Warnings: angst? Swearing? Brief Mentions of suicide.

A year.

It’s been 365 days. You don’t know how long a year is until you spend a year missing something, no, someone.

You thought moving would help. You moved back to your aunts house 2,000 plus miles away. Thinking that maybe it would help you move on. It didn’t. You felt there was no closure. Even though Angel had said everything to you, you felt that there was more to it but instead of trying again you ran. You ran and ran and now here you were still just as miserable as you had been because even though it was hell loving him, it was heaven when he WAS loving you and now you were stuck. Not moving forward and you couldn’t help but wonder if he was okay. Was he regretting it? Was he sad? Or was he off to the next one living like you never existed. You pushed that thought from your mind. You didn’t want to think about it. A knock at your door suddenly interrupted your pity party as you looked up.

“y/n?” Are you awake? You aunts soft voice came from behind the door. You sighed. You know you have been worrying her. From being okay one minute to being a drunken mess the next she always seemed to be waiting to see what roller coaster you’d be on.

“Yes, you can come in aunty.” Your voice didn’t have that happy song anymore. Everyone could tell and no one knew how to fix you. Your aunt came in and sat on your bed.

“Y/n, I want to talk to you. Please, don’t be angry but I think it’s time for you to leave. You have been here a year and whatever you’re trying to run from it’s not helping. You need to go back and face whatever it is and close those doors. You are going to drink yourself into a early grave. I love you darling and I’m always here for you but I can’t watch this anymore. You need..

“Stop.” You cut her off. You never opened up to your aunt about what happened. You wanted to shut and lock the door and never speak of it again. Your aunt respected that but apparently you were becoming too much. You couldn’t blame her, honestly, you knew you were a mess and it was only gonna be so long before she grew tired. “I know, I know I’m a lot. But please, don’t give up on me just yet. Please... I just. I gave the wrong person the right piece of me and I’m broken.. I’m, lost. I thought leaving would fix it and I want to tell you I’m fine and I’m over it but I have this HORRIBLE habit of forgiving people when they aren’t even sorry...and I’m still in love with him and if I go back I’ll look for him, I’ll be the pathetic ex trying to crawl back to him and I just.. I can’t. I don’t even know what happened. He just woke up one day and decided he didn’t love me anymore. He finally seen I wasn’t good enough. ”

You start crying as you realize that after all this time that you still love that idiot that ignoring it and hiding it was a mistake and you should have opened up a long time ago. You finally told your aunt what happened from start to finish and she held you as you cried.

——————————————————————-

Angels POV

Back in Santo Padre things haven’t been going very well for Angel either. He’s been a walking disaster since you left him. When you left the first two months he wasn’t sober. He drank from the time he woke up until he laid down and if there were anymore tears to cry he would have cried too. Bishop had let it slide knowing he was going through it but after it almost got him and Gilly killed he finally put his foot down.

—-Flashback 2 months after—

“I HAVE FUCKING HAD IT” Bishop slammed his hand down on the templo table and the sudden noise made Angel flinch. All the other Mayans staring at him seeing what his reaction would be.

“I get that you’re going through some shit but damnit Angel you almost got you and Gilly killed and I can’t have that shit happening. You fucked up brother. Face it, get the fuck over it and move on. If you can’t get your shit straight you’re out. I can’t be having you risk our lives over some pussy.”

Angel’s face turned red. He was livid that Bishop would even DARE talk about you like that. Yes, Bishop cared about you but he had to get through to Angel and he couldn’t play around his feelings anymore. Angel stood up with a quickness leaning toward his president anger growing faster with every passing moment.

“Don’t you EVER fucking talk about y/n like that. Or I’ll”

“Or you‘ll what Angel? “ Bishop is standing nose to nose with him obviously not intimidated. Angel needed to realize he needed to get his shit straight and Bishop was gonna make him see that one way or the other.

“You ain’t gonna do shit, Angel. Now sit the fuck down. Go get your dick wet, hit it out in the cage do what you gotta do today but then it’s fucking done. I don’t wanna see or hear about you acting this way anymore.”

Angel glared at him a few seconds before nodding and storming out of templo and heading to his bike. He needed to ride. He needed to get away and think. How dare he. How could he just expect you to get over y/n like that? I mean, sure you did fuck up but if you could have just explained it you were sure she would forgive you.. you hoped she would have forgave you.

Back in the club house Bishop stopped Ez to talk to him.

“Have you had any luck at all?”

Ez sighed. He had been trying for two months to find you or find where you went so he could talk to you to tell you to come back but he came up short every time.

“No, I can’t find anything. I don’t know where she would have went. She didn’t talk family much. All I know is her mom is a junkie and her dad died years ago. There’s no brother’s and the only sister died in a car crash when y/n was 16. The mom has a sister but she’s completely off grid and so I can’t find shit on her. “

Bishop sighed “keep trying. We gotta figure something out.”

—-Present Day—-

It’s been a year and Ez hasn’t stopped trying to find you. He has watched Angel mask his hurt long enough to do shit with the club and then melt back into his depression and drinking when at home. He’s worried about his brother and he’s determined. So he does the only thing he can think of, he reaches out to Emily Galindo. Maybe, just maybe she can find what he needs.

“And what do you suppose I tell Miguel? Huh? That my ex boyfriend needs a favor? You already know how he feels about our past Ez. Even us meeting here” she motions to Felipes shop “is dangerous!”

“I know, Em, I know but I don’t know what else to do! Angel needs her to know. I don’t even know if it will fix anything but he NEEDS this. Can’t you tell him it’s a friend of yours that you have lost contact with? Or something dealing with work??”

Emily sighs. She knows she can’t say no to Ez, especially under the circumstances.

“Fine, I’ll try.”

———————————————————————

—two weeks later—

You’re wiping down the last table at the diner you work at and about to close up for the night. Friday nights are so busy but it’s your favorite because it brings in the most tips. You weren’t sure you were gonna like moving out to the middle of no where but, it had its perks. After talking with your aunt you felt a little better. You still missed Angel but you figured you owed yourself a chance at happiness. You were grabbing your things when you heard your phone vibrate. An unknown number calling. You simply ignored it thinking it was a spam called until it rang again immediately after the first call, the same number popping up. You furrowed your brows and decided to answer it.

“Hello?”

——————————

—back at the club house—

Ez couldn’t believe it. Emily had found a way to get information on your aunt and she called her telling your aunt that you were an old friend. Your aunt was excited. She thought this would help get you out of your funk. She gave Emily the number they had under her husbands name. Ez seemed impressed by that. No wonder he couldn’t find anything with your name attached to it.

He called the number while the club was having a party. Angel was drinking and trying to distract himself with one of vickie’s girls so Ez took this time to step out to make the call holding his breath... he was disappointed when it went to voicemail so he tried one more time his heart stopped when you picked up and he hoped and prayed you would give him enough time to explain.

“Y/n. Please don’t hang up.”

———————————————————————

Your heart stopped. You felt like you couldn’t breathe. How? Why? Was everything okay?? You were trying to find your voice when your heard Ez on the line.

“Y/n are you there?”

You blinked rapidly as you swallowed hard.

“I’m here” Your voice came out in a whisper. You cleared your throat and tried again. “How did you get my number? Why are you calling?”

“Y/n I’ve been trying for a year to find you. I’ve been trying since the day you left.”

You scoffed anger starting to fill you. “YOU? YOU have? Why? Angel obviously isn’t the one trying so why do YOU care?”

“Angel did. He was gone for two weeks riding trying to find where you went. Then when he couldn’t figure it out he came back and has been a depressed drinking mess since. He barely functions.” Ez said rushing through his sentence.

Your heart was being drug all sorts of directions. Part of you was happy that he was just as miserable as you, but you were sad. You never want him to hurt. Then, you were confused. Why? Why did he feel that way? He claimed he didn’t love you so why would he be hurting?

“Why? Why does he care? He made his feelings VERY clear about how he felt about me. I have spent a year hurting, Ez. I have went through all this shit myself. My aunt has watched me drink myself away, had to talk me out of ending my life” your voice broke. You hated to admit how weak it made you sound but you wanted them to know what you had been through because of him.

Ez’s heart was breaking. He knew that it had hurt you but he didn’t realize just how much damage had been done, maybe it was wrong for him to open up an old wound but he had to try.

“Look, I know I have no right. I know I have no idea what you’ve been through but I’m trying to tell you that he lied, y/n. As soon as I left your house I told him how stupid he was and he thought hurting you was gonna keep you safe if you weren’t with him. So much shit was happening with the club and in his mind he was doing the right thing for you but as soon as you left I think he realized saying all that, was wrong. he hated himself. He went right back to the house to tell you but you were gone. He loves you. He needs you.”

You were breaking down. You wanted so bad to believe Ez but you just couldn’t do that again. Even if Angel was lying he broke you, he said things to you that has changed your whole entire world. How are you supposed to come back from that?

“Ez, I, I can’t. It’s taking me a long time to be okay. Trying to live without Angel was like drowning but I just wouldn’t fucking die.. and I’ve finally learned how to breathe through it and here you are, pushing me back under and I can’t, I just. I wouldn’t even know what to say.”

“Y/n, I understand but if you..”

Ez stopped and you were waiting for him to continue..

You heard shuffling and then you heard it.

”y/n? Is that you??”

The voice that brought you to tears. Angel. You felt dizzy. Probably cause you weren’t breathing. Your anxiety was building and you did the only thing you could think of... you hung up.

———————————————————————

—-At the clubhouse—

Ez was listening to you talk and he knew you were about to shut him off. When he said your name he heard Angels voice.

“Ez? Whose name did you just say?” He practically ran toward you. Ez tried to hide the phone and Angel took it from him.

“Y/n? Is that you??” He heard the line click.

His heart shattered. He stood there phone in hand shaking.

“Angel?” Ez stepped toward his brother.

“How long have you been talking to her?” His voice was raspy trying to hold back anger and tears.

“Just today. I have been trying to reach her and that was the first time i have spoken to her.”

Angel nodded and sighed as he shoved the phone back at Ez’s chest and started to walk away.

“Angel! Angel come back man.”

But it was no use Angel kept walking ready to drown himself in alcohol. It had been too long and hearing your voice brought back so many memories. Ez sighed in defeat wondering how far this was gonna set Angel back and hoping he hadn’t caused more damage to his brother or you.

@angelreyesgirl @auroraariza @spookys-girl @trulysuccubus @stunning-shitz @rosieposie0624 @bigcreatorwombatdreamer @skyofficialxx @strawberrywritings @bucky-iss-bae @miss-nori85 @cind-in-real-life

[official-weasley]

The Irreplaceable Charlie Weasley: Pt. 8, Ch. 10

PART 8: WHERE IT ALL ENDS Chapter 10 - Oblivious Fleur

Charlie

“Will...you...let...go!” I said through my teeth, staring at the Common Welsh Green. The bag, he was clutching with his teeth and I with my hands, was about to rip.

“Stop being so stubborn and release the bag!” I pulled it towards me, but the Dragon wouldn't let go. “You know there's no more meat in it?” I raise an eyebrow at him but he didn't care.

“I will bring you an extra snack before I go if you don't destroy my bag!” I sang at Eero, giving him one final chance. I felt his jaw soften a little bit but he was still holding on to it.

“Eero, love, I don't have time to play with you, you have to understand.” I said softly and knew it was a mistake as he pulled the bag towards himself again, almost making my feet lose contact with the ground.

“I'll be back soon enough, c'mon.” I pleaded and tried hard not to laugh at the playfulness in Eero's posture. He was enjoying this as much as I was.

I loved my job and every single Dragon, big or small, in the Sanctuary. But there was no one as playful and as tamed as Eero and I have to admit that sometimes I visited him just so we could bicker as we did right now. It was my favorite pass time and it reminded me, every time, how lucky I was to work here.

“Charlie!” Eero looked up at the voice and for a split second forgot that he was supposed to take the bag away from me. Me knowing full well who the voice belonged to, I seized the opportunity and snatched it from him.

“Ha! Got you!” I stuck my tongue out at him and moved a few steps backward, just in case he would not be happy about it.

If he could, I knew he would roll his eyes at me but instead he laid on the ground, smoke coming through his nostrils in admittance of his defeat.

“What is it, Andrei?” I turned around and saw him standing by a boulder looking amused.

“It's time. Your Portkey is ready! You'll be late!” He said.

“Bloody hell, is it that time already?” I rolled up my sleeve and looked at my watch. My eyes widened. “I am so late!” Andrei nodded at my realization. Without saying another word I ran down the path, straight to my cottage. I opened the door, grabbed the bag I prepared the previous night, and was on my way to the front gate.

Andrei was waiting for me there, a mocking grin on his face.

“You got your dress robes? Your toothbrush?” He laughed, imitating my mum. “The wedding rings?” I stopped for a second, my face in panic. I opened my bag and stuck my hand into it until I felt the satin box.

“Got the rings!” I said proudly. Nothing mattered more than that.

“Have fun, Charlie!” Andrei half hugged me and opened the gate for me.

—

I got up and dusted my jeans as I landed flat on the ground after touching the Portkey. I stopped for a second, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. I felt so nauseous. Never liked to use those things much and I hated apparating even more. And mum still wondered why I didn't come home more often.

I looked to my right and a smile painted my face as I saw the tree where Nova and I used to stargaze under. I looked at the sky, imagining she was looking down upon me, wherever she was, and made my way towards the Burrow.

“Charlie!” I braced myself, knowing full well that Ginny is going to crush me with her hug.

“Hi, Gin!” I hugged her back and looked up, seeing George approach me.

“What happened to your ear?” I couldn't take my eyes off him.

I knew that they transported Harry here last week but for everyone's safety, we didn't correspond much these days if it had nothing to do with the Order.

“I became holey, Charlie.” George was trying hard not to laugh and I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to understand his joke.

“Hol...” I rolled my eyes. “Oh.” I facepalmed myself when he took off the bandage and I saw a hole where his ear use to be.

“Please tell me, he didn't tell his unfunny joke.” Fred showed up and put his hand around my shoulders, us both looking at George now.

“Of course, I did.” George beamed. “He got it before you did!” I started to laugh even though I was shaking my head. I missed them too much not to find their jokes funny.

“There he is!” Bill started towards me. “My best man!” With his arms opened, he pulled me into a hug. “You have the rings, right?” He whispered in my ear and I nodded.

“Ron, Fred, and George bet against Ginny and Hermione that you'll forget.” He rolled his eyes playfully.

“Haven't they learned already that Ginny is always right?” I laughed.

“Charlie, dear!” Before I could say another word to Bill, my mum put her arms around me and squeezed me so tight that I gave out a little sigh. As she pulled away, the smile that the hug gave me faded from my face when I saw the fury with which she was looking at my hair.

“It is time for you to get a proper haircut!” She roared and pulled me by my sleeve.

“Mum, give it a rest!” I felt like I was 12 again. There was nothing wrong with my hair. “So it got a little out of control, so what?”

“A little?” She said and sat me down on one of the chairs in the kitchen. Fred, George, and Bill were giggling like 14-year-old girls, watching mum pull out her wand and started pointing it at my hair.

