#but my plan is to just take one of the youngest kids and continue on with just a normal legacy challenge

[chezeni]

Caleb would, without a doubt, continue trying until he has a daughter with you.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes, or how many tries it takes. If you’re okay with it, he’s more than willing to pounce on you to make the most of your ovulation week.

Those attempts would mean that in the long run, the two of you would bring three sons into the world, each of whom, comically enough, was an exact little copy of their father with the most minuscule hints of you.

Your oldest, Theo, was born about two years after your marriage. He had Caleb’s sunset eyes and facial structure, only taking after you in the colour of your hair. He took pride in caring for his younger brothers and was proudly Caleb’s right-hand man in smaller tasks where he needed assistance. Both refused to let you help around the house when they were there.

A year later, you had Jamie, who had your eyes but resembled Caleb in all other aspects—hair, nose, etc.

Then came your youngest son, Reian, a year after Jamie—a quiet two-year-old who was Caleb’s exact copy. At his birth, Caleb had looked up at you with a soft grin as he’d cradled the baby against his muscled chest.

“Seems like third time isn’t the charm, honey, your genes just can’t beat mine.” He’d murmured teasingly, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead as the nurse sent him a side-eye.

Now, with the kids at six, five and four respectively, you and Caleb tried for one more.

While he loves his sons with his whole heart and would kill for them at a moment’s notice, he never stopped thinking about how precious it would be to have a little you running around your expansive home in Skyhaven.

With all the noise his boys cause, it felt strange to think about how there’d been a time when it was just him living alone in this very house. It wasn’t ’ 'til you’d moved in with him, thawed away at his frozen aerospace militant heart slowly that the place felt more homey.

Still, the house felt… lacking to Caleb. It was too skewed at one gender while poor you had to deal with your three—four, if you count your almost equally childish husband—boys.

Caleb had made sure each of his sons was dutiful and kindhearted, especially towards their mama. Still, there was a light-hearted culture of jest in the house, since they’d unfortunately inherited Caleb’s terrible sense of humour, and it was mostly peaceful unless they’d planned otherwise, like when the three thought it’d be hilarious to march one by one into your bedroom after dividing Caleb’s Fleet uniform amongst each other and yell like drill sergeants to wake you up.

But during the night, when it was just the two of you behind a locked door and hands over the other’s mouth, he caught himself acting on certain rumours he’d heard that would supposedly make a girl. Be it a certain position, or whispering some kind of prayer into your ear during the act. It’d surprised him, having never been superstitious in his life but now resorting to old wives’ tales with little feasible evidence behind them.

You’d giggled when he’d shared it with you one night as he treated you to a snack and some water, holding you against his chest and murmuring into your hair. “Maybe you’re getting old.” You laughed softly. “I’ve only ever seen old ladies believing in things like that, my love.”

He scoffed softly, smiling down at you. “Don’t you also want a girl? The boys are lovely, sweetheart, and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful or anything, but a cute little girl.” He pouts. “I just know she’d be so adorable, honey.”

Whatever it was that Caleb had tried to do, it’d somehow worked. Not even a year later, you welcomed a daughter into the house, and Caleb’s years-long wish had come true oh, so perfectly. He was bad enough during the pregnancy when you’d found out you were having a girl at about 20 weeks, but now that she was here? You’d have to pry that sweet little ball of cuteness away from him with a crowbar the way he’d insisted on holding her all the time.

He was ecstatic, and how could he not be? His little angel had her mother’s nose, a full head of slightly wavy hair and his eyes. One look at her and he’d cried for days, even more so when she finally came home with you.

“Thank you, honey. She’s so sweet to me already, and so adorable. Our boys are adorable too but—” He pauses, looking down at her in awe when she yawns softly, an exaggerated pout over his lips as he looks down at her comfortably curled up on his chest. “Oh, my sweet baby girl.”

…And when you did try to take her from him?

“N-no! Please! Wait two more minutes.” He begged softly, gently kissing her little forehead. So dramatic, you thought, smiling fondly. After Ailea was born, she’d stolen Caleb’s heart, and it was difficult to take her back into your arms to feed her when Caleb refused to let her go. “She doesn’t look hungry to me, honey, I think you’re just trying to steal my little angel from me.“

“She’s my baby too…”

But he’d already turned back to little Ailea, once more engrossed in his daughter’s cute giggles. “You’re okay, my sweet girl, aren’t you? My perfect angel doesn’t even fuss like her stinky brothers did.”

“Hey!” Came a resounding protest from the living room. Caleb smiles. “They know I love them just as much.” He murmurs to Ailea.

[axolotl4days]

Oh my god im so sorry it took so long I got so distracted

Yandere! Royal Family x Neglected Reader

The Reborn Royal Part 2

Summary: After being reborn once more y/n expects everything to be the same as always. However this time around, their family is going to be the ones changing things.

Tw: violence, abuse, neglect. Yandere behavior(all platonic), descriptions of death, mentions of suicide and self-harm.

Before anything continues, im gonna write down the names of the characters for reference.

Queen Charlotte and King Vincent somewhere in their 30s

Oldest and heir to the throne: Prince Edward, roughly 13

Next is: Prince James, roughly 11

Next is: Princess Eleanor, roughly 9

Then last, baby y/n who's... just been born.

The ages are just rough estimates, the numbers themselves, dont matter, just the older sibling dynamic and that they'd be adults while y/n would be a kid/teenager (yay angst)

Alright! On with the fic!!!

Part 2: No specific pov just yet

The youngest child in the Royal family has just been born, the King and Queen have ordered the staff to give them some alone time for the whole family.

"Its them... it's really them" Queen Charlotte says, holding the new baby y/n

"They're so small. Are babies always this small?" Eleanor asks

"That usually depends on the baby but... gods.. they really are small" King Vincent replies

The siblings watch as the little baby starts to fall asleep, Edward tries to reach out to hold little y/n but the poor thing flinches at the contact. Edward and James recoil in horror. All of the visions they've seen over the past few months of watching their future selves hurt future y/n so much. And now. Now that they're seeing, the real y/n in front of them for the first time. They have never been more horrified. How could they ever hurt them. Hurt you. No one should ever go through that sort of pain. They can't let it happen again.

Eleanor watches as the boys shake from witnessing the baby flinch, and she doesn't understand. Your only a baby.

"Mom? Is the baby okay?" She asks

The queen stays silent for a moment but even she cannot hold back her worried tears, so the king steps in

"Darling, the baby is going through quite a lot right now, they have just been born after all. Everything is new and fresh to them, so it'll take awhile for them to adjust. Don't worry, we'll make sure theyre okay." He says, that last bit is mostly for himself, while the visions he saw didnt involve as much physical violence as the boys did, he saw how, isolated the little one was. How bad it got. And how badly it ended. No. No. He can't think of that now. What matters now is they have you. And they'll make sure your treated right

Your mother holds you close. She can't fathom the idea that she would ever give you away for someone else to take care of.

"Your highness? Here, you need rest, we can take the baby and-" "No." The Queen glares at thr maid who dare suggest such a thing.

"But your highness, you need time to recover"

"I will be fine. All I need right now is my family. I suggest you leave now before I decide to make you." The queen threatens

"Of course ma'am, sorry ma'am."

The maid leaves the room but the king steps to his queen's side, "the maid is right about you needing rest dear, dont worry, I'm here. No one can take our baby from us, isn't that right kids?" Your father turns to your siblings who nod in agreement.

Vincent manages to get the baby into the crib and as Charlotte finally sleeps, the children joining her, he stands guard and thinks about everything hes seen in these past few months.

King Vincent POV:

Though the visions mostly focused on you, and your pain thats not all they saw. The king specifically saw the things that led him down the path of neglectfullmess and why he was absent so often. Plans. War. Betrayals. The things that kept him away from the castle. The things that allowed your mistreatment to slide by without repercussions.

He'll have to take care of those. That way, he can be there for you. Make sure you're raised properly, with love and care from your family. Nothing will come between him and his family.

He pulls out a journal, after the nightmares began and he noticed the patterns between them he would take notes about each event, each person's perspective, and the outcome of each action. He doesn't know where these visions came from or what caused him, but what he does know is that according to the recent intel on other kingdoms it seems that one of the wars is brewing, he searches through his notes to confirm, checking the interactions between other kingdoms, seeing how the other him would talk about the other kingdoms.

If he wants to keep his family out of harm, he'll have to take care of the threat before it can even happen.

He walks over to the baby's crib, looking down at his youngest child sleeping comfortably.

He knows what he has to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi 👋 Author here, I am so sorry this took so long and that its so short, I like just finished finals so im just now getting around to working on this series again.

Now that its summer hopefully the next part will come out quicker, but I dont have a planned schedule cause I am horrible at planning things,

But!! I have notes and plot points for where I want this story to go/what I have planned

Please be patient with me, this is like, my 2nd time writing something like this on Tumblr and due to the, extreme, breaks in between parts the writing style may not be very consistent

But hopefully the next few parts will be written in a timely manner so they should be both more consistent, and longer!

Down below is my attempt at a taglist, there were a few people who wanted to know when the next part came out, feel free to let me know if you wanna be added, ive never made one of these before and its surprisingly hsrd

@randomlyappearingartist

@enchantingarcadecreation

@thatpersonnamedrook

@reni502 (idk why this one isn't doing the thing I tried)

[zhelin-thames]

Death’s Gentle Touch

@demonic0angel thank you for letting me write this.

Ps. This is not a dead silent ship but a dead on main ship. I am way too much of a dead tired, dead on main and dead serious fan🫣, so..... Srry😇

Danny hadn’t planned on staying in Gotham for long. The city was overwhelming, a swirling mess of emotions, crime, and shadows that never seemed to sleep. But something about it called to him—a faint pull in the back of his mind, like the restless murmur of ghosts who hadn’t yet crossed his path.

And then he started noticing them.

The kids.

Each one had a presence that whispered of death’s touch. Not full-on ghostly, but close. Too close. It tugged at Danny’s core, a strange mix of familiarity and concern. The first was a quiet boy, barely seven, with hollow eyes and a haunted expression. Danny found him huddled in the shadows of Crime Alley, shivering and alone.

It wasn’t even a conscious decision. He couldn’t leave the kid there.

And so, the warehouse became home.

The old building wasn’t much to look at from the outside, but Danny had poured what little ecto-energy he could spare into reinforcing it, patching up leaks, and making it livable. Inside, it was surprisingly cozy. Rugs covered the cold floor, mismatched furniture filled the space, and shelves lined with books and trinkets added a sense of warmth.

Within weeks, Danny’s little family had grown.

Five kids now called the warehouse home, each one with a story that left Danny seething with quiet rage. Abusive parents, neglectful guardians, and the harsh streets of Gotham had taken their toll on each of them. Danny couldn’t fix the past, but he could offer them something better: safety, warmth, and the promise that they’d never be alone again.

One of the kids, Sam, was from one of Gotham’s elite families. He’d run away after his parents’ cruelty pushed him too far. When Danny had found him, Sam had been too weak to argue.

It was Cassandra Cain who stumbled upon them.

She’d been tracking a lead on a missing child—the wealthy parents had finally reported Sam missing after weeks, though their concern had seemed more for appearances than genuine worry. Her trail led her to the refurbished warehouse.

Cass slipped inside silently, her every movement a shadow. What she saw stopped her in her tracks.

Danny was sitting cross-legged on the floor, a tattered storybook in his hands. The five kids were gathered around him, leaning against him or huddled close, their faces rapt with attention. Danny’s voice was soft, animated, bringing the story to life.

“...and the brave knight faced the dragon, not with a sword, but with kindness.” Danny smiled, looking down at the youngest child, a girl clutching his arm. “Because sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is try to understand someone else.”

Cass didn’t move for a moment.

The scene was so achingly peaceful, so pure, that it seemed impossible in a city like Gotham. She could feel the protective energy radiating from Danny, the way the kids seemed to trust him implicitly. It wasn’t just a man taking care of children. He was their anchor, their safe harbor.

Still, she stepped forward.

Danny looked up, his glowing green eyes meeting hers. For a second, Cass tensed, ready for a fight. But Danny’s expression softened, and he raised a hand in a calming gesture.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “You must be one of the Bats.”

Cass tilted her head, curious but cautious. “Who... are you?”

“I’m Danny,” he replied simply, closing the book. “And these are my kids.”

Her gaze flickered to the children. Sam had tensed at her presence, but Danny placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“They’re safe here,” Danny continued, his voice calm but firm. “I promise. I know you’re probably here for him.” He nodded toward Sam. “But he ran for a reason. And I’m not about to let anyone hurt him again.”

Cass reported back to Bruce and the others. The revelation sparked an intense debate in the Batcave.

“He’s just a kid himself!” Damian snapped, glaring at the screen showing Danny’s image. “What gives him the right to take in strays like this?”

“Pot, meet kettle,” Tim muttered, earning a scowl from Damian.

Bruce, arms crossed, studied the footage Cass had captured. Danny’s protective aura was undeniable, as was the bond he’d formed with the children. “We need to know more about him,” Bruce said. “His intentions, his background, his... abilities.”

Jason leaned against the wall, a smirk tugging at his lips. “You’re just mad someone’s beating you at the whole ‘adopting strays’ thing, B.”

Alfred cleared his throat. “Master Jason, perhaps we should focus on how best to ensure the children’s well-being.”

When the Bats finally confronted Danny in the warehouse, they were met with calm defiance. Danny stood his ground, the kids huddled behind him.

“I get it,” he said, arms crossed. “You’re the big, bad vigilantes of Gotham. But these kids? They’re not just cases or numbers. They’re people. And they deserve better than what the system gave them.”

Bruce stepped forward. “We’re not here to take them from you. But this isn’t sustainable. You’re their age. How do you plan to provide for them long-term?”

Danny hesitated, then sighed. “I’ll figure it out. I always do.”

Jason, watching the exchange, stepped closer. “What’s your deal, Danny? You’re not just some random guy.”

Danny met his gaze, his glowing eyes narrowing slightly. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”

Jason smirked. “Try me.”

The Bats weren’t ones to leave mysteries unsolved, and Danny wasn’t about to spill his life story to a group of masked vigilantes without some trust first. It took weeks of cautious interactions and reluctant cooperation for things to come to light.

It was Jason who finally got Danny to open up.

One night, after dropping off a bag of supplies Bruce had insisted the kids needed, Jason stayed behind. He found Danny on the roof of the warehouse, leaning against the railing as he stared at the Gotham skyline. The night air was crisp, carrying the distant hum of the city.

“So,” Jason began, hopping onto the ledge beside him. “You’re not just some ordinary kid with a big heart. What’s your story?”

Danny let out a long sigh. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Not a chance.”

For a moment, Danny said nothing. Then he raised his hand, letting a soft green glow surround it. “You ever hear of Amity Park?”

Jason frowned. “The town with all those ghost rumors? Thought it was a bunch of tabloid nonsense.”

“Yeah, well, it’s not,” Danny said, his voice quieter now. “I grew up there. My parents were... ghost hunters. They built a portal to another dimension—the Infinite Realms. Something went wrong, and I ended up... connected to it. Half-ghost, half-human.”

Jason blinked, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information. “Half-ghost? Like, you died?”

“Sort of.” Danny’s tone was light, but his eyes reflected the weight of the experience. “It’s complicated. I didn’t plan to stick around Gotham, but then I started noticing these kids—how close they were to death, how much they’d suffered. I couldn’t just leave them.”

Jason studied him for a moment, then nodded. “You’re a weird guy, Danny. But I get it.”

Danny smirked. “Thanks, I think.”

Each child Danny had taken in had their own struggles, their own pain that had led them to him.

Sam: The son of a wealthy Gotham family, Sam had been raised in luxury but at a terrible cost. His parents cared more about appearances than his well-being, and the pressure to be perfect had been crushing. When Danny found him, Sam had been wandering the streets, bruised and desperate for escape.

Mia: A street-smart girl with a sharp tongue, Mia had grown up in foster care, bouncing between homes that never cared for her. She’d survived on her own for months before Danny found her, stealing food to survive.

Leo: Barely six, Leo had been abandoned in Crime Alley. He didn’t speak much, but he clung to Danny like a lifeline.

Ella: A bright-eyed girl with an affinity for art, Ella had been living in a condemned building with her older brother, who’d died protecting her. Danny found her crying over his body, her face pale and haunted.

Max: A quiet, thoughtful boy who had a near-death experience after falling into Gotham River. His brush with death had left him sensitive to the supernatural, and he’d been drawn to Danny almost instinctively.

Danny had given them all a second chance, teaching them to trust again. The warehouse became their safe haven, a place where they could heal.

Despite their initial skepticism, the Bats couldn’t deny that Danny was doing good. Bruce offered resources to help with the kids, on the condition that Danny let them monitor the situation.

“I’m not looking to turn this into a charity case,” Danny had said. “I just want what’s best for them.”

“And that’s what we’re offering,” Bruce replied evenly. “Whether you like it or not, we’re invested now.”

Danny found himself working with the Bats more often, whether it was coordinating efforts to help other at-risk kids or teaming up with them during ghost-related incidents.

Cass became a frequent visitor, quietly helping with the children and bonding with Danny over their shared love of storytelling. Tim couldn’t resist asking questions about ghost tech and the Infinite Realms, while Damian begrudgingly admitted that Danny wasn’t as useless as he’d assumed.

Jason, however, became Danny’s closest ally. The two shared a mutual understanding, both having faced death and come back changed.

Years passed, and the warehouse evolved. The children grew, some eventually striking out on their own while others stayed close. Danny became a pillar of the community, the once-abandoned warehouse now a thriving community center.

Jason remained a constant presence in Danny’s life. Their friendship deepened, and somewhere along the way, it turned into something more.

The wedding was a quiet affair, held in the Infinite Realms. The guests were a mix of humans and ghosts, an unusual but fitting reflection of Danny and Jason’s lives.

Sam, Mia, Leo, Ella, and Max—now young adults—stood by Danny’s side, their smiles bright and proud. The Bats, dressed in uncharacteristically formal attire, watched with a mix of fondness and exasperation as Jason said his vows.

“I didn’t think I’d get a second chance at a family,” Jason said, his voice steady but soft. “But with you, Danny, I found something I didn’t even know I was looking for.”

Danny smiled, his eyes glowing faintly. “And I found a home—in Gotham, in these kids, and in you. You’re stuck with me now, Jason.”

As they exchanged rings, the Infinite Realms shimmered around them, a quiet acknowledgment of the bond they’d forged.

And as they stepped into their future together, hand in hand, they knew they’d face whatever came next—together, as a family.

Over the years, Danny and Jason’s “kids” grew into remarkable young adults, each finding their own path while staying connected to the family they had built together.

Sam: The Voice for Justice

Sam’s upbringing in Gotham’s elite circles gave him unique insight into the city’s upper class. As an adult, he used that knowledge to challenge the corruption ingrained in Gotham’s wealthy families.

By day, Sam became a successful lawyer, taking on cases for those who couldn’t afford proper representation. By night, he used his connections to help Danny and Jason uncover and dismantle illegal operations hidden behind Gotham’s polished facade.

Despite his serious demeanor, Sam never forgot the kindness Danny showed him. He often visited the community center to mentor at-risk kids, giving them the guidance he wished he’d had.

Mia: The Protector

Mia’s sharp tongue and street smarts made her a natural fighter. She trained with Cass and Damian, honing her skills until she became a formidable vigilante known as Specterblade.

Unlike most of Gotham’s protectors, Mia embraced her ghostly side. Danny taught her how to channel ectoplasmic energy, giving her an edge in combat. She patrolled the streets with a ferocity that even Damian respected, targeting human traffickers and abusers with relentless determination.

Though she worked in the shadows, Mia also took an active role at the community center, running self-defense classes for women and teens.

Leo: The Guardian of the Realms

Leo’s quiet nature hid a deep connection to the Infinite Realms. Over time, his near-death experience evolved into a unique ability to sense disturbances between dimensions.

Danny noticed this early on and trained Leo to become a Realmwalker, a protector of the delicate balance between the mortal world and the Infinite Realms. Leo embraced the role, splitting his time between Gotham and the ghostly dimension.

He became a key figure in handling supernatural threats that even the Justice League struggled with. Though he was often away, Leo remained fiercely loyal to his family, returning whenever they needed him.

Ella: The Healer

Ella’s love for art evolved into a passion for design and restoration. She studied architecture and urban planning, eventually becoming a key figure in revitalizing Gotham’s neglected neighborhoods.

Her ghostly sensitivity gave her a unique perspective on spaces and their emotional resonance, which she used to create safe, welcoming environments. The community center was her first major project, and she expanded its reach with satellite locations across the city.

Ella’s gentle spirit made her a comforting presence in the family, and she often acted as the mediator when tensions ran high.

Max: The Tech Genius

Max’s brush with death left him fascinated by technology and its potential to change lives. He became a brilliant engineer, blending ghost tech and human innovation to create devices that pushed the boundaries of possibility.

Working alongside Tim, Max developed tools to help Gotham’s vigilantes fight crime more efficiently. He also created gadgets to help people with disabilities, inspired by the struggles he witnessed during his time on the streets.

Max was the quiet brain behind many of the family’s operations, preferring to let his work speak for itself.

Despite their busy lives, the kids never forgot their roots. They visited the warehouse-turned-community center regularly, helping Danny and Jason with new initiatives and staying connected to the city that had once failed them.

Family dinners were a chaotic but cherished tradition, with everyone gathering around the table to share stories, tease each other, and reaffirm their bond.

In their own ways, each of Danny and Jason’s kids carried on their legacy of hope, proving that even in a city as dark as Gotham, second chances could bloom into something extraordinary.

I might make this a series and show each kids journey. Hope you guys liked it.

[ifnotlovepersevering]

Down the Road (Agatha Harkness x Reader)

Summary: your summon to the Witches’ Road unexpectedly reconnects you with the witch that left you behind

Warnings: angsty, anger between R and A, fight scene, injury (A), flashback to past abandonment, R is lowkey into dark magic but in denial, lovers to hurt strangers 😔 whatever will we do

A/N: I used a few different requests in my inbox as inspo. It can also be read as a continuation of Closer. I’m planning on a part two but am open to suggestions on where to take this next! Enjoy 🖤

Tag List: @nyx-aira @crystalline-possession @clxwnnyy @lilibeth-tate @highgaytohell @amethyst-bitch @shinkomiii @agnessharknes @academiagaymess @midnight-lestrange

A summon to the Witches’ Road seemed like exactly what you needed right now. You’d been keeping to yourself these days, staying out of trouble. But it’d been too long since you’d had some excitement and your hands were itching for something new. You were going in blind, but that’s always fun, right?

At least that’s what you’d thought. When the smoke of your white magic disappeared, you were greeted with the sight of your new ragtag coven. You counted four. Where’s the fifth?

“Hello,” you grinned at the youngest, a pale boy with dark hair. “I’m Y/N, I believe someone called?”

