#drawing curly is surprisingly relaxing though

[paisley-constellations]

this is very bad and has definitely been done before but i wanted to draw smth before exams consume me

[gentlebilady]

My other Chappell Roan Harringrove songfic

Steve was blowing like a goddamn race horse, his breaths loud and quick. His body was trembling, fine tremors running through his legs, his stomach clenched tight. He opened his eyes and looked out the windshield of the car – it was dark but the moon was bright and it lit up the cornfield they’d parked by. He looked down when the head his hands had been gripping shifted; Steve forced himself to release the curly hair wrapped around his fingers. Billy was grimacing.

“What’s wrong?”

Billy grunted.

“This fucking hurts, dip shit.”

Steve giggled, the sound escaping him before he realized what he was doing.

“Oh yeah, yuck it up. You get your rocks off, and I’m squeezed into a footwell like a goddamn clown.”

Steve’s hand, completely independent of his brain, brushed a few strands out of Billy’s eyes; those eyes closed and his head leaned into the hand, before Billy huffed a breath, pinching Steve’s exposed hip and slapping at the door.

“Come on, man, open up. I gotta stand up, my legs are killing me.”

Steve started to open the door, then, belatedly, did a quick look around, checking to make sure no other cars had pulled up. The backroad wasn’t commonly used as far as Steve knew, but teenagers were always looking for new spots to neck. The area was empty. Steve stumbled out, feeling weak and giddy, and did up his jeans. There was a scuffle by the car and he spun around.

Billy was down on one knee in the grass, cursing and frantically rubbing his calf.

“Fffffuck.”

Steve grimaced in sympathy.

“Charlie horse?”

Billy grunted before falling back on his ass and stretching his legs out in front of him, leaning back against the car. Steve knelt by his feet, wrapped his hands around the man’s calves, and started long strokes up and down. It wasn’t easy over the denim but he found a rhythm. He noticed the silence after a moment and looked up.

Billy was watching his hands, his upper body relaxed against the warm metal of his Camaro. His eyes shot to Steve’s and Steve suddenly felt the way he did when Billy crawled between his legs in the front seat: heart racing, mind blank. Somehow, it had the same feeling of intimacy, despite everyone having all their clothes on.

“What are you doing?” Billy’s voice had an edge of something in it that Steve didn’t recognize, but it stopped his hands in their tracks.

“Oh, um, I don’t know. Just trying to help. I would do this when I got cramps.”

Billy was silent for a moment before drawing his legs away and standing up.

“Thanks, man, I’m good.”

Steve was left kneeling on the ground looking up and feeling just a little bit foolish, though he wasn’t sure why. He quickly stood.

“Yeah, sure. So, um, whatcha wanna do now?”

Billy twitched.

“I’m heading to Jenning’s.”

“Chris?”

“Yeah. He’s having some sort of party or whatever.”

“Oh.” Steve felt even more off center. “I thought we were-”

“You want me to drop you at your house?”

“oh. Um, yeah, sure.”

Billy headed around to the driver’s side and slid into the car. Steve tried to gather himself for a moment, before getting into the passenger seat. The seat was still pushed all the way back and he immediately had a vision of Billy on the floor between his legs, fingers scrabbling at his zipper. The memory gave him some courage.

“Actually, take me to Chris’. I forgot it was his birthday.”

*

Steve hadn’t exactly forgotten. He knew about the party and had been planning to go. But that morning he’d been playing a game of pick up at the local park with some guys he used to play on the school team with and Billy had shown up. Steve hadn’t seen or spoken to him since he’d graduated – he was just as gorgeous as Steve remembered. Surprisingly, he also seemed calmer, more settled in his body. As the day got hotter, the game got lazier, and after a few hours, the group started to break up and head to wherever they were going, and Billy drifted over to Steve.

“Hey man, wanna hit up the diner?” He looked directly at Steve as he said it, his eyes focused and piercing.

“What?” Steve squinted – he had no idea what Billy was asking. Billy snorted.

“Do you want to grab something to eat at the diner?”

“With you?”

“Yeah, man, obviously.”

“Why?”

“Jesus, Harrington, I don’t know! To catch up, or something!” Billy started to turn away. “Forget it, man.”

“Oh! Um, sure. I’m starving.” Billy stopped and swiveled back, glaring at Steve.

“Meet you there?” Steve smiled as he stuffed his towel and water bottle in his bag.

Billy had a wary look on his face, but it dropped as Steve fought his belongings.

“Sure. See you there.” He turned away and walked to his car, his body loose but powerful. Steve caught himself staring and shook his head, picking up his overfull bag and headed to his own car.

~

I got dragged into a reading hole for the last week or so (the Merry Gentry series, A Taste of Gold and Iron, and now The Cruel Prince) but I'm itching to write again, so -

HERE YOU GO!!!

There is more. It has not been edited. I write and post like a giddy kindergartener using their favorite two crayons to color a picture that should probably have more than two colors, and then running to show it to their teacher.

Y'all are the teacher.

[maskedlotus65]

I finished my drawing of Mother-Willow AU Hackus quicker than I thought and... I like his design. I like Vexy's character, but I like Hackus's design.

Since he was made a real Smurf by Willow, his hair is more on the curly side and less dirty looking. Some context about Hackus:

• He has similar scars as Vexy from the same origin, though he has a large burn mark on his chest, hence the leaf poncho.

• I'm headcanoning him to have ADHD and Autism.

• He hasn't found himself to be attracted to any of the girls in Smurfy Grove, but he's not too worried about it. I wonder why that is. Oh well.

• He and Vexy have a bracelet similar to Willow's on their left wrist, totally didn't forget to draw Vexy's.

• Hackus's favorite hobby, surprisingly, is whittling, as well as wood carving. Or is that the same thing? He carved the spear in his hand himself. His room is even filled with wooden figures, spears, and animals he's made and painted himself. Some of it still needs some work, but he finds it relaxing and even makes small wooden sculptures to other smurfs as gifts.

• His favorite smurfs to hangout with are Blossom and Begonia, since Blossom shares the same energetic nature while Begonia shares his absent mindedness.

• There is nothing behind those eyes. Nothing.

• he has a bruise on his head is from his occasional spin of his spear, he ends up bonking his forehead everytime. Though his bangs are covering it a bit.

• Innocent bean.

Hope you like my design of him as much as I did. I'm also wanting to do voice claims, who knows. Also for anyone wondering why Hackus's eyes and mouth are different to Vexy's, well Vexy was just wearing lipstick and eyeliner.

[multi-lefaiye]

OC Kiss Week: Sloppy Spellwork

wrote this prompt for day 7: sloppy! may not have been able to finish the other prompts like i was planning, but at least i got this one :'>

featuring my boys henry and eden <3

--

“You’re doing it wrong,” Eden says abruptly from where he’s sitting across from Henry. Henry can feel Eden’s eerie amber eyes boring into him, but he doesn’t look up from the spell circle he’s drawn in chalk on the ground, nor does he set down the stick of white chalk he’s holding.

“What is it this time?” he asks drily, tapping the fingers of his free hand against the hardwood floor. After a moment, he glances up, shooting a teasing smirk Eden’s way. “Am I missing a sigil? Did I draw the circle a little too wide? Oh, did-”

“Can you take this seriously?” Eden snaps, clearly not amused. “The fuck is wrong with you?”

“A lot.” Henry shrugs, his smirk still firmly in place. When Eden’s answering scowl doesn’t budge, he sighs as his smile falls. “C’mon, clearly this magic bullshit is beyond me. I’m too fucking stupid for this shit.”

Henry smiles again, though it’s a bit more bitter this time as he adds, “Maybe you should just give up and we’ll leave the spell-casting to you.” Though he keeps his tone lighthearted, he’s sure his frustration is bleeding through.

Eden rolls his eyes and leans forward, snatching up Henry’s hand and redirecting it. His hands are small and warm in a way that feels pleasant against Henry’s cold, calloused skin. With surprising gentleness, he moves Henry’s long, knobby fingers into a different position, adjusting his grip on the chalk.

“You’ll get it,” he says firmly, his eyes locked on Henry’s half-finished circle. “You’re not stupid--you’re just being sloppy.” It’s probably the closest thing Eden’s given him to a compliment since they’ve met. Despite himself, Henry cracks a smile.

“Awww, you’re getting soft on me,” he says teasingly. “What happened to the Eden who calls me a dumb fuck every time I do something stupid?”

“He’s still there,” Eden replies easily, “but you’re not doing something stupid right now, so he’s taking a backseat.” He looks up, locking eyes with Henry, and though his expression is hard, there’s something almost soft in his eyes. “You just need to practice.”

Henry’s mouth feels dry as he watches Eden’s face, taking in the other man’s sharp features. Up close, Eden’s eyes look like molten gold, bright and shining as they stare at him. For a moment, they almost look like they’re shimmering in the afternoon light filtering through the window. All Henry can think is, God, he’s beautiful.

The moment passes quickly, though, and Eden looks away, back down at their joined hands. “You did miss a sigil,” he explains, his voice oddly strained and expression unreadable. “Just- here, let me.” Still being surprisingly gentle, he presses Henry’s hand down, guiding him through drawing a sigil in the corner of his spell circle.

All too soon, Eden lets go of Henry’s hand and sits back, tucking a lock of curly blond hair behind one ear. A little grin spreads across his face as he clasps his hands in front of him.

“Okay,” he says. “Remember what I told you?” When Henry doesn’t answer right away, Eden lets out a soft exhale. “Close your eyes and hold out your hands.”

Henry nods, his mouth still feeling oddly dry as he forces himself to stop staring at Eden, instead looking down at the circle of runes and sigils before him. He sets aside the chalk and takes a deep breath, closing his eyes. His heart is beating a frantic, stuttering drumbeat in his chest, and he can feel his hands trembling as he holds them over the circle.

“Relax,” Eden says. His tone is far from soothing, still an abrupt barking order, but it does the trick, and Henry nods stiffly as he tries to relax his shoulders.

“So I just… imagine what I want to happen, right?” Henry says. “Like, form the spell in my mind, you said?” He hates how hesitant he sounds. It isn’t like him to be so nervous, but he so desperately wants to do it right this time.

“Something like that,” Eden says, and Henry can hear the smile evident in his voice. “This is a set spell, so it can’t do whatever you want it to, but your thoughts and intentions will guide what it creates.” Henry hears him shift, the sound of painted black nails tapping against the floor. “Focus your thoughts on one specific thing, and then place your hands down on the circle.”

Henry does just that. His mind is racing with thoughts of brown, sun-kissed skin, of curly blond hair tumbling over bony shoulders, of a teasing smirk revealing jagged little teeth, of pools of melted gold that glimmer in fiery sunlight.

He puts his hands down on the circle, and he feels a sensation like he’s never felt before. A burst of white-hot warmth snakes down his arms and through his hands, startling him into opening his eyes just in time to see a flare of gold light erupting from the circle. It twists and turns in the air before him, letting off white sparks before it disappears in a flash.

For a long moment, neither man speaks. Henry looks at Eden to see that he’s staring at him, mouth agape and eyes wide.

Then, Henry smiles sheepishly. “How was that?” he says.

Instead of responding verbally, Eden lunges forward and wraps his arms around Henry’s shoulders, tugging him down and slamming their lips together. The kiss is at an awkward angle, and it ends far too quickly for Henry’s liking, as Eden pulls back only a moment later to shoot Henry a wide, toothy grin.

“That was incredible,” Eden breathes. He looks genuinely impressed, more so than Henry has ever seen him. After a moment, though, he seems to remember himself, and he pulls away from Henry entirely to sit back. It’s hard to tell against his skin tone, but he seems to be blushing as he forces his smile down.

“For your first spell, at least,” he says in a clipped tone. “You still need practice--lots of practice. But that was a good start.”

Henry’s mouth is tingling. He wants to kiss Eden again, but he restrains himself. Instead, he grins, wide and goofy.

“Well,” he says, “what are we waiting for, then? Let’s get practicing!” If it means Eden kisses him again, he’s more than happy to draw as many chalk circles as the other man wants.

[lowkeyclueless5137]

Cuz I lost EBG

And still I don't want to tarnish the program ;-; cuz me is a lazyass....

I present to you! Chibis!

Again, the SD picrew said 'suffer <3' so I went in manually (again)

Mammon the magicless student au chibs!

I am really asking for the OM fandom to cut my head, don't I? Nonetheless... I have small sheets for them so I'll share them along my thoughts on each one of them regarding the process of changing... (+mishaps)

Small note!

My process of making chibis is to make them in the picrew and then go in and draw over them... It takes a bit and this ones were before the RSA uniform update...

So let's start this!

He was surprisingly easy to make... Actually, if I'm honest, the only things I did to this bby is to add him a smol fang, accentuate the eye color(at all of them I did it) and also give a bit more color to the bandage...

His coffin icon was more of a thinking process... I wanted to portray the Mammon that heis in here ✨magicless✨... I won't elaborate in here though :)

Another easy one... although for the eyes I literally picked from the og SD the color... the actual difference is the gloves... It took a bit to center the finger line (and pick the color), but he was actually a relaxing process...

Still a bit salty about the fact that I couldn't move the suit mark... But after a bit I said fuck it and moved on... I even found a valid motive for it so it's too late now... (I completely forgot then that I could redraw it)

*inhales* he had pink hair before... I'm serious... HOT PINK HAIR

So I turned it to orange through my pallete picking and the whole tracing and recoloring... Then I showed my friend @kurokiesimping and they said that the eyes are too big... so I looked and realized that the eyes changed shape so I just screamed into the void cuz I already did the hair and I didn't want to re-center and recolor them completely... so I tried to cut them 🙃

But if it wasn't for them, Beel would be less accurate(not that he is entirely) than now... So a big thanks to them!

HE LITERALLY HAD NOTHING TO CHANGE

Except accentuating the eye color and making longer gloves... but it's like... bearly a change... they were last minute cuz ye...

The coffin icon was more of a challenge color wise... I still don't know if I got it right...

He really said he has to be perfect on the first try huh?

THIS MF

He was blonde at first... then I said to torture myself... the og SD hair color looked bad on the chibi so it took me 30 DAMN MINUTES to just pick the main color.

But I'm the proudest about Asmo... he looks really nice and just dramatic... Which considering my trash art skills... ye...

Just... just look at this pretty boi!

Haha.... crappy hair shape go brrrr

Levi... dear, baby, precious Otaku....

WHY THE FUCK DID YOU HAVE THAT HELMET HAIR?!

Like... I initially wanted him to have like some spaghetti like hair... but the picrew didn't have that option (note it down pls: curly hair and afro options) So I said fuck it again and decided to go with the steel helmet...

Then I realized that the purple wasn't beating with the cannon... :/ you know where this is going...

I accidentally deleted the main color layer and blew a whole casket cuz it didn't save... (courtesy of my lil sis)

THIS MF(2)

He looks crappy... but I legit stood a whole day over this one...

The hair, the colors, the shades... Belphegor gave me a FIELD TRIP...

Ye there so much to elaborate over this and lament... but it's here... there could be room for improvement, but I do not want to go and do it over again... ;-;

This is all!

I hope you enjoy them...

And I hope I was accurate enough...

Again a big thanks to my friend for helping me out with Beel! ✨

Until next time! Bye!

[dallaswinstonsleatherjacket]

Hmmm

Write a fake dating fic with either chylvia or purly

Boom done. Kinda terrible and speedy but whatevs

It all started with little white lies.

Mistakes were made sometimes. I was going to the DX-and yet Steve didn’t see me during his shift. The movies, but the name of the film slipped my mind.

We tried to be careful, we really did-it was harder than it looked to avoid Darry’s angry gaze.

Curly was dangerous-thats what Darry always said. I could see it sometimes, when his eyes would glint a certain way, or how easily he would pull out a knife if we heard something, sneaking around.

It happened differently than other books. We were sprawled across his bed one afternoon-turned-dusk, and he was cleaning under his nails with his switch. I was drawing-him, admittedly, but he couldn’t see from his angle and I kept it that way.

“Curtis?”

I looked up, Curly was looking at me now, almost serious.

“What do your brothers think about gay people?”

It was an odd question, and I pondered it, turning it over in my mind. I’d never heard anyone-not even the rest of the gang say anything like the Socs did-now that I thought of it, there wasn’t anything at all.

“I don’t know-I think they’re alright with them…”

Curly’s face relaxed a little.

“I was thinkin’ bout telling Tim we were dating.”

I stopped drawing, looking at Curly again to see if he was serious. He was, there was no hint of a smirk on his face.

“What? Why..?” I didn’t know why I was panicking a little.

“He’s always askin why you’re coming over all the time-I figured that’d shut him up for a bit, right? You don’t have to tell your brothers or nothing, I was just thinking to get Tim off our backs…” he trailed off and I swallowed.

“Y-yeah, sure. Sounds fine-I probably won’t tell Darry though.”

Curly grinned, leaning over towards me.

“Sounds good, boyfriend”

So that was how it started. And I didn’t know what I thought would happen, because Darry found out less than a week later.

He was surprisingly calm. I wondered if this was the right thing to do, and I grinned behind my hand as Darry talked to me about making good decisions. This was the weakest lecture in a while-maybe Curly was smarter than I thought.

It was another week later when he kissed me.

I think Angela walked in, we were sprawled out on his bed again and the door cracked open. You would have thought Curlys life depended on it by the way he leapt at me.

The door closed again and Curly flushed, sitting up and staring at the door.

“Sorry-sorry, Pony” he whispered, clambering off of me.

I touched my lips with my finger-they were tingling, warm.

I didn’t mind it.

“Didn’t mean to leap at you like that-I’m sorry.” Curly really did look sorry, and although my brain was still hazy I kind of wondered why.

I could kiss him again.

The thought floated through my half dazed mind-I wondered what he would do.

I leaned forward and brought his lips to mine.

He started before relaxing and kissing back. It was wild and hungry, like we had limited time in the world instead of forever and if we were alone instead of in Curly’s house.

I groaned when he slid his hands up my shirt, Curly kissed down my neck and I shuddered before running my fingers through his hair.

“I take it you didn’t mind” he muttered against my chest, as we both leaned back against his pillows.

“I take it you didn’t do it because Angela walked in,” I mumbled, and he snorted.

“You’re real cute, you know that, Curtis?”

“You’re real cute too, Curls,” I laughed, kissing the top of his head.

[imagine-organization-xiii]

Want to go on vacation so I have to live vicariously through this blog - org xiii going on a cruise?

oh my god let’s get this chaos rolling - I’ve never actually been on a cruise before but I would absolutely love to go on one

if i had drawing skills i would totally draw some of this because it just cracks me up to no end

EDIT: i added some stuff about Xigbar because i forgot about him lmao

-

Xemnas: “Whoever is humming the Jaws theme song is going to get their ass kicked.“

They’re all sorely in need of a good vacation, something that they can all enjoy where they can do their own things but not be bothered by each other. Someone mentions a cruise in passing and some of the members are doubtful at being stuck on a boat with one another for a long period of time, but... Well. The boat is large and there’s an open bar and a WATER SLIDE so it doesn’t take long to get everyone on board with the plan.

They know that a lot of rooms on cruise ships don’t actually have windows, but Lexaeus, Marluxia, Vexen, and Xemnas all demand rooms with windows. Lexaeus and Marluxia can get a bit seasick if they’re in the bottom of a boat without seeing where they actually are, Vexen is high maintenance, and Xemnas isn’t having anything less than the best.

They don’t plan on paying out the ass for rooms, so they all decide to share. Roxas and Xion get their own room that’s connected to the room shared by Vexen and Lexaeus. Lexaeus, who was originally going to share with Xaldin, was forced to switch when Vexen refused to room with Xigbar. Xemnas refuses to share with anyone other than Luxord (because Luxord spends most of his time out and about and is actually rarely in the room), while Saix shares with Axel. Larxene and Marluxia cling to one another  while Demyx and Zexion claim the last room with a window because Demyx wanted to see the ocean.

Vexen: Okay, kids, just remember to stick with your buddy when you’re on the ship and that if you go overboard, none of us are going after you.

Zexion: I have a question.

Vexen: Yes?

Zexion: What happens if you go overboard? Do we just not go after you?

