#but he does get better eventually

[gareleia]

post-bh, married royed, heavy angst

tw: lots of emotional abuse, alcoholism, cheating, ooc.

DISCLAIMER: THAT'S NOT HOW ABUSE WORKS! alas, I do love my happy endings, so for the sake of it, suspend your disbelief.

Fuhrer Mustang has a lot on his plate which results in him being more short-tempered and prone to snapping. He and Ed always had their arguments, but nowadays it's more of Roy just ripping into Ed for no reason to release some tension. Ed tries to take it in stride, but he has his limits, so their domestic and sexual life takes a hit.

Roy does a minor fuck up and lies about it out of habit (from work), and Ed buys it immediately because he trusts Roy with his life. Roy feels guilty, but still starts gaslighting Ed from time to time, and Ed always thinks that it's his fault and he just has his head in the clouds (or rather books).

Roy misses an important date but Ed tries to suck it up and not make a big deal about it. Roy remembers post-factum and is glad that Ed is being mature about it, unintentionally putting him down and implying his feelings aren't important. Roy also thinks to himself that he's glad he doesn't have to apologize for it because it's tedious for him. He doesn't realize it yet, but that's the turning point.

Roy starts making comments about how Ed should dress modestly, how Ed having social life makes him neglectful and how Ed really stopped caring as much as he did in the beginning. This makes Ed feel like a bad partner.

It comes to head when one night Roy snaps and hits Ed. Tomorrow is finally his day off and he wanted to do something romantic to make up for all the neglect towards Ed, but Ed has been telling him for months that he had something planned for this day with Al. Roy grabs his hands to stop Ed from leaving and then slaps him in the face. He stops and tries to apologize in his usual way by taking Edward to bed, but Ed's not having it. He's horrified at what became of his husband and says that he doesn't feel comfortable with them touching at all.

• Don't you fucking dare yell at me, Edward. Just who do you think are? You're nothing without your alchemy, nothing without your rank, nothing without me! I'm hurting you? How dare you?! Do you know how hard I work, day and night, to give you everything you need?! I sacrifice everything so you and this country are safe, and this is how you repay me?! What do you even do all day, sit around in my library, eat my food, waste my money and bitch about how life is hard for you?! I do everything for you and you have the nerve to call me selfish?! • Nooo, honey, that's my line. You're the selfish one! No matter what I do, you're ungrateful! Nothing is ever good enough for you! I'm running ragged, Ed, and you just keep demanding more and more! What did I ever do to deserve such treatment? Do you even care about me, or do you just stay with me for money and prestige? • Oh, you're tired? You're stressed?! By all accounts, go on, tell me how fucking hard it is to be a housewife, how bad you have it! Am I not to your satisfaction?! Should I give you more money?! More space?! Do you want to go out more, fuck around like a dumb, selfish whore you are?! Well, it's too bloody bad, isn't it! You're my dumb, selfish whore, you made a vow when you married me! You hear this Edward?! You're mine! You chose me, years ago, this is what you chose! This is all you get. Forever. • I mean, where would you even go? You think you could do better? I'm the bloody Fuhrer, I could have anyone, and who would even want you? Look at yourself, Edward, you're a mess! Out of shape already, from sitting on your ass all day? You call this presentable clothing? Admit it, no one but me is dumb enough to want you! Because I love you, Ed, and I won't ever lie to you, I want you to say it with me. I said, SAY IT WITH ME! You're nothing. No one wants you. I'm the only one who loves you. • Yes, that's good. That's a good boy, I'm so proud of you, come here. I'm sorry it's come to this, Ed, I know you have a temper, but you should really stop snapping at me. You know I love you, right? I love you, Ed. *cupping his face and putting their foreheads together* You're the most precious thing I've ever owned, the highest privilege. If I could spend the rest of my life holding you like this, I would. *Ed looks vaguely sick* • Come here, gorgeous. I know it hurts, I'm hurting too, but we can make it better. Let me make it all better, love.

• "NO!"

Roy storms off after leaving bruises on Ed's wrists and goes drinking. He spends the night with someone. In the morning he wakes up after having more than 2 hours of sleep a night for the first time in months and is horrified at what he'd done. He goes home, but Ed isn't there. All his things are however, so Roy stays home waiting.

