#but please hold them for me until I get down these stairs WHOO

[aliosne]

Everybody clap for me I felt uncertain on some stairs that didn’t have a railing and I asked aneki if I could hold her arm

[rebrandedbard]

@greyduckgreygoose Tumblr ate your ask when I tried posting it two minutes ago. You requested prompts 5 or 6, which I choose to read as 5 and 6. Stay tuned for prompt 6 in the future. If you like this, perhaps I’ll make it more Valdo. Whump or healing—you pull the trigger, goosey. Or perhaps I’ll use prompt 6 for some Filavandrel fun. Let me know.

5. “Wait a minute. Are you jealous?”

tw: alcohol, depression

WC: 1600 even. Whoo! Even hundredth place! Two goose eggs!

A Good Man

Geralt meets Valdo Marx while taking a contract on a ferry, protecting its passengers from an unknown threat on the water. Valdo himself is an unknown threat, until the two of them get to talking, and Geralt learns a quiet truth.

Geraskier. One-sided Valdo/Jaskier

-

Valdo Marx, troubadour of Cidaris, was the last person Geralt expected to meet on the ferry from Brugge. Per Jaskier’s rambling, he’d assumed the bard stayed put, living it up in Oxenfurt or Cidaris—Geralt was never quite sure if Cidaris were his home or simply a place he’d chosen for his adopted title. He’d wondered if Jaskier were a ‘Bard of Thereabouts,’ but he was never curious enough to ask where-abouts. They both travelled so much, Jaskier could be from anywhere. Something told him that Jaskier would choose Lyria if asked; the name was lyrical.

But Geralt supposed bards were of a travelling nature after all. Besides, the ferry down the Yda was the fasted way to travel inland from Brugge to Craag An, and just beyond was the Adalatte. A straight shot through Kerack would have Marx home in Cidaris in no time at all, and people with coin to spare liked to hurry to and fro in laid-back comfort. It was a paradox Geralt often found amusing.

He paid no fare for his ride, having been hired on for protection. It would seem that, of late, people were disappearing from the ferry before reaching their final destination, reaching a much more final destination than anticipated. Drowners, probably. Sirens were less likely, but not entirely out of the realm of possibility. The channels were connected to the ocean; something could have come washing downriver. It wasn’t altogether unheard of to find displaced sirens after the summer rainstorms. If asked which he’d be more likely to meet, Geralt would have chosen sirens before Valdo Marx.

Geralt recognized him as a bard from the off: it was impossible to mistaken anything so brightly decorated. True, the man did not carry his lute about his person as Jaskier would, but he wore the uniform of satin, the season’s colors all in coordination and too impractical for the weather. It was a mark of their trade, their plumage like birds of paradise and that theatrical air.

Well, the atmosphere around Marx was less the foppish theatrics Geralt had come to expect. He did not saunter across the deck wooing a crowd, nor reciting poetry. He did not do much of anything to draw attention to himself. In fact, he was quite unlike anything that made up Geralt’s image of bards, drawing back against the bulwark, completely silent. Like a fool, Geralt presumed they would go all the way to Craag An without confrontation, but it would be a snowy day in the desert before bards acted predictably.

It was late afternoon the second day on board when he approached, the sun falling low, bringing on the evening. Geralt was keeping watch at the stern: if anything was about it would be disturbed, knocked back as the ship made headway, clawing its way onto the deck from the rear. Geralt kept to the lower main deck, closest to the water. If anything came crawling up from below, he would be in position to dispatch it. The passengers aboard had likely been warned beforehand, or else they’d heard the rumors, as they stayed on the upper deck and bow. With the lower deck abandoned, he easily read Valdo’s approach from a distance.

“White Wolf?” he asked, leaning casually a few feet away from Geralt. The question was monotone, almost disinterested, but he would not have come if there had been no reason.

There was nothing else to do and, truth be told, Geralt was bored. So he turned to Valdo and nodded. “Geralt,” he replied. He’d never quite grow used to the fanciful title, but it brought him good business. It made him recognizable, and therefore comfortable, in so much as anyone could be comfortable around a witcher. Reputations had influence.

“Valdo Marx. I’m sure you heard of me.”

Geralt hummed. There was something in his manner of speech. It was not an obnoxious flaunt of his fame: there was something resigned in it. Bitter, perhaps. It was the same tone Lambert used to say, “There was a wraith in Gulet. I’m sure you’ve already heard.” It had taken a witcher down from the school of the viper. The tone implied notoriety.

For a while, they did not speak. The only sound came from the water below lapping against the side of the ship. Geralt waited, glancing at the troubadour once more before he turned his attention back to the water. He supposed that had been it, a simple acknowledgement. People were often curious, coming to him only to confirm his identity as Jaskier’s witcher. It was a title he’d grown comfortable with more quickly than the White Wolf. It was truer, and he smiled to himself when he thought of such instances in private.

“You’re a right lucky fuck,” Valdo muttered.

Geralt looked up again from the water. He turned to examine Valdo silently, wondering what, exactly, Valdo thought he had going for him to mark him as lucky.

Valdo stared back at him, looking tired and severe. “Maybe I would have had better luck if I didn’t talk so much,” he continued. “If I didn’t sing … ”

“Bards are supposed to sing,” Geralt replied. He now wished Valdo would go back to the upper deck. Nothing aggravated him quite like people who refused to get to the point. He scented an undercurrent of hostility in the air. That, and an abundance of vodka.

Valdo produced a flask from his jerkin and gave it a swig. “Never was trying to be a bard,” he muttered. He took another sip, let it sit, then concealed the flask once more. It occurred to Geralt that the man’s leaning was not entirely owed to false causality.

Geralt knew not what to say. So he simply said, “Hm.” He heard the knuckles crack in Valdo’s tightening fist.

“Melitele’s tits. Years of poetry and songs, and you come along with your … ‘hm,’” Valdo mocked, “and that’s it. Not even a melodic hm. Just … hm.” He raked his fingers through his hair, hissing through his teeth in frustration. He was muttering something under his breath, but it was incoherent, even to a witcher’s ears. When Valdo looked up again, his eyes were red. Neither that, nor the sour note in the air were owed to the alcohol, Geralt surmised.

“He won’t love you,” Valdo said. “He can’t. He doesn’t hold on to things that way. You’re just—” he flapped a hand, searching for the word “—a fascination. You’re something shiny and new. He’ll forget about you the moment he leaves your bed.”

“Who?”

“Who the fuck do you think, witcher. Don’t mock me,” Valdo snapped, voice cracking. If he didn’t look so pathetic, if his words did not carry such weight, Geralt might have chuckled to hear Jaskier’s infamous rival croak unprofessionally. It was not flattering of bards. But there was nothing funny in what he said, nor in how he said it.

“Wait a minute,” Geralt said. He had said less than ten words to the man, none of them mocking in the slightest, and he meant to say as much.

But Valdo held up a hand to silence him. The broken man slipped down to the deck, curling against his knees, head bowed. When he spoke, he mumbled against his knees, fingers tangling in his hair. “I went to Oxenfurt for him. I chased after him for so long, watching him fall in and out of stranger’s beds for less than a wink. But all he wanted me for … he only met me on the stage. Irked if I played below standard, livid if I won. Try what you will, there’s no pleasing Jaskier.”

Geralt thought he understood him then. “Are you jealous?” he asked.

Valdo lifted his head enough to meet his eye. His cheeks were wet, shining in the fading light. “Are you Jaskier’s witcher?”

“Yes,” Geralt replied.

“Then you have your answer.”

Geralt paused a moment. He approached Valdo slowly and lowered himself to his side. They sat together in silence, hidden in the shadow of the bulwark as the sun set behind. Valdo produced the flask again, offering Geralt a sip without a word exchanged. Geralt took the flask.

“Have you kissed him?” Valdo whispered.

“No.”

“Don’t. If he never kisses you, he might not leave.”

Geralt watched as Valdo finished the last of the vodka. “Did you?” he asked.

Valdo stared across the empty deck. “No,” he replied. “But I don’t count. He sings songs about you. I only exist to him three days a year at the bardic competition.”

“He talks about you,” Geralt offered. It was a poor comfort when one knew how Jaskier talked.

Valdo sighed and tucked away the empty flask. He stood on unsteady legs, turning back toward the stairs to the upper deck. “I know. I have a rough idea what sort of man you must think I am from his gossip.”

“I don’t hold with gossip.”

“No,” Valdo chuckled. “Your kind wouldn’t.” It wasn’t an insult, but empathy. There was an understanding between them on that mark. “I wanted to find out for myself what kind of a man you were to entice him so. I hate to think I see it.”

“What do you think you see?”

“A man. One whose best friend’s first wish would be to strike death upon his rival, and knowing him, would allow that rival to approach him without preconceptions. Who would share a flask with a sobbing drunkard and listen earnestly. A good man, in short. So ... hatefully good.”

-

Send me drabble prompts!

[sourwolphs]

Like an Animal - Bucky x Reader (3/8)

Read on Ao3 (for better interface + formatting)

Summary: Reader is an enhanced Omega kidnapped by Hydra and trapped in a cell with Alpha Bucky Barnes. Tags: A/B/O, Protective Bucky Barnes, Protective Steve Rogers, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending Warnings: Rated M, Kidnapping, Mentions of non-con (nothing actually happens), self-hatred  A/N: The rest of the team makes an appearance! Whoo!

Steve burst through the door first, using the force of his shield to break through the external locks Bucky had been unable to reach. As soon as the scent of their combined heat and rut hit him, Steve threw his best friend a wide-eyed look. From where he knelt on the floor next to the Omega, Bucky shook his head, feeling a fresh wave of shame wash over him. His release minutes ago had taken the edge off of his rut enough that he was thinking semi-clearly again, realizing what he had done.

He had violated her. He didn’t stop. He was the most worthless kind of Alpha— not a protecter, like Steve, but a taker, like Hydra had trained him to be.

“Who is she?” Steve asked, taking slow, careful steps towards them. Bucky had to grip hard into his thigh with his metal hand to stop himself from grabbing her protectively, shielding her from the nonexistent threat of the other Alpha, the way his instincts were screaming at him to.

Y/N was still shaking and crying, curled up on top of his clothes and holding her legs tightly to her chest to protect herself.

“Dunno. She’s enhanced. Sympathy heat. Get her to safety. Please,” he said lowly. Steve nodded, giving Bucky another searching look. “They gave me something. Rut. I— I don’t know. I’ll be fine.” He shook his head as he stood up, trying to clear it again of the rising fog of arousal.

“Are we fighting our way out?” At least that way, he’d be an asset. Even a normal Alpha in rut possessed enhanced strength and endurance, not to mention a super-soldier.

Steve shook his head. “Tony and Nat practically cleared this place out already. You know we’re in Paraguay, right?”

Bucky shook his head in disbelief.

“I know. Took us way too long to find you. Scared everyone,” Steve said. “Once we touched down, a few Hydra squads fled the base right away. Probably whoever was in charge of…” —he motioned at Bucky’s body to indicate his artificial rut— “….this. Sam’s tailing them now.”

Bucky watched as Steve gently kneeled down next to Y/N. Her eyes were glassy and out of focus. She strained her neck to bare her throat submissively to the new Alpha looming over her, turning her face into Bucky’s ruined clothes. He swallowed hard, feeling sick to his stomach at her display of fearful vulnerability.

The reminder of the spend he’d eked out against her will was still wet against his body. He was a fucking monster.

Steve gently scooped Y/N up into his arms. She protested weakly, still crying as she pushed on his arms with her bound wrists, murmuring unintelligibly and whimpering in either fear or pain. Bucky grimaced as Steve tucked her face into his neck, offering his scent gland to comfort her in the intimate way Bucky had just a few hours ago. He watched as she snuffled into his neck and the rigid lines of her body began to relax minutely. “Alpha,” she whined. He had to stop himself from tearing her from Steve’s arms— though he knew if anyone deserved the trust of a defenseless Omega, it was his best friend. Bucky had proven himself unworthy ten times over here in this cell. His self-hatred rose like bile in his throat, competing with the heat of rut still burning through his veins.

“Bucky okay in here?” Nat slipped soundlessly through the cell door, brushing her hair out of her dirt-smudged face. She was a little breathless, but looked otherwise unharmed. “Upstairs is clear, but we need to get moving before—“ She cut off when she saw Y/N curled in Steve’s arms. “Holy shit,” she breathed.

Steve had already started moving out of the cell, stopping when he realized that Nat recognized Hydra’s other prisoner. “So she’s not a Jane Doe?”

“Her name is Y/N,” Bucky interjected. My Omega.

“Not a Jane Doe,” Nat said. “I’ll explain on the quinjet.”

Nat navigated them quickly and expertly through the evacuated base. There were some limp bodies strewn around as they made their way up nearly a dozen flights of stairs, Nat’s swift and nearly bloodless execution style apparent in the pattern of dead. The closer they got to the exit, the antsier Bucky felt, his skin starting to crawl again with rut. He knew he was moments away from dipping back into mindless lust— especially without his, no, the Omega in his arms— but he couldn’t speed up ahead for risk of leaving her behind. The urge to stay protectively by her side was too strong, though he knew she was more than safe in Steve’s arms. She had quietly dozed off in Steve’s arms.

“Almost there,” Nat murmured, nodding her head at a set of busted steel doors at the end of a long hallway. Bucky knew she could smell his desperation, clamping a hand down on his flesh arm to ground him. “I have emergency suppressants,” she told him reassuringly.

As they burst through the doors and out into the humid air, Bucky let out a sigh of relief he didn’t realize he’d been holding. Sam was standing, wings folded, on the quinjet’s loading hatch as they approached at a quick jog. “Couldn’t stay on their tail,” he updated Steve, who shook his head. “Glad you didn’t die,” Sam said teasingly to Bucky, but Bucky didn’t have the stomach for their usual banter. He gave a grim nod, to which the Beta male raised his eyebrows.

Once they were all on board, Tony raised the loading hatch and lifted the quinjet off the ground with a lurch, activating the cloaking panels so their jet disappeared into the sky. Bucky slipped into a gear room in the back to quickly shuck out of his ruined clothes, forcing himself to toss them in the incinerator even though he ached to press his face into his shirt and breathe in Y/N’s lingering scent. She hadn’t consented. She couldn’t have. He slammed his right fist into the wall, forcing himself to feel the pain in his knuckles.

Nat knocked on the door before opening it a crack, offering four white tablets in her palm.

“Thanks,” Bucky murmured, swallowing the emergency blockers dry.

“Give yourself ten minutes for them to kick in, then we should debrief,” she murmured. Bucky nodded. Once he was dosed up with blockers and finished the debrief, he could lock himself back in here, as far away from Y/N as possible— even though his Alpha was screaming at him to break down the door and pull her back into his arms. The last thing she needed was to see his face if she woke up mid-flight. The sound of her terrified sobs still rang in his ears.

It took more than ten minutes for the blockers to work and for Bucky to start feeling normal again. His temperature had gone down, but he kept his outer layers off, quietly emerging from the gear room in a short sleeve shirt. Tony was manning the controls with bags under his eyes. Nat was sitting with her legs thrown over Sam’s lap, the both of them peering intently at her tablet as she scrolled through files. Steve had buckled himself into one of the co-pilot seats with Y/N on his lap, his hand cupping the back of her neck to keep her face pressed near his neck. She still looked feverish and weak, sweat forming a sheen across her exposed skin, but she was out cold. Bucky’s eyes traced the curves of her face, drinking in the sight of her and her sweet, minty scent.

Steve’s earnest blue eyes connected with Bucky’s as soon as he registered his best friend entering the main room. He must have caught the scent of Bucky’s dueling protective and guilty emotions because Steve gave him a reassuring nod. “She’s doing fine, Buck. Hasn’t made a peep. But she’s… cold,” he said.

“She has some kind of ability. Said she could freeze things,” Bucky explained.

“What the hell happened back there?” Sam interrupted. “No offense, Buck, but you still reek— even more than usual.”

“They dosed me with something,” he growled. “I didn’t even realize until they brought her in. I—“ he cut himself off. He wasn’t going to tell the whole team how he’d forced himself on her. They’d probably throw him off the quinjet, like he wanted to do to himself. He was just grateful Steve had arrived when he did, or there’s no telling what he could have been capable of. And to think she had trusted him enough to offer him her gland to scent….

Bucky squeezed his eyes shut, fighting back the voice in his head reminding him of all the reasons he didn’t deserve that trust. “I think they wanted us— me— to…” he trailed off. Tony turned around to face the group with a grim expression, and Sam’s eyes widened as he realized Bucky’s meaning.

“Wait,” Steve interjected. “Nat— you recognized her.”

“I know her, yes,” Nat sighed, pursing her lips, before setting her tablet down in Sam’s lap and swinging her legs over the edge of the seat to face the group. “A year or so ago— after the Blip— Wanda, Fury and I started looking for more… enhanced individuals. The last thing we need are more people out there like Pietro and Wanda being… experimented on, when we could so easily bring them to safety and a… purpose.”

“Well, who is she?” Sam pressed. Bucky could tell Sam had been fighting his overprotective Beta instincts back ever since Steve had carried her on board. His normally neutral scent— like citrus and saltwater— had flared up in his agitation.

“Y/N Y/L/N,” Nat answered. “Fury discovered her after we found a whole gang of street criminals frozen solid in Brooklyn. Her parents were scientists working for S.H.I.E.L.D., pre-Hydra. She likely got her abilities when she was a teenager when one of their lab experiments went wrong. Both her and her parents were assumed D.O.A., but she was actually underground for the past 10 years. I found her not too long ago and warned her of the risks, told her we could protect her. She seemed very… disillusioned by the Avengers. Gave me the slip, too— Not many people can do that. I haven’t seen her since.”

“Sounds like she’s been through a lot,” Steve said softly. Y/N snuffled softly in her sleep, and Steve rubbed her back soothingly. Bucky clenched his jaw so hard it felt like his teeth were going to crack. “Probably figured if S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn’t protect her and her parents, how could we? Tony, any idea how to get these restraints off her?”

“Looks like some kind of Terrigen Crystal manipulator, common scrambling device for enhanced individuals,” Tony replied. “We can deactivate them back home, but I’d keep them on until she wakes up. We don’t know how powerful she is.”

Rage rose hot and sharp in Bucky’s chest, surprising him. “She’s not dangerous,” he growled. “She’s just—“

Tony cleared his throat. “Just an Omega?” he scoffed. “Yeah. So is Wanda. And Banner.”

“I was going to say she’s just been kidnapped,” Bucky growled, hackles raised. “If I woke up surrounded by a strange pack, I’d use my strengths too.” Steve and Tony both quirked an eyebrow, their Alpha instincts completely under control. Bucky knew he was acting like a deranged knothead, but he couldn’t help it. Never in his life had he felt a pull to an Omega this strongly. All he wanted was to curl her into his arms, where she belonged, return his face to the scent gland on her neck and use his heat to warm her cool skin. But he wouldn’t. And he shouldn’t. He didn’t deserve it. He spun on his heel, returning to the gear room, which he bolted shut behind him, sliding down with his back to the floor to ride out the rest of the journey home— as far away from her scent as he could get.

——————-

The first thing I felt when I woke up this time wasn’t the pain in my wrists— though that was still there, burning hot and freezing cold at the same time. No, the first thing I felt was a comfortable bed beneath my back, and the scratchy soft material of a hospital gown across my chest.

My fractured memories came back in a rush. Heat, burning heat. My Alpha’s soothing cedar scent above me, his gentle kisses against my gland, the mind-numbing euphoria of his purrs filling my chest. The scent of his spend driving me wild with need. The ache in my core, growing unbearable as he inexplicably drew away from me. The desperation racking my body with sobs, my scent sharp with the anxiety of heat abandonment. The sound of steel shattering, the smell of another Alpha warm, strong and safe like sunshine and old books. The comfort of being held against a broad chest warring with the fear and wrongness of my Alpha getting left behind. Fighting against the mindless Omega space that threatened to pull me under. Leaving the cell, my body jostling as I was carried up stairs, the humid outdoor air hitting my flushed skin. The sound of jet turbines, the leather edge of a seat buckle. Beta scents: Citrus and saltwater; Roses and rainwater. A bonded Alpha— Motor oil and whiskey. Fear for my Alpha. Where was my Alpha? A soothing hand dragging up and down my back. Darkness.

I jolted back to the present all at once, opening my eyes to take in the plain white hospital room and hear the sound of the heart monitor next to me pick up as I began to panic again. Who had brought me here? Where was Bucky? Was he alive? Were we safe? I couldn’t scent anything over the powerful antiseptic smell of the hospital, sending my thoughts spiraling further.

Who had changed my clothes? The dirt underneath my fingernails had been scrubbed clean. The symptoms of my sympathy heat were gone, though the heat itself had jumbled my memories. Someone had plaited my hair in a french braid behind my head.

I sat up, groaning as the familiar post-heat aches and pains protested throughout my muscles. Before I could swing my legs over the side of the bed, the handle to the only door out of the room turned and a red-haired woman stepped in. She had large, soulful eyes and beautiful features, and as her cinnamon-sweet bonded Omega scent drifted towards me, I immediately felt myself relax. “Y/N?” the woman said gently. Her voice carried an Eastern European lilt to it. She looked familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I knew her.

“Where am I?” My voice was surprisingly raspy, and I coughed to clear my throat. How long had I been out? I swung my legs over the side of the bed, hissing as my feet hit the cold tile floor. Wanda joined me on the edge of the bed, putting a few feet of distance between us.

“You’re in a safe place— the Avengers compound in New York. My name is Wanda,” she said soothingly, leaning into her dulcet Omega voice. Holy shit, the Scarlet Witch.

“I know you,” I gasped. Her lips quirked up on the sides in an amused smirk. “I mean— From TV,” I corrected, shaking my head. “Where’s Bucky?”

She looked surprised I asked, quirking her head to the side. “Nowhere near us. You’re safe here,”  she answered slowly.

What a weird response. Why wouldn’t I be safe?

“I mean, I figured it was safe… I’m in one of the most heavily fortified buildings in the world. But can I… see him?” I felt shy, suddenly, for asking. I barely knew him. But we’d made it through something terrible together, and I felt… connected to him. Maybe he didn’t want to see me at all. Maybe he has another Omega.

“Maybe… later,” she said, then reached out to place a hand on the wrist restraints. “Sorry to leave these on you. I know the pain they cause. We didn’t know how you’d react when you woke up in a strange place, especially post-heat. Do you feel comfortable having an Alpha come in here to remove them? I will stay here with you. And he’s bonded.”

I nodded mutely. She was treating me like I was a delicate flower, like any minute I would wilt and snap. It’s not like I hadn’t been alone in a room with an Alpha before. But then again, the last time I had been, we’d almost bonded in a frenzied, drug-induced haze. Alpha, my Omega sighed, suddenly reminded of the heat, the arousal, his scent, what we’d almost done. Find Alpha.

I’d never felt a pull to an Alpha like this before. Ever. Usually, they smelled too strong, filled up too much space, made me feel small and weak despite my inner certainty that I was anything but. Away from him, now, I felt… adrift.

Wanda crossed the room to rummage through a clinical looking chest of drawers, pulling out a sweatshirt and soft pants. “Once Tony gets you out of these restraints, you can have a shower and get into something cozy,” she offered.

“Stark?” I choked.  They were really gearing up to introduce me to all of the freaking Avengers.

“That would be me, Y/N,” said the Alpha, easing the door to the room open with a quick rap of his knuckles on the frame. It was jarring to see Iron Man clad in jeans and a baseball tee. I’d only ever seen him buttoned up in a suit and tie on TV press conferences, or hidden behind black shades in tabloid images. His scent was strangely familiar, too— harsh and spicy, like motor oil, mixed with what I could only assume was his Omega’s gentle strawberry smell. “But you can call me Tony.”

“Tony,” I said, starstruck. My father, and by extension— me— had idolized him growing up. Now, he was carrying a sleek black and gold device that he waved in front of me.

“We’re using a little handheld vita ray action here to deactivate your restraints,” Tony explained. “Just hold tight for a second.”

I held out my wrists to him, away from my lap, and he activated the vita rays, sending what looked like a blue laser beam to cut straight through the middle of the metal. The restraints creaked and groaned as they released, cracking in half. Before they could hit the floor, a swirling orb of red energy appeared beneath them, lifting them gently into the air to rest on the bed next to me. I looked up to see Wanda’s eyes and hands glowing softly in the same color. Sick.

“Thanks,” I breathed, rubbing my wrists, the relief imminent. The pain no longer seared through my forearms, and I could feel the familiar burst of energy from my chest down to the tips of my fingers. Just to test, I held my hand out in front of me, seeking out a few molecules of water in the dry, filtered hospital air and freezing them instantaneously, falling like bits of hail into my palm.

“That’s a cool party trick,” Tony said. I closed my palm, feeling the ice melt against my skin. How embarrassing. “We’ve always needed someone to help make sure our groceries stay at the right temperature.”

I scoffed. Knothead. “I was just kidnapped by Hydra, endured a sympathy heat unprepared and had my abilities stunted by a magical pair of handcuffs. You can scrutinize me again after I get nine hours and a decent cup of coffee.”

Tony barked out a surprised laugh, turning around to leave the room. “I like this one,” he said to Wanda, before disappearing out the door, what remained of my restraints clutched in his hand.

Wanda rolled her eyes at his back, then turned to face me with her hands on her hips. “Well Y/N, if you’re up for it— let me show you to your room.”

[bleachanimefan1]

The Song of the Titan

Chapter Nine!,

In a secret room of the castle, Belos stood in front of the repaired door of the human realm, that he had managed to salvage and recover. He ordered an abomaton to turn on a switch and it did as it was told. Glowing green goo flowed down from the pipes of the machine and headed towards the door, powering it up. Belos took out a handmade key and stuck it into the keyhole.

It disintegrated almost immediately as soon as he turned it. Hidden in a corner, behind the emperor, Hunter quietly watched, curious about the portal. Lil rascal had managed to sneak into the room as well and landed on Hunter's shoulder and let out a small chirp.

"Shoo!" Hunter brushed his hand to get the cardinal to leave.

"Would you like to see how this works, Hunter?" Belos called out. Hunter gasped and went tense. He had heard him. The cardinal went ridged and turned to wood and Hunter quickly put the bid inside his cloak, hiding it. Hesitantly, Hunter stepped out approaching Belos.

"I didn't mean to hide, Emperor Belos," He murmured.

"We found every piece of the door, but without the power of the real key, it refuses to open," He told him.

"Is true that rain doesn't boil in the human realm?" Hunter asked. Belos turned to Hunter with a surprised look.

"It is. But, how did you know that?" He asked, smiling.

"I ran into the other human the other day. She told me," Hunter told him. He saw his uncle's smile immediately drop. Hunter immediately shifted his gaze away from Belo's cold and dark eyes as they stared intensely down at him. Hunter nearly jumped as he felt his uncle's fingers tuck under his chin, tilting his head up, making Hunter look at him.

"Hunter, I need you to promise me that you won't see that human girl again." Hunter's eyes widen a little as he stared up at Belos confused.

"What? Why?" he asked.

"She is a bad influence, especially since she's hanging around with the owl lady, learning about wild magic," His uncle told him. "She's dangerous, so promise me that you will stay from her."

"I-...I promise, Emperor Belos," Hunter said, his eyes dropping a little as he looked down.

"Don't make that face, you know how I feel about that, Hunter."

"I'm sorry, Uncle," Hunter replied.

