#centre door knobs | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

elfven-blog · 1 year ago

Text

Secrets of the Manor

Summary: You try to spend a night in an abandoned Manor during a storm. Ghost!Leon x F!Reader CW: MDNI, 18+ only, p in v, dubcon, manipulation, fingers, orgasm denial (reader doesn't finish at all), creampie. Word count: 2.4K

As the thunder rumbled around you and the rain soaked through the coat you had wrapped around you, your mind couldn’t help but play tricks on you. Making your way through a storm with inadequate equipment was hard enough but the feeling of eyes burning into your back had haunted you since you’d left the forest, and set on this cobblestone path.

Your eyes widened as you came upon a large manor, biting your lip as you considered entering or not, remembering the words of your grandmother about avoiding anything that seemed to good to be true while on this journey, but as the rain seemed to get heavier and your skin felt like ice you couldn't ignore the idea of a warm…or at least dry place to stay.

The heavy door creaked as you opened it, and you struggled to heave it closed again. Once shut it left you in a dark hallway that smelled of mildew, you could feel the wood beneath your feet as you moved towards what looked like a sitting room. A crack of lightning caused the room to glow as you jumped out of your skin at the thunder that followed. You were able to light some candles in the room, the dust rising as you moved which resulted in you coughing while trying to give the room some light.

You carried one of them in your hands, moving with it to the big fireplace but once there you realised the wood in the centre had all rotted. There goes your hope for some warmth. As you look around the rest of the room, hoping for something you can use as fuel for a fire, the state of the room catches your attention. Torn apart curtains, chunks taken out of the upholstery on the sofa and random clutter scattered around in ways that made no sense. Perhaps the manor had been ransacked a long time ago, the bookshelf held no books but the floor certainly did. The candle holders were long since empty and the rug had been shredded until only small parts of it were left.

The wind whistled through the manor causing you to pull what little clothing you had to cover yourself tighter, you needed to find that warmth and find it soon. You left the room going along the corridor and it felt like the shadows were getting longer, even though you were now in some form of shelter it didnt mean that you were any less relaxed. The shadows seemed to take more shapes than just getting longer, from the corner of your eye you could swear you saw a man but when you whipped around to look there was only an empty corner.

Creak after creak echoed through the manor as you made your way up the crumbing stairs, you had tried to hold onto the bannister but it had leant and snapped so instead you stayed as close to the wall as possible. Your eyes kept watch on the steps to make sure you avoided the holes and anything else that could possibly lead to injuries, once you’d finally made it to the landing you decided to go for the closest door.

And you jumped again as the wind whistled past your ear, it almost sounded like someone speaking but you shook your head and opened the door. It took a moment, the door knob wouldn’t turn and when it did the door stuck so you had to ram it with your shoulder until you nearly fell into the room as it swung open.

Inside the room was a large bed, curtains almost hanging off and the dust was disturbed as you walked, leaving a trail of the clouds that had you coughing as it invaded your nose and mouth. Once it had settled again your eyes wandered the ornate room, and finally the realisation of how this now destitute manor was once a grandiose home for someone as you saw the detail in the woodwork around the room and the random decorations that seemed to serve no purpose.

There was hesitation in your steps now as you saw the bed, it had been so long since you’d been able to sleep in a bed that guard you had up immediately dissolved. You gently sat on the bed as if worried it would collapse but your hands spread against the blanket, surprised that it was still intact and there seemed to be no dust as you touched it. Not that you would complain.

As you discarded the soaked clothes you were wearing, the noise of something falling reverberated from somewhere in the manor. Part of you hoped it was just rats, and you didn’t want to pass up the opportunity of sleeping in a real bed so instead you moved the heavy wooden dresser in front of the door. Hoping it would hold enough that you’d be able to hide or escape if someone else did find the manor.

After that was sorted you continued taking the outer layer of your clothes off, leaving you in the underwear you had, as you peeled back the cover with an apprehensive look part of you was glad that it seemed to be clean and you climbed into the bed. It didn’t take long for the exhaustion to hit you as your eyes quickly slipped shut, taking you into a deep slumber.

You don’t know what time it is when you wake up, the feeling of hands travelling up your torso as you blink away slowly. It isn’t until something pinches your nipple that you bolt upright and fling the cover off you, only to be met with nothing. Your hands try to wipe off whatever it was causing the feeling but there is still nothing.

The room feels heavy as your head swings around trying to see if anyone is there, but the dresser is still in front of the door. It hasn’t moved an inch. Your heart starts to calm, before your body tenses up and your eyes move to stare at the bed…what if? No! Surely not!

You leant over the edge of the bed, lifting the cover that had fallen over the side and looked under the bed. Only to find nothing, causing you to blink slowly before you lay back on the bed. Head sinking into the pillow with a furrowed brow while you were trying to figure out what was happening. It must have been a dream. A very realistic dream. With a nod as if deciding this must be the answer, your eyes slipped closed again.

The next time you awoke it was to the sound of something wet. It took you a little longer this time, a yawn leaving your mouth, you were laying on your stomach and when you tried to turn over something stopped you. A weight settled on your back causing you to struggle, a deep voice resonating through the room “Shh shh now pretty girl, just stay right there f’me” it was then you realised your legs had been forced apart, and the wet sound was coming from between them.

What felt like fingers were spreading your pussy, and the bed rocked slightly as that sound came again “Fuck, not seen such a cute cunt in so long” your head turned so you could see behind you, brow furrowed when you saw nothing but you definitely felt as something hard and cold rubbed against your hole before dragging down to your clit. “So wet and all I had to do was play with those pretty tits for a bit”.

There was a slight shimmer between your legs, moonlight streaming from the window glinting off whatever was between your legs. And you could see the outline of a man, his head leant forward as he watched the way your hole seemed to clench around nothing and his arm moved. The source of the bed rocking and the wet sound, he groaned as he felt your slick cover his cock, “So fucking warm too” and his cockhead bumped at your clit again which caused a moan to leave your mouth. Your hand managing to slap against your lips to stop “No no, none of that. Move your hand”

You didn’t move your hand, not wanting whatever this man was to hear those noises from you but part of your mind wanted to give in, especially as the tip of his cock stretched your hole and your hips moved back to try and take more of him. This caused a deep chuckle to leave the apparition as his hands moved to your hips and held you down “Sorry sweetheart, but if you don’t do as your told you dont get rewarded” as if to make a point he moved his hips until you were left empty and you whined at the feeling.

Until he pushed into you again, stretching you out that little bit and never more as his hips moved in small thrusts. It felt so good and so wrong at the same time, the cold of his dick only pressing into your warm hole shallowly. But you refused to move your hand, like some last stance, even if he could feel the way your thighs squirmed on the bed or how your other hand clenched at the sheets. Or how your cunt was trying to suck him deeper in as it clenched around the head of his cock. “C’mon, don't you wanna be a good girl?”

And those words broke you. You did want to be a good girl. The hand covering your mouth slipped down to grip at the sheets as your hips bucked back and the ghoul seemed to dig its nails deeper into you as his own hips started rabbiting against you. With the way you were positioned his balls slapped at your clit and the sudden change in pace had your body rocking the bed. “See ain't so bad, is it? Just gotta lay there and take it” and you gave him what he wanted as moans slipped from your mouth in a whiny pitch.

You felt something cold and wet lean over your back, locks of shimmery blonde hair falling into your line of sight and your eyes wandered as far as they could. Trying to concentrate on how this man…this ghost looked like, but the feeling of his cock dragging along your pulsing walls made it extremely difficult. Apart from the blonde hair, he had a strong jaw and his arms were clearly made from years of work, you wondered how he’d died.

“Fuck, feels so good. Needed this, ain't had good pussy in so long” his words had your ears turning red, and you felt a hand creep under your body to touch your nipples. Your eyes widened at the familiar feeling, the same one as when you’d first woken up. Your nipples hardened from the cool touch, and he rolled the pebbled bud between his fingers in a way that had you arching into his hand as much as it could. In a weird way you could feel the sheets below his hand but his fingers still worked at your nipple.

His fast strokes turned into deep, slow ones as he rolled his hips against your ass and you pressed your hips up against him trying to signal that you wanted his original pace but he tutted in your ear. His tongue dipped against the outer shell “I’d say I’m sorry but this aint for you, just gonna use this little pussy” his cock twitched inside your cunt, and you whined at his words unable to speak when all these sensations were happening. He seemed to press himself closer to you, his thrusts almost felt non existent with how slow he went, tediously drawing his cock in and out.

“So fucking warm” it felt like an eternity of this, the tip of his head bumping at your cervix every now and then until one of his hands moved to your legs and pushed it up at the knee, the new angle had you almost drooling. Your mind was clouded, and somewhere far away you felt the cold lift from your back, a whimper leaving you but then it was like he’d had a new sense of energy as he started fucking into you at a brutal pace.

The feet of the bed scraped against the floor, and the headboard hit the wall echoing throughout the manor. Your eyes rolled back at the feeling, saliva drooling messily down your chin as his hand yanked your head back with your hair, a slight pain searing through the scalp but the feeling of his twitching cock filling you up distracted you from that pain. “That’s it, just fucking take it”

A few moments later and your thighs were shaking from the feeling, until he suddenly slowed. And you gasped at the sensation of something cold filling you up, what were normally hot sticky ropes was almost freezing as he grunted above you, emptying his balls into your hole. Holding you close so you couldn't move, until his cock stopped twitching and there was nothing left to give.

You lifted your hips, expecting his hand to dip below to circle your clit but nothing. Suddenly you were warm again, and there was no other weight on the bed, no hands holding you down. Hands pushing against the sheets so that you could move to sit on the bed properly, your head turning around as you realised he was gone. You ached from the use, and he had left. A frown took over your mouth and for a moment you thought you’d imagined the entire thing until you looked between your legs and saw a shimmering white cum leaking from your hole, your hand touched it and you gasped at how cold it was.

You quickly changed, and managed to move the dresser from the door, deciding you didn’t want to spend another second in that forsaken manor. You didn’t care that it was still dark, and raining. You just had to get out of there. Your mind tried to rationalise what had happened, you denied with every part of you that you had enjoyed what had happened. And if you had taken a moment to look back, you would have seen the figure of the blonde man in the window staring as you made your escape.

It wasn’t for months that you’d find out who it was that had used you in such a way. You were rolling your eyes as you listened to some of the people gossiping “Such a shame though, that manor. You know, the Lord and Lady left after their son Leon had died. Those poor Kennedy’s, the Lady went mad. Saying she could see her son wandering the halls.”

#leon kennedy x reader #leon s kennedy #leon kennedy #leon kennedy smut #resident evil #resident evil x reader #re4!leonkennedy x f!reader #leon kennedy x f!reader #ghost!Leon kennedy #Leon Kennedy x fem!reader

657 notes · View notes

doodle-pops · 5 months ago

Text

Happy Feet

Beleg x female!reader

A/N: I’ve been unnecessarily having baby fever and Beleg appears to be the perfect person to bear the brunt of my obsession.

Warnings: female reader, fluff, fluff and more fluffiness, Beleg being a dad to twins

Words: 2k

Synopsis: Returning home after a two-week shift at the borders of Doriath, Beleg discovers that he’s officially a father of two.

Soundless footsteps, swift and sure, as he made his way through the familiar woods, the dense canopy overhead dappling his path with patches of light. He had been gone for two long weeks, guarding the borders of the hidden realm, and now he was finally home. The last stretch of his journey felt endless, his heart pounding with anticipation. Eagerly rushing up the porch, he froze before his hand could meet the door knob to greet the beautiful sight of you.

There, frozen, he heard the whispers of your melodic voice waffling through the air like the gentle breeze of the warm spring keeping the winter coldness at bay. It felt like aeons since last he heard your voice, and here he was, after two weeks of being away, floating through the air on the whispers of your voice. Unable to wait another minute he twisted the door knob and burst through the front door.

Nowhere insight you were, yet he remained hopeful of the beautiful sight he would be greeted upon his return. Noting that the house appeared asleep, he smiled to himself, remembering how much you struggled to keep it alive when he wasn’t around. The house was warm, filled with the soft glow of candlelight. The scent of fresh pine and herbs lingered in the air, mingling with a sweeter, more delicate aroma that was new to him. He closed the door behind him with a soft click, removing his boots and his gears, he placed them at the front door and ushered to wash his hands before making his way through the house to your bedroom.

However, it was the sight of you sitting in the centre of the room, cradling your two newborns that made him freeze in his track. You were seated on a low stool with your back to him while humming a gentle melody that seemed to resonate with the very walls. The cradle beside you rocked gently, two tiny bundles nestled inside.

For a moment, Beleg was rooted in place, overwhelmed by the sight. The reality of fatherhood had been a distant thought, overshadowed by his duties at the border. But now, seeing his wife, your children—his children—he felt an intense wave of emotion crash over him. His heart swelled with love, gratitude, and a fierce protectiveness that brought tears to his eyes.

Soft coos and grunts came from the cradle in unison which made his heart swell. Unable to hold back any longer, he crossed the room in swift strides and wrapped his arms around you from behind, pulling you close. A soft gasp was emitted, before melting into his embrace, your head leaning back against his chest. Beleg immediately buried his face into your hair, inhaling your familiar scent, mixed with the newness of your children.

“Meleth-nîn,” he called out and felt you stirring in his arms to turn around and meet his gaze. There, he was met with the most beautiful smile he had ever received from you. Your eyes were filled with weariness, strands of hair falling into your waxed face and out of your bun, your clothes loose-fitted and hanging off your figure, and yet, you could not have looked any more beautiful than you did in that moment. “I…I’m home. I…”

He pressed a kiss to your temple, his tears finally spilling over. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I wanted to be with you…with them.”

Your smile softened as you cupped his face to wipe away his tears. “It’s alright. You’re here now, and that’s what matters, plus, they decided to arrive earlier than we anticipated.”

At your words, his shoulders relaxed and his lower lips quivered slightly as he broke into a teary-eyed smile. “We have two babies,” he cried while adding soft laughter of disbelief, and he rocked you from left to right, looking at you through his teary green eyes. “We made two babies! Not one, but two!”

Nodding along with him as you cupped his face, you leaned in to press a tender kiss to his nose while wiping his tears. “We did.”

“You’re amazing, you know that right?” he whispered as he craned his neck upwards to swiftly kiss you. “You’re so perfect and wonderful, and I’m proud to have you in my life,” he praised before switching to a voice full of concern. “How are you? It must have been difficult…I’m so sorry I wasn’t here.”

Shaking your head with a reassuring smile through the weariness, you replied, “It was difficult, but it’s over now. And I’m all right, truly. I’ve had help from the healers and our friends. They’ve been wonderful.”

Beleg nodded, relieved but still feeling a pang of guilt. He reached for your hand and held it tightly. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with gratitude. “For bringing them into this world, for being so strong…for everything.”

“It was worth it.”

His gaze drifted to the cradle, where the tiny forms of his son and daughter lay. His breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight of them—so small, so perfect. Their faces were soft, round, and serene, with tiny fists curled up against their cheeks. His son’s hair was a miniature version of yours, while his daughter’s was a shade similar to his silvery strands, like the softest moonlight. He could see their chests rising and falling with each breath, their delicate eyelashes fluttering as they dreamed.

His heart swelled even more if that were possible, and he released you gently so he could kneel beside the cradle. His fingers trembled as he reached out to touch his son’s cheek, the skin impossibly soft under his calloused hand. The baby stirred slightly at the touch but didn’t wake, only nestling closer to his sister.

Beleg’s breath caught in his throat again, the emotions swirling within him too vast to contain. He swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as he took in every detail of his children’s faces. “I’ve seen many wonders in my time,” he murmured, “but nothing compares to this. To them.”

“May I hold them?” he asked, his voice almost reverent, his heart aching with love for the tiny beings who had suddenly become the centre of his world.

Wordlessly, you smiled and carefully lifted your daughter from the cradle and placing her in his arms.

Beleg’s breath hitched instantly as he cradled his daughter against his chest. She was so small, so fragile, and yet she fit perfectly in his arms, as if she had always belonged there. Her tiny face scrunched up briefly before she settled back into sleep, her little hand curling instinctively around his finger.

“Hello, my little one,” Beleg whispered, his voice choked with emotion. “I’m your father.”

The words felt strange and wondrous on his tongue, and he couldn’t stop the tear that slipped down his cheek. He gently rocked her, his heart overflowing with love. “I’ll always protect you,” he vowed quietly. “You and your brother. I’ll never let anything harm you.”

You watched him with a smile, your own eyes glistening with tears of pure joy. “She looks so much like you,” she said softly. “The same nose, the same serious little expression.”

Beleg chuckled through his tears, his heart light with joy. “I see you in her too. And our son…he has your eyes.”

His wife nodded, her gaze drifting to the cradle where their son still slept peacefully. “He does. He’s already so strong, just like his father.”

Beleg’s heart swelled with pride, and he shifted his daughter carefully in his arms so he could lean over and place a tender kiss on his son’s forehead. The baby stirred at the touch, his tiny lips forming a soft ‘o’ as he blinked open his eyes for the first time since Beleg had arrived. For a moment, father and son simply looked at each other, and Beleg felt an indescribable connection take root in his soul. His baby’s eyes, so bright and full of life, seemed to pierce through to the core of him, filling him with a love so fierce it was almost overwhelming.

“Hello, my little warrior,” Beleg whispered, his voice trembling with emotion. “I’m here now. I’ll always be here.”

The baby let out a tiny, contented sigh, and Beleg felt his heart melt completely. He looked up at you, his tears flowing freely now. “I never knew I could feel this much,” he said, voice breaking. “I never knew…”

“I know. It’s overwhelming, isn’t it? But it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world,” you whispered, feeling a wave of sleepiness washing over you sluggishly.

Beleg nodded, his heart so full it felt as though it might burst. He carefully handed his daughter back to his wife so he could pick up his son, cradling him just as gently. The baby nestled against his chest, warm and soft, and Beleg closed his eyes for a moment, simply revelling in the feeling of holding his child for the first time.

The room was quiet, filled only with the sound of their breathing and the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. Beleg felt a profound sense of peace settle over him, a sense of completeness he had never known before. This was his family, his home, and he knew that no matter what trials lay ahead, he would face them with courage and strength, for them.

He looked down at his son, who was already drifting back to sleep, and then at you who was gently rocking your daughter in her arms. “You’re weary, my love,” he said quietly, his voice filled with all the depth of his emotions. “Get some rest. I’m here now, I’ll look after you all.”

Before you could formulate a response, a yawn ripped past your lips, proving his words to be true. Offering him a sweet, tiring smile, you shuffled over to place your little girl into her cot and kissed your husband his lips, the kiss lingering for an extra moment or two before you pulled away and retreated to bed. All that was left was Beleg and his two new bundle of joys.

As he watched you drag your feet to your bed and topple face-first onto the mattress, not bothering to adjust your position to one more comfortable, he exhaled. This was the next chapter in his life to complete, one that would be forever and determine his future.

And as he held his son close, feeling the steady rhythm of his tiny heartbeat against his chest, and looking at his sleeping daughter, Beleg knew that he would do anything to keep them safe. The weight of his responsibilities as a warrior and protector had always been heavy, but now, with his family in his arms, that weight was balanced by a profound sense of purpose and joy. He would fight, not just for the safety of Doriath, but for the happiness of you and your children.

As the fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting a warm glow, Beleg let out a contented sigh. With you off to wonderland, his children safe in his arms, and the soft hum of their breathing filling the room, Beleg allowed himself to close his eyes, finally at peace. His home, his family, his heart—everything he had ever longed for was here in this quiet moment. A moment he wished he could freeze for eternity.

He looked down at his son, who was now fully asleep, his tiny face peaceful and content. Beleg leaned down and kissed his forehead, then did the same for his daughter, his heart swelling with love for them both. “Rest well, my little ones,” he murmured. “Your father is here.”

Masterlist

Taglist: @lilmelily @ranhanabi777 @rain-on-my-umbrella @mysticmoomin @asianbutnotjapanese @batsyforyou @sakurayaxd @aconstructofamind @involuntaryspasms @stormchaser819 @addaigio @lamemaster @elficially-done-with-life @eunoiaastralwings @mcwentfandomtraveling

If you wish to be tagged, click the Taglist Link to join.

73 notes · View notes

anxious-dumpling · 9 months ago

Text

Chapter One: First Day at Playcare! (6,600 words.)

♡ Fandoms: BTS, Stray Kids!

REQUESTS OPEN :) RULES IN END NOTES!

♡ Characters: Little!Reader CG Jungkook CG Taehyung Playcare Owner Hoseok EA Felix EA Hyunjin Little Jimin, IN, Seungmin Everyone else is Teachers!

♡ Genre: SFW Littlespace, Fluff, Non Idol AU!

After moving from the rural city of Geochang to the bustling city of Seoul, your parents Jungkook and Taehyung decide to start you in a new Playcare Centre. Life is about to be so much different!

Time to be brave!

Notes: Welcome! ʕ•◡•ʔっ♡!

This is a very fluffy, very relaxed series that hopefully you can immerse yourself in!

There will be some angst but mostly fluff!

In this universe, Littlespace is permanent. If you don't know much about Littlespace, please research the topic elsewhere, since this story doesn't reflect how Littlespace functions in real life! Thank you!

The car's tyres grind against the tarmac as Jungkook pulls into the Little Sunshine Playcare's car park, a single storey building coming into view. It's made of caramel colored wood and black metal, a big welcome sign at the front that has a smiling cartoon sun attached to it. Arts and crafts are stuck to insides of the windows, so many colorful handprints reaching out to you as if giving you high-fives.

You tuck your chin into the soft collar of your pink sweater, peering at them nervously through your lashes.

As Jungkook chooses a parking space and turns off the engine, Taehyung twists around in his seat.

A kind smile graces his face. "Are you ready for your first day, sweetness?"

"Umm-..."

You glance back outside.

There's a man holding the hand of a colourfully dressed woman walking up to the front safety gate. He pulls the little knob and guides her through to the door, stopping to poke some buttons on a square thingy on the wall before heading inside.

"I dunno, Papa," You mumble as they leave your sight.

What if they don't wanna play with you? What if your teachers are meanies, and not nice like your Daddy and Papa?