• Instead of Ed, Gracia comes to pick up his clothes and a suitcase. Ed came to her crying last night and she's very disappointed in Roy ("do you think Maes ever treated me like that?") and insisted on helping. She passes on that Ed is going to Resembool to visit his family for a while. Roy wonders if she realized that he cheated - she absolutely did. But it's only right for him to confess and beg for forgiveness, so she keeps quiet. For now.

• Roy is stewing in guilt and self-loathing. He keeps comparing the Ed he fell in love with - the loud, bright and passionate young man - and the withdrawn, exhausted, quietly miserable creature he turned into and counts every mistake made. Every harsh word. Every backhanded compliment. Every little lie and betrayal, up until the very worst one.

• Riza quickly catches onto everything and is extremely displeased, which results in his work getting that much more miserable.

• After Ed makes it to Resembool, Al calls Roy. He's fucking livid. His brother has bruises and is a shadow of himself and what the bloody hell did you do, Mustang? Al knows how to make it hurt and he goes all out, telling how he was against this marriage all along, how precious his brother is and how much he loved Roy, how much he sacrificed for him and all the times he suffered in silence because he felt like he didn't deserve comfort for being such a bad husband. Roy recognizes phrases he used himself in Ed's negative self-talk. Al finishes by saying that he's never to meet Ed again and that as soon as his brother is well enough mentally they're sending him divorce papers.

• The papers never come, but Roy doesn't doubt they will.

• He comes back from work two months later to find the guest bedroom occupied. The door is locked and Roy tries to apologize through it, but Ed doesn't respond. Ed doesn't come out unless he knows Roy isn't home and he doesn't leave any notes or acknowledges his husband in any way. After spending a week at Ed's door every evening (and leaving presents that went untouched unless they were hand-made), Roy falls asleep on the floor and has a blanket thrown at him.

• After that Roy catches a few glimpses of Ed. He comes home to all his bottles laying on the floor. He takes a hint and spends a few evenings cleaning up his messes. His reward is having a simple dinner ready by the time he comes home. Still no sigh of Ed.

• After that there's always food on the table and dishes waiting for him. Roy's notes start going missing, so Ed finally started reading them. Roy can hear Ed doing stuff downstairs on his days off and he rushes there, but Ed locks himself in the bathroom. After that Roy lets him do his thing unbothered. Sometimes there's even a grocery list.

• Roy's still leaving presents for Ed, but they also go unanswered. Another two weeks in he remembers something that Ed wanted in the very beginning of their relationship and gets it for him. At night he wakes up to Ed crying in the other room.

• Next morning Roy tries his luck again and the door is unlocked, but Ed is gone. Roy is afraid that he fucked up and scared him off, but all his things are there. All the presents are carefully put away and there's a mess of photographs of them scattered around - and a half-drunk bottle of wine (Ed is a lightweight). Roy cleans everything up and leaves him dinner in the evening. Ed went to Gracia for advice, because he thinks his Roy is still in there, but he's scared to confront him and find out. He cries again when he gets the food, because it's just to his tastes and Roy hasn't cooked for him in years.

• Next day when Roy comes back from work Ed is there making dinner. Roy tries to talk, but Ed gives him silent treatment and flinches when he tries to touch his hand. Ed looks exhausted and defeated, but he's still beautiful. They eat together, in silence. Ed doesn't even look at Roy.

• This goes on for another month. They can almost pretend everything is fine. Roy tries everything - gifts, notes, words, offerings, promises, begging. In the end he loses his temper and snaps, breaking a glass. Ed flees to his room. Roy spends the night by his door crying and apologizing. In the morning he's a mess, but he has to go to work. He begs Ed to come out just for a moment. When he drives away, defeated, he catches a glimpse of Ed watching out the window. Their eyes meet for the first time in four months.

• This night when he comes home there's no dinner. Ed is sitting at the kitchen table watching him. When Roy's back is turned (he's putting away groceries), Ed tells him where to put stuff. Roy whips around and is both delighted and terrified, because Ed finally spoke. And it's time for The Talk.