Vexen: If I go overboard then it means I went overboard on purpose to get away from all of you.

There are so many things that you can do on a cruise ship and everyone is ready to stay far enough away from each other while they still enjoy themselves. Even if they’re attending the same event, chances are that they won’t be sitting near each other. They have ONE night where they all sit and have a nice dinner together, but otherwise it’s free roam for each and every one of them.

The younger ones spend most of their time lounging in or around the pool, playing around on the water slides and generally causing a lot of chaos. Roxas and Xion enjoy swimming and playfully splashing each other with water when the life-guard (and Saix) aren’t paying attention, and they all enjoy trying to tip Lexaeus and Xaldin over when they decide to join them at the pool. Axel and Demyx manage to literally carry and drag Zexion out to the pool sometime during the second day, and the young magician actually manages to enjoy himself even though he’ll never admit it.

Demyx: Zexion, stop being a sourpuss and come terrorize people at the pool with us.

Saix is also at the pool, only so he can keep an eye on the others. It’s a good thing he does because chances are that someone is going to get in a fight with someone else - probably Larxene, when she and Marluxia decide to do some sunbathing - because some asshole thought it would be cool to hit on Larxene when she’s relaxing and that’s just going to be hell for everyone.

Some mornings are for GETTING PUMPED. Not wanting to get lazy just because they’re on vacation, Xaldin and Lexaeus do spend a bit of time in the fitness area, lifting weights and waking themselves up before they enjoy themselves with other activities.

Near the gym is the SAUNA/steam room! You can bet your ass that Axel will NOT be working out but he’ll definitely be in the steam room a few times during the trip. Demyx will join him on occasion and they usually get a big kick out of all the old people that end up there. Overall, they just like sitting and chilling like two bros

SPA TIME. You can guarantee that Marluxia and Larxene are spending a lot of the time in the spa with giant mixed drinks - mimosas in the morning with fancy breakfast treats, mai-tais in the evening. Facials, manicures, pedicures, massages, everything they can think of until they’re limp and pliant and lazy. Xemnas joins them one day for a back massage, much to Marluxia’s chagrin, while Demyx joins them when they get facials.

Saturday night brings a casino night in the main area of the ship, a tiny competition that has Luxord all but shaking excitedly with energy. Of course, he sweeps the floor with the competition during a giant poker match, and wins a nice $2500 prize for coming in first place. They’re all shocked and extremely impressed at how good his poker face is. He spends a good amount of time in the casino area during their cruise, but takes frequent breaks to go swimming, to the spa, or to tan on one of the Adults-Only decks with Xemnas.

All of the eating areas are a big hit. The younger group tends to go for the tiny food places by the pool, where they can find burgers, curly fries, hot dogs, tator tots, and giant slushies. The older ones like the sit down restaurants. Expensive wine, lobster with a delicious garlic butter, top rated filet mignon with a specialty seasoning, and live entertainment - usually someone playing piano, occasionally accompanied by a singer. Overall, they both agree that they have wonderful dining experiences.

Holy shit, when I tell you that Vexen somehow ends up entering and WINNING a shuffleboard tournament? It takes the whole organization by surprise. Somehow he just ended up on one of the decks and was observing some of the skilled, veteran players, and one of them asks if he’d like to give it a shot. He does and DAMN, he’s like an expert immediately????

Vexen: *comes back to the room he’s sharing with Lexaeus with a giant trophy in one hand and a margarita in the other*

Lexaeus: Uh... what’s that?

Vexen: Hm? A margarita, what does it look like?

Xemnas is the one who mostly sticks to himself the whole time. He tries a little bit of everything. Swimming, the hot tub, reading on a chair and getting a deep tan, relaxing at the spa, getting a bit of a work out, etc. He’s a fancy bitch who enjoys the fancier things in life, and holy shit they paid a LOT of money for this cruise for 14 people so he’s absolutely going to get his money’s worth.

Movie night is every night on a cruise ship, so everyone will gather together and lounge either in the pool or on one of the deck chairs and relax as a movie is played on a giant screen. It’s a good way for them to do something together without bothering one another. Axel and Saix help pass out sodas, icee’s, and popcorn before moving to lounge in the hot tub before the movie begins.

Xigbar has made himself known to the waitstaff on the ship for two reasons - he has good taste in alcohol and he’s an incorrigible flirt. He doesn’t mean any harm with it and he has no intentions of acting on it any further than a few playful words, so everyone knows not to take him seriously when they spot him flirting with a cabana boy or the staff in the gym.

Xigbar also has a secret night time routine, surprisingly with Saix. One night, Xigbar just couldn’t sleep and he found himself walking around the ship at three in the morning, when it was quiet and most people were asleep and the halls were almost empty. He ended up on the bow of the ship and it was AMAZING to look out on the water and the sky and just enjoy the sea breeze. He did the same thing the next night and found that Saix had beaten him there. After some quiet glaring, they mutually agreed just to enjoy it and not bother one another.

Finally, most of the younger group barely get any sleep. They order room service like crazy for various midnight snacks and have fun in the arcade beating high scores on all of the games they can manage until they all end up dragging themselves back and passing out in a single room together.

[yellowmagicalgirl]

memories for when morning comes

An average afternoon and morning for Claire after ae stopped the Eternal Night.

This fic was, for the most part, written to spite an asshole on FFN who was complaining about how I use ae/aer pronouns for when I decide to specify that Claire is nonbinary in a fic, as opposed to they/them or she/her pronouns. Guess what? Ae/aer pronouns were first used in 1920, and even if they weren’t that old then one should still respect pronouns (especially for real people, though if this person is complaining about my pronoun choice for a fictional wizard I worry about how they’d treat real people who use neopronouns). (The other reasons I had for writing this were my own personal gender frustrations as well as just how it’s been a while since I wrote Claire.)

Title comes from “Welcome to Wonderland” by Anson Seabra, aka a song I found on a nonbinary pride playlist ;)

This fic isn’t Wizards compliant

Content/Spoiler Warning: Isolation, hopelessness, implied/referenced self harm, and introspection on misgendering and death

AO3

FFN

Claire wrapped aer arms around aerself and winced as even through the fabric ae could feel just how frozen aer hands were. That was the problem with having small, thin fingers. Aer circulation was pretty bad in aer hands. Sometimes, when aer nail polish was chipped, Claire’s could see how the natural color of aer nails changed to a pastel blue-violet tone, as opposed to the healthy pink that aer nails were supposed to be.

Speaking of supposed to be, where was Jim? He was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. Claire fought the urge to check aer phone again. He would be here any minute now, and if he had gotten caught up in some sort of trollhunting business, he wouldn’t be able to tell aer at the time. But, ae was tempted to go find a bench and pull out aer homework. That way, ae could at least do something useful instead of just waste aer energy shivering and feeling anxious.

Ae shouldn’t be so anxious. They had saved the world years ago, and aside from the occasional goblin nest or gnome uprising there hadn’t been any problems. Jim had retrieved the stone that allowed him to walk in the daylight, and had found out that he didn’t have to actually change as much about his diet as he had planned. It was small things, like coating his salad in dressing and eating his steak rare. The supernatural world was at peace. Morgana was dead and would never be able to hurt anyone ever again. But, sadly, Claire had been diagnosed with anxiety long before ae had learned the truth about the creatures that lurked in the shadows. Ae sighed before walking over to the nearest bench. It was warm underneath the late January sunbeam. Ae pulled out aer phone, but ae didn’t check the time. Ae placed an earbud in each of aer ears, reaching up at the same time to run one of aer hands through the fade of aer hair before reaching the curly faux hawk at the top and curling aer fingers into it. Perhaps it couldn’t be considered a proper fade, not anymore, not when Claire had decided to let it grow out for the winter months so the chill wouldn’t permeate so directly into aer skull.

Claire let aerself become pulled into the loud rock music blasting from their earbuds as ae pulled out a textbook from aer backpack and began to read. Ae didn’t notice anyone approach aer until a blue, four-fingered hand stopped aer from turning the page.

“Oh,” Claire said, pulling out aer earbuds. Aer boyfriend stood in front of aer, one hand behind his back. “There you are.”

“Yeah, sorry,” Jim said. “Mom was trying to cook and, well, it was going well until the kitchen towel started catching fire. But, I have something to make up for it!” He thrust his arm out from behind his back, revealing the bouquet of violets.

“Jim, I, thank you,” Claire said, tracing the softness of the flowers.

He smiled down at aer. “Of course, anything for my handsome Juliet.”

“You wouldn’t happen to have a vase or anything, would you?”

Jim scratched the base of his horns sheepishly and opened his mouth, probably to say that no, he hadn’t planned that far ahead for their date.

And ae woke up.

All of Claire’s dreams were bad dreams. Some of them were memories, and they happened more often if Claire fell asleep in front of the haunted TV that showed all of the times that ae had been scared. Some of them were an amalgamation of horrible things that ae had heard about and things that Morgana had done or intended to do to her victims.

The worst type of dream, though, was neither of those two. No, the worst type of dream wasn’t bad when it was happening. It was a wonderful, beautiful, pleasant escape from the horrible reality that Claire had doomed aerself to. Ae would wake up in the Shadow Realm and know that Jim was dead and everyone assumed that Claire was dead as well. That their beloved friend had died to save the world. Or worse, their beloved daughter or sister.

Claire had died before ae had come out to anyone except for Enrique. It was after Jim had rescued aer brother from the Darklands, but before Morgana had taken a hold on Claire’s body and mind. Well, a stronger hold than Claire merely just using the Shadow Staff.

Ae had been alone, and ae had started talking to him. Practicing how ae’d come out to aer friends and family and boyfriend, even though ae hadn’t been ready. Enrique was the only one who knew who Claire really was, and he was a baby. He wouldn’t understand, and he wouldn’t remember Claire talking to him, and he would grow up hearing about the sister he once had who never actually existed in the way everyone thought Claire had.

(There was a possibility that there was one other person who knew the truth about Claire, but ae didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to think about how the woman who called Claire Child instead of Daughter might be doing so as a sign of some horrible mimicry of respect. Really, Claire would have rather have had aer bodily and spiritual autonomy respected and be misgendered than for Morgana to respect that Claire wasn’t a girl but then turn around and treat aer like ae wasn’t a person, just a weapon.)

Enrique wouldn’t remember his older sibling’s monologues about aer gender frustration. Perhaps it was for the best. Claire hadn’t been meaning to actually tell aer brother, or else ae would have gone to NotEnrique instead, because out of the two brothers ae had the changeling was the one who actually knew more than ten words. It was just easier to talk to a listening ear than aer stuffed animals or a mirror (and that was before mirrors were a reminder of aer trauma). It had been practice for something terrifying that Claire would never have to do. Never get to do. Hadn’t been ready to do. Ae had never gotten around to deciding upon a more specific label than nonbinary. Between the dread that came with the possibility of someone finding aer trying to do research, and all of aer responsibilities, ae had never really had the time. And of course, ae knew that their were plenty of people who didn’t want a more specific label, but ae wanted one. Ae wanted a more specific label, if only so ae could list out all the reasons and point to something that explained that Claire wasn’t the only one. And instead, ae had waited too long and no one would know.

The trolls would have probably reacted well, since trollish gender was rather different than human gender. Jim and Toby probably would have been okay with aer as well, since they had reacted well to aer being bi and they were respectively bi and pan themselves.

Mary and Darci? Back in middle school, Darci had followed Claire to a few GSA meetings but as far as Claire knew she was there as an ally. And while Claire had seen the way that Mary sometimes looked at Shannon, Mary had never done anything else to indicate that she was anything other than straight and cis.

Aer parents? Claire knew that they loved aer. Besides, they wouldn’t have thrown aer out, if only because Ophelia was a politician on the left end of the political spectrum. But, aer family was Catholic, and ae wasn’t even out to them as bisexual, and that was at least something they might believe aer on. Aer dad might even be more relaxed if Claire had a (cis) girlfriend than with any boy ae could date, trollhunter or otherwise. And if aer dad was on aer side, then maybe he could convince aer mom to accept that their child was bisexual. Maybe, considering just how many arguments Claire had had with aer mom about how Claire couldn’t be her perfect daughter. How could Claire possibly convince aer parents that ae wasn’t their daughter at all? Granted, there was the possibility that they’d be to ecstatic to care about the gender binary when Claire escaped -

No. Ae was never going to escape the Shadow Realm.

Ae slipped out of bed, undoing one of aer long white braids. It had always had the tendency to get horrifically tangled, and that was before aer magic made it so aer hair moved in an otherwise imaginary hurricane. It would tangle enough to make aer cry. Braids were easier. Braids, or short enough hair that Claire wouldn’t have to worry about it tangling, but ae didn’t trust aerself with blades so close to aer own skin.

Ae had mastered walking around aer house as silently as possible. Perhaps ae had become a shadow of aerself here. Silent, and trying not to cause a stir, not to draw attention to aerself.

Claire gazed out aer window to the dark landscape of the Shadow Realm. Morgana was out there.

Or, maybe, ae had become more of aerself here. The shadows obeyed aer will, after all. So had the Shadow Staff. Aer will, and not Morgana’s. It had been so surprisingly easy to steal away the scepter of the Eldritch Queen. Perhaps it had been seeking a monarch as shadowy as itself.

Ae hadn’t had the time for researching and trying to find the perfect label to describe their gender. Now, ae had nothing but time to think and solitude to not worry about someone walking in on aer research. Now, ae had no access to anything that could give aer answers. Ae had tried, but there wasn’t a WiFi connection in the Shadow Realm. Ae couldn’t look anything up online, and it wasn’t like there were any books in the Nuñez household to help aer find the perfect word to describe aer gender.

And yet, Claire felt that ae could call their gender a shadowy void and ae would be incredibly accurate.

A/N: Is Jim actually dead in this? Probably not; Claire is probably just making an assumption because the last time ae saw aer boyfriend he had just jumped in the way of a magical blast that had been meant to take out Claire and aer friends.

[isabellawaites]

"hello, it's nice to meet you."

"I can tell your past, your present, and your future~"

-Basic Information-

Name: rose fall

Age: 19

Gender: genderqueer

Date of birth: september 26

Status: Alive

Hometown: village of paix

-Hybrid Information-

Hybrid: enderman

Additional Power: (enderman walk)

Rose can teleport and reach things as far as his eyesight can reach. But, he will get hurt if he make any contact with water and are allergic to pumpkin. 

Weapon(s) of Choice: Sapphire scythe

(His weapon was from parts of his tribes old weapons)

-Appearance-

Eye color : light green

Hair color : light golden brown

Hair length : over his shoulders

Skin tone : light tanned

Height : 176cm

Weight : perfectly healthy

Wardrobe :

Rose has somewhat curly brown hair that's usually tied in a long ponytail, usually wears a green ribbon. His eyes are light green, and his skin is light tanned. His facial features strongly resemble his mother's and his father's human form.

He wears a black shirt with rolled up-sleeves, over which is a red corset with black strings.

His outfit is topped by a red and black hooded cloak fastened to his throat by one pin.

Also wears fingerless gloves.

-Personality-

He's grumpy, blunt, but has a heart of gold.

He gives everyone more chances than most others would, as displayed with his ex and it takes a lot to really frustrate him.

Is a bit socially awkward when around new people, but he tries his best.

Though his anger is his greatest weakness, he becomes blind by rage, it often hurts his friends and he has a string guilt over it.

Rose has a hard times of letting go of things.

Like his sister, and his ex.

-background-

Rose is a hybrid, part endermen and part human.

His mother was a hybrid too, part piglin and human.

She was part of the piglin tribe that worshiped the god of blood, though she really didn't believe in it.

Rose’s father was part of the trading business between the end and the nether, but then got injured from a previous fight with a hunter.

Rose’s mother was able to heal the creature, and allow it to stay.

After some time together they fell in love, and they soon conceived. She gave birth to twins, rose and erica. Before anyone could find out about her children she soon left the tribe.

Her and the children lived in a village full of hybrids but one day, they were all killed.

She was killed by Hunter, mistaking her for a hybrid.

Rose and his sister were able to teleport away from the massacre. They lived in an abandoned house for 2 years before, but one day rose started endermen walking. Erica aggravated endermen rose, and because of that he accidentally kill her.

He blacked out and when he woke up he saw her dead corpse, and the blood in his hands. His mother’s parents find him crying in the woods, he explained to them what happened but they told him he couldn’t prevent it since it was accident. In her will she stated she wanted her son to live a normal life.

And she asked her parents to take care of her son. And soon the grandparents took rose in, rose’s grandparents were tarot readers, and soon enough rose picked up this talent as well.

When he turned 17, his grandparents passed away, and he rebuilds the building into a pharmacy. He becomes known throughout the city, and his appearance soon catches the eye of a certain governor’s son.

One day rose treated a cat with an injured leg, naming it "lily".

Though rose didn't know at the time that the cat belonged to crimson red, the governor's son.

One day as he was taking the cat for a walk he bumped into crimson, after rose explained about the cat him and crimson went for some drinks.

After some time together they became friends.

And they began to have feelings for each other, and they kind of confessed.

So I guess they kind of began dating?

But a other prince (the one who declared to kill all hybrids) begin to influence him in a bad way.

He become more serious and harsher to the hybrid opression.

One night, after some disagreements rose lash at him for his bullshit.

He knocked down crimson, rose immediately run away.

And after this kind of break up, he desperately wants him back realizing he was a fool.

-Relationship-

Prince : there's a rumor in the Kingdom that him and the prince were in romantic relationship, but due to an instant no one knows about they cut their ties without hesitation.

Erica : rose deeply loved and cared about his sister, he was extremely protective of her, though he didn't stop her from helping him during battles that he couldn't handle alone. Being the sole surviving members of a poor family, the siblings were very close, trusting and loving of one another.

His parents : don't even know who his father is. Rose clearly loved his mother very much, although they would constantly argue over his wish to leave the village. He was severely traumatized by witnessing her death, and his own powerlessness to prevent it.

-Like & Dislike-

Like :

Reading

Rose very much enjoys reading books and gaining knowledge. He usually reads books as a hobby, his current favorite book is heartless.

Singing and dancing

He's a very good singer like andrea. Usually will start singing if he's bored. He sometimes sings and dances with andrea.

Cooking

He finds it calming and relaxing, surprisingly good at it.

Cleaning

One of his hobbies, very good cleaning. Will also do it when he's very angry, it helps him calm down more.

Sewing

He started doing it when his sister started her trans process, it made him happy when his sister smiled. He likes helping the other sewing their clothes.

Riding horses

When he can't teleport, he started learning how to ride horses, he really likes the animals.

Archery

He began to practice in case he lost his scythe. Usually carries a bow in his bag, very good at it.

Painting and writing

He started doing it because he can't remember what he does while he's enderman walking. He shows much emotion in his drawings and his writing.

Alchemy

His mother taught him and his sister about the subject, he started selling potions to people who need help, and build a pharmacy.

Dislike :

Eye contact

Like his species, he doesn't really like eye contact.

Surprisingly he doesn't mind if it's from someone he deeply cares about.

Hurting innocent people

He doesn't understand why people enjoy hurting the innocent.

The correct Justice system

He doesn't really understand why people don't see it, one of his customers was treated badly because of it.

People who hates hybrids 

He doesn't understand or see the logic why people hate them. Will kill them without hesitation.

-Trivia-

Very much cares about animals, cats are his favorite.

[fandom-imagines]

Drunken Murder

Fandom: Sherlock

Pairing: Sherlock X Reader

Warnings: Attempted murder, alcohol consumption

Summary: After an awkward kiss between the reader and Sherlock, he disappears for a week leaving Y/N confused. Conflicted, she heads out for a drink but finds herself in serious danger, will John and Sherlock be there to save the day?

Sherlock and I had been, what I think is, friends for a few years now. We met through my brother, John, and had been semi-close for a while now. Well, about as close as anyone can get to him. And that leads me to where I am now: sat in Johns chair, chin resting on my knees with Sherlock sat opposite me thinking. John was out on another date with some woman I didn’t bother to learn the name of knowing that it would only be a short while that they are together; of course Sherlock knew this too.

Sighing, I gently closed my eyes and began to attempt to sleep. I didn’t get very far before Sherlocks voice interrupted me.

