#but i am a bit tired of everything always being on link's shoulders

[villanelleskiss]

you know what, literally fuck off 

zelda turned herself into a dragon, for link, to restore his sword. when she says “link, i will restore the master sword for you”. heavy emphasis on you. she knows that link is the only one who can defeat ganondorf. her trust and absolute faith in him is so strong, she chose to lose her entire self just so link could have a hint of a chance of killing ganondorf in this time. but it’s the way that we find the sword on the light dragon and we go to pull it, that she instantly tries to throw him off, bc she doesn’t know it’s link at first. until he’s able to hold on does she finally realize that it’s him, it’s her hero, retrieving his sword that she has been repairing and knows that she is finally back in her era and he found her and lets him take his sword back. the sword that feels like it was made for him, that skyward sword link made it just so this link would one day wield it. with other link’s it feels like we were just borrowing it, here, it feels like it absolutely belongs to link, it’s his sword and nobody elses. but we know that one day it will return to its pedastal until our next hero pulls it, in the face of evil and that zelda recognizes this even as she returns to traverse the endless skies, waiting for the moment link goes to meet with ganondorf, unknowing of what the demon king would eventually do, prepared for a turn of events to be the last stand against ganondorf in any means possible so link will not fall, her protectiveness over him even as a dragon, her strength and pure light saved hyrule. 

[vinestaffery]

Scythe X cop or detective reader where Scythe kidnaps reader to join her cult or somthing

of course!! im a bit tired atm and my schedule bursted up again, so the other people that have requested, i will be taking a bit of a while to post them fully, but i promise i am working on them!! sadly this is gonna have to be a drabble, im so sorry </3

Characters: Scythe, GN! Reader Prompt: One-sided Romance I think???, Small Drabble Warnings: Usage of (pet) names; Mentions of murder; Slightly descriptive but vague of how Scythe killed civilians; Religious themes; Kidnapping; Drugging; Scythe being a literal serial killer; Indoctrination(?)

Days were never suppose to be this harsh. You were always looking for new angles for the strange disappearances of many civilians in Lost Temple, yet it seemed like every new case was to mock your work.

Someone was watching you, for all you know.

Days were becoming longer, more dissociative then regular. Someone was watching you, you could feel it. It was like being played with like prey, if anything, a piece of meat in the claws of a carnivore.

But, it didn't let you shoot you down off your pedestals. You still, somehow, no matter what found a way to link to your suspects. White, gold and teal clothing, and the way the victims were left.

Cut, bloodied and garnished. Ripped apart in one slick-move, a slice. Head, shaven off of it's horns before being squashed like a tomato with a heel.

You were connecting up the dots to your very last suspect; Scythe.

You met her a few times, once at a bar, another when you had nearly gotten into some beef with some stragglers late at night. She was somewhat always there to support you, but would be never seen again. You took note of this.

When the investigation was left up to you, the police huddling outside for their break; the sun blared down below the alleyway. The shadows were your spectators, witnesses to a brutal massacre of several.

It was her. It was her, how she always disappeared, how everything seemed to become more of a blur. She was always there.

All she had to do, was find her, or catch her in the act.

"I'll get you, one way or another," you whispered to yourself.

"Well, you've bet to get on wit' it, don'tcha?"

A voice seemed to silence all thoughts. You didn't turn to face the new opponent.

You readied your hand-gun that was strapped to your left thigh, hand hovered cautiously over it.

"You and ya littl' ol' brain, finally come to make senses haven't cha? Fufufu..." Scythe laughed, a claw raised and a large weapon rested on her shoulder.

Your heart was thumping, you had no clue what had happened to the people that were here before; blood leaked across the floorboards.

"You must watch yourself, Snake, or else," you threatened, vile in your throat and hatred in your words.

"Or else what, my fine sheep, you goin' to do something?" Her name-calling was getting on your nerves. "The sheep, the one who follows, threatenin' big ol' me? Why, what a show."

"You best watch your tone, or else I'll get those men to take you away-" "And do what? Shoot me with this?" She plucked a gun from her pocket, you could hear it fall and chatter on the cold, hard ground. It rung in your ears.

"Say, maybe if you are ta hear me out, I'll leave ya' be!" Scythe snarled in a smirk, eyeing at you as you gave a small turn. Your hand still readied by your waist.

"And what must that be?" You questioned.

It took her seconds before she was up close, hand over your prepared one as she pulled you into a hold. Your hands, crunched in her soft leather glove while the other one, outstretched and squished by her metal.

"Scream, and everyone in this town's blood will be on your hands, rabbit," You were petrified but held in your sounds, clogged in your throat. You could just throw up.

She took notice, and started dragging you away. In a sorts of type of kidnapping, it was uncomfortable. She caressed your cheek, holding you close as she kept viable eye on you.

Everything started to become fuzzy, did she slip a drug into you by chance? No, she couldn't have. That's not her sense of style. But, everything and everywhere became unrecognizable.

"That's it, we're nearly there, my sweet," Scythe was astonished at how you were still able to walk, to even keep yourself up with her as you seemed to become tired and unable to respond.

Her scorpion tail came back close to her once more.

"Fucking- scorpion.." You pointed out, the tip of her stinger dripped a certain chemical before you fell into the warm-heated sand.

Light's blared into your face as you suddenly awoke. Your back was in pain, brain spinning and pleading to be free from it's coffin.

"Fuck-.. where?"

"Ah-ah ah! Don't want the doctors hard-work to be demolished shall we?" Scythe's voice rung through the room. It echoed in your ears.

"Where am I!" You screamed, but it seemed no use as she walked over. Her heels clicked to the solid, clear marble ground.

A hand reached over, two clawed fingers pinched at your chin and made her look up. God, she was tall, and quite beautiful, for a serial killer. "Wouldn't wanna wake up the others now, do we?" Her scorpion tail threatened as it reached in view.

Eyes widened, and a simple nod in command. She let go in a rough manner.

"Now, you best listen to me, or else you'll end up the same way those people ended up," Your ears wanted to close, but you made eye-contact with her.

She took it as an agreement.

"You've rose quite an interest in me, my sweet. I wouldn't think such people like ya' would be so heavily fascinated in my work of art," Work of art? What is she talking about? Those were never work of art. Those were polished crime-scenes of horror. Onslaughts.

"Now, I wouldn't want my favourite detective, my favourite sheep to be close to finding out about me now do I?" You shook your head.

"Good. Now, if you want to live and make it out of this room alive, you best follow my words," Alive?! "What do you mean 'make it out alive'? I have no deeds to share with you!" You spat.

"Oh, but you mustn't think of it that way. Think of it as a way of... saving you and mine's life. You see, I work for someone quite special deity," Special? Who could be anymore special then the SfOTH? The respected deities, gods if you will?

"There's no one as special as the SfOTH, those deities would crush someone as despicable as your boss."

That struck a nerve.

"You best keep that mouth shut, or else I will do more damage then what my boss would do to you and everyone in this god-for-saken town," Her weapon in hand, you squeaked. You stayed quiet once more.

"... Now, where was I? Ah, yes. I want you to join me, in order to protect you from the harms that might come your way for your... case," "Work with you?" "Yes."

You could nearly laugh! But you couldn't, you'd die.

"...Any benefits?"

"Oh, darling. Benefits were already arranged the first time we met," You snarled. Of course, she was planning this all along at the very start.

"Now, do we have a deal?"

Silence.

A long, period of silence.

"Well?"

You couldn't stop thinking about your family. Your friends, people you considered close.

"You best answer me, clock is ticking."

Your father, mother, what about your pets? What about, what about, what about?!

A slam of the chair, and a rising heat of pain strucking your face as you cried out.

"I've given you one chance at this, now you best answer me! Yes, or nay?" Scythe knelt down to face at you.

"One."

No Answer.

"Two."

No answer.

"THREE-"

"I ACCEPT! I will join your stupid- fucking team!"

...

"Good."

[withacapitalp]

How to Rehabilitate a Jock Part 19

Part One Link to ao3 Part 18.

Part Twenty

As always thank you to @stevethehairington and @thefreakandthehair for generally keeping my head on my shoulders and betaing everything I always throw at you guys ily ily ily

Step Nineteen: Sing a Song

“Are you sure about this Steve?” Claudia asked for the millionth time as Steve opened her coat and held it out in front of him with a patient smile. 

“I’m sure. Honest, Mrs. Henderson.” Steve said. He had gone through this exact song and dance with every parent except for Joyce and Hop, and Claudia was the final hold out. Truthfully he had expected Karen Wheeler or the Sinclairs to be the most unsure about leaving their sons at his house overnight, but a few small platitudes had been enough to get them to let go and go home. 

Well, a few platitudes and a bottle of wine to hit the road with. 

“Steven,” She immediately replied, a faux warning tone coloring her voice as she wagged her finger at him with a grumpy look in her eye. 

“Claudia,” Steve amended, still feeling that little awkwardness that he always had when he addressed any adult by their first name. He could practically hear his mother’s voice in his ear telling him off for being impolite. “It’s not a problem, and besides, they’re just going to sleep. Super easy.”

Steve wasn’t exactly sure if that was true, but he had hope. All six of his brats had been letting out big yawns as he had ushered them up the stairs a little while ago, and he hadn’t heard any shouting coming from upstairs yet. There was no way of knowing if the excitement of a sleepover would give them a second wind of some form, but even that would be short lived. 

Besides, Eddie had just left to drop off his friends with the promise of coming back soon, so the quicker he got the kids in bed, the better. 

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, dear, you know how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for Dusty and the others,” Claudia said, finally allowing Steve to help her into her coat, “I just can’t believe you don't get tired of having them all here so often. I mean, doesn't it exhaust you? I can barely handle the occasional playdate they have at my house!” 

“It does exhaust me,” Steve joked with a soft laugh, “but it’s also nice? A bit hard to explain, I guess.” 

“You’re starting to sound like a father,” Claudia teased, buttoning up her extremely bright pink coat., “You’ll make some girl very happy someday.” 

Steve laughed along because that was what was appropriate, but he couldn’t deny the weird pit in his stomach that was beginning to grow. A month ago he would have thought it was because of his breakup with Nancy and the prospect that he might never find someone he loved like her ever again. 

That made sense. 

But Steve could say with almost one hundred percent certainty that Nancy was nothing but a friend now. Someone important to him, but wholly platonic. He could also say that he still very much wanted to be a father. It was one of the things he wanted most in life.

So why was Claudia’s joke making him so uncomfortable? 

It made zero sense. There wasn’t any reason. Something just felt… wrong. 

Luckily their conversation appeared to be over. There were still the normal polite farewells and long goodbyes in the doorway, but that was all perfunctory. Steve could go through those motions without much thought, and before he knew it the front door shut and he was finally alone in his house once more. 

Thump. 

Mostly alone. 

“You shitheads better have your pajamas on and teeth brushed by the time I reach the top of these steps!” Steve called up from the bottom, standing still and relishing in the sudden flurry of activity that was coming from his bedroom. 

The kids weren’t even a bit frightened of him, but they still listened to him when they felt like it, and especially if he was doing something big like letting them all stay overnight so they could spend more time with El. It was almost novel, knowing they were going to actually do what he said with only minimal complaining. 

Steve waited one second longer before starting to climb the stairs, purposefully making his steps just a touch louder so he knew the kids could hear him approaching. He even made a show of slowly opening the door to his bedroom, only to be greeted by a truly miraculous sight. 

All six of them tucked tight into his bed, quiet and calm. Max, Lucas, and Will were even pretending to be asleep, just to really sell the bit. Max and Lucas weren’t doing too good, but Steve might’ve actually believed Will’s act if he didn’t know that Will always slept on his left, and not his right. 

“Look at that, turns out you can do as you’re told,” He said, putting his hands on his hips and biting his lip to avoid directly laughing at how good they were pretending to be. The ‘sleepers’ opened their eyes, and the others all relaxed at the easy going tone their babysitter was using. 

“Fuck you, Steve,” Mike grumbled, ever the contrarian. 

“I can still call your mom and dad to pick you up, Wheeler,” Steve threatened lightly, both of them knowing he would do no such thing. 

Still, it was enough to get Mike to back down, grumbling as he snuggled in tighter between Dustin and El. 

“How’d the plan go?” Dustin asked eagerly, leaning over his grumpy friend and jamming his elbow’s into Mike’s ribs, causing the other boy to snarl and try to push him off without success. 

“Pretty much perfect,” Steve sighed walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed, pulling at one of Max’s braids idly just to rile her up a little bit. “El should have no problem going to school next year.”

The kids immediately began to cheer and whoop, already excitedly planning all the things they would get to do together next year.

All except one. 

“What’s wrong Supergirl?” Steve asked softly, furrowing his brow at El’s stormy expression. “I thought this would make you happy.” 

That was the whole reason he had come up with this insane plan- he had wanted to make El happy. And yet, here she was, practically miserable. 

El sucked in one cheek, chewing on it in a move that was so reminiscent of Hopper it almost made Steve laugh. She looked just like her dad when he was deep in thought. 

“I am happy about being allowed to go to school,” El finally began, her words slow as she thought through the exact words she wanted to use. Steve waited patiently, knowing she would come to the words when she had them, or would ask for one that might help explain better. 

“I am… uncomfortable with lying. Friends don’t lie.”

Friends don’t lie. 

Steve wasn’t exactly sure who had taught that to these kids, but if he ever found out, he would not be responsible for what he did. 

Don’t lie. What a stupid thing to teach kids. In Steve’s opinion- honesty was overrated. There was nothing wrong with a white lie, or a big fat one, as long as it was for a good reason. What was the point in telling his mother that his dad was out with his secretary again? What sense was there in being truthful when Carol asked if the other girls thought she was mean? Saying those things just hurt everyone, Steve included. 

It was better to be smart, to be strategic with the truth, and hope for the best. He would lie to everyone around him, as long as it was what would keep them happiest. What they didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them, and actually, knowing would hurt more. 

Still, he couldn’t say that to them. Especially not to El of all people. The other kids barely understood; her black and white way of thinking wouldn’t be able to get it. Not yet. 

But then again, maybe it would be better if she never did.   

“Friends don’t lie, but friends do keep secrets,” Steve decided, hoping that would be enough. “We’re going to keep your secrets, so you can stay safe. Does that make sense?”

“Yes,” El said almost immediately, knowing how important her safety was to Steve. She paused, and Steve could practically see the wheels turning in her brain as she let his words truly sink in. 

Once she did she took a deep breath and turned back to him, making sure Steve was looking at her as she spoke. 

“But I still don’t like it? Does that make sense?” El asked hesitantly. 

“I don’t like it either,” Mike said, and this time Steve could tell he wasn’t just agreeing because it was El. Mike’s little glower had turned into a full blown scowl, and his arms flew around as his voice began to raise, “El saved the world. Twice. She’s a hero, not a monster!” 

No, she wasn’t a monster, and Steve would never want her to think of herself as one, but the world wasn’t so kind. Before he could even begin to try explaining that, the kids kept going. 

“It does kind of suck that I can’t tell my mom anything,” Max admitted, uncharacteristically quiet as she kept her eyes firmly on the blanket covering her legs. “I don’t care about telling Billy or Neil or anything, but my mom asks me about my nightmares, and I can’t tell her why I have them. I’ve never been good at keeping secrets from her.”

“My mom’s still bummed about Mews,” Dustin muttered. 

“My mom knows and it’s still hard to talk to her,” Will added on, looking far too old for just being twelve. 

They all looked old. It was like Steve could almost see the adults they would be someday far down the line. Adults with secrets to bear, and lies to tell, and too many things they would never be able to explain to the world around him. Things that their mothers would never be able to help them with.

Was that what he was now?

Steve had never even considered talking to his mother about everything they had been through. The thought hadn’t crossed his mind once. And now that he was thinking about it, he still couldn’t imagine a world where he would ever talk to his mom about any of this. 

… It was hard to recall the last time he had talked to his mom about anything real. 

“I know it sucks, but it’s not safe guys,” He said, focusing on the thing he could worry about and ignoring the panging ache in his heart. This wasn’t a time to think about his mommy issues. This was about the kids. 

“Yeah, being put in cuffs once was enough for me,” Lucas said, unconsciously rubbing at his wrists. “Not fun.”

“I do not want to go back to the lab. Secret’s are necessary,” El agreed, reaching over and tangling her fingers in Lucas’s, “but they suck.”

“Secrets suck a big fat one,” Dustin declared. 

El leaned back, quirking her head to the side. 

“A big fat what?” She asked, the absolute picture of innocence she was. 

There was a beat of quiet as they all registered exactly what she had just said, and then as a group they all began to laugh. Steve tried in vain to stifle his giggles, not wanting El to feel like she was being laughed at, but she was smiling too, pleased as punch to get her friends feeling happy again instead of sad. 

“I’ll explain it some other time, Elliegirl,” Steve promised, tugging the covers more securely around the brats as he did. “And you guys can always talk to me, you know that right? I’m not the same as your parents, but I’m here.” 

Some sleepy nods and yawns answered him, and Steve figured the conversation had reached its natural conclusion. But, just as he reached over to grab the lights, a quiet little voice broke through the silence. 

“... Who do you talk to?” 

Steve paused, his fingers still curled around the knob on his bedside lamp as he turned to give Will a curious look. 

“What?” 

“You said we can talk to you, but who do you talk to?” Will explained, a little nervous like always, but not backing down. 

No one. 

“Plenty of people. I’ve got my friends, and Nancy and Jonathan,” Steve replied, a little too cheerfully, trying to ignore the immediate response that had come to mind. 

