#eats your art for the millionth time

[battymommastuff]

The Greatest Show

Batmom x Batman, Batmom x Batfamily

Prompt: While digging through the attic, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd uncover a secret about their adoptive mother. A secret that reveals the true, and dark story of the most loved couple in Gotham City

Part 1 Masterlist

(P/N): Performer Name

!!DISCLAIMER!! - This likely won't be comic accurate (Obviously), but I did draw inspiration from the comics. If you are looking for something accurate, then this fanfic isn't for you.

The rumbling from the red and white tent could be felt from outside. The cheers of the crowd as Haly's circus put on what they felt would be their best show yet. Everything from the elephants standing on their back legs to the clowns hitting each other with bowling pins. You were peeking from the little opening that led backstage. Many of your fellow performers were either stretching in preparation for their performance, or were relaxing after theirs. You were currently waiting alongside your two closest friends, John and Mary Grayson. The acrobatic duo who recently combined their act with yours. The stakes were higher, but it left the crowd in complete awe. You were one of the fire eaters. You were a younger member of the circus, but had quickly become a fan favorite. 

You were beautiful, and highly skilled at your art. Swallowing fire like water, and twirling torches around without burning you or anyone else. The skill you possessed was outstanding, and Haly never let you forget that. He took you in when you needed help the most, and he made you a star. You would forever be in debt to him. 

"Are you ready, (Y/N)?" Mary asked, resting a hand on your shoulder. You jumped then turned towards her. She and John had just finished their stretches and decided to check on you. From the moment you arrived, they took you under their wing. Teaching you the do's and don'ts of the circus as well as giving you a place to sleep so you didn't have to bunk with the others in their crowded space. Though you quickly earned a little tent of your own after your spike in popularity. 

"Yes, I'm alright..." You said, with a small smile, "But what about you? Should you be performing in your condition?" You asked while looking down at Mary's stomach. She was currently one month pregnant, and the entire circus doted over her. Everyone was so excited to have a new member of their family. Whoever this kid was going to be, you just knew you would love them unconditionally. Mary reassured you for the millionth time that she would be alright before she and John were ushered up a small ladder that led to the top of the tent. You, on the other hand, were standing by the curtain, waiting for Haly to announce you. 

"And now...our next performance needs no introduction...you know them...you love them! The Flying Graysons! Featuring our star Fire eater (P/N)!" 

As soon as you heard your name, you ran out. Instantly lighting your torch and twirling it around while taking a sip of alcohol. You spat the liquid at the flame causing it to poof into the air as soon as Mary did a flip in the air and caught John's arms. 

Nothing could ever satisfy that rush in your heart. The thrill of the crowd's reaction to your tricks. The high it gave you was better than any drug. Here you were, twirling two flaming torches in your hand as you watched above you. John and Mary Grayson were flying through the air. No one knew who to watch first. The couple who seemed to defy gravity, or the woman who could eat fire. Even with them in the air and you on the ground, everyone could see the chemistry you had. It's why your combined act never failed. With a big smile, you leaned back while lowering one of the torches towards your mouth. The crowd watched in awe as the fire went into your mouth. You popped your head back up with the extinguished torch in your hand. Tossing it to one of the helpers, you lifted your now free arm in the air while twirling the other torch in your hand. 

John, swooping down picked you up and you were now in the air. An act practiced hundred of times. His legs holding onto the trapeze as you both circled around the tent, the torch never falling from your hand. 

Your act was truly amazing, and it seemed to catch the eye of a certain crowd member. Bruce Wayne. Growing up, he loved to visit the circus with his parents. After their death, he avoided anything to do with it. Now he was back, but under different circumstances. For a while he'd been investigating the circus. He recently found old notes left by his father. The Court of Owls. A secret society of the Gotham elite. Their goal is to rid the city of crime, by any means. He wasn't surprised to know that his father had come in contact with them, but was surprised to see the theory that Haly's circus was a front. The members were training to be potential Talon members. The Court's lethal assassins. The circus always seemed to favor Gotham. Their stop here would last weeks while other stops would last days. Most of their members were young, and always seemed to vanish from the show after a while. He was here to find out the truth, and put a stop to it. At least he hoped he could. It was difficult to fight a conspiracy that his father barely had proof on. 

