#but then i dyed it blue and ever since then it decided to be brunet instead

[flufflecat]

well. i sat alone in my apartment on my couch all christmas. but i did draw myself wearing a cute outfit, so basically it was fine.

[fandomsonrequests]

gummy bears and jellybeans

fandom: ATEEZ

characters: choi jongho; ATEEZ

reader: gender neutral

word count: 2.4k+

summary: Your friendship with the youngest was different though. It was more… intimate. You two told secrets no one else in the group knew and shared moments that were meant for just the both of you. It was nice, and honestly, you were scared.

a/n:  Ahhhh another songfic! This idea has been stuck in my head for a while. i’m sorry if its not so good ;^; its unedited so I apologize for any spelling errors

Based off on the songs: Waiting for You - The Aces; Teenage Blue - Dreamgirl; Prom - SZA

You scroll through the feed of your phone as you look over the various photos of your friends at the special night- specifically senior prom night.

You chuckle at your friends’ posts, seeing them pose in silly ways and “rip up the dancefloor” with their wild dancing. You were currently curled up on the lounge chair by the small pool in your backyard, the bonfire pit lit and keeping you warm in the chilly night. You tucked your legs into yourself and settle your chin onto your knees, sighing as you watch the surface of the pool water ripple in the night breeze.

There were two reasons you weren’t at prom: one- you were never really the type of person to join these kinds of social settings. You weren’t so fond of crowds. The second reason- no one asked you. It kind of bummed you out that no one really thought of you as worth their time. So to save you from any embarrassment, you decided not to go.

Besides, you didn’t go prom shopping so you had nothing to wear. You pick at the fluffy lint of the bear onesie your friend gave you. A small smile makes its way to your lips as you remember the person who gifted it to you.

Jongho and you have been friends since fourth school, ever since you moved into his town. Being friends with him meant that you were roped into his shenanigans along with his other friends. They were an energetic bunch and sometimes they drained all adrenaline from you but you’d always end up happy. Tired but happy.

Your friendship with the youngest was different though. It was more… intimate. You two told secrets no one else in the group knew and shared moments that were meant for just the both of you. It was nice, and honestly, you were scared.

You may or may not have caught feelings for the brunet. (You asked him why he dyed his hair back to brown from a bright red but he just replied with a nonchalant “because I can”). And you were afraid that it could mess up so many things between you. You didn’t want to lose what you had with him and if it meant having to be content with just his friendship- you’d take it.

You were pulled out of your thoughts when your mother called out to you. “_____,” She sang. “There’s a special guest for you~”

“Who?” You ask and sit up, turning to see no one other than your best friend. “Jongho?? What are you doing here? I thought you were at prom?”

The young man smiled one of his rare but soft smiles- one that he reserves just for you- and looked away bashfully. He looked absolutely breathtaking in his dark crisp suit, a white turtleneck under his jacket. The whole look was topped off with some dress shoes and the special pendant you got for him last Christmas. It was a metal caricature of iced coffee since the man would drink that day in and day out.

“Ahh, I was. I just wanted to check up on you, jellybean.” He replies after thanking your mother who slipped away to give you two some privacy.

He looked you over and smirked, hands in his pockets. “You actually wear that?”

You looked down at yourself and pouted, an embarrassed flush on your cheeks. “Yes? You gave it to me of course I’m gonna wear it. You’re wearing the pendant I gave you, gummy bear.”

“Touche.”

You scoot over on the lounge chair to give him some space, both your legs were extended over the side of the plastic chair. A comfortable silence washes over the two of you and you lean your head against his shoulder. Jongho automatically wraps an arm around your shoulder and pulls you closer to him, his head leaning on yours.

You two sit there like that for a while. Only the sounds of the gentle breeze tickling your nose or the cicadas calling to each other were heard. That was until you spoke up. “...am I not worth spending time with, Jongho?”

He pulls away at the sudden question- looking at you as if you committed the most heinous crime on earth. “Where is this coming from? Of course not, _____. Being with you is worth every millisecond.”

You pick at your fingers and look down at your hands, saying nothing. Jongho’s brows furrow together in concern. You usually didn’t bother too much with how others perceive you but something must be bothering you this much for you to think this way. His warmer and much larger hands take yours, thumbs running over your skin.

“Does this have anything to do with prom?” He whispers over to you. He sighs when you shake your head.

It hurt to see you so down in the dumps. The dynamic between the two of you was that he was the more chill one while you were the more enthusiastic one. So seeing you so lethargic tore at his heartstrings. He wanted you to be happy, he wanted to keep you smiling. Whenever you do he sees your eyes light up and see the world with wonder and excitement. It always lightened his mood whenever he sees you like that- its almost as if the world’s problems don’t exist whenever he’s with you.

He got up abruptly and pulled out his phone. You look up at him, confused at his sudden actions. “What are you doing?” You ask him and receive no response.

Jongho scrolls through his phone and clicks something. A few seconds later, a soft melody plays through the night air. He sets down the phone one a nearby table and holds out his hand to you. “Come on, get up.”

You look at him, still confused, but get up nonetheless. He laces your fingers with his and pulls you flush to his body. A furious blush covers your cheeks at the proximity between you two. Sure, you two had moments where you were up in each other’s faces but this time it was different. It felt more personal, more intimate.

His free arm snaked around your waist, successfully securing you to him. He started swaying you from side to side along with the melody, looking down at you with the softest of gazes. You were practically speechless at what was happening, your mind still trying to wrap around what was happening.

“Dude, what are you doing?” You chuckle nervously but let him guide you.

“I’m dancing with you, dummy.” He teases you. “Now hush. Just enjoy this moment.”

You couldn’t help but huff in amusement at that, shaking your head at his antics. Eventually, your frown melts into the tiniest of grins as you let the moment engulf you two. Despite the soft and tender moment happening on the outside, your insides felt different. Your heart was beating rapidly against your ribcage and your stomach was doing somersaults. This was it- this was the moment that solidified your thoughts on your best friend.

This was the moment you realized that you were so head over heels in love with Choi Jongho.

You tried not to think much of his actions- after all maybe to him it was just some platonic dancing and nothing more. Worry started to eat away at you again, causing you to hang your head and watch your feet. Jongho on the other hand wasn’t having it. He knew something was bothering you and he wanted to help clear it up for you.

He gently cupped your chin and tilted your head up to look at him. “What’s on your mind, jellybean?”

You blank at his question. You didn’t think you’d have to tell him how you felt right now- you weren’t ready. Not yet.

You could feel your throat close up with the pressure of telling him the truth. Your lips move like a fish gasping for air but no words come out- well, none the way you want it to. “I-” You stammer. The sting of unwanted tears glazes your eyes. You feel your chest tighten as pressure overwhelms you, weighing you down by the shoulders and crushing you to the ground.

“Hey, hey,” Jongho whispers to you, pulling you in a comforting embrace. He reached up to stroke the back of your head. He could feel how your hands desperately clutched at the fabric of his dress jacket, your warm tears soaking through it as they drop to his shoulder.

“It’s okay, _____,” He mumbles into your hair. “You don’t have to tell me if you’re not comfortable… But I have something I want to tell you.”

He gently peels away from you, cupping your cheeks in his warm palms, thumbs brushing over the apples of your cheeks. The way he looks at you makes your emotions stir with confusion. His gaze held so much love for you. It was tender and held so much emotion- so many things he wanted to say that were just about ready to tip over and spill out for you.

“_____,” He starts out softly as he brushes away your tears. “We’ve been friends for a long, long time. And honestly, I’m glad that you decided to give me a chance to be your friend despite accidentally smacking your face during recess.”

You both laughed at that, with you hiccuping through your tears. Nevertheless, Jongho’s speech never wavered and he continued for you.

“I’ve always wanted to talk to you the minute you moved into the neighborhood but I just didn’t know how. So imagine the horror I felt when I accidentally hit you. But despite that you still brushed it off and befriended me.

“Since then you’ve been a stable constant in my life. You helped me out of my shell and see things on a lighter note. You’ve been to every game I’m in, cheering me on whether I’m on the bench or not. You helped me discover my passion of singing and helped me pursue it. Let’s not forget every time you’ve caught every bug and saved me from it despite you showing it to me-”

“To be fair, gummy bear, they’re just harmless bugs.” You giggle to which he pouts at.

“They’re still insects. They’re monsters in tiny disguise; harmless my ass...” Jongho argues, successfully drawing a laugh from you. The corner of his lips twitch upward at the sound but he continues.

“Anyway moving on- my point is: having you in my life has changed it for the better. I don’t think I’d be the same person as I am today without you if you weren’t here for me. And over years- I’ve realized something that I should’ve done so earlier…”

Jongho tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear, his hand resting on your cheek afterward. You could only look up to him in wonder- eyes searching his for what he was trying to say.

He took a deep breath and decided to throw all caution to the wind. It was now or never-. Whatever the outcome was- he was going to accept it. He lets out a shaky sigh and holds your gaze firmly, eyes sparkling with a sense of vulnerability.

“_____, I think I’m in love with you.”

Your eyes widen at his words. Was this real? Were you hallucinating? Did he actually just tell you the words you’ve been dying to hear?

“You- I- what?”

“I said I love you.” The brunet replied, desperation seeping into his voice. “I’ve always had. You’re always on my mind when I wake up in the morning and wave to you through the window and before I go to sleep after begging you to quit staying up for your studies.”

You take a few moments to process his words before a grin makes its way to your face. And before you knew it you were throwing your arms around him, catching him by surprise. He responds almost immediately after, hugging you to him as you laughed into his shoulder.

All your worries melted away so suddenly and the weight was finally lifted off your shoulders. “You had me worried there for a second,” You tell him as you pull your head away to look at him. “Because I feel the same way.”

“Is that why you were so nervous earlier?”

You only nod in response to his question, leaning your forehead against his. The music from his phone was still playing, making you sway to the soft rhythm. Jongho follows suit, his gaze flickering over to your lips as he allows this moment to engulf the two of you.

You don’t miss this motion and you couldn’t help but gravitate towards him. “Hey, Jongho- do you mind if I ask you something?” He hums, signalling for you to continue. “Is it okay if I kiss you?”

“It’s fine by me,”

You chuckle softly and cup his cheeks. You tease him a little by giving them a quick pinch, making him whine playfully, before standing on your toes to press your lips to his. Jongho sighs blissfully as he tilts his head against yours, deepening it further.

It was a bit of a silly sight from an outsider’s perspective- a guy in his prom suit kissing his childhood friend in their bear onesie. But it didn’t matter to either of you. You wouldn’t trade this moment for any of the riches in the world.

Smiles rest upon both your lips when the two of you pull away, too wrapped up in each other’s presence to notice your mother taking a picture of the two of you. The flash from her phone distracts you two and all color drains from your face when you realize what had happened.

“MOM!” You call out to her. She only laughs and scutters away to the living room, most likely telling your father or siblings what was happening outside.

You groan out in embarrassment at what just took place. “I’m never living this down.”

Jongho shook his head, pressing a quick kiss to your cheek. “Just think of it as memorabilia or something.”

You blush again for the umpteenth time that night when you feel his lips against your cheek. “Fine… but I’m getting that photo from her or she’ll hold it over our heads.”

The both of you lapse into silence again, the music from Jongho’s phone still playing in the night. “I love you so much, jellybean.” He whispers.

“I love you too, gummy bear.”

[fletchphoenix]

May You Always Be Satisfied

Short Chapter but Chapter 18 of coffee tastes better aka the coffee shop au!! sorry its so short, I broke my arm literally like....a week ago? I’m kinda struggling to type a bit so aha hope this is enough <3 love you all

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

Hugo hadn’t been to a wedding since he was around eight. Cyrus and Mona’s wedding was beautiful, the woman looking akin to an angel (not the biblical version) as she virtually levitated down the aisle. He’d shuffled uncomfortably in his suit as Donella’s hands rested on his shoulders to hold him in place in a bid to stop him shifting from foot to foot. Cold hands picked at all the little details: the out of place hairs that stuck out from his ponytail, the loose threads on the shoulders of his suit jacket, straightening the tie that was only just off centre. He knew she just wanted him to relax, but how was he meant to stand still when he was just so excited? The boy had watched Cyrus, nothing but love and happiness in his eyes as he smiled back at his wife. Even then he knew that they would be perfect together.

He’d watched as they swayed across the dance floor, Mona’s dress brushing across the floor as her head rested on the tall man’s shoulder and the music played in the background. There were flowers everywhere - white lilies were in little baskets that hung from the top of the pavilion they were under. Donella also pointed out to him the hydrangeas, orchids and magnolias as well as the carnations and Amaryllises. They were quite pretty in his opinion. His eyes had focused on the fairy lights that illuminated the area and provided a fantastical feel to the whole wedding, making it almost otherworldly and ethereal. If he’d been older, he would’ve been taken aback by the sheer beauty and care taken in decorating the place if he was being honest. 

He remembered going home and taking all the botany books Donella owned, researching the meanings behind the pretty flowers that he’d seen. He knew they put a lot of thought into them, with all of them representing love and acceptance, unity and beauty...it was all so interesting, yet confusing. Why did people give meaning to something as simple as a flower? In many ways, it didn’t make sense to the young boy, though at the time he’d just supposed adults were dumb and wanted to see meaning in everything that didn’t mean anything - symbolism in things that didn’t need to represent anything. “It makes things feel more meaningful.” Donella had told him, though he didn’t really understand why. Eventually, she’d grown sick of his questions and told him to go to bed, though he still stayed up all night to research them and grumpily refused to go to school the next morning. 

He hadn’t been to a wedding since then, Donella always giving him the option to stay home. He’d preferred to stay home anyway. He never really thought he would ever get married anyway, so what was the point in seeing others happy when he didn’t think he deserved it? Well, the metal on his finger reminded him of a certain raven haired man, a smile on his face as he twisted it over the skin with his other fingers. The boy he loves with all his heart and soul loves him back, and that was enough to keep him happy. He could already tell their wedding was going to be something to remember - something beautiful, fun and nothing short of spectacular. After all, it was him and Varian! If their wedding wasn’t something as wonderful as a royal wedding, then was it even their wedding? “Hugo, you ready?” His fiance called from the other room, Hugo being abruptly brought back to reality. Ah, yes. It was Cass and Irene’s wedding today. The long-awaited marriage of the two had Varian nothing short of excited for the whole week, the other man hardly able to keep a conversation without it spiralling into a rambling session of ‘I bet it's going to be amazing’ and ‘I can’t wait for them to finally get married!’. Sure it was cute, but Hugo could only take so much of Varian talking about the couple, so for the day to finally arrive was like a saving grace. His hands shifted to try and fix his tie, the emerald fabric not co-operating at all or doing what he wanted it to do. Letting out a frustrated groan, the blond kept trying. Why would he suddenly not tie a tie? What was this so damn difficult when he wasn’t even that stressed?

A pale hand settled on his shoulder as the raven haired boy forced him to turn around with a gentle smile. “Let me help you.” He muttered, Hugo absolutely hypnotised by the way his hands twisted and moved the fabric with a smile on his face, his fringe that usually covered his eyes now pinned back and the single blue streak still as prominent against the sea of black locks as it was when they first met. Wow. He was still beautiful, the suit he was wearing complimenting him nicely as he stepped back and examined his work. “See something you like?” The blond teased, pushing his glasses up his nose as he snaked his arms around the raven haired boy’s waist and brought him closer to his chest. 

“Pfft. Yeah, sure.” Varian rolled his eyes, though his arms still wrapped around the other’s neck and brought him down into a gentle kiss. Somehow it still took his breath away each time his boyfriend pressed a kiss, warming him up on the inside as he let out a happy sigh against the other’s lips. They broke after a while, Hugo taking a moment to drink in all the features of his boyfriend’s face as though he were a dying man in the desert. A familiar flush came to his boyfriend’s face as he was gently pushed backwards. “No time for staring, Hugh. We have a wedding to get to!” The raven haired boy declared as he grabbed the other’s wrist with a wide grin, before pulling him along down the hall and towards the door of their apartment.

Hugo let his head rest against the back of the seat as his boyfriend drove, the blond letting his eyes flutter shut for a while. He hoped his wedding would be more interesting: with lilies and Varian in a pretty suit, all done up and ready to commit to each other. They’d get married somewhere fancy too, like an old house or something like that, just for the sake of bragging that they were THAT cool (though it would be extremely fuckin’ expensive for the two of them). He’d want Yong to be the ring bearer: that sounded quite fun, the boy would be ecstatic to find that out, after all, Varian still went to the library to help him study on Wednesdays. And Nuru would be a bridesmaid, maybe even the maid of honour, though that would most likely be reserved for Donella (if the woman would even accept the role was a question unto itself, so Hugo decided to ignore it in favour of his fantasy). Maybe even Rapunzel? Eugene would probably be the best man. The guy had helped Varian so much, it was the least he could do. Visions of first dances under the stars, holding Varian’s hands as they exchanged rings and laughter filled his head, until he was rudely awoken by the car jolting to a stop.

“We’re here. Damn, did you really not sleep enough last night?” Varian laughed as Hugo grumbled and fixed his hair, leaving the car and dusting off his suit. Midway through his ministrations, a flurry of purple rushed forward and gripped him in a rib-crushing embrace. Ah yes, his future sister-in-law. He’d forgotten about her death grip hugs. His grip on life slipped briefly as the woman rushed hellos before shifting to hug his fiance, the blond wheezing to catch his breath as Eugene patted his back with a loud chuckle. Hugo raised his head to glare, a frown on his face. Of course the brunet wasn’t given the death hugs from his wife. What a lucky bastard. Finally, after greetings and useless conversations, they went inside and sat down. The place was beautiful, the women deciding to get married in something akin to a conservatory. The sun shone through the glass panels making up the roof, vines dangling from the ceiling and intertwining with each other as they descended. Flowers climbed up lattice, fond memories of climbing up it to see Varian flooding through Hugo’s mind and making a small, barely there smile appear on his face before they took their seats, the blond interlacing his fingers with Varian’s as he kept looking around. Pillars of marble stone sat organised along the walls, little baskets of flowers propped onto the tops, Hugo could only point out the carnations and lilies that resided in the baskets. He smiled at the sight, thinking of Mona and Cyrus. He’d have to invite them to his and Varian’s wedding - that would be nice. Maybe they could help them with decorating? 

Music began to play as he turned his head, Cass standing in a black suit, a dark blue tie showing between her jacket. Her undercut had been arranged to be gelled back, her green eyes focused expectantly at the door with a gentle smile on her face, shifting from foot to foot. Finally, Irene stepped out, a rose wedding dress covering her body with a lace top and a long skirt, as well as a veil decorated with lace flowers on her head. She looked beautiful as well, Hugo not being able to help the little smile on his face as he saw the look the couple exchanged as Irene walked down the aisle and stood opposite her girlfriend. 

The ceremony was just as beautiful as Hugo had expected, the pair absolutely infatuated with each other as they held hands and smiled, tears welling in their eyes at the mere sight of each other and the sheer amazement of the moment. As the ceremony wrapped up and the sky darkened, the DJ played music across the stereo, Hugo’s hand resting on his fiance’s waist as they watched the pair dance and sway across the floor, his boyfriend’s head resting against his shoulder. Hugo smiled to himself as he kept watching. “This’ll be us soon.” He whispered to his boyfriend and pressed a kiss to his temple, the other simply nodding and shuffling closer. And for once, Hugo was happy they’d gone to the wedding, watching the pair in front of them so happy and the mere thought that him and Varian would be that happy one day was enough for him.

[nocluewhatsupg]

it is yours truly again, greetings! how do you think jason and michael would end up doing the kisses (ew) with each other? also jason x brahms is a crack ship of mine as well, what do u think of it agdhzyzv

Us: wow look at this prompt its so good!

Us: * starts rambling about something completely different, doesn’t address the original question *

Also, Jason x Brahms?? How would that even start??

Jason and Michael being soft

Haha

No

Neither Michael nor Jason cares about kissing or being romantic in any sense

If ANYONE tried anything with Jason, they’d get a nice machete to the skull. (he probably tastes really gross too)

If they ever were to kiss, it would have to be under the impossible circumstances that they met and grew up with eachother as children.

That Jason never drowned, or at least survived being drowned, and Michael had the sense to stop acting creepy and charm his way out of the sanitarium.

(There’s a really good fanfic on this, we think it was on A03? Either way, it’s too soft for us so we gotta make it cruel >:).)

Michael was offered the opportunity to visit the camp when he was twelve, and was alarmingly becoming less and less social. In a desperate attempt to connect him to other children, this last resort idea was thrusted into the air. Whoever came up with that one sure got a promotion or something.

Michael, upon reaching the loud and boisterous camp, wanted nothing to do with it. His only other option was back to the hospital, and he wanted even less to do with that, so he begrudgingly smiled and followed a chipper counselor deeper into the camp.

Probably spent most of his time either watching people, or killing animals in the shadows behind buildings. He’d talk to people (gasp) but only if they approached him first, and he didn’t have a clear path to avoiding it. When he talked, it was with odd wording and his face never matched the tone of his words. He didn’t speak for long, either. Only a few short sentences that screamed ‘I don’t want to talk to you’.

Kids tried to pick on him, but that cold icy gaze from perfect blue eyes changed their minds quickly. Not that he really cared what others though about him. One notable incident was when a group of particularly troublesome teens followed him behind a building. When Michael turned, to expose his hands painted red from a small toad he’d snapped in half, they suddenly remembered camp activities they should’ve been participating in.

Speaking of camp activities, he’d always slip away, and he was just so quiet and uninteresting that it took a good long while for anyone to notice.

Jason basically lived at the camp, connected to the humid soil and green trees since troubled birth. It came to a point where he was no longer invited to join camp activities, since all attention would be on him. He didn’t mind, and seeked saftey in the cool shadows behind buildings long before Michael did.

So they met when Jason rounded the corner on a fresh morning, where it had rained the previous night, making dew condensed on grass blades and wet your shoes as you walked. He was met with a lanky kid, leaning against the wet wood with his hands flat beside him. The kid stared blankly at the bright blue skies, and the streaky clouds that did nothing to hide the rising sun.

Michael heard the grass rustling, approaching footsteps, but couldn’t quite tear himself away from the warm haze he was in. It was only when he heard shaking and nervous breathing did he turn to see who’d come.

He saw Jason peeking from around the corner. With a quick flick of his eyes, he looked Jason from mangled head to dirty shoes with disgust on his pursed lips. All he knew about Jason was the hoard of kids that followed him, and Michael wanted nothing to do with that. A scowl warned Jason to not follow him, and he spun on his heel as he sulked off somewhere else.

Jason immediately assumed he scared Michael off with his appearance, and a flurry of emotion made his temples hurt and his eyes sting.

In the time that he had loitered around the corner, he did not hide in time, and brought the attention of said group of kids that just happened to wander by. The fact he’d ducked behind a more hidden part of the camp excited them, and their teeth gnashed like vultures around a dying animal as they too made dry footprints in the wet grass.

Michael stood in the bushes, in the shallow beginning of the forest. A tall tree hid half of him, the other half stuck out to watch. He saw the grotesque kid being pushed and spat on, yelled at and poked with sticks. Michael did nothing but watch. With the devil in his blood, he well could take on the group of older kids, but he just didn’t feel like it. Jason crying and whimpering did not raise a single nerve in Michael, and he felt no need to intervene. (At least he didn’t join the group?)

A whistle blew in the distance, and hunger cried louder in the vultures than malice, and they gave Jason a few more kicks before they ran off laughing and howling as if they’d won some sort of competition and they expected anything other than winning. Jason curled over himself, bringing his knees closer to his aching torso. Michael stepped out of the shadows, and Jason whimpered again, assuming he was here to deal the final blow.

The brunet stood for a few silent minutes, towering over the injured boy and bathing in the complete control he had over the situation. He became the grim reaper, life and death, god. Jason did not crawl or try to stumble to his feet, far too naive to understand the black storm behind baby blue eyes.

As Michael carefuly thought out his possibilities, it came to him that this sniveling, crying thing at his feet belonged to that nice lady who served decent food. If he were to return her child to her, he’d surly be rewarded. She did make good cookies.

Jason flinched when a hand stuck out to him, and it took a few seconds for him to realise it was not a reach to hurt him. One hand wiped his tear streaked face as he blinked up in gratitude, the other took the outstretched hand. Jason was practically yanked to his feet, and he stumbled a little when he was brought up. Through chipped lips and sore jaws Jason mumbled thankful words as he still held onto Michael’s hand to ground himself.

Michael would hear none of it, as he did not gain any pleasure for doing good deeds, and wordlessly clamped his hand around the larger one. Jason was left to trail behind and try to keep up as Michael began to speed walk back into camp. Jason tried to converse with the strange kid dragging him around, but it fell on deaf ears, gaining no response to any friendly questions. He didn’t even get his name.

In the bustling cafeteria, Michael proudly presented a bruised Jason to his mother. He turned his nose up in irritation when she shreiked and rushed to her son, to cradle and hold him and speak with worry. She quickly hurried him to the kitchen, out of view, and finally adressed Michael.

Michael stood silently, feeling nothing to the praise, and occasionally glancing over to the warm tray of cookies cooling on the countertop. Mrs. Voorhees became suspicious as the boy refused to say anything, but she was in no condition to question him. Maybe he was simply shy.

Whatever the case was, he was the first child to assist Jason instead of joining in his torment, and if this was a behavior she could make continue, she would.

As soon as his plan worked and warm chocolate was in his mouth, he had confirmed a good source of getting treats, Michael relaxed instantly. The stoic expression melted slightly to give her a faked, nervous smile. People liked when others smiled at them. She smiled too, decided he was just shy, and while patting his head she thanked him again.

The second Michael turned around, he became serious again, and his eyes glared knives around him. In his mind, evil cogs turned and black smog thick enough to kill whoever breathed it in pumped as he made a new goal.

Maybe he’d hang around the maimed kid. He had a lot to gain.

This disfigured kid was his ticket to fooling everyone and leaving the sanitarium’s suspicion for good.

[miraizu]

Open Book - 2. Interesting Customers

Open Book Ship: Chrollo Lucilfer/Reader Part: 2/? [PREV] | [NEXT] Word count: 2,728 Warnings: None. Synopsis:  Everybody has to make a way of living. Some are hunters, some are thieves, some are just regular civilians trying to enjoy their lives. You? You're an informant, and in York New City, a city that never sleeps, you're about to find out just how much of a commodity that really makes you.

       With the rain cleared up and the skies cloudless and sunny, your store was busy.  The mafia auction had brought in all sorts of newcomers in town, most of them small fry not worth your time.  You should have been pleased at the business, at making money, but your mood was soured.