“That was a deep sigh,” He commented, causing me to open my eyes to see him already looking at me, one eyebrow raised.

“Yeah, I guess.” I shrugged, closing my eyes again.

I heard small movement opposite me, but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. I was so used to sudden movements from Sherlock that it didn’t startle me anymore. I only flinched slightly when I felt a cold hand touch my exposed leg, goose bumps rising as it did so. My eyes immediately flicked open, meeting Sherlocks concerned gaze.

“Are you okay?” He asked, something out of character for him.

“I’m okay.” I smiled slightly, too aware of his hand still resting on my bare knee to form a coherent sentence.

Okay, so maybe I did have a s m a l l crush on my tall, curly-haired friend but that’s all it was.

A small crush…

…That had been going on two years.

Yes, a small crush.

Sherlocks hand gently patted my leg, telling me to stand up which I did. As I did so, Sherlock turned away and grabbed something I couldn’t see. Once he returned, he passed me some of his long pants.

“You’re cold.” He commented as he did so.

“Thank you.” I mumbled, watching him turn around allowing me to change in private.

What a gentleman.

I quickly changed into the grey pants. I was already wearing Johns jumper meaning the upper half of my body was warm.

I tapped Sherlock on his shoulder, alerting him that I was done. Once he spun around, we made eye contact before his eyes scanned down my body. When his eyes reached mine, he gave me a small smirk along with a nod of approval before turning around to go sit back in his chair leaving me to do the same.

The two of us sat in a comfortable silence for around twenty minutes, Sherlock doing whatever Sherlock does and me sitting with my eyes closed.

Surprisingly, the thing to break our silence was Sherlock himself who had let out a big sigh.

“That was a deep sigh,” I said, mimicking his earlier words.

Opening my eyes, I noticed him staring at me, an unrecognisable look in his eyes. He quickly stood up.

“Sherlock?” I asked, “Are you okay?”

Sherlock ignored my question and began walking towards me leaving me confused.

“Sherlock?”

Another step.

“Are”

Another.

“you”

And another.

“okay?”

He reached a halt, kneeling in front of me, once again placing his hand on my, now clothed, knee. His eyes gazed up into my own, a vulnerable look filling them.

“Sherlock?”

Suddenly, his lips pressed against my own, my eyes widening.

I could taste the smoke of the cigarette he had smoked previously but some sort of… spice? His lips were slightly chapped but nice to kiss. His hand still rested on my knee, both of mine moving to lightly grip his shoulders, playing with part of his hair at which he let out a small hum of approval at, evidently enjoying the physical contact.

Our lips moved in sync for a few moments before we both parted for breath, maintaining eye contact despite my initial shyness.

“What was that about?” I whispered, feeling his hand still resting on my knee.

“I don’t know.” He replied, quickly hopping to his feet, grabbing his coat before dashing out of the door.

~

I had returned to my apartment around twenty minutes after the whole incident. Originally, I had waited at 221B in hopes of Sherlock returning to tell me what the hell had happened.  Of course, this didn’t happen. It was probably an experiment to him. Either that or he knew of my feelings and wanted to make fun of me.  

Despite my mind being flooded with thoughts, I somehow found myself falling asleep, still wearing his pants.

~

It had been over a week since I had last seen Sherlock. Occasionally John had been over to my apartment, but no Sherlock and no mention of Sherlock. Part of me wondered whether he had told John about what happened but the more reasonable part of me knew that he wouldn’t have due to my brother’s protectiveness over me.

I don’t know why or how but I had somehow ended up going to a bar with my friends. I hadn’t told anybody where I was going other than the friends I was going with. Thinking about it, I probably should have told John I was going out so that he wouldn’t worry if he went to my apartment and I wasn’t there but oh well.

While my initial plan was to just hang out with friends for the nigh and maybe get slightly drunk, I was somehow extremely drunk and chatting up some random man I deemed attractive at the bar. This chatting up then lead to him leading me into a back alley, something that my drunk self didn’t realise was suspicious. Well, I didn’t realise it was suspicious until I was pinned against the wall with the silver of a blade pressed against my throat, slightly digging in, not enough to draw blood but hard enough to cut off oxygen to my brain.

It wasn’t until I was about to pass out from oxygen that I heard a deep voice yell my name.

“Y/N!” The voice screamed, quickly followed by rapid footsteps and the heavy panting of someone who sounded like they had run all the way across London as, for all I knew, they very well may have.

Before my brain could realise, the man was pulled from me and on the floor and I was in the arms of my saviour and I slowly fell to the floor.

“Easy, easy.” The voice whispered, holding me tight, “I’ve got you.”

~

I awoke the following morning in someone’s bed, immediately making me panic as I recalled the previous nights event. It wasn’t until I looked around the room to spot a photo of Sherlock and Mycroft that I realised it was Sherlocks bed. This made me relax a little bit before the confusion hit which was shortly followed by the intense need to be sick.

I darted at the speed of light to the bathroom, throwing myself onto my knees, beginning to be sick. I realised that my hair was in my face and reached to tuck it behind me, but I was beat my someone’s large hands. Initially I believed it to be John and was about to thank him before my eyes widened at Sherlocks voice.

“Easy now.” He said, slightly sympathy in his voice as he did so.

I had never seen, well felt, him be this soft. The way his hand was gently holding my hair while the other patted my head was odd? But a nice type of odd.

“Are you okay?” His deep voice asked once I had finished throwing up.

He leant over me to flush the toilet, handing me a towel to wipe my mouth with.

I nodded.

“Thanks, Sherlock.”

“Anytime.”

The two of us stood in an awkward silence before he broke it.

“Do you remember anything from last night?” He asked quietly, looking intently at me, almost as if he hadn’t been avoiding me.

“I remember going to a bard, getting drunk, talking to some man and then going outside.” I began, to which Sherlock nodded, “Then he pulled out a knife and was going to stab me, at least I think so, and somebody saved me.”

“That somebody would be me.” He cleared his throat as my eyes widened.

“You?”

“Yes me, do keep up.”

“Sherlock, if it wasn’t for the fact you saved my life, I would totally be angry at you for saying that.” I said, trying to keep a straight face but failing as a smile crossed my lips surprisingly followed by his own lips rising.

“Thanks, Sherlock. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” I thanked him, pulling him into a tight hug which he shockingly returned, patting my hair with his hand.

“Probably die.” He stated bluntly, making me pull away and hit him gently causing him to chuckle.

“I’m being serious you meanie.” I huffed, crossing my arms in feign anger.

“You know you love me.” He said, my eyes widening as he did so.

“How do you-”

“It was obvious from the way you looked at me.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry though, I feel the same.”

How did he say that so casually while I’m stood here looking like a tomato?

“You do?” I asked, at which he nodded.

“Of course, would I have kissed you if I didn’t?”

“Maybe? Could be an experiment.”

“I’d never do that to you, Y/N. Not when I love you.” He said softly, placing a gentle kiss in my hair.

“I-I love you too, Sherlock.”

“I know.”

“Shut up, you ruined the moment.”

[eternalbangtan]

Black Bunny // jjk

Pairing: Jungkook x reader, college AU, ft. Jimin

Genre: fluff

Word count: 2.8k 

Sequel & Drabble (pure filth)

Summary: You meet Jungkook in one of your classes and end up doing a project together with him. 

Jungkook was the guy that you first noticed as he sat in the back of one of your afternoon lectures. 

You always came to that lecture a bit late because you had another lecture right before this one in another building that was far and you noticed him one time, when you were scanning the classroom for any empty seats. The last few empty seats happened to be next to him so you walked to the back of the class quietly and sat down a few seats away from him. 

He didn’t stand out in any particular way but you somehow couldn’t help but steal glances at him. He was wearing all black and had long curly hair that covered a large part of his face. His side profile seemed a bit intimidating and the way he seemed to be concentrating on writing his notes was admirable to say the least. Who handwrites notes in college nowadays? You were intrigued by him but you quickly took out your laptop and started taking notes of what the professor was saying.

This lecture was for a course that you didn’t particularly want to take but had to just because of credits. That’s why you were puzzled by his concentration on note taking for this uninteresting class. The lecture went on but it wasn’t as boring this time around thanks to the guy in black. You couldn’t help but look at his dark locks that he from time to time played with. It’s really rare for a guy to have hair this long and you thought to yourself that you’ve discovered another characteristic of your ideal type.

Last weekend, at a party, you and your girlfriends were discussing your ideal types of guys and you were the only one that didn’t really have a type. All your friends had these detailed descriptions of what their ideal prince charming would look like but you ended your description at ‘nice eyes’. To be honest, these things seemed useless to you because life never works out the way you want it to and that goes for relationships as well. Your friends’ exes or present boyfriends were not even close to their ideals but they were dating them anyways. You can’t plan out who you fall for but you found yourself thinking about your ideal type while looking at Jungkook. You knew nothing about him but somehow you thought that if you ever had to define your ideal type, it would have to be him.

“That’s it for today!” said the professor and brought you back to reality of the classroom. “As I mentioned last time, there is going to be a team project as a part of the final evaluation so I want you to find a partner and start working on it. I don’t ever accept anything after the due date, no matter the excuse, so if you don’t want to fail the class, get to work.”

Ugh, you hated this professor so much. The way he spoke was so arrogant and you despised arrogant people who thought they were something more than others. That was one problem, but the other was that you knew no one in this class because you never had the chance to talk to anyone thanks to your late arrivals. How were you going to find someone to do this with?

You looked over at the guy in black and noticed he was packing very slowly, looking at the people in the classroom. Maybe he is also looking for a partner, you thought, and if he already has someone in mind then what worse can happen than being rejected. You decided to give asking him a shot so you packed your things into your backpack as fast as you could and then slowly walked up to him. He didn’t seem to notice you for what seemed like ages so you had to awkwardly bring his attention to yourself.

“Hey, sorry to disturb you… Do you have someone to do this project with yet? I’m y/n…” Oh, what have I done, you thought to yourself. He didn’t even look at you. “If you already have a partner then never mind…” You were mortified and hated yourself for being so awkward and having no self confidence in front of strangers. When you were about to apologize one more time and walk away, you heard his voice.

“Hi, I don’t know anyone in this class so I’ll take up on your offer. I’m Jungkook by the way.”

That was a response your low confidence didn’t expect but it made you smile and look his way one more time. This time you were more confident and you slowly brought out your right hand from the pocket of your jacket to shake his hand. “Nice to meet you Jungkook, I’m looking forward to working with you.” You tried to look him in the eyes but you were too shy to maintain eye contact for longer than a few seconds.

He slowly stood up from his seat and shook your hand firmly “Same here, nice meeting you y/n.” He said and his face lit up, showing you his bunny teeth that you immediately found insanely cute. Another ideal type characteristic, you made a mental note to yourself. He suddenly seemed really approachable, unlike the first impression you had of him during class.

You looked at his notebook that was still open on the table and realized why he had looked so concentrated when taking notes. It wasn’t notes that he was so focused on, but his drawing. It was an abstract drawing and you thought that it was really pretty. As soon as he noticed what you were looking at, he let go of your hand and shut his notebook closed.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to look…” you thought that he didn’t want you to see and would be angry but he shrugged it off. “It’s not done yet. I can show you when it’s done… If you’re still interested by then”

You realized he was just being shy, the same as you, which made you relax a little. “I’ll be waiting.” Another awkward pause. “Can I have your number? For the project, I mean.” you asked.

“Sure, give me your phone, I’ll type it in.” he said as you gave him your phone. He then rung his number and took out his own phone to save your number. “Talk to you later. I’ve got one more class today so I better get going.” He said as he picked up his bag, which was also black. “Have a good evening!”

You couldn’t decide if he was a shy person or not because he kept switching from awkward to suddenly really cool in a matter of seconds. You’ve never met someone like him in your life.

“Bye, talk to you later!” you waved at him. He was really handsome on top of his cute behavior so you couldn’t take your eyes off his back even as he was walking out of the classroom. This was probably the first time someone piqued your interest to this extent. Also his fashion sense was, at least in your eyes, out of this world. He was wearing black boots, baggy pants, a simple t-shirt and a trench coat. Everything in black but he made it work so that it looked well put together and not boring in the least. Anyone else, including you, wearing that same outfit would probably look ridiculous.

Later that evening he texted you and you agreed to work on the project this Friday. You both had only morning classes and the afternoon seemed like a perfect time for the both of you. You met up in a cute coffee shop that he suggested and that you never knew existed, even though it was right next to your campus. You loved the atmosphere and even the baristas were really kind. Jungkook was friends with one of them. His name was Jimin, and he even got us a discount on top of saving us a cozy spot that was ideal for studying. Why was everything about this study session already better than any coffee shop date you went on? You had to get yourself together though because Jungkook was already opening his laptop while you were busy thinking about unnecessary things like Jungkook’s yet another all-black outfit that consisted of a puffer jacket, flannel checkered shirt that peeked from under it, a t-shirt that left his collarbones on display for everyone to see, black jeans and these huge chunky sneakers that probably only he could pull off.

It was already late fall so the weather was getting colder by the day. You ordered a cappuccino and Jungkook asked for an iced americano. You were waiting for the coffee, looking around, admiring the interior, Jungkook’s fit, and decorations of the café. It was forest themed, so the furniture was wooden with cozy pillows, there was a lot of cute plants and the light brown color of the walls made it seem a really welcoming space. Jimin then brought you your drinks and you got started by coming up with ideas for the project.

It was coming along pretty well but it took more time than you initially expected and Jimin came to apologize that they were closing earlier today because one of their baristas couldn’t make it to work. That left you with two choices. Either calling it quits today or finding another place to study. You both agreed that you had a nice momentum so trying to do more would be better and you were trying to come up with a great spot to move to. The library was out of the question because you wouldn’t be able to talk to each other, getting another coffee somewhere else at this hour would make you sleepless and you both hated the study rooms on campus.

“How about we go to my place? It’s not far from here.” Jungkook suggested with his bunny smile. “My roommate told me he would be out partying today so we won’t be disturbing anyone. Would you be okay with that?” he added as he rubbed his neck with his hand, suddenly all shy, looking at the ground.

His sudden shyness made you smile and before you could think it through you agreed. “Definitely a better choice than my place. My roommate isn’t the friendliest of all people.”

“It’s settled then.” Jungkook said as his bunny teeth reappeared with his smile and he waved goodbye to Jimin. You bowed to him and like that you were on our way to his place.

He really didn’t live far from the coffee shop and even from campus. He apparently met his roommate online when looking for a place before starting freshman year and they’ve been living together in the same apartment since then. Their place was surprisingly clean and surprisingly you didn’t feel the awkwardness that comes with every first visit to someone’s home.

“Make yourself at home. Do you want something to drink? I’m going to bring some snacks to eat while we work.” You heard Jungkook from the kitchen as you sat down on the sofa in the living room.

“A glass of water would be nice, thank you Jungkook.” You took out your laptop from your backpack, went through what you came up with this afternoon and Jungkook was soon to come from the kitchen with your drink and a bowl of chips to snack on. He sat down next to you, maybe a little too close for you to concentrate on the work but you didn’t want to complain so you went back to reviewing the project.

You got used to Jungkook’s closeness in no time and now you were passionately discussing a part of the project you didn’t agree on. The air between you got colder so you decided to leave this part for later and reached out your hand to grab a snack but Jungkook had the same idea so you ended up grabbing his hand as you were reaching for the bowl of chips. Your shy self pulled back quickly, jumping up ever so slightly, surprised by the sudden contact. “I’m sorry.” You didn’t want it to make things awkward so you apologized and when Jungkook, seemingly unfazed, put the chips in his mouth, you quickly reached for the bowl once again, hoping that stuffing your mouth with food will make you stay silent and not embarrass yourself in front of him even more.

You were looking straight into your notes, though you weren’t reading any of it because your mind went blank and you didn’t notice the smile Jungkook had on his face, finding your shyness cute. You couldn’t lie to yourself. He was attractive and a practically perfect example of your ideal type but there was no way someone like him would feel anything for you because these things just don’t work out.

“Did you really not do that on purpose?” he said and you looked at him, slightly confused by his question. “Because I wouldn’t mind.”

You could see a slight blush spreading on his cheeks and you tried to process what he was saying.

“Uhh, sorry if I made it awkward now, I…” he couldn’t think of any words to say to make all this go away.

“Are you saying that you wouldn’t mind or that you would like me to… hold your hand?”

Where did this confidence come from, you had no idea, but Jungkook was suddenly staring at you with his doe eyes and that made you lose your confident behavior once again.

“If it’s okay with you, then I would love to, y/n.” These words of his made you look at him, your cheeks probably crimson red and he continued, pulling a piece of his hair behind his ear “I have to tell you something. I’ve noticed you on campus a while back and when I found out you were attending the same lecture as me, I was really happy but I had no idea how to approach you and what to say out of the blue. You never even looked my way so I assumed you weren’t interested in me at all but then you talked to me and… This sounds like I’m some sort of a stalker, right? Sorry…”

You were left speechless because the lecture you talked to him was the first time you noticed him. There were so many people in the classroom that you didn’t even try to look at all of them and basically didn’t care much who was there with you.

“Wait, you’re saying you knew me and wanted to talk to me but… never did just because I didn’t notice you? And why would I think you’re a stalker? That’s silly.” you added as you laughed slightly.

Jungkook was looking down on his hands that he had folded on his thighs and suddenly he saw your hand on his. He looked up at you and when he saw you smile at him he didn’t know better than to place a light but long kiss on your lips that left you wanting more. After realizing what he had done, he tried to apologize once more. “That was… You looked too cute, I couldn’t help myself, sorr-” but he couldn’t finish his words as you placed your hands over his shoulders and kissed him, silencing whatever he was going to say. Jungkook didn’t waste another moment and started to kiss you softly but passionately, his hands hugging your body and pulling you even closer to him. When you pulled away to take a breath, you looked him in the eyes, this time without looking away.

“Why didn’t you talk to me sooner, Jungkook? Now I feel like I’ve wasted time not knowing who you were when we could have been friends.”

“Only friends…?” he asked hesitating a little, while still holding you.

You couldn’t believe he was the same guy who kissed you so confidently just a while ago. “Friends and more if you want.”

“Of course I would like you to be more than just a friend… would you like being my girlfriend, y/n? Because I would love that.” He confessed.

“I would love that too, and for you to be my bunny boyfriend” you couldn’t help but smile like a fool.

Jungkook looked a bit puzzled by your words, tilting his head to the side. “Bunny?”

“Yes, the cutest bunny in the world… and now he’s mine.”

He pouted and looked away from you but when you pecked his cheek, he smiled, unconsciously showing his bunny teeth, making you tease him again.

“Whatever you say.” Jungkook said, hugging you tightly again. “I like you a lot, y/n. More than I had thought.”

“Me too, Jungkook. More than I had thought.”

A/N: I don’t know what I am doing but I enjoy it. I hope you liked it >w< Also, should I write a sequel? I appreciate constructive criticism ^^

[theskyeandsea]

Get in the Fucking Seal Suit, Skylar || Remmy, Ricky, & Skylar

Location: Skylar’s apartment, but mostly Ricky’s fancy bathroom.

People Involved: @ricky-corderbro, @whatsin-yourhead, @theskyeandsea

Trigger warnings: non-con, mentions of chronic illness symptoms, brief medical blood mention (no description)

Skylar groaned, curled up in her bed. Everything hurt, it all just hurt. Her muscles ached, her bones groaned, her skin was feverish and sweaty, and her the stitches in her shoulder burned. She’d been through this before, she’d gone through this for years. But, no matter how many times it happened, it still felt fresh and new and awful. And… for the first time in her life, she’d relented. She… she needed help. Crawling out of bed, she managed to make it to the safe she’d stuck in her closet, punching in the 6 digit code to pull her seal skin from the safe. It would help to have with her. It had to help. She clutched it to her chest before she managed to drag herself to the living room. Stabbing, sharp, prevalent pain filled her with every step she took, until she flopped on the sofa, shoulders heaving from the effort. This was too much, it was all too much. She just hoped that Remmy would be here soon.