• "I'm sorry" • "I don't believe you"

• Gracia told Al Roy cheated, and Al can't hide stuff from Ed. After that Ed finally decided to go back to Central and clear everything up.

• Tell me what you did. I want to hear it. All of it.

• Do you know what it did to me? I hate myself. For loving you all these years. For trusting you. For not seeing your 'moods' for what they were, a pattern. For failing you - letting you spiral like this. For not being there when you needed me. For not realizing how much you must have suffered to start doing this to me. I hate myself for being stupid, blind and too weak to either help you or let you go. I'm pathetic, really. You were right about one thing: I'm your stupid whore and I can't escape it.

• Every time I look in a mirror I see a mess. A failure. You broke something in me, and I don't think I'll ever know how to fix it.

• And, you know what the worst part is? I love you, Mustang. I still do, so fucking much. And I hate it. I can't stop, but I can't make this right either. You hurt me, you've been hurting me for months, using me to get you your sick satisfaction. And I let you, all this time, because I thought you needed it, and that afterwards things would go back to how they used to be. But they didn't. Things have changed, you've changed, and you're not the man I fell in love with. You're not my Bastard Colonel anymore, you're the asshole that threw a mug at the wall because the dinner wasn't hot when you came home late from work. You hurt me and made me think it was my fault for not being enough. And maybe it was, partly, but I didn't deserve it. You were horrible to me and I was trying so hard to help you. Because I loved you and I still do. Because I would tear my fucking heart out with my bare hands if it would somehow make you Roy again. Even if it means I won't ever get to be a part of your life again. I love you, and you hurt me, and I'm so bloody tired of carrying us both. I'm not Fullmetal anymore, Mustang. I'm just a human and I can't do this alone. I can't take it.

• I'm not Riza. I can't shoot you when you become a monster. I can't even hit you back.

• "I'm so, so sorry. I lost control-" • Don't give me that crap, Mustang. Shitting your pants is a loss of control. Lying to me was a choice. Calling me names was a choice. Isolating me from my family was a choice. You chose to hurt me. Can you at least admit that?

• They both go to therapy.

• They coexist peacefully, sleep in separate rooms and cautiously try to get to know each other again. Winry goes into labor and Ed insists Roy tag along with him. Al breaks his nose and doesn't let him anywhere near the baby. Ed says that he may have deserved it, but the violence doesn't make Al any better. Al almost shouts at Ed for implying he'd ever hurt his family, but stops. Ed hugs him and says that while he loves and appreciates Al's help, he needs to deal with Roy himself, because he's capable of protecting himself.

• In the end Ed calls Mustang Roy again and kisses him on the cheek. Roy feels like crying.

• Thank you, Ed. Thank you for trusting me. You're stronger and braver than I could ever hope to be and I love you so much.

• Ed wipes his tears away and Roy gently grabs his wrists. Ed doesn't flinch. Roy starts kissing his hands.

• "I love you" "I know" "Ed!" *laughter* "I love you too, you stupid bastard."

[maskofnova]

I think its a rite of passage to make an au at least once, and ive been thinking super hard about how Sonic raised tails lately. So obviously an age swap au had to happen. Aka, the au in which they are both team turbo nerd and Tails needs a Vacation as a dire medical suggestion. (more rambling in tags)

[kens-ramblings]

so ik it’s not cannon accurate but,,,

i need a fic of tim just crashing out.

like he gets so sick of like damian and jason talking about how weak he is and shit like that that he’s like “yall realize lady shiva was my one of my FIRST teachers, and i was the first robin she trained. i had to train under b AFTER he already lost a robin. you DONT think he was 10x harder on me than any of you guys???? there’s a reason my training videos are mainly redacted without bruce’s or my permission. i got ra’s al ghul BEGGING ME to join his league or have my children. i get gifts from him WEEKLY. do you KNOW how many of his little ninja i fight per DAY??? nahh im sick of this shit let’s take it to the mats” and just demolishing both of them at the same time.

i just think it’d be very funny. i just like fics of people who pretend to be weaker than they are(or they just never really have a reason to go full tilt so they just don’t) get sick of holding back and just losing it :D

[rexecutioner]

Sorry ive been so inactive recently, I have a life that I needed to get back to for a bit! I am returning with a new hyperfixation (i am seven years late)

I drew me and my friend’s favorite characters in a silly artstyle!! We are going through the game together and we are almost done with Chapter Four (i am so scared) (ignore how tiny Rantaro’s head is) (i rant in the tags beware)

[usalock]

This sort of case would have interested our old friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Yes, indeed.