       Last night, the auction had purportedly been robbed.  It wasn't confirmed yet, but you knew full well who was behind the heist, confirming your suspicions and fears.  The Phantom Troupe was in York New City.  With this new information, and the constant whispers of your customers discussing the event, you couldn't help the agitation that set in your veins.  Part of it was just the fact that the Troupe was here.  The other part, annoyingly enough, was that that meant he was here, and hadn't sought you out yet.  You weren't sure if you should be relieved or upset, and this caused you to be snippy all day with everybody.

       Hearing your name get called, your gaze flickered to the door, seeing a familiar face among all of your newer customers.  You gave him a dry smile.

       "Zepile.  I haven't gotten any specially made items for you, if that's what you're after," you said immediately, careful with your wording considering a majority of people didn't know about nen.  Seeing he was accompanied by others, a rare sight within itself, you raised an eyebrow.  ". . . Who are they?"

       The man in front of you took note of your expression.  "Man, you sure are in a bad mood today.  What happened?"

       With the rush hour dying down, leaving only a couple other customers save for Zepile and his entourage of three, you couldn't avoid the conversation.  Don't get it wrong, you enjoyed talking to Zepile, but you were in a bad mood today.  Certainly not in a mood to socialize.

       "It's nothing," you responded after a moment.  "Anyways, if you're not here to buy, what are you doing?"

       Zepile gestured to the two kids he had with him.  Was he babysitting?  You allowed yourself to take them in in more detail.  One kid was looking around the shop with wide, brown eyes, his green hair standing straight up and his clothes offending your sensibilities.  Next to him was the other kid, seeming more bored than anything, with fluffy white hair and upturned blue eyes.  You sort of wanted to see how soft his hair was.  The last newcomer was a taller man, probably around your age, in a business suit with small glasses.  A peculiar bunch - where did Zepile pick these people up?

       "We actually are here to sell stuff."

       That was a first, and you raised an eyebrow, eyes focusing on the bags in the kids' hands.  "You?  Sell?"

       The brunet laughed.  "They need money for the auction, and so I decide to take them to the best antique shop around."

       Your smile was wry.  "I'm flattered," you said flatly.  "What do you plan on buying at the auction?"

       The white haired kid spoke up before anybody else, his eyes narrowed suspiciously on your figure.  "It's none of your business."  His tone was decidedly unfriendly, and you snorted, not offended.

       "If it's none of my business, then you don't get any of my business.  Sell your shit elsewhere, kid."

       The older man among them immediately whacked the kid, and the other kid apologized hastily.  There was a genuine look in his eyes that made you stop for a moment and decide to hear them out.

       "I'm trying to get Greed Island," he told you.  You had heard of the game before, and you leaned against the counter, eyes turning upward in thought.  That was certainly going to be a lot of jenny, especially since the copies were limited.  Why did they want to get Greed Island, though?  You had met its creator - you weren't about to break it to the kids, but not only was the game a sham in a way, the guy who created it was one of the biggest assholes you had ever met.

       Although thinking about him now, and looking at the earnest kid with the brown eyes...  There was a strange air of familiarity around him, now that you thought about it.

       Humming, you examined them.  "I'll make you a deal," you decided.  "Whatever you have, I'll give you double price."  The kids' eyes grew as wide as saucers, but before they could pipe up, you continued.  "However, I want your information."

       They seemed confused.  The only one who had understood was Zepile, and he grinned, knowing that they had gotten a victory.

       "Information?  Like our names?"  This came from the bespectacled man, and you hummed, pulling out a book out of seemingly nowhere.  It was thick and old, the leather binding showing obvious signs of aging, the pages all gilded.  There were no words on the cover, and it felt almost weightless in your hands.  Holding it out, you gave a somewhat genuine smile.

       "Put your hand on this."

       The white haired kid and the taller man seemed skeptical, but the other kid was eager and put his hand on top of the book.  Immediately, his eyes lit up in recognition.

       "It's nen!"

       So they knew nen, too.  This only got more and more interesting.  Withdrawing the book from him, you opened it up to the middle.  At first, the tea-stained pages seemed blank, but slowly, writing started to appear on the page as if a ghost was writing the words.  It was your handwriting, neat and concise, but words you had never written before.  The three newcomers watched in confusion, most likely due to the fact that they couldn’t see the words being written.  Once it was done, you scanned the page.

       "Gon Freecss?"  The brown-eyed kid - Gon - lit up, his eyes widening.  You continued.  "Hm, your birthday is May 5th, so you just turned 13, and you're an enhancer..."  Including the basics was his blood type, and a little 'x' on a small map, showing his location.  He seemed interested, peering at the page in surprise, only growing more interested at realizing the page was blank to him.

       "How did you do that?"

       You smiled a bit more, amused at the kid's reaction.  "It's my nen ability," you explained.  "Well, one of them.  Your dad is Ging Freecss, isn't he?"  At the mention of his dad, Gon lit up even more, if possible.  He was a literal ray of sunshine, it seemed.  "I've met him before.  I have to say, I'm glad you're nothing like him, as he's a piece of--"

       Zepile cleared his throat, causing you to pause and realize you were about to shit talk the kid's dad in front of him.  Whoops.  Quickly trying to cover it up, you shook your head.  "I'm assuming that's why you're searching for Greed Island," you hastily amended.  "Although if you're searching for him...  I do have his location."

       You felt bad for tacking on surprise after surprise for the kid, and even his two friends looked startled.  "Really?!"

       "I have the location of anybody who I use my ability on.  If you're in search of him..."

       Gon looked like he was genuinely considering it, before he shook his head.  "I have to find him myself!"

       You commended him for the determination, even if both of his friends seemed a bit more dismayed at Gon's line of thinking.  Wanting to get this show on the road, you looked back and forth between the glasses guy and the other kid.

       "So who's next?"

       "Why should we have to give you our information?"  The snide remark came from the snarky kid, and you closed the book with a snap, gazing evenly at him.

       "If you want double the jenny, you'll stop testing my patience before I kick you all out."

       Glasses guy went up next after that, touching the book hastily.  Opening the book again, revealing another blank page, his information slowly started to appear.  Leorio Paladiknight, 20 years old and an emitter, although he hadn't genuinely learned real nen, yet.  He wanted to be a doctor - how sweet.

       Last was the other kid, who stared at the book for a moment before begrudgingly touching it, a scowl on his face the entire time.  If Gon was sunshine, this kid was the exact opposite, the pessimist to Gon's optimism.  Soon, you figured out why, raising both eyebrows at this own kid's information.

       "Killua Zoldyck...  No wonder why you were reluctant."  You had met a couple of Zoldycks, specifically Illumi Zoldyck, Zeno Zoldyck, and Maha Zoldyck, but none of them allowed you to use your ability on them.  Killua was the first Zoldyck to be put in your book, and he didn't seem pleased about it.  Wanting to ease his and Leorio's obvious worries, you stood up straight.  Closing the book, it vanished from sight, disappearing.

       "I suppose it's only fair I introduce myself," you said, giving them your full name.  "I'm a specialist, and that's my main hatsu, Informant's Guide: Novella.  I'm usually the one people come to for information on people." You kept it brief, not wanting to give away too much insight on your ability.  "Anybody who touches my book gives me information such as their name, age, birthday, blood type, nen type, and other basic information, as well as their location.  It's generally my fee for helping people out."  There was no need for them to know anything else about your hatsu, and that explanation seemed to appease them enough.  Not wanting them to ask any other questions, you nodded towards the bag in their hands.

       "So, Gon Freecss, what have you brought for me to buy?"

       It turned out, Zepile had been helping the kids find items made by geniuses, people who used nen without knowing.  Some were genuinely valuable, and true to your word, you gave them double the jenny.  You weren't one to break your promises, even though it did hurt your cash drawer a bit in the end.  Worth it, you supposed, to get information from three interesting individuals such as Leorio, Gon, and Killua.  It soothed your irritation a bit, especially since you had accidentally let the blond from yesterday slip away without getting his own information.

       As much as they interested you, though, you were glad they didn't stay for long.  Your mood may have lifted a bit, but you still weren't particularly up for expending energy into socializing.  Waving 'goodbye', you were relieved when they left, leaving you to deal with the tourists that milled around, listlessly looking without plans on truly buying anything.

       Gon, Leorio, and Killua...  I'll have to thank Zepile later.  They are certainly an interesting bunch, and I have a feeling that will not be the last I see of them.

       The rest of the day had been mostly uneventful.  You had one girl come in and buy about 200 jenny's worth of antique books, but other than that, no other customers really stood out to you.  Not until the end of the day, when the sun had just started to set.  You had about an hour until closing, and the shop had been empty when the bell rung, signalling a new customer.  Immediately, you had been put on edge.

       He was taller than you for sure, with black hair slicked back, and large gray eyes that had made you freeze for a moment.  They reminded you of the calm before a storm, analyzing and unfeeling.  Despite that feeling, though, they were gorgeous.  You had to force yourself to look away so you didn't seem creepy at all.  He seemed to read your thoughts, his lips barely quirking upwards.  Thankfully, he said nothing, instead going off to the side.

       He was confident and calm, but you didn't trust him.  His presence put you on edge, and you watched him out of the corner of your eyes, pretending to keep yourself occupied.  You only were distracted when yet another customer came in, dressed in all black and seeming tense.  Great, you could sense this guy's intentions from a mile away.

       Sure enough, he pulled out a gun, pointing it at you and causing you to deadpan.

       "Give me all of your money, or else I'll shoot both of you!"

       He had picked a really bad day to threaten you, considering you were already irritated.  Despite the threat, his black eyes seemed to avoid your own, sweat dripping down his face.  A newbie at that.  He was about to get a rude awakening.

       Your other customer had shifted, slightly turning towards the man, and you noticed the symbol on the back of his trench coat.  The St. Peter's Cross..?

       Raising your hands up and feigning innocence, you slowly walked from around the counter, the gun trained on your figure.

       "Stop right there!"

       As if you'd listen.  In a flash, you darted forward, grabbing his wrist hard enough to crack the bone as he howled in agony.  You pulled him forward, using your other hand to grab the gun as you flung the guy over your shoulder.  He impacted the ground harshly, and with the hand holding the gun you had swiftly disassembled it as if it was second nature to you, the bullets falling to the ground before you dropped the empty magazine.  Your other customer watched in an almost detached manner, but you paid no attention to him.

       "The next time you try this," you said casually, picking the groaning robber up by the collar of his shirt and dragging him to the door, "you won't be walking away with just a broken wrist.  Do I make myself clear?"

       He nodded frantically, and you kicked open the door before throwing him out into the street, ignoring the pained yelp that came from him as he roughly hit the cobblestone.  Turning back, you locked eyes with the raven-haired man.

       "Sorry about that.  It's a common occurrence in downtown York New."  His lips quirk upwards again, barely noticeable.

       "You handled it well."

       Yeah, and you just stood and watched, asshole.  Instead of saying that out loud, you gave him a tight smile.  "Is there anything I can help you with, sir?"

       His eyes scanned the store as you walked past him, making sure to brush his shoulder as you went back behind the counter.  At the touch, you saw him give an amused smile, eyes locking with yours again.

       "Hm...  No, I got what I came here for."

       You knew he hadn't stolen anything, so you weren't entirely sure what he was talking about as he strode out of the shop, stepping casually over the dismantled gun that was still on the floor.  

       You didn't tear your eyes away until you couldn't see him through the shop windows anymore.  So be it - you also had what you wanted, and summoning your book, you watched the words appear in interest.

       You had told the others earlier of your hatsu ability, Novella, but that wasn't all you had up your proverbial sleeves.  A sub-class of Novella was another hatsu: Open Book.  It gave you more basic information - a person's name, location, and age.  Of course, you couldn't get any information the person themselves didn't know, but you were in luck that the man knew both his full name and age.

       "Chrollo Lucilfer, 26," you hummed, watching the small dot move, signalling that Chrollo was heading towards the outskirts of York New.  How interesting - today seemed to prove fruitful for information and a plethora of interesting characters.  You wished you could get more information from him, considering he seemed to be particularly interesting, but it was what it was.  You could always seek him out and have him touch your book one way or another.

       With the sky a purple now, you decided it was good enough to close up your shop, making sure to clean up the gun.  It was useless to you, who detested guns.  You'd just have to dispose of it, and in an instant it was nothing more than crumpled metal in your hands, unable to hold up against your nen.

       After the mess was cleaned and the door to your shop was locked, you had went back up to your loft, feeling somewhat tired after the day's events.  Here was hoping that tomorrow would be easier going, you supposed, unaware of the plot that was brewing beneath York New City - one that would pull you right into the middle of everything.

[all-things-skam]

Jens’ season | Chapter five

Sunday, February 2nd

Choosing a vlog idea for Valentine’s Day hadn’t been easy. Aaron wanted to do a couple challenge - Amber and him versus Robbe and Sander -, but Robbe didn't want to introduce Sander in a stupid vlog where Aaron would be eating Amber’s face in the background. Jens had backed him on that; Sander deserved a better introduction to the vlogs.

Instead, they decided to do the whisper challenge with cringy pick-up lines.

Thankfully, it turned out to be a good idea - and wouldn’t take too long to edit. Only ten minutes into filming and Robbe was dying laughing at the incorrect line Aaron had guessed.

Moyo sat on the chair facing Robbe for the third round, headphones covering his ears and loud music playing to make sure he couldn’t hear a thing. The brunet made a disapproving face as he read the line. This one was bad.

‘’Wanna sit on my lap and we'll talk about the first thing that pops up?’’

Moyo frowned, getting none of the words. Robbe had to repeat - which made the whole thing funnier.

‘’You used that one on Sander, Robbe?’’ Aaron asked, laughing at his own joke.

Robbe shook his head, blush creeping on his cheeks and ears. ‘’Shut up,’’ he hissed.

Jens snorted, coming to his best friend’s rescue. ‘’And you? How many of those have you used on girls?’’

The curly haired one gaped and flipped them off.

‘’Erm, can you repeat again?’’ Moyo requested, frowning.

Robbe groaned. ‘’Are you serious?!’’

As much as hanging out with the boys and filming a vlog was, Jens’ mind couldn’t help but wander to Lucas. He had posted a picture of himself and his friend Isa this morning, eating chips at 11am. His eyes were bright and he had the biggest smile.

Jens missed him...like a lot. And it had only been two days.

Lucas' big smile flashed behind his eyes, dimples on his cheeks. And, how could he forget that permanent smug look? Every time his lips would twist into a smile, it made Jens' stomach flutter. He couldn't not reciprocate the smile.

God, he was so whipped for that boy.

Pulling out his phone, Jens opened up Lucas’ chat. They had exchanged numbers before he left for Utrecht, which was more convenient than talking through Instagram DMs. They spent the majority of last night texting, filling the chat with tons of hearts and other emojis.

Jens: See you tonight 💜

Jens smiled to himself, looking forward to pick up Lucas from the train station. Being Sunday - aka, a school night -, Lucas wasn’t allowed to be out past 10pm. His train was set to arrive at the Antwerp station at 9:30 which left them only thirty minutes before Lucas’ curfew. Just enough time to walk him home - and steal a few kisses.

‘’Jens!’’ one of the boys called, pulling him out of his thoughts. The latter looked up from his phone. ‘’It’s your turn,’’ Moyo said, nodding at the hot seat waiting for him.

‘’Yeah, yeah. I’m coming.’’ He slipped his phone back into his hoodie and stood, joining Robbe on set and getting ready to kick Aaron’s ass in this challenge.

.

Biting his lip, Jens checked his phone for the seventh time in the past minute, impatiently waiting for Lucas to arrive. His train had left Utrecht at 7:30 which meant he should be here soon. Like, very soon.

A new train arrived, but it wasn't Lucas'.

Jens sighed. What was taking him so long? He checked the time again, only two minutes having passed since he last did.

Time seemed to pass impossibly slowly since he got to the train station. It felt longer waiting for the beautiful Dutch boy to arrive than waiting in line at the movies on a rainy day. Maybe it was the anticipation that made time pass slower? Or the fact that Jens was by himself with nothing to distract himself other than watching people go in and out of train waggons.

After what seemed like forever, he finally spotted Lucas through the small crowd exiting the newly arrived train. Jens' heart rate started to pick up. He felt like a school girl seeing her crush to pass the hall.

Swaying on the ball of his feet, Jens watched as Lucas snaked through the crowd, trying to make it to him as fast as possible. Some lady was blocking the way with her suitcase and a wailing kid and his mom almost bumped into Lucas, but the latter only had eyes for Jens.

Once they were facing each other, standing a few inches away, awkwardness settled and both boys froze, not knowing what to do.

''Hi,'' Lucas said, breaking the ice.

Without saying anything, Jens stepped forward and smacked their lips together, finally reunited. Lucas wrapped his arms around Jens' neck in return, giving his all into the kiss.

''Hi,'' Jens returned, chuckling. He went in for a quick peck, making Lucas smile.

''My train was delayed a couple minutes. Two idiots were fighting in my wagon and they had to call security and get them out. It was...entertaining,'' Lucas explained. ''Something about a stolen snack.''

Jens laughed, shaking his head. ''People are nuts.''

‘’Shall we get going? My train was late, I wouldn’t want my dad to get worried and start looking for me.’’

Jens nodded. ‘’Sure.’’

They were about to leave the train station when Jens realized something seemed familiar about Lucas’ hoodie.

He stepped back, a frown creasing on his forehead, holding Lucas at arm's length. ‘’Is that my hoodie?’’

Jens had been looking for that specific hoodie all week - his favorite hoodie. He had even searched his room and asked the boys if he had left it at one of their houses, but it was nowhere to be found. Now, it explains why.

‘’Perhaps…’’

The raven haired boy gave him a look and Lucas grinned. ''Little thief.''

''I needed a piece of you so I wouldn't miss you all weekend.''

''For real?''

''No, I was just cold.''

Jens rolled his eyes, fighting a smile, and wrapped his arms around Lucas, pulling him into a hug. A dry sense of humor and sarcasm wasn't something Jens though he'd ever need/seek in a partner, but Lucas never failed to make him smile or laugh.

A sudden wind blew over them and Jens felt Lucas shiver. That’s what you get for only wearing a hoodie in late February evening. Lucas slipped his cold hands off Jens’ shoulder to hide them in his hoodie’s front pocket, pulling the raven haired one closer. Jens heart began to swell, he could stay here all night just holding this beautiful boy. Lucas shivered again and he tightened his hold, trying to share body warmth with the underdressed Dutch boy.

“Come on, let’s get going before you freeze to death.”

.

Monday, February 3rd

Fuck. This conversation was going to blow.

But, Jens couldn’t see himself going forward without it. He couldn’t keep Jana waiting for nothing. He had to talk to her and clear the air, let her know that no matter what he would always care for her, but it was over between them.

He had sent Jana a message after lunch, asking to meet him at the café they used to go after school. With all the familial mess at home, Jens didn't want to invite her over. He also didn’t want to risk her getting the wrong idea.

Sometimes, Jana had difficulty taking him seriously. Jens was worried Jana wouldn't believe him when he'll say it's over, so maybe a public, neutral ground would make things more official - more final. She pictured him as the guy who always joked around and never took anything seriously - which she couldn't be more wrong about.

Jens arrived first and got a table towards the back of the cafe, worried she'd make a scene when he'd drop the bomb. With Jana, you could never guess her reaction. She was unpredictable.

‘’You’re dumping me.’’

Her face fell the second she realized why he had invited her here, confusion and disbelief washing on her face.

‘’We said we were seeing where it’ll go, not that we were back together,’’ Jens reminded her, correcting her words slightly. Alas, it didn’t calm her mood. ‘’Look, Jana, I still care and love you, but I can’t keep kissing you when there’s someone else on my mind. It’s unfair and disrespectful for everyone.’’

The last time Jens had kissed Jana, a pair of blue eyes and a dimpled grin kept flashing behind his eyes and he just couldn’t do it. He and Lucas hadn’t even kissed yet! Now that they had, Jens could never bring himself to kiss someone else - not with Lucas in his life.

Jana knitted her eyebrows. ‘’Someone else?’’ she repeated, a hint of jealousy and bitterness on her tongue.

Eyes down, Jens nodded. ‘’I…yeah, there’s someone else and I can’t do that. I don’t want to fuck it up between us like I did with Britt and you.’’

The brunette scoffed, jumping to conclusion. ‘’So, you led me on?’’

‘’No!’’

Like always, she wasn’t listening to him and twisted his words, accusing of things he didn’t do.

Jens sighed. ‘’I thought that timing and lack of trust was what drifted us apart in the first place, that growing up apart would do us good. But, I don't think it’s only that. I don't think it's ever going to work. Us. I...I think now is time for closure. Final closure.’’

The brunette looked surprised at his words. Final closure. She tried to search for a sign that Jens wasn’t serious, but couldn’t find any.

‘’Wow. So, this is it? You used me and now-’’

‘’You knew what you got yourself into when we started hooking up again. Don’t make me the bad guy here, Jana. We said we were open, not exclusive. I was allowed to look elsewhere, you can’t be mad at me for that. You were too.’’

‘’But, I didn’t! I thought...I thought there was hope for us.’’ Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

Fuck. Jens didn’t mean to make her cry. He knew this conversation would hurt her emotionally, but not that she’d cry.

Jens’ lips pursed into a thin smile. ‘’I thought so too...’’

At this moment, Jana had to be thinking that Jens had been lying when he said that he wanted to try again, to give their relationship a second chance, but he wasn’t. He genuinely was interested in getting back with her at the time.

‘’But, then-’’ Jens stopped himself before he said too much. He couldn’t drag Lucas into this. Cert, he was indirectly concerned, but there wasn’t any purpose nor need to mention him.

Jana raised an eyebrow, waiting expectantly.

He gave her one last apologetic look before standing up and grabbing his bag and jacket. ‘’I’m sorry, Jana.’’

.

What a better time to have a conversation than 11pm? It’s not like their kids couldn't hear them upstairs. Jens couldn’t hear all they were saying, but he could hear a good chunk.

From what he had understood, his parents were talking about the eviction notice. Given the tone of their voices, it wasn’t going smoothly.

‘’You need to find a job, Mohamed. It’s not an option anymore.’’

‘’Easier said than done… It’s not easy to find a job in advertising now.”

‘’I can’t take care of the bills all by myself. Not with my salary.’’

Jens groaned, hiding his head underneath his pillow. He was tired of this. A part of him was glad his mom had told his dad about the eviction notice, but was 11pm on a Monday the best time to discuss this? Probably not.

figured Lucas was probably asleep, being a Monday night.

Jens: Miss you. Wish you were here 💜

try going back to sleep when he heard a buzzing noise on his nightstand.

Lucas: You okay? 🤔

Lucas: Miss you too 💞

Jens: Yeah. I’m just not sleepy

It wasn’t quite the truth. Jens was sleepy, but with his parents arguing downstairs, it was impossible to go back to sleep. At least, not until their voices had lowered.

Jens: Was your dad cool with you being a little late last night? I just couldn’t stop kissing you

Lucas: Not at first, but I told him about the argument in the train and he was kinda okay with it. I can tell that he wishes I didn’t have to go over there at all if he had his way...

Jens: I’m sorry, Luc 😕

Lucas: Don't be. My dad...he's my dad, you know? It's like he has a grudge against my mom or something

Jens: Or something, uh?

Lucas: Yeah...

Lucas: She's not well, sort of. I mean, she's doing okay! She's not dying or anything, it's...she's schizophrenic. And, according to my dad, she's the devil incarnate

As sad as it was, it was common for people to demonize others who are diagnosed with a mental illness of any sort. It's also common to demand divorce and completely cutting ties with them, after a diagnostic, which must've been the case for Lucas' parents. Close minded people don't want to deal with 'crazies', regardless of how long they've been together and their baggage they've created, assuming their relationship will turn into a babysitting job.

Jens: I'm sure she is lovely

Lucas: She is. Sometimes, she's a bit much to handle, but isn't everyone?

Jens smiled.

His parents' voices caught the teenager's attention again, causing him to forget about Lucas for a minute and listen to their conversation.

“The notice said that if we can’t pay within the next 30 days, they will put a lock on the door. They will take our furniture, appliances, valued goods - everything. We can't do that to the kids.” Fenna paused. ‘’We promised ourselves to give the kids the best life they deserve…’’

‘’I know…’’

“Find a job in another field, then! It doesn't have to be in the advertising field.’’

''So you want me to flip burgers? Lower myself to the job of a teenager?”

''Temporarily, yes. We have to do what’s necessary in order to keep our home, Mohamed. Even if in involves getting a crappy job.''

A repeated buzzing noise brought Jens’s attention back to his phone where three messages from Lucas were waiting to be opened.

Lucas: Jens?

Lucas: Still awake? I think I'm going to crash soon 😴

Lucas: I'm here if you want to talk, okay?

Fingers hovering over his keyboard, Jens hesitated. He typed a quick explanation, telling Lucas that his parents were struggling with money, constantly arguing and even the eviction notice, but decided against it, deleting the whole message. Lucas had family problems of his own, he didn't want to pile his own on top.

Jens: Noted

Lucas: We're still on for studying tomorrow?

Jens: Since when do you care about my academics?

Lucas: Since I heard about you falling asleep in class 😴

Jens: 😑

Jens: That would be great. But we don’t have to study the whole time, do we? 😏

Lucas: Try getting some sleep? I’ll see you in the morning 😘

.

Tuesday, February 4th

Jens had sent Kobe and a few other guys a message the day before, telling them to meet him in the boys bathroom during lunch period, saying that he had more stock if they were interested. He wanted to keep his little selling hush-hush, not wanting to risk his name and little business to be dropped on the headmaster's desk - or worse, his parents.

His backpack felt heavier when Jens walked past the school gates this morning, well aware that he had drugs and weed in it. Hopefully, no one would be able to smell the latter.

It was past noon when Kobe showed up at their planned meeting spot. Only, the skateboarder wasn't alone.

“Shit, man, I told you to keep it on the DL? What the fuck!?”

Jens could have wrung Kobe's neck right then and there. Bringing one friend was passable, but three? They added risks of being snitched and Jens didn't like it. He didn’t know these guys personally, how can he know they won’t tell on him?

Kobe shrugged, not getting why Jens was upset. “When you sent the message I was with Liam and the guys. They saw the message and wanted in. What’s the big deal?”

“Because, if we get caught, it's my ass on the line,’’ Jens reminded him.

Processing weed on the school’s property could land you in big trouble. For juveniles - under eighteen -, the fine is a maximum of 230€ for a first offense. A second offense carries a fine of up to 500€ and/or a maximum commitment of 10 days in a juvenile detention facility. Same goes for possessing prescription drugs (ex: Xanax) without a prescription can also lead to a drug possession charge.