When Remmy arrived, they weren’t sure what to expect. They’d never taken an uber before, but if it was the only way to get Skye over to Ricky’s, they’d spend their entire life savings on it. When they made it up to the door, they knocked loudly. “Skye!? Skye, are you in there?” No answer. Remmy didn’t even wait for the panic to set in, before harnessing everything in them and turning the doorknob as hard as possible. It snapped open like it was nothing more than a twig. Impatiently, Remmy burst through the door, catching sight of Skylar collapsed on the couch. “Skye!” they exhaled, running over to her, kneeling in front of the couch. “Hey, Skye. Wake up, I’m here. I’m here. I’m got you.” They reached out tentatively, noticing the skin clutched tightly to her chest. Good, they wouldn’t have to search the house for it. “Can you walk? Do you need me to carry you? I can carry you.

Eyes fluttering open slightly, Skylar was startled to see Remmy leaning over her, their face next to hers. She stared at them woozily, brain struggling to make sense through the thick haze that clouded her perception. “Remmy..?” She mumbled, doing her best to sit up. But, as she did so, the fresh stitches in her arm screamed in protest and Skylar fell back down on the sofa. She couldn’t move, her bones ached, her muscles wanted nothing more than to just… lay there. Her entire body wanted to just stop. “I… help. Please. I need, I need help.” She said thickly, doing her best to try and sound somewhat coherent.

Remmy blinked back tears. “Okay! Okay. Don’t move anymore, I gotchu. I’m here,” they said hurriedly, taking a blanket and placing it over Skylar before scooping her into their arms. She was surprisingly light somehow, or maybe it was just this weird zombie adrenaline super strength thing. When was the last time they’d ate? That wasn’t important right now. They made sure the blanket covered up the skin Skylar was clutching before heading back out, kicking the door closed as much as possible behind them and hoping whoever else lived there didn’t get too mad over the broken lock. When they made it back to the car, they opened the door with one hand and set Skylar inside, scooting over themself and letting her lean on them. “She’s, um-- just tired. We’re just heading to a friend’s house,” they said quickly. Always a bad liar. Grit their teeth and gave them the address, hoping they wouldn’t ask too many questions. “Almost there,” Remmy murmured to Skylar, arm tight-- but not too tight-- around her.

It was admittedly not the best plan Ricky had ever been involved in. But, the consequences were too grave not to at least try to do something; desperate times and all that. He’d started to fill the tub with coldish water, knowing from experience that being too warm as a seal sucked, when he heard the car pull up outside. While probably not the weirdest thing the Uber driver had ever seen, it was definitely in the top five, and Ricky opened the door to see a concerned Remmy and a looking-like-shit Skylar walking/hobbling up to the front porch. “Got the bath running already.” He slid one of Skylar’s arms over his shoulder and started to help carry her up the stairs. “Nice to meet you in person.” He gave a brusque nod to Remmy as they walked, “This is definitely one of the weirder Saturday nights I’ve had.” 

As streetlights whizzed by, Skylar realized that she was in the back of a car. A car that wasn’t her own. What..? Where..? Before she could even say anything to Remmy, she found herself being lifted out of the car, her feet dragging underneath her as she tried to get stable footing. But, her feet stumbled and she really wasn’t any help as Remmy helped her up the entry way of… wait. Why was this familiar? Why did it-- Raising her head, Skylar blinked in confusion as she realized that Ricky was standing before her. “Whaat? Ricky-- Remmy. Remmy, why’re we.. why?” She mumbled, her head lolling against Remmy’s shoulder. What was going on?

“Yeah,” Remmy nodded back to Ricky. They wished they could’ve met under better circumstances, but this was the most important thing to Remmy right now. They’d already had to cut off Blanche, they couldn’t lose Skylar, too. Not today. “Don’t worry, just relax,” they said to Skylar, trying to rub her back comfortingly as they carried her up the stairs with Ricky to the bathroom. Once they were there, Remmy unraveled the blanket from Skylar, gently prodding her to open her arms so they could take the skin from her, too. They didn’t know how they were going to accomplish this, but Remmy would die trying if they had to. They weren’t losing anyone else. Even if Skylar hated them after this, it would be worth it. They looked back at Ricky. “How’s-- how’s this work, then?”

It was immediately concerning to Ricky how terrible Skylar looked. His grandmother had always called the effects that came from not changing pla aigein, ocean plague, and looking at Skylar now he was beginning to see how this looked like a terrible illness. Shutting off the water he sighed and looked at the skin in Remm’s hands, “Notice how it’s got a slit in the middle? That’s where you step into it, sorta like onesie pajamas. Our human bodies secrete a, well, for lack of a better word slime that helps us draw it close.” He grabbed a couple fluffy towels and moved them nearer to the tub. “Unfortunately it doesn’t work with clothes on.” He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, fingers carding through his curly hair, “And there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that I’m taking her clothes off.” This was only a stop gap measure at best, Ricky knew, but if it got her changed and healthy he was willing to roll the dice. 

Skylar did her best to tilt her head upwards, her eyes unfocused as Remmy helped her inside. What… What was going on? What was happening? She couldn’t entirely make out what Ricky was saying, even with her hearing aids, she couldn’t process everything that was going on. But, she could see that he was gesturing to her skin. Blinking, Skylar realized that the two of them were holding her very close to a bathtub full of water. “What’s-- what’s going on?” She mumbled, straining against Remmy’s arms as she took in the situation. What was happening? They… they weren’t going to-- No. No, they wouldn’t.

Remmy felt Skylar start struggling and strained to hold onto her without hurting her too much. “Hey! Hey, relax, i-it’s okay!” they said, trying to calm her down. If she was already catching on, that meant they didn’t have much time. Remmy started with her shoes and socks, slipping them off quickly and setting them aside. “I, um-- I want to look at you wound, okay?” they half-lied. Looking at that was probably a good idea, too, make sure it was healing alright. “So I’m gonna help you take your shirt off. It’s gonna be okay,” they tried to reassure, looking back at Ricky. “Maybe um-- maybe give us some space?” they asked.

Ricky huffed an anxious sight, this was all a pretty morally gray area and he wasn’t the most comfortable with it, but if it meant saving Skylar from what had been described to him as terrible torture he was gonna follow through. “You can probably keep your… undergarments on. It shouldn’t affect the change.” Nodding at Remmy he brushed his hands through his hair, “A good plan. I’ll be right outside the door for… whatever you need.” His gaze turned worriedly to Skylar, “This is the safest place for you to do this. It’s going to fix a lot of your problems but you just have to get over your fear of it first.” He walked to the door and positioned himself in the hallway leaning up against the doorframe, chewing on a fingernail nervously. 

In a daze of pain and tiredness, Skylar let Remmy pull her shoes and socks out. “My… wound..?” She said as her arm twinged in pain at the mention of it. “My shirt? Uh huh.” She said with a slightly punch-drunk nod of her head. As she looked around, Skylar realized that Ricky was nowhere to be seen, even though she could have sworn she’d seen him just a second ago. Staring around the room, her eyes glazed over, Skylar leaned against Remmy heavily. “What’s… Why? Where’d… Where’d Ricky go?” She mumbled, doing her best to try and look at Remmy, but it was hard to focus on them when there were three of them floating around in her vision.

Remmy hesitated a moment. They didn’t like this, they didn’t like lying. It hurt them to think they were going to force Skylar into this, but the thought of losing her hurt more. Much, much more. They let her lean against them as they gently tugged her shirt up and off, setting it next to her shoes on the sink counter. “Here, sit up a little,” they said, holding her by the shoulders to help push her up so they could see. The wound was obviously still fresh, but it was closed and stitched and not infected. Remmy sighed. “Looks pretty okay, for a stab wound,” they tried to tease, looking over their shoulder towards the door. “He...He just stepped out. He’ll be right back. Just focus on me, okay?” they said, moving away slightly. Here came the hard part. Getting her pants off without arousing too much suspicion. Remmy’s hands shook. “Can-- Can I check your legs for any other wounds and stuff? You look like you might have um-- collapsed at your place. I wanna make sure you didn’t bruise anything.”

Skylar let Remmy examine her shoulder-- it wasn’t, it wasn’t a serious thing, she wanted to tell them. She knew that it wasn’t a big deal. But, if they wanted to make sure, who was she to argue? “Where… are we?” She asked, swallowing thickly as she tried to make sense of her surroundings. But, her vision had narrowed to just Remmy. Remmy and her seal skin, lying on the ground next to her. “My legs, I-- I…” She struggled to think of why she might have hurt her legs. “Sure. Mhm.” She mumbled, resting her head on the other person’s shoulder tiredly. As she did so, she began to realize that something was happening to her body. Her hands, they were growing slick, but beyond that… the rest of her body was too. Her arms, the back of her neck, her stomach-- she was… oozing slime?

Remmy nodded gently, let Skylar lean against them, brushing fingers through her hair to try and help sooth her. They were shaking as they tugged down her pant legs and helped her pull her pants all the way, setting them on top of her shirt and shoes. Almost done. Now all they had to do was get her into the suit. They might need Ricky for this, but they’d give it a try, first. Give Skylar a minute, first. They sat back again, holding up Skylar’s head with one hand as it sagged. The slime that started oozing from her skin coated their hand, but they pretended not to notice. “Doing okay?” they asked, as they moved their other hand back to draw the skin suit closer. Trying to blindly find the opening as they drew it closer, next to Skylar’s feet. They hated seeing her like this, it was making tears pool in their eyes, but they blinked them away, only a few escaping down their cheek. “You, um-- you look fine. How are you feeling?” they asked, trying to distract her.

Remmy’s fingers in her hair felt nice. Skylar leaned into the touch, still not fully aware of everything that was happening. But, as Remmy moved over to her, a furry pelt in their hand, Skylar’s eyes widened. That was-- she knew what that was. That was, that was her skin. Her pelt. “REMMY!” Skylar shrieked, sliding backwards away from Remmy as they tried to drape the skin around her. What were they doing, what was going on? “Ricky. Ricky, he…” Her head reeled as she tried to connect the dots through the brain fog that was clouding her mind. “I don’t-- No, no. I don’t want it.” She mumbled, holding her hands out to get the pelt away from her. But, even as she said the words, she could feel her body aching for the skin, yearning to wrap it around her, to feel its warmth.  

Remmy tried to keep a hold of Skylar as she jumped away, but it was hard when she was all slimy. Remmy moved towards her, though, keeping the pelt steady. “Skylar, listen-- listen to me. Focus on me, okay?” they said, trying to not corner her and freak her out too much more. “It’s gonna be okay. We just want to help,” they said, holding out the pelt. “It’s not going to hurt or anything, I promise. Everything’s going to be okay, alright?” They looked for a moment, back over their shoulder at the door, wondering if they should call Ricky in.

Watching as Remmy took a step forward, Skylar backed away, her feet slick against the bathroom floor. Her hands grasped the edge of the bathtub while her head spun, her stomach turning. As she tried to push away from the tub, her arm twinged in agony, her fresh stitches making their presence very known. “No! I don’t-- I won’t do it!” She protested, shaking her head as she grasped at her shoulder, the layer of slime pressing against her palm. “It’s not, none of this, none of this is okay.” She gasped, her hair sticking to her forehead.

Remmy could feel the panic rising in the air. Skylar was slipping all over the place, and they knew that had to hurt. “You need to stop moving, you’re just gonna hurt yourself, please,” Remmy begged, trying to keep their voice quiet and calm. “You might tear your stitches! Skylar-- I-- you’re right, okay? None of what happened to you was right, but you have to do this. You have to do this or you’re going to die, and I can’t-- I won’t let that happen.” They looked at her with sympathetic eyes, wide and full of their own worry and guilt. “You can hate me after this, but I’m not leaving until this happens. I’m not losing you, too.” They glanced back at the door again, but made sure to keep an eye on Skylar. “Ricky!” They called. “I um-- think we need some help!”

It sounded for all intents and purposes like they were in the process of destroying the bathroom that he had very lovingly remodeled last year, and Ricky heaved a giant sigh as he leaned against the cool wood of the door frame. A bright metallic taste in his mouth shocked him slightly, and he looked down to see his thumb bleeding from where he’d been worrying it with his teeth…. His fangs, he realized, as he remembered he hadn’t gone up to his bedroom for his false teeth when Remmy told him they were on their way over. At the sound of Remmy’s borderline panicked voice, Ricky burst through the door, confronted with what would be a borderline comical sight if it didn’t involve someone very dear to him on the verge of death. “You know…” he tried to keep his voice light and calming, “you’ve now been party to two rooms in my house getting fucked up.” He shot Remmy a wan smile as he held his hands out to Skylar, “Would it be easier if I changed with you?”

The room was spinning around her, the lights bright and painful against her eyes as Skylar struggled to stay balanced. She wanted to lie down, she wanted to just curl up in a ball and sleep and pretend that all the pain in her body and her head would go away soon. She wanted to just suffer through this like she normally did and wake up better. But, the seal skin in Remmy’s hands was calling to her. It was hers, it was her. And she needed it, her body ached for it. Eyes unfocused as Ricky came into the room, Skylar shook her head back and forth in an exaggerated motion. “No. M’not. Not gonna do it.” She said before swallowing thickly, “I’m not. A seal.”

“Okay,” Remmy said, “okay, you’re not a seal. Not just a seal. You’re Skylar, too,” they said, glancing back at Ricky, then to Skylar once more. They didn’t want to physical shove Skylar inside the skin, but they would if they had to. “Just like I’m still Remmy and he’s still Ricky. W-We’re all allowed to be ourselves, still, even if we’re also something else,” they tried to explain. “Please, just let us do this for you. You’ll feel so much better. I promise.”

It was becoming readily apparent to Ricky that this wasn’t just going to happen, so he nodded tersely at Remmy and ran up the attic ladder to his room, grabbing his own skin from its safe. He loved his pelt, pale silver and a stripe of dark gray spots that ran from his snout down his back. His mother’s had been much the same color, and it was a connection he felt to her. Hurrying back to the bathroom he quickly shucked off his clothes until he was standing in his underwear with his pelt draped over one arm. He slid his mother’s ring off his hand and after a moment’s pause held it out to Remmy, “Guard this with your life.” He looked over at Skylar, “Together. We can do this together. We’re here for you.” 

Even though Remmy's voice was reassuring, Skylar still shook her head. She didn't want this, she didn't want any of this. "I can't," She mumbled as she leaned against the wall, her back pressing hard against it in an attempt to stay on her feet. "If I do this... it means my parents let me hurt my entire life. They--they coulda told me the truth at any time. If I don't, if I'm not... if I just ride this out. A' least they tried to help me." She said, words slurring together. The memories of being in and out of hospitals, of medication after medication, the blood tests and treatments, and the hush money paid to make sure no one ever said anything-- it wouldn't mean anything. Turning would make all the suffering worthless. As Ricky appeared with his own seal skin in hand, Skylar's shoulders began to shake, her breathing coming in quickly. "I... no. Ricky, please, I don't--" She mumbled before her knees buckled and she slid to the ground.

Remmy felt as if they’d been punched in the gut. An overwhelming feeling of guilt gripping them as they watched Skylar beg and plead. They knew Skylar wouldn’t be happy about this, but if Remmy had the power, they were going to save her. And they did. They gave Ricky a solemn nod as they pocketed the ring and made sure it was secure, before turning back to Skylar. “I’m so sorry, Skye,” they said, making sure to enunciate clearly. “But I’m doing this. And you can hate all you want after, but I’m not going to let you hurt yourself like this anymore.” And with that, they slid the skin under Skylar’s feet, grabbing her ankles and pulling her as gently as possible towards the skin, holding it open, before stepping back to let gravity-- and seal slime-- do the rest of the work. Watching as Skylar sank into the pelt, the edges folding over her, their eyes clouding up with tears that poured down their face. They didn’t look at Ricky anymore. “We have to-- we have to get her in the tub.”

It was one of the singularly most heartbreaking things that Ricky had ever witnessed, watching Skylar half-crazed with pain wander down the logical road that lead to only one conclusion; that her parents were fucking dicks. “It’s going to be like trying to fit into that one pair of skinny jeans that you keep lying to yourself about and say you can fit into even if you’ve been doing too many squats and you’re too dummy thicc for them anymore.” He stepped into his own skin, feeling the familiar squeeze and compacting of his legs as his body rewrote the shape it had, “When you change, Skye, you’re going to wonder what made you not do this for so long. I promise that whatever comes after the change, whatever family stuff you need to work through, we’ll do that together, the three of us, but you have to do this with me, or you won’t make it that long.” Leading by example so Remmy would have something to go off of he folded his arms inside the pelt, drawing it up and over his shoulders as he shrunk down, “It’ll be okay, Skye. We’re here” were the last words he could manage before he fully transformed, looking across the bathroom at Skylar and Remmy. 

Skylar's body was too weak to protest against Remmy as she was laid into the skin. The seal pelt wrapped around her, the folds draping against her body as the change began to overtake her. Her legs began to compress against each other in a not at all unpleasant way until they simply weren't there. Instead, small back flippers wiggled where her legs were. Her eyes widened as she watched the seal skin begin to close to form a round, furry stomach-- her stomach. And her arms, her hands, the two shifted until they were gone and flippers replaced them. Instinctively, she dislodged her veneers from her mouth and spit them away, the false teeth clattering against the floor as she felt her ears press against her skull, her face elongate slightly. The entire process, it took no longer than a handful of minutes. It didn't even hurt. Still lying flat on her back, she attempted to stand, only to roll awkwardly onto her stomach, her arms-- no, her flippers-- catching her. Staring from Remmy to Ricky's new seal form, she let out a scream. Why have you done this?! She attempted to yell, but a loud barking noise came out instead. Wide eyed and horrified, Skylar shook her head. But, the haze of pain was gone and she now saw the world through clear eyes. She was a selkie. And there was nothing she could do about it.

Remmy watched Ricky transform, awed and transfixed, eyes wide. It was kind of beautiful to watch, and Remmy felt their chest grow a little lighter as it happened. They were truly blessed to be able to watch this. They folded Skylar’s arms in like Ricky had, then stepped back and let the magic work itself again. It only took a few moments, but Remmy was sure they’d remember this forever. Once it was done, Remmy hurried to try and lift Skylar into the tub, but even with their somewhat super strength, they struggled. In the next moment, Skylar was screaming at them. Loudly. Good thing they already had hearing damage. Remmy jumped back, looking between the two seals. Couldn’t help but smile. They were both extremely adorable. But that wiped away quickly when Skylar barked again. “Hey, hey!” Remmy said, holding out their hand, “it’s okay! Relax! You gotta get in the tub, okay! It’ll feel nice, I promise!” they said, pointing towards the bath. “Oh, god, I hope you can understand me. I didn’t ask. Can you understand me? Bark once if yes! Wait--” Remmy paused, scratching their head. “Um....follow Ricky’s lead!” they said, pointing from Ricky to Skylar. “Can you do that?”

Waiting to ensure that Skylar had completed her transformation successfully, Ricky, began the somewhat less laborious process of becoming human again. Folding his long limbs out of the pelt and stepping out, he pushed his damp hair out of his face and carefully hung his skin over the towel rack, “Hey!” He wagged a finger at the irate seal on his bathroom floor, “Language! I assume there was some profanity in there.” He helped Remmy lift Skylar up, depositing her in the cool water of the tub, “Now splash around a bit. It’ll make you feel better I promise, and if you’re real good I’ll cook you dinner afterward.” He turned to Remmy and smiled grimly, “Messy, but effective.” Tying his hair back with a tie from a bowl by the bathroom sink he folded himself onto the floor and sighed, “Well… at least we got her in her skin.” 

Skylar was powerless to fight against the two of them as they lifted her into the large bathtub. She squirmed in their grasp, not wanting any of this. But, as she sank into the tub and felt the cool water against her skin-- her fur-- the last remnants of her pain faded away. Rolling from her stomach to her back, she stared at the flippers that moved where her arms should be. The brain fog had fully disappeared from her mind and the specific memories from her circumstances muddling together in a confusing jumble of pain and anguish. Why am I here? Skylar asked, shaking her head when more barking came from her lips. Tilting her head, she looked at the tub, at the flippers, at herself. Why did you... do this? She asked, the words lost in a mournful howl.