"You don't know?" He sing-songs, pouting and reaching out to pinch your knee playfully. "Are you a little bit scared?"

Hang on.

You didn't say that!

Jungkook turns just in time to see you gasp, giggling to himself.

"I'm not scared!" You protest. "I'm not scared of anything, Papa!"

"Aww. I know."

Jungkook is sceptical. "No? Not even Lord Tirek?"

You think back to last night, when the big, scary monster appeared on the screen and you just had to hide in your Papa's arms.

You admit, "Maybe I'm scared of some things."

Taehyung smacks your Daddy on the shoulder, eyes wide behind his black glasses. "Luckily there's no Lord Tirek here then, right?"

"Right, Jagi," He agrees guiltily.

"Come on. It's time to get out now, sweetness."

You hug your teddy bear to your chest as they both exit the car.

Taehyung appears at your window, pulling your door open and leaning over you. He takes the big, red car seat buckle laying on your belly in his hands and clicks the two halves apart. The straps fall over your shoulders as he slots his hands under your armpits.

"Let's not forget your present," He reminds you, lifting you out of the seat and onto the ground.

As Jungkook rounds the car, he catches you chewing on your teddy's ear.

"Ah-ah," He chides, his tattooed hand coming up to pull it from your lips. "That's yucky. Be nice to Mr Bear, okay?"

"Sorry, Mr Bear."

"And?"

"Sorry, Daddy."

"Thank you."

"Here it is." Taehyung pulls out the bakery carry-box, slamming the door closed and carefully passing it to you. "Gentle hands."

"Good job." Jungkook praises. "It's not too heavy?"

"S'fine, Daddy."

Walking through the car park together, Taehyung strokes his hand through your hair, fixing the few fly-aways that have slipped from your piggy tails he very lovingly styled you in this morning. Your Papa is great at doing hair. Oh, and at picking outfits.

He's wearing a beige knitted vest over a plain white shirt, baggy pants, big shoes, and a beret.

The hairdresser's he works at lets him wear whatever he wants!

Jungkook, though; He has to wear a suit every day.

"Wooooow. Is that right?" Your taller parent exclaims. "You must be very strong?"

"Yes, I am, Daddy." You agree, plodding along.

For some reason, as he opens the gate and lets you through, both of them break out in chuckles above you. You don't know what's so funny about saying that! When you carried that heavy bag of rice at the shops yesterday, Daddy only had to help a little.

The door makes a clicking sound as the code is punched in, Jungkook pushing it open gentlemanly.

As you step into the foyer, you're suddenly hit with the feeling of being lost in a new place. You got lost in the supermarket once and it was so scary. Even scarier than Lord Tirek. You were about to be lost forever and ever until your Daddy finally found you.

You don't want to be alone again. No, no, no! A sad moan leaving your throat, you drop the bakery box onto the floor and wrap your arms around Jungkook's waist, smooshing your face into his breast through the black fabric. You're never letting go!

"Oh!" Taehyung exclaims, picking the small box back up. "Whoopsies."

"Whoopsies," Jungkook croons.

"Good morning," The lady at the desk greets, before her eyes widen. "Would you like some help?"

"We've got it." Your Papa assures her. "We're here to sign in Jeon-Kim Haen, please."

"Of course. Just a moment."

"I'm scared," You muffle.

"It's okay, baby." Jungkook soothes, rubbing your back. "Remember what you said before?"

I'm not scared of anything!

"I lieeeed." You complain. "I'm sc- scared of Lord Tirek and the air frier and scorpions and getting lost!"

Taehyung plucks a tissue from the reception desk box, bending to mop the yellow frosting off the floor.

Jungkook tsks sadly. "Maybe. But you're still very brave, Haen-ie."

"I'm b'ave?"

"Of course you are. Can you say, 'I'm Daddy and Papa's strong, brave girl'?"

"I'm- I'm Daddy and Papa's strong, b'ave girl."

"Good morning!" A new voice comes lilting into the room. You squeeze Jungkook even tighter, turning your head ever so slightly to get a look at the newcomer. A man as tall as your Daddy is approaching the three of you, dressed in an orange hoodie and looking like he swallowed the sun and all the stars for breakfast, the light trying to escape through his face. "Did we have a little accident?"

"We did," Tae laughs, throwing the used tissue and squished cupcake into a nearby bin.

"Don't worry. No harm done!"

His black hair is tousled neatly over his forehead, a rainbow lanyard laying against his chest.

"She's nervous about her first day." Jungkook explains, stroking your cheek. "Had a bit of a scare coming in."

The man smiles, his eyes turning into crescent moons. "You must be Haen-ie. I'm Hoseok-seonsangnim. It's nice to meet you!"

"Hello, Hoseok-seonsangnim." You murmur politely. "Are the cupcakes okay?"

Taehyung chuckles. "They're for her classmates."

"Wow, that's very nice of you." Hoseok gasps, looking through the little plastic windows. "Ooooh, yummy. They look perfect."

You let him know, "You can have one, too."

The three of them burst into soft laughter.

"Awww. Thank you, Haen-ie. You're a very kind girl. How about we go share them with everyone? Would you like to do that?"

You pause, thinking about it for a moment. "Okay."

"Awesome! Good idea." He praises, even though the idea was his, taking the box. "You'll have so much fun today!"

"You hear that? Come say goodbye to Papa-bear, sweetness."

You let go of your Daddy to fall into Taehyung's embrace, trying not to feel too scared as he wraps you up safely in his arms, rocking you gently from side to side and growling like a big, happy bear. When he pulls back, he kisses your forehead and passes you off to Jungkook, who gives you a quicker, lighter hug and reminds you not to chew on Mr Bear because he likes his ears to be clean.

"I won't, Daddy." You promise, earning another kiss to the forehead.

"Good girl. Daddy and Papa will come and pick you up later, okay?"

"Okay."

One last kiss. "We love you."

"Love you," Tae smiles.

"Love you, Daddy, Papa."

Hoseok offers his hand to you. "Come on, Haen-ie. Let's go share these yummy cupcakes, huh?"

Taking his hand in yours, you bravely let him guide you away.

"What flavor are the cupcakes, Haen-ie?"

"They're chocolate," You tell him, remembering what Papa asked the baker-lady for this morning.

"Oooh. I loooove chocolate." Your teacher gushes, giving your hand a bit of a squeeze as you walk side by side down the bright corridor. Splodgy paintings and crayon drawings hang from little wooden pegs along the wall, all the cats and dogs and dragons and two headed shark-giraffe hybrids all grinning down at you with silly faces and glittery decorations. "Is chocolate your favorite, too?"

"Uh-huh." You sheepishly nod. "I like it- I like it even betterer than vanilla, but Papa likes strawberry."

"He likes strawberry, does he? What about Daddy?"

"Daddy likes chocolate, too. He goes to the gym a lot, but he says it's healthy so we can eat lots!"

He laughs at that. "Well, I don't know about 'healthy', but it sure is delicious. Oh, look! Here's our classroom!"

You come to a stop in front of a door with a sticker on it that says, 'A2.'

Glancing back down the corridor, you notice the foyer is suddenly very empty. No Daddy, no Papa. Hoseok distracted you. You face forward again, taking a deep breath and telling yourself, I'm Daddy and Papa's brave girl, as he knocks on the door.

It opens. A man with long, wavy hair smiles sweetly at the both of you, moving to let you inside.

"Good morning!" He greets, closing the door behind you. "This must be our new friend, Haen-ie."

The classroom is bustling, filled with squealing laughter as Baby Shark plays loudly from somewhere.

"We're doing some dancing right now. It helps shake out all those early-morning jitters." He explains. "My name is Hyunjin-ie. It's so exciting to meet you! I'm one of the EAs in this room, so I'll be helping you get settled in today! Does that sound good?"

"What's an EA, Hyunjin-ie?"

"It means, 'Educational Assistant'. That means my job is to be your best friend and help you with your work!"

When you giggle, Hoseok adds, "We've got some delicious chocolate cupcakes here for everyone, too."

"Ohh! Cupcakes? I knew today was going to be a great day."

"Excuse me, friends!" Hoseok calls out over the song, getting everyone's attention. "I know we're all having fun dancing, but we have a new classmate here joining us today and she's very kindly brought us some delicious cupcakes to eat together!"

Exclamations break out across the room. "Cupcakes!!"

As the kids come running over, Hoseok sets the box down on the nearest activity table. "Everyone, say thank you to Haen-ie!"

"Thank you, Haen-ie!"

"I love you, Haen-ie!"

A shy smile makes its way onto your face, realizing that nobody here is mean like you thought they would be.

Your classmates jump up and down like pieces of popcorn as Hoseok hands a small cupcake to you first, then sharing the rest of them to the gathered crowd, reminding them all to be patient and thanking them for their nice manners.

Peeling back your cupcake's paper liner, you take a big, big bite.

Mmm. Chocolate with sweet, yellow frosting and a tiny, bear-shaped cookie sticking out of it.

"Thank you, Heun-ie!" A boy exclaims, his chin smeared with frosting. "Dis is soooo yummy!"

You smile, "My Papa buyed them."

"I love your Papa."

"I love my Papa, too."

"Nice manners, Jimin-ie." Hoseok praises him, handing the last of the cupcakes to EA Hyunjin and two other men who must be teachers. "Haen-ie, you've already met Hyunjin, but this here is EA Yeongbok-ie and Teacher Yoongi-seonsangnim."

The first man, Yeongbok; he has blonde hair, the color of vanilla cookies, and a wonky, toothy smile sweeter than every cookie in the world. He gives you an enthusiastic wave, his voice deeper than even your Papa's. "Hi! Nice to meet you!"

The second man, Yoongi, looks a bit like a sleepy, smiley cat. "Hello, Haen-ie."

"Hello," You wave back.

"We can meet the rest of your teachers later, but Yeongbok here is our second EA, and Yoongi is our very talented music teacher."

The man snorts. "I play recorders, Hoseok."

"All the same."

"Do you like music, Haen-ie?" Yeongbok asks as he pulls out a wooden seat for you, sitting in the one next to it.

"Okay, everyone! Sit down to eat, please!"

As everyone gets settled, you sit down next to Yeongbok and Hyunjin while Yoongi walks off with his cupcake.

"I like to sing with my Daddy and Papa," You tell the friendly EAs, your two new best friends.

"You guys just moved here from Geochang, didn't you?"

"Yeah," The mention of your old home sends a pang through your heart. It was a lot different than here. The streets were lined with wild grass and old, proud houses, always a breathtaking view of the mountains sitting on the horizon. "We got here two days ago."

"Well, we're very happy to have you here." Hyunjin smiles like a pretty prince. "What do you like about Seoul so far?"

Oh, um... You've never thought about that up until now.

"I like Han River," You guess, popping the biscuit in your mouth. "And we're going to Teseum Teddy Bear museum this weekend."

"Uwaaah," Yeongbok exclaims, "That sounds exciting?"

You nod, chewing, the wet crumbs falling from your lips and into your lap. "Bea'ws are my fav'ite animal."

"Oooh, careful," He warns, taking the handkerchief out of his pants' pocket and using it to clean you up.

"Oh! Sorryyyy."

"Don't worry." He brushes the crumbs off your sweater, and then your bear's fat, brown nose. "Look. It's as if nothing ever happened!"

"Daddy doesn't like it when I get my things dirty," You babble, giving the teddy a kiss as an apology, "Or chew on Mr Bear's ears."

"Aaah," Hyunjin hums understandingly, "So you're going to be one of the messy ones."

"You're going to love art class."

"I love art class!" A nearby boy butts in. "I made a painting for my Mommy yesterday!"

"Yes, and you used yourself as the canvas, didn't you?" He jokes, pinning him with an cool, sassy look.

The boy does nothing but giggle, his teeth covered in bits of chocolate cake, before running off to join his friends again.

"That's Jeongin-ie."

As you bite and swallow the last chunk of your cupcake, Yeongbok stands from the small seat, leaving his own cupcake on the table and offering his hand to you. "All done? Let's go put your bag away in the cubby before class starts, okay?"

"Okay, Yeongbok-ie." You agree, grabbing his pale hand and following him.

He takes you over to the wall besides the classroom door, where the cubby shelves are all stuffed with the other Little's backpacks, books, spare clothes, and water bottles. Coloured strips of paper are velcroed above each one, their names printed on them.

'Jimin', 'Jeongin', 'Maru', 'Nathan', and even your name! You point it out to Yeongbok, who chuckles in that delicate, tinkling way of his that makes it sound like he's a magical xylophone. He takes off your purple backpack and places it in the cubby below your tag.

Returning to the sitting area together, you spot Hyunjin and Yoongi helping tidy the aftermath.

"This one was yours," Yoongi nods toward an empty liner, wiping down the table with a cloth. "Go put it in the trash, please."

Hyunjin adds, "You too, Jeongin."

"Okayyyy." The boy sing-songs. "Fine."

Scooping up your trash and dumping it in the nearby bin, everybody works hard to clean up before settling down in their assigned seats at the activity tables strewn across the room. You're unsure where to go, awkwardly hugging Mr Bear, but sweet EA Yeongbok is there to help you again, taking your hand and guiding you to a table near the toy boxes. Jeongin and Jimin are sitting there, too.

"Ooh, Haen-ie. Look." The man points at the back of the chair. "What's that?"

You follow his finger.

Wow! It's another tag with your name on it!

"My name!" You exclaim proudly as you sit down. "This is my chair, Yeongbok-ie!"

"You're right. It is your chair," The man praises this genius discovery, as he drags another chair over and sits next to you.

Hyunjin and Yoongi are both sitting at other tables, joking with the kids around them.

"Hi! I'm Jimin!" The boy in front of you cheers.

"I'm Jeongin!"

"These are your table-mates, Haen-ie. Say hello?"

"Hello," You greet, using Mr Bear's fluffy arm to wave to them. "It's my first day today!"

"Why is it your first day?"

"We moved here." You explain, "And my old playcentre is too far away to visit, now."

"Awwww," Jimin pouts.

"That's so sad!"

"It is a little bit sad," Yeongbok validates, his tone comforting, "But she's going to make lots of new friends here, isn't she?"

Jeongin nods so fast you think his head might fall off. "I'll be your friend, Haen-ie!"

"Me, too! Do you like dinosaurs?"

Glancing at the T-Rex printed on his blue sweater, you shrug. "Um... A little."

"Oh." He deflates, perking right back up again afterwards. "It's okay! I'll still be your friend!"

"Yeah! He's friends with me, and I like sharks, but he doesn't like sharks, and we're still friends."

"Okay, guys," Yeongbok interrupts, placing a finger over his lips, "Sh, sh, sh. Let's listen to Hoseok-seonsangnim, okay?"

"Okay."

"Okay!"

"It's time for our first class of the day, friends." You turn your attention to the front of the classroom, peering over Jimin's shoulder as Hoseok drags the wheelie whiteboard into view, uncapping an orange marker and smiling brightly at his class. "Now, Yoongi-seonsangnim and I were nice enough to let you guys have some cupcakes before class this morning, weren't we?"

"Yeah!" You all reply at once.

"Yeah! Fun, right? So do you think you'll all be able to put your learning caps on, now?"

As he mimes putting on a big hat, you all copy him.

Even Yoongi, Hyunjin, and Yeongbok, too!

"Perfect!" He lowers his hands. "Does anyone know what we're going to be learning today?"

The whole class starts giggling hysterically as he glances at the laminated chart on the wall, which very obviously reads, Monday, 1. Music, 2. Arts and Crafts, 3. Snack Break, 4. Math, 5. Nap Time, 6. Lunch Break, 7. Reading, in bubble letters.

Everyone shouts out, "Music!"

"It's Music!"

"Music, Hoseok!"

"It's what?" Your teacher squints, cupping his ear. "We're learning what?"

You join in the chaos, shouting, "Music!!"

"Aaaaah. Music! Why didn't you say that the first time?"

Silly Hoseok-seonsangnim. You guys did say that!

"Let's start with our word of the day first, and then we get out the instruments." Turning and writing, Word of the Day, at the top of the whiteboard, he faces forward and looks directly at you. "How about you choose today's word, Haen-ie?"

Oh! You?!

"There's no wrong answers," Yeongbok encourages you when he notices your apprehension. "What about Bear?"

You give a quick nod. "You say, please?"

He happily reports back to your teacher, "The word of the day is Bear!"

"Oooh. Good choice. Let's all use the letters at our tables and have a go spelling Bear!"

"Oh! I know, I know!" Jimin exclaims, wiggling impatiently as your EA reaches into the middle of the table and pulls out a velcro board and a cup of felt letters from the basket of supplies, splaying them out. "Let me do it! I know!"

He grabs the pile of letters, pulling out a flimsy G character and sticking it to the board.

"Good job, Jimin-ie." Yeongbok slides the letters in front of you. "Haen-ie's turn, now. We have to work as a team!"

Humming thoughtfully, you sound out the word Bear in your head. There's a Guh, and then an Ohhhhh. Must be O.

You stick the O character below the G.

When it's Jeongin's turn, he sticks down an M character, completing the simple Hangul symbol.

"Is everybody ready? Show us your boards!"

Chatter fills the room again as Yeongbok holds up the board for you.

Hoseok glances from table to table, nodding, "Correct! Yep, correct! Well done! Yeongbok's table, correct!"

Your EA gives you a high-five.

Yay!

"Hyunjin's table," He sucks in a breath at the last group, "I'm afraid that's not quite right."

Everyone at the table groans in defeat and starts throwing accusations around.

"I told you it was just one M!"

"Hyunjinnnnn!"

"You didn't listen!"

Yoongi's laughing behind his hand, shoulders shaking.

The kids keep heckling him as he grumpily throws down the letter in his hand.

Yeongbok laughs, "Maybe you need to move to the baby's room, Hyung? What do you guys think?"

"Baby's room!" The girl next to Hyunjin chants. "Baby's room!"

Hyunjin sticks his tongue out at her.

"Okay. Okay," Hoseok chuckles, taking back control of the room as Yoongi stands up. "Time for music, now."

When Namjoon checks his watch, he announces, "Snack break, everyone!"

Jumping up from your seat and pulling your bucket hat on, you can't wait to eat!

You file out into the play yard with everyone else, finding a spot at one of the picnic tables. Hoseok and Namjoon-seonsangnim wheel out two carts of food, approaching each table and handing out the small bowls. Namjoon; You met him during Arts and Crafts. He's tall and muscly like a sports teacher, but he actually teaches art and English, his face round like a toffee candy, both cheeks dimpled.

"Hello, everyone." He greets, placing a plastic bowl and spoon in front of you. "Did you have fun in art today?"

"Thank you," You remember your manners, licking your lips at the sight of the sliced fruit and yoghurt.

"You're welcome, Haen-ie."

As you stick your spoon in, Seungmin exclaims, "Yeah! I maked a rainbow! It was really pretty."

"'Made'." Hoseok calls out.

The boy corrects himself. "I made a rainbow."

"Yes, I saw. It was pretty."

Gulping down the dollop of yoghurt and crunchy apple pieces, you gaze out at the patch of sunlight nearby. Your class's art creations are drying in the sun, the pieces of paper swaying in the breeze, wrinkled from all the glue and pom poms on them.

"I made a dinosaur with Jimin," You garble as Namjoon walks away with the cart, your mouth full.

The boy nods. "It was a brontosaurus. Brontosauruses are the ones with the-!"

"The long necks," The girl across from him rolls her eyes. "We know."

Your dinosaur's neck was five pompoms long!

He gasps. "You like dinosaurs, too, Ahyun?!"

"No. You just talk about them all the time." She glances up from her bowl. "Haen, you have glue on your elbow."

You do? Shrugging a shoulder, you peer down at the side of your arm and scratch the dried flake off.

"And paint on your shoulder."

Oh, she's right. There's a pink splat on your sweater. You hope your Daddy won't be too upset.

"And on your hand."

... Oh.

"She got really messy," The girl beside her giggles. "She's like my baby brother, and he's only one!"

"I think she's messier," She jokes, making your cheeks go hot.

"Are you one, Haen-ie?"

"No. I'm nineteen," You mumble uncomfortably, hiding your paint-covered hand under the table. "And four on the inside."

"You should go sit somewhere else," Ahyun chirps. "I don't want you to get me dirty!"

"She won't," Jimin frowns.

"Yes, she will!"

Whatever. You don't want to sit with Ahyun, either. You pick up your bowl and stand from the wooden bench, storming over to the playground and ducking under one of the platforms. You hide away in a dark corner to finish eating your snack in peace.

Tears start burning at the edges of your eyes when you catch a second glimpse at your ruined sweater.

"Haen-ie? Sweetie?"

Sniffling, you watch Hyunjin as he searches the playground, coming to a sudden stop when he sees you. He looks like he's about to explain that you're not allowed to eat in the playground, but something in his expression changes and he crouches down.

"Haen-ie, sweetie, what are you doing all the way over here?" He asks. "What's the matter?"

Glancing behind him, you catch the other teachers watching the two of you, before they go back to what they were doing.

Hyunjin crawls in and sits beside you, long hair framing his face as he tilts his head at you.

"Haen-ie?"

You pout, "I don't wanna sit at the tables."

"No?"

You shake your head, poking sadly at your yoghurt.

"You don't want to sit with your friends? Jimin and Jeongin?" He tries, only to be met with silence. "Me and Yeongbok-ie?"

You admit, "I don't wanna sit with Ahyun."

He pauses. "Did Ahyun say something a little bit mean?"

You nod. "Her friend said I'm like her baby brother because I'm messy. And then Ahyun said I'm even messier than him because I got paint and glue on my clothes in art class, and then she said I can't sit with them, so I came over here to hide."

Sympathy washes over his face. He muses, "That wasn't very nice of her, was it?"

"No, it wasn't," You agree.

"Did it make you sad?"

"Uh-huh." It did make you sad. "I didn't get messy on purpose, Hyunjin-ie. It was an a'sident."

"Awww, Hyunjin-ie knows it was an accident, sweetie. And you know what?"

"What?"

"Art class is all about getting messy, little friend. Wouldn't it be boring if the paint only got on the paper?"

"My Daddy doesn't like it when I get dirty. He likes it when things are perfect and nice and clean."

Your Papa calls him a 'Perfectionist'.

"You're already perfect and nice," He argues. "And Yeongbok and I are going to make sure you're clean, too."