Needless to say, Jens - nor his parents - didn’t need to be dealing with that kind of trouble.

The brunet sighed, getting impatient. “Whatever. Do you have it or not?”

Jens nodded, slipping his backpack off his shoulder, about to unzip it and dive in. “Yeah, I got it. I also have some new stuff as well - if anyone is interested?”

One of Kobe’s friends raised an eyebrow, silently asking what ‘new stuff’ Jens was talking about, interested.

.

“When was the Cuban Missile Crisis that nearly led to a nuclear war?’’

‘’Uhm? I don’t know.” Jens said, getting frustrated with himself.

His brain was going to explode with the overwhelming amount of information Lucas was trying to drill into his brain. He sucked at History, but graduation was in a couple months and Jens needed to pass the subject. Therefore, studying was on the menu.

While the raven haired one wanted to shove all the textbooks on the floor and pull Lucas over on his lap, he needed to study. He and Lucas had been studying, both noses in their textbooks for an hour and asking each other questions back and forth.

Reading through Jens’ blank stare, Lucas tried to give him a little hint. ‘’I’m sure you remember this. It’s set during the Cold War.’’

Jens shrugged his shoulders, clueless.

Lucas let out a sigh. “It’s 1962. Okay, next question. In which year did the Tet Offensive take place?”

The teacher had talked about the Vietnam War last week, Jens recalled. But, he couldn’t remember.

“1960?”

The brunet shook his head. “Close though!’’ he encouraged. ‘’Come on Jens, if you can answer this question we will take a break,” Lucas said coyly.

‘’1963?’’

“It was 1968.’’

Jens sighed, defeated and discouraged. ‘’I told you I sucked at History…’’

‘’At least you tried something. And, you were close.’’ Lucas nudged Jens’ knee with his foot. ‘’I’d say it’s half a win.’’

''Enough studying,'' Jens declared, tossing aside his textbook and crawling on the bed until he reached Lucas.

Cocking an eyebrow, a smug smile bloomed on the brunet's face. He grasped Jens by the front of his red sweatshirt and drew him close enough to press their lips together. The latter eagerly kissed back, moving more comfortably over Lucas. He cupped his jaw, supporting himself with his other hand, and parted Lucas' lips with his tongue, teasing and tasting him.

After almost two weeks of kissing, the feeling hadn't subsided. Lucas’ lips still sent a buzzing feeling to Jens' stomach every time they kissed, something only he had been able to trigger.

The atmosphere in the room had shifted from subtle flirting to a desire to cross that unnamed line into something more. Something that would kick his rule to 'take things slow' out the window.

Feeling too hot, Jens broke the kiss and sat back, peeling off his sweatshirt and dropping it on the floor, a textbook following down with a small thud, leaving him in his thin tee shirt. He took a breath and looked ahead, catching the ravenous look in Lucas’ eyes, stomach tightening with anticipation from that intense look.

Unlike his previous relationships, Jens wanted to do things right this time. Messing up was so easy - look at his relationship with Britt or Jana -, but he couldn't let it happen. He couldn’t keep acting so selfishly and focusing on what he wanted. He had to listen and be more thoughtful. He liked this boy - a lot, even. It would really suck to fuck it up.

Instead of going back to their original position, Lucas grabbed onto Jens’ shoulders, clambering on top of him and guiding him down until his back touched the mattress, but Jens hissed, feeling a pen digging into his lower back. That’s what you get for making out during a study session… Lucas laughed as Jens reached under to toss it out of the away.

Aligning his body with Jens’, Lucas attached his lips to his neck, kissing and nipping at the tan skin the way he knew the raven haired boy liked it, causing pleased little gasps to leave his lips. Jens’ hands moved up Lucas’ thighs and higher.

Pausing, Lucas glanced at the dangly hoop on Jens' ear.

He cocked an eyebrow and smirked. ''Cute,'' Lucas pointed, taking Jens' ear lobe in between his teeth and gaving a soft but forceful nibble.

''Like it?''

Lucas hummed as he ran his hands over Jens’ stomach, making the latter’s skin burn with desire as Lucas lifted the edges of Jens tee shirt, caressing the tanned skin above the waistband, fingers brushing over Jens' softly defined abs.

Lucas hadn't gotten this far with anyone. He had a couple opportunities with girls, but, every time, the Dutch boy had to put an end to it before it got really awkward and she noticed he had erectile dysfunctions. With Jens, getting blood to rush south wasn't much of an issue. On the contrary. He didn't even have to think; his body reacted to Jens', pushing back into his own instinctively.

Jens’ hands were on Lucas’ hips, body arching up as the brunet grinded down, keeping an unspoken no-distance policy between them. His erection was straining against the zipper of his jeans, becoming really uncomfortable and tight. He could feel Lucas’ too, but Jens didn't say anything.

Breaking from him, Lucas pulled off his own sweatshirt, leaving him shirtless. Jens grinned, kissing up his chest and making Lucas’ breath hitch.

''Wait, Jens. I never...''

He bit his lip, looking down and nervous, but Jens shook his head, kissing Lucas' lips, soft and understanding.

''Don’t worry. Just...do as you feel, okay?''

Lucas nodded and exchanged places with Jens, going back to where he previously laid against the pillows. Jens wanted to make this enjoyable for him. No stress, like he said. But, deep down, he hoped his own experience in the receiving end would be enough to make this pleasing for Lucas.

His own relief would have to wait.

The rest of their clothes soon joined Jens’ red sweatshirt on the floor, jeans and socks piling up on the hardwood, leaving the boys in their boxers.

Lucas gulped, feeling nervous, but the feeling was quickly gone and replaced by a new kind of bliss. His head fell back against the pillows when he felt Jens’ fingers around him. It was the first time anyone - other than himself in his own bed - had touched him like this, underneath his boxers and-

‘’Fuck.’’

He pushed into Jens’ skilled hand for more, demanding more, but Jens had other plans and slipped his hand out.

Frowning, Lucas looked down, confused and disappointed. ‘’Wh- why did you stop?’’ he asked, trying to catch his breath.

His question went unanswered as Jens yanked down his boxers, locking eyes with him before diving down and taking his cock into his mouth, watching as it disappeared past his full lips.

‘’Shit, shit, shit.’’

.

Wednesday, February 5th

Moyo tugged at Jens’ collar, exposing a fresh looking bruise at the base of his neck along with a couple smaller, lighter ones. ‘’Wow. Was this Jana? I don't remember her marking you like that before.’’

He swatted Moyo’ hand away, not wanting to be exposed in the middle of the cafeteria ‘’It’s not her.’’

The boys frowned, not up to date with the most recent Jana news. Jens had forgotten to tell them about their final break up, being too busy having Lucas’ tongue in his mouth to send them an update text.

Moyo raised his eyebrows, smug smile on his lips. ‘’Ohh! New conquest?’’

‘’On a Tuesday?’’ Aaron asked, still frowning. ‘’How can you pick up chicks and score on a Tuesday?’’

‘’Have you seen this face?’’ Jens said confidently, pursing his lips into a seductive pout. ‘’No one can resist it.’’

A snort left Moyo’s lips, shaking his head at his two friends’ banter.

‘’Who is it, then?’’ Aaron looked around the cafeteria, trying to find guess who was the hot girl that got in his friend's pants last night. ‘’Is it Marie from second year? The blond one?’’

‘’No.’’

‘’Erm...is it Estelle? She has a french accent.’’

Jens shook his head.

He had to bite his tongue and hold his smile, knowing that there was no way Aaron would guess right. Cert, Jens had introduced Lucas to the boys last weekend, but he never left any clues that would make them suspect he was seeing Lucas.

‘’Lena?’’

Robbe arrived, taking a seat before Moyo and putting an end to Aaron’s guessing game. He fist-bumped all the boys before opening his backpack and pulling out his lunch.

“So what is Aaron getting all excited about?”

“All of the love marks on Jens neck.” Moyo blurted out. ‘’Did you see this?’’

Jens let out a sigh. Damn why did his friends have to be so nosy? They’re worse than gossiping girls.

Robbe stared, wide-eyed. “Seriously?! Are you and Jana official again?”

“No! Moyo already asked, it's someone new and I’m trying to figure it out.” Aaron explained, getting Robbe up to date.

Robbe glanced at Jens, raising an eyebrow. “A new girl?’’ he cooed and Jens rolled his eyes. Robbe was no better than Aaron and Moyo sometimes…

''Looks like you have some competition over here,'' Moyo told Robbe, teasing about all the hickeys they've previously seen on him since he and Sander got together. ''Who can get the most hickeys.''

''Hey! Why am I kicked out of the competition?'' Aaron demanded, stuffing a piece of muffin in his mouth.

''Because you and Amber don't do hickeys,'' Moyo pointed.

''How do you know?'' Aaron countered.

''Because you don't have any, and she doesn't either. Clearly, we would've seen.''

Aaron groaned. ''I can't do them if I don’t know how...''

‘’Google, bro. Use it. We’re not going to share our tricks with you to use on Amber. She's gonna give you all the credits.’’

Aaron sulked and Jens felt bad for him. Every time he asked them tips for his relationship with Amber, the boys brushed him off or told him some bullshit advice. It's not that they didn't want to help him with his girl, but sometimes Aaron's questions were just too much.

“Can we talk about something else...'' Jens said, over with this conversation, not feeling like talking about his nor Aarons sex life anymore.

From across the cafeteria, a blue denim jacket caught his eye and Jens' heart sped up just a bit. Lucas was talking with some guys - the same ones from the skatepark - as he walked into the cafeteria, greige bag slung over his shoulder. He looked up and caught Jens looking his way, taking a moment to shoot him a quick wink across the room.

.

Thursday, February 6th

Michiel was right. Selling more than weed was a lot more beneficial. His last visit to Michiel’s place had earned him twice what he got last week. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. If Jens kept this up every week, it would be a great help to his parents. He doubted it would pay the mortgage, but maybe it could be used for other bills.

After his visit to Michiel’s, Jens went up to his room and gathered last week’s cash with this weeks’, setting it on the desk. He hid the new baggies of pills and weed in the far end of the same drawer before heading downstairs where he knew his mom was.

Coming down the stairs, Jens saw that his mom was folding laundry with all the lights off except for one little lamp on the couch side table. His heart sank knowing that she was trying to do everything possible to keep bill costs down. He made a show of coming down the stairs so his mom could turn on more lights to help keep up the farce.

Jens let out a little cough. ‘’Here. I know that’s not a lot, but it can help.’’

Fenna deposited the laundry she was folding and frowned, glancing down at the pile of cash Jens was handing her. ‘’Where did you get that?’’

It was unusual for him to have this much money. As far as she knew, Jens didn’t have a job.

He shrugged. ‘’I sold some of my stuff. You were right, I’m holding on to way too many things.’’

Warry, his mom took the money and counted. ‘’Jens, there’s 150€ in this.’’

‘’I know. Use it for the bills or something.’’

Fenna shook her head, refusing to accept her son’s money. ‘’I can’t take that. It’s your money.’’

‘’I insist.’’ Jens pushed the money back into her hands.

A bit of the burden lifted off of Fennas shoulders and she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘’Thank you. I’ll pay it back.’’ With a weak smile she looked up at Jens, pointing at the pile of clothes next to the basket. ‘’Oh, can you take this to your bedroom?’’

.

Friday, February 7th

Avoiding your ex at parties wasn’t as easy as Jens thought it would be. Jana was always around. Their group of friends was joined by default because of Aaron and Amber, and Robbe who was friends with most of the girls. They were also all in the same school year so it was almost impossible to not go to the same parties.

Jens went to the kitchen to get a second drink. He studied his liquor choices and ended up going for the vodka. It was probably the cheap kind, but Robbe had forgotten the beers at home so he had no choice.

Reaching for the clear bottle, Jens poured some into a cup, almost spilling it on the side when he felt a weight on his back. He looked over his shoulder, expecting a mistaken drunk person, but it was Lucas and his bright grin.

Jens returned the smile, happy to see Lucas had made it to the party.

‘’Partying hard, I see.’’ Lucas moved to stand next to him, nodded at Jens’ red cup, half filled with vodka.

‘’Want a drink? I said I’d keep you one.’’ Jens offered him his glass, but the brunet declined.

‘’Not that one. Too much vodka. I don’t plan on ending my night with my head in the toilet.’’

Jens rolled his eyes. ‘’I didn’t put that much.’’ Lucas raised an eyebrow, waiting and watching as the other boy took a sip, grimacing and regretting immediately, tasting old birthday memories. ‘’Okay. Maybe I went a bit hard on the vodka.’’

Lucas snorted. ‘’A bit?’’

Jens chuckled, giving him reason, and grabbed another cup to pour half of it in and filled the rest of both cups with a non-alcoholic beverage. ‘’Here. Should taste like cherries.’’

This time, Lucas took the drink. ''Thanks.'' He hopped on the counter and nudged Jens with his knee, signaling for him to come closer while still being discreet. Keeping his voice low, Lucas whispered into his cup. “I missed you today.” He curled his free hand into Jens’ hoodie, pulling him closer.

Jens had to turn his head away from the crowd so nobody could see the blush on his cheeks. God how he wished he could just move and stand between those inviting legs and kiss Lucas in the middle of the party, but he spotted Zoe in his peripheral vision. Even though she wasn't a 'tell all' person, Jana was her friend and Jens doubted Zoe wouldn’t tell her if she saw him kiss someone else.

They hadn't seen each other since Tuesday and Jens had been looking forward to tonight. Texting was nice, but it wasn’t the same as being face to face. Thinking about Lucas’ appearance, Jens hadn’t had time to take in the Dutch boy’s outfit, too busy fighting the urge to kiss him. HIs usual tee shirt or hoodie had been swapped for a green floral shirt. A damn floral shirt. The top buttons were undone, Lucas' smooth skin peaking out, causing Jens' knees to weaken.

He bit his lip, stepping back, and nodded toward the kitchen's doorway. “Let's get out of here and find somewhere a little more private.”

Lucas jumped off the counter and followed Jens with a smug look.

Snaking through the crowd of bodies, Jens led the way to the second floor where he guessed were the bedrooms. There was a lot of people tonight, but if they was lucky, one room would be empty and free to use.

It took them a few disappointments before a handle twisted and opened at the end of the hall. Jens pushed it open and dragged Lucas inside, closing the door behind and backing Lucas against it.

The second it closed, Jens' lips were on Lucas', hot and eager, as Lucas' hands found home into Jens' dark locks, deepening the kiss. It wasn't in Jens' nature to push someone against the door to kiss them, but Lucas didn't complain.

Parting, Jens hummed contently. “Fuck, I have missed this...you.’’ He rested his forehead against Lucas’, their breath mingling. ''What's with the Florida holiday shirt tonight?'' Jens asked, playing with the opened collar of Lucas’ shirt, fingers grazing the floral pattern.

Lucas chuckled, the vibrations of his laugh reverberating through Jens lower stomach. ''You don't like it?''

''Are you kidding?’’ Jens leaned for a kiss, giving Lucas’ bottom lip a slight nibble before releasing it. ‘’It’s so fucking hot.” He pushed his hips against Lucas and could feel the reciprocating erection in the brunet's tight pants.

Jens thought to stop, worried it would give Lucas the wrong idea, make him think he was only seeing him for sex, but Lucas smirked, pushing himself off the door and guiding Jens farther into the room. They hadn't bothered to turn the light on when they came in, their only source of light being the full moon's glow coming from the large window. They could've gone and turned on a lamp, but neither wanted to let go of the other.

Stopping in the middle of the room, Lucas put his hands on Jens waistband and moved to release the button, hearing the pop of the clasp.

Their first blowjobs hadn't been in a hurry, in a stranger’s bedroom, but neither could wait tonight, too horny. Lucas wanted his lips on Jens, now. And, who was Jens to protest?

Lucas hadn't been so confident and sure of himself on Tuesday when he sat between Jens’ legs, the latter’s erection waiting for him to do something. It was his first time - ever - and nervous would’ve been an understatement. He was so scared Jens wouldn’t like it and that it would be bad. But, Jens, always reassuring and patient, put him at ease and there were no issues.

Cert, it wasn't perfect, but there’s no perfection levels, just preferences...and practice.

Lucas kissed him one last time, sighing as he felt the latter's large hands sliding underneath the thin button up, snaking up his sides and pressing the smaller one against him. Leaning into Jens' touch, Lucas fiddled with Jens' pants to open the fly and push them down his legs.

He broke the kiss and locked eyes with Jens, searching for something unknown and began to kneel down infront of him. It was only his second time doing this, but Jens saw confidence through Lucas' blue irises. Hands on the waistband, Lucas was about to pull Jens' boxers down, when the bedroom door flew open and light poured in from the hallway, exposing them to whoever had walked in.

Lucas froze and Jens’ head snapped up, seeing his best friend in the doorway, eyes like a deer in the headlights. “What the fu- Robbe!’’

Robbe raised his hands in surrender. ‘’Sorry, sorry, sorry,’’ he repeated, turning on his heels and leaving the room.

[cherryrogers]

bittersweet {7}

pairing: boxer!bucky x rogers!reader

warnings: swearing, mild talks of dark themes, mention of suggestive themes. a more serious chapter so no fluff sadly :/

synopsis: The world of boxing wasn’t something you knew much about, but after a certain boxer with blue eyes and an irresistible charm wove his way into your heart, you soon learned that it went far deeper than red gloves and gold medals. You thought that boxer happening to be your brother’s best friend was bad enough, but unfortunately for you, the worst had yet to come.

a/n: ok so some stuff is revealed in this chapter, and i feel like there isn’t long to go before the end of this fic! i was thinking maybe chapter ten will be the last?? idk, we’ll see😌 please enjoy :)

Series Masterlist

When Bucky arrived at the gym to meet his best friend, he wasn’t surprised to find him knocking the living shit out of a punching bag.

It brought him back to when Steve first started boxing, and Bucky first saw him letting off steam in a training room on his own. He was skinnier then, had terrible technique, was doing more harm to himself than the punching bag.

“Christ, punk. You trying to knock the bag off the ceiling?”

The blond only shot him a glare, stopping momentarily before shaking out his hands an proceeding to beat at the bag.

“I could help you train if you want,” Bucky pressed. “You’ve got the energy down, but I could help you with your technique-”

“I’m not lookin’ to train right now,” The man suddenly interrupted. “Thanks... but I’m just lettin’ off some steam; just need to be alone for a while.”

Bucky was silent for a moment. He didn’t pity the blond; clearly he did need to let his feelings out, and hitting a bag was a much healthier way to do that than hurting himself or anyone else.

“Well, you can come and train in the main gym whenever you want.” The brunet gave him a small smile. “I’m Bucky, by the way.”

The blond hesitated for a mere second, before nodding vaguely in acknowledgment. “Steve.”

“Steve?” Bucky called out, pushing away the feeling of deja vu.

His head snapped towards his friend, the sound of his heavy breaths filling the room as he stopped ramming his fists into the bag.

“You trying to knock the bag of the ceiling?”

Despite his pent up anger, the familiar comment elicited a scoff from the blond. The moment of amusement was long forgotten however, as he remembered what he’d wanted to discuss with Bucky. There was no point in beating around the bush, because Steve didn’t have time to pretend that everything was okay for a moment longer. He knew that one day Rumlow would contact him again, but he never knew it’d be like this — your safety on the line.

Cracking his knuckles nervously, Steve met Bucky’s eye. “I’m fighting Rumlow next week.”

That was new information to the brunet, despite him having heard Steve’s conversation with you. “You talked to him?”

The blond nodded reluctantly, turning back to continue throwing hits at the punching bag. “He knows about (Y/N), he talked to her. He... he wants her.”

Bucky furrowed his brows, the vague comment somehow managing to make his blood run cold. “What do you mean wants her?”

“When I left his gym, the deal was that he wanted one match with me, and he got to decide what the prize was,” Steve clenched his jaw, slamming his fists a little harsher against the bag. “The guy already has enough cash; he didn’t need any more from me. He’s been waiting for two years for something he actually wants from me, and now, that’s (Y/N). He wants her to be one of his girls. One of his pawns in that sick fucking ring.”

Biting the inside of his cheek, Bucky approached the punching bag, holding it to ensure that in his rage Steve didn’t actually knock the bag off the ceiling. It still took him by surprise whenever his friend mentioned being a part of Rumlow’s gym; not that he mentioned it often. It was a dark part of his life, a part he desperately wished that he could leave in his past, but it somehow always seemed to linger in his shadow.

Sure, it made Bucky’s stomach turn that Brock Rumlow had his eyes on you as the prize, but if Steve won the match, then he’d never get to you, right? “But you’ll win, Steve. You’ll win by a mile-”

“I wouldn’t be so sure, Buck,” The blond interrupted, lips curling into a frown. “When have you ever known Rumlow to play by the rules? He doesn’t take part in matches that he doesn’t plan to win, trust me.”

Bucky could feel frustration building in his body at his friend’s lack of confidence, but he tried to remain as calm as possible; the last thing he needed was to make Steve even more stressed than he already was. “Well he can’t just have your sister, Steve. Even if that jackass plays dirty and wins, there has to be a way-”

“Bucky,” The blond intervened again, his voice low. The punching bag went still as Steve stepped away from it, clenching and unclenching his fists. “When I worked for Pierce, I... I fucked up. I fucked up really bad, and if Rumlow wins this fight and I don’t go through with the deal...”

“He has something on you,” Bucky stated, earning a cautious nod from Steve. “Is it that bad?”

“Rumlow, Pierce, every other guy in that gym — they all despise me. They hate me for leaving the ring. If they can ruin my life and make me regret ever steppin’ foot out of that place, then they’ll do it happily.”

“Well, why haven’t they done it already?” Bucky questioned. “Why’re they makin’ you fight if they can expose what they have on you anyway?”

“With... what they have on me, they know they can make me do whatever they want, and they’re using it to make me go through with the deal. By going through with the match and sticking to the deal, it means that if Rumlow wins, I have to... let them take my sister. Cause if I don’t, then they can expose what they have and there’s no way of stopping them.”

Bucky inhaled, thinking hard. Whatever they had on Steve, it must’ve been really fucking bad for him to be so easily running out of ways to fix the situation. “What is it, Steve? What do they have that’s so bad?”

The blond was hesitant to let his past spill, even to his best friend. But if anyone was going to know what happened, what he did, it could only be Bucky. He couldn’t repress his past anymore, not when it was putting his future on the line, your future on the line.

So with a heavy exhale, Steve met his friend’s eyes tentatively, and he began to speak.

* * *

“I’m sorry, can you repeat that? I think I just heard you say that you’re dating your brother’s best friend.”

“You said you wouldn’t judge me, Nat,” You groaned, pathetically smacking the redhead’s knee from where you were sat cross-legged across from her on your bed. “And I wasn’t finished. As a cover-up, I, uh... might’ve told Steve that... I’m dating Peter Quill instead?”

You chewed on your bottom lip, watching as the girl stared at you speechlessly. Natasha had arrived at your apartment not long after Bucky had left, and since she’d been around, your mind had strayed from the topic of Steve and his involvement with Brock Rumlow, which was good, considering there wasn’t really anything you could do about it. You’d decided to trust Bucky in that he’d help your brother, and with your best friend distracting you from your worries, you were feeling a little more relaxed.

That was until Nat had been asking about your boxer boyfriend, which she was bound to get too curious about eventually — you couldn’t blame her, since she was your best friend and she was dying to know the details of your first proper relationship.

You figured that telling her was going to be inevitable, and with the stress on your shoulders of keeping the relationship from Steve, you thought it’d help to relieve it by confiding in Natasha about it. You knew she’d be shocked, you were just hoping she wouldn’t give you an earful about how incredibly wrong it was, because you’d been aware of that from the moment Bucky first lead you into the locker room at the gym.

After around ten seconds of Natasha contemplating internally, she let out a light breath. “You really don’t want Steve to know, huh?”

“It’s not that I don’t want him to know,” You sighed, fiddling with you fingers. “He’s just... got a lot on his plate right now. What if he hates me for it? Or Bucky? What if I’ve ruined a friendship because the one guy that I’ve ever truly liked just so happens to be my brother’s best friend?”

“Honestly, I don’t think he’s gonna be happy when he finds out,” She started, quickly continuing as she observed your eyes widening with worry. “But he’ll just have to get used to it, if you think Bucky really is... it for you. I mean, if he’s fine with you dating Peter Quill...”

You’d also taken it upon yourself to let Peter know of the... new relationship you had as soon as possible. You didn’t think you could do it face to face, or even over the phone, so you settled for a simple text reading ‘Hey, Peter. If my brother asks, we’re dating, okay? Me and you, boyfriend and girlfriend. Not for real, but I’ll explain that at college. See you Monday!’

If you’d gotten a reply, you hadn’t known, since you’d switched your phone onto silent mode and focused your full attention onto your best friend.

You chuckled quietly, rolling your eyes. “You really think he’ll be fine with it eventually?”

“Eventually, yes,” A reassuring smile spread on her lips. “It’s like if I started dating your brother and had hid it from you, wouldn’t you initially feel betrayed?”

“I’d think it was hilarious, considering how you had a little crush on him last year-”

Scrunching her nose, Nat narrowed her eyes at you. “Hey, I thought you agreed to never bring that up again.”

“Sorry, you were kinda asking for it.”

“Bitch,” She mumbled under her breath, prompting you to smack her knee again. “Alright, alright, sorry. Seriously though, Steve loves you. After the initial anger, I’m sure he’ll be happy that it’s Bucky you’re dating. He knows how good of a guy he is, maybe the only guy your brother won’t threaten to castrate if he breaks your heart.”

That got a hearty laugh out of you, making the redhead smile. Maybe so, you thought — you hoped.

By the way Nat was looking at you, eyebrows raised slightly and lips pursed, you could tell that she was desperate dive into the specifics of how things were with you and Bucky.

Failing to suppress the grin tugging at your lips, you sighed. “Go on, what do you wanna know?”

“Alright, uh...” She pondered, too many questions whirling around in her mind already. “Where was your first date?”

“The Fall Carnival, after he won the match Steve took me to.”

“Is that why you have like, a hundred stuffed animals on your bed?”

Your eyes flickered to the numerous teddy bears and other stuffed animals you’d sat against the headboard, a constant reminder of how you couldn’t have asked for a better first date with Bucky. “...yes.”

“Okay, have you seen him shirtless?”

“Uh-huh.” Yet with how your heart raced every time it happened, you’d have thought that every time was the first time.

“Have you seen him pantless?”

“Oh my- no, I haven’t.”