Once Remmy had dropped Skylar into the tub, they backed off a little giving her space. This was Ricky’s place of expertise now, not theirs. They sank to the floor against the wall and let out a long breath, trying to block out the sad sounds Skylar was howling at them. “Yeah,” they said with a slight now, “yeah, at least we got her...in the skin.” They looked over at Skylar, another stab of guilt running through them. They didn’t know what to say anymore, so they just gave her a sad look before letting their eyes fall back to Ricky’s. “What now? Do we just...wait?”

Skylar’s howls and barks of some comixture of rage and sorrow filled the bathroom and bounced off the walls and tiled floor, and Ricky was glad that Winston was off somewhere else for the evening, “Hey. Ms. Attitude…” he toweled his legs off, trying to remove the slime as best he could without actually getting in the shower, “I’m not letting another family member die. So. You can bark all you want. But I stand by what we did.” Turning to Remmy he shrugged as he resumed his spot on the floor next to them, “Yup. She’ll figure out how to step out of it again when her body’s done the reacclimating it needs to do. But for the moment we just sit here and watch her splash all over my clean bathroom” 

When the two backed out of the bathroom, Skylar finally found herself alone. In the water, in her skin, she felt... whole. The memory of holding her pelt paled in comparison to this moment. But, there was something strange about all this. Something... familiar. As out of place as her flippers felt, as strange as the whiskers in her face seemed, it all felt familiar. Resting her head on the edge of the tub, Skylar let out a short huff of a sigh. Why. Why did this feel so familiar to her? She'd only woken up in the tub of her apartment a handful of times and she'd never remembered what had happened. Why didn't this feel strange?

Remmy let out a long sigh. They had done the right thing, they understood that, but it still hurt. As they followed Ricky out, to give Skylar some privacy in the water, they stood awkwardly in his room, unsure where to sit. “I’ll totally help you clean up. I can just do it myself, too. Clean. The bathroom. I’m sorry.” They fiddled with their fingers, glancing around the room, just now registering how big and fancy the house was. “You um-- you have a really nice house…” they muttered.

Ricky knew that it would likely be a minute before Skylar was ready to resume her human form, and so nodded his head towards the kitchen, padding through the hallway on slightly-sticky feet. “I think we earned some coffee. Or something else, if you’re in the mood for something stronger.” He started the coffee machine and dragged two mugs down, just in case Remmy did want something. “Technically not mine.” He pulled cream from the fridge and brought down the sugar bowl, leaning against the counter, “you hungry? I don’t have brains… but I’ve got other protein. As to the house… it belongs to Dee. Delores Agier, who owns this house and that giant mansion to which this is the guest house. She was one of my mom’s closest friends. After my mom was murdered and my dad wanted to move back to Venezuela she offered to raise me so I wouldn’t have to leave White Crest.” 

Remmy followed Ricky once again. “Coffee is fine! Just coffee…” they said, knowing it wouldn’t taste or do anything for them. But it was more the...action that was the comfort, than the liquid itself. The question of alcohol briefly crossed their mind-- could they even get drunk anymore? Did alcohol affect them?-- but now wasn’t the time. “Oh, that’s-- that was really nice of her. I take you um-- like it here, then? In White Crest. And um, no, no that’s okay, I’m not hungry.” They sat down on one of the kitchen chairs. “I’ve only been here a few months. It’s nice….just kinda weird. But what place isn’t, I guess.”

Nodding, Ricky poured coffee into the mugs as soon as it was finished brewing, deeply inhaling the bittersweet scent as he stirred sugar and cream into it. He flashed a bright fanged smile in Remmy’s direction as he nodded, “She’s a marvelous woman. I owe her a great deal, and now that she’s getting older I take care of whatever she needs me to. It’s just a small way I can start to say thank you.” He pulled a bag of dried squid down from the cabinet and started to snack on it, “I do like it here. It’s good for my art, I’ve set down some nice roots here. But also… this is where we buried my mom, and this is where Dee is. I’ve got duties here I can’t shirk. But yeah. I like it.” Shrewdly looking over Remmy he picked a stubborn piece of dried squid out from between his fangs, “So did you move here before or after you died? If that’s not too forward. I assume you died… because… draugr.” 

Remmy kept their eyes on Ricky, trying their best to not let their normal nerves make their eyes dart. It wasn’t that they were uncomfortable, but they did worry. Mostly about Skylar right now, alone in that bathtub upstairs. Remmy nodded. “That’s...really nice of you to do for her. What um-- what kind of art do you do? I met one of the local architects, he’s a really nice guy. He’s--” like me? Remmy paused, “kind of a shut in, but he’s sweet. Roots are nice. Um...having them in places.” They stiffened a little at the mention. “I, um-- after. I-- it happened almost two years ago now…” swallowed. “I don’t really...like to talk about it, though. It’s not...pleasant.”

It seemed like his undead friend was exceptionally nervous, and given that their friend was upstairs in his bathtub having an identity crisis, Ricky wasn’t sure he could blame them. “Woodwork primarily. Lots of furniture and wooden sculpture. I like making puzzle boxes too!” These descriptions made Ricky momentarily furrow his brow, “Shut in….. Sweet…. Maybe also terrified of germs and injuries? I think I might know him. Nice dude.” Clearly the topic of their death made them uncomfortable and Ricky thought it best to give the topic a wide berth. “Well… I can only assume it isn’t pleasant. People don’t ever seem to want to go through it more than once. But. moving on!!!” He topped off their coffee and hopped up on the counter, kicking his feet, “What made you choose White Crest?”

Remmy was grateful for the topic change. “Oh, I love puzzle boxes! I love um-- doing them. I really like doing puzzles.” They nodded. “Yep, that’s nim. He’s a good guy.” They let out a breath, taking a large sip of coffee. The warmth filled their insides, even if it tasted like nothing. It was a pleasant feeling. “Honestly?” a shrug, “it was the first place to call me back about a job. I didn’t really know what to do with my life after I came back from being posted and was retired from the military. I just sent out a bunch of applications and decided the first place to call me back would be the one. So...here I am.”

Ricky scuttled into the living room and pulled down a box from a shelf, “This is one of the most difficult ones I ever made. So. Let’s see if you can manage to open it up.” He set the highly polished wood box down on the counter and returned to his squid and coffee. “He seems real nice. I brought him some sandbags when the whole blood flooding thing started. Definitely a nice guy.” Drumming his fingers against the countertop he couldn’t help but laugh at Remmy’s story, “Seems almost… I dunno. Serendipitous? You happened to get a job in like the fucking supernatural hot spot of the northeast. Well… I for one am glad you came to White Crest. Now my fantasy of a terrible garage band is one step closer to reality!”

Remmy took the puzzle excitedly, taking the few moments alone to listen and see if Skylar was still making a fuss upstairs. It was quiet for now. Thank goodness. They immediately started working in on the puzzle. It was definitely quite complicated, but all Remmy had to do was turn it around a few times to get a full picture of it before their brain calculated exactly what to do and they started in. “He offered me a job,” they said absently, a little distracted by the puzzle. They could solve it, sure, but doing two things at once? Good luck. They paused to look up at Ricky. “You think so? Could just be a coincidence. I dunno if I believe too much in luck and all that…” they looked back down at the puzzle and continued to move pieces around, already almost halfway done. “Either way, I’m glad I came, too. Being in a band has been my childhood dream for as long as I can remember,” they teased.

It was interesting watching Remmy work through the puzzle box, which had taken Ricky nearly a month to make. All of the tiny intricate pieces, gears, and locking mechanisms had come together to make something he was truly proud of, and it seemed like his new friend was going to solve it in an embarrassingly small amount of time. “Did he? Doing what?” His snack lay abandoned as he watched Remmy work through the puzzle, “Oh no. Of course not. It’s absolutely coincidence, I just think it’s a funny one. That with your…. Condition, shall we say, you end up in a place suited to help you learn how to navigate it!” Chuckling he struck a pose, “We’re going to have ridiculous costumes I hope you know.” 

“Yeah!” Remmy said excitedly, “mostly just helping with stuff around the studio, but he said If I wanna learn, he’d teach me. I don’t know yet, though. I’m not sure what I wanna do with my life anymore. Or, um-- unlife? Afterlife?” A shrug. “With whatever it is I have now. Architecture seems cool and I’ve always liked doodling, but it doesn’t like...spark that thing in me that I hear so many people talk about.” They went back to working on the puzzle, eyes calculating again as more locks stood in the way. Oh! That was how it worked. Okay. Remmy’s fingers fiddled in, turned a few things, and, finally, the box clicked and the center opened. “I guess in that way, it kind of wasn’t a coincidence. Maybe something did draw me here, but…” the opened the box carefully, “I guess I never really thought about it.” They looked up at Ricky, giving a grin, soft and a little tired. “Oh, we better. There’s no other way to be in a band.” Finally looking down at the prize inside. A picture of Ricky and a woman, who could only be assumed to be his mom. They looked back at Ricky. “Is um-- is that your mom?”

Letting out a final sigh, Skylar did her best to prop herself up in the tub. She didn’t know how long she’d been soaking in there, but it had been… nice. In a way. When she’d been at the pool only just the week before, she hadn’t felt even the slightest bit comfortable. But, in the tub, she had felt restless, cooped up, as though she was stuck in some kind of cage. Pushing the thoughts from her brain, Skylar blinked. Wait a second. Ricky hadn’t told her how to stop being a seal. But, uh… how hard could it be? Contorting her face slightly, she tried to remember how legs felt, how fingers and hands, how her face and jaw and skin felt in comparison to this seal form. And as she focused, Skylar could feel the skin starting to recede away from her body, her limbs making themselves known again, her spine straightening and lengthening. Shaking hands grasped the edge of the bathtub and Skylar let out shuddering gasps before she pulled herself out of the tub, skin draped around her shoulders. She stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself in a nearby towel, shivering as she padded out of the bathroom to where she could hear Ricky and Remmy talking. Water dripped down her face as she stared at the two of them, “How… how did I get here?” Skylar asked, before gesturing to the skin still around her. “And why did you do this?” 

Ricky could feel his jaw literally drip as Remmy slid the last pin into place and opened the box, “That took me a MONTH! Just for the woodwork alone! It was like another two months of sketching and planning before that! Nobody has ever been able to open it!” He huffed a sigh, “Guess it’s time to start planning a new one… a better one… but yeah… that’s me and my mom. That was when I was… god… like seven? We went to San Francisco for a vacation and mom and I drove to Monterey and went to the aquarium and swam through the kelp forests in the Bay. It was amazing. That bay is just like… god…. One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.” He’d been about to launch into another story when he heard Skylar talk behind him, “Uber, I think.” he sighed and set his coffee down, “And because neither of us is willing to watch you suffer when the solution is in reach. It’s not the plan I’m proudest of, but, I’d do it again to save you from unnecessary pain.” 

“Oh, really?” Remmy said, blinking. “I’m sorry. I can put it back together! Sorry.” They started putting the stuff back in place before pausing. “That’s....really sweet. Why do you keep it in--” but Remmy didn’t get to finish, as Skylar-- human skylar-- came padding in, still soaking wet, wrapped in a towel and her pelt. “Skye!” they said before they could stop themself. Bit their lip, refraining from just jumping up and hugging her immediately. She already looked so much better. Skin no longer pale, eyes full and round again, bags nearly gone from under her eyes. It made Remmy teary again. “Y-yeah, I...picked you up and brought you here. You don’t, um-- remember?” they glanced between the two again. “It was...I wasn’t going to watch you do that to yourself. I…” they stopped. Sorry wouldn’t cut it, because they weren’t sorry. They were only sorry Skylar would be in pain again, once the implications of this set in.

Blinking as the two of them explained themselves, Skylar’s lips pressed together as she read their lips. “I don’t remember anything other than being in bed, with my phone.” Which, it seemed, she didn’t have here. So she couldn’t even check what messages she’d sent out or anything like that. But, if her pelt was here, if Remmy was here, then… she must have worked with them. She had to have opened the safe, she had to have let them take her here. Swallowing, Skylar pulled the pelt around her shoulders protectively. “I need to go home.” She said, her voice rising in volume, “I need to go home, right now, and I don’t have my phone and I don’t have my hearing aids and I don’t have my teeth and I NEED TO GO HOME NOW.” She yelled, her lips pulling back to flash her fangs angrily at the two of them.

Honestly, it was a far more calm reaction than Ricky had been anticipating when Skylar came into the kitchen. He let her get through her initial shouting, drinking his coffee and running his hand idly around the edge of the picture of him and his mother. “Your teeth are upstairs in the bathroom. You spit them out while you were changing and I cleaned them and put them on the shelf to the left of the sink.” He set the coffee down and hopped off the counter, pushing still-damp hair out of his eyes, “I can take you home if you want.” He knew without the benefit of her hearing aids Skye would be relying solely on lip reading and her very limited hearing so he made sure she could see his mouth clearly, “We’ll get your clothes and dry off your pelt and be good to go. But…. don’t you feel in substantially less pain?”

Remmy stayed quiet as Skylar shouted. She was clearly upset, as was expected. As she was allowed to be. It still hurt, though, to hear her shout, to see her bare her teeth at them. Remmy looked away. They didn’t know what else to say, but luckily Ricky took charge, and didn’t seem to mind the yelling. They looked back at Skylar and stood up from the chair, going over. “Your stuff is all upstairs. I’ll go grab it,” they signed quickly, “if you want.”

Glaring at Ricky, Skylar shook her head. “I don’t want to go anywhere with you.” She growled, her hands shaking at her side. Though the creeping depression and pain had disappeared from her and she felt better than she had in… than she’d ever felt before, Skylar wasn’t about to tell Ricky that. He’d forced her to do this, they both had. “I don’t care. And no.” She said sharply in Remmy’s direction. “I’m going to get them myself. I need… to get home and I don’t have my phone. Can you call me an Uber or something? I’ll venmo you the money back.” Without waiting to see what Remmy said, she walked back to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her tightly. She hated this. She hated being angry at her friends, but she hated the situation they’d put her in more. Why couldn’t they have just left her alone?

With a colossal rumbling sigh Ricky picked up his phone and started requesting an Uber to drop Skye off at her apartment, “I know you’re lying to me” he called up the stairs as his fingers tapped away, requesting a silent ride for Skylar, “This wasn’t ideal…” he leaned against the banister at the bottom of the stairs and sighed, “But it’s what you needed. I know this is like a big huge weird thing, but, it’s also a, like, super integral part of your life. So. Something to get used to.” Longing for his coffee that he’d left in the kitchen he continued to wait for Skylar to come back downstairs. 

Remmy immediately sat back down as Skylar snapped at them. That was two friends, now, that were mad at them. But if it meant protecting them-- from themselves or otherwise-- Remmy would take it. Better they be alive and hate them than dead and not. They let out a sigh and looked back at the opened puzzle on the table, started putting it back together, waiting for Skylar to come back down. They wished someone could go with her, if just to make sure she got home alright. But they doubted she wanted either of them anywhere near her right now. So they just finished putting the puzzle back together before setting it on the shelf and walking over to where Ricky was waiting. “It was for the best…” they muttered to him quietly, “right?”

[doctorgerth]

I just saw that the Follower event #3 is open and I’m so freaking happy~! I can’t resist so could I ask you some fluff headcanons? I was thinking B - I - C with Crocodile if it’s possible~ I wish you all the best for the blog 💕

Ahhh, I’ve really loved doing this event so I’m glad everyone else is having a great time as well! Fluffy Crocodile coming right up! 🐊

Crocodile Fluff Alphabet (B, C, I)

B = Beauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

- For an outward appearance, Crocodile is an absolute sucker for lipstick (male or female) as it draws attention to those soft lips he loves kissing so much and it also beautifully accentuates their smile!

- Crocodile also loves well kempt hair, especially when it’s wavy or curly; he loves to run his fingers through it, how lovely it smells and how soft it feels against his fingers is quite heart warming

- for personality, he is really attracted to confidence; someone who is sure of themselves and exudes so much self-reliance is sure to have his heart

- going off that, he also admires independence; since Crocodile has to be away from his partner quite frequently, he’s always reassured to know that they’re not devastated every time he has to leave them for a bit

- if his partner can take care of themselves and makes a point to show it he absolutely loves it and in a strange way it makes him want to spoil them so much more

C = Comfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

- Crocodile isn’t really the best with comfort...but he genuinely tries

- if his s/o is having a bad day, no matter how busy he is with work, he’ll allow them to come into his office and crawl into his lap while he continues on with his business

- if they’re acting hysterical, he’ll firmly grab them by the shoulders, look them dead in the eye, and tell them to stop being ridiculous

- but he’ll follow up with surprisingly sweet responses, “...this is not the (Name) I fell for! You are so much stronger than this and you can overcome anything you set your mind to. I won’t have you acting so frantic in front of me, now get yourself together! Show them the fierce (Name) I know and love.”

- he’ll also shamelessly murder anyone who dares to harm his s/o in any way possible, whether it be physically, verbally, or emotionally 😇

I = Inspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

- the biggest difference between old Crocodile and new Crocodile is his willingness to let loose a little

- he cracks way more smiles now, though most are hesitant, his s/o always catches when his lips stretch slightly upwards and that’s enough for them

- he also distances himself from work more often, and it’s really helped with his stress!

- with his s/o, he’s more prone to date nights or private cuddle sessions in his office, giving him a bit of a relaxing mental break from the overflow of paper work

- he’s still a bit awkward with romantic affection, but with such an affectionate s/o he’s slowly learning that sometimes love shows itself even in the littlest moments ❤️

[skulfuggery]

Insidious

Requests: We've seen Meyers exhibitionistic tendancys, maybe a bit of voyuerism this time? Maybe joining in towards the end of it? What about RZ and dbd Micheal double-teaming a reader? Survivor (RZ) Michael / Gender Neutral Reader / Killer Michael.  Rated Grapefruit for n/oncon elements. Raising from the dead to bring you this overdue shit 👌

You and Michael had made a habit of sneaking away from the campfire, but rarely did he seek you out in trials and it made sense why. The chance of being stumbled upon by wandering survivors or an opportunistic killer tended to keep ones dick in their pants. Today seemed to be the exception: Michael stumbled across you looking like a starving man.

So you found a fairly secluded corner in the Autohaven Wreckers, guarded from view by a dinky gas station, and set to work.

“Fuck…” you whispered, fingernails grazing over the moldy bricks that made up the walls of the trial. Michael had you pinned in a corner, your legs tossed over his shoulders and his mouth buried beneath your shirt as he lavished kisses down the sensitive skin of your underbelly.

Michael was barely holding it together, and only becoming more unraveled the longer he had your flesh beneath his tongue. It wasn’t long at all before he was slipping his fingers beneath the waistband of your basketball shorts, exposing more of your skin to his lips. You reached forward, slid your fingers between his unkempt blond hair and started to speak, but all the words in your throat slipped away to panic at the sound of a heartbeat in the back of your head.

“Michael,” you wheezed, trying to push him away from you, an action he did not take well to. He grabbed the hand you were shoving against his forehead and pushed it against the wall, ignoring your tugs and struggles. But just as quickly as it came, the heartbeat dissolved, and you let out a sigh. As your muscles relaxed, so did Michael's grip on your wrist.

“We should hurry,” you whispered, and your partner gave a curt nod. He returned to your shorts with more haste, tugging them down until the fabric caught around your knees. Your underwear followed quickly, and Michael maneuvered his way between your thighs with no hesitation.

In return your free hands moved to his hair, working to keep balance as he precariously sat you atop his face. His tongue and fingers found your hole at the same time, the pad of his thumb circling the rim as his tongue made an experimental dip inside. Your hips bucked forward, drawing his other hand from your thigh back to holding you still for him.

Michael pressed forward with near-urgency, unable to keep his own hips still; they jerked and writhed with anticipation that could only wait as long as it would take to hastily prepare you for him. He pulled his tongue away and replaced it with his middle finger, curling the digit inside of you and adding a second after only a moment of letting you adjust. You moaned into tightly pressed lips. Somehow through the haze of lust you remembered to check your surroundings, but just barely.

Michael finally glanced up to meet your eyes, but you weren’t looking at him. Your eyes were locked with a paper white mask, staring at you from the far off distance. The killer gave a slow, painfully obvious down-and-up to take in the sight of you both, but he obviously hadn’t just gotten there. You were unsure how long he had been watching. You were shaking now, the fear pooling in your gut only amplified with embarrassment. “Shape.”