“But you can’t talk to Eddie or the others about the upside down stuff, and you barely talk to Nancy and Jon,” Max argued, joining Will in staring Steve down now that he had considered the question, “so, who do you get to talk to about this, Steve?”

“Where’s all this coming from?” Steve asked, expertly maneuvering around the situation. He ruffled Dustin’s curls, finally free of his hat, poking him in between the eyes to add an extra annoyance. “I’m the one that worries about you brats, not the other way around.” 

“We are friends, Steve. Aren’t friends supposed to watch over each other?” El insisted. 

Steve opened his mouth but quickly shut it before he said something stupid like they weren’t friends or it didn’t work that way. 

But wasn’t that the truth?

The kids were friends with each other, Nancy was Mike’s sister, Jonathan was Will’s brother, Hopper and Joyce were the parents. Where did Steve fit in that equation? ‘Babysitter’ had been an easy thing to use as a placeholder, but how much longer could he say that? What place was Steve supposed to be in for them as they got older? He wasn’t their brother, but he couldn’t see a world where he fit as one of their friends. 

“You’re wrong,” Dustin grumbled, pulling Steve out of his head and back into the moment. 

“Excuse me?” Steve said, more than a little shocked. As far as he knew, El was the only one who could read minds, and he hadn’t said a word. 

And yet, they were all glaring at him, unhappy with whatever they had seen on his face. 

“How many times do we have to say you’re in the party?” Mike muttered, a heavy red blush on his cheeks as he burrowed deeper into the pillows to avoid looking at anyone. 

“Dumbass,” Max added, just to even things back out. 

A hot heavy warmth spread through Steve’s chest and he bit down the stupid smile that was 

threatening to break onto his face. Whatever he was, it didn’t matter. They cared, and that was what mattered. 

“If I need to, I’ll talk with you guys,” Steve offered, knowing deep in his bones that he would never do such a thing. 

“Promise?” Lucas murmured.

“Promise,” Steve lied with a soft, honey sweet voice, shutting off the light and letting the hallway lamp and the glow of the pool illuminate the room in a gentle cool tone. “Now it’s really time for bed.”

“What about Story and Song?” El asked. 

Steve raised his brows in surprise, reminded with a jolt that despite looking just the same, El wasn’t like the other kids. 

Story and Song was a little tradition Steve had started for the nights that Hopper had to work late, an easy way to get her to go to bed in an unfamiliar house without the comforting presence of her dad. He would read one of the short stories from his big book of Disney stories, sing her a song, and she would sleep until Hopper came to pick her up. It was sweet, but none of the other kids would have ever dared to ask for such a childish thing. They would want to act more grown up, more mature, always in a rush to grow up. 

El had no such qualms. 

A familiar storybook was being floated into his lap, and none of them, not even the boys, were protesting. In the blink of an eye, they weren’t old anymore, just kids who wanted to hear a story they already knew to help them fall asleep. 

“Which one do you guys want?” Steve asked, ignoring the lump that was starting to grow in his throat, flipping through the Disney storybook and feeling the worn edges against his fingertips. 

“Lady and the Tramp?” Dustin offered, seeing that Steve was already thumbing through that page. He turned to the beginning and rolled his neck getting into the mood to read, using the light from the pool outside as his guide. 

“Lady was a happy little dog. She lived in a big house with Jim Dear and Darling.”

By the time Steve’s index finger glossed along the last sentences of the story, most of the kids had dropped off. Will had fallen asleep almost immediately, with Dustin and Lucas tripping after him before too long. El had made a valiant attempt to stay up, but she was gone by the time Lady met the other dogs at the pound. 

Steve had just two hold outs left.

“G’night guys,” He said quietly, slowly sliding off of the bed and putting the book on the floor next to his bed. Mike turned over and ignored him, but Max sat up with a little glare. 

“You said we would get a song too,” Max said sleepily, rubbing at her eyes with both palms. 

“That’s being cheap, Harrington.”

Cheap? Was she actually serious?  

“You two… want me… to sing you a lullaby?” Steve asked in complete disbelief. El, he understood. She had no frame of reference, no way of knowing that she might be a little bit too old for things like this, but Max? 

Mike? 

“We just don’t think you can actually sing,” Mike said, his words punctuated by a ridiculously big yawn. 

“You gotta close your eyes then, and just listen,” Steve sighed, unwilling to argue this late at night. 

“Deal,” Max said, snuggling down into the bed.

Steve let his eyes fall shut, taking a long deep breath as he slowly lowered himself to the ground, putting his back against the bed and conveniently facing away from the kids. It wasn’t like he was embarrassed to sing, it would just be easier not to have to see them while he did it. 

But what should he sing? 

It had to be something soft, something easy. Something anyone would want to hear. 

The memory hit him like a ton of bricks. 

“Who could hate this song?” 

Steve had the answer. 

“Love of my life, you’ve hurt me…”

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[sempersirens]

my love, mine all mine

pairing: joel miller x f!reader

content/warnings: 18+ mdni. no outbreak!au. hurt/comfort. infertility. hospitals. alcohol.

author's note: hello my lovelies. i am so happy to be back posting - i missed you all a great deal. please forgive that this is a bit of a self-indulgent personal one, and i just want to take the time to say that womanhood is not intrinsically linked to the ability to have a child. we are so much more than that.

You'd always hated hospitals. Hated waiting. Hated the sterility lingering in the air. Everything was so unsettlingly white. The fluorescent lighting should expose at least a speck of dust somewhere, on some forgotten surface. But somehow, it never did.

The names called forth never seemed to be yours. Joel would've been in agony if he were here. Confined to the little plastic chair, time rolling on, on, on with no end in sight. You were almost thankful he had to be on-site today, leaving you to fend off the passing of time alone.

But you'd grown tired of being strong.

Strong for yourself, strong for you both. You craved the warmth of his rough palm, desperate to intertwine your fingers in his and replace the fluorescence with the nothingness of your eyelids.

You wanted to take. Take, take, take. Take every ounce of strength he could give you. But he wasn't here, and that had to be okay because Joel was hurting too.

You'd been lucky enough to have never known grief. Never felt its empty sting in the middle of the day, in the queue for lunch or on the drive home from work. But can you grieve something your fingers never touched? Something that had only ever been a far-off thought, that had maybe never even existed inside of you.

Was it a reflection on you?

On your capability as a mother, a woman?

Had nature deemed you unworthy since birth?

Were the worms and the flies laughing at you each time you'd uttered the words when I have children one day?

After the seemingly psychological torture of waiting, the appointment was over in minutes. It's not the news we were hoping for. The doctor had said. If you and your partner need support going forward...

The brochures she had slid across the table fell to your feet as you mindlessly drove yourself home, relying solely on muscle memory to bring you to the embrace of your front door.

There were no tears left. Everything inside of you was empty; barren. You threw your keys into the dish and softly closed the door behind you. The stillness of the house was suffocating.

Your shoulders dropped and muscles relaxed at the sight of the photograph of you, Sarah, and Ellie hanging on the wall opposite the front door. Sarah had lovingly adorned the picture with the words Joel's girls glued on in cut-out letters from your old Vogue magazines.

You loved Sarah and Ellie as your own; it would've killed you should Joel think otherwise. They were as much your baby girls as they were his, despite having not been babies for the better part of five years.

But you saw the depravity in Joel's eyes each time he edged further inside of you. The need, the want, for a creation of your own. And there was something almost feral inside of you, too. A part of you that only Joel had managed to tease out and bring into the ugly light of day. You wanted to watch yourself swell and grow with the proof of his love. You craved the shrill of a new beginning illuminated under fluorescent lights that you would gratefully embrace if it meant you could fall in love at first sight with a life you had created with Joel.

Even though Joel could hardly bend down to tie his shoes without hissing through his teeth these days, you knew none of that would matter if it was a product of your adoration for one another he was one day scooping up in his arms.

Although the two of you had been trying your hand at a sober October, you haphazardly fished around the kitchen drawer for a corkscrew, plunging it into a cheap bottle of red.

As you took your first sip, the sound of a key turning in the door made your stomach flip.

"Sweetheart?"

"In here." You called, tapping your nails on the body of the glass.

He filled the doorframe effortlessly. After all this time, he still managed to give you butterflies, leaving you squirming against the counter like you hadn't been victim of those brown eyes for almost a decade.

"Take it we're not celebrating?" He said, nodding toward the glass in your hand.

"Define celebrating. At least I won't need a fucking IUD anymore." You tipped your glass in the air and took a gulp. "An inhospitable environment."

"What's that?" His eyebrows furrowed together as he made his way closer to you.

"That's what the leaflet the doctor gave me says. I've got all the right pieces, my body just won't fucking do the one thing it's meant to do."

"Don't say that, sweetheart. You know it ain't like that..."

"Well, what is it like, Joel? What's left of me to love? How can you look at me and be satisfied that I'm the one you love? Everything about me is so fucking difficult. I want to be perfect for you. I want to give you everything you deserve, and it kills me that I can't. Because you've given me more than I deserve."

And then all at once, the tears came. He caught you in his arms before you buckled under the weight of your pain, holding you upright as you soaked his work t-shirt with your sobs. He smelt of asphalt and fresh October air.

"That what you really think?" He asked, murmuring into your hair while his fingers traced circles on your back. "Think you're difficult to love? Loving you has been the easiest damn decision I ever made."

"Then why weren't you there today? I needed you."

Smoothing down your hair, he pulled himself back so that you were facing one another. His eyes were red and glassy.

"I'm a coward, sweetheart." You scrunched your face in response, watching as a sad smile spread across his face. "I ain't as strong as you are."

"What's that supposed to mean?" You couldn't help the bite in your tone.

"Was scared to hear the truth. Would've felt so final comin' from the doctor."

Blood rushed to your head.

"So what, because my womb's the issue you let me go alone? Is this my penance or something?" You scoffed, pushing him away from you.

Joel called your name as you stormed up the stairs, wiping away your tears with your sleeve.

"You have children, Joel. There will be biological remnants of you living on in this world after you're worm food. I love those girls, and in every possible way, they are mine as much as they are yours. But I'm never going to have what you do; the privilege of looking into someone's eyes and seeing everyone who came before me. So don't give me that self-pitying bullshit disguised as admiration for my bravery." You sniffed, wanting to sound stronger but crumbling with each word.

Turning to lock yourself in the bathroom, his large hand wrapped around your arm. An old man may he be, Joel always managed to chase you down in moments you wanted to be as far away from him as possible.

Any attempt to shrug him off was pointless, and the warmth of his skin that you had craved all day radiating through your sleeve could've melted you there and then. You knew you were both scared and showing it in stupid, different ways, but you were adamant on holding your own for just a while longer.

"We're gonna get through this, baby. I ain't got the answers right now, and you know I sure as hell don't know what to say at the best of times. All I know is that I love you, and I'm so sorry for letting my fear get the better of me."

Your head found refuge in the crook of his shoulder once more, and you let the warmth of his body engulf you.

Truly, there was nothing he could say. You weren't even sure what you needed him to say.

That night, you could feel the fear dancing with grief between your bodies as you held one another in the dark. Joel may have been a father before, but neither of you had experienced this. And you knew it would be okay.

As long as you could feel his arm draped across your chest in the darkness of the night, you knew it would be okay.

[fullscoreshenanigans]

What is some of your favorite full score trio fanart?

Dear anon we will be here for hours, days even.

I wish this website would let you search multiple tags at once because I do have a fave tag (mobile version) but there's other posts in there too you'd have to go through (but I mean, I also love those too and think they're worth seeing lol).

I don't like reposting fanart for a variety of reasons, but some links and tag ramblings below the cut for some of them:

☆ "tire swing" by @notelectrictigerart

#ℍ 𝔼 𝔸 𝕃 𝕀 ℕ 𝔾 #I personally have an embarrassing distaste of tire swings but this... t h i s 🥺🥺 #like in the “NER in the Bird Cages” short story from the light novels Emma laments how Ray is never happy #and back then a lot of the time she probably thought he was being churlish and moody for no reason #so to capture a moment like this is... 🤧 #these are the moments that kept him going #also love the impressionist style of the greenery #and how the sun is filtering through the leaves and speckling on the tire #ty for sharing op this is beautiful

☆ Untitled by @tohmei

#this is how Ray sees them #him just off in the corner like #“I would and will die for you 🧡🙂🤍” #messin' me up lads #even if it's same hat lol #but no really this is gorgeous #with how bright the colors are around the two of them and their expressions #contrasting with how dark it is around Ray because he fully believes he has to shoulder all his burdens alone for years #and doesn't deserve to share in their light because of the things he's done #I'm always going to be emo over the emo son

☆ "I need a Ray-charge" by @uragirinoteme

#mf got shoujo bubble vision lkfjdkl #the most adorable and endearing lil shits Ray never stood a chance 🤍🖤🧡 #moments like these solidifying that everything will be worth it in the end‚ even if they end up hating him for i t#he might be biased but he just can't shake the belief of an inherent goodness in them #that makes them better people than him who deserve to be saved #I know I say Ray is a cat boy a lot and Emma's got the 83 face going on in the first two panels #but the way Norman is laying on him?? omg he gets the cat boy vibes/award this time #most contented cat on what he and Emma believe to be prime real estate |3

☆ Untitled by @vivithekid

#godddd I still fucking adore the soft tenderness of this piece so much #which is kind of wild when you think about it given how grey is usually associated with being dull and devoid of that #when it's the predominant tinge to a setting #but here it's just so calm and intimate with the fog and their proximity #and the way the pink and orange are overtly and subtly woven in throughout the piece #love it; along with the drop shadow around the flowers Emma's emitting to make them *pop* #and the details on their clothing!! #some of the pink is due to the cold outside sure but u///u #Norman tenderly placing a flower behind his ear is just...so sweet #he's treating him so delicately not because he's fragile or he thinks he needs to be babied #but because he deserves that kindness after all he sacrificed for them and he considers him to be something precious #(read: i am fucking emo) #and Ray's just stunlocked by the both of them because is this really happening?? 404 error lol #for a few seconds they can't even see the fog of his breath because he stopped breathing #the way he's holding onto that book out of shock but also as a kind of unconscious barrier because this is treading into new unknowns #and they're definitely not unwelcome but it's still scary in its own way all the same #for someone who relies so much on his memories and the knowledge he's read #(there were undoubtedly titles that featured romance at Grace Field but it's a bit different reading about it happening to others #and it happening to you)

☆ Monster AU doodles by @tempo-takoyaki

#THAT FUCKING NORMAN IN THE TOP RIGHT KDJFSAS #it is so rare for him to be the Person C in the birdsquirrel trio dynamic but he is so done with their shit #not even needing to look at Ray in the bottom left to figure out what he was thinking I love it #long-suffering; so long-suffering #also the lil crying one 🥺 with them nibbling on him with their little bby fangs 🥺🥺 precious 🤧 #“Emma doesn't need to do it she just thinks it's fun” #something something “Ray was doing it so I wanted to do it too” LKDFKLKJL #with Isabella and Ray being the only black-haired pureblood vampires these kids have ever met #makes me wonder if they're more inclined to pick up on their connection (combined with their enhanced senses)

☆ "🎉🦉🎂 Happy Birthday, Norman! 🎂🦉🎉" by @officersnickers

#Ray’s got melanin‚ Emma’s got freckles‚ they’re all blushing but Norman’s bushing the most out of them all #the outfits look like something kids would wear (also I'm biased and love hoodies so ray in a hoodie is gr8 in my book lol) #the definition of each of their jawlines but especially the birthday boy's #the details with the folds and shading on the clothes‚ the metallic shine to the balloons with their little crevices‚ #each of them having a candle corresponding to them on the cake that’s littered with little goodies #matching their respective hats that each have the others’ colors in their little poofs #the blurred confetti so we know we’re right in the midst of it erupting and falling around them #in this kinetic chaotic haze of love and warmth #it’s all what he deserve after everything <3

☆ kofi-request by @nekokat42

#can't believe they invented ot3s #← incredibly valid prev tag #love when people give Ray his shark teeth back love that cheeky confidence getting to come out in more relaxed circumstances #and Emma having the time of her life dancing and laughing aaaaahhh. healing 🤍🧡🖤 #love her outfit esp it looks adorable on her #and the way Norman and Ray pause to make eye contact with the latter mid-dance; beautiful

☆ "favorite genre of tpn content: WE LOVE NORMAN!!" by @pawphin

#filed under posts I'll reblog in perpetuity until blocked #to go with the previous reblog #Ouran uniform vibes are still v strong for me lol #but no I love how genius boy Norman is all ? and subdued and slightly bashful in the middle #as if he can't understand what could possibly warrant this intervention #as if he doesn't have any idea of how much they love and adore him and would do near anything for him #We Are All Love Norman Fanclub indeed #love how you capture their personalities with Norman being humbled and finding comfort in their presence #Emma (potentially on tiptoe <3) with a steeply slanted delighted smirk on her lips as she leans in #and Ray‚ whose expression is so frequently camouflaged by his fringe and who favors actions over words when it comes to these matters‚ #not wearing a matching smirk but following her lead without a second thought in such a sweet and tenderly fond fashion #not treating Norman delicately because he's fragile but because he considers him someone to be treasured #as one of his precious two in this moment #love how it all feels so natural to them as they inhabit each others' space #everyone's already cited how gorgeous the colors are but I love how the purples & pinks bring out the hint of pink in his eyes 💗💙 #so many little things to adore that combine into such a soft piece #god tier trio tbqh; can't believe they invented OT3s

