#did i take so long just to doodle this really quickly? perhaps...

[knightfcll]

nightcap

welt x reader, 1.6k

note: 🤪 im like not even caught up but i love this gilf tew much okay bye. My first reader fic on da blog, blease be nice 2 me <3

content notes: ❗️❗️🔞🔞🔞❗️❗️ explicit smut here, minors do NOT interact!!! Reader is gender neutral, no specific references to pronouns/body type/genitalia for reader, brief oral sex, penetrative sex, reader calls welt “mr yang” a lot 🥴

The Astral Express is quiet. You've finally returned after another long and difficult journey on another strange, new planet. Everyone else has retired to their own rooms for a well deserved rest, but you still wander the halls. Mr. Yang had stayed behind for this assignment and to say that you felt his absence was an understatement.

You had lasted all of five minutes in your own bed before throwing off the covers and deciding to seek him out. Without the exhaustion of adventure weighing him down, he's likely still awake, perhaps poring over a newspaper from your latest excursion. You make sure to bring one back for him if he's not there; he says it's so he can get a better idea of what effect the Stellaron's had on the planet, but you see how quickly he turns to the comic strips. You'll catch him doodling the characters later, sometimes changing their features, doing two and three different sketches that he thinks you won't see.

You're only half right. You find him almost exactly as you'd imagined when you slip into his room, except his brows are furrowed. He's tapping a pencil against the paper.

“Need any help, Mr. Yang?”

He looks at you briefly before returning to his crossword puzzle. "Evening. And yes."

You smile and saunter towards him, crawling onto the bed eagerly. He opens his arms without prompting, allowing you to settle into his lap with your back to his chest. He has most of it filled out already, with only the bottom left grid glaringly empty. Mr. Yang is one of the smartest people, which is why you like to tease him when he has to ask you for help with these things, but he's also the most mature, which accounts for the good natured chuckle you typically get in response.

"What's the clue?"

"Eight letters. 'Hot term for a recent admirer.'"

You make a show of scrunching up your face and delicately take the pencil from him. Your handwriting isn't quite as neat as his, but finds a certain charm in it.

Welt hums appreciatively. "'New flame.' I think you could be right."

You beam. "Bested by the newcomer, Mr. Yang. You'll have to ask me to explain strange things out in the wild next time we leave the Express."

He chuckles. He thinks it's cute when you try to tease him like this; you're all bark and no bite, really. You fold as soon as he gets his hands on you.

Like right now, as his fingers ghost over your thigh. You lean into it as much as you can, but he's so good at holding back. It's the sweet sting of having someone like Welt for a lover: a wealth of experience to keep you satisfied for hours on end, but the patience and precision needed to keep you just on edge until he thinks you're ready.

"Did you need something?" He says it so casually, like he doesn't know your skin is burning underneath him.

You turn your head to look at him. It's there again, that little bit of sharpness in his gaze that seems to go right through you. He's already thinking about all the ways he can unmake you.

"Just you," you say, waiting the precious few moments it takes for the spark to ignite.

Welt kisses you, softly at first. His hands roam over your thighs, just ghosting underneath your sleep shorts. You whine the third time he does it, unable to handle the loss of his touch. He pulls away.

“Patience.”

You pout. He notices everything. “I’m not impatient.”

He humphs in disbelief. “Don’t make a sound until I tell you to.”

Any other night, you might protest his rigidity. Be the brat he likes you to be, until you’re a sobbing mess in hands, begging him to just fuck you and stop teasing. Tonight, however, you’re inclined towards obedience. You hush up and wait the agonizing few moments that he waits, watching for any sign of defiance. Satisfied, he kisses you again, hungrier this time, sliding his tongue over yours. You hold back a moan when he digs his fingers into your thighs.

Welt pushes you down. He trails his lips down your body, over your chest, your sensitive nipples. He halts just below your belly button, kissing the skin lightly while he pulls down your shorts. You shiver once your exposed to the cool air.

Anticipation burns inside you when he pulls your leg up and over his shoulder. He slowly teases your entrance with his tongue, giving it slow, featherlight licks that he soon follows up with a finger.

“Mr. Yang,” you say, unable to resist calling out as he speeds up.

He doesn’t respond, choosing to punish you instead by letting up. He knows it’s agony, feeling his warm breath on you where you need him most.

It’s too much. You give up on obedience and let desperation take hold as you grab at welt’s shoulders and pull him in to kiss you. Your taste lingers on his tongue. “Mr. Yang, please…“

Welt palms at your ass. It’s a nice reminder that he’s far more affected by you than he typically comes off. Although his words are often measured and his tone even, the way he touches you is nothing short of ravenous.

“Tell me what you need, sweetheart.”

You’re on the brink of tears now. Your legs are locked around his hips, his fingers are rubbing and pinching your nipple. He knows, but he likes to make you say it. “Mr. Yang, please, please,”

He doesn’t budge. You reach for the drawstring on his pants yourself, but he grabs your hand and brings it to his mouth instead. “You can speak, can’t you? Use your words.”

You watch as he pulls your finger into his mouth, sucking on it lightly. He’ll keep going, ignoring your pleas while he toys with you long past the rising of the sun. He’s done it before.

You draw a shaky breath.

“Mr. Yang, I need you inside me.”

You wait for his response. He almost looks bored, that half-awake look he gets when he’s quizzing you on the values of each Aeon with hands roaming across your chest.

He kisses your palm. “Keep going.”

“Welt,” his given name falls from your lips, a strained whisper that sets Welt on edge, ��please fuck me, I can’t take it anymore, please.“

Welt lets go of your hand. He disentangles himself from you fully, ignoring your desperate whines. You hear his pants fall to the floor and then he’s hovering over you again, sliding a hand under your shoulder.

“Turn around.”

You hear him, but you’re too distracted by the sight of his weeping cock to really pay attention. He sighs and gently lifts you, maneuvering you so you’re on your hands and knees with your back to him.

Tears of relief fall down your face when Welt drapes himself over your back. You feel him lining himself up with your entrance. You shudder when he finally enters you. His grip on your waist tightens. He lets his cock stay sheathed in you for an agonizing moment before he pulls out and starts to set a rhythm. The slow friction stirs something in Welt; he lets go of your waist and covers your hand with his own. He curses above you and moves in closer, his breath warm against the shell of your ear.

“I want to hear you. Please,” Welt gasps. It makes your heart skip.

You call out to him, moaning his name in a quiet voice that gets louder and louder as his thrusts quicken. Your words become more frantic, endless declarations of how much you need him interrupted by broken sobs of pleasure. Welt speaks your name, too, in between ragged breaths and the rapid stuttering of his hips, curses falling from his lips in a constant prayer.

“Mr. Yang,” you say, because you know how his breathing stops when you call him that, just like the first time it did when he had you on your knees in his bedroom, “Mr. Yang, I love you.”

Welt’s final thread of composure snaps. He hooks his arm around your throat and buried his face in your neck. His hips slap against you harder than before, but he still has the presence of mind to reach down and tease you one last time to put you over the edge. Waves of ecstasy roll through as you give one final, strangled shout.

Welt follows soon after, his thrusts becoming increasingly erratic until he buries himself to the hilt and groans deep into your skin. You both slump forward, breathing heavily. He kisses your neck sloppily before finally pulling out with a sigh. He pulls you once to get you to clean up, but you don’t budge, a telltale look of bliss on your face. He gives up and leaves you, returning with clean cloths to wipe you down. You watch him from the corner of your eye as he flips you onto your back and takes care of you.

“Thanks, Welt.”

He smiles softly, but doesn’t look at you, focused on his task. He climbs back into the bed once he’s done, flat on his back. You lean over and rest your head on his chest.

Exhaustion weighs you down suddenly. Even though you left the mission early to see Welt, the trip back to the express hadn’t been easy. It feels like you’ll drift off into sleep as soon as you close your eyes. So you do, but not before reaching up to kiss Welt just under his chin.

[the-cat-ara]

What would happen if clover got turn into a monster?

How would Ceroba starlos martlet dalv and the feisty five react to it ?

Like say of clover was a dog like a border collie or a fox monster like Ceroba.

Or idk a birdd monster like Martlet or star monster like starlos.

Congratulations, your human has evolved into a monster!!

I feel like it would be a surprise to the Feistyj Four (the "J" is silent), but it wouldn't change much, instead, Starlo would be somewhat confused. This would be something he didn't see in his human movies and magazines. He would probably be glued to Clover asking him if there are more things about humans that he didn't know. On the other hand, Ceroba would be somewhat disturbed by how strange it would be for the little guy to just change to being a monster out of nowhere. Perhaps she would even come to question the same thing Starlo did.

On Martlet's part, I don't think she'd catch on that quickly because of how distracted she can be at times. Although she would be confused, she no longer knows whether or not Clover was a monster from the beginning XD

Dalv doesn't seem to care much, he seems to simply accept that it's a human thing that he wouldn't understand. Still, he's glad to have Clover as a friend.

As a bonus, there are these two doodles.

As such, I haven't really thought through a fact as to why the little guy would turn into a monster. I got to thinking that maybe it's from eating non-human food, but that wouldn't make sense…. I think¿¿ XD

To conclude, I took inspiration from a horned lizard to create Clover's monster form. I also took Starlo as a base. I wanted the boy to have certain resemblances to his father, but not be of the same species, so I simply made him a lizard who, when using his power of justice, can glow slightly. Oh, and this is what his soul would look like.

I hope the design is to your liking. I also apologize for taking so long, drawing this took me longer than I expected.

[friendsoup]

I REALLY LOVED YOUR DIKKE FIC!!! can you write Dikke x reader where the reader admires her and the reader is too shy to talk to her?? :O

Tyvm <3

A Misunderstanding

Recipe: Romantic fluff, reader x Dikke, Dikke is a worrywart, gn!reader, reader is referred to with they/them pronouns once, reader is called M'lord WC: 1,207 Chef's Note: I hope this meets your expectations!!! I was kinda stuck while writing this, bc my muse for Dikke is all over the place, but I think I did OK! This was super fun to work on!

Love is a funny feeling. It bubbles in your chest, fogging up your brain. It squeezes at your lungs, flushes your cheeks, and pounds at the inner bars of your ribcage. It halts your ability to reason, makes every decision that much harder. Had it any other name, you’d think it was evil.

You can pinpoint the exact moment you fell in love with Dikke. You were out on the field with her, battling off some critters, when one launched itself forward at you. It’s teeth were large, dripping with black venom, and as it got closer, you could see just how sharp it’s fangs were. You closed your eyes, flinching away as you braced for impact. Prepared for the agonizing pain you knew was about to come. But then a moment passed. And you were fine. Hesitantly, you opened your eyes, to find that Dikke was standing in front of you. Her arm was caught in the critter’s jaw, you could see blood begin to pool in the bite marks. Yet she flung the creature away effortlessly, the dreaded fiend hitting the ground and running off. She turned back to you then, her red eyes narrowed in determination. “Are you hurt?” She asked, her voice still holding strong, despite the pain she had to have been in. That was the exact moment you found that words failed whenever it came to Dikke.

It was difficult. Being so utterly helpless when it came to her. You’d sneak glances, only to turn your head entirely whenever she looked your way. You’d doodle her name in your notebook, only to cover it whenever she walked by. You’d walk as close to her as you possibly could, trailing behind her like a lost puppy, only to quickly change paths whenever she slowed her stride to walk aside you. And conversation, oh conversation was the worst.

You couldn’t get more than a ‘hello’ out most days. A ‘good morning’, if you were at your best. Dikke had never been one for small talk, so you assumed she wouldn’t mind, yet it seemed as though the more you shied away, the closer she came. 

You never lasted long while talking to her. She’d make her way over to you, ask you how you’re doing, and then you’d squeal some sort of excuse, and make your escape. 

It’s not as though you didn’t want to talk to her, you really did! But every attempt made your body close in on itself. Your mouth went dry, your head would spin, you felt so unbelievably nervous, that it was hard to focus on anything except not throwing up.

Dikke was beginning to worry.

Ever since she’d saved you from that critter, you’ve been acting so strange. It was an impulsive move, and acting on a feeling isn’t something she was used to doing. Yet she couldn’t stand to see you hurt, breaking formation just so she could protect you from the attack. Had her recklessness driven you away? 

Perhaps she’d scared you somehow? The image of her standing before you, taking a blow, may have been too much for someone so gentle. Was it the blood she’d wiped off her arm? The fierce look on her face? Dikke’s stomach turned with every possibility. It was obvious that she’d upset you, she just didn’t know how. Even worse, she had no clue what she was going to do in order to fix it.

The Timekeeper was the only one she spoke to about this grand disaster. Dikke approached her, keeping her composure despite the twist in her heart. She felt faint as she recalled the events, her eyes falling to the floor when she spoke of how timid you’d become around her. Though emotions were often complicated for Vertin, she’s no fool. She’d seen the two of you in battle before; how glances would be thrown each other’s way, the nervous tension with every shout. She noticed the feelings long before either of you did. It’s why she’d put you together for almost every team. In the hopes that you’d figure it out, or die trying. “Just talk to them.” Vertin’s advice surprised Dikke. It was so simple, yet so hard to complete. Dikke swallowed every ounce of pride she had left, and promised Vertin that she’d have it dealt with by the morning.Dikke approached you that afternoon, blocking your way from the room you were exiting. She towered above you, narrowing her eyes as you shied away. You let out a meek greeting, which seemingly left her unaffected.

“Are you cross with me?” She asked finally, after a minute of staring you down.

“Wh-What?” You asked, feeling your face begin to heat with embarrassment.

“Have I done something to upset you, M’lord?” Her voice was uncharacteristically nervous, as she lowered her gaze to the floor.

“I… no! Of course not!” You argued, shaking your head wildly.

“Then why is it that you cower away from me?” She asked, looking up to meet your gaze again. “Why is it that you avoid my presence, as if I’m some plague? You glare at me from across the room, yet turn in fear each time I meet your eyes. Why is that? What have I done?” Dikke asked, her voice dripping with melancholy.

Flustered, you hid your face in your hands. You couldn’t stand to look at her and her sad, sad expression.

“It’s not like that!” You finally yelp, glancing from behind your fingers. “Dikke, I like you. I like you a lot.”

“Ah. I like you as well, m’lord, you are a reliable ally, and a ferocious fighter-”

“No, not like that! Romantically!” You cry.

Dikke’s face goes red, her mouth hanging open slightly.

“I… I see.” She mutters, coughing into her closed fist. “You wish to court me?”

“I…I guess?” You peep, keeping your head low.

“Then we shall court.” Dikke gives a stern nod, though the blush doesn’t leave her face. “I look forward to our relationship, m’lord.”

You make a soft noise, and with that, Dikke leaves the room.

The both of you are too flustered to speak for quite some time.

[jamdoughnutmagician]

Kisses From A Princess 

Eddie Munson x Cheerleader!Reader (18+)

Summary:Following his indiscretions under the bleachers, a certain cheerleader suddenly takes an interest in the shaggy-haired metal-head (sorry I suck at summaries)

Warnings:Starts with a small bit of fluff, but the rest is just filth. Teasing, Making-out, Blow Jobs (in public kind of? Reader sucks him off at the bench outside the school?) cum-swallowing. Let me know if there’s anything I’ve missed that you want tagged.

Word Count:1,796

Authour’s Note:I really just liked writing for eddie and cheerleader reader so I wrote another one! Follows on from Knee Socks and Pom-Poms, so it might help to read that first if you haven’t. So yeah just more filth from me I guess 😅

Masterlist

For a long time Eddie was very happy admiring you from afar. Gazing dreamily at the back of your head, his eyes following the subtle bounce of your ponytail as he sat behind you in class. His attention being entirely diverted away from whatever subject he was supposed to be studying, instead choosing to scribble your name in his scrawling handwriting in the pages of his notebook, surrounding your name with little hearts. Even going as far as to write your initials next to his, once again surrounding your combined initials in a scratched black ink heart. It was safe to say that Eddie had fallen hook, line and sinker.

Part of him knows it's stupid of him to have a crush on a cheerleader like you. The school’s freak and the popular cheerleader? It was so cliché! You couldn't be more different from him if you tried, and yet,  his crush on you remained all the same. 

He vaguely hears the monotonous sound of Ms. O’Donnell’s voice as she goes through the morning’s lesson. Her voice seemed to be getting louder and louder until he looked up from his doodle-filled notebook.

“Mr. Munson, if you could please pay attention to the lesson at hand. If you paid as much attention to my teaching as you do the back of y/n’s head then perhaps you might actually learn something”

You whipped your head around at the mention of your name to see the boy who sat behind you, sink into his seat. A pink flush quickly spread across his cheeks, as he tried to hide behind his curtain of dark frizzy curls.

You waited until Ms. O'Donnell carried on with her lesson before scribbling down a note in your notebook and tearing it out to pass it to the boy sitting behind you.

Eddie looks up from where he's sat slumped in his seat, still feeling embarrassed at having been singled out like that, to find a folded up piece of paper on his desk. He reaches forwards, and carefully unfolds the note under his desk to read it

Hey Eddie! I know we don’t talk all that often, but just so you know, I think you’re pretty cute :) Meet me out by the bench at the back of the school at lunch? There’s something I wanna talk to you about.

 He smiles as he looks over your swirling handwriting and sweet words, quickly looking around him before scribbling down his own note next to yours before discreetly passing it back to you with a tap on your shoulder.

Nice to know the feeling’s mutual. Until then, Princess.

_____________

Eddie sits at the table in the clearing at the back of the school’s football field. He’d been here many times before, dealing from his stash in his metal lunchbox to the regular stoner students of the school, but for some reason waiting at this table not knowing what was going to happen had a knot growing in the pit of his stomach. Was his note too much? Why did he have to call you Princess? And what could you possibly want to talk to him about?

Just as he begins to get up to leave to save himself the embarrassment of being left hanging, he hears the sound of your crunching footsteps through the leaves on the ground.

‘Sorry I kept you waiting, you know how the rest of the cheer squad can be. I mean they can be very nice, don’t get me wrong but, I don’t really care for all that girly gossiping that goes on.’ you offer apologetically.

You set down your backpack before sitting yourself on the opposite side of the bench from him.

You looked at Eddie, his expression was one of a rabbit caught in the headlights. His big brown eyes searching your face, trying to get any sense of why you’d asked him to meet you here in the first place.

Eddie settles down in his seat watching you carefully as you continue talking.

“You know I saw you, Eddie.” You begin.

“S-saw me? What are you talking about?” He stumbles.

“Last week. I was out on the field with the rest of the cheer squad and I saw you hiding in the bleachers, I know you were watching me.” you explain.