“Y/N? As in awesome-moon-powers-Y/N?” The boy exclaimed, grabbing the arm of the tallest one, who seemed equally excited.

You laughed. “I didn’t realize my reputation preceded me so much.”

“Are you kidding?” Now it was the tall one exclaiming. “You’re like, so cool. Incorporating the moon into your power? It makes you the jack of all trades. Healing, light manipulation, water control. I can’t believe you’re here!”

“Moon magic?” The older woman seemed sort of dazed. “I’d heard stories…but have never seen it for myself.”

Before you could respond to the group’s praise, a familiar voice rang out. “What the hell are all of you harping ab-”

You turned around at the same time as footsteps behind you halted in their tracks. You felt your heart drop as you realized why the voice was familiar. It couldn’t be.

Agatha Harkness stood in front of you in all her glory. Gone was the young witch you had known, in her place a woman exuding power and elegance. Both of you eyed each other, surprise and apprehension on your faces.

•••

Your last memory of Agatha was that smirk of hers. You two had started as rivals but a trip that you went on together changed that. You grew closer and animosity turned to friendship, which turned into something much more. So many nights of you sneaking into each other’s rooms, honing your skills, and eventually using your hands to explore each other.

On one of your many visits to the woods for spell practice, the two of you encountered a shapeshifter. You and Agatha fought it off but it forced you to use the full extent of your powers. You were young and had only just started to incorporate the moon into your witchcraft. The fight drained you completely, leaving you weak.

At home, you were checked into the infirmary. News spread quickly of the battle; Agatha, being Evanora’s daughter, caught attention easily. Her power had been a topic of dispute within the coven for some time. You resented the others for how they treated her, especially her own mother. The parts of Agatha that made them turn away were the same you admired undyingly. You loved her.

You had been drifting in and out of consciousness for hours before you finally woke up to see Agatha at your bedside. “They want a formal questioning,” she had told you softly, her hand holding yours. In response to your furrowed brow, Agatha brushed the hair from your forehead. “It’s nothing serious. I’ll be back before you know it.”

You sighed, knowing Evanora took every chance she could to hurt Agatha. “Give them hell anyway.”

“You know I will.” Agatha had smirked, and with a soft kiss, she was gone. Unbeknownst to you, it was the last time you were going to see her.

You woke up the next day, surrounded by the early morning darkness. It was eerily silent; you’d expected Agatha to be back by now. Your strength had returned, and you searched for Agatha everywhere you could think of. No one was around, every room empty.

Eventually you had come to the clearing and saw the husks of the other witches. Their bodies surrounded a post, covered in scorch marks from what you could only assume to be Agatha. You felt yourself freeze as the truth dawned on you. It was more than questions, it was a sentencing. Yet Agatha had obviously survived.

Hot tears had filled in your eyes and a lump formed in your throat before you had collapsed into sobs. She’d survived, of course she had. But she hadn’t come for you. Agatha, the girl you loved without question, whom you had embraced completely. The girl who encouraged you with your magic, the one you’d helped with controlling her own. She had left you.

Over time, the hurt faded but it never quite left. You never looked back, not at her, nor the version of you that broke that day in the clearing. You drew from the pain and let it fuel your ambition. As you travelled and your power grew, you’d heard stories about Agatha. How she’d honed those skills you’d practiced together into something to be both admired and feared. But her betrayal was enough for you to never want to seek her out again.

•••

You blinked, snapping out of your reverie.

“Y/N was the other name on the list? I can’t believe you wanted to leave her behind.” The boy’s voice piped up from behind you.

You scoffed. “Don’t be so surprised.” There was no hiding the snark in your voice, and you saw Agatha’s face drop right before you turned on your heel. “This was a mistake,” you muttered, walking away from the group to recollect yourself.

The rest of the group watched as you left. “What did she mean by that?” Alice hissed at Agatha. Everyone looked at her expectantly.

“Well,” Agatha grinned sheepishly. “We may have some…uh…unfinished business if you will.”

Jenn rolled her eyes. “Whatever, you have to make her stay. We need her to do this.”

Agatha groaned as the others nodded and nudged her towards the area you’d retreated to. But the annoyance was an act. Seeing your name on the list had stopped her in her tracks, bringing back memories she’d tried to bury. And now here you were, and she couldn’t hide from the swirl of emotions within her like she’s used to doing. Her heart still ached for you but it was unlikely you’d want anything to do with her.

She sauntered over to where you were sitting on a log by yourself. Standing close to you, she had a moment to take in your appearance. Somehow you were even more beautiful than she remembered. Time had clearly treated you well, and Agatha found her gaze catching on your features as she took in the sight of the face that haunted her memories.

She cleared her throat. “You can’t leave now that you’re here. The Road. It won’t let you.”

You looked up at her from where you sat. “You think I don’t know that?” You snapped. “I wouldn’t have come if I knew it was you.”

That stung. “Well it’s nice to see you again too, doll.” Agatha sneered.

“Oh save it, Agatha.” You stood up, eye level with the other witch. “I think we both remember who left who. Don’t play dumb now.”

“You act like I made that decision by flipping a coin. You don’t know the half of it.” The nonchalant attitude Agatha had been putting up was slipping away, revealing the raw emotion underneath.

You shook your head and turned your back to her. “Forget it. I’m already going to have to suffer through the rest of this thing anyway. I don’t need some shitty explanation from you.”

But Agatha wasn’t one to take that for an answer. She grabbed your arm, forcing you to turn back and face her. “No,” she hissed. “You don’t get to do what they did. Don’t repaint me as callous because I was never like that with you.”

You clenched your jaw, feeling a lump forming at the back of your throat. You couldn’t help it - the hurt you’d buried for this long was coming back up, and it was as sharp as the day it’d arrived.

“Callous?” You laughed humourlessly. “No, leaving me behind wasn’t callous. It was cruel. You’re cruel.”

You could see Agatha’s cheeks flushed in anger, and her mouth opened with another rebuttal when a shriek rang through the air back where the rest of the coven was standing. Both of you jumped, and Agatha dropped your arm.

“What the hell was that?” You shouted at Agatha over the shrieks, which had grown louder.

“Salem Seven ring a bell?” Agatha snarked, but her eyes were filled with fear.

“What the fuck, Agatha.” You all but yelled as the two of you began running back. Somehow you’d never encountered any of the Seven before but that didn’t mean you wanted to start now. They were definitely pissed at Agatha, but it was unlikely that they were happy with you either, as the only other survivor of their mothers’ massacre.

The shrieks were coming from both the coven and a dark, hooded figure who you assumed was one of the Seven floating above them. “Run!” The boy screamed, and everyone began sprinting down the road.

Suddenly you heard Agatha cry out and a thud. You turned to see Agatha on the ground, the hooded figure hovering over her. You stared incredulously as Agatha put her arms up to shield herself, but made no other move to put up a defence. What is she doing?

The Salem Seven witch lunged towards Agatha and you quickly shot a beam at her, making her fall to the ground. As you ran over, you saw the witch was already stirring, not quite dead yet. You began reciting a spell that’d become second nature for you now, your hands falling into the familiar motions.

Agatha watched in awe as you drew the many surrounding shadows towards the figure on the ground. You made a sharp movement with your hand and suddenly the figure that was beginning to rise from the ground was being surrounded by dark tendrils.

Muffled screams could be heard as the shadows twisted tighter and tighter, until the figure fell limp to the ground. You weren’t done, however. Another practiced movement of your hands and you watched as the shadows engulfed the witch, dragging her downwards into the ground until she disappeared like vapour.

With the threat gone, you rushed to Agatha’s side. You could see a gash on her arm where her sleeve had torn, blood seeping out of the wound. “What were you thinking? Why didn’t you fight back?” Anger mixed with worry as you searched Agatha’s face for answers.

“Careful there, Y/N. Wouldn’t want to look like you care.” When you didn’t indulge her teasing, the other witch sighed. “Why do you think I’m here?” She asked, gesturing around her. She saw the confusion in your face and waved her hand dismissively. “Long story doll, I won’t bore you.”

Typical. Even all those years ago Agatha would opt to keep you in the dark rather than explain herself. “Fine.” You said, helping her stand. “Let’s find somewhere to sit so I can patch you up.”

You turned to see the rest of the group standing nearby, a mixture of awe and apprehension across their faces. The boy seemed the most awestruck. “How did you do that?” He exclaimed. “Where did she go?”

The oldest of the group spoke before you could. “The shadow realm.” She answered, eyeing you warily. “No one should be doing that.”

“Why don’t we um, find a place to sleep? While Y/N takes care of Agatha.” The tall one spoke now, gesturing for the rest of the group to follow her and leave you and Agatha alone. You watched as they hurried away, the short one throwing a worried glance back at you.

“So, shadow work huh?” Agatha spoke lowly as you examined her arm. “Didn’t realize you’d begun dabbling in my side of things.” Her tone was playful but probing.

You turned your head sharply towards her. “I haven’t. It’s not the same thing.”

Agatha chuckled darkly. “Oh isn’t it? Don’t get so high and mighty now Y/N. I’ve heard things. That good girl persona of yours may be working on everyone else, but not me.”

You didn’t answer, instead pulling her arm into the moonlight coming in through the trees. At your silence, Agatha kept going. “‘Oh wow! Moon girl is so amazing and talented! She can do anything!’” She said mockingly. “All admiration when you’re doing what they like. But you saw the look on their faces just now. Everybody switches up when we start talking real power. The kind you and I have.”

Okay yes, you could admit that the shadow stuff is a bit iffy. But it wasn’t anywhere close to as iffy as using the Darkhold, like you’d heard Agatha did. That was different.

“All I’m saying,” Agatha continued, as she watched you weave the light with your hands to heal her open wound. “Is that we’re much bigger than them. Than this. We’re destined for domination, Y/N.”

You shook your head. Years later and it was still all about power with her. Grand plans and limited following-through were classic Agatha. Enough. You stood up, Agatha’s arm now healed. “You’re talking about powers you had, and that I have.” You said coldly, taking satisfaction in the way her jaw clenched at your words. “Maybe focus on getting those back first.”

With that, you turned on your heel and stormed away.

[maidragoste]

A part 2 to Worry? Maybe one where the reader and Frank take the boys on beach vacation after he is clean and sober form rehab and became an attending in the ED. The reader could also tell Frank she is pregnant with a baby girl…

Hi Anon, thank you so much for your request!. I'm so happy that someone is interested in Frank and this reader. I hope you like it, even if it's shorter than the first part.

The Pitt Masterlist

As I always say, please don't hesitate to like, comment, and reblog. The interactions always motivate me to keep writing 🥰🥰💖💖

If you have any ideas, questions or headcanons you want to share, my inbox is always open 🤗💖

Disclaimer: English is not my first language so I apologize for any mistakes.

I hope you have a good reading!

You were sitting under the umbrella, watching with a smile as Frank played with the boys, pretending to be a sea monster while they splashed water at him, trying to scare him away. Minutes earlier, you were also playing with them until you started feeling dizzy while picking up Luke, your youngest son, so you decided to take a break.

Your eyes met your husband's blue ones. You knew he was worried about you, so much so that he almost canceled the beach trip, but you insisted that you were feeling fine because you didn't want to miss this day. You had planned it after Frank had completed another month clean, besides the kids were too excited and you didn't want to miss the opportunity to go to the beach, with Frank's job who knows when you'd have time to do it again? So this morning, you did your best to calm your nausea and tiredness. Carrying baby number three is really tiring you out. You still haven't told your husband about your pregnancy so he thinks you're just going to contrast the same thing Tanner had a week ago when he got infected by one of his schoolmates.

Frank must have seen something on your face because it's not even a minute before he calls the boys seriously and speaks to them briefly. You assume he's telling them not to get too carried away and to stay where you two can see them, before starting to trot over to you. He sits down next to you.

"Are you okay?" he asks, hugging you. You can't help but smile when his hand rests on your belly. Maybe he subconsciously knows? Or does he know but is waiting for you to tell him yourself?

"I'm fine," you assure him, placing a kiss on his shoulder.

“Are you sure? Your face is lacking color, and you're still tired,” your husband insists, worried. “We can go back to the beach another time. Your health is more important to me. We can stop by the hospital for a quick checkup.”

You decided to nip your husband's concern in the bud. You didn't want him to start running through the worst-case scenarios. Today was supposed to be a fun, relaxing day.

“Frank,” you placed your hand over the one he had on your belly. “It's nothing serious, baby three is just making me tired.”

Your husband's eyes widened in surprise, and a moment later, a big smile appeared on his face before he launched into your kiss. You could feel in his kiss all the infinite love he had for you and the family you were forming. You felt happy.

"Fuck, I love you," Frank said, breaking away from your lips and resting his forehead against yours. "I love you. I'm so lucky to have you and the boys, and now you're going to make me a father again. Thank you for giving me everything. Thank you for choosing me." As he continued, both his eyes and yours glazed over with emotion.

"I'll always choose you," you gave him a quick kiss. "I love you."

"I love you more," he declared, caressing your belly. "I hope it's a girl this time," he admitted, imagining a mini you following him everywhere.

“I can already see you having tea parties with her,” you smiled at the image of a little girl with your husband’s blue eyes asking for a tea party.

“I can’t wait,” he kissed your forehead, and hearing the children’s laughter, his eyes returned to the sea. “Do you think they’ll accept the idea of ​​being older siblings?”

“Let’s hope so.”

[astrolook]

Mercury ☿️🧩 and Mercury Retrograde 🔁💭 as Darakaraka - Mercury’s Speed, Rx’s Pause. (Long Post)

Note: These are just my personal observations and recurring patterns I've noticed over the years from married clients, relatives and friends. Take what resonates with you and leave the rest. Feel free to share in the comments if any of this hits home. This post is based on Vedic astrology.

Read Moon as DK!

DK: The planet with the lowest degree in your birth chart that holds your deepest desires for a partner like your soul's "Wanted Ad" scribbled in cosmic ink. It shows the kind of spouse you attract and what your heart secretly craves in relationships.

Mercury as DK - The eternal youth you can't quite catch

If Mercury is your Darakaraka, you're drawn to someone vibrant, playful, and full of life, a partner who feels forever young, whether they’re actually younger in age or just young at heart. Friendship plays a central role in your relationship; without it, there’s no real bond.

In some cases, your spouse might be from your neighborhood or hometown, depending on Mercury’s sign and house placement. This is someone who thrives on conversation. They’ll talk about everything under the sun, from the mundane to the metaphysical and they’ll expect you to keep up. They're curious, eager, and mentally restless. Pinning them down may feel impossible at times, and commitment doesn't come easily. But once they do commit, they stay loyal as long as you continue to stimulate their mind. Boredom is their exit cue.

If Mercury is afflicted, this energy can turn slippery. There may be issues with flirtation, inappropriate messaging, or a tendency to connect with others behind your back more out of curiosity than emotional betrayal. They’ll have a large circle of friends and acquaintances, though many of these connections are fleeting. Still, wherever they go, they somehow know someone.

They’re socially versatile, a true dual-natured person. They won’t act the same way with everyone and often shift between extroverted charm and introverted retreat. Your spouse may be ambiverted, multifaceted, and never dull but sometimes exhausting, especially if Mercury sits in a house or sign prone to nervous or scattered energy. Their chatter can drain you if you’re not grounded.

This is someone who can end relationships quickly, change their mind in under a minute, and won’t hesitate to walk away from anything that no longer serves them. They're adaptive, not cold though others might mistake this for being two-faced or inconsistent. The truth? They’re just wired to evolve, and fast.

They may be incredibly close to an elder sibling or their father (if present), and it's also possible they’re the youngest in their family and perhaps the favorite in their family. Their ever-changing nature often leads others to call them a chameleon.

But beneath all this is a pure soul, someone who truly wants a partner who’s both a best friend and a lifelong companion. If you have two kids, count your Mercury DK spouse as the third as they’ll bring a childlike wonder to life that never really goes away.

And in conversation? One moment they’re speaking like a 5-year-old, the next like a 90-year-old philosopher. It all depends on who’s in the room.

Mercury Rx as Darakaraka - The quite mind that thinks too loud

When Mercury Rx is your Darakaraka, your spouse may be noticeably younger than you often by seven years or more. This age gap isn’t subtle; it marks a difference not just in years, but in how the two of you move through the world. They often come across as the black sheep in their family or the one who doesn’t quite fit in with their relatives.

They might keep a journal, or at the very least, an overflowing notes app. Private, observant, and introspective, this is someone who seems mature beyond their years yet clings to the wonder of youth. They cancel plans last minute, usually with an excuse, but they’re not flaky by nature, just protective of their time, space, and energy. They care deeply about the people close to them but rarely say everything on their mind. They’d rather hold their opinions than risk sounding harsh.

Well-read and quietly brilliant, your spouse may be deeply into literature, comics, cartoons even in their 30s. Childhood nostalgia isn’t a phase; it’s a lifestyle. Whether it’s collecting Pokémon shirts, holding onto childhood toys, or gaming deep into the night, their inner child is alive and well. They live online more than offline, and when they talk, their eyes often wander like they’re reading invisible text as they speak.

When it comes to expressing themselves, it’s not a lack of words, it’s an overflow. Their brain fires off 500 words at once, but only 20 words make it out. Their speech is calculated, cautious, and deliberate. Often late bloomers, they tend to realize life’s biggest lessons slowly, over time usually after 25. You may also notice they hold on to baby fat or have that eternal baby-faced look that follows them into adulthood.

Your connection with them will be either deeply intuitive or wildly misaligned, there’s rarely an in-between. They’re the kind of person who dissects movies and breaks down comic arcs on Reddit or in YouTube comment threads like it’s their side job. Whether rich or not, they’ll dress modest, lowkey, and never flashy. You can’t impress them with money, and they don’t try to impress anyone either.

Love usually comes late for them, often after 25 and so do their best decisions. They mature quietly, gradually. Emotionally, they may be distant from at least one parent, often due to a strict or overly demanding upbringing. They may be an only child or the “golden child,” especially if close to a parent. If they have a younger sibling, the bond is profound, their younger sibling might even be their true best friend or emotional anchor.

They prefer texting over calling and are far more present online than in real life. Their social life might be limited not from disinterest, but because their anxiety level is basically 999.

Mercury + Saturn: Your spouse has that HR manager energy like commanding, composed, and maybe just a little too fond of talking over others to make sure they're heard. Listening? That comes second. If Mercury is retrograde with Saturn, expect someone who’s emotionally reserved, detached in family matters, and fiercely private about work, salary, and social ties. They won’t open up until they’re convinced you’re not going anywhere. Otherwise, they’ll ghost you just to beat you to the punch. Night-shift worker energy. Career above chaos.

Mercury + North Node (Rahu): This spouse has a voice that stands out that's unique, magnetic, and powerful. They know how to talk their way to the top and won't hesitate to cut ties with people who block their path. They move on fast, without drama. If retrograde, you’re looking at a sharp-tongued writer or communicator with a razor wit. They can eviscerate someone in less than ten words, all while keeping a deadpan expression. They know which nerve to hit and they’ll hit it with surgical precision.

Mercury + Sun: This is the loud-talker type. You’ll hear them across the room, on the phone, or possibly across state lines LOL. They laugh loudly, speak louder, and blast music like it’s a personality trait. Their phone contact list? Endless and their phone hangs a lot. If retrograde, the same energy simmers beneath a quieter surface. Calm, composed but their stare feels like a courtroom judge who knows your browser history. Their words are thunderbolts: they either expose truths or strike with sharp clarity.

Mercury + Moon: Your spouse is a charming smooth-talker like the prince or princess of flirtation. They know how to woo and will 100% brag about it to their friends the next day. They’re likely to get along well with your mother too. If retrograde, they’ll still be respectful, but distant. They might feel excluded from your family dynamic and quietly expect you to just know how they feel even if they never say it. They tend to stay away from your friend circle, preferring emotional distance to forced socializing.

Mercury + Venus: This is refined charm. Your spouse speaks with elegance and grace, sounding polished and high-standard. They're desirable and well aware of it, which can make them slow to commit. But if Saturn aspects this, they'll become family-oriented when committed. If North Node aspects or conjoins, watch for potential flirtations outside the relationship or affairs. If retrograde, your spouse is likely of higher status, reserved, and quietly powerful. They won’t flaunt their wealth or background, and if Saturn is also involved, expect some intense loyalty tests. With North Node, secrets about their past may surface or stay buried, avoided for the sake of peace.

Mercury + Mars: You’ve got a firecracker here. Your spouse uses strong language, smirks, winks, and defends you like it’s a sport. One day they’re generous, the next day they’re calculating all depending on your last argument. If retrograde, they hold grudges long-term and can go full dormant volcano like quiet for years, then suddenly erupting. They're a sweet angel until provoked… then it's nightmare mode unlocked.

Mercury + Jupiter: Here, your spouse might be a foreigner, multilingual, or both. They’re philosophical and open-minded. If Jupiter is retrograde, they may still be foreign but the joke is, you speak their language, and they don’t fully understand yours. A poetic mismatch, but it somehow works.

Mercury as Darakaraka by House Placement: When the Mind Marries the Message

1st House: Your spouse has a distinct voice maybe not just in tone, but in how they speak and present themselves. Think public speakers, HR heads, high-level managers, even police officers roles where communication, connections, and mental agility matter. If Mercury is retrograde, they may earn well but keep finances private or appear modest. Silent achiever energy.

2nd House: This is the money magnet. Charming and clever, your spouse has the uncanny skill of turning ideas into income. They attract investors and partnerships naturally. If retrograde, the money still flows but they keep it under wraps. Private about business, skeptical with trust, and never one to flaunt what they own. Where direct Mercury shows it, Rx Mercury whispers it.

3rd House: A wide social circle, opinionated, and deeply rooted in hometown or sibling bonds, your spouse lives through communication and community. If retrograde, they flip the script: don’t care what anyone thinks, won’t seek validation, and will love you even if no one else does. Private-social balance = mastered. Rx or not, can sing decent.

4th House: They’ll either remind you of a parent, comforting or slightly annoying or literally take on that nurturing role. They might murmur complaints or offer support in equal measure. If retrograde, the home is their nervous system. Small disruptions irritate them. They dislike crowds, quiet is sacred, and they’re mentally everywhere at once.

5th House: Your spouse is flexible and playful like one moment 10 years old, the next 80. They can be your best friend, your child, your muse. Count them as your first kid, emotionally. If retrograde, expect social anxiety. You’re the designated speaker at restaurants, cafés, or anywhere involving strangers. You're not just the partner, you're the unofficial spokesperson.

6th House: Approachable, kind, and relatable and classic boy/ girl-next-door charm. Easy to connect with and emotionally grounded. If retrograde, there’s still relatability, but expect sync issues. Either you're perfect puzzle pieces… or totally mismatched socks.

7th House: Your spouse is either younger than you or just permanently 16 at heart. Fun, flirty, and fresh. If retrograde, they’ll still be significantly younger but they’ll be the adult in the relationship. The voice of reason. The one who reminds you to grow up.