“Are you trying to disguise him like Harry, mum?” Fred was wiping the tears of laughter now.

“Another word from you and you'll be next!” She stopped pulling my hair for a second and pointed her wand at Fred. He gulped and took a step backward.

“There's barely anything left!” I shouted as Ginny brought me the mirror. “Mum!”

“At least it looks nice now!” She defended herself.

“Nice?” I shook my head in horror. “Mum, I had more hair on my head when I was born!”

“Oh, don't be silly.” She tried to ruffle it, but there was nothing to ruffle. My hair has never been so short and if I didn't know how to grow it back, I would probably throw a tantrum right now.

“Looking sharp, mate.” Fred and George said together, Bill winking at me.

“I know the spell as well, want to be next?” I hissed at them and they pressed their lips together, trying not to laugh.

“I zink you ztill look 'andsome, Charlie.” I turned around to find Fleur glaring at my 3 brothers, her arms on her chest.

“Thank you, Fleur!” I said, even though I couldn't agree and I couldn't wait for everyone to go to sleep to regrow my hair.

That evening, when most of the house was already asleep, I was sitting in the kitchen with Bill, Fleur, Ginny, Hermione, and mum. Ginny and Hermione were discussing different types of hairdos they are going to try for the wedding tomorrow. Mum was telling Fleur about the tiara aunt Muriel is going to lend her for the wedding and I was explaining to Bill how I got one of my new scars.

It was nice being home. I was worried sick when they were transporting Harry and I knew I wouldn't know how it went without a few days passing by. It was a blow when I heard that Moody was killed and Bill wrote to me how disappointed he was when they couldn't find his body.

On the one hand, I was glad that I was away from everything. I experienced being attacked by the Death Eaters and it didn't matter how long ago it was, it still left a bitter taste in my mouth. Being tortured by the Cruciatus Curse. Seeing so many of my friends die. The Dragons being hurt. Losing Nova...

But on the other hand, I felt like I wasn't doing enough. Recruiting Wizards felt like nothing compared to all the work the Order was doing here. I didn't have an opportunity to take a desk job like Bill. There was nothing desk-job-like about Dragons. I wanted to help, I wanted to be more involved but dad said that I already fought my battle and Bill said that he is certain the time will come when we will have to fight again.

“Charlie!” Fleur's exciting voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at her. She was leaning on her hands on the table, looking at me.

“Yes?” I liked Fleur. I think she was perfect for my older brother but we didn't talk much, at least not without a bunch of people around us, so she startled me when the whole room went quiet and they were waiting for what she was going to say to me.

“You are zo 'andsome!” I raised an eyebrow at her. “Bill iz getting married now, you are next!” She lifted her hand confidently in the air.

My heart started to beat faster. I didn't want to talk about my love life. Not to her, not to anybody.

“'ow come you don't 'ave a girlfriend? You should 'ave found someone by now!” Hermione gasped. All eyes were on Fleur. Nobody dared to look at me. The room was now so quiet that I was sure they could hear my raising heartbeat.

“How dare you!” Mum stood up and started towards Fleur. I extended my arm just in time to stop her.

“You...didn't...tell...her?!” Ginny hit Bill in the arm with every word. I turned to him, an apologetic look in his eyes.

“I didn't...I...” Bill was lost for words. Hermione and mum looked like they were going to burst into tears at any moment.

“What did I zay?” Fleur whispered. Her hand over her mouth, her face puzzled.

“That's enough!” I snapped. “Mum, stop piercing Fleur with your eyes. Ginerva stop hitting your brother!” Ginny stopped, her eyes on me now, her hand still clenched into a fist.

“I'm sorry, Charlie...” Bill started, his voice trembling. “I...I didn't know how to tell her and it was never the right moment and...”

“Bill...” I took a deep breath. “It's okay.” I lifted a hand at him to make him stop talking. I closed my eyes, then looked at Fleur.

“You didn't do anything wrong.” I reassured her. “There was someone. Her name was Nova. She was my schoolmate. We were best friends since our First Year.” I swallowed hard. Years might've past but it didn't mean it was any easier to talk about her. “We started dating in our Sixth Year and she worked with me in the Sanctuary.”

“Oh.” Fleur breathed. Both her hands over her mouth now.

“The Summer after He Who Must Not Be Named came back, Death Eaters tried to steal our Dragons. Between fighting them and trying to save the Creatures, they attacked one Dragon and he breathed fire at us from the pain they've caused him. We were both supposed to die, but she...” Fleur was now shaking her head, tears in her eyes.

“She saved me and the burns were too severe to save her.” I blinked fast a couple of times. I didn't want to cry in front of my mum, otherwise, she would hex Fleur.

“We were engaged. One month away from the wedding.” I said in a barely audible voice.

“Oh, Charlie!” Fleur jumped from her seat and wrapped her arms around me. “I am zo zorry! I didn't know!” She cried.

“It's okay. You couldn't have known.” I said softly. I didn't blame her as much as I didn't blame Bill for not telling her. Why would he tell her anything like that? Things like this don't just come up in a conversation and I know how close Bill was to Nova, it probably isn't easy for him to talk about it either.

Mum's look softened as she sent Hermione and Ginny to bed. Fleur gave me one more apologetic look and her and Bill went upstairs as well.

“Charlie.” I looked at my mum. “I am sorry for the way I reacted.”

“Mum, it's okay. Don't mention it.” I smiled faintly.

“It's just...”

“I know. Mum, don't.” I raised my hand to stop her. I already planned on talking to her before I leave back to Romania and I really didn't want to talk about Nova twice. Not to her. It was painful for both of us.

“She is just so...” Mum was looking towards the stairs leading to the floors above, frowning.

“Mum...” Her eyes turned back to me. “I think you shouldn't be so harsh on Fleur. She proved times and times again how much she loves Bill and I don't think it's fair how you're treating her.” Her expression softened, her mouth open at my words.

“I know. I don't know why I am so strict with her. I never was with Nova.” Her voice shook, saying her name. “But then again, Nova was...” She sighed, looking at nothing in particular behind me. “Perhaps it's because of her. I am trying to compare them too much.” She swung her hand.

“Don't. Fleur is great and Bill is happy with her and that's all that matters. She is just as worthy of being in our family as Nova was.” I said gently.

“You're right.” She came closer and cupped my face. “You're just like your father.” She whispered and kissed my cheek. “You both have the biggest loving heart that sees the best in everyone.”

She nodded her head to the stairs, indicating that I should go to sleep as well while wiping a tear off her cheek. I didn't dare say another word and slowly started going upstairs.

[sweatergirlsposts]

Imagine Leah Imprinting and Rosalie Finding her Mate, You, a Lion Shifter

Title:  The Lion, The Wolf, and the Vampire

Pairing: Leah Clearwater x Male!Reader x Rosalie Hale Cullen

Request By: @rexburn12​ (Song Imagine)

(A/N: So sorry for the late imagine request, I hope y’all like it!!)

It started with a hum, that turned into a whisper, until the whisper couldn’t be contained as it was. The whisper became notes that carried in the air, light like a feather but longing as they floated along. 

“I found a love...for me”

Almost inaudible to all ears that were around the bonfire, two individuals heads had perked up at the haunting voice. 

Every year as a way to celebrate the birth Renesmee, The Cullens, Jacob, Seth and Leah would have annual bonfire on The Cullen land. Why a bonfire? Well some of the Cullen’s, specifically a certain blonde and pixie cut Cullen, couldn’t stand the smell of lingering wolf shifter in the main house. Also, a certain wolf shifter, who had to be there because of them being the Alpha’s Beta, didn’t want to step foot into the Cullen’s house. So as a compromise for all parties, they would have a birthday bonfire for the half human-vampire child. 

“Darling just dive right in” 

There it was again. Rosalie looked around bonfire trying to find the direction the voice came from.  

“Did you hear that?” Rosalie uttered talking to no one specially, but Bella was the first to pick up what she said.

“Hear what?” questioned Bella.

“And follow my lead” sang a voice, almost like the call of a siren.

“That,” Rosalie spun in the direction of East, “There’s something out there”

Everyone looked over concerned at Rose, if something was going to happen wouldn’t have Alice seen it and warned all of them. All the Cullens were silent for a minute trying to detect a sound or a scent that roamed around the woods but detected nothing. 

“I’m not making this up,” Rosalie announced to the group frustrated that they couldn’t hear what she was witnessing. Bella placed her hand on Renesmee’s shoulder in worry that something was coming to threaten her family.

“Blondie is right, I can hear it,” piped Leah from the other side of the campfire confused that she was the only other one hearing it too, “and smell it.”

Seth placed a hand on her arm worried about his sister.  

Leah looked over to Rosalie in surprise with a dash of distaste. After all, the Cullen’s and Bella were the main reason why they attracted that psychotic red headed vampire that killed her father, Harry. So why in the hell was she starting to hear the things the blonde bloodsucker was hearing, unlike the rest of the group she thought.   

“Well, I found a girl,” 

Rosalie could hear the voice again, it was masculine by the sound of the tone and the pitch. The male voice was captivating and soulful as it rang through the night, not disturbing the nightlife but acting as one of the many sounds that belonged with it.

“Is everything alright Aunt Rosie?” Renesmee asked Rosalie, innocently tugging on her sleeve.

“I don’t know my little snowflake”

In Renesmee’s first years of life, Rosalie would tend to look after her the most besides Edward and Bella. She gave her many nicknames over the years but two that stood the test of time were sweetheart and little snowflake.   

 “Beautiful and Sweet”

“Ms. Clearwater, would you be able to track the scent for us? Carlisle asked Leah, who nodded still distracted by the voice, “Bella I think you should take Renesmee back to the house, the rest of us will go look for what is out there” 

Bella collected Renesmee into her arms before taking her back to the Cullen house instead of Edward and her’s small cottage. It would be safer there. In the years that came after the initial ‘immortal child’ incident, Renesmee hadn’t really changed the age of her look. The growth spurt she first had was so impactful that the next one’s would very slowly come and catch up eventually. She looked the same from the time of the incident because her internal clock was still catching up with her body and when it would she’d start to age appropriately like a normal human.     

“I never knew you were someone waiting for me,” the singing was now getting further away, like it was traveling in the opposite direction of them. 

They needed to follow it now or else it would be gone forever Rosalie felt the panic within her as the singing was getting quieter. Leah felt the same thing coursing through her self too.

Without another thought or the go ahead of anyone else, Leah ran towards the direction of the voice and turned, letting out her giant white wolf form. She needed to find it before it was too late, and no one else was going to slow her down. Not even a second later, Rosalie followed in pursuit. 

Meanwhile across the woodland, you had your duffel bag in hand mindlessly passing through the territory on your way to Seattle. You had wanted a change of scenery from hiding in the rocky mountains in British Columbia and wanted to return home to Nevada. Seattle was going to just be a pit stop on the way. 

You decided to take the scenic route and stop by in the Olympic National forest to hunt. It was better this way to hunt here than in the city or any town, plus you didn’t want to attract attention in this state being who you are. If the locals said that they found a lion roaming around the forest and not the savanna, you were bound to be hunted and place on someone’s fireplace mantel.

A lone wolf you were...actually a lone lion, the last one. When you first turned, you didn’t go home, you ran away as far as you could and never looked back. Homeless and hungry for many years you were until someone gave you a job on a native reserve up north. The natives had helped you develop your skills of changing and told you stories about shifters like yourself but had no proof that others currently existed. You built a cabin and lived there up til a couple weeks ago, when you had mastered your changing ability and decided it was time to go home.   

You had your earbuds plugged in jamming to your tunes from the phone you obtained through hard work. An honest man you like to think of your self as you’d work for everything that was currently on your body and in your bag. You walked through the forest not minding the cover of night as you were walking in the direction towards Seattle from the national park. 

The song ‘Perfect’ By Ed Sheeran had come on your playlist. You started to hum it which turned into a whisper and then you started to sing. Back at your temporary home with the natives in the rocky mountains, they had praised your singing. Apparently it was one of your gifts that had been bestowed upon you, as a shifter. Some could run fast or have immeasurable strength but you had been blessed with the voice of an angel. You learned to busk and sing to make some extra money, which didn’t hurt. 

“Cause we were just kids when we fell in love, not knowing what it was, I will not give you up this timeeeee!” you belted not giving a care, “Darling just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own! And in your eyes your’re holding mine!”

Little to your unbeknownst, you didn’t notice the smell or vibration on the ground of a large group heading your way, for you were too absorbed in the music. 

“Baby, I’m dancing in the dark with you between my arms. Barefoot on the grass listening to our favourite song!” you bellowed with eyes closed, “When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath, but you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight!”   

You let the music trail off without realizing that you had two sets of eyes following your form from a distance. Leah had found you first by following the sounds of your enchanting voice and distinct smell of artificial pine and sandalwood. 

She stopped from a distance behind a set of bushes, assessing whether or not you were a danger to her. She admired from behind your (N/C) hair and your (B/T) form. You wore a dark olive coloured canvas jacket overtop a light blue button-up shirt with black jeans. You had your eyes closed when you turned around, and still singing, when she saw your face.

Like an incoming headache, it came hard and fast to Leah almost knocking her back. Like a roller coaster going down after the first gigantic incline, Leah could feel her mind and soul lift, as if she was having an out of body experience, then be slammed back into her form. As she came back to reality from the mind boggling experience, the center of her gravity refocused under a new light, your light.   

‘So this is the whole rave about imprinting, I can see why Sam and the rest of them went crazy for coco puffs,’ Leah thought to herself comparing the mental state of imprinting to a cereal slogan.

She wasn’t the only one that felt that very same thing when she looked at your handsome face. On cue, Rosalie was the next one to see your unaware form singing in the forest. 

To Rosalie, you not only sounded perfect but you were. Gracefully and oblivious you moved naturally like a willow tree in the wind. Your face had the perfect curvature that she wanted to trace with her fingers and eyes. She could only imagine what your eyes looked like. Blue like water found at Isle Esme, ivy green like the colour her father’s study was when she was human, or possibly brown like a rich worn leather jacket? She needed to know. 

Coming to your senses, you smelt something in the distance. One scent smelt like you but not at the same time, and the other you couldn’t recognize as something that you have witnesses in your life. 

Not wanting to tear one of your better outfits, you quickly undressed to your skimmies. You could sense it was near, observing you even, so you turned.

Shedding your true self, came forth the king of the jungle, your lion form. Full luscious golden mane and tan fur. Whiskey in the sunlight eyes shined through the darkness in the forest, scanning to find whoever was watching you. 

You took one more sniff in the air before charging at whoever was behind the set of bushes not too far. You pounce on a form, surprisingly almost as large as yours and had them on their back. Doing a once over of the form beneath your claws, you noticed that it was a large white wolf with eyes that look scared but mixed with something else within them. You didn’t know the emotion but you started to get dizzy looking at the wolf. You looked away trying to focus on something but your eyes then fell upon a blonde women that you assumed was with the wolf. Again the dizziness hit you.  

You felt more than fine a few seconds ago, what happened to you?