[smile-files]

who let mephone direct the purim play?? (edit: fixed a typo lol)

(objectober 2024 day 7: production)

[pokimoko]

The fact that Main-verse Ooo is as good and as kind as it is (relative to the other universes shown so far, at least, it's obviously not perfect) all because of the same character that starts off as the OG series' antagonist, the person we were made to see as the bad guy (albeit an often ineffectual one) for several seasons, is making me lose my mind.

Imagine finding out the guy you spent your childhood beating up and saving princesses from is in fact a driving catalyst behind you being able to exist, and not only exist but also live in a world that knows what kindness is. All because that man, the same man who you've witnessed do terrible things, once met a little girl and taught her how to be good.

Simon's story really shows us that even if you lose your way and forget how it is to be good yourself, the world keeps the memory for you. That act of love Simon showed Marcy by protecting her and seeing her as more than the monster she thought herself to be created ripples upon ripples, small at first but eventually enough to help give their wreckage of a world—a world that easily could have been forsaken, its goodness overlooked because of its inhospitable remains—a chance to grow into something beautiful. Because of those very same ripples Simon created, the people of Ooo grew up in a world where they know enough about kindness that they were able and willing to spare the 'bad guy' some, to see beyond the wreckage and allow him to grow too.

In saving Marceline, Simon helped to not only to save the world, but also himself.

[luck-of-the-drawings]

[<==PREV PAGES] [NEXT PAGE==>(not out yet.wait a year.or maybe more.imagine.]

saw alot of comments on prev pages; saying 'i HATE that mean teacher! im gonna FIGHT HIM!!' & i LOVE the energy!! it WOULD be nice. to have that catharsis. but the story of young tidestrider is Not one of catharsis. it is a story of being so small and so special and sucking so bad.

[skrunksthatwunk]

love like you / maternal pang

bonus under cut:

the first stephanie + the maternal pang tone destroyer i couldn't include bc it's a serious comic

[specialbluehens]

i think it would be very silly, a little hee hee funny, if shane ended up put in an older sibling role (without trying) to the younger bachelors/bachelorettes

[raccoonnutella13]

its so weird to me personally that some people think that it doesnt make sense for craig to be nice to wildernessa but still hate jason (up until scout guest), but to me the worst thing wildernessa has done is say that craig doesnt know shit about nature vs jason whos basically like "ok tony now hit the second tower" for the majority of his screentime, and people wonder why craig doesnt trust him most of the time huh

[randomminty]

I heard its her birthday and had a sudden urge to draw kirararararararrara

[camels-pen]

the difference between zosopp and sanuso (romantic OR platonic) is that Usopp is Zoro's specialest little guy and Zoro is someone Usopp hangs out with and looks up to and hides behind when things get scary, but Sanji and Usopp are best friends. They horse around, they beat each other up, they confide their worst fears trying to one up each other. Usopp hides behind Sanji sometimes, sure, but idk, Sanji's weaknesses are more obvious (bugs, fighting women, etc) so there are times when Usopp has to stand in front of Sanji too, yknow?

Like, how do I say this, all the crewmates are equal- Usopp and Zoro are equals- but with Sanji it feels like more... comradery? Zoro's a rock in a terrible storm- even rocks tend to get weathered and chipped and worn down, but they overall stay strong and steady. He has trouble being vulnerable and there are times when the burden he's placed on himself to keep the crew safe is crushing his chest. Usopp would help with that and be very understanding, but the point I'm trying to get with that is that those moments are few and far between. So I feel like Usopp, especially after Water 7, would take Zoro's lead on something like that, and keep most of his worries to himself or only talk about them sparingly unless they're really bad and/or he can't hide them.