Oh. So that’s what this was about.

“I-I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to perv on you like that I-I just…” He babbles endlessly. Of course you were going to think he was a weirdo! What kind of creep just hides in the bleachers, just to get off whilst watching the girl of his dreams dance for him? What on earth were you thinking, Munson?

“Hey, hey, it’s okay!” you reassure “I actually thought it was kind of hot” you say, your eyes not quite being able to look into his deep brown ones. “..and don’t worry, none of the other girls in the squad saw you, they were too busy being concerned about themselves to notice what you were up to.” you told him.

"But you saw me, though?" he asks again.

"Oh I certainly saw you a lot of you, big boy." You lightly tease.

A bright hot scarlet flush spreads across Eddie’s cheeks, and down to his chest. He desperately tries to ignore the twitch of his dick under the dark denim of his jeans at the sound of your sweet voice calling him ‘big boy’

  ‘Y’know, Eddie…” you say as you get up from where you’re sitting on your side of the bench, and slowly begin to make your way over to where he’s sat. “I mean what I wrote in my note. I do think you’re pretty cute.”

He turns around in his seat, looking at you, as you look down at him with a lustful gaze.

“...and you can tell me if I’m reading this situation all wrong, and I won’t ever bother you again, but I’d be more than happy to please you, if you’d let me” you say, your voice dropping to a seductive tone.

“Please me?” Eddie stumbles, he feels his heart thumping in his chest and the press of his cock against his boxers at your suggestion.

Your smaller delicate hands trail over his crotch, where the material of his jeans are pulled tight, rubbing over the growing bulge under the denim.

“I want you, Eddie. I want to taste you. Do you want me to put my mouth on you?” your eyes are looking deep into his, sparkling with desire.

“Y-yes, I’d like that very much.” he smiles.

He feels your fingers beginning to make work of the handcuff holding his belt together, before then moving to unzip his jeans.

“Wait-wait a moment..” he stammers.

“Have you changed your mind about this, Eddie? Because that’s okay.” you reassure him.

“No, not all. It’s just..If we’re going to do this, then I want to do it right. I-I wanna kiss you, I mean I would like to, can I kiss you?” he asks sweetly.

 “I would like that too, Eddie” you say,  before leaning forward and gently pressing your lips to his. His lips are surprisingly soft, kissing you with a gentle tenderness that has you feeling a little weak in the knees. His tongue sweeps across your lower lip, eager to slip between your lips and deepen the kiss. His large hands find themselves splayed on your hips, holding you close to him between his open thighs as he kisses you like he needs it to survive. 

You pull away from his lips, both of you breathing a little heavier than before.

You settle yourself on your knees between his open thighs, pulling his boxers down with his jeans to settle around his ankles. 

“I told you, I wanted to taste you, Eddie. I’m not wasting this opportunity” and with that you wrap your hand around his half-hard cock. Stroking your hand up and down over him slowly, letting him feel your grazing over the vein that runs the length of the underside of his cock.

You lower your head, your breath ghosting across the tip of his cock for a moment, before your tongue slips out from between your lips to sweep across the bead of pre-cum pooling from his slit.

Above you, you hear Eddie shudder out a shaky breath.

“F-Fucking hell sweetheart..” he moans.

You start to suckle the head of his cock in your mouth, savouring the slightly salty taste of him against your tongue. Licking up the length of him in one one long sweep, tongue tracing that prominent  pulsing vein.

Taking him further in your mouth you begin to bob your head over him, using your hand to stoke the spit slick flesh of the rest of his cock, twisting your closed fist slightly as your hand stroked upwards.

Your other hand reaches down, to gently cup and roll his heavy balls in your hands.

“Feels so good…Love your mouth, Sweetheart..F-fuck…”

You smile against him, despite how your lips are stretched around his thick cock. Knowing that you were able to get him like this with just your mouth gave you a strange sense of pride.

All the while Eddie is winding his hands into your hair, and he’s desperately willing himself to not thrust his hips up into your face, and letting you set the pace. He feels a tight knot in his stomach tying itself ever tighter with every pass of your tongue over his flushed skin.

“Sweets..I-I’m close..You’re gonna make me cum..Please…” he whines desperately.

“Come for me, Eddie… I want it..” you mumble against him.

“Gonna come in your mouth..down your throat…” he huffs with a moan.

With a few more relentless strokes of your fist over him, he was coming, spilling rope after rope of his load into the warm wet heat of your mouth. Glazing the back of your throat with streams of sticky, salty cum. 

Your eyes never leave his as you slowly pull away from his softening cock. Looking up at where his chest is rising and falling with exhausted breaths, you lock eyes with him, showing him your tongue coated in the evidence of seed, before making a point to swallow down everything he had to offer you.

“You’re trouble aren’t you, Princess?” he breathlessly chuckles.

“Yeah, but something tells me that you like trouble, don’t you, Munson?”

“Fucking love it.” he grins brightly before tugging you up from your knees to kiss you one more time, pressing his lips to yours in a bruising passionate kiss.

Yeah, he’s gonna have to keep you around him, as close as he can, if can help it.

tagged: @harringtons-cupid @mcbeanzontoast @i-me-mine @penguinsandpotterheads

[meowthiroth]

been meaning to post these here for AGES now but I keep forgetting to. explodes 💥

but ANYWAYS! i redid the ref art for my Stranger oc from Myst/Riven! and also finally got around to drawing the aged-up version I thought up for him between Myst 3 and 4.

also wrote out a sort of messy bio for him a while ago, which i'll put under the cut since it's kinda long lol

ACE

Basic info

• Born October 7, 1782. He is 24 during the events of Myst & Riven, 33 during Exile and 42 during Revelation.

• He stands about 5’6” (1.6m) and is around 120 lbs. Pretty scrawny and definitely built better for agility than physical power.

• He is transgender and uses he/him pronouns. That caused quite a few problems for him back home, given the social climate at the time. He really doesn’t like to discuss his past or his birth family & will quickly change the subject if asked.

• He's very kind, easygoing and silly, and he loves to help others. But he can also be quite scatterbrained, forgetful, and prone to emotional manipulation.

• While he can be a bit absent-minded at times, he’s actually quite intelligent & quick-thinking, and he excels at problem- and puzzle-solving. He often cracks Atrus’s puzzles within mere minutes, but then can't recall his thought process when asked how he did it.

• Most of his favorite pastimes involve creating and fixing things. For instance, he’s very skilled with a needle & thread, and he makes and mends all of his own clothes. Drawing is another big one for him— his journal contains a lot more doodles in the margins than actual writing.

• He also LOVES animals, especially frogs, reptiles and bugs. He’s good at reading animals' behavioral cues and often has an easier time gaining their trust than most people would.

Early life/childhood

• His birth family were early settlers in the Northwest Territory, moving out west with him in tow when he was just a small child & starting a homestead there. His family consisted of his father, mother, and 3 brothers- 2 older and 1 younger.

• His gender identity caused friction with his family later in his childhood, since they had assumed he was just a tomboyish child and would eventually grow out of it. Obviously, though, he never did.

• His refusal to adhere to his assigned gender eventually escalated to his parents viewing him as hysterical & mentally unwell. Things only continued to get worse as he grew older, which eventually led him to go on the run. He kept a low profile & travelled mostly on his own for years, pressing farther into uncharted territory in an attempt to get as far away from his family as possible, which was how he first stumbled across the Myst linking book.

Life with Atrus & family

• Despite everything Saavedro did at the start of Exile, Ace still finds himself understanding of the man's predicament (perhaps relating the experience to his own upbringing in an abstract sort of way), and he takes it upon himself to help him get home by any means necessary. He often wonders how things worked out for Saavedro after their encounter & genuinely wishes the best for him.

• Slight deviation from canon- After the events of Exile, Ace got so worried about someone else coming after Atrus and his family while he was gone that he insisted on staying with them to help keep an eye on things. He moved in with them in Tomahna and helped out, both with Atrus’s projects and just general home/family things. He sort of took up the role of another older brother figure to Yeesha.

• Over time, he begins to view Atrus & Catherine not just as friends, but sort of as a new, more accepting family. He's definitely slipped up & called them “mom” and “dad” by accident before. SEVERAL times. He was really embarrassed about it at first, although they weren't bothered by it.

• He and Atrus work well together! Although Ace can’t write his own Ages, he often helps test Atrus’s creations and suggests ways he could potentially improve them. His ideas tend to fall somewhere in between Atrus & Catherine in terms of realism- a little wacky but still somewhat grounded in reality. He’s also quick to remind Atrus to take breaks & not get TOO into his work.

• Ace also spends a lot of time back home with Catherine and Yeesha. He does a good job earning his keep by helping around the home, and he and Catherine often like to bounce ideas off of one another. He finds her creativity super impressive, and a favorite pastime of his is to try & draw various creatures and landscapes that she describes.

• Since he lives with the family in between Exile and Revelation, Ace learns about what happened to Atrus’s sons much earlier than in canon, and he often tags along with the family when they visit. Usually he doesn’t go visit the brothers by himself, since he isn’t sure how comfortable Atrus would be with that, but he has offered to deliver things like care packages to them before & he’ll often stop to chat with them for a while.

• Ace has sort of always felt drawn towards Achenar. Despite the older brother's obvious shiftiness, Ace couldn't help but feel bad for him. He'd actually collected every blue page and was going to free him before he was (thankfully) stopped by Atrus. Despite being made aware of the attempted trick, Ace still forgave Achenar pretty quickly after seeing how much he’d changed over the years, and now he's always eager to go visit him with the rest of the family. The two get along surprisingly well & become close friends over time, and Ace will often stay behind to talk to him long after the rest of the family decides to head home from their visits.

• Ace, however, has always gotten bad vibes from Sirrus ever since he first arrived on Myst. He already has a disdain for greedy rich-guy types, and Sirrus always struck Ace as very disingenuous and closed-off, which further limited their ability to connect on an emotional level. Deep down, though, Ace still has a soft spot for Sirrus, and often displays it by teasing him in a playful little-sibling sort of way. While Sirrus generally finds his jokes more annoying than amusing, it clearly isn’t malicious and at least breaks up some of his day-to-day tedium, so he begrudgingly tolerates it.

[once-in-a-blood-moon]

Hi-Hi! Can I request a Diavolo x human child!reader that has trouble speaking, reading, and writing bc they were never properly taught how to? (Very specific, i'm sorry) Like, the kid randomly got teleported to Devildom and had no clue how to ask for help. Diavolo just finds them on the one day he has off

Diavolo and the Lost Human Child

Diavolo and GN! human child reader (platonic)

AN: Hi! This request was fascinating and I had fun writing it! I love the idea of Diavolo being a bit fatherly towards children so that's kinda in here, hope that's alright. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! :)

Warnings: None

Heavy footsteps sounded through the hallway as Diavolo made his way to the royal kitchens. Today was the first day in a long time that he would be off from his duties. He figured he’d make himself and Barbatos a good breakfast as a way to start the day. Besides, Barbatos did so much for him, it really was the least he could do. 

Rounding the corner, his ears perked up hearing the patter of footsteps echoing from behind. The weight of the steps were too light to have been Barbatos, so Diavolo surmised it must be one of the Little Ds. 

“Well, good morning-“ The words died in his mouth as he spun around with his usual boisterous grin, which quickly faded into perplexity. Rather than seeing one of his little friends- it was a child. 

The prince surveyed the corridor behind the child, looking for anything else out of the ordinary. Coming up with nothing, his eyes drifted down to the small being in front of him. The child seemed nervous, their eyes glassy and unmoving from his large form. Diavolo slowly crouched down in attempt to meet their eye level. 

“Hello.” He started gently. “What is your name?” The child only blinked in response. Knitting his brows, Diavolo cleared his throat, determined to try again. 

“Do you know how you got here?” Once again, nothing but a blank stare. “…Hmm, okay then. Let’s try something else.” 

Diavolo grinned and extended his hand waiting for the child to take it. Hesitantly placing their hand in his, the demon rose to his full height and began leading the child through the castle. The trek was short and monotonous for someone like Diavolo, but as he continuously glanced at the child by his side he noticed all the awe of being in a grand castle held within their eyes. He made sure to keep his pace slow, letting the small child examine this new environment. 

The two soon arrived in front of his office. After entering, Diavolo brought the child over to his desk. Opening a couple of the drawers, he set out a few pieces of paper and a small variety of different colored pens- mostly the standard black, blue, and red, with a random purple inked pen in their midst. 

“Perhaps you’re too nervous to speak to me. Would it help for you to write it down instead?” He gestured to the utensils and stepped aside. The child’s eyes shifted from the demon to the desk. Waddling to his chair, they climbed in and clumsily grabbed the purple pen. Diavolo stood behind the chair observing as the child scribbled onto the page. Though what he was hoping to be words were just actual scribbles. 

The child glanced from the incomprehensible doodles to the demon prince and pointed eagerly.

“It looks wonderful, well done!” Diavolo praised. The child giggled and picked up the red pen, adding more color to the page. 

While the child was distracted, Diavolo pulled out his D.D.D messaging Barbatos to come to his office immediately. Not a minute later, a few sturdy taps on the door indicated the butler’s arrival. The young prince crossed the room and greeted his friend on the other side. 

“Your message seemed urgent. Is something the matter, my lord?” 

“See for yourself.” Diavolo stepped away from the entrance, no longer obstructing Barbatos’s view of the tiny child. 

The demon’s expression remained neutral as he looked to Diavolo for an explanation.

“I’m not sure how they got here. I haven’t gotten any information from them.” He glanced back to where the child sat. “They wouldn’t speak to me, so I thought maybe they would write to me instead but I don’t think they know how…” 

“Hmm, this is quite the predicament.” A gloved hand met the butler’s chin in thought. “What would you have me do then?” 

“I’d like you to use your powers and figure out how they got here. I don’t think they’re a threat, but they probably have family to get back to.” 

“Yes, my lord.” With a slight bow, Barbatos promptly left to see to his task. 

Diavolo closed the door and turned back to the child. The page was now nearly full of scribbles. Forming an idea, he quickly strode to one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk and picked up a clean sheet of paper. His fingers grasped the black pen, clicking it open. 

“Do you know how to play tic-tac-toe?” He asked as he began to set up a game. The child paused their movements to watch his pen create four intersecting lines. Diavolo took their curiosity as a no and started to explain the game. 

“It’s simple. For this game we use x’s and o’s.” He quickly drew both to the side in demonstration before continuing. “Which one would you like to be?” 

The child pointed their pen to the o. Diavolo nodded. 

“Good. Do you know how to make an o?” With the child not indicating otherwise, Diavolo walked around the desk and crouched next to where the child sat. “Watch.” He pushed the tip of the pen against the page and slowly brought it down and around before connecting it back to the top. 

“Now, you try.” He encouraged. The child seemed unsure, so Diavolo gently took the child’s hand that held the pen and guided them. After a few successful tries, the child had learned how to make both x’s and o’s. 

The demon prince returned to his seat and began to explain again, marking up the grid as he went. “These empty spaces are where we draw our x’s and o’s. Since you picked o’s, you’ll only draw o’s. To win, we want to have a single column that has only our symbol. We can use our symbols to block the other and keep them from winning.” Diavolo looked up from the page. “Sound good?” 

The child smiled. Diavolo dragged his pen to a new area and drew another grid. 

“Would you like to go first?” 

The child reached out and placed a scraggly o in the center of the grid. 

“Good one!” He exclaimed. “Hmm, where should I put mine?” Though he was speaking more to himself, the child pointed to the top right corner. The demon laughed animatedly at the child’s innocent sincerity, but placed his x there nonetheless. Diavolo gestured for the child to take their turn and another sloppy o was drawn next to his x. The prince’s pen hovered over the grid, before placing his next x in the space at the bottom left corner. The child swiftly swooped in and formed an o in the bottom middle space, drawing a line through the o’s in victory. 

“Haha, well done!” Diavolo raised his hand, waiting for the child to give him a high five. The small being giggled as they met his hand.  

After several rounds of Diavolo letting the child win, a knock sounded through the room. Grinning and giving a small nod in pause, the demon prince stood and made his way over to the door. 

“Hello, Barbatos. What did you find out?” He questioned with a hushed tone, not wanting the child to overhear their discussion. 

“This child is of human descent. Their parents seem to possess magic capabilities and after preparing an experiment, they accidentally warped the child to our realm.” 

Diavolo hummed. “I see. Well, I suppose you should send the child back to the human realm. I’m sure their parents are worried about them.” 

“Indeed. I’ll see to it that the child returns safely.” Barbatos stepped inside the office and extended a hand towards the child. “It’s time to go home now.” 

The child looked up and set their pen down, pushing themselves off Diavolo’s chair before quickly scurrying over to the two demons. Though they paused as they stood before Barbatos, staring at his gloved hand. Diavolo squatted beside the child. 

“It’s alright. Barbatos is a friend. He’s going to help you return home to your parents.” Diavolo explained softly. The child turned and stared at Diavolo before tackling him in a hug. The young prince smiled as he returned the gesture. 

“Thank you for playing with me. I had a lot of fun.” He released the child, who had a wide grin plastered on their face. Diavolo rose back up and gently nudged the child towards Barbatos. A small hand was placed within the butler’s. Diavolo walked the two out into the hall, sharing a nod with Barbatos as he watched him lead the child to his room. The child glanced back, waving goodbye to their new friend. 

“Goodbye.” Diavolo waved back. A sigh escaped him once the two disappeared around the corner. Even though he had spent such a short amount of time with the child, he had grown quite fond of their presence. 

Diavolo retreated back to his office to clean up the materials he had laid out earlier. The pens were neatly placed inside the drawer and the tic-tac-toe sheet was tossed in the trash. He then grabbed the tape dispenser from his desk and carefully taped the messily doodled page next to his cork board that was filled with important notes and messages. He stood back, examining the picture like a proud dad, and vowed he would never forget this day or his little friend. 

[nagichi-boop]

A Star That’s Out of Reach (Chapter 12)

[Previous] - [Next] [Masterlist]

Don’t get too excited about the quick turnaround for updates, this chapter sucks, sorry. I had a whole idea with Tails I was gonna do, but I couldn’t easily transition from the scenario in this chapter, so it ended up being drawn out too long instead. The upside is that the next chapter will probably be more focused on Shadow and Tails interactions (and a guest that I won’t spoil), so if y’all want that then you’re in luck!

View this as the filler episode equivalent of fanfic chapters.

— x —

Shadow had been sat under the tree for almost an hour now, his eyes fixed on the starry sky, almost as if the heat of them would warm him up. He began to wonder whether Amy would show, but the thought of leaving crossed his mind, he heard someone approaching. Turning his head, he smiled warmly as Amy approved who was graced with a smile of her own. She was hugging a notebook to her chest as she approached excitedly.