You got off the wolf and started walking backwards. You pawed at your muzzle to try and wipe the feeling away but it kept coming. You saw yourself, slightly older stuck in theses woods, with two other people. Women? One a strikingly elegant pale blonde and the other an alluring rustic dark raven haired women. Each held your hand simply walking through the forest, each with their head on your shoulders, dreamily listening to you sing. The song you sang in this vision was the one you just belted in the forest. 

What was this feeling? What did you see? Who were those two women? You recognized the blonde one from the vision as the one in front of you but the other women was unknown.    

You shifted back to your human form unable to take anymore of what you saw. 

“What the hell?” you whispered to yourself getting up off the forest floor in the nude. 

Leah reverted back as well, also being in the nude, and realized that you imprinted on her as well. 

‘Shifter imprinting on shifter, was unheard of, let alone on a whole ‘nother species of shifter,’ she processed

You rubbed your eyes before focusing your vision on the blonde and now present raven haired women in front of you.

“What did you guys just do to me?”

“You’re talking to both of us?” Leah asked when you referred to the both of them.  

“Yeah, you guys were watching and did something to me. I just had the weirdest vision with the both of you in it for some reason?!” you massaged your temples then made eye contact with the both of them. 

The both of them?!?! Leah and Rosalie simultaneously thought. In less than a  couple seconds, the rest of the Cullens showed up along with Seth and Jacob as wolves. After getting to a closer distance, everyone in the group could hear the mesmerizing singing that Rosalie and Leah did hear before it stopped. Leah and yourself ducked behind the bushes to hide your guys modesty. 

“Woah geez I didn’t expect a whole flock of you guys to come running,” you held out your hands to show that didn’t want to attack. 

“Who are you people? Especially you guys, the wolves, are you guys all shifters?” you pointed questioningly at the two large wolves still utterly bewildered at the situation.  

“Who are you?” spoke Rosalie gazing over body taking in all the details.  

“I’m (Y/N), I was just hunting in the area and just leaving to go to Seattle. I don’t mean to hunt on your guys land, I was just taking a detour,” you eyed each individual but your eyes lingered on the lady shifter beside you and the blonde. 

“Where do you come from (Y/N)?” asked the stunning women beside you in the bushes.

“Rocky Mountains, British Columbia. I didn’t think that there were any shifters left other than myself, I thought I was the last one” you laughed in disbelief, “And you didn’t answer my question. What did you guys do to me like what was that whole vision thing you did?”   

“You imprinted on them,” spoke the lean pale brunet man stepping forward from the rest of the group, “The vision you saw was in the future of the bond you share with my sister Rosalie and Leah, the shifter beside you”

“Wait what’s imprinting?”  

“In our case, it’s a profound bond between you, her, and myself if you saw the three of us in your vision,” Leah, the lady that stood beside you, explained gesturing to you herself and the blonde Rosalie.

“Ummm okay, I’m still slightly confused and uncomfortable at the moment, due to the lack of clothing. Is it possible that maybe we can discuss this somewhere else with more than just bushes covering,” you waved your hand in front of the bushes covering your genitals, “this please?” 

“Personally I don’t mind the view,” muttered Leah sending you a wink.

“Me neither,” you mumbled side eyeing her gorgeous body.  

In a snap, Rosalie collected your clothing and your duffel from the ground, where you left them, and handed them to you. Rosalie’s hand brushed against yours sending feel-good tingles down your spine. Her body was ice cold to the touch but was perfectly contrasting your blazing skin. You sent her a dashing smirk her way and she gave you a genuine teeth-showing smile, something she rarely showed others.  

You put on your clothes and gave Leah some shorts and shirt to wear in the meantime, because she didn’t have any clothes nearby. 

“Our home is more than a walk back, I recommend that you travel with one of us,” said the mature blond man of the group. Rosalie raced over by your side and picked you up bridal style.  

“Wow, now this one I can check of my bucket list,” you said taken aback by the sudden position.

“And what is that handsome?”

“To be held by an angel,”

Nevada seemed like a distant memory at that moment in time. Home no longer seemed to be Nevada, it now was in the arms of this exquisite blonde and in the eyes of the ravishing raven haired women.  

MASTERLIST

[whitecatindisguise]

Give Him A Chance To Mend

I'm alive, lmao. Took me long enough to update this story, and I hope this want to write is not temporary, and will last unless until I finish it.

Anyway, AO3 link can be found here, and the newest chapter is put under read more, to not spam the dash with long post.

So, enjoy.

Chapter 4: Raise A Little Hell

Varian and Quirin were working in the fields, when it happened. There was no sign, no way to prepare themselves. It took them both by surprise and left them wishing they didn't have to ever deal with it. 

It started innocently. Adira and Hector left for training,while Varian offered to help his father with the harvest. They were nearing lunch break, when the two came back, wearing unrecognisable faces. 

"Aunt Adira? Uncle Hector?" Varian called out to them, confused by their behaviour. He never saw that kind of expression on them, and didn't know what to make of it. 

"Did something happen?" Quirin inquired from a little further, placing a pumpkin on a half-full cart. 

"You could say that." The woman replied, pursing her lips together. 

Varian observed the two and noticed a crunched paper held in his uncle's hand. He cocked his head to the side, wondering what's on it, already figuring out it must be the cause of their off behaviour. 

"Well, neither of us is a mind-reader, so maybe you could tell us what's wrong." Quirin said, putting his arms on his hips. "Unless you want to continue this staring contest."

"Why our nephew has a wanted poster?" Hector asked. Both father and son blinked, not really registering the question. 

"We were training in the woods, when we found this." The man unrolled the paper and a 14-year-old Varian glared at his older self from the poster. Oh…

"We missed one." The alchemist mumbled, more to himself than anyone in particular, but it managed to make Adira and Hector give him a weird look. He chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his neck. "I… might have commited treason once?" He said, attempting to make it sound like a joke and failing miserably. It was only partly worth the bewildered faces of his aunt and uncle. 

Quirin sighed and picked up the cart, wheeling it towards the shed. 

"Let's go inside. It's a long story." He said. Hector sputtered. 

"You knew?!" He screamed. 

"Can we talk inside… please?" Varian asked, looking deeply uncomfortable. The two Brotherhood members shared a look and nodded. 

"I expect to be explained everything, nephew." Adira said, as he led them back to the house.

"Oh joy…" They heard his response. 

It took ten more minutes for them to get settled in the kitchen, Quirin insisting he prepare mugs of hot cocoa. For grounding, he said. Neither of his siblings questioned it, but they did exchange confused glances. 

Finally, they all sat down around the kitchen table, Varian picking nervously at his gloves, Ruddiger curled comfortingly around his neck. 

"So… treason?" Adira spoke up. Varian sighed and straightened up, curling his hands around his mug. 

"Let me start from the beginning." He said. Adira nodded, Hector remaining silent but attentive. "Six months after Princess Rapunzel was brought back, and two days after the failed coronation, she and Cass..andra came to Old Corona in search of the great wizard. "He made quotation marks with his hands and put them back around the mug. "which was how people used to call me, since they didn't know anything about alchemy and thought what I was doing was magic. Anyway, the Princess wanted to ask about her hair which magically reappeared, I tried to help but couldn't come up with anything specific. Then her boyfriend arrived, I told him about my water heaters, which were highly unstable back then, and long story short, they blew up and the Princess and her entourage left while I stayed to clean up the mess. Then we met at the Science Expo few weeks later, I asked Cassandra to be my assistant, she agreed but stood me up later, that's not really important and now it seems I'm rambling-"

"Drink some hot cocoa, son." Quirin helpfully suggested. Varian nodded and took a few gulps, exhaled slowly and continued. 

"Anyway, after the expo I showed Princess the black rocks that grew outside the village, and she asked me to research ways to get rid of them, promising we'll get to the bottom of this together. So, in secret and against dad's orders, I've spent next weeks studying those rocks, trying to find anything to make them stop growing, or, better yet, get rid of them entirely. At some point, when the village was almost completely overrun, me and dad travelled to the capital to ask the King for help. I wasn't allowed inside the throne room, but I overheard dad lying about us having a good harvest and needing more land to store all the crops." 

Adira and Hector both looked surprised. 

"Quirin lying?" The woman asked. 

"It was a code." The man quickly explained. "I didn't want everyone to panic about what was happening. My words actually meant we need a place to move to until the situation is taken care of."

"But, of course, I didn't know that, so I lashed out at dad, he lashed out at me, then the Princess came and I told her what's going on and she, yet again, promised to help me once her parents will be back from their anniversary trip, during which she was to act as a Queen." Varian added. "But then everything went downhill. Dad caught me during one of my experiments on the rocks and we had a fight about secrets and such. I didn't notice one of my solutions spilling on the rock, but dad did. He pushed me away and got stuck in amber, me running to the capital to get Princess' help. At the same time, an enormous snowstorm hit, which later I learned was caused my Zhan Tiri herself. Anyway, I managed to get to the castle, but as I begged for help, the Princess refused, saying she had to stay and help the others, and I was thrown out into the storm."

"You were what?!" Hector screamed, standing up abruptly, his chair falling to the floor with a loud clatter. 

"Sit down and drink your cocoa, Hector." Quirin ordered. "You getting angry now won't change what happened."

"And you're fine with this?" The man questioned angrily. 

"I had the same reaction as you did when I found out." The farmer replied calmly. "The matter was resolved long time ago. There is no need to dwell on it."

"They threw a freak-"

"Language."

"A teenager, my nephew, in the middle of the snowstorm!" Hector finished, fuming. "And you expect me to not get mad?!"

"Let Hairstripe finish, Hector." This time it was Adira who spoke. She looked as collected as ever, but Quirin knew her long enough to know she was just as angry as her brother. 

The green-eyed man grumbled, but picked up his chair and sat down, crossing his arms and mumbling under his breath. 

"A-anyway" Varian continued. "I ran back home but I was too late, dad already fully encased in the amber. I worked day and night, trying to find a way to save him. At some point I've found a hidden chest in his room, full of armour pieces, weapons and a piece of the scroll with a drawing of the sundrop, the black rocks and some weird language. Took me some time, but I finally managed to decipher it enough to know the Sundrop might be the way to end all this. Oh, and in the meantime, the King apparently decided I know too much and sent royal guards dressed in masks and coats to make sure I don't tell anyone. The rest of the village moved to the new land long ago, so nobody was around to stop them. I called the Princess to the village, using a lantern with a tied letter, to find the scroll which I hid in my lab. I wanted her to see dad, see why I was doing what I was doing. Then, a week later, I came to the capital to meet her in secret, because somebody spread a rumour I attacked her on the day of the storm and people didn't really like me walking around anymore. I managed to persuade her to sneak into Royal Vault with me and stole the Sundrop Flower. But, it turned out its power was long gone, moved to the Princess instead. So, I devised a new plan. I built an army of automatons, used alchemically-turned monster Ruddiger as a distraction and kidnapped the Queen, all to get the Princess' attention. And, of course, she came, along with the citizens of Corona ready to fight the dangerous alchemist of Old Corona. I made her use her hair to try and free dad, but when that also failed… I snapped. I went total rampage, and even tried to kill Cassandra and the Queen. I was only stopped when the Princess touched the black rocks, which blew up and impaled the automaton I was controlling. I was arrested and the Princess went her merry way, on a journey following the black rocks."

"I've seen the aftermath of the battle before but I didn't realise…" Adira seemed genuinely shocked. "It was you?"

"Turns out being left without adult supervision and having someone promise help and then back out when they start to feel uncomfortable does that to people." Varian shrugged, but they could see he was ashamed of his actions. "Or just to me."

"Is this true?" Hector looked at Quirin for confirmation. The man nodded. 

"The Princess confirmed it." He said. 

"Wait, the Princess went to the Dark Kingdom…" Hector looked like he didn't really want to hear an answer to his question, but he asked anyway. "What happened to you?"

"Prison." Varian replied darkly

[reginaofdoctorwho]

weird shit that would probably have something to do with me in a horror movie

no one wanted this but i’m bored and found a bottle so you’re all getting it. yes these are all true. check the tags, if u think i’ve missed something please let me know!

there was a murder (technically, i don’t really count it as a murder) next door when i was four years old on christmas morning

the weird antique glass bottle i found half-buried in the woods in the woods yesterday with living bugs in it that made no attempt to leave it once i uncovered it

there is a local cult in the next town over. this is not the same as the local cult that was in the other town over where my mom grew up

random completed animal skeletons in the woods behind our house, i’m talking prey and predator, both laid out like in a goddamn scientific diagram. for a while there’d be ones in the middle of our yard, always the same type of animal, always just the bones and nothing else, laid out like it was posed. this has been happening for over half a decade and we have no fucking clue how, why, or who is doing it

the screaming from the woods that i’m going to assume is a fox

my sister almost dated a murderer. his niece or something is in my class

there is a house that is now part of a “local ghost tour” that belonged to my great+ grand parents during the civil war where my great+ aunt died allegedly murdered by her husband who is actually blood related to me. family history says she died of childbirth, which given that it was the 1800s... probably is true

there was an actual murderer in our family a few generations back but he married in and killed his wife and her sister. they didn’t find out about it until they read his journals after he died where it apparently told everything he did and they decided. “well, that wouldn’t look good for the family, and they’re already dead anyway” and just kept it hidden??

the fact we have my great great grandmother’s dress from probably 1890s or 1900s. even more so the fact that i fit in it. if this was fantasy horror (vampires, some immortal thing or ghost) i’d be fucking dead or cursed

fairly certain i was possessed by the ghost of a puritan as a kid

my family seems to have a curse with babies and nurses? my great uncle died when he was born because long story short, hospitals were the new hot thing, he was perfectly healthy, then a nurse dropped him and he died instantly. my sister died when she was a toddler and the hospital actively tried to delete her hospital records to cover it up and ended up getting fined by the state for it. the nurses responsible were not arrested or punished in any way.

my family all has fucked up connective tissue, in my brother it was bad enough he had to get a steel bar in his chest so it wouldn’t cave in.