☆ "Go for it, Ray!" by @mari-lair

#when i tell you these three have me by the neck i- #im love themb #← prev tags... yeah 🥺🤧🖤🧡🤍 #reblogging again because this is still so incredibly true #adore the moments of NE together adore their individual moments with Ray #it took me a sec to realize Emma and him were holding hands in their solo one; so precious 🤧 #probably during the Cuvitidala search #Norman's cocky side coming out during one of their chess matches #to say nothing of how he's the queen and Emma's the king out of the pieces in the background; all the little nuances in here 🧡🖤🤍 #and then ofc Ray being all sheepish and bashful in the center #he loves them so much and is so grateful they exist even if he thinks he doesn't deserve them :') </3

☆ "DO NOT SEPARATE THEM!!!!!!!!" by @lemcean

#𝕋 ℍ 𝔼 𝕄 🖤🤍🧡 #still absolutely adore this set so much with all of them taking turns being the center of the hug #love how the pink undertone of the shading infuses them with an even greater sense of cozy warmth and safety #love the little leans of each#NE leaning in to support #(and overwhelm bc after GF he's still working on expressing himself openly re:  “selfish” personal wants) a blushy mess of a Ray #as Norman gives him a headpat |3 #Norman's got a bit of height over both of them so Ray has to raise himself up a bit to fully get on his shoulder #but it's worth it to see the normally calm‚ cool‚ and collected emperor adorably frazzled 🤍🤍 #and then finally how they both lean down to Emma's height to embrace her #neither of them looking tense as melt into her embrace and you can almost hear the thrum of contentedness radiating from her #stealing another Sae line but ough 's the good good shit #[Love for Emma is not measured quantities to be doled out in scarcity like it is for him and Norman; love for Emma is a fact of life, like the air she breathes and the sun that warms her skin.] #the accuracy #can't believe they invented OT3s

☆ "Specimen" by Jean

#hey fucking kill me (most affectionate) #this is still so immaculate I can't get over it #the way Ray's and Emma's black-to-white ratios for their outfits are opposites while Norman's is more balanced #a cooler white used for him to harmonize with his hair #set against the rich red backdrop to subconsciously bring forth visions of fully bloomed vida fields #so visually striking #the melancholic aura of the piece as they all bow their heads forward #playing into the tragedy of them succumbing to the original fate that was in store for them #immortalized in the innocence of their youth #(akin to the chapter 113 art with the line-up of kids in the present with Norman as he was at Grace Field) #as they're paraded around in their fancy attire for the amusement of those who want nothing more than to feast on their flesh #but oh the way the boys delicately hold their hands out for Emma's to slip into; that unspoken trust and unconditional love #“It's going to be okay. The three of us—Norman‚ Ray‚ and me—are together.” #that reassurance that they're capable of the impossible #as the butterflies and specks of light dance around them in a near ethereal display #very grand very beautiful #though ngl now I'm kind of wishing they had to confront the demons in a more diplomatic manner #along the lines of what Norman does with Geelan or something like Peter showing up at Bayon's party in Ch73 #but with all of them in outfits like these; alas </3

☆ From 約ネバLOG by だいすけ 1881860

#a twist on the spin with Emma being paired with a field though still having the brighter warm colors #while Ray has the night sky but it's being reflected in a dark ocean with some waves for a nice touch #and then Norman with an incredibly blue sky and oceanscape that looks like it could be from the Seven Walls #which is funny considering he's the only one of the three who doesn't go there lol #think the first time i saw this was in a "Dusk Till Dawn" mini amv #and it took forever to find the original source qwq #bless AMV artists who list all their sources either in the description or in a Google doc

☆ "Today on Tori traces animation: Kekkai Sensen ED ft. fullscore trio" by @stray-tori

#𝑴𝑰𝑵𝑬 𝑭𝑼𝑪𝑲𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑨𝑺𝑺??????????? #𝙏𝘼𝙇𝙀𝙉𝙏𝙀𝘿‚ 𝘽𝙍𝙄𝙇𝙇𝙄𝘼𝙉𝙏‚ 𝙄𝙉𝘾𝙍𝙀𝘿𝙄𝘽𝙇𝙀‚ 𝘼𝙈𝘼𝙕𝙄𝙉𝙂‚ 𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙒-𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙋𝙋𝙄𝙉𝙂‚ 𝙎𝙋𝙀𝘾𝙏𝘼𝘾𝙐𝙇𝘼𝙍 #spoiled spoiled the fandom was so spoiled by you Tori; taking time to share the individual frames no less #strong competitor for my favorite of your TPN animated works omfgggg I can't get over how smooth and seamless this is #the extra work you put into including Emma's bow #and Ray coolly catching Norman from his fall after Emma surprises him with that rush (because if that isn't classically her) #the soft expressions they exchange‚ the mutual bounce and giddiness in their step as they fall into that shared rhythm with ease #borne from their years of finding solace in each other's presence #but oh the muted layer of horror with your ingenuity of placing them in a field of fully bloomed vida #instead of just tracing them over the original's stage background #and to top it all off‚ it's them in their shipment clothes (and not just one or the other but both the manga and anime variants) #similar to that heartbreaking mania Ray works himself up into in the climax of the escape arc #but viewed from the perspective of if Ray had kept the secret or if none of them knew the truth of the house #and them unknowingly dancing along to the cruel tune that was laid out for them over a thousand years ago #alternatively‚ the more upbeat view is them dancing to their own beat completely aware and defying fate #and them drawing strength from each other #a la “If there isn't a place out there for humans to live‚ we'll carve one out for ourselves. Together we'll change the world.” vibes #fun either way though!!! have I conveyed how much I adore this yet? #ty so much for sharing and leaving it for fans to enjoy to this day

☆ "12.05.24" by @bercybbc

#OMFGGGGGGGGGGGG #you op. you get them 🤍🖤🧡 #when you need to let your Ray who is full of love and loyalty know that he is deeply loved in return #the way Emma's hand is on his neck to gently tilt him closer to her #while Norman tenderly holds his chin so he can place a soft kiss to his cheek #(Emma's other hand resting on his wrist‚ sentiments so profoundly interwoven) #and the relaxed tension born of fondness you convey with the shape and slope of the latter's iconic brow especially‚ <3 #love how you define his Adam's apple and jawline too; so solidly satisfying #and their strong noses? their hands??? the way they melt into each other's touch and reaffirm each other's concept of home #can't get over it can't get over any of it #I'm that one sped-up gif of the guy walking into the living room and knocking over a vase on repeat (most affectionate) #ty for sharing this is a great start to my day

☆ "The trio 💕" by @h0lymanteca

#oh. oh they is hold. #they is hold and secure 🧡🤍🖤 #thinking about how protective Norman is of them that he fully accepted walking to his death not just once‚ but twice #and once he got them back at the paradise hideout it's like this lol #I love the small contented smiles on Emma's and Norman's faces #meanwhile Ray is feigning indifference but he can't stop the blush from creeping up on his face as he accepts the embrace and leans in #him and Emma both safely nestled in the crook of Norman's neck #after thinking they'd never be together again with him until the afterlife #stealing this from you for the umpteenth time sae but #[If Norman had to give a name for the emotion Ray seems to be feeling right now, he would say: relief.] #feel like that's what permeates this piece with the content yet small tired lines around Emma's eyes #but tired because they have a moment to safely relax and breathe #and Ray's definitely feeling that too #aaaa so soft 💕💕

☆ "they were alone in the kitchen and Ray came in for a morning hug <3" by @h0lymanteca

#filed under RENarts that drive me crazy stupid #the pure domesticity 💯👌👌😩 #me whenever I see Ray not wearing the blacks and greys he longed for at Grace Field #especially when Emma's associated with the sun‚ Norman's associated with the moon‚ and he's associated with the night sky/stars #nice detail with that pattern choice with how he's got an arm wrapped solidly around each one of them #the sky and stars gently enveloping the two in a safe and secure hug 🥺🤧 #perfect with those aforementioned associations as well as in capturing their typical demeanors?? #Ray coming in quietly and maybe comparatively subdued in the way he expresses his love and loyalty #but it's imbued in his actions and gestures and Emma and Norman can feel it emanating from him #also in his matching blush u///u #meanwhile Emma is unabashed in her open displays of affection and reacts with glee to Ray's joining her and Norman #while Norman will sort of act as a bridge between the two; usually never reaching Emma's levels of expressiveness #but still being more willingly to openly display his affections in a gentle way #like here with the contented smile and blush on his face as he's sandwiched between them #(not that he minds as the one most prone to freezing; why i hc him as sleeping in the middle 90% of the time) #that lean back so he can see more of Ray and make room for him #and it's all so warm too with this palette choice aaaaah 🖤🤍🧡 #also that hand on the hip #Ray might have interrupted but they don't mind :')

☆ "3" by @yaboybokuto

#such tender kissies #love the gentle contentment with Norem #smiling into each other with gentle touches #the casual giddiness with Rayem #at least for Emma; Ray looks a little timid but the gesture feels familiar #the soft passion with Norray #Ray almost looks a little desperate reaching up to kiss him #their hands and expressions do a great job of conveying their different dynamics #they are tender #← incredible and accurate prevs #also love how the blush streak across each of their faces #leads to a visually pleasing asymmetrical symmetrical path for the eye to follow on a first viewing of the piece #love how OP gets REN

☆ "As I drew it, I remembered NER holding hands." by @vinokurinner

#wow can't believe they're married now #hands is hold 🤝 #the way they do it so delicately too‚ ah |3 <3 but especially the way Ray tenderly cups and takes Norman's? #Like bitch what?? 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵??? (utmost affection) #Norman's little bow to Emma and the way he's standing so proper with his hands behind his back as she's putting the ring on Ray fjdvkld #love how the comic is primarily composed of white‚ black‚ and pink to really make their rings stand out #they all look so dashing?? i love Emma's nontraditional wedding outfit so much??? #also love how they're balanced in the last panel since Norman and Ray both gained a head on Emma #and how she's got this officiating pose for the final leg of their exchange #good stuff great stuff

☆ "I just finished Promised Neverland soooo" by @vassssssssssss

#LONG-HAIRED NORMAN LONG-HAIRED NORMAN HOLY SHIT #i've only ever seen Sunny draw him with long hair aaaaah #m'guy close to pulling a Julius; he will never beat the Ratri allegations in my eyes #likewise Ray displaying the most PDA out of a trio pic is rare but not unwelcome #him with stubble 🖤🖤 i will always be on the hc of him growing a beard when he's older #love the choice in gold effects for each of them #along with the quiet‚ serene atmosphere as they all lean into each other and draw solace from each other's presence #built up from a lifetime of familiarity and safety #literally just used this a few days ago but once again pulling out the sae defending quote [In hindsight—it’s probably been true since they were children playing tag in trees, too young to know anything except each other.] #bc yeah kill me softly with that one #also tiny note like the detailing/strokes used for their eyebrows

☆ "compilado REN" by @7w7thais

#AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH #ALL THE LITTLE SNAPSHOTS OF PURE DOMESTIC BLISS #AND THEIR RINGS FUCKING AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 🖤🧡🤍🖤🧡🤍🖤🧡🤍 #okay i'm (ostensibly) normal and (slightly more) coherent now #Norman being tall and bulky enough to fit a little Emmita in his jacket with her adorable beret doubles the adorable #Norman as a Sylveon to Ray's Umbreon oh that's nice; also that the latter was willing to get into the kigurumi without much fuss lol #them doing facials together and 𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙 that cuddling under the covers #with Norman looking pleased as punch at that behind kiss #adore the way you covey how they each carry themselves because I always feel that energy and fervor thrumming beneath the surface for Emma #girl just has so much love to give and makes no attempt to deny the obvious (nor believes she should) #while Norman and Ray are more subdued and reserved in their displays of affection but by no means does that make them less loving #the quiet reveling in the mundane (especially in that bottom left one with Ray nestling into the crook of his neck 🤍🖤) #further evidence Ray is a cat #that bottom right one of him and Emma looking so content |33 #special shoutout to the soft look he gives her in the top right he's in his element cooking is one of his love languages <3 #oh and the way she cards through his hair while he's playing the switch; they fit together so naturally after everything #AND AND Norman shaving the peach fuzz off his face and winding up baby-skin smooth (nothing less than perfection ✨✨) #while Ray looks on with a quirked brow of interest jkfsj #love how you play with the square jawline in the shadow while he still has a softer‚ rounder one #aaand I'm running out of tag space but as always love the way you get them and show your love for them; a patron saint of REN 🙏🖤🧡🤍

☆ "💕" by @7w7thais

#LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO #Thais I'll never be over the way you capture the warm tenderness between them #interwoven with a playful mischievousness and underlined with a delighted steady giddiness #particular like the confident‚ open cheekiness Ray displays as a means of saying “come on‚ you know you love me” #wrt to whatever he's just said #the repeated reverie at having that constant of home in each other's arms after everything they've been through #almost not believing it's real as they soak in the moment before the reassurance that it is with each embrace #and how they enrich each other's lives in the ways they challenge and inspire each other #making sure to live up to the sentiments of “I'll show you something cool‚ so shut up and follow” with something new every day #'s the good stuff 💯👌👌 love how that's all reflected in their eyes and body language #and the lighting for enhancement #also Ray's piercings yeees <3

☆ "pampering Emma" by @bakeddeer

#filed under RENarts that drive me crazy stupid #[woah woah woah hold up#THIS ARTSTYLE??? it’s so unique and whimsical and geometric but still soft?? like how?? #I love the glow and how both Emma and Ray appear to generate light while Norman doesn’t #it’s so SAD and so PRETTY #like op please illustrate a book or publish an art collection I would pay] #← realest prev prev tags fr fR #alt Emma is the one emanating light/who the light is centered on and they're both just basking in it #(“just” from their perspective with their self-worth issues </3) #her and Ray have glow-in-the-dark shoelaces‚‚‚even the president would be jealous‚‚‚ #110% agree about the geometric style it feels so jaunty and perfectly reflective of their respective dynamics with her pre-Escape #(though her cravat paired with her in a skirt initially threw me lol) #Norman being more hands on and open in the way he holds her and cradles her head as she delights in telling him something #Ray hands off and feigning nonchalance but very much willing to let her be this up in his personal space #and wouldn't even consider letting her fall #for him to treat her the same way as Norman would be inauthentic to all of them #thus we arrive at the caption (which is‚ gah‚ love how much is said so simply) and how they each do that in their own ways #love the grand cosmic and ethereal feel to this with the coloring and enhanced by the speckling and lack of a background #making it feel like they're adrift in a pure distillation of each bond #god they are fucking everything and this set is fantastic; sun and moon imagery unparalleled and immaculate

☆ "Stay" by @theamazincactus

#filed under posts I'll reblog in perpetuity until blocked #the way this art still drives me absolutely fucking 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦 (most affectionate) #how they're floating in this black nothingness as he's just lost and adrift before they gently confront him #at first i almost didn't see Ray (</3) #but nope he's just got himself wrapped around Norman's back as they surround him from both sides dlkfjl 🖤🤍🧡 #because if that isn't the most Ray approach: to offer that silent yet steady comfort; that undying‚ unyielding loyalty #After the powerful declarations they give him in Ch153 #“I've decided that I won't let you kill yourself anymore. That I won't let you go it alone‚ Norman.” #“We don't want a future where you're going to suffer. No matter what result it brings.” #they've gotta be firm because he's so damn obstinate klsfjkls #but underneath that there's the very palpable fear of losing him when they just got him back #and this desperate and gentle and admittedly selfish (but they don't care and they'll accept the consequences) plea #that's so simple yet weighed with so much gravity to speak to the core of his soul and what he wants for himself. “𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑦.” #love how in the midst of all this there's light bathing them from above but not quite engulfing them #as Norman is just on the precipice of this pivotal decision #love how his eyes are the only blue in the pic to highlight how terrified and vulnerable he feels #(his soul is bare before them yet he continues to hesitate in returning either of their holds) #but Ray and Emma accept him in his entirety i'm fucking. love them so much your honor 🖤🤍🧡 #ty so much for sharing this op it's still so appreciated

☆ "look fullscore trio are soulmates and no one– NO ONE – can convince me otherwise." by @salsae

#Phil goes to Harvard and they are the proudest older sibs 🥳 #always love when people incorporate how even when they're older their family is still so v important to them #also cannot overstate how amazing and healing it is to see Norman so carefree to the point where he's willing to dance with them #(it comes as no surprise for Emma‚ but Norman? just getting to be silly without any pretense #after how meticulously he curated the Minerva persona to shield himself? aaah love that for him) #“Emma's living her best life‚ cuddling with her bfs‚ in her bf's jacket‚” #“watching weird (but cute) animal videos w her big giraffe phone case‚ let's just fast-forward to this future thanks” #YES PLEASE WORDS CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I ADORE THIS MIDDLE PIC 🖤🧡🤍 #just. the pure domesticity and their chaotic arrangement on the couch. and emma being allowed to have hair below her neck #'s beautiful #“Ray is always in the middle for expressions of love‚ but when they're cuddling/in bed Norman is in the middle b/c the other two run warm.” #“Any other time Emma is in the middle” yes yes yeeeeeeesssssssss fully agree #(outside of the middle swapping around for whoever might be in need of some extra tlc on a bad day) #i love the way you get them sm sae 🧡🖤🤍

☆ "more full romo full score trio" by @salsae

#SAE WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW MUCH I ADORE THIS #just. fuuuuuuck i've said this so many times but i love how you get them #the pure adoration in NR's eyes as they look at each other and the way Norman tenderly tilts up Ray's face #meanwhile Emma is a cat personified as she arches her back in content against Ray to nuzzle up to his chin #even her face is scrunched up like one kdfjsd 🧡 #meanwhile the way her hand rests on Norman's‚‚‚🧡🤍 love how the aura around her ring emanates as well #and then the second pic where the boys switch off to making sure she's pampered nestled between them #and the way Ray delicately kisses her freckled shoulder as his fingers are interlaced with Norman's #not with a desperate grip but more lightly as they revel in the sensation of touch #(just love how you drew the hands but esp where the pinkies lay to convey they're in the middle of movement) #all to be expected from a patron saint of REN bless you for this bounty 🙏🧡🤍🖤

☆ "We'll show you something great, so shut up and marry us" by @salsae

#filed under posts I'll reblog in perpetuity until blocked #I still love this piece sm Sae the sunbeams to bless their union and highlight their rings are immaculate #along with imbuing the autumn scene with a cozy warmth while using the contrast of the cool blue sky to make them pop in the foreground #the S1e11/Ch33 callback is nothing short of brilliant with how it was used to connect the three of them #now elevated by Norman being physically present beside RE it is everything. to me. #also will forever champion older Ray sporting a beard like his dad Yuugo :'')

[blingblong55]

The A Team - 141 + König

This is based on a request:

Warnings: mentions of Self Harm, Depression, blood, Suicide, (i have linked websites that can help you in times like this.)