"You know I've been there before, the human realm, did I ever tell you that?" Below asked, immediately changing the subject. Hunter looked back at him, and shook head. Belos had a soft smile on his face.

"The trees they're green, nights are quiet," He told Hunter. "I look forward to seeing it again." Then he turned Hunter as he walked down the stairs with him. "Were you spying on me just to hear these boring stories?"

"The operation at the knee, why did you switch me out with Kikimora?" Hunter questioned. Belos smiled.

"Everyone has a use, Hunter. Kikimora has her intricate little plans, the scouts carry out orders, and you, well..." He wrapped his arm around Hunter, placing his hand on Hunter's shoulder as they continued walking down the stairs. "The Titan has BIG plans for you and it would be such a hassle to try and find an replacement." Hunter's eyes widened. He was going to be replaced? No! He worked so hard to get where he was! If he was replaced then what use would he be? He wouldn't be able to help his Uncle.

"So right now you can be useful by staying "safe" here in the castle," Belos told him as he led Hunter out.

"If this is punishment for failing my last mission, I swear that I can do better!" Hunter insisted.

"Good night, Hunter," Belos smiled, closing the door.

Hunter stood in front of the door for a minute, before making his decision. He was going to help his uncle, no matter what happens. He had to prove that he wasn't a failure...not again.

Hunter turned around and ran, heading straight to his room and dropped off Lil' rascal. The little bird made a confused chirp as it looked at Hunter.

"I'll be back," Hunter told the cardinal palisman. "Just STAY here and don't be seen. I have to do this on my own."

As he turned around to leave, Hunter heard the small red bird began chirping frantically before he saw Lil' rascal beginning to fly straight towards him. Quickly, Hunter shut the door, before Lil' rascal could get out. It nearly broke his heart hearing the frantic and coming from the small bird as it heard it pecking and clawing the door.

Hunter shook his head, making up his mind and quickly grabbed a coven's scouts uniform as a disguise. So no one would recognize him, since his own had been eaten and was getting the uniform and mask fixed and replaced. He put the scout's clothes and cloak on and left the castle, heading to the Knee.

Back at the owl, Amity was prepping and fortifying the security of the house. She walked past the window, seeing Hooty outside.

"Hooty, what's your status?" Amity asked.

"The perimeter is secure nothing's getting past me!" The owl beast told her as he broke the window, coming in.

"Good! Clean up that mess," Amity smiled.

"Ma'am!" Booty saluted. He sweeped the broken glass aside, using his neck. Amity walked into the living room to see Willow coming in and placed some groceries on the table.

"Willow have you gathered the supplies?" Amity asked.

"Yes! We're ready to attack this at all fronts!" Willow told her.

"Excellent!" Amity smiled. A small white car walked over to her. Amity bent down petting the cat. "Aw, Ghost, did you help, too? Who's a good palisman! Great, now all we is-"

"Rain? Beach wave?" Gus suggested as he and King walked up behind the two girls.

"Something called "Lo-fi beats to study and relax to." We've got it all!" King shouted.

"Eda was rummaging through her basement and gave us these soothing human noises!" Gus explain.

"That's, great," Amity replied. "Wait, Eda's still here? Eda you're supposed to be helping Hooty build up our defenses." Then she heard Eda scream.

Amity walked into a room to see, Eda screaming loudly at nothing, while Azara and John watched in amusement. "Whoo! Don't mind me, I'm just learning how to turn into Harpy Eda on demand. According to this human workout, you just got to scream a lot until you forced your inner beast out." Eda said.

"Eda, this is a cartoon," Azara told her. "Of course, it's not going to work."

"Gee, you just love to suck the fun out of everything, do ya kid?" Eda teased.

"This looks ancient," Amity replied picking up the tape.

"What? No! You're telling me-Thirty years old? I remember seeing this in theaters," Era frowned.

"Yes, you're old. Who cares? We have a crisis on our hands!" Amity exclaimed.

"Chill bossy boots. Everything's fine," Era reassured her. Amity gestured Eda to follow her, along with Azara and John as she walked them to Luz's room, opening the door.

"Does THIS seem fine to you?!" Amity asked gesturing over to Luz.

"It's like I have snake for arms!" Luz exclaimed, as she wildly waved her arms in the air at nothing. Luz's hair was a mess and she was inside of a sleeping bag. Her nose was red and her eyes looked blood shot and tired. She was sick.

"Please, she just has the common mold," Eda explained. "it's harmless."

"But, she's a human," Amity said, worried. "We have no idea how this will affect her!"

"If I eat the portal key, would I return to the human realm?" Luz questioned. Azara's eyes widen.

"Luz, no!" she tried to stop her. Luckily, Amity made a small abomaton and it quickly took the key from Luz, walking away, and gave it to Amity.

"I am not giving this back until you are better, okay?" Amity told her. Luz whined and took out a small device that looked like a tomagachi and started to type something on it. Amity had one as well as it pinged. She looked at it seeing the strange emojis, not understanding them.

U R PRETTY...

"Uh, you got it!" Amity smiled and winked at Luz. Luz stared at her confused and disappointed as she closed the door.

"I got to admit, Amity, seeing you around more often is different, " Willow told her as Gus, King and her approached the them.

"I know but I was taught to see every situation as an opportunity," Amity told them. "And today I am going to show Luz that I am an awesome girlfriend!"

"Feels like is it a few months ago you almost got her dissected by your crazy principal," King pointed out.

"She did what now?" Azara asked, interested. Amity blushed and looked away.

"That was a few months ago," Gus added. Suddenly, everyone jumped as they heard Luz scream.

"AAH!" They quickly opened the door to see Luz frantically grabbing a pen and paper. "Luz!"

"Mouse! Uh, Philip's dairy entry!" Luz exclaimed, frantically. They saw the echo mouse projecting something on the wall, in black and white, like an movie from an old film reel. Azara a strange man dressed in weird clothes that looked like from the 16th century. His hair was tied up in a pony tail and had two long strands of hair hanging from his face.

"After five years, I have finally found it. A power source so potent it can pierce through realms, Titan's blood. There are old tales of lakes reflecting green trees and blue skies. The Titan's veins run through the land and many believe that these wild portals are created when a little of It's blood leaks into the water. That is how I came here, so that is the first place I shall look. I will journey back to Eclipse Lake."

"I have to go to Eclipse Lake!" Luz shouted as she finished the drawing the location down and quickly got up, practically jumping out the door. Willow and Gus quickly caught her, dragging Luz back inside the room, putting her back into the sleeping bag.

"Luz, no! You are not well!" Willow told her.

"She is shockingly strong!" Gus added.

"Alright, Luz. Me and King will get your Titan blood," Eda told her. "if you just calm down."

"Yes! Perfect chance to take our new powers for a test drive!" King cheered.

"You guys are the best!" Luz smiled. She handed Eda the paper, however it looked like it had some snot on it as well. Eda cringed in disgust and took it, holding the map in front of her, walking away.

"You might want to get that disinfected," Azara chuckled.

"I volunteer as well, as Luz's girlfriend, I must -" Amity immediately volunteered, following after Eda.

"I get, Boots. Just grab a coat," Eda told her.

"I'm coming too!" Azara replied.

"Well, if you're coming, you're going to have to wear boots. Where we are going is cold and I can't afford to have another sick kid on my hands," Era told her.

"Fine," Azara pouted but agreed.

"I'm coming as well!" John shouted. Azara frowned and shook her head.

"No, you're not. You're staying here," she told him. John whined.

"You're not the boss of me!" he complained. Azara smirked.

"Actually I am, since mom's not here," she reminded him. "Therefore, I am in charge of you." She approached him and bent down to his level. "And if YOU get into trouble, "I" get into trouble, and WE don't want that, do we now?" John pouted, crossing his arms, before sticking out his lips.

"Fine," he replied.

"I need you help look after Luz, okay?" Azara smiled. John nodded his head, understanding.

"Willow, Goops, watch after Luz," Eda told the two. "She thinks she has snakes for arms." Willow and Gus looked back at Luz who had her arms in the air before she noticed them and hissed.

High above, on a snowy mountain, Kikimora and the coven scouts were digging around outside in the ruins of an abandoned mine.

"Dig faster, scouts!" Kikimora ordered.

"Kikimora, these tunnels are unstable, maybe we should slow down?" One of the scouts suggested.

"Not now, captain. This could be my last chance to show Belos what I can do! And I just know that brat golden guard will try to spoil it!" Kikimora said. "Hey Steve! Jump over that chasm before I throw you into it!"

"She's getting so paranoid," the captain shook her head.

Not too far off, from the scouts, Hunter was hiding behind a tree as he watched them. He leaned back against the tree and pulled back the hood his cloak, only to be startled as he saw the cardinal palisman right there next to him.

"Why do keep following me?!" Hunter hissed. "How did you even get out!?"

I'm.....h#r% to h#lp! Lil rascal chirped. Hunter frowned as he looked at the bird.

"I don't speak palisman," He replied then continued to explain his plan to the bird. Lil rascal was nodding his head the entire time, listening.

"Here's the plan, I slip in with this disguise, I find the Titan blood before Kiki, I give it to Belos. Boom! I'm useful again!" Hunter smiled. It suddenly dropped as Hunter heard one of the abomatons fired in his direction. He and Lil rascal quickly ducked and took cover as the blast exploded the tree that they were hiding behind. Hunter gulped nervously and quietly crawled way before the scouts noticed him. That blast almost blew his head off!

"Ma'am, is everything alright?!" The captain asked. Kikimora's eyes narrowed with a dark glare.

"I just thought I heard an annoying voice!" She hissed.

"Uh, another way in! We'll find another way in!" Hunter stammered, nervously. He ran got up and ran away while Lil rascal rode on top of his head. Lil rascal 's eyes widened as it sensed something nearby and happily chirped.

Hunt*& Th%$ #ay!

Hunter stopped and saw the cardinal land on a branch in a tree and walked over. His eyes widen in surprise to see Eda, King and Amity, approaching.

"The owl lady and her dog and is that the youngest Blight?" He questioned to himself. Then his eyes noticed a familiar pair of green eyes as he saw Azara walking with them as well. Hunter's eyes widen and he had almost fallen off from the steep slope, slipping on a small patch of ice, as soon as he saw her. He nearly lost his breath and felt his cheeks burn as he felt strange feeling in his chest. Hunter's heart began to beat faster, watching Azara as she and the others got closer. Her again!?

"This place is crawling with tools! What gives?!" King asked.

"Titan blood is the most powerful source of magic on the Isles. I'm not surprised Belos wants it too," Eda explained.

"Well, we can't afford to mess this up," Amity said. "Luz is counting on me! I mean, us!" She blushed.

"Well, as soon as we find this Titan's blood the sooner I can get out of these boots!" Azara complained. She was shaking her feet as she walked along side them. Eda and King laughed.

"She's like a small cat!" Eda chuckled. Azara frowned, as her cheeks turned red, embarrassed.

"I heard that!" she yelled out.

"Alright, new plan," Hunter smiled. "They can lead us to the Titan blood."

Lil rascal stared at Hunter for a minute before he lunged out and pulled on Hunter's strand of hair.

I'm doing Th&$ for you# #wn &ood!

"Hey! Hey! AH!" Hunter screamed and he lost his balance falling right in front of the group. He groaned as he sat up. That little sh-

"A coven scout!" Amity exclaimed. Hunter's eyes widen underneath the mask as he looked up at the group. Eda and Amity had their staffs ready and pointed at him.

"Uh, yes, I am but a humble scout and I surrender," Hunter surrendered holding his hands up. Azara's eyes widen, recognizing the voice.

"Heh, that was easy!" King smiled. Eda narrowed her eyes at the strange scout in front of them.

"Not so fast, King. Don't you recognize that annoying voice?" She asked.

"Why does everyone say that?" Hunter replied, sadly. He quickly took off, running away, trying to escape.

"Don't let him get away!" Eda shouted. Amity made some abomaton goo fly out of her flask with a wave of her finger. It shot out, wrapping around Hunter, knocking him off of his feet, and he flipped over, falling down to the ground. His mask had fallen off, as well, revealing his face. The group walked up, looking down at him.

"This is none other than-"

"Hello, Hunter!" Azara smirked.

"Wait, you know him?!" Eda asked, confused.

"Yeah, he's the guy I've been telling you guys about." Azara told them.

"Well, did you know that he's Belos right hand man?" Eda frowned. "I thought I told you to stay away from them!"

Azara smiled sheepishly, shrugging her hands.

"The golden guard!" Amity gasped. "He is a lot scrawnier than I've imagined." King laughed.

Hunter growled and glared up at them.

"Did I do it? Did I go into harpy mood?" Eda asked, excitedly, busting through a wall of ice.

"No, you just screamed "Hoot!" and ran head first into a wall of ice," King told her as he walked into the mines from the hole Era had made, along with Amity, Hunter and Azara, "It was pretty funny actually."

"You can put down your staff, I won't run," Hunter said.

"Too bad, because I don't trust you," Amity answered, still pointing her staff at him.

"Huh? This stuff is old," Eda commented the old abandoned mining equipment that was left behind, lying about near them.

"Ancient witches used to mine the veins for titan blood-" Hunter tried to explain.

"They're not listening," Azara told him.

"Go on, fire it! Maybe the adrenaline will kick in and bam! Harpy Eda!" Eda insisted. King jumped on top of the mine drill, getting ready to activate it.

"Sounds perfectly safe!"

"Wait! Don't!-" Hunter tried to warn them. But, King had already activated the drill and it unleashed a blast of magic. It barely missed Eda and started to ricochet off the walls bouncing around wildly like a ping pong ball!

"This isn't a normal cave! These walls are made from the veins of the Titan any magic that you shoot will bounce right back at you!" Hunter shouted.

"Oh, you must be fun at parties," Eda teased. She turned back to King. "Hey, King How about you use your new power to echo-locate the lake?"

"Okay!" He jumped off the drill running to the tunnel in front of them. King opened his mouth and let out a sonic blast. There was silence, then King turned around to them, shrugging his hands.

"Nothing," he replied.

"These two are definitely going to get us caught," Hunter frowned.

"Us?" There is no us! Now, keep walking," Amity said.

As they started to head deeper into the mines, walking further in, Azara stopped when she heard a voice whisper in her ear.

Azura...

Azara eyes widened and she wildly began looking around.

"Who said that?" She asked.

"Who said what?" Amity asked. The others stopped, as well seeing Azara looking around at nothing. They stared with confused looks on their faces.

"We didn't say anything, kid." Eda told her. She frowned seeing the uneasy look on Azara's face. "Is there something wrong?"

Azara shook her head. "It must have been my imagination. Let's just hurry."

"Oh hey, look! People died here." King added. Everyone gasped as they saw a couple of skeletons lying on the ground.

"Okay, this is getting too creepy. Let's just find that Titan blood and get out of here." Amity said.

"Maybe, it's the lost souls of the witches who died here in the mines?" Eda joked. "And now they're angry that their tomb is being disturbed!"

"Eda! You're not helping!" Azara shouted. "I know that I heard someone! They said Azura..."

"Azura? You mean, the the good witch Azura?" King asked and chuckled. "But, she is just some storybook fantasy. She's not real!"

"I know what I heard..." Azara replied.

"Maybe, you're crazy," Hunter sneered and commented. Azara frowned, looking at him.

"Alright, let's just keep going," Amity told them. "Hearing voices is never really a good sign. Let's just find that Titan's blood then get out."

"You know, Luz told me about her trip to Latissa, where she met someone very interesting," Eda explained as they walked further into the mines. "A beat-up blond with no magical powers. She called him and these are her words, "A bad but sad boy," She snorted as she finished and chuckled. Hunter cheeks and ears turned red, blushing, embarrassed.

"If I ever see that human again," He muttered.

"Hey, watch it!" Amity warned him as she narrow her eyes.

"At least I'm not delusional to think that I can turn into a harpy!" Hunter retorted. Eda turned around and hissed.

"Hey, come on, give it a rest, you two!" King said, although he looked amused at the fight between.

"Yeah, listen to your rat," Hunter replied.

"Whee!" King screeched angrily and jumped off of Eda, pulling on Hunter's hair.

Suddenly, Amity shushed them telling to be quiet. She motioned them to take cover and they did. Everyone saw Kikimora, along with two abomatons and two coven scouts had made their way into the mines, too.

"Why are we stopping?" Kikimora demanded. "Is it the golden guard?!"

"No, ma'am, this is a dangerous area," the captain told her. "We need to move carefully."

"Careful takes too long! My butt is on line!" Kikimora shouted. "And so help me Titan, if you ruin this, I will throw you off of the peak of the tallest knee with a smile!"

"She definitely has issues," Azara cringed.

"That poor girl is going through something," Eda commented.

"She's also blocking the path to Eclipse Lake," Amity added and pointed ahead.

"We should create a distraction," Hunter replied.

"We should create a distraction!" Eda shouted. "You kids wait for my signal!" She and king jumped over the edge, getting into place to create a plan.

"Ha, that was easy! When they're caught, you two and I can take the Titan blood for ourselves," Hunter said as he leaned against an old mining machine.

"Stop talking like we're a team!" Amity shouted.

"Why not just quit the emperor's coven and come with us?" Azara asked. Hunter's and Amity's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you kidding me?" Amity asked in disbelief. Hunter chuckled and sneered.

"That's an attempting offer, but no thanks," he replied.

"Better than being miserable." Azara commented.

"I never said anything about being miserable," Hunter frowned, looking away from her.

"But you are, aren't you?" Azara asked. "Why can't you just admit that you need help?"

"I..Don't..Need..Help," Hunter replied, coldly, as he narrowed his eyes at Azara. She sighed.

"Everyone needs help every once in awhile," Azara told him. Amity stared at the two in silence with a disbelief look on her face.

"This is crazy," Amity said, shaking her head. "I am not working with the emperor's coven just because you two have a crush on each other."

"WE DON'T HAVE A CRUSH ON EACH OTHER!" Hunter and Azara yelled at the same time. The two blinked and looked at each other.

"But we might as well work together," Hunter replied. "The owl lady and her pet have nothing at stake unlike us."

"You have no idea what you're talking-" Amity's tomagatchi bleeped in her coat pocket, interrupting her. "I was going to say, you have no-" It bleeped again. Hunter and Azara stared at her, blinking and raised their eyes staring into the witch's pocket. Amity huffed and turned around, her back facing them, and pulled out the device. Azara walked closer peeking over Amity's shoulder. She saw strange emojis on the screen but couldn't understand them. She was never really any good with that kind of stuff, it was from confusing.

"Oof, that doesn't look good," Hunter replied reading over Amity's shoulder. Amity jumped as she saw Hunter and and Azara behind her. She glared at Hunter.

"Stay back!" She demanded. He stepped away as she wanted. Amity frowned, wondering what he had meant. "But, what doesn't look good?"

"Seems clear to me, come back with results or else....you can figure out the rest," he told her.

"That doesn't sound right," Azara replied. "That doesn't sound like something Luz would do."

"No, Luz wouldn't make that kind of threat." Amity agreed, shaking her head. "I'm an awesome girlfriend!"

"Has she told you that?" Hunter asked. "We have a lot in common, Blight. We both trying to show what we can bring to the table. And we can't fail cause there's nothing worse than disappointing someone who thinks you are special." he finished. Azara stared at him, silently.

Amity bit her lip and looked down, with an uncertain look on her face.

Suddenly, a blast of purple magic bounced near Kikimora and the scouts. The abomatons deployed a shield to protect them.

"Why didn't you wait for our signal?!" Eda called out as she and King, ran to catch up with Hunter, Amity and Azara, heading straight into the tunnel ahead of them to Eclipse Lake.

"We don't have time to play around! We are getting that titan blood!" Amity shouted.

As they ran, Amity's tomagachi had fallen out from her pocket and landed on the ground. Kikimora spotted it and picked it up, inspecting the device with a crazed look in her eyes.

AS the group walked down the tunnel, the cardinal palisman had been following them the entire time, unnoticed by them. Lil rascal landed on Hunter's shoulder and made a small chirp.

"Hey, find a different perch, bird," Hunter replied, shrugging his shoulder. Lil rascal flew off of him. At the end of the tunnel, everyone walked out to see some strange dried up crystallized dark blue liquid surrounding all over the room.

"Is this titan's blood?" Eda asked.

"But, Eclipse Lake is farther ahead," Amity said, confused, checking the map again.

"Who cares!? We did it!" King shouted. Eda and King began to approach it.

"STOP!" Hunter shouted. "That's fools blood. Don't touch it!"

"Oh, so you can keep it all for yourself?" Eda smirked. "Pfft! Hard pass!" She slammed the end of her staff into the crystal. It cracked and suddenly the ground began to shake beneath them, before ripping open giving away under their feet. Eda and King fell into the huge chasm below.

"No!" Amity and Azara cried out. Amity was about to hop onto her staff to go after them but Hunter stopped her.

"Wait! Take me with you!" he shouted.

"Yoo hoo! Golden guard!" The three heard Kikimora call out, getting closer to them.

"Can you at least untie me so I can escape?!" Hunter insisted. "Please, I don't want to be replaced."

"Fine!" Amity groaned. She waved her finger and released the goo from Hunter, freeing him. Hunter stretched his arm as she glanced behind her, seeing the shadows getting closer. "So, where will you go now?"

"Now..." Hunter sweeped his leg and knocked Amity and Azara off of their feet, knocking to the ground. He ran and hopped into a mine cart and wheeled off. "I get to Eclipse Lake before anyone! BYEEEE!"

"That little-!" Azara growled as she got up.

"That jerk!" Amity shouted, angry as well. Just as the two were about to get up, a spear pointed at their faces. The two girls froze as they saw Kikimora and the coven scouts in front of them.

"Would you look at this, captain?" Kikimora said "We find our little fire starter." Then she noticed Azara, and glared at her. "YOU! You will pay for blinding me!"

"Well, you shouldn't have walked so blindly to my trap," Azara scoffed. "Some coven scout leader you are."

"Silence!" Kikimora shrieked angrily. The abomatons aimed their cannons at Azara, ready to fire. Azara's widened and she gulped. She stared at the end of the cannon, glaring up at Kikimora. "But, after a deal with another little pest. Then I'll deal with YOU!" The abomatons lowered their arms. Azara felt a sudden relief rush over her as they did.

"So, the golden guard is also looking for titan's blood and he took off to Eclipse Lake," Kikimora said. "I knew it! That little snake is always making me look bad. Well, now I can get my revenge!"

"Ma'am, what about the Titan blood?" The captain asked.

"Oh, yes, I'll get that too," Kikimora replied. "This is going to be a good day!"

"What should we do with these two?" The captain asked.

"Oh, I don't care," Kikimora replied. The two abomatons transformed into carts and she rode in one, as well as the other scouts as they went after Hunter. The captain aimed her spear at Amity and Azara.

"So, did you come with anyone else or...Ugh! This is boring!" she picked up Amity and tossed her into the cavern.

"Amity!" Azara cried out. She felt the captain push her as well as she kicked Azara into the hole. Amity and Azara screamed as they fell down into the dark depths. Suddenly, several hands grabbed the two girls, catching them. Eda and King pulled them up as they hang on tightly onto Owlbert. Amity quickly grabbed onto the tomagachi, catching it, just before it fell as well.

"Guys, you're okay!" Amity said in relief.

"Just barely," Era told her. "Owlbert's knocked out so we can't fly."

"I'm just like throwing it out there, but, this would be a great time to bring out harpy Eda!" King said.

"I don't know how! I tried yelling at it, scaring it-" Everyone gasped as they saw Owlbert was starting to crack.

"Did you ever think about talking to it?" King asked.

"Ha! I-I guess I didn't, but it's a wild animal," Eda said unsure.

"You thought I was a wild animal, once," King commented.

"Okay, I'll try. Just give me a second," Eda agreed. "What?! You want to make a deal? I-I don't know if I can." Owl was beginning to crack more as a large crack appeared on it's head. "Okay, okay, I'll do it! Just change NOW!" Her eyes turned black and golden irises appeared.

"Haha! Yes!" Eda cheered as she flew out of the pit in her Harpy form, carrying Amity, King, and Azara.

"What did you promise to do?" Azara asked.

"I don't want to talk about it," Eda told her.

"I can't wait to see a real life mine cart chase!" King exclaimed, excitedly.

As they reached the end of the mine tunnel, everyone had saw that Kikimora and the other scouts had gone off the rails and crashed.

"Ooh..." Everyone cringed.

"I guess mine cart chases are a lot more dangerous than videogames make them seem." King commented.

"There it is!" Amity pointed out.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed Eda as she was caught by an abomaton. The captain of the coven scouts got up.

"I don't know who you freaks are, but that blood belongs to Kikimora!" she yelled. The abomaton slammed Eda to the ground with the others.

"Get to the lake!" Eda shouted, telling them to go on. "I'll take care of-" The abomaton pulled Eda away from them and slammed her into the wall.

"Eda!" King cried out in worry. Azara grabbed him and ran after Amity. The captain of the scouts threw a spear at them but Eda caught it and snapped it with her hand, breaking it in half. She turned to the captain and smirked.

"Alright owl beast, let's see what we can do!" Eda flew up high into the air and began spinning around as she corkscrew straight towards the captain.

Azara caught up to Amity and looked ahead to see a large crater of what appeared to be a pool in front of her. However, it was dried up and there was no Titan's blood. The trees that surround the pit were dried up as well as roots extended all over the area. She froze as she saw Hunter, desperately digging in the dirt.

"Don't worry, I won't pick a fight," He told them. "There's no titan blood."

"Then why are you digging?" Amity asked. Azara eyes widened as she saw Hunter turned around. His eyes looked a little off and a little crazed. Great, she was dealing with a crazy person. This guy was literally digging his own grave.

"It's simple really. Belos needs Titan's blood, to make a new portal key. Can't get to the human realm without it," Hunter explained.

"There's blood in the key?" Amity questioned. Azara's eyes widened in surprise. This trip had been for nothing! The key had Titan's blood all along...and it was the one thing that Emperor Belos needed. It can't fall into his hands!

She frowned, staring at Hunter, concerned.

"Since, I failed my last mission, I thought "Hey! A chance to make up for it!" But, I can't go back empty handed!" Hunter let out a hysterical laugh. "Not again. Long story short, this is my grave! Do you want me to make you one, too?"

"This is really bumming me out," King replied.

"That's just life, rat. Everyone has a use and if you don't-Pfft! Bye-bye! Your friend gets it!" Hunter said.

"What's he talking about?" King asked confused.

"Luz has been sending me these strange human codes. I don't understand all of them, but this one seems pretty clear," Amity explained and showed King the emojis. "Come back with results or we're done." King frowned until he saw something strange about the emoji's. He turned the device sideways and the emojis appeared to spell out words. Amity's eyes widened surprise.

"U ARE RAD," She read. "FOOLS BLOOD BAD. U OKAY. COME HOME."

Amity laughed and smiled overjoyed and happy. "Of course! This is Luz we're talking about!"

Suddenly, the three heard frantic chirping and turned their heads back to see Lil rascal trying to pull Hunter out of the hole that he had dug. He swatted the bird away from him.

"Hey, go find a better witch to be with!" He groaned, falling back into the dirt face first and shoveled some more on top of his head.

"We need to help him," Azara told King and Amity. King frowned.

"I don't think that he's your type," he replied. Azara blushed a little.

"I don't care, we still got to try and help him," she insisted. "You told me how your parents treated you. You and him have the same experiences, maybe you can get through to him." Amity nodded, understanding. She knew how he felt. This was a chance to help him. Amity and Azara walked over as they approached Hunter. Amity bent down to Hunter and Lil Rascal landed on her shoulder.

