#but yeah……let’s not have any new medical curiosities this year

[pangur-and-grim]

my vet was saying that I had the first cat at their clinic to survive FIP, and the first cat to recover from diabetes with senvelgo (which is a relatively new alternative to insulin). and I said, as cool as that is, I REALLY hope I can stop bringing you firsts!

[awrkive]

tlp extra where one of the surgeons gang catches him admiring tlp OC please 🙏🏽

summary: tlp drabble #2 where taehyung figures jungkook out

w/c: 1.5k

note: instead of an extra heres a Drabble 🤓 the official introduction of taehyung into the surgeons gang study group. timeline is first semester of second year. this got a little angsty in the end but nothing major u'll see angst if u squint. also pls dont judge me if i got some of the technical medical stuff wrong 💔 i was armed with google searches n tiktok 💔

Taehyung can already hear the sound of laughter and your voices slipping through the hallways as he makes his way to Moon’s Print Shop. 

When he enters, he immediately sees the three of you – Doyeon, Jungkook, and you, huddled in the long table, with Doyeon seated across from you and Jungkook who are sitting close together on one side like usual. From where he is at the door, he gets the view of Jungkook circling his arm around the back of your chair, his head leaning down to the side of your direction, listening to you and Doyeon talk. 

“Oh, hey, Taehyung!” You snap your head to the direction of the door when Taehyung enters. The other two follow, greeting him simultaneously while he gives the same back, going straight to the chair available next to Doyeon. 

“We’re doing clinical reasoning. __ here is trying to do it in under three minutes.” Doyeon says, chuckling a little at the end of her sentence.

“Yeah, she’s trying to beat my record.” Jungkook muses beside you, and Taehyung watches as you turn to Jungkook with your bottom lip jutted out, frowning.

“I don’t know how you can do it in a minute. Teach me.” 

Jungkook chuckles, forming crinkles at both sides of his eyes. He lifts his hand – the one that’s not around your chair – to pinch your cheek a little. 

“You gotta study a lot, buddy.” 

“Don’t be cocky,” You say, swatting his arm and turning to Doyeon. “Okay, give me a new case. Jungkook, press record.” 

Doyeon and Taehyung laugh at both your antics. While Taehyung prepares his iPad and books, Doyeon begins to tell you about the patient, reading through a reviewer. 

“Okay, so the patient, a 42-year-old male, presents to the ER with increasing shortness of breath. He’s wheezing and coughing.” Doyeon starts. 

Cocking your head to the side, you ask, “Does he have a history of asthma or any allergies?” When Doyeon says "no", you try again. “Smoking?” She shakes her head. “Okay, well uhm… is his cough dry… or?” 

“Yep. It is dry.” Doyeon nods while looking at the paper. 

“What about the chest X-ray?” 

“Marked hyperinflation.”

“Is the AP diameter also increased?” 

“Yes.” 

“Oh,” Taehyung watches as some sort of enlightenment crosses over your face. With curiosity, he tries to peek at Doyeon’s paper but she immediately puts it down so he can’t see it. She arches her brow at him and he rolls his eyes, sitting upright back on his chair again. He watches you instead, getting invested. “Can you tell me about the ABG report, then?” 

“It’s PaO2 of 63 and PaCO2 of 54.”

“Oh, oh!” You lean towards Doyeon enthusiastically. “So the patient is hypoxic and hypercapniac… what about the spirometry, the FEV1?” 

“Zero point sixty.” 

Taehyung watches as a confused expression paints your face again. “So obstructive in nature…” It takes you awhile to ask another question, and even though Taehyung has only known you for only around a term, he knows that look on your face. You’re beginning to feel anxious now. With a hesitant tone, you cock your head to the side as you ask, “What about the bronchodilator response— is it significant?” 

“No, no.” Doyeon responds immediately. 

You pout. 

That’s when Taehyung sees Jungkook’s face beginning to contort into an expression of concern. 

It makes him arch a brow, but Jungkook’s too busy staring at the side of your face to even notice and question Taehyung about it.

“Okay… let’s go for the CT scan. Was there primarily an upper or lower lobe involved?” 

“Lower lobe, yes.” Doyeon nods.

You subtly look at Jungkook’s phone laying on the table with the timer up, grimacing at whatever you saw. 

Taehyung tears a piece of paper from his notebook and writes, [What is it?], and when he’s done, he slides it to Jungkook’s direction. It does a good job of straying his friend's eyes from you, his attention now to the scratch that Taehyung gave him. 

Jungkook quickly scribbles down something and returns the paper back to Taehyung. 

[Not sure. First impression is COPD. Waiting for blood work up.]

Taehyung’s mouth forms an O-shape upon reading the note, everything suddenly also making sense to him. He’s about to give Jungkook an impressed look but he’s already back to staring at you again, but this time you meet his gaze, and for awhile it’s like you two are communicating in a language he, neither Doyeon, know anything about – and Taehyung suddenly feels as if he’s… third-wheeling. 

The moment is cut short when you suddenly look at Doyeon, voice sounding full again. Confident this time. “Does the blood work up show that there’s deficiency in alpha-1 antitrypsin?”

“Yes.” 

Now there’s a grin on your face, and when Taehyung’s gaze falls back to Jungkook again, he smiles the same time you do. His arm around your chair comes up to pinch your arm, rubbing there softly – subtly – and your grin grows even wider – like his – when you finally tell your final diagnosis. 

“If he's AAT deficient then that's COPD. In his case, specifically, emphysema.” 

"And referral?"

Your excitement feels palpable as you say, "AAT replacement therapy and pulmonary rehab."

“You got it.” Doyeon says, smiling at you. 

“Oh my god,” You look at Jungkook’s phone and your eyes widen. “I did it in two minutes and thirty one seconds.” 

“Yeah,” Jungkook chuckles. He looks down at his phone as well and then gazes back at you. “That was hella good.”

“Right?” You grin, taking in the praise from Doyeon as well. 

“That was really impressive, __.” 

Taehyung throws a compliment, as well. He’s admittedly a bit slow at clinical reasoning – slower than Jungkook and you, at least. 

“That was, wow—” he shakes his head to the side and claps slowly for the theatrics.

The others follow through the silliness and applauds you. Meanwhile, you stand up from the chair and begin to curtsy jokingly, relishing in the exaggerated celebration. 

When you come back to your seat, Jungkook makes sure to scoot your chair closer so you land on it well, and you chuckle as he does so. 

Doyeon probably didn’t catch it as she’s back to reading her notes again, but Taehyung catches Jungkook mouthing, “I’m proud of you” to you in which you give him a sweet smile for.

“What was that yesterday?” Taehyung asks Jungkook as both guys wait for you and Doyeon at the cafeteria for lunch. 

Jungkook looks at him wide-eyed as he stops sipping on his shake. “Huh?”

“The whole thing with __.”

With a deepening frown, Jungkook continues to look confused. 

“I don’t understand.” 

Taehyung deadpans. “Oh, so, like, rubbing your friend’s shoulder to calm them down during a clinical reasoning test and staring at them intently while doing it, being all proud and supportive and shot, is normal to you?” He adds, “I caught that “I’m proud of you” line, by the way. I was watching you closely.” Taehyung makes a show of pointing two of his fingers to his eyes and then to Jungkook to emphasize his point. 

Jungkook scoffs. “What the hell does that mean?” 

“You like her.”

“Who?” 

“__.” 

Jungkook chokes on his drink. Taehyung doesn’t bother to give him his glass of water, squinting his eyes at his friend instead.

When Jungkook recovers, he jabs at his chest as he glares at Taehyung. “What are you talking about? No, I don’t like __. Not like that.” 

Taehyung doesn’t say anything for awhile, just stares at Jungkook to see the reaction of his face. He keeps on tightening his brows so Taehyung can’t decipher anything – a defense mechanism, really, but he knows he’s blown his friend’s cover when Jungkook scoffs again and rolls his eyes. 

“Alright, fine. You win. I like her.” 

Taehyung snorts. “I knew it.” 

“You didn’t.” Jungkook rolls his eyes again.

“I thought about it a few times. Dude, you’re like a golden retriever around her. Jackson totally digs __ but he thinks you’re both together the way you act around her.” 

“W-what?” Jungkook stammers. “Jackson? Senior?” 

Taehyung nods. “Yep.” 

Looking away, Jungkook stares at the glass wall. “Well. That’s not possible. She has a boyfriend.” 

That makes Taehyung's grin fade. 

Clearing his throat, he sips from his water on the table. “Well. Yeah. She has a boyfriend. The Eunwoo guy, right? The architect, or something.” 

Taehyung sees something that flashes across his friend’s face – hurt? jealousy? – he’s not sure. But the air begins to feel thick at the sudden drop of mood. 

“Yeah.” 

Both of them are quiet for awhile until Taehyung speaks. 

“That’s tough, Jungkook.” 

“I know.” But there’s a bitter smile on his face. “Just… don’t tell her about it, okay?” 

The sincerity and vulnerability in his voice were something Taehyung doesn’t expect at all. It makes his tongue fumble for the right words, but he settles with, “Okay. She won’t hear anything from me.” 

Jungkook gives him a tight-lipped smile. “Thanks, Taehyung.” 

[laswells-ashtray]

New here but already in love with the way you write Price and Nikolai, so I have an idea for you.

I saw the hybrid COD idea and was thinking about how Price would never show his wings to anyone except those who keeps close(his boys, Laswell, Mac, etc), but he only shows them one because the showing of both wings is something reserved for significant others, which is something John thought he’d never have.

Cue Nikolai coming in and turning his whole life around, and now they’re sitting in one of John’s favorite quiet places and having a drink when the dragon hybrid gets up suddenly and turns to face Nikolai, a look of content and bliss in his eyes as he stretches his wings to their full height and show them to the pilot in all their glory.

At first, Nikolai is stunned because- it had taken damn near years to get this powerful captain to trust him, to be around him, and to learn to love him, and now all of a sudden on a warm evening he’s showing off his wings to him of all people?

Needless to say he’s stunned and immediately wraps John in his arms, large form surrounding the dragon’s easily despite his own large size.

Aaaand.. yeah! That’s all I got.

Awwww, that's so fucking cute and very John, to do it without any warning.

John, watching Nikolai discuss the mechanics of a heli: I need this man in my life forever and I need him in my bed without the next two hours.

I think touching a dragon's wings is a big nuh-uh unless you're someone close to them, or a medic because God forbid John go a single mission without getting fucking injured.

Kate has felt them because despite having a master poker face, John could tell she was curious and he trusts her completely. He just took her hand and rested it on her wing, because she's Kate she asked him if he was sure and he nodded. She ever so gently trailed her fingers across his wing and hummed approvingly. "They're nice... Sturdy." "That stops being a good thing when you clobber them off of something."

The boys have all felt one of his wings. It's grounding for Simon when he needs it, Gaz treats it as something precious; being allowed to feel a dragon's wing is a unique experience and Soap is more often that not the one to tell John that he needs to visit the medic because he's a little scratched up.

MacMillan has felt his wing because John has always been a reckless arse and back in the day, Mac was the only one he'd let patch it up because the medics at the time were a bit too heavy-handed and it was either that or John tried to do it himself. He can't twist at the right angles to patch up his own wings. He has a habit of always injuring the right one, too.

Nikolai? Nikolai spends his mornings lazily drawing the shape of a heli against John's wing when they're in bed together in the morning and the other wing is wrapped around him. He does it so often that John knows just from the touch that it's a heli. "Again?" "You complained when it was a penis." "...You're right, carry on."

Nikolai drapes a blanket over John's wings because Soap joked that if they did it then they could make Price look like Batman and Nik's curiosity got the better of him.

He wraps tinsel around the tips of one of his wings at Christmas just to see if John will let him away with it, John does. And John will, every time.

[chronicowboy]

Buck may not be a paramedic like Chim or a qualified doctor like Hen or a field medic like Eddie. He may not have Bobby's impressive decades of experience or Ravi's desire to take every single LAFD training course there is in his spare time. But he's picked up a lot from his six years with the fire department, so he feels pretty confident in diagnosing Verne with a serious amount of internal bleeding.

But the ambulance has been and gone, back-up hasn't arrived, and everyone else is busy with patients in more critical condition, so Buck crouches down next to Verne and gets to work on starting a line.

"How are you doing, Verne?" Buck asks with a smile. "Any major discomfort or pain I should know about?"

"My back, and my hip," Verne sighs, "but they've been uncomfortable for over a decade now, kid."

"Well, the fact that you can still feel that discomfort is very promising, at least."

"Promising," Verne hums. "Sure, let's go with that." His eyes turn a little glassy, drift, unfocused, somewhere over his shoulder.

"Hey, Verne, stay with me, yeah?" Buck smiles when their eyes meet again. "That's it. You're gonna be okay."

"This isn't the first time I've died, firefighter Buckley." Verne shakes his head with a grimace. "I know how this goes."