MDNI, 18+, no smut i just feel the need for no minors to read shit like this.

————

It has been the worst of weeks. Your mental health has been getting worse and worse. You lost interest in all of your favorite things, you even started to get tired of pretending. But oh you tried. All of the things you used to love have now turned into something bitter. The team, they’ve known about your mental health, now, in most cases the military would’ve discharged you, but Price, he kept it a secret, knows this is your only escape from your dark thoughts.

Around 1 am, your mind turned for worst. All of your own demons crawled out, picking at you. Your weak self laying on the floor, feeling so numb to the tears and heartache you caused yourself. You cried and cried, at some point you knew it was time to finally give in and hurt yourself. You got up from the floor and walked to the door, you locked it, blocking the door and grabbed the knife Ghost gave you as a present.

You cut deep, the blade leaving red trails. And for the first time, you felt something good, smiling as this new pain gave you some pleasure. Blood started to spill out of your body. Staining the ground. And then, grief came by. Who would they talk to? Would they blame themselves? So you reached for your phone and send them a text through the group chat. “Thanks for everything, I love you all. Goodnight.”

You dropped your phone as the loss of blood made your body weak. And you just sat against the wall, looking at your own mess, slowly watching your skin loose life.

The men receive this text, at first clueless, then Price ran into the common room. “Where are they?!” The men all looked at each other, “their room..shit..their room!” They all ran, almost pushing each other down. They knocked and knocked. You were too lost to even hear them. How desperate they were. How they pleaded you through the door. In their years of training, nothing, ever lead them to this. How could they managed this? How could they ever fucking fix this? “Please, c’mon kid, please, open the damn door.” You just looked at it, your body feeling numb. Tears streamed down your face. Oh god, what did you do? Ghost and König kicked the door, after much fight that is. Soap and Price saw you first. Gaz, gosh he was the most destroyed at this image. He couldn’t get another look at you. Price was frozen, like time had stopped for him. Soap was on his knees, he never knew he’d see you here. Always pictured your end differently. Maybe in a few more decades, with grandkids, telling them the badass he was as a teammate. Ghost acted first, his cradled your fragile body in his arms. Poor König, he tried to stop the bleeding, but he couldn’t, the cuts were too deep. How could they ever explain this to the higher ups? ”please, please, please.” Ghost cried for the first time since his own family was taken from him. “Please don’t leave me.” His voice broke down, leaving him nude to his emotions. He was a mess, all through the room, his cries could be heard. And you? You couldn’t stop him, but just listen as he poured his ever last bit of soul into those cries. Price pushed ghost away, he ran with you in his arms to the medical center at base. A bloody Ghost trailed behind. Gaz, König and Soap stayed behind. No one said a word. Soap nudged at König’s arm. They both went to hug Gaz, who by some point was on the floor, curled into a ball, his own tears choking him. “No, no no” he cried, not being able to accept that this was the way you wanted to leave..him..them.. all of them. “C’mon Gaz, we have to clean up.” Soap said, his head nuzzled with Gaz’s shoulder. Letting himself too, break down. König, he couldn’t take another look at the mess. In all his career with the military, not once was he afraid of death, or others blood as he saw it splattered on floors. But tonight, he was afraid, it was as if he was 8 all over again. He was eating lunch when a bully came up to him, pushing him, and poor König, cried. Wept for his mum, wanting to be cuddled until the tears stopped.

Yes he was a tall man, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have feelings. You after all, had been the one to accept him as he came. All of his scars, his problems. That was you, the one who loved them all even after all the storm. You who loved too hard and fought too fast for them. The one that made empty cold base’s feel like home for them.

———

“Merry Christmas!” You exclaimed one morning, after waking up and placing an entire christmas tree at the center of base. Gifts everywhere, comfortable pj’s and a warm breakfast. ———

“Hey ghost, watch me,” “Are you watching me ghost?”

“yes r/n” he acted annoyed, but deep down, he loved it. Loved how you annoyed him like his brother once did.

———

“Dont you fucking touch my friend here!”

“You didn’t have to defend me r/n”

“But..König…i…what they said was mean..”

“I know, and that’s okay, people have their own opinions”

“Not with me”

You chased the rude soldiers around base that day.

———

“Come on in”

Gaz stepped inside, he had a nightmare. You had been his safe place every night this happened.

“Thanks” his voice so soft and gentle

“Anytime.” You two laid in bed. You cuddled him, watching and protecting him as he slept.

———

“Look price..I’m you!” ”so it appears”

“Hahahahha!!…dont fooking touch me cigar yeah?” You laughed so hard, a fake cigar in your mouth nearly choked you.

It was now a picture of you and him, dressed the same as his phone wallpaper and the small picture he carries in his wallet.

———

“SCOTLAND FOREVER!”

You exclaimed as soap carried you on his back around base. You and him dressed with kilt’s. All morning Ghost chased you two.

“Fuck ya king ye?!”

“Oh you fucks.”

“Run soap..run!!”

———

It’s incredible to think they had a million more memories with you. And all slowly dying with you. Price and Ghost slept in your hospital room. Nurses coming in almost every hour. They barely got any sleep. Taking turns as they watched over you. Crying and awkwardly staring at each other as they did this.

REQUESTS ARE OPEN

—————————————————————

If you ever feel su!cidal, depressed or need someone to talk to, just know i am here. And i fucking mean it, you talk to me alright?!

Help is available:

UK: 116 123 , 0808 164 0123 OR TEXT : (text “SHOUT”) to 85258 (everyone)

(Under 19) Text “YM” to 85258

Canada: 1.833.456.4566. OR TEXT 45645

USA: 988

—————————

A/N: I know this is a super heavy topic..but nonetheless..here ya go..i guess.

Tags: @g4y-gr3ml1n

[yourlocaltreesimp]

Just feral reader is in my mind just a reader that goes ape shit when someone tries to harm one of the links

oooh! I love the way you think! Gonna do this with Calamity!Link because this has been in my mind for too long to not write about

Hope you like it :>

CW: Harsh language, Me smack talking Flora a wee bit, power dynamic abuse

Plants, Like people

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Something was wrong. Not wrong enough that it was readily apparent, but enough that it ate at you, gnawing at your ribs with worry. Sure, there was always something inherently off about Hyrule pre-calamity that you couldn’t quite place. You pushed some loose hair away from your face and let out a heavy sigh. It was like there was a problem staring you right in the face, and no matter how much reasoning you did, it never went away. It festered, like creeping ivy crawling up a wall, latching to the stone of a home. It was like the Japanese honeysuckle, suffocating an eco system, leaving nothing but itself. Or like kudzu, out competing every other plant to the point it overgrows the grasses and trees. In long and short, there was a problem. You looked at your empty room in the palace, basic by all standards but you weren’t one to complain. Despite the room being larger than your own back home you couldn’t help but feel suffocated. You pushed off the chair at your desk and made a beeline to the door, looking to escape the room and your worries before they swallowed you whole.

In your wandering of the castle -uninterrupted by crawling pools of malice- you realised just how similar it was to Flora’s. The halls mirrored, the statues and carvings the same, a one to one. Yet despite that this castle was the very same as the one you just walked, it still felt so foreign. So… unwelcoming. Cold. You shook the thought and led yourself tyne whole way up the castle, winding all the way up to the sanctum. It took a decent amount of effort to press into the room, enough that as you had your shoulder pressed to the door, you could hear a voice from inside the room. Flora- eh, this iteration of her at least spoke. It was an understatement to say there was a difference in this worlds Flora from the one you were accustomed to seeing. She was always perfectly poised, a slight smirk whenever she spoke, looking to everyone as if she was owed respect, as if she were Hylia herself and not a decent of fading blood. Surly after so many years the power has thinned itself out by now, but the specific aspects of divinity evaded you. Afterall, the shrieks of a princess were far more attention catching.

“I mean come on are you even useful? All you have is that stupid sword. And even with that,” Her voice mocks, as if threatening, challenging whoever she verbally opposes to fight back. Because she knows what consequence would befall them if they did.

“I hold more power than you ever will. You are beneath me. I am descendent of the goddess. I am heir to the throne of Hyrule. And you?” You manage to see through a window in the doors elaborate carving, your feet ache at the stretch upward. Flora stands less than an arms length from Link’s -Or Calamity’s, Cal to be short- face. He stares off, shielding himself from the verbal tirade.

“You’re nothing.” Fire teens in your chest, liking at your ribs and clawing at your throat. You don’t have the control to stop yourself as you throw the doors open. You look at Flora as she does everything else. As a weed. Because that’s all she was to you now.

“Excuse you?” Your voice is an eerie calm, as if all worry you once held was nothing but a pretense to the burning rage scraping at your skin. You place yourself between a furious toddler of a princess and a knight who just looks more tired than anything. You didn’t like to think of how often this had to happen. Flora purses her lips, standing tall again as she prepares another indignant tantrum.

“Don’t even. You have no place to talk to anyone in such a manor. You are nothing but a child of a thinning bloodline. Your title -null as it is- means nothing.” She looks shocked, startled at your words. You explained to her, as if she were a toddler, the concept of basic respect. You pressed forward, forcing her to move backward. “It’s pathetic, really. How you treat people. I mean, I suppose for someone who wasn’t loved enough as a child it makes sense, but even then this is cruel. Petty. Maybe I should’ve expected less from you and I wouldn’t be so disappointed.” A low blow? Absolutely. Did you care? Not in the slightest. She raises her hand, still firm in her belief that no harm could come to her. But hubris brings down even the brightest of people. You catch her wrist as she swats at you face. You don’t stop yourself from laughing, the amused cackle echoing across the sanctum. “This has been fun. But I have better things to be doing with my time.” You smile, turning on your heel as Flora stands, utterly baffled. You entwined your hand with Link’s as he also stood entranced. You didn’t stop walking until you left the palace. It was a miracle that woman was alive.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Cal pov:

He couldn’t focus on anything other than the warm hand that occupied one of his own. He breathing was shaky -why was it so? it never was whenever the princess criticised him- and his mind flew by thoughts faster than he could manage. Goddesses he was so weak. Zelda was right. He couldn’t even take basic criticism. How could he ever be a hero? How could he ever be worth anything?

“Hey- Breathe.” Two warm hands cupped his cheeks, he recoiled in shock but found himself sinking into it. It was you. Goddess sent, his very sun in the sky you.

“I’m sorry, Hero” His heart nearly melted, such kind words, soft tone. That nickname, lords. He was swooning, his cheeks and ears warm, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.

“I’m so so sorry. You’re worth everything, you know? To me. You try so hard and I promise you, it’s noticed.” One hand stays upon his cheek as the other cards through his hair, massaging his scalp. He lets a few bittersweet tears fall from his eyes. Fragility he was never allowed. But you pressed kisses to each tear, held him as he shattered, years worth of stress finally finding a break. You put so much pressure in an object and it explodes. Perhaps it’s not so different for people.

[skyloftian-nutcase]

I am a little late so I probably won’t get the date I want (my birthday is in August) but for the prompt could I get pre botw Link being comforted? If not totally fine, just feel free to reply to this and tell me no XD

Link knew this new task would be difficult. He’d steadily been gaining more attention, feeling the increasing pressure of the world’s expectations on his shoulders. But when the king himself had appointed Link to be the princess’ personal knight…

He’d been honored to take the task. The other Champions had congratulated him (well… almost all of them. He didn’t particularly care for Revali’s approval, though). But the princess herself…

To a degree, Link felt like he sort of understood. She felt pressure too, honestly. He just wished she wouldn’t take it out on him. He just wanted to be able to do his job.

Sighing heavily, he rubbed his face tiredly. Princess Zelda was thankfully in safe hands now, as they were visiting Van Ruta and Zora’s Domain was one of the safest places in Hyrule Kingdom. It also gave him a chance to just relax somewhere familiar - Link loved exploring all of Hyrule—it was one of the benefits of this position—but he was always on edge when they were somewhere foreign. But the Domain was a second home to him.

There was so much comfort in this place. The smell of water was heavy in the air, a cool, comforting, crisp sensation. Link could taste the moisture, could see how the water played with light reflecting off its surface, patterns dancing on pillars and luminous crystals. The area glowed beautifully in the night, like a gentle light from magical creatures, protecting them from the dangers of the world.

He also knew all the best places to hide.

Zora’s Domain was deceptive in its layout. It looked like a fairly small place, but there were many nooks and crannies for children to find and disappear, and Link had found nearly all of them when he was little. It allowed him some privacy now, for which he was grateful, as he tried to find somewhere that he wasn’t perceived.

He’d had enough of that lately. He was tired. Tired of being stared at, tired of being judged, tired of constantly being on guard, tired of being yelled at for just doing his duty.

”Link?”

His eyes opened abruptly, and he felt his chest tighten a little. The voice was familiar, soft and warm, and he glanced over to see Mipha watching him.

Oh, well. At least it was just Mipha who found him, he supposed. He didn’t mind her company.

Link and Mipha had been good friends when they were little all those years ago. They’d had adventures, taught each other to fight, and had joined the Big Bad Bazz Brigade. At the time, it had been innocent fun. As Link learned more of the political climate between the Zora and Hyrule over the years, he’d realized how much he’d missed. His friendship with Mipha was still dear to him, but when they’d first seen each other years later, he’d been far more distant, far quieter. It was how he’d grown and matured anyway, but with the added knowledge…

They were trying, he thought. Mipha could talk to him, and he even occasionally replied. In solitude, the pair could rekindle that friendship from long ago. He felt comfortable around her.

“I suppose I wasn’t the only one who wanted to find somewhere quiet,” Mipha remarked with a small laugh, trying to be light about the matter. As Link looked her over, he noticed she looked a little tired too. “It can… I understand that everything can be a bit much. That you might need to go somewhere to be alone. I can leave—”

Face softening, he pat the space beside him. Mipha hesitated a moment, unsure, before she settled there.

“It… can be a lot,” she said softly, glancing at him.

Link sighed. Yeah. It could.

“I’m glad we have each other, at least,” Mipha smiled cheerily, hands clasped in her lap. “But I’ll be quiet now. I know this is a place for solace, after all.”

Link wanted to tell her she didn’t have to be quiet. But she didn’t seem particularly upset with the matter, either, and she leaned back, closing her eyes and looking at peace. And somehow… that made it better. Neither of them had to talk. Neither of them expected anything of the other. But they were there for each other, and Link… found more solace in that than he expected to.

He leaned towards her a little. Just a little. She did the same. Their shoulders never touched, but they could feel each other well enough, eyes closed, basking in the moment, taking in the peace of it.

It was nice to be in the Domain.

[cuecrynsleep]

A New Line Between Us

AO3 Link

Never did Angela wish for a bit, a sketch, something fictional to be reality, until Amanda.

Tags: one-sided feelings, unrequited love, platonic! changela, angst

Disclaimer: This is not meant to be a representation of those in Smosh, rather a fan made perspective on the characters they portray online. Nor is it a commentary on their feelings, their dynamic, or who they are as people. Remain respectful.

Word count: 2,670

Perhaps she should've been more careful. Maybe she should've drawn the line earlier, before any of this. Maybe she should've seen this coming from a mile away, because upon hindsight, it was obvious. It wasn't ever something that was subtle. She has always been close to Amanda, in a way that was different from anybody else. Yet, despite all of that, it was still completely shocking to her.

This couldn’t be happening. There was just no way she actually fell for Amanda. I mean it’s not like it’s hard to, rather Angela never actually thought she would. There were many bits where they were just in love with each other, or attracted to each other in some way. None of those were reality and would never amount to what reality is.

There were TNTL bits where they just sang about loving each other or having some prior relationship. Hell, they've played a married couple three times. Yet, with all of those times it was nothing but a joke. It was nothing but acting. Angela knew that, she knew that full well.

So the moment her heart raced faster than it should. The moment her heart longed for more. The moment she felt drawn to Amanda as if they were magnets. She knew full well she was doomed. She knew there was no denying it.

That's what led her to a green room by herself, cramped in a corner, hiding her from the world. It was a break from everything and everyone except for her own thoughts. Where those alone were tiring and draining enough. All she wanted was a moment of peace, something that seemed so hard in a workplace that was always so active.

She didn’t have any upcoming shoots today, most of it being in the morning. All that was left on her agenda was a meeting in an hour and a photo shoot. Angela glanced at the door from behind as she heard footsteps nearby. Not long after Chanse opened the door, calling out her name, before smiling as he saw her hunched up figure. He walked towards her and Angela looked away, positive that her face would expose more than she was willing.