8th House: Mysterious, magnetic, and serpent-like with their words and your spouse can charm and disarm. Their words may feel like honey… or a trap. If Mercury's with Rahu, they might use people for personal gain. If retrograde, they keep opinions hidden but are deeply curious, into the occult, conspiracy theories, UFOs, and anything off-grid. Rx or not, this one loves the unknown.

9th House: Speaks more than one language, watches world cinema, and could be from a different culture. Long-distance relationships, summer romances, or online connections are big themes. If retrograde, an online connection or appears out of the blue into your life becomes even more likely, think “DM to lifelong partner” energy.

10th House: Career-focused and multi-talented, your spouse gives advice freely sometimes even when no one asked. They're the type to tell others how to do things better. If retrograde, their multitasking is subtle genius. Dry humor, no need for recognition. Recognition finds them anyway or doesn’t, they’re fine either way.

11th House: Unusual voice, speaks more than one language, possibly met at a tourist spot, event, or social function. If retrograde, online meeting or at an airport is likely. They might struggle to “fit in” but with you, they find their people. Private, digital, nerdy, deeply connected.

12th House: Big foreign energy here. Your spouse may be from another country or lives far away from you, and you might even settle in their state/ country. They could propose fast like 3-6 months fast. Soul ties override timelines. If retrograde, the speed still applies. You’ll speak their language more than they speak yours but the emotional fluency? Unmatched. Different on the outside, same deep-down.

Next post will be about having Venus as Darakaraka!

Wanna go deeper into the layers of your placements? DM me for a complete astrology reading or a 5 year/8 year marriage report or synastry reading🌙💬 and check out my pinned post for pricing + details 💫💸

Let’s decode your cosmic chaos together ⭐

[flamingpudding]

Cassiopea and Orion

Ellie had a plan. She promised she had one. This wasn't like when Clocky would sent her off on a mission through time with nothing more but a little note with a cryptic message on what to do.

Danny had given her clear instruction. Before one of her many travels to see the world, Danny, in his mid twenties and she in her late teens, had taken her aside once. Telling her about specific instruction she should follow, should she ever find herself in a moment of need, and Danny wasn't able to help her.

Well, now she was in that kind of situation. Amity Park was destroyed with no survivors. Vlads castle was no more. Both Dan and her got deaged, but Dan had to be put in a frozen state when he started to destabilize. And Danny, he had gotten captured by the GIW shoving her out of harms way and telling her to remember what he told her before.

Ellie was pretty sure Danny was telling her to follow the emergency instructions.

So here she was now. In Gotham. Keeping to the shadows and trying to find her way around.

No one ever bothered to tell her how hard it was to navigate through a city like Gotham. You would think it would be easy to find some guy running around at night in an armored spandex furry costume.

But no, here she was, in a random alley. In a city, Danny had specifically told her to avoid it unless the emergency instruction came into play. Maybe she should just steal a map.

She was contemplatingly staring at a gas station for that until she noticed a shadow jumping over the roof tops. It took her only a second to decide on her next action. Ellie was pressed on time after all.

"Hey you!" She shouted loudly flying up to follow that shadow. "Wait up!"

Thankfully, the shadow listened and stopped on the next rooftop toward her. She insanity noticed it tensing. Now, she noticed that the shadow was a kid. He looked small, and Ellie figured he was probably around 11 or 12.

"You are one of the Bees and Birds, right?" She questioned once she floated a bit closer. Also the kid tensed up.

"You mean Bats and Birds." The kid clicked his tongue at her, crossing their arms.

"Bees, Bats, who cares. My question is you know the big bad bee, right?" She waved the kid of, she had more pressing matter than getting their animals right. "I need to get a message to him."

The kid clicked their tongue once more, huffing and muttering something she couldn't hear. Probably talking to someone on a com. Either way, Ellie took his silence as a form of telling her to continue.

"Can you tell the big bad bee-" "Bat" "-the following?" She ignored the kid cutting in trying to get her message across and follow Danny's instructions to a T.

"Cassiopea is calling out to Orions Nursery before Rho dies to help her youngest."

There was long, drawn-out silence, and the kid was hissing something into coms. Ellie fidget with her finger nervously. Going through Danny's emergency instructions through her mind again until she hear a thud close to her and wirled around.

With wide blue glowing eyes, she looked up at the man dressed like a bat for a couple of seconds before taking on a defensive position. Eyes now narrowed at the man that was clearly studying her.

"I was under the impression that Phantom's youngest child was older. You appear to be no older than five."

"Yea well shit happened!" She shot back, still unsure if she could trust the man even if he mentioned Danny's hero alias. Her hands started to glow slightly as she prepared to attack in case things went back. But the man didn't appear to be phased by it. Not like the kid that was tensing up.

"You will be safe with us. But what happened to Phantom?"

Ellie eyes flicked over to the other kid that had now come closer to stand next to the bat guy before looking back to the big guy. She did not drop her stance yet. Still unsure of how much trust she can put here despite what Danny had told her, she had not yet heard the right response.

The man appeared to sense her distrust, as he kneeled to be on eye level with her. "Jupiter and Rho Cas will not be harmed. Orion gave Cassiopea his word."

Finally, Ellie relaxed, dropping her defensive stance but still watching the man with narrowed eyes. She hesitated a short moment before carefully saying her next words, hoping the man knew enough to k ow the grave meaning behind them.

"Phantom lost his haunt."

[nyoomfruits]

short little kid fic drabble for @mecachrome with single dad!lando and engineer!oscar, love you, hope you enjoy!!!!!

“Hey,” Lando says, when he wanders over to where Oscar’s sitting in front of the screens in the back of the garage. FP2 is officially over now, and he’s finished discussing some last minute set up changes with his mechanics, so he’s free to go now. His race suit has long been unzipped, and is dangling around it waist as he leans over Oscar’s shoulder. “How did it go?”

Evelyn, who is perched on Oscar’s lap and had been staring at the screens intently, perks up and turns around. “Dad! Oscar says you were the fastest, like woosh,” she points her fingers forward, determined expression on her face.

“Did he?” Lando says, making eye contact with Oscar over Evelyn’s head. Oscar smiles innocently at him. Lando had only gotten as high as P3.

“Yeah!” Evelyn continues enthusiastically. “He’s been showing me the telletries.”

Lando raises his eyebrow at Oscar. Oscar shrugs. “She asked,” he says.

Lando eyes him a little skeptically. “My five year old asked you to show her my telemetries,” he states.

Oscar shrugs. “Well technically she asked if you were the fastest ever, and so then obviously I had to prove her you were in fact, the fastest ever.”

“Obviously,” Lando says, trying not to let the smile on his face turn too fond. He had been very nervous, when he first started brining Evelyn to races, last year. But the team had taken to her like a charm, had taken her in as one of their own, and while there was a nanny to make sure she never got in the way of anyone’s work, none of the team minded entertaining her for short bits at a time.

Especially Oscar, the youngest performance engineer in McLaren’s history, always made sure to take time to explain things to Evelyn, whether it was aerodynamics, brake balance, or in this case, telemetry.

“Alright Eve,” Lando says, gesturing to Evelyn. “Time to say goodbye to Oscar, we’re going to get you those chicken nuggets I promised you, yeah?”

Evelyn’s face lights up, but then falls immediately when she glances at Oscar. “But…” She says, frowning. “I want… Can Oscar come?” She asks, face suddenly turning excited again as she turns back to Lando. “Yes! He was going to tell me more about the telletries, he can totally do that over dinner! Dad, please.”

She’s pulling the patented Norris Pleading Eyes, the ones people have told Lando time and time are impossible to say no to. He thought they were exaggerating, until he became a victim of them himself.

But he’s strong. He’s been here before. He can do this. “I don’t know, bug,” he says, ruffling her hair. “I’m sure Oscar has plans.”

Evelyn turns back to Oscar, eyes in full force, adding in a bonus pouty lip. “I’m free,” Oscar says, immediately, because the man has no fucking backbone, clearly.

And god. The thing is, the thing Lando’s never really told anyone is that Oscar is kind of… Cute. In his own soft, nerdy way. Lando doesn’t like to dwell on it much ecuase it’s not like he’s ever going anywhere with it, not when he has Evelyn and racing and not much time for anything else, but.

But sometimes, in these little unguarded moments, he indulges himself, daydreams about a life together. A life with Oscar. Dreams about sleepy early morning and quiet late nights and all of the joy and laughter in between.

Except that way madness lies. So he tucks it away in a box called ‘Have Yout Lost Your Mind Not In A Million Years’ and moves on.

But now, with the full force of Evelyn’s Norris Pleading Eyes back on him, Oscar’s own nervous, expectant, hesitant expression behind her, he can’t help but fold, nudge the box open just a tiny little bit.

“Yeah, okay,” he says, admits defeat. “Sure. Why not.”

[andy-15-07]

The Father's Heart

PAIRING:Pedro Pascal x reader

WORD COUNT: 2076| requests are open (send requests, I will gladly answer them all)

Pedro Pascal Masterlist

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the cozy kitchen. Y/n hummed softly as she flipped pancakes, the sizzle a comforting counterpoint to the gentle chatter of her family. Pedro sat at the kitchen island, scrolling through his phone, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. Their youngest, Leo, a whirlwind of energy at eight years old, was attempting to build a tower out of cereal boxes, while their middle child, Mateo, fourteen and perpetually attached to his headphones, mumbled something about needing more syrup. Elena, their eldest, sixteen going on seventeen, was the last to arrive, a vision of effortless cool even in her pajamas.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Y/n greeted, placing a stack of pancakes in front of Elena.

"Morning, Mom," Elena mumbled, giving her mother a quick kiss on the cheek. She glanced at Pedro, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes, before grabbing a fork and digging in.

Pedro watched her, his frown deepening. He’d been doing some thinking, some serious thinking, and he wasn't entirely sure he liked where his thoughts were leading him. He cleared his throat.

"Elena," he began, his voice carefully neutral.

Elena looked up, a question in her eyes.

"Your… friend, Ethan," Pedro continued, choosing his words carefully. "He's coming over later, right?"

Elena nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Yeah, he said he'd be here around two."

"Two," Pedro repeated, the word hanging in the air. He glanced at Y/n, who gave him a subtle ‘don’t you dare’ look. He ignored it. He was a father. It was his job.

"So," Pedro continued, "what exactly are you two planning on doing?"

Elena’s flush deepened. "Just… hanging out," she mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

"Hanging out," Pedro repeated again, the words laced with suspicion. "Doing what, exactly?"

"Dad!" Elena exclaimed, her voice rising in exasperation. "We're just going to watch a movie or something. Maybe work on our history project."

"History project," Pedro echoed, unconvinced. He knew teenagers. He’d been one himself, a lifetime ago. "What's this project about?"

"The French Revolution," Elena replied quickly, a little too quickly, Pedro thought.

"The French Revolution," he repeated, nodding slowly. "Interesting. Tell me, Elena, what was the primary cause of the French Revolution?"

Elena blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… economic inequality?" she stammered.

"And the Reign of Terror?" Pedro pressed.

Elena’s eyes darted around the room. "Robespierre… guillotine… lots of people died?"

Pedro sighed. "Elena, I’m not trying to grill you on your history project. I just… I want to know what you’re doing. I want to know who you’re spending your time with."

"Dad, I know you don't like Ethan," Elena said, her voice low.

"I didn't say that," Pedro countered, though it wasn't entirely true. He didn't dislike Ethan, exactly. He just… he was sixteen. Sixteen and full of… hormones. And Elena was his little girl. Always would be.

"You don't have to say it," Elena retorted. "I can tell. You’re always giving him the ‘look’."

Pedro knew exactly what ‘look’ she was talking about. The ‘I will disembowel you if you even think about breaking my daughter’s heart’ look. It was a work in progress, he’d admit.

"Elena," Y/n interjected gently, "your father just cares about you. He wants to make sure you’re safe and happy."

"I know, Mom," Elena said, her voice softening. "But I'm not a little kid anymore. I can make my own decisions."

"About some things, yes," Pedro said, "But some things… some things your mother and I still get a say in."

"Like what?" Elena challenged.

"Like… like who you spend time with," Pedro said. "Like… making sure you’re not getting into any trouble."

"Dad, I'm not going to get into trouble," Elena said, rolling her eyes.

"I know, honey," Pedro said, reaching across the island to take her hand. "I trust you. I do. But… Ethan… he’s a nice boy, I’m sure. But he’s still… young."

"So am I!" Elena exclaimed.

"That’s my point," Pedro said. "You're both still figuring things out. And I just… I don't want you to get hurt."

"Dad, everyone gets hurt sometimes," Elena said. "That's just part of life."

"I know," Pedro said softly. "But I don’t want you to get hurt unnecessarily. I don’t want you to make any mistakes you’ll regret later."

"I won't," Elena promised, though Pedro could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes.

"Okay," Pedro said, finally relenting. "Okay. Ethan can come over. But," he added, pointing a finger at her, "the French Revolution better be discussed. And," he added, glancing at Mateo, who had finally removed his headphones and was listening intently, "no funny business."

Mateo snorted. "Dad, please."

"I’m serious," Pedro said, his gaze sweeping over all three of his children. "I love you all. More than anything in the world. And I’ll do anything to protect you. Even if it means being the overprotective dad."

Elena smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes. "I know, Dad," she said. "We love you too."

The tension in the room dissipated, replaced by a warm, comfortable silence. Y/n smiled at her family, a feeling of contentment washing over her. They weren't perfect, not by a long shot. But they were hers. And she wouldn't trade them for anything.

Later that afternoon, Ethan arrived, a shy, lanky boy with a mop of brown hair and a nervous smile. Pedro greeted him at the door, his ‘look’ firmly in place. Ethan swallowed nervously, but managed a polite "Hello, Mr. Pascal."

"Ethan," Pedro replied, offering a curt nod. "Come in."

He led Ethan into the living room, where Elena was waiting. "Hey," she said, giving Ethan a quick hug.

"Hey," Ethan replied, his cheeks turning a delicate shade of pink.

Pedro watched them, his eyes narrowed slightly. He cleared his throat. "So," he said, "the French Revolution, huh? Big topic."

Ethan blinked. "Uh, yeah. We have a presentation to do."

"A presentation," Pedro repeated. "Interesting. What aspect of the French Revolution are you focusing on?"

Ethan looked at Elena, who gave him an encouraging smile. "We’re looking at the role of women in the revolution," he said.

"The role of women," Pedro repeated. "Fascinating. Did you know that Marie Antoinette…"

And so began a lengthy discussion about the French Revolution, with Pedro occasionally interjecting with historical facts and anecdotes. Ethan, to his credit, held his own, demonstrating a surprising knowledge of the subject. Elena, meanwhile, seemed amused by the whole exchange, occasionally rolling her eyes at her father’s over-the-top protectiveness.

As the afternoon wore on, Pedro’s ‘look’ softened. He could see that Ethan was a respectful young man, and that he genuinely cared about Elena. He still had his reservations, of course. But he was starting to realize that he couldn't protect Elena from everything. All he could do was offer her guidance, support, and unconditional love.

Eventually, it was time for Ethan to leave. "Thank you for having me, Mr. Pascal," he said politely.

"You’re welcome, Ethan," Pedro replied, offering a genuine smile. "Just… take care of her."

Ethan nodded. "I will, sir."

He turned to Elena, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "I’ll see you tomorrow," he said.

"See ya," Elena replied, a soft smile playing on her lips.

After Ethan left, Pedro turned to Elena. "He seems like a nice young man," he said.

Elena nodded. "He is," she said.

"Just… be careful," Pedro said.

"I will, Dad," Elena promised. "I know you’re just trying to protect me."

Pedro smiled. "That’s my job," he said.

He pulled Elena into a hug, holding her close. She was growing up so fast. It seemed like just yesterday she was a little girl, playing with dolls and dreaming of being a princess. Now, she was a young woman, navigating the complexities of life and love. And he, her father, would be there for her every step of the way.

Later that evening, after the kids were in bed, Pedro and Y/n found themselves alone in the kitchen, the quiet hum of the refrigerator the only sound. Y/n was washing dishes, while Pedro leaned against the counter, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"So," Y/n said, breaking the silence, "what did you think of Ethan?"

Pedro sighed. "He seems… polite. Respectful. Nice enough."

"But?" Y/n prompted, knowing there was a ‘but’ coming.

Pedro hesitated. "But he's still sixteen. And Elena… she's my little girl. It feels like just yesterday I was teaching her how to ride her bike, and now… now she's dating."

Y/n chuckled. "I know what you mean. It's hard to believe how quickly they grow up. It feels like just yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital."

Pedro nodded, a wistful look in his eyes. "She was so tiny. So fragile. And now… she's this beautiful, intelligent young woman. And I just… I don't want anything to hurt her."

"I know, honey," Y/n said softly, drying her hands and turning to face him. "But you can't protect her from everything. She has to learn to navigate these things on her own. We can guide her, support her, but we can't shield her from the world."

"I know," Pedro said, running a hand through his hair. "It's just… it's hard. Seeing her with him… it makes me realize how much time has passed. How quickly she's growing up."

"I feel it too," Y/n admitted. "But that's a good thing, isn't it? It means we've done our job. We've raised her to be a strong, independent young woman."

"I hope so," Pedro said. "I just… I don't want her to make any mistakes she'll regret."

"She will make mistakes, Pedro," Y/n said gently. "Everyone does. The important thing is that she learns from them. And that she knows we'll be there for her, no matter what."

Pedro nodded, his gaze softening. "You’re right. You always are."

He reached out and took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. "Thank you," he said. "For everything. For being such an amazing mother to our children. For… for putting up with me."

Y/n smiled. "You’re not so bad," she teased. "Most of the time."

Pedro chuckled. "I love you," he said, pulling her close.

"I love you too," Y/n replied, resting her head on his chest.

They stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other's arms, the silence once again filled with a comfortable warmth. They knew that the road ahead wouldn't always be easy. There would be challenges, and heartbreaks, and maybe even a few French Revolution debates. But they would face them together, as a family. And that's all that mattered.

A few weeks later, Pedro found himself having another conversation with Elena, this time about her future. She had been accepted to a summer program for aspiring writers, a program that would take her out of state for six weeks. Pedro was… hesitant.

"Six weeks?" he repeated, his brow furrowed. "That's a long time."

"I know, Dad," Elena said, "But it's an amazing opportunity. It could really help me with my writing."

"I know, honey," Pedro said. "It's just… I'll miss you."

Elena smiled. "I'll miss you too, Dad. But it's only six weeks. And I'll call you every day."

"I know, I know," Pedro said. "It's just… you're growing up so fast. It feels like just yesterday you were asking me to read you bedtime stories."

Elena laughed. "I still like you to read me stories sometimes," she admitted.

Pedro smiled. "I know you do," he said. "And I always will. No matter how old you get."

He looked at her, his eyes filled with love and pride. She was so talented, so passionate. He knew he couldn't hold her back.

"Okay," he said finally. "You can go. But," he added, pointing a finger at her, "you better call me every day. And," he added, his gaze softening, "be careful. Okay?"

"I will, Dad," Elena promised. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart," Pedro said, pulling her into a hug.

He knew that letting her go was the right thing to do. It was part of growing up, part of becoming her own person. And as much as it pained him to see her go, he knew that he had to let her fly. All he could do was be there for her, waiting for her return, ready to catch her if she fell. Because that's what fathers do. They protect. They guide. And they love. Unconditionally. Always.

[bengals-barnesbabe]

Coach Burrow

Pairing: Dad!Joe Burrow x Nurse!WifeReader

Description: Joe gets offered his favorite job yet!

Warnings: Fluffy, but suggestive towards the end ;)

Word Count: 2.4k

Main Masterlist

┊┊❁ཻུ۪۪♡ ͎. ｡˚ °

Life after the NFL wasn’t that much different for Joe Burrow. The 4x SuperBowl MVP was practically handed an elite coaching position the second he announced his retirement. So yea, not much is different from when he started all those years ago.

“MOM, where’s dad? We need him ASAP! MOM!” Your 6th grade son, Leo shouted running into the house.

Ok some things are different.

“HEY NO RUNNING IN THE HOUSE! Take your shoes off please.” Rolling your eyes at the boy and his friend as they removed their muddy cleats then continued their rampage. You’d spent the entire afternoon cleaning the house and doing the laundry so when you left for your 13 hour shift tonight you wouldn’t have to worry about your kids not having anything to wear or your husband having to focus on anything but work and your 4 kids. So you were not letting some 11 year olds mess it up.

 That's when you realized it was only 4:30, “hey!”

The two middle schoolers stop just before entering the backyard and turn to face you in the kitchen. 

“Aren‘t you two supposed to be at practice? Why’d you take the bus?” You ask.

“Our coach was fired!” Chris, Leo’s partner in crime exclaims with a smile.

“Okay, that doesn’t answer the running in my house or the smile on your faces.” Your forehead creases looking at the overly giddy kids.

“We want dad to take his place.” Well that makes sense. 

“Ok what makes you think he has time to coach both your team and Ohio State’s?” Joe’s job is flexible, but not that flexible.

“Easy, he goes to work from 9 to 4 and comes home at the same time practice is. So if he was our coach he could change our practice time from 4:30 to 5. BOOM he has time.” They say will full confidence in their plan.

If only he’d put that much effort into his math homework. But you give them credit for putting it together in such a short notice.

You chuckle and wave them off to pitch their idea to your husband of 15 years.

The boys find your husband outside “playing” around with his new grill. 

“Dad!” The man turns around confused at his youngest son’s voice.

“Leo, what are you doing home? Chris does your mom know you’re not at practice?” He pulls the lid down on the grill and gives his best ‘dad glare.’

“We came to get you! We need a new coach! And we want it to be you.” They plead.

Joe smirks and crosses his built arms. “Oh yea? Give me one good reason why I should be your coach?”

The boys look at each other a bit panicked, so they discuss it in a little huddle that makes Joe smile. 

When they break, Joe puts back on his serious facade. 

“Ok dad here’s our offer, if you agree to be our coach, I’ll get all A’s this year.” 

The dad’s brows raise in a surprised and impressed way.  

Truth is, Joe knew all about their coach’s departure. Over a week ago, the school sent an email to him personally asking if he could fill the position temporarily or even permanently. He said he’d have to check with his family before making any decisions. 

Yesterday they decided to inform him that a number of other dads/ supporters had already applied so there’d be a formal try out today at 5. 

The boys walked into the house at 4:30 and all he’d been waiting for was his son’s approval.

“You know what bud, I’ll gladly take you up on that offer.” He says shaking his mini-me’s hand. The shake quickly turns into him being ‘dragged’ into the house.

“We gotta go! You need to be there right now.” Joe just shakes his head and grabs his keys.

“I see you didn’t take much convincing.” You give him a knowing look as he walks around the kitchen counter to where you’re seated.