"You are?"

"Yeah. Yeongbok is new, too, you know. He's only been here a week. And he says I should be in the baby's room. Pssh. After art class ended, I had to teach him where to find the extra wet wipes, but you went outside to eat before we could clean you up!"

Ohhh. You remember now! After class ended, Yeongbok told you to wait, but you forgot and ran outside!

"I was too excited to eat!"

"Yes, you were." He chuckles, taking your hand. "Come on. Let's go get clean!"

"Okay!"

He helps you crawl back out from the playground, leaving your bowl at the table and stepping inside the empty classroom.

It's much quieter in here. The aircon hums above you, tables all clean and glossy. You see Yeongbok standing behind the partition of the exposed bathroom area, peeling open a package of wet wipes and digging through your purple backpack.

Both of you approaching him, Yeongbok gasps dramatically with a big, sunny smile. "Haen-ie!"

Hyunjin squeezes your hand.

"I'm sorry I didn't wait for you, Yeongbok-ie," You apologize sweetly. "I got distracted and forgot to wait for you!"

"Aw. That's okay." He says, pulling out a spare shirt with a big strawberry on it. "Let's get you into some clean clothes."

The two nice men work together to remove your paint-covered sweater and stuff it back into your backpack, wiping down your fingers and palms with the wet wipes afterwards. Yeongbok quickly dresses you in the green shirt and adjusts your bucket hat.

"There we go," He celebrates, zipping your backpack up. "That was nice and easy, wasn't it!"

"Thank you, Yeongbok-ie and Hyunjin-ie!"

"See? Nothing bad about getting messy." The older EA holds his hand out to you. "Come on. Let's go finish eating, little friend."

Uh oh.

"Do I have to?"

Yeongbok makes a confused face. "I thought you were excited to eat?"

"I am, but," You twist your shoe into the floor. "Ahyun was mean to me."

He frowns. "Oh, no."

"Hyunjin-ie will make sure Hoseok-seonsangnim tells Ahyun's parents she was being mean to one of our friends," Hyunjin promises. "And you can sit with me, if you like, or we can ask Jimin and Jeongin if they want to move tables with you?"

You wanna sit with all of them!

"Let's all sit together!"

"Okay, sweet friend." He praises as you take his hand. "Let's go. Your yoghurt is waiting for you!"

You giggle. "I'm coming, yoghurt!"

Hyunjin guides you back into the play yard, approaching the picnic table.

"Excuse me, guys," The man politely interrupts, pointing to a nearby empty table. "I'm going to take my friend Haen-ie over to the kind-friends table over there, and we want to know who else is going to join us."

"Ooooh," Ahyun's friend exclaims. "I do!"

Not wanting to be left out, Ahyun agrees and raises her hand. "Me too, Hyunjin!"

"Sorry, Jenna and Ahyun. This table is only for kind friends. You weren't being a very kind friend to Haen-ie today, were you?"

She gawks. "Wh-?!"

"Maybe when you're feeling a little bit kinder," He suggests, "You can come and join us later."

As she scoffs angrily, Jimin raises his hand. "Can I come, Haen-ie?"

"What about me?" Jeongin adds. "I wanna sit with you!"

"Me, too!" Seungmin agrees. "I'm a kind friend!"

You go pink under all the attention. "Okay!"

"Yay!"

"Let's go!"

"Kind-friends table!"

The four of you grab your bowls and go sit at the other, better table together. Hyunjin offers his lap to you since you might still be a little sad. Even though you're feeling better now, you still climb up onto his thigh, while the three boys sit around you.

"There you go," Hyunjin cooes, bouncing you up and down a little. "Ooooh. Apple? What else did you get?"

"I got banana," Seungmin answers, pointing at his friend's bowl. "Jimin got some, too!"

Jeongin pouts, "I got grapes."

"He hates grapes," The boy beside him explains helpfully.

You ask, "Do you like apple?"

When he nods, you hold your bowl over his, using your spoon to flick the apple into it.

"Thanks, Haen-ie!" He gasps, before giving you his grapes. "You can have mine!"

"Thanks, Jeongin-ie."

"Woooow," Hyunjin exclaims, "Nice sharing, you guys."

"My Papa says it makes our friends sad when we don't share," You tell him. "And I don't like it when people are sad, Hyunjin-ie."

The man suddenly clutches his heart through his baggy shirt, wincing like he's in pain. "Dawww."

You giggle at his outburst. "What, Hyunjin-ie?"

He makes a Grrrrrr sound as he mimes grabbing your cheeks. "You're adorable, that's what!"

You push his hands away. "Silly Hyunjin!"

Yeongbok comes into view as you all laugh together, setting his bowl on the table. "Hey! Don't have all the fun without me!"

"How are you guys going over here?"

As Hoseok approaches your table, you pout your lips around the pencil in your mouth.

Not good. Math is hard!

He takes notice just like all good teachers do. "Needing some help there, Haen-ie?"

You mumble, "Yes, p'ease."

Yeongbok gently pulls your hand away. "We don't chew on pencils, little friend. There you go."

As he goes back to helping Jeongin, Hoseok takes a seat next to you. "Tell Hoseok-seonsangnim what you need help with."

"Yeongbok-ie is busy with Jeongin and there's-! There's too many steps!"

"Ahhh, I see. Don't worry. Let's break them down together, shall we? Can you read the question to me?"

You look down at your paper, making sure to ignore the cartoon gardener at the bottom because he's annoying you. "Taeyun buys some-... some flower seeds. He plants five seeds in normal soil, and five seeds in special mulch. The seeds in the... in the special mulch grow double the flowers than the seeds in the regular soil grow. How many flowers will he have when they're done growing?"

See?! That's super hard.

Taehyun should ask somebody else about his flowers, because you have no idea.

"That was great reading," Hoseok praises you, before grabbing a blank piece of paper and some crayons from the supply box. "I've got an idea. You know what helps me when I can't figure out a question? Drawing it out!"

Your eyes widen. "There's questions you can't figure out?"

A laugh escapes him. "Yes, there are. Even teachers need help, sometimes."

"But you're super smart?"

"The only way to get smart is to be wrong a lot of times first." He explains, drawing some dots on the page. "Let's draw what we need to know. First, I'll draw the seeds... Five normal seeds on the left and five special seeds on the right."

When he's finished, he hands you a green crayon.

"Now let's draw the flowers coming out of the seeds."

"Okay. I'll try!"

"That's what I like to hear, friend. You should draw two flowers coming out of each special seed, remember?"

Nodding, you get to work drawing the stems.

After that, you add a yellow ball and colorful petals to each one.

"Let's add some ladybugs!" You suggest, reaching for the red crayon.

"Hang on. We don't need any ladybugs right now." He reminds you. "Maybe you can draw some in art class tomorrow, okay?"

Awwww. "Okay."

"Let's count the flowers instead. Ready?"

"Uh-huh. One, two, three," You concentrate hard and count every flower. "Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen!"

"Fifteen. Well done!" Hoseok exclaims with a big, excited grin, giving you a double high five. "You did it!"

"I did it!"

"Go ahead and write the answer down and we'll have a go at the next one."

"Okay! Thank you, Hoseok-seonsangnim."

"You're very welcome, sunshine."

By the time you've filled out the math booklet, you're in serious need of a nap. Being smart is lots of effort. How does he do it?

Luckily, it's nap time.

You grab Mr Bear and head into the toy area, where the EAs have moved the furniture out of the way and set up sleeping mats on the floor. Your Papa packed your softest, pinkest bedding today. You kneel on the cotton fabric, yawning and laying your head on your pillow as Hyunjin pulls the curtains over the windows. Hundreds of stars light up the walls when Yeongbok switches on the lamp.

"Who needs a little extra help getting to sleep today?" He asks quietly, switching on the speaker next.

The sound of somebody playing the piano graces your ears.

A couple of kids raise their hands, including you. No matter how tired you are, it's still scary falling asleep in a new place.

Hyunjin comes over to you.

"Close your eyes, sweetie," He whispers, settling beside your mat.

With him slowly stroking your hair, you're drifting off into dreamland before you even realize it.

At the end of the day, while you're all sitting on the rug, Hoseok asks, "Who here had a good day today?"

"Me!" You all shout.

"Let's share three things we're grateful for today," He says, gesturing to a student. "Let's start with you, Jihyun."

She tilts her head. "Ummm... Art class, Yeongbok helping me find my pencil when I lost it, and... Oh! Haen's cupcakes!"

"Oooh. They were yummy, weren't they? Jimin?"

He's got his answer right away. "Meeting my new friend Haen-ie!!"

Jeongin's got his, too! "Haen-ie sharing her fruit with me!!"

"Aw, those are great answers. I'm grateful for our new friend, too."

When it's your turn, you shyly stare back at the class. It's difficult to choose only three things! You're grateful for the EAs, who made your first day as easy as possible for you, Yoongi for making you laugh as he taught you how to hold the recorder, Namjoon for opening the glue pot for you when it was stuck, and Hoseok for being such a great teacher, even if he's bad at drawing flowers.

"I'm grateful for my friends and my teachers and the EAs... and nap time, and brontosauruses."

That might've been five things... But Hoseok doesn't mind. "Aww. I'm so glad, friend."

Hyunjin does that thing again where he looks like he's going to die.

Yeongbok chuckles, petting his shoulder in support.

Parents start gathering in the corridor outside the classroom as the rest of the kids share their three things. You keep an eye out for your Daddy and Papa, your legs squirming and your heart racing like it's trying to break out of you and go find them.

The last time you glance through the window, they're both there!

When they spot you, their faces light up like they always do when they spot you in school assemblies and sport events.

They wave to you.

"Daddy, Papa," You cheer under your breath, trying to keep your hand in your lap. "Daddy, Papa are here."

"Okay, my friends." Hoseok eventually concludes. "I'll see you all tomorrow!"

"See you tomorrow!!"

"Bye, Hoseok!!"

"It's home time!!"

As soon as he opens the door, you jump up and run over to the big group of parents, straight into your Papa's open arms.

"There you are!" Taehyung gasps happily, holding you tight. "There's our sweet girl!"

"Papa!!"

"Did you have a good day?" He asks you, kissing your hair and letting you hug Jungkook next. "You didn't miss us too much?"

"I missed you so much," You muffle into Jungkook's button shirt. "But I had a good day at the same time!"

"We missed you, too," Your Daddy chuckles.

As Hyunjin approaches the three of you, handing your backpack and artwork to Jungkook, you pull away slightly.

"Here are Haen's things," He smiles.

He thanks the man. "Wow. Is this a dinosaur, baby?"

"I made it with my new friend, Jimin! He said I could keep it because he has a lot of dinosaur drawings at his home already."

"It's so cute."

Taehyung adds, "I love it."

"She had a good day," The EA smiles. Yeongbok and Hoseok are talking to some other parents behind him, handing more backpacks and artworks out. As Jungkook gives your dinosaur craft to his husband and unzips your bag, making sure everything is in there, Hyunjin explains, "We did have a little hiccup this morning, though. You'll find her sweater in there. It just has some paint on it."

Guilt squeezes you as you watch Jungkook turn the fabric over in his hand. "Sorry, Daddy."

"It's okay, Haen-ie." He shakes his head, zipping it up. "Daddy just wanted you to have fun today, okay? We can wash it out."

"I also got crumbs on Mr Bear," You admit.

He laughs at your sudden burst of honesty, slinging your bag over his shoulder. "We can wash him, too."

"He'll love it," Tae agrees. "It'll be like a spa day."

Some people might think your Daddy is the stricter parent, but he actually breaks more of his own rules than you do, and it's him who's always spoiling you with new toys, treats, and clothes! He's a big softie!

"Well, I'll see you tomorrow then, Haen-ie!" Hyunjin says. "High-five!"

"Buh-bye, Hyunjin-ie!"

After you smack hands, Taehyung and Jungkook thank him again and they each take one of your hands, leading you out of the Playcentre. They listen intently as you babble about every detail of your day all the way to the car, where Tae lifts you in.

"Did everyone enjoy the cupcakes?" He asks, helping you thread your arms through the straps.

"Oh! Yeah! They were really yummy, Papa."

"No dessert tonight, then, I guess." He pouts, clicking the buckle together, before grinning cheekily at you. "Just kidding."

You stick your tongue out at him.

"Hey," Your Daddy chuckles, watching you in the rear-view mirror. "Save that little tongue for your ice cream tonight."

"We're having ice cream?!"

Tae closes your door and settles into the passenger seat as the car starts. "Didn't we tell you? Brave girls get ice cream, baby bear."

"Yay! Thank you!"

Cupcakes, new friends, a good nap, and ice cream?

You wish every day could be your first day at Playcare!

When you get a whole bowl's worth of chocolate ice cream all over your pyjamas that night, Jungkook just fondly smiles at you and sneaks you a second scoop while Tae isn't looking. He taught you that chocolate is healthy when you want it to be, after all!

Notes:

Please share your thoughts and leave some suggestions for future chapters! ʕ•◡•ʔっ♡!

Things I won't write. - Smut. - Self-harm. - Intense angst. - Anything unrelated to Haen or Littlespace. Everything else goes!

Current roles. - Taehyung: Parent Caregiver. - Jungkook: Parent Caregiver. - Jin: ??? - Namjoon: Art / English Teacher. - Hoseok: Homeroom Teacher / Playcare Owner. - Yoongi: Music Teacher. - Jimin: Little. - Bangchan: ??? - Lee Know: ??? - Han: ??? - Changbin: Sports Teacher. - Hyunjin: EA / Art Teacher. - Felix: EA. - Seungmin: Little. - Jeongin: Little.

I encourage you to be friendly and patient with me! ^◡^

61 notes · View notes

cosyvelvetorchid · 1 month ago

Text

Chapter 2 of Death Becomes Them is up!

Reason on ao3 or below

(See ao3 for tags and TWs)

🩶

They turned into a typical suburban tree-lined street and pulled over beside the curb in front of the sixth house along. It was your average wood-built family home. Two storeys and an attic, with a wooden porch not too dissimilar to the one Tommy had along the front of his house, and a front yard that Tommy was not kidding about.

Green shrubs, all the exact same type and length ran along the edge of the porch, and a small grassy area in front that Buck was certain he could get out a measuring tape and each blade of grass would be the same height.

The only flaw was the two wide lines running parallel to each other diagonally across the grass, presumably from the gurney Thomas Sr was taken out on.

Tommy scoffed when he saw them. “He’d have hated that.”

He took the keys from the plastic bag and unlocked the door but didn’t open it straight away. His hand hovered on the large brass door knob.

“You don’t have to do this right now, Tommy. It’s okay if you’re not ready.” Buck reassured him softly.

Tommy sighed. “I have to. If I don’t do it now..” he let the sentence fall away.

Buck placed a gentle hand on Tommy’s back as he turned the knob and pushed open the door.

The house was emptier than Buck had expected. A shoe rack by the door; a sofa, coffee table and TV in the living room with a small dining table with 2 chairs at the other end. No artwork on the walls, no knickknacks and not a single photograph hung anywhere.

Tommy was frowning as he looked around, assessing the place.

“Did it always look like this?” Buck asked.

Tommy shook his head. “No. Last time I was here there were photographs on the walls, and a big rug here” he pointed to the centre of the living room. “There was my grandpas old drinks globe in the corner here and plants on the window ledge.”

Tommy walked through the living room and dining room and into the kitchen around the corner. It was just as bare. Wooden counters across two walls with only a microwave, a cheap looking coffee pot and a set of knives on top.

He opened the fridge and scoffed when he saw it was mostly filled with bottles of beer. “Some things never change.”

“He drank a lot?” Buck asked.

“I can’t remember a single time he didn’t have a beer bottle or whiskey glass in his hand.” He said it so matter of factly and so easily, showing that it was a normal thing for child Tommy to be seeing.

Buck followed him back through the downstairs and to the front entrance then up the stairs. The first door Tommy opened was his old man’s room. It followed the empty theme from downstairs—a bed, a nightstand on either side and a large dresser opposite. No homey touches or decor.

Tommy walked along to the next door and stopped. His finger tips trailed along the scratches halfway up the door. Buck squinted and could just make out the word ‘Lakers’ etched into the wood.

“You’ve always been a fan of the Lakers I see?” Buck smiled.

“Yeah.” He smiled back, but the smile slowly faded. “Got my ass beat for this, though.” He replied.

He pushed open the door and they walked into Tommy’s childhood bedroom. Except it wasn’t a bedroom anymore, not really; more of a storage room. A few dining chairs stacked up in the corner, an old scratched up coffee table and a couple of large cardboard boxes.

The bare floorboards creaked under Tommy’s feet as he walked to the center of the room and surveyed his surroundings with a somber look on his face. Suddenly his body straightened and he turned quickly and opened up the closet door and bent down. His hand reached to the back corner of the floor to find the familiar hole which he slid his finger into and pulled up the small length of floorboard.

“No way!” He laughed to himself.

“What?” Buck asked trying to look over his shoulder.

Tommy turned around with a small, rusting metal box in his hand and sat down fully on the floor to open it.

“What’s that?” Buck asked.

“My safe.” His fingertips caressed the items in the box. “It was something my mom got me. She said I should use it for things that were important to me.” He pulled out a set of cheap baseball cards. “Clearly my priorities were a little off.” He laughed to himself.

Some coins, a toy soldier and some other little childlike oddities came out of the box. Then Tommy’s hand stilled. He took a shaky breath as he lifted out a faded post-it note.

Buck leaned forward to read the beautifully cursive writing.

“Have a wonderful day at school, sweetheart. Love, Mom”

Tommy took a harsh breath. And then another. And another. His breaths were becoming short and fast and then a strangled sound came from his throat as his shoulders began to shake.

Buck immediately fell to the ground and wrapped his arms around Tommy as he broke apart with wrecked sobs. His body shook hard with every loud cry that became muffled when he shoved his head into Bucks neck.

It was all Buck could do to stop himself from breaking just seeing Tommy like this. He ran a hand up and down his back while the other softly ran through the hair on the back of his head.

“It’s okay.” He whispered. “It’s okay. I’m here.”

He gripped onto Bucks hoodie so tightly Buck had the fleeting thought that it might rip. That didn’t matter though; nothing else mattered.

“Just breathe, baby. Just breathe.” He could feel Tommy trying to gain control of his breathing. Eventually the sobs quietened but he kept hold of Buck.

Buck felt a big lump of guilt in his stomach. His priority was making sure that Tommy was okay but he couldn’t deny that it felt nice to have Tommy in his arms again.

He shook that thought away. This wasn’t about him, or them—it was about Tommy and what he was going through.

“Hey. Why don’t we go outside for a bit? Get some fresh air.” Buck suggested. Tommy nodded into Bucks shoulder before detaching himself and slowly standing up. As they made their way downstairs, Buck made sure to stick close enough to him just in case he needed to be leant on.

They both sat on the front porch steps quietly for a few minutes. Tommy rested his elbows on his knees and blankly stared at the street ahead. He sniffed and wiped his eyes.

“I miss her.” He said; his voice thick.

“Your mom? What happened to her?”

“She died. When I was 12. Drunk driver.” He answered.

“Oh god. Tommy, I’m so sorry.”

“My dad.. Things got so much worse after that.” He wiped more tears from his eyes.

Buck let his hand run up and down Tommy’s back in an act of comfort. Tommy blew out a heavy breath.

“I’m sorry. I..”

“No. No, Tommy. You have nothing to apologise for.”

“It’s just so stupid!” He said suddenly standing up. “I hated the man. And I mean truly hated him.” He began to pace around, getting more agitated. “Do you know how many times that I wished he’d died? Like actually hoped that he would die?! And now he has and.. and here I am crying about it. Crying about a man who never gave a shit about me my entire life! It’s pathetic. I’m pathetic.”

Buck stood and closed the distance between them quickly, holding onto Tommy by his upper arms.

“Hey! You are allowed to feel things about this. About him, about him dying. That doesn’t make you pathetic.” He tried to reassure him but he shook his head.

“He made my life hell. And my mom’s. He doesn’t deserve anybody grieving. Yet here I am..” He tried to move away from Buck but Buck held him tighter.

“I don’t.. I don’t think you’re grieving him, Tommy. I think maybe you’re grieving hope.”

“What? I don’t understand.” Tommy wiped his eyes again.

“As much as you hated him, maybe there was a part of you deep down that hoped one day he would change. And now that he’s died, that hope has died too.”

“I.. maybe. I don’t know. I don’t know how to.. deal with this. I..”

“It’s okay. You don’t have to figure it out right now. It’s still fresh and raw.”

He lifted his arms higher and pulled Tommy into a hug. Tommy arms gripped tightly around his waist.

“Thank you.” Tommys voice was strained and raw.

“You don’t have to thank me.”

“I do. After what I did-“

“Stop.” Buck interrupted, pulling back and letting go of him. “We should definitely talk about that, not least because I deserve to say my piece.” He had no anger in his voice, but his tone was clear. Tommy nodded, looking down at the ground. “But, right now isn’t the time. What you’re dealing with.. This is more important.”

“Okay.” Tommy agreed.

“We can take a break if you want.”

“I am actually starting to feel a little hungry.” He replied.

“I told you to eat some of that banana bread before left.” Buck reminded him and playfully nudged him with his shoulder. Tommy huffed a small laugh.

“Yeah I know, you were right.” He conceded. “Okay..” he said firmly, straightening himself up and shaking his head clear. “Let’s get something to eat and we can deal with the house later.”

“Good plan.” Buck smiled. Tommy locked up the house before they got into the truck and drove further into town.

“Hey, I was thinking.” Buck said after a while. “Maybe we should get a hotel for the night.”

Tommy’s head whipped to Bucks direction but Buck spoke before Tommy had the chance to say anything.

“Separate rooms.” He made clear. “I just think it’s a long drive back and you still have to speak to the funeral home and sort those arrangements—maybe it would be best to figure some things out today and finish the rest tomorrow.”

Tommy contemplated it for a minute before speaking. “Don’t you have a shift tomorrow?”

“How do you know that?” Buck asked.

“I, uh.. We still have our calendars synced.” Tommy admitted sheepishly.

“Oh.” Buck responded as though he hadn’t known, which was a blatant lie—he’d noticed a few days after they broke up. Much like the idea of throwing out Tommy’s things, he couldn’t bring himself to un-sync them.