"What are you doing here?" Chanse frowned. "Some of us are chilling on the Reddit stories set." He gently tapped Angela's shoulder, urging her to get up. "Come on, Ange. You're not going to start being antisocial today."

Angela mustered a smile, appreciating Chanse's gesture. "I'm good over here." She waved him off. "Don't worry about me."

He paused, letting out a sigh, before collapsing himself right next to Angela. "Okay, come on. What's wrong, Ange?"

"What?" She asked. Her voice was higher than usual as she looked at him in surprise. "Nothing is wrong."

"I'm your best friend. I know you." He glanced at her briefly. "Just talk to me."

Angela groaned. She put her knees to her chest, not minding her shoes that were on the couch. "Am I really that obvious?"

"Kind of," he said. "But I don't think that's a bad thing. Just tell me what's on your mind." He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in for a side hug. "I've been a bit worried about you recently, Angela."

"I guess I've just been distracting myself a bit more often," she shrugged off, her voice coming out in a murmur.

"From what?" He paused. "Is everything okay?"

Angela took a deep breath, willing the feelings she's been holding in to come out. She might as well, rather sooner than later. The feelings she had come to realise a few days ago, with them only growing stronger and stronger by the day.

"I've been distracting myself from Amanda," she whispered. The moment the words left her mouth she felt a huge weight lift off her shoulders. "I just need to get away from her for a bit."

"Amanda?" He repeated in a whisper. "That's rare. Is everything okay between you two?" He paused, finding his voice as he glanced at Angela, knowing she'd fail to meet his gaze. "I know you two have that kind of flirty dynamic during shoots. Is it starting to become uncomfortable?"

Angela instantly piqued up at those words. "No. No. God no," she repeated. "She's not making me uncomfortable." If anything Angela was scared she'd make her uncomfortable. Even if Amanda is the one to usually initiate their flirty dynamic during shoots.

"Okay, so," he bit his lip. "What is this actually about, Angela?" He could feel under his hand the moment she stiffened at his words. "You can tell me anything. I hope you know that."

Angela let out a shaky breath as her hands grasped tightly onto her knees. Usually when she had feelings for someone it'd be followed by joy, the moment of happiness that would rush to every bone in her body. Yet, with Amanda, it was different. It was panicked dread, because from the beginning she knew she had no chance.

Her mouth opened and closed, as she tried to find the right words to say. It felt as if the moment she spoke it aloud, she'd have to accept it and it'd all be true. Grounding her to the present was Chanse's hand, as he reached down to squeeze one of her hands.

She'd be okay. It will all be okay.

Angela took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she sank deep into the pits of feelings that pulled at her heartstrings. "I like her," she confessed, her words cracking underneath all the pressure.

Then, as if the floodgates opened, she continued talking. Her words came off in a rushed ramble as everything she kept inside, bottled up, broke apart. Only further did she break, as Chanse pulled her into a hug, letting her forehead rest on his shoulder.

"I did the one thing I swore to myself I wouldn't do and I ended up liking her," she continued on. "God, I fucking hate this Chanse. These- these feelings they're literally stupid. I wasn't supposed to like her. I wasn't supposed to take any of it seriously."

As Chanse squeezed her she could only sink herself deeper into his touch, crying harder as a sob wrecked past her throat. He wasn't congratulating her, cheering for her, or teasing her. They both knew it was nothing but a hopeless crush that was doomed to go nowhere. She was married. They were best friends. Those were just the facts of life. All she could do right now was accept it. Where even though accepting it was easy, acting like her heart didn't long for Amanda was something else.

-

It’s been a week since she told Chanse and since then things have started to become easier. If she needed to talk about it, she would. It was a much needed comfort she needed especially with how long she kept it bottled up.

Shoots with Amanda were second nature, and something both of them grew to expect when it came to a typical week. Angela still acted naturally around her, something that she thought she’d struggle with more but she didn’t. Feelings that she compartmentalised for later was something that she was used to, so her feelings for Amanda were always easy to not dwell on when on camera. After all, she was an actress, they were on camera, it was a part of her job.

Though, something that Angela hated, was how easily Amanda made her forget. When in the moment with her by her side she made her forget it all. She forgot the hard crushing feelings that weighed in her heart, and everything seemed almost weightless. Jabs, bits and mindless teasing between them came out easily. It was never something she had to worry or stress about. They had boundaries, they talked about a lot of lines not to cross nor joke about and they respected it. That’s what made their dynamic forever growing as they got to know each other more. Things they’d never do one day could be natural the next, and it all relied on their communication.

Yet, life is forever changing and it is only natural for things to change when something in the dynamic starts to shift. She first started to realise that when something that was once natural, a complete joke between them, began to bother her. Even if it was just a little.

They were live on camera for Smosh games, in a table surrounded by a couple of their cast mates. Angela was at the left end of the table next to Amanda. With them was Courtney, Spencer, Chanse, and Tommy. They were playing a simple card game, meant to get to know each other, with a wheel behind them displaying ticket goals for another live show.

It was Amanda’s turn, a card asking her about her soulmate or whatever. Admittedly, Angela forgot, as soon as Amanda said her name. She forgot her question after a few jokes left her mouth. All she could do was smile and nod, watching as the world passed her by.

Before she could even start to compartmentalise and ground herself, Amanda moved towards her. She could feel one of Amanda's hands on her shoulder, the other reaching to cup her jaw. She could feel as her personal space was being prodded at, her heart thundering against her chest. Then she moved closer, her face going towards her before turning to her side. Never once letting her lips make contact.

Christ, she just had to do a fake kiss bit right now.

Angela could feel the shiver that rushed up her spine as she stiffened at the contact. Then, as soon as Angela reacted, Amanda pulled away.

She played off the joke with a laugh, glancing at Angela to meet her gaze. Angela failed to look at her entirely, grasping at the chair to put herself back to reality. Then, as soon as it happened, as soon as she was distracted, she was back in it.

Angela ignored the way her heart pained as Amanda asked if she was okay with her eyes alone. She ignored the way her heart beat could be felt so clearly, when she reached over for Amanda's hand underneath the table. She squeezed her hand briefly, as if to tell her everything was okay, then pulled back. All she could do was sit there, and let the emotion that lingered fester. The emotion that wanted nothing more than for a bit they did on occasion, to hold some truth to reality.

And for a brief second she was brought back. She was brought back to before she developed feelings. She was brought back to the first time Amanda asked about her boundaries for the kissing bit.

-

“Hey Ange,” Amanda called over as she walked over. “I’m just checking. I didn’t make you uncomfortable earlier, did I?”

“What do you mean?” Angela asked, squinting at Amanda briefly.

“The whole fake kiss thing,” she explained. “Kinda the first time we did that sort of bit, so I just want to make sure.”

“Oh.” Angela said, as if remembering the bit that happened. “No, no you didn’t make me uncomfortable,” she said, reassuring Amanda. “Don’t worry about it, you’re okay.”

“Okay. Good.” Amanda smiled. She put a hand on Angela's shoulder. “I thought I made you uncomfortable there. I probably should've discussed the bit with you beforehand, sorry about that.”

Angela shook her head. “There's no need to apologise, but I appreciate it. Thanks.” She smiled up at Amanda, letting herself be pulled into a brief hug. “Besides, if I was uncomfortable I'd probably just push you away and play it off as a joke.”

“Noted,” she chuckled. “Just make sure to ever tell me if something I do as a bit makes you uncomfortable.”

“That goes both ways Amanda.”

-

She had to tell her she crossed a line. Even if it's a line that was already crossed before. Angela just knew it was bound to happen eventually, given her feelings. The boundaries they had before would inevitably change. Things that were once normal or welcomed wouldn't be anymore, simply because Angela's feelings changed.

Whether it be because Angela needed to get over some feelings, or because she feared making Amanda unknowingly uncomfortable. It all just felt so wrong. As if the bit of them being together or something more was something Angela was getting some enjoyment out of. Even if she didn't. Even if she never dared initiate it. It all felt so wrong when something was once a bit, held more truth to it than Amanda would ever know.

Almost as if Amanda knew it was coming she approached her first after the shoot. She hadn't even bothered to bid the rest of the cast a proper goodbye like usual, obviously very focused on making sure Angela was okay. The crew was currently packing up the cameras, Amanda and Angela staying in a faraway corner. That alone made Angela nervous, her heart beating against her chest out of anxiety alone.

Amanda hadn't even uttered a word before Angela spoke. Yet, as she saw her face, as she processed everything that happened, a thought remained in the corner of her brain. Regret. Nothing but regret for changing what they had. Nothing but regret for falling when she should've been careful in the first place. She didn't want their friendship to change. It just had to.

"Hey, about earlier," Angela hesitated, hating the way her voice cracked as she spoke. Her gaze lifted off the ground towards Amanda, she looked at her like she was so concerned.

It hurt. She shouldn't be looking at her like that. She shouldn't be making this harder than it should. Angela shook her head, letting out a shaky breath as she clenched her fists tightly. Upon looking down at her hands she already knew she'd see the crescent moon shaped indents on her light skin.

She gulped, her voice returning to her in a murmur. "Earlier when you fake kissed me, could you- maybe," she shakily breathed out, "Could you stop doing that?"

Angela's heart broke as she saw Amanda's eyes. The instant shot of panic that rushed through her showed through her voice. "Oh god," her voice cracked. "Fuck, I'm so sorry." She apologised, just about to reach out towards Angela but she stopped herself. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"

"No, no," Angela panicked. "You didn't." If anything she was scared of making her uncomfortable. “I don’t mind most of your contact, trust me, you know I’m a pretty touchy person too. Just-“ The words died on her throat as she failed to speak. She couldn't even fully meet Amanda's gaze as it seemed almost trained on the floor.

“Please just stop,” Angela whispered. She looked away, as if ashamed, and from the corner of her eye she could see Amanda. The way her face morphed into regret and shock. She knew she wanted to reach out. She knew she wanted to ask more. She knew full well Amanda wanted nothing more than to comfort Angela.

“Are you okay?” She asked in a whisper, her tone gentle as she stopped herself from putting a hand on her shoulder.

She didn't have to hesitate as Angela leaned into her touch, letting herself have one thing as she closed her eyes. She leaned closer into the contact, being pulled into a hug. She'd miss this.

“I'll be okay,” Angela mumbled out. She stopped herself from crying, refusing to let the tears fall at work. “I just need a moment.”

“Take as long as you need Angela,” Amanda said, pulling her closer. “I'm right here for you.”

Angela smiled bitterly at her words. For this certain thing, she couldn't be there for her. Then someday, when the time is right, and things start to seem less real, she'd tell her. Just not now, when all Angela wanted was to go back in time to before the feelings started.

[iwriteficsandtragedies]

The First Time

A/N I... wrote something????? It's been 84 years etc etc and it's not about a footballer because, tbh, they were so disappointing in 2023 that I have struggled to find any motivation to write my silly little fics about them. So here's a fluffy SHORT little thing about a hockey goaltender because I am nothing if not consistent and a bitch does love a tall lanky goalie.

Athlete: Jeremy Swayman

Warnings: none (I know!)

Being alone in Jeremy’s apartment was peaceful, if a little bit odd. He had waited all of twenty minutes into their third date to have the “we should only see each other” talk, smile on his face as wide as the Bunker Hill bridge. He was a man who knew what he wanted, and he wasn’t timid about asking for it.

Still, it had only been a month. Having a key to his place, being here alone in the middle of the night, just waiting for him to get home from the airport… didn’t feel wrong, just odd. The team flight had been delayed by the snow, but the biggest perk of living downtown was late night access to delivery, and he had good beer in an otherwise empty fridge. 

She heard his key in the door and rose quickly from the sofa to meet him, ruffling her hands through her hair before she rounded the corner into the hall to see him drop his suitcase to the floor and open his arms to her. “You waited.”

“Of course I waited,” she laughed lightly, pressing herself into him, inhaling the scent of him through the layers of airplane air and Boston traffic. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.” He swayed a bit, squeezed her a little tighter. “Sorry it’s so late.”

“Night shift,” she reminded him. “One in the morning is nothing.” She smiled into his chest before he moved them all the way into the apartment, locks clicking into place before he shed his shoes and coat. In the light of the entryway she could see his dark circles and overgrown scruff. Three weeks on the road had done a number on him. 

“You hungry? There’s leftover Chinese.”

He ate slowly at the kitchen counter, suppressing the occasional yawn in between bites. He always had so much to say to her, and he always wanted to know what she thought about everything, but tonight he was practically silent. When he finished, he slung an arm around her shoulders to pull her to into his side and lay his head atop hers with a heavy exhale.

“Will you stay the night? Just… just to sleep.” He pulled back to look at her, tired eyes hopeful. “I missed you, a lot, but I’m so fucking tired.”

She grinned. “Do you have an extra toothbrush?”

He did have an extra toothbrush, and plenty of t-shirts for her to sleep in. Nerves had her giddy as she finished getting herself ready for bed in his bathroom; she’d never spent a night with him before, his schedule always requiring early morning alarms and her schedule that of a night shifter with no other responsibilities simply full of overtime and day sleeping. 

She thought he’d already fallen asleep when she gingerly slid herself into bed beside him, but his eyes blinked open and he reached for her with a smile. His hand came to rest on her hip to urge her closer to him before linking his fingers through hers and bringing her hand to his lips. His eyes were closed again, breathing slowed and even. 

“S’nice coming home to you,” he mumbled. She craned her neck to press a sweet kiss to his mouth, but she had lost him to sleep.

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Nine

I shut my eyes and let the wind rush past us, my hands linked tightly around Jude’s waist as he shoots up and down the narrow streets of the town on his bike. I didn’t know that there was such a thing as truly perilous bicycle riding, but I feel like we’re going so fast that every time we swerve around a corner I am sure that I’ll be hurled off the pannier rack and splat onto the concrete. I tell myself that if I squeeze my eyes shut tightly enough then I’ll be able to pretend that I’m safe, because this way all I can feel is the jerks of my body every time he swerves around another building or telephone pole and hear the sounds of my heartbeat drumming in my ears. I squeeze my cheek into his back to try and feel more secure, and the vibrations of his voice rebound through me as he speaks from up at the handlebars. 

“You doing okay?”

“Yes, great.” He skids onto a long stretch of straight road, and I breathe a sigh of relief as the bike steadies, and I peer over his shoulder. Seeing a town in this light is eerie. The streetlights cast a strange, ghostly orange glow over everything making it look like a black and white film or like we’ve somehow cycled through a portal into some old photograph, a town deserted and we’re the only ones on it. During the day this place is always bustling with noises, car engines and voices, footsteps, but now there’s no other souls but ours. It’s so quiet. 

“Hold on tight for a second.” Jude says, his voice an isolated sound in the silent streets.

“What are you going to do?” I cling on and brace myself as he releases the handlebars from his grip and tries to cycle with no hands. The bike wobbles first, then lurches to one side, and to my horror, I am almost launched from the back of it until he steadies himself and holds on again. “Sorry, I wanted to see if it would work with two people.”

“Well it doesn’t” 

“Sorry.” He cycles a little slower for a while after that. 

I wait until my heart has stopped thumping until I talk again, and when we’ve left town and all that lies ahead of us is a straight road all the way home, I feel steady enough to speak. “You didn’t have to bring me home, really, it’s so nice but I could have found my own way. And the extra weight can’t be good for the tires on this thing.”

“What, like you think you’re heavy? This bike has been through worse.” 

I glance down at the rusty frame, the spray paint, and the pedals so worn down from being tossed onto hard ground that most of the plastic has snapped off. I suppose that it has been. “And your hoodie,” I say “You didn’t need to give me it either.”

“I did both those things because I wanted to though, really, you’re not a burden. I’d prefer to cycle home rather than wait for the guys to be finished in the nightclub. It’s fine.” 

“You often cycle alone at night?”

“I prefer to do most things on my own, honestly. I have my own pace.”

I assume that pace is absurdly, dizzyingly quickly. He moves around so energetically, every movement he makes is so abrupt that he would make your head spin around. I’ve never met somebody so charged before. I think that it’s a bit thrilling to be around him. 

“Do you want to see something?”

I don’t even ask what it is. “Yes.”

He turns down into a narrow driveway, and we quickly lose all light from the road behind us. I have no idea where we are, only that the surface beneath the wheels is rockier now. I can feel little leaves and branches from a hedgerow swiping against my arms and legs, and I ask him where we’re going. 

“You’ll see.” He brings the bike to a stop soon after, and as my eyes adjust to the darkness, I can see that we’re next to a high brick wall. We climb off and he leans his bike against it. “In my hoodie pocket” he says. “There’s my phone, can you hand it to me?” I reach in and retrieve it, and as my hand curls around it I can feel that it’s old. It’s some early 2000s model sturdy block phones. Nobody has these anymore, nobody except old people, and Jude apparently.

“Nice phone.” I say as I toss it to him. “Is this the new Blackberry?”

“Ha ha. Can your Blackberry do this?” He presses a button and a torch light glares out of the top of it. I’ve become so used to the pitch blackness of the night that it hurts and I have to look away and shield my eyes. “Jesus. No, I’m glad my Blackberry can’t do that.”

“Hey, it’s handy.” He clutches on to the top of the stone wall and starts hoisting himself up onto it. I start to follow him and leap up to grab the jagged stones at the top. “That phone is mad. I haven’t seen one of those since I was a little child.”

“It’s the worst phone ever.” He agrees, throwing a long leg over the wall and straddling it. “But I always break them, this is the only one that’s ever lasted.” He shines the torch light over the wall at something that I can’t see yet while I try to use all my strength to haul myself up onto it, feet searching around for some leverage, but it doesn’t work. I’m just not strong enough for it. 