"Then, you know you go to the hospital and come back to life," Buck says, a little desperation creeping into his words. He keeps seeing flashes of a pale blue shirt and hearing snatches of a realisation about happiness.

"Maybe when I was your age." Verne smiles weakly. "Got into an accident after picking my best friend up from a bad date. They said I died for two minutes in the ambulance."

"Two minutes, huh?" Buck palpates his ribs to distract Verne as he checks on the rapidly growing bruise on his abdomen.

"You ever died, kid?"

"For three minutes, actually." Buck grins up at him. "Not to brag." Verne huffs a laugh. "I was that firefighter that got hit by lightning."

"No kidding," Verne chuckles. "Pretty cool way to go."

"Oh, very cool, yeah." Buck nods, biting down on his lip as he checks to see if the others are free yet. They aren't. "The trippy dream I had during my coma was pretty cool too."

"Yeah?"

"Well, unsettling more than anything, but, uh, I made it back, so that's what counts." Buck wraps a bandage around the sluggishly bleeding cut on Verne's arm. He winces, groaning, and Buck panics. "You said you were driving your best friend home from a bad date?" Verne nods. "That's exactly what I was doing last night," he snorts. "See that firefighter behind me?" Buck jerks his head at Eddie over his shoulder.

"Diaz?" Verne coughs.

"Yeah." Buck smiles. "His aunt keeps setting him up on terrible dates, I've become his get out of jail free card."

"And what does that entail?" Verne asks, curiosity piqued, more alert than he had been a moment ago.

"I pick him up when there are no Ubers nearby, I call him with an emergency when he texts me 911, I answer the phone when one of the women calls him to schedule a second date and pretend to be his husband." Buck shrugs. "Its a lot of fun."

"Is it?" Verne coughs again, a wet noise that makes Buck's stomach drop. "Is it fun when he goes on the dates?"

"I mean, not really." Buck wrinkles his nose, thinks of that swoop of nausea in his stomach every time Eddie walks out of the door. "But I get to hang out with Christopher, Eddie's son, which is much more fun than a crappy date, you know?"

"Did your best friend watch you die?" Verne asks suddenly.

"I-" Buck blinks. "Yeah, he, um..." He clears his throat. "He was actually the one to get me down from the ladder, the one that got my heart beating again." Verne laughs heartily despite the fact that Buck can see the amount of pain it causes him.

"Oh, kid," he sighs, more of a wheeze. "The best friend I picked up from her date? I felt sick every time she told me about a new man."

Well, at least that's normal then. Buck had kind of been worrying he was going insane.

"Then, I died, and I married her a year later."

Buck remembers watching himself take his first breath without the ventilator from behind a window, remembers the way time had warped and stretched on forever and frozen all at once, remembers how his whole life had narrowed down to that one moment.

This feels a lot like that.

Suddenly, five years of friendship flash through his mind. Eddie's gloved hand in his, the only anchoring sensation in a sea of agony. Eddie's thumb on his neck, warm brown eyes a life raft when Buck had been drowning. Building a skateboard and pushing a kid made of sunshine around the park. The zing of happiness an elf had brought him after the sour curdle of disappointment that had hit him on a fountain. Eddie's hands big and warm on his waist. Eddie's smiles, wide and private alike. Eddie's eyes, always so fond and intent. Quiet discussions in the Diaz kitchen, and teasing banter in the loft. Nights with Chris squished between them on the couch, and the bright lights of a video game illuminating the living room. A legal document and a first name said so carefully. A broken door and a broken man alike. Couch metaphors and lasagnes and steaks and cookies.

Oh.

"I look forward to seeing her again," Verne murmurs quietly.

"Hey, no," Buck croaks. "Its not time yet, it isn't time for that yet."

"I think its been a long time coming, kid."

Verne's eyes flutter shut, his chest spasms with a final bloodied breath, and Buck's world shatters around him.

[robotrules]

Thoughts on Fallout: New Vegas from a First Time Player

A (very) long stream of consciousness about how much I like this game:

So I put off playing any Fallout game for the longest time. Had Fallout 3 and Fallout: NV just rotting in my Steam library for literally 15 years, mainly because when I tried playing F:NV when it first came out, it kept crashing and I just gave up. Fast forward to December 2024 and my Youtube algorithm kept on showing me all the stupid shit people did in the games and I was thoroughly amused by all of that, because I too enjoy playing a chaos creature whenever games allow me to. Read that F:NV was the most beloved in the franchise and had a lot of freedom when it came to game choices. Great! Had a western sci-fi theme, a concept I really liked. I love retrofuturism and Westerns and the great expanse of the American Southwest, all wrapped up in a post-apocalyptic setting. But then I stumbled on a video of this guy and I was immediately sold:

I was smitten by Yes Man's voice and sense of humor and goofy face (Dave Foley's vocal performance can't be overstated. He made Yes Man very charming!).

And then I learned that you could actually work with this goofy robot as an actual partner* to take over New Vegas and let me tell you, I COULDN'T CLICK THE INSTALL BUTTON ANY FASTER (pretty sure you could hear a sonic boom coming from my house). AND THE GAME RAN THIS TIME! And thus, I began my odyssey into the Mojave Wasteland.

* Most media robots tend to be cute little sidekicks or antagonistic villains or just dumb enemies, so it was pretty refreshing to actually be able to work alongside a robot/AI as an equal of sorts. My courier is pretty respectful of Yes Man, so I like to think they become friends and co-rulers of the strip. :) (Although I did kinda kill him a few times out of curiosity. He said he'd make it up to me after I killed him and it made me feel bad. ;_; Sorry bb. )

And my first impression of the game? I love it! I was kind of bracing myself for some edgy humor (Like Borderlands) and I was pleasantly surprised that it had a a right balance of silly, serious, and dark when it needed to be. The roleplaying aspect is fun and I like how you can basically be whoever you want to be (with some great comebacks from the courier. When killing Mr. House, you can say "Yes Man needs you out of the way" and I was like "Yup, this game knows exactly what my motivations are" >:) ). The quests never seem to be a slog to me since they're tied to characters and their stories, so the motivation to help (or sow discord) is the main thing that drives me to want to explore and do everything in the game.

Also, non-feral ghouls are so fucking cute. I love their raspy voices and they seem to be (for the most part) nice. I always had a soft spot for creatures that are "othered" like monsters and aliens, and I view ghouls as stand-ins for communities that were medically ostracized (like leprosy and the Hibakusha), so yeah, very easy for me to like them. Also Raul is my absolute favorite, so there's that too. :) I like all the companions tbh. As fantastic as a world as the Fallout universe is, I like how grounded everyone is, just as real as anybody you'd meet out on the streets. And that they all have their own hopes and dreams that aren't centered around the player character. Raul is my favorite just because I love how he tells his story and Danny Trejo's voice is like a glass of warm milk to me (very soothing).

Oh! And obviously I love the robots too. I appreciate that robots seem to vary on their level of sentience (Protectrons vs. Mr. House's personal Securitrons) and the writers treated Victor and Yes Man with just as much care as they did their human characters (I wish Victor had a bigger role though! What a cutie-pie). I find it kind of poetic that it's a robot that saves your life and it's a robot that helps you make major decisions in-game (if you decide to go the Yes Man route). The Courier owes their life to Victor and Yes Man and has their life changed completely because of those two.

And of course I had to make Primm Slim sheriff (that cowboy getup and his little Yee-haw is too precious :') ). Basically, if I don't have to kill them, I am doing my run as a pro-robot and pro-mutant run. I love them too much.

Anyways, there ends my thoughts. I'm not finished yet (currently eliminating the side fractions for Yes Man. Bye-bye Brotherhood. :) ), but I'm looking forward to getting back in the game once I have more time. I think it might be my favorite game!

[alansmuse]

POINTS AT YOU. ⁉️

SCAMPERS AWAY!!!!! DON'T LOOK AT ME RIRI I'M A MESS!!!!!!

Putting the reveal beneath a read more because I am super emotional both over this particular new F/O and life in general lately so I'm rambly :,)

Prefacing this too I am capable of nuance and can recognize negative aspects of characters even when I love them ( obviously this has exceptions for objectively unforgivable qualities like bigotry ofc jfc ) , since a shocking amount of people in the community seem to think that is impossible jkghhgjf

Hi yes hello, it's Silco :,,,) For context, before I started watching recently I was chatting with my best friend about the show as he loves it a lot. We got on the topic of characters n whatnot, and he remarked that of the characters he could see me liking, Silco was his top pick for me - so I already came in with a bit of a curiosity towards him! What I wasn't expecting however was for him to be so correct practically immediately off the bat lol.

I cannot explain how or why, but the moment he came on screen for the first time I was captivated. Not just by his design, he checks off all my marks n more in that category, but his voice, his mannerisms, his presence, him as a whole being. I have mentioned in passing I am a scientist myself, and historically that's the troupe that draws me in the most ( Herbert West of Re-Animator has been one of my biggest kins for over a decade now lol ), but so rare is it that a spin on a mad scientist modernly is interesting to me, yet he had my full attention from the beginning <3

Learning of his history and motivations only solidified and deepened the affection I now am full of for him, our life stories and motives are almost identical, even my negative aspects - which isn't common for me to face so fowardly kjfghjghj. The feeling of belonging, of being understood, came flooding in stronger than ever before. With him, I wouldn't have to explain what's happened to me, why I am the way I am, why I do what I do, he'd get it - he knows, and that's so incredibly rare for me.

I know I cannot fix him, that is not my intention and I hope to the Gods it doesn't come off that way. I have had quite a bit of the story spoiled for me, given it's been out for years now lol, and I adore him at every stage of his story and beyond. It sounds so crazy to say right off the bat, but with him I am not only home, I can actually let my guard down, which I never even thought possible for myself at any point in my life. Yes, he is violent and doesn't care the collateral damage he causes, but in a deeper, secretive way that too is something I feel. With him, I wouldn't have to hide the darker bits of myself I am working on, I could be my whole self around him, and the same goes for him around me.

All of this sounds probably fucking insane, which to my credit I am still on multiple medications after my surgery earlier this week so I am not fully my usual self right now, but he has become so fucking close and important to me in the few days we have properly known each other, and it excites me to the point it also scares me lol :,) I really want to add him to my roster, he's without a doubt a main if not thee new Top Main[tm] to me, but I still have huge hang-ups over large fandoms and self shipping intersecting with it, and particularly how my possessive nature absolutely hates when anyone else perceives my closest f/os :,) but! yeah! that's what's going on in my life lately, mutuals feel free to execute me however you want after reading this, I know he's awful and mean and what not but he's so much more than that to me, and there is now a sense off wonder for our future that I desperately need right now in my life to keep going <3

[robin374]

One shot idea! After a long year of pining for their best friend medic, reader decides to finally confess to him, only to find out that he’s been feeling the same way all along! Mutual pining moment

Medic x Reader One-shot

Here you go! Let me know if I made any mistake/typo.

I hope you like it!

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

"Yeah, I don't think this is a good idea..." You looked at Scout offering you a bucket of chicken nuggets. "Why not? All you have to do is say; 'I've got a bucket of chicken, do you want to do it?' And you'll have him wrapped around your finger." You frowned, not entirely convinced, maybe Scout lecturing you on how to flirt wasn't the best idea. You sighed as you set the bucket down on the living room table. You knew Medic was in his lab experimenting on some enemy's corpse. You admired his intelligence and passion he had for science, always ready to challenge modern science with some new method. Just having invented the MediGun said it all. You were absolutely sure that many women in Germany would be in love with him. You didn't blame them, you felt the same way since the first time he healed you in the middle of a battle, ignoring the desperate screams of Scout dying. You still remembered the warm feeling his hand radiated when he rested it on your cheek to heal your bruised head.

Since a long time ago you’ve felt those butterflies in your stomach, every time he patted you on the shoulder every time he passed by you, or even brushed his hand against yours. Whenever you thought of those small but sweet moments you got hot in the face, hell, just thinking about him made you turn red. You couldn't contain those feelings for long, at least not before Scout let the secret out before you did. Something he was quite capable of if he saw that you didn't dare to confess.

"Well I don't understand why you don't want to do it with the bucket, it always works for me." He said as he popped a nugget into his mouth, you rolled your eyes. It only worked on women as desperate as he was. You heard someone coming from the hallway leading to Medic's lab, you looked towards the door with a smile on your face hoping it was him. However, your smile fell as you connected stares with Spy. He rolled his eyes and grunted as soon as he saw Scout with the bucket of chicken, but they sparkled with curiosity when they found the scratched and scribbled notes your hands were holding. Without a word, he snatched the little papers from your hands, earning a complaint from you. He held the notes up to the only light that illuminated the room and began to read what was behind the scribbles. You were trying to take the papers from him while Scout laughed at the situation.