"You know, you were right. We do have a lot in common. I grew up thinking that everything was an opportunity to justify existing. But, there are people out there who won't make you feel worthless. You just got to let yourself meet them." Amity smiled and held her hand out to him.

Hunter opened his eyes and looked up at her then turned his attention towards Azara. He saw that her eyes were pleading at him to take it.

"We want to help you Hunter," she told him softly. "Come with us."

Hunter's felt his chest began to grow warm as he heart began to beat faster at the sound of her voice. It relax him, made him feel safe. Just as Hunter was about to get up, something shined in Hunter's eyes. He gasped a little and his eyes widen as he slowly got up.

"What are you?" Amity questioned before glancing down to where Hunter was looking at. The key!

Hunter lunged at her, and Amity quickly rolled out of the way. He quickly turned back towards her, with a desperate look in his eyes.

"Oh, come on!" Amity complained. "Being nice usually works for Luz!"

"Hunter, please don't do this!" Azara cried out. But, Hunter ignored her and ran towards Amity. King quickly jumped in front of her.

"Weh!" King shouted unleashing a sonic wave.

Hunter's eyes widened as it came closer. Lil rascal quickly jumped in front of him, reflecting the blast. Hunter grabbed the staff but Amity shot out some abomination too at him, wrapping around Hunter's body. Hunter struggled to get it off when suddenly he teleported out of the binding then started to teleport uncontrollably a little unleashing a yellow burst of energy.

"The staffs are weird," Hunter frowned looking at the staff. Hunter teleported again as Amity shot an abomination goo at him again to catch him. Now high in the air, Hunter aimed the staff down at them and unleashed several burst of yellow magic, and it began to bounce wildly all over the room. Azara quickly made a ice pillar as she made a spell circle with her finger just before a ball of magic hit her.

Hunter teleported next to Amity and she tried to block his attacks as he teleported wildly around her, trying to break through her shield. As he stopped in front of her, King tried to jump at him and knocked Hunter to the ground. Amity created a giant bubble with the goo encasing Hunter inside of it. She quickly got on her staff and grabbed King, heading towards Azara.

"We are leaving!" she shouted, getting ready to grab her. Azara shook her head.

"Not without Hunter!" she shouted.

"We HAVE to go! NOW!" Amity urged her, grabbing her hand. "Forget him!"

"No!" Azara argued, pulling back. "I won't turn my back on people who need my help!" Amity's eyes widened in shock.

Suddenly, the abomination cage exploded and a giant hand made out of earth smacked right into Amity, knocking her off of her staff.

"Amity!" Azara cried out trying to reach her but Hunter sent another ball of magic at her, stopping Azara in her tracks. King had managed to land safely but his horns were embedded deep in some tree's roots. Amity used her goo to make a slide and slide down to the ground landing on her feet. Then Hunter quickly appeared beside her. Amity's eyes widened.

"You really want to help then gimme that key!" Hunter shouted. He used the staff to rip the necklace off of Amity's neck and Amity quickly caught it before he could get it. She quickly made a sharp weapon and aimed it directly under Hunter's neck as he pinned her hand with his staff, glaring up at him. Hunter panted completely tired and exhausted and sweat dropping from his face.

"Listen your strong and I'm tired. If this continues, you'll probably escape. But here's the thing: we know where to find you and your human." Amity gasped. "So just, hand over the key."

"Fine," Amity said. "Just stay away from Luz." She let go of the key and Hunter took it from her.

"I appreciate it," He told her. "I, uh, mean that, too." Just before he was about to take off with Lil rascal, Azara stopped him. She stepped in front of Amity, clasping her hands together.

"Hunter, wait. Just think for a a minute," She tried to reason with him. "You don't want to do this. You know that this is not right. I know that your not happy there. You know that your not happy there. So, come with us..."

Hunter turned and stared at her for a minute, silently.

"Can you really turn your back on your own family?" Hunter asked. Azara's eyes widened. Hunter took off flying away with Lil rascal.

"Hunter! Stop!" She cried out. But, he was already gone.

"HaHa! Yes! I heard fighting!" Eda smiled as she flew in. "I'm ready to go! Where's the nerd?" She stopped when she saw everyone.

"Weeh!" King whined as he tried to pull his horns out from the tree root that he was still stuck upside down on. Amity looked like she had made the worst decision in her life. Azara was still standing where she was, frozen. Tears were slowly beginning to fall from her eyes as they run down her cheeks.

"Oh, dang it." Eda sighed.

Back at the owl house, in Luz's room, Luz gasped and suddenly shot up with a surprised look on her face. "Huh?! I feel great!" Luz exclaimed before she realized that she had mushrooms growing on her head. "I wonder if this is permanent?"

"I got to find everyone!" She yelled. She quickly got up, the mushrooms fell off from her head as she did, and she quickly ran into the hall. Luz bumped into Willow who was carrying to bowl of soup, knocking it out of her hands, along with Gus. Hooty caught it with his head. "Have the others returned?"

"Ow, ow ,ow! Just get an elixir!" Luz gasped as she heard Eda shout and ran into the living room . She saw King and Azara trying to pull on her wing go get her inside, but she was stuck at the door. "I got into harpy mode and now I can't get out."

"She also ate like nine voles on the way home?" King added.

"Hey, I had to keep up my end of the bargain," Eda said.

"Amity!" Luz ran over to her, knocking her down, and hugged her tightly. She smiled. "I'm so glad my awesome girlfriend is okay!"

"Me, too!" Amity smiled back.

"No king hug? What is this?!" King complained. "You are a swindler and a thief!"

"Come here, buddy!" Luz rushed towards him and swooped King up in her arms hugging him.

"I regret this!" King shouted. Eda leaned in closer to Amity.

"You want to break the news or should I?" she asked.

"News?" Amity asked, confused.

"The empty lake, the golden guard, losing the portal key?" Eda told her. "Today was an disaster."

"Actually, we might be okay." Amity said, as she showed Eda the Titan's blood that was stained on her glove.

"How did you get the Titan's blood?" Azara asked, surprised.

"I broke the key." Amity told her.

Nighttime was beginning to fall, and stars were shining in the sky. Hunter stared at the key in his hand as he held it in front of him. He had an unsure and confused look on his face. He felt terrible and guilty about taking the key. Then Lil rascal landed on his hand and happily chirped at him.

"Oh, hey. You stuck with me the whole time, huh, bird?" Hunter asked. Lil rascal made another happy chirp.

Orion.

Hunter's eyes widened in surprise. He had understood what Lil rascal had said! He can understand him!

"I think I understood that!" He smiled. "Is that your name? Can you say it again?"

My name is Orion, Hunter.

"Weird." Hunter chuckled. He thought it was a funny name to name a bird after a star constellation. But, it did seem to suit him. Hunter's life had been brighter since the little bird came into his life, even leading him to Azara. Hunter's eyes widen as her name came into his mind.

It didn't matter. She must hate him now. He quickly shook it off and looked back at Lil rascal.

"Can you say other things?"

Hunter continued on ahead, heading to the castle, as Lil rascal continued to chirp talking to him.

[thetierdslytherin]

The Avatar’s sister

Bolin x reader(korra’s sister)

2k words and it’s kinda poorly edited 

a/n there’s some cuss words and some violence?

“We were just looking for the bathroom and we got lost!”

“Ah the old I had to pee excuse you know i'm sick and tired…” I don’t catch the rest of what he's saying because I see a teenage boy dressed in pro bending gear or as I like to call him our way out of this situation. I motion for him to come over praying to the spirits that he can read the room.

          “There you two are, I've been looking everywhere for you two! It's alright Toza there with me” Up close I can see that it's actually Bolin the earth bender for the fire ferrets. Spirits can my day get any better. I've seen a few pro bending matches before and listened to even more. One of the few perks of being the avatar’s sister. While she spends her days training on air temple island I spend my days wandering the city my favorite pastime being watching pro bending matches.Spirits he looks even better up close 

          “Yeah were with him” I say flashing the man a million watt smile and he responds with 

           “so you see we’re together” Oh I like where this is going. Before I can respond Korra replies

            “well not together together” speak for yourself Korra. I'm more than happy to be together together with him. He starts to stammer embarrassed by Korra words so I try to save all of us 

            “You see Toza Bolin and I are together and my sister was just tagging along with us.” Please let this work, if not Tenzin is going to kill me for letting korra go out with me.

           “Ah I don't care I got work to do” the man begins to walk away and I pull the stammering duo out of the room before either of them could blow our cover. I turn around to see a blushing Bolin and a confused looking Korra, I really need to teach her how to pick up on social cues 

           “I’m y/n, a big fan of yours, so Bolin why don't you show the two of us around” I say while grabbing his bicep motioning for him to lead. Bolin showed us around for a while before leading us into an area overlooking the arena “So what do you think best seats in the house huh?” It really is you can see the whole arena from up here and it's much less crowded than the seats in the stadium plus there isn't a guy as easy on the eyes as Bolin down there. 

           “Oh absolutely the view just keeps getting better and better” it's not often that I get to meet people as just y/n, not the avatar's sister, or korra's younger sister. It's nice to be myself around someone knowing that they're not using me to get to the avatar. Besides from what I've seen Bolin is too sweet and innocent to do that anyways.

          “Unbelievable this place is even more amazing than I imagined” I let out a small chuckle at Korra's words. It's nice to see her getting excited at the smallest things, it shows me that she can still be a kid and not burdened by the weight of the world. It makes sneaking out and a possible chewing out from Tenzin worth it “Names Bolin by the way”

“Korra” “I know” they both look at me waiting for an explanation “well i'm just a huge fan of yours” I pause “well the fire ferrets in general” 

“Psst Bolin”

“Yeah” 

“I told you you have to stop bringing your crazy fangirls in here before the matches get them out of here” His older brother Mako whispers this to him Korra and I both hear due to the fact that they suck at whispering. It almost hurts my feelings that we aren't the only ones he brought back here but then again he's not the first guy i've flirted with here. Though he is the first guy i've flirted with that seems so...innocent.

          “Aw c'mon Mako I kinda promised them that they could stay but I got a good feeling about them there's something special about the two of them. I know it” Well he's half right there. I wonder why he lied to his brother so we could stay. He never promised us we could stay back here. Some part of me hopes it's because he's interested in me too. “Come here I want you to meet my brother Mako” he says eagerly pulling me towards him 

          “Mako! Wow I heard you play on the radio” oh boy she's totally fangirling. I personally don’t see what's so interesting about Mako or his brooding douchebag act “cmon Bolin we’re up” Mako says completely ignoring Korra walking past her, see brooding douchebag. Korra not taking the hint turns to Bolin “or I could meet him later”

           “yeah he gets real focused before a match anyways wish me luck” his comment makes me laugh. Something about the positive energy he radiates is infectious. He jogs away, I yell “good luck Bolin” followed by “good luck knock em out” from Korra 

         “So do i have to be the one to say mako is bad news or i have to let you figure it out yourself” I cross my arms giving her my best ‘i know better than you’ look. While Korra may be the older sister, only by 11 months might I add, she doesn't act it. I blame all of her teachers and instructors for never letting her live when she was younger. Now that she's basically an adult seeing the world for the first time she's very sheltered.

          “He is not bad news y/n you heard bolin he was just focused for the match! Besides, did you see him?” let her figure it out for herself it is.

          “Yes and i also saw you drooling at him” I tease 

          “Oh please like you were any better with Bolin you were practically throwing yourself at him” these are the best moments when we can just goof off.

“First off I do not throw myself at anyone, he's just sweet and insanely hot. Secondly which one of us actually has experience with boys” she opens her mouth to defend herself before quickly shutting it. Got her there. “Exactly now pay attention the match is starting” We both turn and lean on the balcony watching the start of the match.

           “The rookie ferrets came out of nowhere and made it further than anyone expected this season but tonight they face their toughest test yet folks” we watch the two teams trading back and forth blows until the fire ferrets ultimately win with Mako knocking all 3 members of the opposing team into the water. I turn to Korra to ask how her first ever pro bending match was but stopping when I see her and Mako holding each other's gazes.

          “Yes! Whoo did you see that one more win and were in the championship tournament!” Bolin yells running into the room skidding to a halt in front of me “so what'd you think y/n?” he looks down at me trying to conceal his excitement waiting for me to answer him looking happier than i've ever seen him-if that's possible. 

           “You guys were amazing Bolin!” I practically yell pulling him into a quick hug.

           “Bolins got some moves huh?” 

          “You could say that again” Before Bolin can say that again Korra grabs him by his shirt pulling him towards her 

          “That was amazing” then korra promlety pushed him away as Mako and Hasook approach arguing about the last match

          “You did more harm than good out there, you almost cost us the match!”

          “We won didn't we?”

          “Barely” 

          “Get off my case pal” Hasook yells before storming out of the room.This doesn't put a damper on korra's mood though as she addresses Mako “You guys were amazing out there especially you mr hat trick” Mako yet again walks right past her him barely paying her any attention to her half heartly saying “oh your still here”

          “What gives you the right to be such an ass mr hat trick?” I say coming to my sister's defence. Pro bender or not it doesn't give him the right to be a jerk. I even bet I could beat him sparring. He's not even good enough to be this much of a jerk.

          “Your good do you think you could show me some tricks?” no no no korra that wasn't the deal I sneak you out we watch one pro bending match and we go back to air temple island.

          “Yeah sure absolutely i'm just not sure how my earth bending might translate to your water bending but we'll figure it out” This cant get any worse if she lets them know she's the avatar we're toast. No ones supposed to know the avatars in republic city

          “Won't be a problem-”

          “korra's right it won't be a problem because we really have to go-” 

           “because i'm an earth bender” great this is j ust great.

          “Im sorry no no i didn't mean to assume ya know cause i was just figuring since well with your water tribe getup that you two were well water bender” 

          “Korras just messing with you of course were both water-” 

          “You're right, I'm a water bender too and fire bender” social. Cues. Korra. 

         “Hmm hmm i'm very confused right now” Bolin 

         “Your the avatar and i'm an idiot” Mako 

         “Both are true” Korra. I throw myself into the nearest chair running my hands through my y/h/c hair.I wonder if I beg for forgiveness if Tenzin will still ground us for the rest of forever 

          “I need a drink” I say, completely ignoring Bolin’s freak out about Korra being the avatar I've heard it all before. Just like that my chances with Bolin have gone out the window no one has ever liked me more than my sister she's the avatar I can't compete with that .I never will be able to. 

          Nonetheless I follow the brothers into the training room and sit on the stairs looking as happy to be there as Mako does. I don't pay much attention to Bolin and Korra training “so mr hat trick is there any reason why you're so prickly or are you always like this?”

          He scoffs “no i just don’t appreciate the two of you showing up like that besides your sister is a piece of work”           “No kidding hat trick don't you know being the avatar comes with a hero complex?” Okay so he's not as bad as I thought.

          “Well it's getting late so i'm going to turn in but you kids have fun”

          “Speaking of Korra we really do need to be going” I speak in a tone to let her know it wasn't an option.I stand up brushing my water tribe robes off “it really was great seeing you Bolin but we have to go”

          “Sorry my sister is being such a wet blanke-” “now Korra” 

          “Hey um y/n could you hang back for a second” here it goes. Is your sister single? Can you set me up? 

          “What do you need Bolin?” 

         “You mean other than you in my life” we both cringe after he says that.

          “That has to be the worst pick up line i've ever heard” 

         He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly “heh yeah it wasn't really my A material but the real reason i wanted to talk to you was well i was mostly just wondering well we have a match next”

          “Bolin spit it out i'm sure it isn't that bad”

          “Do you want to come to our match tomorrow then get some food after” he looks at the ground playing with his fingers. Where was the confident Bolin I met earlier? 

          “Yes”

          “Well it was a stupid idea anyways I shoul- wait yes? Really! I uh I mean of course you would want to get food with me” maybe he's more insecure than I initially thought. But then again people do have layers.

       I kiss him on the cheek turning away from him and walking to the door so he couldn't see the blush on my face “I'll see you tomorrow Bolin”

[spectralscathath]

Fria's Day Out- RWBY drabble

Ruby spent all of volume 6 trekking across Mistral and nearly getting killed due to the stupid Relic of Knowledge, and now General Ironwood's trying to give it back to her? When there's a perfectly good Vault there?

Absolutely not.

(AKA this was not your best plan ever, Jimmy)

Ao3 link

"You're giving the lamp back to us?" Ruby asked, brows furrowing in confusion as James held out the relic. He thought it was a good idea, at least until the vault could be safely opened.

"Who better to safeguard it than the people who already protected it?"

Ruby reached out, hand resting on the relic, before she shoved it hard against his chest, looking aghast as she darted back like it had burned her.

"Are you crazy? That thing's a Grimm magnet, we nearly died, like-" she paused to count on her fingers, "three times?" She glanced at her teenage friends for clarification. "Three, was it three?"

"Manticores on the train, Apathy at the farms, Leviathan at Argus." Weiss rattled off, ignoring Winter's horrified gasp.

"And you want us to keep carrying it? We came here to throw it in the Vault in the first place!" Ruby stared at him like he was an idiot, and right now he was able to somewhat understand her reasoning.

Still, he pulled up some bluster. "Well, Fria's bedbound, so the Vault can't be opened right now. She's in no state for it."

"I mean- this is Atlas, right? Do you have hoverbeds? Wheels? You guys have invented the wheel, right? Just push her along, it can't be that dangerous."

"Well-" James started before Winter cut in.

"Actually, sir, it might be good for her to get out and about." Winter noted, face completely impassive as he beheld her treachery.

"She'd be remaining in the military base as well, Mr Ironwood!" Penny chirped cheerfully, oblivious to how he was beset on all sides by treason. "And we could set up a guard!"

"See?" Ruby squeaked determinedly. "I vote we throw that lamp from heck into the Vault and never look back!"

"We can't just wheel Fria to the vault," James rolled his eyes. "That's preposterous."

James pushed Fria's bed along, one of the wheels clicking on every rotation like a shopping trolley. "This is undignified."

"Oh, I'm having a great time, pet," Fria chuckled, a Barstucks takeaway cup held in her shaking hand. The concoction inside was some awful pink monstrosity that looked incredibly malevolent. "You ignore him, Winter, my son's just taking himself too seriously again."

"Mom, please." James groaned as Winter laughed, no restriction on the bell-like sound. Fria really brought down her guard.

"I can't believe you've got a mom, Mr Ironwood." Ruby skipped alongside them, holding the relic like it was about to jump up and bite her. James didn't know which of his scientists gave her the tongs but he was going to have a word with his R&D about loaning equipment for frivolous purposes. "I always thought you were raised by a pack of soldiers."

"You should have seen him at your age, he was a hellion," Fria gossiped with her, Winter's eyes sparkling as she hid her smile with a sip of coffee. "Running around Mantle and constantly getting into trouble, I think some of your old graffiti is still down there."

"Graffiti?" Ruby's eyes lit up with mischief. "But he's so serious!"

"I'm standing right here."

"Is that what he does now, walks around all serious?" Fria cackled. "Dear me, James, you haven't gotten boring, have you?"

"I'm afraid he has," Winter jumped in before he could defend himself, her tone dour and her twinkling eyes anything but. "It's quite a shame, from your stories he sounds like quite a rabble rouser."

"Oh he was!" Fria snorted gracelessly. "I could tell you stories- have I told you stories? I can't quite remember-" she frowned, James's gut twisting as the damnable memory loss wiped some of her spark.

"You have, Fria," Winter reached down and took Fria's hand, black gloves gentle as she clasped wizened fingers. "But I'd be happy to hear them again, if you like."

"Aren't you good?" Fria smiled again. "And you, Ruby, I swear, you Huntresses get younger every year."

"Oh, well, I'm just a prodigy," Ruby preened like a peacock under the praise. "I got into Beacon two years early."

"Really? My, that's impressive. Did the old man let you in himself?"

"Ozpin?" Guilt flashed over Ruby's face. James decided she should never play poker. "Uh- yeah, um, he did. It was cool."

"How is that old coot anyway? Still talking in riddles?" Fria asked as Ruby grew more and more uncomfortable, James keeping half an ear on the conversation as they reached the lift down to the Vault. He wheeled Fria onto the platform, shivering slightly at the chill in the air. The cold always gnawed at him even with extra coats on.

Ruby's babble broke off as the platform under their feet moved, bringing them down the passage before it opened into the cavern in the heart of Atlas, Ruby's eyes going wide with childlike wonder. "Wow…"

James felt a bit of pride at that. Atlas's Vault was very nice indeed. The geometric blocks floated in the air around them, icy blue flames flickering in torches as they descended towards the platform, a cavernous drop awaiting below. "Impressive, isn't it?"

"Yeah!" Ruby looked around, awestruck. "I never saw the one in Haven, Yang did- and she doesn't like talking about it aside from saying it was weird and there was a tree and a desert, but this is amazing! How are those blocks floating? Why is the fire blue?"

James opened his mouth to answer before realising he didn't have one, jaw clicking shut as he was left to shrug. "Dust?"

"Oh, not magic?" Ruby pouted for a moment before something shiny caught her attention. "That door is huge! What's it like inside, Yang said the Haven one led to a desert, how cool is that?"

"I don't know. I've never seen inside." He couldn't help be curious as well. "The Atlas vault hasn't been opened since Ozpin lifted the city into the sky, in a past life. It was before my time."

"I remember, I think." Fria piped up. "I was only a girl, but a floating city is rather spectacular."

"I can imagine." Winter mused. "Fria, would you like me to hold your Very Berry Hibiscus Coconut Milk Refresher with Extra Whip?" She said it with a straight face, because she was a stronger person than James could ever hope to be.

"Oh, yes, thank you. It's very nice," Fria handed it over, a quaver in her hands.

James raised a brow. "You need to hold her coffee?"

"Well, you'll have to help her up to the Vault, sir." Winter stated like it was obvious.

"Huh?"

"James, pet, did you think you were going to roll me up the stairs?" Fria laughed, tiredness beginning to steal across her eyes. They didn't have much time left before the excitement of the day turned to fatigue.

"What stairs, there's no stairs- oh my gosh there's stairs now!" Ruby squeaked excitedly as the staircase formed, practically bouncing in place. James sincerely hoped the relic clasped in her tongs didn't go flying. It would be such a hassle to get it back if she dropped it off the edge.

James hesitated. "Mom, are you sure?"

"I can't walk well, but if I'm going to open a Vault for the first time, I'd like to get up there myself." Fria stated with that rock-solid determination he'd seen a million times, dark blue eyes steady and firm, and that was that.

"Alright." He carefully, carefully helped her out of the hospital bed, struck by how small and frail she was now. He supported her with an arm under her shoulders, and wondered if she'd let him get away with carrying her up.

Fria's eyes glowed brilliant blue, azure flames springing to life for a moment as she formed a walking stick from thin air, gnarled wood and ice crystals melding together to perfectly fit her hand and height.

Seeing her perform magic never got old.

Fria rested some of her weight on the stick, most of her weight on James, her legs shaking as she set her jaw and started hobbling towards the Vault with him.

"Mom, are you sure?" He didn't want her to hurt herself.

"James, I'm feeble, not dead." She informed him briskly.

"Uh- if you want I can scatter you guys up?" Ruby offered, having gingerly shifted the relic into her actual hand, holding it at arm's length. "It's fun, like being in a tornado. And it'll be quicker?"

"I'm not sure about that-" James started, remembering the tournament footage of Ruby's semblance before Fria nodded eagerly.

"Well that sounds exciting, scatter away, dearie!"

"Mom, please-!" James suddenly found himself caught up in a swirl of red, shooting forward like a bullet from a gun and broken apart into pieces (he felt like it should have hurt but it didn't), before suddenly he was on his feet again, too fast for him to comprehend as rose petals floated in the air around him and Ruby collapsed to her knees.

"Wow, you are heavy, Mr Ironwood, what are you made of, metal?" She leaned against the golden metal of the Vault door. "Whoo- okay, I'm never picking you up again, no offence."

He dearly wanted to tell her the answer to her question was 'yes' and refrained, instead checking on Fria. "Mom, are you alright?"

She laughed, her hair a mess and her eyes bright. "That was fun!"

He sighed in relief. "I really think we should get this done sooner rather than later. I'm glad you're okay." She was in a very good state today, they'd waited for that, but he didn't know how long it would last. How long until she forgot where she was and who she was and who he was.

Fria nodded, leaning most of her weight against his side as her eyes blazed with fire, her hand shaking as she touched it to the Vault. The sharp lines of the overlapping rectangles began to glow pale white, the light racing up to the top of the door. The golden facets of the door began to drop, and a wave of roaring heat washed out over the three of them, bringing with it the smell of sulphur and brimstone.

Ruby coughed and covered her face, her nose already turning red. “For a Vault of Creation, I was expecting something- I dunno, more cheerful?”

Cheerful was not how he would describe the cavern within, thick streams of magma dripping from the walls and pooling around a slender path of rock that led to a pedestal, heatwaves shimmering in the very air. It was like the inside of a volcano, maybe it was one, and there above the pedestal, the relic of creation floated, a pearlescent white gem that had been sculpted into the handle of a paintbrush, golden filigree elaborately ensconcing the jewel as snow white threads formed the brush.

“Ruby, place the lamp in there and we’ll close it up.” He ordered, sweat forming on his brow.

“Right!” She ran in, careful to avoid the edges where molten rock bubbled hungrily, setting the lamp down in front of the pedestal and scattering out, her petals catching fire from the sheer heat in the air. James waited for her to pass them by, scooping up Fria as he walked down the stairs, eager to get away from the heat at his back.

“Are you okay?” He asked as he carried his mother back to the hospital bed, holding off on any feelings of joy at a task completed. Until the Vault door closed and Fria was back in the safety of her ward, there was still danger.

“Yes, James, I’m fine,” she smiled weakly at him, her eyes returned to the dark blue that was so similar to his own. She looked so drained, even that small bit of magic sapping her strength. “I’m just tired. Not as young as I used to be… the magic takes more of a toll now…”

“Well, rest up, alright?” He gently placed her down, tucking the quilt around her. “You did good, mom.”

“I did my job.” She stated, whispers threading through her voice and undercutting her surety. Because she was an Ironwood, much like himself, and they did their jobs no matter the cost on themselves. “But yes… I think I’ll rest a bit... Winter, will you keep my drink cool for me?”

“Of course.” Winter studied him. “Sir, shall I stay here until the Vault’s closed again?”

“No. I’ll guard it. You take my mother back to her room so she can rest.” He smiled at Winter, before he gave Fria a gentle hug, always careful with his right side. He didn’t think he’d see her again. The transfer of power had to be kept secure. This was already too much of a risk. “Thanks, mom.”

“I had fun,” Fria smiled as she nodded off, a large white Beowulf with cyan eyes forming from a glyph, grasping the hospital bed in its claws as Winter guided it to walk with her, escorting Fria to the lift out.

James watched her go, ready to wait for the vault door to close. He could still feel the heat from here. “Miss Rose, are you alright?”

“I’m good, in the red but good,” she sat on the ground, staring up at the Vault. “I know that I knew it was a paintbrush, but I was really expecting a spear, or a staff, yunno, something more impressive?”

“You don’t think painting’s impressive?” He chuckled slightly, choosing to return to somewhat of a good mood.

“That feels like a trap question.” Ruby eyed him suspiciously, her hands and belt looking empty without the relic she’d been guarding on the trip here.

“Fria paints.”