Sanji is like a tree in a storm; he can be strong, yes, but it feels like he bends and sways with the storm, and has more obvious breaking points. He can relate more to Usopp's struggles rather than resorting to blunt honesty that might border on callous like Zoro. And while, with Zosopp, I tend to think of scenarios with Zoro being blunt like that as a good thing- because sometimes when you're spiraling, it's nice to have someone say exactly what's great about you and shoot down all your worries with straight facts that you can't argue with- I can also see this as being a bad thing. Anxiety can really twist up your brain sometimes, you know? And despite the words, the tone could still mess someone up if they're already feeling like a burden on others in some way.

With Sanuso it's a lot more understanding and thoughtful words. It's distractions and comfort food and patience- the kind reserved for Usopp- until Usopp talks about whatever's troubling him. Compared to Zosopp, it doesn't take as long for Usopp to open up, since he's done the same thing to Sanji at times and it's more familiar to him to talk and commiserate with Sanji about his worries and doubts and such. However, there are times stuff like this has absolutely no effect and Sanji will end up at a loss, no idea what to do or how to help over the course of several days with Usopp being quiet and keeping his distance, and he'll end up working himself up about it which will only serve to make Usopp feel worse and. yeah. bit of a vicious cycle with them.

So it's like. Usopp can be weak with both of them, but since I see Sanji as the type of guy who'd be more open with his worries (at least compared to Zoro), there's less of a need to 'perform' and be his best self around him. He's comfortable around Zoro, yes, but he is constantly wanting to show that he won't be a problem to him. On the other hand, while he's more open with Sanji, and Sanji with him, they tend to relate a bit too much with each other and they both have issues with causing trouble for others and being 'deserving of love' so failed attempts at consoling one hurts the other and creates an unpleasant cycle of misery and avoidance before some other crewmate (Zoro) tells them to quit being stupid and just fucking talk to each other.

[blackjackkent]

Prompt fill for @astreamofstars from this ask meme: Lord Huron Lyric Prompts

Khalid (and Jaheira) - "watch for a sign in the midnight sky"

My first attempt at proper writing of Khalid! Deeply enjoyed this and I hope you do too. :D

-----

Khalid fidgets aimlessly with one sleeve of his armor, trying in vain to get the leather greaves to settle more comfortably in place. It is all new equipment, purchased out of his scant funds on his arrival in Baldur's Gate, and it has not yet had time to become fully broken in. 

Had he been able to bring his amlak armor from home, perhaps he would feel more comfortable now. Miserable though he was in Calimport's city guard, his armor at least had been very good, carefully polished and molded to his body from months of hard use. But it has been left behind, along with everything else about his old life - the corruption of his superior officers on the one hand and the disinterested cruelty of his father and half-brothers on the other. 

So here he is, for better or for worse - half a world away in ill-fitting armor, chasing rumors and wild hope. He has heard the tales of an institution where his skills would go to better use, a group of warriors who fight not for power and coin but for balance. Perhaps the Harpers will prove to be the true family he has been searching for.

The recruiter he spoke to - a furtive, laconic fellow with a hand always on his dagger - said Khalid measured well in conversation, but that the only real test of a new Harper was action. “Wait tonight in the square in Norchapel,” he had said with the ghost of a smile. “I will have some of my people find you near midnight. Identify yourself to them, and they will have a task for you. Prove true in that business and there may be a place for you among us.”

It's a cold night. The Norchapel square is empty and lit only by the ominous flickering light of the single streetlamp under which Khalid is waiting. Privately he is starting to wonder if this is part of the test - to hold to his patience in spite of the chill and silence - and if the task that lies ahead could in truth just as easily be done in daylight. But nevertheless he waits, just as instructed, as the clock in his mind slowly ticks from midnight on towards one o'clock. 

“Watch for a sign in the midnight sky,” growls a voice almost at his elbow, making him jump. He hadn't heard anyone approach. 

Then he steadies himself, swallows nervously, and gives the counter-phrase without turning around. “F-f-for by the m-moon's light, we unearth all s-secrets,” he says earnestly. 

His new conversational partner emerges out of the shadows and into the light of the streetlamp where Khalid can see him. He's a big, bulky human with dark skin and hair, broad and muscular, which makes it all the more impressive how silently he moves, his feet rolling heel to toe across the cobblestones.