"I didn't know you were in love with the doctor," Spy said as he handed you back the notes. At that moment, your desire to confess was taken away, everything was going fine until Spy had to come in and destroy your courage and determination as if it were glass. Before you could answer any insult, the man who brought your happiness came through the door. His eyes, as blue as the sky, scanned the room until they found you. You smiled as his face lit up and he approached you. "Finally, I found you, you wouldn't happen to have a blade sharpener?" without hesitating a second longer you nodded excitedly, you went to a cabinet on which Spy was leaning against. You pushed him aside with all your might and opened the drawer. You took out a knife sharpener, it would probably be useful for him. You handed it to him, feeling your fingers brushing his palm and that single gesture made your heart race. You avoided his gaze and looked for Scout, but he and Spy were no longer in the room. Now you were alone with Medic in the room. This was your moment.

That determination that Spy shattered came back as quick as lightning. A burning feeling took place in your chest. "Hey, Medic can I...can I tell you something?" When you saw his confused look that feeling of bravery began to fade, but once I got his attention I couldn't give up. Silence hung heavy in the room, I felt like I had an anvil hanging over my head and it would fall at any moment. "Are you..." "I'm in love with you!" you interrupted, once you finished the sentence you regretted it, his surprised expression began to blush. The sound of his laughter startled you, he mumbled something unintelligible while covering his face with his hands. You were about to leave the room with your spirits on the floor, thinking he was laughing at you when you felt a pair of lips press softly against yours. You mentally screamed as you realized Medic was kissing you. You returned the kiss as sweetly and gently as he did. "I believe my answer is clear" he said once you parted from the kiss. You wanted to hug him, kiss him, anything that wouldn’t separate you from him, but Scout had other things planned. 

"Go to a hotel room!" 

Let's just say Scout went into the next battle with a broken leg.

[andydrysdalerogers]

Sliding Into Home ~ For Reasons Unknown...

Pairing: MLB!Frank Adler x Abigail Hernandez (OFC)

Synopsis:

After a trade from Boston to Los Angeles, first baseman Frank Adler would seem to have it all. Money, women, an amazing niece, yes Frank should have it all. Except for one thing. One thing that left after a mistake five years ago. Los Angeles should be the chance to start over. Except she is supposed to be in Boston. Not his new medical director.

* A Frank Adler AU x Major League Baseball Story**

Warning: ANGST (i can't stress this enough), second chances, cheating, S~M~U~T!!, slow burn, drug use, abandonment issues, betrayal, domestic violence (i may have missed some), flashbacks

Dividers by me

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS. Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated

Previous: Unexpected Surprises

Sliding Into Home Master List Main Masterlist

aughable.  

Sinister 

Dangerous 

Insane 

All of these words float through Frank’s mind as he stares at his former best friend. Mike sat across from him, plexiglass separating them. He could barely recognize him. After talking with Andy, who was not happy about this visit, Mike was in the process of being disciplined by the California and Massachusetts BARs. The law firm he was working at had already dismissed him. Natasha Romanoff had personally contacted Abby and himself with apologies. Probably trying to avoid a lawsuit for malpractice. But Frank wasn’t worried about any of that.  His sleepless nights made him come to one conclusion: let Mike Weiss know he was never going to hurt his family again.  Mike laughed when he saw Frank sitting there. When Frank picked up the phone, so did he.  

“Hi Mike.” 

“Hello, homewrecker.”  

Frank had to swallow the anger. He needed answers.  Answers that only Mike could provide. But he didn’t know what to say.  

“What? Got nothing to say?” Mike taunted him. “I’m locked up and you are with my cheating good for nothing whore of an ex-fiancé.”  

Frank narrowed his eyes. “Don’t call her that.”  

Mike scoffed. “I’ll call her whatever the fuck I want. Abby left me for you. I know you two were sleeping together before she broke it off with me. I’m just calling a spade, a spade.” 

“Look, it wasn’t intentional, ok?”   

“Not intentional. Bullshit. You were upset that I got the girl.” Mike smirked. “I had you beat.”  

“And yet, she still came back to me.” The smile dropped on Mike’s face as Frank’s grin grew. “She has always been mine. We just found our way back to each other. And now we have a family with my Mary.”  

The mention of Mary draws a snarl of from Mike.  “What the fuck do you want?” 

“I just have one question.”  

“Which is?” 

“Why? Why did you let Diane into your home and attack Abby? Why did you kidnap my daughter?” 

Abby sat on the cold metal chair across from Diane. She was just like how she remembered her. Before the attack, before she abandoned Mary. Before she was with Mike.  Her hair was longer, the long blonde stands pulled away from her face. Abby assumed her face would be hallow from being on the run but no, her cheeks were full.  The only thing that made her think this was a different Diane from her childhood was her eyes.  Her eyes were sad, full of remorse, sorrow, guilt.  She noted that Diane was cuffed to the table, and she was able to relax her shoulders a bit.  

“Hi Diane,” she greeted softly.  

“Abby. I’m surprised to see you here.”  

“Yeah, me too.” Abby looked down.  “How- How are you?” 

Diane cocked her head with curiosity at her question. “I’m ok. They put me on meds and my head is clear.”  Diane chewed her bottom lip. “How’s Frank?” 

“He’s good. A little sad.”  

“Sad?” 

“Because he lost his sister.”  Abby looked at her sadly. “You have no idea the damage you have done to him. To Mary. To me.”  She gave a hard look. “Why Diane? Why him?” 

“You wouldn’t understand.”  Diane leaned back.  

“Try me. Because he manipulated me to be with him and I lost five years with the love of my life.”  

Diane looked away.  

Rage took over Mike’s face.  “Mary is MINE! I’ll prove it, you motherfucker.”  

“You can’t have her,” Frank said calmly. “She is mine and I won’t give up fighting for her.  I’m her father. And you are nothing but her sperm donor.  You raped my sister and left her when she was pregnant. You told my baby sister to abort her baby.  You don’t have any right to call yourself Mary’s father.”  

“Well obviously she didn’t,” Mike sneered. “I will do everything I can to take away Mary from you. Your life will be hell, I promise you that."  

“You’ll do shit! Why did you attack my wife?”  

“I owe you nothing Adler.” Mike leaned back. “I’ll take that one to the grave.”  

Frank stood up. “Fine, don’t tell me. Abby is in Boston, seeing Diane.  We’ll get the answers we are looking for. See you at trial.”  He hung up and could see Mike screaming at him through the glass.  Guards came over to restrain him.  

Frank was disappointed.  Not so much as not getting the answers he wanted but because his friend was now a drugged out mess, not even a piece of the good man he once knew remained.  Frank had his driver take him back to the airport. He needed to hug his daughter. 

“I always had a crush on Mike. He was my brother’s best friend. Older guy. Forbidden.” Diane gave a sad smile. “I didn’t think I had a chance in hell. But one day he noticed me. You and my brother were so wrapped up in each other and I didn’t notice how obsessed Mike was with you.”   

“Did he... did he take advantage?” 

“No,” she shook her head. “He talked and touched my face so sweet.  He spent days with me when you guys started dating. He told me I was beautiful and he... he could see a future with me.”  A single tear fell from her eye. “I believed him.”  

Abby took in a shuddering breath. “Why were you in my house?” 

“Mike came back into my life. He found me in Seattle and said that he found a way for us to be together. That he knew who made me like this. He gave me a shot and when I woke up, I was in a hotel.” 

“You don’t remember?” Abby frowned. “Anything?” 

Diane shook her head.  “No. I know what happened because the police told me.”  

Abby sat back. She looked at Antonio, who had a look of sadness. “I’m sorry that happened to you Diane.  Thank you for talking with me.”  She stood up with Andy and Antonio following her lead. “I’ll see you later.”  

Diane sobbed and Andy took a hold of Abby to stop her from comforting Diane.  He led her out and once outside, Abby collapsed into her brother’s arms, crying for the pain her friend had endured.  

Abby was quiet the entire flight home.  Andy kept glancing at her as she sat with her eyes closed.  He sent a message to Frank 

A: It was bad  F: Fuck, is she ok?  A: I think so. The story Diane told was heartbreaking  F: Has Cricket said anything?  A: No.  F: OK, I’ll see you when you land 

At the airport, Abby and Andy made their way out,with Andy guiding her around.  She was staring at the ground when she heard, “hey Cricket.” She looked up to see Frank standing at the door, a single pink rose in his hand.  She dropped the bag and ran into his arms, wrapping her legs around him. The sobs that she had contained from Boston to LA came spilling out. “Baby, its ok, its all gonna be ok.” He kissed her head.  

Andy walked over with Abby’s dropped bag. “Hey Frank.”  

“Thank you, Andy, for flying back with her.”  

“Not a problem, had some stuff to finish in our LA office.” He shrugged. “Is it still ok to stay with you?” 

“Course man. Let’s get you guys home.” He set Abby down, grabbed her bag and walked her and Andy to the car. Arriving home, Abby raced inside, still nothing spoken. Frank and Andy exchanged a look before heading inside. It was early, the house still calm. Abby stood in the doorway of her daughter’s bedroom. She watched for a moment, Mary sleeping in her bed, Dodger at her feet. A single tear slides down her face.  The tragic story of her conception, how her parents didn’t love her enough, that Frank and Abby had to pick up the pieces and love a girl that was not their own. But Abby did love, she loved that little girl with everything she had. As she stared, her only thought was ‘Her baby girl was safe.’  Carefully, she crawled into the bed with her.  Mary turned into Abby and sighed happily, her unconscious state recognizing that Abby was cuddling with her.  

When Frank looked in, his heart clenched at the sight of mother and children in bed together. Abby had quickly fallen asleep with her arms wrapped around Mary.  Not one to miss out on a snuggle, Frank kicked off his shoes and climbed in as well, wrapped his arms around his family and went back to sleep. 

Mike was extradited to Massachusetts the following week and was charged with kidnapping and child endangerment. He pled not guilty and decided to represent himself.  He hadn’t been disbarred yet. “There is nothing else we can do right now,” Andy explained. “The protection order is already in place. Now we just have to wait.”  

Frank returned to the team, working on winning the division. Their final challenge was a familiar foe: the San Francisco Giants. Facing Mike’s new best friend, Bobby, would be difficult but as long as Frank kept his mouth shut, it would be fine.  A three game series in September was the epitome of baseball.  A time for summer to end and fall to take over.  

The first two games were uneventful as Bobby was out with a bruised knee.  But he was cleared to play for the Sunday finale.  The Dodgers needed the win in order to avoid a playoff and win the division.  It was a beautiful September Sunday, perfect weather for a game.  Abby, Scott, Steve and Mary were in the family box, watching their favorite player take the field.  San Francisco was up at bat first.  

Frank concentrated on the batter.  Of course, it was Fuller. Johnny ended up walking him and he jogged over to first base. Frank scowled but kept his mouth shut.  

“Sup Adler.” Fuller smiled. “Long time no talk.”  Frank said nothing.  “What? You’re not going to talk to me. That’s mature.”  

“I’m not talking to you because I don’t want to get kicked out of this game or end up in jail.” Frank turned away from Fuller and concentrated on the game.  The next batter popped a fly ball, and the second baseman was able to turn it into a double play.  Fuller headed back into the dugout, a smirk on his face.  

Frank rolled his eyes and went back to the game.  A few innings later Bobby was back on first base after hitting a ground ball to left field. “You still mad that Abby left you?” 

“Nope.”  

Fuller watched him carefully.  “You know it wasn’t personal for me Frankie Boy. Mike just said the right things at the right time.”  

“Is that right?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Cool.  Then maybe you can explained why he let my drugged out sister in his home with Abby and let her beat the crap outta her? Or the fact that he kidnapped my daughter.”  Frank got right into Bobby’s face, causing the first base coach to try to intervene.  “Can you explain how you let that psycho near my family, and yet you feel nothing?!” He shoved Bobby to the ground.  “Fuck you and fuck him!  I will have my day in court where I take that son of a bitch down.  And I’ll take you down with him if you speak to me or go near me and family again.” Frank shook off Johnny who was holding in back.  

“You’re gone Adler,” the umpire said.  

Frank walked without causing another scene.  In the locker room, he threw his hat and glove in rage.  “FUCK!”  He grasped the table to try and calm himself.  

“Frankie?” 

Frank whipped around to see Abby in the doorway.  “Cricket, I...” 

“Are you ok?” She cut him off.  

He shook his head. “No. Fuller, he... fuck, he got to me Cricket.  How could he do it?  How could he help that fucker hurt you and Mary. He was my best friend on the team and he...” Frank finally broke down and cried into Abby’s shoulder. He had been so strong for so long. Abby stroked his back and let him come to terms with the truth.  

“Baby, you have been our rock this year. Let it out, ok?” 

 “I love you, Cricket, so much.”  

“I love you too, Frankie.” 

As the family made it home, Frank’s cell rang. “It’s Andy.”  Scott ushered Mary to her room as Abby and Frank answered the call.  “Hey Andy.”  

“Hi Frank.  Is Abby with you?” 

“I’m here.”  

“Ok good.”  he sighed. “Mike was given bail and he made it. He’ll be released by tomorrow.”  

“Fuck,” Frank mumbled.  