“Definitely a trap question.” She smiled a bit, and it reminded him of Summer. She really did look so much like her mother. “Your mom is cool.”

“I know she is.” He hoped she slept well, and could remember today. If she had happy memories, he’d rather she was lost in them, rather than anything else. “At least the relic’s safe now.”

“Yeah. It would’ve been really stupid to just carry it around in the open up here, I mean, it draws Grimm. Yeesh.” She looked up at the open Vault. “Well, at least now it’s locked away and no one can get to it. Ugh, could you imagine if I took you up on your offer?”

“... I'd rather not." He hoped he lived that particular idea down soon. It really wasn't his best.

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

A quick drabble about what would have happened if Ruby remembered The Entire Point of Volume 6. Toss Jinn into the Vault already, she'll live with it.

[cstormsinukagblog]

Thank you @ruddcatha​ for helping with the banner and thank you @neutronstarchild​ for helping with the title.

Happy birthday @lavendertwilight89​!!! I hope you enjoy the traditional Birthday Smut.

A/N I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters.

Please enjoy and be warned that this is definitely smut.

Read it on Ao3 here and on ffn here. If you enjoy it, feel free to buy me a ko-fi here.

She was listening intently to the radio. She knew she had almost zero chance at this silly drawing, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to hear them call her name. It had been a whim when she bought that silly ticket and put her name in a box. Sure, that $5 would have bought her a hot cup of coffee, and maybe even a danish; but she just wanted to take a chance. She had just as much a chance as anyone else, right? Well, probably not. She had seen several people buy a whole slew of tickets and put them in. She had promised herself if it was meant to be, one ticket was enough. Ok, so she had zero chance, and when they called someone else’s name, she’d go see Bankotsu and he would hold her and make her feel better.

“And the winner of the all expenses paid 3 day, 2 night, ski excursion to Club Med located in Hokkaido for 2 is… Higurashi Kagome!!!”

She felt her eyes go wide. She won! She actually won! She jumped off the bed, threw her hands in the air and let out a loud whooping, ‘WHOO HOO!’

She jumped up and down a few times, almost shouting, “I won!!!” Then, once she settled herself down a bit, she grabbed her jacket and keys, threw on her loafers and ran out the door. She had to go tell Bankotsu! He would be so excited! A weekend ski trip! She was out the door and in her car before she could catch her breath. She hoped he would be as excited as she was, she’d never won anything like this before.

She pulled up to his apartment and let herself in using the key he’d given her. She usually called or texted to let him know she was coming, but she was too excited about that! She wanted to surprise him!

Unfortunately, it seemed Bankotsu wasn't the only one who was getting a surprise.

She walked through his door and stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth agape and eyes wide. Her boyfriend was standing next to the couch as naked as the day he was born, fucking some woman with huge breasts and a black bob. She knew some sort of sound came out, but if you asked her, she wouldn’t be able to say what it was, nor did she think she could make it again. And just as the mystery sound left her, four eyes landed on her, as both Bankotsu and his lover looked at her like she was intruding. And sure, she probably was, but that didn't mean that this was okay.

She dragged her eyes off the woman whose breasts were still bouncing as Bankotsu had still managed to keep his rhythm. Once they met Bankotsu’s, all she saw was boredom.

“What are you doing here, Kagome?”

No shock, no apologies, nothing. Just a ‘what are you doing here’. As if she had inconvenienced him. With those words she finally closed her mouth and let out a growl. He was cheating on her and didn't even seem fazed by the fact he was caught. How long had he been cheating on her? Had he ever been faithful? She was furious. Her voice came out low and even she didn't recognize it.

“You know what, Bankotsu? We’re through. Lose my number.”

With that she stormed into his bedroom, grabbed the few belongings she kept there for when she spent the night and left, all before he had finished fucking the woman. Not that he made any move to stop, clearly he was too busy.

As she reached her car, the tears started pouring down. Had she thought she and Bankotsu were going to last forever? Probably not, but she did love him. At least she thought she had. Now she just felt angry and betrayed. And of course her best friend Sango was over Miroku’s. She hated bothering her there, but she needed to talk to someone. She drove over to the apartment and sat in her car sobbing for several minutes before she was able to calm herself down. She knew she looked a mess, but she really just didn't care. She climbed out of her car and went to the door, buzzing number 32. It took several minutes before a gruff and irritated voice came over the speaker.

“Who the hell is it?”

Her heart sank. She knew Inuyasha really didn't like her. He was Miroku’s best friend and roommate, and she had no idea why he seemed to hate her, but his absolute disdain for her was as clear as day, even though she always tried to be as polite to him as possible. She’d be lying if she denied the crush she had on him. She let out a small whimper and then pushed the talk button.

“Sorry to bother you, Yash. But I need to talk to Sango. Please?”

“She-she’s not here. Miroku took her out dancing or something. Are you okay?”

His voice was soft. Almost gentle. She stared at the speaker box like it could explain what the hell had just happened. She’d known Inuyasha for over 5 years, and she had never heard his voice sound that caring. Her silence must’ve gone on too long, because he spoke again.

“Kagome, are you hurt?”

This time, his voice didn't just sound caring. It almost sounded concerned. But why in all the heavens would he be concerned if a person he loathed entirely would be hurt. Well, that wasn't fair. He wasn't a terrible person, surely he didn't want her to be hurt. But it still didn't make sense. As she stood there with her brain short circuiting, she seemed to forget that he was talking to her. She had no idea how long she stood there before the door was practically ripped open and Inuyasha stood in the doorway staring at her.

Her eyes were wide, and she knew she looked like hell. But he wrapped his arm around her and led her upstairs to his apartment. Tears were streaming down her cheeks again, as his arm pulled her close and tucked her into his side. When they finally got upstairs, he deposited her on the sofa and came back a minute later with a glass of water.

“Kagome, are you hurt?”

Her eyes met his, and she realized he was kneeling on the floor in front of her. Why was he kneeling in front of her? Why did he come downstairs to get her? Why would he care about her sobbing in his lobby? Why in all the world was she so trapped in her own head?

“No, I’m not hurt. Sorry for bothering you.”

At her words, he seemed to release a breath. She had never been so confused. What in the hell was going on with this day?!

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

Inuyasha was sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone. He’d been enjoying the relaxing silence until that damned buzzer went off. Who the fuck would be coming over unannounced at 10 pm? Sure it was Friday, but it's not like he had that many actual friends, and Miroku always bragged about his dates with Sango on social media so no one would be stupid enough to just show up. He stood up and practically stormed over to the speaker on the wall.

“Who the hell is it?”

He waited for what seemed like way too fucking long for a response and was about to assume someone pushed the wrong fucking button when a tiny sniffle came through, followed by a sad voice that damn near broke his heart.

“Sorry to bother you, Yash. But I need to talk to Sango. Please?”

It was Kagome. The girl of his fucking dreams, Kagome. The one fucking person in the world he had been wanting to date for half a fucking decade, but was so fucking far out of his league it was pathetic. And he could hear the absolute devastation in her voice as she spoke to him. What in the hell had happened that hurt her so badly that she fucking came here?

“She-she’s not here. Miroku took her out dancing or something. Are you okay?”

His words came tumbling out before he could stop them, but once the terror that she might be hurt hit him, he stood there waiting for her to answer the fucking question. He tried to wait, but her fucking silence was killing him. Was she fucking bleeding out on his goddamn steps? Was she fucking being followed and tried to come somewhere to fucking hide?

“Kagome, are you hurt?”

The anxiety was drowning him as the seconds ticked by in silence. He waited as long as he possibly could before he repeated the damn question, feeling more panicked as her silence continued. Was she even still fucking there? Had she been grabbed and fucking dragged off by some psychopath while he was up here pissed off that someone rang his damn doorbell?

Fuck! He grabbed his keys and practically flew down the stairs, ripping open the door and feeling at least a small relief that she was standing there. Her cheeks were red and swollen, and her eyes were puffy. Clearly, she’d been crying, and he held back the growl welling in his throat. She wasn't his to protect, even if that's all he fucking wanted to do. He put his arm around her shoulders and took her to his apartment. He couldn't let her leave, not knowing if she was safe. At least, that was the reasoning he was trying to use on himself. He felt her snuggle into his side and he wanted to fucking melt.

He sat her down on the couch and went to the kitchen to collect himself and get her a glass of water. The scent of her tears was so strong he wanted to break something. He still had no idea what the hell had happened, but he couldn't smell any blood on her, which was at least a bit of a relief. After taking a few deep breaths away from the scent of her tears, he felt like he had a little more control of himself and he went back to the living room.

“Kagome, are you hurt?”

She sat there staring at him, no it felt like she was staring through him. He couldn't breathe. His mind couldn't stop freaking out. Then her voice came softly, barely above a whisper.

“No, I’m not hurt. Sorry for bothering you.”

He felt his shoulders sag in instant relief and the breath he’d been holding whooshed out. She was okay. Sure, he knew she had been okay; she was right in front of him. But he needed to hear her say it. Then the rest of her words registered.

“Don’t be fucking sorry. You ain’t a damn bother. What the hell happened?”

Her eyes lifted to meet his, and they were shining with new tears.

“Fuck! Ya don’t have to answer that. I just wanted to make sure you weren’t attacked.”

Her head dropped down and he missed the feeling of her gaze on him. What the fuck was wrong with him tonight?! 

He saw her lift her hand and wipe away at the rivulets now streaming down her cheeks. 

“It’s okay. Thanks for letting me in. I should probably just go home. Sango will hopefully be back in the morning. I can guarantee you don’t want to listen to me whine.”

His hand landed on her forearm, “Just stay. And I don’t mind. If ya need someone to listen, I can do that. Or Sango and Miroku will be back in a few hours. But you shouldn't be runnin’ around Tokyo all alone.”

Her eyes raised, and the slight twinkle almost made him smile. Almost.

“Thanks, Yash. I’ll stay out of the way. You’re right. I’d rather not be alone right now.”

He let out a slight scoff, “Have ya eaten? I just ordered a pizza an hour ago, there’s still a few slices left.”

At the mention of food, her stomach let out a loud grumble, and her cheeks turned a deep pink. She tried to duck her head to hide it, but it was way too late. Yash let out a deep laugh and went to the kitchen, bringing back a paper plate with two slices. He turned the tv on and handed her the remote.

“Here, we’ve got Netflix. Pick whatever ya wanna watch. I’ll be back in a minute.”

He went to his room to give himself a talking to. He needed to keep himself in check. He knew she was out of his league. Plus, she had a boyfriend, and he was pretty sure they were serious. They'd been together for over a year. -Kotsu something or other. Why was she here and not at his place? He grabbed the blanket off his bed and went back to the living room. She had turned on some cooking competition or something and was huddled in the corner of the couch.

He threw the big fluffy blanket on her, and the smile she gave him made his heart start pounding. Damn, her behavior was definitely not gonna help his fucking crush. He sat back down and scrolled through his phone, his ear trained on her, listening for any sounds of distress from his unexpected guest. She nibbled on the pizza and stared listlessly at the tv. Her small sniffles sounded occasionally, but she seemed to be getting herself under control.

“I’m gonna grab a beer, can I get you something to drink?”

Her eyes were still wet with unshed tears, but they seemed to have slowed down a bit. She seemed to struggle in responding, but finally just gave him a slight nod. He stood there waiting for her to actually tell him what she wanted, and she seemed to be staring at him, waiting for something too. The silence was almost deafening. Until she swallowed and broke it.

“Umm, what do you have?” Her voice was soft, and she sounded so unsure.

And fuck, he was an ass. Of course, she had no idea what the options were. It wasn’t like she fucking lived here. She could live here. Sleep in his bed, curled into his side every night. FUCK!

“We have Sapporo if ya want a beer, I have ramune if you want a pop, or Miroku has sake if ya want that. Or I can make tea for ya.”

Her soft smile had his heart beating a mile a minute, “Tea sounds great. Thank you, Yash.”

He nodded and went back to the kitchen, filling the kettle and turning it on. He grabbed a beer out of the fridge and downed it quickly, tossing the can in the trash, and he grabbed another before getting her a mug out of the cupboard and putting a tea bag in. The water was boiling in no time and he took the honey out with him when he took her the cup of tea. If she kept giving him that smile, he was never gonna let her leave. This tiny woman, who was everything he’d wanted for fucking ever. This beautiful woman who was the first person ever to look at him and not show fear, hatred or disgust at who and what he is. She never seemed to care that he was a hanyou. She never treated him like he was less for not being all one or the other. She acted like she cared. She cared so fucking much, and that shit scared him.

She bobbed her tea bag in her cup a few times and added a small spoonful of honey, then stirred it carefully. He listened to the gentle clinking of the spoon on the side of the cup. Trying so hard not to focus on her completely. But he was scrolling through some stupid app and hadn't even remembered actually seeing anything. Her dainty sip of the hot beverage had him glancing over. As she drank down the warm liquid her whole body seemed to calm down. Then her voice pulled his attention, and he was staring at her. While she stared into her cup of tea.

“I won a drawing today. I won a weekend trip for 2, to Hokkaido. I went to tell Bankotsu. Apparently, we haven’t been on the same page. I thought we were exclusive. He thought he could fuck other women. I think for a woman to hear that her boyfriend has been cheating sounds terrible. To walk in on them fucking, and him not even having the decency to look ashamed of cheating is... I-I don’t even know why I’m telling you this.”

Her bitter laugh seemed to take control over him. He was at her side and had her pulled into him before he even knew what he was doing. Her head was in his chest and he could feel her hot tears soaking through his tee. Her soft whimpers and sniffles were breaking him, but he couldn't let her go. 

“He sounds like an ass. Why the fuck would you be sad for getting rid of him?”

The slight giggle against his chest brought a small smile to his face. But he made sure to hide it when she pulled away to look him in the eyes. Her smile was watery, but he was still relieved to see it.

“You know what? You’re exactly right. He was a jerk! Self-centered, thoughtless, condescending- what in the hells did I ever see in that guy?!”

She had pulled away from him during her rant, and his body was missing the contact immediately. But he couldn’t be selfish. She was fiery and spunky, and he was loving seeing the life return to her eyes so quickly, even if she wasn't looking at him anymore. He had to keep her going; he had to stoke the flames.

“Damn, why the fuck were ya with him? He sounds even worse now. You deserve better than that.”

She looked back at him, and her smile had his heart stuttering in his chest.

“Thanks, Yash. I guess I didn’t realize what a shitty boyfriend he was. He was always busy hanging out with his frat brothers, and I don’t think he ever made me a priority except when he was trying to get into my pants. I guess I was a fool. I missed so many signs that it wasn’t a healthy relationship. I just hope I can learn something from it. Maybe things to avoid in future fucked up relationships. I don’t want to make all the same mistakes, or I’ll never make them all in time, right?”

Her bitter smile was killing him, “You’re not a fool. You cared about the guy, so ya gave him the benefit of the doubt. Plus, you trust so completely, it’s amazing, but sometimes that’s gonna cause ya to get hurt. That doesn't mean you should never trust again, it just means you should be a bit more wary of who earns your trust, ya know?”

Now her smile was gone, her eyes were wide and completely on him. He must’ve fucked up terribly. Which was his norm, anyway. But he was so fucking hoping he could salvage this.

“Inuyasha, did you just give me a compliment?” 

Her voice had a slight teasing quality to it, but his brain was in panic mode. Fuck, what had he said exactly? Was it a compliment? Was it a mushy compliment? Fuck!

“Uhh, I don’t think so. Why? What did I say?”

Now her smile seemed back to the sunshine he had grown accustomed to.

“You said you think it’s amazing that I am so trusting of people.”

He thought back through what he had said, but couldn't place it. “Keh, I don’t think I said anything of the sort. Don’t be reading into shit too much, Kagome.”

She gave him a soft giggle, and he felt his ears twitch in appreciation.

“Thanks again, Inuyasha. I’ll try to be more careful with who I trust.”

Fuck, her smile was beautiful. Her eyes were deep, soft, brown and he couldn't look away. Even with her cheeks red and still tear stained, she was the most gorgeous woman he had ever seen.

“Keh.” Yeah. Nice job. She’s out here trying to have an actual fucking conversation, and you respond with a fucking scoff.  

She, apparently, didn't mind; since she started snickering a bit.

“Hey, are you laughing at me?!” He was trying to act mad, but she saw right through him, apparently.

“Not at all. It’s just weird. We’ve barely been friends for the past 5 years. And I was pretty sure you hated me. This just isn’t how I imagined this night going. I mean, obviously I didn’t imagine breaking up with Asshole, but it apparently needed to happen. But more than that, I didn't know you could be so sweet. Thanks for everything, Yash.”

He felt his cheeks blaze bright red. Fuck, he was in trouble. Especially when she saw it.

“Inuyasha, are you blushing?!” 

Then she came closer and her hands were on his cheeks. Fuck, her skin was so soft and warm. And her voice was a whisper. “You are. Why are you blushing?”

Her face was right there, and he could feel her breath on his skin. Her sweet scent was enveloping him. 

“Inuyasha, why would you blush when I said that?”

He couldn't breathe, he couldn't talk. She was coming closer. Fuck! 

“Inuyasha, can I kiss you?” Her voice was the softest whisper. He couldn't take it. He felt like he had been holding himself back for eternity. He pressed his lips against hers and they were soft, and she tasted so fucking sweet. He knew he was going to be addicted to her taste. He could taste the honey from her tea, and her own flavor was heavenly. Soon their tongues were swirling gently, and he could feel her moan against his mouth. They kissed until she pulled away and they both sat there with their heads touching, panting for breath. Her soft voice broke the silence.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” His eyes burst open, and he stared at her. She’d wanted to kiss him? 

His voice was raspy with want and need, “Tell me. How long?”

A grin broke out and her eyes opened and met hers.

“Since the day we met. Didn’t you think it was weird how I didn’t date for years? But you seemed to hate me, so I didn’t want to try. I guess I should’ve tried harder.”

He felt a little growl bubble up and his lips crashed into hers again. He was so deep in the kiss that he almost missed the slight tingle. His senses started fading. He could still taste her, but it was nothing compared to what he just had. Fuck. Now he remembered why Miroku had taken Sango out. It was the fucking new moon. He was hiding from the damn world for a reason. Also, she had never seen him turn human. Fuck, would she prefer him as a human?

He pulled back and closed his eyes. Terrified of her response.

“Inuyasha? What happened? Did I accidentally purify you?”

His eyes burst open. “Fuck, Kagome. I thought you were trained as a priestess. It’s my human night.”

Her expression softened, “Oh, I’m sorry. Should we stop? I mean, I don't know how to do this. I’ve liked you for so long, I can wait longer. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.”

“It’s my human night. I’m always uncomfortable. Did ya wanna stop?”

Now she was blushing. A deep red that went down her neck. Fuck, he could feel his dick getting hard. Stupid human night. It always left him feeling weaker.

“N-not really. I mean, you’re still you. The only difference is your eyes, they’re such a deep brown now, and your hair is so dark. Oh! What happened to your ears?!”

This woman. She was gonna be the death of him. He pulled his hair back, revealing his human ears. She smiled and blushed again. Damn, he missed her scent. 

“I mean, of course. I’m such a dummy. You’re human, so your ears would be there. That just makes sense. I’m not good at this.”

Then she covered her hands in her face and groaned. Even as a human he was close enough to hear her mumbling to herself.

“Why am I such an idiot? Why did I say that?”

He pulled her hands down and met her eyes, “you’re not an idiot, ya didn’t say anything bad. Just calm down. Did ya want to keep kissing? If not, we can just relax.”

Her blush was so deep, and he couldn't help but wonder how far down it went. Then she said the most perfect thing.

“I’d like to keep kissing, but I’d rather not do anything else until you’re you again. Is that okay?”

Fuck, could he fall in love with someone this quickly? Of course, he had practically been in love with her for five fucking years. He crashed his lips back against hers, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She was delicious, and he was gonna eat her alive before he let her leave.

With her arms wrapped around his neck, he pulled her into his lap and wrapped her legs around his waist. Their lips danced, and she gently swirled her tongue with his. Then she dragged her tongue where his fangs would be and she let out a little whimper of disappointment .

He pulled back for a second, “What’s wrong? Were you looking forward to feeling my fangs all over you, Ka-Go-Me?”

He watched her shudder, and her eyes dilated.

“It'll be worth the wait. I’ve waited this long, I can wait. But yes, I have.”

Fuck, he loved her. “Tell me what you've been thinking about. You were looking forward to that, what else?”

Oh, he could feel her pussy getting wet through both of their pants, and it went right to his cock. This was gonna be the longest human night of his life.

“I’ve wanted to feel your claws drag on my skin, I’ve wanted to rub your ears. I’ve wanted to do so much, Inu. I just…” Then she ground her pelvis against his, and he moaned. She was already so far gone. He was gonna have a hell of a time holding on until sunrise.

“Fuck, I’ve wanted to taste you for fucking ever. I’ve wanted to drag my tongue all over your body. See if you taste as good as you fucking smell.”

She grinned, “Do I?” Then she reached down and removed her shirt in one swift movement, dropping it to the couch next to them. Her body was perfect. She was perfect. Soft and pale. Her gorgeous tits gently spilling out over her lacy bra. His hands were on her in seconds, and his head landed in her cleavage. His senses were dulled, but he could still smell her here. She was perfect. She smelled sweet, like vanilla, and his tongue started dragging against her full breasts. She tasted better than he ever imagined.

He moaned against her breast, and she ground into him again. Then as she felt his dick on her pussy, it was so hard for her; she let loose a moan of her own.

“Inu, I don’t think we should stay out here. Can-can we go to your room?”

Fuck, at least one of them was thinking. He wrapped his arms around her ass and lifted her up, silencing anything else she was about to say by kissing her. Well, almost.

“M-my shirt. Sango will know it’s mine.”

He let loose a deep growl, bent down, and she grabbed it before putting her arms back around his neck. Then she kissed him again. He carried her to his bedroom and kicked the door shut behind them. This was going to be the night of his dreams, and he was gonna make sure it was hers too.

He laid her on his bed, and the sight of her topless on his sheet was enough to almost kill him. His dick was straining in his jeans, and all he wanted was her. He took this moment to actually look at her. Her pants were skin tight, and showed almost everything, her bra was plum colored lace and next to her beautiful pale skin it was heaven. He needed to touch her, and after a few seconds she must’ve been thinking the same thing. She sat up and ran her hands along the bottom hem of his tee shirt, gently touching his skin. He gave her a smirk and pulled his shirt up and over his head. The look of awe as she stared at his body was the biggest ego boost he could hope for. She was practically drooling.

Then her soft, warm fingers danced up his abs, and he wanted to fucking melt. Everywhere she touched was on fire. Every line she drew with those delicate hands was burning. He needed so much more. He crawled atop her, and she sunk back into the mattress, allowing him to straddle her. Her hands were on his shoulders as he kissed her. Her nails dragged across his flesh. Oh, the things he wanted to do to her. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Kagome had not been expecting her night to go like this. She had felt so angry and betrayed at her now ex boyfriend. Little did she know that the guy she had been hoping to date for years would be holding her and kissing her to comfort her. Oh, she hoped with every fiber of her being that this was not gonna be just some pity fuck. She seriously couldn’t stand the idea of her longest crush being a fucking rebound. His lips were warm and soft against hers, and the way he fit against her was perfection. But she wanted more, so much more. She had told him she wanted to wait until he was himself to do the big things, but she had never needed to touch someone so much before this.

Her arms were wrapped around his neck as she straddled his lap. His hands were wrapped around her waist, pulling her in so close to him. She could feel the heat of his chest through their shirts and his dick was so hard against her core, she wanted to see him. Then she dragged her tongue against his teeth, hoping to feel his fangs graze against her, and as she touched them, she let loose a small whine.

He pulled back from her and gave her a teasing grin, “What’s wrong? Were you looking forward to feeling my fangs all over you, Ka-Go-Me?”

She couldn’t stop the shudder that racked through her body. She felt the blush of embarrassment cover her face, but she refused to be stopped. He deserved to know, even if it was hard to say it out loud.

“It'll be worth the wait. I’ve waited this long, I can wait. But yes, I have.”

Then he let out a slight groan, and the look of desire on his face had her getting much more brave. “Tell me what you've been thinking about. You were looking forward to that, what else?”

The way his eyes stared at her with such an intense heat had her wanting to melt into him. They weren’t the typical burning gold she’d imagined for the last several years, but somehow she could still see his soul in them. Her words came tumbling out without her permission, not that she would have stopped all of them, just a few of them.

“I’ve wanted to feel your claws drag on my skin, I’ve wanted to rub your ears. I’ve wanted to do so much, Inu. I just…” She was so far gone, she couldn’t stop her body anymore than she could stop her mouth and she ground her hips into his. 

“Fuck, I’ve wanted to taste you for fucking ever. I’ve wanted to drag my tongue all over your body. See if you taste as good as you fucking smell.”

Oh, he wanted to taste her? And he thought she smelled good? That was one thing she would love to find out. “Do I?” She should have been nervous and self-conscious, but she knew he would give her exactly what she needed. She lifted her shirt off and dropped it to the couch cushion next to them. It was barely a second before his face was in her breasts, and his tongue was dragging across her flesh. Oh, she had never imagined how sensual that would feel, and she ground into him again. At the feel of his throbbing dick in his pants right against her core, she moaned. Oh, she wanted to feel that. Then the dawning of where they were brought her back to reality for a second.

“Inu, I don’t think we should stay out here. Can-can we go to your room?”

He didn’t say a word to her, he just grabbed her ass and braced her to his body before standing up. His mouth was on hers again and she didn’t want to leave until as she was about to close her eyes she saw her shirt on the couch. Shit. That would be immediately recognizable when Sango and Miroku came back.

“M-my shirt. Sango will know it’s mine.”

He let loose a low growl, but bent down so she could grab it, and then she wrapped her arms back around his neck. She didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to where he took her now. His lips on hers were hot and pulling her into him. She was gently laid down on his bed and he pulled away. She felt cold from his absence until she watched his eyes take her in, and the heat from his gaze scorched her body like a burning flame.

She gave him a moment to look, but then she realized it seemed a tad unfair. Here she was showing a lot more than she really ever did, and he was still in his jeans and tee shirt. She sat up and gently placed her fingers at the hem of his shirt. She wanted to touch him too. The smirk he gave her was pure sin, and then he pulled his shirt up and over his head. By the Gods, this man was ripped. She knew he was gonna be amazing, but hot damn! His abs were cut and chiseled, but not obnoxious. His hips formed a perfect v and he had a dark patch of hair that led into his waistband. She couldn't wait for sunrise to see if that patch went silver with the rest of his hair.

Her hands were gently dancing across his skin, his flesh was solid muscle and she couldn't get enough of it. Of him. Then he climbed atop her and she softly dropped back to the mattress, allowing him to climb up her body. He kissed her again, long and deep, and her hands rested on his shoulders. As he somehow managed to deepen the kiss, she knew she wouldn't be able to wait until sunrise. 

He pulled away from her lips and she panted, trying to catch her breath. She’d been kissed before, but never like this. His lips were traveling down her neck, and when he reached her shoulder, he gave it a hard suck. He was definitely going to leave a mark there, and she couldn't care less. Her fingers tangled themselves in his hair, completely lost in the feel of him.

She didn't notice when he pulled her bra down enough to reveal her light pink nipples, but she definitely noticed when his mouth latched onto it, and she let loose a loud open mouth moan. She used her fingers in his hair to pull him closer to her breast. His tongue felt so good on her body, and she wanted him everywhere. She could feel his lips smirk against her breast, but she didn't have it in her to be offended, or upset. His tongue was stirring her up, and she needed him to help her.