the many times i have almost drowned, sometimes due to intentional actions by humans (my dad, it was my dad)

this in addition to the other fucked up shit he did before the divorce when he still lived here, including but not limited to: killing my mom’s favorite pet goat, hanging its skull in a tree, and leaving the body in the woods. not letting his kids learn how to cook. anytime someone asked him to cook he’d put as much pepper/hot sauce in as he could (even for like, scrambled eggs) and give it to the youngest person, usually a toddler. this was me at times. taking his kids out to the woods and threatening murder. taking his kids out to the woods and threatening burning. purposely locked the basement from the inside so we couldn’t get the gaping hole in the stairs leading to one of three kids rooms fixed. tearing up pictures of the kids whenever my mom did something he didn’t like. i had more here but i tried to cut it down a litttle

people have threatened to murder me before. one time a girl didn’t threaten, and actually acted like she was starting to like me, but her cousin read her diary or something and found out she was planning to commit a lot of murder, and told her parents and she got sent to a psychiatric ward for a couple weeks

my mom lived down the street from a family that got axe-murdered by one of their two sons when she was a kid. the murderer did get out on an insanity plea and is still in the area. also their neighbor’s mom “lost her mind” (how the story was told) when she had to protect their kids while her husband went over to try to protect the non murderer son when he got home from school and ran over screaming about his brother trying to kill him and had killed their parents

also she knew a girl who almost got kidnapped by this really fucked up traveling serial killer that has his own wikipedia page that is,,, lengthy. the girl had [alleged] mafia ties, and the guy ended up dying shot by police despite them being told to bring him in, which sounds kinda suspicious

long story short i’d probably be the sequel where one comes back

apparently i go to the “bad” school, which i found out in a coffee shop when i overheard two girls talking about how one’s dad went there and how horrible and dangerous it is

school fights are weird. either they don’t happen or they come freakishly close to murder. people slam heads into lockers, stomp on bones, drag people by hair along the ground. one time in my brother’s class a 4′9″ girl sent a 6′2″ football player to the hospital. there was video of a fight a couple years ago that’s still around. it was brutal, but also one of the girls fighting was taking one for the team in it and got the other kicked out

we don’t have a ceiling in all of the third floor, and the cafeteria has 2. this is not relevant in any way, but it’s important to me that you know this

also the guys kept ripping the heating vents/radiators/whatever off the walls in their bathrooms and got almost all the bathrooms locked. including the girls’ ones.

also everyone kept punching holes in the walls so on some of them it’s just,,, metal sheeting down the whole hallway

there are so many fucking shootings in the next town over. literally five years ago it was this nice place where kids would go on history tours, i did when my sister worked for that group. now there is pretty much one business that has not been held up at gunpoint, and if u look up to the serial killer bullet point, it is for v similar ties. it’s a pizza place and if u ever stop by u gotta try it

women in my family have weirdly good intuition but every couple generations we get doubtful. my great grandma didn’t want a hospital birth but decided “hey it’s the hot new thing for a reason”, my mom switched churches based on nothing but intuition and it turned out someone was a pedophile there (found out years later), i instantly could tell my friend’s boyfriend was a pos and wasn’t surprised later when he told her he’d murder and dismember me in front of her, and upon meeting him told him he was a fucking coward and couldn’t do it. he broke up with her a month later.

i was really good friends for a while with two guys that burned a building down. yes they were arrested. i was friends before and after the fire. they’re pretty nice, but this girl they used to date (at different times, they were brothers, yes it was fucking weird and uncomfortable for everyone involved except her but that’s it’s own thing) said some fucked up shit and it was the closest i ever got to starting a fight. anyway i’m still friends with both on facebook. one of them shares a lot of king of the hill memes

speaking of that fight, i 100% would’ve tried to kill her in that moment. u know that john mulaney quote like “i didn’t understand how a person could want to kill another person. then i got cheated on, and i was like ‘oh, okay.’”? that was me, but replace “cheated on” with she told me it was good my five year old sister was dead because she was a waste, and told me she hoped i’d die of covid”. it was mainly the sister thing. i couldn’t move because if i did i’d start a fight with the [way] above mentioned shit.

my family has a literal feud with a local farming family. i mean, we keep farm animals (sheep, goats, chickens), these people have that, pigs, and crops too. the feud was because their great uncle (or great grand uncle, i’m a little fuzzy on the details) published an autobiography (despite not being anyone famous/important) and in it talked about when he was friends with my grandfather and how creepy my great grandfather was (this was the one with the dead firstborn son) because he kept newspaper clippings of the Lindbergh baby’s kidnapping and murder pinned to a board on the wall of his office/basement. also because he was a child of german immigrants who wanted to fight against nazis in WW2 (how suspicious [sarcasm]). members of their family are in my grade. they charged my sister for almost half an extra pound of goods, too, which just revitalized it.

i live by corn fields. i am surrounded by cornfields. (joke one)

i was friends for a while with this girl whose baby teeth,,, didn’t really fall out completely? she was 17 the last time i saw her in person, she’s probably 19 now and judging by her facebook pictures they’re still Like That. she had a very symmetrical mouth/teeth, which made it weirder. just to clarify, she had some of her baby teeth pushed forward and up, so they kind pointed out a little? and all her adult teeth. she was literally so pretty.

a teacher who is v sexual with his female students came into my english class (he is a science teacher) to demand why i wasn’t signed up for his class. we then both became increasingly passive aggressive and he told the whole class where i live with specific directions and landmarks. the guy sitting next to me had to try to tone things down despite being obviously confused as to why it was even happening (me too buddy). he lives down the road from my sister. when my niece had her birthday party at our house i was outside setting things up and he slowed his car down and honked at me. fuckin creep

[stevenismyboy]

I like me better when I’m with you ~Part 5.

a/n: three parts to go, yay! I'm super proud of this piece, I hope you like it too! My masterlist is finally working properly, I solved the problem so you can find the previous parts there!

summary: based on ‘To All The Boys I Loved Before’. Y/N Henderson used to be in love a couple of times. This time she’s sure it’s something bigger, something serious. Her love for Jonathan Byers is unlimited, untamed and endless. At least she thought so.

warnings: mentions of alcohol, lightly drunk reader

-

Something's changed that night. You weren't exactly sure what, you didn't know what to call it, but that feeling was with you all the way to Steve's friend's house. You had the feeling that the electricity was flowing through your body, just like on those nights when a storm is about to come. And today the sky was completely cloudless.

Steve was driving a totally different way from Jonathan. He was driving with one hand, clenching his ankles loosely. The other hand was hanging lazy on the door from his side, the wind blew his hair when he opened the window. And although he looked more like he was lying on a couch than he was driving, he was completely focused, reacting to walkers and changing lights.

He was so focused that he didn't see you looking at him. Or he didn't want to see. He was sure that if he looked at you for a moment, he might not look away. He didn't have a 13-year-old girl sitting next to him anymore, but a lovely teenager. He'd rather focus on the road than on you, because, my God, he could swear he'd drown in your eyes.

“I don't know, Steve...” you said not so sure when the boy stopped in front of a house full of people. It's weird that he found a parking space when the street was completely covered in drunken kids' cars. You leaned forward, resting your hands on the dashboard, trying to see anyone you knew through the big windows of the residence. The music tried to break through the walls so you could hear it already in the driveway. “Are you sure you don't want to go with someone else? I don't know your friends...”

“Do I really need to remind you of our rules, Miss Henderson? You committed to something with your signature” Steve bent his head and looked at you insightfully. You nervously bit your lower lip. School was a necessity. You had to be there every day anyway. But a party? People really think there's something serious between you two. And what's worse... what if you feel something serious between you two? “I promise if you feel bad or don't like it, we'll go home”.

“I don't want to ruin your night” you moved your arm. Steve opened the door slightly. “Conversely. I'm sure I'm gonna have even better fun with you” he smiled. Your hand went to the handle, but before you opened the door, Steve circled the car to help you and did it for you. You were shocked when he gave you his hand. “My lady” he bowed slightly and you could see he was trying not to laugh. With his help, you got out of the car. You went up the stairs shoulder to shoulder, but before Steve opened the door, you stopped in front of them, taking some deep breaths to calm down. The boy turned to you and put his hand on your shoulders. Where his fingertips came into contact with your skin, goose bumps immediately appeared on it.

“I won't even leave you for a moment unless you want to, okay? They'll like you. If any of the boys... says or do something that makes you upset, tell me right away. I'll take care of it. And... have some fun” Steve smiled and pinched you gently on the cheek like your disliked Aunt Ruth, who visited you and Dustin on Christmas. But Steve's gesture was different, not annoying, not unnerving, more... adorable.

“I trust you.  And that's the only reason I know I'm gonna have a good time” you said and you were the first to open the door. Surprised Steve let himself be dragged inside right behind you, into a whirl of bodies, music and alcohol. He greeted everyone with a broad smile, holding your hand. Everybody knew who you were, they sent you friendly smiles or jealous glances, but that doesn't matter. As long as Steve's hand held your hand, nothing could happen to you.

“Harrington! You made it!” Evan, the tall blonde boy who apparently owned the house and was the host, patted Steve on the back, almost pouring out his drink from red cup. His eyes were glowing at your sight, the corner of his mouth was up. “And you brought your fiancée! Nice to meet you. Harrington has been bothering us with stories about you after every training. Believe me, sometimes it was hard to believe you were real”.

“Really?” you asked surprised and you looked at Steve, who got nervous and his eyesight went somewhere above you. You did know that Steve had to tell the boys on the team something, but did he really talk about you as often as Evan said?

“Don't embarrass her, Y/N can be very shy” he finally said something got his arm around you. “It wasn't me who started blushing” you said, looking at his red cheeks. Evan laughed, and Steve looked at you. A small creature that clung to his side and smiled innocently, even though it was annoying him on purpose. He couldn't help but smiled, even though his cheeks were burning from the inside. Until then, only Nancy was able to embarrass him. He didn't expect anyone else to succeed.

“It's beautiful here. This is your new place?” he changed the subject quickly. Get yourself together, man. “Parents. But I take the credit” Evan touched his shoulder. “I guess I'd like a drink. You want something? A drink, coke, water?” Steve asked. His hand went down your back, stroking you along your spine. “Drink, please. But I'm begging you, don't be like Robin. I'd rather have more juice in the cup than vodka, or let the proportions be equal” you ask, and made puppy eyes. 

“I'm feeling a little offended. I can not only consume but also prepare alcohol perfectly. Stay here, Henderson, and wait for me to bring you something, and then you'll feel like you're in paradise!” Steve started screaming as he was getting further and further into the crowd. You laughed quietly, standing on your toes to see his hand still waving at you.

It turned out there was nothing to be afraid of. The boys on the team turned out to be quite nice, at least those around Evan. Their girls sent you friendly looks, one complimented your outfit. Steve made you feel safe, but his friends didn't give you any cause for concern.

“Well, well. Nice to see you, Y/N. Outside the school” somebody's been talking to you, standing behind your back. You turned around seeing Becky, in fancy makeup and hair tied up in a tight ponytail. Becky had P.E with you and Robin. She was pretty fit, and you guys... well, let's just say running wasn't your strength. She's the one who threw a nasty commentary at your friend the day the letters suddenly disappeared from your room. And ... is it possible that that's who Steve was talking about when he said he liked her?

“I heard... and I saw that you and Harrington are a thing now” she added, shaking her arm. “Becky, pushing people was probably always your strong point. Give her a break” Evan asked. “You're right” you moved your arm towards her. “Me and Steve... we're dating”

“Since when? How did this happen? I didn't expect that... you might be friends” Becky wrinkled her nose as if talking to you was completely below her dignity. Once again, something that should be obvious has become a problem for you. Sooner or later, one of the girls had to ask. Nancy is different. Nancy is your friend, she's not pressing, she's not mean or sarcastic. But Becky? This conversation could end badly. 

“How far has it gotten? I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but Steve... Honey, I don't think he's looking for a permanent person. He's looking for someone with whom... who he could have a nice time with. I don't think you're willing to make that deal, do you?”

You swallowed your saliva, praying that Steve feels something's wrong. So that something would touch him in the kitchen, so he'd put down a bottle of vodka and come back here as soon as he could. “You're right, Becky. Y/N wouldn't be willing, but apparently you are, if you're trying to upset her and make her doubt” Evan said angrily. 

“I'm only saying this because I know her. I don't want her to get hurt” the girl pouted out her lower lip. It's obvious that none of what she said was honest. “And I know Steve” you said quickly, even though Evan already gently pulled you away from the girl. “And I know he wouldn't do anything to hurt me or anyone else. So if you're only doing this because you're angry that he didn't come here with you... I'm sorry for you, Becky”.

The girl clenched her fingers so tightly on the cup that her ankles whitened and drops of alcohol splashed on the floor. She walked away mad as a wasp, without saying a word more. “Everything okay?” Steve spoke suddenly behind you. Evan left you alone, pointing his finger at Becky leaving, and then he made a disgusting face. Steve served you your drink. His dark eyes were full of worry. He didn't understand what was happening or what happened. He was starting to get angry at himself. For promising not to leave you, then he disappeared in the kitchen just to get a drink.

I know Steve. You smiled at yourself. Would you have been able to say that a couple of weeks ago? Of course not. But it took a few days in his company, really in his company, to see what he really is. Warm, tender, caring. It's not the Steve that Becky described. That's your Steve. The one you once knew.

“Nothing to worry about. Evan and I handled it ourselves” you said a smile and put your hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Steve relaxed by your touch, waiting for you to dip your mouth in a drink. The liquid flowed down your throat, smoking it from the bitter and spicy taste of vodka, which softened the sweetness of coke. Your eyes went wide, you licked your lips. “This is actually really good! What did you add here?”

“You don't want to know” Steve twisted his head, laughed and drunk himself. “I hope... it's not a beer” you said quickly. The boy twisted his head again. “I'm driving. It's just orange juice. Only your drink took me so long, so you'll have to forgive me” he shrugged his shoulder innocently. You laughed and drank the drink to the end. The cup landed on the coffee table, and your shoulders went into Steve's hand. You took his drink, dragged him into the crowd.

“I suddenly felt like dancing” you laughed, clenching your fingers on his shirt.

-

Steve swore to God, he didn't want you to get drunk.

He didn't drink a drop, knowing he had to get in the car and take you both home safely. When you asked him for another two drinks, he agreed without hesitation, but he didn't know you had such a weak head. You were on your feet, but everything started to be funny for you, your giggle mixed with the music, the words sometimes resembled gibberish in combination with the music played by Cutting Crew.

“Steve. Suddenly. Incredibly. I got hungry” you said suddenly, with a serious expression on your face, stopping to dance. So Steve didn't even wait a moment longer. He went into the kitchen, took so much food out of it that a few packs of crisps slipped out of his hands and went out with you before you could do it yourself.

You walked next to each other, laughing loudly at Evan, who was taking off his shirt in the living room. You held Steve's arm like a lifebelt, afraid that your legs would let you down and you were not wrong. As soon as you were both on the dewy lawn, your sneakers slipped on the grass, and you fell on your ass painfully, pulling Steve behind you. He landed on his back, looking up at the sky full of stars, and then he looked at you, writhing with laughter, in a dirty green shirt.

“Oops” you just managed to say, when tears flowed out of your eyes. “Oops? This situation doesn't qualify for 'oops'! That shirt was new!”. “I'm sorry” you said, desperately trying to stop laughing. You must've looked hilarious, holding on to your sore stomach, gagging in the wet grass in the driveway. “Whatever. You'll just wash it. I didn't expect you to be so strong”. “Hey!” you wrinkled your eyebrows and looked offended at him. Your face made him laugh again. “I'm small, but strong”.

“You don't even know what the top shelf looks like”. “Listen-” you tried to say something, but he quickly put a cake in your mouth to keep you quiet.  You lay back on the grass, but Steve was too afraid you'd choke, so he helped you sit down. 

“Dustin can't find out about this. He would laugh at me for the rest of his life”. “Because your ass is drunk or because you fell down with me in front of all the guests?” “Both. You can't tell him that. Otherwise... I'll be very, very angry at you”. “I will think about it. You ruined my shirt, I can ruin your life”. “You're really like that?” you asked, reaching over him for another cookie, but the he raised his hand so much that you couldn't reach the box. “I hope you trip into a puddle”. 