He chuckles, “I may have had some insider knowledge of the situation. But here’s the kicker, he agreed to make all A’s if I tried out.” Your husband smiles widely knowing how hard you’ve been trying to get the 11 year old to take his schooling seriously.

You scrunch your face as he pecks both cheeks before placing a much deeper kiss to your lips that you can’t help but reciprocate. 

“Mom… dad that’s gross, we need to go it’s 4:45!” Leo whines causing you to separate from his father.

“Yea go kick butt Shiesty!” You wink as he’s pulled out of the house laughing.

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

When the boys get to the field they are surprised by the sight of your 14 year old twins, Malia and Miles, standing by the fence.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite firstborns, what are you doing here?” Joe asked giving them side hugs, the only acts of affection they’ve allowed him to show outside the house.

“I wanted to get burgers, but was dragged here by her.” Miles dead tones.

Malia rolls her eyes. “I came to fill out your application for coach so you’re welcome, please come up with an adequate ‘daughter’s appreciation day’ present to thank me.” She smiles, Joe snorts at teenager.

“Are you sure you’re my daughter because that was all your mother? Thank you for helping out Lia and Miles…” The young boy shrugs. “Exactly. You guys plan on staying until we’re done or do I need to call mom?”

“We’ll stay, I wanna see the looks on the other dads’ faces when they see you.” Miles replies rubbing his hands together.

“I guess I’m staying too.” Malia shrugs.

“Ok then.” 

The tryouts had barely already started by the time Joe finally got to the field and just as Miles anticipated, the reactions were priceless.

“Mr. Evans, he’s here!” Leo yells running onto the field. His wild presence causes everyone look in his direction. 

“You’ve got to be shitting me.”

“The kid’s dad is Joe Burrow?!”

“I don’t know if I should be honored or scared.”

“We should all just leave now, he has 4 rings.”

Leo’s teacher, Mr. Evans shakes the former quarterback’s hand and welcomes him onto the field. 

“Mr. Burrow, it’s good to see you again.”

“Please call me Joe, it’s nice to be able to come out.” He says.

“Of course Joe, you’re right on time too. Would you like to introduce yourself to everyone?”

Joe nodded, “yea of course.” Then turned towards his competitors. “Hey guys I’m Joe, Leo’s dad. I guess I kind of played for a bit, but that’s all behind me now.” He chuckles.

“If played for a bit means leading the best team in LSU history to an undefeated championship then going from ‘the underdog’ of the NFL to a future hall of famer with 4 SuperBowl rings? Than the rest of us haven’t even heard of the game.” Will, Chris’ dad scoffed. Joe patted his long time friend on the back then joined him in line.

“Ok so first we’re going to test your football knowledge then see how well you coach other kids, not your own.” Evans claps his hands and they get to work.

By the end of the first round, half of the applicants have been dismissed and unsurprisingly Joe leads the pack going into the second round. 

“You know this isn’t fair right?” Will says in between rounds.

Joe sighs, “you do realize Leo and Chris practically tracked mud through the house just to get me here right?” Then smirks as the other guy rolls his eyes.

“Hey what if we made it fair?” 

Will looks at him intrigued, “I’m listening.”

“Split the job, we already know it’s going to come down to us. So what do you say, partners?” Joe suggests.

“Damn Burrow,” Will instantly agrees. “I don’t know how you stay so humble.” He laughs.

Joe just points to his fan club on the bleachers. “Chris is your oldest, so you don’t even know the degree of humility teenagers will teach you but my wife helps also helps with that.” 

When the men line back up for the rest of try outs, all of the other guys had already left.

Then Mr. Evans walks up to them. “So, I think it’s pretty clear who’s going to get the position.”

“Actually, we’ve decided to split it.” Will leads, the teacher looks to Joe confused.

“Yup, it would actually work out better if both of us share responsibility. There’s a lot of benefits to having two coaches, plus we’re doing it for free.” 

Mr. Evans couldn’t argue against the offer so he just shook their hands.

“Alright Coach Burrow and Coach Williams. Welcome to the Wildcats.”

❀。• *₊ meanwhile at the house °。 ❀°。

“Mommy, I need help...” 

You had just finished putting on your scrubs before your 6 year old started crying bloody murder. “What is it my love?” 

Walking into her My Little Pony room you scanned every crevice for threats, but only landed on the young girl sitting on her floor with a notebook.

“I don’t know how to do this.” 

You melted at the cute pout on her face as she pointed to her math book. “Jazzy, babygirl. Are the fractions giving you a hard time?” She nodded her head, you checked your watch (5:15) and decided to join her on the floor.

“Ok I have some spare time to help you on a few, but when daddy gets home I have to go work okay pretty girl?” She happily nodded and scooched herself into your lap. 

For the next 20 minutes you simply watched and fiddled with your daughter’s dark curls as she studied her math. It became very clear within seconds that she just wanted to be with her mother as she didn’t ask any questions about the material. 

Being a charge nurse meant your hours were more unpredictable, especially at your hospital. Most nurses worked 12 hour shifts but you were currently understaffed so you took it upon yourself to be a leader and help your team. You usually worked 3 overnight shifts a week, so you could be there when the kids get home from school. Even though you were home more often than not, there are times when your babies need you, so if one of them wanted more time with you there was no way you were going to reject them of that opportunity.

While you and your youngest were cuddled up on the ground in your own little world, Joe and his fan club arrived right on time for dinner. 

“I’m starving, why couldn’t we stop for burgers?” Miles groaned throwing his backpack onto the couch.

Joe picked up the bag and put it back in his son’s hands. “Because even though she didn’t have to, your mother cooked before her shift. So you’re going to take your stuff upstairs and get washed up for dinner.” He gave him a pointed look and dismissed the teenager.

“Wow, I can’t wait to deal with that.” Joe shook his head and led his friend to the kitchen.

“You have no idea. I love my kids, but the older they get the more of me I see in them. It would cool when all he wanted to do was throw the football around, but now the stubbornness gene is really coming to bite me in the ass.” He snorted while warming up their dinner.

“How’s he doing with that, has he made varsity yet?” Will asks as the kids make their way downstairs.

“He’s good for a sophomore but not there yet. If he put more of his time into practice instead of chasing cheerleaders he could be better.” He responds just as the boy rounds the corner.

“Don’t hate the player, hate the game dad. I got Becky Jackson’s number in third period, nothing’s stopping me now.” He smiles taking his place at the table.

“What happened to Marissa? I thought she was nice.” Joe chuckles as his wife joins the crew. 

“You know how he is babe.” You give him a quick kiss wrapping your arms around him.

“Yea mom, he’s for the streets.” 

“I am not for the streets! At least I have a date.”

You shake your head and slowly make your rounds. You quickly greet Will, grab your work and dinner bags, kiss the kids and walk with Joe to the front door. 

“You’re really going to leave me in this chaos.” He sighs his hands still holding yours.

“I heard my teacher was for the streets.”

“What’s for the streets?”

You smirk against his chest, “oh I think you got this Shiesty, this is nothing compared to your O Line in those early years.”

His hands quickly drop your hands and find your waist. “Ok alright I see how you want this to go.” His voice low against your ear.

“What, I’m simply saying your risks for injury are dramatically lower.” Your arms go around his neck as he backs you into the corner out of your children’s vision, then a hand on your waist moves to grip the meat of your ass. You bite your lip as a low moan muffles against his chest.

“You think you’re funny. If it was just us right now, I’d show your ass what being funny gets you. But when you get back, you’re all mine mama.” He groans nipping your ear then pressing a hungry kiss to your lips. You moan into his soft yet bruising lips, pulling him in further. 

“Oh god, Jazmine close your eyes.” 

You both sigh as the giggles from your permanent cockblockers acknowledge their existence to you. 

“I’m sending them to my parents tomorrow.” 

“Do that and we might end up adding to the population.” You chuckle pulling away from your husband, who raises his brows at your comment. 

“Don’t tempt me, you know exactly how I like you.” He playfully slaps your behind. “Kids, say goodnight to mom!”

You shake your head at him while being engulfed in hugs. “I love you, I’ll see you when you get home from school.”

“Bye momma..” The chorus sings.

They return to the table and you turn back to a smirking Joe. “See you tomorrow beautiful.” You blush hugging him once more before opening the door.

“Goodnight Coach Burrow, can’t wait practice with you tomorrow.” You wink as his eyes cerulean eyes darken then shut the door.

“Fuck, who said 5 kids was too many.”

━。゜✿ฺ✿ฺ゜。━

A/N: Looks like a bitch came back to life! My trip was nice but not writing for so long killed me. Can’t wait to see how much gets posted in the next week

Xoxo Babe

Likes, comments and reblogs are welcomed and treasured ♡

[taesanluv3r]

nicest guy.

kim woonhak x reader

inspired by bnd's MAMA performance! the hyungs getting their baby ready for prom night! taesan's a menace and yn's dad is hard-headed, also woonhak has his license in this. lowercase intended. cuss words, kiss scene. pls ignore any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. enjoyy

wc: 3,810

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖

"you're going to prom in that?!"

with the way jaehyun was staring at him, you'd think kim woonhak had showed up in a jersey and sweats. "what?" the young boy asks before taking in a deep gulp, an uneasy feeling sprouting up his body at the way his hyungs eyed him down. "it's not bad is it? i mean it's a suit...?" he questions, eyebrows curling into a pose of doubt. to be fair, he wasn't wrong, it was a suit...a suit that belonged to his dad way before his time, that is.

"i mean...apart from the fact that it's a billion years out of style and like- three sizes too big on you...i guess it is a suit!" taesan chuckles, prompting riwoo, who stood beside him, to do the same. "yeah! i mean i wouldn't be caught dead in that, but a suit's a suit...i guess..." the backhanded statements made the youngest boy roll his eyes, whining as he slumped down onto the couch in the boys' shared dormitory.

"hyung, what do i do? i mean in a couple hours i have to go pick the yn ln up from her house and then i'm supposed to give her the best prom experience in the world and i can't even pick the right outfit?! i mean, how do i expect her to say yes to being my girlfriend if i can't get anything right?! i'm such a loser!" the older guy's looked at the boy with sympathy, watching as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"woonhak..." sungho starts, taking a seat beside him. "don't say that...you're more than just a loser" - "yeah, cause he's a huge loser!" taesan butts in, "dude, can't you see the kid's stressing? leave him alone!" leehan says, striking the menacing one upside his head. "don't listen to him, broski...i mean, yn did say yes to your prom-posal, didn't she? that's something!" woonhak nods along to the word's of his older friends, beginning to gain back the confidence he had lost just a moment ago.

"yeah! and besides, the outfit isn't that big a deal...we'll just have to fix some things..." jaehyun says, "mhm, and we can help you with all of that. we are, after all, your beloved hyungs" riwoo smiles, pressing a hand onto the boy's back in reassurance. "now come on..." he continues, beginning to pull woonhak up from the couch.

"...if you're planning to confess your love to yn tonight, then we got some serious work to do!"

"operation: turn loser woonhak into gentlemanly woonhak so that he can win over his long time crush who's lowkey out of his league, is a go- ow! quit hitting me!"

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖

"hm..." leehan squints, his pointer finger pressed against his lips. "try the red one again..." woonhak rolls his eyes, taking off the tie around his neck for what felt like the billionth time. "how about the blue-" - "hyung, seriously? i've tried the blue one on like- four times already!" leehan laughs at the boy's annoyance. "okay fine, at least try on the purple one, please?" the younger of the two obliges, throwing the last of the ties on. "oh, gross! red it is...use the red tie" woonhak almost throws a tantrum, "seriously?! all that work for you to pick the first one i put on? she better love this tie or i'm gonna crash out" leehan smiles with his eyes, leaning over to pinch the other's cheeks.

"beauty takes time, baby"

"bro, stay still!" sungho exclaims, holding their maknae down by his shoulders. "i'm trying to but you plus a giant curling iron is kind of freaking me out!" the older one scoffs, "don't be such a baby, it's not like i'm gonna burn you! and how do you expect me to fix this mop on your head if you keep moving, huh?" woonhak sighs, giving up on fighting back; he wasn't going to win anyways.

"now hand me the hairspray..."

"and five, six, seven, eight and- no, no, no!" riwoo shakes his head and slaps a hand onto his forehead. "what? what am i doing wrong? those are literally the right moves!" poor woonhak, his head's just moments away from exploding. "it's the beat, dude! you need to stay on beat! how do you expect to win this girl over if you can't dance on beat? start over from the top" riwoo claps his hands, bending down to rewind the song on his phone.

"and five, six, seven, eight..."

"uh...hey...um-" - "stop, stop, stop!" taesan shoves a palm in front of woonhak's face. "you really like this girl and you're about to ask her to be your girlfriend. this is something you've been waiting for your whole life and you start with...uh...hey?" the other boys laugh at his spot-on impression of their youngest, "c'mon woonhak, you know you can do better than that! here, i'll show you an example" jaehyun chimes in, asking sungho to stand in front of him. "pretend sungho is the girl, okay?" woonhak nods, watching closely like it were lesson worth half his semester grade.

"first, you want to get her alone, somewhere nice so that it's just the two of you. hey sungho, follow me..." jae begins, reaching a hand out for sungho to take. "then, you want to give her something that shows you care, say...a rose-" the guy is interrupted, "she prefers tulips though" woonhak states, making the others smile. "fine, then give her a tulip..." jaehyun continues, picking up a pen from the coffee table to use as a prop. "here, this is for you..." he says, handing the "flower" over to sungho who gasps comically, sending the group of guys into a fit of laughter.

"guys, shut up, this last part is the most important. you gotta remember this, woonhak"

the maknae nods, beginning to take mental notes. "you have to speak from your heart" woonhak's eyebrows furrow in confusion, "what do you mean?" leehan pats his back from beside him, "he means this is the point where you have to confess to her!" jaehyun nods, "yup! and we mean really confess. tell her how you feel, why you feel that way, really sell it to her" taesan butts in again, "you gotta show her that being with you is worthwhile" sungho agrees, "vulnerability helps! ask her to give you a chance, tell her how much she means to you" riwoo joins in finally, "and then, when she says yes, kiss her under the moonlight- for a bit of romance, of course"

woonhak sighs, taking all the information in. "if she says yes..." the older boys watched as doubt took over his complexion. "hey, don't say that!" jaehyun says, clicking his tongue. "yeah, bro...i know i keep calling you a loser and all, but that's just part of your charm- i mean, you're a nice guy, woonhak. and once you add our advice to the mix, she'll be yours in no time!" taesan's words are sincere, though his stoic expression said otherwise but that's just how he looks.

"if you say so..." the boy trails off, breathing deeply as he began to stand up again. "i have to go pick her up now...wish me luck, please" his hyungs shoot him big smiles, almost tearing up (jaehyun fully cried) at the sight of their youngest all grown up and ready to take on his first prom. making sure his tie was on straight and fixing the loose strands of his hair, they finally send him out the door, watching as he gets into the car and begins to drive away.

"goodluck, woonbaby! we love you!"

"fighting! go get her!"

"make hyung proud, woonhak!"

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖

'this is it woonhak...it's time to face her...and her parents...shit i completely forgot about her parents...fuck...well, don't just stand there, woonhak! ring the doorbell!'

ding dong!

the boy could hear a quiet rustling noise coming from behind the door. he waited patiently for an answer, fixing his posture and checking his reflection in the window in the meantime. he closes his eyes and takes a couple more deep breaths before the creak of an opening door brings him back to reality.

a man, who was the spitting image of his crush, stood before him, yn's dad. woonhak clears his throat before bowing slightly, "hello sir, my name is kim woonhak and i'm here to pick your daughter up for prom" the lack of answer freaks the boy out as he reaches a trembling hand out for the man to shake. "s...sir?" he squeaks out, voice raising by a couple octaves.

"honey, who is it at the door?" a sweet female voice breaks the awkward - and fearful - silence. "is that yn's date?" she asks before emerging from behind the man at the door. if woonhak thought yn's dad was the spitting image of her, well then her mom must've been her twin! "oh- uh, hello mrs ln, i'm woonhak! your daughter's date...i'm here to pick her up!" the boy stutters a bit but manages to finish his sentence. the tension in his body slowly began to exit out when the woman laughs happily, grabbing his shaking hand and inviting him right into their home.

"sorry about my husband, sweetie, he's just a bit of a hard-head and he just isn't quite set on the idea of his baby princess already going to her first prom! sorry if he gave you a hard time" mrs ln was kind, she spoke in a way that made the air-conditioned room start to get warm. "oh, not at all...you have a lovely home, by the way" woonhak started to feel comfortable, gratefully taking the cup of tea he was offered. "well aren't you just the sweetest, yn's still getting ready- you know how us girls are! i'm just gonna pop in up there and let her know you're waiting, okay?" the boy smiles as he nods, "thank you"

the next ten or so minutes felt like hours as the boy awkwardly tried to make small conversation with his date's dad in the living room. "so...uh...do you like baseball...sir?" he stutters as he makes eye contact with the framed baseball jersey that hung on one of the walls. mr ln nods, "yup, i dabble. do you?" his monotonous tone paired with his expression-less face made poor woonhak's heart beat out of his chest. "yeah...yeah i love baseball, used to be my biggest dream to be a baseball player" the man laughs, scaring the boy a bit, but he tries to play it cool. "a scrawny kid like you? baseball? right..." he wasn't gonna lie, that did hurt his ego a little, and if it weren't for the fact that he was the father of the girl he loved so much, kim woonhak would've lost it right then and there.

the sound of footsteps emerging from up the stairs interrupted the two guys from their conversation - if you can even call it that. "and now i present to you..." mrs ln begins, standing at the top of the steps. "princess yn!" she announced, a familiar giggle following as a figure appeared beside her. "mom! i told you to stop calling me that!"

there she was. woonhak's mouth fell agape as he got up from his seat, almost stumbling from the sight before him. she had on the prettiest dress, embellished with all kinds of tiny silver jewels. it hugged her body just right, her hair flowing off of her head so effortlessly, as if she just woke up like this. yn ln looked perfect, just...

"beautiful"

"you don't look too bad yourself" her honey-like voice shakes the boy out of his thoughts. "huh? oh! um, hey" the girl giggles, her nose scrunching in the process. "i like your dress" woonhak smiles, feeling nervous from the sudden close proximity; when did she get from the top of the stairs to standing right in front of him? "thanks, i like your tie- the red looks good with the suit" yn's compliment makes him blush and he makes a mental note to thank leehan later.

"oh, aren't you two just adorable? come here, let me get some pictures for facebook!" mrs ln beckons, tilting her head to direct the pair over to one side of the room. "okay...one more...and...done! aw, aren't they just lovely? right, honey?" mr ln grunts, "i guess so..." another tense silence submerges the space. yn clears her throat, "well! we'd love to stay and chat but i think woonhak and i should get going now!" her date nods, "mhm! yup! it was so nice meeting you guys, thank you for the tea and for letting me take your daughter to prom- it really means a lot" the man and woman nod along to the boy's words, "of course, sweetie. you two stay safe!" mrs ln speaks as she follows them out the door.

"we will! love you guys, i'll see you later! and dad? please stop staring at him like a psycho, thank you"

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖

"you good?" woonhak asks, watching as yn strapped her seatbelt on. she smiles sweetly, "mhm, are you? sorry my dad's such a weirdo" he laughs, finally starting to feel less nervous. "he called me a scrawny kid...what does that even mean?" she giggled, "well, that's dad for you...don't let it get to your head, hakie..." her usual nickname for him made his heart skip a few beats, "and if it's any consolation, i think you're perfect!...now let's go, i'm itching to get on the dance floor" woonhak tries to ignore the compliment, not wanting it to distract him from driving safely to their prom venue - aka their high-school gymnasium.

and off they went.

the drive didn't take much time at all, being that the ln household was only eight minutes away from the school. upon arriving, woonhak parks his car amongst the others in the lot. he gets out first, scrambling to make it to the passenger's side in time to open up the door for yn and help her down.

she giggles, beginning to step out of the vehicle as he takes her hand in his softly. "thank you. when did you get so gentlemanly?" the boy sticks his chest out with pride, "i kinda took a gentleman crash course before picking you up, honestly" yn laughs, "just for me?" woonhak wiggles his eyebrows before dramatically bowing, "all for you, princess yn" the girl playfully pushes him to the side, "you meeting my parents might've been the worst thing ever!" the boy rolls his eyes, "at least we got that out of the way, right?" she nods, "c'mon! party time!"

the prom was just like what they've always dreamed of. drunk on non-alcoholic beverages, people sweating their make-up off on the dance floor, and of course, sharing stupid smiles with their friends and their dates. as the time passed by the music went from ballads to clean versions of the latest pop releases, and the buffet of food prepared on every corner of the gym had slowly decreased. students were having the time of their lives, some had left to make-out in the hallways, other's had decided to leave the campus completely.

woonhak watches from beside the bowl of fruit punch as his date stuffed her face with all sorts of cheeses from the charcuterie board. how'd she look so cute just doing whatever? that can't be legal. somewhere amidst his staring, the boy felt a presence on his shoulders - or rather, he felt five very familiar presences on his shoulders.

"pssttt, woonhak!" the imaginary voice, that sounded eerily similar to myung jaehyun, calls. the boy's face contorts in confusion. huh? he thought before another voice spoke. "it's time! remember what we taught you!" that one sounded an awful lot like riwoo. "go shoot your shot, woohak! fighting!" a third voice that was a mix of leehan's and taesan's finished. before he could even gather any of his thoughts, an invisible force pushes him straight towards yn.

"hakie! you have to try this...it's gouda with herbs! i fucking love cheese...hey...you okay?" the last of her sentence came off worried, her eyebrows tilted upwards. "yeah...um...i think i just need some air, come with me to the football field?" the girl agrees without hesitating, grabbing one last slice of the creamy dairy concoction before beginning to walk towards the back exit of the gym. woonhak follows close behind, sneakily snatching one of the tulips from the vase at the very end of the buffet table.

step 1: get her alone...done.

"wow...the sun's setting already!" yn twirls around happily as they entered the empty field, the cool air hitting their skin and causing goosebumps to emerge. woonhak smiled, he always found himself smiling at her. "hey..." she called, starting to walk towards the boy. "you sure you okay?" he shakes his head but quickly switches to nodding, very rapidly. "mhm! yeah, i'm fine...uh...here!" he suddenly exclaims, pulling the stolen flower out from behind his back. she jumps in shock at the sudden gesture but giggles sweetly as she retrieves the single tulip.

"did you steal this from the buffet?" yn questions, sticking an eyebrow up jokingly. "um...no...?" woonhak lies, though the dumb grin on his face said otherwise. "well, thanks anyways...tulips are my favourite" she stares at the pink plant lovingly, finding it fascinating the way the setting sun began to illuminate against it's petals. "i know they are" they share another smile, and he watches as she tucks the flower into a loop on her dress, right by her hip.

step 2: a gift to show you care...done.

the first two steps to his hyungs' three step guide had been successful. the boy felt a little more confident now, just one last step left...the hardest of them all, it's time to confess.