“So, you haven’t sucked his dick yet?”

Your jaw dropped involuntarily as Natasha snickered. “I swear your mind is always in the damn gutter, Natasha.”

She scoffed, leaning forward on her elbows. “Okay, you can stop with the innocent act right now. I see you zoning out in class, babe. You think I don’t know what you’re daydreaming about? Or should I say fantasizing?”

Feeling your face grow hot, you dropped your gaze to your hands. Nat wasn’t exactly wrong; maybe your mind did get a little distracted during class, and maybe Bucky was that distraction.

It was something you’d thought about, furthering the sexual aspect of your relationship with Bucky, and you were sure he’d at least thought about it too. It wasn’t like you were inexperienced, you’d done things here and there with guys who you at first thought weren’t douchebags, but inevitably became ones when they got what they wanted. You’d never went through with... the full deed, but from what you had done, you’d decided you wanted to wait to do it with someone who you really cared for, and who felt the same way for you. And since Bucky was probably in the God tier of men in modern-day America, there was no doubt in your mind that you wanted it to be him.

Right now, however, you weren’t sure it was the best time to have that conversation. When all of it was over, and you knew that your brother was safe, then things could possibly progress.

After eventually managing to steer the conversation away from the topic of your sex life, you and Nat settled down to watch a movie in the living room. With your socked feet resting in your friends’ lap, you flicked through the selection of movies on Netflix, reading out the titles for the girl to decide on.

“How about Titanic?”

“Seen it a hundred times.”

“Spider-man?”

“Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield? And which movie?”

“Tobey Maguire, third movie.”

“Hm... anything else?”

You breathed out a chuckle. “Alright... Dirty Dancing?”

The redhead’s eyes flicked from her phone to the television, an interested smile on her lips. “Patrick Swayze, my man.”

“Dirty Dancing it is.”

As you’d just pressed play and started the film, Natasha’s phone began to ring loudly. You groaned, telling her to put it on silent, but she answered it anyway, mouthing a ‘sorry, it’s my boss’ before greeting the man politely.

You sighed impatiently, glancing at your own phone from where it was placed on the coffee table. There were enough texts from Peter when you’d checked, texts you would answer in the morning after you’d hopefully gotten over the embarrassment you felt after sending the initial message. There was nothing from Bucky, though, and you weren’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

“Alright, I’m on my way.”

You frowned as Nat ended the call, pulling the phone from her ear with an apologetic look. “That was Fury, he needs me down at the station.”

Glancing at the clock above the TV, you crinkled your brows. “This late?”

“Time is only an illusion to that man, he probably just needs help finding some files.” The redhead smirked, but it soon faded into a sympathetic smile as she gently lifted your legs from her lap. “I’m sorry, (Y/N). Can I take a rain check?”

“Sure. Be safe, alright?” You stood up, leading her to the front door and giving her a quick hug.

For the second time that night, you locked the front door and sighed. You were alone, again.

When she wasn’t at college, Natasha worked at the police station. You weren’t sure exactly what her job was; she seemed to be there more than you were at Sam’s tattoo shop. She wasn’t at all qualified to actually be in the force, so you assumed she just worked as an assistant or receptionist. Fury definitely had her working a lot of hours though, it was crazy to you that she could handle that much time at work on top of her classes.

Biting your lip, you shuffled back over to the couch, picking up your phone that still hadn’t received a notification from Bucky. Hopefully, that meant he was making sure Steve was alright and that’s why he wasn’t paying any attention to his phone. You could only hope that was true, and that from tonight, everything would get better rather than worse.

* * *

There was a pregnant pause. A silence so quiet, yet both of the boxer’s thoughts had never been louder in their heads.

They’d both sat down on a bench against the wall. Steve’s elbows were digging into his thighs as he leaned forward, hands clasped together tightly. His friend sat not far from him, angled so that he could look at the blond as he spoke.

There was a lot of things that Bucky wanted to say. He want to tell Steve that everyone in Pierce’s gym were pieces of shit, and that they couldn’t just threaten him like that. He wanted to tell him that he wasn’t going away for life, that Steve wouldn’t be put behind bars if that video got out because they’d find a way to explain how he’d been manipulated.

But it was foolish to think it could be solved so easily.

So instead, Bucky said something else, for your sake and your brother’s. “You need to tell your sister.”

Abruptly, the blond snapped his head towards him, a glare in his eyes. “Are you crazy? I can’t tell her that I-”

“No, no. Not that,” Bucky intervened. He didn’t think that you were too sensitive, or that you couldn’t handle hearing about what your brother was being blackmailed with. Right now, he just didn’t think it was necessary that you knew, not when it was something as serious as it was. “But, I think she should know why you’re involved with Rumlow.”

The blond just shook his head. “How am I supposed to explain that I joined an illegal fighting ring willingly, huh? What is she gonna think?”

“You had a reason, Steve. To pay bills, to buy food, to get your sister her own apartment so that she could begin building a life of her own. You didn’t know they were trafficking weapons and girls, you couldn’t have known. And when you found out, you left. (Y/N) will understand — you were just lookin’ out for her, for your family.”

Bucky remembered vividly when his friend left the gym for good. He hadn’t been that close with him then, training with him from time to time but nothing really more than that. He probably would’ve see him more if Steve hadn’t been halving his time between working in the fighting ring and training at his local gym. Well, it was more of a seventy-thirty split considering Rumlow didn’t exactly slack on making Steve train. It took the blond a while to get back into actual fighting; Bucky guessed they’d put him into some pretty brutal matches, and it took him sparring with the brunet a number of times before he took on a professional opponent.

Partially, he blamed himself for Steve joining the ring. He knew he shouldn’t, but he was the one who told him to stay away from Pierce’s gym. That they boxed for unholy amounts of money, that it was barely even boxing, more like beating each other until one person was almost dead. Then, he didn’t know that Steve’s mother had passed away only a short while prior to him starting boxing and that he was hardly making enough money to support himself, never mind his seventeen-year-old sister at the time too. If he knew that Steve would join the ring purely for money to survive, he would’ve told him that it was the worst thing he could do, even for so much cash.

Bucky knew that first hand.

Steve’s expression had softened, but he still seemed unconvinced. “Buck, she’s just a kid. I... I can’t just unload all of this shit onto her. She has classes to focus on, she has a job-”

“Steve,” The boxer cut him off, an earnest look on his face. “With the risk (Y/N) is at right now, college should be the least of her concerns. If... if she could really get dragged into this mess, she has the right to know.”

The blond was torn. He popped his knuckles again in an attempt to relieve the tension in his body, the pain being more prominent in his right hand from the bruise that was still healing there. He was about to tell Bucky that he’d think about it, when he suddenly stopped himself. A question came to mind, something he wasn’t sure why it didn’t occur to him two years ago. Something didn’t really make sense.

“How did you know about the ring?” He asked solemnly. “The only way anyone could know about it is...”

“If they’ve been a part of it,” Bucky finished for him, an almost pained look in his eye as he did so.

Steve didn’t know what to say, letting his mouth fall open slightly as his eyes darted over his friend’s face, searching for any indication that what he’d just heard wasn’t true. He didn’t find one, however.

The brunet sighed, unable to meet Steve’s eyes before he finally forced himself to.

“The reason I knew about the fighting ring... is because I was involved in it too.”

* * *

Taglist:

@asgcrds @fiannaofficial @bxrnsfeyson @peterparkerbabyyy @broco8 @hotheadbarnes @stormi-ames @founding-fuck-bois

[peeterparkr]

Confessing your feelings to Peter?

You caught me in a writing mood so here we go. This is so stupid tho. But it’s cute? It’s pure fluff I guess.

m&m’s and skittles

Confessing your feelings to Peter would consist on you planning it for more than a month. You’ve been pushing it back for a while and you know that you can’t hold it any longer. You decided you’d tell him the moment Peter said he needed to tell you something.

You know, it had all started when you had mixed a bag of skittles and a bag of m&m’s and dared to eat a handful of it. You loved m&m’s, he loved skittles. What a better way to console your friendship than by mixing those two? That had been when you first realized it. Third grade and a very stupid decision.

But, it was a tradition. You’d mix m&m’s and skittles and you’d talk about stuff you wouldn’t talk with anyone else while making faces of the weird combination.

Maybe he had feelings for you, too. And maybe it’s time to finally accept it, before you’re gone for another five years or whatever happens now. The world is crazy, now.

You’d probably shyly tell him to go out later to that cafe where you guys usually hang out after school to do your homework. He’d probably invite Ned to tag along but Ned would, so nicely (because you asked him to) decline his offer. But you tell him to see you there and you tell him to bring you some M&M’s and You’d bring some skittles.

Every now and then when you saw he had a late night patrol, you’d bring him skittles the very next day. And every day that you had pulled an all nighter he’d bring you m&m’s. But whenever one asked the other to bring it and that they’d bring the others, it meant serious talk. It meant mixing both candies and letting it all on the table.

And you had asked for a serious talk.

You’d be so nervous all day, you know, pencil biting, feet dancing, gulping, sweating. All because you’re telling your high school crush that, oh-no big deal, you’ve been in love with him since third grade. But it’s Peter Parker we’re talking about. The m&m’s to your skittles.

But then he wouldn’t show up. And you’d be there, angry because you had been dying all day long. But you’re understanding because you know Peter has way too many things to do with his Stark internship, and now that Tony Stark is gone, it probably is busier. Your best friend happened to be the one and only Spider-Man so you guess he’s needed more now.

So you’d be waiting for him still, for hours maybe and he just never shows up. You give up and you tell yourself that’s is probably the right thing because Peter, you know, Peter wouldn’t hurt you like this. And maybe it wasn’t the time to tell him. No, it wasn’t and maybe it never will be the right time.

Because maybe skittles don’t go with m&m’s and it’s just another stupid idea of yours. Of your stupid attempt to make believe that your friend reciprocates your lame excuse of feelings.

You’d go home, kind of bummed because you even had brought those stupid cards you’d written that you had rehearsed so many times in the mirror. But you don’t need them anymore, so you shove them into your trash can. You take the bag of skittles and you stare at it. Of course skittles don’t go with m&m’s.

You would lay down on your bed, just a little bit sad. And you’re telling yourself that you’re a fool for believing that Peter would ever fall for you. He’s your friend, why would he see you as more? You just look up. Maybe you could tell him in the future.

You text him that you’ll see him tomorrow. But then someone knocks at your window. Terrified, you look up and see a suit, an iron red and blue suit that can only mean one thing: Spider-Man is there.

You hesitate on whether or not to open the window to see the hero, you do, however.

“Spider-Man,” you’d say. “I’m afraid this is private property and there are no crimes in this particular bedroom.”

“I’m just patrolling,” he says. “And I’m afraid I—there was a crime committed—Someone was stupid and forgot that they were supposed to see each other at Diane’s.”

“No big crime,” you say.

“I’m just here to give a package.”

“A package?” You chuckle. “Spider-Man works for UPS now?”

“Tough times,” he would joke.

“A package then?” You push. “Spider-Man has something to give to me?”

“Yes,” he says before raising his hand to show a bag of M&m’s and he also has a balloon. The mask takes off and shows the familiar brunet curls and the pretty eyes you’ve been in love for years. He has a bruise by his eye.

“So, what’s the emergency?” He asks making his way into your room. “Every time you want m&m’s and skittles there’s something deep to talk about.”

“No real emergency,” you say. But he’s right, but you’ve already decided that you won’t tell him. “Wanted to hang out, that’s it. And I needed help with physics.

But Peter knows you too well. “Well, um, I was going to ask for a skittles and m&m’s reunion, too.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” He would get nervous. “I uh—but we can talk after physics.”

“I don’t have a bowl to mix them,” you’d say looking at the skittles. “We will have to be normal for once.”

And you’d let him help you with physics, and maybe you’d be on the floor, laughing as you play with the helium of the balloon. You’d probably start making voices and sing stupid songs while he eats the skittles and you eat the m&m’s. Not once mixing the candies.

“So what did you want to talk about?” You would ask him.

“Ned told me something,” he would say.

And of course Ned told him something because Ned can’t keep his mouth shut. “Concerning?” You ask him.

“Skittles.” He’d say. “Skittles and m&m’s.”

“Oh.”

And he would only shrug. “But we didn’t mix the m&m’s and skittles so we can’t talk about it. Remember? That’s the rule.”

“Those two candies shouldn’t be put together,” you point out.

“But we usually mix them,” he pointed out. “Except for today.”

And it was. Unless they were mixed you wouldn’t talk about any subject.

And then you remember your cards, how they had based on the mixing of those two particular candies. And you see how he had finished the bag of skittles and you see how you finished your bag of m&m’s.

“We didn’t,” you realize. As you push the hair away from his face.

“We should’ve,” he concedes as he raises your chin.

And maybe, something stupid gets into you because you didn’t plan this. It wasn’t in the cards and it certainly wasn’t on your notes. This wasn’t planned.

“Well, Let’s.” And you lean over and kiss him.

And you taste the skittles of his lips and you’re sure he tastes the chocolate from yours. And at first it’s a weird taste but it ends up with a sweet coincidence. And he’d be surprised at first as you first pulled away but he would lean over to kiss you for a second time, and then a third time.

“They’ve been mixed then,” he would say with a big smile. “But I guess there’s not much we can talk about now.”

“Maybe there isn’t. But maybe skittles do go with m&m’s.”

“Maybe they do.”

And you kiss him again.

-----

if you liked this you should check out this peter parker fic

[emrysarthurpendragon]

Whumptober day 3 | Alt: Comfort

Where am I?

 What happened to me?

 Arthur? Arthur, where are you?

 Am I dead? Maybe he killed me before I woke again? For our friendship’s sake?

 Merlin’s drifted back into darkness’s arms; he felt safe, for now.

* * *

 Arthur had been thinking. A lot. Near the fire, Merlin had been unconscious for the past hours and all the prince could focus on was how Merlin had magic. No. Not had, has. Gaius’s ward was still breathing, and this would not cease anytime soon. Not even with his … lies. Had Merlin been practising when they first met? Probably. This would explain all the weird incidents occurring when they ran after one another and how Arthur made a fool of himself. How powerful was his friend? He made an entire building fell into pieces. He made them transport without even being awake when it happened. That must be something! Even regarding wizards’ standards. Blue eyes fell on Lancelot. The knight had been keeping watch over Merlin since they arrived here. He tended to the serving boy’s wounds and never let them approach with weapons at hand’s reach. They all noticed healed scars on their friend’s body. Scars that faded long ago, but with terrible stories attached to them. He saw Merlin half-naked through the years. At least after they met, and the boy had no choice but change into dry clothing after their usual banters. Those were inflected to his manservant after he first came to the citadel. By whom? Noblemen bother by their strange friendship? Attackers? Whenever they were ambushed? No. Arthur snorted when he remembered Merlin cowering to avoid battle. Or was he? Strange things did happen when bandits or enemies of Camelot attack them. Branches fell with perfect timing on their opponents, saving their lives more than once. Was it Merlin? He needed to know. If not for his sake, for Merlin’s. If he were right, this could be proof enough all sorcerers were not filled by hatred and darkness. Merlin was the opposite. Kind. Good-hearted. Goofy. A weird sense of humour, which often involved making fun of his master. Selfless too. He sacrificed his own well-being for Arthur, working extra hours just so his amour would be clean for the next day, and then stumbling more than ever the next day. Still he saw nothing. There must have been signs. Hints toward Merlin’s secret. With a heavy sigh, Arthur stretched and walked to Lancelot. The man glared at him, gesturing to his sword and the prince left it a few steps behind before sitting next to both his knight and valet.

“How did you find out?” he asked after an uncomfortable silence. If Lancelot knew and said nothing, this must mean something.

“Remember the manticore’s quest? Merlin used magic to save me and kill that beast. I’ve known since then,” Lancelot said, smiling fondly at their sleeping friend. “Then, I started noticing things. Like how he protected us without getting credits for it.”

“And Emrys? He’s related to Merlin?”

“I…” Lancelot hesitated; Arthur knew the truth now. “Yes. Pretty much. That’s why Morgana questioned him. Merlin told me her power showed her future. In it, Emrys killed her during a terrible battle. Since then, she wanted to find out who he is and stop him at all costs.”

“I don’t understand. Percival said I’m supposed to work hand in hand with Emrys. Legend and destiny. If it’s true, where is Emrys now? Why doesn’t he show up and change my mind on magic?” they would not build that future if they were playing hide and seek together.

“That’s the trick. He’s already here. Hidden in plain view and going unnoticed among your people,” chuckled Lancelot, now noticing how close the others were. They started listening and Leon gasped, realisation filling his features.

“Merlin?” he asked in a low voice, his gaze unmoving while said boy breathed in and out. In and out. Unaware of his surroundings.

“What about Merlin?” Arthur asked, still oblivious. He just couldn’t imagine Gaius’s ward as a powerful being. Not even after what they witnessed earlier.

“Yes, Merlin He’s Emrys. He was born to protect you, Arthur. He would die to do so, if it means you stay alive.”

“But it’s stupid! Merlin can hurt himself with a spoon! If he were so powerful, he would be dead because he sneezes too hard and just blew his room up!” OK, kind of rude. Merlin was not so stupid. Or was he? “He can’t keep a secret. I would know. It’s not…”

“Merlin’s more than that. Just … talk with him. Give him a chance,” Lancelot asked.

 With the betrayal still burning him third degree, Arthur wanted to say no. The conflict feelings sent him various messages. Forgive or kill. Understanding or hatred. Decide never felt so difficult before. The prince he used to be when they met, his father’s puppet, roared with anger and wanted to deliver Merlin to the flames. His new self, the one with strong feelings for his servant stood proudly, facing whoever may hurt the brunet. He needed to listen. To understand Merlin’s side of the story. So he waited … night turns into daylight. Another afternoon started and night fell again when Merlin awoke. After their talk the previous day, Lancelot had relaxed enough to sleep. Arthur took first watch and noticed Merlin’s eyes fluttering open.

“Rise and shine,” the prince mocked his serving boy’s usual greeting. “How are you feeling? You … you scared us.” You scared me. I thought I’d lost you. Don’t ever do that to me again.

“I … what…” then it hit him. Arthur knew the exact moment Merlin remembered what happened and what he’d done. Merlin went into full panic attack mode and Arthur’s body reacted before he could think. His arms locked around Merlin’s waist and he whispered words he never thought he would say. Especially to a sorcerer.

“Shh … it’s okay, Merlin. You’re fine. You saved us,” he murmured, gently brushing a strand of black hair. Merlin jumped at the touch and Arthur felt a pang of worry. This man could be the death of him. “Are you hurt?”

“I’m still alive…” Merlin whispered, dumbfound. Why had Arthur did not kill him? He had plenty of time if he had been out all that time. Wait. Arthur was hugging him. He watched him with worried eyes and something else … was it … no. Not love. Arthur loves no one more than his own person; a royal prat. “I was supposed to die!” the warlock suddenly gasped, watching around them with fright. Why was he…? He made a choice. He picked his life as a sacrifice to the goddess. He had to give up everything, just so Arthur may have a long and peaceful life, with a queen and lots of kids running in the castle. But here he was, breathing and … his mind free of Morgana’s spell. Free of whatever had bothered him for the last few weeks. Even when he walked and hang himself in an oak tree. Well, mostly. He still heard the voices in his mind, whispering tempting words behind an obsidian wall. They will come back, eventually.

“Merlin. Merlin focus,” ordered Arthur. “Good. Breathe in, breathe out … I know you’re scared. Listen to me. I won’t kill you. I’m hurt. I’m furious even. You lied to me … you kept secrets from me.”

“I’m sorry, I did not…”

“I know. You had to. Merlin I…” Arthur inhaled, unsure. If someone had told him this day would come, he’d laughed at the man face. “I guess I need to thank you … for what you did. You protected me, us, Camelot. You got hurt and never asked for recognition. Instead, I acted like a…”

“A prat?” Merlin joked.

“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”

An angel pass, two, three and an entire van. Arthur knew he just shocked his servant. He never thanked him or anyone outside his knights before. Could one go into shock after such a change in their lives? After all, as a prince, people mostly kissed the floor he walked on and are grateful for his existence. Not the other way … oh … right … his head may pass the doors if he continues. His thought came to a halt when he heard Merlin’s soft voice, while their friends snore loudly around the camp.

“I’m dead. I’m sure of it now…” chuckled the younger man, raising a hand to brush over Arthur’s warm skin. If he hides it well, the once and future king felt a shiver ran down his spine. When he spoke, his voice sounds tight and uncertain. “Why would you? Tell me, Merlin.” The warlock still gently caressed his skin and they both blushed, even if no one noticed.

“Arthur never thanked anyone. Not even in my wild dreams. Ergo, I’m dead and I’m thankful…” under his fingers, Uther’s son froze. What for? “Arthur?”

“Don’t say those words. I’m your king and I ban you from dying. You’re not allowed to leave me. Not ever.”

“You can’t, I died already. I wouldn’t do that if I were still alive…” Merlin mumbled, sitting awkwardly. His hand still stroking his prince cheek. Their eyes met and suddenly, the world around them felt silent. Event the knights stopped their snores. King and vagabonds stared at each other’s for an eternity or mere seconds. Merlin’s inner voice tried to stop him, yelling something about him still alive or whatever … but he did not listen. He knew better. Arthur had to kill him, with the ban of magic still standing. He may regret it later, the morning after … but for now, the warlock stopped fighting his inner demons. He leaned toward his prince, the one who was still holding him against a strong body and their lips met for the first time. A warm feeling grew in them both. Arthur was stunned but deeper the kiss. He had desired that man for a long time now. Not since day one, no. They hated each other’s when they met; the feeling turned into something else. Respect. Love. Care. He wanted Merlin to feel it all and when wet tears fell over Merlin’s cheeks, the prince pulled back and gently chase them his thumbs.

“I need to show you something, Merlin,” Arthur whispered, not letting go of the sorcerer as he gently slapped the back of his head.

“Ouch! It hurts!” protested Merlin, his eyes widening when he realised when he just said … and did. Did he just … had he … no he … oh. Arthur followed his train of thoughts all along and snorted when Merlin yelped, mortified. Trembling fingers before his lips, Merlin shook his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t … it’s the spell, I guess… I…” Arthur stopped the rambling, forcing his friend to meet his eyes again.

“Don’t apologise. I’m glad you did it … even if you thought this world was an illusion. And I don’t want a world without you. Not now. Not ever. Understood?” with only silence for an answer, the prince continued: “I like you the way you are. Magic or not. Clumsy or not. Brave or coward. It doesn’t matter, OK? By the end of the day, you’re still the same old Merlin. Now that I know the truth, I can help you protect your secret, especially from my father.”

“You… You accept my magic?” Merlin asked, still confused at the mere prospect of being free of any secrets.

“Lancelot talked me out my prejudices.” Arthur admitted. Remembering Lancelot words about how magic was not different from any weapons. Just like a person can either help or kill someone with a sword, the same thing works for magic’s users and as a king, his duty was to bring equal justice in the kingdom. Murder with weapons or magics were both leading to a death sentence. The others shall live free of fear. “Now I see clearly and I promise you this: once I am king, I’ll lift the ban of magic.”

[kyla-draws-things]

Stone Cold Slumber

Relationship: Claude/F!Byleth Rated T 

Word Count: 3905

During the battle for Garreg Mach in 1181, things begin to look dark for Byleth and her students.

Begging the goddess within her for the power to defeat the approaching Empire army, Byleth decides she must do whatever it takes to protect the Monastery.

No matter the cost.

Read it on Ao3!

The students and professor of the Golden Deer House barely got a moment of reprieve before their lives were thrust back into the chaos of war.

The Flame Emperor, or in actuality, Edelgard, managed to escape their grasp in their last battle, and now?

“The Imperial Army is marching on Garreg Mach.”

That’s what Shamir had stated in her report, and now both Professor and House Leader rushed through the winding halls of the monastery and spreading the word to all of those they came across. Lady Rhea had already mobilized the knights who prepared for an all-out attack from the Empire.

How could Edelgard do this?

Byleth couldn't say she was all too close with the leader of House Black Eagles, being the professor for a different class, but for her to be plotting an entire uprising against the church? She never could have seen it coming. 

---

The afternoon sun stung her eyes as they emerged from the ornately carved wooden doors into an all-out war.

The Knights of Seiros clashed with Imperial soldiers in a bloody massacre in the field before Fódlan’s most sacred location. Battle cries amalgamated with the dying screams of friend and foe alike into a chorus of absolute despair and anarchy.

“Teach?” The usual strong and flamboyant voice of House Leader Claude suddenly sounded subdued and worried, but when Byleth turned to face him she found nothing but bravery in those emerald green eyes.

“We’re ready.”

The members of the Golden Deer house stood before her with weapons at the ready, not showing any signs of fatigue or injury from the earlier battle. Byleth’s heart swelled with pride at the sight. This group of rather bratty teenagers she had been roped into teaching had by now felt like a family to her. The only family she had left.

“Hey, Byleth.” Claude grabbed her wrist as the others marched down the long stairs to the battle below. The use of her actual name was an uncommon occurrence with Claude, who preferred to call her “Teach” rather than “Professor” but never really broke the formality completely but using her name. The only other time she could recall him saying it was the day they met and when he came to console her after her father’s murder.

“I’ve got your back, just like always.”

“Try not to die out there.” She tried to jest, hoping to see him crack a smile as is might be the last time she gets to see it.

“No promises.”

Byleth gave him a steely glare as he shrugged, flashing her a small smile as they charged onward to join the fight.

---

The young woman shouted orders across the battlefield to her comrades as they clashed with Imperial forces. Swords were swung and spells flung as crimson blood stained the thick green grass. 

Byleth ducked just in time to avoid a javelin, the flying metal spear grazing past her shoulder, missing her throat by an inch and slicing her already ragged hair. 

The pale green locks that drifted to the ground were still of foreign sight to her, unused to the light pigment instead of the dark blue she had inherited from her mother. The thought of it made her feel like a part of her had been erased. The blue of her hair and eyes had matched that of the deep sea, a stark contrast to her father’s blond hair and reddish-brown eyes. The sight of her reflection was the only thing she had of the mother she had never known, but since completely merging with Sothis, her own reflection of green eyes and hair seemed like a stranger was staring back at her.

Would father even recognize me like this?

Just thinking about him was too much of a distraction for her current situation. Byleth plunged her sword through the chest of an archer who had been taking aim at Marianne, the man let out a gurgled cry as he fell limp on her blade. 

A deep and guttural battle cry came from her left before she had the chance to dislodge her weapon.  

An arrow sunk into the temple of the oncoming soldier sending him crumpling to the ground before he had a chance to bring his axe down upon her.