“Well, I hope you fall of a ladder” he showed you his tongue, though it wasn't very mature. “Yeah?. Well, I hope you step on Lego” you added, and he opened his mouth. “Okay, that went way too far!” he said and threw the cakes on the ground when his fingers went to your sides. He couldn't remember where you were ticklish, but as soon as you laughed, he remembered where you were most sensitive. His fingers went up to your belly and then up to your neck. It all hurt from laughing. You got winded trying to free yourself from his hands, but he wouldn't stop until your pants were completely wet from rolling in the dew.

“I guess that's enough. Because you're gonna die right here” Steve took a deep breath, moving away from you. “Thank God” you said, trying to get up and rest your head on your knees. You laughed for a while until suddenly there was silence. Except for the music, laughter and conversations coming from the house, none of you made any sound. Your cheeks were red from laughter, warmed up from emotions. Steve fixed his hair and looked at you, laughing and amused like a child.

“You did good over there. Becky was furious” he confessed, when you both calmed down so much that you could actually tell each other full sentences instead of uncontrollable laughter. “I hope this was the first and last time you” you said, opening a pack of jellies. “I like the fact that you weren't afraid of her. You didn't even need Evan to help”. “She's scaring me. By the way, she's not the only one. Carol was always scaring me too”. “Carol?” Steve snorted in disbelief. “She was only strong in talk. She's such a coward when it comes to real confrontation”.

“But her presence is intimidating. Because of the way she treats other people. That's why everyone prefers to stay away from her” you said it quietly, raising your shoulders. The stars were shining so bright that you even squinted your eyes to get used to them. I'm only being honest with you.

“So be honest with me” Steve said suddenly, turning his head away from the sky to look at you. “Why... of all the people at school... you told Jonath that you love me?”

“I can't answer that question” you admited. Although the alcohol was still flowing in your veins, you could have sworn you were absolutely sober at that moment. “You were the first person that came to my mind. I didn't even have to work harder than that. I just... I thought of you. Maybe because you were the first boy in my life... the first boy I ever had feelings for. Before Ralph or Stanley showed up. Maybe you never really came out of my head and you're still sitting there, just... just not in the same way you used to”.

He sat there quietly for a while. He had to digest it, rethink what you said. In some way, he never forgot about you either. Maybe he just thought he did, because he preferred spending time with someone else, but somewhere in the back of his head he still remembered the smile of the girl you used to be. He remembered riding on bikes together, swimming in his pool, although his parents forbade you to do so. The memories that he had hidden deep in his heart came out and took over him completely, not wanting to be hidden again.

“You think that... when this is all over and we stop pretending... We're gonna let this whole show go... we can still be friends?” he asked, full of worries. Fear of your answer paralyzed him. He even stopped feeling the cold. He'll understand if you disagree, but will he be able to stop talking to you? Stop saying hello in the hallway, drive up to your house every morning? Will he be able to give it all up?

“I don't think it'll be easy to forget about you now, Steven Harrington” you said quietly. He turned around carefully to look you in the eye. His hand went to your cheek. He gently pulled the hair off your face to get a better look at you. “Yeah?” he asked. Your breathing mixed together. You smelled his hairspray, perfume and washing powder. If he does what he's definitely going to do now, he'll break the rules. You made it clear in the contract that you didn't want it. And as partners, you have to stick to the rules.

“Yeah” you felt like his lips are touching the corner of your mouth first, like he's waiting for an invitation, confirming that what he's doing won't make you angry. And you gave it to him. You opened your lips a little, deepening his kiss, digging your fingers into his long hair. Do friends do that too? You didn't know. But you knew that every day, Jonathan's place as a fairy tale prince in your head was replaced by Steve.

Taglist: @mochminnie​ @sydzygy​ @krazykatkay456​ @ghostineleven​ @the-almond-dinger​ @l0ve-0f-my-life​ @jxnehxpper​

[ugly-crying-over-bucky-barnes]

Blue Eyes Part 26

Summary: After the Garrison is shot up, the youngest Shelby daughter finds a new home in London. She strips herself of her last name and tries to live a peaceful life far away from her brothers’ chaos in Birmingham. But fate leads her right back into it after she runs into Alfie Solomons.

Part 26: Mosley’s interference with Ella’s family and her marriage is becoming more and more clear. 

        Ella did her best to forget the leering look that Mosley had given her. But even a week later, she couldn’t get his smug look out of her nightmares. Everything about the man gave her a bad feeling. She thought Tommy was thick for even making an acquaintance with him. But according to Ada, their brother was doing far more than that.

           It took an unnatural amount of patience to not disown Tommy again. No matter how tempting it was, Ella knew it wouldn’t do anyone any good.

           She was sure that if she didn’t have Alfie, she would’ve gone mad a long time ago. But her husband kept her sane, kept her grounded, and always reminded her what true love was.

           One night, she decided to drop in at the bakery about half an hour before Alfie usually closed up. She needed to relieve some stress but didn’t necessarily need it to be in a comfortable way. Instead, she just wanted a good thrill.

           Most of the men had already gone home by the time Ella came through the bakery, heading towards Alfie’s office. Everything was normal until she reached his office. There, she saw a woman standing in front of Alfie’s desk. Her husband sitting and listening to her. Something wasn’t right. Sure, Alfie could speak to other women, that wasn’t an issue. There were plenty of women in the community who knew him well. But Ella couldn’t think of any who would visit Alfie so late in the evening, unaccompanied.

           Ella knocked on the doorjamb and pointedly cleared her throat. Her husband glanced up with a smile. The unfamiliar woman turned, her eyes going a bit wide.

           She was beautiful. Drop-dead gorgeous, in fact. No one could deny that. It was almost as if she’d arrived right from Hollywood. A beautiful actress with pristine red lipstick, an alluring smoky eye, a figure-defining black dress, and shiny blonde hair.

           “Miss Davis, this is me wife, Ella. Ella, this is Miss Davis. Your brother sent her along for a potential deal.” Alfie introduced and stood up to greet Ella.

           “My brother?” That didn’t ring true one bit. Tommy wouldn't do that. On a rare occasion, he may have asked before doing such a thing.

           “Mr. Shelby said your husband was someone to talk to about London business.” The young woman explained but there was a waver in her voice. A tell of a loss of confidence.

           Ella knew she was lying. “What business are you in, Miss Davis?” She gravitated possessively toward Alfie.

           “My late husband ran a successful law firm. I’m doing my best to keep it running.”

           “And my brother sent you here to get help for that?” Ella questioned again.

           “El, everything alright?” Alfie frowned.

           The woman seemed shaken by Ella’s presence. “Well, it’s getting late. Perhaps I ought to send you a telegram instead, Mr. Solomons.” She smiled and backed towards the door. “I hope to hear from you soon.”

           “Nice to meet you.” He nodded.

           Ella’s eyes narrowed, watching the stranger leave. “What a load of…”

           “Here.” He held up a small business card between his index and middle finger.

           “What’s this?”

           “It were stuck to the back of the fake business card she gave me.” He explained as she took it from him. "Like you, I found the exchange very strange. But that seems to offer some solution."

           She read the information on the card and her blood began to boil. “That snake. What on Earth is he up to?”

           “You should ask your brother.” Alfie shrugged. “They’re apparently close now, ain’t that right?”

           Oswald Mosley. Why would Mosley’s card be in this woman’s purse? Why would she give Alfie a fake card? “He’s going to get this family in another situation where our lives are on the line.” Ella was so angry she began to pace, waving the embossed card in the air.

           “I’ll try to talk to him, love, but you know what happens when I try.” Alfie folded his arms over his chest.

           “He’s using dope.” She informed her husband. “I found it in his desk and he lashed out at me. That fucking hypocrite.” She made a frustrated noise and threw her hands up. “I went against my better judgment and started to trust him again. And this is what I get? His new ally is making plans with you and me?”

           “Easy, El, maybe he’s got a handle on things.”

           She turned around quickly to give him a look of disbelief. “Are you honestly defending him?”

           “Not defending him, but he must have a reason.” He shrugged.

           “That’s the problem, he can justify anything.” With a deep sigh, she walked around the desk and plopped down in Alfie’s lap. Pouting, she curled into herself.

           He wrapped his arms around her and placed a comforting kiss on her hair. “It’ll be alright, love, I’ll talk to him. But don’t give up on him. If he’s using then I’m sure he needs you. You two are close, yeah?”

           “If you said something like that a few years ago I would’ve thought you’d been replaced by a doppelganger. My Alfie, concerned about Tommy Shelby.”

           He chuckled and shook his head. “You get more docile as you age, I s’pose.”

           “Not him. He’s just running himself into the ground and taking us all with him.”

           Alfie didn’t answer, he just hummed in acknowledgment and held her. “Why’d you drop in so late?” He wondered. "I were on my way home, you could've rang."

           The question only made Ella’s frown deepen in disappointment. “It was meant to be a surprise.” She grumbled.

           “Yeah?” He gently squeezed her hips. “Just popping in to make me day?”

           Ella bit her lip and turned around to straddle his hips. Perhaps the moment wasn't lost after all. “I went shopping too.” She toyed with the buttons on her long wool coat.

           Alfie perked up. “Oh yeah? What’d you get, love?”

           “Something for you.” She leaned forward to kiss him.

           He gladly accepted the kiss, inhaling her rose perfume. It always gave him a high that was unmatched. Sometimes it felt like he knew Ella’s body better than his own. How many minutes, hours, days, had he spent indulging in her soft skin, shivering when her dark hair tickled him, hypnotized by her blue eyes, and all of his nerves electrified? It never felt like enough. He could never get enough of her.

           Pulling away from the kiss, Ella got up to close and lock the office door. She drew the blinds of the windows as well just in case. Alfie ran his hands over his thighs, licking his top lip in anticipation. “You’ve kept me in enough suspense love.” He protested.

           She turned and began to undo the buttons of her coat, revealing the thin black nightgown with lace trimmings and stockings to match.

           Alfie looked like he’d taken a significant blow to the stomach. “Fucking hell.” He dragged out, lust in his voice. He stood up with a groan and walked over to her. “Look at you.”

           “I don’t want to think.” Ella wrapped her arms around his neck and touched her lips to his ear. “Just for an hour or two, I don’t want to have to think about anything.”

           Her husband sensed the urgency in her voice. They all needed somewhere to escape. He was just glad she could escape to his arms. It made him feel he was doing something right. “What do you need from me, love?” He murmured.

           “Just take me as yours. Make the decisions. Make me forget my own fucking name.” She begged quietly.

           So, he did. And for a moment, Ella really felt like there was nothing outside the office door. In fact, the entire world was contained within that room. They were the only two people left alive. There was nothing to worry about except each other. Alfie held her so close, she gripped onto him so tightly. They both bruised.

           The sun dipped below the horizon by the time they were spent. A little weak in the knees, Ella perched on the edge of Alfie’s desk to fix her stockings. His office had thoroughly taken a beating. Everything had been swept off his desk onto the floor, papers spilled everywhere. They’d knocked the desk chair into a cabinet, causing a bit of a dent in the metal. Alfie pushed Ella against the wall so hard that a picture frame fell to the ground, the glass and frame cracking.

           But they were both too satisfied to care.

           After dressing, Alfie came to stand between Ella’s knees. “I love you.” He murmured and kissed her softly.

           “I love you too.” She smiled up at him. “I’m glad you weren’t swayed by that ‘Miss Davis’.” She grumbled and stood up to find her coat among the fray.

           He scoffed. “I ain’t never had a thing for blondes. I much prefer darker hair.” He caught her around the waist from behind, pulling her close to his chest. “With blue eyes. Blue eyes like the fucking clearest topaz I’ve ever seen. Beautiful with a wit to match. Girl with the biggest heart.” He kissed down her neck.

           Ella smiled and closed her eyes in bliss. She didn’t want to leave their little world, not quite yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~

           It felt like an endless string of birthdays. First, it was Ruby’s, then Polly’s, and finally Lizzie’s. Ella didn’t mind, but she wasn’t in much of a mood for festivities. Especially when she got the invitation to Lizzie’s party, something extravagant and over the top. No doubt Britain’s elite would all be invited and if Tommy was keeping up his charade that meant Mosley would be attending. And that made Ella sick to her stomach.

           But she was getting ahead of herself.

           On the day of Ruby’s birthday, Ella packed the presents into the car and drove out to Arrow House. Alfie was working but sent along his well wishes.

           The birthday girl was thrilled to see her aunt arrive. She ran outside as the car pulled up the gravel drive. “Auntie El, auntie El!” She squealed.

           “Look at you all dolled up!” Ella scooped up her niece and kissed her cheek. “Did mummy get you that dress?”

           Ruby nodded. “For my birthday.”

           “You look like a proper lady.” She carried her inside to greet Lizzie. “Where’s Charlie?”

           Lizzie’s face fell a little. “He’s still upset about Dangerous. Spends nearly all his free time in the stables.” She explained.

           “Brother’s sad.” Ruby pouted.

           “Want me to go talk to him?” Ella set her niece down.

           “You can try.” Lizzie bit her lip. “But I’m afraid it won’t do much good. Will hardly speak to anyone, especially Tommy.”