“That’s not the worst of it. He’s filed a motion to block the adoption.”  

“What?” Abby whispered. “Why?” 

“Just like we thought. On the grounds that he is Mary’s natural father and has not given up his rights. The motion states that the block is to allow time for him to sue for custody. There is a court date in a week from Monday on the motion.”  

“We'll fight,” Frank said.  “We’ll find a way show the courts that he is an unfit father and to make him go away. I refuse to let that son of a bitch tear apart this family.” 

“Frankie...” Abby started  

“No Abigail. I’m not gonna stop until we have that paperwork that says to the world that Mary is ours, just like she’s been since she was born.”  

NEXT

Taglist

@patzammit

@texmexdarling

@slutforchrisjamalevans

@firephotogrl74

@before-we-get-started

@tinkerbelle67

@bunnyforhim

[immcoconut]

#dkbk #bkdk yakuza bk who pursued /Izuku midoriya/ as a target was left dumbfounded. How can this loser be their target? This guy has no money, no social life matter of fact no life at all. Bk is absolutely sure that they got the name or face of their target mixed up

But this Izuku midoriya also had healthy amount of scar on his hand than a average person should have and goes to a prestigious school katsuki himself went to. Something just doesn't add up with this guy

So despite establishing that Izuku was not the target katsuki was after,

He still dug around izuku out of curiosity.

Turns out Izuku was a star student- genius engineer and all. But at his 2nd year in UA high he got severely injured while pulling a girl -Eri- out of a burning car that exploded right after

He fall behind because of the surgery needed

In his arms and couldn't climb back up because too many surgeries cost too much money

Katsuki felt bad for the guy. The police gave him medel but not money for his medical expenses. It kinda sucked

So katsuki decided to help this little guy. Nothing too much but a box of new clothes was placed next to izuku's tiny apartment the next day, With a card that said

- to Izuku midoriya

Wear this or we'll kidnap your mom

Katsuki knew the nerd was too prideful to take the clothes if he's just handed them, so some threatening was necessity here

However katsuki was told Izuku did wear the clothes the next day but only hang around the campus, not involving himself around people

Katsuki cursed. The nerd must have thought katsuki placed a bomb or something in the clothes

Well it's all right, at least the nerd would wear those from now on

Katsuki next send him a box full of groceries with a note " eat this or your mom gets it"

He started to help Izuku with all sort of things after that. Especially seeing how cute the guy looked - confused and slightly worried but well fed and in warm clothes

He would pay izuku's bills and occasionally give him stuff that's essential not to survive but to enjoy

Life (merch, video games etc)

Eventually katsuki urge won. He sent Izuku a latter saying "I'll take care of you, just focus on your studies"

Izuku stared at the latter. Then went back and wrote 'who are you?Can we meet?'on the back of the latter and left it outside the door

Katsuki knows they'll eventually meet someday but not now. Maybe after he graduates? Yeah that sounds more reasonable

"After you graduate" was the only reply Izuku received

Izuku did not receive any latter after that. But a box full of daily necessities was placed once a week and new clothes once a month

Izuku, despite being skeptical at first, eventually started to focus entirely on his studies or academic activities, only

Working on weekends to have bit of pocket money

This arrangement let him have a stable life - academic, economic and social too since now he had time to hang out with his friends

Izuku graduated with flying score- making katsuki proud af- and demanded to see who this person was that looking out for him

Katsuki agreed, after all it's what he promised

He didn't take his goons with him - thinking it might scare Izuku away but he himself doubt the thought

Cause Izuku had not been afraid once despite knowing that somebody powerful is watching him all the time

They met at a prestigious restaurant that katsuki had influence on since he did not want to take Izuku anywhere that might come out as threatening but at the same time

The Yakuza boss himself has some restrictions in visiting any place he wants - in short, it had to be this restaurant

Izuku soon came in through the gate, looking sharp in the dress suit katsuki had send him but also nerdy by the hairstyles and tie

Katsuki motioned him to /get here/ but Izuku stopped for few seconds. He looked surprised, taken aback and hesitant.But regardless he joined katsuki

Introduction were made, well mostly from katsuki's part since Izuku was pretty well known topic in katsuki's gang now and pretty soon they jumped to the real question

" Why would you do all this for me?"Izuku asked, gulping down

/pity/ katsuki hummed. Because/I felt pity / was the first response katsuki was about to say

All though it's truth but not the entirety of it. He let himself think for few seconds before giving the answer that felt most right

" I saw potential and I gave it a chance"

It was truth. Izuku attracted him for one reason or another and the potential this guy has is unimaginable

Katsuki watched as Izuku stay blank, motionless and deep in thoughts " what do you want from me?"

" Nothing. you are free to do whatever you want" katsuki cut the

Streak in bite size pieces, seeing the end of conversation already "I did everything just because I can. There's nothing more to it"

Izuku hid his emotions well. He didn't yell out for showing pity or cry out in gratitude

" I tried digging you out" Izuku started speaking

And katsuki chuckled. As if any guy could just randomly find katsuki

"I didn't get much which was given. But bakugo katsuki -"

His /real/ name made katsuki freeze. This punk-

" I pledge my loyalty to you"

Oh katsuki likes this, katsuki likes this outcome a lot

This little punk with his shit eating grin right now-

This will be interesting

[suspicious-whumping-egg]

Low Profile Part 18: Revealed

Series masterlist here. Major spoilers in this one, cannot be read as a stand-alone. Please start from the beginning if you aren’t familiar with the series. Enjoy!

~~

A stranger stared back at Hale from the screen. 

His hair was long, thick curls down to his shoulders. He wore makeup— gold, shimmering eyeshadow, eyeliner sharp as a blade, mascara that had run in tear trails down his bruised face. His arms folded in front of him were littered with dark, mottled track marks that peeked from the edges of his rolled-up shirtsleeves. 

“If you’re watching this, future me, I’m sorry. I’m so, so fucking sorry. Uh, your name, if you’ve forgotten that too, is Hale Ellison. Or, it used to be. Maybe you’re better off with a new life altogether. I guess not, ‘cause then you wouldn’t be watching this. But you are. 

And if you’re not me and you’re watching this, assume the worst has happened. And I’m only risking the worst ‘cause it’s gotta get out there. Someone has to stop them. I can feel it slipping away… I wrote it all down, before they can make me forget, it’s all on the drive— just get the code. I’ll remember it if it fucking kills me. Get it, even if you have to torture it out of me. Someone’s gotta make the killing stop.” 

He took a long, shaking breath, wiping his face with his palm and leaving a smear of black behind. 

On the other side of the screen, Hale watched mutely, eyes wide and stricken. Viper eased a warm mug into his hands, but he barely registered its existence. 

“God. I don’t know where to begin. How much they’re gonna make me forget. But uh, I’ve gotta start somewhere. Wayford. 

When I was around eleven, my father committed a mass murder of those who sought to uncover his secrets. The Ellison legacy is built on nothing but blood money, but anyone who dares mention it…” he shuddered, squeezing his eyes shut for a minute and feeling along the crook of his elbow as if to assure himself there was nothing there. 

“Let’s just say, he doesn’t take kindly to any reminders. But yeah. The richest of the rich pay him for all sorts of shit. Got a political candidate that needs to be conveniently sick, injured, even dead?  Want a personal supply of trafficked people at your doorstep to destroy one by one? Need a protest to turn into a bloodbath to prove a point? Human meat for a luxury banquet? Julian Tucker Ellison can get it done in a heartbeat,” he said bitterly, face twisting in disgust. 

“The whole family was in on it, except for me. Decided I was too weak, too soft. But the things I’ve heard… I couldn’t let them go unnoticed. I’ve been collecting evidence since I was sixteen, recording top-secret meetings, uploading bank wires, decrypting files. Made it four years playing off every close call as innocent curiosity, and a fifth working with the mafia to stay better hidden. They like to blame them, anytime an incident goes a bit too public. Turns out the enemy of my enemy is the best asset I’ve got. Strategically invaluable, but don’t trust a thing they say. “ 

Hale’s gaze darted to Viper, then back to the screen, like he was waiting for him to turn it off. Slam the laptop shut before Hale learned too much. But Viper only gave him a solemn nod, raising an eyebrow ever so slightly, and let the video play on. 

“You— I— dammit. I don’t even know where you’re at right now. Who you’re friends with. But currently, I’m closest with two of the mobsters working right under the queen bee. Silas Bevereaux, right hand man and the only person I’ve met who’s more ruthless than good ol’ Julian himself. Head medic as well, knows his way around any and every drug. He’s helped me counteract the effects of— of— of the shit they’ve been giving me. The doctors, if they can be called that, under my father’s instruction. For now at least, I still have the freedom to move around during the day. But at night, I’m theirs. They’ve tried keeping me under a cocktail of hallucinogens, hypnosis, amnestics— anything that’ll make me question reality. Destabilize me enough that no one will trust me even if I do spill the family secrets. Let me out during the day, completely batshit, so everyone knows I’m just the family freak. If not for Silas, it would’ve worked. He’s handy with a gun too, can take out a crowd of 100 in seconds with nothing but a glock. And he will. Beg him for help if you have to, but don’t trust him for a second. 

And Viper. Insists he doesn’t have a last name. Where do I even start?” 

Hale took a tentative sip of his chai, which had begun to grow cold. Guess it wasn’t important enough to the old me that we were lovers, he thought bitterly. Or maybe he’d had too much confidence in himself, that surely he’d never forget his own boyfriend. At the mention of his own name, Viper stiffened next to him. His jaw tensed, he pulled his knife out of his pocket and started toying with it on instinct. 

“Can’t go back, love,” he muttered to Hale. “I warned you.” 

The Hale on the screen sighed brokenly.

“We were friends. Brothers. Lovers, after that. He helped me through the side effects, the withdrawals, the beatings. Plotted revenge with me when I was hurting too much to move. And if you’re watching this, Viper, I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”

Hale slammed the  space bar of the laptop so hard that he was surprised it didn’t break. 

“What the fuck are you?” He snapped to the stranger beside him, the mug slipping from his hands and shattering on the tiled floor. 

“It’s a deepfake, isn’t it? Some sick jab to get back at Silas for being a half-decent human being? Well it’s not gonna fucking work.” 

“We had an agreement, the two of us,” Viper said icily. 

“You believed that if so much pain and pressure and despair could shock your mind into retreating inside itself, the same conditions would be required to bring it back. And maybe, just maybe, I’m fucking sick of you. He’d hate you. You’d hate yourself, if you knew any better.” His voice was laden with vitriol, eyes narrowed to slits. 

“And Silas? He just thought torture doesn’t work, plain and simple. You said it yourself, even if you forgot. He’s ruthless.” 

Hale shook his head. 

“Someone who loved me wouldn’t fucking do this,” he retorted. “You faked it, then, didn’t you? Seduced me into giving you what you needed? Showed your true colors once they brainwashed me into oblivion?” 

“I already said. I loved him, I hate you. ‘Cause you’re the reason he’s not here with me. Whatever they turned you into, it replaced the man I love. And I’ll do anything to you if it means getting him back.”  

“We’re the same fucking person!” Hale cried. “Hurting me hurts the person you loved too, ‘cause we’re one and the fucking same! Get a grip!” 

Viper seized Hale by the shoulders before he could utter another word, throwing him to the ground and landing a brutal kick to his chest. 

“He’s locked up in there somewhere, and you’re not letting him out,” Viper hissed. 

“This was never about the drive, was it?” Hale forced out, ribs throbbing. “This was about taking it all out on me that you weren’t fucking good enough to save me before they did this, wasn’t it? Pretending I’m a whole different person ‘cause then it means I can be your punching bag? You’re fucking sick.” 

Viper just gave a sad smile, edged with smug, unmistakable victory.  

“Oh, Hale. You don’t understand, do you? There is a drive, but it’s been hacked. We already have the code, the files, all the evidence we need about your family. The only thing we still need is you. The real you. Someone’s gotta be able to attest to the horrors of your family firsthand. Someone’s gotta put this all together, and you’re the only one who knows how. And… well, I’ll let you hear yourself say it.” 

He reached up to the laptop again, not bothering to help Hale back onto the couch. 

“Do whatever it takes to get us back. I swear I’ll come back to you, love. I’ll come back, no matter how long it takes. I won’t forget you.” 

The Hale on the screen was earnest, soft, even reverent for the most fleeting of seconds. Amidst the trembling hands that no amount of chemicals managed to erase, the tears he choked back, the terrified glances over his shoulder. 

“And future me, I’m sorry about all of this. Hope you remember it all soon enoguh so it’ll all just be a bad dream. I’ve told Viper to do whatever it takes to get me back, and I mean it. The memories, they’re already slipping away. I’m barely myself. And I’m not gonna let them win. I’m sorry, for what he’s gonna do to you. For what’s already been done. But you’re gonna remember, and you’re gonna understand. I swear it.” 