On his left is a brass dragonborn with a pair of lethal-looking katanas and an incongruous cocksure grin. On his right is a young half-elven woman, about Khalid's own age, with a quarterstaff in one hand and an expression as unreadable as the stone wall behind her. All three of them wear the subtle silver pin of the Harpers at the fastening of their cloaks. 

“By the moon's light indeed,” the human says pleasantly, reaching out a hand for Khalid to shake. “You'll be our new recruit, then? Khalid yn Munir?”

Khalid hesitates as he releases the handshake. “J-j-just Khalid,” he finally says quietly. 

“As you wish,” the Harper agrees. He doesn't seem surprised; Khalid is no doubt not the first initiate to be leaving something behind. “My name is Vartan. This is Kambas and Jaheira,” he explains, gesturing at each of his companions in turn. “We are to accompany you on a test of your skill and commitment. Hold true and the Harpers shall welcome you.”

“Y-y-yes,” Khalid says earnestly. “I am ready t-to assist in any way I c-c-can.” 

He gets rather stuck on the last word and Kambas laughs softly, a rumbling noise like an avalanche. “Twitchy little thing, isn't he,” the dragonborn says. 

As mockings go, it’s far less malicious than the ones Khalid is used to; indeed, the Harper doesn’t seem to be saying it with cruelty. It’s just an observation, as if he was commenting about the weather. Khalid is already shrugging it off automatically - but to his surprise, the half-elf, Jaheira, stirs suddenly. She’s been watching Khalid in silence with deep, appraising intensity, but now nudges her companion with the butt of her staff.

“Do not be unkind, Kambas,” she says sharply.

The dragonborn’s grin widens and he lifts his hands defensively. “Just messin’ around, Jay,” he says with an air of affable mischief.

“Choose your targets with more care,” she says firmly, “and while you are at it, do not call me that.” She rolls her eyes and catches Khalid’s gaze; a subtle smile twitches her lips up at the corners. “You see you should not take it personally; he is a little shit to us all in equality.”

“So is maintained the balance,” Vartan intones, and Kambas laughs again.

Khalid feels himself start to relax, and smiles back at Jaheira. “I th-thank you for the s-s-support,” he murmurs.

For just a moment - almost as if in spite of herself - her smile settles into something less sardonic and more genuine, and he finds himself struck to inner stillness by the way it lights her eyes. She is a few years his senior and her face already bears the marks of whatever violence in which the Harpers have employed her, but the smile does a great deal to soften it, to show an edge of kindness beneath the cool front. She looks at him and seems pleased with what she sees.

After so many years flanked by various flavors of cruelty, he finds himself utterly captivated by that soft edge, that approval. He stares back at her and feels heat climb up his neck. His tongue, already given to betraying him, feels heavy as lead in his mouth and in that moment he’s not sure he could speak at all.

Then it’s gone. The moment passes; her eyes hood over again and she looks away from him towards Vartan. “Well. Shall we be about it, then?” she asks briskly. “Let us see what our new Harper can do.”

[sa1808fi]

Emmetstyle and their ways of showing love

Emmet is very big on dishing out his affection for others. He hasn't had anyone in his life care enough to stick around for long, so he's going to be the first one in his and Lucy's relationship to say 'I love you' to her.

Compared to Lucy, he's a very open person, finding it easy to show his appreciation and love for his friends through his words, actions, and gifts. So obviously he would have no problem showering his special best friend cough girlfriend cough with all the love he has.

He's going to tell her he loves her whenever he can. She helps him with the chores? Love gushing out of him. They go out on a 'best friend' excursion? Hugs everywhere. He is constantly wiggling with happiness when he's around Lucy.

Lucy on the other hand tends to deny her affection for others if she thinks it'll make her look weak and less tough (She was fine showing her 'affection to Batman because he's a super cool and tough superhero), therefore ruining the persona she's built herself around.

Though she does soften up around Emmet whenever they're alone. It takes her a long time to finally say the 'L' word to Emmet. Other than ruining her reputation, Lucy is also scared to admit her love for Emmet, because the last time she loved something with a passion and dedicated her life to it, it was warped into a cruel method to brainwash people.