That finally caught Michael’s attention. He pulled his digits out of you without ceremony and turned his head, just enough to side eye the Shape that lurked in the distance. A few tense seconds passed before you realized that he wasn't letting you down, nor was he running.

“What are you, challenging him?” you shrieked, trying to squirm off of Michael and feeling his massive hands secure themselves around your thighs and squeeze. It appeared that neither of you were running now, and that sent you in a panic. “Michael, fucking--If you want to do this then fine, but if you don't mind--”

The Shape finally began to approach. Michael’s dirty blond hair took on the crimson tint of the Red Stain, the heartbeat in your skull reaching a crescendo as the distance between you became ten meters, then five.

“Michael!”

When the Shape finally stood before you, close enough to spill blood, Michael still hadn't moved. You never were able to figure out what was going on in his head, but you wanted no part of it. With a desperate shove, you toppled out of Michael's grip and onto the ground. You shuffled out of your shorts as you stood, surprised you managed to get even a few feet away without feeling a knife dig into your back. Legs bare, you darted towards the Gas Heaven and through the back door.

You heard heavy footsteps following after you, but it was only when a hand wrapped around your hair that you realized there was no heartbeat, no red stain. No, it was Michael that slammed you over the service counter. You let out a pathetic wheeze, scrambling to grab the edge and drag yourself forward. But then you did hear the impending heartbeat, and looked up in time to see two clothed legs come to a stop in front of you.

Trapped between your boyfriend and a killer.

It was difficult to parse the situation, difficult to make any sense with what was going on, but you finally managed to bring a question to mind, which you addressed to the Shape in a panicked gasp. "What do you want with us?"

The Shape didn't answer your question. Stuck between two men that didn't speak and the silence was driving you to agony. There was a sinking feeling in your gut, something that told you that you knew exactly what was going on here, what was about to happen to you, but you repressed it. No way. Not in a million years.

Michael's hands were on your hips again, thumbs drawing circles on your bare cheeks and driving a heated blush that spread to the tips of your ears. The Shape was looking at Mikey but whatever silent engagement they were in was muted to you behind his expressionless mask.

The moment passed, and the Shape turned his attention down to you.  He stepped forward, the distance between you both becoming so small that his knuckles brushed against your nose as he reached for the thick button that rested just over his naval.

"Wait--" you gasped, but there was no way out. Between them their strength was more than enough to keep you flat on the surface, your struggles brushed off as though they were nothing. Another button undone, and tears began to rush to the corners of your eyes.

You shut your mouth tight when the Shape pulled his cock out from his coveralls, tapping it against your closed mouth with impatience. A frustrated growl, more insistent prodding. You only continued to pull away. Finally, Michael grabbed your arm and wrenched it behind your back, ripping your mouth open in a scream and giving the Shape what he needed.

You gagged, closing your lips around his warmth as much as you could. Still your jaw was painfully stretched as he pushed forward, until your nose was tickled by the curly hair beneath his naval and the head of his cock was pushing into your throat. Back, and all the way forward again.

Michael slid in seamlessly with this pattern, finding and pushing himself inside of your ass without warning. The scream you released seemed to please the Shape, who shoved himself forward searching for the thrumming vibrations of your voice against his sensitive flesh.

Their dynamic was strange, your massive boyfriend driving into you slowly, hands traveling your lower half with affection as though he was deaf to your cries and protests. Then the Shape, leaner and just a bit more slight, who was quick and brutal, who certainly heard your weeping and simply didn’t care. Yet still they managed to find a steady rhythm, the Shape’s harsh thrusts punctuated by the softer, almost passionate curl of Michael’s hips into yours.

Eventually your wailing lowered to dull moans and whimpers, which seemed to appease Michael into releasing your arm. Riding through the sharp wave of pain, you brought your hands to the Shape’s hips and simply let them rest there, not encouraging nor pushing him away. Sometimes in the lull between your vocal outbursts, you could hear Michael’s throaty growls or the Shape’s heavy panting behind his latex mask.

Surprisingly it was Michael that came first, his hands moving from your waist to your shoulders as he drove in deep and let himself burst. Heat seeped through your lower gut, slowly pushing deeper and deeper until finally he pulled himself out, letting a stream of cum spill out behind him and down your inner thighs.

He hummed in content. Brought his hand up to your chin and lifted your head up for the Shape, who was following suit in his own search for release. You wanted to look Mikey in the eyes, have him comfort you with his silence and tell you silently that all would be well. But there was nothing comforting in his tight grip around your wrist, his still weeping cock rubbing against your thigh as he watched the Killer use you like you’d never been used before.

When the Shape finally came, deep in your throat, Michael massaged your cheeks, urging you with little curls of his fingers to swallow. And when you did, he kissed away some of the tears that had dried down the side of your face. The Shape pulled back before he even finished, the last rope of cum spilling out over your lips and dripping off the tip of your chin.

Your finally let your head fall forward. It was over. The insanity of it all, the height of the unexpected, it was behind you and left you so broken and confused you were almost excited at the prospect of death.

But what came instead was four strong hands grabbing you all at once, turning you this way and that until you were on your back, flipped around to where you were facing the Killer and your boyfriend’s warmth was pressed up against the back of your neck.

Not done yet. Not even close.

[my-creative-hell]

Creatures (Vampire au)

The snow crunches under Grave’s feet as she walks, the wind nipping at the exposed skin of her hands that carry the large device as she walks. Her leg continues to bleed as she walks, some of it falling into the snow, blossoming into unique patterns, spiralling out as she trudges through the snow.

As Grave walks, the faint silhouette of a large building begins to come into view, despite her being told there were no buildings in this area, since no one would ever live there, making Grave confused as she walks.

But she brushes it off, continuing her trek, not paying attention as her leg begins to feel weaker the farther she goes, unsure of why it would, electing to ignore it. The cold air around her is suddenly filled with an explosively loud howl, not too far away from where Grave walks, sounding like the animal that made it was much bigger than her.

This noise sparks fear inside of Grave, prompting her to try and turn around to walk the other way and avoid whatever large creature was close to her. But her leg has other ideas, giving out from underneath her, making Grave crumble into the snow.

“Well shit.” Grave’s voice is deceptively calm despite the raging panic and fear inside her mind as another howl cuts through the air, closer still to her, the creature getting closer. Footsteps begin to be audible to Grave, confirming her idea that this was a big creature, sounding heavy and harsh in the snow.

Grave only panics more as she lays in the snow, her heart audible as it pounds inside her chest, hammering at an inhuman speed as she curls up into a ball, shaking out of fear as she waits for the creature.

The footsteps grow louder as a growling noise erupts from the creature, sounding like thunder as an impossibly large ginger furred wolf emerges from the trees, taller than some humans as it looms towards Grave. This only makes Grave feel worse, instinctually sending out a bad signal with her body that to a normal person would cause pain and make your vision distort.

But the wolf seems unphased, growling louder as it gets closer to Grave, though it lowers its volume as it notices her lying on the floor, seemingly noting the strange behaviour.

Grave curls into a smaller ball as another signal is sent from her body, stronger and harsher this time, out of Grave’s control in her panic. The wolf seems to notice the signal this time, though it doesn’t seem to be in pain. The growling cuts off as it gets closer to Grave, sniffing the floor gently as it does.

Grave pushes herself away, staying in her ball form as she does, shaking violently as she brings a single hand out of her ball, tapping one of the fingers against the snow to make sound.

“…---.-..-.-.--” (Sorry) Grave apologises in morse, too afraid to open her mouth to attempt speaking. The wolf tilts its head at the strange communication, but it backs away slightly, standing still as it sniffs at the floor around Grave more.

“…---.-..-.-.--” (Sorry) Grave repeats the phrase in the snow as she backs up more, hitting a tree and cornering herself in her fear and panic, her entire body shaking as tears leak from her eyes, running down her face and leaving cold patches.

The wolf tilts its head again as she communicates, its ears perking up as it takes a small step closer to Grave, watching her intently with clear green eyes that seemed as if they could see straight through you.

“W h o   a r e   y o u ?” The voice sounds both human and not human at all, the cacophony of different voices composing it somehow sounding feminine as they collide into one. This confuses Grave, though she doesn’t pay attention to it, too scared to notice it, glowing brightly in her fear.

The wolf gets closer, sniffing the air around Grave as it approaches more, watching her with its clear eyes. Grave begins biting her fingers, hoping to distract herself from her own panic, though it only serves to make it worse. The wolf suddenly stops approaching her, instead lying down in the snow, watching her silently.

“I-I-I’m s-” Grave tries to form words and a sentence, but the fear makes them catch in her throat like tar, unable to make it through her lips as more than a stuttering whisper.

“Y o u   a r e   a f r a i d .” The cacophonic voice Grave hears from the wolf answers, the wolf watching her quietly from its position on the ground in front of her.

Grave nods slowly, biting on her fingers harder, drawing blood from them, though she neither feels nor tastes it, too panicked to notice. The wolf scoots closer in the snow, a strange yet soothing noise coming from it as its aura appears to shift, becoming much more calming and warm despite its huge size.

Grave gets slightly less scared, still biting her fingers, though her shaking and heart rate go down slightly. The wolf scoots closer still, its soothing aura getting stronger as it gets closer, a sound close to a soft humming coming from it as it does.

Grave continues to calm down, her shaking stopping though her heart remains loud as it beats. Her hands sit in her mouth, though she stops biting them as the wolf gets even closer, near Grave now. The aura only gets stronger as it does, reassuring Grave that everything was okay and everything would be okay, giving off a relaxing presence.

“.-.-.. / -.-- ---..- / ----.-.--.--..--..” (Are you okay?) Grave removes her fingers from her mouth, tapping her message in the snow as her heart rate returns to normal, feeling better. The wolf nods, getting close enough to place calming kisses on Grave’s face, its tongue surprisingly soft.

Grave leans on the wolf as she calms down more, beginning to feel tired. The wolf touches her gently with its nose, each touch calming her more as it curls around her, warm and comfortable.

Grave feels sleepy as the wolf wraps around her, quickly drifting off into sleep as she leans into them. The wolf gently licks her face as she falls asleep before gently lifting Grave up off of the ground and walking towards the silhouetted house.

 The room around Grave is empty as she opens her eyes, finding herself tucked into a bed comfortably, warm and comfortable in an unknown place, nothing feeling familiar as she flicks her eyes around.

Grave pulls herself totally underneath the blankets on the bed, covering herself, feeling confused and tired and way too comfortable. Soft noises come from outside the room she is inside. They sound like voices, but they sounds calm as they talk, quiet and normal sounding.

Grave slowly gets up from the bed, walking to the door of the room and pushing it open slightly, curious to see what is happening. Outside the door she is able to see a tall and built man with long black hair conversing with a significantly shorter ginger haired female, who is frowning slightly as she speaks to him. Beside the tall man is a slightly shorter man with curly black locks, clinging onto him gently. Behind the woman another woman resides, her brown hair tied back as she hides behind the smaller woman. But she catches sight of Grave, freezing as her brown eyes lock onto her.

Grave slowly closes the door again, crawling back into the bed as if nothing had happened, not wanting to think about it as the noises outside the room stop. The faint sound of footsteps approaches the room Grave is inside, heading for the door.

Grave hides under the covers as they get closer, curling into a ball for comfort as a small amount of fear flows through her. The footsteps stop as they reach her door, whoever is outside clearly debating whether they should enter or not. A gentle knock sounds inside the room as they rap their knuckles on the outside of the door, requesting entry. Grave hesitates before answering.

“Y-You can c-come in.” Grave calls out quietly, the door to the room opening quietly. The ginger haired woman comes in alone, closing the door quietly behind her.

“How you feelin, kid?” She questions softly, staying by the door to give Grave space and keep her comfortable and calm.

“Good… what about you?” Grave redirects the question to the woman, feeling slightly scared, though some happiness leaks in as well.

“I’m fine… what do you remember? You lost quite a bit of blood…” The woman explains, watching Grave carefully.

“Lorge… wolf. I started to hallucinate. There was a weird light thing… and the wolf talked to me. Then I slept on wolf.” Grave explains quietly, the woman listening intently.

“A large wolf?” The woman questions. “What did it look like?” She presses for details, her clear green eyes boring into Grave.

“Ginger. Much fur, it was very fluffy. It sniffed me.” Grave feels happy as she explains. “You’ve got the same eyes.” She notes as she looks at the woman. She looks away for a moment before moving forward, sitting on the bed.

“You’re a little out of it, huh?” She gently pulls down the blankets, checking over Grave’s wounded leg, which has been treated and wrapped. Grave nods in agreement as she watches the woman.

“Yeah. Are you sure you’re okay?” Unsure of why, Grave repeats her earlier question, the woman looking at her.

“Of course.” She gently presses her hand to Grave’s forehead, checking for a fever. “Just wanna make sure the cold didn’t get to you, and that your leg isn’t any worse for wear…” She explains as she checks Grave over.

“I had on layers, so I’m good…” Grave explains, reaching a hand up to touch the woman’s ginger hair. “Soft…” She mumbles as the woman shifts, gently holding her face.

“You must be tired, why don’t you get some sleep and we’ll figure this out later, okay?” She questions, a gentle smile on her face. Grave puts her hand down as she smiles gently, nodding her agreement.

“Okay, I’ll let you sleep.” The woman smiles kindly as she gets up, pulling the blankets back over Grave as she leaves, closing the door silently behind her.

“Bye bye.” Grave waves slightly as she closes her eyes, quickly drifting back into sleep.

 Grave wakes up again the next day, opening her eyes to a silent house, like no one was inside of it but her.

“…Hello?” Grave calls out quietly, feeling perturbed by the lack of response. The house is too quiet, sounding empty and feeling as if no one was there.

Grave hides under her covers, not liking this as she attempts to fall back asleep, though it doesn’t work in her favour. The house is silent as she hides, but small unidentifiable noises start coming from outside.

Grave squeezes her eyes shut more, wanting to sleep more than ever, not wanting to be awake for this. The noises get slightly closer, but not that close, something keeping them back. The only noise that makes it loud and clear back to the house is a distinct howling noise, cutting through the air like a knife.

“Mmm…” Grave curls into a ball under the covers, shutting her eyes even tighter as she wishes sleep upon herself, though it refuses to come. The distinct howl Grave knows comes from the ginger wolf turns more into a loud growl, turning more aggressive, clearly upset with whatever the wolf was encountering.

Grave whines slightly, not wanting this to be the noise she hears, her bad feelings coming off of her in a visible sheet. A shot rings out, slicing through the air as the loud growling stops, the distant yells of human’s audible to Grave’s ears.

Grave isn’t scared by the gunshot, though she begins biting her fingers again as she wishes for sleep, more yells sounding off as pounding footsteps approach the house quickly, the occupant clearly running.

Grave stays still, too scared to move as she wishes more and more to not be awake as the downstairs door is broken down audibly. Something runs up the stairs, crashing into the room Grave is in and nudging her gently on the bed.

Grave doesn’t move, though based on the soft contact she assumes it is a familiar face of a ginger wolf looking at her.

“Hm?” Grave hums, worry coursing through her slightly as the large wolf looks down at her, unhappy looking as it gently picks her up from the bed, blankets wrapped around her, running quickly out of the house.

Grave holds on tightly to the wolf as she is carried, feeling terrified as she closes her eyes, keeping them closed as it runs quickly away from the house, making a gentle noise to let her know she’s okay. The wolf runs for a while before it slows down, deeming itself and Grave safe enough to take a slower pace as it moves.

Grave curls into a ball as she is carried, wearing nothing but pyjamas and her blanket, the cold air biting into her skin mercilessly. The wolf seems to notice, heat beginning to come off of it, sinking into Grave and heating her up, its fur warm and soft below her as it briskly walks along.

“Hi…” Grave smiles gently as she pets the thick fur of the wolf, who turns its head back to look at Grave as it walks.

“H e l l o .” It answers in its distorted voice, its body giving off more heat to allow Grave to be comfortable as it travels.

“You’re very warm…” Grave giggles as she continues to pet the wolf, who looks ahead as it moves, though it can feel Grave petting it.

“H a v e   t o   b e ,  y o u   a r e c o l d .” The wolf explains, green eyes focusing on the world around it.

“…Thank you.” Grave gently presses her nose to the wolf, making it snort slightly, beginning to hum gently as it slows its pace to a comfortable walk.

“You’re very big. Like, I’m probably not even the size of your l e g. Lorge woofer.” Grave is happy as she speaks, the wolf nodding in response as it moves, eyes focusing on the world around them, alert and aware as it continues to hum softly.

“Mmm…” Grave curls up inside her blanket, feeling happy as the wolf continues to hum softly as it moves, warm and comfortable.

“Hey, do you know where the large thing I had is at?” Grave wiggles slightly as she questions the wolf, referring to her device.

“H o u s e .” The wolf explains bluntly, picking up its pace slightly. “G o n e   f o r n o w .” It continues as it moves.

“Eh, I can make a new one. It only took me like… an hour.” Grave explains, her intelligence clear as the wolf turns its head, softly licking her face to calm her.

“I t   i s   l o n g   t r i p ,  s l e e p.” The wolf explains calmly as it runs, blowing warm air onto Grave.

“Sounds good…” Grave agrees, sinking into the wolfs fur and her blanket, sleep finding her fast, allowing her to drift away.

 The air around Grave is warm as she opens her eyes, finding herself inside a decently sized cave. Her blanket has been draped over her to keep her warm, a small fire in front of her with the same task. As she leans into something soft, she quickly realises the wolf is laying behind her, asleep as she leans on them.

“Hello?…” Grave wiggles in her position slightly, finding herself comfortable and warm as she calls out quietly, wanting to check if anyone else is present.

There is no answer to her question, the cave empty aside from her and the large presence of the wolf behind her, who doesn’t stir at the noise. As Grave looks around, she notices her fingers have been bandaged carefully to prevent them from bleeding, though how is beyond her understanding.

“Magic wolf…” Grave smiles as she looks at her hands, her voice quiet and hushed to avoid disturbing the wolf sleeping soundly beside her.

As Grave looks at the wolf, a patch of fur on its left shoulder begins to stand out to her, the fur more red than the rest, stained by blood from an unseen wound. Grave stares at it for a while, debating in her mind what she could do.

“Fuck it.” Grave’s tired brain decides to gently kiss the bloodied fur spot. The wolf stirs at that, clear green eyes opening to look at Grave.

“Sorry for waking you up…” Grave softly connects their heads as the wolf huffs gently, sniffing Grave’s face and hands carefully.

“Y o u   a r e   o k a y ?” It questions quietly as its eyes watch her keenly, paying attention to every detail.

“Yes. Thank you!” Grave smiles happily. “…Your nose is bigger than my whole hand…” She realises as she presses her hand to the wolfs nose.

“Y o u   a r e   v e r y   s m a l l .” The wolf explains simply, looking content as it speaks to Grave.

“You are very large!” Grave giggles, feeling happy as she response to the wolf, who watches her with kind eyes.

“W e   a l l   a r e .” It explains, gently licking Grave’s face with its soft tongue, making her warm and giggly.

“There’s more of you?” Grave gasps softly at this revelation, feeling happy as the wolf nods.

“A   f e w .” The wolf confirms. “L i k e   t h e   o n e   t h a t   a t t a c k e d   y o u .” It explains, sniffing at Grave’s leg gently.

“Oh… I didn’t feel the pain, to be honest… don’t remember being attacked either.” Grave feels confused.

“T h e y   s e n t   y o u   i n t o   m y   p a t h   h o p i n g    I   w o u l d   a t t a c k   y o u .” The wolf explains, gently licking Grave’s injured leg.

“That’s fucked up… it also seemed like a good place to test the beacon.” She explains quietly, the wolf nodding as it stands from its previous position on the floor.

“I t   i s n ‘ t   m u c h  f a r t h e r .” They reference their destination as she lean down, gently nudging Grave with their nose.

“Yaaay.” Grave smiles happily, feeling warm as she hangs onto the wolf, being pulled up onto its back as it grabs her blanket. The wolf leaves the cave, stamping out the fire as it does, a large building in the distance that it begins to move towards.