“Give me your hands.” He reaches out to me and takes them, and then drags me up onto the top of the wall with him just like that. He made it look so easy, even if he scraped me on the stones on the way up a little bit. It’s only when he shakes my hands off his that I realise I’ve been holding onto them for longer than I should have, and I’m glad that it’s too dark for him to see me blush. “Getting in is the hard part.” He tells me. “It’s way easier to get out again.”

He grabs his phone again and points the torch at a patch of long grass on the other side of the wall, and then in one fluid movement he’s leapt off onto it and is reaching up to help me down there with him. 

“It’s too high.” I say. 

“I’ve got you.”

I scoot myself to the edge of the wall and then slowly, carefully I turn around and start easing my feet down the side of it. I’m facing away from him when he takes hold of my waist and asks me to let go of the wall. “I’ve got you.” He says again. 

There’s a rousing feeling within me when he lands me on the grass. An excitement in the vulnerability of it, the nearness of him in the darkness sending electric currents over me so that goosebumps rise up on my arms. I’ve had kisses with boys that have left me feeling nothing, but he can make my whole body shiver while barely touching me.

“Are you alright?” He says softly, because to speak in a normal voice among the absolute silence of the countryside would feel like an exclamation.

“Yes.” I breathe.

“If you want to go home, I can take you home. All you have to do is climb up on a bench and you can get back over, easy peasy.”

“No, I want to stay.”

“Alright.”

“Where are we?” I ask him. He lifts the torch and shines the beam out in front of us to illuminate what at first, looks like oddly shaped rocks scattered around in an overgrown field. I squint. “What is this? It’s like a- oh!” I gasp when the realisation strikes me. “We’re in a graveyard.”

“Yeah.” He starts stepping through the overgrown grass, weaving in and out of the gravestones and I follow him, trying to stay close enough so that the tiny phone torch light will light up the ground beneath me. God forbid I catch my shoe on someone’s grave and fall face first into an open tomb or something equally horrifying. 

“This way.” He says to me, and I scramble after him, reaching him as he stands at a pair of large, wooden doors. I reach out and lay my hands flat on them, looking up at the dark blue sky where I can see for the first time the pitch black silhouette of a steeple. “A church.” I say in wonderment. “An abandoned church.”

“Can I show you what’s inside?”

“Is it safe?”

“Yeah.”

“Then yes.”

Prev // Next

[itstheimpossibledream]

Protector

Pairing: Suga x you

Genere: Smut, Established relationship

Summary: Yoongi doesn't want to take your relationship public, he's comfortable hiding and knows he wouldn't be able to protect you from the media. Idk why I'm addicted to a sad story. It's my first BTS fic Army be nice.

“Yoon-gi! I am tired of your shit !” your voice is low and steady.

“And I am not tired of you ?” he stared at you coldly.

“Cool," you take a step back from him, almost disgusted by how detached he was being “I’ll get my shit then.” you brush past him into your room,dragging your suitcase out of the back of the closet. A place that had been it’s home for the last three years. You wield it over your small shoulder and onto the end of the bed,as you watched him close the door to your room. He takes his time , until the door clicks, turning back around to you. 

“I’m not trying to offend you, I just don’t understand why it’s so important to you I-”

“Because if this is real” you cut him off “If this is something, we have to try it in the daylight,we have to try the real world. And if we don’t make it ,we don’t make it but we try-” 

“You are so frustrating -” he rolls his eyes. 

“And you are so comfortable being alone.” you can tell that comment cut him. And as much as you hated yourself for it you were glad you could hurt him as much as he had hurt you. 

“Ack-” he waves his hand at you.

“No, listen to me .” you rush towards him and he moves around you. Swiftly switching positions and pinning your back against the bedroom door. 

You are caught in his eyes, in his love for you, his want to keep you safe and the reality of the fact that he is right. Going public meant sharing you with more than just his friends and family.

“Going public means when we have fights like this, they take pictures.” he bit his bottom lip in uncertainty “When we hurt, the world sees that .When we’re happy they see that too, but is that worth how you will be hunted by sasaeng.When I have a kid, he won’t be able to play at the park, to be normal. He deserves that .”

“So you want to keep your family, your life ,everything entirely secret?” you whisper 

“I want you-” He whispers back leaning into you “ I just don’t want anything but us to ruin us.”

You can’t help but lean in and kiss him after that. His hand comes to cup the side of your face. His hips rock into you and before you realize your hands are tugging at the hem of his shirt while he works under your skirt, up your thighs to pull down your panties. This was the fire  you had; just unending passion, connection,like fissures linking and touching every corner of your body, inspiring it to seek more of him. You step out of your underwear and he slides the warmth of his palms up your calves, the back of your legs becoming alight with his touch. 

“Yoon-”you protest as he rolls up your body.

“Shhh.” he whispers through a lazy smile, kissing you again. Your hands are at his belt buckle, pulling at the loops.

“Fuck that.” he mumbles,forcing his pants downwards, shimmying out of the denim.He wraps his arms under your hips ,lifting you and holding you up against the door. His voice was low and he let out a growl as he rolled his crotch into yours again. That elicited a short high pitched moan   from you which he must have liked because he pulled back and smiled at you before placing a hand at your throat and doing it again. He takes his other hand to your core and begins rubbing you slow and controlled. “Is this what you want?” he asks , and it’s hard for you to have clarity on if he’s looking for a response to your conversation earlier or an answer for if you do or don’t want sex. Because you always wanted sex,especially with him; which he knew. Making that just seem like an unnecessary additive. “Mmmm I can’t wait to be inside you” he purrs, lifting your hips and angling himself at your opening. It didn’t matter that you had just argued, it didn’t matter that he couldn’t change. Your body ached for him. 

“Please…please” you found yourself whispering. Begging for what you were unsure but, he understood you, he knew what you needed. He fucked into you at a painstakingly slow rate, relishing in your array of faces pre orgasm. He is a man of many talents and he wasn’t usually rough with you. But this slow, subtle domination was a talent even you didn’t know he had. He held eye contact with you as he pulled himself in and out of your warm hole, time passed slower. The sound of your moans and his breath were music to your ears, peppered by his occasional praises of how good you are at a low whisper in your ear. You feel yourself nearing your climax and you dig your fingernails into his shoulder while crying out. He kisses the vanes in your throat as you throw your head back, using the kisses to break up the phrases of praise towards you. He tells you how good you are for cumming for him and you can tell he’s getting excited by his own words as he rocks faster inside you. His last few pushes are rough and you hold onto him so you don’t slide down the wall yourself. You feel him shoot into you and you can’t help but smile, taking stock of his face a bit flushed, hair damp and sticking to his forehead, eyes heavily lidded in pure bliss. You hold each other there for a minute,enjoying the contact,breathing heavily in unison. Your lips part and you’re overcome with comfort in that contorted position, against the door for a while. Eventually you are able to peel your bodies apart from each other and you look up at him suddenly aware of your nakedness. “ I may not be as figured out as you Yoongi but, I don’t want to be with someone who won’t claim me.” You look up at him sadly. The rose colored glasses were gone. His hand brushes down your arm and moves to hold your hand. This time instead of holding his, you take a step back from him. You snatch your clothes from the corner of the floor they had occupied and get dressed. He’s quiet as you move towards the bed,you slowly zip your suitcase and roll to the door. You extend a hand to press the elevator button of his penthouse“Don’t choose this.” he says quietly. He has sweatpants on, and somehow an incredibly solemn face while shirtless sitting on the arm of his couch. “You think I want this?” you pull your jacket over your shoulders. The door dings open and he crosses his arms across his chest. “For the record, I always would have picked you.” you smile, trying to rush into the elevator before you feel your tears hit your cheek. He stares at you but doesn’t respond. It’s clear there’s nothing more to say. His gaze runs over your entire body, as though he’s trying to burn a memory of you into his brain. 

“Bye Min Yoongi” you say, jabbing your finger into the door close button but it can’t close fast enough.

[iamvegorott]

9 & 7 in the fluff section with Phantomhero please? Maybe phantom expressing his worries with a fellow ego?

7. "You're not going to lose me." 9. "How much of that did you hear?"

---------

Phantom was known for his confidence, for walking through the world as if he owned it and never batting an eye at anything that would cause the average person worry. 

But there was one thing that would get Phantom anxious, make him second-guess his thoughts, and cause him to question if he was doing the right thing.

His love life.

Not sex, Phantom knew sex very well.

But love? That deep, heart-fluttering, love that made you blush at the mere thought. 

That?

Phantom always feared he wasn’t doing it right. 

There were only a few people he was willing to show some of that vulnerability to and right now he was pacing the living room with Mad sitting on the couch, book closed in his lap as soon as he sensed Phantom's worry. 

“What if he gets tired of me?” Phantom hugged himself at that thought. 

“Tired of you? Jackie has more energy than all of us combined.” Mad said, adjusting so his legs were crossed underneath him. 

“Not like that.” Phantom shook his head. “I mean getting annoyed with me. Not liking the way I am anymore.” He felt the idea hitting him even harder when he had to explain it. 

“He loves you, he won’t get annoyed.”

“People fall out of love all the time. They create art out of those feelings, of the passion fading, of things they used to adore becoming like nails on a chalkboard. It doesn’t matter how strong the flames were at the beginning, it can always get blown out.” Phantom had stopped pacing by the end, now just holding himself and staring at the ground. 

“Do you think me and Mare are going to break up?” Mad asked and Phantom snapped his head up in shock. 

“Hell no! Mare’s nuts about you.” Phantom was still beyond confused at that sudden question. 

“And Jackie’s nuts about you.” Mad’s raised brow and comeback threw Phantom off guard even more.

“That’s not-That’s not the same.” 

“How?” 

“You’re smart and adorable. I’m a reckless brat. Cute can cover for a lot more than what…than what I am.” 

“Phan.” A different voice was heard when Mad opened his mouth to protest. 

“Jackie?” Phantom and Mad turned and saw Jackie at the room’s entrance. “How much of that did you hear?” 

“Mare let me in through the back a bit ago.” Jackie pointed over his shoulder with a thumb. 

“I should go see what he’s doing,” Mad said, scrambling quickly out of the room. There was an awkward pause before Jackie broke it as he walked over to Phantom.

“Do you really think I'd get annoyed with you?” His voice was soft, filled with his own worries that he caused Phantom fear. 

“Everyone does.” Phantom was back to hugging himself, trying to create a wall to hide from the feelings bubbling inside him.

“Not everyone.” Jackie gently coaxed Phantom's hands off himself and got him to hold his hands instead. 

“Enough people. I've lost enough people to know better than to assume that anything can be perfect.” Phantom squeezed Jackie's hands.

“You're not going to lose me. If anything, you're the one stuck with me.” Jackie smiled. His big, toothy, crooked smile always melted Phantom's heart.

“Stop being so nice. You're going to make me cry and I don't do that.” Phantom chuckled, blinking quickly in an attempt to make the tears threatening to form go away. 

“You're allowed to cry.” Jackie's smile softened to one filled with affection as he moved a hand to cup Phantom's cheek. “I love you the way you are. Everything about you is beyond perfect to me.” 

“Damn it, Jackie.” Phantom's voice cracked and he hugged Jackie tightly. “I love you, too.” Jackie laughed and hugged Phantom back, a big bear hug that lifted him off the ground, getting Phantom to laugh with him and making those fears of losing Jackie go away.

----------

@bookwormscififan

Pinterest Prompts List: Link

[madaboutmunson]

Again - Part 18

Part 1 | Part 17 | Part 19 | Full list of Again series links inc AO3 Link

Steddie fic where Steve and Eddie are in their mid 30's and everyone has sort of drifted apart

Notes: Sorry this one is a little late in posting. I had a bit of a strange birthday and got a bit down about it.

Taglist: @adaed5 @grtwdsmwhr @swimmingbirdrunningrock @mightbeasleep, @jewellthebooknerd, @fentiibratzz @rvllybllply2014

================================================

Steve raises his fist to knock, and the last time he remembers being this nervous here was the first time his kids were on his side of the door.

He looks down at the phone clutched tightly in his hand, the screen displaying Eddie's message.

Whatever happens, we'll figure something out. ILY x

He hears a singular bark and a rush of feet toward the door. Then, finally, it swings open, and he's greeted by the beaming smile of Val, but Steve notes he looks a little tired around the eyes.

"Steven!!" He enthuses loudly, grabbing his shoulders and kissing each side of his face, just before he is almost pushed out of the way by a very excitable Beans. Steve ruffles the fur on her head, and she circles his legs until she's perfectly at his heel as Val waves him into the house. 

Steve's stomach swirls with worry as he sits at the kitchen table, and Beans must be able to tell because she rests her chin on his leg as he pets her head gently. Steve laughs awkwardly, "Thanks for letting me come over. I know you're both gonna be so busy with everything now. I just wanted to speak to you both while the kids were at school" His voice drops to a whisper, "Speaking of which...Did you tell the kids yet?"

Val nods in response, "Oh yes, Jenny reminded me that you are almost as bad at keeping delicious secrets as I am. They also had The Talk again," Val adds, "Plus a little extra about it being early. Thought I'd let you know in case you get any questions fired your way about it.”

“Right, got it” Steve nods as Val hands him a very uncharacteristic mug of hot chocolate. Steve’s eyes move to his in question.

“For your nerves, Steven,” Val says fondly, sits opposite and looks from side to side before leaning over the table and dropping his voice to a whisper. “Don’t worry. Your Valentino has been putting in the groundwork for you.” He makes a sure upside-down smile expression on his face, “We’ve got this covered. It only occurred to me the other day that, in some ways, you and I are similar, and I thought maybe Jenny and Eddie might have similarities too. Common ground, even if it is just caring fiercely about you?”

Steve’s stomach swirling turns to a full-blown spin cycle, “Oh Christ, Val. I didn't even think about that. This is going to be so bad.” Steve whimpers quietly.

Valentino tuts and amps up his accent. “No, Steven. Listen to Valentino. It’s going to be ok. She doesn't want to ruin anything for you.”

“Oh no, it’s not that, Val. You don’t understand. You’ve met a much mellower Jenny for the most part” Steve checks over his shoulder and leans in again, “Remember that time Penelope Hasselbank’s mom insulted Corey’s finger painting? Said it looked like a brown blob because he mixed all his paints together?”

Val’s eyes widen as he leans back in his chair, twists the kitchen towel over his shoulder between his fingers, and says quietly in horror, “And then she laughed at it….”

“And then she laughed, Val. For months later, that woman had to continually replace tires because a ‘Masked youth’ kept slashing them, then had to change her cell number because she was getting calls from people asking for a ‘good time’ and to this day, she always looks like she sparkles because of how many times she got glitter bombed at least once a week, at home, at work, on holiday. Remember that?” Steve raises a finger on his hand at Val before submitting the one next to it, “Now times that by two, and put it in the same room.”

“Il mio dio e lo spirito santo” Val says, crossing himself.

“Precisely! Though I trust whatever you’ve done will have helped,” Steve says with as much of a smile as he can muster.

Footsteps approach the kitchen. “Where is he?” Val whispers quickly.

“I’ve hidden him in the back seat of the car,” Steve says, trying not to laugh, but Val's booming laugh makes him completely lose it into a fit of giggles, probably mostly charged by nervous energy.

“And just what are you two laughing about?” Jenny says with a smile leaning in the doorway.

“Nothing!” They reply in unison, and Jenny blows a raspberry.

“Zero out of ten guys. Your worst performance yet.” She sits, and Val brings over her tea, “So Steve, let's hear it.” Val reaches over and taps Steve’s hand in support. 

“Well, as I told you on the phone, things are moving quite quickly between Eddie and me. And I was talking to him the other day about him moving in, but he said he wanted to make sure you and the kids were ok with it first, you know?” Steve manages to look between the table and Jenny, and Val gives him an ok sign of support.

Jenny steeples her fingers and leans forward a little, “Ok.”

“Ok?” Steve asks in surprise.

“Look, I trust you wouldn't put our kids in danger, not for anyone, even if you have clearly gone a little crazy over this guy. I am well aware of how quickly you move, Steve. The kids. I can’t speak for but as far as I’m concerned, ok. On a few conditions though, Steve,” She warns, and Steve gives her his hopeful undivided attention, “If he’s free, and he should make time to be if he’s serious, he attends the dinners, birthday parties, events, whatever. I don't want this guy to be someone I see once and then he changes where I can’t see. He’s in with us, or he’s out, got it?” Steve nods. “He does not ever try to muscle his way in with parenting our kids. Val has coped just fine without treading on your toes. I expect the same from Eddie. I imagine this one goes without saying, but he does not upset our Kids.” Steve shakes his head, “And last of all, he stops hiding in the back seat of your car and gets in here, so I can make my final evaluation.” She says, leaning back in her chair.

Steve and Val exchange a look, and Steve gets out of his seat and scrambles to retrieve Eddie from the car.

Steve can see him lying across the backseat, happily playing that snake game on his phone. Not a care in the world. He gently taps on the window, and Eddie jumps to a sitting position and opens the door.

“Yeah?” He says, looking at Steve with a great big smile.

“Almost,” Steve answers, takes his hand, assists him to his feet, and shuts the car door.

Eddie pulls uncomfortably at the collar of his shirt, “Well, I never thought I’d hear myself say this, Steve. But let's go charm the pants off your ex-wife.”

As they enter the kitchen, Val greets them with a warm smile and pulls out a chair for Eddie, who sits, and Steve can see his hand twitch forward for a handshake, and then he retreats, and it looks as if Jenny and Eddie are assessing one another via silent communication and occasional side-eye. Val and Steve’s eyes ping pong between the two like they are watching tennis.