Taglist: @morning-star-whump @whumpkitty @shameless-dumbass @hurtthemgently @gala1981 @avvail @d-cs @whumpedydump

[shipsgaysfordays]

Chapter 1: Introduction

finally getting the first chapter of “but if you feel like i feel, please let me know it’s real” out, so that’s exciting. here’s the ao3 link if people prefer that.

so yeah, finally my Minnie and Poppy fic, here it is. we start with the fluff but in later chapters we’ll get to some angst.

also, i want it to be known that this fic is so fucking far away from cannon and you fuckers better not start complaining about that now.

After a long time of studying medical magic at St. Mugos, Poppy Pomfrey made the decision to finally go to the school that always struck her curiosity, Hogwarts. Despite having been homeschooled in magic, the school always intrigued her. A new situation to tackle, a huge group of people, students and teachers all around…children. Now surrounded by students and teachers who know the school like the back of their hand, she feels like a bit of a fish out of water. At least she’s not the only new staff to the school. 

A gorgeous woman, called Mc–Something, Poppy hadn’t entirely learned the names, there were so many to attempt to memorize, it was all a bit much. Everything was a bit much, so she put her head down and focused on the injuries, on her job, that was all. She’d always been taught to know her place, and Poppy always sort of knew she was more of a side character, a bit less important, just do your job and that’s it. But when she caught sight of that green green gown, or the pinned up swirling brown hair, Poppy would wonder: what more is there to this life? Why does this woman capture all my thoughts? I need to just focus again, but I can’t with her image always coming back to the forefront of my mind. What adventures has she been through? What stories does she have to say? I’ve done so little and she has the confidence of having done so much. 

Poppy turned a corner, back to her brewing pot, new medications to be made, this was all to worry over when the medical wing was this close to empty due to it being the beginning of the year. 

…

Minerva racked her brain for hours and hours, why don’t I recognize her, we must have gone to school together for ages, we’re just about the same age? I would know those eyes, those ice blue eyes that make my heart race just a little bit too much. As she flipped through the pages of her textbook, making sure to think through any questions or mistakes that could occur in her first lesson, Minnie’s mind could not escape from the meal in the great hall just a few minutes prior. 

The long process of sorting that was a bit of a bore given the years upon years that she had had to sit through the ceremony as a student, except this time she would be observing as a teacher, trying to ensure the students wouldn’t be misbehaving during the torturously boring time of watching first years. Though, wondering about the personalities of these children did intrigue the new teacher, just who would be a troublemaker and who might decide to make her life just the slightest bit easier (unlikely to happen but a lady could hope). 

Her eyes also darted to the students around, some of whom she used to tutor, but now she wasn’t just Minerva the seventh year quidditch hotshot, now she was a teacher. There was a small sense of anxiety over if they would respect that, Dumbledore would make sure they did, McGonagall could make sure they did—still, there was that anxiety there. 

As she laid in bed, staring at the ceiling, hoping to brush aside the worries, think of something else, anything else from the day. Ice blue. No, not this, I’m not–I’m not having a stupid crush ruin my life again…but, ice blue, sky blue. A sky blue you could fly in.

…not again.

…

At least Poppy didn’t feel so useless within the first few days, students constantly coming in with new ailments, and even a teacher who seems to get herself into trouble just a bit too often. Something about flying higher and higher, it was always quite dangerous, Poppy didn’t understand this school’s obsession with it. 

It made the hospital wing quite busy, just a bit too busy, but nothing the medi-witch couldn’t handle. Or at least nothing she wouldn’t have to handle. Plus there were some 6th and 7th year volunteers that came in every so often to help with simple recovery spells or to try (and most often fail) at replicating certain healing potions, but slowly but surely the students were gaining their skills as they came in again and again, practicing. 

A part of her began to understand why people go into this education thing, that look of eureka in a kid's eyes, the amount of simple joy that could bring was honestly a magic of its own.

…

The beaming late afternoon light shone through the medical wing making the cots appear to glow, it was all quite beautiful the brightness brought warmth to the currently sterile and empty room. Thankfully that Sunday had been pretty calm for Poppy, a few healing potions here and there, but no serious injuries or complex magic. Over the weekends the kids didn’t seem to work themselves to the bone, at least not as much as certain teachers, Poppy’s mind remarked as a certain professor with pinned up curling brown hair dragged her feet into the hospital wing yet again.

“Back so soon?” Poppy remarked.

The young professor gave a pained smile back, “Well someone needs to give you company on such a beautiful day.”

“By this point I fear you just never want to leave the hospital wing, you know there’s a world out there, right?”

“Oh, I know far too well. That world just happens to be a pain in my–” the woman covered her mouth and coughed, “heh, never know when the children are around. Sometimes one slips up…”

“What happened this time Professor…..?” Poppy trailed off.

“McGonagall, Minerva McGonagall, though my friends call me Minnie.”

“Have I heard some of the students call you Minnie too?”

“I haven’t been away from the school all that long,” Minnie’s eyes darted around the room, “anyways, to the business of me being here. While doing some flying practice I happened to get just a smidge distracted and…well this world decided that due to that fatal error it would give me as much pain as possible.”

“Quite a fall?”

Minerva nodded, “Quite. A. Fall.”

“Well, relax a moment, let me see what I can give you.”

Glass rattled and clanked around as Poppy sorted through the vials, jars, and general equities of her storage. Something for the aching, something to strengthen those bones, something for–

Pomfrey was brought out of her mind as she heard Minnie’s accent across the room, “You know, it’s quite unfair now.”

“What’s that?” Poppy peaked her head out, raising her eyebrows at the professor.

“Well now you know something about me, yet I know nothing of you.”

“I know your name, I would have learned it sooner or later.”

“And I still don’t know yours, and that’s just unfair,” Minnie faked a pout, though her smile was very clearly seeping through her mouth. 

“Pomfrey.”

“What?” the lady held a hand to her ear.

“Oh, have I got to check your hearing too now?”

“You’re muttering across the room, sorry if I don’t have the hearing of a hound, Miss…Pomey?” Minerva moved her arms and hands around, almost like conducting an orchestra of sass and sarcasm, it was honestly quite impressive to see this young confident woman. Though a bit more intimidating to be in a conversation with when all one can focus on is the movements of her fingers, or the way the light shines in her eyes. Nothing Pomfrey could think of for too long. 

“Pomfrey,” she finally corrected, “Poppy Pomfrey, there you go, now we’re even.”

“Not quite.”

“Oh, and what’s this now? Some new rule to your game?” Poppy sauntered next to the woman, holding out a vile. In a more professional tone adding, “Drink this, you’ll feel better.”

Minnie swigged it down in one go, drawing her head back as she did so, then immediately began speaking after swallowing it down, “Well, you see, I know exactly what you do at this school but you have no clue about me. I have the upper hand.”

“You’re a professor.”

“What do I teach?” she grinned as Poppy looked into her mind, trying to remember what it was Dumbledore had said about McGonagall that first night, that grand dinner. 

“Minerva I’m just here for my job. I’m just here for the kids you know, you’re just an added bonus.”

“And I feel quite the same, though it could be fun to try and get to know each other Poppy, Mediwitch of Mystery,” Minnie stood up next to the woman. 

Poppy held her hand out, Minnie thankfully returned the awkward favor and the two ladies shook hands, “Nice to properly meet you, Minerva.”

“Nice to meet you too, Poppy, if you ever want to drop by for a chat or a biscuit I’d love to talk.”

“I can tell, though I’m unsure if I could find the time. Medical wing is always busy, even certain teachers come in here needing my attention, could you imagine?”

“I couldn’t, though I must say, the fair share of fellow professors I’ve met have not been as cordial as I.”

“Nor as mysterious, though I’d love to drop by for a biscuit when I have time, I wouldn’t know where to find you.”

“Then I’ll find you,” Minnie smiled as she turned and left the wing. 

She’ll find me? Poppy raised her eyebrows, feeling just a bit of warmth in her face that hadn’t been there before. Must be the sun though, because of all the open drapes, must be the sun. 

[averagewriter777]

Ghost and Doc (Simon "Ghost" Riley x F!Reader)

Masterlist

Part Twenty-Six

Okay- I can't apologize for something I'm not really sorry for. So, yeah... I wrote a character sheet, based on my own headcannons and personalities if anyone is interested in knowing. Could provide some background for some characters. Anywho, enjoy :)

Upstairs in your room, you’d finally stopped crying and had fallen asleep. Your head was on Soap’s chest, his t-shirt was wet with the tears that you’d shed during the time. Apologies had been given for it, along with apologies to your… to Kennedy, Soap just rubbed your back and listened. This wasn’t something that he could shush you for, or tell you to dry your tears to…

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Soap very carefully pulled it out and unlocked it, squinting at the paragraph sent by Price to the 141’s group chat- funny that they had one. You were excluded from this old group chat because it was created before you’d arrived on the team. Ghost must’ve just gotten off the phone with him.

Captain: Alright, I won’t call a meeting for this, because Soap is with Doc. Due to these circumstances, (Y/n) (L/n) will be staying in America until she can get her bearings. She is in no position to be back on the field any time soon. At the moment, we are in contact with someone she’s close to outside of these walls. Sergeant Gary Sanderson, better known as Roach. He’s off assignment and will arrive in America as soon as possible. Once Roach arrives, you four will return here. We have information on the Hawk that needs to be taken care of ASAP. Thank Laswell when you get back.

Soap frowned at the entirety of the text Price had sent. He understood the situation, but he didn’t want to leave you on your own. You were like a sister to him at this point. And how the fuck do you know Roach? It will be a bitter greeting once the other man arrives considering his past with Ghost. Hopefully they will set that aside for your sake.

Soap: Copy that, Captain. One question though, how does she know Roach?

He set his phone down when you started to squirm and cry again. Soap looked to see that you were still sleeping and sighed. He noticed that Alejandro and Gaz replied with ‘copy’ as well, but Gaz added his curiosity as to how you knew Roach as well. Ghost remained dry in the chain, leaving Soap to assume he wasn’t entirely thrilled on the matter.

Captain: Her force worked together with his on an assignment in 2013, shortly after she joined SF. He claims they’re good friends and I’ll leave it at that. ETA is ten hours… best tell Doc when she’s available.

Soap looked down at you, seeing the tears coming back as you cried softly in your sleep. He decided at this time that you should wake up. He tapped your shoulders lightly. “(Y/n)? C’mon, lass, wake up…”

You woke up, almost choking on new sobs that were approaching. Soap held back a silent sigh and pulled you into another hug, continuing the rubs into your back. The apologies started again, and this time Soap decided to shush you- as a way to get you to calm down. “I-I’m sorry, John.”

“‘S okay. Don’t apologize,” Soap let go of you and smiled as gently as he could. “Umm… I was supposed to tell you this when you woke up. You’re going to stay here for the time being, heal up from what happened. Price found someone to take care of you while we go back to base- they discovered information that we can’t ignore.”

Found someone? You brought up your sleeve to wipe your eyes, exhaling shakily. “W-Who?”

Soap thinned his lips, but kept his smile. “Sergeant Gary Sanderson? A friend of yours.”

-

Roach couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to Fort Bragg. Nine years ago he’d been on assignment with a group of the soldiers, which included you in the group. It was difficult to get along with the others, so he stuck around you. Despite being a medical sergeant, he didn’t give a shit.

“Hey- two goldfish are in a tank, one turns to the other and says: ‘Do you know how to drive this thing?’”

“Shut the fuck up so I can fix your leg, please.”

A beautiful friendship it was- or is. The only disagreement the two of you had was when it came to Shawn, Roach didn’t like him from the beginning. He didn’t seem like the type of guy to match with someone who was deployed 24/7… but he let it happen, because you’re his best friend. He did, however, say: “I told you so” because you gave him permission.

What worried him the most at the moment and made him drop his little vacation was an old issue you had. He remembers after the divorce and custody agreement that you hugged alcohol like it was your best friend. Borderline alcoholic was what you became, and he flew all the way from Europe to snap you out of it.

“You didn’t lose your daughter! You still have visitation! You think she’d want this for you?! Do you want her to see you like this? At the bottom of a bottle, sad-drunk off your ass?” He sent you to AA meetings until you’d sobered up. Now, drinks were celebratory or around friends only.

Roach wondered if the 141 was aware of the way you positioned yourself around alcohol… probably not. He fiddled with his gloves at that, not wanting to explain what he’d be doing there to her team. Something told him they wouldn’t really approve- at least Ghost wouldn’t.

“Ugh… Ghost…” Roach scrunched his nose up at the thought of seeing that man. The burn scars along his skin made him think about the last time they’d been in the same area together. But he couldn’t dwell on that- he was here for you, not him.

-

You played with a necklace on your neck nervously while waiting for the plane to completely land. It had a picture of you and Kennedy in it, but you wouldn’t open it… not when you’d just finished crying again.

Soap watched you, just as nervously, then leaned into Ghost: “You sure this is going to be a good idea? She looks on edge here…”

“They haven’t been in the same room since her divorce with Shawn. I don’t know how this is going to go down, Sergeant. But these are Price’s orders, so we’ll follow.” Ghost didn’t sound happy himself, but nothing could be done about it- exactly like he said.