Despite his goal, he couldn't bring himself to move from his spot. You were gorgeous. He had a genuine smile on his face while watching your act. He's seen fire eaters before, but something about felt different. You didn't seem corrupt or up to no good. You looked as if you truly loved what you were doing. Maybe he could recruit you? Having inside knowledge would be beneficial. 

Your act went on, and you left the circle with loud cheers. Your heart was racing so fast, it felt like you were going to have a heart attack. John and Mary arrived shortly after with large smiles of their own, "You did amazing!" You squealed while hugging them both. You were new to the acrobatic world, but had the best teachers in the world. 

After the show ended and everyone turned in for the night, you were sitting outside of your tent. Your throat is slightly irritated from the alcohol, but nothing too bad. Luckily tomorrow was an off day for the circus. You could rest a little before practice. It was a peaceful night, and you were happy to relax in it. At least until a deep and intimidating voice nearly scared the skin off of you. 

"(Y/N) (L/N)? We need to talk."

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TAGLIST

@maxinehufflepuffprincess @tayswhp @rainycloud858 @luna-zendra-star @starlets-things @simpfourmarvel @kawaistrawberry21 @js-favnanadoongi @kodzukenmaaa

[onskepa]

Hi, could I get a fic where the Sully kids + Spider learn through Norm what a wedding is so they organize one for Jake and Neytiri? Thanks in advance.

Ask and you shall recieve! This is such a cuuuuuuuuuuute idea~!! Hope you and everyone likes it! Enjoy~!!

P.S: Cover was done by none other than @jakexneytiri check her page out! Thank you darling for giving me permission to use your art!

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A wedding? A wedding!!!

Tuk sighs dreamily as she twirls and admires a flower kiri picked for her. Admiring the pretty color as how the sunlight reflects it. It somehow reminds her of her parents' love story, how they met and how they mated. In na’vi standards, it was not ideal but to tuk, it was perfect. Forbidden love? How tragic and romantic! 

Of course she has seen a few small handful of na’vi courting, and heard stories of her friends' parents' romantic paths. Yet she cannot help but wonder, do humans court the way na’vi do? Or is it different? Only one way to find out!

“Tuk, for the last time, I may be human, but that doesnt mean I know every human custom” spider patiently explains to a happy little tuk. Her tail sways in hopes she can  gather as much information as possible. Even with spider’s lack of knowledge, she doesn't give up! 

“What about uncle norm? He is from Earth, maybe he knows” tuk suggests. 

Spider nods in wonder, slightly agreeing. But then he turns back to her, “why are you interested in human customs all of a sudden?” he asks. Tuk isn't one to search for anything human related, she is fine with what little she is exposed to.  

With a happy smile, all too pleased to be asked that question. 

“I know all about na’vi courting, but I wanna know about human courting! Mom and dad didn't do either, so I wanna know!” 

Shrugging, spider seems to see her point of view. 

“Alright, lets go ask uncle norm” 

“I'm busy” Norman says without looking at the kids. They give him an unimpressed look. 

“Reading star wars comics for the millionth time doesnt count uncle norm” lo’ak says deadpanned. Norman stayed silent for a few seconds before putting his comic away. 

“What did spider or tuk eat this time?” he asks with a tired sigh. Both spider and tuk gave him a rather offended/surprised expression. 

“WOW, you really take us for a couple of skxawngs?” spider asks, putting his hands on his hips. 

“Sharing jake’s single braincell, yes” 

“Whatever, we didn't eat anything mysterious, yet, but, tuk wanted to ask you something and now we all wanna know” spider defends while slightly pushing tuk forward. 

Having norm’s full attention, tuk finally asks “How do humans court each other?” 

norm ‘s shoulders deflated a bit, “of all people to ask, you had to choose the most single, and lonely human” 

“Wedding? And the females wear white while the males wear black?” tuk asks as she sees some wedding photos lended by scientists who were married. Norm nods, “thats right. Of course not all weddings are like that, it is traditional but many choose other colors for their weddings” he adds. 

Tuk looks at the various photos of brides, many in odd looking clothing. But all were so beautiful. Different long dresses, each unique to their own. Various flowers tuk has never seen before, and the grooms were also handsome. Wearing similar outfits but also in different styles. The more tuk learned about the concept of weddings, the more she began to form an idea. 