“And to think, you were the one telling me not to die!” Claude chimed as he retrieved his arrow from the man’s head.

“Check it out, over there.”

Byleth turned to see what the brunet was pointing at. 

Across the field, a familiar platinum-blonde stood staring them down as the chaos ensured around them. Her violet eyes held no sign of mercy as she gripped her axe tightly as if beckoning them forward for a battle.

Edelgard.

“Call off your army!” Byleth shouted to the young Emperor in what she knew was a futile attempt at stopping the continuation of this tragedy.

“This is an act of war!”

“Then it is war I declare.” The woman stood her ground.

“War against the Church of Seiros and your false goddess.”

“What happened to you, Edelgard?” Claude begged his former friend, those emerald eyes full of betrayal and disbelief.

“What do you hope to obtain by plunging all of Fódlan into anarchy?”

“The same thing you wanted, Claude, though perhaps a more realistic version.” The ice in her eyes clearly spread all the way to her heart.

“I want to unite Fódlan into one nation as it was before, under the rule of the Empire.”

She’s gone mad!

Byleth could hardly believe what she was hearing. Edelgard, The Flame Emperor, had been plotting against the Archbishop this entire year. 

Professor Jeritza… Tomas… Monica… All of her accomplices who had been a part of the horrible occurrences across Fódlan as of late.

Monica.

Byleth felt a rage grow within the wound in her heart as she wondered how much Edelgard had to do with the murder of her father. Whether or not it was by the new Emperor’s design, Byleth would make her pay.

Before Byleth had a chance to test her blade’s sharpness against her foe’s throat an enraged voice roared across the battlefield with a strength that shook the earth beneath them. A dragon larger than any of the demonic beasts soared from the monastery’s cliff, unleashing a powerful blast of energy of its jaws that levelled any foe in its path.

“Get down!” Claude tackled his professor into the dirt as the massive beast’s fury missed them by mere meters.

What the hell was that thing?

“You alright?” He asked as they both picked themselves up.

“Wait, where’s Edelgard?”

The Emperor was nowhere to be seen among the fray, whether she got away or was eviscerated, it was impossible to tell, but Byleth coped for the latter.

The professor frantically looked around for the rest of her students. The beast didn’t seem to care who it exactly took out in its rage, hundreds of soldiers scattered around all burnt to a crisp or incinerated entirely. 

A familiar yelp sounded not too far off as she saw the pink pigtails of Hilda swirl around as she swung her axe down on any soldier who dared come her way. As strong as she was, she was vastly outnumbered.

“Claude, go help Hilda, I have to go after Edelgard.” She didn’t want to split from him, but ensuring Edelgard’s demise would end the war here and now.

“I’ll be fine, just go.”

Claude grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight, eyeing the Golden Deer bracelet clasped around her wrist. A good luck charm. He had called it when he gifted it to her on her birthday during the last Horsebow Moon.

“You’ll be fine as long as you’ve got this thing with you.” He smirked before pulling an arrow from his quiver and racing to assist his classmate.

Although she figured having The Sword of the Creator at her side would give her the best odds of winning, but luck was definitely needed here.

As the winged beast swooped in for another attack, the wails of demonic beast pierced the air as they pounced on it, knocking it from the sky.

She gripped her sword tightly and began to charge just as time suddenly froze.

It was a reflex she had developed that had saved her life a few times in recent battles, letting out a Divine Pulse at the first sign of critical injury. Her ears rung with the searing pain of the axe lodged a few inches into her back. She hated using her power on herself. Such an invaluable but limited ability was best used to save lives other than her own. Though Byleth kicked herself for her carelessness, she felt this axe belonged to the one she had been searching for. Byleth reached somewhere within her soul, willing the hands of time to tick backwards as she found herself just a few moments into the past.

A few moments was all she needed to see the great dragon fall again as she whipped around, using her blade to knock away the axe thrown in her direction. Byleth’s pale green eyes stared down Edelgard as she smirked at her own failed attack.

��How are you just impossible to sneak up on?” Frustration crept into the young Emperor’s voice.

“Who do you fight for the church? Join me and we can rid Fódlan of that evil witch.”

It was hard for Byleth to completely say she was fighting for the Church of Seiros. Religion had nothing to do with simply doing the right thing. The monastery was the first real home she had ever known. Her mother and father both rested there. Not to mention the bonds she’d made with the kids she taught were irreplaceable. The Archbishop be damned Byleth had her own reasons to fight. There wasn’t a chance that Byleth would give this up for a megalomaniacal warlord.

“I’d die before I’d join your cause.” Byleth hissed as she felt the power in her sword grow with her own anticipation.

“Then I guess you must perish.” Edelgard’s tone may have sounded defeated but her army was far from it. 

More soldiers poured onto the field, the continuous march of red-painted metal seemed endless. Endlessness outweighing hope as the look on Edelgard’s face told her she knew this victory belonged to the empire.

This couldn’t be how it ends. She had fought through too much to lose now based on sheer numbers.

Sothis...

Sothis told her once their souls had been merged, they would no longer be able to speak to one another, but Byleth hoped the goddess would still be able to hear her.

Sothis, I need your power.

Her desperate plea was met with a sudden feeling she had heard many people describe, but never experienced.

Byleth felt a pounding in her chest.

“The baby that never cried, or laughed, or even had a heartbeat.”

That is what her father’s journal said. Her heart did not beat. Yet this pounding was unmistakable. 

The hole in the hilt of her sword glowed a bright red as she felt the power flow through her as if her veins were filled with magma. Byleth shook with the energy, burning flames swirled around her, searing the Crest of Flames into the field around her as she held the Sword of the Creator high into the air.

“What the hell is-” Edelgard didn’t get the chance to finish that thought before Byleth plunged her sword deep into the ground.

The resulting blast incinerated all enemies in its wake. Swirling blasts of fire dancing around the battlefield to the music of Byleth’s will. The ground began to crack around her, forever marking it with her Crest. 

Though she could not see every life taken, she could feel them. Every body that came into contact with the flames of her wrath was felt in her very core. She felt their agony, their pain, but none of it mattered. Sothis may have been The Beginning, but for the Imperial Army, Byleth would be The End.

However, The End seemed to have come for more than just her enemies as the power within her began to fade. The yellowish colour of her divine blade began to fade into a dull grey that grew past the sword and began to coat her fingers. The heat of the flames turned into chilling numbness crawling up her arms, encapsulating even her golden bracelet in its colourlessness. The only colour added was the blood dripping onto the hilt from where it gushed from her nose.

Byleth felt her entire body growing stiff and tired. Oh, by the goddess she was tired. Every last fragment of energy was drained, but both her body and mind refused to cooperate enough to even allow her to collapse. As the stone crept across her chest she found herself nearly suffocating.

I’m dying.

Sothis warned her many times about using her powers in excess, but as long as they were safe, Byleth felt she could go in peace.

What happens to someone like her when she dies? Would she be able to see her father again? Would she be able to meet her mother? Sothis would die along with her, so what happens when a goddess dies?

Part of her was afraid to find out.

“Teach!” Through her blurred vision, she could see Claude sprinting towards her with a limp in his right leg and a look of abject horror painted across his features. Injured, but alive. That was good enough.

By the time he approached Byleth could barely feel anything at all. Not the tears running down her face. Not his grip on her shoulders. Hell, when he yells for someone in the distance, she can hardly make out the words. 

I’m sorry, Claude.

She wished she could say it out loud, but by the time she finishes the thought, everything she knew had become cold and dark.

---

Claude’shit the soft dirt with a dull thud as he dismounted his wyvern, rubbing his gloved hand across her hard, pearl white scales. The beast let out a mournful trill as if sensing her master’s troubled heart. He paid his mount little mind in that moment, more occupied with the field before him. 

It was hard to imagine that five years earlier, this plain was the site of a great battle, unlike anything the monastery had seen in hundreds of years, and at the epicentre of that battle, stood strong an immovable statue. 

The surrounding area had been turned into a memorial for the hero of Garreg Mach, Byleth Eisner, who stood in her stony form, the Sword of the Creator still plunged into the soil where she had ended Edelgard’s war as soon as it began. 

The final rays of the sunset cast a golden light on the bouquets of violets that laid at her feet and scattered all around. The flowers offered to the Enlightened One for her bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice to the people of the monastery and all of Fódlan for that matter.

Hopefully, she can find some peace among the petals.

Claude’s heart felt as if it would cave in at the sight of his old professor in such a state. The young woman he remembered seemed undefeatable by any enemy, charging headfirst into battle with her signature unnervingly blank expression and quick to throw herself between her students and any foe.

Although she was a professor, the lacking age gap between them always made her feel more like a friend to him. 

No.

Friend seemed like the word that should be used to describe her, but it left an odd feeling in his chest like something unfulfilled. Before he wouldn’t have known how to describe how he felt about her, he just knew the agony he felt when she was taken away. 

Time was supposed to heal all wounds, but that never really occurred in him. Becoming the leader of the Leicester Alliance proved a decent enough distraction, but it was a lonely role. It was hard for Claude to continue along the path of his ambitions for a unified world when it was a path he walked alone. There was an empty space by his side that only one could ever fill.

That person had no more steps to take, no more words to speak, not even one final smile to bear. Just cold stone and a heavy reminder of what happens when you cross the Church of Seiros.

"Hey, Teach." Claude spoke to the unmoving figure.

“I kept my promise, I came back for the Millenium Festival.”

To think Garreg Mach would never have seen it’s thousandth year without her.

“Sorry I got here so late, the other nobles of the Roundtable just love to debate me over every little thing.” He frowned at the expected absence of a response.

What he wouldn’t give to hear her voice just one more time.

He placed his hand on her wrist, the stone was cold as ice that chilled him down to his bones. His fingers traced the beads of the bracelet he had crafted just for her, now dull in colour and forever fused to her body.

Not so lucky after all.

“I’m sorry.” The young ruler bit his lip as he also bit back tears. 

All war is unpredictable from start to finish. You never know which goodbye will be the last. Not that they even got the chance for a proper goodbye.

He couldn’t get over how she looked exactly the same as she did five years ago. Standing in this field, completely untouched by time. While Claude himself had changed quite a bit in the same amount of time. 

He was only twenty-three but felt far older. Perhaps that’s what leadership does to someone. Byleth couldn’t have been more than one or two years off of him, but her maturity as both professor and commander was astonishing.

He knew the past would never stop haunting him. From eating together in the dining hall to fighting alongside each other on the battlefield and every day in the library indulging in their shared thirst for knowledge that came in between.

She was the only one who he ever truly confided in. The only one he discussed his ambitions with. A plan for a unified world. She believed it was possible. The woman who could seemingly make anything happen shared his dream to break down Fódlan’s walls and let the outsiders in.

With her gone, it no longer seemed as possible as he originally believed.

As the sun finally set, blanketing them in darkness with only the light of the moon and the stars to light their way in a gleam of silver. 

The others were expecting him inside the monastery. He wondered how many of the Golden Deer kept their promises to return on the day of the festival. He tried to turn away but he couldn't pry his eyes from her. He leaned forward, giving her a small peck on her cheek.

“Rest well, By, you’ve earned it.”

The man forced himself to turn away from her, taking a deep lungful of the crisp night air. Over the racket of the crickets, another noise catches his attention. It was quick and small, but something about it made him both curious and anxious.

He turned back to the statue, at first, seeing nothing amiss. Although when Claude took another look at her face, there was something new.

A crack.

Small little cracks spidered out from a point on her cheekbone. Thin and small, but Claude was certain they had not been there just moments earlier. Claude squinted in the dim moonlight, lightly running his thumb over the mysterious cracks. 

As if more fragile than the thinnest glass, the feather-light touch caused more cracks to strike out across her face. Claude jerked his hand back in horror, as the cracks continued to spread across her body as if she was about to crumble to pieces.

The original crack in her cheek began to glow with a golden light that quickly spread throughout her body as fragments of stone began to break away, revealing the almost forgotten colours of the past. 

And then she moved.

Byleth’s torso dipped forward, still gripping the sword as if using it to keep herself standing. 

“Byleth?” Claude reached out to her in disbelief.

She grabbed hold of one of his puffy sleeves, her nails digging into his arm through the fabric. When she finally looked up at him, her eyes were half-lidded and the circles underneath were dark and heavy. Tears began to gather in those eyes as she wordlessly reached up to touch his face. Her thumbs traced his cheekbones as she seemed to both recognize him and not at the same time.

“...Claude?” Her voice was hoarse and quiet.

“Y-Yeah I’m here I’m sorry I just-” Claude couldn’t help but laugh at himself as tears began to spill over.

“God I missed you so much.”

Claude couldn’t stop himself. He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers. A few seconds passed before he pulled away, finding her green eyes wide open in shock. He expected to be slapped, to be yelled at. Any reaction from her was welcome after her being motionless for the last half of the decade. None of that came though, those eyes of her’s did not hold any anger whatsoever. Byleths eyes once grey and lifeless but once again the colour of the summer grass held only wonder with a touch of confusion.

“You… came back…” The Sword of the Creator fell with a thud just as Byleth’s legs betrayed her, causing her to fall forward into Claude’s arms.

He knelt to the ground, practically cradling her as she rested her head on his shoulder.

“A promise is a promise.” Claude chimes as his tears dripped onto her cheeks.

“You came back too, back from the dead. That’s way more impressive than me riding a wyvern for a few hours.”

“Heh...heh…” Her laugh was weak and her skin was pale, it was clear that no rest was had for her these past years.

“My students?”

Always worried about everyone but herself.

“Either up there enjoying the festivities or out there somewhere living their best lives.” Claude saw a small smile form on her lips.

“All thanks to you.”

“I’m glad.” Byleth’s smile grew wider as her eyes fluttered shut. 

A shot of fear rushed through Claude for a moment before the steady and strong rise and fall of her chest signified she was finally getting her rest. Gently, he picked her up in his arms, carrying her bridal-style up to the monastery. Hopefully, Professor Manuela wouldn’t be too drunk to accept a surprise patient. Though maybe the shock would be enough to sober her up.

Byleth began to stir in his arms as she hummed a little tune he did not recognize. He glanced down to find her fiddling with the gold and black beads of her “lucky” bracelet.

“I don’t think it’s the bracelet that’s lucky.” She whispered, nuzzling her head into his shoulder as her eyes closed again.

“I think you’re where my luck comes from.”

“Then I shall stay by your side and make sure luck stays with you.” Claude smiled as he held her tighter, his heart still beating as fast as ever.

“My lucky star.”

[loveforpreserumsteve]

Begin Again (Mortician!Steve and Baker!Bucky Modern “Moving On” AU)

Twenty-Nine:

Back in the kitchen, Steve went back to his original task of mixing the colorful dyes into the liquidy batter. He didn't want to think about Brock, let alone see him. It had been six years. Six years since Steve had discovered the man he wanted to spend the rest of his life with had no desire to do the same with him. Six years since Steve sat crying in his living room trying to think of a way to explain his newly broken nose to his mom and especially how he'd explain it to Natasha. Six years since Steve entered into therapy for the first time. Six years since Steve vowed to never let anyone else close enough to break his --

Jesus, Steve rolled his eyes, I sound like a broken record.

As Bucky divided the new batch -- chocolate, it looked -- the same way he did with the white cake batter, he worried his lower lip with his teeth. The tenth time Bucky glanced up at him, Steve wondered if Bucky was ever going to, "Ask already."

The directness surprised the brunet, and he tripped over his words, "Did you, did you know that he was going to... going to... ya know?"

"Leave?" Steve supplied, dying his last bowl of light batter a vibrant green. Mutely, Bucky nodded. Steve pursed his lips as he reached back to the memories he had been trying to suppress for the last half decade. "Hindsight is 20/20."

"Right," Bucky agreed and weakly teased, "I've heard that before."

"I bet," Steve smirked. Then sighing as he settled, "There were little things that added up to big things. Honestly," Steve shrugged, "I should've realized it sooner. What with his internalized homophobia and how he never wanted people to see us together because of it."

Jaw briefly clenching, Bucky said, "That's just plain awful."

"That's not even half of it," Steve chuckled self-deprecatingly. Since he was thinking about it, he revealed, "I mean, for the first three months or so, whenever we were out together, he would still make it a point to pretend that we weren't together while he flirted on waitresses."

Shocked by this, Bucky just looked at Steve for a moment, not being able to do anything but blink at him. After a moment, Bucky stated, "Seriously, that's fucked up."

"Yeah," Steve nodded in agreement. "Of course, that's nowhere near as bad as the emotional abuse that I just shrugged off as, 'Sometimes My Boyfriend's a Dick.'"

"I don't even know what to say," Bucky admitted, "I kind of feel like crying."

"I've had six years to come to terms," Steve reassured.

"Six years?" Steve could almost see the way the gears were working in Bucky's mind. The brunet glanced over towards the front of the shop and vowed, "I'm never baking him or his family another cake."

Steve was the shocked one now and he quickly argued, "You don't have to do that. Really. I don't want to mess with your livelihood. I mean --"

"Steve," Bucky held up his hand to stop him. Steve snapped his mouth closed and Bucky reasoned, "It's my business, and I have the right to refuse that business. Why would I want a shitty person to promote my baking to his probably equally as shitty companions just so I can have more shitty customers?"

Worrying his lower lip with his teeth, Steve decided, "Yeah, when you put it that way…"

For a moment, the pair was quiet until Bucky sincerely asked, "If given the chance, would you still go through with it?"

"I mean, if not for Brock, I would've never met you," Steve teased, earning an attractive blush from the brunet that Steve immediately filed away for later. Playfully, Bucky rolled his eyes, and Steve honestly answered, "Probably. As sad as it is now, I was so gone for him that I would've eloped after the first month."

"Wow, even with him making you a Bro and hitting on women in front of you?" Bucky solemnly huffed. Steve quirked a brow and Bucky quickly apologized, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have… That was insensitive."

Steve paused his current task to really study Bucky, "Why are you asking?"

Bucky was back to worrying his lower lip with his teeth. And Steve hated the way that his heart jumped with premature hope. He shouldn't be happy about Bucky doubting his own relationship. Yet, the butterflies hatched from their cocoons to lazily flutter around his midsection at the smallest chance that Bucky might not want to marry his fiancé.

"I love Tony, I do. It's just..." Bucky blew out a puff of air, "He can be a bit... much."

Steve brows rose high on his forehead, and he ducked his head to focus on the batter in front of him. Pressing his lips to keep a smile from escaping. This was definitely not the time to be cheerful.

No matter how happy his heart happened to be.

"Like," Bucky continued, "He's planning this really elaborate wedding and I'm not sure if it's because it's the wedding of his dreams, or if it's just an expensive way to advertise his business."

Conflicted, Steve lightheartedly added, "Well, the man does know how to plan a wedding."

Bucky winced, but before he could apologize, Steve asked, "Have you talked to him?"

"I've tried to," Bucky admitted, starting on another recipe while gesturing to the dyed batter, he instructed Steve, "Can you fill those liners halfway?"

"Sure," Steve agreed, doing as told by lifting one bowl of batter and pouring it into the rainbow cupcake liners.

"The thing is," Bucky turned on the mixer, "Tony reads too much into things and I don't want him to jump to conclusions. I mean, the last thing that I want Tony to assume is that I don't want to marry him."

When one bowl was done, Steve moved onto the next. His heart was racing as he reminded, "As someone who has gone through this -- and ended up getting left at the altar -- don't wait to talk about this."

Bucky turned off the mixer and lowered his voice to confess, "I'm just afraid that he won't take it very well."

"Take what well?" Steve asked, "Are we talking about wanting a different centerpiece…? Or are we talking about wanting a longer engagement? Or…?"

"More like," Bucky wiped some extra flour off the counter, "I might be the Chapel O' Love type..."

"Might be marrying the wrong man," slipped out of Steve's mouth before he could think about what he was saying. His eyes widened once his mind caught up with his mouth.

All Bucky did though was chuckle; taking it as a joke. Like my life, Steve internally deadpanned.

After a moment, Bucky wondered, "Do you ever think you'll give it another go?"

Chewing on his lip as he thought -- and tried not to think about how he would run away with Bucky if he said the word -- Steve shrugged, "Maybe. Who knows, maybe when I find Mr. Right and begin again, I'll go the drive-thru nuptial route."

A large grin crinkled all the way up to his steel-blue eyes, "I think that's a marvelous idea." Then, he amended, "As long as I get to bake the cake, of course."

Licking some of the batter off his forearm, Steve confirmed, "You'll definitely be there."

"I see it's still true," Bucky chuckled.

"What is?" Steve asked, wondering how the batter had splattered and dripped onto him.

"The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

Steve looked up at Bucky then. Just in time to catch the wink sent his way. Blushing, Steve playfully rolled his eyes and continued filling the liners. Wondering if that way still worked if it was to a baker's heart.

[mimirexx]

Gratitude

Hange AU week day 2: post apocalypse

Living in the middle of the apocalypse is already bad as it is. So how much worse could it get? As if losing literally everyone close to herself wasn’t already enough, Hanji, unfortunately, hurt her left eye in the process and on top of that noticed a few months later that she got pregnant by her former boyfriend, Moblit. A nice guy, a good person, always kind and respectful. Definitely what lead him to death, though.

Now, she was unable to see anything on her left eye and was somewhere in her last months of pregnancy. She lost track of the time and wasn’t sure how far she was but judging from her big, swollen belly, she knew it soon would be time to give birth. Ever since she knew she was pregnant, she already was looking around for things for the baby like clothes, pacifiers, bottles, fabric diapers which were usable several times, since these were more efficient, and whatever else she found on her way. She was alone and hadn’t met any people for literal months, so she had to take care of herself and the unborn baby on her own.

To her dismay, it was winter. Snow covered the ground, roofs, lakes and literally everything else that was visible. It was so cold, especially at night, which made hiding and staying warm during the day and night difficult. She had to move from house to house, ate whatever she found, which wasn’t enough in any way. For someone being this close to giving birth, Hanji was incredibly thin. It luckily wasn’t to the point where it was life-threatening for her unborn child, she believed, but it wasn’t healthy either.

The only thing Hanji was actually worrying about was the process of giving birth itself. Many women died by giving birth, many babies died after giving birth because of things not working optimally; it was natural and also happened before the world practically went down. And since she was alone, she had nobody else who’d take care of her baby in case it ended with her death. She was genuinely worried about that.

The brunette was a tough woman. She was strong and independent and smart. Up until now, there was not a single moment where she didn’t figure out a way to get through or deal with the undead beneath the living- or rather the living beneath the undead, actually. The long sword she was carrying with her definitely was a big help while fighting these creatures and keeping them at distance. Though, Hanji found another way to avoid getting attacked by these things.

Before she got pregnant, the brunette used to study the living dead, used every minute of her time to get to know them. The more they knew about them, the easier it’d be to find a way to get rid of every single one of them. This far, she hasn’t made much of a progress in finding a way to heal them. But, Hanji learned that once she cut out their jaws and arms and took their ability to do what they’re supposed to- infecting- they’d lose interest in it and would not attack any human being near them. That was pretty much how she got through it this winter: with two dead people chained and prepared for her own safety. Lovingly named Sawney and Bean; the only company she had left.

One unfortunate day, a whole herd crossed her way. She was doing well for a while with Sawney and Bean by her side but with how big the herd was, Hanji was pushed around and ended up slipping on the frozen ground and hitting the floor. A small groan came for her and that already was enough for the first deads to turn around and approach her. They noticed that she wasn’t one of them and now she was in a lot of trouble.

“Fuck.” She cursed and forced herself to stand up again, which was hard considering her big belly in the way and the icy ground under her feet. “Ugh..” She groaned again and quickly pushed back one of the zombies that came a bit too close to her, then reached back to draw her sword. “I’m sorry, guys. But I have to.”

The first one fell to the ground rather quickly, just like the second one. But the brunette got exhausted easier and panted as she took slow steps back. At this point, the whole herd noticed her and now she had to deal with a dozen of dead zombies. A tree hit her back and took her only way of escaping.

Hanji was panting hard and stabbed another one through his head, though, had struggles to pull her sword out again. So, the zombie sank to the ground and took the sword with him, leaving Hanji with only her bare hands to fight. “Shit. Shitshitshit!” She hissed, folding her arms over her stomach protectively. If there was one place she didn’t want them to touch, it definitely was her stomach.

The living dead growled and groaned loudly, approaching the pregnant woman, getting closer and closer and closer. Just when one of them was close enough to grab Hanji’s arm and bite her, a shoot could be heard. The brunette flinched and shut her eyes momentarily before peeking through the herd in hopes to see who it was.

Two more zombies in front of her fell, revealing three people behind them: a girl and two boys. “Hey!! We’re here!” The blond boy called out, probably to draw attention- which worked great since the zombies began turning around and approaching the three instead. Hanji used that to reach down and forcefully pull her sword out of the zombies head. Holding it tightly, she began stabbing the zombies from behind while the others took care of them from the front.

It took them a few minutes but eventually, every zombie fell to the ground and there finally was a little silence. The only thing that could be heard was everyone’s heavy breathing, their breath coming out in white puffs in front of their faces. Hanji eyed the three closely, her sword still up in suspicion that the strangers might not be as nice as they might seem.

The girl had a very stoic and stern expression, she appeared very calm but still had that something that gave her this anger in her eyes. Not to mention that she took care of most of the zombies, so Hanji figured she might be the biggest threat of them. That girl remembered her a lot of an old friend.

The blond boy next to her looked rather weak; small. He had a cute face and big, blue eyes. From how he looked like, it almost was as if all the innocence that was left in the world lived in his frail being. She believed the weak didn’t survive very long and was curious about how that boy still was standing and fighting. His gun was lowered slightly- the gun which killed the first zombie.

On the other hand, the brunet boy looked like he’d lose it any moment. His emerald eyes gleamed with rage while his hands kept his knife up, pointed at Hanji. He was probably the most unpredictable one of these three. The three couldn’t be older than her in any way- they looked like teenagers, judging from their faces and built.

“Did they bite or scratch you anywhere?” The ravenette growled as her eyes traveled up and down Hanji’s body. Shaking her head in response, Hanji slowly rose her hands in surrender. “No. I’m not infected.” She explained shortly, rolled up her sleeves and turned around slowly to prove her point, watching as the ravenette gave a short, firm nod.

“What are you doing here all by yourself? Where are your people?” The short, blond boy asked next which made Hanji sigh, her eyes locked with his as she spoke, slow and clear so they’d understand, “I lost them in an attack months ago. I’ve been alone ever since.”