The plane had landed and the back was slowly opening. You walked slowly towards it, stopping where the exit was. A deep exhale left your lips as a man revealed himself from the back of the plane. Once he saw you though, he dropped his bags and hurried down, engulfing you in the tightest hug when he made it to the bottom. Your tears started to flow freely again.

“I got you, (Y/n)... I got you…” Roach rubbed the side of your head, muttering other things to you to get you to calm down. While doing so, his eyes trailed over to Ghost and narrowed.

A/N: Am I doing better?

Part Twenty-Seven

Taglist: @redpool, @calicokitkat, @abbiesxox, @1234ilikecowsthanyoumore, @tescomealdeals-blog, @judachoo, @cabreezer0117, @reiya-djarin, @cutiecusp, @m0chac0ffee, @cassie-vizsla, @seasaltt99, @lazy-kari202, @comedinewithmeyeah, @somnibats, @badpvn, @peachy-is-obsessed, @bookoffracturedghosts, @dorck26, @adeptusnunya, @wonusbitch, @m00vp, @user1727381919

[niqhtlord01]

Humans are weird: Libraries

( Please come see me on my new patreon and support me for early access to stories and personal story requests :D https://www.patreon.com/NiqhtLord Every bit helps)

 Alien: So you’re telling me…. Alien: That not only do you have centers scattered around your worlds containing the collective information of your entire species and planet… Alien: but that anyone can access it and obtain said knowledge? Human: Of course not silly. Alien: Oh. *chuckels* Alien: For a moment I thought- Human: You need a library card to get in otherwise they turn you away. Human: But most of them these days cost half of what you’d pay for a sandwich. Alien: …………….. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: Are you not worried that having such free access to this much information would be a risk? Human: It’s not that dangerous. Alien: I read there was a human child that nearly built a nuclear reactor from what he learned at the library!! Human: Yeah; but he never finished it so it’s not a problem. Alien: ARgJJKNFSM!!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: Books are stupid. Human: They teach you to flay the skin off an animal to get the juicy meat. Alien: *suddenly more interested* Books are amazing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: Do they have the naked picture books here? Human: WTH?!? Alien: What? Alien: You said they would have medical books here. Human: Oh… Oooh; phew. Human: Go look at the medical section. Alien: Thank you. Alien: I am most interested in the ones of human reproduction rituals. Human: Yea- wait, no!

Alien: This book says if I hit someone with a glove I can challenge them to a duel. Human: Please don’t do that. Alien: But it says it is a law. Human: That is a history book from the 8th century. Human 2: *Walks by and bumps into alien by mistake* Human 2: Sorr- Alien: *Spins around and slaps human 2 with glove* Alien: HAVE AT THEE!!!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Group of aliens walks into library* Alien 2: *Giggling* Alien 3: *Whispering voice* Shush! This is going to be great. *Group walks up to librarian* Alien: Hi, *snort* do you have any books on human fecal matter? Librarian: *Points without looking up* That would be in health and wellness, Row 17. Alien: *Surprised the human did not get upset* Alien 2: *Steps forward* Alien 2: What about stupid human fashion rags? Librarian: *Points opposite direction* Row 5 for fashion. Alien 3: *Pushes passed other* What about what human flesh tastes like? Librarian: *Stops and looks up at smirking alien* Librarian: *Looks them dead in the eye* Librarian: Row 28; we taste like chicken. *Alien 3 backs away from librarian and the group begin to leave* Librarian: Your people taste more like jam on beef. *Group stops and turns to see Librarian evil smirking* Librarian: Oh don’t worry; I’m sure I read that in a book somewhere. *Group flees from library* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Human: So what do you think? Alien: *sits down at table after exploring the library* Alien: It’s nice and all… Human: But? Alien: *Looks around and then leans in* Alien: *Whispers* I was hoping you could show me the restricted section? Human: Restricted section? Alien: You know; the one with the books with faces and bound in skin. Human: This is the last time I let you watch harry potter. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: Shakespeare sounds like an egomaniac. Human: Why do you say that? Alien: He loves the sound of his voice so much he makes his sentence run fifty words long when what he was meaning could have been said in five. Human: Comes with being English I suppose. Alien: Are your people any better? Human: Half our communication is either through memes or a stream of swears; so not really. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: *Throws a book at a human* Human: What the hell!? Alien: Stand still. *Hurls another book* Human: What are you doing?! Alien: I saw you litter so the law states I must throw the book at you. Human: That doesn’t mean you can throw any book at me! Alien: *Stops* Of course, my apologies. Human: Tha- Alien: *Throws law book in human’s face* ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: Why can’t I read this book? Human: Because it’s in a different language. Alien: Can you help me translate it? Human: Sure. Human: *Hands alien *how to* book on translations*. Alien: This is why the rest of the galaxy won’t deal with you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: Why does that human keep making shushing sounds at me? Human: They’re trying to make you be quiet. Alien: Oh, well this is awkward. Human: What did you think it meant? Alien: That they were flirting with me. Human: Oh god what did you do?! Alien: I told them to meet me outside so we can continue more privately. Human: Pretty sure they’re going to take it as a death threat. Alien: Why do you say that? Human: Because I can see the police entering the building and walking towards us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: Books are so stupid and primitive. Human: Says the alien that can’t read. Human 2: *Walks over and hands alien a phone book* Human 2: You’ll want to turn to page 75. Human: Because you’ll need to speak to a doctor about that severe burn you just got. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alien: I don’t understand why you keep such antique forms of knowledge. Alien: You have computers no bigger than the size of your wrist watch that contains the sum total of human existence. Human: You just don’t understand. Human: *Cradles books in arms* Human: You don’t appreciate them the way we do. Alien: How so? Human: There is something magical about the feel of a book in your hand; to feel the weight of the stories and knowledge it holds within those battered pages. Human: You do not feel the sense of accomplishment when looking upon a fully stacked bookcase of novels you have read over the years; each one holding countless life stories. Human: You have not experienced what it is like to read the daring adventures of heroes and villains alike were the climax of a tale hinges on the turning of a single page and the mixture of dread and excitement as you finally continue onward. Human: *points at library* This is a place of knowledge the likes of which is not seen in the galaxy and all are welcome within its walls. Human: More than that it is a place rich with history as the legacy of some of the greatest minds of our time live on through here, waiting to be picked up and spark the next generation of curiosity and imagination with but the opening of one cover on a rainy day. Alien: …………….. Alien: It was a great speech but we both know you just love having books and can’t help but buy one every time you enter a book store. Human: Well why don’t you stop me then mr. smarty pants!?! Alien: The last time I tried to take a book from you at checkout you nearly bit off a finger.

[milliedazzledust]

Somewhere Only We Know (Bucky Barnes imagine)

Request: @the-craziestone story about Bucky x Reader, where Bucky is really obsessed with Reader - But not in a creepy way, more like he's really really in love with her and he can only see her, like she's his world Anon: can you do something with reader gifting Bucky Barnes the 3 Lord of the Rings books? They were published after WWII, and reader knows he liked The Hobbit so she thinks it's something he'd like

Words: 2943

A/N: this is pure fluff with no warning, also I changed a tiny bit the second request to fit the story - enjoy ;)

He couldn’t explain the sadness he constantly felt every time he was walking through the streets of the city he used to know by heart. A stranger in a strange land was the best way to describe him. More than seventy years had passed, and he hadn’t witnessed any changes. While he had been a puppet deprived of freewill and controlled with the sole purpose of killing, he had missed the birth of a whole new world. Now, as he strode around the streets, he could easily remember each of their names, but none of them were familiar. His mind remained in the 1940’s and in the middle of the noises, surrounded by the sound of first responders vehicles, the children running around and cars piling up on the road, he was a stranger in his own home. It was an unsettling feeling, a pining melancholy that reminded him in every step he made that his Brooklyn didn’t exist anymore. 

He was furious in a way, but mostly confused. Haunted by memories he had gotten back a second ago, and they didn’t fit this new reality. He wasn’t even nostalgic, but the loneliness was getting heavier every day. He could still picture the park he used to take his sister, the alley where Steve had gotten beaten up one day, the bakery his mother used to go to every morning. Treasure of souvenirs he would keep forever. And although the park, the alley and the streets names were still here, he was left alone walking down Brooklyn. 

“Hey, Y/N!” He heard a voice shouting. “Where do I put those ?” 

His head mechanically turned to a young boy carrying a heavy box of what looked like antics. Without thinking he crossed the road and when his eyes laid on the small shop, he gasped. There it was, one small piece of his past still here. It was an old bookstore he used to go to with his sister. The man, a friend, an immigrant from France with a thick accent, would let them stay for hours. Bucky loved reading to Rebecca. They would sit inside and she’d insist to hear The Hobbit. François, the man owning the store, would make coffee and stay with them, relating the stories he had heard around the world, telling them all about the France he had known. It was all still here. ‘Au Nom de la Rose’ was still here. 

He didn’t hesitate a second and rushed inside the place, an honest smile on his face. His eyes roamed over the room and he took a deep breath. It was just like he remembered, a place filled with murmurs and whispers floating above his head and through the roof, indistinct conversations between friends, huge windows bringing in a powerful light at this hour of the day, plants in almost every corner. Even the atmosphere was the same, this powerful smell of imagination coming from the laying books on the shelves, begging to be read, mixing with a distinct smell coming from the dust. The small couch and the old table he used to sit by with his sister were also there. The wooden pieces had many rough and sharp edges but looked just as smooth and clean as he remembered. Finally, his eyes landed on a woman there. He watched her rearranging a bouquet of daffodils, breathing in the perfume of the vibrant flowers as she tended to them meticulously. 

For some reason, he couldn’t look away. She felt familiar, like he had known her all his life, yet he had never seen her before. When she turned around he took an instinctive step toward her. She noticed, raised her head and that was the moment their eyes met. His breath caught in his throat when she smiled at him. He stood, frozen on the spot, staring at her. He couldn’t comprehend that instant connection. There was an inexplicable sense of excitement yet weird feeling that they had known each other forever, that they were meeting each other again after a long journey. He was transfixed, almost stuck by the confusing mixture of emotions but oddly comforted by them - all at the same time. 

“Can I help you ?” She asked him.

He surprised himself thinking there was something eerily calming about her voice, that he could listen to her for hours.

“Do I know you ?” He quickly wondered out loud, mentally facepalming himself for his lack of tact. 

“Shouldn’t I be asking that question ?”

“Why ?”

“You’ve been staring at me for the past five minutes” She grinned.

“I’m … I’m sorry” He apologized profusely. “I didn’t mean to…” 

“Look weird ?” 

He could swear his heart skipped a beat when he heard her laugh.

“This place is beautiful”

“Thank you” 

“How long have you been working here ?”

“Forever” She smirked. “The store belongs to my family. Passed on from generation to generation” 

Bucky raised an eyebrow, surprised.

“You’re related to François Y/L/N ?” He questioned.

She tilted her head, crossing her arms.

“Now I’m intrigued” She told him. “How do you know about my grandfather ?” 

“We’ve met,” He answered without thinking. He rapidly realized his mistake when she narrowed her eyes in utter curiosity. “I … I didn’t mean … I mean … It was … It was a long time ago”

He gulped, hoping she wouldn’t push it. She looked him up and down, assessing him. 

“What’s your name, weirdo ?” She inquired, giving him a skeptical glance.

“Bucky. M’am” 

She smirked.

“Let me guess, a soldier ?” 

“How … ?” 

“You all have the same manners, and the same eyes”

“What do you mean ?”

She was now standing in front of him, staring at his face with the most adorable smile he had ever seen.

“You carry the same sadness and the horror you’ve seen” She replied honestly. “My father was a lot like that too” 

Her answer had the effect of a punch in the gut he hadn’t been expecting. He felt naked under her gaze, a stranger with the power to see through his soul.

“I’m Y/N” She introduced herself, raising her hand to shake his.

It was rare for him to smile truthfully but the unexpected bliss slowly growing made his lips twitch before he could even acknowledge it.

“Hi, Y/N” He greeted her.

She chuckled, amused. 

“Hi, Bucky” She murmured. 

After that encounter, he made a point of coming back as much as he could. He stayed for hours sitting on the couch, reading the same book over and over again. They shared quick words but he didn’t dare to start up a conversation, too afraid he would say something he shouldn’t, something that would scare her away. He was content like this. There was no Winter Soldier, no war, no fight, no one else than Bucky. Being next to this girl was in itself a medication for him. It made no sense but she was so bright and radiant. Like a magnet, he was sucked into an invisible gravitational pull toward her.

By the second week of him coming into the store, she started to notice the small marks of attention. He would come so silently she wouldn’t hear a thing, bringing a fresh cup of coffee he would lay on her counter when she wasn’t looking, replacing the daffodils before they could fade, carrying the heavy boxes filled with new books. When she wasn’t working, she would grab something to read and sit next to him. They would exchange a smile but wouldn’t talk. The proximity was enough. Their presence was louder than any word. A quiet routine they were slowly creating. 