“Sorry I’m so late,” the pink hedgehog chirped as she sat beside Shadow. “I lost track of time when I was with everyone.” Shadow shook his head slightly, the smile on his face remained. “Not at all. I’m always happy to wait if it’s you.” A blush crept onto Amy’s face as he said this. She quickly looked up to see Shadow’s face, trying to glean his intention. As she did so, Shadow’s face shifted to one of innocent curiosity. “Are you okay?”

“Y-yes, I’m okay,” Amy stuttered as she swiftly looked down. She couldn’t wipe the grin off her face though, even if Shadow’s words weren’t intended as flirtatious. She raised a hand and cleared her throat, trying to mentally reset. But as she tried to do so, she felt an arm wrap around her and pull her in, which only flustered her more.

“Is that better?” Shadow asked softly, his gaze intently fixed on her.

“W-What are you doing?” Amy responded in a stunned confusion.

Shadow titled his head slightly as he responded. “I thought maybe you were cold. Did I misunderstand?”

Oddly, Shadow’s response calmed Amy. She gigged a little before speaking. “Yes, you did. But I’m also cold, so I’m not complaining!” She then flipped open her book on her lap and Shadow did the same, though he refused to use the hand that was now rested on Amy’s shoulder.

“So how exactly does this work?” Shadow asked genuinely. There was a surprising air of calmness to Shadow, one which Amy wasn’t really expected. Perhaps he was taking this potential dating situation seriously, even more so than her.

“Well…I don’t really know,” Amy admitted as she stared at her own notes. “I think when it comes to dating, it’s not a one-size-fits-all. And if I’m being honest, I have no clue where to start.” Shadow hummed in thought as he stared at the notes he had made. They were written neatly in a list, but in no particular order – he just wrote what came to mind. Amy’s notes, on the other hand, were organised with different headings, and stickers and doodles were distributed throughout the pages. This wasn’t her first time journalling, after all.

“Maybe we should just read through each other’s notes?” Shadow eventually suggested. Amy paused to think, then nodded in agreement to the plan. She swapped the two journals, pushing on the spine of her’s so it would stay open for Shadow.

The two of them sat in silence for a few moments as they read through each other’s notes. Amy glanced up at one point and was surprised to see Shadow’s expression was focused, almost intense. He was clearly focusing intently on reading Amy’s notes – it was endearing. She smiled as she went back to reading Shadow’s. A lot of it made sense; needing alone time, no forcing me to hang out with your friends - all things that Shadow already expected of others. She paused on one of the points.

“‘No sudden displays of affection,’” she quotes aloud. She looked up at Shadow, who returned her eye contact. “Anything specific I should avoid?”

Shadow looked back at Amy’s journal as he collected his thoughts. “I guess I was thinking things like hugs and…kisses.” Amy blushed a little at his honesty, but it was quite refreshing to hear things laid out so clearly. “What about hand holding?”

“That’s okay, though maybe not when others are around. For now, at least.”

Amy nodded as she took in this information. “Are hugs and kisses completely off the table, or are they okay if they aren’t a surprise?” Shadow hummed a little, though his eyes remained on Amy’s journal. At first she thought he was avoiding looking at her, but it became apparent he was just deep in thought.

“I’m okay with it, just not out of nowhere.” Though he wouldn’t say it out loud, he had already concluded that he wasn’t ready for spontaneous displays of affection. It left him feeling like he wasn’t in control, and that feeling terrified him, even if deep down he appreciated the affection.

Amy thought to herself for a moment. It was subtle, but she could tell there was a deeper emotion to Shadow’s response. She didn’t wish to push it right now, though. A realisation then crossed her mind. “Did me kissing your cheek the other night upset you?”

Shadow went quiet for a moment, his expression unchanging. The mild tension seemed to go away, however. “No. If anything, it helped me to clearly understand what your feelings towards me were. It was…pleasant. But I don’t think I’m quite ready for that to be the norm. It still makes me incredibly nervous and that is a feeling that makes me uncomfortable.” Amy smiled in understanding. “That makes sense. You’ve been guarded for so long that affection must be scary, huh?” Shadow, though still looking down, nodded in agreement. Amy was perceptive as always. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll make sure to let you know if I want to hug or kiss you. I’m happy to wait until you’re more comfortable for anything more than that.”

Shadow briefly glanced at Amy as she said that, a little confused as to what she meant. But he quickly dismissed the thoughts. When it was necessary, they could discuss what that meant, but he saw little use in worrying about it this early on. He looked back at Amy’s journal, diligently absorbing her notes. The more he read, the more a feeling of unease settled in.

“Is this really going to work?” he muttered under his breath, but with how close Amy was to him, she heard it. She leaned away from Shadow slightly, looking at him with a worried expression.

“What do you mean? Are you having second thoughts?” Though she recognised this as a potential outcome, her heart still sank at the possibility. Shadow’s eyes widened as if he was being snapped back into reality. He quickly turned his attention to Amy, realising that what he said sounded like a rejection.

“No no, it’s not that,” Shadow assured in a slight panic. He glanced at the book again, as if to bring Amy’s focus to it. “It’s just, I realised that your notes are a lot less���strict than mine.”

Amy tilted her head. “‘Strict’?”

Shadow exhaled a nervous breath. “Well, my notes seemed more restrictive. Your’s, on the other hand, sound like the bare minimum amount of respect I’m supposed to show you.”

Amy stared open mouthed at Shadow, surprised at his insightful observation. After a few moments of silence, Shadow looked at Amy and was confused at her expression. In fact, it made him a little nervous. When he turned to face her, Amy realised that her silence may be worrying him, so she quickly shook her head and spoke.

“Sorry, I lost myself a little there. I wasn’t expecting you to say something like that.” She looked away and paused for a moment, with Shadow watching her all the while. Her thumb gently brushed along the page of his journal, as if to show her respect for him. “I guess I was a little unsure of what put down. I’ve read plenty of romance stories, but I’ve never been in a relationship. I have no idea what to expect. And while I don’t expect you to have the answers either, it’s a bit confusing when we can’t talk to anyone about this.”

Shadow stared at her for a moment, noting the worry on her face. After a few moments, a hand entered Amy’s field of vision, hovering over the journal. She followed it up to look back at Shadow, seeing the love and concern on his face.

“Are you offering to hold my hand?” she asked hesitantly, unsure of whether she was interpreting the gesture correctly. She received a sheepish nod, so she gently took his hand, which was soon enveloped by his. His thumb traced the back of her hand, which she observed with a tender expression.

“I don’t expect you to know what to do,” Shadow spoke softly. “In a way, it’s comforting to know this is so new to both of us.” He paused for a moment and gently squeezed her hand, his gaze drifting up to her face. “Maybe we would both benefit from someone knowing about this?”

Amy looked up at him for a moment, before her eyes suddenly widened in realisation. She then smiled nervously and glanced away.

“Actually…there are people that already know,” Amy shyly confessed. Shadow raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised to hear that multiple people may know already. But his expression remained calm.

“Who?”

“Blaze and Silver. I was talking about having a crush on you and they figured it out along the way.”

Shadow nodded as he processed the information. He then came to a realisation of his own.

“I suppose you ought to know that Rouge is aware of our relationship,” he admitted. “She was aware of my feelings for you a while ago. But I accidentally revealed the status of our relationship yesterday while I was looking for a journal.”

Amy giggled a little, her cheeks tinted pink. “I guess it was only a matter of time when it came to her knowing.” She smiled warmly at Shadow. “This makes things a little easier I guess. We each have people we can talk to, though Blaze and Silver are perhaps a little less available.”

The two of them sat in silence for a short while, staring up at the starry night. Amy eventually began to start shivering, which Shadow promptly took note of. He considered taking her back home, but a new idea came into his mind.

“Did you want to warm up at my place for a bit?” he suggested.

Amy tensed up at the suggestion, her head quickly flicking to look at him. He appeared surprised at her reaction, which made her realise she was perhaps she was overthinking it. “Oh…y-yeah, okay!”

Shadow stood up and offered his hand to Amy, helping her to her feet. To her surprise, he didn’t let go as they walked side by side. They didn’t speak as they travelled, but it didn’t bother them. Amy would occasionally sneak a glance at Shadow, but the hedgehog had seemingly reverted back to his resting expression.

They eventually reached the house, which Amy took a moment to observed. It was small and unspoken, which was initially odd to her. But she realised that Shadow, Rouge and Omega didn’t seem to be the types to have a fancy house. Besides, it would be counter to their characters for them for their house to stick out, especially for Rouge.

Shadow released Amy’s hand and opened the door. He stepped to the side and beckoned her in, to which she entered. She glanced around for a moment before freezing in place as someone approached.

“Shadow, you’re home!” Rouge entered the room and, like Amy, froze in her tracks. Unlike Amy, however, she quickly recovered. She smirked as she continued; “Oh? Bold of you to bring a lady home with you, Shadow.”

“Cool it, Rouge,” Shadow scolded, closing the door behind him and standing beside Amy. “I invited her here in order to warm up. That’s all.” Shadow and Rouge locked eyes for a moment, and as if he could read her mind, he spoke again. “No need to be coy. Amy knows that you’re aware of us.”

“Oh thank goodness, I can quit with the pretences,” Rouge sighed in relief, her teasing attitude almost immediately fading. “It’s too late in the day to be bothering with that.” She looked at Amy, who was still a little guarded. “No need to be so tense. Make yourself at home and all that jazz. I’ll stay out of your way.”

“No, stay!” Amy impulsively belted, startling Shadow and Rouge a little. “W-What I mean is, you don’t have to go. This is your house, after all! We don’t mind, right Shadow?” She glanced up at him, as if seeking validation.

“It’s fine by me I suppose. But are you sure you’re comfortable with it?”

Amy smiled reassuringly at Shadow. “I’m okay with it, really I am.”

Rouge looked between the two of them, figuring out her next move. She could tell Shadow wanted to be alone with Amy, perhaps out of fear of her prying into their relationship. But she could also tell that Amy was flustered at the idea of being alone with Shadow, not because he would do anything, but because she was now in his house. She sighed, realising that neither option was right or wrong.

“I’ll stay, but let me know if you want your privacy.” With a quick flap of her wings, she made her way to her chair, slouching against the armrest. Unlike Shadow and Amy, she had no qualms with putting up appearances right now. The two of them exchanged glances before Shadow gestured for her to sit down. She sat on the couch and Shadow promptly joined her, keeping a bit of distance between them. After a moment of quiet, Rouge took the TV remote and put on a program, even if to just to break the silence.

The three of them stared at the screen, not saying a word. Rouge was quite content with the quiet, but checked in on Shadow and Amy just in case. Shadow seemed content with the situation, but it was clear Amy was conflicted. Before she could figure out how to help them, Amy stood up with a smile plastered on her face.

“Thanks for inviting me in,” she said, forcefully smiling at Shadow. “I ought to go home now, though.”

Shadow raised an eyebrow in confusion, but decided not to push it. “Sure thing.” The two of them walked to the door, but Shadow hesitated as his hand rested on the handle. He turned to Amy and offered his hand. “Let me teleport you home.”

Amy snuck a glance at Rouge, then took his hand sheepishly. Using the Chaos Emerald at his disposal, she and Shadow were swiftly transported outside her house. She smiled up at Shadow and spoke, “Thank you, Shadow. It was nice spending time with you. I’ll see you again soon, okay?” With a nod from Shadow, Amy turned and entered her house. Shadow stood there for a moment as the door closed in front of him. He sighed, then teleported himself home, back into the living room. Despite returning, he didn’t say anything and instead stood there for a moment, staring at the floor.

“Something wrong, Shadow?” Rouge asked, her head rested in her hand. He sighed again, then wandered to the couch to sit on it, though his eyes remained fixed on the floor. He was clearly upset.

“Did I do something wrong?” Shadow asked himself, his brows furrowed a little in frustration.

Rouge sat forward, giving her full attention to Shadow. “Oh hun, I’m sure that’s not the case. I think perhaps she was just a little…uneasy because I was around.”

Shadow looked up at Rouge, clearly not content with that answer. “She seemed nervous at the idea of coming back here. I shouldn’t have forced it.”

Despite not fully understanding what he meant, she could see why Amy would be unsettled by the offer. Not that she blamed Shadow though: unlike Amy, he hadn’t the faintest idea when it came to relationships. “Don’t beat yourself up over it. The two of you are still fresh – it will take time for you to adjust to being in each other’s lives.”

Shadow’s expression relaxed slightly. He let out a sigh, though this time it was out of relief instead of disappointment. “That makes sense. Thanks Rouge.”

“Glad to hear it,” Rouge smiled warmly at him. She then yawned and stretched, before turning to look at Shadow. “Shoot, I forgot how late it was. This lady needs her beauty sleep. We can talk more later, okay?”

“Sure thing,” Shadow replied. “I too lost track of time.” He stood up and the two of them walked out of the room into the hallway. Shadow paused as he got to his door, then smiled at Rouge. “Night, Rouge.”

“Sleep well, Shadow,” Rouge reciprocated. The two of them then parted ways, entering their respective rooms.

“EVENING SHADOW,” Omega said, settled underneath the bunk bed.

“Hey Omega,” Shadow replied, jumping up into his bed. There was a mutual understanding that Shadow was here to sleep, so Omega remained quiet after this. Shadow closed his eyes, and shortly thereafter fell asleep.

[icedmetaltea]

SCP Au "Is that a drawing of me?”

The investigations did not stop, even with you inside the holding cell there were questions, your replacement was professional with his direct and cold questions. But neither Sun or Moon cared, they decided to ignore the poor man who was just doing his job in favor of cuddling with you or looking for some activity like giving you a bath to avoid further chatter.

But, unlike the questionnaires, the test exercises done to see the behavior of the SCPs went really well. Neither Sun nor Moon had done this kind of activities before and it was not part of your duty to carry them out, you were always engaged in talks and not in experiments. Perhaps that a living human was with the Keter class SCPs had pushed the management to initiate other kinds of tests, and they were turning out quite well so they continued.

Today they had been given several sheets and colored pencils, Moon found no fun in them and ripped and chewed the sheets before spitting them out, Sun, on the other hand, figured out very quickly how the colors worked and took a smaller form just so the pencils would work properly in her hands. Moon curled up around you as she slept, and Sun doodled not far away.

"What do you draw?" You ask, Sun has one elbow on the floor, his head resting in his palm as his stomach rests against the cold floor, his legs flailing back and forth in the air. He doesn't turn to look at you when you speak to him.

"Something" His smile is stupid and you don't know if he doesn't want you to know or is just playing with you. You decide to push him a little.

"What is this 'something'?"

"Something!" Sun insists on his answer, and you insist on your question.

"Can I see?" You lean forward a little, stopping when Moon lets out a grunt of complaint. His body tightens a little tighter around you.

"Not until I'm done, buddy" Sun hums happily.

"Oh come on" You don't hide your tantrum, you're bored. Both SCP's aren't focused on you for once and you're not able to find pleasure in it when all you can do is stare at the wall and drown in your thoughts "Can I get a hint?"

"You have to be patient my friend, the best rewards come from patience" His voice sounds like a scolding and at the same time like a teacher giving a life teaching. You don't like it but you just sigh and throw your head back.

It doesn't take you long, maybe a couple of minutes, to decide that you want to look at the drawing. Maybe you feel brave because you've spent some time with the SCP's or Sun's less threatening form gives you confidence, but you stand up and Moon grunts as she loses her heating pad, you only need a couple of seconds to duck behind Sun's head and look at the drawing.

"Is that a drawing of me?" The shape is familiar, as much as the monochromatic colors of your work suit. Moon is stretching her razor-sharp claws toward you as Sun turns her head 180% and you freeze at that. Could she always do that?

A pressure in your stomach makes you recoil and fall onto Moon's torso, your hand remains there as a safety precaution as the Keter-class SCP licks your hair in reprimand for pulling away. Sun on the other hand is not so calm and his face colors red, whether it's out of embarrassment or anger you can't tell, but if his shrill tone indicates something you go for the latter.

"That's rude, dude!"

-L

[pastel-junkyard]

Some Ninalotte Headcanons,

because now that I finally have a break I cannot stop thinking about Them, and they need more content!

Series

• Lotte fell for Nina the same way she fell for Karl (or thought she did, depending on your headcanon) - it began as an anthropological fascination based on surface features and was able to progress deeper thanks to their friendship and acceptance, having a "click" moment some time in where she looked at them differently. As seen in the show, she quickly gets invested in both of their stories and tries her best to help them - that'd be her love language.

• Nina was very slow to fall for Lotte by contrast - she struggled to see herself as someone worth loving in that way, fearing that it may be dangerous for anyone who gets too close to her. (In general, I believe she is inexperienced with romance and never really connected with the few she accepted a date from in school.) I believe she only accepted it or was able to express it fully after the events of the series.

• That said, Nina ended up staying over at Lotte's house after the dance party fiasco, so she ended up meeting her parents and seeing Lotte's bedroom before insisting on taking the couch to sleep on.

• The sound of Lotte's voice and her scent are a source of comfort that helps Nina ground herself in the present moment. It all started in the hypnotism sessions and was something she only really realised in Prague.

(More under the cut...)

• Lotte found the gun and bullets when searching through Nina's bag for new clothes to leave the hospital with, but it was only when she walked in on Nina cleaning it that she dared to ask anything.

• Despite all her efforts to separate from everyone at the second departure from Munich, Nina still had a little thing (not sure what yet) Lotte gave her that day when she left. She couldn't bring herself to throw it, so it ended up at the bottom of her travel bag instead and maybe got a little smile out of her on the way back to Munich.

• Lotte was understandably worried at every point of the series, especially at the above point and Rühenheim. She had trouble concentrating on her work with all the new developments and so had to get help from the lecturers and perhaps an in-house counsellor like Dr Geitel. Your mileage may vary on the extent of this, but I think she may have used religion as a coping mechanism for the uncertainty, praying for Nina's safety and for her to not have to use her gun. (Really just extrapolating from the references to God she makes in ep. 32/ch. 61 here. But certainly by Rühenheim I can see even a more secular Lotte making an appeal to the Divine.)

Post-Series:

• Long-distance relationship for a good while, with plenty of carefully-worded letters and emails updating each other on events in Munich and Heidelberg. They take turns visiting each other's cities and are trying to figure out a way to live together while still paying homage to their regional identities. (That's apparently fairly important in Germany, as people who may travel a lot may still want to bring up their kids and end their days in their home region. Well, it may be less so now. Anyway--)

• Phone calls are where they feel most free to be affectionate when not face-to-face - no paper trace means no snoop can go through their (more likely Nina's) bins for an exclusive. They are still somewhat careful not to let anyone overhear, so prefer to call in the evening or night.