“Inu, please. I need more.” She was barely aware of the words leaving her mouth, but it seemed to be exactly what he wanted to hear.

“Thank the fucking Kami, I thought you’d never ask.” He sat up and unbuttoned her jeans, and started pulling them down her hips. She lifted her ass off the bed, knowing he was going to give her everything she could hope for. After he peeled her out of her pants, he started kissing up her calf and down her thigh. Oh, his lips were burning hot, and she wanted to stay in the flames until the world ended. When he reached her core, he gave a long lick on the outside of her panties and she felt tremors rack her body. She felt like she was gonna cum from that alone, and she was still wearing underwear.

“Fuck, ‘Gome. You taste like heaven. I am gonna fucking eat you alive, babydoll.”

She heard a distinctive rip, but she was too far gone to care. His mouth was on her pussy, lapping at everything she had. She could only imagine the sounds escaping her. Her hands were tangled in his hair again, and she tried so hard not to buck off the bed and fuck his mouth. She didn't think she was succeeding when she felt him chuckle against her. Then his hand went to her hip, and he held her down.

“Relax, Babydoll. I am gonna give you everything you want and more. Just relax and hang on for the ride, I have been dreaming about this for too fucking long for this to be over quickly.”

Her eyes were wide as she stared down at him. He gave her a wicked smirk and then his face vanished again, and she let loose a wail. She had never cum so fast or so hard in her life. And Inuyasha gave no sign of stopping. His tongue was lapping at her clit, his fingers were thrusting into her pussy, and she could feel him sucking and nibbling with no rhyme, reason, or pattern. She was gonna scream, and she had never been a screamer.

She finally dragged her hands out of his hair, when she realized she had accidentally pulled a little too hard. His growl against her clit was the clue. But she had to put her hands somewhere. At first she fisted them in his sheets, but the things he was doing to her were more extreme than she had ever felt! Finally, they landed on her breasts and she knew the second he saw her playing with her nipples thanks to the guttural moan against her folds.

“Inu, please I need you. Please?”

He surged up her body and kissed her hard. The taste of her pussy on his lips spurred her on more. She drank herself off of him, as if she were the sweetest wine, after all he had seemed to think she was.

“It’s not sunrise yet. I thought ya wanted to wait until I was me?”

The smirk he gave her was almost cruel.

“I was wrong. You’re always you. We’ll just have to do it again after sunrise.”

He growled against her, but sat up and climbed off the bed. His pants were off faster than she could follow, and his boxers were gone in what seemed like a blink. He opened his bedside table and pulled out a condom. He must’ve been just as eager as she was, because she barely saw him slide it on, before he crawled back on top of her and placed his cock into her folds.

“Are you sure? There’s still time to change your mind, ya know.”

He was still unsure? After everything that had happened in the last couple hours, he really doubted her?

“Are you trying to change yours?”

He let out a low growl, “Fuck no.” Then he slammed into her. She did scream. Fuck, she came on his cock the second he thrusted into her. He had her wound up so tight, she gasped for breath after. Once she was breathing a little more normally he leaned forward and started thrusting.

“Fuck ‘Gome. Your pussy is amazing. I could just fucking do this for eternity and I’m pretty sure I would be in heaven.”

She couldn't form words. She mumbled and moaned something incoherent, but she knew she said his name in there somewhere. His cock was thrusting in and out of her so deep and hard. She wanted all of him. Her hips began bucking against his, trying to meet his thrusts, and he let out a deep groan. Then she must've done something by accident because he almost stopped and started gasping.

“If you do that again, this is gonna be over a lot fucking sooner than I want it to be, Babydoll.”

She had no idea what she had done, but she needed him to be as undone as she was. He had made her cum at least three times and he was building for a fourth. She was bucking wildly until his hands landed on her hips. He held her down and pounded into her ferociously. 

“Fine, but if this is gonna happen, it’s gonna happen my fucking way.”

She screamed his name as her core tightened around him and she heard him growl her name before collapsing onto his elbows and kissing her deeply. His hips gave a few short stuttered thrusts as she came back from her high, and he finished cumming. She gasped for breath and he wrapped his arms around her, then rolled her over so she was on top of him. Her head laid on his chest and she listened to his heart pounding in his chest. His fingers tangled in her hair and held her close. She wasn't willing to let this be a one-time thing. She wanted this to be the start of something worthwhile.

“Inuyasha, did you want to go with me on a ski trip?”

@akitokihojo​ @alannada​ @arcprz​ @bluejay785​ @cammysansstuff​ @dezzidance​ @dog-forest-spirit​ @eternalnight8806-3​ @fawn-eyed-girl​ @feudalpriestess98​ @hinezumi​ @hnn-wnchstr​ @juliatheanimelover7​ @kazeinori​ @keichanz​ @kuddle-cakes-writes​ @lavendertwilight89​ @littlemissinukag​ @liz8080​ @malditamigs​ @mamabearcat​ @mcornilliac​ @nartista​ @neutronstarchild​ @noviceotakus-blog​ @petri808​ @redflamesofpassion​ @ruddcatha​ @sailorbabydoll92​ @shinidamachu​ @sistasecbhere​ @superpixie42​ @stuckinthewrongworld​ @witchygirl99​ @xfangheartx​

[bisexualsforprompto]

Maribat Mondays “Promises”

marinette dupain-cheng

The one thing he never had.

Adrien Agreste had been promised many things in his life.

He was promised a job, fame and fortune. Girls flocked to him. He was even a superhero. Everything had been handed to him on a silver platter, except for one thing.

When Fu lost his memories everything was supposed to be better. Since ladybug was the guardian she needed to know Chat Noir’s identity and she thought it was only fair to show him hers.

He never realized how lovely marinette was until he realized that she was the one who had always stuck by his side, partner in and out of the suit.

But he noticed marinette get distant as the months passed by, she barely talked to him anymore.

Adrien didn’t understand, ladybug and Chat Noir were supposed to be two halves of a whole. He was able to shrug it off for a while. He just remembered that one day she’d come to her senses.

He had done such a good job at being patient, waiting like a child on Christmas morning ready to unwrap his gift. Until he saw his gift, the one he earned, kissing someone on the stairs of his school.

Someone that was not Adrien.

Jason Todd, Adrien seethed as he saw the boy kiss his lady lightly. Of course Adrien knew Jason, their fathers had done business together.

Sure Adrien knew Jason’s father was a playboy and thief but he never realized that his son was the same way.

“Just what do you think you're doing?!” Adrien hissed in his most Chat like manner. Jason held on to marinette protectively, making Adrien fume even more. He should be the one protecting her. “marinette, don’t worry, I’ll get that guy away from you.” Adrien said as he narrowed his eyes at Jason, moving to his lady. marinette folded her arms and shook her head, “No.”

“What do you mean ‘no’?!” Adrien guffawed.

“Jason’s my boyfriend. I don’t love you Chat, move on.” marinette said through gritted teeth as she clung to Jason like a lifeline.

“You- you told him?!” Adrien spat when he realized marinette had used his superhero name. marinette gulped and nodded. She started to shake but Jason placed a hand on her shoulder which caused her to relax.

“Listen Agreste,” Jason said, “Marinette is constantly being harassed by you. Please just leave without a fight.”

“But that’s mine!” Adrien whined as he stomped his foot pointing to the hero next to Jason. The blue-green eyed boy’s expression darkened. Jason glowered at him, “What. Did. You. Say?” Adrien started to cower at the boy’s menacing tone. His eyes pierced into Adrien like blue and toxic green bullets.

“Its- mari and- Chat Noir and ladybug are destined for each other.” Adrien backtracked as he stepped backwards feeling small. Jason let out a humorless chuckle, “You called Marinette a thing you mangy alley cat. Don’t try to justify that.” Even with no miraculous or special powers Adrien’s danger senses were blaring because of Jason. Suddenly the anger disappeared from Jason’s eyes. Mouth in a thin, straight line he whispered one thing that sent shivers up Adrien’s spine, “I can rip your flesh off your body. I know how to keep someone alive for days while making them writhe in agony. I could snap your pathetic neck without a second thought.” Adrien gulped backing away subconsciously. “But I'm not going to,” the midnight haired boy said as he looked back at ladybug who wore a look that said, ‘don’t’ on her face, “as much as I’d like to.” He added under his breath.

He got into Adrien’s face without warning, “See that’s the difference between you and me. I'll listen to Marinette, I respect her, I love her. She’s not a thing, she’s not something you’re entitled to, you brat.”

Jason shoved a hand on Adrien’s chest as he gave him a light push, even Adrien knew that he was holding back, that still was able to send the blonde boy to his knees. Jason offered his arm to marinette who took it with a grateful smile.

He should’ve been the one that made her smile like that.

Then he remembered what Jason said.

Adrien didn’t understand it. marinette was promised to him. She was supposed to be his. Jason’s words didn’t make sense. He never harassed his lady. He could never. He didn’t think she was an object either. Of course he didn’t, all he ever said was that she was his. But that was true, that wasn’t Adrien objectifying her, he was just telling the truth. He didn’t understand what was so wrong with that.

After all, the only thing he wanted was what he was promised.

~•<•>•~•<•>•~•<•>•~

Whoo! First Maribat Monday prompt! Now:

As you may (or may not) have noticed, when Adrien was thinking or speaking about Marinette, her name was never capitalized.

This was intentional, this is following Adrien who only sees Marinette as an object (most of which, besides brand names, are not capitalized).

When our angsty Red Hood boi speaks Marinette is capitalized.

Pick up what I was throwing down?

@maribat-mondays

[javier-djarin]

Como Me Duele: Chapter 4

Ship: Javi x Reader

Rating: M

Word Count: 5,649 words

Warnings: Language, Sexual Innuendos, fluff

Masterlist

Summary: You and Javi both have to come to terms with some difficult revelations. (That’s it. If I summarize any more, I might spoil it).

A/N: Whoo. I’ve really enjoyed writing this chapter, so I hope you all love it! Thank you again for all the love and support! So, please let me know what you think. Please let me know if you want to be on my tag list! Also, translations are at the bottom.

His POV

Days passed by since Lara’s murder, and since he kissed her. She’d been spending her time with Kate, though, and he decided to leave the pair of them alone to catch up. He also had been spending most of his time at either the embassy or with Carrillo. Despite what she said to him, he still felt like this was his fault. If he would have done more, been less distracted, he could have kept a good man alive. On top of that Escobar had attacked the Palace of Justice, causing them to lose all the evidence they had against him. That hit Javier hard. He spent the last few nights reading reports and trying to find the end of a whiskey bottle. Steve would call it quits at around ten, but Javier didn’t want to go home. He would be forced to face his mistakes. At least here, he could focus on something else. 

Carrillo walked into the “war room”as they so aptly named it. It had a large bulletin board filled with pictures of everyone in The Medellín Cartel, with Escobar at the top. Peña was bent over a stack of folders, standing there with a whiskey glass in one hand and his other hand on his hip. He had his usual stern look on his face. “¿Alguna suerte?” Carrillo asked. 

Peña looked up at him and sighed. “No. Estoy mirando archivos viejos.” Carrillo sat down at the table and slid a file over to him. “¿Qué es esto?”

“Gacha.”

Peña’s eyes lit up. “Gacha?”

Carrillo nodded. “Sabemos dónde está el cabrón.”

Peña grabbed another whiskey glass, filled it, and slid it across the table to him. He leaned forward and held his glass up to cheer Carrillo. “Salud, hermano.”

“Salud.” They both finished their glasses and sat in comfortable silence for a brief moment before Carrillo spoke again. “Salimos en la mañana.”

“¿Nosotros?”

Carrillo nodded. “Sí. Necesito su ayuda. El cabrón está con su hijo. No sabemos los armados que están.”

“Sí. Claro.” He stood and stretched. “Entonces, voy a salir. Hasta mañana.”

Carrillo held up his glass to him as he left. Javier looked at his watch and saw the time. 1:00 AM. He was barely going to get a good night’s sleep before having to wake up early and chase down Gacha. He finally made it back to the apartment complex when he saw Kate, Connie, and Y/N walking down the sidewalk, giggling. It was obvious they had been out drinking and dancing. He felt envious of every guy she could have possibly danced with. He noticed this time she was in a little black dress that was low cut and tight like her other one. He leaned against the railing on the stoop and waited for them to see him. Kate and Connie stopped first and smiled. “I mean, I donknow whathis fucking problemis,” you drunkenly slurred, “s’like he’s avoiding me.”

He saw Kate elbow her and she looked up at Javier. “Shhhhit,”she added. 

“Evening, ladies,” he said with a grin, “have a good night?”

Kate was clearly as drunk as Y/N, because all she could do was giggle. Connie, who was better off than the other two smiled. “Just like senior year,” she replied.

Y/N sat down on the stoop and put her head in her hands. “She looks like she’s not standing back up,” Javi added. 

“We might have had a little too much to drink.”

She slumped against the railing. Kate tried to sit down next to her, but Connie stopped her. “No, we need to get you upstairs.” Connie started leaning a little too much with her, and they both almost fell over, which caused the three of them to break out into a fit of giggles. 

Javier felt his chest tighten when he heard her giggling. She was so….what’s the right word? Adorable? No. Beautiful. Yes. Perfect. He leaned over to Connie. “Take Kate on up,” he said, handing her Y/N’s purse, “I’ll carry this one up.”

Connie ran her hand through her hair and sighed. “Thanks, Javi.”

He held the door open for Connie and Kate before scooping Y/N into his arms. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his chest. He heard her mumble something. “What was that, hermosa?”

“I’ssaid you smell nice,” she said picking her head up to look at him in his eyes. Her’s were so glossed over that he doubted she was actually looking at him. 

She grabbed his face to make him look at her. “Don’t hurt me, Javi.” 

She had a few tears in her eyes. He felt his heart break a little for her. Fuck that asshole, Javi thought to himself. He didn’t know her fiancé, but he hated him for ever considering hurting her. “Never, mi hermosa.”

Her head lolled forward a little. “I’m sorry,” she pleaded.

“Don’t. You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re perfect.” His voice cracked at the last statement. He was trying to keep his feelings under control, but she was exactly that and deserved to know.

She rested her head back on his chest. “You smell nice.”

He laughed and was pretty sure she wouldn’t remember anything from tonight. “You smell like you drank the bar,” he joked.

She picked her head up and smiled at him. What he would do to make her smile every day. “It’s his fault,” she replied, losing her smile faster than he could comprehend. 

He made it to her floor. “He’s a fucking moron to choose anyone over you,” he said. She was weightless in his arms, that he didn’t even realize how long he’d been holding her in front of her door. 

Connie opened the door and stumbled out. “I was about to come looking for you!”

He bounced her a little in his arms. “Lugging this up the stairs hasn’t been easy.”

She didn’t even bother responding to him, because she was still gazing at him teary eyed. Connie looked between the two of them and smiled. “Well, Kate’s asleep on the couch. If you got her, I’m going to go to bed.”

“I got her. I’m sure as soon as I set her down, she’ll pass out.”

Connie patted his arm. “Ever our hero, Javi.”

He slid into her apartment and lightly closed the door behind him, so as to not disturb Kate. He pushed open her bedroom door and gently set her down on her bed. He knelt down in front of her and delicately undid the straps on her heels to slide them off her sore feet. He massaged each of them a few times, causing her to fall back on her bed and let out a soft moan that drove him mad. Javi didn’t notice her dress had ridden up a little too high until he started on her other foot. To which, he quickly averted his eyes and stood up. “Don’t move. I’m going to get you some water.”

She didn’t respond. He figured she was passed out. He quietly rummaged around her kitchen looking for a glass and the Tylenol. By the time he walked back into her room, she was gone. Then, he heard the sink faucet turn on. At least she’s conscious, he thought. The bathroom light turned out and the door opened. He almost dropped the glass of water when she walked out in nothing but her lacy black bra and underwear. He tried to look anywhere but at her. She seemed oblivious to his embarrassment. “Here,” he said, in an almost prepubescent voice. He handed her the Tylenol and water.

Without missing a beat, she took it from him, and then crawled onto her bed on top of the covers. He sighed, knowing she would get cold. He pulled back the covers as much as he could before picking her up in his arms again. Her skin was so soft against his. She sent electric shocks throughout his body. She was so warm, so delicate. He refused to check her out, though. He was not about to take advantage of this beautiful woman when she was drunk. Instead, he laid her in bed and covered her with her blankets. As he walked away, she grabbed his wrist, at an impressive speed for someone as drunk as she was. Sitting up, she pulled him towards her, planting a sloppy, but gentle kiss on his lips. “Thank you, Javi.” 

“Of course,” he smiled. 

In her drunken stupor, she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra. Javi turned around before he saw too much. He saw her shadow toss it across the room. He peaked over his shoulder to make sure she was back under the covers, and thank God she was. “Your water is right here on the nightstand,” he whispered.

He saw her smile in her half asleep state. He walked to the door and shut the light off, and he could have sworn he heard her say, “Mi Javi hermoso.”

Your POV

The second your eyes flew open, every incident flooded your memory. Even the part where you sloppily kissed Javi. You let out a loud groan and grabbed your pillow to cover your face. If you were lucky, you’d suffocate yourself so you didn’t have to face him this morning. You pulled back your covers and looked down, realizing you had, in fact, ripped your bra off in front of him. You clearly remember being offended that he turned around, but the moment he leaned in to tell you about your water, your anger faded. You also prayed he didn’t hear what you said as he left, but at this point nothing could get any worse. You let out another groan and walked across your room to pick your bra off the floor. You stumbled around, trying to find clothes to throw on so you could march downstairs and thank Javi, or at least apologize. 

You opened your bedroom door and saw a very hungover Kate sitting on the couch. Surprisingly, your hangover wasn’t as bad. Thanks to Javi. You smiled a little as you walked further out into your living room. “Morning,” Kate mumbled.

“I’ll be right back,” you said, making a beeline for your door. It was locked. Your heart fluttered, because you knew that meant he locked it before he left. 

“Where are you going?”

You didn’t answer Kate, but instead marched to Javi’s door, lightly knocking on it. There was no answer, so you knocked a little louder. You were hoping he wasn’t still asleep….or preoccupied. There was still no answer. This time you knocked like you meant business. “He already left. He won’t be back for a couple of days.” 

You turned and saw Steve behind you. You felt a blush run across your face. “I just wanted to thank him for helping us last night.”

“Mhm,” Steve said, not believing you. “Look, Y/N, Connie and I care a lot about you. Just be careful with Javi.”

You nodded. “I know his type,” you smiled, “and I don’t plan on going any further than friends.”

Steve nodded, again not believing you. “He’s a good friend.”

You wrapped your arms around yourself. “You know that I’m not going to trust anyone enough to get that close to me.”

He wrapped an arm around you and gave you a brotherly side hug. “Connie just worries about you. She doesn’t want to see you get hurt anymore.”

You felt a few tears form and you quickly wiped them away. “Thanks, Steve.”

You turned to head upstairs. “Do you want me to tell him you stopped by?”

You looked at Javi’s door. The same door you’ve seen countless women leave through. “No,” you sighed, “I’ll just talk to him when he gets back.”

Steve nodded and jogged down the stairs. You slowly made your way back to your apartment. You opened the door and saw Kate sitting at the counter eating her leftovers from the other night, so you decided to take the couch. “What’s your problem?” Kate asked with a mouthful.

“Last night.”

“I thought we had fun!”

“No, we did. It’s whenever we got home.” The memory of Javi carrying you up the stairs suddenly hit you. 

You grabbed his face to make him look at you. “Don’t hurt me, Javi.” 

You had a few tears in your eyes. “Never,” he said.

Your head lolled forward a little. “I’m sorry,” she pleaded.

“Don’t. You have nothing to be sorry for. You’re perfect.” His voice cracked at the last statement. Your heart stopped. “He’s a fucking moron to choose anyone over you,” he said. 

You slowly turned to Kate. “We have a huge problem.”

She took another bite of food and then turned to you. “And that is…?”

“Javi.”

Kate shook her head and rolled her eyes. 

“I’m serious!” You recounted everything that had happened the night before. 

Kate swooned out of her chair and onto the couch. “He said you were perfect?” She made a crying sound. “If that’s not the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.”

“What am I going to do?” You worried.

“Call Connie and tell her to get her ass over here.”

You leaned back on the couch and threw your arm over your eyes. “I’m serious, Kate. I can’t trust him.”

“What is there not to trust? He had every opportunity to take advantage of you and didn’t, for starters. He also thinks you’re perfect.” She sighed and slumped back against the couch,”he carried you like fucking Prince Charming, made sure you were safe and comfortable. What don’t you trust?”

“He’s a womanizer. How do I know he’s not going to run off with the next hot thing that moves in next door?”

“He’s not Michael,” Kate argued.

You growled. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s had enough women to know how to woo them right into bed with him.”

“If you don’t trust him so much, then why are you friends with him?”

You looked at her and glared. “Because I want to trust him.”

Kate folded her arms and looked at you. “And why is that?”

“Are you seriously going to make me admit it?”

She looked at you, dead in the eyes, and waited.

“Ugh. Fine! Because I have a teeny tiny crush on him, and I don’t want him to turn out like Michael. I don’t want him to hurt me the way he easily could.”

Victorious, Kate smiled at you. “Was that so hard?”

“Yes.” 

She was clearly satisfied by your misery. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“I’m so glad you came down.”

Kate skipped off to your guest shower, ignoring your sarcastic remark. “Call Connie. She should be ready for lunch soon.”

You wanted to cry out of frustration, but instead you called Connie to see if she could meet for lunch. She could tell by the tone in your voice, something was wrong, but she figured you’d tell her when you three met up.

***

You and Kate walked to a little cafe just around the corner from the hospital, where Connie was already waiting. She waved you both over to the table. “Is everything okay? You sounded upset on the phone.”

Kate smiled and snacked on the bread in front of her. “She’s just mad at me.”

“What happened?”

You glared at Kate, refusing to talk. So, Kate told her for you. Connie turned to you with wide eyes once she was done telling her very embellished version of the story about the night before. “I can’t say I blame you,” Connie said, “he’s very suave.”

You nodded. “And you agree with me that I should stay away from him, right?”

Connie took a sip of her Coke. “He said you were perfect?” She asked, still contemplating your question.

“And that Michael was a ‘fucking moron’ to let her go,” Kate chimed.

She folded and unfolded her hands. “Steve is going to be so annoyed with me, but I agree with Kate.”

“You what?!” You exclaimed softly.

“I’ve known Javi for a while now. I’ve seen him with the women he dates and the women he fucks. His eyes are practically dead. They would walk into the room, and he wouldn’t even turn to look at them. With you, Steve and I had both said, it’s different. He hasn’t actually slept with anyone since that night of the club.”

“What? But I’ve seen women leave his apartment!”

Connie nodded. “I know, but he says that they come over trying to get his business, and he turns them away. Says it doesn’t feel right.”

You shook your head, confused. “I’m sorry, what?”

“He confessed it to me. Not even Steve knows that. He came to me the day after he kissed you to talk to me. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew where you stood. Look, he reminded Steve and I of Michael, and we wanted to protect you from that. However, Javi is a good guy. I honestly think he whores himself out to girls like that, because he thinks that is what he deserves. Since he met you, he’s changed. His biggest fault is caring so much that it gets him into a lot of trouble. He thinks he needs to save everyone. Which is why he felt like he needed to take you to get Kate. He told me after what happened to Puff and the threats Steve was getting, he couldn’t bear the thought of any of that happening to you. And, when you tried to comfort him after he started blaming himself for Lara, he couldn’t help it. He said you had touched some part of his soul that he thought he sold to the Devil years ago.”

Kate covered her mouth and looked at you. “Could he be anymore perfect?” 

You felt tears escape and run down your face. You couldn’t remember the last time you felt so cared for, desired. You wanted to run and jump into his arms right now,  but you had no idea where he was. You wiped your face with the back of your hand. “Well, this information does me no good, because I don’t even know where he is to talk to him.”

“Steve said he got a lead last night and is helping Search Bloc take down one of the Kingpins.”

You felt your heart race. “Where?”

“Cartegena, I think Steve said.”

You took a deep breath and sipped on your Coke. “Again, a lot of good this does for me. You leave in a few days, probably by the time he gets back, and by then I will have chickened out.”

Kate reached across the table for your hand. “Hey, six months ago you survived the single worst break up any of us has ever experienced. You uprooted your life and are starting over in Colombia. You’ve got the hottest man I have ever seen after you, and more confidence because of him. You carry yourself differently when he’s near, because the way he looks at you gives you confidence. The confidence that Michael is a moron and he’s the one who’s a worthless piece of shit.”

You smiled at her and squeezed her hand. “Thanks.”

“Besides,” she said, leaning back in her chair, “I need someone to fuck him and tell me about it.”

You gasped and flicked a breadstick at her. She looked at you innocently and continued picking apart her own piece of bread. Connie laughed and shook her head. “If you think about it, he has to be good. He slept with a girl I used to work with here and she said he’s the best sex she’d ever had.”

Kate turned it. “I knew it. You better call. I will pay for the charges, happily, to learn every nitty, gritty detail.”

You felt your cheeks turn bright red. “For all you know, after we talk, we might just remain friends.”

Kate and Connie both laughed at you. “Yeah,” Kate said, “and I’m going to run for President.”

***

Two days later when you woke up, you turned on the news to see if there was any update on Javi in Cartagena. Steve was gone on his own mission, and so you couldn’t beg him for information. Luckily, you had turned it on just in time. Valeria Vélez was reporting that Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha was killed, along with his son, in a raid on his house in Tolú late yesterday afternoon. This raid was assisted by the American Drug Enforcement Agency, with an unnamed agent leading the mission alongside Search Bloc’s Colonel Carrillo. It was unclear how many casualties each side suffered, but in the end Gacha was brought down and this was marked as a huge win for Search Bloc.

You felt your heart race with apprehension. You wished Javi could get the recognition he clearly deserved, but you also worried that he was one of the casualties of this raid. Easy, girl. They would have mentioned the death of an American DEA Agent if he was killed in combat, you told yourself. But your anxiety was almost too much to handle.

Kate looked at you when the broadcast ended. “He’s fine,” she said.

“Of course he is.” You grabbed your breakfast dishes and headed to the sink to clean them. You were wiping down the counters and headed to get dressed when you heard a knock on your door. 

“Kate, can you get that? I’m going to hop in the shower.”

His POV

“Es tu decisión,” Carrillo said into Javi’s headset.

And without blinking, without any hesitation, he turned to the man next to him and ordered, “Dale plomo.”

It wasn’t until he and Carrillo landed did he take in the gruesomeness of the scene. The past twelve hours flashed through his memory, realizing that he wasn’t any better than the putas he was hunting. He killed this man in cold blood. He may have not pulled the trigger, but he gave the order without a second thought. Even though today was a huge win, he still felt like a piece of shit. Who really was the good guy in this situation? That was all relative.

Javier walked away from the scene and sat on the side of the road running his hands through his hair. Yeah, Gacha was a heartless son of a bitch, but how was he any different? He’s done plenty of terrible things over the course of his career just to catch the bad guy. Not too long ago he told Steve while they were stealing evidence, “Sometimes you gotta do bad things to catch bad people.” But at what point is there no return? At what point is bad too bad?