"hey, hakie" - "hey, yn" the pair speak in unison, both abruptly pausing. "you first" they jinx again, laughing softly. "you first, hakie" yn says, to which woonhak nods. the boy takes a deep breath before taking one step closer to her, "yn..." he trails off, grabbing both her hands in his. his chest in pounding, he swears she could feel his heartbeat through his wrists. "what is it?" she asks, a tone of genuine worry laced within her words.

'speak from your heart...tell her how you really feel'

"listen yn, i like you. i like you a lot! you make me really happy and you make me laugh and sometimes you make me really really nervous" the girl's mouth opens to speak but he doesn't let her, not yet. "i think i've honestly liked you for like ever! i mean how could i not? you're awesome- er- i mean, you're amazing and cool and just ah! you're perfect and- wait, wait, let me finish first and then you can react" she giggles at the obvious excitement underlining his nerves, nodding and allowing him to speak. "and i know that i can be a huge loser sometimes, and totally un-cool, and i can't even be twenty percent sure that you like me in any way but..."

woonhak pauses to think - and to catch his breath.

'show her that being with you is worthwhile'

"yn, if you gave me a chance, i swear i will be the nicest guy you'll ever know - i mean, i'll treat you right and i'll cherish you with my whole heart literally for the rest of my life. yn, i...i love you and...i might melt and scream and cry if you ever felt even a smidgen this way for me..." the boy straightens his back up as he breathes in once more, "yn ln...would you...maybe, possibly...would you like to be my girlfriend?"

he didn't know when or how, but somewhere amidst his monologue-like confession his eyes had started to well up in tears, a single droplet slipping down his cheek. "you...you can react now, yn" the girl only smiles, letting go of one of his hands to graze her own against his face, wiping away that single tear.

"oh, hakie..." she prolongs, focusing on the way his lips quivered in hope and in slight fear. "first of all, you don't need to swear on anything! i know for a fact that you're the nicest guy in the whole world..." the expression on his face softens as her hand moves back to holding his. "you know, it would've saved you a lot of time if you had skipped the whole speech and just asked me straight-forward" he's confused now, his mind is all over the place and he can't seem to understand what's going on. "why...why's that?" he musters under his breath; his breath that only got heavier. "cause..."

"i'd love to be your girlfriend, loser"

the boy's eyes widened, was he hearing her right? was this really happening? finding the look on his face ever so amusing, yn breaks into a fit of loud and happy laughter. it felt as though a mass production of fireworks had just erupted around them and the empty field held the same warmth as the gymnasium that swarmed with people. the pair are frozen, she doesn't know what to do next and he's searching his brain for an answer.

'when she says yes, kiss her under the moonlight'

with his heart full and beating straight out of it's socket, woonhak uses light force to pull yn closer, pressing a passionate kiss on her lips. it takes a second for her to register the gesture, just a second before she had completely melted into the moment. the couple smiled into the kiss, letting out bashful giggles as they held each other tight - youthful and happy right under the moonlight.

"hey, what were you gonna say before? like- before you told me to talk first?" the boy spoke, their lips still in contact. "mmm...i don't know, it was probably not important, whatever...kiss me" he laughs, ridding of any extra space between them.

step 3: tell her how you really feel...done...and kiss her under the moonlight...ongoing.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖

"and then the gym teacher caught us kissing on the field and told us not to so we decided to get in the car and end the night there and...yeah! that's it"

the five older boys cheered as their maknae recalled the fresh sequence of events. "well done, woonhak! i knew you had it in you" sungho says, patting the boy on his shoulder. "yeah, me too...i never doubted you for a second!" taesan followed, causing everyone to roll their eyes and sigh.

kim woonhak giggled almost manically, screaming as he flopped onto his back on the carpeted floor. "wah! i can't believe i'm officially dating the yn ln...pinch me, i must be dreaming!" - "don't actually pinch him, taesan"

the end.

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖

WAAAAA first loooooooongggg fic in a while!!! cant believe i actually finished this. i wrote for 4 hours straight lololol been thinking of this since MAMA so!!!!! hope u guys enjoyed it, ill try to write more soon. love, kona.

perm taglist:

@en-dream @candycane-lemonade

[petew21-blog]

Swapcation

I can't believe I finally did it. I was so afraid to use my powers I got and now look at me.

A fat kid like me would never walk around like this. Parading around

I still feel guilty though

14 hours ago:

My family spoke about receiving my powers for many years. They all got their chance for a few years when they were young but one day their power run out when they got too old. It took a few years for each person.

But now I was the youngest out of our family and they all were looking forward to use my powers to swap them into younger bodies. I hated this idea, cause they usually picked a family they knew and replaced them. What did my family do with the other swapped family are you asking? You don't wanna know.

And that's why I escaped the night before my family got their hands on me. I couldn't let another family get killed of like so many before. I just have to swap soon enough before my family finds me a tries to use me for themselves. Unfortunately it won't be easy, cause after centuries of swapping, they got themselves into the higher class and got enough money to do whatever they wanted.

I ran through the forest with my backpack and got to the nearest road. It was the middle of the night and there weren't cars nearby. I walked for an hour and arrived to a 24/7 diner. Perfect. I can hitchhike from here.

The only three people in the diner were the chef, waitress and some guy. He looked like a bussiness man coming from some trip. Sipped his coffee, maybe heading somewhere and trying to get some cofein to not fall asleep behind the wheel.

I aproached him:"Hey, I was just wondering if you were taking hitchhikers by any chance?" I asked with a shaky voice.

He looked at me with his exhausted eyes:"Where are you heading? Got a name kid?"

"North," I exclaimed, " and the name is Kenneth. Nice to meet you." I lied, not using my real name.

I saw a spark in his eyes. Maybe it was just a coincidence. "Really? North? There isn't anything but wilderness for miles." I didn't respond. And just nodded. He continued:"Well we got a lot to talk about then"

We headed to the car. He was driving a black Toyota. That's all I could say about that car. I knew shit about cars

His car was clean, but he had a lot of bags in the trunk. Probably from the business trip, I thought.

An hour of smalltalk about my life and himself followed. His name was Matthew, and he worked as a marketer on west coast. He quit university a few years ago and went on to get more money. From the talk all I could notice was the way his hands moved, his beautifully manly hands. His biceps was carefully wrapped around by the blue short sleeve of his T-shirt. I could only imagine what it would be like to kiss his beard and continue to his chest. Burry myself there. I wondered if he was hairy there just as his arms were.

As I was dreaming about this beautiful specimen I didn't even notice that he made a few slight turns. As he kept talking and I was admiring him, out of the pitch black forest a diner emerged. The same diner we came back from.

I looked at him horrified

"You didn't think that your parents would let you get away? Sorry for the change of your plans for the vacation, but your family needs you and I was promised a lot of money. So I gotta get you back."

Fuck. No. I can't let this happen. I can't go back. I gotta find a way out of here.

The doors were locked, so there was no way I was getting out of there. Begging didn't seem like a valid option. I noticed the time 2:09. It's my birthday. I wonder. If this doesn't work then I am dead. If I don't do anything my family will use me. I can't let the happen.

I concentrated hard enough. I have never swapped before, but I knew how from my family. They all went through it many times.

I felt warmth coming straight from my head, following to my hands.

We were few miles from my home

Now or never

I jumping at him. My right hand grabbing the wheel and turning it to the right. My left hand grabbing his shoulder.

A moment of darkness. For a short glimpse I saw my own face shocked and screaming. Then we hit the tree.

I got out of the car as soon as possible. My body didn't move. I killed him. I did the same thing, like my family to all the others.

I ran to the backseat, grabbed my backpack a ran striaght to the forest. I could hear sirens in the distance. I have to run now.

Present

I think it has been far enough for now. The forest ened with a beautiful large meadow between two massive mountains. Sun already shined and I could slow down for a minute.

I took off my ripped shirt and jeans. If someone saw them they would think that a bear attacked.

In my view were now two beautifully sculpted hairy pecs and even more beautiful abs. I went through every ridge my fingers found. The skin was tigh and warm. After the run I completely forgot I was now Matthew. Not Jake anymore. But Matthew. Beautiful hot sexy Matthew.

I spoke out. What a manly voice I now possess I though. My hand touching my neck and the other my lips and beard as I spoke. I smelled my armpit. The stentch of sweat was extremely strong but erotic. I went to admire my new hairy legs. I slowly started from my strong thighs, through the thick carpet of hair covering them, following to my new feet. I took off the shoes. My feet are massive now.

The last thing I didn't see yet was already awaiting hard. I got completely naked. There I was. A man! A hot sexy man. Sculpted like a statue with a hard and large dick in hand. I jerked off slowly and with my other hand I kept on exploring the already touched areas. I went on to masturbate rapidly just until the streams of cum kept pouring out off me.

I stood there smiling, laughing.

And then the clarity hit. I took Matthew's life. I did that to stop my family, but that didn't make it easier.

There was no going back now. I took my backpack and the rest of my clothes that weren't destroyed, hoping I would get a chance to get some on the way.

"I am Matthew Daniels and I am on a vacation. I am Matthew."

I went into the beautiful nature to continue my journey. I still feel guilty. Maybe the feeling will pass. I hope...

Part 2:

[hpgal]

DC X DP: VACATION TO A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE Pt. 1

CW: mentions of death

TLDR: Danny is stressed and depressed feeling like despite all the changes in his life, he feels like he is still the same.

Word Count: 1310

a/n: I plan on making multiple parts to this one but it will take some time. This is more a draft to part 1 than anything else and will most likely end up on AO3 in the future as a more completed version of itself once it is done here on Tumblr. Any feedback and suggestions (or even if you want to continue this plot with your own spin on it as long as I am credited/ tagged so I can read it too!) is very much welcomed!!

Danny wanted a change.

Not just for fun either. Though fun would be nice between all these Ghost King responsibilities he had been forced to start learning for when he comes of age, or well not, technically?

He doesn't know! It's complicated! He was 17 now, but his ghost age was only 3! The Observants said to fully assume the throne his ghost age was supposed to be 18 at the youngest but they'd make an exception for when he was 18 in the living realm.

Ghee, thanks you weirdos, because I totally wanted my adult life to already be over so I can manage my undead life.

Anyways, between trying to graduate and learn his forever job, he had been going to therapy now that he isn't the only ghost fighter in town. He has breaks! A support system! 14 year old Danny would never believe his parents accepted him for his ghostly side!!

His friends learned to fight and trap so well over the years that they don't even need him by their side anymore for every fight. The GIW was chased out of town and supposedly disbanded by the government because "it was a scam and ghosts don't actually exist." Even his parent's business was booming in town.

They started leaving the field work to others and focused on research. They hold ghost defense classes 3 times a week for any and all citizens. They build home defense gadgets and other anti ghost equipment to sell to the town, too. There are even kids from his class who want to get into the field now and intern at FentonWorks.

Over the years, everyone in town has grown incredibly capable of handling ghosts themselves that there is a city funded ghost protection task force. And that is all to deal with the ghosts that are more on the unruly side.

The reality is that it is not exactly necessary anymore to always be prepared for the next daily ghost attack. Since it became public knowledge for the Ghost Zone that he'd be assuming the throne, most ghosts have opted to leave Amity Park alone since it was his haunt. However, he has opened it up to any ghost who wants to visit as long as they do not leave Amity Park. And so, ghosts and the living live in harmony in the town.

In his senior year, the town has become so open to ghosts that when a ghost whose obsession is teaching, they hired him at Casper High! Danny is even in the class. He teaches an elective on astronomy, something the school could never afford. Ghosts didn't want to be paid in cash, so it helped! All Dr. Denver wants was to teach and to be allowed to claim the observatory for his research.

But while all this was great, Danny felt depressed. Which leads him back to why he was in therapy. It felt like all these amazing things have happened. That everyone has changed, except him. Thanks to his halfa status, his physical state isn't changing as much either. He discovered he is aging much, much slower.

Talking to his therapist, she helped him realize that what he craved was for a change for himself. Sure, he IS going to become The Infinite Realms king and that'll be a big change but it isn't what he wants.

He doesn't know what he wants, really. Which meant his therapist has given him an assignment to figure it out. So he talked to Clockwork, naturally hoping for some help. And Clockwork told him something surprising instead.

"Yeah, I'm ready for a change, but I don't know what to change." Danny told him in hopes the wording would draw Clockwork to give him an answer instead of something cryptic. He really didn't want to do the legwork to figure it out while he had midterms to study for and more ghost king lessons with The Observants later.

Clockwork paused as if in thought, "You could take a vacation to your universe of origin," he suggests. "That may help give clarity in what you need to change to be happy."

Danny floated next to him. He couldn't bring himself to be frustrated with the being of time for knowing exactly why Danny was here. Instead, he stared at him in confusion, distracted by what he just said, "What do you mean? I am not from here?"

He grins, his form flickering from old to young, "When you became a halfa, you changed universes from the complicated process you went through to become one."

Danny contemplated for a moment, confused but intrigued. A different universe? I wonder how different it would be from here. Without a second thought, Danny grins eager.

"I wanna go!" He exclaims like a young puppy who discovered a new toy for the first time.

"That would not be a problem, time runs differently between there and here. A week there will be an hour here so you won't need a time medallion." Clockwork simply looks off into the space surrounding them before continuing, "I have a friend who will act as your guardian while there. Head through the star shaped door near the Yetis whenever you are ready and he will be standing by, waiting for you" He shifts back into an older version of himself, pleased with himself for already knowing Danny would be taking this chance to go and made the preparations for this moment weeks ago.

Danny does a small dance in midair without a second thought and starts to drift off in that direction, "Oh, and Danny?" Clockwork calls out, "Legally, you are dead in that universe and.. well, much is different from what you know, so do be careful. Due to how time and the laws of that dimension for being such as myself, I am not the main ruler of time there, so the protection spells I placed on you are not guaranteed to save you this time." Clockwork grins knowingly towards Danny as Danny speeds off, oblivious to how serious his warning was.

---

Danny flies like the wind through the vastness of The Ghost Zone until he arrives at the door Clockwork described. His thoughts start to sour at the thought of this universe where he is considered dead despite it being his origin.

The door he arrives at is huge. Like he was not sure how to open the door huge. But wow, was it beautiful. It was like staring into space itself. It sparkled unlike any night sky he has even gazed upon. As he approached the beautiful door, he hesitated.

He was technically returning home, but he didn't feel any attachment to the universe in front of him. To him, nothing seemed different. Everything was exactly the same when he woke up after the accident, so he never noticed. The entire idea that he abandoned his family and friends by dying here was a horrible thought, but it wasn't his fault. He didn't know what happened here.

Wait, did that mean Vlad wasn't from that universe either? Danny shakes his head at the thought. It was pointless to fall down that particular rabbit hole now.

Maybe he should've asked Clockwork more before flying off without a thought. Clockworks words echoed inside him for fear of what he might find. Was this really a good idea? To return to the place he no longer existed? Could he handle seeing what the grief of his passing had done to those he loved?

A moment passes, and Danny shakes his head and steels himself. He needs to know how much changes, if he really did make an impact. Was he important?

With his decision made, the door seems to open itself. A bright beam of a soft white light floods through the threshold, and Danny steps through.

[fan-a-saurus-rex]

Not So Innocent

Plot: You and Torres have always been close. Best friends. You’re someone innocent that he wants to protect. But one night when there isn’t much to do, he realizes that you aren’t as innocent as you seem.

Pairing: Joaquin Torres x super soldier/ex widow!Reader

Requested: no ( make a request here)

Warnings: talks about traumatic past, smut, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it my friends!), swearing.

Masterlist

Your life has been rough since you were 14. They took you from your home, killed your family, and sent you to the red room. They trained you to be an assassin, just like all the other widows. They had plans to sterilize you like the others once you turned 16, but you fought back.

Eventually they made the decision to transfer you elsewhere. You ended up at The Raft. In a secret lab they knocked you out, injected you with the super soldier serum and continued to exploit you. You became the youngest Winter Soldier, and probably the most lethal, even more-so than Bucky Barnes.

When the blip happened you were spared. Most of your captors had blipped, leaving you and bunch of other winter soldiers and prisoners at an advantage. You scoped out individuals who wanted to leave as badly as you did. You all came up with a plan and within a few days you were ready to leave.

You bribed a couple of the few remaining guards to get you off the island in a helicopter and back to your home city. It didn’t take much convincing, they knew what you could do and were terrified of you despite you only being 19 at the time and barely 5’3”.

When you finally got back to the real world things were different, dismal and chaotic. There was nobody to help you, not even the Avengers. Half of the population was gone. You tried to hunt down old friends and extended family. You weren’t successful.

You ended up staying at a shelter for displaced kids and teens whose parents had blipped. It was great, but at least you were warm and well fed. As time went on and you got into your twenties you were able to stay as long as you helped care for the other kids. You made enough money to provide for yourself, at least the bare essentials.

It’s been 6 years since then. You’ve been living with Sam and Joaquin and training with Isaiah to help control your strength. You enjoyed his company. He was like the cool grandfather you never had.

Though you were perfectly capable of helping Sam and Joaquin on mission, neither of them would let you. They were overly protective. Even when you reminded them that you could stop a bus with your bare hands, they reminded you that you were still human. You did get a bit upset about it, but you didn’t want to argue about it.

Tonight was a rare night when there wasn’t anything to do. No missions, no threats, no researching sketchy individuals. Sam had left that afternoon to have dinner with his sister and nephews, leaving you and Torres alone for the night.

The two of you had ordered take-out for dinner and spent most of the evening playing video games. You enjoyed time alone with Joaquin. You liked when Sam was around, but sometimes he could be a real party pooper. Always so serious. Tonight you could just relax.

You were focusing extremely hard on your game with Torres, trying not to get your character killed by zombies. You’d been playing for hours and then it finally happened. One too May hits from a zombie mob and it was game over for you.

“Damn it, I was overrun!” You said laughing.

“Don’t worry, I’ll avenge you” Torres said just minutes before his character died as well.

“You know, if zombies did take over I’m pretty confident I could take them down with my strength, rip their heads off” you said laughing

“You think I’d survive the zombie apocalypse?” He asked

“No, you’d get eaten” you said laughing harder.

“I think I could fight them!” He said laughing along with you “and they wouldn’t want to eat me, just my brain”

“Well, what’s left of your brain anyway”

“How dare you!” He said laughing.

You loved his laugh. It was like a boyish giggle. It was cute. Everything about Torres was cute, but you’d never tell him that. If you were being honest, you were extremely attracted to him. Some of the things you thought about him were unholy, it was hard not to give into your intrusive thoughts. Especially tonight when the two of you were alone.

“I’m gonna go get a drink” Torres said sitting up on the couch “you want anything?”

You bit your lip. Of course you wanted something. You wanted to rip his clothes off “no, I’m good”

He nodded and went to the kitchen bringing back a bottle of soda. You watched as he took a long sip. Damn, you wanted those lips all over you.

You hadn’t realized you were staring until you heard him speak up.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine” you said looking away and focusing your attention on something else. “Let’s continue our game” you suggested.

It sounded like a good idea at the time, but you struggled to focus on what you were doing as Joaquin had decided to sit closer to you than he had been before.

At some point you got frustrated and paused the game.

“Hey, we were in the middle of something!” He said laughing. “What’s the deal?”

“I need to use the bathroom” you said getting up and rushing in, shutting the door behind you.

You walked up to the sink and looked at your flushed face in the mirror. Your eyes were dilated all to hell. You splashed your face with some cold water and patted it dry, while taking a deep breath, before going back out to the living area.

When you sat back down on the couch you had every intention of continuing the game, but instead you were bombarded with question from Torres.

“You’ve been acting weird all night. What’s up with you?” He asked.

“Nothing is up with me, I’m fine”

“I think you’re lying. I can tell something is off. Usually you’re kicking my ass at games and making me go get you snacks. You haven’t done any of that tonight. Come on, talk to me”

“It’s nothing Torres” you said reaching for your gaming controller, but he got to it first.

“It’s not nothing, talk….” He said

“Ok it’s something but I don’t wanna talk about it with you”

“Is it something from your past? You know you can talk to me about that. Or is it because Sam and I don’t let you go on missions?”

“No, it isn’t any of that”

“Then what is?”

“Joaquin, I don’t want to talk about it” you said sternly. He was driving you nuts and all you wanted was for him to shut up.

“Well I can’t help you with it if you don’t ta-“

You finally did the only thing you could think of to both shut him up and answer his questions at the same time. You kissed him. Hard.

When you two finally pulled away he stared at you, his doe eyes wide. “Uh….am I missing something here?”

“You’re driving me crazy Torres” you said breathlessly

“So what was the kiss for?”

“I’m extremely attracted to you and for the past few hours I’ve been fighting off the urge to rip you clothes off and fuck you on this couch” you said honestly.

A small smirk tugged at your lips when you saw him blush.

“What?” You asked

“Since when do you…? I didn’t know you even…thought things like that. You’re always so innocent acting”

“I might have had my teens and my twenties stolen from me, but I’m still human. I want things” you said “and you’re one of the things I want” you whispered in his ear as you straddled his lap.

“Oh fuck…we’re in trouble {y/n}” he said softly

“Why is that?” You asked in a whisper

“I’m hard already and all you’ve done is whisper and sit in my lap” he started “now I wanna know what else you can do”

“How about I show you” you said smirking.

You kissed down his neck, across his Adam’s apple and up the other side of his neck before nibbling at his earlobe, tugging it lightly as you pulled away.

You looked into his eyes, which had turned darker with lust. You smiled and leaned in to kiss him again, this time it was soft and drawn out. You took your time so the two of you could explore each other’s mouths.

You teased his bottom lip with your tongue and smirked “don’t hold back Torres” you whispered.

“Mm, come here baby girl” he said pulling you closer, his tongue sliding into your mouth.

You moaned against his mouth as you kissed each other deeper, your fingers tangled in his dark curls. As if by instinct, your hips rolled against him, only making him harder.

He groaned against your mouth and pulled away just enough to take off your shirt. You removed his then unclasped your bra, tossing them both to the side. His eyes looked up and down your bare chest before pulling you as close as he could get you, your chests pressing against each other.

You reattached your lips to his, kissing hungrily.

He gripped your hips tightly as he picked you up, carrying you to his room. He pressed your back against the closed and locked door, kissing up and down your neck before biting a sensitive spot below your ear.

“Torres…” you moaned out softly.

He smirked and moved you away from the wall, laying you down on the bed. He looped his fingers under the hem of your cotton shorts, asking for permission to take them off. You nodded and he pulled them down, along with your panties.

You sat up and started to tug at his sweatpants, pulling them off with his boxers. He took them off the rest of the way and then hovered over your body.

You pulled him down for another kiss and his hand reached down to rub you softly. You moaned against his mouth. “Don’t tease…I need you…now” you begged.

He smirked and instead of giving you what you wanted his hands roamed up and down your sides until the landed on your breasts. He groped one in his hand while his mouth attached to the other.