           “I’ll be back,” Ella promised and headed out back toward the stables. As she walked across the lawn, she remembered the time she spent at Arrow House in all the different periods of her life. It felt like ages ago when she arrived to celebrate her brother’s wedding to Grace. Her standoff with him in the stables about Alfie. It felt almost unfathomable to think about all the things she’d been through since then. A marriage, multiple losses, a miscarriage, an addiction, sobriety. For a moment, it didn’t even feel like she lived those events. Instead, they were someone else’s story. A drama that she had been watching play out from the audience. But no matter what, she woke up with the scars.

~~~~~~~~~

           The stable was warmer than the chill outside as Ella stepped inside. She found Charlie sat on a step stool near the tack.

           “I was sad you didn’t come out to greet me.”

           The boy looked up. He appeared happy to see his aunt for a moment before the sadness in his eyes returned. “Hi, Auntie El.” He greeted gloomily.

           She smiled weakly and found a bale of hay to sit on. “Mum says you’re still down about Dangerous.”

           Charlie nodded absentmindedly, looking down at his hands.

           “I know how hard it is to lose a horse.” Ella tried to sympathize with him. “I remember losing my first horse and I was very sad. But I promise things will start to look up.”

           He shrugged half-heartedly. “Why did dad have to kill him?”

           Ella winced. “It’s hard to understand sometimes. But Dangerous was in a lot of pain. Sometimes…sometimes it’s better to let the horse rest instead of living in pain. There are things that you can’t cure.”

           “Dad said death is a kindness.”

           Ella thought about her time at Margate when she was still addicted to the morphine. The pain that she suffered through when she was between doses. The strong urge to sleep. Go to bed knowing that she’d never have to wake up again. The thoughts came from such a dark place and it was alarming to recall them. Alarming because she realized that must be where her brother was. The dope was a good enough indicator but hearing Charlie recount what Tommy said was enough to give her concern. They were Shelbys after all. They were cursed.  

           “Let’s go inside, aye? I’ve got presents for Ruby that you can help her open.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

           Ella planned on staying the night at Arrow House instead of driving back to London. When Tommy returned home, she requested to speak with him. They had a lot to talk about but she had a feeling he was going to be a pill about it.

           After he settled behind his desk, she began. “I need you to be honest with me.”

           “I’m always honest with you, El.” Tommy pulled out a cigarette to light.

           “I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that to me so we don’t have to argue. Tom, I know how deep you’ve gotten. You’re drowning and you’re looking for a way out.”

           “I don’t follow.” He was looking at her but avoiding her eyes.

           “Let me just say that if anything were to happen to you. No matter what it was, you’d be leaving your entire family behind. The family that needs you for better or worse. This family can’t take another loss, we just can’t.”

           It was clear in his face that he knew exactly what his sister was talking about. Sometimes he hated how intuitive she could be. “Okay.” He nodded.  

           Well, at least he’d heard her piece. Sometimes that was all she could. Make sure he heard her. “Secondly, we need to speak about your involvement with Mosley.”

           “Your husband already called me about the matter.”

           “That’s fine, now we can discuss it.” She didn’t care whether Alfie had talked Tommy’s ear off already.

           Tommy cleared his throat and gestured for her to continue.

           “He sent a woman to my husband’s office only minutes before closing. Whatever his intentions are, they’re evil. He’s looking to control you, Tom. He's looking to ruin this family. I think you of all people would be able to see right through his act.”

           “Ella, listen very carefully to me.”

           “Don’t take that tone with me.” She retorted with a warning.

           He raised an eyebrow at her. “Are you going to listen or are you going to interrupt me.”

           Disgruntled, Ella kept her mouth shut.

           “You’re right, he’s an evil man with evil intentions. That’s why I’m doing this. Fascism won’t have a place here in Britain if I can help it. He’s the messenger. We kill the messenger; we kill the message.”

           “What if he creates more chaos before you have the chance? You can’t just kill a member of Parliament and expect to get away with it.”

           Tommy set his cigarette to the side. “All I can do is assure you I have a solid plan.”

           “And I’m supposed to trust you.”

           He simply shrugged. That was something he knew well. He couldn’t force anyone to trust him.

           Ella took a step away from his desk with a sigh. “Frances is going to bring Ruby’s cake out soon.”

           “Have you and Alfie ever thought about adopting?” Tommy asked out of the blue.

           She looked surprised. “Erm, no. We haven’t talked much about children after…well.” She sighed. Despite her time with the Lees and with Isabel’s council, she found it difficult to talk about her miscarriage. “Why?”

           “Just wondering.” Tommy stood up and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “C’mon.” He walked with his sister to the parlor.

           Ella didn’t think too much of what Tommy mentioned after that night. Mostly because her curious thoughts were quelled by the arrival of Johnny Dogs and Aberama. Both badly wounded and shouting in the drive.

           As Lizzie brought the children upstairs, Ella hurried out after Tommy.

           “The man’s gone fucking mad, Tom!” Johnny shouted, clutching his ribs and trying to crawl away from Aberama.

           “They killed him. My son!” Aberama shouted, holding a gun with one arm. “They shot him and put him up on a fucking cross and he’s fucking dead!”

           Ella was startled in her path. The words were too chilling to be real. Bonnie wasn’t dead. He was perfectly fine. Aberama had just lost his mind. That was all. Just lost his mind. They’d all lose their minds at one point or another.

           “I swear to God, I never told a soul.” Johnny moaned in pain.

           “My fucking son! They fucking took him from me!” Aberama continued to rant loudly.

           Tommy held his hands out, trying to calm him down. “Your shoulder is shattered. If you don’t get it fixed; you’ll lose your arm.” He spoke steadily as if talking to a spooked stallion.

           “They crucified my son, for you!” His voice broke with grief.

           That’s when it started to dawn on Ella. These were no ramblings of a mad man. These were the anguish cries of a father who lost a son. She was about to ask who did it when gunshots had her dropping to the ground. Instinct had her protecting her abdomen.

           “Get away from my house!” Lizzie shouted.

           Tommy walked over his sister and snatched the gun away from his wife. “Everyone, enough!” He roared. The night went silent again. A peaceful night in the countryside. He turned and helped Ella up. “Everyone quit it.” His voice lowered and he turned to Aberama. “If you want to take on the Billy Boys, you need me. Everyone fucking needs me.” He glared back at Lizzie. “Call an ambulance or a man loses his arm.”

           Ella stood frozen in the driveway. Bonnie. Crucified. “Tom, who are the Billy Boys?” She whispered as he passed by her.

           “Mosley’s foot soldiers.” He muttered as he helped Johnny up and to the house. Lizzie and Aberama entered the house as well, leaving Ella outside by herself. She looked up at the stars in the sky. She closed her eyes when she felt tears welling up. The sound of the gunshot echoed in her ears and made her stomach ache.

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Masterpost

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[violetwolfraven]

eek also this is a lot but ikeshot for 7, 14, 26, 33, 39 or 43?

Angst in general.

Nightmares.

You have a scar and I asked about it and it’s really angsty.

I thought I lost you and you need to be more careful you dumbass.

and

You fought me (verbally or physically) and I am s h o o k.

*cracks knuckes* aight then.

I haven’t written ikeshot yet! This’ll be my first time figuring out how I wanna portray their dynamic, so we’ll see how it goes.

I’m gonna do all of them except 33 cause that one doesn’t really work with the idea I have but I can combine all the others.

...

This wasn’t the first time Ike had stayed the night in Brooklyn, but it was the first he’d been woken up by a jolt.

It had taken him months to get this far, the point where he was sharing a bed with a Brooklyn boy, where he was pretty sure he was in love with said Brooklyn boy, where he was even welcome in Brooklyn after dark.

It had been a long and confusing road, starting a couple weeks after they won the strike.

See, Mike did this thing with his lover where they were super paranoid about getting caught. And yeah, that was good for safety, when courting a boy could get you killed or arrested, but Mike and Jojo took it to a whole new level, almost never even sitting on the same side of a room while outside the Lodging House.

And as much as Ike liked that his brother was keeping safe, this was also really fucking annoying, because it meant he had to deal with the pining.

So, he’d asked to tag along to Sheepshead with Race for a day, figuring a day of alone time with his boy might tone down Mike’s annoyingness a little. And Race occasionally took a partner to Brooklyn with him, anyway. He hadn’t done it in a while, but nothing bad had happened before.

And besides, since the strike, inter-borough relations had been better than ever out of a proud kind of solidarity. No big deal, right?

Wrong. They’d split up for maximum efficiency, and barely an hour later Ike was getting dragged away from the entrance to the races he was staking out and into an alley across the street, by which time he was getting thrown against a wall before he even got a look at who was dragging him.

Then he’d looked up, already raising his fists, and seen probably the tallest boy in New York.

Ike had remembered seeing him at the rally, this kid about his age who usually stuck pretty close to Spot Conlon, and he’d made the mistake of lowering his guard.

“Hey! I remember you! You’s Brooklyn’s second, right? What was your name again? Uh... Heat?”

This kid smirked, “Hotshot.”

Then he’d punched Ike in the face.

It was hard enough that Ike was knocked to the ground, but he was on his feet again in an instant, raising his fists again.

“I’m Ike,” he panted, “And I’m here—“

He’d been cut off by having to dodge another punch, trying to throw one of his own, but only getting kneed in the stomach after Hotshot blocked it.

Still, he’d raised his fists again, coughing as he tried to ignore the urge to curl in on himself.

“Don’t know when to give up, do ya?”

Ike smiled, still gasping for breath, “Nope! Don’t mean we have to fight, though.”

Hotshot just punched him again, “You’re on the wrong side of the bridge, Manhattan boy.”

“And that’s grounds enough to soak someone?”

“Hey!”

At that point, Hotshot froze, turning to see Race running into the alley.

“He’s with me, Hotshot! Jeez!”

“Well, he didn’t say—“

“Ya didn’t give me a chance to,” Ike interrupted.

Race had helped Ike up, glaring at the Brooklyn boy despite how Hotshot was much taller and stronger.

“I ain’t gonna tell on you, but kid, you need to learn to think before ya start swingin’. If Spot asks about me, I’m sellin’ with Albert today.”

Race had helped Ike get home, then actually gone to sell with Albert, but on the way back, he’d answered Ike’s questions, about how someone that young and hotheaded could help lead the biggest borough in New York.

“Hotshot’s young, you’re right. He’s your age, actually—14. And yeah, he’s defensive. But I’s known him a while, and there’s more to him than that. The short version is that he’s either a good friend or a bad enemy. Once ya got his loyalty, ya got it forever. That’s why he’s Brooklyn’s second. He’s one of the few Spot actually trusts.”

With that description combined with the way Ike had honestly never met anyone who punched that hard, he was just a little intrigued. Maybe it wasn’t smart, but he’d went back to Brooklyn a week later, not selling this time, but just looking for that one Brooklyn boy.

He’d found him, selling at Coney. And Brooklyn boys usually didn’t sell with partners, so Ike hadn’t had trouble sneaking up on him.

“Hey.”

That was the only warning he gave before putting a hand on Hotshot’s shoulder to spin him around and punch him in the face.

Hotshot had wheeled back, raising his own fist.

“You got ‘bout four hits on me for no reason—I thinks I deserve one free shot!”

Slowly, Hotshot had lowered his hand, still glaring at him, but not as much.

“Fair is fair. Now go back to Manhattan.”

Ike was going to, honestly, but then figured, ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’ and didn’t.

“So, how often do ya beat up kids from other boroughs without askin’ for their story?”

“Are you completely fearless, or just stupid?”

“Both, probably. Ya gonna answer the question, or punch my daylights out?”

“I ain’t decided yet.”

“Well, while you’re decidin’, I heard you’re close with Spot Conlon. What’s he really like? Is he always that scary, or is it just an act?”

For the next several weeks, it was like that. It was Ike coming over, finding Hotshot wherever he was, and annoying the hell out of him.

And Hotshot always said he was going to punch him, but he never did. Slowly, he started actually answering Ike’s questions, at least a few of them, and asking a few in return. Ike wouldn’t necessarily call them friends, but they definitely knew each other better, now.

“One of these days, I’m actually gonna punch ya,” Hotshot grumbled once, when Ike asked a question a little too personal.

“Every time ya say that, I believe you less,” Ike said cheerfully, “Anyway, I’s heard Brooklyn’s got great sunrises. Is that true?”

Hotshot actually smiled a little, “I dunno if it’s any better than Manhattan, but yeah, we’s gotten some pretty nice ones over here.”

It took a couple months, but Ike started figuring out that by even talking to him, Hotshot was letting down his guard, little by little. He let it down a bit more as he started letting Ike touch him, allowing a handshake when they met up, or a punch in the shoulder in a friendly way.

Once he realized how much Hotshot was trusting him by doing those little things, Ike realized that against his better judgement, he trusted him, too. He liked spending time with Hotshot, probably too much.

Definitely too much, with how he was stupid enough to walk through a November rainstorm months after they met just to see him.

By the time he got to Brooklyn, he was freezing, wet, and disoriented enough that he’d ended up passing out in front of a random store, just so the awning would keep the rain off.

He’d woken up in the Brooklyn Lodging House in the middle of the night, with Hotshot holding him in a bed.

Actually, he’d kind of jolted awake, and apparently woken up Hotshot with him as the Brooklyn boy whispered an explanation to him.

“Hildy found ya damn near frozen. By the time she got ya back here, you were almost dead and needed body heat bad.”

“Oh,” Ike whispered back, almost too terrified to move or even speak.

“That’s all ya got to say, you idiot?” Hotshot hissed, clearly angry as his arm around Ike’s waist tightened, “What were you thinkin’, walkin’ here in a storm?”

Ike was still pretty confused, and for once, he couldn’t even think of something to say.

Then Hotshot sighed, “I thought you were gonna die.”

Oh. So that was what this was about. He wasn’t angry—not at Ike, really, at least.

Ike had finally let himself relax against the taller boy’s chest, enjoying how warm Hotshot actually was.

“Ain’t goin’ anywhere.”

Hotshot had exhaled kind of sharply, and Ike was praying to a god he didn’t believe in that he wasn’t misreading things, but he’d rolled over so he was facing Brooklyn’s second, their faces barely inches apart, though it was so dark that Ike couldn’t really see him.

Beyond that, he hadn’t wanted to make the first move, mostly out of fear. In Manhattan, it was pretty common knowledge that many of them liked the same sex, but Brooklyn was different. It was less of a family and more of almost a gang. Ike wasn’t sure how Hotshot would react if he did anything.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to do anything, because yes, Ike liked boys, and he’d made peace with that, but being with one made it dangerous. Mike wasn’t the only was who was terrified of getting caught, for good reason.

Then Hotshot’s hand had come up to touch a scar on the side of Ike’s face. One he guessed he’d probably never noticed before because their faces had never been this close.

It had been from a pretty bad wound, but was so faded that it looked minor now, because he’d gotten it so long ago.

“I didn’t give you this, did I?”

Ike shook his head, “No. I’ve had that scar since I was 8.”

“How’d ya get a scar so bad it still shows now when you were 8?”

Ike had taken a deep breath, forced down panic over events he’d rather forget, and decided to tell him the truth.

“My brother and me,” he whispered, “Our parents died when we were really young. So’s we got brought up by our mom’s sister and her lover... her lover who was... also a woman.”

Ike paused there, waiting for Hotshot’s reaction.

There really wasn’t one, and he’d felt a bit of relief at that.

“They was good at bein’ subtle,” Ike continued, “So nobody suspected anythin’ for a long while. But then when me and Mike were 8... some bad people figured it out and... and those men came in the night and set the house on fire. I guess we’s lucky to have made it out at all—our aunts weren’t that lucky—but...”

His voice trailed off. Ike didn’t like admitting that he wasn’t this happy-go-lucky kid all the time. He hadn’t told anyone about this, ever. Mike had told Jack, years ago, to explain why they had bad days sometimes, but Ike had never been able to talk about it.