“I’m sorry. I’ll un-sync them when we stop.”

“No!” Buck protested. “I mean, it’s fine. And-and you’re right I do have a shift tomorrow, but I’m sure Bobby won’t mind. It’s not like I take days off regularly anyway.”

“You sure? I don’t want my shit causing an issues for you at work.” Tommy argued.

“It’s fine, Tommy. I really don’t mind. I’ll call Bobby when we stop for food.”

They decided on a cheap diner in town and Buck found them a table while Tommy used the bathroom. Buck took the opportunity to call Bobby.

“Hey Buck, I came by earlier to bring back your cake dish but you weren’t there.”

“Uh, yeah I’m, uh.. with Tommy.”

“You’re what?” Bobby replied in a surprise. “I thought you were trying to not see him?”

“I was. Uh, but then he turned up at my apartment last night, and-“

“Buck.” Bobby chastised.

“No, Bobby—it’s not like that. His dad died.”

“Oh jeez.”

“Yeah. He was.. Bobby I’ve never seen him this way. He really worried me.”

“Well, I guess it’s good he someone to help him.”

“Yeah. That’s why I’m calling actually.” Buck said.

“What do you need?”

“Couple of days off? We’re up by Tommy’s dad’s place a few hours away. He identified the body earlier and he wanted to see his old house and.. he just needs some time for it to sink in and make arrangements. I don’t want him to do it alone.”

“I understand. Take as long as you need.”

“Thanks Bobby. And.. I’m only telling you because I need the time off, but please don’t tell anybody else about Tommy’s dad, or that I’m with him.”

“Buck, you know they’re all going to wonder where you are.” Bobby reminded him.

“I know.” Buck conceded. He contemplated telling Maddie he’d gone away for a few days to clear his head, but after what happened with her after she had Jee she’d just worry he was going to do something more serious. Bobby sensed his appreciation.

“Look, I’ll tell them I sent you the academy for a few days to help with training. But after that you’re going to have to tell them something.”

Buck sighed with relief. “Thank you, Bobby.”

“You’re welcome. And I hope Tommy’s okay.”

“I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

“Bye Buck.”

“Who was that?” Tommy asked taking a seat across from Buck.

“Oh, uh, Bobby. I managed to get the next few days off. I had to tell him about your dad, but I asked him not to tell any of the others. I wasn’t sure if you wanted anybody else to know.”

“I appreciate that. Thank you.”

Buck opted for a burger and Tommy chose pancakes. They ate in silence for a while. Buck wasn’t sure what to say. He wanted to ask Tommy how he was feeling and offer comfort where he could but he also didn’t want to spook him.

He’d been more open in the last 18 or so hours than he’d ever been and though Buck hated the reason why, he was grateful that Tommy trusted him enough to come to him.

“So..” Tommy asked breaking the silence. “How have you been?”

Buck looked at Tommy for a second before laughing. Not because it was actually funny, but because it was a ludicrous question.

“Really?” He said trying not to sound snippy.

Tommy immediately understood and gave a small laugh too. “Yeah, I’m sorry. Stupid question.”

“Do you want the honest answer?” Buck asked. Tommy took a second before nodding.

“Not great.” He said. “Awful, actually.”

Tommy opened his mouth to say something but stopped and looked out of the window instead.

“What about you?” Buck asked. Tommy turned his face back to Buck and held his eyes for a moment.

“Same.” He said, sadly. Buck was torn between being glad he felt like shit, and hating it. He was still in pain from what Tommy did but he’d never found it in himself to hate him. He could never hate him.

There was a tension in the air between them. Something not entirely uncomfortable. It wasn’t exciting and electrifying as it had been numerous times between them in the past, but there was an underlying current of.. something.

“So,” Buck said trying to break some of that tension. “Once we’ve finished here, I thought maybe we could go to the funeral home, if you’re up to it? You don’t have to make any decisions yet, but we can find out what the next steps are for when you’re ready.”

Tommy sipped his coffee and took a deep breath. “Yeah. I think I can do that.”

The funeral home was much nicer than the last one Buck had been in. Then again, this one hadn’t had a car plough through it. There was soft string music playing gently throughout the place and fresh flowers dotted around.

“Can I help you, gentleman?”

They both turned around in the foyer to see a tall, bald and gaunt looking man in a black suit. His long thin fingers crossed together in front of him.

“Yeah. Yes. My.. my father passed away yesterday. I need to, uh, make arrangements.” He told the man. Buck noticed his breathing changing and took his hand and laced his fingers in between Tommy’s, who squeezed his hand in return.

“Let me first say that I’m sorry for your loss.” The man said.

“Thank you.”

“We offer a range of services to help honour the death of a loved one. If you’d like to follow me, I can take you through process. Do you have the relevant paperwork?” Tommy handed the forms the hospital had given him to the man. “Thank you.” The man gestured for them to follow him.

An hour later, they walked out of the funeral with plans in place for the collection of Tommy’s dad’s body from the hospital and basic funeral arrangements made.

Tommy chose a basic wooden casket, and a burial site in the cemetery closest to the house—it didn’t matter where, he was never going to visit. He chose not to have a service or memorial—the bastard didn’t deserve one. Due to the death being of natural causes the hospital would release the body straight away and so the burial was to take place the day after next.

Tommy sighed as they sat back in his truck.

“Was it me or did that guy look-“

“Like a corpse? Yeah.” Tommy replied. Buck sucked in his lips to prevent himself from laughing but couldn’t help the snort that came out. Tommy huffed in response, which made Buck laugh. They both began giggling.

“Billy Boils looked more alive.” Buck said and Tommy barked out a loud laugh in response. Suddenly the car was filled with raucous belly aching laughter.

An elderly woman, dressed in mourning clothes, walked past the truck and looked horrified at the two men laughing wildly. They didn’t notice.

Buck wiped tears from his eyes as their laughter began to wind down. “How are you feeling?” He asked.

“I’m.. I don’t know honestly. I’m glad I got this done though. Thank you coming with me.” He looked at Buck so softly that Buck had to hold himself together. He wanted to pull Tommy into his arms again and keep him there. This big, usually stoic and confident man who somehow looked smaller; the weight of his past trauma and current feelings weighing him down.

“Of course.” He simply said instead. Tommy gave a soft half smile at Buck using his words. “But I think that’s probably enough for you today. We should get to a hotel and get some rest.”

“Yeah. I think there’s one near here.”

“Wait, I just realised—we don’t have any clothes. Or toiletries. I don’t even have a phone charger.”

Tommy pulled out of the parking space. “It’s fine. I’ve got all that stuff in the back.”

“Well, yeah it’s your car.” Buck said knowing Tommy was referring to his emergency go-bag; the one all first responders kept in their cars. “But I don’t have anything.”

“Actually you do.” Tommy glanced at Buck before back to the road ahead.

“You.. you still have it?” Buck asked, surprised. A few months after they started dating they each added a small bag of essentials to their trunks for the other. Mostly in case one of them was in the hospital it would save the other from having to go to their place to pick up things.

“I kept meaning to take it out but kept forgetting.”

Buck wondered if this was a situation like his own and Tommy simply didn’t want to get rid of things that were his. That thought was doused quickly remembering it was Tommy that didn’t want to be with him so it was more likely that he did just forget.

They found the hotel and booked 2 rooms, only arguing when Tommy insisted on paying for them both given that Buck wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for his dad dying. Buck gave in, allowing him to pay.

“Okay. Here are your room keys, gentleman. Rooms 118 and 119.”

They both looked at each other and laughed.

“Is everything alright?” The lady at the desk asked, confused.

“Uh, yes. Everything’s fine. Thank you.”

They made their way up to their rooms and stood awkwardly in front of their doors.

“I..”

“Do-“

They both spoke at the same time.

“Sorry.” Tommy said.

“It-it’s okay.”

“What were you going to say?” Tommy asked.

“I was just going to say that I’m going to jump in the shower then maybe go downstairs for a drink at the bar. If-if you want to join me?” He well aware of how pathetic he sounded and was trying to hide his nerves in asking.

“Oh.” Tommy said. Buck immediately felt a flush of embarrassment heat up his face.

“You don’t have to. It’s-it’s fine, really.” He waved the key card over the lock and it clicked open.

“No, that’s not.. I.. I was going to say that I’m exhausted and thinking of ordering room service for dinner if.. if you wanted to join me?”

Oh. That wasn’t what Buck was expecting. Although it made sense that Tommy probably didn’t want to be alone.

“Uh, sure. Yeah. Just let me shower and change.” He told him.

“Don’t rush. I’m not going anywhere.”

This time. Buck couldn’t help but think.

#911 abc #911 #911onabc #tommy kinard #bucktommy #911 buck #evan buckley #buck x tommy #evan buck buckely #bucktommy fic #tevan #tevan fic #bucktommy fix it fic

18 notes · View notes

cq-studios · 11 months ago

Text

I’m actually obsessed with the idea of Brain just ending up in Scala and having to learn about how to use the new tech (just like he had to figure out MoM’s computer), and I was bored so I wrote a little snippet of him sneaking into a kitchen (and away from Sigurd) and figuring out appliances lol

Brain entered what turned out to be the kitchen. It was cramped, at least compared to the one in the Clocktower. Hardly enough space for more than, maybe 4 people. It had a very distinct smell, not necessarily a bad one, but a strong one. This confused him considering it was alarmingly clean.

There was a counter running along the wall, strangely made of some sort of stone instead of the wood he’d expect. He couldn’t see a stove, which was strange, but even stranger was the contraption on the counter— four little metal prongs supposedly to hold something up and some knobs along the edge. At the end of the counters was an unusual cupboard also made out of metal for whatever reason. It was out of place even compared to the other cupboards in the room, which were made from a purple wood reminiscent of home.

Curiosity piqued, he walked over to investigate, the counter contraption first on his list.

He seemed to be right about the metal prongs being used to hold something. Each of them stuck out above a circular dip, which had a slightly raised cylinder in the middle, rife with tiny holes. That most likely had something to do with the knobs so he twisted one, as a test.

It took a moment but a familiar sharp smell brushed his nose. It was the same scent that came right before an explosive spell. Panic lighting up inside him, he twisted the knob back to its original position, using a swift aero spell to disperse the gas. Why would they even have that?!

Unless…

On a technical level, explosion spells were really just out of control fire spells, and it took a bit for there to be enough gas for him to smell it, so even if fire spells don’t have that smell, they must use that same gas, and if that’s the case then maybe…

He tried the knob again, only slightly twisting it this time, and shot a small fire spell at the dip underneath the prongs. The cylinder in the centre caught, controlled, consistent flames spitting out of each of the holes.

He was right, this was a stove then, just a very weird looking one.

With that mystery solved, he turned the stove off and moved on and over to the metal cupboard.

It was a similar purple to the wooden cupboards with a silver handle and as he got closer he noticed it was letting out a low hum. Interesting.

He opened the cupboard and was greeted by a variety of raw meat, some drinks, and a waft of cold air. This was a refrigerator then? He closed the door, stopping any more of the chill from escaping and gave the outside of the fridge a quick scan for the ice compartment. There wasn’t one.

Then where did the ice go in? Where did they cast blizzard?

Had they figured out a way to imbue the fridge with magic so they wouldn’t need to refill it? He couldn’t say he’d blame them if they had. It was a horrible feeling, losing all your food because it slipped your mind.

But if they had, how? He supposed he’d never really tried to imbue an object with elemental magic before. They were generally one off, quick firing spells. He just assumed it wouldn’t last long enough to work, not unless you changed the whole base of the spell. Which he thought might do it, if they could break down the magic enough to isolate the properties then combine-

“Oh, there you are,” an exasperated mutter came from the doorway, “Master Brain, you really should tell me if you’re ever going someplace”.

#Oh no CQ’s writing about a niche thing only they care about as a way to procrastinate on Unlikely Friend again #This is technically a part of Nameless AU but it’s right when Brain arrives in Scala rather than anything to do with the main plot of that #I don’t know if I’ll expand on this ever (probably not)#and that’s why I’m throwing it into the internet now #brain kh #khml #kh #kingdom hearts #kh fic #sometimes i think about my khux fics

54 notes · View notes

molllsprple · 1 year ago

Text

Strictly business

Part 3

Part 2

I’ve had a bit of a cold this week, so I am sorry for the delay. There may or may not be something spicy coming in chapter 4 🤭 just a heads up.

I hope you Enjoy!

You traced the woven gauze that encircled your thigh, as you gazed out the small window of your room, counting the cobwebs that decorated the walls. In the few months that you had worked for Mihawk, you had barely shared an interaction that lasted longer than thirty seconds, yet, in a matter of hours you had managed to turn your working relationship on its head, every ounce of professionalism going out the window. For this reason, you had decided to keep to the narrow confines of your room over the next few days, biding your time as the ship sailed to its next destination—Not that you knew how long that would be or where you were even going. Mihawk had simply set the sails and said nothing more.

He hadn’t come to check on you since dumping you in here, for which you were secretly thankful for, however you would occasionally catch sight of his shadow creeping in from under the door at night, lingering a while before it eventually retreated down the hallway.

With a deep exhale, you hugged your legs to your chest under the musty sheets, eyes slipping shut as the gentle rise and fall of each wave lulled you into a state of comfort. Now that your leg had healed a little, you were hoping to take up your next assignment in an attempt to escape this awkward atmosphere. It was what you were being paid for after all. Mihawk had been more than generous, and you didn’t want to burden him any longer.

Your stomach lurched at the sound of knuckles on wood, as you shot out of bed in an instant, hastily straightening out your clothes and smoothing your hair. Your hand hovered over the door knob before eventually grabbing and twisting, inching the door open to unveil Mihawk’s lean figure crowding the doorway. Your cheeks flushed as you daringly met his molten gold gaze.

“We’re here” Mihawk announced, apparently no time for pleasantries, as he immediately turned to slip out the door to the upper deck.

You lingered at the door before slowly retracing Mihawk’s steps towards the top deck, squinting as your eyes adjusted to the light of day. As you blinked your surroundings into focus, the air around you became frigid and thick with a gloomy smog. You blinked again, as you took in the murky landscape of dense forests and crumbling ruins that surrounded a castle at the centre of the island. Your eyebrows furrowed. “We’re—Sorry…where are we?”

Mihawk’s eyes remained fixed on the land infront of him, as he leaned against the side of the vessel, the feather on his hat swirling and dancing with every gust of wind.

“Kuraigana island” He replied flatly, eyes glazed over and lost somewhere in the distance. “My home”.

You noted the subtle tone of sadness in his words, as you followed his line of sight, noticing how some of the structure of the castle had began to crumble away.

“Why are we here?” You asked, carefully moving to occupy the space on his right.

Mihawk finally turned to look down in your direction “I’m going to train you”.

You tilted your head, eyebrows knitting in confusion as you scanned his side profile “Train me?”

——————————————————————————-

Mihawk lead you to a large stone ruin just outside the castle, a tall circle of stone that looked like it could have been a turret at some point in time. You clutched the foreign object between your hands, squeezing the woven cotton handle to achieve a better grip. The katana Mihawk had provided you was beautifully crafted, and even though you had little experience wielding a sword, you could appreciate good craftsmanship when you saw it. You could feel how the heavy steel carried great momentum with each fell swoop as you experimentally switched the blade between your unpracticed hands.

“I appreciate the offer, but please explain to me why I need sword practice when I’m perfectly capable wielding knives.”

Mihawk stood parallel to you, stance casual and expression nonchalant as he watched you play with the sword. “If you want to work for me, then I expect your capabilities to match my own.” He took two slow steps towards you, capturing the tip of your blade between his fingers before gently resting it to point at the smooth skin of his exposed chest. “Knives are practical short range, but a sword provides the ability to strike from a distance”. Mihawk’s eyes subtly skimmed over your face, before travelling downwards “…Making you less vulnerable.”

You watched his movements before flicking your eyes over his shoulder, settling on the large sword strapped to his back “Aren’t swords your thing?” You asked, eyes returning back to his face to find that his gaze hadn’t left you for a second “…I’d really hate to take your spotlight.” A mischievous grin tugged at the corners of your mouth.

Mihawk did not return your amusement.

You huffed out a laugh “So you’re gonna fight me with that big sword of yours” You said lowly, words coming out a little more suggestive than you intended. “I hardly think that’s playing fair.”

Mihawk’s fingers slipped from your blade, stepping back to resume his former position as he began to remove the large sword, along with his Leather coat and feather hat, leaving him in black trousers and white low buttoned shirt. “I won’t be using Yoru against you, not for now at least” He turned to face you again “Now I want you to come at me, as if I were your enemy”

You straightened up slightly as you lowered the blade. Sure, there had been times in the past where that arrogant face of his had pissed you off, but you never wanted to actually hurt him. “What!?”

Mihawk’s golden irises darkened as he flexed his fingers and readied his stance. ”Come. At. Me.”

If he wanted a fight, then you would give him one.

Raising the sword, you began to bolt forward, swinging the heavy steel from left to right, each time missing by a mile as Mihawk dodged each failing attempt with ease. It was like a dance of sorts, his every movement swift and graceful as he ducked and weaved between each lethal slice. You locked eyes as you took another swing, this time going for an uppercut.

Missed.

You spun around clockwise, the blade picking up speed as you tried to catch him out with an attack from the side.

Missed again.

The two of you were so entangled in the passion of the fight, that you barely had time to register the large rock that your foot was heading towards.

Mihawk fiercely grabbed your right arm before spinning your back to be flush with his chest.

“Clumsy” He scolded, his left hand assuming an unforgiving hold on your waist as he brought the blade up to your neck with the other.

You wondered whether it would bruise later.

“You need to watch your footwork” He rumbled, breath ghosting over the shell of your ear as his deep vocals hummed through your bones, making your hair stand on end. You were rendered utterly breathless, and you weren’t entirely sure whether it was from the physical exertion.

You struggled in vain, hoping Mihawk would fail to notice the way your pulse wasn’t slowing down.

Gently, he lowered the blade, the heat of his body seeping away as he separated from behind you, left hand slipping from its hold on your waist.

“Again” He commanded, readying his position once more.

You attempted to regain some composure as you turned to face him, however your movements were stunted by the sharp pain that darted through your thigh muscle, legs buckling under the strain. “Shit” You gritted, clutching the source of the pain.

In the blink of an eye, Mihawk was crouched beside you, arm hooked under yours as he helped to support your weight.

“I think that’s enough for today.” He admitted quietly, plucking the sword from your grip.

—————————————————————

You sighed deeply, as you slumped back against one of Mihawk’s lavish sofas that framed the fireplace in his living room. Your nostrils were overwhelmed by the rich smell of burning wood, as the comforting heat served to sooth your every ache.

Mihawk’s figure, softly illuminated by the warm glow of the fire, was currently hunched on the floor in front of you, assessing your wound, despite your persistent protests. The injury itself had healed over mostly, but it would still take some time before you would see it mend completely.

Your silhouettes both sat in perfect silence, interrupted only by the occasional crackle and snap of the fireplace, as the flames cast subtle shadows over Mihawk’s face, making him appear a little softer than what you were used to.

Unfortunately, the fire did nothing to resolve the tightness in Mihawk’s broad shoulders, which had been there since coming back from training. Tension oozed out with every harsh tug of gauze, all finesse long abandoned, as his hawkeyes remained fixated on the damage caused to your thigh. You had hoped that he had forgiven you by now, but going by his actions, it was evident that he was still holding some sort of grudge. You sighed again quietly, tipping your head back against the sofa and closing your eyes, trying to zone out the wave of guilt that was beginning to rise in your stomach.

“I shouldn’t have let you go” Mihawk eventually says, the velvety baritone of his voice disrupting the silence like a ripple in water.

Your eyes shoot open as you sit up to face him, frantically looking over his figure as if it would somehow reveal to you the meaning of his words “What?” You question, completely dumbfounded.

Mihawk remained with his head bowed, eyes obstructed by the dark curls that hung untamed by the absence of his hat. “That man” He spat the words like they were venom “—I knew how dangerous he was—and I still…let you go”

You watched in silence as he spoke.

“It’s my fault—this—it’s all my fault” Mihawk continued, refusing to meet your eye-line as he bitterly choked out each word.

You sat deadly still, taken aback by his admission. “Hey, Mihawk—don’t be silly” You stretched out your fingers in an attempt to ease his conscious, delicately placing them on top of his hand.

Mihawk flinched at the contact, before finally looking up to meet your gaze.

His eyes held the same dangerous fury that you had witnessed that day after the incident, however, it was clear now that his anger had never been directed at you.

You stared back as him wide-eyed, wracking your brain for something to say—anything. Except…you couldn’t find the words. Instead, your hand began to move on its own, slowly lifting up to cradle the roughness of his jawline, as you gently thumbed the smooth skin of his cheek.

Mihawk’s eyes softened slightly in return, as he reluctantly melted into the warmth of your palm. The fierceness of his gaze would have been intimidating, if it wasn’t for the fact that his eyes were noticeably blood shot and forming bags around the edges.

He looks so tired, You thought, your gaze drifting over his rugged features. It was almost painful, seeing the way he was punishing himself for a mistake that no one could have seen coming. You wanted to sooth his woes, and give him something warm enough to drown out his frustrations. Although, you feared that it would ruin your working relationship forever.

Harbouring affection for your boss had never been part of the contract.

Part 4

(If you would like to be added to my taglist, please let me know in the comments!)

@kaykay0315 @lebanese-afg-ya @sapphireonline

#dracule mihawk #enemies to lovers #mihawk smut #mihawk x reader #one piece mihawk #one piece #fanfic #fanfiction #opla fanfiction #opla mihawk #opla #opla smut #mihawk x you #hawkeye mihawk

67 notes · View notes

chaosbarelycontained · 8 months ago

Text

See Me Go Through Changes

North Country Boy Chapter 4

Pairing: Simon “Ghost” Riley x AFAB!OC

TW: Swearing

Words: 2k

Synopsis: Price gives Jules access to much more than her usual tech and Ghost gets the third degree.

“You need a medic?” Price asked gruffly once the Lieutenant had left the gym.

“No sir, I’m good,” Jules responded, resisting the urge to rub her aching jaw, instead placing her beret back onto her head.