You arched your back at the feeling, bucking your hips against his to get any kind of friction where you needed it most “Joaquin….” You whined

He released your nipple with a pop before taking the other into his mouth, leaving an even darker mark than on the one before. Your head was sinning. You wanted him so bad.

“Ugh, fuck” you groaned. “I want you so bad please!”

He smirked pulled his lips off your breast. He spread your legs, lining himself up with your center and pushing in slowly.

“Oh!” You moaned out gripping onto the sheets. He pushed all the way in slowly until you were filled to the brim.

He started moving slowly at first, letting you feel every inch of him inside you. Your breathing soon turned into panting, your back arching.

“Tell me what you want babygirl” he whispered into your ear.

“I want you to go faster” you whispered back.

You gripped the sheets and he thrusted faster, causing the bed to shake a bit. As your moans got louder, his movements got faster.

“Fuck! Deeper!” You moaned loudly.

Soon enough he was pounding into you, the headboard of the bed hitting the wall.

“Feels so good!” You moaned out as you gripped the sheets.

“Fuck baby girl” he groaned, holding your hips tightly. You knew you’d have bruises in the morning but you didn’t care.

A sudden boost of confidence took over and you flipped him over with ease. You rode him quickly as he matched your movements, thrusting up into you as you bounced on him.

The room soon filled with nothing but moaning, deep breathing, and occasional swearing or dirty talk. You could feel your climax coming, but before you could let go he flipped you back over, thrusting deep inside you until you couldn’t hold it in anymore.

“Joaquin!!” You moaned out loudly as you came hard around him.

“I’m close, I’m….fuck!” He groaned as he spilled his load into you.

You both collapsed onto the bed, breathing heavily.

When you finally caught your breathe he kissed you softly “that was amazing” he whispered

“It was incredible. Wish we’d done that sooner” you said smiling.

“Let’s go get cleaned up”

You nodded and he led you into the bathroom, turning on the warm water. He pulled you into the shower, kissing you deeply before grabbing the body wash.

You helped clean each other up and got of the shower. He helped you dry off then gave you one of his t-shirts and a pair of boxers to wear. He slipped on a pair of pajama pants and helped you brush out your hair. You braided it and then he picked you up and carried you back to his bedroom.

That night you slept in his room, cuddled close to him. The sex had been great, but this quiet moment with him was your favorite. You loved being wrapped up in him arms. You felt safe.

The next morning you woke up to sunlight flooding through the window. Torres had woken up before you. You rolled over to face him, smiling wide.

“Good morning” you said kissing him softly, only to be interrupted by a pounding noise n the door.

He chuckled “what’s up Sam”

“Have you seen {y/n}? I can’t find her anywhere and I’m getting wor-“ he said as he opened the door.

“Morning Sam” you said giggling at the stunned expression on his face.

“I don’t wanna know, okay?” He said “look we’ve got a meeting at the White House in two hours, be ready, both of you” he said before shutting the door again.

You both chuckled a bit before giving each other a few more quick kisses.

“We better get up, wouldn’t wanna piss of the Captain” you said giggling before getting up out of bed and heading to your room to get yourself put together.

[willbethehero]

The Displaced Flower and the Saviors’ Youngest (aka Bonnie The Kid Finds White Lily Cookie)

Concept by @potatotato-26 and @sherllockholems

PS, please ignore the eyepatch Siffrin has in some arts.

This takes place BEFORE the rouge takes the L.

⚜⚜⚜

Don't worry about me.

Please, take care of Pure Vanilla Cookie.

In this place, your bravery and loyalty will become his best defense.

Thank you! My Light of Truth will illuminate our path so we don't lose our way.

Farewell, my friend...

These were the last words you could recall with clarity. A decision to diverge paths. A promise to meet again.

But that was before the smell of burnt sugar overwhelmed your senses and a tight squeeze gripped your stomach, your mind fading into darkness shortly afterwards.

Upon your (rough) awaking, it became clear that you were on a meadow. A strangely empty meadow. With nary a Cookie or creature in sight. Only the strands of (slightly larger?) grass billowing in the wind and clouds moving against the sky was proof this was no dream.

Add the lack of any familiar sightings made it clear: you were transported to someplace not in the Faerie Kingdom, nor even in Beast-Yeast. Perhaps a foreign country.

There may have been a touch of grumbling and/or screaming upon the realization of how far you (potentially) are from your friends. The irony of somehow falling into an enemy trap just as soon as you parted ways and promised to meet again is not one that amuses you. Still, you manage to pick yourself up with your staff (that thankfully still has your Soul Jam shining its ever-verdant light) and begin your trek in unknown territory. Regardless of circumstance, you still had a duty to fulfill.

As soon as you figure out where you were.

…

Time passes.

While you are unsure of how long you had been unconscious, you are now aware that it is at least a bit past midday, thanks to the sun’s slow descent. Not much, but at least it's a start. The same can’t be said for locating any signs of life. So far, attempts at finding any other Cookies have proven… fruitless. It’s… somewhat worrying that you may have been transported to a desolate island, but you brush the notion aside for now.

Grooowll…

After all, you still need to eat. You had a long day before and ahead of you.

Gathering food wasn’t as big of an issue as you’d thought it would be. You are grateful you still possess your survival skills from so long ago. What were edibles vs non-edibles was something you managed to figure out during your long treks across Earthbread, satiating your hunger for the moment. You sigh after managing to quell your stomach. The remaining issue of your parched throat would be solved after following the sound of flowing to a river nearby. Not before cleaning up after yourself, of course. Once more, you continue your trek in uncharted territory.

It’s strangely peaceful once you arrive at the stream… Besides the obvious, not a sound echoes through the dense forestry you find yourself in. You once more sigh, horns itching, still unsure if there was anyCookie available in this barren region. There has to be some sign of civilization. You’d even take Cake Hounds at this point…

“That’s enough of that,” you slightly chide to yourself. You need to drink. Recuperate and then continue forward. Find anyCookie that could give directions and continue from there.

Plan in mind, you dip your hands into the moving water, gently cupping the water to taste-test for anything wrong. It’s… tasteless? You don’t quite taste the amount of sugar as you’d expect… Or, any for that matter. But other than that, it seems safe? Maybe there really isn’t any-no, stop that. Drink. Your head is scrambled. Calm yourself. And drink.

As you shake off the looming dread and drink from the stream, you are finally given a chance to fully… reflect.

Looking back now, you realize this must have been orchestrated by the Beast to separate you from Pure Vanilla and the others. With a sigh, you admit the worst part is the fact it was true. 

Was the decision still necessary? Yes, absolutely. As much as it hurt parting so soon after being reunited… The responsibility and power entrusted to you by Elder Faerie Cookie’s last will… it was paramount in mastering. To seal the Beasts back in their trees. And of course, the Beast targeted that. You, the biggest threat to their return.

Now, here you are. Drinking out of a strangely tasteless stream. On a foreign island/country? Without a clue to get back, or master Elder Faerie Cooke’s power, or even tending to the Faerie Kingdom-oh Cheese, you’re in charge of the Kingdom now! And to make matters worse, there are still four other Beasts besides the one lurking at the Spire, with no way to contact anyo-

For a moment, you feel something grasp your body at both sides. Water you had been drinking splashes with a small plish as your thoughts are shaken.

The next, you suddenly find yourself being raised to the air.

And then-

《Wooah… qu’est-ce que tu es?》

HERE, TRY ONE! YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!

…face to face with the monster you neverneverneverever wanted to see again.

《Hé… une petite personne bizarre? Tu n’as pas l’air d’aller bien…》

You can’t speak. You can’t breathe. You can only stare. Ahead. Into the eyes of one you once worshiped as “Creator”.

Only for everything you once believed in to betray you, smothered in dough, and then baked into a monster.

Your head. Spins. Your horns. Itch. You hear something. But as you continue to float. In the face of your creator. Your vision blurs. You open your mouth once more to cry. And squeak with terror.

“Help.”

Your mind goes dark immediately after.

▲▲▲

Oh, Crab. It’s not moving anymore.

It’s not like you were trying to surprise them. But the nice smelling person/creature/Sadness(?) looked like it was gonna fall into the water, you managed to catch it. Then they went limp when you tried talking to it.

Maybe it’s like Nillie? Or Belle after a long day?

You hold the strange small person(?) in your hands as dela-cately as you can. You slightly shake them, but it doesn’t wake up. Guilt bubbles inside you. Crab…

You can’t just leave it here. It would be rude after what you did. You haven’t even said “sorry”! for spooking them.

You’ll definitely have to apologize to them properly when they wake up.

You take off your hat before gently placing them down on it, to safely carry them back to your camp. You also placed a strange looking flower stick that was near them in your hat. There was a strange shade to it, but maybe it belonged to them?

Anyways, you manage to make it back to camp, where everyone is waiting for you.

Za and Frin are together, gathering wood for the fire, and probably talking about (urgh) puns, like usual. 

Belle was sitting on the blanket, checking over those weird papers again.

Dile meanwhile was currently reading a book. Musta be for her secret research. 

Welp, no time like now.

“Heyguys…” you mumble, still worried over the little person in your hat. “I found something…” Everyone stops what they are doing and looks your way.

“Oh, Boniface you-?” Dile started. She stopped when she saw what you were carrying. “Oh-!” her eyes lit up a bit. Like when she was in that library a few towns back.

“Oh, Change-is it alright?” Belle asked. She walked over alarmed, cuz she’s naturally gonna be worried about everyone. Even strangers. That’s the sorta person she is. “What even happened?”

“I might’ve really scared them.” You bashfully admit. “They were gonna fall into the river, but I caught ‘em in time! But when I asked if they were okay, they just… stopped moving.”

“I see… they must have fainted then.” Belle mutters, looking down at the little person in your hat. “Poor thing.”

“Hey, Bonnie, did you find flowers?” Za suddenly asks. “Like… a lot of flowers?” Right, the nice smell that you followed.

“Oh yeah! It was coming from the little person.” You reveal, your eyes move down towards your little friend.

“Their right.” Belle sniffs, “It reminds me of… that flower shop back in Dormont.”

Oh Crab-”I’m sorry, Belle! I didn't mean to-”

She suddenly stops you. “It’s alright, Bonnie. I was just… reminiscing…” ugh, why she gotta be like that?

“Oh, Mira!” Frin suddenly pipes up. “I never knew you did flowers!” Uh-oh.

“No no, I nev-”

“I guess you're feeling BOUQUET right now?” HAH-HUrrrraaaggghhhhh…!

“FRIN!”/“Siffrin!”/“HAH!”/”Gah…”

“I’m sorry, Mira! You know lilac the ability to control myself.” Hrr…

“Stop.” you reply. As funny as it is, you gotta be more sere-us.

Frin thankfully puts his hand up. Looks like the puns shall stop. For now…

“Haaah, it’s alright now, Siffrin.” Belle suddenly sighs, “Still-” Okee, time to stop Belle being a crab.

“ALRIGHT-!” You suddenly announce. “Imma make dinner! For all of us!”

“By ‘all’, do you mean-” Dile begins.

“Yes. The little flower person too.” You answer. Then, you walk over to where your u-tin-sles are and then sit down, cross legged, hat and flower person in your lap.

“Uhh… Bonnie? What are you-?” Za stupidly asks.

“Making dinner.” You respond.

“You sure you can cook like that, Bonbon?” Frin also stupidly asks.

“Yes.” you boldly declare.

“Oh, just, do be careful not to harm your new friend!” Belle requests.

“Yes, it would be poor form to have a mess be their first real introduction to our party.” Dile added.

Yeah, that makes sense.

You carefully pick up your things, ready to get started. Hmm… Though, with your flower friend here… you hadn’t done anything with herbs since a few towns over. Ooh! Maybe make a desert too…

⚜⚜⚜

《…》

《…!》

《…?》

《…!!》

《…》

…?

…Noise…?

…You… stir…

“Mmhh…”

You… can hear something…

It is… dark…?

A trial to see… but…

And-

Towering giants. Scatter crumbs of fallen Cookies. Sound of laughter.

《HAHAHAHA!!》

WELL WELL WELL, IT'S BEEN A THOUSAND LONG YEARS!

GLAD TO SEE Y'ALL!

No…

《Allez, Mira! Tu dois admettre que c'était plutôt drôle!》

AND WOULD YOU LOOK AT THESE! THEY LOOK AMAZING!

Y'ALL BEEN WORKING HARD!

Nononononononononononowhywhywhywhywhywhy-!

《Hmph! Peut-être pour vous, mais certains d'entre nous ont des «préférences» différentes.》

PHEW! I BAKED A TON OF COOKIES!

HERE, TRY ONE! YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!

Why are you back here?!

《Sigh… Je suis d'accord avec Mirabelle. Avez-vous déjà pensé à essayer de trouver d'autres méthodes d'humour?》

T'IS ALRIGHT! LET'S JUST BAKE IT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

At this- wretched banquet?!

《Hmmm… Non!》

YEAH, LET'S BAKE IT!

Run. You need to run. Run. RUN. RUN. RUN. WHY AREN’T YOU RUNNING?!

《Hé Bonbon. Je pense que ton petit ami est-》

No.

NO!

YOU MADE A PROMISE. TO MEET THEM AGAIN. YOU WILL NOT BREAK IT. NOT AGAIN.

YOU RAISE YOUR HAND!

AND ENSNARE THE WITCH IN VINES!!!

You can barely make out what happens next-

Screaming, confusion, sounds and noises, all blend into one as your terror-stricken dough finally MOVES.

And you run. Run. RUN. RUN. AND RUN.

YOU CAN'T STAY HERE! YOU NEED TO TELL SOMEONE. YOU NEED TO-

barely manage to move your arm forward to soften your fall, barely aware that you were already falling.

…

You sit silently in the unexpected plant’s blessed shade.

And shudder heavily.

It still hurts.

Your head hurts.

Your horns. Hurt.

You grasp. Your. Horns.

Your head feels like a storm of hazy spices. That burning, suffocating feeling. Your vision feels blurry. Wet.

Oh. You’re… crying.

Of course.

You gasp. For air. Your throat is constricted by more of that foreign spice…

Why…?

Why are you crumbling again?

Even though you promised…?

Is all of this… just meant to be a reminder?

Of where you belong?

With your mistakes…?

You don’t- you can’t-!

《Salut.》 A gentle voice greets you.

“…!” A witch-!

Suddenly… 

lays down in front of you…

…?

《Désolé de vous avoir fait peur…》

…?

It’s… not moving…

You tremble and yet…

What do they…?

《Tu as laissé tomber ça.》

The witch’s hand is stretched out you need to ru-

And opens…

It's

It's your staff.

And your Soul Jam.

The witch… is looking away… 

Is it… giving you your staff back? Your… Soul Jam…?

…

…

…Why?

They never… never carried about Cookies before… And yet… this witch here… looking at you with sad, almost apologetic eyes?

You

breath.

And despite your instincts telling you, pleading you, to stay away, you… 

hesitantly…

reach for…

your…

staff!

A single swipe, and your White Lily Staff and Soul Jam are back in your hands…

In a deathgrip.

You breathe.

You stare at it for a moment. Your Soul Jam.

Despite everything, it is… still shining. That same, ever-verdant light. Even though… you shouldn’t even have it back… even though… you were no better than the Witches in terms of monstrousness… You…

《Hé. Tu ressembles à ce que fait Sif quand il est énervé. Est-ce que tu… veux respirer avec moi?》 And slowly, the Witch inhales air. And then, exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. 

Exhale.

In

Out.

In

Out.

You realize…

You’re doing it too.

Your head doesn’t hurt as much now…

Your horns still ache. But it's not as bad now.

《Tu as l'air plutôt sympa pour une Tristesse.》

…?

What did it say?

You don’t quite-

Wait.

You haven’t been able to understand?

No. You haven’t. At first, you thought it was merely fear clouding your dough, but… No, this isn’t just dialect. It’s a completely different language you’re hearing.

Why, though? Even at the Banquet, at the worst… you could still make it out clearly. You could never forget what those monsters said.

And yet… Why can’t you understand now?

《Hé. Est-ce que tu… as besoin de respirer à nouveau?》

You look at them, confusion clear in your eyes.

《Tu sais. Respirer?》 They start breathing slowly again. 

“Respirer”. Did they mean… breathing?

You slowly shake your head, hoping you’ve managed to say “no.”

《Oh. Alors, tu… vas bien maintenant?》

There’s a gentleness in that… you assume to be a “question”. Still, you think they're asking you if you're… alright?

Hah.

You’d certainly like to convey that you're fine. But after what you just did, you’d doubt anyone would believe you, let alone a Witch. So instead, you just… stare ahead once more.

《Oh. Pouvez-vous… ne pas parler?》 The witch asks, before pointing at their mouth to start… opening and closing?

…For the sake of your sanity, you go under the belief they are asking if you can talk.

Well, after all this time. You got what you wanted.

So.

You open your mouth.

And speak.

▲▲▲

«Yes. I… speak.»

The weird flower-smelling Sadness speaks. Or, you think it spoke. It's kinda… hard to explain. But you think it CAN talk. It just comes off as weird words you don’t really understand but somewho… do?

Crab this Sadness is weird.

Still, you sit by and let the strange Sadness speak to you. Even though you're not crabbin’ sure WHY. It… attacked Frin and everyone else. You even decided as the sole person NOT tied down by vines, you’d catch up to it to give it a piece of your mind! …But as you fixed your hat back on your head, you realized it forgot its little staff, and the jewel with the weird shade in it. For some reason, you ended up kinda feeling… bad for it. Which shouldn’t make any crabbin’ SENSE!!! But… then you caught up to it… seeing it like that…

Reminded you a bit of yourself… 

«I speak. Can you… understand?»

“No.” you admit. The Sadness’s face… kinda scrunched up at that. Kinda like Frin does when something bu-fuddles them. Or a cat when you give them bad tuna.

«…» It’s looking around now. It's still a bit like Mira does when she wants to bite her nails, but suddenly it starts drawing its staff on the floor. It looks like…

“?” «Do you… know this?»

A question mark? Sure, so you nod your head. The eyes of the Sadness seem to brighten at that. Then…

“? - >” Once the Sadness is done drawing, it goes back to looking at you. A question mark… and an arrow pointed right at itself. Which means… it wants to ask you what you think of it? 

“Didna say it already? You’re a Sadness! A weird Sadness though…” you respond.

«A “Tristesse”…?»

“Huh…? Uh, no not a ‘Trist-ease’… a Sadness! Like… WAH! WAH! Boohoo! My life’s a crab!” You suddenly pretend-bawl, startling the Sadness a little before another look appears on its face.

«Tears… Crying… », the Sadness starts. «Sorrow… S-Sadness…?» Yah, that's right.

“Mmh…!” you nod. “Sadnesses are like…” you begin to doodle on the ground. “That’s right. They uh… kinda weird smelly, nasty Crabs…! They usually just go around attacking people. Kinda like what you Crabbin’ did… but uh I don't think that you're THAT bad.” you reply, finishing your best depiction of a Sadness; a short, stubby creature leaking tears. The other Sadness is giving your doodle a funny look, before turning to look back at you with the same look.

«S-Smelly…?», it asks, and looks like it wants to cry a bit again. Maybe. You can’t really tell what’s going on with those weird Sadness eyes… Suddenly, you take whiff, and remember the scent that kick started this whole crabbin’ thing!

“Oh yeah! I came here cuz I was smelling something nice, like flowers! …And then I found you.” You explained, pointing to your nose and then to the Sadness’s flower to show you were (app-eren-tly) tracking down the Sadness’s scent. You still think it’s a little upset, though… “I mean… it’s a nice scent.” you finish, looking to the side for feeling a bit like a Crab.

«Sadness… M-Monster…? …Scent…? You-» Now the Sadness is looking at you with even bigger eyes than before, which is impressive, cuz those eyes are already big.

“Uh, yah. Kinda like what you did when you wrapped up everyone in vines…” You mutter. Dile was REALLY Crabbin’ mad when that happened. Even though it was Frin who got it worse… What even was that?”

«Dile…? Frin…?»

“Yah, my friends! Or uh… “aquin-tin-ces” as Dile’d put it sometimes.” You say, as you start a new drawing featuring all your friends.

«F-Friends…»

“Yep! There Dile, she’s doing “secret research” and loves reading books, then Belle, who’s pretty sweet and brave, but sometimes make herself worry over everything, and Isa, whose big and can be pretty stupid sometimes, but still nice, and then Frin, who loves to make stupid puns and carving and-” You stop when you realize the Sadness is breathing fast again.

And you see the Sadness looking at your doodle of Frin like something Crabbin’ wicked.

“U-um… are you okay?”

«W-Witch…» it seethes, «Why do you-that is a Witch…» Now it’s starting to draw its own Frin, only it looks way more bad-looking. Hey, you may not know the word, and they may annoy you, but you think that’s not nice!

“Hey! Frin’s not a “Weet-cha”! …whatever that is. Besides, what even is a ‘Weet-cha’?”

⚜⚜⚜

The sudden burst of anger that made your horns heat up simmers once you see the genuine confusion of the face of the Witc-... No, that’s… the fact they don’t even know- You’ve… managed to gain something of understanding with it/them? 

And you can tell.

They don’t know. Neither what a Witch is… or what you even are. Why else would they ignore wanting to snack on a Cookie like you? 

Monster… 

Still… you grumble a bit as the… whatever they are only caught you all because of your floral scent.

“So then… Why are you here?" You ask, gesturing best you can to their Witch and then the ground.

《Euh… pour ton truc de bâton de fleur… et je suppose que je suis désolé de t’avoir fait peur plus tôt aussi.》 The Witch is rubbing the back of their head. Those same apologetic eyes… 《Mais tu dois aussi t'excuser!》 Before suddenly snapping to you in a more upset tone.

You flinch, but try to stand your ground. They don't know what you actually are, so you, theoretically, should be fine… unless they somehow know a spell or two to throw at you. “W-what? What do you mean?” You state, trying not to show much agitation beyond the bare minimum in fear they may retaliate.

They start drawing lines on top of the picture of their party. Mostly over the Witch, but some on the others as well. It seems to resem- ah. 

They want you to apologize. For what you did to their party. You barely remember what you did besides summoning plant life to cover your tracks.

But…

That would mean…

Your horns twitch slightly.

《Hé, tu es SÛR de ne plus vouloir respirer?》 the same gentle, if loud voice, asks you once more.

…

You… decided to shake your head. Their expression turns someone miffed, and yet-

《Hé. Tu veux juste… rester ici un moment?》 They ask, landing back on the ground… and looking at you with softer eyes than before.

…You feel a soft wind blowing through the grass…

You nod a bit, and they seem to understand that.

Silence reigns for a good solid minute more.

《Hé. Qu'es-tu réellement??》

Before being finally broken by another innocuous question. One that sounds strangely familiar…

They are looking at you again. The same eyes you could find at Blueberry Academy. 

Curiosity.