He’d felt Hotshot take a deep breath, and then the other boy had pulled him closer, right against his chest. He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination when, later, once Ike was halfway into a dream, he thought he might have felt a kiss being pressed to his hair.

Ike had known right there that something had changed between them, and though Mike gave him hell for staying out all night the next morning, he couldn’t say it wasn’t worth it.

He didn’t know if they were... what, did you call it courting? He didn’t know if what they were doing had a label or if spending a significant amount of their free time together qualified as being together.

But, after that first night, Ike did spend the night in Brooklyn a few more times, sharing a bed with Hotshot under the excuse that he’d lost track of time the Brooklyn Lodging House didn’t have one to spare. In reality, he stayed over because sharing a bed, sharing warmth with Brooklyn’s second... it was nice. It was somehow different from crawling in with Mike if nightmares got bad or huddling on the fire escape with Crutchie and Jack if he didn’t make enough to pay for his bed one night.

Sharing a bed with Hotshot was comforting even when nothing was actually wrong. It was safe and warm and it made Ike feel all fuzzy inside and...

Not that he knew how to say it, not that he could say it, but Ike was pretty sure this was what falling in love felt like.

It was scary, but he didn’t want to stop falling.

Of course, he wasn’t planning on telling Hotshot how he felt. Not unless the other boy made the first move. Or unless they decided to get drunk for some reason. Or if it happened to come up in conversation.

Okay... maybe Ike really wanted to tell him, but he just didn’t know how to go about it.

Well, he’d been sitting on this for a long while already, so Ike still really didn’t know when he was going to tell him, but he still felt the need to follow when he felt Hotshot jolt awake, just before rolling out of bed and leaving the room.

“Hotshot?”

Ike followed him out onto the fire escape, finding the taller boy staring down over the edge, a death grip on the railing.

“Hotshot, are you okay?”

Ike moved to stand next to him, making sure it was clear and visible what he was doing as he put a hand over Hotshot’s on the railing.

For a few seconds, he didn’t react. He didn’t even give a sign that he’d heard or even felt Ike touching him.

Then, slowly, he let go of the railing, flipping his hand over so he could intertwine their fingers.

Hotshot exhaled shakily, most of the tension leaving his frame. Ike took that as a sign that it was okay to lean his head against his shoulder.

“Ya gonna tell me what this is about?”

For a minute, he thought he wasn’t going to.

Then Hotshot took a wavering breath and spoke, still staring over the edge of the fire escape.

“Ya once asked how many kids I’s beat up for no reason,” he said quietly, “I don’t know. I get in fights a lot. I get angry and... and usually, Spot tells me where to aim it, but it ain’t always enough. I always have more and if I don’t put it somewhere, it’ll just build till I... till I explode.”

Ike nodded. He understood. He already knew this about Hotshot. He’d figured out that anger was his drive a long time ago.

“I... I learned that from my folks.”

Ike froze. In all their conversations over the last few months, Hotshot had never shared any personal information beyond the fact that he saw Spot as an older brother.

“They’d get angry,” Hotshot said shakily, “And when they’d explode, they’d...”

His voice faltered, and Ike touched his arm with his free hand, trying to ground him. He could read between the lines and though it made him angry and sad as hell, he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

“I... I got myself out when I was 12,” he mumbled, “Finally just couldn’t take it anymore and ran like hell—ended up here. And I know it’s been a couple years, now, but... but I still go back there some nights, when I’m sleepin’.”

His voice was shaking a little, by the end of that, and Ike tugged on his arm gently so he could turn Hotshot to face him.

He wasn’t sure he was going to allow it, but to his relief, Hotshot hugged him back, leaning down to bury his face in Ike’s shoulder.

“You’re here,” Ike whispered, “They can’t hurt ya here, Hotshot. You’re safe.”

Hotshot wasn’t crying, but he was shaking a little in the cold. It was winter, for crying out loud. Winter at night. And though the Brooklyn kids did wear sleeves like reasonable people in winter, most of them didn’t sleep in their shirts.

“Can we take this inside?” Ike asked, knowing that he was cold, even being a little more dressed for the weather than Hotshot was.

The taller boy nodded shakily and they went inside, curling up together in that bunk, the closeness for comfort as much as warmth.

Feeling brave for a minute, Ike leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on the Hotshot’s forehead.

Hotshot went rigid, but the expression on his face was pure surprise, not any kind of disgust, and he didn’t pull away.

Ike offered him a small smile before rolling over, so as not to push things.

He definitely wasn’t complaining when Hotshot pulled him against his chest to sleep for the rest of the night.

[purplesurveys]

1180

The last time you washed your hair, did you use conditioner? Yeah, I’m pretty paranoid and always feel the need to use conditioner because of a bad rebonding job from like a decade ago that stiffened up my hair as soon as it would get wet. It lasted for around a year, so I formed the habit of always using conditioner every time I shower. I don’t think I’ve ever used just shampoo since then.

Do you prefer light or dark jeans?  Dark, but I suppose it would be nice to start experimenting with lighter shades as well.

When you listen to music, do you generally sing along, or just listen?  It depends if I know the lyrics or I’m feeling the song at the moment. Obviously with my new obsession with BTS I can’t really sing along to entire songs, but I do sing the few English lyrics they have per song, hahaha.

Do you have any of your exes as friends on Facebook?  Yeah but she’s been muted for like half a year already, as is the rest of her family. I do have plans to unfriend her entirely; I’m just not sure when I would push through with it, and I already gave Angela permission to log onto my account one of these days to be the one to do the unfriending.

Who was your first love? Do you ever miss that person?  Gabie. I miss the friendship sometimes; I don’t think I’ll have a friendship as deep and connected as the one we had, so I will always feel sorry about how that went to waste. But I don’t really think about our relationship anymore as I’m pretty good at blocking off certain memories, so I don’t miss her in that sense.

How many cars are parked at your house right now?  Two.

Do you have any Italian ancestry?  I highly doubt so. If anything there’s probably a tiny drop Spanish blood in there but that’s the most European I’ll ever get.

Do you prefer water to be ice cold or at room temperature?  Like, drinking water? Ice cold, always. I hate warm water.

Has anyone ever told you you’re a control freak?  Not to my face, but I know I’m one so I’m sure other people have said that about me at least behind my back.

Do you know anyone who has gone missing? If so, were they ever found?  Yes, my friend Mik and one of my aunts. They were both found eventually.

What was the spiciest thing you’ve ever eaten?  Eating ghost pepper instant noodles was a pain I would never want to go through again...I threw that shit out after my first forkful, lmao.

Do you need to talk to someone?  No, not in particular. In a more general sense I do wanna start gaining more friends though, so I’ve been meaning to expand my circle by creating a new Twitter account just for my BTS dump. In other words, I am a 23 year old with a stan Twitter HAHAHAHA

Is something confusing you at the moment?  No, I’m good.

When was the last time you had a real deep chat?  Maybe my conversation with Andi a couple of nights back. We were talking about a tricky situation with their ex-friend who turned out to be a real dick when they came out to him a year ago, and they just wanted to get my perspective on how I would handle it.

Who did you last see on webcam?  The PR manager for one of our clients, who we all despise because he doesn’t know how to do his job. Thankfully he’s resigning soon so we’re all just waiting for him to leave and finally meet a much more competent replacement.

What’s your best friend’s pet’s name(s)?  Angela has two dogs, Hailey and Kennedy. Andi had Apollo, who I wanted to meet so badly but sadly he passed away a week ago at 15.

Have you ever taken a picture while laying in the grass?  There are photos of me sitting on grass, but not lying in it. I would imagine that would feel very prickly and uncomfortable.

Who’s your favorite Disney character? Baymax or Flynn Rider.

Have you ever deliberately tried to get someone drunk?  I’ve made my friends chug drinks or down shots and it’s happened vice versa, but it was always in good fun and we never made each other harassed from it. It’s just your typical college rambunctiousness, and if anyone felt uncomfortable or iffy then we didn’t hesitate to move on.

When was the last time you used a pay phone and who were you calling?  I’ve only ever seen those in my first school, when I was in kindergarten. I never got to use it and they also took them out not long after.

Do you like being kissed on the neck?  Yessssssssss

Have you ever had sex with someone you weren’t dating (but had feelings for) in the hopes that they would ask you out later?  Nope. I don’t think I would have sex with anyone I wasn’t dating.

What’s the most you would be willing to spend on a good bra?  Probably a couple thousand bucks if I thought I looked good in it.

Do you have any of your teachers’ personal cell phone numbers saved in your contacts list?  I don’t think so. I never tried getting close with any of them, and I always tried to stay hidden as much as possible. I was just in class to get good grades and pass.

Do you ever stalk peoples’ personal blogs, even if you don’t know them very well?  I never really scroll through people’s Tumblrs anymore. That was more of a thing I did in like 2013, but these days going through my dashboard is enough.

What’s one thing about today’s generation that you just can’t stand?  Some social media trends done for clout make me revolted, especially when it has anything to do with wasting food. I also hate when they do extreme pranks that I know I wouldn’t find funny if I were ever the victim, like tossing someone’s phone into the ocean.

Be honest: how do you feel about abortion?  Pro-choice. 

Is there anyone you currently want to reach out to?  I would love to catch up with Katreen at some point, but I know we’re at different points in our lives now and it would probably never happen.

What is your favorite piece of art you own?  I commissioned my sister to make an artwork of the 2D1N cast, and she did a great job making it! I haven’t gotten to use it or promote it yet, but I will soon. It’s really well-done.

What’s the one thing you apologized for this month?  Replying late.

My favorite color is ______?  Pastel pink.

I wish I had _____?  Longer weekends.

What did you buy today? Nothing – I’d call that a success lmao, I’ve been spending money as if I had a million fucking bucks over the last week. I did have some packages arrive today though: my own copy of 2 Cool 4 Skool (my first physical BTS album!!!!!!); the official poster from their album BE; the Ivy Park sneakers I ordered earlier this month, and an Ivy Park bucket hat Bea had apparently gotten for me as a birthday present.

What has challenged your morals?  Vices.

What made you pick up the last book you started reading?  I had to read it in preparation for a one-on-one session with my employer’s CEO.

What about your life concerns you the most? Whether a stable future is in the cards for me.

What do you find particularly offensive? Would you say you’re easy or difficult to offend?  Probably Filipino-American comedians or influencers who use stereotyping of Filipino accents and habits as a punchline; they do more harm to the culture than good. I can tell you not one Filipino who lives in the Philippines actually finds those funny, and Bretman Rock is probably the only personality who’s able to flaunt the culture in an entertaining and hilarious yet classy way.

When it comes to being offended, I guess it depends on the context. My humor can get pretty dark and low-blowy, but I would have a problem with someone who I know has genuinely problematic views.

What was the last series you finished watching? Do you have any plans to begin another?  I think it may had still been Start-Up from last December. I’m not too big on Korean dramas since I find one episode waaaaaaayyyyyyy too long. I don’t think I’ll be starting on anything soon, Korean or otherwise.

What is one way in which you are different from a year ago? What is one way in which you are still the same?  I’m single now, for the first time in technically six years. I also think I’m doing better and happier, breakup notwithstanding. OH and I love wasabi now, hahah. As for what’s unchanged, I still like taking surveys and I’m still stuck at home, though the latter’s not really in my control anymore.

If you could learn about anything without the stress of grades or cost, what kind of classes would you take?  I’d just go back to UP for the free tuition. We also have the widest range of programs out of any university in the country, so it’s a damn good deal.

Name a song you’ve listened to today?  Fly To My Room - BTS

When you were younger, did you have a swing set or a playhouse in your backyard?  We didn’t; but one of our relatives that we’d regularly visit did have a playground that I’d use all the time. It’s still there, just very unmaintained since no one uses it anymore.

Is your mall nice?  Which one? We have five different malls nearby lol. Mall culture here is on another level.

Do you have a Sonic near you? If so, what’s your favorite drink from there?  No. I’m not so sure what they serve there, either. I’m guessing milkshakes?

Will you be voting in the presidential elections next time around?  I’ll always exercise my right to vote.

How do you feel about chocolate-covered strawberries?  I hate strawberries and I hate fruits, so even if you coat that shit in Nutella and cookie butter and chocolate syrup I still wouldn’t touch it.

Did you ever stop having feelings for someone and then started having those feelings again for them? No.

Do you hate the last guy you had a thing with?  I’ve never had a thing with guys.

To whom did you last give the finger?  I haven’t had to do that in a while.

What was the last musical instrument played in your presence?  My sister’s keyboard.

Do you like sprinkles on your ice cream?  Not particularly. They make things look cute, but they never taste like anything tbh so I never saw the point in paying extra just to have them on my desserts.

Honestly, have you ever crashed a party before?  Nah. I cringe thinking about that.

Do you know how to do the moon walk?  I don’t.

Has anybody ever told you that you have a good singing voice?  Never gotten that specific compliment before because I know I don’t have one.

Onion rings or french fries?  Onion rings.

Has anybody ever described you as a heart breaker? No.

Has anybody ever told you that you talk too fast?  I don’t think so, but I know I have the tendency to do so occasionally, especially while I’m presenting a deck. Once I notice it I make an effort to pace myself.

Who is the best cook that you know?  My dad and both my grandmas all deserve that title.

Which meal throughout the day do you skip the most?  I literally never have lunch ever.

What’s the largest amount that you can juggle at one time?  I can’t juggle.

What was your favorite thing to go on at the playground as a kid?  Sandboxes, since I liked the texture; the sandboxes in school were also often empty, which worked well for my introvert self. I find that it’s carried over to today, since I still enjoy touching things like slime and kinetic sand.

Do you know how much you weighed at birth? How much?  I think 5 or 6 lbs, I’m not exactly sure but it’s definitely somewhere in that small range.

Which aspect of your daily routine takes the most time? What do you do?  Work, for sure. I work a normal 9–6 so that’s already 8 hours out of my day, but I also OT a lot after hours, and I work throughout my lunch break as well so that technically makes it 9 hours. I also like getting up earlier and starting some work before my shift so that I would have less tasks on my plate for the day.

Do you enjoy buying gifts for others, or could you do without this?  I LOVE getting people gifts. Food is especially my love language, and I always get food delivery for my friends, family, and my team at work.

What is one thing you are expected to do, if anything?  I mean, I have work deadlines tomorrow so there’s that.

How do you tend to view driving? Monotonous or entertaining?  I love driving. I don’t think I ever complained about having to do it. It’s calming and relaxing when I’m doing it alone or with a partner; and it can be entertaining with the right set of people.

Do you enjoy talking about music with others? Not always. If I don’t listen to the artist then I can find the conversation quite boring, like if my friends would get into a full-blown discussion about Taylor Swift.

Is acting something you enjoy?  No. It wouldn’t even be something I’d be interested in doing.

When do you feel most accomplished?  Finishing a work day with no tasks left behind.

Do you think Manwich is amazing or completely gross?  Idk what that is.

How many best friends do you have?  Two.

Are you a smoker, drinker, pothead or none of the above?  I drink sometimes. I also kinda smoke, I guess.

If you have your ears pierced, when did you get them pierced?  My mom had them pierced when I was a month old.

Do you own any exercise machines?  My mom has this rowing equipment thingy. I don’t have any of my own, though.

On Facebook, do you have people listed as your siblings who aren’t really your siblings?  No.

Have you ever drawn or painted a self-portrait?  I remember having to draw one as a school assignment, but I’m pretty sure I half-assed that because I couldn’t care less for art class back then.