Price nodded once and set off at a brisk pace. Jules followed the Captain down stark corridors, each taking them deeper and deeper into the bowels of Stirling Lines barracks. They encountered a myriad of soldiers on their journey, most of them wearing the caps and badges of the SAS or the SRR, and all of them saluted Price as they passed.

They must have taken a circuitous route that Jules hadn’t used before but they ended up in a wing that was familiar to her and where she’d spent a lot of her time during her SRR training. Stopping before a closed, unmarked door, Price paused with his hand on the door knob. He turned to Jules with a devilish look in his eye.

“Now before we go in, just remember, I don’t want you to get all over-excited on me, Sergeant, understood?”

“Understood,” Jules replied, but her tone was raised, as if her response were a question.

Price pushed open the door and then stepped aside to reveal a bank of monitors and some of the most advanced computing and remote surveillance equipment Jules had ever seen. She stepped into the room with a soft gasp and ran her fingers delicately across the top of the monitors. Her skin prickled with goosebumps in the air-conditioned coolness and she turned back to Price with a genuine smile of joy.

“Fuckin’ ‘ell! Are you flirtin’ with me, Sir?” she teased, earning her a deep, rumbling chuckle.

“If I wanted to flirt with you, Tiger, you’d know about it. I take it you like the set-up?”

“Like it? It’s mint!” Jules exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Good. I need you to make sure it's got everything you need. If anything’s missing then there needs to be a list on my desk by 0800 hrs tomorrow. Anything, Sergeant. If you need it, just ask.”

“Absolutely, Sir,” Jules said, but already sounded distracted as her attention was drawn back to the equipment before her.

“One more thing,” Price stated, pulling her focus back to him.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Lieutenant Riley,” Price began and Jules immediately stiffened. “I don’t know what’s gone on and I don’t need to, unless it compromises my team. Will it compromise my team, Sergeant?”

“N-no, Sir,” she replied, her face flushing with embarrassment at her very public loss of control.

“Good. See that it stays that way,” he ordered, but then his face softened. “Go on then, have at it,” he nodded towards the monitors and left Jules to it.

She slid into the comfortable wheeled chair, removed her beret, and lifted the headset onto her head. One swipe of the mouse and the screens before her lit up to show the familiar MOD log in screen. She tapped in her credentials but the homescreen she was expecting to see didn't appear. Instead of the SRR logo with the Corinthian helmet and sword there was a design she hadn’t seen before. The centre of the logo still featured a sword but instead of the helmet there was a skull and they were bordered by a pair of feathered wings and a laurel wreath. The only text visible was under the hilt of the sword and all it stated were the numerals 141.

Moving the cursor over the logo, Jules left-clicked on it and the screen dissolved to show a desktop layout that wouldn’t look out of place in any office in the country but a closer look at the icons showed programs that the majority of people wouldn’t even know existed. There were flight scanners, access portals to world-wide air traffic controls, drone programming systems, access to civilian emergency service and CCTV networks, both radio wave and microwave detector systems for communications interceptions, banking network portals, and pretty much anything else she would need. There, at her fingertips, were the tools she needed to monitor and even start incursions the world over. There was even the Spotify app, which made her huff out a chuckle.

Even with only the most cursory of glances over the system, Jules couldn’t see anything that was conspicuous by its absence. Her list for the Captain was, for the moment, unpopulated. Checking the time on the clock in the bottom left of the screen she noticed a small icon that she recognised but had never had the opportunity to use.

“You’re shittin’ me,” she breathed, before double-clicking on the tiny image.

The screen darkened for a moment before lighting up with a soft blue glow. An electronic chirp sounded from one of the desk drawers and Jules opened it to reveal a high end VR headset resting on a magnetic charging dock.

“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” she squealed, picking up the tech and cradling it in her hands.

Swallowing down the knot of excitement in her throat she removed the headset she was wearing and slowly replaced it with the VR gear. Sighing in satisfaction at the new accessibility she had gained she weaved her hands through the air in a graceful pattern, relishing the lack of need for hand controllers. A few gestures later and she was walking through the streets of Kyiv and then, in a flash, had been transported to favelas of Rio. Throwing her head back and letting out an excited laugh she allowed herself to get lost in the advanced technology that she loved.

* * * * * *

“Geek,” Rob said affectionately, scrubbing his hand over the top of her head. “Computer Science though, Jules? Why the fuck did you pick that?”

“Cause I like it, knobhead,” she replied, shoving his hand away and batting at his shoulder.

The pub in Preston wasn’t that busy for a Saturday afternoon and the train ride up from Manchester that morning had been uneventful. It had mainly consisted of Jules trying to study for a seminar whilst Simon did his best to antagonise her once he’d finished with the copy of FHM he’d picked up at Piccadilly Station.

“She’s good at it too,” Simon added, catching her eye over the rim of his pint glass. “Got some mint grades on your last assignments, didn’t y’Jules?”

“Yeah, suppose so,” she nodded, flushing a little at his praise.

Rob’s eyes flickered between the pair of them and narrowed in suspicion.

“Is there summat going on wi’ you two?' ' he asked.

“Nah!” Jules exclaimed hurriedly, spluttering around her cider and blackcurrant whilst Simon just let out a short laugh and shook his head.

“Just seem a bit pally, that’s all,” Rob hummed, draining his pint.

“Y’said to look out for her while y’were away,” Simon shrugged.

“I can look out for my own bloody self, Jesus,” Jules muttered. “Fuckin’ cavemen.”

After a chippy tea and a farewell to her brother, Jules and Simon made their way back to the station. He seemed lost in thought, not speaking much as they walked onto the platform to wait. Jules leaned back against the red brick wall and wrapped her arms around herself to stave off the chill of the evening.

A shadow fell across her, blocking the light from the station floodlights as Simon leaned over her, caging her in with a devilish smile.

“Didn’t realise the thought of bein’ wi’ me was so bad,” he rumbled, one hand propped against the wall above her head whilst the other came to rest at her waist.

“Was I wrong though?” she protested with a tilt of her chin. “We’re not exactly seein’ each other are we?”

“Well I’m not seein’ anyone else, Jules,” he said, his face turning slightly more serious.

“What’re y’sayin’ Si?” she breathed.

“Just think we should start bein’ honest with ourselves, that’s all,” he replied, his chestnut eyes trailing over her face.

“What about Rob?”

“I reckon he’d be alright with it,” he said, raising his hand to cup her face.

“I reckon he would too, but I think he’d kick your arse first,” Jules laughed softly.

“I’d let him if it got me wi’ you,” he laughed with her as his thumb brushed gently over her cheek.

“Dick’ead,” she murmured, her tongue darting out across her bottom lip as he lifted her chin and tilted his head down to capture her lips with his.

* * * * * *

Ghost waited at the door to Price’s office, outwardly presenting the model of military perfection but his mind whirled in a mess of guilt and confusion. He regretted pushing Jules as far as he had, and there wasn’t much in his life he did regret. Strange how a lot of it involved her though…

“Si, stopppp!” she laughed, batting his arm away from her waist.

Price rounded the corner of the corridor, his face drawing into a scowl as he spotted Ghost. He didn’t need to say a word, simply making a gesture to enter that Ghost followed without question.

The scent of patchouli permeated his nose as they climbed the uneven stone steps of the old drapery building that housed Affleck’s Palace.

He stood at ease before the Captain’s desk as Price sat and deliberately took his time making himself comfortable. Opening his top drawer he pulled out a cigar, clipped the end with a silver clipper that Ghost himself had gifted him and then lit the tobacco. He stared at his Lieutenant with an ambiguous expression as he waited for Ghost to break the silence.

“It’s on the top floor innit?” he asked, groaning at her pseudo-innocent face.

‘I didn’t know! I swear down!” she gasped out a giggle, grabbing his wrist and hauling up the stairs behind her.

“She’ll do,” Ghost rumbled, scrunching his nose a little under his mask which made the drying blood crack away from his skin.

“And is that your professional opinion?” Price asked, a hint of sarcasm making its way into his words.

“Yeah,” Ghost nodded once.

“Si! I found ‘em!” Jules squealed, bouncing over to him with four small figurines and a beaming smile on her face.

“Want to talk about it?” the Captain probed but Ghost shook his head.

“Negative.”

“Just going to throw this out there Simon, but maybe you need to talk to her.”

Ghost shook his head again but found himself unable to meet Price’s stare. They remained in their non-verbal standoff as the seconds ticked by but Price eventually let out a huff and shook his head in defeat.

“Go on then, dismissed. Just…stop being an arse to her, yeah?”

“It’s like you don’t even know me,” Ghost retorted, trying to lighten the atmosphere a little before leaving the office.

Slipping unseen into an empty room along the corridor, Ghost locked the door and then leaned back against it before sliding to the floor. Pulling his balaclava off over his head he ran his hand through his short blond hair and probed at his throbbing nose. It wasn’t broken, although it wouldn’t have been the first time. Resting his arms on his raised knees he dropped his head and let out a deep sigh.

They had to pass through the cafe on their way back to the stairs that would take them out of the building. Jules walked beside him clutching the paper bag that held her treasured purchase. He didn’t want to leave just yet, desperate to spend more time with her.

“D’you fancy a hot chocolate?” he asked, nodding his head towards the cafe’s counter.

“Umm, yeah, we could do that,” she replied.

He ordered for them whilst she found them two seats, near the window so they could watch the world go by below.

“Here y’are,” he said, placing a mug of hot chocolate topped with all the trimmings before her.

“Cheers, Si,” Jules muttered, but he could tell she was distracted.

“What’s up, chuck?” he asked, nudging her knee under the table.

“Y’don’t…y’don’t think it’s a stupid present?” she asked timidly, nodding towards the paper bag on the table.

“Don’t be daft Jules, he’s gonna love ‘em, and if he doesn’t, I’ll ‘av ‘em,” Simon grinned, trying to reassure her. “If someone bought me Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle figures for my 19th I’d be made up!”

“Is that a hint?” Jules laughed, “‘cause I’m not buyin’ you Turtles for your birthday.”

Taglist: @aykxz98

#simon ghost riley #simon riley #call of duty #cod mw2 #ghost cod #ghost x oc #john price #cod mwii

34 notes · View notes

darkficsyouneveraskedfor · 1 year ago

Text

Mise en Place 8

Warnings: noncon, coercion, manipulation, violence and blood, alusions to past abuse. Proceed with caution.

Note: Ooh we getting into the nitty gritty.

Thanks all for reading and I hope you’re excited for this one. All feedback is more than welcome and loved and appreciated. Reblogs are most helpful.

Part of The Club AU

The quiet in the street makes you want to believe things are as they should be. You walk with vigilance and urgency. One eye over your shoulder, a hand in your pockets, around your keys, just in case…

Another block and the tension eases. You’re not there yet. You turn your head before you reach the alley. Nothing. No shadows, only the yellow glare of streetlights.

You dip down between the brick walls and free your keys from your pocket. You slow as you see the dark space between your door and the frame. No. No, no, no. The knob barely hangs from the wood as the void stares back at you.

You spin and hit a wall. You’re thrown back by the figure waiting for you. You hit the steps and bounce onto the ground, your keys flying from your grasp. You’ve never felt such sheer force, even with him.

Your back hits the pavement, the breath gusting from you harshly. You wheeze, the air elusive as you try to take a gulp. A foot lands in the centre of your stomach and has you curling around the boot. It pulls back and toes your side, then finally a crack across your face.

You taste blood. You finally suck in a breath as you curl onto your side and cover your leaking mouth. What is happening? Is it him? Is it Johnny? You should’ve known you can’t escape him.

The crunch of gravel makes you wince and the darkness shifts. You stare at the silhouette distorted on the brick. You groan as the figure steps over you. You roll on the ground, choking on blood and spit. The footsteps trail inside, the hinges whining loud behind you.

The man disappears inside, the creak of the stares marking his absence. He’s in your apartment, your home. You fish around shakily, groping for your phone. It’s gone.

You roll onto your stomach, planting your elbows in the scatter of gravel across the pavement. You see your phone, not far from your keys. You drag yourself as your head swells and swirls. You reach out to grasp the cell and the footfalls stomp out and land thunderously at the bottom of the concrete steps.

You look up but can’t get a good look at the culprit, not before his sole once more crashes into your skull. You’re sent onto your back again and hear his boot come down on your phone, shattering the screen. You wheeze and whimper as you hide beneath your hands.

“Please…” you garble wetly, “just… end it… now…” You sniffle, "Johnny, please..."

Your heart races, deafening you. You’ve waited long enough for this. For the inevitable. You would rather it just be over.

You lay, unmoving, waiting. Nothing happens. You let your hands slip from your face, arms falling limp beside you. You shudder at the emptiness of the alley. He’s gone but you know he’ll be back.

⚡

You don’t call the police. That’s what he wants. He’s one of them.

You get yourself up after what seems an eternity. You’re not entirely sure you didn’t pass out. You drag yourself up the steps and get inside, pushing the loose door into the frame, ignoring as it opens a few inches behind you.

You climb the staircase one foot at a time. You cling to the banister and fall onto the landing. Your apartment is open too. The lock is still intact but you doubt it will do any good. He got past it once.

You keel over inside the door. You stay against it as you drift off into a gray sleep. The sort where the waking world roils just through the thin shield of your eyelids. You wake up several times, moving only as the sun kisses the floorboards.

You call work. You just have one more day before time off but you know you can’t make it in. Even if you were beat down, you need to get your door fixed. Your landlord will likely tack that onto the rent.

A hot bath is hard fought. You finally get yourself over the lip of the tub and into the splashing stream of the faucet. The steam makes it hard to breathe through the dried blood in your nose. You soak until the water is lukewarm and tinted with dirt and blood.

You climb over the top and clatter onto the tile. You wrap yourself in a towel and crawl out to the front room. You roll onto the futon and bury yourself in denial and the duvet. You’ll call Lewis when… your phone, it’s in the alley, broken.

You don’t know. You’ll find a way. When you can think. When you can move.

⚡

You don’t leave your apartment for two days. You don’t even try to retrieve your phone from the alley. You don’t care about the front door. You spend hours staring at the lock on the apartment door, expecting it to flip back at any time.

When at last you can function, you get dressed. You have to go to work. You need a new lock and a new cell. You doubt you’ll be able to afford those any time soon, even if you hadn’t taken a day off.

Your stomach wobbles at the thought of going in. You’re embarrassed. You can’t hide the damage done. You don’t want to tell the truth, so you come up with a simple lie.

You prop the door shut on your way out. It won’t really keep anyone out but it’s better than nothing. You see what’s left of your cell on the ground, the green circuit board cracked and poking out from the shell.

You limb down the street, gripping your ribs until you come in sight of the club. It’s taken you twice as long as usual. You approach the front door and the bouncer with the scarred face merely lifts a brow at your appearance before letting you in. He’s seen worse, that’s obvious.

You keep your head down and drop your arm as you enter. You slowly make your way upstairs but stop halfway, dizzy and breathless. You lean on the railing and hear someone else coming up behind you.

“Nice to have you back, F–” the voice begins but fizzles out. Thor pauses beside you as you stare at your feet, shakily lifting one to the next step. “Oh gods, what has happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing? It can’t be–”

“I fell down some stairs,” you fib as you grunt and lift yourself onto the next step.

“Down some stairs? Oh my, that’s horrible. Here, let me help you,” he puts his hand on the small of your back and you flinch, letting out a yelp. “Ah, I’m sorry, did I hurt you?”

You shake your head and swallow, “really, I don’t need–” your legs quake as you squeeze the railing tighter.

“Just put your hand on my arm, fawn,” he insists and moves your free hand to the inside of his elbow, “hold on, and we’ll go slow.”

You flutter your lashes, fighting back your shame as you let him guide you up. You have no choice, you won’t make it up on your own. You lean on him without thinking as he patiently keeps pace with you.

You wish he wouldn’t make such a big deal. You wish he didn’t pay any attention to you. You wish you could be invisible again.

#thor #dark thor #dark!thor #thor x reader #drabble #au #the club #mise en place #series #marvel #mcu #avengers

111 notes · View notes

butternuggets-blog · 6 days ago

Text

Go-at Peacefully Into The New Year

A Discovery of Witches, Fluff/Humor

New Year's Eve, 1966

Gallowglass stepped into the room with an emphatically nonchalant air. He shut the door behind him as Marcus, Jack and Martin looked up from their card game.

'If anybody asks, I was with you all night.'

'What did you do?' Martin frowned.

'Nothing. I was here with you all night.'

-weewoo-weewoo-weewoo-

A firetruck zipped by, lights flashing. Martin stared at the window after it, alarmed.

-weewoo-weewoo-weewoo-weewoo-

Three more fire engines raced by in quick succession.

'What did you do?!' Jack and Marcus chorused.

'The roof.' Martin threw his hand down and brushed past a protesting Gallowglass. 'Come on!'

****

The roof of the hotel gave a panoramic view of the park in the middle of the square. A towering inferno, some thirteen foot high, was blazing in the middle of it, firemen scrambling to unroll hoses and set up a corden to keep curious onlookers at a safe distance.

Martin gaped. He turned slowly to look at Gallowglass; his face was the same colour as his hair and he looked like he was trying to melt into the floor.

'..Eric-'

Gallowglass winced.

'-is that the goat?!'

'I didn't mean to!' Gallowglass protested, throwing his hands up defensively. 'I was just having a cigarette!'

Martin sighed. 'How?!'

Gallowglass looked sheepish. 'I..may have let the butt roll away from me.'

'You're supposed to stub out cigarettes,' Marcus commented helpfully. Jack was sketching the burning statue, capturing the essence of the moment in, ironically, charcoal.

'I did!' Gallowglass whined.

'Not successfully,' Martin glowered.

________________________________________________________________

'-and that's why we're here,' Gallowglass explained, glancing through his binoculars at the town stretched out before him. The square was still there, prettily decked-out in Christmas lights. The Gävle Goat stood tall and proud above the trees, icicles hanging from its horns.

'So we're going to burn down the goat,' Phoebe lowered her binoculars to stare at the side of Gallowglass' head. 'Commiting international arson, all to spite Baldwin who insists that this "tradition" be put to rest?'

'Exactly!' Martin army-crawled up beside them and pulled a map out of his lapel pocket. 'Right. Baldwin's hunkered down in the hotel with his usual command centre of walkie-talkies. Gallowglass?'

'I see them,' Gallowglass was scanning the square. 'Groups of three patrolling each corner of the park; four snipers on the rooftops and-'

He switched the binoculars to nightvision. '-one holding the fort on the manhole cover, east side.'

'Wow..' Phoebe's jaw dropped. 'You guys really take it that seriously?'

'Not always,' Martin was fishing a round, small stone out of his jacket pocket. 'But times changed and it just wasn't feasible to keep using flaming arrows and the like so we've both had to step up our game.'

'Time.' Gallowglass muttered, checking his watch.

Martin pulled a glove off and placed the stone in the palm of his hand. He squeezed it tight until the warmth from his skin leached into the stone, his other hand gripping his binoculars.

All three watched as the poor bastard holding fort at the manhole was suddenly yanked into it, Diana popping up from below.

'Contact!' Martin grinned.

Diana wove a knot and fog began to pour from the vent, rapidly obscuring the route around the park. As it hit each security team, they began swaying on their feet before delicately crumpling to the ground.

'Sleeping like babes' Gallowglass grinned.

Next, the wind picked up. The fog started to dissipate as Diana rose into the air. Without warning a barrage of gunfire hit her, engulfing her in a hail of bullets from four different directions at once.

Phoebe hissed in shock. Martin grabbed her hand.

'It's alright.. they're rubber bullets, remember?' he soothed. 'Baldwin wants her disarmed, not dead.'

'Besides-' Gallowglass was fiddling with a black controller covered in switches and knobs. '-Matthew would kill him if he actually hurt her.'

There was a gentle hum no human ears would be able to detect and a sleek, see-through drone rose from the opposite embankment. Gallowglass piloted it carefully through the snowy topography as Martin watched the monitor app on his phone, spouting directions.

'Through the grate..right...left...left again..okay, now straight up-'

The drone climbed stealthily up above the grate Diana had previously occupied. Taking advantage of the distraction the shielded witch was providing, Gallowglass kept the drone as low to the ground as possible until he had manoeuvred it behind one of the massive goat legs.

'Climb and fire! Climb and fire!'

The drone sped up the leg. Coming level with the goat's chest, it released a great gout of flame from the flamethrower attached to its undercarriage which caught quickly, eating through the statue's front in seconds.

Martin, Phoebe and Gallowglass cheered, whooping and laughing as the goat quickly became engulfed. Through her binoculars, Phoebe spotted a dejected-looking Baldwin holding his head in his hands as Diana alighted on the windowsill beside him. She couldn't hear what Diana said next, but Baldwin gave her a nasty glare and shoved the cackling witch off the ledge.

Bursts of colour suddenly filled the sky elsewhere in the city. Great whirls of blue, green, red and gold rocketed up, the pop of the fireworks mingling with the distant cheers and singing of the city's inhabitants.

Phoebe linked arms with Martin and Gallowglass. She smiled.

'Happy New Year!'

#gallowglass #phoebe taylor #baldwin de clermont #baldwin montclair #diana bishop #jack blackfriars #marcus whitmore #adow #a discovery of witches #all souls trilogy #all souls series

7 notes · View notes

master-john-uk · 2 years ago

Text

History of the world's most famous front door

Downing Street has been the official residence of the UK's Prime Minister since Sir Robert Walpole moved in in 1735. It was originally No. 5 Downing Street until the houses were renumbered in 1779. Since 1997 the Prime Minister's private apartment has actually been above No. 11 Downing Street.

The original six-panelled Georgian-style front door was fitted in 1770's. It was made from black oak and featured a centre door knob, lion head door knocker and brass letter plate which bore the inscription "First Lord of the Treasury". Following an IRA mortar attack on Downing Street in 1991, the oak door was replaced by a blast-proof steel door of the same design. The brass letterbox today is only decorative... so you can't post a friendly greeting card through the door anymore. There are actually two front doors, which are swapped over when they need repainting. The original wooden door is now stored at The Churchill Museum.

In 1908, PM Herbert Asquith had the door painted green. Apparently the Prime Minister’s wife Margot Asquith complained that the building was "liver-coloured and squalid and lacked the landmark qualities of Marble Arch or the Albert Memorial."