• They both like sending little gifts with their letters and pictures with their emails (when that becomes a thing). Nina likes sending brochures and article clippings of things relevant to Lotte's interests, like medieval history or cultural exchange events. Lotte sends pressed flowers and leaves, as well as little doodles of her original characters.

...that's all I've got for now.

[cxffexngel]

It always flies over the Archangel's head what Gran is capable of doing, trusting those that have at least tried killing them once, twice, or even are actively trying to take his life at the deep hours of the night in his sleep - The Grand, loved halls of the Grandcyper always having mortals and primals of all backgrounds, most of them some sort of very much not sane (But he can't complain about this, as his own... situation within the airship also has similar circumstances. As much as he likes to dodge this subject.) '' I am. '' But he doesn't elaborate. All the while serving himself a cup for himself, aimlessly toying with the foam with a pick as rough fingers trace circles where dark browns of foam and lighter ones merge into little swirls. '' It's what keeps me close to who it's my guiding light, the one who I am here for... He bestowed this to me as he did for the sky realm so long ago, so in a way... It's to remember him, or have him close. '' A vulnerability he allows to be, as slight as it is. A light layer that at this point many knew because not too many weren't privy of the supreme primarch's current happenings nor how he ended up within the Grancypher. But even then, with such a big airship as this one is, there's always those that logically were new to it – or even didn't even realize that they are before a primal beast. He is, after all, very human in appearance when stripped of all of his armor and not emanating any kind of aura or magic at all.

It felt even like a deja vu, back when he had been presented with the saunas and trying them out and all the stupidly insane misunderstandings that happened as those days progressed – Alas, Sandalphon's better at keeping his cool that he was some time in the past. Offering a quirked eyebrow at the Albion knight's words. '' ... Right. '' He's not entirely convinced, yet it'd not be the first time rather curious encounters occur in the cafe. It was, after all, a public space for those abroad, to come and go as they please and it just so happened Sandalphon had taken the kitchen for himself whenever it came about the drinks he serves along other things like baked goods and sweets. (This last one entirely just to accommodate Lyria, this... even if clear as the day outside, is not something tells out loud, though. )

So it comes as a surprise how... pleasant the woman is. It is welcomed considering the slight twinkle within those tired eyes and the smile at the little doodle he had drawn upon foam. Truly, if such a mere, temporal thing is able to ignite those smiles, Sandalphon was more than pleased to try and see other ways to make more of these, to practice more complex drawings perhaps. It was, after all, well received both by the younger ones along even the most war-torn veterans within these walls.

'' Haah...? '' Quizzical the sound comes raspy within his throat at how quickly it all crashes into.... this?. Just... when did suddenly she made up such a story to think he's competing with her at this very moment? The questions all at the forefront of his face, on the way bright scarlet eyes stare back at the knight, flabbergasted as if presented with yet another ultra powerful enemy just out the blue, but no – While he definitely knew a good fighter when he sees one, right now.... '' What.... makes you think– Agh... look. I just serve cups those who ask. Some pay me in rupies despise I do not really get the sense of economic exchange. If I'm bothering you or whoever you have your heart in, '' A breath in, and then another out. Had his usual aurburn wings been manifested at the moment they'd definitely be the telltale of Sandalphon's bewilderment upon such a misunderstanding. '' I'm not here to steal anyone's romantic partner, I– I don't even know who it could be. '' Katalina? Perhaps the black knight? Sandalphon rarely was out beyond the cafe, the deck if not because it was the captain or the other primarchs requiring his presence or his own volition at trying to have some fresh air. But... Actually, there's a way to dissuade the situation, he thinks.

'' The one who taught me coffee, Lucifer; he is who I brew these for. T-To someday, surely, share what I learn under the skies he watched over. If the one who picked at your heart likes my blends, I'm flattered b-but it doesn't mean any more than that...! '' And at this he tries making peace, palms held upright as if he had the end of a sword pointed at him, before they settle again back into his own cup with a tired sigh. '' I don't know why this kind of misunderstanding feels too familiar even... ugh. ''

the other was of a mature poise rarely found in those she oft surrounded herself with (not by her choosing! fate merely shoved these incompetent people into her life! perhaps it was a test to see if she was able to overcome any and all situations that could pose a threat). it wasn't played-up courtesies, or something flashy by being verbose (although, when he got going, he sure sounded like an old man). no, he wasn't, ah... that's what it was. haughty. in a manner that could be respected. was it due to what he was? she's unsure. although these details, at the end of the day, didn't matter. the only part that did was that he was competent and that much has made itself well-known.

she was close to jumping the gun and interrupting him until a particular part of what he explained stood out, making the young woman take pause and actually consider the nature of his statement. centuries to perfect just one thing? for one person? without realizing, vira softens a bit, even if a bit. if she had such a lifespan, oh, the eternity of joy she'd have doing everything possible under the skies with her dearest katalina.

"why, yes," she responds, though with less energy than her initial abruptness. "it's for someone. seems like you are familiar with such desire."

it spoke to a certain vulnerability, but she's found that in proclaiming so, even if in small morsels, helped the overflow of emotions. love is meant to be shared. others, too, may harbor similar feelings. for whatever reason, it's that commonality that eased any creeping paranoid loneliness. hands fold behind her back, sincere in her expression of pure devotion. her bond with luminiera was also reflective of that.

"it's important to me that i'm able to provide the things that make her smile and that i can do so to the best of my ability. at least, things i know i'm good at. i'm no chef, but i enjoy culinary ventures all the same. this would be part of that."

as she mentioned before, she wanted to watch him, so observe she did. though, he made it look... quite easy with how deftly he did everything. well, he did say this has been going on for centuries. sandalphon presents to her the freshly prepared drink, and she cups it daintily in her hands. a faint blush tints her cheeks seeing the foam's drawing (oh, it's so cute...! katalina would love it! it's so round despite its simplicity! wait, does he do this for everyone? it is always the same?). such aroma... it almost reminds her of her youth before the academy, where her family's servants lined the table with hot breakfast. it's been so long since then. she takes a sip — !!

oh. he's in trouble.

"coffee — i read — has addictive qualities. if she ends up here too often because of your diabolical beverage, i might have to take drastic measures." whatever that meant. "i'd rather she come to me to satiate her cravings than a man who molts so much i might get an allergy. you may be an angel, but the devil can live in anyone."

[edlinklover]

hiroaki is a lovely creacher can i give it a very small very cute strawberry

yes u may..

[captains-simp]

hello i love your work!! can you do a part 2 to worth our time? :”) maybe wherein carol is actually getting soft for the reader and wants to be together but the reader is hesitant bc of carol being known as a player? maybe some jealous carol as well? 😳😳

Soft!jock!Carol is a god tier idea and I really hope I did it justice

Shout out to @wlwmarvelenthusiast for helping me with my technical difficulties

Part 1

7.5k words

Warnings: oral, praise and double ended dildo use

[ masterlist ]

Buy me a coffee ☕

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Why are you ignoring Carol?" Wanda asked with a frown as you sped out of the school car park a little too hastily. She narrowed her eyes at you, ready to read into every expression that flickered across your face.

"I'm not ignoring her, I'm avoiding her. It's different." You insisted as you kept your eyes on the road in front of you, determined to leave the school grounds before a certain blonde left the building and got into her own car.

"It's exactly the same thing just in a different font." Wanda stated as she continued to watch you.

"It's not. And anyway, I'm not obligated to talk to her." You said quieter, not finding enough confidence in your words. Of course you weren't obligated to talk to Carol, but you missed it - more than you would admit to yourself.

"I know, I thought you liked her though. You said your date went well with her but since then you run out of every room she enters."

"It wasn't really a date." You muttered as took a left and eyed your mirror.

"Y/n." Wanda laughed. "I think I know a date when it's described to me."

"But it's Carol, Wanda. Carol doesn't do dates." You insisted as you tried your hardest to avoid your friend's gaze again. You didn't want her to see the pain in your eyes.

"She did with you."

"She went down on me-"

"Yes, I remember that catch up conversation." Wanda chuckled and you threw an empty sweet packet you had left in the car at her.

"And I'm not complaining about that. It's just... you know I'm not one to judge people by rumors, but Carol seems like a pretty strict 'hookups only' type of gal. Every time me and Carol are alone together we end up fucking and again, I'm not complaining about that, but it's enough to tell me she doesn't want anything more from me. Not even fuck buddies, because she doesn't commit to girls." You breathed out deeply as you parked up outside yours and Wanda's favourite coffee shop, suddenly not able to tell if you weren't in the mood for your hot chocolate or in desperate need of one.

"I think there might be a little more to it than that." Wanda said after a moment. She knew where you were coming from but she also couldn't deny the fidgety nature and anxious look in the blonde's eyes a few days prior.

"She called it a date last time you were together, she hasn't done that before. She was worried when you were sick and she's only ever worried when her teammates are sick."

"She wasn't worried." You rolled your eyes lightly and managed a small smile at Wanda.

"Oh she definitely was."

You groaned when you heard your phone vibrate on your bedside table. You rolled over begrudgingly, only bothering to check it because you knew it was lunch break at school and it might have been Wanda sending you the class notes you had asked for.

Unknown number: when I saw you weren't in class I assumed you were dead

You frowned as you took a double take of the message and the number you didn't recognize. The fuck? You decided to respond anyway, if they were in your class and texted you maybe they would send you their notes too.

You: sorry, who is this??

Unknown number: your favourite jock ;)

They replied, pretty much instantly. You put two and two together, but really the smirking face would have been enough.

You: Carol? How did you get this number??

You rubbed your eyes and pulled you sick bowl closer to you, frowning at the discomfort you felt.

Unknown number: so I am your favourite jock?? Good to know

You rolled your eyes and groaned more, knowing Carol wouldn't be forgetting that in a hurry. You didn't respond to that, instead shutting off your phone in hopes of getting more sleep but a minute later another text came through. You knew it would be Carol, but you still reached over to check it.

Unknown number: and Wanda gave it to me

"Dammit, Wanda." You grumbled, going to write her an angry message but Carol had something else to say.

Unknown number: I asked very nicely

You fought off a smile weakly and decided to change her contact, telling yourself it might be useful to keep it.

Jackass: You home alone?

She didn't seem to want to stop talking. Although you couldn't deny that it made you smile more when you wondered if she meant was anyone there to look after you.

You: I am, parents have to work

Jackass: want me to come over and make you feel better? ;)

Suddenly you didn't feel like talking to Carol anymore. You were sick and feeling crappy and all Carol wanted to do was fuck, she was hardly subtle about it either. If you hadn't already been thinking long and hard about what the jock could possible think of you, that would have been the moment you started to ponder it.

With your mood somehow lowered even more, you turned your phone off to go back to sleep, accidentally swiping the notification that read Jackass: * :)

"I still can't believe you gave her my number." You grumbled as you swirled the chocolaty drink in front of you.

"She did ask very nicely." Wanda grinned.

"Enough about her." You said, leaning forward on your elbows to grin back at your friend. "How's your girlfriend?"

*

You were on your phone when you saw a donut being pushed across the table towards you out of the corner of your eye. It was your favourite type that also happened to be the one the cafeteria rarely sold, so when it landed in front of you you looked up with a smile, expecting to see Wanda smiling knowingly back at you.

Carol grinned as she pulled out the chair opposite you and sat herself down. Your eyes flickered over to Wanda who was trying to hide her smile and look away.

"It's for you." Carol said after a second.

"What do I have to do for it?" You asked, only half joking as you eyed the treat suspiciously.

"Come on another date with me." She winked. You leaned back and looked away from Carol and the donut, displeased but not surprised. "Nothing." Carol said quickly. "You don't have to do anything, I just know that one's your favourite." The blonde said. You had never told her that. You eyed Wanda again who quickly looked away like she hadn't been watching the interaction and leaned into Natasha.

"Thank you, Danvers." You said quietly, moving the napkin that the donut was on closer to you.

"I thought we were passed that." Carol chuckled, you wanted to smile at the sound. Carol leaned down to grab something out of her rucksack as you started on the donut, not entirely sure if you should try make conversation or just run away.

"I took notes yesterday, while you were gone." The jock said as she put her notebook on the table and flicked through her badly organised pages to find the one she was looking for. You raised your eyebrows slightly in response.

You had never once seen Carol take actual notes in class, but when she spun the book around to face you you were even more surprised to see the detailed notes she had been taking, even with a couple of small diagrams at the bottom she had probably copied from the board.

"Are they okay? Wilson's pretty good at this shit I'm sure I could get him to-"

"They're great!" You interrupted. "They're...fuck, I'm sorry but since when did you take notes?" You didn't want to seem rude but it felt like you were witnessing a never before seen event or the discovery of a new species.

"Just figured you would want them." Carol shrugged and took a sandwich out her bag.

"Yeah I... thank you." You muttered and smiled when you saw a small doodle of a star. "Can I?" You asked as you motioned to your phone's camera. Carol nodded with a smile and watched as you took photos of her notes.

Wanda coughed from across the table and you shot daggers at her, knowing what she so desperately wanted to say. She hasn't done that for anyone else.

*

"It was sweet of her though." Wanda pointed out as her eyes stayed fixed on Natasha's form.

"It was, but you've gotten me donuts before and you don't want to date me." You said as you tried to stop your eyes trailing to Carol again as they seemed to keep doing.

"Well if Natasha wasn't here..." Wanda teased with a smile. You rolled your eyes at your friend and chuckled.

"Are Carol's abs as hard as they look?" Wanda asked randomly. You couldn't help but look up at the blonde at the mention of her name and perhaps one of your favourite things about her.

It was a hot day and her team was training hard on the field, so most of the athletes had their shirts off. Carol's abs were on full display and given the amount of core stretches she had been doing they were as prominent as ever.

"They are." You muttered, remembering the first time you ran your hands across her chest.

You heard giggling in the row behind you and turned around to see a group of girls also watching Carol and her team train. It was obvious their gazes fell on the same area yours had and suddenly you remembered the long list of names that Carol used to show off proudly.

The girl's whispers became louder as did the giggling and without realizing what you were doing you found yourself comparing you to them. They were popular, effortlessly beautiful and probably had much more experience than you ever had. You couldn't compete with that. Especially when you didn't even know why Carol wanted you. You rested your head on your knees and tried to zone out the world around you as your insecurities ate at you more.

"Come on." Wanda nudged you gently as she stood up from the bleachers. You grabbed your bag and followed after her, noticing that practice was apparently over.

Natasha was standing at the bottom of the bleachers and pulled Wanda into a tight hug. You smiled at the motion, wishing you had what they did.

"Hey." Carol said to you, her eyes shining lightly in the sun.

"Hey yourself." You nodded as you began to walk behind Wanda and Nat. Carol fell into place beside you and made you think about the height difference between you. You were convinced she could give the best piggy back rides.

"You make it look easy." You blurted out. Carol arched a perfect brow at you as she pulled her shirt over her head. "Sport." You generalized, waving your hands.

"Y/n is allergic to sport." Wanda called back.

"Is that right?" Carol smirked as she looked at you.

"It is not, it's just not my thing." You defended.

"Then what is your thing?" Carol asked curiously.

"Wouldn't you like to know." You replied as you searched your brain, not really knowing if you had a thing. Nothing serious at least.

"I would." Carol fired back.

"That's too bad." The jock smiled and decided not to push.

"I'm sure there's a sport you can do." Carol pondered.

"If there is if it could be added to the curriculum that would be really helpful." You sighed.

"Y/n L/n, are you failing a class?" Carol gasped dramatically. You groaned when Wanda laughed, confirming the blonde's assumption.

"Could be worse, I fail loads of classes and everything seems to work out okay." Carol said calmly, seemingly completely unfazed.

You reached the car park and slowed down when you saw Natasha follow Wanda to her car. Wanda was your lift to school and therefore your ride home too. You had stayed behind to study in the library and joined your friend on the bleachers when it shut to see the last of the teams training, not thinking about the fact Wanda was staying behind so she could hang out with Natasha after.

"I can give you a ride home." Carol offered as she threw her car keys up in the air and caught them easily. You pondered that for a second, you really didn't want to be a third wheel to your friend, even if it was a short drive home.

"Yeah, thanks, Danvers." Wanda gave you a knowing smile as she waved goodbye and practically ran to her car with Natasha.Yeah, definitely the best call to leave them alone.

You got into Carol's car and tried to ignore all the memories you had of being in the backseat, instead resting your arm against the window to try and keep your focus on that. Carol didn't say much as you drove which surprised you. She seemed deep in thought about something and you couldn't help but wonder what.

"You want to come to mine?" She said suddenly. You froze in your seat before answering.

"Just my place will do. For me only! I mean I... I have homework." You rambled and felt your whole face heat up. You wondered if being in a car with Wanda and Natasha jumping each other could possibly be more uncomfortable than being sat with Carol and trying to decline her advances.

"I could help." She offered, seemingly genuinely.

"I can handle it." You forced a laugh. Carol nodded and didn't say anything else until she pulled up to your house.

"Thanks again, Danvers." You smiled at the blonde as you hauled you bag up and opened the door.

"I'm always happy to help you out, y/n." Carol smiled back your way genuinely and your stomach did a little flip.

*

You hummed to yourself quietly as you made your way through the school corridors and opened the double doors to the library. You smiled to the librarian as always and got a limited response but your smile faltered when you saw your usual table was taken... by Carol.

She was in her training attire and scrolling mindlessly through her phone until she glanced up and saw you. "Hey." She smiled.

"Are you lost?" You asked as you walked towards her slowly.

"No and go get changed." Was all she said as she pushed a bag of school gym clothes towards you.

"And why would I do that?" You sighed as you peered into the bag.

"Y/n," Carol started as she tilted her chair back and rested her hands behind her head with her feet on the table, her usual confident smile playing on her lips. "Does it or does it not absolutely kill you that you're failing a class?" You paused before flicking yours eyes up to her. Yes, it absolutely did.

"And am I or am I not the best athlete in the school?" Also hard to argue with. You shifted on your feet.

"Come on, y/n. I promise I'll help you at least pass the class." Carol said with certainty. You chewed your gum as you thought about it.

"What do you get out of it?" You asked as you narrowed your eyes at the blonde.

"I can go to sleep at night knowing I've helped an underling." She grinned. You rolled your eyes but couldn't help but smile at her, Carol continued to smile back at you.

"That A* you got us on that project made me pass the class." Carol shrugged.