The brunet spoke up next, “And you got yourself pregnant in a time like this?” Hanji furrowed her brows at that and clenched her teeth, one hand reaching down to touch her stomach by instinct. “It wasn’t planned. And it was too late when I found out.” If she could, she would’ve aborted the child since children simply didn’t belong in a world like this and Hanji didn’t exactly have time to take care of one either. When she found out, it already was too late and Hanji decided she would rather give life than take one. There were too many people dying already.

“I see.” The brunet said shortly, lowering his knife, “Leave and we won’t have to kill you-”

“-What?!” The blond one interrupted before Hanji even had a chance to react. “We can’t just leave her alone like that, Eren! She’s pregnant!”

“So what?” The girl demanded, “There’s only so many lives that I can care about. My enemies made deciding that easy six years ago.”

“Mikasa is right.” The boy, who turned out to be named Eren, spoke and put his knife into its pocket. “She should be lucky we’re letting her go. She’s been fine this far,” His gaze fell at her zombies, Sawney and Bean, who stood somewhere near a tree and just looked around aimlessly. “And I’m sure she’ll be fine now too. We can’t afford any more trouble, you know that.” He added firmly.

The blond stepped closer to Eren and began shaking his head, “We can’t leave her back, we have to help her! Humans are already in danger as it is, we need to help each other to survive in a world like this. I know we can’t trust anyone but the least we can do is try to help so less people have to die!”

Something about that boy was special- he had that way to talk so determined and steadfast, almost stubborn, to convince his friends of what he was saying. Hanji liked that about him, even though it also was very stupid to take someone with them only because she was pregnant. It was a big risk. A big risk Hanji was glad they were considering to take.

As the three kept arguing on and on, Hanji leaned against a nearby tree, feeling very exhausted from the attack just a few minutes ago. Since she got pregnant, she noticed how much weaker she got and how she couldn’t hold herself up on her feet for that long. That was what she hated the most. Luckily, she had Sawney and Bean by her side and her pregnancy would soon be over, she could manage.

“Fine.” Eren spat and poked the blond’s chest a few times. “But you’re taking responsibility for her if she fucks up.” Giving Hanji a glare, the brunet turned away and began walking off as the shorter blond hurried over to Hanji and wrapped her arm around his shoulders to help her walking.

“C’mon, we’re going back home. You should rest.” He said comfortingly with a kind smile on his lips and lead Hanji over to walk behind Eren, Mikasa being the last in the row.

“Wait.” Hanji stopped and looked over at Sawney and Bean who still stood at the tree. “They’re coming with me.” The ravenette didn’t look very pleased to hear this and walked over to stand behind the two zombies. “No-!” Hanji shouted but it was too late and she had to watch Mikasa stabbing both of them through their head, making them sink to the ground.

“How dare you?! Why did you kill them?! They were my friends!”

“Friends?” The ravenette sighed annoyedly, “These are monsters. They’re killing people.”

Hanji was shaking with rage and just about screamed, “Sawney and Bean didn’t kill anyone! They were good! They were my friends and you just killed them for no reason!” Hanji was so mad at Mikasa. Sawney and Bean were calm, they never leashed out or tried to attack her, never did anything wrong. These two were the only friends she had left and now she had to watch them dying just like everyone else she ever knew.

It was quiet for some while as Hanji tried her best to keep her tears inside and not lose it completely. If she kept screaming now, they’d get into a shit ton of trouble. Even in a situation like that, she knew better than to get them all in danger- even if it was hard. She wanted to kill Mikasa in exchange for her killing her friends but Armin kept holding onto her arm tightly, not letting Hanji go anywhere. “C’mon, calm down. We have children at home, I’m sure they’d be scared of them. And Mikasa only killed them to save them from their grief. Am I right, Mikasa?”

Mikasa stared at the two like they were both insane. Eventually, she gave in and gave a short nod which made the blond boy smile a little. “See? She didn’t mean any harm. They’re in a better place now, where they belong. This world is cruel, they’ll get their peace now.” He explained and lightly rubbed Hanji’s back, “And we should go now before it gets dark. Think about your child.”

Hanji was staring down at the ground for a while, stared at the two corpses which used to keep her company when things were hard, her friends. Her two only friends she would never see again, just like she would never see any of her old friends anymore. Everyone was dead and Hanji just felt so lonely suddenly.

With a weak nod, the brunette forced herself to look away from the two and let the boy lead her away from the scene. For the rest of the way, it was dead silent. Nobody said a word. The boy next to her kept rubbing her back and Hanji found just a little comfort in this gesture. How long it had been since she last had people around her... she almost forgot how it felt like to hold or touch someone.

After walking for about half an hour or a little more, the four arrived at a big gate. There were a few people standing on top of the walls for surveillance and there could be heard many noises from the inside. One of these noises Hanji recognized immediately was the laughter of children. It filled her with a comfortable feeling, made her forget about the bad for a moment.

She hadn’t seen any children in ages, hadn’t heard any laugh, hadn’t seen any smile. Just imagining children running around and having fun, to see them being childish and so carefree and unaware of how ugly the world has become, made her chest swell comfortably, joyfully. Not only has she missed these things, but now her child also could have others in her age to spend time with once they got older. Her baby could grow up as a child and it made Hanji so unbelievably happy.

The gate opened and Hanji and the others walked inside. She looked around slightly and spotted a few kids running around. It made her smile with a small sparkle in her eyes, her hand coming up to rest on top of her stomach. These were sounds she longed for, sounds she could gladly get used to.

“It’s so beautiful here.” She commented absentmindedly and turned around to face the others again. Mikasa was staring at her cautiously and took the sword Hanji was holding while Eren lightly pushed her forward.

“Keep walking. We’re not the ones making the final decision whether you can stay or not. You need to talk to Captain first.” Hanji didn’t like how Eren was pushing her but decided to let it slide this one time and walked where Eren pointed her to go. The less she resisted, the easier it’d be. Just for now, until she knew whether she could stay or not, then she would make sure to show Eren how to push people around. “Who do I need to talk to? Who’s that ‘Captain’?” She asked curiously.

“He’s in charge of this place for a while now and he’s managing everything great. Everyone respects and trusts him, so he takes care of things like these.” The blond explained on their way, “When someone new comes, when food isn’t enough, when we’re in danger, when we have to fight or have to leave the walls for whatever reason, he’s in charge of all that and even more. Like a king- but don’t call him that, he doesn’t like that title.”

“He’s really tough and cold, so don’t hold your expectations too high. Being pregnant won’t get you bonus points, not with him.” Eren added in a firm tone and Hanji had to hold back a groan. He was annoying when he spoke like that- wannabe tough and dangerous.

Hanji nonetheless listened closely to everything they said and gave a small nod in response, “I see...” It wasn’t like she hadn’t dealt with difficult people before, Hanji knew how to act to achieve what she wanted if it came down to it. She just hoped it wouldn’t take too long since she really was tired and just wanted to get some rest finally.

A couple of minutes later, they stopped at the building which stood in the center of the small village these people were living in. It had two floors and actually looked pretty nice from the outside. It was just a simple house but that simplicity was what made it so beautiful, so unique. All the other houses she saw were ruins, broken, destroyed.

Eren walked over and knocked on the door. After a few second, a voice could be heard telling them to come in, so the brunet opened the door. While he held it open for everyone to walk in, Hanji sighed deeply and slowly entered the house, looking around. She spotted an open room and decided to go there since it seemed to be the right way, judging by how the others followed her.

“Sir. We found this woman outside in the woods today. Armin insisted on getting her here. She didn’t appear like a threat to us, she was alone and only had a sword with her, so we decided to get her here and see what you think of it.” The ravenette explained as the three stood at one side of the room, Hanji in the middle of it, in front of the desk this man was sitting at.

“She’s pregnant and was alone, so I didn’t see any issues with getting her here, Sir. We can always need more people, don’t we?” Armin said, glancing over at Hanji who gave him a small smile in appreciation of his care.

Eren folded his arms over his chest, sounding rather annoyed but also suspicious, “Also, she was walking around with two zo-”

“Now shut up for a moment, will ya?” The man spoke, turning around in his seat to look at the three teenagers. “Let me take a look at—” The raven’s gaze fell onto Hanji and both were just staring at each other with wide eyes.

Hanji finally saw that man’s face which made her heart beat so much faster. It couldn’t be true... She knew him! This was Levi! He was one of the people she used to be with before they got attacked months ago! Her big brown eyes filled with tears and she quickly rushed over to throw her arms around the raven and hug him. “Hanji..?!” He sounded in utter surprise, seemingly overwhelmed by the whole situation.

“Levi! It’s you! Oh my God, I thought you were dead! I thought I’d never see you again! I missed you so, so much!!” She babbled and sobbed the last part while she held the shorter male tightly. A few tears escaped her eyes, definitely tears of joy.

After some long moments, she pulled back enough to cup the male’s face tenderl and looked over his face. There several small scars on his body. She knew some of them but some also were new. It worried Hanji a little but seeing that he was standing and even leading such a big place just proved his strength all over again. “Are you alright? Is anyone else here too?”

The raven nodded at the first question, then shook his head at the second. “No, just you and me. I only got away because I fell down that cliff. I haven’t seen any of the others again... until now.” His gaze flicked down at her stomach for a few moments before moving up to her face again.

“Moblit.” Hanji stated simply which Levi nodded at. She reached out for his hand and placed it against her stomach, only then noticing that there were burn marks over the back of his hand and his fingers. It surprised her at first but it didn’t take long for her to place her own hand on top of his and smile at him.

Levi let his hand rest on the pregnant belly and gave her a small rub with his thumb. “I’m glad you’re alright, Shitty Glasses.” He said and slowly took his hand back, looking over at the three friends who were staring at the two dumbfounded.

“If you would’ve told me Levi was in charge of this place, I would’ve taken a bath before coming here!” Hanji joked and laughed, nudging Levi playfully who just rolled his eyes in return.

“Alright, listen, brats.” He spoke, “Hanji will live in the house next to this one, I’ll need her close. Jaeger, go and get food for her.” Eren looked hesitant at that but he reluctantly nodded and left with a “yes, Sir”.

The ravenette saw Eren leaving and quickly followed him outside. Hanji watched the girl and just shrugged at it, not really minding much why she’d follow him or not. Now that these two weren’t in the same room as them anymore, everything was less tense. Surprisingly enough.

Levi looked at Armin next, “Arlert. Hanji is smart. I want you to work together on your research and construction work.” The blond nodded at his new task and smiled softly, “Of course. I could always need some help.”

At this, Hanji nodded, then turned back to Levi and pulled him into another hug which the raven returned decently. “I really missed you a lot, Levi...” She murmured.

Hanji understood Levi wanted people to respect him and see him in a certain way- strong and cold, so she didn’t mind that he didn’t say anything in return. He always was like that. Never wanted anyone to know he actually was caring and had a big heart, though, only for the people who meant something to him. She knew and felt that he missed her too. The fact alone that he was hugging her was enough for her to be convinced of it.

——————————

“Madeleine! Madeleine, come here right this instant!” Levi shouted, his voice could be heard in the whole place. Even after so many years, he hasn’t changed one bit. He was still the grumpy, scary man he always was. Even physically, he was still the same; short, frowning, pissed. The only thing that changed were one big and several smaller scars over his face and his two missing fingers which all happened in the incident years ago.

The girl stopped upon hearing her name and turned over to look at Levi. She swallowed and slowly walked over, already knowing she was in trouble for the hundredth time. “Yes, uncle? Is there something you need?” She asked innocently, her lips curling up into a somewhat nervous smile.

“Stop this ‘uncle’-bullshit. The key to the basement of my house.” He demanded, holding his hand out while glaring at the teen, “I know you have it. Give it to me or I’ll have to kick your ass. Again.”

The girl looked utterly offended and shook her head heavily as she spoke, “Wh-what? I don’t have your key- I didn’t even know your house had a basement-!”

“Every house here has a basement, brat.” He interrupted quickly, frowning. “Give me the key and I won’t have to tell your mother about this.”

The brunette sighed and looked at the side for a while. A short silence surrounded them until Madeleine gave in and shoved the key into Levi’s hand. “Take it. That’s not fair, though.”

“The world isn’t a fair place.” He commented and put the key into his pocket. Just when he was about to turn around and walk, Hanji stood behind him with her arms folded over her chest. “What’s going on here?” She questioned, eyeing her daughter suspiciously.

“Your brat stole my keys.” Levi explained simply which made Madeleine gasp with wide eyes.

“Maddie!” Hanji scolded, walking over to pinch her daughter’s ear. The girl huffed and quickly whipped her head over to Levi, “You said you wouldn’t tell her! You lied!”

“Levi!” Hanji scolded again and used her other hand to pinch Levi’s ear as well. The raven looked up unamusedly and swatted Hanji’s hand away. “It’s the third time this week. I don’t know what’s wrong with your brat, and I really don’t care either. Teach her discipline or I’ll have to do it.” With a short wave, Levi began walking back to his house and shut the door.

Once Hanji was sure Levi was out of sight, she turned over to Madeleine and stared down at her. Her frown was deep, boring mercilessly into the little girl. “How many times do I have to tell you...” Madeleine watched as her mother slowly raised her hand and swallowed lightly.

“...That you can’t let him catch you! You have to put the key back and get out faster the next time!” Hanji laughed as Maddie let out the breath she didn’t know she was holding and reached up to give her mother a high five.

“You scared me, mom!” The brunette giggled, “For a moment, I really thought you were mad!” She stepped closer to pull her mother into a hug which Hanji gladly returned. She stroked Madeleine’s hair tenderly and pressed a kiss on her head. “I couldn’t be mad at you, even if I wanted to.” Hanji murmured softly.

Madeleine was her only daughter and already thirteen years old. Time flew by really fast. Hanji remembered holding her baby, feeding her, bathing her, changing her diaper. Now she was already so big, she loved watching her daughter grow with each day. From the looks, Madeleine doubtlessly came after her father: neat hair, brown eyes, and a rather lengthy face but it suited the girl perfectly. She was cute and definitely had charm if she wanted to.

Even if she rather acted like a boy most of the time. Though, Hanji never minded it since she was the same- she let Madeleine be whoever she wanted to be and act the way she felt comfortable with. Of course, there were things she had to learn like how to act when she’d ever get in danger or how she always had to be attentive of her surroundings. To always be on guard even in such a young age. The world was a very dangerous place and safety was a very rare thing nowadays. To survive, people had to act sometimes, and Hanji was making sure the girl knew it all.

Madeleine broke the hug at some point and looked up at her mother with a grin. “I’ve got what you asked for, by the way.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out something small that was wrapped up in foil. When she opened it and Hanji saw what it was, she raised her brows, “Wow. You really found some. I knew Shorty was hiding things in there!”

The girl chuckled and handed the chocolate to her mother. “Anyway, I gotta go back to the others. See ya later, mom!” Kissing her cheek quickly, Maddie hurried off to go and find her friends while Hanji shook her head lightly and took a bite of the chocolate.

She hummed quietly to herself while walking around but soon stopped when someone put their hands over her eyes. It didn’t take long for her to know who it was, so she quickly turned around and wrapped her arms around the taller male. “Morning, babe.” She greeted, leaving a kiss on his jaw.

“Morning.” He murmured, reaching up to ruffle her hair. The male smelled something coming from Hanji’s mouth and leaned closer to smell it better. “Is that... chocolate?” He asked hopefully.

The brunette nodded eagerly and held up the small piece that was left in her hand. “Uh huh! We can share, if you want.” She placed the chocolate between her lips and tiptoed so she could reach him better. The brunet leaned closer as he placed his hands on Hanji’s waist and took the other end of the chocolate. Once they met in the middle, he gave her a long, passionate kiss on her lips.

Things weren’t always like that between them, Hanji and Eren really went through a lot until they reached where they were today. They’ve all been thought a hard time, especially because of what happened about nine years ago. Eren messed up things greatly but they’ve managed to suit it all out and, by now, everyone forgave him for what he did- some took longer than others, but it was alright now. They’ve lost people thanks to his actions, important people, yet they couldn’t change it anymore and Hanji could see how much he regretted it and how hard he was working on making up for it. She didn’t put any blame on him.

“What’s Maddie up to?” Eren asked, his arm hanging over her shoulders as he walked by her side.

“Playing with the gang, the usual.” She hummed, leaning her head against his shoulder. “What about Ethan? Did you already get him to the play group?”

“Yeah,” Eren nodded, “I think he likes it there. Mikasa is taking over the group today with Horseface. She’s doing it great and, if you ask me, she’s having fun there too. It’s a nice change from fighting.”

Hanji nodded in agreement before stretching her arms over her head, her bones cracking, and exhaling softly. “I gotta have to take care of a few things. See you at lunch?”

“Of course. See you later, old lady.” The brunet teased, pecking her lips with a laugh. “Watch who you’re calling old! I could strangle you in your sleep any time.” She winked playfully and let out a laugh as well while turning right and walking while Eren continued his way straight on.

Hanji walked for a while until she reached the very end of the town where the fallen ones were buried. She headed over to the right, the second one in the third row; that was where she always stopped. The brunette slowly sank to the ground and very lightly touched the earth on the grave.

“...Hey. It’s me again.” Her voice was barely a whisper, her hand trembling slightly. “I just came to say thank you... Maddie’s birthday is tomorrow and without you back then... she wouldn’t be the cheerful, little girl she is today.”

It was hard to keep herself under control but since she was alone, she let her tears drip down her face silently. They soaked the earth underneath her. “Thank you for helping me, and thank you for getting me here. I owe you so much b-but I can’t repay you anymore... I’d give anything just to get one more chance to see you... A-anything...”

Her lower lip trembled. Nine years, and she still couldn’t control herself. Every time she visited this specific grave, she bursted out in tears. He was the last one who deserved such a terrible death at such a young age. Hanji couldn’t save him back then and she hated herself for it. She came very often to that grave to thank him and apologize for not being able to save him.

“I-I’m sorry... I know I promised you I wouldn’t cry anymore.” She let out a sad laugh and rubbed her tears away. “Heh... You know, Maddie would’ve loved you. I’m sure of it. Everyone loves you...” She stated as a fact.

Hanji took a few deep breaths, trying to get a grip of herself again. “Everyone’s doing well. But I kinda need someone to help me with the machines. I’m trying to get humanity back, working on a way to heal the sick people... But nobody understands how it works or how to make it no matter how many times I explain it to them. To be honest, I don’t even understand it myself. I.. don’t know what to do.. I wish you could be here...”

The brunette stared down at the ground for some longer before her eyes filled with tears all over again and she pressed her forehead onto the ground. “I-I miss you so much! I‘m so s-sorry I couldn’t save you back then! It all happened so quickly a-and it was over before I got the chance to do anything.” The guilt was plaguing her for years and was still doing so. She never accepted his death and would never do so either. Next to others, she acted calm and collected, but once she was alone with him, her emotions took over.

Sniffling, Hanji continued, “B-but don’t worry, I’ll take him down for you. He will pay with his life for what he did to you.” She lifted her head again and stared at the name engraved in the wood cross. She placed her hand onto her own head and continued, her voice now strong and determined as she said, “I swear it on my own life. I’ll avenge you, Armin.”

[mister-tom-a-dildo-lover]

Strive Pt. 20

{PART 1} {PART 2} {PART 3} {PART 4} {PART 5} {PART 6} {PART 7} {PART 8} {PART 9} {PART 10} {PART 11} {PART 12} {PART 13} {PART 14} {PART 15} {PART 16} {PART 17} {PART 18} {PART 19}

Pair: Tomarry

Rating: M-E(depends)

Tags: Mild Language, Homosexuality, Sexism, Obsessed Tom, Time-Travel/Dimension-Travel, Teacher/Student, Eventual Romance, Teacher-Harry, Grey!Harry, MoD(sort of), Death!being,

A/N: I forgot to add the Tumblr version of this chapter months back!

The very first day where he was no longer a Hogwarts student, Tom found himself perusing the library's Restricted Section. As he was now free to come and go as he pleased since he was legally an adult as well as a new member of the staff, he decided to get in as much study time as he could while he had the chance. And that meant research.

There was a limit to how many books he could remove from the Restricted Section at once though. And that was one. A single book was allowed to leave through one person at a time no matter who it was, just as a precaution. It was definitely a bit of a setback but Tom was just grateful to even be able to get to the books in the first place without someone interfering, so he wouldn't dare complain to anyone about it or they might think him too immature to handle the responsibility and may ban him. Also it would no doubt have Potter angry and Tom didn't want that.

He had full use of any of the school owls and he got a first hand look at who was caring for them. Hagrid. The boy was being groomed to be the perfect groundskeeper and often times, Tom would see him thumping along behind Dumbledore as they went on walks of the grounds. Tom made sure to avoid those places once he memorised their schedule well enough. While not necessarily feeling hatred toward the boy, he was angry at Dumbledore's insistence upon pampering him and favouring his precious Gryffindors all the damn time.

Dumbledore didn't seem to have a life outside of Hogwarts which was exceedingly annoying. He was always around even when he shouldn't be. Others like Slughorn, had homes to get to and living family to spend time with. And friends to see whenever they wanted. Apparently, the great Dumbledore had none of that save for a brother who lived in Hogsmeade and didn't like him all too much, which Tom found to be amusing, and a couple men here and there who rarely visited the school.

The paragon of Light and goodness wasn't even liked by his own family and could count his number of friends on one hand. Now if only Tom knew the reasons behind such things, then he'd be able to use the information to his advantage.

Being able to stay at Hogwarts also meant that he was free to go to Hogsmeade whenever he so chose, and found himself travelling down now and then either for the scenery, for a stroll around the bookshop, or for a Butterbeer because even Tom had to admit that they were delicious. And without the stress of having to posture for his fellow Slytherins, he felt more calm.

His absolute favourite thing however, was whenever he and Harry - he'd given Tom permission to call him by name since they'd officially be coworkers come September! - sat down for tea. And tea was never just tea. It was talking. Either about Defence, Grindelwald's War, World War 2, or their different opinions on controversial topics.

Harry also felt that the wizarding war was ridiculous. He held absolutely no respect for Gellert Grindelwald and explained exactly why.

The symbol the man used was that of the Deathly Hallows. The items belonging to The Necromancers Three. A myth told that Death had gifted the very objects to the brothers when they'd cleverly evaded a gruesome death at the being's hands. The one to gather all objects was supposed to become immortal and the Master of Death or so the legend proclaimed.

Grindelwald had perverted a simple story from Britain's roots. He used the symbol of the Deathly Hallows to spread fear and hatred across the European Continent. Enough for people to misunderstand what it originally was meant to mean. And while he was slowly trying to take over, he was also searching for something precious to him.

The odd attacks and the strange behaviour he'd been exhibiting for several months now, was finally explained.

According to Harry, the man was searching for the most powerful wand in existence. He truly believed it existed and was murdering people left, right, and center just to get his hands on it. And he wanted the Elder Wand as much as he wanted the Resurrection Stone and the Invisibility Cloak. He wanted immortality and was causing a ridiculous amount of strife just to get it.

Tom's method had been better if he was to be so bold as to claim. The ritual had hurt of course, but it had been quick and easy enough to perform both times he'd done it. No unnecessary bloodshed involved. No more exertion than a flick of the wrist and the drawing of Runes.

But Gellert had blinded himself by his own greed. Yet he also proved how selfish he was. As Tom had noted months before, he wasn't doing this to help the wizarding world. Grindelwald wanted to rule over everyone. He wanted them all to bow down, magicals and muggles alike. And that was why Tom thought his idea was stupid.

He was also incredibly bitter over his hand in Hitler rising to power because the man and his following had put Tom through some hell as a child and he hated them all!

Tom couldn't wait for Harry to just finish Grindelwald off for good. He was waiting for it, but knew he had to be patient if he wanted to win that bet he'd participated in.

But slipping the idea into their conversations was easy enough. Especially since Harry was already angry at the Dark Lord's actions. It would take one truly terrible thing to make him go after Grindelwald personally.

Other things they talked about were magical creatures. Harry was very adamant that they deserved rights, especially those with a level of sentience. He had read the recently published Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newton Scamander, and found himself siding with the magizoologist on many things. He then happily explained some of his experiences with magical creatures.

House Elves, Dragons, Gnomes, Thestrals, Basilisks, Cornish Pixies, Dementors, Boggarts, Acromantulas, Merfolk, Grindylows, Demiguises, Phoenixes, and so much more. He'd come to understand them and felt that just because each could be dangerous, didn't mean they deserved to be killed off and sold for potions ingredients. That just because some were considered Dark, didn't mean they were evil and must be eradicated.

The man was a firmly Grey wizard and Tom had to be honest when he said that he'd met no one as split down the middle as Potter.

The only thing that annoyed him about his stay at Hogwarts, was Dumbledore's presence. Everything else was perfection!

Tom stared down at the stationary in his hand. It was a light shade of blue and the script was golden and glittering. He didn't read too much into that for his own sanity.

It was an invitation to dinner. With the Potters. Charmont and Ella Potter to be precise. And the invitation had been given to him by Harry, who had been lightly flushed as he handed it over while saying, "Ellie wanted me to give you her letter. She said you needed some new correspondence."

Lady Potter wanted Tom to come to a dinner she and her husband were having. A dinner that was, according to her letter, just between them and Harry, and Tom if he decided to come.

And the difference between being invited to a Potter's home, verses being invited to a Malfoy's home, was that the Malfoys had a negative agenda no matter what. Ella Potter actually seemed like a decent person and while she had been a Slytherin in her youth, she'd willingly married a Gryffindor and let him mellow her out.

Also, while she certainly had an agenda as well, it most likely had to do with her attempts to match Tom and Harry together. So such an agenda worked to his benefit and wasn't being done with malicious intent. She wasn't planning on using him later, he was certain. And he couldn't find it in himself to believe that Charmont Potter had a manipulative bone in his body. The man had a reputation for being generous and a bit naive.

So with all of this in mind, Tom decided to put his quill to the parchment and write out his acceptance of their hospitality. This could also be a chance for him to learn more about Professor Potter and it would be foolish to pass it up. This would give Tom the upper hand over everyone else and establish a more secure connection between he and the man he most admired.

And because Tom coveted attention and information and things others didn't know because they would put him above them, nothing would pass from his lips to his followers. They didn't deserve the privilege of knowing Harry Potter like Tom would. Tom liked to keep his most treasured possessions close and any knowledge about Harry Potter was to be kept unlock and key in his own, impenetrable mind.

He was welcomed with wide smiles from the Potters and a shocked look from his… coworker. Harry obviously hadn't known he would show up, and Tom was thrilled to be a surprise.