“So, man and woman plan a wedding, woman finds a pretty dress to wear, walks down the tiny path to meet her mate, they kiss and marry right?” she reviews, norm nods again. Sensing something is up. 

“Yes….” 

“What are you thinking about tuktuk?” Kiri asks. 

A mischievous little grin forms on tuk’s face. Her eyes sparkling with a devious glow. The expression reminds norm of the Grinch when he has a grand scheme.

Taking the day easy, jake and neytiri hold hands happily as they make their way to the village. They had a rare free day to themselves. No duties to attend to, no training, no meetings, no chasing their kids from death related troubles. None. They were free to do as they like. 

And what they wanted to do for now was stroll in the village, perhaps collect a bit of fruit. Maybe later hunt for a delicious dinner neytiri has in mind. So many possibilities. 

But….

“Woa, is it just me or are the people acting strange?” Jake asks, He and neytiri notice the odd behavior of the people. Many give them happy smiles, way too excited greetings, some even offer special gifts! 

“Is there something we missed?” Jake wonders. Neytiri tries to remember but nothing seems to remind her. 

As they walk further, there was a huddle of na’vi, all their eyes and ears facing the same direction. Jake and neytiri make their way through, and see someone giving them instructions….

“And look for white flowers! Anything will do, oh and those beads will do so nicely! Yes yes, and take the woven clothes over there! That path must be super pretty!” 

It was tuk. 

And she was giving directions to everyone like a tiny, cute boss. 

“Tuk?” Neytiri calls out in confusion. 

Her little one heard her, smiling, tuk makes her way to her parents with a happy squeal.

“Hey babygirl, what's going on?” Jake asks as he picks her up in his arms. Tuk just giggles and snuggles up to him. 

“Planning your wedding! Duh!” she responds as if that was the most obvious thing. 

“Wedding? What?” There were a lot of things going through his mind. 

Neytiri was just as confused. 

“What is a wedding?” she asks. But before tuk can happily answer, the rest of their children returns. With arms full of things. 

“Ok tuk, took us forever but we got what you needed” lo’ak said with a tired sigh. He, neteyam, kiri and spider were holding flowers, beads, baskets full of white colored cloths, and black paint. 

“Kids, what is going on?” Jake asks, more eager to know the answer. Because nothing is making any sense to him. 

“Tuk wants to make a special wedding for you guys” kiri replies as she shows tuk her findings, who nods in approval. 

“What is a wedding??” Neytiri asks a bit loudly. 

Tuk clears her voice, “a wedding is a special mating ceremony for humans. They decorate everything so pretty in white! The female wears a special gown called a wedding dress, and she walks down a flower covered path to meet her mate at the end. Where someone who holds spiritual power blesses them, the mates speak their vows and promises and kiss! Uncle norm showed me!” 

The little smiled so proudly of this knowledge being shared. 

Jake inwardly groans. Damn norm. 

“Tuk, sweetie, is that why are you doing this?” he asks another question. Tuk just rapidly nods. 

“A wedding….” Neytiri repeats, still trying to wrap her head around the idea. 

The sully family returned to their home in need of a family meeting. 

“Why…?” she asks. 

Tuk plays with her fingers, feeling more nervous by the second. 

“Well…..you and daddy tell your love story all the time. How you guys met and stuff. But you never really did any courting like everyone else. Grandma says that courting is very important, to see if the relationship is possible. I thought a wedding would be nice for you two….cause you never courted…” she explained her reason. 

Neteyam was sitting behind her, rubbing her back to sooth her. 

There were many things to go over of what she said. Jake brings tuk over to his lap, releasing a deep sigh. 

“Am I in trouble” Tuk asks worriedly. Both of her parents shake their heads. 

“No baby girl, but you can't do things like this without telling us. Or even asking, how are you sure we wanted this?” Jake pointed out as gently as he could. 

Neytiri turns her head towards her oldest four, “and all of you for not stopping her”. 

“We also thought it was a good idea…” neteyam answers while scratching the back of his head. 

“When uncle norm taught us how humans courted, tuk wasn't the only one to like the idea. And it is true what she says mom. You two never really had the chance to do it right. Why not now?” Kiri tries with calmness in her voice. Knowing her mother is very short tempered when it comes to anything human related. 