“Is that the place?” Grave questions quietly, looking at the building in slight awe.

“Y e s .” The wolf answers simply as it moves, running a bit faster as they get slightly closer.

“Fuck yeaaaah…” Grave whispers excitedly, feeling happy. But below her the wolfs ears perk, making it start to run faster as it hears something.

“Whats wrong?” Grave asks, slightly worries at the change of pace as the wolf runs, the house fast approaching them.

“H u m a n s .” The wolf growls slightly as it responds, reaching the house much faster than should be possible as it runs. Grave groans slightly, holding on to the wolf tighter.

But as they get to the house, the wolf gently pulls her from its back, placing her on the floor gently, wrapped in her blanket.

“S t a y .” The wolf cautions, eyes demanding as it looks down at Grave, ears perked.

“Got it.” Grave smiles as she remains there, the wolf nodding as it runs away, disappearing into the trees as the yells of humans can be heard.

“Hhh shut the fuck up, you’re being r u d e.” Grave whispers to the humans as a loud growling noise erupts, followed by human screams, which are getting further away from the house.

“I get that you’re scared, but do it q u i e t l y.” Grave feels a small spike of anger at the humans. A yelp cuts through the air as the human screams fade out of earshot, but it remains silent, no footsteps to indicate that the wolf is returning.

Grave gets scared by that, curling herself into a ball as she worries about the wolf. The ginger haired woman she had seen over a day ago emerges from the trees, running towards Grave quietly.

“Hey kid. You alright?” She questions gently, eyes quickly scanning over Grave, checking her for extra injuries.

“The… wolf? Where are they?” Grave questions the woman, sounding worries as she frowns.

“The wolf?” The woman keeps her voice calm as she tries to soothe Grave. “Hey, its alright, calm down.” She reassures gently.

“T-The large ginger one…” Grave explains, playing with her hands as she calms slightly, still feeling worried as the woman holds her shoulders gently.

“Hey, look at me, everything’s okay.” Grave does as told, looking at the woman in front of her. as she looks, she is able to see a scar stretching over the woman’s left shoulder that wasn’t there before, in the same position as the wound the wolf had gotten. The woman also has a small scar on her face that hadn’t been there before when Grave had seen her, her hair and eyes matching the wolfs colours perfectly.

“The wolf… is you?” Grave thinks for a moment, feeling confused as the woman nods, lifting her off of the floor and carrying her easily.

“Its cold out here, we can talk inside.” She states simply as she brings Grave inside the house, sitting her gently down on the couch.

“That’s so cool!” Grave gasps happily, smiling as she taps her feet gently in excitement.

“I guess so, I’ve been this way for so long I guess I don’t think about it…” The woman shrugs, unphased as she answers.

“Wolf mom. Best.” Grave giggles happily as the woman looks at her, able to see she is feeling better.

“Well if I’m your mom don’t you think I should know your name?” She smiles gently as she questions Grave.

“…Grave.” Grave answers, playing with the woman’s soft hair absentmindedly.

“Well, Grave, I’m Hannah.” The woman smiles, allowing Grave to play with her hair as she speaks.

“Hannah… I like that name!” Grave smiles happily as she plays with Hannah’s hair.

“So, what brought you up here anyway? You said something about a beacon?” Hannah smiles kindly.

“Yeah!!! I made it and I was gonna test it out.” Grave releases her hand from Hannah’s hair, instead laying her head in her lap. “It’s like a noise beacon. It plays music and sends out vibrations just in case you cant see.” Grave explains.

“That’s a very cool idea.” Hannah gently strokes Grave’s head as she speaks. “Thought obviously things didn’t work out that way… how’s your leg now I think about it?” She questions, looking down at Grave.

“It feels fine, thank you for asking.” Grave happily enjoys the sensation of Hannah petting her. “What about your shoulder?” She turns the question back onto Hannah.

“Wounds obtained when in wolf form heal when we switch back to human.” Hannah explains, smiling softly. “So I’m okay.” Her voice is gentle as she speaks.

“Oh, that’s good!” Grave looks at Hannah, locking eyes with her. “If you’re okay with answering… who were those other people in the other house? Were they your friends or somethin?” Grave asks the question gently, Hannah laughing quietly in response.

“The tall man is my twin brother, Iden. The other two are Leena and Jake. Iden is with Jake and I’m with Leena.” Hannah explains, smiling at Grave.

“That’s r a d.” Grave smiles, her cheeks glowing slightly out of pure happiness.

“I guess it is…” Hannah smiles gently, though it falls slightly as she thinks. “Do you have anyone to go home to? You were out here all alone…” She looks down at Grave, eyes inquisitive.

“Nah, I live in my shop!” Grave smiles as Hannah looks down at her, concerned.

“Alone?” Hannah questions, her hands even more gentle as she strokes Grave’s head.

“Yeah. I get a lot of customers tho, so that’s good!!” Grave smiles. “One of them comes back a lot, her name’s Rose!” She explains.

“Wait, Rose?” Hannah questions, pausing her movements as she looks down at Grave.

“Yeah! She’s cool and nice.” Grave smiles, leaning up to gently press her forehead to Hannah’s.

“How much do you know about Rose?” Hannah questions, a small smile on her face.

“Hhnh… g a y. And… a w e s o m e.” Grave sounds aggressive in her happiness as she speaks, making Hannah laugh gently.

“She’s also not a human…” Hannah explains, Grave’s face lighting up in response.

“Hhhh f u c k y e a h.” Grave feels even happier, Hannah containing her urge to laugh more.

“She comes here every week or two for her refill on blood… and it’s been about two weeks.” Hannah explains, smiling slightly as she speaks, Grave gasping.

“That means I can see her today?” She asks, getting more excited by the second.

“You should be able to, yeah.” Hannah smiles happily. “I’ve got to go and get the rest of my group, since they are currently dealing with the asshole who tore into your leg… so I might have to leave you alone with her.” Hannah explains.

“Aw y e a h. Also, who did it anyways? And how the hell did I not realize my leg was fucked up?” Grave questions, looking confused.

“Werewolves can mess with your head by releasing a mild poison into their claws, makes you think you’re fine when you aren’t.” Hannah explains simply, watching Grave.

“Hhh that’s so fucked up… and cool.” Grave sounds amazed as she speaks, making Hannah snort.

“Yeah, it is. But it can also lead to a lot of people getting seriously hurt…” She smiles gently. “You’re lucky I found you.” She concludes.

“I am! Thanks for doing that, by the way. Very cash money.” Grave holds Hannah’s face gently in her hands, making Hannah laugh.

“I’m hardly gonna leave a child to bleed in the snow.” Hannah reasons, smiling warmly.

“That’s cuz you’re a good person!” Grave exclaims sweetly, making Hannah smile more.

“Well thank you for that.” Hannah shifts, gently petting Grave’s head again. “I’ve gotta leave soon, gotta make sure everyone’s okay.” She explains gently.

“Good, we don’t want them ouched.” Grave agrees, removing her hands form Hannah’s face as she begins to play with her prosthetic arm.

“She’ll be here soon, okay?” Hannah gently pulls herself off of the couch, making sure Grave’s blanket is securely wrapped around her.

“Okay!” Grave glows, feeling happy as Hannah gives her one last soft pet on the head, waving gently as she leaves, closing the door quietly behind her.

Grave wiggles, the glowing in her cheeks dying down, though her happiness persists. The outside of the house is quiet, only the sounds of birds and the faint whistling of the wind make it to Grave inside.

“Hhhh me want R o s e.” Grave wiggles in fake anger as the faint sound of footsteps approaches the house, getting louder as they get closer.

Grave feels happier, hiding under her blankets as the sound of someone gently knocking on the door rings out inside the house. Grave can hear them humming as they knock, the sound gentle and soft.

Grave gets up quickly, running silently to unlock the door before re-hiding in her blankets on the couch. The door is pushed open gently by a confused looking Rose.

“…Hannah? Is anyone here?” She questions, looking in through the open door, scanning her surroundings quietly. Grave tries her best not to giggle, though she fails, some noise making it out.

“…Hello?” The faint sound of laughter disturbs Rose slightly, she walks in slowly, fiddling with her fingers in a nervous manner.

“Hi!” Grave pops her head out from her blanket, smiling. Rose jumps at the sudden greeting.

“G-Grave?!” Rose sound surprised and concerned as she see’s Grave, her face getting a little bit paler.

“Rose!!!” Grave gets happier as she see’s Rose, who looks around slightly in confusion before looking at Grave again.

“W-w-what are you d-doing here?” Rose sounds confused and slightly worried as she speaks, watching Grave intently.

“Hannah brought me here! Found me in the snow and I was bleeding a lot. I didn’t know.” Grave explains as Rose watches her carefully.

“I-I-I got t-told to come here… b-but I can come back…” Rose sounds nervous as she speaks, backing off slightly.

“No, you can stay! Hannah’s gonna be back.” Grave moves over on the couch, patting the space beside her.

“D-Do you know?” Rose questions, sitting gently beside Grave, looking at her with worried eyes.

“Yeah!” Grave giggles happily as she sits with Rose, who looks confused, looking away from Grave.

“Y-You don’t think its weird?” She questions, keeping her gaze elsewhere to avoid getting nervous.

“Nope!” Grave flops gently onto Rose’s lap, smiling happily. Rose freezes slightly at the contact, though she relaxes slightly after a minute.

“Are you sure you wanna do that?” Rose asks, looking down at Grave carefully.

“Yeah, its comfy.” Grave smiles, pressing Rose’s nose gently with her finger, confusing Rose.

“But what if I hurt you?” Rose shakes slightly as she asks the question, looking afraid.

“I don’t really care if you do, but I don’t think you will anyway.” Grave smiles, gently holding Rose’s face in her hands in an effort to calm her down.

“W-w-where did Hannah go?” Rose speaks softly as she tries to calm herself, closing her eyes for a moment.

“She’s with her b o i s.” Grave wiggles as she explains, Rose snapping her eyes open.

“B-But that’s like, far away! She’s gonna be gone for a while!” Rose panics slightly, looking down at Grave.

“What’s wrong?” Grave asks softly, confusion and slight concern on her features.

“I cant last that long…” Rose explains vaguely, looking away from Grave as she speaks, Grave thinking for a moment.

“H m m m… would mine work?” Grave questions, looking at Rose in curiosity as she ponder it.

“Didn’t you get hurt? I can smell it…” Rose explains, looking at Grave’s injured leg wrapped in bandages.

“Yeah, but I’m fine now. You’re more important at the moment.” Grave reasons gently, a smile on her face.

“B-b-but what if you aren’t? What if I take too much? What if I really hurt you?” Questions race through Rose’s mind, sending her into panic as she thinks about the situation.

“My wound healed pretty quickly, so if you took too much it probably wouldn’t be that bad.” Grave explains calmly, though Rose doesn’t answer, her mind racing with all the ways this could go wrong.

“Rose?” Grave gently pulls Rose into a hug, feeling concerned for her as she does. Rose slowly relaxes as she is held, calming down enough to speak.

“I’m just scared…” Rose admits, feeling worried as she accepts Grave’s hug, closing her eyes as she speaks.

“You don’t have to if you don’t wanna. We can just go find Hannah if that makes you feel better?” Grave offers, smiling gently.

“She’ll be too far gone… and I don’t think I can run after her.” Rose smiles sadly as she explains. “I’m not normally this bad when I come here, but shit happened…” She continues, looking down.

“H e c c. You gotta take mine, dude. We can’t have you o u c h e d from no blood bois.” Grave hides in Rose as she speaks.

“I know… I’m just being worried for no reason…” Rose huffs gently as she looks at Grave.

“It’s reasonable, but hhh take the red liquid bitches!” Grave bounces as she speaks, Rose laughing quietly.

“I can’t if you bounce!” She reminds Grave, smiling as she calms down, preparing herself.

“Okay, okay. I stop.” Grace stops bouncing, sitting still for Rose, smiling happily.

“Just… tell me if it hurts, okay?” Rose requests, leaning in slightly, getting closer to Grave.

“Okay!” Grave smiles happily as Rose nods, feeling nervous as she leans forward, carefully digging her sharp teeth into Grave’s flesh, piercing through it easily. The taste makes her frown in confusion, sweeter than anything she had eaten before, but the hunger and need to drink in order to stay alive soon drowns out those thoughts, allowing Rose to ignore it as she begins drinking.

Grave spaces out as Rose does this, not thinking about anything as she is gently pushed so she leans against the back of the couch, a precaution on Rose’s part in case anything should happen. Rose takes her time, knowing she needs quite a bit to make up for what had been lost that week, though her brain starts to feel different as she drinks, warm and foggy.

“You okay?” Grave returns from within her mind, bouncing slightly as Rose unlatches from her, brain feeling strange as she remains leaning against Grave, not answering her question.

“Did I kill you with my blood?” Grave pokes Rose gently as she questions her. A small noise escapes Rose as she turns her head, her brain struggling to get out of its fuzzy state, making Rose unable to hold up her own weight, leaning against Grave gently.

“Don’t die. Dead people aren’t allowed in the house.” Grave jokes lightly, gently holding Rose’s face close to her own, making Rose giggle quietly.

“Bloods weird…” Rose remarks, sounding slightly slurred as she speaks, her voice quiet and calm.

“In what way?” Grave questions, confused by Rose’s meaning as she looks at her with a puzzled expression.

“Feel funny…” Rose elaborates vaguely, leaning into Grave more, her body not holding her own weight as she presses into her gently, making Grave blush.

“Oh! Is it like… does it not… taste like metal?” Grave pries for details gently, holding Rose in a calm hug.

“Sweet…” Rose mumbles quietly. “Makes head feel weird…” She explains quietly as she leans into the hug.

“Sweet?” Grave sounds confused as she gently begins to stroke Rose’s hair, Rose nodding.

“Like strawberries…” She explains in a hushed voice as she leans into Grave, pressing into her softly as Grave continues to stroke her hair absentmindedly.

“Oh… but why?” Grave questions, asking herself more so than Rose, though she receives an answer regardless.

“Not human…” Rose explains vaguely, feeling warm as she mumbles her answer, too happy to feel nervous as she normally would.

“…Then what the fuck am I?” Grave is confused as she asks the question, trying to think of an answer.

“Something sweet…” Rose smiles gently as she comes up with her own answer for Grave. “And warm…” She continues quietly.

“Oh shush your face, you’re making me blush.” Grave smiles, a blush spreading over her face at Rose’s words.

“But I like it…” Rose whines gently in protest, Grave huffing gently in response as she hears her.

“…Oh fine, you can continue.” Grave relents, smiling happily as Rose shifts slightly in the hug, giggling.

“Sweet… and somft… comfy…” Rose keeps going, her brain struggling to come up with more in its fuzzy state, only aware that there were a lot of reasons. Grave blushes more, making a small noise as she grabs Rose’s face gently, pressing a kiss onto her lips to make her quiet.

Rose goes limp out of surprise and shock, her face flushing more instantly, going red and warm as she leans against Grave silently, making Grave smirk, giggling happily.

“I won.” Grave remarks smugly, Rose burying her face in Grave’s neck as she struggles to process what just happened. Grave responds quickly, peppering more kisses over her neck and face.

“I’ll pass out…” Rose cautions, trying and failing to be serious as she lightly pushes Grave away.

“Mmmm but I had to get r e v e n g e .” Grave gently touches Rose nose happily, her voice soft and happy.

“So mean…” Rose complains quietly, whining gently as she nuzzles into Grave’s warmth.

“Not mean!!!” Grave giggles happily at Rose’s response as she hides in Grave, pressing her face into her.

“Is mean! Gonna make me not work…” Rose tries to sound huffy as she speaks, though the happiness slips through, masking her anger.

“You were making me blush a lot!!! I had to stop you.” Grave reasons, sticking out her tongue.

“Mmmmmm…” Rose burrows into Grave’s warmth, the comfort making her brain feel sleepy as she stays quiet. Grave responds happily, squeezing Rose into another hug.

“Mine!” Grave announces happily as she lies down, covering both of them in blankets. Rose hums quietly as she curls up on top of Grave to be more comfortable, getting sleepier each second.

“Mmmy gorl. Best gorl.” Grave closes her eyes happily as she lays with Rose, feeling her go to sleep quickly on top of her, her face calm and happy. Grave smiles more as she falls into her own sleep.

 Grave wakes up the following day, Rose still sleeping on top of her, curled into herself with a calm expression resting on her face. Grave softly presses a kiss to her forehead, feeling happy. Rose doesn’t wake, shifting slightly in her position for more comfort, making Grave giggle quietly, overwhelmingly happy.

Quiet footsteps can be heard from outside the house, approaching it as Grave covers both her and Rose in blankets, hiding them from view. The door opens quietly, Jake pushing it open and walking inside.

“Thought the kid was meant to be here?” He questions, his voice loud and clear as he questions the house. Grave giggles, bad at hiding as Jake hears her, his eyes flicking to the couch and the blankets.

“Well shoot I guess we’ll just have to leave…” Jake bluffs, turning to leave the house.

“Hi!” Grave pops her head out of the blankets, a large smile on her face as she looks at Jake. He waves, laughing quietly.

“Why are you hiding under the blankets?” He questions, looking at Grave inquisitively.

“Because its warm!” Grave answers happily, her cheeks glowing lightly, though she stops herself from wiggling, not wanting to wake the still sleeping Rose.

“Where’s Rose gone? Hannah said she’d be here for her refill…” Jake questions as he smiles gently, getting slightly closer to Grave as he walks further into the house.

“Oh, she got it already!” Grave tries to stifle her giggling, though it doesn’t work.

“She did? From you?” Jake questions, sounding and looking confused. “Why didn’t she wait for us to come back?” He asks, looking at Grave.

“She said she couldn’t. Shit happened. I didn’t ask what.” Grave explains, wiggling gently as she speaks.

“She lost blood…” Jake frowns as he thinks. “She didn’t leave, did she? I doubt your blood behaved normally…” He elaborates, looking at Grave with concern in his eyes.

“She’s here!” Grave moves the blanket slightly, revealing a sleeping Rose to Jake, smiling happily.

“You got her to sleep?” Jake questions, looking confused as he see’s Rose on top of Grave.

“Yeah! She said my blood was weird. Like strawberries or something…” Grave explains, covering Rose with the blankets again carefully.

“Yeah, I can smell that from here…” Jake smiles gently. “That’s good though, she hasn’t been sleeping properly since she turned…” He explains, referencing Rose.

“Sleep… good! Its good.” Grave glows more, feeling happier as she speaks, smiling slightly.

“Its very good.” Jake agrees, smiling warmly a Leena walks into the house, spotting them quickly and moving to stand with Jake. Grave waves as she walks over, feeling happy.

“Hi, welcome to Jack’s Crematorium. You kill em, we grill em! How may I help you?” Grave jokes, Leena giggling quietly as she moves to kneel next to Grave.

“How are you feeling?” She questions gently, a soft hand pressed to Grave��s forehead to check her temperature.

“I’m good!” Grave pushes her hair out of her face, holding Leena’s cheeks gently in her hands. “What about you?” She returns the question.

“I am fine sweetie.” Leena smiles gently. “How’s Rose doing? No adverse side effects?” She questions, eyes flicking down to where Rose is located under the blankets.

“She’s good! Sleeping. She seemed kinda hhhh before she fell asleep tho.” Grave explains, closing her eyes for a moment.

“In what way?” Leena pries gently, watching Grave with warm eyes as she wait for an answer.

“In a happy way. Like if you were kinda drunk or somethin.” Grave explains, her cheeks glowing more as Leena takes a moment to think.

“As long as she’s okay.” She smiles gently. “Hannah told me you have no one to go back home to?” Leena questions as Iden and Hannah walk into the room quietly.

“Nope. I mean, I do get customers, but they don’t really count, do they?” Grave curls up gently, making herself warmer for Rose.

“Not really, no.” Leena smiles softly. “Well, if you wanted… you could always live up here with us. Rose herself is in the process of moving in.” Leena explains quietly, the offer genuine.

“Really?” Grave gasps quietly, feeling amazed at the offer as Leena smiles, shifting on the floor.