They want to know what you are.

…

How do you even EXPLAIN that?

You… you CAN’T tell them the truth. You’ll be eaten up and forgotten about in no time. And yet… right now, they think you are some… monster-”a Sadness” of some kind. You don’t think you could-

…

“I… do not know.” you begin, lying for your teeth. “I awoke in a meadow not far from the river you found me.” You draw your story to the best of your abilities, ignoring the rancid feeling growing in your dough. “I… was wondering where I came from. And…” you pause, once more looking at their drawing of their Witch. Your horns once more begin to itch. “Before I realized what had happened… Something terrifying. Appeared in my memory. When I saw your W-“

《Frin n'est pas un «Weet-cha». C'est le euh… «Rouge»!》

“…«R-Rouge». I… recalled a terrible memory.” You darkly admit. “What I do remember… the “Witches”… hurt me…” You look again to your sketch of the Witch, only comparable to the “Rouge” with an animosity you wish was casted aside when you were re-baked. Ignoring whatever scathing look they were giving you.

Your horns begin to flare.

“I-I… I caused you great distress, have I not?” Crumbs, this is too painful. Just stay here and do your best to convince them. You just need to say ‘Go back and tell the others you are sorry.’

“And that’s why-”

*Rustle*

-!?

《Hein? Quoi-》

You barely have to hear the other’s words.

As a bizarre, gelatinous creature you almost are sure is from the Black Licorice Abyss suddenly rises from the bush behind you.

You raise your staff, the Soul Jam flairing to life as you once more summon plant life to entangle it-

And you feel yourself swept off your feet once more. Ignoring the pain-filled screams and sobs as you are whisked away in a blur.

▲▲▲

Crabcrabcrabincrab!!! A big-Crabbin’ Sadness Crabbin’ jumped you and your Sadness. Crab this! You gotta go! 

You manage to snatch the smaller fella into your arms and attempt to bolt-

Woah Crab!

A crabbin’ shade you’ve never seen before suddenly blasts out of the little fella’s flower gem thingy and the bigger Saddness screams something fierce. Your brainhead feels the same way! Then, vines suddenly pop out of the ground and slam down on the bigger Sadness, pinning it in place. That’s gotta hurt, but you sure ain’t gonna complain about it!

“CRAB, lil’ fella!” You loudly yell as you scurry FAR away from the way uglier Sadness, “That was awesome!”

«…»  You realize the flower fella isn’t saying much. When you lift them up again to your face, you see them just staring at you. Whoops!

“Ah Crab! I-I’m sorry for surprise touching you agai-”

You suddenly feel something touch your cheek. Wah? It's the flower Sadness. It's looking at you with a blank look you remember Frin having sometimes…

“Hey, don’t-”

Before smiling suddenly. And then crying as well. 

…This is a REALLY Crabbin’ weird Sadness…

“Uhh… do you… wanna cry some more?” You ask, only somewhat miffed cuz of what’s going on.

The Sadness shakes their head, and still sobs a ‘eally strange sounding laugh. Eventually though, the sobs stop, and is now looking at you again  ‘cept the eyes are still leaking.

«Why did you… save me?» You think it asked.

“Uh, cuz I didn’t wanna leave you behind?” You bluntly state, now walking back to camp. “‘Sides, you still gotta apologize to Frin and the others!”

The Sadness flinches at that. You suddenly recall what they said about “Weet-chas”. Crab.

“Heyhey. Don’t fret. None of them’ll bite!” you comfort them.

You’re not sure if the noise it made to that was a laugh or a sob.

— — —

Eventually, you manage to make it back to camp before the sun set. Crab, it’s almost as bad as you left it. Belle and Dile were standing near the now torn-up picnic blanket, talking, while Za and Frin…

“Alrighty, Sif. Next one’s coming right off! Just give me a sec…” You heard Za, for once really struggling, to get a vine off.

“Mrph…” muffled Frin. Yep. They were still as tied up as you left them. They were much less of a rogue now and more of an… what did Nelle say one time? “Tray-lis”? Yeah, tray-lis than person. 

“I still can’t believe that Sadness managed to do… all this.” you hear Belle say, looking at all the devy-station the flower fella caused to their campsite.

Though in fairness, it was mainly the picnic blanket and Frin.

“I suppose we should be thankful then, that our dearest Rogue managed to take the brunt of its attack.” Dile responded.

“Hghnhbmph…” Frin muttered something in response. You're not sure what.

“Don’t take it the wrong way, Sif.” Za started, still struggling to pry off the vine. “I’m sure Madame Odile is only wishing you the best. Even if she won’t say it outright.” he said with a glance towards Dile.

“How presumptuous of you to think I don’t care, dearest Isabeau.” Dile scoffed.

“Brbrgnmhmshg! Basjiashsudh!” Frin suddenly muffled-yelled!

“...I am not sure if that was meant to be one of your puns-”

“MRPHMR-MRPH! MMRR!!” Frin continued, (struggled to) point towards the clearing. And more importantly, towards you.

“BONNIE!”/”BONIFACE!”/”KIDDO!”

Everyone drops what they’re doing and runs towards you. Cept for Frin. Welp. This was gonna be awkward…

“Heyguys…” you start. Again.

“Bonnie! Thank Change you’re alright!” Belle ran up to you like usual. She checked to see if you needed any healing, which you don’t!

“Itsfine…” You mumbled. But as you get ready to explain, Dile suddenly walked up, Belle moving aside. With her “angry” look on her face.

“Boniface. Would you like to explain to us WHERE exactly you ran off to when that Sadness suddenly upended the earth and attacked our campsite?” She REALLY must not be happy with you. 

“Hey, c’mon Madame Odile. I’m sure Bonnie has a PERFECTLY REASONABLE explanation as to why they disappeared on us.” Za said, giving his own fearsome stare of his own. Guh, they ALL gotta worry like this?! It’s not fair! You didn’t even get a chance to explain yourself! 

…even if the story’s SUPER weird…

“It’s a really weird story, Za.” You tell him. “And YOU prolly wouldn’t bell-ie-ve me without eve-dance!” You counter Dile’s question.

“Oh?” Dile raised her eyebrow. “And WHAT perchance would THAT ‘evidence’ be?” The till-tale sign of whenever she’s doubting. But THIS time, you’re prepared! You’ve got eve-dance right on the palm of your hand!

Or, well, under your hat.

“BONNIE!/BONIFACE!!/THE CRAB???” You suddenly hear them all yell. Huh? Whaddya do?

“Hey, wait a-”

“Bonnie, stay VERY still! T-The Sadness is currently ON TOP YOUR HEAD.” Belle squeaks as she suddenly has her hand out, aimed at your flower fella.

“Yeah, bu-”

“Boniface.” Dile’s cold words stop you as she’s looking at you with dead eyes before she starts massaging her eyes with her free hand. “Please do not tell us you spent your time trying to track down a previously unseen, and potentially DANGEROUS Sadness. And then brought them back here. WHY???”

“‘Cuz they wanna say ‘sorry’.”

“What./W-Wha???”/“Pardon, ‘Sorry???’” They all ask, before Za steps up..

“Bonnie, I’m…” Za starts, putting a shoulder on Dile to push her to the side, “not sure WHAT could have happened, but-”

«It-»  The flower Sadness fella starts. Za naturally shuts up. “It’s. Alright,” another soft voice rings out. Wha? Who was that? You look around but-

“Ahem.”

Everyone is looking at your head. But that could mean…

IT WAS THE FLOWER FELLA??? THEY CAN SPEAK?!

The voice is actually kinda pretty though…

“You can speak people now?!” You ask your flower Sadness fella as you gently pick them up and bring them to your face.

“Not… good… learning…” they say, shaking. Oh. Makes sense. You nod.

Everyone else is still looking at the Sadness. Za looks like when Frin does something Crab worthy, cept without the blushing. Belle is tilting to the side and looks like she wanna faint. And Dile… has this WEIRD look that you think is her angry look… and that wonder-ized look when she first saw the flower fella.

“...What ARE you.” Dile asked. Weird, since it didn't FEEL like a question. She still looked ready to attack it.

«I-» they cough, “I. Not. Know.”

“You… don’t know?” Belle suddenly asks. Dile snapped towards her.

“Yah! They said that, that they woke up with no clue!” you chime in.

“M-mmh… Fa- «It-» Va-egg-ly… ree-mem-ber.” The flower fella stuttered out.

Belle looked less stressed out, but still worrying-kind. Za’s mouth was a great big O. Dile… still looked like she wanted to fight it, but now looking even unsure of that. Frin… was still stink-eye looking at it. Which isn’t fair. This flower fella’s like, super cool!

“Mmm. Also, everything’s Frin’s fault!”

“MHRPHAYG HMAHPNYAH???” Frin muddle-sputters under the vines. The flower fella flinches a bit from that.

“Uhhh… and HOW exactly is it Sif’s fault???” Za asked, trying to get to it before Dile lost her temper.

“Weet-chas.” You state.

…

“W-Weet-chas?” Dile asks, her face now looking dumb. Wow, that’s rare.

“W-W-Weet-chas.” the flower fella repeats, looking at Frin with a bit of the same look it gave your doodle. Frin looks back-and seems to give a similar look. Huh, wonder what that's about.

“Oh-OH!” Belle suddenly jumps, now looking at the fella like she would at you when you’d be ‘in trouble’ (which you usually AREN’T) “I-I see, uh… Mmm, how do-”

“Sh-she/he-ur” She reveals. Huh.

“I see. Ms. Sadness. Uhm… I am fairly certain our friend Siffrin is very much NOT a ‘Weet-cha’ like you assumed.” Belle explained.

“I. Made aware.” she states with a nod. Belle is now looking at you.

“Ah.” she realizes. “Well then. Is there a REASON why you attacked us at least.”

«Wit-» “Weet-chas… But I-” flower fella stutters a bit, still looking weirdly at Frin, before gulping and “S-Sorree…” ap-pollo-gizes as her eyes soften a bit.

Everyone but Frin (Dile too, but not as much) soften at that.

“… I see…” Belle starts, gives her trademark smile (it looked a little weird)! “Well then… thank you for apologizing, Ms. Sadness!” Yes, Belle.

“Yes, apology accepted.” Dile starts, looking at the flower fella darkly. “Now, might you kindly leave?” No, Dile!

“But Dile-!”

“It’s a shattering SADNESS Boniface!” Dile starts, looking at you with a hard look. “Not an animal that can be trained. Even IF it somehow managed to gain the ability to speak coherently, do not forget…” She turns her head back towards the blanket and Frin, and your fella is already looking pained. No fair!

“But she was really nice! We talked and even did that breathing thing Frin does sometimes!” You counter. Frin’s eyes seem to grow wide at that.

“You… ‘talked’? Is that how they learned to speak?” Dile asks.

“Naw, it had its own voice! Weird to hear, but I could also understand!” you respond.

“…Has there EVER been cases of Sadnesses… talking…?” Za asks.

Dile looks weird again for a moment. The flower Sadness looks just as bad. “Yes. But only in cases where it merely repeated words spoken by their victims. There are no records of a Sadness… out right speaking in ‘its own language’… completely unheard of.” Dile finishes. But this might be your chance!

“So? That means she’s pretty cool and MAYBE we could keep her!” You say. Your flower fella looks at you weirdly, but you're not sure why. You're arguing for them to stay! 

“Boniface-” Dile starts.

“Plus she saved ME from another Sadness! AND I saved her back! She even cried when I saved her!” you finish off.

… there's suddenly a whole lotta silence again. Everyone’s looking at the flower fella again.

“I’m sorry. You… ran into ANOTHER Sadness??” Belle askes, her face looking MEGA worried.

“Mmh! Flower fella saved me. Even though I didn’t need it. And I saved her as well! Also touched my face and started crying, but that’s prolly a Sadness thing.”

There’s another look that everyone was giving the flower fella. It’s… weird. Belle keeps looking at the flower fella with a shocked expression, meanwhile Frin is looking at you with an even dumber face than usual. Za however…

“M’dame… maybe we should all just… cool off a bit, no? MAYBE we scared her more than we thought. Just…” he trails off, before he and Dile turn to the flower fella. “Hey, uhm, flower Sadness?” Za asks.

«-?!» She jumps a bit. She's been quiet while you and Dile been arguing. “Y-yes…?”

“Are you gonna hurt us again if we let you stay?” Za bluntly asks.

“No.” She says, very zari-us. “I. S-Sorree.” she again apologized, before immediately clamming up. You think she wanted to say more, but you weren’t sure why. 

Za gives Dile a look.

Dile looks on -stares more like- at the flower fella. You're not sure what she's gonna do, but you try and be tough, just like the flower fella. But then Dile FINALLY puts her book down. Yes!

“…I don’t like this…” Dile sighs, before massaging her head, “But I would be remiss if I didn't at least act more cordially than before. For my previous behavior at least… I apologize. But I still believe this should be a vote.” Oh, like that eh?

“Hmm… I suppose that would be fair… she DID save Bonnie after all…” Belle mutters.

“Sure. Fairest way to decide things!” Za speaks, giving a thumbs up for good measure.

“Mmrrr…” you hear Frin groan. The flower fella looks at them all weird-like again.

“Yes. Fair.” The flower fella Sadness finally responds, nodding her head, but still watching Frin.

“Alright!” you raise your fist in the sky.

“Fine,” Dile sighs again, “All those in favor of her staying, for at least until the next town, say ‘aye’.”

“I!” you say.

“...Well, you DID save Bonnie. That makes you alright in my book, for now at least. Aye!” Za agrees.

“…” Belle didn’t say anything. But her hands were close to her mouth.

“Mirabelle, nails.” Dile reminded.

Belle looks at her hands before bringing them back down. “I-I’m sorry. I think I need more time.”

“All those in favor of having her leave, say ‘aye’.” she declared as she raised her own hand. Crab.

“Mrpmrgnyag…” mumbled Frin, the traitor, as they failed to lift their hand. So they settled to just move a lot while opening their hand instead.

“It appears we are tied.” Dile glumly noted. She turned to Belle, who still looked nervous at everything going on. “Mirabelle. My apologies for this, but we’ll need a tie breaker.”

Belle was looking a little more unhappy. Maybe a little stressed. “I-I am t-terribly sorry. Change, I’m not sure…” You suddenly feel like a crab, forcing Belle into this. And you're pretty sure everyone else was feelin’ it as well. Even Frin, who was angry staring at the flower fella Sadness, was looking at Belle with worry as well. She eventually turns to you, lookin’ ready to cry. “Please- don’t take this the wrong-”

«It’ll be alright.» Belle stops, and everyone sees the flower fella had walked up to Belle and placed a hand on her ankle. She looks up at her with those same big eyes before opening up her mouth. “E-fen if. Cannut stey. Hap-pi. Ye-ur fry-end. Saefe.” She mutters. 

The flower fella then starts walkin’ over to where the traitor, Frin is. She suddenly raised her staff again, causing everyone to jump, ‘cept traitorfrin, who was giving her a more worried look. But rather than do anything, the vines suddenly pulled back… except for a few that had clamped over his mouth. Hah!

“Mrypap!?!?” muffles traitorfrin, who fell back and tried to get the vine on their mouth off. And failing, since they didn't seem budging. The flower Sadness seemed confused about that… till Za suddenly yelled “Crab”!

“Ah, Crab!”

Ye, like that.

“I uh… tried slicing the vines off with Sif’s knife…” Za began, rubbin’ the back of his head “Turns out they had a strong death grip. Who knew?” He gave a shaky smile to the flower fella, who was staring at him like he was stupid. ‘Cuz he was.

“…Riveting.” Dile sighed, clearly ex-asp-erated by all of this.

Another sigh came from Belle as everyone turned to her. She was staring at Frin before turning to the flower fella. Now she seemed less stressed. “I… am happy that you saved our friend, Bonnie. I truly am grateful. I just…”

“You. shrug-giled.” the flower fella said. You think she was trying to offer Mira her simpa-fees. “Be. per-oud. Maa-nee fry-inds…” Kay, She was starting to walk past you. NOW you’re starting to feel worried again.

“H-hey, wait! You serious gonna jus-”

“Please. Wait a moment.” Belle spoke up again. Flower fella stopped walking away and was glancing back at her. You could see Belle didn’t look as stressed as before. Well, she still looked seri-us, but a little bit better than before. 

Without realizing, you’ve gulped loudly. The fate of the flower fella lies in Belle’s hands!

You just hope it’ll be the RIGHT decision. 

⚜⚜⚜

You stare ahead at the giant before. This individual you believe the smaller giant called “Belle”. A pointless apprehension grew inside your dough as you prepare to leave. You ARE thankful that you’ve managed to gain… a rather basic understanding of the current language in the short time you’ve spoken with them And saved you despite your cruel act. But even so, you listen to what the giant with a cape will decide upon And try not to think about your breakdown.

《Euh… pour ton truc de bâton de fleur… et je suppose que je suis désolé de t’avoir fait peur plus tôt aussi./…[***] before, you saved [***] friend Bon[***]. So we ARE than[***] for [***] that.》 “Friend”. They truly did care for one another, didn’t they? And despite your own reservations over all that happened, the idea of just letting someone get hurt… You’d rather have let yourself crumble! Still-

《Cependant,/However,》 they sharply add, and you think you’ve flinched as your thoughts are shaken. Despite the seemingly fragility she initially possessed, you think they were simply overwhelmed. 

You can relate.

《Vous avez également attaqué notre camp et attaché Siffrin./[***]tacked our ca[***] tied [***] Siffrin.》

“Siffrin”

The name of the seeming Witch.

Despite your own reservations, they cared for them. So it was only fair of you to fix your mistake.

《Alors… je pense… que tu peux te rattraper. Je suis d’accord pour que tu restes./So… [***] you can make up [***]. I-I’ll agree [***] staying.》 They’re raising their hand. 《B-but only if you REALLY wish to change! I think it would be best. Everyone?》

Wait. What?

The more well built giant was smiling. 《Mhh… mon vote n'a pas changé, et tu as raison ! Enfin, quelle est la probabilité qu'on ait un membre du parti qui PARLER DE LA TRISTESSE?!/Mhh… my vote hasn’t [***], and you make a good [***]! I mean, [***] it that we [**] TALKING SADNESS as a party [***]?!》

They’re… letting you stay?

The thinner giant was grimacing, before turning to the Witch, 《…Eh bien, il est trois heures moins deux. Toutes mes excuses, Siffrin, mais il semble que notre petite Tristesse va perdurer un moment./…Well, it’s [***]. Apologizes, Siffrin, [***] little Sadness is staying [***] while.》

Despite what you did?

The Witch could only 《Mfph…》

You can't quite put it into words right now how you feel Besides your new size and closeness to Creators and just let the commotion play out before you.

You hardly remember the rest besides wetness, noises, and a warm touch. But by the time you fully regain your senses, you are currently resting in a blanket next to the smaller giant a child named Bonnie.

《Hé./Hey.》

Speaking off.

《Je sais que c'est bizarre. Mais j'aimerais te demander quelque chose. Tu as un nom?/I know [***] weird. [***] wanna ask somethin'. You have a name?》

A… name? You…

You shake your head, needing to uphold the lie Disgusting.

《/Oh. That sucks.》

You snort without humor. 《Why?》

《Parce que je t'appelle «mon pote aux fleurs». Mais ça ne me va pas. Alors… tu veux me donner un nom?/Cuz I’ve just [***] ya “flower [***]”. But it don’t feels [***]. So… do you [***] name?》

A name.

A chance.

…

You are a liar. You are determined. You are a failure. You are a survivor. You are a healer. You are a monster. You are a hero. You are a cookie.

You are…

《Lily… My name… Is Lily.》 You manage to say, feeling only a slight amount of release from this lie.

The child/giant smiled. A toothy smile. You could see they were missing a tooth.

《«Lily»… Ok. Bonne nuit, Lily!/‘Lily’… Okay. Night, Lily!》 They said, before closing their eyes and finally resting.

You look back to the sky.

Maybe… this is why you came?

To help these giants with their task?

Well. They trust you. Because you made them.

Hah. Pure Vanilla would be disgusted with you.

Stop thinking like that. One step at a time, White Lily Cookie. You’ll find your way back. You have to. For them.

At least the stars look beautiful tonight…

⚜▲⚜▲⚜▲

Hey everyone. If you reached the end of this, I just wanna say "Thank You". Because this is my first real published fanfic. It was just a weird idea I had when I saw some artwork for how White Lily would meet the party, and Tato had been kind enough to draw up new art scenes for the work.

Anyways, hope you guys like this I really put as much effort into this as I could over a couple weeks. And give a big round of applies to @potatotato-26 and @sherllockholems sparking all of this.

[bloatedandalone04]

In The Way I Need You | Part 12

Series Masterlist

➪in which you and clay spend some much needed alone time together, and you find out some scary things that come with falling in love with him.

PSA: strongly suggested to read the warnings before proceeding.

WC; 5.4k | Do not repost this anywhere, reblogs are fine ♡ | THANK YOU FOR 4.8K FOLLOWERS

Clay was in a significantly better mood now that he fixed things between you and him, and he was making damn sure to not have a third fuckup any time soon. 

He was lucky to have had you forgive him twice already, he was sure he was on thin ice with you by this point. Now that you and he had talked things through, he was determined to prove to you that he was all in with you. 

His mother had just left with Joey, and Clay already missed his kid more than he thought he would in so little time. 

But you were already on your way over. 

Clay had texted you and asked if you wanted to spend the weekend with him since the house would be empty, and he felt like he needed to make up for the time he spent away from you during the week while you were pissed at him. 

Your instant response of ‘YES’ had him feeling like a fucking teenager again who had just invited his crush over, but he was pushing twenty eight, and you were his girlfriend. 

He spent a good portion of his morning tidying up the already spotless house and trying to think of ways he could make this weekend as casual yet romantic as possible. As he was tidying up the kitchen counters, he remembered watching the maids his mom hired when he was younger clean up, and then he realized they only stopped once he brought Joey home. How privileged can one guy, no, one family be?

Just as he heard you call out to him from downstairs, informing him of your arrival, his phone went off with an incoming call from Jack, his friend and doctor that saved his life when he had his heart attack a few years back. Clay sighed and quickly walked over to the top of the stairs, calling out, “Up here,” before he answered his phone. 

“Clay, good to hear your voice, buddy,” Jack said in his usual cheerful voice as Clay leaned against the banister. 

“Hey, Jack,” he greeted just as you reached the top of the stairs and saw that he was on the phone, your overnight bag slung over your shoulder making him smile. Your brows rose and you brought a finger up to your lips, signaling that you would be quiet as you walked over to him and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. 

“I’m just calling to make sure you’re still coming by on Monday for a checkup,” 

“Yeah, that’s the plan,” Clay answered, snaking his arm around your waist when you began to pull away. He tugged you back to him and held you against his chest as he continued. “I actually have company right now, is that all you needed?”