Neytiri and jake look at each other, a special communication between them. 

“You did take me straight to the tree after my trials were finished….” jake reasoned. Neytiri rolls her eyes but fondly remembers that night. Yes, she did, she was not going to let him slip away now could she? 

And there really was no room for courting since the war started literally the next day.

Going over her options, Neytiri turns to tuk and jake. 

“How does human courting work…?” 

Whatever pace the people were working at, doubled. By either prayers, or some miracle of Eywa, neytiri accepted to wed in the human custom. Tuk wasted no time and needed back up from the help of uncle norm. Who became her second in command in all of the organization. 

Her siblings become her little servants, repeating her orders to the people. 

And someone had a big role to play. 

“Come ma’ite, we must get you fitted” mo’at say with a bright smile on her face. Gently she tugs neytiri to her hut, kiri and other fellow na’vi woman takes her away. 

“Fitted for what?” neytiri asks, feeling a bit excited for whatever is to come. 

“For your wedding dress mom” kiri replies. Closing the flaps of the hut, the ladies began to work their magic. 

While on the other side, jake was being taken to a different hut, being led by his three sons. 

“Seriously?” jake says while raising an eyebrow. 

“Tuk’s orders” lo’ak grins a bit smugly. 

A few handful of Jake's friends entered the hut with him, with preparations of getting him ready. 

“Oh, and dont forget to write your vows!” spider reminds as he snaps fingers in remembering what tuk told him. 

“My vows?” 

“This is going to take awhile” 

“Oh yeah, its all coming together” tuk says, pride grows in her little heart as the wedding decorations and the set up is nearly completed. 

Norm was beside her, whistling impressed. “Gotta hand it to you tuk, you do know how to design” he compliments. This makes little tuk humph with glee. 

They were at the spirit tree, white veils, flowers, the Atokrinia’s floating around elegantly. Her image displayed ever so perfectly. 

“Ok, it's all set tuk!” lo’ak says as he with kiri, spider and neteyam arrive. 

“Good! So we are good to go!” 

“Almost” kiri teases. 

“We just need one more thing” neteyam smiles, but tuk was panicking a little. 

“Did we forget something? It's the bells, isn't it? Dang it I should have-” she was interrupted mid sentence when she felt something land on her head. 

Looking at what it was, it was a flower crown. 

“A wedding isn't complete without a flower girl” spider says. Gasping in happiness and surprised, tuk shouts in great joy. 

“Come on, we still got time!” the three siblings drag tuk away to have her be the prettiest flower girl pandora has ever seen!

The flutes began to play, releasing harmonic sounds as the notes echoed to the people’s ears. Ninat taking the lead of the melodious choir, her voice and the others balance with the instruments. In tune to perfection. 

The Atokirina floating all around, giving the path a heavenly glow. 

The people sat anxiously, all in rows as they respectfully cleared one long path. 

A path the tuk carefully walks through as she delicately lays flower petals. A flower crown on her head, wearing the cutest light pink loin cloth and pearl like bead top. Tuk truly looked like a flower girl. Behind her was the bride. Her beautiful mother, The one where all eyes go to see. 

Neytiri walks gracefully on the path her daughter leads. Wearing an all white outfit, her loincloth, her top, her head piece, and the veil she wears. All white. Her hair braided loosely behind, flowers decorated on her hair as well. Neytiri never felt more beautiful than she did at this moment. With a bouquet of flowers she holds tightly, her eyes search for her mate. The love of her life, Jake. 

At the alter, at the root base of the spirit tree was Jake. In all of his might glower, wearing a black loin cloth as his warrior armor at the waist, his hair braided in the similar fashion he wore during the war. Feather and bead amended to the braids, and small black paint to enhance his handsomeness. Jake looked so good it made neytiri want to run towards his arms. 

As they reached the altar, tuk took her place beside kiri who was wearing a style similar to tuk. Neteyam, spider and lo’ak beside their father as they admire their mother. 

Jake offers his hand to which neytiri happily accepts. Removing the veil to reveal her beautiful face, jake could help but mutter “beautiful” in awe. Together they both turn to face mo’at who smiles with heavenly joy. 