After the second movie, seeing how hateful Rex became because he believed that his friends never loved him, Lucy became more determined to show her special best friend how much she really loves him.

During the rebuilding after armageddon, she does a lot of seemingly little things (but are monumental to Emmet) to show her love. She starts to hold hands with Emmet in public, defends him fiercely against hateful comments, and starts to gift him small things that she think's he'll like.

Even after all this, She still doesn't think it's enough. Because there's a difference between knowing someone loves you and knowing they love you. So, Lucy gets the others to help her come up with a plan to show their appreciation for Emmet (Since I like to think he's one of the people working overtime to fix all the destruction (Y'know... out of guilt and all)), and it ends up as this giant party with everyone to celebrate the rebuilding efforts.

Towards the end, she has this whole speech (I'm not going to go too in detail), and she ends it with finally saying the three magic words that she could never bring herself to say.

If we go over to dangerstyle in Rex's timeline, then it's going to be flipped. They swapped roles in the way they show affection.

Lucy is a lot more vocal than she used to be when she shows her love. This is mostly born out of her fear that the people she loves might end up disappearing and dying without ever truly knowing how much she cares about them .

In her eyes, she never fully reciprocated Emmets love before he disappeared. She never got the chance to finally tell him the three words that always got stuck in her throat.

Emmet died trying to save someone that Lucy believes never treasured him as much as she should have. And that guilt weighs down on her every single day.

Going onto reunion AUs where there's the big 'happy' reunion and reconciliation, have no doubt, Lucy is 100% going to try and drown Rex with the love she never showed when he was Emmet.

She doesn't do it immediately because they can all tell that Rex needs to adjust a bit. But after he's a bit more okay with being around them, he's going to get slapped in the face with all the care they're treating him with.

Lucy does say it as a way to thank him for things like how he used to do for her, but she also does it whenever he's going through one of those bad days. Where the memories become overwhelming and he just needs that little bit of reassurance that they do actually care.

Rex is a lot more reluctant to share his affection with others compared to his past self. Or at least, he does it more privately and can come off as a bit of an asshole. The reason is basically the same as how Lucy didn't want to ruin her tough persona.

He's one of those characters that at first glance seems like a jackass- and he is, there's no doubt about that. But after a while the closer you get, you can't help but become fond of him. He's sweet in like a loveable asshole kind of way.

There's also the fact that his whole personality is built upon the trauma he endured in Undar, so any shred of Emmet that he has is buried really deep down.

Occasionally, if he's comfortable enough, Rex will end up slipping back into Emmet's habits in front of people. But whenever he does, he just ends up freezing up and backtracking, pulling away and avoiding everyone for the rest of the day as he goes to hide and sulk.

When it comes to actually saying 'I love you' again, well... it's gonna take a really long time for him to feel safe or confident enough to do it again. Rex is going to need to get so much therapy and validation from Lucy and the others.

Compared to when Lucy finally says the three big words, the way Rex finally does it again isn't dramatic, it isn't one big planned-out party with all their friends together and celebrating.

The way he finally says them again is early in the morning, with both of them wrapped in blankets, cuddling on the sofa, the TV playing some show in the background. Lucy will slowly detach herself from the arms firmly wrapped around her, careful to not wake up the dozing raptor trainer. But Rex still feels the slow change in environment so he whines softly, trying to preserve the warmth that's moving away from him.

It's in this moment when Lucy softly draws him back to sleep that he mutters a small 'love you' before falling into unconsciousness again.

(She cries in the kitchen)

(Rex doesn't even know he said that)

MMMMMMM, parallels

[introspectivememories]

tddk hc that tdrk is the ultimate "i wanna show you off" bf. king of kissing izk in public places to tell everyone that izk is taken by him. possessive bastard. purposely lends izk his clothing and everyone can tell bc while izk is bigger width wise, tdrk has always been taller. convinces izk to leave hickeys in visible places just so he can come to class the next day, shirt half-unbuttoned, so that everyone can see. makes direct eye-contact with the business ed student who will Not stop asking izk out, as he kisses izk.