“Company?” Jack laughed and Clay could hear the squeak of his doctor’s office chair in the background. “I thought Mrs. Beresford was away with the youngest this weekend.”

“She is,” Clay confirmed, looking down at you with a smirk as you stared up at him, waiting for him to finish his call. “It’s a different kind of company, Jack.”

“Oh, I see,” Jack mumbled. “I’ll let you go then. See you on Monday, Clay.”

Clay was already pulling the phone away from his ear as he muttered, “Yeah, see you then,” and ended the call. He slipped his phone into his pocket and wrapped his other arm around you, pulling you right up against him as he finally greeted you. “Hi, baby.”

“Hi,” you laughed, bracing your hands on his chest. “Who was that?”

“My doctor,” he murmured, leaning down to brush his nose against yours. 

He saw the way your eyes widened slightly as you pulled back. “Your doctor? Why was he calling? Is everything okay?”

Clay laughed quietly and felt a warmth take over his body at how concerned you sounded. “Everything’s fine, baby,” he rasped, watching as your shoulders dropped in relief. “I have a checkup on Monday after Joey goes to school.” 

You nodded, smoothing out his t-shirt. “Got it,” 

He hummed, leaning down to kiss you softly, feeling the way your fingers immediately bunched up his shirt and made it wrinkled again. “Do you want to come with me?”

You pulled back again, your brows furrowing slightly. “To your appointment?”

“Yeah,” Clay nodded, gripping your waist. “I’ll have the rest of the day to myself until Joe comes home.” 

You pressed your lips together and slid your hands higher up until you were holding onto his shoulders. “Oh, well in that case,” you trailed off, leaning up to kiss him quickly. “Yes, I want to come with you.”

Clay grinned down at you and bumped your nose with his again before kissing you deeply. You hummed against his lips as he took your bag from you and slung it over his own shoulder, then you were pulling away with a pretty smile. “I’ll take this upstairs,”

“Are you going to put it in the guest room?” You teased, leaning against the wall opposite of the banister as he walked around you. 

Clay paused on the second step, matching your smirk as he braced one hand on the railing. He remembered the first night you stayed here and how you slept in the guest room, and then he remembered the one night you slept with him in his bed after he picked you up, and his smirk grew. “If you want to sleep in there, sure,” he answered, walking up a few more steps. “But my bed is comfier. You know that.”

You smiled and looked down. “Have you eaten today?”

“Uh, no,” he answered, pausing his ascent again. “I spent most of my morning cleaning.”

“I can tell,” you laughed, looking around the second floor hallway. “It looks great in here. And you know what? For all your hard work, I’m going to make you lunch.”

Clay smiled and shook his head. “You don’t have to do that, baby,”

“I want to, and I am going to. Jess told me this really good sandwich recipe she has at the cafe, and it’s all I’ve been craving recently,” you said, pushing off the wall and beaming up at him. “So I’m going to make it for you. You’ll like it, I promise.” 

“I like anything you make,” Clay murmured and you grinned before turning and making your way towards the kitchen. He shook his head again before finally walking up to the third floor and going right past the guest room door and towards his. 

He set your bag down on the edge of his bed, doing a quick scan of his room to make sure there was nothing that resembled Sam - even though he knew there wasn’t - before heading back downstairs. 

When he walked into the kitchen, he found you sitting at the table with two plates in front of you. You hadn’t touched yours, which made a dumb smile form on his face as he moved to sit down next to you. “That was fast,” 

You shrugged, pushing the second plate towards him. “You have to be fast if you work at Jess’,” 

Clay nodded in understanding, and he noticed how you still hadn’t eaten anything and were probably waiting for him to take the first bite, so without another word, he picked up the perfectly made sandwich and bit into it. 

“So?” You asked, not even three seconds after he began chewing, nervously sliding your plate closer to you. 

He laughed, waiting until he swallowed to answer you. “You were wrong, I don’t like it,” he started, smirking at the way your face dropped a bit. “I love it. Best thing I’ve eaten all month.”

You reach over and lightly smack him on the shoulder, letting out an amused scoff. “Don’t mess with me like that,” you scolded, but he knew you didn’t mean it. One of his favorite things about you was how easily you and he got along, and how you were able to tease each other like this from day one.

“Sorry, sorry,” he laughed, setting the sandwich down as he looked over at you with a small smirk. 

“No you’re not,”

“No, I’m not,” he replied immediately and you both looked at each other for a few seconds before he was moving his chair back and you were out of yours. You settle on his lap, your food long forgotten as you grip the sides of his face and press your lips to his. Clay leaned back against the chair as his hands grab your waist, leaning up to deepen the kiss while you moan softly against his mouth. “I missed you.”

You smile, tracing your fingers along his jaw. “You just saw me yesterday after work,” you teased, brushing your nose against his. “But I guess I missed you, too.” 

Clay grinned, sliding his hands up your sides. “You just miss my kid and my fridge,” 

A blush took over your face as you bit down on your lip. “It’s your fault for having such a cute kid and an immaculate taste in diet soda,” you beamed then your eyes trailed over to the dining room table. Clay knew what you were looking at, but he still followed your gaze anyway. “Wow…that’s a pretty rose, Mr. Beresford.” 

Clay laughed, squeezing your hips and helping you stand up. “I’m glad you think so,” he murmured, standing up as well before walking over to the bigger table and picking up the single rose. “It’s for you.”

Your blush deepened as you took it from him. “Clay,” you said quietly, bringing the rose up and inhaling the fresh scent. “I love it…it reminds me of…” 

Clay watched as your eyes widened slightly and you moved closer to him. “Reminds you of what?”

Your eyes darkened a bit as you answered, “Reminds me of when we went to Times Square and I told you that story about my neighbors and the roses,” 

Clay’s brow curved up and he shrugged. “I vaguely remember that,” he lied, obviously, too. Of course he remembered the story about Mark and Cindy, and he especially remembered how happy you got when you told him. And maybe he wanted to be the Mark to your Cindy for a day and give you a rose when you got here. 

You shake your head, letting him take the rose again and set it down on the table as you wrap your arms around his shoulders. Then you were leaning up to kiss him, trailing your fingers through his hair as his arms wrapped around your waist. “Thank you for the rose,” you mumbled against his lips, tugging at the hair on the back of his neck as he gripped the backs of your thighs. “And for thinking of me.”

“I’m always thinking about you,” he confessed as he brushed his lips along your pulse point. “You and Joey, all the time.”

You let out a soft whimper as he lifted you up and placed you on the table next to the rose. “I’m so glad I have no sense of direction,” you laughed quietly, caressing his face as he thought back to when he met you; when you spilled your coffee all over his shirt and then bombed your interview at that hotel, giving him the perfect opportunity to have you be around him almost daily. 

“Me too,” he rasped, bunching up your shirt in his hands as he leaned back up to kiss you. “Who knew ruining a two hundred dollar shirt would end up being the start of something so good.”

You pull back after only letting him kiss you for a second, your eyes wide as you grab onto his shoulders. “That shirt was two hundred dollars?!” You asked in disbelief, making the corners of his lips turn upwards. 

“Around there,” he nodded, “Yeah.”

“Clay!” You gasped, tightening your hold on him. “Now I feel even worse! You have to let me pay for it.”

Clay laughed, shaking his head as he began placing kisses along your collar bones. “It happened weeks ago, baby,” he murmured. “Trust me, with all you’ve done for me and Joey, it’s already more than paid off.” 

Another pretty blush took over your face as you massaged the sides of his neck with your thumbs. “Are you sure? Now that I’m working at Jess’, I can-”

Clay cut you off with a quick kiss to your lips, shaking his head once he pulled away. “I’m positive,” he said, “Now can we go back to eating? Then maybe we can pick this up?”

You smirk and nod, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as he helped you down from the table. “Sure, though maybe not on the dining room table?” You laughed as he led you back towards the kitchen after you picked up the rose again. “As nice as it is…it’s not the most comfortable thing.”

“Of course, babe,” he grinned, sitting back down at the smaller table, and he was once again reminded of how privileged he really is. 

-

Instead of going back to your makeout session on the table, Clay guided you towards the living room. 

You weren’t complaining; you had a strange infatuation with the living room ever since you had your first kiss with him in there. You also spent most of your time with Joey in there when you were watching him, so it was definitely your favorite room in a house full of rooms. 

It was nearing six in the evening and Clay offered to put a movie on so you both could unwind from the past work week. Since you picked the last one, you told him to choose one as you got the pillows and blankets sorted on the couch. 

He was crouched down and rummaging through the cabinet of DVD’s you shamelessly organized one night when you were babysitting Joey as you sat down on the couch and looked at the coffee table. There were cards scattered on it, some overturned and showing off someone’s impressive hand, and you bit your lip as you glanced over at your boyfriend. “Hey, Clay,” you laughed, leaning back against the couch. 

“Yeah, babe,” he called back, looking over his shoulder at you. 

You gestured to the table, “You play often?”

Clay furrowed his brows, turning back to the cabinet and grabbing something before standing up. When he caught sight of the cards, he laughed. “Oh, yeah,” he answered, walking over and putting the disk in the DVD player. “My mom and I do. Well, she plays, I lose.”

You let out a laugh, draping a blanket over your lap as you look up at him. “That’s adorable,”

Clay shook his head and you could’ve sworn you saw a faint blush spread across his face. “We played for a bit before bed last night,” he said, leaning over to pile the cards in a stack. “I can’t believe I cleaned every inch of this place but managed to forget about the coffee table.”

“It’s alright, I think the spotlessness of every other inch makes up for it,” you teased, reaching for the bowl of popcorn you made after the very late lunch. 

“As long as you’re impressed by it,” he grunted, setting the card stack in the middle of the coffee table before leaning back and wrapping his arm around your shoulders. 

“It doesn’t take much,” you admitted, looking up at the TV. “What movie did you pick?”

As soon as you asked that, the menu for Twister came onto the screen. “I hope you like disaster movies,” Clay grinned over at you. “If I have to watch one more Disney movie, I might never watch anything else again.”

You laughed, leaning into his side. “How many Disney movies does Joey make you watch?” 

Clay huffed, “Too many,” and pulled you closer to him. “But I wouldn’t trade those moments in for anything.”

A smile formed on your face and you pressed your cheek against his bicep. “You’re so sweet, Clay,” you whispered, lacing your fingers with his as the opening scene of the movie started. “Watching you and Clay together…it just makes me feel things. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Clay pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “I’m the same way when I get to come home early and see you and him together, too,” he confessed. “Joey never really had someone other than my mom and I in his life. He’s so used to us, he never really gets to be around other people. That’s another reason I’m glad he’s in school now.”

You blushed, laying your head against his chest. “Having you be the main person in his life doesn’t seem too bad,” you teased. 

Another kiss was pressed to your head, followed by a quiet laugh. “You’re sweet,” 

It was nearing the end of the movie when you shifted and cuddled closer to Clay’s side. He wasn’t in his usual attire of a suit, he was clothed in sweats and a t-shirt, and you were feeling the same way you felt the night he picked you up from Hanson’s. 

You wanted him. 

But exactly how much could you have of him? You weren’t entirely sure, but there was no harm in asking. 

You knew about his heart condition, but you didn’t know the full extent of it. 

When the last scene of the movie began, you moved to sit back against the couch, putting some space in between the two of you. Clay’s eyes drifted from the screen and over to you, his arm loosening around your shoulders. “Everything okay?” 

You nodded, playing with the corner of the blanket you and he were sharing. “Of course,” you trailed off, turning to face him. “Can I be nosey?”

Clay’s mouth turned upwards and he turned to you as well. “Always,”

You smiled at that, leaning your head against the top of the backrest. “Your heart condition…how bad is it?” 

Instead of him getting defensive about it or shutting down the topic, he took your hand in his. “About as bad as a heart condition can be,” he answered, his thumb tracing the back of your hand. “I’m on a transplant list, but it’s been years now. I got on it when I had my heart attack.”

His words leave you speechless for a second as you process them, your face quickly beginning to heat up. “You…you had a heart attack?” You asked in a whisper, your hold on his hand tightening. “When?”

“When I was twenty,” he rasped, shifting closer to you. 

You swallowed, looking down at your joined hands. “What happened? Did something trigger it?”

“It was sudden, nothing really happened to trigger it,” he said quietly. “I was told when I was a teen that having one was really likely, but I wasn’t prepared for it to happen a few years later.”

He looked like he wanted to say more, but stopped himself short. You didn’t know if you wanted him to continue since your body was already on fire and your hands were shaking. But you also wanted to know everything you possibly could know about him and his condition. “What are you not telling me?”

“Baby,” he trailed off, bringing your hand up to his lips and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. “In the hospital, my heart stopped and I died for a few minutes.”

“Clay,” you gasped, holding onto his hand even tighter. You hadn’t realized just how serious it actually was. He died. You felt like you were going to be sick as you used your grip on his hand to keep yourself grounded, despite the fact that you were already sitting. “Oh, my God.”

“I know,” he whispered, letting you cling onto his hand. “It’s scary. A few years later I had Joey, and then Sam left, and I nearly had another one because of the stress I felt with her being gone. I guess that’s why my mom is so protective of me…it was a hard time for her. I don’t think she’s fully moved past it yet.”

You nodded in understanding, pressing the back of his hand against your cheek. “Thank you…for telling me,” 

Clay frowned a bit as he ran his knuckles along your cheekbone. “I don’t want this to change anything, okay? I don’t want you to think I’m just waiting around to…you know,” he mumbled and you were glad he didn’t finish that sentence. “I’m okay for now, and there’s nothing anyone can do to change that until they find me a donor.” 

You nod again, looking up at him with a guarded expression. “Okay…”

“I mean it,” he stated, “What you and I have…it makes me forget about all of it. Joey and my mom, too. I don’t want to be just another sick person, and I don’t want that to be what you see me as. So please, don’t treat me differently now that you know everything.”

You bite down on your lip and nod slowly, looking down at your hands as you run your thumb along his fingers. “I won’t,” you whisper, hoping you could stay true to your word. “I promise, I won’t.”

“Okay,” he said quietly, bringing his other hand up and caressing your jaw. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

Raising your brow, you give him a pointed look. “Unlikely,”

Clay huffed out a laugh, leaning in to press a soft kiss to your mouth. “I’m fine,” he promised, tugging at your bottom lip with his thumb. 

You believed him, “Okay,” and then you were kissing him again, but a lot more gently than you have in the past. You knew you were already breaking your promise to him, but you couldn’t help it. The chance of him having another heart attack and surviving was extremely unlikely, even you knew that, and you refused to be witness to it. 

But Clay wasn’t easily fooled. “Babe,” he groaned, pulling away and giving you a stern look. “Baby, you don’t have to treat me like glass. I told you, I’m fine.”

“But-”

“Nothing,” he cut you off, stroking your cheekbone with his thumb. “But nothing. I can handle my mom treating me like I’m broken, but not you…not you.”

You hold back another complaint and nod, and he gave you a look that told you he didn’t fully believe you. Without another word, he pulled you onto his lap and held you against his chest. “Clay-”

“Don’t worry about me, okay? I’ve told you everything you should know, and I’m trusting that it won’t change anything between us,” he murmured, leaning in and kissing along your neck. 

“Okay,” you agreed, feeling the worry and fear begin to fade away. What replaced it was an undying want and need for the man you’ve grown to care so much about. The man you were sure you’re falling completely in love with. “I just…I like you, so much.” He didn’t need to know that your fondness for him had grown tremendously since the day you met him. 

Clay hummed, pulling back to look you in the eyes. “I like you, too. So much,” he said, and you were given no choice but to believe him. You shared a look, one that showed how much you both wanted each other. Perhaps even needed. Clay’s expression softened and his hands caressed either side of your face, “Do you want this?”

You swallowed and slowly nodded, reaching up to hold onto his wrists. “But if you can’t-”

Clay cut you off with a kiss this time, and he wrapped his arms around your waist. “I think we both know that I can,” he grinned and you felt your face heat up in a blush as you realized that he definitely can since he ended up being a father at twenty two.

“Right,” you muttered, a bit embarrassed now. 

But Clay just laughed, holding you close to his chest as he stood up. “Right,” then he was carrying you towards the stairs while the end credits for the movie played.

-

Clay felt like he was shaking as he carried you into his room and gently set you down on his bed. 

He hadn’t been intimate with someone since Sam, and that was quite a few years ago now. He never felt the desire or want to until he met you, and suddenly all he wanted was to feel that sense of closeness, both physically and emotionally. 

Clay turned around and closed the door out of habit, and when he looked at you again, you had kicked your leggings off, leaving you in just your panties and shirt. His hands were shaking a bit as he pulled off his tee, and he tossed it aside to find later as he crawled onto the bed and hovered over you. “I’m gonna ask one more time,” he whispered, bracing his elbows on either side of your head. “Do you want this?”

Your eyes were wide and needy as you nodded up at him, your hands sliding up his chest. “I want this,” you said back, “I want you.”

Clay smiled down at you, leaning in to brush his nose against yours before kissing you deeply. “You’re perfect,” he mumbled, kissing down your neck as his hands played with the hem of your shirt. “Anyone ever told you that?”

He almost didn’t believe you when you slowly shook your head, but you never gave him a reason not to believe you, so he wasn’t going to start now. “No,” you answered as he tugged the thin material of your shirt up your body. “Never.”

Clay’s eyes darkened a bit at both the sight of your exposed stomach and your words. “What kind of boys have you been with before this, baby?” He teased, watching as a pretty blush took over your features. 

“They’re not important,” you mumbled, lifting your body so he could pull your shirt the rest of the way off. 

“That’s right,” he praised, his eyes raking over your lace covered chest. “They’re not important.”

His fingers played with the straps of the pretty, light blue bra you were wearing, his eyes damn near the same shade as the material. You moaned softly as he stared down at you. “They’re not you,” 

Clay’s eyes flickered up to meet yours as he reached around you and unclasped the lacy fabric and slid it down your arms. “No, they’re not,” he hummed in agreement, dropping your bra to the floor as he pressed kisses down your chest. Your hands tangled in his hair as his moved up to grope your soft breasts, his lips peppering kisses all over you. 

“Clay,” you moaned, pulling softly on his hair. “I need you.”

Your words, the beautiful things they were, had him growing hard for you, and he slid his hands down your body as he leaned in and kissed you deeply. “Say that again,” he nearly begged, running his fingers along the waistline of your white, but equally as lacy panties. 

You oblige instantly, “I need you,” and reach for his sweats. “Please.”

Truthfully, Clay needed you just as badly, if not more. 

He would’ve spent his time with you, but he couldn’t handle much more either. Four years without touching someone will do that to you. 

Clay pushed the lace down your legs, his fingers slowly dipping into you as you worked on ridding him of his sweats and boxer briefs. You were wet, and took his fingers eagerly as you moaned his name and returned your hands to his hair. “Please,” you begged again. “Please please…please.”

He groaned, pulling his hand away from you. “Okay, baby,” he rasped, reaching for his nightstand. “Just let me get-”

“We don’t need one,” you quickly say, looking up at him with hooded eyes. “My last boyfriend was when I was nineteen, and I’m not the kind of girl to sleep around. I’m clean, I promise.”

Clay’s eyes darkened even more as he settled back down on top of you. “Are you sure?”

“Yes,” you answer, biting down on your lip as you grab hold of his shoulders. “Unless you want to use one…that’s okay, too. I don’t know when your last relationship was.”

“Yeah, you do,” he laughed quietly, reaching down to hike one of your legs around his waist. 

Your eyes widened a bit, “She was your last? Like, the last person you-”

“Yeah,” he answered, resting his forehead against yours. “She was my last. I never felt the need or want to be with someone else after. Then I met you.”

Your expression softened and you wrapped your leg tight around him, giving him the silent signal to take that final step. “Clay…” you trailed off, parting your lips to say more as he slowly pushed into you. Your words die on your tongue as you moan against his lips when he leaned down to kiss you, and the tightness of your body as his eyes squeezing shut. 

He braced his forearms next to your head as he pulled out halfway, only to bury himself back in. A deep groan left his mouth as you took each thrust, your arms wrapping around his shoulders as you tilt your head back. “You feel so good,” he praised, pushing his face against the side of your neck as he began to rock into you. “So good.”

You moaned softly, wrapping your other leg around his waist. “Clay…oh, my God,”

He grunted, kissing along your neck as he started to move faster, almost as if he wanted to prove to you that he wasn’t as fragile as people say he is. His heart was weak, but that was the only part of him that was. “Baby,” 

Your eyes roll back as you drop your head against his pillow. “Clay, you feel so good…I knew it,” you gasped quietly, holding onto him tightly. “I knew you would. I knew it would feel so good with you.”

And somehow he knew it, too. “Yeah?” He breathed out, feeling the way you clenched tightly around him. “You’ve been thinking about this?”

He thought the way he added a teasing edge to his voice would make you blush again, but you just nodded shamelessly. “All the time,” you admitted and he groaned quietly, his jaw going slack as he thrusted into you a bit harder. “God, Clay, I want you all the time.”

He’s been thinking about you, too, and you were even better than he thought you would be, if that is even possible. He was convinced no one has ever felt better than you, but he had no plans to further test that theory out.

“Fuck,” he moaned, reaching for your hand. He laces his fingers with yours and pins them to the pillow beside your head, leaning down to kiss you. You whimpered against his mouth and the sound only made him want to keep going and make you forget all about the guys you were with before. The ones that didn’t deserve you. 

Clay wasn’t usually a jealous guy, but he was sure that would change in no time, as long as he stayed with you. 

“Oh, God,” you moaned, pulling away from the kiss with swollen, wet lips as you buried your face against his shoulder. “I’m close.” You said it with a bit of disbelief in your voice, making him believe that he was the first one to bring you to the edge this quickly. 

To be fair, you were both pent up with desire and want for each other, and a few days ago, Clay was sure he would have never gotten to experience this with you because of the picture you found. 

But here you were, whining and writhing beneath him and letting him hear all the pretty and perfect sounds that came from your lips. 

“Please,” you begged. “Don’t stop…I’m so close.”

Clay continued to roll his hips into yours, and soon enough you were moaning loudly, your fingers grabbing onto his hair and your back arching off the bed. “There you go,” he muttered, watching your face as you came undone for him. He felt his own release creeping up on him, and he managed to find enough control to be able to ask, “Where…where can I..”

You whined, brushing your lips against his ear as you answered, “Inside…don’t stop,”

Clay squeezed his eyes shut as he let out a deep groan, his pace faltering as he came. “Oh, fuck…baby,” he huffed, burying his face against your neck as he wrapped you up in his arms. 

You moaned quietly, running your fingers through his hair as he rolled you onto your sides. “Are you okay?” You asked in a soft voice, trailing your hands down to his neck. 

Clay let out uneven breaths as he nodded, taking your hand in his and looking down at you. “I’m okay,” 

“You promise?” You ask again, tangling your legs with his. He leaned in and brushed his lips against yours before pulling away and nodding, a lazy smile on his lips as he held you close. 

“I promise,”