“Of course!” She gently holds Grave’s face in her hands. “We would be happy to have you.” She continues, the rest of them nodding quietly, warm smiles on their faces.

“Yeah!!! I-I’d love to stay here!” Grave exclaims happily, Leena smiling gently as she softly presses a kiss to Grave’s forehead.

“We’ll let you and Rose have a talk.” Iden speaks quietly as they leave the room, allowing Grave to be alone with Rose.

Grave waves as they leave, looking down at Rose as she gently presses a finger to her nose. Rose stirs slightly at the touch, frowning gently as she starts to wake.

Grave wiggles gently as she waits, watching as Rose whines gently, opening her eyes half way as she wakes up more.

“Morning, sleepy head.” Grave smiles softly as she speaks, keeping her voice low as Rose opens her eyes fully, freezing slightly as she see’s Grave.

“You okay?” Grave questions gently, confused by Rose’s reaction as she looks at her.

“…Grave?” Rose’s voice is quiet and scratchy as she speaks, barely above a whisper in volume.

“Ye e.” Grave gently holds Rose’s face in her hands. “Its… three PM!” Grave explains, the exact time coming to her easily in a strange manner, Rose frowning gently as she rubs her eyes.

“What? How did I sleep so long… why am I on top of you?” She questions, blinking tiredly as she looks at Grave.

“Because you needed to sleep and because you got on top of me.” Grave explains, smiling happily.

“I what?” Rose questions, face flushing as her memory comes back to her, sitting up quickly, making her head ring. “I-I’m sorry…” She apologises quietly.

“For what? You didn’t do anything wrong…” Grave reasons, feeling slightly concerned by Rose’s reaction, watching as she hides her face behind her hands.

“I-I-I was super weird and I s-shouldn’t have don’t any of that…” Rose explains vaguely from behind her hands.

“No! Its fine!” Grave giggles gently. “I liked it, actually…” She hushes her voice as she speaks, smiling as Rose hides more.

“I-I’m sorry… I should’ve just waited…” Rose chastises herself quietly, feeling panicked.

“You couldn’t, and it’s okay.” Grave reassures her, enveloping her in a warm hug, holding her gently.

“B-b-but…” Rose tries to argue, though her brain struggles to come up with the words.

“Its okay! I promise.” Grave continues to reassure Rose, gently stroking her hair in an effort to calm her down.

“You don’t think its weird?” Rose questions, relaxing slightly under Grave’s soft touch.

“Nah, I’ve seen weirder shit.” Grave explains calmly, her cheeks glowing slightly as she speaks.

“B-but we-” Rose cuts herself off as she blushes more form behind her hands. “You didn’t just do it cause I was annoying?” She asks quietly.

“You weren’t annoying, Rose. I did it because you needed it.” Grave explains, her voice soft.

“Y-you didn’t need to kiss me…” Rose counters quietly, mumbling. “You could have just t-told me I was annoying.” She continues.

“You weren’t! you were just making me blush a lot and I wanted revenge.” Grave giggles as she explains, Rose groaning lightly.

“I’m so embarrassed… I’ve liked you for ages and I just made an idiot of myself…” Rose complains, not processing the words she’s saying as she continues to feel slightly stressed at the situation.

“I-I… I like you too…” Grave is surprised by Rose’s words, blushing as she confesses her own feelings, Rose freezing.

“Y-y-you do?…” She questions in a quiet voice, as if afraid Grave would change her answer if she questions it.

“Of course I do!” Grave smiles more as she speaks, skin lighting up in a blush as she looks at Rose.

“I-I-I…” Rose struggles to think, mind not coming up with an answer for what Grave had said to her.

Grave leans up, planting a soft kiss on Rose’s face before hiding under the blankets as Rose squeaks in surprise, flopping on top of her in response.

“Sorry…” Grave carefully covers Rose in the blankets, her cheeks glowing lightly as Rose hides her face in her.

“Mmmnot upset…” Rose explains quietly, her voice muffled by Grave as she burrows into her gently.

“You aren’t?” Grave sounds confused as she looks down at Rose, tone questioning.

“No… felt nice…” Rose explains quietly, her face covered in a warm blush as she tries to express her feelings.

“…Can I do it again?” Grave’s voice is soft as she asks, Rose nodding silently as she moves her head, allowing Grave to see her flushed face.

Grave smiles happily, pressing soft kisses all over Rose’s face gently, watching as Rose blushes more, her mouth forming a content smile as she goes redder.

“You’re so beautiful…” Grave smiles happily as she giggles, Rose blushing more. She quickly presses a kiss to Grave’s mouth to silence her.

“You cant do that!” Grave gasps, blushing more as she giggles, a smile stretched onto her face.

“You did!” Rose retorts, laughing at Grave’s blush ridden face as she lies on top of her.

“Mmmnope! You still cant do it!” Grave grabs Rose’s face gently, holding it in her hands softly.

“Only if you don’t do it.” Rose smirks, closing her eyes happily at Grave’s warm touch on her face.

“But I wanna!” Grave whines quietly at Rose’s condition, Rose giggling happily at the noise.

“Then don’t tell me I cant!” She rebuts gently, watching Grave with warm eyes as she scolds her softly.

“Aaaaa f i n e… you can.” Grave relents, though a smile remains on her face. Rose grins happily, peppering Grave’s face with gentle kisses in response.

“I’ve been a t t a c k e d!” Grave blushes at the kisses, Rose giggling as she gives her some more.

“Did they tell you I was moving in with them?” Rose questions quietly, her face content and happy as she speaks.

“Yes!!!! They said I could too!” Grave explains, feeling happier than words as Rose gasps.

“That’s so cool!” Rose exclaims happily, pressing soft kisses onto Grave’s face in her excitement. Grave returns the kisses happily, her cheeks glowing as Rose laughs quietly, pressing their foreheads together in a gentle touch, allowing both of them to calm down and process what had just happened, feeling happy and relaxed in each other presence.

[obsidianarchives]

Beneath the Surface - Epilogue

1 Year Later

Blaise stood in the entrance of the Great Hall, his mind in a daze. His head throbbed just over his right eye, which was almost swollen shut. Pain shot through his ankle with every new step, and he gripped his wand tightly, still unable to relax his muscles though He Who Must Not Be Named had called a truce ten minutes ago.

He felt exhausted, his body heavy not just from the exertion of the night’s events, but the strain the entire school year had put on him. His seventh year at Hogwarts hadn’t been easy, though he hadn’t expected it to be. His fellow housemates had both targeted and isolated him, their anger at his choice to date a Muggle-born having festered over the summer break rather than faded. He knew how to defend himself, but it was the loneliness that made it difficult, more so than the taunts and attempted hexes in the halls. The few Slytherins he had been friendly with in the past had begun to ignore him so as not to call attention to themselves. The only person who had really paid him any mind had been the odd Luna Lovegood, but even she had disappeared just before Christmas, taken by Death Eaters on the train home. 

The hardest part was being apart from Hermione. He hadn’t seen or heard from her since the end of the year before, when they’d said goodbye on the train platform. Occasionally, the Daily Prophet would release news of Harry Potter’s whereabouts — a Ministry break-in early in the school year, a sighting near Ottery St. Catchpole around Christmas, an escape from Gringotts Bank on a dragon just that morning — and Blaise would take it as a good sign, telling himself that Potter wouldn’t still be alive if Hermione wasn’t there to keep him in check.

He kept the chain connecting them around his neck at all times, the red stone resting on his chest under his robes. Right now it was cool, but he supposed no one was safe at the moment, so he tried not to let it get to him. It was often closer to this temperature than to the warmth he had felt when she first put it on. There had been a few times when it had dipped, freezing his skin and causing fear to rise in his chest. The first time had been early in the summer, a full two hours where he wondered what danger had befallen Hermione and whether she would survive it. It had dipped again briefly right around the Ministry break-in and again around the Gringotts escape, but the two worse by far had been during the Christmas and Easter holidays, where Blaise had worried the stone would actually burn his skin with the cold, had worried that the worst had come for the girl he had so surprisingly and completely fallen in love with the year before.

It was the necklace that woke him up this night, not so bad as the worst times, but still startling him out of his sleep regardless. Moments later, one of the third year boys had rushed into the room, telling Blaise, Draco, Theo, Crabbe, and Goyle that Slughorn was calling for them to come to the Great Hall right this second.

Blaise had thrown on his shoes and cloak over his pajamas, confused and groggy. As he came out of the Slytherin common room with the rest of his House he began to hear whispers. The Carrows had been attacked in Ravenclaw Tower, Snape had left the school, Harry Potter was here.

It had felt as if a huge bell was clanging in his head — his only thought was Hermione, loud and glaring, drowning out any drowsiness he had up to that point. His eyes immediately began to scan the Great Hall once he made it inside, scrutinizing each and every Gryffindor at the table on the other side of the room as he sat down. His stomach lurched when he saw Potter, dark-haired and grim, but Hermione was nowhere to be found.

He’d told himself not to panic — his necklace hadn’t become any colder and he couldn’t find Weasley anywhere either, though most of his siblings and even his parents seemed to be there, standing up with the teachers at the front of the room.

Professor McGonagall began to speak, telling the entire school that He Who Must Not Be Named was here, that they would begin evacuating students before mounting a defense, that Professor Snape had run away, abandoning them for his master. Just as she began to dole out instructions to the prefects, a high cold voice pierced the air, sending a chill up Blaise’s spine.

“I know that you are preparing to fight,” the voice said, “Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood.”

Blaise had felt a fear almost stronger than what he had felt back in December and April, hair rising on the back of his neck. He had clenched his fists to keep them from trembling.

“Give me Harry Potter and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight.”

Silence filled the hall, and Blaise felt an overwhelming urge to run to safety, to leave before things got out of hand — because he knew they would. There was no way the teachers or the majority of students would give Potter up.

“But he’s there!” Pansy Parkinson shrieked from down the table, “Potter’s there! Someone grab him!”

As Blaise had expected, the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, and Ravenclaws had all stood, making it clear that Potter was protected.

“Thank you, Miss Parkinson,” Professor McGonagall said, “You will leave the Hall first with Mr. Filch. If the rest of your House could follow.”

Blaise had stood then, eager to get as far away from the castle as possible. He filed out of the Great Hall after two first years, winding up the stairs and down the halls toward the seventh floor. He was halfway there when he’d stopped, suddenly remembering Hermione. He thought about her worried gaze, as she had explained to Blaise in vague terms what she had to do. He thought about the way she was always studying, even after exams were canceled, preparing as best she could for the terror to come. He thought about her words, in one of the first letters she had sent him during their correspondence the Christmas before last.

It’s terrifying, but I know I can’t just step aside and let it continue.

Hermione was sacrificing so much for herself, her friends, and Muggle-borns everywhere who were being hunted, imprisoned, and killed just for being born to parents without magic. How could he, someone who was protected by his own magical ancestry, sit back and allow her to go through all that without doing his part to help?

With that, he turned around, pushing against the swelling crowd and back down towards the Great Hall. On the second floor, he ran into Professor McGonagall, leading a group of fighters.

“We’re mounting a defense from Gryffindor Tower,” Parvati Patil told him when she saw him slow to a halt before them.

And so he had gone with the group, hoping Hermione might show up and determined to do his part to fight against the hate that had been festering in the wizarding world for ages.

He didn’t see Hermione at all during the fight, not even when he ended up in the entrance hall, fighting side by side with Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan. Debris from a nearby explosion had hit his head, cutting his eyebrow and swelling his eye shut. He had slipped on the emeralds from the Slytherin hourglass scattered across the entrance hall, twisting his ankle.

And then the Dark Lord had called a truce, giving them an hour of respite, to hand Potter over, before it would start all over again.

Blaise had limped his way back into the castle from the dark grounds, where he, Ernie Macmillan, and a few others had pushed back a group of acromantula, and now he entered the Great Hall, his eyes scanning the injured and shaken defenders of the castle. Even in his exhaustion and pain he was trying his best to stay strong for the next wave, for Hermione.

His eyes skated over the Patil twins sitting near a stirring, unrecognizable figure, past a weary and battle-worn Neville Longbottom, before they came to a halt at a large group of red-haired people, huddled closely around a body on the floor. He did a double-take at the sight of a curvy figure with thick curly hair, arms tight around the red-haired girl.

Blaise froze, and for a moment he thought maybe he was hallucinating, which wasn’t entirely impossible given how tired he felt. But then the red-haired girl broke away, turning to one of her brothers, and the figure turned. Hermione.

She was thinner than when Blaise had last seen her, her brown face drawn and gaunt. The knees of her jeans were stained with mud, rubble and dust riddled through her dark hair, the bottom of her jacket burned. She put a hand to her face, wiping away tears.

And then her brown, beautiful eyes met his and Blaise could feel his throat constrict briefly, felt a swooping sensation in his stomach, as if the ground had dropped out from beneath him.

“Blaise,” her voice was no higher than a whisper, but still he heard it, his skin warming at the sound of her.

“Hi,” he tried to smile, his voice cracking with the emotion that had suddenly come rushing through him.

Hermione looked in shock. He could see her taking him in, her eyes lingering on his swollen eye. Before he could say anything more, she had closed the gap between them, grabbed his arms, and was pulling him to the nearest empty bench.

She forced him to sit down, sliding the beaded bag strapped across her chest to the front and plunging her arm deep inside it.

“It’s got to be in here somewhere,” she muttered to herself, before saying, “I don’t think there’s much left, but it should be just enough.”

Blaise stared at her, feeling as if he had entered a dream.

“Hermione,” he said, though his voice didn’t come out as strong as he wished.

She didn’t seem to hear him, cursing under her breath before drawing an unfamiliar wand from the inside of her jacket and pointing it into the opening of the bag, muttering “Accio Dittany.”

A small brown bottle flew up into her hand and she slipped the wand away. Her hands shook slightly as she pulled the stopper out and then slid her free hand along the side of his face to keep him still, leaving what felt like a trail of fire along his skin. She tipped the bottle over his eye, and Blaise could feel the liquid drip into his cut. It burned at first, but then quickly cooled as his eye began to open back up, allowing him to see her clearer.

Hermione immediately turned her head from him, craning her neck. “I need to find Madam Pomfrey, she would be much more thorough—”

“Hermione,” Blaise said, his voice stronger. He reached up to touch her face, to pull it back to face him. Her eyes were wide, fear on her face. “I’m okay.”

One moment, she was staring at him, her lip trembling and eyes filling with tears as she searched his face, and the next her arms were tight around his neck, her head on his shoulder and hair in his eyes. Blaise wrapped his arms around her waist and closed his eyes, inhaling her familiar scent of fresh parchment and rosemary, mingled in with the dust and sweat of battle.

After a long moment, Blaise pulled her down to sit on his good leg. Her arms loosely rested on his shoulders, and even as the stone on his chest stayed at room temperature, he felt comfort just having her here in his arms.

His eyes raked over her, taking in the faint burns across her jawline and forehead, the arch of her eyebrows, her teeth gnawing on her bottom lip, the gold chain peeking out from under her t-shirt. He frowned at the thin scar at the base of her throat, and before he knew it he was reaching out, running his thumb over it.

“I’m okay,” she said, quickly reading the question on his face. But her face darkened and her voice trembled, “It was a gift from Malfoy’s aunt.”

Blaise felt a surge of anger and shame, but both emotions died in his chest at the sight of the worry on Hermione’s face.

“I think Harry’s going to go to Voldemort,” she whispered, as if she was afraid to say it any louder, to speak it into existence.

He frowned, “Why would he do that? Everyone’s fighting to keep him safe.”

“That’s just it,” she said, shaking her head, “I know him. He can’t take people dying for him any longer.”

Blaise didn’t know what to say to that. He rubbed her back, hoping that at the very least she would feel some comfort in the gesture. She leaned her head back down on his shoulder.

“I don’t know what will happen next,” he murmured to her, “But whatever does, we’ll stick together, alright?”

Hermione nodded, and Blaise felt a new surge of purpose as her lips grazed his jaw. They would get through this. They had to.

…

A few hours later, Blaise was sitting on a different bench, his leg elevated as Madam Pomfrey tapped his ankle. The pain in it stopped immediately, his ankle now given full range of motion.

Hermione had brought him straight to the matron once He Who Must Not Be Named had been defeated, but it had taken her a while to get to him, given the more pressing injuries of others. Hermione had sat with him while he waited, until Weasley turned up, saying that Potter wanted to speak with them. Hermione had nodded, turning to kiss Blaise’s temple before going off with Weasley, assuring him that she would be back.

He saw her now, reentering the Great Hall just as Madam Pomfrey finished checking him for other bruises and cuts.

“You’re alright now, Mr. Zabini,” she told him, giving him a kind look before moving on to the next injured person.

Blaise thanked her as he stood. He made his way across the Great Hall, over to where Hermione was speaking in a rapid pace with Professor McGonagall. Weasley nodded to him as he approached.

“Listen,” he said, his voice hushed, “Make Hermione get some rest, will you?”

Blaise glanced behind Weasley at Hermione, her voice rising above the low din of the Hall.

“...can take a group of people up to the towers? They must be a mess…”

He felt a familiar and welcome exasperation, and looked back to Weasley. He looked pale, shoulders drooped from both exhaustion and grief. “What about you?”

Weasley rubbed his face, “Need to check on my mum and brother. But then I’m taking a long nap.”

Blaise nodded in understanding, but stopped in surprise when Weasley held a hand out to him. Feeling strange, Blaise shook it once before Weasley offered him a smile and walked away.

Hermione turned to Blaise as Professor McGonagall left the Hall.

“I was talking to McGonagall, and I think if we start at the top of the castle and work our way down, that might be the most efficient way to make sure everything is back the way it should be.”

Blaise fought to keep his face blank. He reached out and took her hand, her familiar grip sending small jolts of electricity up his arm. “Let’s go to the Quidditch pitch.”

Hermione frowned at him in confusion, “What needs to be done there?”

Blaise shook his head, “Just come on.”

He pulled her out of the castle, into the cool morning air. Thinning smoke covered the rising sun, but he could feel it warming his skin. They walked in silence across the scorched grass, around huge fallen stones, and past a fallen giant. The pitch loomed up ahead, the only part of the grounds untouched.

Blaise came to a halt in the very center of the pitch, the empty stands rising above them.

When he turned to look at Hermione, he saw that she was still frowning.

“Blaise, why are we here? There’s loads to do,” she said, her eyes sharp. “We need to look through the castle to make sure there are no more injured or fallen. The Room of Requirement might be ruined forever, but someone should check. And the common rooms should all be inspected to make sure—”

“Hermione,” Blaise said calmly, taking both of her hands in his own. He looked down at her fiercely. “Just take a deep breath. It’s okay now. You’re safe.”

She stared up at him, startled by his words. Slowly, they seemed to sink in. She opened her mouth to speak, but shut it before trying again, sounding astonished. “I suppose you’re right.”

Keeping one hand in hers, Blaise drew his wand and Conjured a thin blanket, to provide a barrier between them and the dewy grass. They lay down together on their sides, hands propping themselves up, facing each other. Blaise watched Hermione’s face, watched her watch him, her eyes blinking slowly in her weariness. He reached out, resting his hand on the curve of her hip and nudging her closer.

“Will you come to Australia with me?” Hermione blurted out.

“Yes,” Blaise answered, without a thought. “Why Australia?”

She bit her lip, shifting uncomfortably. “I, er, sent my parents there last summer. I didn’t want Voldemort coming after them to try to get to Harry so I changed their memories and gave them new lives. In case I couldn’t come back.”

Blaise watched her fight with her emotions, and remembered the way she had spoken to him at the end of last year, how terrible she had felt at the thought that she had put him harm’s way. He was just realizing himself how much she had prepared, how much she had done to protect those she loved.

“Of course I’ll come with you,” he murmured, leaving out the fact that he had no plans to let her out of his sight at this point. He moved his hand from her hip to her face, caressing her cheek with his thumb. “I love you.”

Hermione’s tired face lit up, her entire body relaxing at his words. “Me too.”

They leaned into each other then, and Hermione’s lips were a wonderful familiarity, soft and sweet against his own. Blaise slid his fingers into her thick hair and felt a flutter in his chest, and as Hermione pressed closer to him he could see their futures, stretching out endlessly before them.

THE END