Since renovation work carried out in 1960, the "0" numeral of No. 10 has been at a 37° angle. This puzzled me for many years. I finally got an answer when I was temporarily working for the Ministry of Silly Walks in Whitehall in the 1990's. It seems the zero is actually a capital letter "O" taken from the Roman Trajan alphabet, the font used by the Ministry of Works used at the time. (This answer does not satisfy me completely, but it is the best I can find.)

The door to 10 Downing Street can not be opened from the outside. A security officer is on duty at all times inside the door, who monitors who is approaching via cameras and grants access.

Larry the Cat, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office has his own private entrance to No. 10. He is the first Downing Street cat to have this privilege. However, Larry only uses the cat-flap when he is on an emergency call out. He generally uses the front door, which is more befitting for a cat of his importance. Larry has served longer in Downing Street than Margaret Thatcher, Sir Winston Churchill or Benjamin Disraeli.

64 notes · View notes

sunshinebingo · 2 years ago

Text

@gwynrielweeksofficial Day 8 - Favourite Headcanon and Theories

Secret

One of my favourite headcanons is that Gwyn and Azriel will keep their relationship a secret for a while and this is based on that.

Synopsis: Azriel and Gwyn being bad at hiding their relationship.

Word Count: 700

Warning: a bit NSFW

Read on Ao3

As soon as the door of the private library clicked shut, Gwyn threw herself on Azriel and crashed her lips on his. She had wanted to do this since she saw the first wisp of shadow entering the training ring that morning. It had taken everything in her to control her growing arousal throughout training so no one would notice a change in her scent. She had to stop herself from thinking about Azriel and his rippling muscles, his sinful mouth that often whispered the filthiest words in her ear and his scarred hands that did things to her body she was certain went beyond what the characters in her books ever experienced.

Fortunately, no one noticed anything unusual apart from the few glances and friendly banter that the two always exchanged when they were in the same room. Azriel and Gwyn knew that everyone suspected a mutual attraction between the two friends, but no one knew for certain how far they had gotten from being just friends.

Hiding their relationship was becoming harder for both Azriel and Gwyn. Every moment they spent together seemed to bring them closer to each other in all possible ways. Their feelings grew stronger and the lust got deeper. Gwyn felt a little guilty for keeping her relationship with the Shadowsinger hidden from her sisters at first. But they had both wanted to try this out without the intervention of the busybody members of their family. Both were certain of their respective feelings, but they needed time to figure themselves out as a couple.

From the first time they had kissed and admitted their true feelings, Gwyn and Azriel had felt like they were in a precious bubble where all they needed were each other. Keeping it a secret also added some excitement to it.

Azriel’s hands glided from Gwyn’s waist to her thighs. He lifted her with little effort and carried her to the couch without breaking their kiss. Gwyn hooked her legs around Azriel as he laid her down. She gripped the front of his leathers and brought them impossibly close while her other hand tangled in his dark hair, pulling hard enough that Azriel groaned in pleasure.

Azriel’s cock strained against the fabric of his pants and he pushed himself hard between Gwyn’s legs to make her aware of how much she was affecting him. Gwyn moaned at the friction. She threw her head back on the couch, giving Azriel access to her neck. His tongue traced a path from the centre of her throat to her chin before capturing her lips again.

Gwyn moved a hand from Azriel’s chest to his backside. She squeezed him there and rubbed herself against him. Azriel’s wings shuddered in response and his shadows circled around their bodies. Gwyn gasped when Azriel bit a particular spot behind her ear. This combined with what his hands were doing to her breast and the rhythmical movement of his hips almost made her come undone.

None of them had expected for this to turn so heated. They were so lost in each other that they almost missed the sound of the knob turning. Azriel went rigid as soon as his shadows warned him of someone about to come in.

‘’Someone is coming,’’ he quickly told Gwyn. His shadows started swirling frantically around the room to cover their scents. The door opened. In a sudden moment of panic Gwyn squealed and quickly pushed Azriel off of her. Azriel’s body rolled off hers and he groaned in pain as his body connected with the floor wings first with a loud thump.

Gwyn gasped and got up to look at him. ‘’Oh gods Az I’m sorry,’’ Gwyn exclaimed with a hand on her mouth. ‘’Are you okay?’’

Azriel swore when he tried to sit up. ‘’I’m okay,’’ he groaned again. Gwyn kneeled down next to him and offered more apologies. She placed a hand on his chest. Azriel took her hand in his and looked into her big teal eyes. ‘’I’ve been through worse Gwyn, I’m fine.’’

A smirk tugged at his lips. ‘’Plus it was totally worth it,’’ he whispered so only Gwyn could hear.

‘’What were you doing?’’ Azriel and Gwyn turned their heads to see Nesta. She was looking at them with a raised brow and a smug smile. Azriel looked back at Gwyn. She bit her lip, holding in her own smile until she burst out laughing. Azriel’s laugh immediately joined hers.

Read the 2nd part here

#gwynrielweeksofficial #gwynrielweeks2023 #gwynriel weeks 2023 #gwynriel #gwyneth berdara #azriel shadowsinger #azriel #acotar #acosf

62 notes · View notes

cinimon01 · 9 months ago

Text

You meet a better sort of bum in a marina.

1st of April 2024: I know, April fools day. However it was the day we chose to start to live on board our new boat. We had meticulously packed so we each had 30kg, as allowed by Qantas. This process took into account the things already on board, those we may need, those things we just wanted to take whether we needed them or not and those things we want to have just in case. Another 3 hour flight and 3 hour car ride. We hired a car for a week to be able to get to all of the shops and buy all of the stuff we would need. Mainly food and gas and fuel.

3rd April 2024: Paid a visit to customs as our customs form stated we were able to stay in New Zealand on Mai Tai until June 2024. We wanted to stay for the allotted 2 years each boat receives when they first arrive, but somewhere in the purchase this was changed to June. So we started the process at customs. We found out that having a foreign boat in New Zealand allowed us to avoid all taxes on any purchases. Wow so if we needed a new freezer @ $2500 NZ we would get $375 off. Not too shabby.

5th April 2024: Went to my first yoga class in Opua. So close to the Marina, I just walked about 10 minutes and the community hall was next to the car ferry. Great view of the BOI from the front door. Great class run by a lovely lady called Ines who was selling bananas from her tree.

We had to sort out our gas cylinders as they were foreign and we couldn't get them filled here in NZ. They didn't meet their high standard but fit perfectly into our cubby hole for cylinders in the cock pit. So on the last day before we returned the car we drove to Keri Keri where a cylinder servicing centre was only too happy to help. They said the cylinders were aluminium and worth about $400 each. They would be good for a few more years yet. Great news as we were thinking of just getting new ones. Back to Whangarie delivered the car, taxi to bus station, bus back to Opua, walk down the hill and now we are truly living on a boat without any other form of transport.

On the morning of the 5th our good friends from Bali were here on a cruise and we were able to pick them up and bring them to the boat. Still no sailing as we were waiting for a sail track installation. It was great to welcome aboard our first guests and they loved the boat. Ironically, they will be back next week on a different cruise, so we will see them again and go sailing.

While we we in Whangarie, the good guys from New Zealand Yacht Services came to check everything was ready for the sail track install. It just happened that they were able to get the boom off easily, remove the old track easily and so they decided to install the new track. We weren't even there. Job done and now we can go sailing.

11th April 2024: Extreme weather conditions saw us stuck on board for nearly 2 days and during the night the font hatch in the main cabin leaked. My pillow and mattress was wet and my enthusiasm dampened. So since we bought the boat, the sail track needed replacing, the gennaker was torn to shreds so a new one was ordered, the helm clutch break knob fell off and had to be repaired and replaced and now the hatch leaked. Luckily the boat came with spares and David re installed a new one and its water proof! yay!

15th April 2024: Peter and Diana arrived and we took off. We stretched our sails into nearly zero wind and had a fun day trying to make Mai Tai go without much help from the westerly. We picked up a mooring for $600 for 6 weeks in Kororareka bay, just off Russell old town. Beautiful spot.

18th April 2024: Went to yoga in Russell. First time David drove me to shore in the tender and went for a walk while I made new acquaintance with my muscles. Then off to Opua for a Rally meeting. It was extreemly informative and there are about 60 to 70 boats going between May and June. Some are going to Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji and Vanuatu. We are excited to go in 2025, but seriously need to get to know our boat first.

16th April 2024: Yoga again in Opua, washing and we got our yellow customs form! So David bought a fishing rod and some new lines and a custom step we designed so we can easily step up onto the roof when sailing. Looks great. Now we just need some great weather and we are off to explore the Bay Of Islands and catch a fish.

4 notes · View notes

parznite · 1 year ago

Text

Dreamweaver AU : Chapter One: Scarlet Dreams

This chapter is created from the POV of Dawn Walker, aka Sundrop. Diving more into his life within his own realm and his unique duties.

The dream realm, a cloud palace in the sky, where the denizens who lurked along the skyline lived in the burning sun. Enjoying the crisp warmth that blessed the clouds they resided in. Within this realm; dreams became realities, ambitions turned to dreams and fantasies unleashed. The ivory wisps lived in peace and tranquility, working under their guardian. The radiant protector that's known as Dawn Walker. The ray of sunshine that blesses the dream wisps with their unique powers to give mortals daydreams during the day and sweet slumbers at night.

Dawn found himself atop his pedestal in the centre of the floating city within the realm. Blue optics focused on the clouds above, a delicate golden digit reaching out to form them into shapes of creatures or abstractions. He normally had seen such figures through the many realms he had passed through, especially the mortal realm. His gap-toothed grin only widened as he perfected the puffy clouds into something magical. From ships that sail the seas of sapphire to creatures with maws open to roar. With a flick of his wrist, he brought the delicate creation to himself, turning it over to look at all sides of it.

A soft metallic whistle passed through his separated teeth, filling the open space with a cheerful tone. "Someone will enjoy seeing you," the radiance whispered before clasping his hands over the creature-shaped cloud. Clasping his hand into a fist, and tossing his other hand up he opened a wavering portal. Turning his body with the gesture as he pulled the fist to his face, unclasping his fingers. With a breath, he sent the cloud through the portal he created in a gust. In a flash, the shape disappeared into the portal that Dawn simply closed behind it. His eyes trailed up to the other clouds in the sky, tucking his wings closer to the sides of his head. A glossy gaze admiring the other decorative shapes that lingered in the ocean above.

"Dawn?" a soft whisper snapped him back from his momentary daydream, the beams on his head shrinking in as he got startled. Quickly he turned only to see one of his realm denizens before him. The misty wisp known as "Clover" with soft pale eyes staring up.

"Ah Clover, my dear friend," Dawn beamed as he pushed himself from his pedestal, turning on his feet. Arms flicking outward sending his chiffon fabric into the air behind him before it fell delicately back into place. Tipping his body down, he scooped the shimmering native into his hands. Running a pale finger over the flickering flame-like hair to smooth it down. Simulating a petting motion that is similar to how someone would pet a smaller creature. Stifling a giggle, the wisp began "I just got back from sending the dreams out" Clover chirped.

A look of pride washed over the droid, eyes shutting as he offered a pleased look. "That's wonderful dearest Friend! Have you come for more?"

"Yes please!" Clover eagerly replied, small eyes closing. Dawn looked over the proud little wisp, thinking hard for a moment before touching his temple to the others. His mind flashed to many different outcomes before speaking the next words slowly. "You will be giving this dream of good fortune." With opened eyes looking at Clover, Dawn couldn't help but laugh. "And please you can call me Sun as well, no need to be so formal my friend" Pale orbs shuttered open before a simple nod left the wisp. The flame-like creature pushed from the guardian's fingers to the soft cloud below, disappearing through it as they left to fulfil their new goal.

Pleased with his work, his eyes slowly drew from the area the wisp was to his own quarters. Starting towards them, waving to a few familiar wisps on the way before entering. Gripping the golden knob of the door to shut it behind himself as he entered. Leaning against the mahogany wood, azure eyes were drawn to the many clocks up on his wall. Fixating on the one labelled as "Mortal Realm". "Soon", he thought to himself, a smile creeping across his maw. Not only was he going to see the mortals again tonight, he was going to be with his partner. It's been a week since they had gotten to see each other. While they talked every day through their own communication devices, he admittedly missed Dusk often.

Time for their gathering couldn't come sooner, it had Dawn's feathers in a knot. He couldn't wait to see his crimson-eyed suiter. Let alone discuss all of their work, plans and more on the mortal realm. It was always so fascinating to watch the mortals at work while spending the evening with his one and only. Thinking back to previous meetings, he began to wonder if they'd find that mortal they ran into previously. The one who was able to see and communicate with them. It still brought Dawn's curiosity to its peak and he hoped they'd be able to find them again.

Until then, Dawn took this time to rest up for the late-night adventures. He'd been working tirelessly to make sure he got all his wisps busy at work while maintaining the integrity and unity of the dreams he provided. While it might not seem like a lot of work, it was a lot when you had to do it thousands of times over in a daylight cycle. Regardless, he loved his position as a Guardian and maybe a few moments of shut-eye would do him the trick.

The figure found himself going to his canopy bed, undoing his overgarments before tucking himself into the soft comforter. Wings into themselves and folding feathers over as he rested on his side. Clasping the blanket with one hand and the pillow in the other. A deep breath left Dawn as he took a moment to rest his eyes in the warmth of his bed.

What seemed like only a couple of moments lasted for an hour and a half. Shifting his weight while sinking into the bed. Sapphire eyes flickered open, eyelids heavy as he turned his head slowly. Peering out the window at the forever beaming lights before dragging his gaze at the clocks. Squinting at them, willing his eyes to adjust to the numbers before inevitably giving up. Reaching up he hoisted himself into the sitting position, one hand rubbing at his cornea hidden behind golden lids. Pools fixating on the digits of the clock, reading over the numbers on the Mortal clocks. "8..45" the ray managed before tossing his legs over the bed. Stretching his joints skyward while his wings fluttered out.

Now realising the time, he was practically jumping from his bed and grabbing his overgarments to toss back on. Fastening his belt around his pants and pulling over his leather tunic, settling it so it was facing properly. With a snap of his finger, the radiant charm necklace reappeared over his stern. The dazzling item adorning itself back in place, wavering only slightly when Dawn moved.

With a final glance over his quarters, he pulled the sunglow scarf around his neck once more. Allowing it to fall freely behind him as he paced towards his personal portal. Touching the golden frame it shimmered to life. The displayed image showed the rendezvous spot he and Dusk previously picked out. A beautiful lake was surrounded by a luminescent forest as the moon began to creep over the sky. It was a simple place, where the two could easily travel to during their gatherings with limited problems. The radiant guardian glanced around before taking a deep breath in and shaking his nerves away.

"It's time." He stepped through the portal.

#parznite #dreamweaver dca au #dreamweaver au #fnaf daycare attendant #daycare attendant #fnaf dca #fnaf sundrop #fnaf sun #sundrop #fnaf sun and moon #writing #fnaf security breach #fnaf au #dca au #fnaf dca au

17 notes · View notes

littlenightheories6 · 7 months ago

Text

My Little Nightmares: Stories of the Little Ones - Chapter 3: The Girl in the Fox Mask.

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

Isolation. A vast multiplex theatre in pure isolation. The enclosed society contains many secrets and surprises in each corner, inside out, without contact with the true outside world. How fitting for entertainment.

Most children would avoid buildings such as the Theatre. But she is persistent…

The atmosphere was silent, except for the workers and their supervisor’s shuffling and clicking shoe steps echoing while moving and placing boxes, poles, and other studio equipment around. They were preparing for a show. The distorted commotion they made, speaking in enormous bellows and growls like a hungry, violent stomach and abnormal clicks like a crow…

Peering through her white fox mask and viewing the stage while she could, she noticed black boxes stacked and formed as towers on one side, background walls set on the opposite, theatre spotlights sitting on the glossy wooden floor, mini stages scattered around, with trolleys of mini props such as clothing, toys, trinkets, and more. And puppets that resemble children all too much were piled in a heap in the centre as if they were worthless to all. They were just as distorted as the adults, with faces like bad drawings or squished clay. Their odd body proportions, movement, and language proved their abnormal nature. The supervisor was going ballistic at her staff, who were oddly calm about her raging behaviour. With the lanterns mounted up high turned off, she couldn’t tell their exact details, but with the red seating area illuminating with bright gold, she could capture their silhouettes. They even have strange ropes or something floating in front of their faces.

It’s strange, but what else isn’t…?

She couldn’t do anything except crouch behind a large box out of sight. Still scanning the stage, a door left ajar caught her attention. Close by with only a few steps.

“I can’t wait here for much longer, I need to go now!” Whispering. Taking one last look, she could see that the coast was clear enough, with the staff workers a fair distance away but the supervisor a bit closer observing all. As long as she doesn’t notice her.

Now is a good chance. Remaining her posture, she walked her way to the door, stepping one bare foot after the other on the glossy floor, which didn’t create so much noise for her, giving her some ease. The young girl was already making progress, only a few more feet…

She abruptly stopped in place in shock, looking to the left and seeing the abnormal shouts of the supervisor, yelling at her staff again… Ugh, bossy knob! However, when she continued forward, she felt her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t think her confidence would disappear so simply. She already felt sweat producing from her forehead and hands trembling slightly.

She didn’t have to fear for long as she reached the door. She raised straight, but with little effort pulling it, it creaked almost too noticeably, causing her to stop and look to the staff. Her face tensed slightly, especially since the supervisor was the closest, but wanted to continue through. Gently resting her left hand on the frame, she very slowly pulled the door wide enough just for her to squeeze through. Suddenly… She gasped and jolted back with the door creaking open farther to see the lights above surging on, illuminating everything on the stage. She felt a shockwave of anxiety passing through her body, seeing the supervisor’s appearance slowly turning to her. It wasn’t what she expected.

She wore a white buttoned shirt with brown pants and brown hair in a bun, but it wasn’t what she feared. Her face slowly met the young girl’s. However, she didn’t have a face.

She only had long, bloated, and black tendrils that floated as if they were underwater and almost resembling human tongues. Grotesque and moist tendrils.

The young girl had enough. She turned and ran past the door frame and as the woman growled in surprise at seeing her, she turned again to pull the door closed with a strange large handle at her level, gripping on and stepping back quickly with the door, closing it shut.

She was in a lit and quiet corridor, with barely anything but more black boxes placed around.

I, uuh… hope she won’t come in. Stepping back while looking at the door, she heard the muffled screams of the woman and multiple boot steps crescendoing as well, now with full dread coursing through her veins like being in the winter.

She had enough and turned to sprint away as the sound of shattering glass from the door was the staff workers breaking through and screaming in sight of the young girl. Their bodies ram and crack through the door like a rhino, as she sprints farther away until she has to jump and climb over a box to progress. Until the men finally broke through with debris scattered over and rapid, staggering steps chasing after the young girl. She felt they were catching up to her, feeling vast tension around her fearful body and mind, as they screamed and thundered like a storm down the corridor and crashed over the scattered boxes, as she dodged every optical in her way. She didn’t want to look back, she didn’t want to stop. But then, their tendriled faces extended far squelching, swinging, thwacking to try and reach the girl in their grotesque tongues. It went on for too long, she had to get out. They were getting closer. The end was near. Almost there…

She was able to escape by falling down a metal trapdoor that was closed by the thunder as soon as she fell, with the tendriled-face adults' muffled screaming and pounding disappearing as soon after. She grunted, landing on her back with the impact hurting slightly. She faced the dark sky and remained still, acknowledging the chaos.

She felt her heart pulsing and her skin moist with sweat as she tried to catch her breath, resting her right gloved palm on her chest. When one looks for adventure, there are always consequences awaiting.

And you don’t even realise it. After all; curiosity kills the cat…

She didn’t want to stay any longer and turned her sore body over to push herself straight up, brushing away any dust caught on her navy blue trench coat, white trousers, and white shirt.

An air duct in front only led to one way, she could only crouch as she made her way with no hesitation. It was mainly dark, but a spot of light was ahead, leading to somewhere.

She walked further in the duct, the vague audio of rustling wind and ambiance as the metal bloated beneath her bare feet.

She has a habit of searching every nook and cranny within her path, taking risks at every moment she could and scurrying away silently. Curiosity takes control, and at this moment, she doesn't mind if it is risky or not. However, reflecting on it, she was the odd fish in the ocean. Not everyone was fond of her detective nature, claiming it was no fit for a lady, which made her feel like the outcast school children would stay clear of or tease her.

She dreamt of becoming a PI and joining the force, but still.

All she wanted to be was herself.

All I want to be is me. Is that all so bad?

As the light got brighter with each step, she could make out a faint dragging sound like chalk being drawn on a board. It became clearer as she made it to the other side and dropped down from the vent, grunting after landing on a wooden floor from high above…

That’s when she heard it. A gasp from someone before a clink like a pencil hitting the floor.

She found herself in a small yet large secret room with four brown shipment crates, three of which formed a tower, a large sack full of salt that had spilled onto the dry floor, and the lime green, dilapidating wallpaper with dark green hexagonal patterns that look like eyes with decorations. But that wasn’t what surprised her. On her left she looked, there was a small lantern close to the wall that dimly lit the room with its golden ember flame, there sat a young girl looking weariful and was a few steps away with her right arm up as if she was defending herself.

She wore an olive dress going below her knees, long, dark blonde hair almost covering her eyes, and a white skin tone, unlike her black skin tone, and was barefoot too.

The young girl in the fox mask jolted back slightly and stood in place as soon as she saw the girl. Seeing how she must’ve startled her, she raised her hands halfway to display her innocence. She felt nervous, but also glad, for some reason. The girl in the olive dress then relaxed her arm and seemed less fearful. She moved back close to her lantern, crawling to sit on her knees and resting her hands on them. They didn’t break eye contact and the girl in the fox mask gently lowered her arms down not knowing what to do next. The girl glanced at her and then at the girl in the fox mask…

“You can come close. You’re ok!” She spoke with a hand gesture.

She was a little surprised at first and hesitated, but she managed to walk to her as the wooden floor creaked slightly beneath her feet. She was slightly worried but still confident. It had been so long since she had ever interacted with any other children. Once close to the girl, she bent down to sit crisscross next to her clutching her shins. They both looked at each other but then stared at the lantern.