The man was also attired in the most fanciful robes Tom had ever seen on him. Potter didn't often resort to magical clothing, preferring more freedom of movement in the newer, more modern clothes being introduced through various trade agreements with other nations. He was most likely dressed so well for the Heads of his House.

"It's so lovely to see you, Mr. Riddle," Ella said with a smile. "I've been dying to pick your brain over certain topics. This is my husband, Charmont."

Charmont was a messy-haired brunet with blue/green eyes, a sharp jaw, and a charming smile ironically. He was the same height as Tom at 186 cm, and came across as a kind individual upon first glance.

"Good to know you," the man said with a calm smile. "My Ella has had many a thing to say about your first meeting. I do hope you and our Harry get on well enough, yes?"

Tom plastered a not so fake smile on his face, genuinely pleased to speak about his former professor. "Harry is a diamond in the rough, sir."

Said man sputtered, his face taking on a lovely shade of pink.

"Come! Come! Dinner is being served as we speak and I want to get all the details from Mr. Riddle!" prompted Ella, shooing them toward one of the many open rooms off to the right of the grand, marble foyer of Potter Manor.

Dinner was a lavish affair. Not as pompous as something a Malfoy would host, thank Merlin, but still proper as expected of a Pureblood family. Though there were no veiled insults being thrown around and no one seemed to be trying to outdo another.

Tom had been asked every possible question under the sun, and occasionally Harry would be called into the conversation to give his input on certain topics. Ella seemed endlessly fascinated by whatever Tom responded with, and constantly sent Harry knowing looks that he seemed to pointedly ignore in favour of his wine. And he ended up drinking a lot of wine as a result.

"Tom Marvolo Riddle is such a unique name," said Charmont at some point near dessert. "It makes you sound mysterious and I find it to be fitting."

His smile became a little more forced. "The other children in the orphanage mocked me for it. Marvolo isn't a muggle name and they said it only made me weirder. I have come to dislike my name. Tom is bland, Marvolo is too strange, and Riddle sounds very..." He couldn't even finish his thought. He hated being connected to that piece of filth.

Ella smiled with understanding. "I know all about hating your given name, Tom. My true name is Avariella and I despise it. Sure, it means 'woman of great strength' but it sounds atrocious to my ear. Thankfully, Charmont was very understanding and adopted my nickname easily," the woman said, aiming a dazzling smile at her husband who smiled back with just as much affection.

"I like both of your names," Harry interjected quickly, pouting. "Names that make you think twice. Interesting sounding in my opinion. A sense of strength to them."

Ella beamed and Tom flushed lightly, looking away from the man's imploring, green eyes. Harry Potter had this odd affect on him and it wasn't fair!

"I apologise for my aunt's curiosity this evening. Ella tends to like to talk and she takes issue with not knowing enough of anything," Potter said with a small but mischievous smile that made Tom's heart flutter abnormally in his chest. "She means well."

"She is good company," Tom decided to say. "I like her." He was shocked at how true it was. The woman had been very interesting to speak with and she was very sly as she managed to drag Harry into the conversation by somehow finding a similarity between he and Tom for her to comment on.

Tom had learned that his former professor loved green. That he once Apparated when he was a child. That he could regrow his hair immediately if it was ever cut too short. And sometimes he would change his teacher's appearance whenever they annoyed him. Such as turning someone's hair blue for criticising how he did his homework.

During his childhood, Tom had done similar things, and it had been refreshing to hear that Potter was very much the same. Tom used to hate it when anybody did the exact same thing as him. He had always had the desire to be unique. Finding out about magic had been in both parts amazing and terrible because it meant he wasn't the only one and he wasn't as special as he thought he was.

This kind of attitude followed him well up until this point in his life. He liked being able to do things others couldn't. He liked knowing things others never would, or would have to rely on him into order to learn. And yet when he found out that him and the man he admired most were a lot similar than at first glance, it made him feel... dare he say, tingly inside.

He'd somehow gotten an invitation to return to Potter Manor in the future for their small celebration for Harry's birthday which was coming up on the thirty-first of July. Exactly six months away form Tom's birthday.

He had to think about the gift he should get the man. Potter had given him Slytheirn's Locket for his birthday. He'd found one of the only things remaining from Tom's family's history and had returned it to him instead of keeping the priceless artifact for himself. Not many people would ever do such a thing. How could Tom possibly top that?

Harry liked Quidditch, so a broom would probably work. At the same time he was a Potter and they had money. Anything Tom got him could be easily acquired on his own if he didn't already have it. Tom had to be unique.

A/N: Making up for forgetting to post this on Tumblr before uploading it on AO3 and FFN back in August.

[hyugapineapple]

Deepthroating skills [KuroAka]

What would the stupidest tattoo in this world be, you may ask? A dick? Your ex's name? Your bank card code? The scanning code for a bag of Oreo cookies? Wrong. The most ridiculous, weird, stupid tattoo that one could think of is an inscription on your lower back, reading "I choked on three dicks once, can you beat me?" in a cursive, elegant font.

And Kuroo Tetsurou was about to get one for himself.

Do not get him wrong, he didn't do what the tattoo said. (And hopefully, he won't have to.) He just happened to lose a bet to his close friend, Bokuto, and thus, this dare was the loser's punishment. The bet was an even more ridiculous one, to be fair. Tetsurou was stupid enough to agree to drink 7 liters of beer and be confident enough (or stupidly stubborn enough) to think that he wouldn't throw up and pass out in at least an hour after. He did both.

But Kuroo wasn't the shy, cautious type. He did not refuse nor hesitate to accept his punishment. In fact, Koutarou's proposal made him snort and laugh for 10 minutes straight, immediately accepting. After all, how bad could that be? The tattoo would be a semi-permanent one, it would fade eventually, but the memories would remain. And that would be quite a story to tell your grandchildren when you're 80 and more. Wondering about what kind of reactions his teammates would have when they'll see Tetsurou's tattoo at the volleyball practice made him laugh more, this thought making his impatience and excitement grow. He truly couldn't wait til he felt the ink imprinting the ridiculous message on the small of his back. Nothing could go wrong.

Or so he thought.

It was a warm Thursday afternoon. Humming some random tune he heard that morning on the radio, Tetsurou walked down the street, heading to the place he was more than willing to visit since a week ago. A small, newly opened tattoo parlor. He had heard about the shop from one of his course mates when they were talking about tattoos and the brunet has been looking for an actual opportunity to go and get one since then. It was one of Tetsurou's longtime dreams to have a tattoo, and what would be a better occasion to get one if not Bokuto's hilarious dare?

Kuroo grinned at the thought, already imagining the confused face of the (un)lucky person who'll have to write it for him and he couldn't help but laugh more. Man, that would be fun.

He stopped in front of the said building, examining it quickly. Nothing special, just a metal, black door with the inscription "Tattoo parlor" written in bold, white and red letters, and gray walls illuminated with red lights. Opening the door, the black haired male entered the shop and was welcomed by a medium sized room, with brick walls and a wooden floor, illuminated by a few ceiling led lights. Tattoo samples in wooden or metal frames decorated the walls along with a few new-age paintings. Kuroo noticed a black leather couch next to the door and the receptionist's desk, made of black wood with more tattoo design catalogs spread over it. In the farthest part of the room, Kuroo saw a few sinks and leather chairs, along with a brown wooden door. No one was present in the room when he entered, so Tetsurou thought it would be okay to wander around while waiting.

He started examining the designs presented on the wall, humming to the song that played in the background when he heard the back door opening and closing. Grinning, Kuroo kept looking at a certain design on the wall, but turned his body a little, acknowledging the presence of the other person.

“Hey, I thought this place was empty so I was about to use those sharp guns of yours to ink something myself.” He joked as he turned around fully, facing the other. “Good thing that you-” Kuroo froze when he faced the said person, too stunned to finish his statement because the man in front of him was just so fucking pretty.

The male was a bit shorter than Tetsurou, his frame lean and slender, but definitely fit. He had black, silky hair, short and slightly curled at the ends, messily combed and pulled backward with a black bandana. He wore a plain, gray T-shirt along with black jeans and Tetsurou saw different tattoos covering the skin of his arms up to his shirt sleeve. The man had the prettiest blue eyes Kuroo had ever seen, deep and mysterious as the night sky and his lips were too fucking smooth and luscious for this world. If Kuroo has ever felt uncertain about his sexuality before, he was God damn sure about it now.

They stood like that for a second or two, until the pretty male spoke, his voice impassive yet so smooth and suave that Kuroo felt like fucking melting.

“Can I help you?”

Blinking, Tetsurou clasped his mouth shut and nodded dumbly, his eyes still slightly widened as he kept looking at the other, charmed by his looks. “Ah- um, yes, I want a…tattoo?”

The male snorted, staring at Kuroo amused. “Asking for a tattoo in a tattoo parlor? Risky.” He finished, a small grin on his lips. Tetsurou blushed, taken aback by the view because he could swear that the man got 10000 times more beautiful than he already was when he didn’t smile. What the fuck? Frowning, he looked down, mentally slapping himself when he processed his own answer. 'You’re in a fucking tattoo shop, Tetsurou, are you here for ballet classes?'

Shaking his head, Kuroo grinned again, hoping that his embarrassment would go unnoticed as he cleared his throat. “Right, yes. Sorry, I’m just a bit tired. The stress, y’know?” Wow, nice save, Tetsurou. “I want a semi-permanent tattoo. Do you do those kinds here?” He asked, immediately changing the subject.

The tattoo artist chuckled again, nodding at his question. “Yeah, you can get one of those. Follow me.” Then, he turned around and began walking towards one of the leather chairs, Kuroo following him behind, not able to take his eyes from the tattoed man in front of him. Once Tetsurou was seated, the shorter male grabbed a few utensils and began preparing them, long, slender fingers grabbing a notepad and a marker as he turned back to Kuroo.

“Got any design in your mind or do you want to pick one from the catalogs?” the male asked patiently. Kuroo, who was still admiring the other’s looks, snapped out of his daze and nodded eagerly, opening his mouth to speak. Right when he was about to voice his design, he froze.

Remember his thoughts about when he was going to ask the tattoo artist to write that specific message? Yeah, well he was not going to tell some awfully pretty man with an angel-like face that he wanted him to write that he choked on three god damned dicks once on his lower back. Damn Koutarou and his dare. He might as well have planned it, Tetsurou had that much faith in Kou.

They sat in complete silence for a couple of moments, Kuroo blinking stupidly at the stranger as the other simply stared back, one eyebrow arched in curiosity.

“Well?” he asked, his head tilting a little. Kuroo bit his lip and could feel the heat creeping up his cheeks. Sighing, he gave in and nodded, looking away as he spoke, trying to sound less embarrassed than he actually felt. And that was a lot.

“I choked on three dicks once, can you beat me?” he finally replied, his head hung low and his bangs covering his face.

“That’s some amazing performance, but I asked you about the tattoo.” the other replied, snorting amused at Kuroo’s answer, a small grin curling his lips upwards.

Kuroo blushed brighter, his eyes widening slightly and he honestly felt like dying. He then shook his head, facing the other man, and, if it weren’t for his super huge embarrassment, he could’ve melted at the sight of the tattoo artist grinning, biting the tip of his tongue with his canine teeth.

Clearing his throat and resisting the urge to simply jump from the chair and sprint outside just to escape what was going to be the most troubling situation in his life, Kuroo fidgeted and looked at him again, his face serious and calm, despite his internal screeching.

“I want that written on my lower back. In a cursive font.”

Now it was the pretty male’s turn to stare dumbly at Kuroo, blinking slowly as he processed what Tetsurou had just said. They stared at each other, Kuroo’s uneasiness growing by second, till the blue-eyed man snorted. Then he laughed.

Have you ever encountered those situations when you feel like you’re both fucked and blessed by some divinity? Kuroo just found himself in one of those states, not knowing how to react as he stared at the brunet while the other laughed for a good minute, not even bothering to cover his mouth in an attempt to be more discreet. Not that Tetsurou minded, that was one of the most beautiful laughs he has ever heard. He decided that he was more blessed than fucked.

“Alright then, deepthroater, let’s get you this tattoo.” he finally replied, though still giggling as he stood up again, putting on some rubber gloves, gesturing for Kuroo to lay on his stomach. “You take your shirt off and lay down and let me do my magic, alright?” he added, grabbing his instruments and approaching Tetsurou.

Kuroo obliged and took off his shirt, laying carefully on the leather bench, supporting his head on his arms.

The blue-eyed man worked mostly in silence, making a few comments here and there, Tetsurou responding to them effortlessly. Once he started working on the line art, Kuroo was quite surprised. He expected it to be more painful and uncomfortable, but it wasn’t actually that bad. Tetsurou decided that he was definitely going to get more tattoos. But certainly not something as embarrassing as the text that the pretty male was imprinting on his back at that moment.

“Is that a talent of yours?” the artist asked after a while, snickering again, his voice a bit muffled by the sound of the tattoo machine.

“Talent?” Tetsurou responded perplexed.

“You know, choking on three dicks at once. That demands quite the skill, I must admit.” he replied, another series of chuckles slipping past his lips. Kuroo felt like slamming his head against a wall so that he could avoid all this. There’s nothing worse in this world than meeting one awfully pretty male and embarrassing yourself in front of him seconds after, only to make him laugh and make jokes about you. Okay, the other male may have a really cute laugh and smile, but Kuroo still had his damned pride.

Laughing a little as well, Tetsurou turned his head to grin at the other, careful not to bother him in his work. “Fortunately, I haven’t experienced what the tattoo says, mind you.” he retorted jokingly, glancing at him from the corner of his eye. “It’s just a bet I lost a few days ago. This is my punishment. Sorry to disappoint you.” he added, chuckling at the end. The other laughed and nodded, feigning a sad pout then lifted his head to grin at Tetsurou.

“Pity. You really look like the type who’d have the skill to do that.” he replied, winking. Kuroo had to smile and laugh as well, then he turned his head back immediately because the hottie winked and made a fucking sexual innuendo about him. Insert high pitched screams here.

Once he was finished, the male cleaned the freshly tattoed area, applying the ointment and bandaging the skin, helping Kuroo stand up.(Kuroo definitely didn’t “accidentally” squeeze his hand a bit longer than necessary when the shorter brunet grabbed his palm to support to stand up, because aside from a pretty face, a fucking smooth voice and divine laugh, the male dared to have the smoothest hands too. The bastard.

“Apply the antibiotic twice a day, keep it covered till it heals properly and clean and moist too.” the brunet explained, handing Kuroo a small bottle of the same ointment he has applied earlier along with a brochure about proper aftercare. Tetsurou nodded and took the goods, placing them in his backpack. The wound on his back still hurt a little but it wasn’t anything too bad. He couldn’t wait till he could peel the bandage off so that he could show Bokuto his newly acquired decoration. For now, though, he’ll entertain his best friend with his story about how he embarrassed himself in front of the prettiest male in this world and how the pretty face flirted and joked back.

Kuroo soon came to the realization that he still hadn't gotten the beauty’s name and that he himself hadn’t introduced himself either. Smart move, very smart.

Turning around again, Kuroo smiled at him and scratched his nape, laughing a little. “I’ve been here for more than an hour, but I forgot to ask your name. I’m Tetsurou, pleased to meet you.” he finished, extending his hand for a handshake as he waited for the other to introduce himself too.

The stranger though, didn’t accept the handshake. Instead, he listened to Kuroo’s words, eyeing his whole body in the meantime (he totally checked him out) then took Tetsurou’s arm, pulling it closer to him. Taking the sharpie from the small table next to them, the tattoo artist scribbled something on Kuroo’s forearm, letting it go once he was finished. Curious, Kuroo inspected his arm and was surprised to find a series of numbers written on his skin in a neat, clean handwriting as the other spoke again, his smirk evident in his voice.

“Name’s Keiji. Call me if you want to grab a drink sometime. I have a business proposal for your deepthroating skills.” he finished, winking and chuckling at Kuroo when the other snapped his head up to stare at him, taken aback by his words.

Tetsurou nodded dumbly, his cheeks getting red and hot again. He could’ve said something too, but Kuroo was pretty sure that he’d only blabber nonsense, so staying silent didn’t sound like a bad idea. Quickly, he fetched his belongings, paying for the tattoo and the other services, then said goodbye to an amused Keiji and exited the shop hurriedly, still processing what has happened. So he got himself a new tattoo, met a punk, teasing angel and got date with the same hottie, all at the same time, managing even to make a complete fool out of himself in front of the smug beauty.

…..Tetsurou had to work hard if he wanted to rebuild his masculinity and cockiness in front of Keiji.

Thank you for reading! 

[czeriahshiptank]

Missed connection

Ok, so I started writing this during the Zelink month last August, but we lost my aunt and life in general caught up with me. I've been stranded home with the chicken pox for the last week and a half, so I finally had time so stop and finish this.

Needless to say that it wasn't how I had imagined writing this particular piece, but it kinda got away from me, and I now think that it's probably my best one so far. I really like it...

It take place in a Hyrule after BOTW, with some weird spirits tracks elements, imagine just a BOTW Hyrule but where the technology had evolved again after the game, kinda modern time Hyrule. I might have a few headcanon going on in there, I hope I doesn't bother anybody.

I listened to this Youtube channel during the writing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHW1oY26kxQ) and I think it grasp a lots of the general atmosphere I tried to convey, so don't hesitate to give it an ear during your reading.

As always, English is not my first language, so I apologize for any awful mistake I might have left, I've reread that a hundred time already and I can't see anything anymore...xD

Happy new year to everybody, and have a good read ! I hope to read in the comments your thoughts about this ^^

Note : cross posted on my own account on AO3.

That year, as it happen sometime, autumn arrived on a crisp summer night. One hour the air was heavy with warmth and sweetness and the next was ice cold and filled with the bittersweet taste of the end of something.

Weather in Hyrule was often like that, mostly on the far sides of the kingdom. The plain around the castle always seemed to have her own micro climate of soft breeze, shy sun and eventual rain, meanwhile the outskirt could go from year long frigid air of the Snowpeak, to the desertic warmth of the Gerudo valley.

But nothing ever felt like home to Link like the crisp and cold air of the Akkalan plains, so close in shape as the rest of the grand plateau but as if engulfed in a perpetual autumn late afternoon.

As much as he loved his job as Hyrule Train Track employee, he enjoyed it most when he was assigned here, in the Akkalan station. Most of his coworker were assigned to a certain place in particular and stayed there, or enjoyed running the trains all over the country while always going back home at the end of the day. Link wasn’t like that. He was a floater. They were only a handful of employee like him, never assigned to a task in particular, always changing affectation.

He hated staying in one place for too long, but he had to admit that this station near the University was his favorite one.

If you asked him, he would tell you it was because of the bright colors the tree leaves seemed to have all year long, from bright greens to dark reds. the low light of the sun on the long meadow, never high enough to make you feel like it was summer, but giving this eerie feeling of late autumn to the area all year long. He would tell you about the crisp air of the wind, sometime hot when it came down from the Eldin volcano, sometime full of salt when the sea would bring rain.

However, he would probably never tell you about his main reason to like the place.

In the very north-east of the province, you could find an old scientific facility. It was said that this place had been crucial in the defeat of the calamity, but that was hundreds of years ago and mostly history lovers would talk to you about that. It was only an hour away from Tarrey town, the capital of the region.

The place had probably changed a lot since that time. It was said that the only remaining piece was the giant telescope on top of it. The building was now surrounded by houses and smaller labs as well as the biggest university of the land.

The school was well loved by his students, as much for the history surrounding it that for the serenity that came with the area. It has a couple of coffee shop, the biggest library outside of Castle town and the kind of atmosphere you only see in movies, where everybody likes to study and all is good in the world. Like a Yuletide tale where the heroine find love at the end of the story.

Zelda kinda felt like she was the heroine of a bad movie like that, and if you asked her, she would tell you that she might have preferred not missing her last train home. But of course she had. Her last class of the semester had run late, the professor had gone on and on about the schism between the Sheikah and the Yiga, from all those centuries ago, and how it was believed that the royal family of that time hadn’t really made a good decision in making the Sheikah destroy all their technology. Zelda actually agreed with him, who knows how would be the scientific global knowledge if her ancestors hasn’t been so stupid. But as interesting that lecture had been, it had extended the lesson by a good thirty minutes and as a result made her missed the connection to the central tower which was the only way for her to go back home on time. She would have to wait for the 6.45 train on the next day and of course, had no way to go back to her small appartement in the campus since everything was closed for the Yule season.

She took in a long, meant to be calming, breath.

Part of her had always loved train station. Particularly this one. It wasn’t the huge ones you could find in big cities, engulfed in a shell of metal and glass. As claustrophobic in their metallic skull and ambient madness than liberating as the new travel prospect they announced. They always smelled like the end of something and the beginning of everything. The crowd and the noise, so overwhelming you just wanted to fall into the first train possible without knowing where it could take you, just hoping it would be an adventure..

The Akkala Faculty station was not like that. The station was situated just before Tarrey Town, which was the last of this line. It was composed of four docks, next to each other, and a small building to buy tickets and be safe from the weather.

It wasn’t in the middle of the city but slightly on the outskirt, just at the verge of the forest. If you squint along the east of the tracks, you could even see the ocean not so far away. It was always breezy, mostly in the evening, and most often misty in the morning. It has the kind of atmosphere you imagine when someone tells you a fairy tale filled with magic and weird places, the kind that gives you the chills and make you dream of sorceress and mighty heroes. The kind you see in these movies, where the two lost lovers meet and fall in love right next to the tracks before each leaving in a different trains.

Train station always made her think of sad love stories. Like the ones of the heroes of old, and the princesses also named Zelda. The ones where the princess send back her hero back in time to let him live his life, the one where he decide to leave all by himself, the ones where he died in her arms, and all she could do was to hope than in her next life they would finally be happy.

They're haven't been a hero for so many years, and even if the Royal Family kept the habit of calling their first born daughters Zelda, most of the links she met were the ones made on the Sheikahnet. Ganon, or the calamity, was just a memory, kept alive by Historian and old fear that it could always come back, but never really sure if it was a legend or reality.

She breathed out.

The sun was slowly going down, and there was no use staying outside now. No magic train would come and pick her up. She could only wait for the morrow. At least she had taken a couple of books with her.

Link loved reading strange stories on the Sheikahnet. Tales of liminal space, moments and places in time that did not really exist, but were there anyway. Feeling that anything could happen if you were attentive enough of your surrounding.

Like sometime in the morning, when from the corner of your eyes you could glimpse a fairy. Nobody ever believed him when he mentioned it as a kid, so he stop speaking about it, but it happened. A small light that would float on the verge of his consciousness when the light were low and the mist so thick you could cut it with a knife. He sometime dreamt about a moon about to fall, about great battles that happened here and somewhere else. Of big birds, one as red as the fire of Eldin, and another bluer than the sky above. He dreamt about fairies and princesses, sometime brunet, sometime as blond as the wheat he could see from the train windows. Sometime he dreamt he was dying, other time he dreamt that she was.

Most time he just dreamt of her. She was always the same even if she never bore the same face, and he was always himself even when he wasn’t.

He never talk to anyone about these dreams.

He loved the Akkala Faculty station most of all the places he knew. The weird feeling like he could meet anything, anybody from anywhere. Although at night, like right now, most of the time it was empty.

He hadn’t expected to see someone, let alone a girl, sitting on the bench inside the station, but here she was anyway. Long blond hair, falling on her laps, even as she put them back behind her long and fine hylian ears. She was reading a book and in the silence of the place he could hear a slow music being hummed. A lullaby of sort, one he had never heard before but was strangely familiar anyway.

She was familiar in that way strangers sometimes were, as if he had met her in another life, and maybe he had. He dreamt of strange life so often that he wouldn’t be surprised, and after all, he might have seen her on another day, in a train. She was familiar because somehow, he knew who she was, he had seen her, who hadn't? She was the crown princess after all, he recognized her. Everybody knew she was studying here. But he knew her, not in a gossipy way, just a true as saying he knew the grass was green or the sky was blue. He just knew….

“Excuse me miss, are you waiting on a train ? There isn’t another one before tomorrow…”

She hadn’t expected anyone to be there. The place was so small and quiet, she had never realized how much she had needed the calm before staying there for the last hour, alone with her book and the slow sound of the light rain falling on the glass ceiling of the station. His voice made her jump slightly, all taken as she had been by the story within the page of her novel, she hadn’t heard him coming closer. He was wearing the uniform of the Train Tracks, a green tunic, with golden boutons. A nice green cap over dirty blond hair and big blue eyes who were looking at her with a bit of worry.

“Yes, I know, I missed my last one and can’t go home because of the holiday. I was hoping of staying here for the night, is that a problem ? I can leave…” Now that he was closer, she could read his name embroidered in gold lettering.“...Link?”

The name was strangely familiar on her lips. And after all, it was. She study history after all, and if one name came back as often as her own, it was this one. It was quite a strange name to wear nowadays, less and less people named their sons after the heroes of old. Too much to bear, too dangerous, if the calamity was to come back, and their son was the one to go ? She could understand the predicament. After all, she herself was the most likely Zelda to be called upon if anything like that were to happen.

“Oh, no, don’t worry miss, you can stay.”

His voice was soft, almost inaudible. She had read that a lot of the heroes had been shy, silent, some says that a few were completely mute. She wondered if all the Link in the country were like the first one, if the name was implicitly making them take certain character. A name is a heavy burden to carry, one that most parent didn't really realize.

She looked at him and everything inside her was yelling that she knew him, but no word would come out of her mouth, his eyes were full of recognition and the fear was restraining her heart. The silence stretched for what seemed like years, when finally her throat allowed for the sound of her hope and fear to come out.

“Do I know you ?”

Could she know him? Yes she could, as true as he knew her without having a clue on how he did. He wanted to touch her, to feel the soft skin of her hand like all the other time he had met her. Sometime with a glove, sometime with fur. He knew her in a way he couldn’t understand.

His voice was silent in the back of his throat, memories of dreams too real, and realities that couldn't have been anything else but dreams. In this place where everything could happen, he had met her, and somehow, something in him told him it was impossible.

But here she was, Zelda, his princess, his everything in so many lives. It was unlikely, said the voice inside his head, that they somehow manage to meet for once without the hovering of an horrible future. But maybe it had happen, maybe this time they could just be themselves without the fear of imminent death and unshakable duty…

Maybe it was just a flicker of his imagination, maybe it was just him who felt the overwhelming need to wrap her in an embrace and never let her go. He wanted to say something, anything, try to make her feel what he felt…

“I think you do.”

They looked at each other for what felt entire lifetimes. All the one they could  never be together, and some of the one where they were. They say that some kind of love transcend life time and maybe theirs is one of them.