"Alright, Danvers." You nodded and picked up the bag. "But no funny business."

"Great!" She exclaimed and took her feet off the table to stand up.

"I'll see you in the main hall in 10."

*

Barely ten minutes into Carol's 'warm ups' you were already out of breath and in need of a break. You glared at her every time she barked orders at you with a grin, clearly enjoying bossing you around.

"Catch!" Carol exclaimed as she hauled a basketball at you. You ducked out the way and watched it fly past your head.

"You trying to kill me?!" Carol was bent over laughing at your exasperation and inability to catch a simple ball.

"Shut the fuck up, Danvers." You huffed but managed to hit the second ball that came your way.

"You really are allergic to sports huh?" She teased as you scowled at her. "Okay, let's start with the basics."

Surprisingly, from that point onward Carol wasn't that bad. She gave you a lot of pointers that honestly proved helpful because you slowly started to improve. Granted, you were still bad, but you were better.

"Arms like this." She instructed and watched as you mimicked her shooting position. "Elbows a little higher." You did as she said but she smiled at the attempt and stepped behind you. You froze up a little when she put her hands over yours and lifted them up too to a position that felt more natural.

"You got it." She assured, speaking right next to your ear so you could feel her breath against your skin. Then she withdrew her soft hands from yours and backed away. You missed the contact immediately.

"Now shoot." She instructed. You missed.

*

Carol trained you after school pretty much every day after that. Your limbs always ached after those sessions, so much so you were tempted to cave and take Carol up on her offer of a back rub.

You found that some sports were actually kind of fun to play with Carol, whether it was the absence of the pressure you got in a full class of teenagers or just because you enjoyed the blonde's company, it wasn't all that bad.

You still couldn't find a sport you were good at, but you didn't really care. You wondered what would happen when you did. Would Carol coach you at it for a bit then abandon your sessions? They couldn't keep going forever. The pang you got in your chest was the reason you had been ignoring Carol weeks prior, you didn't want to feel that for her. You just couldn't help it.

"Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." You recalled as Valkyrie wrote it down.

"I knew it was something like that." She waved off.

"Yeah you were really close with..." You glanced at her notes. "She gives me a boner." You laughed and put your face in your hand.

"That's the modern day translation!" Valkyrie exclaimed defensively.

"Please don't put that in your exam." You sighed as you flicked through your copy of Romeo and Juliet to find the next act.

"One sec." Valkyrie said as she looked down at her phone that was vibrating on the desk with a caller ID that you couldn't read.

"Hey, Captain." Valkyrie answered. You looked her way and back at your book quickly. There was more than one Captain in the school.

"I'm in the library studying." She continued and paused for the other voice to speak. "It's not that bad, a pretty girl's teaching me Romeo and Juliet." Valkyrie winked at you and you smiled weakly back, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Fucking jocks and their shameless flirtation.

"Yeah I'll be done soon, see you then." She said and hung up the phone before turning back to you.

"Are there any quotes about boners?" The minutes after that went by painstakingly slowly. It was only a one off tutoring session that you would get an extra credit for, but you could think of a million things you would rather be doing with your lunch break.

Valkyrie nodded past you at someone at the library entrance. You turned around out of instinct and saw Carol strolling towards your table, eyes focused on you.

"Thanks for this." Valkyrie said as she packed away her things. "If I pass the exam I'm gonna have to find some way to make it up to you." She smirked as her eyes trailed over your legs.

You glanced at Carol who looked far from pleased at Valkyrie's comment and couldn't help but smile because that is exactly what she sounded like to you sometimes.

"That's okay." You muttered as you tried to avoid her gaze and put your books back in your bag.

"Alright, but I'm having a party this weekend. You should come."

"I'm not really a party person." You laughed awkwardly, wanting the encounter to be over.

"You don't have to spend long at the party itself." Valkyrie shrugged as she took a bold step towards you. "You could always stay in my room-"

"She said no." Carol cut in. Her eyes bore into Valkyrie's with a look that said the conversation was over. Her stance was firm and her jaw was tightly locked as she glared at her team mate. Valkyrie frowned and looked back at you as you fiddled with your bag zip and avoided her eye, silently thanking Carol even if she had been a tad aggressive.

"Right, sorry." Valkyrie muttered before making her way past you. Carol gave you a small smile before turning to leave with her team mate. You were sure Wanda would have something to say about that.

*

It was a few days until you saw Carol again. She had texted you to briefly say she had practice after school and you didn't see her at lunch breaks either. It annoyed you to admit you missed her company.

With every second you spent with the jock your crush on her grew. You knew that any longer and you may just end up head over heals for her which would only end in heart break for you. But every time you saw the wisp of blonde hair, shine of brown eyes with her confident smile or even just that god damn varsity jacket, you didn't care about how it could end.

It was a Thursday when she texted you during lunch to ask if you wanted to practice after school. You replied a little too eagerly with a yes and continued listening to Wanda rant about something dumb Pietro had done.

A few hours later you held a bat in your hands and prepared for Carol to throw the ball your way. She wasn't very talkative that day, a rarity for the blonde. You wanted to ask if something was up with her but the concentrated look on her face made you not want to disrupt her train of thought.

"I'm sorry." She said suddenly.

"That's alright." You sighed as you watched the ball roll across the field. That was a particularly fast throw.

"About snapping in the library." Carol corrected. "I didn't mean to make it awkward." She said as she scratched the back or her neck then stretched her arm to throw again.

"You didn't." You assured honestly. "I was already uncomfortable." You huffed as you missed another throw from Carol even after trying to apply all her tips.

"Val can be quite persistent." Carol said, still not showing her smile.

"Just like someone else I know." You shrugged. Carol faltered at the obvious call out.

"Lets switch." She said quietly and handed you her glove as she took the bat from you. She explained to you the basics of her own throwing techniques and had a few recommendations on what she thought might work best for you.

"If you ever told me no, I'd back off." Carol said as put the bat up. You were thrown off by the sudden shift in conversation.

"I know you would have." You hoped Carol noticed your use of past tense. You had already decided that sex with her again would be too dangerous for you. God only knows what you would end up blurting out. You cringed at the thought of confessing your love for Carol as she fucked you.

Your eyes shifted to the track team that were doing their laps around another part of the field. They made it look as easy as always.

"You got eyes for one of them, y/n?" Carol asked in a voice that seemed more curious than teasing.

"Not my type." You muttered as you threw the ball weakly again.

"What is your type?" Carol asked, unable to mask her curiosity that time.

"I don't know." You huffed. The blonde looked at you expectantly, clearly hoping for something more. "And what's your type, Danvers?" You asked, successfully shifting the conversation when you saw a glint in Carol's eyes. Her smile returned.

"Eh, about (your height), (your eye colour) eyes, terrible at sport but really cute so it's dorky." Carol shrugged. Damn, that could almost be me. You glanced up at the blonde to throw again and saw her smirking at you.

"Someone should warn her." You joked in a feeble attempt to hide your disappointment that we swelling in the pit of your stomach.

"I just did." Wait... Carol's smirk grew as she watched the realization spread across your face. You blushed deeply and tried to fight off a smile.

"I don't think baseball's working either." You muttered.

*

"You know it's strange, I always thought you were going to become a jock." Pietro said thoughtfully before taking a bite of his apple.

"First of all how dare you and secondly what the hell gave you that idea?" You exclaimed. Wanda was giggling besides you while Carol gave you a look of faux offence.

"That's the highest compliment!" She argued.

"I second that." Natasha nodded.

"Do you remember Wanda's 14th birthday party?" Pietro asked.

"It's a treasured memory." You grinned at Wanda. "I kicked your ass at bowling." You recalled proudly.

"You kicked everyone's ass at it. Bowling's a sport isn't it?" Apparently word had spread about Carol's private lessons. You and the blonde had spent weeks going back and forth between different sports. Overall, you were still pretty crap but you had been lifted to a passing grade in the class. You kept meaning to tell Carol that, but you didn't want the lessons to end. You concluded that as long as she didn't ask, you wouldn't tell.

"I'd say so." Wanda shrugged but Carol and Natasha clearly had different opinions.

"Fuck no!"

"Please do not align that with us!" They erupted. You and Wanda started to laugh at their outraged expression, never knowing something to piss a jock off more.

The sound of the bell overhead was followed by a few groans from those around the table as you all packed up and left the table. At least it was a Friday. You wandered across the field on your usual route of going round the main buildings to avoid the crowded corridors, lost in your thoughts until someone jogged up besides you.

"Bowling, huh?" She inquired as she slowed down to a walk.

"It's been years." You said offhandedly.

"You got plans tomorrow?"

"Nope."

"We should go bowling, if you want to. Obviously just as part of your lessons." Carol offered as she looked ahead.

"I thought you said it isn't a sport." You eyed the blonde suspiciously with a smile.

"It isn't, but this I have to see."

"Okay." You nodded without much thought. Bowling with the jock did sound fun.

"I'll pick you up at 2."

*

"These shoes are ridiculous." Carol grumbled.

"American football shoulder pads are ridiculous but you don't hear me calling that out." You fired back.

"Oh, so that was meant at someone else?"

"Sure." You shrugged as you smiled at Carol's brightly coloured shoes. You went onto your lane and gleamed at the nostalgic sound of pins being knocked over and the bright spot lights across the lanes.

Carol put your names into the scoreboard tablet as you ran your hands over the bowling balls and frowned slightly as you realized you still had to use one of the smaller ones.

"Experts first." Carol motioned to the beginning of the lane with a small smirk and you smiled back at her excitedly and grabbed a ball.

"Just remember it's been a while!" You called back to the eagerly watching blonde. She hummed back. You brought the ball up to your chest to have a feel of the weight and glared at the pins, there had to be something you could impress Carol with. With a deep breath, you swung your arm back and forward to let the ball go, center down the lane and colliding with the painted targets. All but one knocked over and you couldn't help but throw tour hands up in the air in triumph.

"That was pretty good!" You declared as you turned back to Carol happily. She beamed back at you, giving you a smile that made her eyes squint and look absolutely adorable.

You grabbed the second ball and rolled it smoothly across the polished floor, successfully hitting the last pin. Carol strolled up after you, her hands hovering over the range in front of her and landing on one for someone with a bigger hand. You scoffed quietly, not believing the jock could hold it but she picked it up with ease.

You stood, wide eyed, watched as she sauntered over to the lane and swung her arm. The ball veered off to the side and took down a couple of pins that Carol glared at.

"Unlucky is all." She grumbled as she went to get another ball. This time when she threw it it fell into the dip along the side, it was hard to hide your amusement.

"That's just bullshit." Carol grumbled.

"Do you want me to put the sides up for you, Danvers? Or maybe I could ask someone for that ramp." You teased. She flipped you off and went to sit on the small sofa and watched you carefully.

You knocked most of the pins over on your next few goes while Carol got very little. You tried to give her a few tips but apparently her ego was too big to accept them, which meant you were winning marginally.

You spun around to face the blonde after knocking the last of your pins over but she wasn't on her spot on the sofa. You were about to get your phone out to text her but you spotted her sauntering back towards your area with a bowl of nachos. Your mouth watered at the sight.

Carol gave a dramatic huff as she spotted the scoreboard and beckoned you over to the small table by the sofas. "We'll start a new round after these." She said as she put them on the table. "I didn't poison them." She quipped when you didn't move.

"Sometimes I think you'd do anything to win." You replied as you sat down opposite her and took one of the nachos. In all honesty you weren't expecting Carol to get the snack, never mind to want to share it.

Carol flexed her right hand absent mindedly as she glanced around at over areas of the alley. "Your hand hurting?" You asked as you took another nacho with a lot of cheese on it.

"A little." She shrugged and lifted it up to look at the back of her mind. Without thinking, you put your hand and pressed it gently flat against hers. Not only were her fingers longer than yours but her palm was bigger too, even her wrist was thicker. It was only when you caught Carol's eye that you went to bring your hand away but she laced her fingers through yours and put them down on the table.

"Sorry, I was just curious." You blushed even though it was clear Carol didn't mind.

"Okay." She chuckled as she continued on the nachos. You finished the rest of the snack in silence with your hands still together until you leaned back and glanced at the lane again.

"Ready to have your ass kicked again?" You quipped.

"Don't get cocky, kid." Carol mused as she rolled her eyes with a smile.

"Since when did you know Star Wars?" You asked in complete disbelief.

"I love Star Wars." Carol said casually. "And since always."

"I didn't take you for the type." You smiled as you tried to study the jock for any signs of a lie.

"That's just because you never asked." She shrugged and stood up, letting your hands slide apart. You missed the contact instantly but that didn't distract you enough from her words.

Of course you had never asked her something like that, Star Wars was the last thing you'd guess she would like. You knew there was always more to people than what they showered publicly, but Carol had always seemed like such an open book in every way. So hearing that she wasn't quite what you thought she was, even after the few months of knowing her better, simply made you impossibly more interested in the blonde. You stared at Carol in nothing short of awe, she was really something else.

"I've had enough of these shoes." She declared.

"You quitting on me Danvers?" You quipped but really your heart dropped at the thought she wanted to cut your outing short.

"I'm just thinking we could try our hand at a few other things, seeing as we're not doing sport anymore." She said as she nodded towards the arcade.

Your eyes lit up at all the games in the entrance as you found your competitiveness returning. You both returned your shoes and practically ran over to the arcade area with all its choices. You decided to head towards the air hockey first as you argued over whether or not it was a sport. Carol, of course, took the opposition.

Your reflexes weren't as good as hers but you liked to think you put up a good fight, even if you did curse under your breath every time the blonde scored. The screen above you both lit up to declare Carol's victory that she was very happy to celebrate, you watched as she danced around the table towards you in what could have been the dorkiest thing you had ever seen.

"You having fun there?" You laughed.

"So much fun." Carol grinned back and eyed her next target.

"Absolutely not!" You cried out when her eyes landed on the basketball. You took her by the hand and tried your best to ignore the electricity running up your arms at how perfectly her hand fit in yours and led her through the arcade. You came to a halt by a racing game and before you could even suggest the idea to Carol she was clambering into the seat and shoving the coins into the machine. You sat down next to her and did the same. You were both terrible. The controls were slightly broken and far too sensitive, making the cars on screen spin around when you tried to turn and never going straight.

"Piece of garbage!" Carol shouted at the screen as you passed the finish line by some miracle.

"Wanna go again?" You asked with a grin but the blonde was already jumping off the seat.

"Now this I have to win." Carol declared as she spotted the nearest shooting game. It was some kind of zombies in space crossover but you didn't much question that when you picked up the plastic gun.

"We work together on this, Danvers." You laughed.

"Count yourself lucky then." Carol said as she aimed her gun at the screen as the game started.

"The fact that you didn't know how it works doesn't make me all that confident in you." You pointed out as you started firing at the horde of zombies. You didn't see one that was charging at you from the left but Carol shot it down before it reached you.

"You're welcome." She smirked then shot some more on your right. "Come on, y/n I'm doing all the work here."

"Fuck yourself, Danvers." You fired back as you tried to reload your gun.

"Fuck me yourself you coward." She challenged. Your mouth went dry but you started to laugh. She didn't make the comment with her usual smirk and suggestive tone, instead it seemed like a genuine joke that you didn't get anxious about.

"That would be a first." You quipped with a smile. You managed to take the last few zombies.

"It really would be, I am a virgin after all." She said casually and you dropped your gun. "Oh shit, here we go!" Carol laughed as the zombie boss made its dramatic entrance.

"Wait what?" You stammered as you looked between Carol and the screen while trying to get a grip on the plastic gun.

"What? No one's ever fucked me. I fuck girls, they don't fuck me back." She shrugged simply and started rapid firing at the boss.

"Maybe you should stop being exclusive to pillow princesses." You joked in a feeble attempt to mask your surprise.

"Maybe, it's not just that." She started. It confused you that she could say something so out of character while keeping most of her attention on the screen. "I don't trust any of them. I don't know, it's just, when it comes down to it, I freak out." Carol tried to explain but seemed to struggle.

"Damn." She sighed when the screen presented 'Game Over' in an overtly bloody text. You wandered away from the booth as you thought about what Carol said. She had a content smile on her face as she looked around and you figured the conversation was over.

"I love these." You told the blonde when you came across a Wac A Mole machine. You put the coins in and lifted up the rubber mallet as you kept your eyes on the board. The first one sprung up in front of you and Carol announced its presence with a cry.

"Thank you, Danvers." You smiled after hitting the figure.

"There!" She pointed to the next one, and the next one until you shouldered her out the way, not expecting her to actual wander off. When the game was over you grinned in triumph and looked to Carol for her praise but she wasn't near by. With a frown, you ventured around the arcade and found the jock hunched over a claw machine.

"These things eat you money, you know?" You half joked but to your surprise Carol dropped a small teddy bear into the box.

"And how long did that take you?" You teased as she picked it up.

"Its for you." You ran your thumb over the left paw that had a heart over it and smiled back at the jock who kept surprising you.

"Thank you, Carol." She nodded and the pair of you started to walk out the arcade and main building. Much to your surprise it was starting to get dark and there were few cars in the car park. You guessed the place would be closing soon but you hadn't realized you had been there so long. Time always seemed to fly by with Carol.

"How long were we even..." You started to laugh lightly until you turned to Carol and realized how close together you were. Your breath hitched when your eyes locked with her own that seemed to be looking back at you with something you couldn't quite pinpoint.

"Can I kiss you?" You whispered gently. You licked your lips and nodded slowly.

Her other hand rested on your cheek as her thumb caressed the smooth skin slightly and finally closed the distance entirely.

You had kissed Carol before, but never like that. It was slow and longing and gentle and you reciprocated in an instant, matching the rhythm she set. You brought you hands up to Carol's neck and cherished the moment of feeling connected to her in the way you had been craving before you pulled apart.

"It's only our second date, Danvers." You couldn't help but quip, not knowing what to say in such an unfamiliar scenario.

"Well this second date has taken a lot of work to get." Carol pointed out and you laughed as you continued to hold her close.

"I was scared." You admitted.

"You don't have to be scared with me." Carol assured gently.

"You mean it? You really..."

"I really love you." She confirmed.

"That's lucky for me, because I love you too." You smiled and brought Carol in for another kiss that she happily encouraged.

"So... more dates?" Carol asked with a laugh, clearly not all that familiar with the procedure either. You would work it out quickly.

"Yeah Carol." You chuckled.

"That I still have to work hard for?" She half joked.

"Not if we're girlfriends." The blonde laughed more at that.

"I'm glad to hear I've upgraded from just your favourite jock.

"You're always going to be my favourite jock too." You assured and kissed Carol once more.