By the fourth month, nothing had changed and that day was no different. Rain was pouring outside and the store was empty, except for Y/N and Bucky. Just as usual, he was reading in a corner while she was working. New stacks of books had arrived and she was methodically putting them on the shelves. Standing on a ladder, on the tip of her toes, she was so focused on the task she had failed to notice the soldier walking up to her. 

“Do you need any help ?” He offered. 

Surprised to hear his voice so close to her, she lost her balance and slipped. She yelped as her ankle hit one side of the ladder and automatically closed her eyes, anticipating the fall. She tried to brace herself but before her body could touch the ground she felt something cold holding her waist. Suddenly, instead of laying on the floor, she was against his hard chest, in a protective embrace. She recognized his arms around her and shivered at the odd coldness. He  felt it immediately and was quick to put some distance between them, making sure his metal arm was no more on her body and only his human hand was steadying her. 

“Are you alright ?” He questioned. She pursed her lips, trying not to show that she was hurt when she heard how worried he sounded. 

“Yeah, it’s fine. I’m fine”

He looked skeptic but didn’t say anything about it.

“I didn’t mean to scare you,” He apologetically told her.

He took the books scattered on the ground, putting them away, and helped her walk to the couch.

“You know, if the goal was to literally make me fall for you, I’d say you did a pretty good job there” She flirted, making him chuckle. 

He sat on the table in front of her and grabbed her calve, gently laying her leg on his thigh to assess the damage. From the corner of his eyes, he could see her blushing. It made him insanely happy to know he wasn’t the only one affected by their closeness. They tried not to look at one another, too embarrassed by the situation. This was the closest they had ever been and the touch on his skin on hers was more than enough to make her heart ready to jump out of her chest. When he clasped her injured ankle, she cried and instinctively pushed him back. 

“Fine, huh ?” He repeated her own words with a smirk.

She huffed and rolled her eyes.

“It’s not a big deal, Bucky” She reassured him. “I’ve got to get back to work”

“You’re not moving from this couch” He ordered.

“Is that an order, soldier ?” She ironically threw at him, crossing her arms in annoyance.

“You bet it is”

She watched him, intrigued, as he stood up and piled up some books on the table to put her ankle to rest on it. 

“No moving around, got it ?” He made sure she would follow his advice.

“Aye, aye, Captain”

He chuckled 

“Technically speaking, I’m not a Captain” He confessed as he continued what she had been doing earlier and started putting the books carefully on the right shelves. 

“Would you have preferred Sergeant ?” She replied, bitting her lips, unsure this was the wrong moment to admit she knew who he was.

He instantly stopped what he was doing and slowly turned around to stare at her.

“What did you say ?” He asked, more scared than ever.

Up until that moment, he had avoided telling her who he was. Becoming part of the Avengers meant his identity wasn’t a secret anymore, and although he had done a terrific job staying hidden among the mass of people, it wouldn’t have taken more than a little push to find who he really was. He stood in front of her, frozen, not having a clue how to react.

“Sergeant Barnes, isn’t it ?” She sounded nervous, almost frightened to say his name out loud.

“I… “ He tried to say anything, but as the rain kept pouring outside, slowly turning into a thunderstorm, he blankly stared back.

“Would you have told me ?” She whispered.

“Eventually”

She humorlessly snorted. 

“We’ve known each other for more than three months, Bucky. I see you practically every day. Be honest, eventually would’ve never come” 

“It’s not like that” He tried to explain.

“I’m not mad, don’t worry” She sadly smiled. “I just wish… I guess I wish you could’ve trust me” 

He rubbed his jaw in frustration and made a step toward her. Without breaking his gaze, he slowly took the glove off, revealing his metal hand. Still, he didn’t look at her, too afraid of her reaction. The cold metal had never felt so hot against his skin, a burning reminder of the stranger he had become.

“I didn’t want you to be scared,” He admitted in a broken voice. 

“Of you ?” She was surprised. “Why would I be ?”

“I’m not a good man, Y/N”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that ?” 

“You don’t understand…”

“The red box under the counter” She interrupted him. “Can you take it for me ? And turn the sign of the shop, we’re closed.”

He gave her a puzzled look, but did as she said anyway. He locked the front door and took the box she asked for before walking to her and putting it directly in her hands.

“Sit” She instructed him.

He didn’t dare to stay near her and chose to stay on an opposite chair.

“I found this a little after you and I met” She told him, motioning to the box. “It was in the basement, hidden under old junks my parents had kept over the years”

He let her speak, not understanding where this was going or why she was telling him about that. She slowly opened the mystery box and took a small envelope out of it. It looked old, so old the paper had turned into a deep shade of yellow.

“My grandfather wrote this” She confessed. “In 1957. It’s addressed to Bucky and Rebecca Barnes. I believe it belongs to you” 

She handed him the letter that he took with shaky hands.

“How did you… ?” He started to ask.

“It was a long shot,” She explained. “The first time you were here, you said my grandfather's name like it meant something to you. Like you really knew him. When I found the box, and the envelope, I didn’t make the connection with you right away. But your name was all I needed to start my research. My parents kept pretty much everything so it didn’t took me too long to find an old photo with you and him, back in the 1930′s” 

He wasn’t moving at all when she showed him a picture François had taken of them right before he was enlisted. 

“I wanted to wait for the right time to tell you, I guess. I mean, you have enough ghosts as it is”

“Still not scared ?” He inquired in a humorless chuckle.

“Not one bit” She didn’t hesitate to reply.

She softly smiled and motioned for him to come closer. When he sat next to her, she moved the box from her lap to his. 

“We were friends, François and I” He recalled, his eyes glued on the letter. “He was married to Eloise. This bookstore was their treasure. He kept repeating that I shouldn’t go to war when I could stay hidden under the pages of books that would take me around the world without risking my life”

She took his metal palm between her fingers when she heard his voice breaking. He almost tried to remove it but she tightly entwined their hands together.

“Maybe he was right” He muttered under his breath.

“Or maybe you and I were meant to meet almost a century later” She shrugged.

He snorted before turning around the envelope to open it. Y/N gently laid her head against his shoulder and let him read in silence. She didn’t move when she felt his body shaking with tears but only held his hand harder.

“They’re originals, from 1954 I think. He kept them for you” She told him as he slowly took what was in the red box. A set of three old books. “Why Lord of the Rings, though ?” 

He laughed,sniffing, before brushing the tears off his face and staring down at the woman. At that very moment, he felt like the journey was done. His soul had stopped the search it had been on for a time that felt like forever. Like a century. 

“My sister and I, we used to come here often,” He said in a melancholic grin. Sorrow was finally starting to be replace by something much better, happiness. “We would sit on this very couch and she would make me read the Hobbit. She used to love that story so much.”

“How many times has she make you read it ?” The woman smirked.

“Enough to remember every single word” He exaggerated, making her giggle. “When I told François I was leaving, he said he would send me books to help me travel away from the war, even just for a moment. I guess he kept them, hoping I would come back. Even after I was declared dead” 

“Maybe deep down he knew you weren’t”

“And he planned this whole meeting with his granddaughter ?” He ironically added.

“Oh no, that was beyond him. That was fate, Barnes”

“I was meant to find you” He agreed, a deep feeling of love and utter contentment forming in his heart. He bent his head down and let all he needed to say be spoken through the kiss they shared. 

“Will you read it to me ?” She playfully requested.

Overflowed with joy, he smirked and kissed her forehead before opening the old book on his lap. There it was, the only choice he needed to make. The only home he had yearn to create. Her. 

[goshikitsutomusmommy]

“Incorrect Quotes with Haikyuu Boys„

Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6 , Part 7 , Part 8 , Part 9 , Part 10

Synopsis : Different Quotes From Brooklyn-Nine-Nine as Haikyuu Characters

Genre : Comedy

Pairing(s) : Goshiki x reader , Atsumu x reader , Tsukishima x reader , Lev x reader

Word Count : 1.07k

Warning(s) : She/her pronouns used , slight violence , slight timeskip spoiler

Masterlist Link : Here

*Shiratorizawa manager in this*

[Name] : Mm. All right. Haha, C’est la vie (“It’s life.” in French). Let me grab your student ID numbers ‘cause I will be filing an official student complaint with Coach Washijou.

[Name] , Semi , Shirabu : *All laugh the joke off waveringly whilst Semi and Shirabu side glancing each other*.

Coach Washijou : Why did a just receive a student complaint about ya two?

Shirabu : I can answer this. Because our manager is a goblin.

*Shiratorizawa manager in this*

Coach Washijou : Ye’ll stay after school hours at the gym for extra practice today.

Goshiki : Darn it. I had a belly dancing class today! Today is Egyptian undulation.

[Name] : Ooh!~ Show us some moves!

Goshiki : Sure! *Tries to get on top of the bench*.

Coach Washijou : Dismissed!

Kyoutani : It’s my birthday. I hate birthdays. If you wish me a happy birthday, I will punch you.

Oikawa : You’re a funny little bird, Mad Dog-Chan. Happy birthday!

*Gets punched in the guts*

*Inarizaki manager in this*

[Name] : *Holds up two pictures* Here are two pictures. One is your gym locker and the other is a garbage dump in the Philippines. Can you tell which is which?

Atsumu : *Points to the right one*, That one is the dump?

[Name] : They’re both your locker!

Atsumu : Gah! A should’ve guessed that, that’s good!

*Inarizaki manager in this*

Part 1/3

Atsumu : A can see that yer upset, but let’s just sit down and talk about it.

[Name] : Done talking! *Throws boxing gloves*, Time to dance.

Atsumu : Fine. But a should warn ya. A took three years of tap.

*Inarizaki manager in this*

Part 2/3

Atsumu : Again, [Name], it’s so good to see ya. Just outta curiosity, how did ye find out about this?

[Name] : I’m the club manager at Inarizaki High... Kita-San told me. I know you’re trying to set me up with some guy in class 7 as a joke!

Atsumu : What? That’s crazy! ‘Samu, come in ‘ere and stand in front of ma body and tell ‘er that’s crazy!

*Atsumu gets punched by the manager*

Atsumu : Ow! My lucky face!

[Name] : You gonna talk to me now?

Atsumu : Sure. If ya could be any vacation—

*Gets punched again*

Atsumu : Ow!

*Inarizaki manager in this*

Part 3/3

Atsumu : So we good?

[Name] : We good. And for the record... If I can be any kind of vacation... I’d be lake trip.

Atsumu : Classic!

*Karasuno manager in this*

Nishinoya : Come on. You’re not even moving. Let’s go.

Asahi : Get your hands off me! I’ve heard about this in the news! You’re cyber-bullying me!

Nishinoya : Shh!

Asahi : I’m getting [Name]! Get the hell away from me!

Nishinoya : No, you’re very misinformed. Please don’t get [Name]—

*Slight timeskip spoiler*

*Karsuno manager in this*

[Name] : Here’s the plan: We’re gonna go to nationals, you’re gonna enjoy and fall in love with volleyball, you’re gonna want to pursue being a volleyball player as a career. And that’s a [Surname] guarantee.

Tsukishima : Your last [Surname] guarantee you made was that you could dunk a basketball.

*Flashback*

[Name] : *In a ladder with a basketball in hand*, I never said I couldn’t use a ladder. [Surname] guarantee achieved! *Tries dunking the basketball but falls off the ladder and misses the shot*.

*Nekoma manager in this*

Part 1/3

Kuroo : Now, I have been taking notes on points of friction in this gym for three years. *Pulls out a poster that is highly detailed with work flow strategies for Nekoma*, The red areas are places where no work gets done. If we can fix these problems without anyone knowing what we’re doing, we will make progress.

Coach Nekomata : Are you saying you want to secretly perform scientific experiments on your friends and colleagues to increase efficiency?

Kuroo : Yes.

Coach Nekomata : Sounds fun, let’s do it.

*Nekoma manager in this*

Part 2/3

Coach Nekomata : Tell me about the Haiba-[Surname] reaction...

Kuroo : Lev gets cold a lot because of what he calls his—

*Flashback*

Lev : Medically diagnosed thin skin.

*Flashback over*

Kuroo : So he goes to the lost and found, and he grabs something that’s usually unflattering... That’s when [Name] usually gets involved.

*Flashback*

*Lev walking past [Name] wearing an oddly knitted sweater*

[Name] : *Condescending laughter* Sweet sweater, Lev! You look like you’re starting in an Albanian remake of The Cosby Show.

Lev : ...

[Name] : Dr. Huxtable! Dr. Huxtable!

*Flashback over*

Kuroo : [Name] is completely useless when Lev is wearing lost and found clothes.

Coach Nekomata : Well, I can’t really blame her on this one. Maybe we should just uh... empty lost and found.

Kuroo : Already done, sir.