“Hmmm,” She says, finally, “You swear you won’t, right?” She asks

“Absolutely not! Never again,” Eddie exclaims.

“I’m serious, buddy,” Jenny warns.

“Yeah, well, surprise, me too, actually,” Eddie fires back, gesturing at his clothes and the room. There is an exchange of nods, like two strangers acknowledging another of their own kind.

"Job?"

"My own business. Reading, gaming, music for kids."

"You drink?" She asks

"Not especially. Beers are nice on a hot day, something stronger on a hot date" The corner of Eddie's mouth twitches up for a second.

"Drugs?" She asks, and Steve can feel the sweat forming in his palms.

"Mostly for my nightmares or really shitty days, but never if I'm driving," Eddie says. "And only green. I don't play around with anything else," Eddie says, waving a hand in front of him.

"Kids?"

"Godson," Eddie beams.

"Exes?" She asks, eyeing him carefully.

"Lots, but…er…no ties, all the paperwork is done. I couldn't give them what I'd given to someone else," Eddies says, rubbing his arm awkwardly. Val grips hold of Steve's hand, and as he turns to him, he can see Val's bottom lip quiver. He looks back at Eddie and Jenny quickly before Val starts him off too.

"On the back of that answer, I feel like I need to ask…."

"Negative." Eddie interrupts quickly.

"You got any questions?"

"How long?"

"Did he-" Jenny starts to send a frown towards Steve, but Eddie shakes his head in a no. "A few weeks. Nearly a month." Jenny smiles hugely down at her tummy and runs her hand over it.

"You tried ginger?" Eddie asks gently. Jenny shakes her head. "I don't mean this ask a bribe, but er, after this is over, I can make you the tea my mama taught me."

“Did he ask you to wear this?” Jenny smiles at Eddie.

“Yes!” Eddie complains, unbuttoning the top button of his shirt and finally relaxing in his seat.

“Ah, that explains it” She gestures a hand in a circle over Eddie, “Because this is not what I envisioned. Not to get Steve’s attention anyway,” she laughs.

Eddie leans forward, resting his chin on his fist toward her with a smirk, “Do tell me more about what get’s Steve’s attention. I wish to wield as much power as I can”, he jokes.

“Do you know about the….” Jenny says as she leans over to whisper something to Eddie.

“HEY!” Steve shouts and points a finger at them both, “No, not this. No way. Switch seats immediately!”

“Oh, like you and Tino haven’t been doing this for years.” Eddie gestures at Val. Causing Val to sit a little straighter in his chair as he runs his hands over his slicked-back hair, and Steve nudges at him.

“Ok, easy there, tiger,” Jenny says, laughing at Val’s reaction, before turning back to Eddie, “You know what? It's nice to have an even playing field for once in this house. You’re ok by me so far, Eddie” She smiles. “Welcome to the madness.” She extends her hand across the table, and Eddie shakes it enthusiastically. “Good luck with the kids. They are brutal.”

“You know I might just keep my win for the day and get grilled by those tiny tyrants another day”, Eddie smiles at Jenny, who mirrors it back.

Val kicks Steve under the table, wiggles his eyebrows and mouths “Cute” at him. Steve's instinct is to rush out of his seat and spin Eddie around the kitchen, and he almost does, but he falters and looks back to Val, who smiles reassuringly and nods. Steve isn't really waiting for permission, it's more like he doesn't want to throw something in Jenny's face if it might upset her in some way, but at Val's nod, he's pulling Eddie out of his chair, he's squeezing his face in his hands and pressing their foreheads together. For a moment, all Steve can do is sigh and look at his love. Another easy hurdle. Done. One left, Steve thinks. He can't believe how close he is to dreams becoming a reality again. Maybe's are yes's. Impossible things are possible. As Eddie blinks back at him, unable to speak because his face is still being squeezed, Steve can't help himself, and he kisses him. Just a small chaste one. He didn't want to overdo it. A small sob from the table breaks it off fairly quickly, and Steve turns back to see Val dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief and Jenny consoling him.

"And I'm the hormonal one right now." She laughs, smiling at Eddie and Steve.

"Jennifer! I cannot help it. My heart is overflowing, with romance, with love. It is too much to keep inside. And it's Steven. You know how much I love my Steven!" Val protests through sniffles. "Do you know where my other handkerchief is, my love? This one is done for." Val wipes his eyes and blows his nose loudly as Jenny rolls her eyes and leaves the kitchen.

Steve feels Eddie press closer to him, and his arms squeeze around Steve a little tighter at Val's words. Steve looks amused at Eddie's actions, and Eddie shrugs and laughs a little embarrassed, "Sorry?" he whispers and sneaks his hand into Steve's back pocket, and in return, Steve runs his fingers down Eddie's spine.

"This is my first meeting with your family, babe. Let me at least keep some cool around them," Eddie says quietly out of the corner of his mouth, and just as he finishes the last word to Steve, his face is grabbed by someone else. Val's strong tan hands hold Eddie's face and pinch his cheeks. Steve can tell Eddie is trying to remain composed but is probably internally screaming, and if it had been anyone else, Steve probably would have stepped in to save him, but it was Val, and really, Eddie was just going to have to get used to it. Which, ultimately, he surely would, as they were just as space invasive as one another.

"Look at you, uh? You take good care of my Steven now. He's very special to me." Steve looks at them both, and though Eddie is the essence of cool on the outside, Steve can feel the tension in his arm. "Having said that, he didn't make it tough for me, so I won't make it tough for you here." Valentino flashes his huge pearly white smile, but then something happens that Steve hasn't seen before. He laughs and shakes his head before fixing Eddie with a look, "Unless you make me. Capisce?" Eddie nods, and Steve can see Eddie analysing Val's face, and he lets him and leans in to say quietly as he twists the gold ring on his pinky finger, "My cousin Frankie owns a lotta bars in Chi-town, Eddie. Said you are one hell of a guitar player." Eddie gulps, and Steve feels the nervousness spread to him. He isn't sure how much Val appeared to know, but Steve hadn't told him about Eddie's past. Then Val's eyes flick up to Steve's, and he gives him a fond smile, "But if it's right by Steven, it's right by me." And with that, he turns back to Eddie, grabs him by the shoulders and kisses him on each cheek, "Welcome to the family, Eddie," he says, tapping his face playfully.

"I got you this one, hon-" Jenny says as she re-enters the room. "Now, what are you boys up to?" She says with a laugh, and Val rushes over and scoops her into his arms and plants kisses all over her face until she's pushing him away.

Eddie turns to Steve and whispers, "I think, they might be just as crazy as us, babe"  Steve thinks back to how quickly things happened between Val and Jenny and smiles hugely. If they felt the way he did about Eddie, he was so happy he didn't make any of it a problem for them, and maybe that's why they were being so open to the situation now, because they understood it, in a way. Steve thanks the ceiling again for blessing him with such luck.

"Yeah, I think they might just be," He says before kissing Eddie on the forehead.

They sit back at the table, some small talk is passed around, and Steve moves his chair right next to Eddie's. Eddie reaches for his hand under the table, and though maintaining the outward appearance of cool, calm, and collected, he can feel how excited he is about all of this as the grip on his hand pulses with tight squeezes. Steve leaves it that way for a little while, and once the squeezes are a little softer, he puts their joined hands on the table. Eddie glances bashfully out of the corner of his eye at him, and Jenny gives him a smile and nod, but then suddenly, her face changes, and she speed walks out of the room. Val chases after her.

"Was she like this with the other two?" Eddie asks, a little concerned, as Steve almost follows her, getting out of his seat, but Val waves him down kindly and runs after her.

"A little, just on a few mornings, but they both look pretty tired. I don't think it's like before," Steve says, deeply concerned.

"Listen, it might not work, but I was pretty anxious when I was a kid, and nausea was ruining my tiny little life. My mom used to fix me this ginger drink. I made it for Alice a few times too. It seemed to work then. So if it's ok, and you know where everything is, we could make her some. Or I can make it, and you could, uh, write it down?" Steve tears his eyes from the doorway to Eddie, and although he didn't think it possible five minutes ago, his whole being is filled with even more love for his man. He almost gets lost looking at him. He was so perfect. The noise from the bathroom brings Steve back to Earth, and he helps Eddie find the ingredients and grabs some notepaper and a pen.

Eddie makes two things, one in a pot simmering on the stove, another he employs a cocktail shaker and some crushed ice for, and splits it into four glasses topping up with soda water and sets them on the table.

Steve holds the jug and sieve whilst Eddie pours in the ginger honey, lemon and mint tea from the huge pot, and he can't help himself, "Where did they make you?" He asks softly.

Eddie looks more intensely at the jug, and a sweet shy smile creeps over his face, "If most people were to be believed by the devil himself," he says in his best Walter Cronkite voice and laughs.

"Yeah, if only they could see you now, going out of your way to help someone you've known for less than an hour," Steve says dreamily before he accidentally says aloud, "I can't believe I get to call you mine," and immediately shuts up.

Eddie freezes, and a huge smile spreads across his face as he tries to hold back a laugh, “Did you mean to say that out loud, babe?”

Steve concentrates fiercely on the jug and sieve, "Well…I meant it, but maybe it was supposed to fall out of my mouth like that." He grimaces awkwardly.

Eddie puts the pot down, takes the sieve away from him, dumps its contents, and puts the lid on the jug to cool on the counter before returning to Steve, who is busying himself with the things in the sink. Soon he feels Eddie's hand cradling his jaw and turns his head to face him. Eddie looks deeply into his eyes and says gently, "I don't mind you getting a little shy sometimes, it's actually kinda cute, but we spoke about this. You can tell me anything ok, you don't need to be worried. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere unless you ask me to. Even if you say the dorkiest things imaginable, I'll still love you" He smiles and pecks a kiss at Steve's lips, "Maybe even especially when you say the dorkiest things" He chuckles, "I'm not gonna fight you on it, but I feel lucky too. How many people get to go back to rekindle a first true love and find it's even better than they imagined? I don't know any, do you?" Eddie asks, kissing his cheek, and Steve shakes his head, words altogether leaving him again as he gazes at Eddie lazily. “We’re gonna make it. We are making it happen, and honestly, I can’t believe our luck. Your family is just so great. They really care about you. I really care about you. I love you,” he says, poking Steve in the chest before smoothing over it with his hand, “So stop worrying!” he says, widening his eyes and waiting for a nod of confirmation from Steve, which of course, he obliges with.

"Sorry about that, guys. The sickness is pretty awful this time. I'm hoping it's temporary," Jenny apologises as Val helps her to her seat, "Is this the drink?" Steve can hear that innocent, hopeful tone in her voice, and he figures it really must be bad.

Eddie bustles around and shows them the jar in the fridge by opening it for a second, “In here is the tea, and in front of you is just a sort of mixer, cooler thing. Pretty much the same ingredients, just much quicker to make.” There is a sort of pause as they all migrate towards the table. Eddie looks a little nervous, so Steve picks up his drink and takes a big gulp. It wasn't the greatest thing he’d ever tasted in his life, but honestly, Eddie could make him a million weird drinks, and he’d at least try every single one. Val follows Steve's lead.

"Well, that packs quite a punch, Eddie," Val says with a big smile, "Let's take a look at Steven's list here" Val takes a look over the instructions, "Looks safe to me, mia cara. Wanna check?" Eddie fidgets with his rings, and the way his mouth twitches, Steve can tell he is dying to say something.

"You know Eddie made this for his housemate who was pregnant. She had a healthy baby, right?" Steve takes over, and Eddie nods with a smile and stops fidgeting, "Also, Eddie here drank it a lot as a kid, right, honey?" Steve reaches for Eddie's hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

"Yeah, that's right. I mean, maybe don't sell it on how I turned out, but I got this far, so" Eddie laughs and takes a drink, and Jenny looks between the three of them. "Take no notice of these guys if you don't feel safe drinking it. I understand you've only just met me, so zero offence taken." Eddie sends her a warm smile across the table. 

"Honestly, I'm desperate for some help," She replies, looking longingly at the glass, "Sleep is like rocking horse shit. But, you know, I’ll check with the doctor. I’m sure it's fine. I just," She glances over at Val, “I don’t wanna take any chances.” Val scoops up her hands in his own and kisses each one, her eyelids droop a little, and she lets out a small yawn.

Steve takes that as an indicator to leave, he even offers to have the kids a few days earlier, but Jenny declines, not wanting the new baby to cause changes so early when she promised it wouldn’t. So they make their new affectionate goodbyes and head home.

As they drive back, Steve notices Eddie fidgeting with his rings again, “Everything ok, honey?” Steve asks and puts his hand on his knee.

“Yeah, really good,” Eddie replies, and Steve relaxes hearing the grin in his voice, “Just, uh, this kinda lame,” he huffs out a laugh, “I’m just, um, excited, you know? About all this, and it's weird.” 

“Like, weird, how exactly?” Steve asks, mostly amused with a garnish of worry.

He feels Eddie’s hand cover his, “I just am finding it a little strange, to, um, be looking forward to things, to have hope and life not kick me in the nuts for once. Told you it was lame.” He punctuates it with an adorable dorky little snort.

“What did I tell you that first night? No more struggling. You get everything you want because I’m gonna do whatever I can to make it happen, ok?” He wiggles his fingers so they slot between Eddie’s a little. “I know we’ve still got the kids to go, but I think it's gonna be fine. They already like you, so worst-case scenario, I have to not have you in my bed every night for a week. Which, ok, already sounds like hell on earth,” Steve hears Eddie chuckle, “but it would only be overnight, and I could always make up for it the week after, maybe?” Steve inquires suggestively.

“Well, I guess that doesn’t sound too bad” Eddie flexes his fingers so they grip Steve’s hand. “You know, the only thing I really want,” Steve feels Eddie fidget with their hands for a moment before he feels the warm metal slip over his finger, “Is to be yours and stay that way. Forever. No matter what.” Eddie sighs, and he feels the ring on his finger get removed and replaced with another. “I don't much like religion, honestly, but all those things they list, richer, poorer, in sickness or in health, for better or worse, to love until death tears us apart. That’s what I want.” 

“Then that's what you’ll have, my love,” Steve says gently and continues to let Eddie test his rings on him, “But I mean, if death tears us apart, you best believe I’m gonna haunt you. I’m gonna haunt you so hard, and if you meet someone else, I will terrorise them.” Eddie laughs a little too hard for Steve’s liking. “You think I wouldn't? You think that I would just watch it happen. Hell no! Once I’m dead, Eddie, I don't have to be a good person anymore. I can act exactly as I would like, and scaring the shit out of all your future potential love interests would be not only the top of my list, it might be the entire list, except for maybe checking in on the kids.” Eddie is still laughing.

“Oh, I wasn’t laughing at that. I was laughing because you think someone would still be here to haunt. You think that at your funeral, I wouldn’t dramatically throw myself down there with you? You’re crazy!” Eddie chuckles and removes the ring from Steve’s hand.

The next few days are spent in various love nests around the house, making plans, designing a studio for Eddie, marking out the road trip plan for next year, watching movies, dancing, play fighting, eating supper by candlelight, star gazing on inflatables in the pool after eating some of the special brownies Eddie made. Steve feels like Eddie has weaved his magic and encapsulated their home in a great big bubble of love.

Sunday arrives, and they spend the morning transferring all of Eddie’s things back into the RV. Which initially starts out as a team effort until Eddie picks up his acoustic guitar and decides to follow Steve around, serenading him with Happy Together by The Turtles, With A Girl(Guy) Like You by The Troggs, Oh, Pretty Woman(Steven) by Roy Orbison, and Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen, whilst Steve does the transfer of things. Suddenly most of Steve’s neighbours have front lawn or driveway projects to do, though he notices not a lawn mower to be heard, just Eddie’s voice and guitar ringing out down the street. Sure, Steve should be a little annoyed that he was doing all the sad, hard work and maybe even a little embarrassed about the attention of the street, but Eddie’s theatrics had won him over on the first strum. He knows he’s lost so many memories, but he will never forget this. Steve wonders how many more memories they’ll make together, and his heart blossoms with possibilities. Memories with their big extended family, memories with the kids, and things that they might tell their grandkids about.

It makes the day a little bittersweet. 

Eddie had thought he’d take the chance to go back and check in on Wayne. Unfortunately, Jack had taken a turn for the worse. He was declining rapidly and was being moved to a care home by his kids. Wayne contemplated going with Jack but didn't want to admit defeat. By giving up their home, he felt he was giving up a place for them to return to, so he was travelling to and from the place every day, and Eddie suspected he was just gonna tucker himself out.

Their goodbye takes much longer than either of them intended. Steve tries to savour every feature, look, touch, and sound he can absorb from Eddie. He wanted them embossed into his brain and skin, so he would never be without them.

They part ways at the end of the driveway, and Steve heads to pick up the kids and Beans to bring them home.

On arrival, he gets a massive hug from Jenny, which was destined for Eddie because his ginger tea drink works like a charm, but as he isn't here, Steve agrees he will happily pass it on for her. The kids bundle into the car, shoving their new schedules at Steve as they pass. For most of the journey home, the kids appear to be in their respective headphone universes, but occasionally he’d hear whispering, but every time he glances in the mirror, they go back to looking out of their windows. Something suspicious was afoot, and Steve would get to the bottom of it one way or another.

“What are you two plotting back there?” Steve says, looking in the mirror and narrowing his eyes at them.

“Plotting? Us? Together? NEVER!” Corey says with a laugh.

“Oh please, I can hear you whispering!” he tries again, looking at Zee for a second.

“Look, you’ll see, ok? OW! Corey!” Zee exclaims.