“You don’t talk so much, do you?” She asked glancing at her again.

“Um… It’s been so long. But actually, it’s just that you seem to trust me already!”

She responded in a British accent while glancing at her back.

“Oh… It’s because I have this, um, six-sense feeling where I can tell if someone is dangerous or not. Like, a will-he-hurt-me-or-not sort of feeling. I don’t know how I do it or how to say it, I just feel it somehow.” She responded with pushing confidence.

The girl in the fox mask was mesmerized by her little talent and stared at her with a smile.

“I really like that!” She said with enthusiasm.

“You have like a superpower that no one else has.!”

The girl in the olive dress looked surprised by her comment as if no one had ever told her that. She smiled warmly at her and even though she couldn’t see it, she could feel the girl’s smile as well.

“My name is Olivie. What’s yours?” She said while slowly reaching her right hand out for a handshake.

“I’m Nulla. That’s what everyone calls me!” She said while firmly clutching Olivie’s hand with her right gloved hand.

“Nulla. I like your name!”

They both then let go and retracted their hands back, feeling comfortable with each other like old friends anew, along with the lantern providing them with a little warmth.

Nulla then spotted something on the wall they were close to and shifted her gaze to it.

It was a chalk drawing on the stone wall without wallpaper.

“Hey, did you make that?” She questioned while pointing with her gloved hand.

Olivie looked to her right to the drawing. “Oh. Yes, I did.”

She planted her hands on the floor to drag herself closer to the wall.

“This was my last meeting with a monster adult that I remember.”

Olivie’s drawing contained a little girl on the left with long hair that must be her and a girl in the middle with shorter hair that she never mentioned. Could it be a friend? Sister? Or companion? And a large adult with squiggly lines coming from their face, seemingly chasing the two girls. Nulla looked closely at the drawing and her eyes widened…

“Hey, I think I’ve seen that before!”

“My drawing?”

“No, the man, or woman, with the squiggly lines.” She said while pointing to the chalk drawing. Olivie looked at the adult with squiggly lines she drew, brushing away a part of her hair covering her face, and understood.

“Oh! I call those the Tanglers.” She said, looking back at her.

“Tanglers?”

“Yes. I call them Tanglers because they can tangle any job they’re given with no problem! Like, shoelaces tying themselves onto anything they can use. I think that’s how I can say it!” Olivie’s description was slightly eccentric to Nulla, but she understood regardless, giving a nod.

She looked at the girl with shorter hair, but before she could ask about her…

A loud metallic bang echoed from behind which startled the two causing them to gasp and jolt their attention to see a vent flap cover creaking open with a girl emerging and standing straight with the flap cover banging shut… “Olivie, I’m back!”

Nulla couldn’t tell who it was due to the shadowy area from a short far, but it seemed that Olivie knew her.

“Feta!” Olivie joyfully said as she pushed herself up and sprinted on the creaking floor to embrace the girl in a hug. The two girls remained that way as Nulla bent and pushed herself on her feet. As soon as she stood up, the girls then let go of each other. Nulla could hear them speaking to each other from the distance, and as much as she didn’t want to intrude, she couldn’t help but pick up on their conversation.

“I’m sorry, Olivie. But I couldn’t find anything, and I didn’t want to leave you alone for so long.”

“Oh. That’s ok, Feta. And I wasn’t so much alone for long!”

The two girls then approach Nulla and the lantern stepping into view in the ray of light holding hands and seeing a girl in a dark green tank top and beige shorts. They stopped as soon as they were face-to-face with each other and Olivie introduced her to the girl.

“Nulla, this is my older twin sister, Feta! Feta, this is Nulla! She’s a new friend of mine, don’t worry, she’s friendly!”

Feta had a tan skin tone, short, red-ginger hair, and was also barefoot. Nulla questions them being twins based on their appearances but doesn’t want to make urging assumptions, not knowing their family heritage. Nulla waved confidently at Feta, feeling pleased to meet her.

“Hello! It’s very nice to meet you!” She must be that girl in the drawing!

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Feta said shyly while waving back at her and smiled but with a lack of enthusiasm and tensity on her face as if she were uncomfortable. Nulla could speculate she was slightly wary of her, and so did Olivie when she glanced at her sister, her face proving it. It didn’t affect Nulla, since Feta was Olivie’s older sister and was most likely defensive of her.

“Hey, where were you at, Feta?” Nulla asked.

Feta hesitated for a moment but responded…

“Oh. I was trying to find some food for me and my sister to eat. We’ve been hungry ever since he had to leave our home.” She ended with disappointment and glancing down. Nulla felt empathetic acknowledging the sisters’ situation. Olivie comforted Feta by easing her shoulder, looking sympathetic for her.

“Oh. Would you like me to help you find some? I’m good at finding things.”

Olivie’s face lit up with a little grin, seeing how Nulla could be a great support. Nulla, however, was more concerned about Feta, who must’ve felt concerned at first but then gazed into Nulla’s eyes and smiled slightly.

“Well, we do need a little bit more help. We’d really appreciate it, Nulla! You can take the lantern to guide us!”

Although Feta did approve of her offer, Nulla still felt that she needed to prove more to earn her trust as her words and motions weren’t pure graceful but not so near to displeasing either. This could be her chance to show her true self, but also tense about making a false promise. She then stepped once to hold up the lantern by its squeaking thin handle and turned to her right to scan the entire room.

“Hmm… Hey, maybe that vent over there!” She pointed with her gloved hand. She sprinted softly on the dry moaning floor to the vent with the twins following behind. Halting before it, she looked down and bent on her knees noticing a strange rough substance pinching a piece up. “These are breadcrumbs someone left behind. This must be some sort of path to somewhere with food!”

“Ee, I can already taste it!” Olivie spoke with joy. Nulla looked straight to the open vent duct with the glowing ember lantern illuminating part of the path, hearing faint noises like whistling wind.

“Follow me. Stay close and be careful, we don’t know what’s there!”

Nulla crouched and stepped into the vent feeling the cold and slightly blunt metal beneath her bare feet. Olivie and Feta followed behind. She still could feel that Feta was suspicious of her, which somehow bothered her. Somewhat similar to how they treated her.

It’s ok, Bel- Uh, Nulla. You’re ok.

What felt like a minute must’ve passed by as the three girls took two lefts and a right. She noticed how there were chalk drawings, similar to Olivie’s, left on the walls. One that caught Nulla’s attention the most was a man with an eye for a head. A man so similar to wait for…

“Hey, I think I see something!”

“What is it?” Feta asked. Nulla moved slightly faster to face a vent grille she found, with a ray of light peeking through the bars. Listening carefully, she couldn’t hear anyone present on the other side…

“I think it’s safe to go.”

“Wait, are you sure?” Olivie asked.

“Yes. It’s ok, you can trust me! Just wait.” Placing both hands on the grille, it creaks increasingly as she breaks it open falling face which causes all three girls to gasp. She landed on her side on a wooden shelf grunting as the vent grille rattled before her. Almost hurt but she was right. Groaning, she planted her palms to stand herself up shaking her head. That’s when she saw where they were at with the shelf giving her a high view...

Oh! A kitchen…! I didn't think this place would have one!

It was all illuminated by a golden light bar in the extremely high ceiling, with a fan operating on one wall. There was a countertop in the centre, with chef knives pinned on the cutting boards, pots, pans, and large spoons hanging above the rack, with crates tucked inside the shelves. There was also a line of stoves on one side where the double doors were, with towering pots boiling, sinks overflowed with towers of dishes, unnaturally tall cabinets, containing packaged and jarred food and beverages, with more crates, boxes, and bloated sacks tucked around, also forming towers or pyramids.

The young girl observed the kitchen and kept eying it from top to bottom.

The kitchen was dead silent except for the echoes of water drop rhythms, the boiling pots, and the fan from above. Vague audio of people can also be heard from other rooms.

Strange and distorted voices, and oddly enough, screams as if someone was being attacked or much worse…

“Is it safe to come out?” Olivie questioned echoing.

“Yes. Come out!”

Olivie stepped to the ledge of the vent and dropped down on the shelf grunting, along with Feta, the impact of them dropping echoed like in a cave.

“Wow!” Olivie’s voice echoed. “This looks amazing!”

Nulla glanced at the twin girls to see them amazed by the kitchen with their faces widened.

She then stepped forward once and glanced down to see they were standing on top of a cabinet. She crouched and turned to step one foot down and another on the shelves.

“C’mon. We should find something here!”

Nulla climbs down low enough for Olivie and Feta to follow her actions. The bottom was too high from the floor but the three girls one at a time landed on the cold glossy floor unharmed as they dropped down with the impact echoing. Hm. It looks too big for a kitchen.

Nulla was occupied observing the entire kitchen until her attention was caught by Olivie’s padding and echoing footsteps sprinting to another cabinet sitting on the floor.

It was packed with popcorn in red and white striped cups, various styles of bread and cheese packed together, nacho chips in little brown paper bags, freshly cooked meat stacked on top of one another, soft and hard chocolate chip cookies in jars, and glass bottles in different colours containing juice, soda, and alcoholic drinks inside with labels to specify they’re adult beverage.

Wondering what she was doing, she and Feta walked after her. “Olivie, hold on!” Feta shouted. The moment she stopped, so did the other girls, curious what she was doing. They watched as Olivie stepped forward in the shadows of the bottom shelf with jars of cookies dragging out a plate with a slice of pie groaning as she emerged.

She sat on her knees in front of the plate with glee in her eyes.

“Feta!” She said turning her joyful face to the other girls. “It’s cherry pie. My favorite!”

Olivie wasted no time and started biting through the enormous piece of cherry pie like a squirrel, crunching and chewing the hard-baked crust and red jelly before swallowing, as well as smearing some jam and crumbs around her face.

“Mmm, this is so good! Feta you need to try some!”

She said with a hand gesture. Nulla couldn’t help but smile seeing how happy Olivie is.

She glanced at Feta who stood on her left, noticing the same reaction as hers. Feta glances back at her struggling to distance her sight from her, speculating she must’ve felt embarrassed. She turned to face Nulla with her hand rubbing the back of her neck.

“I, uh. I want to thank you for helping us, Nulla. I really hope I didn’t mean to be so rude to you.” She ended with an apologetic tone. Nulla couldn’t help but nod with appreciation.

“It’s alright. You’re the big sister anyway, and you want to look out for Olivie!”

They both smiled at each and Nulla felt glad to have been able to aid her new friends in their struggles.

“Feta?! C’mon!” Olivie boasted. Feta turned to Olivie with slight annoyance mixed with humor before turning back to Nulla.

“Sorry, I hope you don’t mind. You wanna join us?”

“No thanks, I’ll be fine. You can go eat!” She said with a nod.

Feta nodded back before turning and sprinting on the glossy kitchen floor to join Olivie in eating the cherry pie, sitting crisscross, and tearing off a piece of the crust with jam before crunching through.

“Careful, sister, you don’t wanna choke!’ Olivie responded with a giggle.

Nulla tilted her head slightly as she noticed how well they bonded, wishing she could create a bond similar to Olivie and Feta’s. It’s more than likely that she could bond with others, even to avoid thinking of her one fear. It’s ok, Bell- I mean, Nulla. You find one!

She decided to walk around the kitchen on the left side of the countertop, scanning it from the very high top to the bottom, her feet padding on the floor as they echoed quietly.

She notices how the white sacks where they first arrived were stuffed with some sort of mass. A kind of mass that could resemble meat. And the sacks. Her face tensed as she realised they weren’t sacks. They looked like bandages wrapping around the meat to preserve them.

But why does the meat in bandages look reminiscent of human figures?

It gave her an abnormal feeling. A feeling that this kitchen contained all sorts of food items, but as she looked around at the other cabinets, there was mostly meat in different sizes. However, she notices that there were multiple parchment paper stocked in all the cabinets and where the meat was stored. But, they don’t resemble paper so much given the texture and rough appearance. More like human skin. Now that I’m thinking about it. Maybe those voices I’ve heard. Those screams were shouted. Could they be…? Could it be that… This place?! She felt her stomach and face drop with chills travelling through her body as she started to get a morbid idea in her mind.

One moment, she was glad to have found the kitchen. But at this moment, she wishes she didn’t.

What are they doing here?

Her gaze slowly moved downwards, but after realising her theory, her tensed face jolted up and she swiftly looked at Olivie and Feta, who were almost finished with their cherry pie.

She feared the dreadful horror at first, but seeing the pie more clearly made her relax slightly. It didn’t contain anything that shouldn’t. But just then…

Her attention was caught by the faint chime of a grandfather’s clock being heard from a distance. The clock was ticking as the chimebell rang after two seconds. Nulla’s face turned to fear, her heartbeat in her ear, and off-centered with the ticking. She couldn’t hear anything else but the clock, as if everything she heard in the kitchen, the water, the pots, the fan, and the twins, faded away before she knew it.

She swiftly turned her gaze to the kitchen doors leading outside.

The clock…That’s where it’s ticking!

She slowly turned around to the doors, drawn in by the ringing chime. She was scared, yet it still made her follow the rhythm. Her heartbeat soon then aligned with the clock’s ticking as she moved forward. Her vision was turning blurred with the anxiety increasing all over her body like a kind of faint ringing and numbness you feel when sitting on a limb of yours, but also in sound. She could almost see… Dark beige clouds.?!

As the rhythmic clock ticks…Ticks… And ticks!

Until… Hey…! “HEY!”...

Nulla gasped and jolted to her right to find Olivie shaking on her arm violently and shouting at her out of concern. She was perplexed about what had just happened and so was Olivie… “Are you ok? I saw you just walking to the door. Is something wrong?”

Nulla struggled to speak while breathing loudly and slowly. She gently lowered her sight down until she managed to say something… “I, uh…” But before she could say anything, a loud bang jolted their attention to face the double doors, that didn’t open, seemingly locked from outside for some reason. Muffled furious groans of an adult were heard from the other side, urging to get in.

With fear in their eyes and hearts throbbing, they inched back from the door facing it while clutching onto each other's forearms until Nulla turned to Olivie with a commanding tone. “Olivie, go hide with your sister. Don’t worry about me, just hide!”

She nodded and they both let go as Nulla glances back seeing Olivie sprinting back to her sister. Faint clinks of what seemed to be multiple keys jingling as one is inserted in the keyhole with a click. The young girl knew she had minimal time. Looking for a place to hide, she sees an empty dumbwaiter on her left. She decides quickly to sprint and leap forward to pull herself in, just before the lock turns and the doors bang open, with the squeaking sound of wheels of a trolley along with heavy thumping sounds like an elephant entering along with heavy breathing and groaning.

Nulla hugged herself in the left corner crouched on the wooden platform as she watched from afar, her heart beating like a pecking bird. She tried to contain her breathing as the large adult thumped around the kitchen, not getting a clear look, but noticing they wore a white coat with an apron.

They must be a chef. I think so. Where are Olivie and Feta?!

But before she could assume anything more, the thumping footsteps became more audible getting nearer to Nulla’s hiding spot. She stood up frightened and pushed herself against the wall with her heart racing preparing for the worst, but it wasn’t what she’d expected.

A large and saggy rack of meat was carried inside by a large and grim yellow hand with fat fingers that dropped it on the platform, blood squelching by the impact.

The young girl looked at the large mass in disgust, especially how the awful smell struck her nose as she clenched on it. Just then, she heard a single ding, and the dumbwaiter door closed from above leaving the girl in the dark and surprised as the food lift began to lower. As the gravity of the dumbwaiter tensed her body, she felt her heart pacing down but still felt nervous not knowing if she would face another threat at the bottom.

But also because she and her new friends have been separated, leaving them with an enormous stranger back in the kitchen. Her instinctive feeling, however, told her they would hopefully be fine until soon. The dumbwaiter went down for what felt like two minutes until… A ding was heard and the door raised after the lift jolted to a halt.

Her attention turned to the opened door, expecting an inhuman hand to reach out for the mass of meat, but... Nothing. Releasing a sigh of relief… That’s good!

She stepped to her left still hugging the side as she pushed past the rack of strange meat, until grunting and falling out and onto another glossy floor, the echoing impact less noticeable, and feeling a sense of cold like a snowy weather.

Wait, where am I? A meat locker room? Looking around, she finds herself in some sort of storage freezer where rows of towering trolleys of meat in a variety of shapes are stored away in the chilling and pale blue atmosphere of the room. Including a fan mounted on one wall, strong ropes with hooks tied to some with meat hooked onto some, a long table in the right lower corner with dark liquid stains around the countertop, and the one lightbulb in the ceiling struggling to light the small room, as well as thin clouds hovering about with the whistling breeze and faint noises.

Wow. So many things I haven’t seen!

She speed-walked forward in the centre observing everything closely, until reaching the large metal door with a circular window above with a small ray of light peeking. A shadow, seemingly a large figure appeared from the other side blocking the light from the window and startling the young girl. It was heard when it went away to the right.

An unnerving feeling. She stepped forward to place her hands on the door... It’s locked!

Looking around she spots a key hanging from one of the hooks above far back, around the dumbwaiter. Looking at the racks, she then got an idea and sprinted on the cold glossy floor to the one that was closest to the key. Climbing on the clanking racks of meat, she paused at a certain level, making a jump while turning to grasp the key. She swings it off the hook as she lands down, then the key clanks.

“Yes, I knew that would work!” Her words echoed. Picking it up, she lifts the left side of her trench coat, snapping the button of a strap holding the key. Nulla then sprinted to the cold metal door, and once reaching it, she unbuckled her strap and raised the key to insert in the keyhole, clicking and turning the lock… Perfect!

With the door creaking open from inside, it introduces her to a brightly lit hallway by the fluorescent ceiling light above. The walls had a beige paint job with dark gold patterns of rhombuses that vaguely looked like eyes, with swirls connecting with spirals. In front of the walls were framed movie posters displayed in rows, showing many famous projects.

A girl in a bathhouse, a boy in a box living with strange boxy creatures, a red and white horrifying clown, an old and decrepit man stealing children’s dreams, and a young train engineer living in a corrupt city. I’d like to watch these someday! But not the clown though!

Nothing but faint ambiances were heard as if the halls were fast asleep.

Stepping out on the red carpeted floor, Nulla looked in both directions with puzzling thoughts. Her left showed one way leading to two other hallways, with a pair of doors with circular windows in the centre. A faint commotion was heard from behind the doors, like a large and packed dining hall, diners communicating, dishes and cutlery clinking and clattering, and thumping sounds, oddly. The right, however, was empty, only leading to the left ahead and a wooden door at the end. She glances to the left where the commotion is present. “Maybe not that way. I don’t want to meet more monsters anymore.”

Turning to the right, she began sprinting to the right, her bare feet feeling the rough texture of the floor. Reaching the door, she lowered her pace to face it.

Noticing a large eye imprinted on the centre.

“Hmm… Why do I always keep seeing that eye?!” She murmured while looking up.

Stepping forward, she jumped to pull down the handlebar with both hands, which sat strangely low. As the young girl swings with the groaning door, darkness ensues as she drops down on a hard and dry floor. Nulla was surprised to see that she was in another backstage area, like before with The Tanglers, but much larger.

There were golden, dimly lit studio lights on tripods lined up at the back wall where many posters were hanging, revealing more black boxes forming towers, and scaffoldings touching the sky. There was also a large and lengthy background wall with the curtains on both sides of the stage.

Nulla wasn’t too surprised to see the stage since she was in a multiplex theatre. But she was glad to know that no one was here so she could explore thoroughly in this area.

“Hmm, what to look, what to look?!” She walked to the centre of the stage, hearing nothing but the whistling ambiance and her padded footsteps on the dry wooden floor. Scanning the area from top to bottom, her attention was caught by a much smaller black box that was left open and like a suitcase sitting in the open area, containing small items. Curious, as always, she stepped forward to it and crouched to see the many items.

Children's toys! Oo, a spinny thing, I liked those!

Along with the spinner toy were building blocks, three brown kickballs, a yellow ducky, a cymbal monkey, a jewelry-making kit, a Lottie Potty doll, a toy train with three wagons, a small teddy bear, and… a thin paper bag with two eye holes cut out like a mask. Hmm, kinda weird! Suddenly, a surge of energy was heard from the other side of the background wall, with a ray of light peeking from the top. It caught Nulla’s attention staring to her left and up. She slowly rose and walked her way to the left corner. She paused before the corner, speculating what could be there. A person? Some sort of lantern? Possibilities.

Resting her left hand on the wooden wall and peeking out was a sight.

A large stage with a black velvet floor that had a spiralling galaxy and an aurora effect as well as the black iridescent curtains from the sides, as if it borrowed from the night sky. Farther was a large theatre seating area with red cushioned chairs on a bright red carpeted floor and stunning beige walls with torches in rows.

The young girl lost her wariness as she stepped out confidently too mesmerized by the charming glow of the theatre, scanning from side to side, making her feel more smaller than how her cat-sized level. Wow. This is so… Beautiful! I love it!

While walking across the stage, she looked down in confusion realising that she couldn’t feel anything beneath her feet, as if she was walking on a cloud.

Walking on a cloud. Why does it feel like that? She lost the thought as she turned to her left to walk down the closest stairs. She stopped as soon as she touched the carpeted floor. It was all dead silent except for the faint winds and ambiances, once again.

But then, her face tensed in perplexion.

“Wait, am I forgetting something? I feel like I’m forgetting something.”

She mumbled to herself. C’mon, bad memory, you have to remember. You have to!

Before she could feel her skin producing sweat, a large boom was emitted, startling her. Thumping footsteps like elephants echo with snickers, laughter, and commotion. Her instincts told her to take a seat in a chair. Running to her left and the corner seat, she jumped up and pulled herself to sit properly with her hands interlocked, as if she was waiting for a show, but mostly because she believed it would help her blend in with the crowd.

Her heart pounded softly against her chest, but she didn’t overthink of danger.

Looking at her right, she noticed a pair of doors close by. If things go wrong, I'll go out the doors. Hopefully, no one will notice!