*

Carol kissed a path down your stomach and smiled against your skin as she felt you shiver. Even after weeks of dating you still weren't used to her kisses, especially not across your more sensitive areas of skin.

"I got you." She whispered as she hooked her fingers over your pajama bottoms and panties and pulled them down together, kissing the newly found skin. You shivered more as her breath ghosted over your clit making you whine and buck your hips up. Carol smiled at your reaction and leaned down not before whispering "God, you're beautiful.

She wrapped her full lips around your clit and reveled in the moan that spilled from your lips. Her tongue dipped between your folds and she moaned at the sweet taste that invaded her taste buds.

You wrapped your hands in Carol's long blonde hair to bring her closer but she pulled away with a smirk. Before you could whine in protest she pulled her own trousers down to reveal a strap you hadn't seen before. It was different in shape and colour but the most noticeable different was the absence of the harness. You moaned softly at the realization it was anchored inside her.

"I want to feel it with you." Carol said as she lowered herself back towards you and placed her hands either side of your head and kissed your neck.

"Are you sure?" You asked tentatively. It would be the first time Carol had been on the receiving end to such a level. The most you had done was go down on her a few times.

"Yes, I trust you. I love you." She grinned and lined the strap up with your entrance.

"I love you too." You had really started to enjoy saying that to her.

You moaned breathlessly as Carol inched the strap into you carefully and kissed along your jaw more. She moaned with you when she bottomed out and felt the strap dig deeper into her. Her hips twitched as she took a moment to gather her own composure and held your hands above your head, your fingers intertwined.

"I got you." You assured back to her as she started to pull out and push back in. Carol moaned loudly in response and held you closer to her as she started to build up a rhythm, your thigh slapping together.

You moaned in sync as the strap pleasured you both more and more. You wrapped your legs tightly around your girlfriend's waist to push the strap deeper inside you both.

You shuddered every time Carol's skin met yours. Carol started thrusting the toy faster and harder as she chased her own release.

"It's so good!" You cried out. You both struggled to form words, only managing breathless moans as the strap pressed firmly against your g-spots in sync.

"Me too, fuck, please Carol. Cum with me." You pleaded and gave a strangled moan. Carol shuddered and moaned louder than you had ever heard as she came undone at the same time as you.

"Y/n." Your girlfriend shuddered and started to grind her hips against yours as she rode out her high with you.

"It's okay, I got you." You said as you held onto Carol's bare back. You held her close to you as she breathed heavily against your neck, the irregular patterns starting to even out. She was still shaking so you planted soft kissed across the patches of her face that weren't hidden in your neck as you stroked her hair, a content smile on your lips.

She adjusted herself slightly and the pair of you moaned softly when she eased the toy out and put it on the floor. "I'll clean it later." She whispered, eyes closed, before you could say anything.

"Okay." You chuckled and brought her closer to you. You wrapped your arms around one another as your legs tangled together under the sheets.

Carol's soft breath caressed your skin as you stroked her hair out of her face and kissed her forehead. A faint smile played across her lips at the action, confirming that she was just as happy as you were.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taglist: @caroldanvers2 @marvelwomenslut @marvelwomen-simp @likefirenrain @grxvitye @emilyprentisslittlewhore @lostandsearching @firenrain13 @horcruxhunter90 @wndrcarol

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[cacoetheswriting]

library hours [reimagined] - spencer reid

warnings: age gap, professor / student, maybe a swear word or two, a lil tension, but mainly a fluffy first interaction word count: 1.7k summary: a late night at the university library leads to reader meeting a certain handsome professor.

a/n: this is a reimagined / rewritten version of this fic. for those interested, the original centres around baby!spencer. both fics start off pretty much the same, what differs is the interaction between spencer and reader.

-

There was something you always enjoyed about the going to the library.

Perhaps it was the way every single person that walked through the threshold had a purpose. A mission to complete. Perhaps it was the quiet. The solace you felt sitting alone in a corner researching various topics, for class and for recreational purposes.

The university library had quickly become your second home. A location you frequented more than your own dorm room. It wasn’t always to study, no. You people watched. Doodled. Even napped there from time to time. The place brought you peace, and by the time you senior year rolled around, you saw the librarians more than your college friends.

The university library was also the place where you first met a certain handsome professor, doctor - which in time became the main reason why you liked it so much.

Lights were slowly being turned off section by section. A vacuum came to life in one of the aisles. People started to scramble from their seats - shoving their things into their backpacks, throwing out empty coffee cups into the overflowing bins, checking out books they might still use that evening.

All signs indicating it was time to go.

Dolly, one of the librarians, ushered towards you. Her jacket draped over her shoulders, her bag in hand. She gave you the usual spiel of how you can stay until the janitor is finished cleaning, to which you politely nodded along. She wished you a pleasant night, and with a “see you tomorrow” she hurried out the door.

Once she was out of sight, you groaned under your breath and ran your fingers through your hair. You had an assignment due tomorrow, one you started hours ago and only managed to formulate three total sentences. Your gut was telling you there was no way you were going to finish now, especially since you had about thirty minutes until you would have to leave.

Leaning back in your chair, you fluttered your eyes closed in an attempt to collect your thoughts. The tranquil feeling didn’t last long however, as you were abruptly brought back to reality by someone loudly clearing their throat. You immediately sat back up and quickly scanned the space for the source of the interruption.

A tall brunette man stood a few tables away, his hands slowly sliding into the pockets of his pants. He was definitely older, by how much you couldn't quite tell. But, you definitely took notice of how handsome he was.

“The library is closed for the night.” He stated, the tone of his voice calm yet stern.

“I have permission to be here.” You retorted with as much confidence as you could muster, but the mysterious man didn't seem impressed with your answer. With an arched brow, he took a firm step in your direction.

“From who?” He challenged, as if he was waiting to catch you in a lie.

You folded your arms across your chest, unwilling to give in to whatever game he was playing. “Dolly, the librarian. I could call her if you don't believe me?”

The brunette didn’t respond. Instead, his lips twirled slightly upwards into a sly smirk and with the way he was now looking at you, you could feel the blood rush to your cheeks. You only hoped he didn't see the faint pink blush now present on your facial features.

“May I?” The man asked after a brief moment of silence, pointing to to the chair beside yours. You found yourself nodding, before quickly turning your attention away from him, and back to the book in front of you.

While he made himself comfortable, his leg brushed against yours. The sudden close contact sent a jolt down your spine and you shivered. A small act he definitely noticed.

“You’re not some sort of killer, are you? You’re not here to murder me?” You asked, tilting your head to once again look at the man. Shaking his head, he let out a wholehearted chuckle.

“No, I’m definitely not a murder.” He reassured.

“Definitely? That's over selling it, don't you think? It’s exactly the kind of thing a murder would say.” You teased in response, gaining a little bit of your courage back. He didn't reply. The smirk on his face widened just a little and he eyed you silently, as if you were a treasure map he was desperate to solve.

The two of you stared at one another for what felt like eternity. There was something amicable about the seconds that passed as you looked into his hazel eyes. Something harmonious. Friendly. Strong.

When you finally broke contact and proceeded to return to working on your assignment, you could still feel his gaze burning into the side of your head. In any other situation, with any other stranger, the feeling would have made you uncomfortable. Scared even. But there was something quite thrilling about the mysterious brunette sitting beside you.

“I’m a profiler.” He said after another moment of comfortable silence. “I work for the FBI as part of their Behavioral Analysis Unit.” He added as you glanced up at him from your notes, intrigue gracing your facial features. The statement was to make you feel safer in his presence - not that it was needed since you already felt strangely guarded around him.

You smiled, dropping your pen and shifting in your chair to face him completely. “So, agent, what are you doing at a university library on a Thursday night? Did the bad guys take a break?”

“Doctor.” He calmly corrected.

“What?”

“It’s doctor, not agent.” He said, the corners of his lips twitching upwards. “I have PhDs in Mathematics, Chemistry, and Engineering.”

The smug look on his face earned him a playful eye roll. “You don’t happen to have a PhD in History under your belt, do you, doctor? Because that would be very helpful right about now.”

“No, but I do have an eidetic memory and can read twenty-thousand words per minute.” He declared and you gaped at him in disbelief, mouth parting ever so slightly in shock.

Great, you thought, as if he wasn't intimidating enough.

“You could have just said you were a superhero.” You joked before leaning in towards him ever so slightly. The faint whiff of his cologne caught you off a little off guard, and you took a mental note to never again settle for someone that only used body spray. “Don’t worry, I’m really good with secrets. I won’t tell anyone.” You whispered and gently pressed your index finger to your lips.

The comment caused the handsome doctor to throw his head back in a whole-hearted laugh. He placed a hand on his stomach as you slowly shifted back to your previous position, chewing down on the inside of your cheek down to stop yourself from commenting on how good he looked.

“Am I going to get an answer to my previous question?” You asked once the laughter died down, your assignment long forgotten.

“I teach here.”

The statement earned him another eye roll. “Seriously? Is there anything you don't or can't do?”

It was his turn to lean in. He rested his elbows on his knees and intertwined his fingers together, his hazel eyes never leaving yours. The air hitched in your lungs at his proximity. You felt as if every single cell in your body was shaking.

“Well, us superheroes, we like to stay busy.” He whispered, his cool minty breath hitting you in the process, sending a shiver down your spine.

You cleared your throat, a timid smile appearing on your face. “There uhm, there’s this diner not far from here. It’s twenty-four hours meaning they won’t kick us out. Would you like to come with me? We can have coffee?”

He didn’t say anything. Instead, he moved back in his seat and ran a hand through his already ruffled hair. You bit down on your bottom lip, wondering what was going through his mind. Wondering if perhaps you had overstepped some sort of boundary since he was a professor and you were a student.

But, it was just coffee. Nothing more. That wasn't so bad... Right?

“Coffee sounds nice.” He responded with a smile, after what felt like forever.

Outside, there wasn’t a cloud in the night sky making the million stars shine all that brighter. They looked like perfect sugar granules spilled on a dark surface, accompanied by the glowing moonlight.

The breathtaking sight was accompanied by street lamps. They illuminated the path while you walked side by side, almost in sync. Shoulders faintly brushing against one another.

“How long have you been a profiler?” You asked, looking ahead. The wind blew lightly through your hair causing your brunette companion to turn his head and observe you quietly. A smile crept up on his lips.

“I joined when I was twenty-two.” He answered. You glanced up at him for a brief moment - that wasn't much younger than you now. The look in his eyes suggested he knew that’s what you were thinking.

“Do you like it? Or do you prefer teaching?”

He licked his lips, thinking. As he furrowed his brows together, you noticed the unobtrusive age lines defining his handsome features. Each individual crease telling a different story, and you found yourself hoping you would one day be lucky enough to hear them.

“Every job has its pros and cons.” The brunette man stated eventually, lightly shrugging his shoulders.

You couldn't help but let out a soft giggle at his answer. “Okay professor, now you just sound conventional.”

He chuckled, his hands sliding into the front pockets of his pants. “I’ve been called many things in my life, miss. Conventional was never one of them.”

“It’s Y/N. My name, uhm, my name is Y/N.”

You both stopped once you introduced yourself, simultaneously turning in your spots, so that you were facing each other completely.

“Y/N...” He tested your name on his tongue, and a smile embellished your features because for some reason it sounded incredibly striking coming out of his lips.

“It suits you.” He retorted and the blood rushed to your face. Now, he definitely noticed the blush, you thought. He didn’t comment on it however. Instead, he proceeded to introduce himself, “My name is Spencer. Dr. Spencer Reid.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Dr. Spencer Reid.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Y/N.”

-

masterlist

spencer reid taglist: @no-honey-no​, @calm-and-doctor​, @idroppedmygourd​​, @averyhotchner, @wowitsel, @elldell1204, @hey-there-angels, @reidabookforonce, @willowrose99

[echoghost1]

What's In A Name

okay, this took me longer than I expected... but here is the fic based on this post

Title: What's In A Name

Summary: Danny thought that having a sub in class would make things easier. Unfortunately, this leads to everyone finding out that his first name isn't Daniel.

His class isn't taking the news very well.

word count: 1670

you can read it on AO3 or down below the cut!

Oh, and I guess I'll tag the people from that post: @spookberry @shinygoldstar

Danny had just gotten to school and was getting his supplies for first period when Tucker ran up with way more excitement for this early in the morning.

“Dude, you’re never going to believe it!”

“Believe what?” Danny asked with an amused grin.

“Lancer took a sick day since the first time in forever!”

Danny felt like he was missing something.

Tucker rolled his eyes when Danny didn’t react correctly, “Subs, man. We have subs.”

“In all of his classes?” Danny asked as the news finally sunk in.

“Yup.” Tucker said with confidence as he popped the ‘p’.

“I have so many classes with him.”

“I know dude, me too!” He wrapped his arm around Danny’s shoulder, “Which means that today is going to be a breeze.”

Danny smiled and couldn’t help getting excited about a nice easy day at school.

================================================

His first class was easy.

The sub seemed just as tired as they were and simply checked that they were in their assigned seats and handed out a worksheet for them to do.

Once the teacher made it clear that they didn’t care if they worked together or not, it turned into more of a hang-out session than actually getting much work done.

================================================

His second period was science which he didn’t have with Mr. Lancer so he actually had to pay attention.

It was a lab day and he was still banned for life from handling all fragile school property, so the lab they had was a bit difficult until the teacher remembered (was reminded) and let him team up with Mikey.

All he had to do was take notes on what was happening. Which was fine. He could do that no problem.

All Mikey asked was for his handwriting to be legible.

================================================

It was his third class that ruined everything. It had all been going so well until then.

The teacher had decided to ignore the seating chart list and did roll by reading off the class roster list on the computer. Which in theory would be fine, except that the computer list didn’t have the notes that Mr. Lancer had added over the year, things like nicknames for instance.

It would have been fine if she had called him Daniel. It would have reminded him of Vlad, which would have been annoying, but manageable.

Unfortunately his first name isn’t Daniel.

“Johnathan?”

Everyone perked up at the name. They looked around, confusion evident on all of their faces. There was no Johnathan in this class. No John or Johnny’s. Was this a secret classmate? It couldn’t be, all the seats were full and no one here was Johnathan.

The teacher sighed and tried again, “Johnathan Fenton?”

Danny perked up and raised his hand, “Here. Sorry. I just um, everyone calls me Danny. Or Daniel, or just Fenton.” he realized he had been rambling and apologized again.

He looked down at his desk still embarrassed that he sort of forgot his own first name for a second. Then he felt like he was being watched.

He looked up and realized everyone, but Tucker, who was too busy chuckling to himself, was staring at him with varying degrees of confusion and anger. Sam included.

The class said nothing. Only stared for the remainder of the roll call.

Once the teacher was finished, and before they could truly start class, Dash was the first to break the silent tension. “Your name is Johnathan?!”

“Yes?” Danny answered hesitantly as he leaned away from the angry jock. Normally Dash wasn’t much of a threat anymore after all the ghost hunting, but he couldn’t exactly use his powers in the middle of class.

“Since when?!”

“Birth?”

“No!” Dash countered.

“Look, I’m named after my dad and it’s too confusing if we both go by the same name, so we just use my middle name instead.”

“But your dad’s name is Jack.”

“Which is short for Johnathan,” Danny explained with a sigh.

Dash sputtered in confused annoyance. Apparently, he didn’t know that either.

Before he could get too angry about his lack of knowledge, the teacher made it clear that they were going to start class now.

Dash glared at Danny and pointed an accusatory finger at him, “I don’t believe you, Fenton.”

“Okay?” Danny shrugged it off and the rest of the class went back to ignoring him.

Except for Sam.

She was still glaring at him.

“What?” Danny mouthed not a hundred percent sure as to what his gothic friend was upset about.

She flipped open her notebook hard enough for the paper cover to slap against the desk and furiously scribbled something down before tearing out the page and quickly folding it like a ninja star and chucking it at his head.

He carefully unfolded the note and read it.

“Are you serious?! Is this some elaborate prank?”

Danny looked up to Sam in surprise and then back to the note.

“No really. That is my name.” he wrote before trying his best to fold the note back up as she had it. He really wasn’t as good at it as she was.

She wrote her response quickly and made a point to get the creases of the folds just right. “Then why is Tucker laughing?”

“I don’t know? I’m not a mind reader Sam.”

“Did he know?”

“Yeah.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He didn’t really understand why she was so upset by this. It didn’t really matter. Did it? “I wasn’t keeping it a secret. I just forgot.”

“Forgot what? That it was your name or that I didn’t know?”

He hesitated too long and Tucker finally snatched the note from him and read it over before snickering to himself and added his own two cents before tossing it back to Sam.

Finally, Sam smiled. With a roll of her eyes, she slipped the note into the pocket of her notebook and went to doodling like nothing was wrong.

Danny wasn’t really sure what that was all about, but he was glad it was over.

================================================

The rest of the day was mostly fine. His friends teased him about his full name occasionally throughout the day, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle.

Dash kept giving him the stink eye, which was weird, but better than being shoved into his own locker.

Lunch was a bit of a disaster once Tucker let out his inner bookie and started holding bets on what Danny’s real name was.

There were three options.

One was that his name was really Daniel and he was just pranking everyone somehow.

The second was that his name really was Johnathan and he was telling the truth because Fenton can’t tell a lie to save his life.

While the third was that he had a completely different name and may or may not be related to the Fenton’s at all.

Danny wasn’t sure if he should be finding all of this hilarious or just plain annoying. Maybe it was one of those, ‘we’ll laugh about it when we’re older’ things?

Of course, word spread fast and everyone was trying to figure out what the real answer was. No one was asking Danny, because they weren’t sure if he actually was a reliable source. Tucker refused to give the answer until the end of the day when he would reveal the winners. And Sam admitted that all of the name nonsense was news to her, but since she loved chaos, she would wink and add, “But it could be true.”

Danny realized too late that the only other person to ask before the end of the day was his sister.

Before he could get to her, someone else beat him to it.

Dash had cornered her just outside of the library and asked, “What’s your brother’s name,” without any preamble.

Of course, Jazz, being two years older than them and in none of their classes, had no idea what had been going on. So she answered the question as best she could despite the confusion, “Danny?”

“Ha! I knew he was a liar!” Dash boasted as he turned around and punched his fist into his open palm as he eyed Danny.

“Wait!” He called out to Dash before turning his attention to his sister, “He means my first name!”

“Oh,” she turned to Dash, “Why didn’t you just say that?”

Dash’s shoulders slumped in defeat, “his name isn’t Danny?”

“His middle name is, but not his first name.” she turned back to Danny, “Didn’t you explain it?”