“Don’t blow it for us! Make him wait a little. He can sweat about the unknown for a bit,” Corey says seriously, and Steve has to swallow a laugh.

“Fine, be like that!” Steve says with pure mischief running through his veins, and he turns up the car stereo as loud as it will go before distortion, winds down the window and starts singing along loudly, which just happens to be Sisqo’s Thong Song. He doesn’t know most of the lyrics, but he makes up some of his own and sings even louder in the bits he knows.

The kids start to complain and protest, but Steve cups his hand to his ear and shakes his head, “WHATS THAT? NO, SORRY, CANT HEAR YOU. WAIT UNTIL WE GET HOME, YEAH?!” and then continues to sing along with whatever he can until they get home.

As they pull up onto the drive, the kids and Beans rush for the door, but Steve can see something wrapped around the knocker on the front door.

Zee turns to him, confused, and holds the tag attached, “It’s for you, Dad.”

Steve makes his way over, arms laden with bags, but when he gets there, Zee nudges Corey, and they take them from him. He lifts the gift tag attached to the red ribbon and reads it. 

I’m sorry I had to go. I hope this makes sure you won't forget me. E x

P.S. Hold on tight

Steve pulls the tag and ribbon from the door knocker, steps in front of the kids to open the door, and gasps audibly.

There are heart balloons on the ceiling, all different colours and sizes, each with a ribbon floating all the way to the floor, with a red rose attached to the bottom. Beans completely forgets her routine and begins sniffing a trail between each one. There are fifteen in total. Steve rushes to the kitchen to put them in a vase but walks in to find it is already occupied by a colossal rainbow bouquet. Around its base, tied in a neckerchief knot, is Eddie’s favourite bandana. 

“What is wrong with this guy?” Corey laughs, helping to collect some of the ones around the TV area.

“I think it's kinda sweet, right, Dad?” Zee asks, collecting the ones near the stairs.

Steve is busy, carefully folding up the threadbare black and white bandana into a pocket square that he puts in his blazer pocket, “I think you both are correct.” he manages to say, carefully swallowing down the emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

“Say, Dad?” he hears Corey’s voice a lot nearer now, “Can we talk to you about all this?”

Steve feels the dread start to rise in him, this could be the beginning of an impossible decision, but he knew the answer would always be his children. They were his priority, even up against the love of his life. He tucks the bandana down, hiding it in his pocket out of sight and turns around with a big smile.

“Of course,” he says and turns to have two bundles of balloons thrust at him from his kids, which he gathers up and puts on the side.

They sit on one side of the table, steepling their fingers, looking at him intensely. Steve sits in a chair opposite them, feeling like he’s been called into the principal's office for something. They look at one another, and then Corey nods towards Steve, and as they turn back, Zee speaks.

“Sooooo, we’ve basically overheard Val and Mom talking, and we have some questions,” Zee says gently.

Steve tries not to, but he gulps along with his, “Ok, sure, ask anything you like.”

As the words leave his mouth, Corey pulls out a notebook and pencil, tears out the top page  and pushes it towards Zee. He is then laser-focused on Steve with his pencil poised. Steve looks between the two of them and wonders which one is the good cop and which is the bad cop.

“So, first of all. Whilst we haven't been here, Eddie has been living here, right?” Zee asks, and Steve replies with a nod. Corey begins scribbling something down, and Steve can't help but be distracted by it.

“And he’s been, what, staying in the guest room?” Zee asks, eyebrows raised, and Steve thinks about lying, but he shakes his head in a no, and the pencil scribbling starts up again. 

Steve quickly defends his actions, “But it’s not what you think. I’ve known Eddie a long time and-”

“Please, Dad, just answer the questions we give you. No need to elaborate unless asked, ok?” Zee interrupts him.

“So you and Eddie are in love, right?” Zee asks.

“Yes.” Steve answers, “But you see, if I could just explain, things like this don't normally happen this quickly, it's just that-”

“Are you hard of hearing? A simple yes or no is sufficient for our investigation, ok?!” Corey says in a new york accent as he hits the table, making Steve and Zee jump. Clearly, Corey is Bad Cop. 

“Well, let’s not get overly dramatic about it, Cor, geez. He’s already nervous!” Zee frowns and turns back to her paper. “Corey, I think the answer to this next one is obvious. It feels a little redundant to ask.”

“Could you just stick to the plan for once, please?! The answer may be obvious, but his micro-expressions might give away something else.” Corey complains.

“Fine!” Zee rolls her eyes and focuses back on Steve, “Are you serious about one another? For example, this is not just some kind of whirlwind romance thing?”

Steve folds his arms, and Corey’s pencil scratches away, so he quickly unfolds them again, “Er, yeah, very serious. Write that down.” Steve replies pointing at Corey’s pad.

“Cor, this one is stupid. It's been a week. They haven't got this far.” Zee complains with a sigh, but Corey ignores her, so she reluctantly reads it out, “Do you intend to marry him?” Steve pulls a face like the answer is obvious, and Zee smiles smugly, “See?!”

“Yes, I do.” Steve answers, and Zee’s jaw drops.

“What did I tell you?! I knew it! This is crazy, so fucking crazy,” Corey says, vindicated.

“Hey, you’ll watch your language, young man!” Steve interjects, pointing at Corey firmly.

“Sorry,” Corey says a little sheepishly.

“Ok, well, I’m assuming you want him to move in then?” Zee says with a tone and look of disbelief.

Steve sighs, leans over, and takes one of their hands in his own, “Listen, I like Eddie. Yeah, I love him. I’d love to have him live here, but not without your blessing.” Steve says genuinely, looking at them both compassionately. “There are plenty of other arrangements we could come to. Eddie was the person that actually brought it up. He didn't want to do anything that made you guys or your Mom uncomfortable. He knows he’s new to you all. He’s not gonna just waltz in here and take over your lives or home, ok? You are my priority. Always.” Steve gives their hands a squeeze.

Corey tilts his head to the side, “That's great to know, Dad, but we are more than aware of how obsessed with us you are. Like, I mean, Eddie could be doing us a bit of favour, taking up some of that attention, honestly.” he lets out a little laugh. Steve half smiles with a frown.

“You aren’t worried about that?” Steve asks, looking between them.

“No,” Zee laughs, “Not at all. We just wanted to make sure you were keeping your heart safe. That’s all. We heard…well overheard, that he broke your heart before, and we talked about it and thought we’d just ask, you know?”

Steve shuts his eyes for a moment to stop the tears welling up. He hadn't accomplished a lot off his own back in this lifetime. He was mainly fortunate and managed to land on his feet. But as his two children sit before him, he can see his lifetime achievement right there. Two brilliant, sassy, funny, talented, confident, thoughtful kids and his heart could just burst. He clears his throat, hoping the lump developing in it will dissipate.

“That was a long time ago. We were young, and it was more complicated back then than it is now. Eddie-” Steve tries to defend.

“Eddie can answer for his crimes when we see him next!” Corey says in his new york cop voice again.

“What? He’s gotta go through this too?” Steve says in surprise.

“Oh yeah!” Zee laughs, “We’ve drawn up a roommate contract for him too.” 

[scrunchylew]

It Happened One Night

I decided to give this little thing a title. Let me know what you think! Link to Part 1

Part 2:

Emma’s POV

“What the fuck was that Peter?”

“That guy was 30 seconds away from drugging you and taking you god knows where.”

He was hot on my heels and part of me burned from anger of being humiliated while part of me burned from how unbelievably sexy he looked trying to protect me. I would never admit that.

“Do you have proof? That he was going to drug me?”

“Well no. But I sensed something was off.” He scoffed.

“And why is that?” We were climbing into the car that had been brought around for us and I felt his hand graze the small of my back while guiding me into the car.

“Because a girl approached me at the bar saying he was a drug dealer. I am sorry but my responsibility is to keep you safe and I felt like something wasn’t right and it was the best thing for me to do. I am sorry if I embarrassed you.” He looked sincere.

The clock read 2:00 AM in the black suburban we rode in. I always go out on weekends primarily because I am boarded up during the week in my hot apartment, which reminds me I still need to get the air fixed. I am also so tired from work each night that I barely feel like socializing. I feel bad never speaking to Peter but I talk to patients every day, the last thing I want to do when I get home is talk. I’ve worked as a physician assistant for the last 3 years and while I love my job, it gets busy.

Peter is sweet. Probably one of the nicest agents I have met. He keeps his distance, is polite, and I always feel safe when he is around. I never wanted this life. The life where my parents were always being watched and therefore so was I. I am happy for my mom, but I hate having people always follow me and watching my every move. Especially knowing there are people in this world who don’t like us. I think I grew up naïve in the way of thinking that everyone should be liked.

“Here is your bag. You left it with me.”

“You didn’t take anything did you? Cause then I would have to report you.”

I saw him smirk from the corner of my eye and he bit his tongue.

“Nope, everything is there.”

I felt bad for leaving Alicia but she’s always been fully capable of taking care of herself. I had a feeling if I left then she would be close behind. She has been my friend ever since we started PA school and then she dropped out. She said it wasn’t for her and I respected that.

I saw Peter grimacing and reached for his left shoulder.

“You ok there big guy?”

“Yeah, just still recovering from a little injury.”

“Oh yeah? What happened?”

I actually worked as an orthopedic PA so my knowledge was well versed in injuries. But I don’t think he knew that.

“I uh, I tore it.”

“Well, uh maybe I can take a look at it later. I mean, if you want me to.”

“And why would you do that?”

“Because I might know a little more about it than you do. I see a lot of injured people every day.”

I didn’t intend to be harsh.

“Sorry, I just assumed you knew. I work as an orthopedic physician assistant so I am constantly seeing people with injuries and stuff.”

“Yeah. No that would be great.” He smiled and I smiled. A warm feeling in my stomach bubbled and I looked away quickly.

It had been almost 2 years since I last dated someone. My ex boyfriend was a freeloader and when my mom got elected it got even worse. He didn’t take it well and at times I worried he might show up unannounced. I was glad Peter had been around most nights. I doubt my ex would ever try anything but occasionally I would get messages from an unknown number and deep down I knew it was him.

We arrived to my apartment and it was about 2:15. I hadn’t done my routine for the evening but would get to it in the morning.

I walked inside and checked my thermostat. It still read 75 degrees. I pushed the button to see if anything would happen and to no surprise nothing did.

“Your air not working?” Peter startled me. I forgot he was still on duty until 7AM.

“Uhh no…I was supposed to have it fixed but I’ve kind of put it on the back burner.”

“Is that why it’s been so hot in here?” He looked slightly concerned.

I gave him a deadpan look, “ha, yeah. Have you not tried to lower it?”

“No I just figured you liked it warm! I can call someone for you if you’d like.”

“No. No. It’s ok. I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

I walked off and went to get ready for bed. I heard Peter fill a glass of water and then he fed my cat, Lucia.

After my very cold shower I made sure everything was clean and got ready to go to bed.

“Feel free to take a shower if you need. Towels are in the closet.” He nodded and as I closed my door I felt the urge to say goodnight,” hey Peter. Thank you. I know I was kind of a bitch earlier but I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t mention it.”

——

Peter’s POV:

I knew if I had not gotten Emma out of that club, something bad would have happened. I didn’t want to embarrass her but I knew my job had to be done.

Our ride back to her place started out quiet until I realized I was still holding on to her bag.

“Here is your bag. You left it with me.” I don’t even know if she remembered.

“You didn’t take anything did you? Cause then I would have to report you.”

My stomach fluttered and her playful sarcasm made me almost bust out laughing.

“Nope, everything is there.”

Emma was sitting in the middle seat with myself and Agent Parker on the other side of her. It wasn’t particularly tight but how I was sitting caused my shoulder to start hurting. I may have been tensed up after the entire situation. I grimaced trying to move it.

“You ok there big guy?”

“Yeah, just still recovering from a little injury.”

“Oh yeah? What happened?”

I didn’t want to tell her too much. She offered to help me and I would definitely take her up on the offer.

We arrived to her apartment and upon walking inside it felt so much worse than it had earlier. She mentioned she had not had time to get her air fixed but denied my offer to help her with getting it fixed. One of my best friends just so happened to be a technician and I decided to text him to see if he would come fix it tomorrow. She couldn’t live in this god-awful heat box.

I heard Emma turn on her shower and figured I would help her out by feeding her cat who was walking in and out of between my legs.

I heard her cut the water off in her bathroom and decided to begin to get comfortable in her apartment for the night as I was there until 7 tomorrow morning.

I decided to take a shower and was glad I had kept the extra set of underwear in my backpack. Honestly, her shower felt amazing. My apartment is great but the shower has no pressure. This one…god damn I did not want to get out. But I couldn’t sleep in here, that would be weird.

I went back to check my phone to see if my friend had returned my text and he said he would gladly come and fix Emma’s air conditioner. I looked at the clock on my phone and did not realize how tired I was but I had to stay awake until the morning. I turned the TV on and tried to find a show to keep me awake.

I checked out of her apartment window to ensure that no one had followed us and to check that the guys were still out there on watch.

I sat down on her couch and watched whatever was playing on TV and settled in for the evening.

I would sit and wait until the morning and then leave a note that someone was coming to fix her air.

[starl1t-vo1d]

Know when to rest

Revalink prompt, You can do better than this / Flight Range - general rating

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A lot of these will end up more like just scenes that aren't super complete. Like something pulled from a larger story but that's okay I think. It's fun practice and is honestly helping me flesh out another story so. Also for the sake of dashes, I'm gonna put everything under the keep reading now.

Revali surveyed the targets and shook his head, he had missed two which wasn't acceptable. This had been a sloppy pass.

"You can do better than this," Revali whispered to himself. He had to, anything less than perfect wouldn’t suffice. 

The Rito was startled when there was a gentle tap on his shoulder he hadn't heard Link approach and hopefully Link hadn’t heard him.

"You're late," Revali greeted.

Link winces a bit, "I overslept, sorry." 

"Well never mind that a hero should probably be more timely," Revali waves a wing to dismiss it. "Are you ready?" 

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"Yes," Link pulls his bow out and checks it over before counting his arrows. It was all a habit he had picked up from Revali after getting thoroughly scolded for firing with a bow that was strung too tight. The last part was something Revali didn't need but Link figured it should be included as he also checked over his paraglider.

Okay, he was ready, well no what he was was tired but that didn't matter. It wouldn't be the first time that he had trained when he was in less than ideal-condition. If anything maybe it was a good thing it wasn't like Ganon would give them a heads-up to get good sleep. So this would be fine maybe if there was time after he would take a nap but right now, Revali was looking at him with an expression slowly turning into worry. 

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"Have you decided to rejoin me?"

"What?"

"You had the blankest stare on your face. I know I often ask if there's anything even in your head but you can't tell me that I was right." Revali looked over Link properly, he seemed fine so then what was the issue?

"I thought you liked being right?" Link asked as he stepped towards the edge paraglider in hand. 

"Because I usually am," Revali shook his head a bit, never mind Link spacing out he was ready now. "Do you remember your last time? Cut that in half." 

Link nodded once then leaped into the wind, his paraglider opening a second later to yank him upwards. 

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Training had been going… less than ideal if Revali was being perfectly honest. Link's passes were getting sloppier and Revali was still missing targets he really shouldn't be. Worse, Link had gotten quiet. Link was always quiet but Revali had genuinely thought he had made a breakthrough with getting the ever-stoic knight to show some emotion. Link was showing some he supposed even if it seemed to be increasing frustration as his time to shoot all the targets was lower but not at the goal Revali had set. Link had taken to going back to back in an attempt to do so. Had Revali perhaps set the goal too high? He had thought that the Hylian was perfectly capable of it. So then maybe there was another reason for Link's performance. Link touched down on the landing and Revali whistled for his attention before he could jump off again.

"You can do better than this," he said walking over to survey Link. He was out of breath and the pink flush to his cheeks was darker. 

Link glared at him, putting away his paraglider to free his hands. "Thanks, I'm aware." He signed sharply. 

"That's not- hold on," Revali caught Link's shoulder as he turned away to continue. "What I mean to say is that your performance is not meeting the bar that you had previously set so perhaps there was a reason for it."

Link looked at Revali for a long time before letting out a quiet laugh. "You can just say, 'are you doing okay?'" 

"Well, are you?"

Link looked at him for even longer this time as he seemed to think over answering. 

"I'm tired, didn't sleep well last night." 

"Ah," Revali considered this, really Link and himself included honestly should be able to perform up to standard even when exhausted but, "then we'll call training for today. It'll do you no good if you hurt yourself because you're tired."

Link seemed surprised and he looked back out to the range, "I can keep going."

"Sure but I won't keep track of your time even if you do, I am going to…" what was Revali going to do? A large portion of his time was spent training so he didn't usually have free time, "go." That would suffice he supposed even if Link was looking at him funny. "Look neither of us are hitting our marks today and believe it or not I do know the importance of stepping away if things aren't changing." Not that Revali typically took his own advice but Link didn't need to know that. "So I am leaving, you are happy to stay if you really want to but I am going to go." 

"No, I'll go with you." Link looked disappointed but also relieved that training was over as he carefully made sure everything was put away.

"You don't even know where I'm going?" 

Link paused to consider this then smiled, "well I'm going to take a nap do you want to join me?"

"Why would I join you napping?" Revali asked, trying very hard not to let his feathers rise.

"I don't know," Link shrugged. "Maybe you're tired too and that's why you were also missing." 

"I'm not-" Revali shook his head. If Link was giving himself an excuse then he would take it. "Fine, I'll accompany you."

"You're so formal it's just a nap," Link laughed as Revali couldn't prevent his feathers from poofing up this time. 

"Whatever let's go."