He tried to clear his head. Let his thoughts wander, and they always went to her. She was so innocent and fragile in his arms as she pleaded for him not to hurt her. She was flawless and beautiful when she crawled across her bed in her lacy black bra and underwear. She murmured in her sleep “mi Javi hermoso.” He felt a smile creepy across his face, bringing him out of the darkness, and it was in that moment he knew what to do. Javier rapidly stood up and walked to Carrillo. “Necesito ir a Bogotá. ¿Nosotros hemos terminado aquí?” he asked.

Carrillo nodded and continued talking to his men. Javier hopped in the helicopter and ordered the pilot to take him to the airport. It was a three hour flight home, and he would have to stop by the embassy first to make his statement. He wanted to see her, have her tell him everything was going to be okay; he was just doing his job. He fidgeted the entire plane ride, trying to think of an explanation he would give her, but he thought of nothing. Out of exhaustion, he did fall asleep during the second half of his flight, but he dreamed of her. He dreamed of him carrying her up the stairs to her apartment as she rested her head on his shoulder; of her kissing him; of the small smile she made when she slept. When they landed, Steve boarded the plane to wake him. “Hey, jackass, wake up,” he said, shaking his partner.

Slightly startled, Peña woke up, disappointed to see it was Steve shaking him. “You my ride?”

Steve sighed. “I am. I just got done with a meeting with Gaviria. How did Cartegena go?”

“Ended up in Tolú, but we got the bastard.” He followed Steve down the stairs and out to the car he had waiting for them. “I need to stop by the embassy and make my report first.”

Steve acknowledged him and climbed into the driver’s seat. Once the car was started and put in drive, Steve said, “Y/N stopped by your apartment.”

Peña felt his heart race. “What did she say?”

“She said she wanted to thank you for helping her while she was shitfaced.” 

Javi smiled and looked out the window. “Is that all she said?”

Steve pulled the car over and looked at him. “You know,” he began, “Connie tells me everything. Well, she tells Y/N more, but she tells me when certain people talk to her about her friends.”

Peña’s face instantly became flushed as he slowly turned to Steve. “Someone is asking about Y/N? Is it that fucking doctor who couldn’t keep his damn hands off her?”

“Peña, you know what I’m talking about.”

“Yeah, so?”

Steve sighed. “So, have you really not ‘talked to your informants’ since the night we went to the club?”

He rubbed his hands down his face and then grabbed a cigarette from his pocket. He was trembling as he tried to light it. After several times, he was able to activate the lighter and he took a long drag off his cig. “We really haven’t had time for me to relieve stress,” he said.

Steve let his head fall back against the headrest. “Javier,” he said. It threw him off, since Steve normally addressed him by his last name. “Cut the shit.”

“Fine,” he said through his teeth, taking another pull off his cigarette and flicking ashes out of the window. “No, I haven’t actively sought out sex in a couple of weeks. The girls still stop by, hoping to persuade me to give them business, but I send them packing.”

Steve looked at his partner completely surprised. “Weeks? Jesus, I’m married and I’ve had more action than you recently.”

Peña huffed. “Rub it in,” he grumbled.

“Why?”

He shrugged and finished his cigarette. “I guess none of them have piqued my interest lately. I just haven’t felt like paying for it anymore.”

Steve cracked a smile and laughed at him. “You’re whipped, man.”

“Fuck you.” He reached for another cigarette.

Steve leaned across to stop him. “You know you’ve only really been smoking when I bring this up.”

“So.” He jerked his hand away from Steve and grabbed another. 

“So, I just want to know what’s stressing you out about her.”

Peña leaned back against the headrest. “Can we just get to the embassy?”

“Connie is making me do this, and I figured you’d rather it be just the two of us.”

“Dios ayúdame,” he said under his breath. “She doesn’t stress me out. You do. Telling me to stay away from her; saying I’ll hurt her - that I remind you of her ex. And then every time you bring her up, those thoughts go through my head. Thanks to you, I actually believe all of it. When all I want to do is make sure no one hurts her again. And after today, when I didn’t think twice about killing Gacha…” he trailed off for a second, “all I wanted to do was run back here, but every time we talk about her I’m reminded that I’m nowhere near good enough. So, if I really want to make sure no one hurts her again, I should just listen to you and leave her alone. But I can’t.”

“Fuck, Peña,” Steve breathed. “All this time I was just thinking about protecting her…”

“That you didn’t bother to think you’d hurt your partner in the process?”

“I mean, come on. You haven’t actually been one to keep a steady girl around.”

He sighed. “Yeah, well it wasn’t until I met her that I realized that I’m pretty fucking empty inside.”

Steve grabbed Peña’s shoulder and gave it a brotherly squeeze. “You’re serious.” He wanted to make that sound like a question, but instead it came out like a statement.

Peña glanced over to him before looking out the window again. “About what?”

“You have real feelings for her. Like this isn’t something random. You’ve actually thought about it.”

“I slept at the office for two nights after I kissed her, because I couldn’t face her rejection.”

“Have you told her any of this?” Steve said, starting the car again. He watched the passing cars before pulling back out onto the road. 

Peña huffed. “I’d rather get shot. At least I can keep her in my life as a friend.”

“I’m not trying to tell you what to do…”

He rolled his eyes and stared accusingly at Steve. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Just tell her. If Connie forced me to have this uncomfortable as fuck conversation with you, that has to be a good sign, right?”

He shrugged his shoulders and flicked some ashes out of the window. He started to reflect on all of his favorite moments with her, which was every time they were together. He thought of the way she moved against him as they danced; how peaceful she looked when she fell asleep on his couch after they both drank a little too much.  He smiled at the thought of Kate’s passing comments that told him she’d talked about him to her. 

He felt Steve slap his chest with the back of his hand. “Get that fucking grin off your face,” he laughed. 

Peña lightly shoved him back and said nothing. They rode in silence for a bit before Steve cleared his throat. “Hey, Javier?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry. I should have trusted you more.”

“I understand.” He replied. “You and Connie wanted to protect her. But it’s fine.”

“I should have been a better partner.” Steve paused and glanced over at Peña. “Friend.”

He made a gagging noise and turned his nose up at Steve. “Don’t you think I get enough of you at the office, and now you want to be friends?”

Steve chuckled. “Fuck you, Peña.”

***

They got to the embassy late. Many had already left, especially the ambassador. Javier knew that if he didn’t have his report on her desk first thing in the morning, it would be his ass. He worked tirelessly, but it wasn’t until the sun started to slide through the window panes did he realize what time it was. It was 6:00 AM. Fuck. He thought to himself. He finished what he was working on, and dropped it off on the ambassador’s desk. Javier was exhausted and longed to walk into his apartment and pass out on his bed. He drove with the windows down to keep himself awake. He arrived at his apartment complex a little after 7. He contemplated just taking a nap in his Jeep for 10 minutes, but he decided against it. Javier stumbled up the stairs and started to unlock his door. Then, something tugged his attention up the flight of stairs. “Just tell her,” Steve’s voice rang in his ear.

Without realizing it, he was taking two stairs at a time to get to her door. He held his hand up to knock, but paused. It was early. What if she was asleep? Then he heard Kate’s voice through the door. “He’s fine,” she said.

“Of course he is,” she replied.

His heart stopped. She was worried about him; he knew it in his soul that’s who she meant. His chest was so tight that he couldn’t stand it, but then he remembered all of his insecurities. He was heartless, broken. She deserved someone a thousand times better than him. “You have real feelings for her,” Steve’s voice said again. 

He did. He couldn’t help it, and dammit, he was going to tell her. He knocked on the door. Each footstep that drew closer to him behind this goddamn door acted as a countdown to the moment his heart would stop. Then time froze. “What the fuck am I going to say?” He thought, immediately regretting his decision. The door opened but his heart dropped when he saw it was Kate. “Where is she?” He growled, not meaning to sound so aggressive.

With very wide, slightly titillated eyes, Kate didn’t say a word and pointed to Y/N room. He stormed past her. What he didn’t see was Kate sneak out of the apartment and close the door behind her. He didn’t think twice about barging into her room. He did not see her when he opened the door, but he heard the shower running. Debating on what to do, he took five large strides over there and knocked on the door. “Who was it, Kate?” She asked.

He didn’t reply, but knocked again. “Let me get my robe.” 

Javi saw her shadows moving under the door frame. She slowly opened the door and froze when she saw him. “Javi!” She gasped. “What are you doing here?”

He had no idea what to say to her, but instead wrapped her in his arms, pushing her against the bathroom wall as he kissed her, deeper and more passionately than he did the last time.

Translations

“¿Alguna suerte?” - Any luck?

 “No. Estoy mirando archivos viejos.” - No. I’m looking at old files.

“¿Qué es esto?” - What is this?

“Sabemos dónde está el cabrón.” - We know where the motherfucker is.

“Salud, hermano.” - Cheers, brother.

“Salimos en la mañana.” - We leave in the morning.

“¿Nosotros?” - We?

“Sí. Necesito su ayuda. El cabrón está con su hijo. No sabemos los armados que están.” - Yes. I need your help. The fucker is with his son, and we don’t know how armed they are.

“Sí. Claro.” - Yes. Of course.

“Entonces, voy a salir. Hasta mañana.” - Then I’m going to leave. See you tomorrow.

“Es tu decisión.” - It’s your call.

“Dale plomo.” - Give him lead.

“Necesito ir a Bogotá. ¿Nosotros hemos terminado aquí?” - I need to go to Bogotá. Are we done here?

“Dios ayúdame.” - God help me.

Tag list

@larakasser​

@magneticbucky​

[lassofletters]

Falling Angel

Pro Hero! Reader x Shouta Aizawa

Word count: 1,347

Warnings: angst, jumping off a building, 

A/N: i got this idea from the TikTok trend I’m not gonna lie. Play Can You Feel My Heart by Bring Me The Horizon

It's night, you thought you'd be over this by now, thought the mission was over. Gods above you were wrong. Glass shattered in your living room you realized you should've known better. Nonetheless you had to be quick, grabbing your gear and haphazardly throwing it on. You pressed your alert button for pros to make their way to you and got going. Running as fast as you could, out your apartment to the stairs, you were about to go down until you saw him, silver hair, hands, and all his villainy.

You let out your favorite swear and burst up the stairs instead. Focusing on keeping your pace and breath steady you had to get to the roof. What you would do after you had no clue. Praying to whomever could hear you was all you could do as you reached your destination. The rooftop door right in front of you grabbing the doorknob and twisting but it didn't budge. In desperation you took a couple steps back and pushed forward with your leg up at the door. With each kick you could see it budging and finally with one last kick it flew open. Fresh air whipping your hair around.

"Where are you going? No one is coming for you. I already took care of your little team," Hearing the shrill voice rising from below brought anxiety rising into your chest and pushed you back into action. Your lungs burned, screaming for you to stop but you made it to the end of the roof. Turning around trying to steady your breath, vision focused on the villain chasing after you and others following closely behind. You swore you could see the corners of his lips appear from behind his hand.

"There's nowhere left for you to go Y/N," a cruel chuckle made his smile more visible. Heart pounding in your chest you lifted yourself up on the edge. It was getting hard to breathe, hard to think. There was only one thing to be done to get away from the League of Villains. If it resulted in your death, so be it, as long as they never got their dirty hands on you again. You might be thinking your last thoughts, you started thinking of the last time you talked to HIM. 

Such a stupid fight to have, you should've just accepted the academy's offer and stayed. Even pursuing your childhood dream you weren't happy, not without him. Now here you were, stuck in this mess that you and only you got yourself into. You thought of his face as you told him the offer to work alongside other pros in America. How it had dropped so at your excited declaration that you took the offer. Of course it was a big deal, you'd go and get beat up far away from him so he couldn't help you. 

----

"You're leaving me?" His voice was almost too quiet to hear. Your heart shattered at those words.

"No we can sti-"

"You're going to a whole other country Y/N!" His voice was loud and cracked as he cried out your name. What could be done now? Your hand rose to cover your chin as it quivered. This doesn't have to end does it?

"You know this has been my dream since forever, Shouta," he looked away from you when your voice wavered.

"Of course. How could I forget?" Even through your tears you saw his hand rise first to his face then through his hair. "You can achieve your dream. But not with me."

"What about when I come back? I might not be gone for long," you tried to keep your voice steady. When he turned to look at you then, you brought a sleeve up to dry your face and hide your expression. This was already hard, why couldn't he just understand? Your voice wavered again as you let out, "I love you"

"Angel… I'll always love you. Please never forget that." You heard the pain and sincerity in his voice. As he made his way to you a sob escaped your lips and he reached out to hold your face.

----

You wouldn't ever forget that, couldn't forget that. Cause no matter what, you loved him as well but your stubbornness knew no ends did it. You stuck to your childhood dream and got nowhere. 

"Baby boy I'm so sorry." You whimpered out. Shigaraki seemed to catch on as he brought his hand up to scratch his neck. You didn't care, all your thoughts went to your scarf clad ex. Wishing you could take it all back and be wrapped in his sleeping arms again. Tears pooled up in your eyes as you leaned back, letting gravity take control. Before your feet could slip off you pushed off of the building. In any other circumstances you'd push out your wings but your back was already in so much pain, so torn up that even as you tried you screamed out. 

It was getting hard to breathe correctly, air violently whipped hair and loose pits of clothing against your falling form. Last thing seen before you closed your eyes was the villains looking at you from over the edge. Accepting your death, you braced for the impact of the ground when you hear a familiar voice yell out your name but you can’t move your head very easily. You tried to push your wings out again but the pain was still too unbearable. Air suffocated you and snuffed out any possibility of screaming. You could hear another name being called out but couldn't quite make out the syllables being used. Even so your heart skipped a beat, from being suffocated or from hope you couldn't tell.

Something hits into the side of you and changes your course of direction. Finally oxygen evenly enters your lung in a burning gasp. Arms braced you under your body and you look to the owner, seeing the very man you never thought you would see in this life again.

"Yeah yeah I got her. You guys can quit being annoying and loud," you heard hollering and whoo-ing quietly come from the earpiece and grumbling from Eraser as he roughly ripped the earpiece out. You giggle quietly emitting a tug of a smile at the corner of his lips. Aizawa gripped onto you tightly as he landed on the ground. He placed you down with such care that you could have cried right then, although tears already were trailing down your face. Reaching your hands out to him, you called his name in your shaky voice over and over again. He pulls you into his chest so you sobbed countless apologies and still call out his name on repeat. Meanwhile he comforted you by petting your head and using his other hand to rub you very sore back and softly shush you. 

“It’s okay Angel. No matter what I’ll always be there to catch you if you fall,” his nickname for you soothes worries but you still shake with post-cry hiccups. You look behind Aizawa to see that Shigaraki and the other villains are gone from the roof with Present Mic on alert for them. You start to clench your hands roughly on to his arms repeating your worries about Shigaraki and his comment. Aizawa pulls you into his chest and rejects the comment and reassures you with his and the team's safety. "They're all okay and waiting to see if you've fallen safely."

“You gave us quite the scare there. I couldn’t keep up with Eraserhead,” a smile, although close-lipped, stretched across your face. On the other hand, Aizawa turned his head with a disdainful look on his face, aimed at the blond who smiled wide. 

“Alright then, let’s take you to Recovery Girl. I need you in the skies again,” Aizawa slid his arms under your legs and behind your back before lifting you up. To help ease any strain you put your arms around his neck, maybe also to feel more of him and watch his back. 

[onthevirgeofdestruction]

Dreaming While I Wake

Sanders Sides Foster Care AU - Roman-centric Angst & Hurt/Comfort & Abuse Recovery

Roman tries to be upbeat and hopeful despite all the shit that’s happened to him. And a lot of shit has. Luckily, his new foster home is with two literal rays of sunshine (and a sarcastic asshole).

Words: 3,314 Triggers: spoilers in warnings Characters: Roman, Thomas Universe: Dreaming While I Wake Genre: Power Angst

Chapter 14 (Check end notes for trigger warnings)

chapter 1 for new readers - ffn mirror

   Roman slowly blinked when he woke up again. It was dim in here and a pleasant temperature. There were soft windy trees and cricket noises playing. Despite the soreness in his everything, it was a pleasant way to wake up. He yawned and blinked the sleep away from his eyes again to try to focus them. He was laying in his own bed at the Sanders’ house, which he was extremely thankful for. Somebody must have closed the curtains for him and put on the noisemaker app. Probably Thomas. He didn’t remember getting back to the Sanders’ house at all, which meant he either blacked out again or fell asleep. It also meant Thomas managed to carry him up the stairs while he was out. Roman knew he didn’t weigh too much, but honestly, he was still a little impressed. He used to have to carry little kids up the stairs to bed all the time and it was hard to balance.

   A glass of water was also left out on his nightstand, which he drank its entirety as soon as he realized it was there. Everything still hurt and he was still tired, but he was awake enough to feel kind of gross. Kind of very extremely gross. He wanted to go take a hot shower. Hopefully, he was still allowed to. He couldn’t be sure since he’d never been punished by them before. Roman couldn’t figure out where the line was, but there’s no way he wasn’t grounded until they kicked him out on Friday. If he was already in trouble, he was already in trouble. He could at least sneak one shower before they had a chance to tell him he couldn’t take a hot one or ban him from the shower altogether.

   He crept out of bed silently, very practiced at this. His feet hurt like shit when he put weight on them, but he couldn’t take being this filthy anymore. He couldn’t make the shower be silent, but nobody would know he was in there until he was already safely locked in the bathroom. He only had one house where they had a key to the bathroom door, and that was kind of a whole fucking deal that he had trouble picturing the Sanders doing. He may have fucked up, but they weren’t that fucked up even in this scenario. Roman shifted and moved silently across the hall to the restroom, locking himself in and turning on the showerhead to start the hot water.

   Roman definitely deserved like seven ass-kickings for ending up at the hospital, though, and he wasn’t sure exactly how that was going to play out. Roman sat in the tub when it was hot enough and showered facing the back to try to keep his feet away from the water as much as he could. They were probably the one thing on him that was clean and Roman knew you had to keep bandaged things dry already, even if he was iffy on why they were bandaged at the moment. He was still half asleep and didn’t really care much about trying to remember something that involved him getting bandaged. Roman cleaned off slowly, and the hot water was amazing on his back.

   What punishments would he get for his stupidity? No food? No showers? Not leaving his room? No electronics? Yard work at 6 AM? A super strict schedule? Tight rules? Yelling? Not leaving their room? Having to go for a run on these bandaged up feet? Nothing fun and he just has to sit there and do nothing? That one’s his least favourite. He’s really, really bad at sitting still and doing nothing. The punishments always got worse after that. Maybe Roman pushed their limits and they will hit him.

   He didn’t want to think about that. Roman was the biggest fuck up in the universe if he could break two nice people like that. Maybe that’s why Virgil does asshole stuff. He’s looking for their limits. It is kind of scary not knowing their boundaries. There’s always some arbitrary line somewhere Roman couldn’t understand. Roman finished off his shower and got dressed in fresh pajamas. Some bandages on his feet were loosened in the shower, but bending forward hurt so much that he couldn’t imagine trying to fix them right now. He cracked open the bathroom door, and nobody was waiting there for him. Maybe Thomas didn’t hear the shower. Roman sneaked back across the hall and into his room, closing the door slowly so it wouldn’t click.

   It was late enough in the afternoon that Roman wasn’t tired anymore, so he needed to do find something quiet to do before he wasn’t allowed to do it anymore. Roman sat on his bed, getting off his feet and looked around the room. He certainly wasn’t doing his homework. If he was going to be banned from doing everything he’d be damned if the last thing he did was homework. Oh, god. He was going to have so much more homework after missing today. How did going for a run escalate so badly? It was just a run! Well, it wasn’t completely just a run. If he didn’t fall asleep under those bleachers and get- Oh god. Roman’s breath hitched with the realization.

   Did- the cops caught him. The cops definitely caught him. Oh, he fucked up really, really bad if the cops got involved. Never involve the cops. Never, ever. No cops, he’d always been told ‘no cops’. He’d learned the ‘no cops’ lesson hard and painfully. And Roman go caught by the cops! Oh shit. Roman pulled his hands through his hair and stared at the floor, started rocking slightly, feeling like he couldn’t process this. He was so overwhelmed. He was caught. It was all too much. There was too much.

   • “Roman?” The bedroom door cracked open as Roman’s heart leaped into his throat. He stared blankly forward and held himself, digging his nails into his arms. “Roman, woah, woah,” Thomas stepped into the room quickly. Everything- everything was too much. “Roman, look at me. Roman, let go, you’re bleeding!” Thomas said, but Roman wasn’t able to respond. He only barely heard the words. “Roman stop scratching! Shit, augh, I’m stopping you, okay?” Thomas pulled Roman’s arms off himself and held them. “Can you hear me?” Roman swallowed, but he couldn’t find it in himself to say anything. He didn’t feel like he was there anymore. Everything felt very distant and surreal.

   “Roman, look at me,” The voice said more firmly. He saw Thomas. “Shit. Okay, hold this,” The voice sounded panicked, and there was something red in front of him. Something put his hands on the thing. “No more scratching, hold the blanket. Do you know where you are?” Where was he? The thing was soft. He examined it. “Can you not talk?” The red fuzzy thing was nice. Roman ran it between his fingers.

   “Pat, he’s not talking, and he’s barely responding. I don’t know what to do. Are you serious? Yeah, okay, I’ll try. Will you please keep your phone with you? Thanks, I’ll let you know. Roman, look at me,” Roman saw Thomas again. “Pat says you might be disassociating. Do you know what that is?” Roman just stared blankly at him. “Would you sing a song with me? I bet you know Oliver & Company,” That tugged at something in him, but he wasn’t sure.

   “One minute I’m in Central Park. Then I’m down on Delancey Street. Said from the Bow’ry to St. Mark’s. There’s a syncopated beat,” He sang. It did sound kind of familiar. “I said, Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo. I’m streetwise. I can improvise. I said, Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo. I’m street-smart. I’ve got New York City heart,” Thomas kept singing. He remembered this song. He liked this song. “Why should I worry?” Roman joined him and Thomas smiled slightly. “Why should I care? I may not have a dime. But I got street savoir-faire,” Roman and Thomas sang together. It almost felt like something clicked in him as they kept singing the song.

   “Are you finally back with me?” Thomas asked after finishing the song. He leaned down to look Roman in the face.

   “I, uh, think so, I’m sorry,” Roman muttered sheepishly.

   “Are you able to tell me what happened?” Thomas asked, looking concerned. “Why you… started doing that?”

   “Th-the cops,” Roman’s breath hitched as he tried to explain and his throat threatened to close on him again.

   “No, they’re not here, you weren’t arrested, you’re not in trouble. You’re perfectly safe,” Thomas insisted. He looked like he meant it, but Roman just couldn’t believe it.

   “The bad stuff can s-still happen a-after the cops leave,” Roman choked out. Like being punished for being caught.

   “No ‘bad stuff’ is happening. You’re safe, I promise. They aren’t coming back and you aren’t being punished,” Thomas insisted again. What? No. No, he didn’t deserve this. He was supposed to be punished. Why wasn’t he being punished? The cops caught him!

   “No, no, I fucked up spectacularly! I deserve it, I do! I don’t deserve all this niceness, Thomas! The cops were involved! I know I deserve-” Roman started rambling and rocking again.

   “Roman, no. Stop. I don’t know what happened, but I don’t think you intended for any of this. Nobody deserves to be hurt over making a mistake,” Thomas said firmly, putting a hand on Roman’s shoulder while he shook.

   “What if it wasn’t a mistake? What if I ran off and committed dangerous crimes intentionally?” Roman said angrily. Why wasn’t he being punished? He was supposed to be punished!

   “Did you?” Thomas looked at him intensely.

   “No! I just ran! Nothing else seemed to make sense at the time!” Roman shot. “You’re just so fucking nice and I don’t deserve any of this and I’ve fucked up so many times already and all this nice stuff freaked me out! It felt like the only thing I could do was run! I was scared! Why aren’t you punishing me?” Roman asked angrily and wrung the blanket in his hands.

   “I mean, I’m not happy you went for a barefoot run in the middle of the night, but it sounds like you weren’t thinking straight. Why do you think you messed up?” Thomas said, not exactly chidingly, but maybe something adjacent to it. Which was still too nice for Roman.

   “I did!” Roman shouted. “33 times! I keep talking back and being rude and upsetting you and Patton and breaking the rules and I made a scene and cost you money and I’m not doing enough around the house and I fought with Virgil and I literally ran away from you yesterday, Thomas! And that’s not counting being caught by the cops and the ER!” Roman could feel the hot tears running down his face.

   “Roman. You’re not in trouble. None of those things are actually problems. Things got out of hand, but it’s not your fault. You haven’t done anything wrong in my eyes,” Thomas said seriously. “Would you have come back when you went for a late-night run?” He asked carefully.

   “I-yeah, I was just so tired. I think I sprinted all the way to the school, I don’t know, it was kind of a blur. I was just taking a break under the bleachers. I passed out, I guess. It was already past dawn when the cop found me and kept trying to wrongfully arrest me,” Roman squeezed the blanket as he tried to explain what happened sheepishly. But Roman barely knew what happened. He just remembered freaking out, running, freaking out, and then everything after that was all fuzzy and garbled and senseless.

   “Wrongfully arrest you?” Thomas asked incredulously, sounding concerned.

   “He didn’t actually catch me breaking any laws and tried to get me to incriminate myself,” Roman mumbled. “I mean I did break curfew and trespass but he didn’t actually see me do any of it. I was always warned about cops like him. I tried to leave and walk home before you should have been up, but he wouldn’t let me go and when he told me to get into his car, I blacked out… I don’t remember much after that,” Roman explained sheepishly, feeling like a fucking idiot, wringing the blanket in his hands.

   “See, you made a bad judgment call, and it spiraled out of hand. I’m here to protect you from things like that. If anything, I’m the one who messed up last night for not making you feel safe enough to come to one of us when you were struggling,” Thomas said, critically of himself. What? That’s the wrong person! Thomas didn’t do anything wrong! Roman fucked up!

   “What? No! I freaked out because you’re so nice and this place is so nice and I just don’t deserve any of it! I’m a bad kid! I’m an awful kid who ran off at one in the morning because I’m so much of a terrible fuck up that I couldn’t take it anymore!” Roman shot bitterly, feeling his eyes burn from the tears that kept escaping despite himself.

   “Why do you think you’re a bad kid? We’ve never told you that,” Thomas asked, looking terribly sad. No!

   “You don’t have to, I already know I am! I’m shit in school, I’m always in the way, I’m annoying, I do stupid shit without realizing, I’m rude, I can’t sleep, I can’t keep track of time, I can’t do anything I’m supposed to do! You have to see it! You have to see I don’t deserve any of this and on Friday send me off to another shit home I actually deserve to be in!” Roman shouted, clenching his fists around the blanket.

   “Like the Halls?” Thomas supplied, his eyebrows furrowed. Roman looked down in shame.

   “Maybe? I don’t know!” Roman choked on a sob. His nails dug in through the blanket, he was grasping it so hard. He felt the tears roll down his face and drop on his blanket and clenched his eyes tightly shut, trying to stop it.

   “Did somebody there pull a gun on you?” Thomas asked and Roman’s eyes shot up to his face in surprise. Thomas looked intensely at Roman and he froze.

   “How-how did…” Roman trailed off. Fuck. Holy fucking shit. “In general, having firearms means you fail the foster care pre-checks,” Roman tried to dodge the question nervously and looked away enough that he wasn’t looking Thomas in the face but still able to keep an eye Thomas’s reactions.