Who was your last voicemail from?  We don’t have voicemails.

Have you ever been falsely accused of something serious?  I don’t think so. That’s the sort of situation that would stick out in my memory if ever.

Did you ever set up a lemonade stand when you were a kid?  No, not a thing here.

When was the last time you spoke to someone in a different language?  Around an hour ago when I went downstairs and chatted with my sister briefly.

Have you ever received an anonymous gift?  Nope.

Have you ever camped out somewhere for an event the next day?  Nope but I definitely still wouldn’t be opposed to doing that haha.

When were you the saddest in your life? 2016 was fucking miserable. < I’d have to agree. 2017 was also awful.

Do you know anyone, personally, who is in an abusive relationship? Are you?  I used to know one but she got out of it. In a sense, I suppose I also was in one.

If you have siblings, have they moved out or do they still live with you?  Well they’re younger, so they definitely still live here, with our parents. I’m the first one expected to move out, but I’m taking my time.

Have you ever gotten searched by the cops?  No.

Do you like fried rice?  Of course. I like any kind of rice.

What was the last thing you drank?  Water.

[emelywrites]

Hi! I’m loving your Diego fics, can I request one too? Since that scene in s2 where they show us all the siblings as adults but still in the academy uniforms (thus, still part of it), I love the idea of an au where that same Diego meets a girl outside of the academy, who makes him want to have a different life than the one he has (make sense?). Because the Diego of the au still lives in the academy, but after meeting her, he wants a new life, with her. I’d love to read something on these lines:)

Hey, I went a bit off track, but I hope you like it! I’m also aware that the life that is described for the reader isn’t something common in the US but I feel like we’re all dreaming in these stories, so imagine!

Warnings: Language, child neglect, emotional manipulation (We all know Reggie’s a shit dad, so that)

His own life

Diego had tried before. When they were seventeen all the Hargreeves kids had tried to just leave. Diego stopped his actions without hesitation when mom walked in and asked him to stay. Gave him a whole lecture on how him and his siblings were heroes and had to stick around because what would the Umbrella Academy be without them? What would she be without them? That same monologue worked on Klaus. Luther didn’t even need a lecture. One „Are you sure about this?“ And he started unpacking again.

Alison and Vanya weren’t so easy to convince. Alison had big dreams and Vanya just wanted to get out of her own personal hell. Grace, Pogo and Dad had caught them in the foyer. Vanya started to feel bad about her decision, especially when they brought up the possibility of failure all alone in a big, scary world. Alison even tried rumoring her way past them but of course Dad had managed to use that against her.

„If that is your way of handling all your problems outside of those doors, you’re not really handling anything, Number two. Now go back up to your room, I expect you at dinner in 30 minutes.“ So Alison had tears in her eyes at the thought of having to use her powers for everything. And she stayed, too.

Now they were nearing their thirties. They were still wearing their stupid uniforms. Going on missions at least twice a week and having to help out around the house was getting boring and frankly, exhausting. They did get to leave occasionally. Going to the diner at the corner, going to some fancy restaurant when Dad felt like they deserved it or just laying around in the courtyard. Every time they were at the diner he saw some people around who were just enjoying themselves. No worries in the world and a life of their own to live.

One particular Saturday afternoon they were sitting in the diner again. Diego was drinking a black coffee and eating a jelly donut. They weren’t talking. They never did. They just weren’t allowed to go out on their own, or to unknown places, so every Saturday afternoon they were sitting in this diner, rarely even sharing a table, just enjoying not being at the Academy. Diego was sitting in a booth on his own. Vanya was sitting by the counter, pulling apart a glazed donut and dunking each piece into her glass of milk. Klaus was laying in another booth, an empty glass of some extravagant milkshake standing on the table. Luther and Alison were sharing a table sitting across from each other, sharing a strawberry milkshake and a chocolate eclair and a chocolate glazed donut sitting next to it.

They all thought it was weird. Alison and Luther had been ‚secretly‘ dating since forever. They didn’t like thinking about it because they still thought of each other as siblings. But to be honest, Diego was jealous. He had never really been in love. How should he? He never met anyone outside the house. 

„Hey, Auntie Agnes, sorry, I’m a bit late. Study group took a bit longer today“, a beautiful woman who came running in, said to the woman behind the counter.

„That’s alright, dear. Put on the uniform really quick and then I can go out for the day“, she smiled.

Diego looked after the beautiful woman. He had only caught a glance at her as she was rushing in and when she came back out she started cleaning up, while Agnes left. When she arrived at Diego’s table he smiled up at her.

„Can I get you anything else?“, she asked, smiling back at him.

„Uhm- Maybe a refill? And- and another jelly donut maybe“, he ordered nervously. Why was he so nervous around her?

„Alrighty then.“

Just about a minute later she came back with a new donut and the coffee can. She leaned against the booth with her arms crossed.

„It’s a little sad, isn’t it? When I was little this place was always buzzing but it really let itself go in these past few years“, she started small-talk, probably sensing that he liked her company, but also bored because there was nothing to do around here, „I’ve been helping out for a few years now, since I started my undergraduate, to make some money on the side. I’m about to be a doctor.“

„That’s awesome. You sound like you’ve got it together.“ Diego was a little jealous. She seemed as though she had all these plans and no one holding her back, quite the opposite obviously, since she was apparently working at her aunt’s shop.

She laughed. „No, I don’t think anyone does. That’s kind of the thrill, isn’t it? Not knowing where life is gonna go?“, she sat down opposite him, „When I graduated high school I took a year off and helped out in a crisis area. My parents were really scared but it gives you a sense of humility and accomplishment. And before I entered medical school, I did that again, just in a different place. I wanna see the world.“

Diego got really sad, she had done so much in her life and she still had plans. He had never left the city in his life, rarely even left the house. „I wish I could do that.“

„Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to brag like that. My parents are really supportive, I couldn’t have done all that without them“, she looked a little embarrassed.

„Oh, I don’t think, money would be the problem. My dad’s an eccentric billionaire. He just isn’t too supportive. We don’t get to live our own lives.“

She reached out her hand to hold his and smiled. „I can’t imagine what that’s like, I’m sorry. If you got your own life, what would you do?“

Diego snorted. He hadn’t thought about that since Mom had convinced him to stay. Back then he had wanted to keep fighting crime, just without his Dad. He had wanted to become a policeman, a real righteous citizen. Maybe get married, have kids. He had given that up around twenty. 

„I don’t know anymore. There’s nowhere to go. I’m turning 30 this year, I should have started my own life ages ago.“

She smiled. „It’s never too late. I’m (Y/N) by the way, I’m here three days a week, five pm to midnight. Tell me, if you find something.“

She filled his mug and then went back behind the counter where someone had just sat down. Diego couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. Would she really help him have his own life?

Diego pondered the idea for a bit. Only a month later, when they went back to the diner, he took a bag with his important stuff and didn’t tell anyone about his plans. (Y/N) wasn’t there. It was 4.30 pm. He sat down in the booth where he had sat before, ordered a coffee and a jelly donut and waited. He looked at the clock. 5.30 pm. She wasn’t here. He decided to ask.

„Hi, sorry, is (Y/N) coming in today?“

„Oh, no, sorry, she graduated last week and moved out. She immediately joined the Doctors Without Borders. We’re worried but proud. She’ll be back in a few months. Do you know her?“, Agnes explained, smiling.

„Yeah, when she was working last months, she told me to come back if I knew what to do. I just- I know now, would you tell her that if you get to it?“, he put the money for his order onto the counter and left, into a new life.

Two years later

Diego had made it. He had received his associate’s degree from the Police Academy. Full in uniform, Saturday, five pm, he entered the diner again, hoping that maybe he’d see her again. He sat down in the same booth where he had sat two years ago, ordered a coffee and a jelly donut and waited. His siblings entered shortly after he had. 

„Oh my god, Diego?“, Alison said and sat down in front of him, „What the fuck? Mom was sitting in her gallery for days after she found your note, how could you just leave like that?“

„I have my own life. It’s great, you should try it.“ Diego looked down and smiled.

„Is that a police uniform? Where did you steal that from?“, Luther asked.

„Yeah, it is. And I didn’t steal it, I earned it. I went to police academy, I’m a policeman now“, Diego grew in his seat and pointed at his name tag, „You see ‚Hargreeves‘. That’s me. I’m a police officer.“

The bell by the door rang again and he looked up. She entered. It was her. (Y/N). Diego got up and joined her where she had sat down at the counter.

„Hi, remember me?“, he asked. She turned around and smiled at him.

„Hey, I’m sorry, I don’t think you ever told me your name, but yeah, I remember you“, she looked him up and down, „You got your own life, huh?“

„Yes, I’m Diego, by the way. Thanks. I don’t think I’d have ever started without you, so I owe you.“

She smirked. „Maybe you could pay up with dinner, tomorrow night?“

He laughed under his breath. „I’d like that.“

[krisdreaming]

🎄 3rd Day of Fluffmas 🎄

⟵ Day 2 | Masterlist | Day 4 ⟶

You Make it Feel Like Christmas || Oikawa Tooru x Reader

Word Count: 1,368 | Fem Reader

(Prompt:  “I’m not really feeling in the Christmas spirit this year, but I just came home and you decorated everything and I might cry now?”)

a/n: It’s not really a traditional Christmas song, but today’s title is from the song of the same name by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani, and it’s one of the most stupid-catchy Christmas songs to exist. Also: DOMESTIC FLUFF. That is all.

-

 This is normally one of your favorite parts of the holiday season. Your Mom and aunts have all gathered together to make Christmas cookies at your Grandma’s house. What with having a new baby, you were planning to skip it this year, but your husband had insisted that you go.

“You need to get out of the house for a little!” Tooru had said, and you couldn’t miss the concern on his face. “You’ll have a good time.” So, you had finally agreed. You know you’ve been struggling to be cheery, but more than anything you just feel exhausted. 

“Oh my, she’s so precious!” Your aunt hands your daughter back to you after she had been passed around for everyone to obsess over. “Thank you so much for coming and bringing her along, it was so good to see you both.” She gives your shoulder a pat. “Here, I’ll get your cookies together for you.” You look down into the squished, sleeping face of your daughter, and you can’t help but smile softly. Of course you love her - that goes without saying. It’s just that nothing could have quite prepared you for the reality of having a tiny human to care for 24/7. It’s mentally and physically draining, and even with all of the help Tooru offers, ever since he’s had to go back to work you’ve been struggling.

“Are you ready to go home, sweetheart?” You ask your bundle softly, and in response she peeks her eyes open just enough to give you a sleepy look. You can’t resist leaning in to press the gentlest kiss to the tip of her nose. “Maybe you’ll let me have a nap when I get home.” You whisper hopefully. The four and a half hours of sleep you’d gotten the night before were far from enough.

Driving home, you can’t help but feel a bit relieved that it’s over. Finally, you can let the smile fall from your lips. You’re already thinking about the laundry that needs to be done, the dishes that need to be washed, and of course the diaper that will need to be changed. “You’re stinky.” You announce. “Maybe we can convince your Daddy to do this one.” You’re already picturing the way his nose will scrunch up.

When you pull into the driveway, you immediately notice the wreath hung on the door. “Hmm, guess Tooru picked it up on his way home.” You muse to yourself, not thinking too much of it as you busy yourself with gathering all of your things. You haven’t had the time or energy to decorate for Christmas like you usually do, and by this point, it doesn’t seem worthwhile to do it anyway. You have other things on your mind.

“Let me help you!” Tooru calls from the now open door, rushing out to you. He sticks his head inside the car to greet your daughter. “Hi there. Hi sweetheart.” He unhooks the car seat from the car, smiling his biggest, dopiest smile all the while. “Did you and Mommy have fun today?” He looks up at you, obviously expecting an answer to his question.

“We did, and we brought home lots of treats.” You manage another smile, and he leans in to press a quick kiss to your lips.

“Sounds perfect. Now come on, let’s get inside out of the cold.” He bustles you inside, and the moment you step through the doorway, you come to a full stop. It seems the wreath was just the start. He’s gotten out all of your Christmas decorations, and it seems not a single surface as far as you can see has been left untouched. There are lights and ribbons, snowmen and reindeer, and the scents of vanilla and spices are coming from somewhere. 

You’re looking around in a daze. “Tooru.” You say in a small, shaky voice. You can already feel your eyes filling up with tears. “I - I don’t -” You finally look at him, and he has the softest smile on his face, eyes completely focused on you.

“Merry Christmas, y/n.” He says, smiling wider. He has unbuckled your daughter and now has her cradled in his arms. “I thought maybe you could use some Christmas cheer.” Your lips quiver. His smile turns into more of a grimace.

“Uh, what’s that smell?” For a few moments, your shock is forgotten, and you have to laugh. His nose is scrunched up exactly like you’d been picturing it. He looks down at the baby and shakes his head.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got this. Why don’t you go sit in the living room, and I’ll be right there.” You certainly aren’t going to argue. “Come on, baby girl. Let’s get you changed.” He carries her toward the nursery, and you do as he asks. In the living room, you’re overcome all over again.

He’d carried this tree into the house almost two weeks ago. You know that some part of him had hoped that you would enjoy taking the time to decorate it like you always do, but somehow every time you thought about dragging the boxes of ornaments down from the attic, you just couldn’t muster up the energy. Now, though, it’s completely decked out. it’s softly aglow with lights and the star is perched perfectly at the top. You sink down on the couch, still soaking it all in.

“Hi.” Tooru whispers, appearing beside you and plopping down next to you on the couch. “She was super sleepy, so I just put her down for a little bit.” He wraps his arms around you and rests his chin on your shoulder. “What do you think?”

It takes a few more seconds before you can actually speak. “You did all this?”

“Yup. It’s not quite as good as you always make it look, but I’m pretty proud of myself. Is it up to your standards?”

“It surpasses my standards.” You whisper as the first tear slips down your cheek. “Stupid hormones.” You mutter, swiping at it with your fist. “It’s so beautiful. Thank you.”

You turn your head enough to be able to meet his gaze, and he presses a kiss to your temple. “Anything for you.” He says, gently running his fingertips up and down your arm in a soothing motion. You rest your head on his shoulder. “You’re working so hard, and you’re such an amazing Mom. I felt like this was the least I could do.” Now more tears are sliding down your face.

“I love you so much.” You slide your fingers into the fine hairs at the base of his neck and tilt your chin upwards. He meets you halfway and kisses you, slow and gentle. When he finally pulls away, you’re both smiling.

“Remember our first Christmas together?” He murmurs. “I was so nervous that you wouldn’t like the necklace I got you.”

“But I loved it.” You grin. “I remember how you gave it to me after we took that walk to look at all the lights, and your hands were so cold you could barely get the clasp to work.” You laugh softly.

“But I got it eventually.” He pushes out his lower lip in the smallest of pouts.

“And the Christmas you proposed to me.” You continue. “In front of my entire family.” You still pretend you haven’t quite forgiven him for that. He winks at you.

“What about last Christmas, the first Christmas in this house? We stayed in bed until almost eleven and then we made dinner and drank cocoa and watched movies for the rest of the day. Our first Christmas just the two of us.” He brushes a strand of hair away from your face.

“And apparently our last.” You knock your nose gently against his and steal one more tiny kiss. 

“I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” There’s a trace of that dopey smile on his face again. From the nursery, almost as though she sensed you talking about her, the crying starts. 

“Someone’s hungry.” You slowly get to your feet. “I think I’ll feed her here, in front of the tree.” You decide. For these few moments, at least, you feel warm and perfectly content.