As the crowd of Audience Members poured in like a herd of rhinoceros’, she looked to her left and was able to see their faces and bodies. Or, what seems to be. “Why do they have such bloated and saggy bodies? Why do their faces look saggy and droopy? Why do they have such big mouths and big teeth?” All wrong and distorted like bad drawings, with smiling grins and rotten teeth too big, stretching to their ears, and eye sockets so large and sunken with their eyes peeking out. Their torsos and limbs were as if they were to burst like balloons in their lavishing outfits.

It made her extremely uncomfortable and warry again, especially how their foul breaths can be scented from the distance as if they’ve eaten too much onions or other foods and possibly sweets. Luckily, when one Audience Member sat next to Nulla, forcefully squeezing his plump body in the groaning chair like the others left her alone, not at all interested in her.

Which made her at ease but not too much. Some of the men wore black, green, and red suits with top hats, bowlers, fedoras, and newsboys. The women wore dresses with some sparkling pink, red velvet, blue with white polka dots, and green with see-through patches. Along with pillbox caps, wide-brim hats, bows, and bowler hats with veils over their faces. But they all wore heavy makeup as if they desperately wanted to be pretty.

Nulla couldn’t tell, but she felt that they wanted to look real and feel real, like being in the higher class, fooling everyone but her, due to their twisted faces and behavior as she glanced at her dirty bare feet, urging to connect the pattern.

Who are these people? Why do they look lavish yet disgusting? I want to know the truth about them?!

Soon enough, the seats were now fully occupied as they spoke amongst each other in a language Nulla couldn’t understand. Suddenly… The lights completely shut off, causing the Audience to cease their commotion in sheer darkness. Nulla raised her sight looking side to side, wondering what would happen next.

Just then, a spotlight from above struck the stage in the centre where a beautiful woman stood with a microphone on a stand in front.

She wore a sparkly light red crop top with shoulderless short sleeves and a dress, with beige fur patches around her chest, sleeves, and dress. She had an X-shaped waistband holding her light red dress up, white pearlescent gloves up to her forearms, pink heels with daisy buckles, and a necklace with a golden eye hanging.

At first, Nulla was fascinated by the woman’s appearance. But, then she noticed aspects of her that were odd. She had a natural white skin tone and glowing blonde hair that parted in the middle. But what caught her attention was her face…

“She. Doesn’t have a face. Or, is it a mask like porcelain?! Or…Is her entire head porcelain?”

The woman’s white face had enormous eyes too big for her baggy sockets showing muscles with pupils too small. Her nose was too small and seemingly more flat. The seam of her lips goes far back to her cheeks. Red lipsticks on lips that seem too wet. Bright pink blushing, strands of eyelashes, and eyebrows too thin and around her forehead.

The young girl was questioning who this woman was until she then spoke into her microphone as her words echoed with a slight transmission…

“Hello hello, my wonderful darlings! My name is Carlene, I will be your showrunner for this lovely evening.”

She expressed her enthusiasm with her left arm while holding the microphone in her other hand. Nulla, while feeling suspicious, felt at ease by the Showrunner’s loving nature. And so did the Audience Members as they clapped and cheered for her, then slowly stopped…

“Tonight, I and my stars have some marvelous performance and talent to present that will surely put you, lucky ladies and gentlemen, under a daze.” The young girl’s head tilted catching her last line. Under a daze..?

But before she could suspect any further, Carlene the Showrunner then turned to her left and walked back before speaking.

“Please welcome, our most famous acrobatic from mother Russia, the Amazing Bobinsky!”

The crowd erupted in applause as layers of curtains retracted along with classical music that sounded Russian based on the accordion-sounding rhythm. Nulla put her worries aside to see a pale blue man wearing a black and gold suit and white pants with a top hat doing a headstand with one finger. His head was shaped similarly to a banana along with his large handlebar mustache, arms lengthy as a stick, and his upper torso was as fit as a gorilla’s, with stitches keeping him together. His wrists and ankles were also tied to thin strings like a puppet, and his eye sockets and wide grinning mouth pitch black and shaped like the traditional drama masks.

One side smiling, the other frowning. Nulla was surprised and amused. Suddenly, the Amazing Bobinsky performed many incredible acrobatic flips and turns while rapidly spinning three sparkling hoops on his fingers and one boot. Everyone was so fascinated by his performance that even the young girl forgot about everything else. Just then, a large red ball with a golden star imprinted somehow appeared from the stage floor and he balanced while tap-dancing on the ball and then juggling the hoops in a spiralling circle. Making his performance much more graceful, cream-colored jumping mice in red suits and band hats suddenly hopped from the sides and circled the Performer, closing in and out and creating a star formation while playing trumpets, drums, and cymbals. Nulla couldn’t help but smile widely as she bopped her head from left to right while clapping her hands to sync with the rhythm. Eventually, the Amazing Bobinsky concluded his performance by spinning on the ball tossing the hoops in the back, and stopping abruptly to pinch the tip of his white-gloved fingers, balancing on one foot and puckering his lips, he blew a cloud of sparkles as he released it with his hand like fireworks, earning the crowd’s applause with the music ending as soon as he completed.

Nulla couldn’t help but cheer with the applause, very much entertained by

the Amazing Bobinsky as the Performer and his circus mice bowed down and hopped with joy before the curtains closed in on him.

The golden lights in the theatre then slowly came to life again, illuminating everything. The young girl and the Audience slowly stopped clapping as soon as the Showrunner walked back to the stage with her heels clicking. She couldn’t stop smiling after witnessing an outstanding performance and wanted to see more of what Carlene could offer.

That was so cool, I wanna see more. Please, give me more, beautiful Carlene!

She couldn’t have anticipated what was coming up next.

Carlene set her microphone stand on and spoke.

“Wowwy, me! That is some crazy flexible performance by the Amazing Bobinsky. I am so glad for all of you to have gotten to experience him and his super adorable circus mice!”

Nulla strongly interlocked her hands together while shaking them slightly eager to experience the rest of the show. She then saw a large circular brown clock with lovely decorations gradually leveling down behind the Showrunner until it stopped at a certain point. Her face tensed slightly in perplexion, feeling something about it.

Until Carlene spoke again…

“Our next performance is something quite mysterious. We’ve been saving this for a special occasion and are so glad to finally show you all… That’s why you’re here, right..? Nothing?”

The young girl’s wide grin dropped like a heavy dumbbell as she heard the Showrunner’s words end in a sinister tone with a blank expression slowly looking directly at her.

Her body felt numb with shivers as she struggled to speak…

How does she know my nickname? How does she know who I am?

She tried to understand more of the situation, but she then realized that she couldn’t hear anything just like before. She gripped both sides of her head as she looked around trying to figure out what was happening. Anxiety was rising in her sweating body and her heart was beating harder. Everything was slowly turning blurry and fuzzy as if she was turning blind. Then…The clock! The clock ticking I’ve heard before..! And everyone. Is this a hallucination?

Is this real? Is it..? WHAT IS REAL?

Nulla’s face tensed as she tried to contain her rapid breathing as she moaned in fear while the clock’s ticking echoed in her ears, her body feeling tightened, and her vision turning like a spiral where even closing her eyes wouldn’t let her unsee things. She had enough. The young girl pushed herself off the seat and onto the carpeted floor still feeling the anxiety attacking her and her body. That’s when she stared up and looked around to notice not just the Showrunner, but everyone else staring directly at her with blank expressions that made her feel all the more feared.

The Showrunner’s words then echoed in her ears as she talked in a sinister tone…

“Don’t be shy, nothing! Come join us! Join us and be one with the play! Just take a seat in that chair someday!"

No. No, no, stop it, No..!

She staggered to the doors feeling as if an unseen force was trying to pull her back. She wanted it to stop as soon as possible, she wanted to leave! That’s when she reached the doors and pushed one open with a creak… And fell face-first grunting after she exited into a hallway and the door closed behind her. She pushed herself onto her feet, still breathing excessively from the horrifying moment…”What..? What happened?” She slowly contained her breathing while standing, compensating herself. It all stopped.

The anxiety, the ticking, the blurry vision had stopped as soon as she exited the theater.

“What did she say? What was that?! I-I don’t under-”

Before she could finish, an echoing bang from a vent in front of her below startled the young girl, with it creaking and breaking open on the floor came out a girl she had almost forgotten about.

“Who are… Olivie!” She shouted with surprise. Olivie looked up at Nulla, with pale dread and tensity on her face as if she had witnessed a crime. She slumped against the wall with her hands covering her ears as she breathed heavily, not able to meet Nulla’s gaze.

Nulla couldn’t understand what had happened and why her friend was distraught.

Olivie then started to tear up, staining on her dress. Nulla slowly walked up to her and knelt slightly with her hands gently raised.

“Olivie. What’s wrong? Where’s your sister, Feta?” The girl in the olive dress struggled to meet her gaze and could only speak in a cracked voice. “I, uh…She’s not-”

They were interrupted by a loud bang from a pair of doors on the far left of the hall,

with growls and clicks muffled from behind. Nulla gasped in shock insight of it.

“Oh no! Olivie, we need to go now! Please, get up!”

Olivie couldn’t comply with her as she merely shot glances everywhere with her hands hovering in front. “No, no, no, no more!”

As soon as the doors burst open, Nulla’s patience was worn out by anxiety and she swiftly bent down to grab Olivie’s hand and force her to stand on her feet to run before she could even react. Coming out from the doors were The Tanglers and their manager, whom Nulla encountered before. Seeing her and Olivie sprinting, they screamed in furiousness and staggered swiftly after them. The two girls sprinted down the hall and turned to the left, passing through a cluster of boxes and popcorn maker machines as The Tanglers pushed and rammed right through, crashing down and glass shattering, and using their elongated tendrils to try and grab the girls. Nulla’s sight was too focused on escaping she almost forgot that Olivie was falling behind as if she was too weak to keep up until she glanced back. She slowed down to grab her hand to not leave her behind and dragged her with her, forcing her to sprint with her as The Tanglers kept chasing them.

Until, turning right, they forced a stop in shock, finding a dead end of a closed door. They both looked back to the echoing screams with minimal time left. Olivie’s tear-stained face looked at Nulla, who was struggling to figure a way out with her heart racing with pure dread, her head aching, and her face tensing. No, no, we need to go, please, urgh!

But then, Olivie shouted, “Hey!” pointing to the left. Nulla looked and both girls didn’t have time to think and ran to a large gash in the wall with Olivie compacting herself through with Nulla waiting anxiously. Almost out, just a little more!

The Tanglers’ crowded thumping footsteps like rhinos were getting closer with immense in the girl’s face. Until she got her chance to squeeze through quickly, forcing herself through the tunnel, right when The Tanglers reached the corner and were mere seconds away from using their tendrils to grab her…

But it was too late for them, as the two young girls escaped in time. A lucky escape some might say…

It wasn’t long until after crouching through the stone and plaster tunnel, grim and bits under her bare feet uncomfortably, she dropped down on a dry wooden floor near Olivie, in the interior of the wall a dark depth ahead. The widened space almost served as a secret room due to its layout and the orange-lit candle that was left somehow by someone, illuminating it with an ember glow. Some parts of the brick walls are exposed behind the dilapidating green plaster coat, along with tiny particles dancing gently in the atmosphere, and the faint ambiance, barely capturing any muffled noises from outside, not even the furious Tanglers they’ve escaped from as they faded away.

Nulla couldn’t help but stand in place and bend down slightly with nervousness after escaping a scary encounter. She displayed her left hand on her chest feeling her heart racing like a marathon, trying to compensate for everything she had witnessed. The Showrunner, the clock, her vision. What were they linked to? What was she speaking about?

Until, after calming herself, she hears sobbing. Looking up, she notices Olivie sitting against the wall with her face buried in her knees and her arms wrapped around her. She still didn’t know why she was upset, nor why Feta wasn’t with her. But she didn’t want to fuss too much and wanted to know what had happened.

“Olivie..? What’s wrong?” She said stepping slowly to her and then slowly sitting on her knees. She could barely speak clearly as she struggled to meet Nulla’s gaze with bloodshot eyes and tears staining her dress and cheeks.

“Where were you? I was worried about you!” Speaking in a struggling cracked voice, burying her face again in her knees. Nulla’s face loosened with slight guilt, feeling that she must’ve made her upset for forgetting about her and Feta, and not understanding.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad. I just forgot about us separating!”

“It’s not that!” Olivie responded louder. Nulla was still confused.

If I wasn’t the problem, then what was? She decided to remove her fox mask completely, raising it off her head with both hands and resting it on her right.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Olivie’s sobbing slowly stopped as she looked at Nulla’s true face with surprise and comfort.

She sniffled and wiped her tears off her face first before speaking while glaring down.

Nulla only stayed in place on her knees, patiently waiting to listen…

“I.. I-I was with Feta at one moment where there were these big, fat people in a eating room. We jumped in a cart and that’s why we were there. And we tried to run. We tried to escape. There were so many of them, very big, and just wanted to eat everything. They… They fell on the ground seeing us, and we ran to find a place to hide, until… One of them in a purple suit took Feta and he… He took her while she screamed, and… And, he ate her! He ate my sister! My sister! She’s gone, she’s all gone!”

Olivie ended, breaking down in shouting with tears and hitting her knees before burying in them again. Nulla’s face turned pale, knowing that someone she had met ended up having a very unfortunate fate. But what was hurtful to her the most was how Olivie lost someone so dear to her. Her sister. Her only family in this world.

She couldn’t help but slump her gaze down in sadness and mournfulness, looking at her hands on her knees, remembering how she guided them to the kitchen…

It. It was because of me, wasn’t it?! The kitchen… I led them there! And why it happened?

They remained in silence for a long while until Nulla then spoke gently…

“I’m… Sorry, Olivie. I’m sorry for not understanding. I’m sorry Feta is gone. I’m just sorry.”

She then bent forward to place her hand on Olivie’s to comfort her. She raised her gaze to her and both made eye contact, seeing each other’s depression. Until Olivie pushed herself forward to sit on her knees, still glancing down. Nulla embraced her in a hug and she responded with her arms wrapped around too and their eyes closed. They remained in a warm hug and solitude with each other’s comfort. Not letting go. Not feeling alone…

…

They both slowly let go and sat in place not knowing what to do next. Nulla didn’t want to leave her here any longer. Not after what had happened.

“Olivie? What do you want to do now?”

“... I want to get out of here. I don’t want to be here anymore!”

“Ok. I’ll help you get out then.”

Nulla gently took both of her hands and helped her rise to her feet as she did. She then bent down to take her fox mask and readjust it over her face again. Holding one hand gently, Nulla guides Olivie through the rest of the inner walls, not rushing for her sake.

It’s going to be okay! It’s going to be okay!

The light of the candle slowly faded from the distance while trailing on the creaking floor, but with still a touch of light, it wasn’t long til their hands parted when they both looked down to see a small drop, with the rest of the wooden floor and a grate with a hinged flap on the wall. Nulla crouched to drop down first with a grunt, then came Olivie, her head still heavy. Nulla looked at her, still feeling sympathetic. She may as well be all left for her and hopes to take on the responsibility as a sister herself.

“We’ll find a way out of here, Olivie. I promise!”

She said, rubbing her back. Olivie couldn’t utter a word. She only crossed her arms on her chest. Nulla didn’t pressure it. She bent down to pull on the handle as it creaked, but then Olivie stepped to help her as the hinge screeched open with both girls staggering back. Olivie mostly.

“I hope this is the way out!” Olivie spoke softly.

“Me too… Wait here for a bit!”

Nulla crouched in first through the grate, dropping down on a small desk in a dark area with only minimal golden light shining behind the various mannequins and drawers with lavishing dresses being worn and poking out from each drawer. Many dresses were blue, green, red, pink, black, and violet with some being velvet, chromed, shiny, or with either sparkles or white fur patches, and they all included the same rough texture of the parchment paper from the kitchen. Worse than she thought. Along with bottles of perfumes, small boxes, and books formed towers, and lovely heels and slippers sparkling like the dresses were tucked away in boxes and piled near the drawers. Hm. This must be a dressing room, but it’s too big. A storage room? Everything here makes it so real that it's easy to be drawn by the fun.

It was mainly silent with little ambiance, faint wind, and other noises as if it couldn’t speak…

“Olivie, you can come now!” Turning back to speak.

After Nulla dropped to the wooden floor, echoing, Olivie followed behind repeating her movement. The impact of their bare feet hitting the wood echoed slightly but not like the kitchen from before. Nulla was questioning where they were, seeing how dark the room was. The mannequins and drawers were a few feet apart from them and close together like a wall but not at all organized.

Nulla felt suspicious about the supposed storage room, but she wanted to carry on for Olivie’s sake. She turned her attention to her, seeing how she was becoming more relaxed with less tension on her face, but still traumatized by her heavy head like a dumbell.

“Oi!” She whispered, offering her hand to her and she took it firmly, allowing Nulla to guide her to their left since the right only led to a corner with another mannequin. They walked casually along the path between the mannequins and drawers and the room wall,

with Nulla seeing more posters on the wall to their right. Only to her surprise, it was The Showrunner in all of them, posing in various dresses like a celebrity star.

She must’ve performed as well in The Theatre. Possibly the owner of it.

“What’s wrong?” Olivie asked, meeting Nulla’s gaze.

“Nothing. I thought I’d seen these before.”

“Oh. Have you seen her before?”

Nulla glanced down ever so slightly with chills coursing through her… “Well, I-”

But before she could finish, the echo of a creaking door emitted from a distance, causing both girls to halt out of shock, gasping.

The supposed door creaked again with a click echoing, along with a woman humming a song and casual walking of supposed high heels clicking.

They couldn’t see where it came from as they looked around the mannequins and drawers. Nulla looked forward and let go of Olivie’s hand, seeing a large space of golden light in front of them from the left, with a thin shadow from their perspective moving up and down.

They both crouched down, Nulla turning her face to Olivie, pointing her index finger to the nose of her fox mask and receiving a nod.

Turning forward, she crept slowly, peaking her head from a drawer that was at an acute angle, until she was able to get a glimpse of the area.

No… Not her!

From the corner, she was able to see another part of the dressing room with more mannequins wearing dresses, illuminated by a ceiling lightbulb above with the same golden light. They surrounded, from a distance, a woman in a light red dress and crop top, sitting on a chair in front of a desk and mirror with lit golden lightbulbs and makeup products displayed.

It was her again… Carlene, The Showrunner!

Her body felt numb again at the sight of the horrific woman. She was dreadfully hoping not to encounter her again, but, luck wasn’t on her side. She was braiding her hair, humming a song, loving her lavishing appearance. Nulla stared at the women for too long, causing Olivie to sake her by the shoulder, possibly to tell her they should continue. She got out of her trance and looked at her, understanding the assignment. She looked forward, seeing the rest of the way from a fair enough distance with a barrel close for hiding.

She turned to Olivie, signalling her to wait in her place, not knowing what could happen.

She took a deep breath before proceeding… “You’re okay, Nulla!”

Crouching, she slowly walked to the barrel, planning to hide behind it. She kept eying

The Showrunner, her heart beat harshly as one foot stepped ahead on the hard wooden floor.

Carlene didn’t suspect anything, even when the young girl reached the barrel

remaining in her posture and turning to gesture Olivie to come.

She noticed how she was slightly hesitant but nodded to comply.

Suddenly… Carlene’s humming abruptly stopped, catching both girl’s attention. Nulla felt a shockwave of goosebumps running through her veins, beginning to breathe as she peaked from around the barrel. “…Olivie, c’mon!” She whispered.

She can feel that Olivie also felt something was wrong. Something coming…

“I… I can’t. I feel-”

Before Olivie’s words finished, bursting in between them was The Showrunner,

startling both girls gravely as they fell back and shouted in fear with many mannequins and garments falling on the floor. She snarled at both girls like a raccoon,

until looking at Nulla, she spoke. “Found you!”

The young girl in the fox mask remained sitting on the floor with her arms supporting her torso, not knowing what to do with fear interfering with her response.

Fight, flight, or freeze?! Until, seeing Olivie on the floor like her, through the gap below a fallen mannequin, she could only shout, “RUN, OLIVIE, JUST RUN! Don’t come back!”

as she swiftly turned and brought herself to her feet, beginning to sprint, no time to see if her friend had gotten away as The Showrunner staggered swiftly after her.

She ran down the rest of the clear path with The Showrunner chasing her from behind, her heels clicking rapidly, hissing like a snake, and screaming when she tried to snatch her with her long arm. The young girl then darted to the left behind a large wardrobe. She passed it just in time before the woman could crush her with it, pushing it down and crashing on the floor along with more plastic mannequins, screaming in rage.

Her heart was racing as she breathlessly kept sprinting through the cluster of mannequins and boxes. Not knowing where to go, she enters a dark and empty room as a last resort, turning to her right to push the door close with both hands and quickly lifting a wooden plank beside the door to hinder the knob from underneath. She stepped back, breathing in a high effort with hands on knees supporting her… “That was… Too close!”

She was hoping it was the end of it, right? Unfortunately not.

Nulla stared at the door when… Three large bangs spooked her. A shadow from beneath glared at her. “NOTHING! Are you there? OPEN, YOU BRAT!!!”

Her heart was racing again as anxiety attacked her body. She held her head with both hands and tears welling in her face as she looked around for an escape, but it was too dark for her to see. No. No. No, no, please. Please, just stop! No!

But the banging didn't stop.

The pounds that thrashed from the other side.

The wickedness of that woman.

There was nothing left to do for Nothing.

- - <0> - -

Very big thanks to @laupiehouppette for collaborating with me

If you would like to read more of 'My Little Nightmares: Stories of the Little Ones,' be sure to visit Little Nightheories at www.youtube.com/@LittleNightheories6 for read-aloud videos. Or, you can also read Chapter 1 and others on

Our Own Archive (Little_Nightheories), Wattpad (@LittleNightheories6), or Tumblr (littlenightheories6)

to personally read the story yourself and find multiple Little Nightmares fanfiction stories.

My Little Nightmares: Stories of the Little Ones is a 6ix part short story series where it involves 6ix little children from the creative mind of Little Nightheories, venturing through the world of Little Nightmares that is called the Nowhere. Their individual stories reveal more secrets and environments that expand the world of our childhood fears.

Up next: Chapter 4: The Girl in the Purple Dress

#little nightmares mono #little nightmares 3 #little nightmares #little nightmares six #ln2 #ln2 mono #six little nightmares #ln six

3 notes · View notes