   “What job did you have while you were with the Halls so you could support yourself?” Thomas looked very concerned, and Roman recoiled back slightly. He… he didn’t know what to do. Did Thomas know? He thought no one would ever find out. Nobody was supposed to find out! It was supposed to be a secret Roman was taking to his grave. Roman took a shuddering breath and tried to focus.

   “I… I ran errands for Jet, my older foster brother,” Roman offered. That was close enough, right?

   “Errands that got a gun pulled on you?” Thomas asked, somewhere between disbelieving and distressed.

   “I never meant to hurt anyone. I was just… running errands,” Roman looked down at his hands twisting on the blanket instead of seeing that expression anymore. He swallowed and there was a tense moment of silence between them.

   “Fine, what did your foster brother do for work?” Thomas tried changing tactics. He didn’t look annoyed, but he did look kind of desperate and maybe a little sick. Roman could relate. Though he wouldn’t say ‘kind of’ or ‘a little’ about how he was feeling. Deeply and inconsolably desperate and close to throwing up was much more accurate.

   “He was in sales,” Roman said firmly, shaking a little. That was the truth. He told the truth. It had to be enough.

   “I’m sure that’s what he told you to say. But what did he actually do?” Thomas questioned him again.

   “He sold things that make people happy,” Roman tried dodging the truth again with something else Jet said.

   “Roman, I’m not taking you to the police. You’re not in trouble. It was in the past and it’s staying there. But I’m very worried about what kind of errands they were and I need to be able to take care of you. I can’t do that without knowing what’s going on. What did they make you do?” Thomas sounded really firm and clearly wasn’t going to drop it. Roman didn’t feel like fighting it anymore. He was sick of pretending it never happened or that it was okay.

   “Drugs,” Roman whispered. “I… delivered drugs and made pickups for Jet. I was fast, and they didn’t think to look for kids, so…” Roman trailed off and carefully glanced up for Thomas’s reaction. Thomas’s eyes went wide, and he leaned back slightly, looking completely blindsided.

   “Holy shit, Roman,” Thomas whispered back and Roman broke down crying again. Thomas came forward again and Roman took his shoulder this time. Thomas silently held him for a bit while he cried. It was so relieving to finally admit it, but at the same time, it hurt so bad. Now Thomas finally knew how much of a fuck up he was and he’d make the right choice. But he hated knowing that Thomas knew how bad Roman really was. The crying hurt his ribs, and he kept flinching from the pain, but he just didn’t know how to stop it.

   “Listen, Roman, it wasn’t right that they made you work to pay for yourself, and it wasn’t right that they forced you to go through any of that. You’re not a bad kid for trying to survive in a terrible situation,” Thomas said softly, holding on to him gently. What? No!

   “I am though, people got hurt because of me. You weren’t there, Thomas, you don’t know what I had to do!” Roman cried and clenched Thomas’s shirt tightly. “And there were all kinds of other stuff I did, too, it wasn’t just the drugs! All the talking back and broken rules and-” Roman tried to rattle off the list but Thomas interrupted him.

   “Roman, I think you were unfairly punished for that stuff. And while I don’t know the whole situation, I don’t think it was really your choice if you did what you did to survive. If you really wanted to do it, you wouldn’t be so upset right now. You are not a bad kid. I’m so sorry you’ve had so many voices in your past telling you that you were,” Thomas interjected, and Roman couldn’t help but cry harder. Thomas reached up and rubbed his back. That couldn’t be right and he was so nice and Roman didn’t deserve any of this. He knew he was a bad kid. He thought this could finally be over if he just admitted it to Thomas and he could go be bad with other bad people again like he’s supposed to.

   “I forgive you for anything that happened that you thought hurt our feelings, okay? We were just worried about you. We didn’t mean to make you feel like you did something wrong,” Thomas apologized and it sounded so sincere and…

   “No, no, please,” Roman choked. “I don’t-” Roman tried to stop him.

   “You deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be happy. You deserve food and shelter and clothes being provided for you. You’re a kid, Roman. I’m so sorry you had so many bad things happen in your past that hurt you so badly that you don’t think you should be allowed to be safe and happy,” Roman didn’t have any response to that. Just what felt like painful, unending tears.

personal taglist: @bunny222 @elizabutgayer​ @prinxietyforever @kanene-yaaay-o-retorno

the taglist repository: 

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[eleventhdoctorsangel]

Too young too dumb to know things like love

Summary: I fell from a rift of reality. No memory of what my life was before. The only thing I seem to remember was my name. Now I live with the Winchester, Jack and Castiel. Along with training both Jack and I to become hunter I help Jack control his powers. 

I decided to change out of my clothes while we were coming up with next step of action. I wasn’t the only one Sam, Dean and Jack change out of their suits. I was sitting on the couch in between Jack and Cas. I was helping Jack do more research on the case.  Dean took a beer out from the fridge and opened it. “Can I just say that I’m getting real sick and tired of fighting things that look like other thing?” Dean said as he threw the bottle cap of the beer into the trash. “Maybe the ghoul is this Athena.” Cas suggested. “Yeah. A ghoul who owns a mortuary. That’s smart but.” Sam said. “No. She’s got access to the bodies before they’re ever in the ground. Anything she wants she would just take. She doesn’t have to dig ‘em back up.” Dean said. “Right.” Sam said. “I think I found something. I tracked the plates on the stolen truck from the crime scene and I went through the city’s traffic camera footage and look. This is it.” Jack said turning the laptop around to show Sam and Dean. “From yesterday before the deputy was killed. “ Jack said. “Well then who’s driving?” Dean asked. Jack pressed a key to zoom in. “Holy crap. That’s Dave Mather.” Dean said. “Who?” Sam and Cas asked at the same time. “Dave Mather. Cowboy. Outlaw. One of the Dodge City gang. “ Dean said going up to take a picture off the wall and handed it to Cas. Both jack and I looked at the picture. “He was one of the greatest gunfighters ever. I mean he died in 1886 which makes this a little weird but… Mysterious Dave Mather. I’m gonna get my boots on. One of the best gunslingers ever! Whoo!” Dean said as he hurried out of the room to get his boots on. I couldn’t help but smile and shake my head. “How bad is this going to be?” I asked. “I don’t know but whatever happened you need to stay behind one of us.” Sam told me. I just nodded my head.  “So our ghoul ate some old west gunfighter and stole his face?” Dean asked as he walked back into the room with two guns and handed one to Sam. “That’s what it looks like.” Sam said. “Ha.” Dean laughed. “I think I’ve seen him before. There was a picture at the mortuary. Y/n do you remember?” Jack said. The more that I looked at the picture of him it hit me that there was a picture of him with Athena at the mortuary. “He’s Athena’s boyfriend.” Jack said. We all left the hotel room and got into the impala as we made our way back to the mortuary. Jack, Cas and I stayed in the impala while Sam and Dean went to go talk to Athena. They were gone for about ten minutes before they gave back and told us where Athena told them where Dave went. 

When we got to the bank Dean told me what Sam had already told no matter what happens to stay behind one of them. I stayed close to Jack and Cas like I have been.  I watched as the ghoul walked out of the bank. “Dave Mather. Robbing a bank. That’s a bold move.” Dean said as he pointed his gun a the ghoul. Dave remove the bandanna from his face as he made his way to his car. “You must be the hunter?” Dave said and pointed at Dean. “And you must like to play cowboy.” Dean said. “It’s my favorite suit. You know I like to keep a little piece of old Dave on me just to gnaw on.” Dave said. Sam cocked his gun which made him notice us. Dave laughed. “Let’s make it two, three, four Hunters! And look you have a little shrimp with you.” Dave said as he looked at us.  I knew the little shrimp comment was meant towards me. “Whoo! Must be my birthday.” Dave said. “Look why don’t you come with us someplace else? We can do this quick and quiet.” Sam said. Dave just smirked as he pulled out and a gun making Sam shot at him hitting him in the shoulder. Then a shot out started to happened. I felt Jack grab my hand as pulled me over to the carriage so that we could take cover. “Are you two alright?” Cas asked the two of us. “Yeah.” Jack said and I nodded. “Okay you two stay here.” Cas said. “No, It’s okay. I’ve got this.” Jack said getting up and made his way over to the gunfire. “No Jack. Jack!” Cas said as he went after him. I wanted to go help but I decided it would be best for me to stay where I was since I was safer right here. “Hey!” Jack yelled to catch Dave’s attention. “Jack! Jack!” Cas yelled trying to stop Jack. I looked to see Jack get shot twice. I put my hand to my mouth as I screamed in horror. “What the Hell?” Dave said. Then this surge of energy left Jack making Dave and a security guard from the bank who happened to walked out and the wrong time back. The security guard hit his head on a metal column. I could hear a crack from where I was I knew that it’s wasn’t going to be good. “No.” Jack said as I got out from behind the carriage to go over to where he and Cas were. “Check the guard!” Dean said to Sam as he went after Dave who left on foot. “No!” Jack said as he ran over to guard and I ran after him. The guard was severely bleeding from the back of his head. “Cas I-I didn’t mean to. Castiel you have to heal him.” Jack said look at Cas with a pained looked on his face. Cas kneel down putting a hand on the man’s forehead. I then started to hear a ringing and thunder. Then nothing happened. Cas stood back up and looked at Jack. That is when I grabbed ahold of his hand knowing what Cas was more than likely about to say. “I can’t.” Cas said. “W- why not?” Jack asked. Sam checked to see if the guard had a pulse. “He’s dead.” Sam said as he looked up at us. I felt Jack squeeze my hand tightly. 

After making an excuse of what happened we went back to the hotel. I stayed close to Jack because I knew that he was still really upset about what happened. We were still holding hands and my head was on his shoulder. It started to storm. I could tell that Sam, Dean and Cas were watching us as I comforted Jack. “Come on you two. We’re heading back to the bunker.” Cas said as he walked up to us. I looked over to Cas and nodded. “Come on Jack you heard Cas. It’s going to be fine.” I said as I took my head off of shoulder. Jack looked at me giving me a small nod and got up from the couch getting his things ready. I followed right behind him and packed. Dean left to go take care of Dave while Sam, Cas, Jack and I got in another car and started to journey back to the bunker. Jack and I both sat in the back seat for the ride we still were holding hands. Jack has barely let my hand go since it happened. I saw Sam look back to us. “Jack you uh. You okay?” Sam asked. Jack didn’t say anything he just keep looking forward. “Jack. I’ve killed people who didn’t deserve it my friends. I’ve killed people I loved. I wish I could tell you that it- that it gets easier that with time it hurts less but that would be a lie because it never gets easier. And those moments they never stop hurting. But that doesn’t mean that you should stop fighting. Doesn’t mean that just because you made a mistake and that’s what this is Jack. It’s a mistake. That doesn’t believe that you can’t- can’t be better do better. I believe that. I have to believe that.” Cas said. “And we still believe in you Jack. We uh-.” Sam said. “ Stop. Just. Please Stop.” Jack said as he squeezed my hand tightly. 

The rest of the ride was quiet. By the time we arrived back to the bunker dean told us that he got ride of the ghoul with the help of another officer.  Dean didn’t come back until, the afternoon of the next day. Jack hasn’t let me leave his side. He pushed Sam and Cas away whenever they tried to talk to him about what happened. Jack and I were sitting at a table by ourselves. Jack’s arms were crossed on the talbe and I had one arm linked with his and my head was on his shoulder. I heard the door open then closed. “Hey.” I heard Sam say to dean. “Hey.” Dean said back as he was coming down the stairs. “How’d it go?” Sam asked him. “Usual. Killed the bad guy saved the girl. “Dean said. “What about the uh-?” Sam asked. “Took care of it.” Dean said. “Good.” Sam said. “Good? How is that good? I killed someone.” Jack said getting up and started to walk towards the guys. I got up and followed him in hopes to calm him down if this goes south. “What was his name? The guard? Did he have a family?” Jack asked as he climb down the few steps that lead to where the guys were. I was standing by his side. “Jack don’t do this to yourself.” Cas said. “No did he?” Jack asked. “Yes he did.” Dean said. I went to grab his hand but he yanked it away before I could. “Jack look this life what we do it’s- it’s not easy. And we’ve all done things we regret.” Sam said as he walked slowly towards Jack. “Just don’t.” Jack said angrily. Sam put in hands up in defeat and slowly back away. “You’re afraid of me.” Jack said as his voice started to break. “Jack no.” Cas said. Jack turned around slowly walking away. “Jack please.” I said. “No maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m just another monster.” Jack said with a pained look on his face. “Jack no you are no monster do you hear me.” I said as I slowly walked towards him. “Just stand back y/n please.” Jack said making me stop in my tracks as tears started to form in my eyes. “No you’re not. I thought you were. I did. But. Like Sam said we’ve all done bad. We all have blood on our hands. So if you’re a monster we’re all monster.” Dean said walked over towards us. “No you don’t. Every time I try and do something good people get hurt. I thought I was getting better. I’m not…I don’t know what I am but I know I can’t make the world a better place not like this. I can’t even do one good thing. And I know that if I stay I’m gonna hurt you. All of you. And I can’t. You’re all I have. “Jack said. By then tears were running down my face.  “Jack listen.” Sam said. “I have to go.” Jack said. “No Jack.” Cas said. “Jack please don’t.” I pleaded. “I’m sorry.” Jack said as he raised his hand.

I was flung back and was slammed against the floor as I heard a whooshing sound. “Jack.” Cas said. The guys all got up and started looking for jack while I stayed on the floor in tears. “Jack!” Cas yelled.  “He’s gone.” Sam said standing were jack just was. I started to cry and that is when Sam came over to me. “Hey it’s ok y/n.” Sam said kneeling down to me pulling me into his chest as I cried. “I have you. It’s ok we’re going to find him ok.” Sam said putting a hand in my hair and started to stork my hair in hopes to calm me down. I felt Sam pick me up setting me in a chair that was by the table he and Cas were just sitting out. “Are you hurt kiddo?” Dean said as he walked over to me. I shook my head as I continued to look down at the ground. “Look at me y/n.” Dean said as he kneeled in front me. I looked up at him with hair front of one side of my face. Dean reached out and moved the hair that had fallen in front of my face so he could see my face clearly. “Jack is just upset about what happened ok. We are going to find him. Everything is going to be fine.” Dean said. I nodded. Dean kissed my forehead. 

Taglist: @darkqueennox​

Overall taglist: @the-broken-halo-writer​

[kimjongdaely]

The Masquerade [Chapter 2]

All members; EXO

Genre: Mystery, horror, choose your own adventure

Warnings: Violence, blood, language, character death

Summary: What started as a fun Halloween masquerade turns out to be much darker than you thought. With all these masks, how do you know who is friend and who is foe?

Invitation│Chapter 1│Chapter 2│Chapter 3│Chapter 4│Chapter 5│ Chapter 6│Chapter 7│Chapter 8│Chapter 9│Chapter 10│Chapter 11

Your head is foggy when you wake up. You blink, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling, finding yourself in an unfamiliar room, on an unfamiliar bed.

You sit up, your head heavy over your shoulders like a rock. You try to shake the grogginess away, blinking at your surroundings. Where are you? How did you get here?

You’re still in your costume, the mask still over your face. You don’t seem to be hurt. Looking to your left, you find a note at the bedside table.

Picking it up, it has the same handwriting and stamp as your invitation. It reads:

Dear esteemed guest,

Congratulations! You have been chosen. I do apologize sincerely for any inconvenience. Please make your way to the lobby for further instructions.

Love,

K

Utterly confused, you place the note back, beginning to make your way outside. Your legs feel like lead, your head still spinning just the slightest bit. You struggle down the stairs, holding the handrail tightly so you don’t slip and fall.

The mansion now is strangely quiet.

It’s hard to think, but the note resurfaces in your mind. What does it mean by “you have been chosen?” A sense of dread emerges, along with a sharp pang of panic which you try hard to push away.

Panicking will hardly help you.

There must be some sort of explanation. A special event? You frown at the thought, hardly thinking drugging people can be excused by that.

Glancing out the window, you find the night like a cage, an eternal being that has you in its claws.

You shiver, quickening your pace.

Upon entering the lobby, you find nine other people present. They are all men, wearing different costume and masks. They speak in hushed voices, also seeming confused and disoriented.

They pause when you enter, their masked eyes watching you closely. You manage a small smile, approaching them. “H-Hello. Does anyone know what happened?”

“You were drugged too?” One of them asks, a man wearing a red, feathered mask of a bird, its beak protruding and curving downwards. He is the tallest among the men, voice deep and laced with slight panic.

You nod grimly, scanning the men.

The speakers crackle to life, making you jump. The female voice returns.

“Welcome.” She says pleasantly. “I’m sure you’re all confused.”

“Hell yeah.” One of them says, a growl in his voice. He wears a mask that resembles a butterfly, sparkly and elaborate in its design. “What did you do to us? Why are we here?”

The voice chuckles. “Relax, my friend. I will explain. The ten of you have been chosen by me personally to become part of my very special game.”

“Game?” Another asks, mask pure white, resembling the feathers of a swan. His voice is soft and scared.

“That’s right.” She answers pleasantly. “The rules are simple: survive. You will stay here until Halloween. Each day, one of you will receive special directions, which you must keep secret and tell no one. You must use that day to complete the mission. You will be punished if you don’t. You must also keep your masks on throughout, and can only take it off during the night when you are sleeping. One of you have already received further directions.”

You glance around at the men, who do the same to each other. Everyone is eyeing each other suspiciously, warily. 

“What punishment will we receive if we fail?” You ask, looking for the source of the voice, though you know clearly she is not in the room, or even in the mansion.

She pauses, her voice dropping into an eery whisper. “You will be killed.”

The air stills, your breath stuck in your throat as the words register in your mind. Your companions break into a chaos of panic, yelling curses at the speakers.

“Like hell I’m staying here for this bullshit!” One of them hollers, turning around and stomping towards the main entrance. It’s locked, which is not surprising. You watch him struggle with the doorknobs, kicking and cursing at the door.

“Now, now.” The voice says. “Let’s not be hasty. You cannot leave here. No windows or doors can be open, try as you may. Your only option is to play, if you want to live.”

“What kind of a sick joke is this?” Another man screams at the ceiling, searching frantically for the source. “Let us out!”

“I assure you, this is no joke.” She chuckles. “You will soon see. Now, I must leave you here. I’d recommend you get to know each other better.” With that, the speakers are turned off.

“Don’t fuck with me!” One of them kicks at the ground, curling his fingers into a tight fist.

You try to breathe, trying to stop the trembles that wrack your body. What the hell is this? She can’t be serious, right? No one is actually going to die, right?

You glance at the men again, wondering which of them has today’s mission. You wonder what it is. It can’t be that bad, right? It must be just some silly prank.

“How about...” You speak up, all eyes turning towards you. You swallow thickly. “Let’s start with names?”

“Are you serious?” One of them asks you incredulously. “You’re going to listen to what that crazy bitch says?”

“I-I don’t know.” You say, taking a step back meekly. “But...do we have a choice?”

“We’re in this together, right?” The man with the swan mask says softly. “We’re going to work together, so we should trust each other. My name is Yixing.”

The man with the red bird huffs, crossing his arms. “Chanyeol.”

The one with a butterfly mask says, “Jongdae.”

You learn that Baekhyun is the one with a dog-like mask, Sehun with an extravagant gold one, Kyungsoo with a simple black one, Junmyeon with a white one with rabbit ears, Jongin with a bear-like one, and Minseok with an snow-themed one.

They seemed to have calmed down a slightly after the introductions, everyone falling silent to process the situation.

You sink your teeth into your lip, wondering what to do now. One of them has to have the mission. Perhaps you can get hints on what it is, talk about it secretly. K can’t possibly be able to see or hear everything. You have to be smart about this.

You observe the men carefully. Jongdae, Minseok and Baekhyun are huddled together, whispering quickly amongst each other. Sehun, Jongin, Kyungsoo and Yixing are in another huddle. Chanyeol observes the windows and doors, looking for a way out. Junmyeon just looks lost, his head hanging low, his whole body frozen.

You wonder who you should approach.

Here’s your first choice! Who do you think has the first mission? Send in your votes!

Previous Chapter│Next Chapter

The Masquerade Mini Masterlist

A/N: Whoo hoo! First choice of the fic. I hope you’ll enjoy this game! And try not to die :)

Tagged: @always-wishing-for-rain @fairyyeols @yehettomyheart @foreverloey @trishmarieco @writingstuffandmore @thalasoophilia @ilovexiu @twentyfifththought @guardians-of-exo @hour127 @chensuggababy @wylke @dear-fake-diary @meryljill-111192 @pastel-kpop​

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©kimjongdaely

[chemicalmagecraft]

Taiyuu High OCT Audition

@taiyuu-high-oct

In a building erected in a fake city on an island that wasn't there a year ago, a horde of teenagers had gathered in front of a nervous-looking deer-man holding a microphone.

"Th-thank you all for coming today," the deerlike man in the suit said. "Today, you will take part in the entrance examination for Taiyuu High." The crowd of assembled hero hopefuls cheered. "Please, allow me to finish! I see that everyone is eager to begin, but before that I need to explain the rules of the exam!" After the examinees quieted down, he took a deep breath and continued. "Why couldn't Chikyu have done this... Thank you. Now, the entrance exam is, for lack of a better term, an obstacle course. Each examinee must do their best to reach the finish line. You may attack or purposefully hinder your fellow examinees, but you are also allowed to to help each other as well. The boundary of this obstacle course is the entirety of this facility, so please don't leave the building. If you do, you will be disqualified. Now that I have said that, the exam will begin shortly! Please wait behind the starting line and ready yourselves until that time." The deer-man sighed and scampered off.

The examinees gladly lined up, a general aura of excitement falling over the crowd. One examinee in particular was especially excited. Inoue Hiraku, a green-eyed boy wearing a lime green tie-dye t-shirt, gym shorts, and steel-toed boots. He had a cocky grin as he walked to the start, his stride just fast enough that he made it to the front of the crowd. "My Quirk was made for this!" he boasted. Hiraku did a few stretches before taking a deep breath.

A deep, deep breath.

He breathed in and in and in, inhaling more air than a regular human could possibly hold. The force of his sucking was so great that the examinees around him felt the draft. "Wh-what's up with your arms?" one of the examinees next to him, a nervous-looking boy with purple-black hair and black x eyes, asked, pointing to one of the many small holes that littered the surface of his skin. Almost all of the holes were hissing slightly, like they were sucking in air. Which they were.

Hiraku chuckled nervously. "My valves. Freaky, right? That's Mutant Quirks for ya!"

"Go," a lackadaisical woman's voice sounded from the speakers.

"Ch-chikyu!" the deer-man from earlier shouted. "You have to give them a countdown!"

"Pssh, you don't get countdowns in real life. Now what are you guys waiting for? Go!"

The deer-man's long-suffering sigh could be heard from the speakers. "Just... just start already."

Hiraku stopped inhaling, started running, and then exhaled. Specifically, he exhaled through some of the valves on his arms, legs, and back, propelling himself forward with jets of pressurized air. Hiraku sprinted toward the first obstacle, which appeared to be stairs, using his air jets. At the same time, he sucked some air in from the valves he wasn't using for propulsion. He couldn't breathe in nearly as well while using his air jets even though he'd been practicing specifically that, but it wasn't that much of a concern at the moment. Hiraku could hold a lot of air in his lungs. After all, breathing was basically his Quirk, Pneuma. With the speed his Quirk gave him, he approached the stairs within seconds. The way the stairs were arranged, one set of stairs leading up to another so that it slowly led up to the next obstacle, almost reminded Hiraku of the first level of Donkey Kong. All it was missing was...

Holes opened up in the walls at the top and bottom of each staircase. And there came the barrels. "Are they even allowed to do that?" Hiraku thought to himself. He shrugged, then charged forward. Instead of actually taking the stairs, though, he jumped, sending blasts of air from his palms and through the holes Hana-kun had strategically drilled in the bottoms of his shoes to boost him higher. When he landed halfway up the obstacle, he jumped again, landing him on the other side of the Donkey Kong stairs. He took a moment to catch his breath before continuing on to the next obstacle, which was a hallway with those column things with spinning bars on them meant to hit you that you sometimes see in training courses in movies that Hiraku didn't know the name of or even if they a name.

"C'mon, that's so cliché," Hiraku muttered.

"I know, right?" a girl's voice said. Hiraku jumped and turned to see a blue-and-white-haired girl with what looked like a lollipop in her mouth. He felt like he'd seen her somewhere before. Maybe when he accompanied Mom to the hospital? She nodded at him, then jumped on top of one of them. The girl bunny-hopped from column-thing to column-thing.

Hiraku shrugged. "I can do that." He took a deep breath, then shot up, landing on top of one of the columns before jumping again. This time, he angled his jets more horizontally, throwing himself most of the way through the gauntlet. He missed the column he was aiming for, though. "Shoot!" he said. After a moment of panic, he pointed his hands and feet at the ground. He shot jets of air from each, blasting himself up before got hit by the spinner thing. "Double jump!" he shouted as he landed on a column on the edge of the hallway. He jumped off, using a small burst of air to cushion his fall as he landed on a ramp down to the next obstacle. Hiraku kept up a steady, low-pressure stream of air that he'd figured out made the ground under his feet slippery, like air hockey or one of those hovercraft things. He took the opportunity to take a couple deep breaths. The good thing about hovering was that it was a lot easier to breathe in using low-pressure air while not moving than with high-pressure air while running, though at the same time he couldn't quite use other air jets very well while focusing on hovering.

Hiraku let himself slide down the ramp, picking up speed. The next obstacle looked like it was a maze. The walls were tall, but not too tall that he couldn't get up there. Hiraku thought back to when the deer man told them the rules. "If the entire building is in bounds..." he muttered. "Idea!" He leaned forward with a grin, aiming for the wall. When the ground started to even out, he switched to air jet-powered running. "Haaaaaaaagh!" Instead of ramming into the wall and failing miserably, he jumped and started running up it. He used his air jets to keep himself going up. It was close, but Hiraku managed to grab the top of the wall before he started falling. He panted for a few moments, building air pressure back up, before swinging himself up with a jet or two. "Man, that was awesome!"

"MOTION DETECTED," a robotic voice said. Hiraku saw what looked like a robot skeleton on another maze wall in front of him. The robot pointed a gun with a large barrel at him.

"Please tell me that just shoots bean bags..." he muttered.

"DO NOT WORRY, THIS IS AN AIR CANNON."

Hiraku grinned. "Really? I have one of those too!" He pointed his palm at the robot. "Pneumatic Cannon!" A high-pressure blast of air shot from not just the robot's cannon but also the enlarged holes in Hiraku's hand. The two blasts of air hit each other, cancelling out. Of course, Hiraku had another hand. "Yeet!" The robot was sent flying off the top of the wall, breaking over the corner of yet another wall. Hiraku chuckled and started jumping across the maze, moving forward over the maze much fast than he would've been able to from within it. Occasionally he had to destroy some robots, but that wasn't too difficult. About midway through the maze, Hiraku saw the blue-haired lollipop girl from earlier. There was a robot behind her that she didn't seem to have noticed. He shot himself at it, hitting it with a jet-enhanced kick. Its head came clean off.

"Thanks," she said. "Name's Tokachi Ameko." She jumped off before Hiraku could actually tell her his name...

Hiraku shrugged and continued on with the maze. He didn't have any actual trouble with it. The robots were really easy to break and his Quirk made it pretty much impossible for him to fall unless he did something really stupid. He stopped when he got to the end, though. "Water," Hiraku sighed, "my old enemy." A large pool filled the rest of the course, several platforms floating on its surface. It looked like it was a wave pool, too...