One of Zelda favorite story was the one of the creation of this land. Strangely enough, it arrived almost unscathed to them when so many others were just like tree leaves, scattered to the wind, never to be heard again. It was said that it was the will of the goddess that her soul be reborn in a human girl, and her hero soul to follow hers until the end of time. And maybe it was what that was. She for sure wasn't feeling really goddess like right now, but the rythme of her heart was telling her that it was him.

Some things are just too hard to ignore, and the attraction she felt for this boy, no older than her, was unprecedented. Before that, she realized, she had been mostly going through her life like a lifeless puppet. Or maybe the goddess had just made everything happening to make their encounter possible.

Her mind was filled with so many memories that weren’t her own, it was almost hard to keep up. All the faces of the same man, so different were suddenly juxtaposing on the face of the one in front of her. That’s how she realized.

“Do you...want to have a coffee ? I think we both need a hot drink…”

The eyes and the voice, they had always been the same.

They ended up in the all night coffee shop next to the station. The place was about as empty as it could be, a few patrons here and there and a waitress who would have prefer another shift. The music was soft, the booth comfortable. Their hands were joined in the middle of the table and their hot coco discarded on the far side of the table for the last ten minutes. If you looked carefully, you could see the soft curl of three triangles softly shining on the back of their hands, another proof of what was happening, but too taken they were with each others presence, neither of them seemed to acknowledge their presence.

They had talk about their lives, how for all this time it has felt like something was missing. For the first time Link told someone about his dreams, and Zelda about her own. They spoke endlessly about their families their works, the school. How freeing conducting a train was, and how much a single jar could teach you about your own civilisation.

It felt like no time at all had pass when Zelda realized the first ray of light had started to appear by the large window of the shop. The clock was announcing 6 o’clock, and it was almost time for her to catch her train. They had taken the time to exchange slate number, and as Zelda was dragging him to watch the sunrise on the tracks, the incomprehensible need to tell him she loves him was overwhelming.

How could she just say that to someone she barely knew, if her mother were here she would probably scold her like the teenager she acted like. But when her eyes fell once again into his, it was like the whole world was lit on fire.

She didn’t know him, yet, but her soul did. And if you can’t trust the very soul of the goddess to find true love, then who could you trust ?

She was surrounded by light and Link had never seen anything as beautiful as her right now. The whole evening was surrealist, but even him couldn’t have invented a plot like that for a dream he hasn’t been asleep to have. For all time, the mere concept of Soulmate has seemed somewhat preposterous to him. Not something someone like him could ever hope to have. Even with the dreams. So many of them finished with despair and sadness that he never thought that he would meet her, and live to tell the tale, even less enjoy her mere presence, here, in his favorite place of the world, with her in his arms.

But here she was, and together they were.

Well, she had to leave soon enough, but they knew the real them now, and texting was a thing they could do. Meet up somewhere else and get to know the them from this lifetime, after getting to know all the them from before. They could go on dates, learn to love each other, and spend the rest of their life, knowing that they would never be truly ever appart for long.

Maybe the next one won’t be as nice and peaceful as this one was about to be, but he knew they would be together.

Finally the train arrived, he listened to the sound of the wheels, grinding against the tracks, smelled the smoke of the chimney concealing them from the crowd starting to mass around them. Even now, they felt alone, just the two of them. Neither of them could say which one went for it first, but when their lips met, if was like a hello and a goodbye. The happiness of the start, followed by the bittersweetness of the separation.

It was a promise of more to come.

The ring of the train called them back to reality and Link dutifully brought them to her wagon, helping her with her luggage before dropping a last short kiss on her lips, followed by one on her hands.

“Your highness, I’ll text you when I arrived in Castle Town on the weekend.”

She could feel the blush on her cheeks, she curtsied.

“I’ll be waiting” she paused and winked at him, “Even if I sure hope you will text me sooner.”

He smiled at her and she swear it could have eclipsed the sun.

He watched as the train left the station, too slowly and too quick at the same time. Once it had disappeared, his gaze got lost in the forest surrounding the area. The leaves, as green as her eyes, and red like the blush the hard wind had left on her cheeks.

Yes, Akkala University Station was definitely his favorite assignation.

[authoressskr]

Gabriel, Loki, Trickster, Cat?

Written for: @winsister91 Sammikin’s Trickster Challenge

Pairing: Gabriel x Reader

Characters: Reader (Hey, that’s you!), Gabriel, Castiel, Sam Winchester, Dean Winchester, Golgos (OMC), Himeros (OMC), Mentions of Aphrodite and Zeus

Warnings: Language, Crack?, Cat Castiel and Cat Gabriel?

Summary: Gabriel just wants to find the woman who’s soul is so different from any other he’s ever seen - the witch they’re hunting has other ideas.

Tagging: @winsister91 @thewhiterabbit42 @nobodys-baby-now @lucis-unicorn @chelsea072498 @clockworkmorningglory @sakurablossom4

Note: Do NOT post, copy and paste, or share my works on any other platforms without my express permission. REBLOGGING is fine. :)

A/N: Pictures not mine. Cat pics found on Google and the wedding venue is from The Chapel of the Flowers website.

Gabriel saw her across the street, shoving the other half of a twisted glaze donut into her mouth before she burst out laughing at the teasing the gentleman next to her was giving. He stood stock-still like an idiot on the other side of the street, marveling at the way her soul swirled and pulsed with pinks, golds, and grays.

He was vaguely aware of Dean nudging his arm before Cas waved a hand in front of his face, both saying his name with concern. Sam had quickly put two and two together, noticing the woman on the other side and a silent Gabriel standing dazed, grinning stupidly at her.

Sam crossed the street, following no more than ten feet behind her - only to lose sight of her when she turned the corner with the man she’d been with. Gabriel, Dean, and Cas all followed him across the street, just a handful of feet behind when he turned back to them, hands raised up as he shrugged.

“You lost her?” Gabriel asks incredulously.

“Maybe if you hadn’t been staring like an idiot…” Dean trails off, shoving his left hand into his dress pant pocket.

“Hard to believe you muttonheads have saved the world. And more than once!” Gabriel mutters before reaching out with his grace to find any lingering traces of her. There are only a few tendrils, all located behind him, so he turns to Cas. “Did you see her soul?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“And what, Gabriel?” Gabriel rolls his eyes so hard at his brother’s question, he briefly wondered if the red flicker he saw was brain matter.

“Did you see the colors, Castiel? Pinks and golds and grayish silvers.”

“It just appeared to be pink to me. Which, in itself, is very odd. Most souls are blues or whites.”

“Uh, guys?” Sam taps on Cas’s shoulder, motioning back to the other side of the street. “Maybe we should get back to the case?”

“People are dying every day, Sammy. I have never seen a soul like that. And I’ve been around this marble a few times.” All three of the men glare at him, which he pretends not to notice. “Alright. Alright! Let’s get back to saving people. But I call dibs on her.”

Dean gets an annoyed look on his face and crosses the street, while Sam stares at him before rolling his eyes and following his brother. Cas’s glare morphs into something more questioning and with a quick look back, Gabriel crosses with Castiel a few steps behind him - both at a loss for the missed encounter and the woman with the bright soul.

—

The paper’s website had stated that the woman stabbed her own mother then had a mental breakdown, sobbing over her lost love. Classic siren. And since Chuck had unceremoniously dumped Gabriel in their laps nearly six months ago, they figured this would be an easy case to crack.

It was turning out to be anything but.

The next night, a couple was snatched from the woods. No blood, no screaming. The only reason they even suspected it was linked was that the young man’s mother came in to report him missing, muttering a few choice words about his girlfriend and how she just wanted to deflower her son. So, maybe not a siren? Maybe a dragon? Shit.

Once they were done snooping around the sheriff’s station, they headed back downtown for lunch before they would head over to the sister’s house to talk about the incident of her mother’s death - Sam suggested they go ask the missing kids’ parents a few questions after that, hoping to narrow down their list of monster suspects.

They were all walking out, discussing various monster possibilities when Sam suddenly stopped, making Dean run into him.

“Jeez, Sammy. Warn a man!”

“It’s her! Gabriel’s mystery woman.” Gabriel was standing stock still, once again, staring as her tongue swept out of her mouth to lick at a triple scoop ice cream cone. She was only a few store front’s down, accompanied by two men this time, both around six feet, one blonde with dark olive skin and light green eyes - the other with dark brown hair, fair skin and dark blue eyes.

She stops, looking quizzically at the four men staring at her before giving a tight smile before shooting the blonde man to her left a look.

Gabriel let out a loud whine, seeing her dressed in those tight black jeans, a loose purple and white striped sweater and an easy smile before her tongue darted out again to lap at the melting confection. The brunet leaned down to whisper in her ear and her gaze darted to Gabriel.

The blonde held up his hand, approaching them with the woman and another man close behind him.

“Well, if it isn’t Loki. Heard you were dead.” The blonde stopped, his hand held out to shake Sam’s. “And you are?” He asks, eyeing the taller man.

“Himeros, you’re still a Greek dick.” Gabriel huffed out with a giant snarky smile in return.

“Come on, H. It’s not hard to tell - he’s Sam Winchester. That’s Dean, and of course, Castiel.” She gestures with her head to each member before winking at Gabriel.

“Uh, do we know you?” Sam mutters, shaking his hand.

“No,” the brunet answers. “But you did murder our grandfather and aunts, so we know you.”

“Whoa.” Gabriel turns to Sam and Dean. “You took out Zeus?” He whistles lowly.

“Who’s your mom?” Dean queries, shaking Himeros’s hand as well.

“Golgos.” The woman admonishes as she sets her left hand on his forearm. “Oh, um…our mother is Aphrodite. And I’m sorry for my brothers.”

“Brothers.” Gabriel grins out, plucking her hand from Golgos’s arm and bringing it to his lips. “And what is your name, my beautiful buttercup?” Gabriel held her gaze, his chest tightening as her eyes softened.

“Y/N.” She swallowed before licking her lips. “My name is Y/N. What about you, handsome?” Gabriel quirked an eyebrow at her question before Himeros interrupted.

“It’s Loki, I already said his name.” Himeros snapped out, moving forward to push Gabriel away from his sister. But Gabriel yanked her into him, wrapping an arm securely around her waist, relishing in the feeling of them chest to chest. “Release my sister, Trickster.” Gabriel leaned forward, taking a generous bite of her ice cream as she raised an eyebrow.

“Naw, I like her.”

“Ga- Loki.” Cas scolded, glaring down at his brother. “We need to get back to the case.”

“You know anything?” Dean grunts, looking from the men to Y/N.

“Just that it’s a witch. And a very powerful one at that.” Golgos answers with a shrug, watching his sister and Gabriel with interest.

“And that’s it?” Sam inquires, shuffling his weight from one foot to the other as he slides his right hand into his jacket pocket.

“That’s it.” Y/N replies, still pressed against Gabriel, looking up at Sam with big, innocent eyes. “We saw the article and since we were in the neighborhood, we decided to stop by.”

“So, you’re gods who hunt?” Dean challenged, giving her a disbelieving look.

“Golgos and I are demi-gods. Himeros is a god.” Her eyes harden as she locks them with Dean. “And if you attempt to harm my brothers, you’ll have a very difficult time getting laid from now on.” Gabriel throws his head back with mirthful laughter, startling the woman in his arms slightly.

“Oh, I like you very, very much, sugar snap.” Himeros snapped, Y/N now safely by his side.

“And I would like it if you kept your Trickster mitts off my baby sister.”

“What about my lips? Other appendages?”

“If you’d like to keep your appendages, don’t put them anywhere near her,” Golgos growls, both moving to stand beside her like bodyguards. She just rolled her eyes before fishing her cell phone from her back pocket and extending it out to Sam.

“Feel free to put your number in there and I will text you any information we find out.” Sam grasps the phone, quickly inputting his number and email before handing it back with a smile.

“Thanks, we appreciate it.”

“Sure, you do,” Himeros muttered before all three disappeared. Gabriel huffed afterward, he and Dean frowning at the now empty space.

“Guess we gotta start narrowing suspects down. Lone witch. Fuck.” Dean groaned out, heading back down the street to get the Impala, muttering the entire way about witches, gods, Gabriel, and bullshit.

“I think that went pretty well, don’t you think so?” Gabriel piped up brightly, grinning at Sam and Cas, Sam rolling his eyes as Cas frowns. “What?!”

—

Three hours later, just as the sun was setting, they encountered the witch.

He got the drop on them, Gabriel and Cas pushing the Winchesters behind them as he hurled a handful of foul-smelling purple powder at them. The witch was just out of grabbing (and smiting) distance, sprinting away quicker than Sam and Dean could follow. The brothers returned to find both angels gone.

“Fuck,” Sam mutters, shoving his gun back into his jacket pocket, exchanging a look with his brother as Dean dialed Cas’s cell.

“Cas? Where are you, buddy? You okay? Need you to call me back pronto.” Dean let out a sharp breath. “Alright. If that powder crap took away their angel mojo, they couldn’t have gotten far. We weren’t gone that long.” Sam agrees and they split up, heading around the outside of the building where they were attacked. Dean shakes his head when they meet up a few buildings away, “Fuck.” They jog back to Baby, driving slowly back to the motel, keeping an eye out for Cas and Gabe.

—

Your brothers had gone out to investigate (and pick you up some Chinese) while you were left to finish going through the police reports for the last two weeks on every. single. little. incident. Car keyed: 1701 Rosebud Ave, Max Jackson. Fire Alarm (False Alarm): 386 Monroe Road, Abigail and Joseph Robbins. You couldn’t tell if it was this stack of files or your overprotective brothers that were causing the irritation you felt.

You roll your eyes before hearing a soft thud. You tug the one headphone you had in free, setting them in the next file as a placeholder and rising from the little dinette chair. The little thud sounds again, followed by a light scratching.

Quirking your head to the left, you open the door, eyes dropping down as you hear a pair of soft meows.

“Oh, my sweet little angels. What have you gotten yourselves into?” Cas quirked his head, peering up at you with unfathomable blue eyes as you drop to your knees, smoothing your hand through his short black fur. Loki - who you definitely knew wasn’t a god - nuzzled under your other hand, goldenrod orbs blinking closed as you scratched behind his ear. “Okie dokie,” You gently pick Cas up, tucking his little black body under your left arm and repeated the movement with Loki before you stand, kicking the door closed behind you.

Bullshit. You shrug off the odd voiced phrase, focusing on what you needed to do next.

You get Cas sat on the end of your bed when your phone rings out, you’re about to set Loki down too when he gives a little hiss and carefully tangled his claws in the arm of your sweater.

“Okay. Fine,” you huff, picking up your cell. “Yes?” Settling against the headboard, tucking your legs under you as Cas ambles forward you sit Loki in your lap, reaching out to scratch under Cas’s chin. “You can’t find Cas and Loki? I believe I may be able to help you out there…” Sam is talking a million miles an hour, half to you and half to Dean, who is muffled but obviously irritated. “No, no - uh, they aren’t injured.”

“I don’t like how you said that.” Dean sighs out as Sam lets you know he’s put it on speaker.

“I’m at the Cloud Hotel, in one of the bungalows behind the hotel, 2B.”

“We’ll be there in 10.” You hang up, tossing the phone onto the pillow beside you before scratching behind Loki’s ear and sliding your fingers down under his chin before rubbing his chest, enjoying the deep purr that rumbled from his little kitty chest.

Mmmmmhmmm. Right. There. Sweet. Cheeks.

You freeze as those words echo in your mind.

“Ummmm…why can I hear you?” Cas shoots forward, shoving his head under your free hand then looking up at you with slightly narrowed eyes. Nothing. He meows loudly, and Loki meows back before climbing up your chest, looking you right in the eye as he presses one of his little paws against your skin just at the neckline of your scoop-neck sweater.

Sweetness?

I have a name, Mr. Not Loki. His goldenrod colored eyes widen as you smirk. I may have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night, handsome. Sam and Dean will be here in less than ten minutes. Loki meows at Cas who nods his black head before resuming his place by your left knee.

Y/N.

Yes?

I got wings. He pauses, a little sigh releasing from his tiny butterscotch colored chest. Like Kotex.

You laugh, making his body sway slightly with the laughter. That’s an interesting way to come out as an angel! But, I knew. You have this fuzzy - haze? Outline? - golden, multicolored-like edge around you.

And Cas does too? His voice has an edge of - hope? - to it. You mentally shrug it off, looking down at Cas, you draw your brows together.

No. I just knew that he was Castiel, Angel of the Lord. Wearer of the tan trench coat. Member of Team Free Will and the Winchester’s buddy. Two hunters with male model good looks and an angel in a trench coat? Not too hard to deduce who they were. You can’t help it as your fingers sink into his fur again, smoothing from his neck all the way down to the tip of his tail. And you were too - other - feeling to be human. Or even a god. Trust me on that.

Gabriel. He purrs, his eyes sliding closed as you continue stroking him.

Holy shit. Like THE Gabriel? Messenger of God?

Yep. He gives a little pop at the “p”, maneuvering so he’s draped over one of your thighs, letting you keep the contact needed to converse.

So why pretend to be Loki or the Trickster? Isn’t that kind of a step down from archangel?

I like to think I don’t have as big an ego as some of my brothers. And the rest is a long, fairly uneventful story.

Riiight. You pull your hand away as he turns to peer up at you. Your brothers had warned you not to get involved with the Trickster, that he was selfish and only thought of having a good time.

And when it was over, he would disappear. Loki - no, Gabriel - moves, pressing his head against the hand closest to him.

Y/N?  You don’t get a chance to answer, a loud knock sounding at the door. You carefully push Gabriel out of your lap and answer the door. Opening the door and sidestepping, you allow the Winchesters in.

“Where are they?”

“On the bed.” Sam is gaping at the cats, looking from them to Dean to you.

“Are you shitting me?” You purse your lips, leaning against the little dinette table. “Why’d they come here?”

”I don’t know, Dean! I was going through the files diligently, trying to find the witch or get a lead and I hear a little thud. Followed by some loud meowing. Sorry, they didn’t come running to your cat allergy riddled ass.” Dean looks taken aback by your tone and the sharp look you throw him. ”I have to deal with two overprotective brothers - who now they’ve seen not only the fucking Winchesters but the Trickster god Loki - have gone into super overprotective mode. I had to threaten, coerce, bring up how much bitchier I can get, and then threaten some more in order to get a little time to myself. So, here are your angels,” you turn, gathering up the files in your hands and shoving them at the stunned eldest Winchester. “Here are the files…and -” Your phone goes off suddenly, which for some reason just pisses you off more. Stomping over and angrily sliding to accept the call you shout “What?!” at Golgos through the phone. That’s when it hits you.

The sudden irritation and anger.

A hex bag.

That witchy motherfucker.

“Free bird!” You yell your safe words into the phone, panicking slightly at the anger simmering just under your skin. You were usually very in control of your emotions, very easy going and understanding. This was not normal.

Four sets of eyes regard you warily, but Gabriel seems to realize something is off, jumping nimbly across the bed to butt his head against your stomach. Your brothers appear suddenly, Himeros planting himself between you and the Winchesters as Golgos looks you over. “Hex.” You cry, the feeling of being strangled begins and your hand lands on Gabriel’s back, tightening slightly as you look at Golgos with wide eyes. Gabriel meows loudly, raising an alarm as you slide down to your knees, one hand braced against the thin carpet and the other shoved into Gabriel’s fur so hard you were worried you might hurt him.

Cas is helping sniff it out. Just focus on my voice, sugar snap. Can you do that? You can faintly hear him meowing loudly as you struggle to take a full breath. Black spots were beginning to touch on the edges of your vision, his fur so soft under your loosening grip. They got it, sweet cheeks. Y/N? Y/N! And then the blackness swallowed you down.

—

Something warm was pressed against your chest, making you curl slightly around the warmth.

Something warm and purring.

Purring?

Fuck if your eyelids aren’t heavy.

“Ugh.” You manage as you force your eyes all the way open and being met with a pair of gilded ones. “Hey.” Your voice is rough, throat still raw from the attack the hex bag. You move a heavy hand to stroke Gabriel.

Hey, good-looking. If you had the strength to roll your eyes, you would.

“How’re you feeling?” Himeros asks, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead.

“Sore.” He gives a sharp nod, raising back up to his standing position. “We used the hex bag to track the witch down.”

“And handled it.” Dean finishes, and you push yourself up so you can see him, giving him a nod.

But you’re still a cat.

Apparently…the spell lasts for at least a week. We’re hoping that since we’re more angelic in nature that it’ll be faster. His tail twitches as you sink back down into the mattress. I think I know why you can hear me.

Humm?

You believe in soulmates?

Thought angels - yawn - don’t have souls.

“Get some rest, princess. We aren’t going to take your kitties.” Golgos soothed, smiling brightly. And you reached out, blindly searching for Cas. His head bumps under your outstretched hand, climbing behind your head and resting his head against your neck with a few soft purrs as Gabriel snuggles closer to your chest.

We don’t. We have grace. But we’re destined. You and me, beautiful.

You know how cheesy that sounds? You manage not to yawn when you “speak” that time, taking a deep breath and you lazily trace zigzags through his goldenrod fur.

You’re pretty against the whole ‘love at first sight’ thing for being a daughter of Aphrodite… You can hear his slight chuckle as he stretches slightly to bump his head against your chin.

Gabriel?

Yeah?

Destined, huh?

Maybe we can talk more when I’m not a cat. And can kiss you. Fend off your brothers, snap you up some nice things…

Sounds good, handsome.  You manage before sleep claimed you again.

—

Two days later - and lots of yelling from Golgos and Himeros (”GABRIEL?! LOKI IS ACTUALLY A FUCKING ARCHANGEL?!” and “GODS, I KNEW HE WAS AN ASSHOLE, BUT THIS…?!) and Y/N protecting Gabe’s tiny cat body from her brothers in those first few hours after - Cas and Gabriel were back to normal.

And as soon as they were, Y/N muttered how much she was going to miss their little cat selves. No more waking up or going to sleep with the two of them curled up around Y/N. No more picking them up to rub her nose against theirs or to have her scratching and petting the pair. Y/N had actually enjoyed the last couple days.

Y/N sentiment was not shared by Dean, who had to spend most of his time away from them as possible the last few days.

Gabriel linked his fingers through Y/N’s, relishing in the ability to do so.

“Sooo…wanna get outta here?”

“Nice choice of opening lines there, hot stuff.” Y/N scoffed, pulling away just enough to rile the archangel, his hand tightening on hers slightly before rubbing small circles on the back.

“I’m the Gomez to your Morticia, sweet cheeks. You’ll give in to me. Just a matter of time.” Y/N pulls her hand from his grasp.

“Sorry. I’m not giving into anything without a ring on this finger.” She heads towards her brothers who are talking with Dean and Sam, leaving Gabriel with his jaw on the floor. For about two beats. He appears before her, kneeling with a black velvet box on one knee.

“I think it’s high time I take the plunge.” He clears his throat, shifting under her gaze as everyone stares. “What do you say? Me and you? Rest of eternity? I’ll bring the sweets. Hell, I’ll snap you up a mansion with whatever kind of kittens you want. As long as you don’t love them more than me.” Y/N opens her mouth but Gabriel shushes her. “Come on - lemme get this out. Well, I, uh, help those mooks over there whenever and be a damn good mate. Fuck.” He runs a hand through his hair nervously. “Okay. Okay. We’ve only known each other for four days, but that’s long enough when you got as long as we do.” What started as a joke had morphed into him actually asking for a chance. “Y/N? Will you marry me?” Her eyes are searching his, trying to find the trick before her brows draw together as her teeth dig into her bottom lip.

He lifts the top of the ring box, revealing a large Ring Pop, Y/N laughter spilling all around the empty back parking lot. Gabriel wiggles his eyebrows before flashing a big, flirty grin.

“Yes.”

“YES?!” Her brothers shout in tandem as Dean and Sam’s eyebrows both shoot up to their hairlines. Castiel just sighs softly. Gabriel rises, plucking the Ring Pop from its velvet cage and as he offers it to her, her eyes fall on a very real engagement ring shining in the black box in his hand.

“For real now. You know we have a bond. So, you wanna marry a runaway archangel slash trickster god?” Y/N takes fistfuls of his green cargo jacket in hand and presses her lips firmly against his in their first kiss. Gabriel licks his lips after, an easy smile stretching across his face.

“Had to try out the goods, at least partially,” She shrugs before muttering against his lips, “Ask me again. Properly.”

“Mmhmm. I like that you’re a tad bossy.” He brushes his thumb across her jawline. “Y/N, will you marry me?”

“Yes.”

“AGAIN?! ARE YOU SHITTING ME?! YOU ARE NOT MARRYING HIM, Y/N!” One of her brother’s shout, both moving forward as Gabriel kisses her again before slipping his real engagement ring on her ring finger and the Ring Pop onto her forefinger. “THIS WILL BE THE LONGEST ENGAGEMENT KNOWN TO MAN!” Himeros snarls out, Golgos chuckling behind him.

“These rings actually look nice together.” Gabriel muses.

”Who knew?” She gives a quick peck on his lips. “I am not inviting your family to our wedding.”

“That’s fair.” Gabriel agrees, cupping her face in his hands to deliver a long, passionate kiss.

“What is the phrase? Poor bastard.” Cas begins loudly, shaking his head as Sam and Dean shoot him an odd look. “Her family is nearly as terrible as ours.”

“Hey!” Golgos and Himeros shout in tandem.

“So, Vegas?” Y/N whispers breathlessly in between long, romantic kisses.

“Oh, sweetness, you read my mind.” Gabriel raises his hand and is about to snap when her fingers wiggle against his palm, easily threading together with his, both of them disappearing in a flutter of wings.

All five men’s phones go off simultaneously.

::.:: Chapel of the Flowers, The Glass Garden, 1717 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. Three days from now. Bring a suit. Gifts Optional (No Magical Items, Please). ::.::

The men’s faces range from amused (Sam) to disgusted (Himeros) to thoughtful (Cas and Golgos) while Dean broke out in a big grin. Vegas!

“They have known each other for four days!”

“At least they’ve known each other longer than Sam knew his wife.” Sam shoots Dean the bitchface to end all bitch faces before flipping him off and climbing into the Impala. “Better get started, Vegas is a couple days drive from here. See you guys at the wedding.” Dean is chuckling as he climbs into the driver’s seat. Cas offers the men each a handshake.

“Nice to meet you. Gabriel, for all his eccentricities and snarky exterior, is a good man. And I believe that Y/N is one hell of an influence on him already. Sam and I will have more trouble with Dean in Las Vegas than you will have with Gabriel.” He claps Golgos on the shoulder before sliding into the backseat. “Hopefully.”