“Of course I did! He just didn’t believe me! And now the whole school is losing their minds because they think this is some crazy prank or that I’m a liar or something.”

Danny sighed and composed himself before giving the warning as he had meant to, “Tucker is taking bets on what my name is so other people might ask you about it too.”

Jazz hummed thoughtfully to herself while nodding, “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You are going to tell them the truth right?”

“Of course,” she said but she still had that far-off look in her eye.

Danny figured he would probably regret asking, but he was just too curious, “what are you thinking about?”

“This is very interesting from a psychological perspective, don’t you think?”

“How?”

“Well by learning that what they assumed to be true, wasn’t, it has shifted their perspective on things.”

“Do you really think it’s that deep?”

“What do you think it is then?” she asked, not annoyed that her theory was being questioned, just curious.

“I think people just like drama.”

“Perhaps.” she said as she watched a dejected Dash walk away, “and maybe it’s a bit of both.”

“Whatever it is I hope it goes away tomorrow.” he walked away and wondered if this was a preview as to what would happen if his secret got out.

He stopped in his tracks with a sigh. No, if they found out he was really Danny Phantom it would be worse. So much worse.

[spitfire-of-the-sea]

Hot chocolate

Last entry to the @whitebeard-pirate-week - I was on a work-trip the last days, so sadly I missed Day4 and I hope I'm still in time for Day5. =) It's Modern AU/Freestyle fluff nonsense. I have a bit of a longing for fluff/smut lately, so these modern AU ideas are floating around in my head. I might write more of those, if I feel like people like it and I get into it.

Anyhow! SFW! Hopefully cute fluff! Ace x OC in modern world setting; Have fun!

Saki had probably never in her life stood in front of a door and studied it for as long as she did right now. It wasn’t even a particularly interesting door – it seemed rather thick, probably a fire safety door of sorts, even though it still looked wooden. The entry door of her apartment was the same, only darker. This one here was birch perhaps? Something light, anyhow. Not that that held any relevance to anything, but at the very least it bought her a few more minutes to make up her mind. Even though there was only a single logical conclusion. She’d come all the way here, climbed six flights of stairs, and searched for door number nine – there was absolutely no point in turning back now. She was just so nervous and she didn’t even know why.

Alright, that was a lie. She was pretty aware that the nervousness stemmed from standing in front of the door of one Portgas D. Ace and if she was honest with herself, he made her weak in the knees and even weaker in the brain. And that was something she didn’t much like, after all, it was pretty much the only asset she had. Still, that wasn’t his fault – well, it was, but not out of malice; it’s not like he dazzled her on purpose, he was simply… himself. With his stupid beaming smile, his stupid cute freckles, his stupid warm laugh, and those stupid, gentle brown eyes. Not his fault. Hence, he shouldn’t suffer any consequences, she figured, just because she couldn’t seem to get him out of her mind lately. He’d for sure want his cell phone back. Even if its screen was cracked in several places and it had weird child-like doodles on the back.

She had found it while cleaning up after the fundraiser yesterday evening at the medical center and spent half an hour finding its owner. Marco had finally identified it as Ace’s cell phone and when she had tried to give it to him to return it, he’d claimed to be away over the weekend and unable to do so, asking her to take care of it in his stead. In her panic, she’d almost asked him to just text Ace to pick it up from the Lost&Found box at the reception whenever he had time. Almost. And so she stood here now, cell phone in hand, and stared at a door.

She sighed, looking at her watch again – it was late afternoon and Marco had claimed Ace would be home for sure at this time today. Worrying her lips, she checked the door number again. It read nine, just like it had already the last five times she’d looked.

“Alright,” she muttered. “Let’s do this!” Before she could change her mind and just drop it into the postbox at the entrance, she pressed the bell button and heard it sound through the door. It wasn’t all bad. She liked him, after all, and seeing him for a few minutes would definitely be worth the half-hour walk over here. She was being an idiot, really, an idiot with an enormous crush. But she had everything under control, so there was absolutely no reason to be nervous.

She sighed and waited for a moment, but she heard nothing else, everything remained quiet. After a little while, she pressed the button again and waited. Again nothing. She already turned to leave with a sigh, more disappointed than she cared to acknowledge, when she heard a crashing sound from inside and then, muffled, a male voice. Stepping back quickly she steeled herself, not even realizing that she pressed the phone in her hands to her chest as she fixed her eyes on the door as it swung open. “Can I help you?”

Well, shit.

She stared, unable to help herself. Ace stood in the door frame, his hand still on the door handle. His hair was disheveled and he looked at her bleary-eyed, one foot clutched in his hand and a pained expression twisting his face. It looked as if she had woken him up – which potentially explained why he stood there in only loose pajama pants and nothing else. She swallowed, gaze briefly drifting down over his broad shoulders to his finely defined pectorals, and before it could wander any lower, she snapped her eyes back to his face, heat rising to her face. He blinked at her owlishly, oblivious to where her eyes had wandered, and recognition dawned in his eyes.

“Ah, Saki! What are you doing here?” he asked and rubbed at his foot. She wondered if he’d hurt himself – there had been some commotion before he had opened the door after all.

“I… I found your phone! Yesterday, after the fundraiser!” she blurted out and remembered that she was holding it in her hands. Thrusting her hands out towards him, she held it out for him. Then, more quietly: “I’ve woken you up, haven’t I? I’m so sorry!”

He dropped his foot and he took it from her hands, looked it over, and then beamed at her. “Thanks so much! I’ve been looking everywhere! I thought I lost it somewhere!” Shifting his weight from one foot to the other, he shook his head then, still smiling. “No, don’t worry, you didn’t wake me up.”

Clearing her throat, she pulled back her hands and awkwardly fiddled with her fingers as she looked him over, pointedly letting her eyes rest on his bare chest for a moment. Which was a mistake, because it gave her time to appreciate how unbelievably delicious he looked and notice how low those pants hung around his hips. Low enough to reveal the contour of his hip bones and the beginnings of a V-shape trailing towards his groin. She was quick to look back up, swearing to herself that she’d keep her eyes strictly at eye level from now on. For everybody’s safety. Mostly her sanity’s, though.

He laughed, rubbing a hand over his chest. “Alright, maybe I was asleep – but don’t worry about it. You couldn’t have known. I had to take over a night shift because somebody got sick and I only got home in the morning. It was anyway time to get up now. Plus, you brought me back my phone!” He wiggled it in front of her. “I couldn’t even call my brothers because I don’t know their number by heart. This little thing contains half my brain!”

She chuckled, nodding along. “I know the feeling. Still, I’m sorry for waking you up like this. I’m sure it’s bad enough having to work nights without being thrown out of bed the next day.” Thrown out in nothing but pajama pants and looking like sex on a stick. She swallowed. Pure thoughts. She needed to think pure thoughts. “Did you hurt yourself? Are you okay?”

He blinked at her at the question and then looked down at his foot, but quickly waved her off as he looked back at her with a grin. “Stubbed my toe. Hurt like a motherf…-,” he answered and abruptly cut himself off, eyes widening. “Hurt quite a bit. All good now! Don’t worry about waking me up, as I said, it was anyway time to get up.”

She bit back a laugh. He’d again stop himself from cursing in front of her. “Alright then, I’m glad to hear that.” They stood there for a moment, looking at each other and she awkwardly shifted on her feet, clearing her throat. Was it weird that she’d suddenly popped up in front of his apartment when there should be no way for her to know where he lived? “I found it while we were cleaning up, Marco said it’s yours, but he didn’t have time to bring it by. He gave me your address and told me you’d be home at this time today.”

“That’s nice of you, Saki.” She was severely distracted by the way his name sounded on his lips. Unsurprisingly she liked it. A lot. “Thanks! You’re a lifesaver!” Ace ran a hand through his messy hair and then as if suddenly realizing something, took a step towards her. “I’m an idiot…! Do you want to come in? How about a coffee? Sounds good?” He extended his arm, inviting her in and she froze for a moment, before quickly lifting her hands and feeling heat rise to her face. The offer was tempting but it had absolutely nothing to do with coffee and everything with a bit more time in his presence.

“No!” she sputtered, feeling guilty for the thought. His face fell and she quickly added: “I meant I don’t want to bother you, you only just woke up! I’d feel bad for inconveniencing you like this!”

“Ah, okay!” He seemed relieved, and laughed, shaking his head. “Nonsense, come on in! You came all this way to bring me my phone, it’s the least I can do. I owe you one!”

Worrying her lower lip, she tried to be logical. She could come in for a few minutes and have a nice chat and enjoy the amazing view. “Well, if you’re positive you actually are fine…” When he huffed a laugh and grabbed her arm by the wrist to gently pull her inside, she trailed off, his hand feeling impossibly hot on her skin.

“Trust me, I don’t say anything I don’t mean. You’re welcome in here!” He let go of her hand and turned to lead the way into his kitchen. His back was as nice as all the rest of him, broad shoulders and a narrow waist and the muscles rippling below his skin as he put the phone aside and turned to look at her over his shoulder. “You coming?”

With some delay, she kicked off her shoes and hastily trotted after him. The apartment seemed smaller than hers and definitely barer, she only spotted some picture frames as they entered the open kitchen and small living room. It didn’t look very lived in, except for the stack of clothes on the couch and a few dirty dishes in the sink. “Do you have night shifts often?” she asked, uncomfortable with letting silence settle as he started to rummage through a drawer.

“Not that often.” He frowned, bending down to get a closer look as he shifted the contents of the drawer around. “The flu seems to be going around, I’ve got quite a few people on sick leave right now, so I took over some shifts. Hmm… I could have sworn it’s in here.”

Realizing he was probably looking for something related to his offer for coffee, she quickly stepped closer and he looked up when she touched a hand to his shoulder briefly. “So… Ace…,” she started, feeling like an idiot. With an embarrassed smile, she ducked her head. “I don’t actually drink coffee. I don’t like the taste. Sorry!”

He blinked at her for a moment before grinning. “That’s a relief, actually. Neither do I!” He straightened. “I keep some of that instant powder around, one of my brothers can’t function without it – it’s horrible, I’ve been told, though, so I’m glad I don’t have to subject you to that!” He scratched the back of his head as he eyed her. “Tea? Or you a hot chocolate kinda lass?”

“Either is fine,” she answered and chuckled when he leaned down to be on eye-level with her, lifting an eyebrow. “If I’ve got the choice, then hot chocolate, please.”

“You’ve got all the choice with me,” he said with a wink and she was only about 99% sure it was meant fully innocently and that did weird things to her heartrate. “Hot chocolate it is. You’re a girl after my own heart!” His words made her chest clench and once again she had to tell herself that it wasn’t his fault that he made her feel this way. “Can you grab two mugs? They’re up there!”

She stepped towards the cabinet he pointed at and opened it, searching for where he kept them – the drinking glasses were on eye-level, the mugs were on the uppermost shelf. After staring for a moment, she cast a quick glance at Ace, who had turned his back to her and was currently grabbing several things from different drawers and cabinets. Deciding to at least try, she tiptoed and reached up. When she stretched to her full length, she could touch the rim of one mug, but just not enough to properly grab it. Bracing one hand on the counter and pushing herself up, she closed her index finger around a handle just as she heard him chuckle. The next moment he was behind her, not quite touching her, but the sheer idea of him this close to her drove shivers up and down her spine. She could feel the heat his body emanated against her skin. When his hand landed on her hip to keep her in place, she almost jerked away in surprise, barely suppressing the reflex.

“Sorry, I didn’t consider you’re too tiny to reach up here. Let me!” His voice sounded from just behind her and his hand closed over hers briefly before she drew back and allowed him to take the mug in her stead. “I’m not tiny!” she said automatically. Working with Marco and Tate had her saying it quite often.

“Sure,” he conceded, “You’re only vertically challenged.” She didn’t need to see him to know he was grinning.

“If you must know,” she said haughtily and lowered herself back to the ground into a solid stance. A mistake, she realized, because her bum brushed against him as she did so and her brain immediately contemplated just where she’d probably touched him. She continued quickly, ignoring the way heat shot through her middle. “I prefer to call it fun-sized. I will also allow for ergonomically optimized.”

He laughed then and stepped back, the sudden loss of warmth against her… unpleasant. “That’ll work too. I’ll remember it,” he promised and sent her an impish grin as he went about his work. She watched him pour milk into their mugs before placing them in the microwave. “I think I’ll stay with fun-sized.”

She huffed, leaning her hip against the counter. “Ah, the arrogance of the tall. Mark my words, one of these days you’ll wish you were my size and would actually comfortably fit into airplane seats or be able to squeeze through crowds.”

His grin still in place, he looked her over. “Or when I can actually see the stage during a concert? Or, perhaps, when I want to actually be able to use the upper shelf space in my apartment?” He tapped a finger against his chin in fake thoughtfulness. “Perhaps most when I don’t need a ladder to get the delicious snacks from all the way up here?” He stretched and took a bag off the top of the cabinet, even for him almost out of reach.

She snorted, fumbling for a reply. “We’ll see about all that when the apocalypse hits and I need way less food and water to sustain my perfectly normal-sized body, while you stagger around, desperate for calories to keep all of this,” she gestured over his whole length, “going.”

Mentally she added extra calories to the calculation. Maintaining those muscles would come in extra costly – but she couldn’t deny that it was most definitely worth it.

His laughter was immediate, a full belly laugh as he threw his head up, eyes twinkling. “I feel like I’ve hit a sore point there.” He cocked his head to the side. “I do hope, though, you’ll think of me when the apocalypse hits and you’ve got some food leftover, seeing as how your fun-sized little self won’t need all those calories, hm?”

“Oh…,” she made a show of inspecting her nails. “I’m not sure yet. Perhaps if you ask extra nicely?”

He ignored the beeping microwave in favor of clutching his hands in front of his chest with puppy-dog eyes if she had ever seen any. “Pretty please?” Honestly? He could have asked her for pretty much anything with those eyes. She’d give it to him.

“Hmm…,” she made and focused on the conversation at hand, unable to keep the grin from making her mouth twitch upwards, and quickly averted her face. His warm brown eyes were doing things to her insides that felt entirely unhealthy. It was a mistake because it only made him step closer to catch her attention again. “I’m making you hot chocolate, after all.”

“I’ve brought you your phone,” she countered.

“My hot chocolate is amazing,” he said and his voice sounded huskier than before. She swallowed, finding it hard to maintain her façade of bored contemplation. His hot chocolate wasn’t the only thing amazing in here.

“I think I’ll have to be the judge of that, won’t I? Show, don’t tell, Portgas!” She felt flustered and hoped it didn’t show. When she turned to look at him, he stood leaning against the counter, eyes fixed on her. She swallowed again, mouth weirdly dry. “I think the microwave is done.”

“Right,” he said, slowly turning around. He worked in silence, making a show of keeping her from seeing what he was doing. It took a while and while she was perfectly content with watching the muscles play on his back, she got curious when she heard some metallic noises and saw how quick he was moving his arms. When she leaned to the side and tried to look around him, he clicked his tongue, moving to block her view with the width of his back. “No peeking!” he scolded her.

She bit her lips, watching him, and wondered how she could have such a goddamn teenage crush on a guy she’d met all of three times. She’d never been the type for crushes like that and had had exactly two in all her life – both had ended rather badly for her; none of them had developed this quickly.

He turned around then, offering her the mug with a flourish. “Madame, your hot chocolate awaits its judgment.” She bit back a laugh when she saw marshmallows bobbing in creamy milk-foam topping the hot chocolate, and traces of chocolate powder on top. While not sure what she’d expected, it wasn’t this. It was completely over-the-top, looked absolutely delicious, and made her feel fuzzy. Looking up from the mug, she saw him holding out a spoon to her. “Here.”

She took the mug and spoon from him, stared at the marshmallows, and then looked back up at him. “I didn’t take you for the marshmallow type,” she said and he wiggled his eyebrows at her. “You’ll find I’m full of surprises.”

Dipping the spoon in, she fished out the first marshmallows together with a good portion of cream and hot chocolate and couldn’t help the happy moan that left her when the soft sweetness of the combined taste and textures hit her. It was delicious. She hadn’t even realized her eyes had fallen closed until she opened them again and found Ace standing closer to her now, looking at her over the rim of his own mug, eyes a-crinkle. “I take it you like it.”

She swallowed, licking her lips, and wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination or his eyes had followed the movement briefly. “It’ll do,” she said, trying to look serious and barely managed when he sent her an offended look.

“Excuse me?!” he asked and took another step towards her. She had to tilt her head back to look up at him now. Unable to stop herself, she shrugged. “It’s okay, I guess,” she told him and slowly fished another marshmallow out, relishing the taste once she had put the spoon in her mouth.

“You always moan when something is just… okay?” he asked, hand in hip and if his eyes hadn’t looked a tiny bit darker than before or his voice wouldn’t have dropped down to a lower tone, she might have been able to swallow down the reply on the tip of her tongue and taken the safe route. Like this, she simply couldn’t.

“You should hear me when I really like something,” she said and felt somehow drunk. It was ridiculous how much she enjoyed the way his eyes widened slightly at her words. He dipped his head down slightly, regarding her, and suddenly she was acutely aware of how little he was wearing and how close he was standing, all things considered.

“I see,” he said slowly and she watched him place his own mug down on the counter, her heart skipping a beat. “You should be careful, though. That sounds a bit like a challenge.” Taking a shaky breath she was trying to find an answer, mesmerized by his movements as he leaned his hip against the counter, slightly closer than before, maybe an arm’s length away now.

Both of them jerked around when the door to his apartment crashed open, banged against the wall, and an “Aceeeeee!” could be heard ringing throughout the rooms. Not a second later a lanky young man stood in the doorway to the kitchen, clutching a straw hat to his head and grinning from ear to ear. “There you are! Ace, I’m hungry! Let’s go get something to eat!”

[zintranslations]

Kaleidoscope of Death, Ch. 129

Kaleidoscope of Death by Xi Zixu Link to Chinese / Novel Updates

Chapter 129: The Fourteenth Door

After entering the doors twice for it, Ruan Nanzhu could now be certain that the hint for the eleventh door would not undergo any additional changes.

The tenth door was too difficult, and was impossible to do a third time. Twice was plenty, besides, and they couldn't risk their lives on it again. Had Cheng Yixie not left, then perhaps they could've gotten a third hint slip about the eleventh door. But there was no helping when fate refused to abide its people, and such incidents occurred.

Most of human life was pretty much like this, filled with impermanence and variables.

Ruan Nanzhu said that Ye Niao also gave off light, and was someone well-suited to the doors. Ye Niao too went exactly as Ruan Nanzhu predicted, quickly adapting to life inside Obsidian. His outgoing and lively personality kept the mansion's atmosphere from getting too depressed.