Someone behind him snorted. "How is water your enemy?" a guy with blue-and-purple wings asked.

"Well you see, a long time ago the water tried to kill me and I haven't forgiven it since."

The guy winced. "Sorry."

Hiraku chuckled. "S'cool." He surveyed the area while the winged guy jumped off. Hiraku did not want to get near the water if he could help it. "C'mon, there's gotta be a..." There.

Hiraku ran to the walls above one of the exits. It had a stretch of hallway leading up to it, which meant he could use it for a running leap. He grinned as he took a deep breath, then gunned his jets. He dashed forward, and when he reached the end he launched himself into the air. "Wahoooooooo!" he shouted, the water rushing by below him. He breathed in with his whole body. "This is awesome!" He double jumped when he started to get too low, then his eyes widened when he realized he was almost to the ground but still coming in hot. "OH SHOOT!" He panicked for a moment before shooting his hands out in front of him. He took in a deep breath before shooting his jets, slowing himself down. Before he hit the ground, he tucked himself into a roll, just like Hana-kun taught him. He sprang onto his legs with a light jet boost and ran the last few meters before the finish line. "Whoo! he shouted as he slowed down and started panting. He looked at the screen by the finish line, which showed him his time, and grinned. "Yeah, that's probably good."

[jadekitty777]

Who Needs Gifts When We Have Love?

Finally, after all this time, the long awaited second chapter of the Summer/Tai/Qrow mini series is up. Technically, I just ended up dropping what I planned for the original ‘ending’ (of which will become super obvious what it was when you read this). I may finish that part later, but it was hanging me up way too much and I didn’t want this series to just go on an eternal hiatus because of it. 

Rating: M

Word Count: 3,500

Pairing: Summer/Tai/Qrow

Ao3 Link: Who Needs Gifts When We Have Love?

Summary: Qrow didn't really care for the fanfare involved with birthdays, especially his own. Luckily, Summer and Tai's combined creative efforts made it much more bearable.

Qrow hated birthdays.

It came to no surprise to him that all the main ‘traditions’ tied to a birthday came from Atlas – as if the overly commercialist kingdom didn’t have enough money to fatten their prestigious family’s wallets with. There had to be cake with your name on it, an expensive dinner out, enough colorful balloons and streamers to make a person go blind – and one could definitely not forget the “perfect” gift, as if there really was such a thing or, even if there was, that it could be found every single year. It felt like a bunch of frivolous fanfare.

So, he hated birthdays. Especially his own.

Except, it wasn’t his “own” – and that made it infinitely worse because it only served as a reminder of the missing presence in his life.

Despite his misgivings though, it didn’t seem to stop Tai and Summer from breaking the rules, in their own way. They didn’t cook his favorite dinner, they cooked his second or his third. There was no cake, but plenty of cookies to go around for the next week. They never gave him anything wrapped up with a neat little bow on top, but they did ask what he wanted to do and then followed through with as many extreme measures as they were allowed.

So, his request for ‘a quiet night in’ equated to dropping Ruby and Yang off at a babysitter’s house.

Don’t get him wrong, he loved those scamps with all his heart – but some days their energy was a bit… much. So just one night away from any father-uncle responsibilities was definitely a treat. He also figured this was the only ‘gift’ his partners had planned for him.

The bouquet of sunflowers sitting on the front step to the house seemed to laugh at him and his gullibility.

He looked to the woman beside him. “Summer.”

She looked back at him, her mask of innocence doing nothing to convince him she wasn’t up to something. “Oh my! Look at this lone bouquet just sitting out here for you, completely unprecedented and without a clear reason!”

“Summer.” He repeated.

She fluttered her eyelashes at him. “You should really pick it up.”

Damn her for being pretty. “I swear, those eyes of yours are lethal weapons.”

“Was that a pun?”

For the good of his own sanity, he absolutely refused to answer that. God knows what mileage Tai would get out of it if she told him. He leant over to pick up the vase and discovered that pinned underneath it was a note. A single instruction was written on it:

Follow the trail.

He rose an eyebrow at that but it wasn’t until he opened the door that the direction became clear, as from the doorway to up the stairs was a trail of white rose petals. He imagined he knew where it was leading, but he questioned anyways, “What are you two up to?”

“Something you’ll really like.” Summer said, practically bouncing with excitement. When he only hummed uncertainly, she added, “Come on, have we ever let you down before?”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything.” He snickered as she gave a little huff, shoving him forward. Obediently, he started to follow the rose petals, hearing the door shut behind him before Summer was trotting along after him. As expected, they led to their bedroom, but instead of them ending at the bed, they continued into the bathroom.

The door was open but the light was off – yet a warm, orange glow still emitted from within, beckoning him towards it. Curiosity growing, he headed that way, setting the bouquet on the dresser as he passed by it. “Tai?” He called.

“Welcome back!” Was the returned greeting.

Qrow stopped where the trail did, right at the door’s threshold, sucking in a surprised breath.

The room had been meticulously transformed with strings of winter holiday lights carefully tacked around the walls. Candles were perched in various places, including the counter, the windowsill, and the tank top of the toilet. They emitted a gentle but familiar vanilla scent he was particular too. Tai was lounging back in their oversized tub, the water filled three-fourths up but seeming much higher with all the bubbles. And it was in that Qrow finally understood his real surprise.

Having grown up washing in cold rivers and lakes, he hadn’t had the pleasure of knowing what a warm shower was until he went to Beacon. It was even longer before he’d been introduced to a bath, but it instantly became his preferred method of bathing. Something about being able to lounge in a vat of pure warmth was so undeniably relaxing. He figured that nothing could top it until Summer learned of his fondness for them and, on a whim, imported specialty bubble bath mix from Atlas. Qrow was instantly enamored, the experience stirring something almost childlike in him as he popped the shiny spheres between his hands and made bubble beards and crowns. From that day on, he would have gladly run a bubble bath every day; but because it was both expensive and fairly hard to find a supplier, he’d limited running the bubbles for special occasions or those particularly trying days.

“So?” Tai tilted his head towards him, grinning in that excited way he got whenever he felt he was pleasing one of them. “What do you think?”

Qrow wanted to tell him he loved it. That it was the best gift either of them could have given him. But, years of poor social skills meant he still wasn’t particularly good at expressing his gratitude, which was why he waved at the candles and said, “I think this might be a bit of a fire hazard.”

Something wet and cold hit the back of his neck, making him jump. He whirled around, seeing Summer grinning at him, a pseudo-weapon aimed his way. “Don’t worry, we’ve got your semblance covered.”

“Is that a water gun?” Qrow exclaimed, only to yelp when another blast hit him right on the ass. He shot a scowl over his shoulder.

“Two water guns.” Tai winked at him. Where had he even been hiding it? “So now that you have nothing to worry about, get in here!”

“Or what?” He challenged.

The blond rose an eyebrow, his gaze sliding to the one behind him. “Summer?”

“Barrage him.” She said gleefully.

And then Qrow was being pelted from both sides by blasts of cold water. He quickly rose up his arms in a poor attempt at guarding, laughing all the while. “Alright, alright you heathens!”

The moment they let up, he reached over his shoulder to grab the back of his shirt, yanking it up and over his head. The move earned him an appreciative wolf whistle.

“Whoo! Yeah, baby!” Summer catcalled. “Take it off!”

He threw his shirt in her face.

“Ack!”

“You’re terrible.” He told her, toeing off his shoes and unfastening his belt simultaneously.

It was her turn to wink as she started to undo the ties on her corset. “Is it truly such a crime to marvel at a work of art?”

“If so, then guess you’ll just have to lock me up.” He countered, deliberately roving his eyes over her.

“Oh I’d never miss the opportunity to put you in handcuffs.”

Before he could think up a fitting comeback, a snort drew his attention behind him. Tai had propped his arms over the rim of the tub, an amused smile gracing his features as he watched them try to out flirt each other.

It hadn’t always been like this; in fact, when Summer and he first started dating, she would get so easily flustered by even his weakest of lines that she usually just spluttered her way into an embarrassed silence. Qrow had thought it was cute, so he kept up the charade, even made a bit of a game of it to see how fast he could make her go from collected to bashful. But Summer wasn’t Summer if she didn’t try to rise to a challenge – and soon enough she started to return as much as she was given. It eventually developed into somewhat of a couples’ quirk of theirs, so commonplace he usually didn’t realize when they were doing it anymore.

Having joined them later on, Tai didn’t tend to participate but at least he was never short on entertainment.

“See something you like sunshine?” Qrow asked, shimmying out of his pants.

He smirked. “Quite.”

His socks were the last thing to go. He padded over the tile, taking that first, wonderful step into the tub, sighing contently as he sunk into the water. Tai adjusted to lean against the back, holding his hands towards him, an invitation Qrow couldn’t ignore as he slid over. There was always something immensely comfortable about having the brawler’s arms wrap around him. Toned from years of training, they just seemed to completely envelope his thinner frame, the strength and security it invoked undeniable.

Which made it rather ironic that despite being built like a tree, at heart, he was the biggest softie. Qrow didn’t have to even wonder whose plan this whole set up was. When it came to romance, Summer and he had always kept things simple – she would have stopped at just the bath; but welcoming Tai to their relationship had also meant welcoming his eye for more grandiose gestures. That sometimes equated to waking up to toast cut into heart shapes or finding love notes in his pack long after he’d left for a mission. Or, in this case, petal trails, candles and mood lighting.

“Gotta say,” Qrow said, relaxing against the other. “This isn’t too shabby for a gift.”

“Gift? What gift? Are we celebrating something?” Tai replied with a tone of mock-innocence.

He rolled his eyes, kissing away the other’s teasing grin.

The door was shut, encasing them in the candle and string light’s yellow-orange glow, reflecting off the bubbles rather dazzlingly. The two of them made room, Qrow silently glad Tai had splurged for a larger tub as Summer was able to settle in easily with them.

“This is so nice.” She commented, sinking down.

A few nudges had Qrow shifting around in Tai’s arms until they were back to chest. “Want to come over here?”

She answered by sidling right up against him, tucking her head in the dip of his clavicle. She was just above the water and her hair, free from its typical rose bun, floated around her shoulders like a fan. It was tempting him to run his fingers through it, so he did.

“So, after the bath, we have a little proposition for you.” She said.

Every word ghosted along his neck, making him shudder. “Oh?”

She walked her fingers up the center of his chest, saying, “Tai and I were talking and we realized how long it’s been since we’ve had a three-way. Even longer since you’ve been in the middle.”

Qrow snorted down a laugh. “Oh, so the flowers were supposed to lead to the bed.”

Tai nipped his ear. “There are some on the bed, thank you very much.” Of course there was. He should have never doubted. “Anyways, it’s only if you feel up to it. We just don’t get this opportunity often.”

Didn’t he know it. Between full time jobs, long missions away, and two tykes that could drain the energy out of the sun, it was a miracle just to get time away for just himself – and sometimes he was too exhausted for even that. When they were desperate for a little downtime together, often, they appointed one of them to watch the kids for a time so two of them could slip away. But all three of them? He could count the instances on his own two hands – which, for a four-year relationship, was a ridiculously pathetic number.

So, with the very idea stirring arousal through him, it really wasn’t a question he had to think hard about to answer. “’Course I’m up for it. But, Gods be damned, I’m enjoying the bath first.”

They both laughed, their joy reverberating through him from either side. Summer kissed the side of his jaw. “Of course.”

~

“Why don’t you two go get comfortable while I clean up in here?” Summer offered, maneuvering carefully to wind the towel around herself without elbowing one of them.

They’d been fortunate so far that nothing had caught fire, but since luck was bound to run out, Qrow certainly wouldn’t argue putting out all the candles before they got into it. Not that there wasn’t a little foreplay in the bath anyways – it was hard to avoid, with their hands all over each other and the promise of what was to come lingering in their imaginations. Still, it felt a little unfair to have their wife do all the work. “You sure?”

“Mmhm.” She strung out her hair over the tub, a small rainfall pouring down. “It won’t take more than a few minutes. Go have fun.”

As Tai finished tousling his hair, the wet strands sticking up at odd angles, he replied, “Now that’s an offer I won’t refuse.”

It was hard to say if it was from the door he just opened or the way the blond aimed him with a hungry gaze, either way Qrow felt shivers running down his spine. “Yeah, alright.” Not about to be outdone, he turned and headed into the room, unnecessarily swaying his hips as he did so. The swift, harmless swat to his ass told him the motion did not go unnoticed. “Hey careful now. You’re about to use those goods.”

Tai chuckled. “Sorry, want me to kiss it better?”

That wasn’t a half bad idea. But as he approached their bed, he found himself distracted by a small, colorful array left in the center of his pillow. Flowers, just as promised. But not just any flowers; Dahlias. One white, one black, and one yellow, neatly tied together with a blue ribbon. It was one of the few plants he knew what they were meant to symbolize.

Qrow was not a romantic, that was as true as the sky was blue.

But once upon a time, he tried to be.

When he and Summer had first started to date, nothing had changed incredibly much about their lives – except their days were filled with a lot more kissing and sneaking away between (or sometimes during) classes for a quick romp in the dorm. They didn’t even really go out that often; since they already saw each other every day, it felt arbitrary to ‘make time’ for just each other. It was comfortable and easy. But on the anniversary of his and Summer’s first date, he had wanted to do something she’d never expect. Because somewhere along the way he’d done something stupid.

He’d fallen in love with her.

And like all idiots who fell in love, Qrow was swept away with the desire to tell her in the most memorable way possible. What better way to do that then to give his Rose a rose?

When he dragged Tai along for his ‘expert’ opinion and told him his idea, he was quickly shot down.

“What do you mean it’s a terrible idea? Roses are practically the romantic flower queen!” Qrow had argued, shoving a fistful of them right in his face.

Tai’s eyes continued to judge him over the tops of the blooms. “Buddy, if you want her to know you put exactly zero thought into this, then give her roses.”

“Well what would you do Casanova?”

He hummed, giving the shop a once over, before laser focusing on one corner of the room. “Oh, over here!”

Qrow grunted as he was dragged by his elbow to another display of flowers. They came in a variety of colors, with tall stems and petals that burst out in multiple layers. He recognized them quickly, as the tribe would collect them occasionally. The roots were thick like potato tubers and very sweet. They were useful for a kick of energy during seasons in which they didn’t have much food. He didn’t know anything beyond that. But that was why Tai was here – back where he was from, his family owned a flower shop. He had a fairly detailed knowledge on the whole ‘symbolism’ matter.

“Dahlias?” He asked.

“Yeah, they’re a wedding flower.”

His heart practically jogged a marathon. “What?! Dude! I’m not proposing!”

Tai laughed, already plucking two out from their vases. “I know, I just wanted to mess with you. But the reason they’re a wedding flower is because they stand for loyalty and commitment.” He held them towards him; a white one and a bloom so deep red, it appeared almost black. “Tie these two together with a blue ribbon and that’ll tell her you want to make this serious.”

He didn’t have to guess why the ribbon had to be blue. That was a Mistralian custom. Many that hailed from there were told the same folktale about how the sea and the sky once were colorless and sad, until they fell in love. They began to stretch, on and on, to try and reach one another. When they finally touched, making the horizon, they turned blue and from their love, they birthed the continents.

He knew now that was all utter nonsense – but the tale was practically the foundation for the culture of his people. From the fact parents still named their children after things either of the water or the sky to the very shade of their Kingdom’s symbol, blue would likely always be Mistral’s most significant color. Therefore, giving something blue to a significant other was meant to represent that they had the same unending love for them that the sky and the sea had.

So, he did what Tai suggested – and while the flowers didn’t last long, his and Summer’s relationship did, growing and thriving. Every year, he still gave the dahlia pair to her on the anniversary of their first date. They’d become so iconic, something that represented them, that she’d even had fake ones sewn to her wedding dress. Her bouquet had real ones and had been tied together with a big, blue ribbon.

They had planned to have some yellow ones strewn in with the black and white ones, but Tai had been adamantly against it, not wanting to step into their tradition like that. So, they had let it be, and settled on sunflowers instead.

It seemed something had finally changed his mind.

Qrow picked up the mini bouquet, smiling as he ghosted a thumb over the velvet soft petals. “You know, someone once told me that giving these flowers away means you want to be with them forever.”

“Oh really?” Tai loosely wound his arms around his waist. “Must have been someone pretty smart.”

He gave a thoughtful hum. “He was blond; so no, not really.”

A swift nip to his shoulder reprimanded him. “I changed my mind, you jerk. Give them back.”

“No. They’re mine.” He said holding them to his chest. He squirmed as Tai wiggled his fingers up his stomach, making a move to grab them. He slapped them. “Go away!”

“Not until I get my flowers.”

One of those hands started to tickle his side, and he burst into laughter, trying to twist away as the other came to loot him again. He pinned it. “Get your own thief! I’m – WAAH!”

Qrow’s vision swiveled around as he was suddenly hefted up like a bride and tossed onto the bed. He tried to scoot backwards and out of reach, but Tai was quicker, climbing up on top of him and pinning him down as he demanded, “Give me those flowers!”

“Never!” He proclaimed, throwing his arm up above his head. When Tai tried to stretch over him, he grabbed his shoulder, pushing him back. He was satisfied when he felt fingers only skim his elbow. “You’re gonna have to do better than th-”

The rest of his taunt was lost when Tai smashed their lips together, forcing his tongue into his mouth. Not that Qrow was complaining, eyes slipping closed as he was coaxed into returning the kiss. A moment later, they were easing up, falling into a rhythm only two people could have from doing this more times than they could count.

When they broke apart, Tai’s voice was husky and his eyes were dark, a storm of passion in those deep blue irises. “What say we see how far down your body I can get until Summer joins us?”

He was all too happy to tilt his head back and reply, “I’m all yours sunshine.”

[im-tops-bottom]

"watch where you are going you little piece of shit" Loki says as he shoves Tony aside before walking off with his boyfriend.

"god Loki and Stephen are such assholes. They were made for each other. I don't know how they became popular" Clint says as he helps Tony up and brushes the dust and dirt off.

"well they are good looking, Loki does acting while Stephen does music, they are rich and known how to make friends easily"

"and they are bullies. You coming over tonight?"

"I am not third wheeling tonight. You need to start spending some alone time with Natasha dammit. I'll be fine. Aunt Peggy said I could stay over tonight because apparently dad is drunk and mum is high. Whoo what else is new"

"I can't wait until this year is over. Then you, me, Nat, Pepper, Happy, Arthur, Diana, Rhodey and Carol can start getting ready for MIT. Hopefully those dumb shits didn't sigh up for it"

"seeing as those two love to bully me, I wouldn't put it past them. Rumour has it they are returning back to England. "

"oh poor Peter Parker. Better not tell Aunt May or she'll drag Peter back to America. If those two weren't bullying you then they were bullying your cousin"

"I know. I'll have a chat with Peter tonight and see what he wants to do and if I want to live with all parts of my body working to perfection then I'll tell May afterwards"

"this sucks. Come one lets head to our classes"

Clint drops Tony off to his class before glaring at the golden couple sitting right at the back as he makes his exit. Tony sighs at his table in front of Stephen and Loki. He ignores their attempts as he reads through his homework to make sure everything is correct. He quickly hands it over to the teacher before his bullies takes it off him and does something stupid.

After a couple of minutes of torture everyone settles down as principal Fury comes into the class with two baddass troublemaking looking hotties that has Tony feeling all kinds of things.

"class you have two new students today. They transferred from Hydra High to here to complete their last year of school"

Tony gulps because Hydra High was one of the worst schools in America. All the troublemakers went there and if you weren't one then you became one usually during your first year. They were full of tough people that always caused trouble. Normally students were from mobs/mafia backgrounds and knew the prison system really well. Security was big there that it made it look like you were at an American airport. These two with their leather jackets, ripped jeans, slicked back hair and smirks looked completely dangerous. Usually not the type of people Tony would want to be around and yet he felt like he was getting a boner.

Tony watched Fury leave after saying something and then looked at the 2 new students who, to his surprise, was staring straight at him. The blond one smiled and looked around the classroom getting ready to speak first.

"hi my name is Steve Rogers. Please call me Steve. I look forward to getting to know everyone real well"

Tony gulps as Steve eyes Tony up as he says his last sentence. Tony looks away as he feels his face heat up before his eyes lay on the second person who hasn't stopped looking at him.

"hey the name is James Barnes. Everyone can call me Bucky. Just like what Stevie said I look forward to meeting everyone. Let's make this last year"

Tony lightly gasps as Bucky smirks right at Tony as he finishes his last sentence.

"special"

The teacher pats Bucky and Steve on the back before telling them to go sit next to Tony. Steve sits on his left while Bucky sits on his right.

"Tony will show you around and help you with whatever you need until you get used to this place."

The teacher puts on a movie that the class will be writing an essay on as she sits down and goes through everyone's homework.

Tony now not only has to ignore the two douchebags but now also the two hot guys. He stares right at he tv as he gets ready to take down notes. He eye rolls as he hears stephen and Loki speaking to the two new people.

"I feel sorry for you guys"

"why?"

"you got stuck with this worthless piece of shit. How about hanging out with us and we'll show you boys a good time. It'll be way better than doing boring stuff. He never shuts up if you so much mention science or robots. He's just a waste of time and space. You wouldn't wanna be caught dead hanging around him"

"well lucky for me"

Tony feels Steve's hand on Tony's thigh

"and Bucky"

Tony feels Bucky's ha- wait is that metal? - on Tony's other thigh.

"are into pretty Bambi eyed brunettes who are into science. We'll probably won't be able to to hang out with anyone much at the moment anyway. We are signing up with the schools football team. We were jocks at our old school but got tired of the team being useless and transferred after hearing this school has the best team"

"damn straight we do. The best team ever"

Everyone looks up and much to Tony's relief it's Arthur. Arthur wraps a muscular arm around Tony.

"this is one of our best players in our team. He chose not to be Captain no matter how many times people ask. Arthur why can't you just be Captain. Ditch these losers and join the elite"

"you guys must be new. Just call me Arthur. Anyway come on Tony, Bruce has come returned and he's kicking up a storm."

"why doesn't Bruce handle Bruce?"

"ugh you got a cute scientist and a good looking rich man who are massive idiots for hanging out with you losers"

"no one asked you Stephen"

"well you should be handsome. Stephen is way too gorgeous not to look at or talk to"

"ugh I'm gonna vomit. Come on Tony"

Tony packs up and Arthur leads him out the door.

"are those two dating?"

"hell no. Tony isn't Arthur's type. If he had a vagina and looked like our best fighter Diana then yeah."

"that's good"

"got that right. Everyone would make Tony's life a living hell if wprd got out that those two were dating"

After class finishes Steve and Bucky head off to the cafeteria. After they are unable to find Tony they ask around and find out that he left campus to go eat with his friends.

They get out to the carpark after finding out where Tony went and took off.

Meanwhile Tony just finished eating and went out of the cafe with Clint and Natasha to smoke. Tony took off his glasses and stuffed it in his pocket before he sparked up.

They got to chatting about plans for the weekend when sounds of motorbikes come driving into the carpark and park right in front of the 3.

The three gasp as helmets come off to reveal Steve and Bucky. Steve is the first to notice and smiles.

"hey Tony"

Bucky seals the deal with a filthy smirk that promises good things to those that behave and a deep gravelly Brooklyn accented voice that would probably be able to make anyone harden and come in seconds.

"hey doll. Was wondering where you went off too. Had to have Stephen and Loki show us around. Let me tell you, it was real boring"

"ah yeah sorry about that. Did you guys follow me here?"

"no don't be silly baby. We didn't want to spend anymore time with the dynamic duo. Who are your friends?"

"the names Clint. This is my girl Natasha. So you two must be Steve and Bucky. The incredibly hot duo my friend can't seem to stop talking about"

"you talk about us?"

"you find us hot?"

Tony finishes his smoke and strolls back inside looking like a tomato much to Clint's delight.

"come in guys. I like you two. Come and kick back with us"

Steve and Bucky nod as they follow the couple inside. Clint places 2 seats on either side of Tony much to everyone's amusement (excluding Tony who looks horrified) and then introduces the 2 new people.

Everyone starts talking about school, life, memes and just random things. They all completely forget about school and it's not until Tony receives a call from his drunk father that they realize it.

"hey Tony what's wrong?"

"my dad wants me home. He told me I can't go to my auntie's house because I'm in trouble"

"what happened?"

"school called. Check your times"

Everyone except for Steve and Bucky look horrified.

"how can you two not be horrified?"

Steve grabs a hold of Tony's hand and drags him outside. Bucky stands up and pays for everyones food.

"we don't have parents to complain to. We have a mafia leader who is friends with principal Fury and he already knows what we are like so he let's us be."

"that's so cool. Well I better ring my mum before she has a field day over this"

"everyone Protocol Sunshine"

"what's protocol sunshine?"

"we use Tony getting bullied and how his parents are as a cover up if we so much as miss just one class because we all talk too much"

"oh that's cool. Well we will take Tony home and see all of you tomorrow."

"keep Tony safe"

Bucky nods not realizing to how much that one sentence means to Tony's group of friends. Friends that now Steve and Bucky are apart of. They may be badasses but it doesn't stop them from trying to be normal and makes friends they feel safe and good around.

Bucky sees a confused Tony sitting behind Steve and sits on his bike. He guesses Steve explained what they were going to do. The bikes turn on and they set off.

Tony is internally panicking because not only is his dad pissed off about school but he's not going to be too happy about this. Oh boy is he gonna get his ass kicked.

The boys drop tony off and give him their numbers before placing a kiss on each cheek and heading off. Tony takes a few breathes before making his way into the Lions den.

As soon as he steps inside he is immediately kicked down the front porch stairs as his drunk father starts yelling at him about all sorts of things. He starts beating the crap out of Tony causing Tony to scream in pain. He hears voices and sees his dad get knocked out before he blacks out.

Once Tony wakes up he feels pressed up against him. In front of him much to his surprise is Steve who looks like he had been crying. Behind him was Bucky who also looked like he had been crying. Tony frowns and wonders why do they care as he slowly gets out of the bed.

After going toilet, he heads to the kitchen and notices a tall man cooking something.

"uhm hello?"

The tall man quickly turns around and smiles as he motions for Tony to sit. Tony sits at the table and jumps as he hears a voice next to him.

"don't worry about him. He's mute and deaf. Hope you know asl"

"I do. One of my friends has a hearing aid"

"that's great. It'll come in handy. The names Friday and that's my older brother Jarvis. He's getting tea ready while our younger brother Vision is dealing with your shitty parents"

"shitty parents? Wait what happened?"

"well"

Tony jolts again from another voice and looks up to see Steve and Bucky coming into the kitchen. They sit down and explain how they saved Tony's life. Steve knocked Tony's dad out while Bucky called for the police. Thankfully they had Vision and his partner attend the scene so they didn't have to worry about false names and what not. Then they talk Tony back to theirs so their own nurse can patch Tony up.

"thank you guys so much for that. How?"

"well we wanted to turn around and come ask you on a date but then we turned into knights in shining armor. Our dad should be back soon. We told him what had happened so he wants to come home and meet you. We are trying very hard to prevent him from adopting you"

"but why?"

"well it would be wierd dating and adoptive brother. Bucky isn't adopted so it's not that wierd"

"no I mean why are you two doing all of this?"

"well for me it was love at first sight and I think Steve just wanted to bang you"

They talk and get to know one another until Vision returns home.