*Lev walking past them in a white cowboy fringed jacket*

Kuroo : Don’t worry! I had a backup plan. I distracted [Name] with a mirror. She’s like a cockatiel, sir— Fascinated by her own reflection...

*[Name] staring at her reflection*

[Name] : Muah! Hello, sexy!~ How are you?

Lev : *Not glancing up* Right back at ya!

Coach Nekomata : Well done...

*Nekoma manager in this*

Part 3/3

Kuroo : Sir, I’m begging you, please, we have to stop!

Coach Nekomata : The problem is, we didn’t take Yaku into accounts. In our next trial—

*[Name] clears her throat whilst dramatically turning around on the office chair*

[Name] : Hello, boys. Welcome to your own office!~ I hear you’re trying to make the precinct most efficient.

Kuroo : [Name], what are you doing in the coach’s chair?

[Name] : I’ve narrowed the problem down to one location: The Coach-Kuroo vortex. Things would go a lot faster if the two of you did less experimenting and more working... And I’m not the only one who thinks that.

*Double clapping and the whole Nekoma team enters the office*.

Coach Nekomata : Well, I suppose it’s possible we may have been a tad enthusiastic in our pursuit of efficiency—

Kuroo : Really? A tad, Icarus?

Coach Nekomata : Fine, message received. Kuroo and I will get right to work.

[Name] : *Still in Coach’s chair*, Great, that will be all. Thank you.

Coach Nekomata : Get the hell out of my chair.

[Name] : Yeah, All right, I pushed it a little bit on that one. Okay~ Bye!

Kuroo : Today we face the worst Tokyo has to offer— Fukurodani Academy.

*Kuroo and Bokuto walking in slow motion towards each*

Kuroo : Fukurodani captain, Bokuto, we meet again.

Bokuto : Nekoma captain, Kuroo, your fly’s down— I made you look!

Kuroo : I didn’t look. And I’m wearing shorts, so there is no fly.

Bokuto : That’s not what your mom said.

Kuroo : You make no sense.

Bokuto : And now I’m inside your head.

{Pretend this is a divider pls}

Author’s Note : GAHHAHSA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 90 NOTES, I can make this a series if you’d like, they’re really fun to make and think of as characters and I just have to write them down as soon as I see them LMAOO

[librarianandguardian]

Just a feeling- Saul Silva x Female!Reader

Pairing : Saul Silva x Female!Reader

Word Count : ~2300

Warnings : Fluff, brief mention of drug use and burns

Music : Un homme - Jérémy Frerot

Author’s note : Getting pretty stressed because of a huge project at school, so I wrote this to blow off some steam ! I also wanted to say that I do not agree with the way some characters are written and treated in this show. I hope I did not perpetuate these errors, and that I got Silva’s personality a bit right at least. Feedback is appreciated, may it be on the story telling or even the grammar. English isn’t my first language. Flahs-backs in italics. Enjoy ! :D

GIF ‘s not mine, and I can’t find the creator.

French First World songs resonate in the Great Hall, she is dancing. Wild and free. Her loosened hairs fly through the wind. She has traded her Specialist armour for a long flowing dress. Her feet are hammering the ground in rhythm. The crowd carries her all over the dancefloor; she twirls and claps her hands following the music.

From an ignored fairy bloodline, her parents considered her a Specialist Legacy. When her mind fairies powers woke up, everything went wrong ; she was always an overwhelmed child. No one could help her everytime she lost control. Nothing but medication: earrings to contain, and pills to attenuate. It wasn't bad. She lived like that her entire life.

Silva is sitting on a plastic chair, leaning on the table by his side, his gaze lingering. She is an exceptional fighter; dance must be a piece of cake and fun judging from her large smile. To be fair, he barely remembered her from their time at Alfea. Farah told him she was three years younger than him and seemed to have a few memories.

« (Y/N) travelled a lot to the First World prior to college. Her parents were emissaries and brought back souvenirs. Rumours said that her room resembled a cave of wonders.

-Ever went there ?»

His friend chuckled.

« Once. It was full of trinkets, books, movies, postal cards too. Ben caught interest in it, especially the giant botanic encyclopaedia throning on her bookshelf. We both agreed after a while that she might be the ray of sunshine of her Specialist promotion. But I guess she was discreet, if you've never heard of her.»

It took some memory searching, but he indeed remembered one thing. A conversation between a bunch of 1st years talking about a secret party displaying famous First World movies. A few hours later, on the training field, (Y/N) battled fiercely. It caught the attention of many students, who gathered around the platform. Curiosity taking the best of him, he had followed the crowd.

« What's that First World song that I love to describe you with ?

-By the light Clairo, is it really necessary ? »

Her opponent mocked her. She rolled her eyes, wielding her sword before choosing her fight stance.

« You son of... Maneater from Nelly Furtado. Now let's fight please.

-Alright doll, eat me up. »

(Y/N) huffed in annoyance. Clairo was a good fighter, but a little bit too flirty. He launched himself at her. The young woman stayed incredibly calm. Dodging to the right, she left him to stumble before hitting his back with the wooden weapon. He fell to the ground with a grunt. A shy smile spread on her features.

Now that he thinks about it, her earring had intrigued him : an ear chain hanging from the top of the cartilage of her ear to her lobe. Each end was composed of a lavendish round lilac crystal. When she lost control recently, those crystals lit up with a blinding light and burned her skin.

« I change the earring every five year. Every year If any several big crises occurred.

-What about your burns ? How did they clean them up ? »

Her left hand ghosted over her intact lobe, while Harvey healed the bruised flesh. Her eyes stared at the floor of the greenhouse. Saul was holding her other hand.

« They... I stuffed myself with pills. Sometimes enough to sleep through an entire day. Within the Solarian force, it was the only way for them to treat me. None of their mind fairies could calm me down. I don't think you realize how much this, she lifted her intertwined hand, helps.»

The soldier chuckles at the memory. His eyes examined his fingers, remembering how she locked hers, as she found an anchor in his mind.

« My best guess ? Your training forged your head to have a certain mindset in crisis.

-Loads of Solarian troupers could have given you that.

-Yeah. I can't really explain it, she laughed shyly, maybe because you're a teacher, that two of your long time friends are fairies or just because you're good with people.»

Their gazes crossed. The air thickened. Truth to be told, (Y/N) was so lost upon why he managed to calm her down. Farah tried to guide her, but even then, nothing positive came out. Her youth as a student at Alfea only consisted in shared side glances with him in hallways. She sure as hell found the man attractive, but she had other stuff to think about.

A loud giggle snaps him back to reality. (Y/N) falls on his laps while trying to take off her high heels. Her eyes are opened wide and a little glassy. She's definitely drunk.

« Oh by the light, I'm sorry Silva. Aimed at the table ! »

The atmosphere becomes lighter. He catches her when she nearly trips off by trying to get up, one of his arms snaking around to help. Steadying herself on his laps, she catches her breath slowly, though some giggles erupt as she looks around.

« How can you still dance, uh ?»

With a guilty smile, she leans slightly against the table.

« Alcohol ! It's the only thing keeping me up, baby !»

Instant regret shoots through her veins. Some red creeps up on her cheeks, as her hands cover her mouth. The soldier chuckles, enamoured by her adorableness. One thing that strucked him when they met was her lightness. Out of all the solarian troupers out there, or even all the specialists he ever crossed paths with, she was one of the few who stayed so bright and playful. Subconsciously, his fingers dig slightly in her hips.

« It's alright, (Y/L/N).»

She giggles a bit, but thanks him. Farah watches from a far, joined by Ben. (Y/N)(Y/L/N) has been teaching at Alfea for a year now. The entire school seemed to have transformed into a much more joyous place : students got along better, the shyest opened a tad and the roughest softened. Ben's daughter Terra found a supporter of her personal projects and a confidant. Ben himself benefited from her return. Mostly in books and knowledge but that meant already so much to him. Farah gained a daughter ; (Y/N)'s powers were a mess for her advanced age, helping felt natural. But what she loved the most was how confused Saul got with the new Specialist. Their bond strengthened with time, however the first few days rocked the Headmaster all over the place.

«(Y/L/N), what did you do to our office ? Did you... Are these books classified by alphabetic order and colour ?! »

His colleague shrugged, trying to see if he was mad or just surprised. It happened a few days after her arrival. Their shared office went under few renovations.

« (Y/L/N), why dancing classes ? »

She shot up, put her hands on his desk and took twenty minutes to explain how it would make their movements more flexible, strengthen teamwork and be a tool for future mission on the job. Astonished could not describe Silva's feeling.

An admirable change that proved beneficial to the students. These two grew very fond of each other. A lot more than they thought. Words in the hallways started to spread about their growing fondness.

« Okay, I got a question for you, soldier boy.»

Saul tilted his head to the side.

« Are you having fun ?

-Of course I am.»

(Y/N) looks disappointed. Turning around, she pours some water in her cup and chugs it down.

« Really ? 'Cause the only thing I've seen you do is sit in a corner all night. »

He lowers his head, searching for the right words. How does he say that he just loves watching her run around the dancefloor ? How she bounds with students but also keeps their respect ? The fact that she's so organised that she could plan a First World themed party and keep her teacher skills to their best ? The shortest way for that would be admitting his feelings. He zones out long enough for her to talk again.

« It's okay. »

His eyes lock with hers. How did she sober up so quickly ?

« I know you have a reputation as a serious and frowny teacher to keep. And this is a graduation party, so. »

Never mind, she did not. The woman gets up, only to kneel under the tablecloth. He panics briefly.

« (Y/N), what on Earth are you doing ?»

She mumbles before appearing back outside. Her hands are holding a package. Another bright smile shines on her face. Silva knows what's coming, and he has mixed feelings about it; between fear, excitement and confusion.

« Happy Birthday Saul. »

His heart nearly stops. Few people know about his birthday, she is now a part of them. He frankly does not mind, even wished for it for a while now. His hands gently take the package to open it. Before his eyes lies a hard covered sketchbook and a wooden box full of high-quality pencils. The cover has a crow flying in a pearly sky with a red sun. The box is made of ebony and his name carved in silver. She knows an another of his secret. He tears up. The woman worries when he starts to sniffle. Much to her surprise, the soldier puts the gifts on the table before hugging her with all his might. Thank God the students are dancing or already out of the hall to smoke. (Y/N) answers his embrace, reassured.

« Thank you so much dear. »

It's her turn to have glossy eyes. She buries her face in his shoulder. This man is constantly under pressure and she has always wondered what he does during his free time : Does he train more ? He probably reads, right ? The answer came on a regular afternoon.

Silva knocked on her quarters' door. He heard shuffling before (Y/N) opened. She was wearing a bathrobe and a towel around her hair.

« Hi Saul ! Sorry hum. I woke up late and did not expect you so soon so, hum. »

The woman looked around, making her towel fall. Picking it up, she invited him in. He indulged, though a bit surprised.

« I'll be back in a jiffy, you know, putting some clothes on and all. Okay.»

She disappeared in her bathroom, leaving him to explore her room. Many watercolour paintings covered the walls, some abstract and others from the Realms of the Otherworld. However, a few landscapes felt unknown to him. On her desk lied sketches with a horde of different pencils. He discovered portraits of Farah, Ben, Terra, Sky, Riven and finally him. The lines were thin, some shadows sharp for the warriors and smoother for the fairies. A hint of jealousy took over him, quickly brushed away by shyness. The fact that she took the time to draw him was flattering. His fingers grazed over the pencils, wondering if he had time to prepare a little surprise. He puts down the file he came to discuss. A few minutes later, (Y/N) came out, dressed but her hair still wet on the edges. Silva was leaning against her desk, file in hand, a small smile on his features. She mirrored it before asking about the important matter at hand. Twenty minutes later, he left. Her eye caught a change in her drawing material : the portrait of Farah and Ben switched positions. She shuffled them, making sure everything was here, only to find an unknown piece. A cute fox was smiling, a little bubble under him stating :

« Nice Work (Y/L/N). Nice pencils too. Wish I had your talent.»

That last sentence made her wonder if he indeed had an artistic side. Needless to say that his quarters gave her answer. Same reason as his when he came, she knocked on his door one night. Though he did not fully invite her in, her eyes caught glimpses of nice sketches lying on a table, some rudimental equipment next to it.

They stay like this for a few seconds. The headmistress and Professor Harvey look at each other. No words, no need. Terra is chatting with a second year in a corner, bur her eyes catch them. She smiles, looking away shyly, but happy Sky sees the scene too, thanks to Riven who taps on his shoulder. They can't help the smile growing on their faces. Sky's father figure finding support is definitely going to be one of the highlights of their first year. (Y/N) and Saul part. One of her hands pats his arm.

« Wanna dance ? »

He closes his eyes, sighing. There is no lack of desire but the fear of what the students will say.

« I wish but... I don't know.

-I get it. But one day, you will ! That's a promise. »

With one last smile, she strolls back to the dancefloor, leaving him sheepish. He takes the sketchbook and a pencil. He might not dance tonight, but he'll make up to it.