Two years time wasn't exactly long, but it wasn't exactly short either.

Since Cheng Yixie left Obsidian, Lin Qiushi had not seen him again. Just like that, Cheng Yixie hid all traces of himself and disappeared so cleanly before everybody's eyes, as if he'd never been there at all.

Disappearing with him was a man who used to come over plenty, that Zhuo Feiquan. He'd even visited once after Cheng Qianli's incident, sprawled out crassly in the living room and asking, "where's that little idiot Cheng Qianli? Where's he gone?"

Nobody answered his question.

Perhaps the looks on everybody's faces at his question were too awful, but Zhuo Feiquan seemed to understand. He started to say something, but stopped again, and in the end said nothing before leaving. Once he'd left he never showed again. He disappeared without a trace from everybody's purview.

For the two years, Lin Qiushi never stopped going through the doors.

High-level, low-level—he did them all. His frequency averaged to about twice a month. Sometimes Ruan Nanzhu went with him. Sometimes he was alone.

During this time Lin Qiushi once again got to witness Ye Niao in drag…but never mind. Let's not talk about it. His eyes burned at the thought.

With so many doors entered, he also met all sorts of people. The strong ones, the weak ones—the hundreds of different ways people behaved in the face of death always brought out in him a heartfelt sigh.

And Ruan Nanzhu never gave up on reaching Cheng Yixie, though he never really heard anything back. It wasn't until a particular day in the second year that they knew there was someplace Cheng Yixie would definitely appear at.

That day was the anniversary of Cheng Qianli's death.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu went to the grave where Cheng Qianli was buried and found a corner. After waiting for a while, they saw a figure appear before Cheng Qianli's tombstone.

The figure was wearing a face mask and a hat, so it was difficult to make out any features, but Lin Qiushi only needed one look to be sure that the person in front of them now was Cheng Yixie.

"Do we go over?" Lin Qiushi asked.

Ruan Nanzhu shook his head. "Let's let him be alone for a bit."

Lin Qiushi sighed.

Cheng Yixie stood in front of Cheng Qianli's grave for a very long time, before finally setting the flowers in his hand down before the tombstone. As he prepared to leave, Lin Qiushi couldn't help but call out his name: "Yixie!"

Cheng Yixie's figure halted, and he turned to look at Lin Qiushi.

Lin Qiushi quickly came up to him. There was so much he wanted to say to this child, but he didn't quite know where to start.

But it was Cheng Yixie who spoke up first.

"It's been a while."

His eyes on Lin Qiushi were cold. Compared to his characteristic detachment of the past, his gaze now was like a frozen lake—profoundly dark and chilled to the marrow, without any trace of warmth at all.

"It's been a while," Lin Qiushi said.

Ruan Nanzhu too approached Cheng Yixie and inspected him up and down, all without saying a word.

"I still have something to do, so I'll be going." Cheng Yixie looked at his watch when he spoke, and his tone was distant.

"You…" Lin Qiushi wanted to ask if Cheng Yixie had been well, but also felt such a topic would be extraneous. Because anybody could tell that he had not been well.

Cheng Yixie had not been well at all. A lot more of his hair had gone white, and though he covered it with a hat, it was still quite obvious.

"Go," Ruan Nanzhu said, not saying much of anything in the end. "If there's anything, give us a call. We're always here."

Cheng Yixie nodded, still with no trace of emotion on his face at all, and he turned to leave.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu watched him go in twin silence. The truth was they didn't know how to comfort Cheng Yixie. Even if it'd been a year, the impact of some things could and would never diminish.

Lin Qiushi slowly unwrapped a piece of candy and put it in his mouth. He felt the sweetness spread out across his tongue, and took Ruan Nanzhu by the hand.

"Let's go," he said.

The two finally left the graveyard.

Having seen that Cheng Yixie was still alive, Lin Qiushi could set his suspended heart down a few degrees. He didn't dare ask for too much. But what he didn't expect was that several days later, they would receive a letter from Cheng Yixie. The letter simply said that he'd obtained a hint to the eleventh door.

"The hint I got, it's a special one," Cheng Yixie wrote in the letter. "There are only two words: Life and Death."

Lin Qiushi read the contents of the letter and spoke aloud those two special words: "Life…and death?"

Ruan Nanzhu's brows furrowed as he too sank into deep thought.

Their hint was No Solution, but Cheng Yixie's hint was Life and Death. An odd thought surfaced in Lin Qiushi’s mind, and he said: "Could it be that everybody's eleventh door is the same?"

Ruan Nanzhu's fingers rubbed at the letter, eyeing the two words written on it.

"It's possible."

"Before that senior of yours went into the eleventh door, did he give you any information?" Lin Qiushi looked at Ruan Nanzhu.

"No, I was still a newbie then," Ruan Nanzhu replied. "Couldn't even think about something as far away as the eleventh door."

There was no other way then, since there was nobody around them who'd passed the eleventh door. The truth was, that Ruan Nanzhu and Lin Qiushi could safely pass the tenth door was already exceptional.

Life, death. Life, death. What did Life and Death indicate in the hint? Had this been any other door, they would've at least been able to think that they'd make the connections and proceed to analyze the hint once they were inside. But this was a high-level door in which any misstep could cost you your life. Even Ruan Nanzhu didn't dare to be overconfident about it.

Even though they still had a year, they were already preparing to enter the door.

The two of them did a lot of research based on the words Life and Death—from Eastern myths to Western tales, from Yanluo Temple to Anubis…

Though they didn't know whether or not any of this would be of use, they had to do something. It was easier to bear this way, instead of just sitting and waiting.

In the two years' time, Ye Niao passed his seventh door. When Lin Qiushi asked if he wanted to skip a door, Ye Niao gave it some thought, but ultimately turned the offer down. He said that there really was no point in skipping doors. Whatever was his lot in life would still ultimately come.

Lin Qiushi quite admired his caution and self-discipline. After all, faced with this kind of temptation, not everybody could turn it down.

The precise time of their eleventh door was March 27th. Because the level of the door was high, they already had a concrete sense of when they would be going in.

With a deeply solemn expression, Ruan Nanzhu drew a circle around March 26th on their calendar, and even doodled a little heart next to it.

When Lin Qiushi saw this he told him, "you marked it wrong. We're going in on the 27th."

"It's not wrong," Ruan Nanzhu said.

Lin Qiushi blinked.

"We have to do it a few extra times on the 26th."

Lin Qiushi, "…" It took him a few seconds to realize that the bastard was making a dirty joke, and couldn't say anything for a good minute. Ever since he and Ruan Nanzhu established their relationship, Ruan Nanzhu's more gregarious personality from inside the doors had become more and more apparent. Lin Qiushi thought this was a good thing—except, the only bad part was that Ruan Nanzhu often got jealous of himself.

"Do you like Zhu Meng or Ruan Nanzhu?" Ruan Nanzhu asked Lin Qiushi once outside the door.

Lin Qiushi could only say that the one he liked was Ruan Nanzhu.

Inside the doors though, he had to change his answer. And then Zhu Meng became possessed by the Drama Sprite again: "But yesterday, a man named Ruan Nanzhu called and told me that you love him."

Lin Qiushi, "…can't I love both?"

Ruan Nanzhu, "yes, I'll allow you to love both."

"…" Lin Qiushi sighed internally. Why do you have so many scripts in your hands?

The time of their eleventh door slowly approached. The atmosphere among the group once again began to stiffen.

Needless to say, this would be an extremely difficult door, so before going in, Lin Qiushi took care to calculate out how his affairs would be handled after he passed. He discovered, however, that he was pretty much someone utterly without mooring. His only friend Wu Qi was gone, and it had been a long time since he'd been in touch with his family. Beside his friends in this mansion, there really wasn't anybody he had to say goodbye to.

What Lin Qiushi never expected was that, a month before going into the door, Ruan Nanzhu would take him to Ruan Nanzhu’s own home.

Lin Qiushi kept thinking that Ruan Nanzhu's home would be a relatively desolate environment, but the moment they got there, a beautiful middle-aged woman appeared and threw herself sobbing onto Ruan Nanzhu.

Ruan Nanzhu was unmoved, slowly pushing the woman away.

"Ma," he greeted.

Lin Qiushi stood awkwardly beside him.

Then Lin Qiushi was roughly introduced to Ruan Nanzhu's family make-up. His family was fortunate, with a successful older brother, a strict father, and a charming mother. Beyond their successes the family seemed utterly normal, and Ruan Nanzhu didn’t seem to fit in at all.

On Ruan Nanzhu's part, he very frankly introduced Lin Qiushi as his lover.

Lin Qiushi was a bit nervous at first, but saw them accept Ruan Nanzhu's claim quite peacefully. It was only afterwards that Lin Qiushi knew that this family was pretty much the same as Yi Manman's, believing that something had gone wrong with Ruan Nanzhu's psychological state…

"My baby is good for everything. He just has a little problem with fantasies, is all." In the time it took for Ruan Nanzhu to go to the bathroom, his mother said this to Lin Qiushi while wiping the tears from her eyes. "He's had this sickness since he was young. Thank you. It must be your company that's made him so much better…"

Lin Qiushi didn't dare speak, thinking that he couldn't possibly tell Ruan Nanzhu's mother that he too had a little problem with fantasies, could he? If he thought about it though it was understandable. In the eyes of people without doors, after all, the time they spent inside the doors was simply them staring off into space.

It was only that after spacing out, their reactions could be intense. Some cried, some laughed, some even threw themselves straight off a building…

It was clear that Ruan Nanzhu's family still cared for him, but it was this care precisely that became a sort of burden. They didn't understand what Ruan Nanzhu did, and couldn't comprehend why Ruan Nanzhu avoided the normal paths in life…

There had never been such a thing as pure empathy in this world.

After a meal, Ruan Nanzhu took Lin Qiushi and left. Sitting in the car, he looked over at Lin Qiushi and asked, "isn't there anything you want to say?"

Lin Qiushi, "like what…your mom's super young?"

Ruan Nanzhu, "…"

Lin Qiushi grinned. "I don't have anything to say." He paused for a bit, before continuing, "they're all good people."

It was just that some things, they weren't meant to ever understand.

Ruan Nanzhu said, "I'm actually quite fortunate. My family all thinks I'm crazy, and wanted to send me abroad for treatment. But at least they didn't force it."

At the mention of crazy, Lin Qiushi was reminded of Yi Manman. Yi Manman was practically the prototypical Obsidian member—his family kept thinking he'd gone insane, and they'd even tried to shut him away in a mental hospital by force. Compared to him, Ruan Nanzhu's family's attitude stood in vivid contrast.

"It's true though, from an outsider's perspective we're all crazy," Lin Qiushi said helplessly. "We space out for a bit, and then start sobbing and yelling."

"It's been almost five years since I went home," Ruan Nanzhu said.

Lin Qiushi watched him, and understood what Ruan Nanzhu was saying. Sure enough, Ruan Nanzhu continued slowly: "We're not that close. This way when they actually lose me, they won't be so sad."

Lin Qiushi had to laugh: "I wouldn't be so sure of that." He recalled when they were first coming into their relationship, and how Ruan Nanzhu took a sudden step back. Thinking on it now, it had probably been this mentality at work.

It was just that now, they could both stand firm, and become pillars on which the other could rely.

For half a month before going into their door, the entire mansion partied hard. Everybody gathered every night to drink and mess around until late in the evening.

The feelings being suppressed underneath all this partying all came bursting out one night, and everybody in the mansion started crying—Chen Fei, Yi Manman, Lu Yanxue, and Ye Niao.

Ye Niao said, "Lin Qiushi you little bastard son of a bitch, you have to come out!"

Chen Fei said, "Ruan-ge, we'll be out here waiting for you."

Yi Manman and Lu Yanxue were crying so hard that they couldn't even talk.

Lin Qiushi too felt teary-eyed at this development, and only Ruan Nanzhu remained as steel-hearted as ever, saying, "we're not even dead yet, what are you crying for?"

"Uwaaaa…" But everybody had drank too much to heed Ruan Nanzhu's words, and they continued to express all the uneasy feelings inside their hearts.

Lin Qiushi lied on the sofa, brain completely eaten up by alcohol. Even so, he felt a kind of joy that was difficult to describe. There were people who cared for his life and death, there were people who wanted him to survive. The feeling of being cared for like this was so inescapably moving that he couldn't help but tear up.

Everybody cried, and ran about. The whole house became a mess.

Ruan Nanzhu came to Lin Qiushi's side and sat down. Then he pulled Lin Qiushi into his lap, fingers tapping at the tips of Lin Qiushi's ears.

"Your ears are like a fairy’s."

Lin Qiushi watched Ruan Nanzhu, silly with giddiness.

Ruan Nanzhu, after some drinks, was still exceptionally good-looking. His cool demeanor was softened by a tipsy sheen, light rippling through his eyes, and his lips were red with a gleam of moisture, looking particularly tasty.

Lin Qiushi reached up and gave Ruan Nanzhu's thick lashes a touch, laughing, "they're so long."

Ruan Nanzhu gazed down, watching him.

Lin Qiushi leaned back in Ruan Nanzhu's arms and felt the warmth coming from the other's skin. He said, "I used to think this is enough, but now…" A hint of sorrow surfaced between his brows. "I want to grow old with you. Is that too selfish?"

"No," Ruan Nanzhu said. "Everybody wants that. It's normal."

He got close to Lin Qiushi's ear and gave the tip of it a kiss, before speaking in a gravelly voice, "it's the same for me."

Lin Qiushi's answering smile was brilliant. He said, "that's great then. Are you scared?"

Ruan Nanzhu, "I used to be. But I'm not scared anymore."

They had each other now.

Lin Qiushi's heart too had settled. He said, "I'm not scared either."

Gazing into each other's eyes, they both smiled at the same time. Ruan Nanzhu picked Lin Qiushi up and started straight for the second floor.

Seeing them go, Ye Niao called, "you're already leaving? We haven't even had enough to drink yet…"

And immediately after Chen Fei smacked him on the head, saying, "wake the hell up youngster, those two are in love."

Ye Niao, "…" This place was not friendly toward singles.

They had a dozen days like a doomsday carnival, and the week before the 27th, everybody gradually started to calm down again.

Ruan Nanzhu went to find Chen Fei and began delegating some matters.

At first, Chen Fei was resistant, but Ruan Nanzhu said one thing that got him to settle down. He said: "I can't guarantee that I'll be coming out. If I die, you have to keep Obsidian going. They're all still here. You have to protect them."

Chen Fei reluctantly agreed.

Unlike Ruan Nanzhu, Lin Qiushi had nothing to do, so he went to help Lu Yanxue with dinner.

Lu Yanxue was looking pretty down. She did her best to cheer up, but Lin Qiushi could tell her smile was forced.

He didn't want to see her like this either, and so subtly suggested that if she didn't want to smile, there was no need. He understood how she was feeling.

When Lu Yanxue heard this, she couldn't hold back anymore, throwing herself into Lin Qiushi's arms and beginning to wail.

"I can't imagine it. I can't even imagine what it would be like if you and Ruan-ge weren't here. I'm scared to think if something were to happen to you…"

Lin Qiushi stroked her hair, like he was comforting a child through a meltdown. He didn't know what to do, and could only say, "it'll be fine. Everything will be fine."

Lu Yanxue cried herself into a mess.

March 25th, Cheng Yixie came back. His return put everybody at a loss, and underneath the joy, there was a deep undercurrent of worry.

Cheng Yixie got taller, and skinnier. In two year's time, he'd completely morphed into a mature adult.

He knew when Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu were going into the door, so his visit this time was likely out of concern that this would be the last time they'd see each other.

The group didn't dare talk about the past, only asked if Cheng Yixie had spent the past two years well.

Cheng Yixie answered on and off, but Lin Qiushi noticed that on his neck, there was a new pendant. This was the pendant that Lin Qiushi had seen around Zhuo Feiquan's neck before…

"Where's Zhuo Feiquan?" Ruan Nanzhu asked the question that Lin Qiushi wanted to ask.

"He's dead." Cheng Yixie's tone was dull, as if death could no longer bring him to any emotion. "He died last year. Didn't make it through the tenth door."

Ruan Nanzhu said nothing more.

After staying an hour, Cheng Yixie got up to leave. Lu Yanxue asked why he didn't come back, but he only smiled for a moment before saying three words: "I'm not worthy."

Hearing those words felt to Lin Qiushi like needles jabbing into his heart. He looked at Ruan Nanzhu, but saw Ruan Nanzhu's lips in a tight line, not saying anything to persuade Cheng Yixie to stay.

After Cheng Yixie left, Ruan Nanzhu finally said, "there's always a price to pay for taking shortcuts."

Lin Qiushi knew what he meant.

Most likely, Ruan Nanzhu also wanted to tell Cheng Yixie that he was welcomed to return to Obsidian, but in the end kept silent because Cheng Yixie had gone against his principles. Some things were bottom lines, and no matter the circumstance, bottom lines could not be broken.

On the 26th, Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu spent all day in bed.

They talked of love, gazes lingering and cloying in each other's eyes. They fell asleep wrapped up in each other's arms, and the sun set and rose again. The most important day had finally came.

March 27th. The day Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu entered their door.

It was a bright and sunny spring day—the breeze caressed and the sunbeams dazed.

Lin Qiushi and Ruan Nanzhu had breakfast together. Then they put on everything they were taking with them and sat together on their bed. They ate candy as they chatted, until all of a sudden, the atmosphere around them changed.

The person sitting across from Lin Qiushi suddenly disappeared, and Lin Qiushi knew that it was finally here. Backpack on, he stood up and opened the closest door. There he saw a familiar long hallway.

In the corridor, ten doors were shut behind seals. Only two doors were left at the very end of the hall.

Lin Qiushi took a slow step in, then approached one of the doors. With a deep breath, he took hold of the door handle and gradually pulled it open.

The scene around him twisted, and a strong force pulled Lin Qiushi inside. When he got a good look at his surroundings, however, his breathing stuttered.

Having experienced so many doors, and having seen so many peculiar scenarios, he'd never seen one as chilling as the one before him now. Cold sweat rose on Lin Qiushi's back, and goosebumps appeared along his arms of their own volition—he'd appeared in what looked like a normal bedroom. Lin Qiushi remembered well that it was in this bedroom that he'd met Ruan Nanzhu in reality for the very first time.

That's right, Lin Qiushi had returned to his old house, the apartment that he'd stopped renting a long time ago.

Lin Qiushi laughed bitterly as he thought, this truly was the nightmare among nightmares.

[Ch. 128] | [Ch. 130]