“Welcome everyone. Today, we gather in great celebration to bring these two wonderful people into union. Through trials and tribulations, these two souls have been challenged time and time again. But their love has pulled them through. Proving to us all that love truly conquers all. That being with your true one, anything can be accomplished” 

mo’at gestures to Neytiri and Jake that it was time to say their vows. 

But as they speak, tuk listened as best as she could. Hearing her parents story over and over never waivered with time. If anything it only sounded better each time. And hearing their vows right before her big eyes, it was adding a whole new perspective. 

Yes, tuk is a sucker for romantic things. Even if her siblings tease her, tuk won't stop. And seeing this made her love romance even more. 

“And by the great blessing of our great mother Eywa, I can now happily announce, Jake and neytiri as husband and wife! You may now-” 

Neytiri didnt let her mother finish as she dragged Jake down to kiss him like her life depended on it. Jake happily reciprocates. 

The na’vi cheered in celebration. Applause, screeches, everything was heard. 

Tuk sighs dreamily as she sees her parents kiss. 

“I can't wait to get married” 

Kiri: “never” 

Spider: "nope"

Lo’ak: “not gonna happen” 

Neteyam: “over my dead body”

Okie so this kinda became a tuk main story but I like it how it turned out. What do you guys think? Until next time! See ya!

[falloutwithmegirlypop]

Norm McLean x unenthusiastic reader

Fluff, nervous reader, no gender specified. Vault doesn’t open, Norm steals your private property (accidentally

Everyday was the same in the vault. Every morning, wake up, breakfast, exercise, study, chores, listen to weirdos spout about positivity all day, eat again, go to bed. It’s not even the people that really got on your nerves, they could be as happy as the want to be. It’s the fact that they wouldn’t stop talking about that made your blood boil. You even agreed with some of it, but did everyone really have to be so exhaustingly enthusiastic all. The. Time? No, and in a perfect world, you could live your boring life, mind your own Buisness, and be left alone. Truly, you simply didn’t see the reason for being so persistent about everything, we live in an underground vault in the apocalypse for gods sake.

You thought you would have to live your entire life surrounded by people you couldn’t stand. So, you never made an effort to meet people. It’s pretty easy to keep to yourself when you follow the exact same routine everyday. Just waiting out the day so you could have some time to yourself. Play on your Pip-Boy, read a book for the millionth time, maybe do some art or write in your diary. Which is why when some jerk in the hallways bumped into you on your way back home from your post, you were pretty miffed. The electricity overview papers you had in your hands, and the papers for your most recent job report, all ready to be dropped off in the overseers office were out of their neat pile, and now strewn across the floor. You REALLY did not have the energy for this.

As you turned your accusatory stare to the little punk who tripped you, you were surprised to see Norm, the overseers son. You had never talked to him, interacted with him, or even got a good look at him. You only knew who he was from the mandatory, positivity vault meetings. He was small, with a thin frame, prominent nose, nice hair and annoyingly pretty eyes- wait, what the hell were you thinking, you’d never even met the guy, surly he was just like his goody two shoes sister. But you were still staring, and he was starring back through tired, half lidded eyes. You saw that he had also lost some papers in the fall, now lying on the floor next to you.

You jump up and dust off you suit. You mumbled quickly

“sorry, excuse me”

Expecting nothing more than an annoying, long winded interaction, involving but a wide smile, cheery voice and obnoxious apology. Norm just stood up, dusted himself off as well, muttered a half hearted, brief apology, grabbed his papers, and walked in the other direction. You were shocked, you had never had a conversation so brief. Despite the bad terms, you were thankful not to be monaloged at for thirty minutes. You picked up your papers, reorginized them into a messy pile, dropped them off and headed back home.

You hardly slept that night, despite your great desire to do so. Your brief run in with Norm played over and over in your mind. Before you knew it, it was morning, and your moderately tolerable schedule had been thrown off completely, you got up, ate breakfast, showered, then exercised- then you went to answer your door, and- before you knew it, right in front of you, was Norm McLean. In your stunned silence, you were suddenly incredibly aware of your heavy purple eye bags, your ratty hair, and your unbrushed teeth, as well as that you had been staring at the man infront of you in complete silence for nearly fourty seconds. Norm was giving you a sceptial look. As your brain regained function, and your hands stopped fidgeting stupidly at your side, you saw a small set of papers in his hands. Before you could start to roil in the embarrassment of seemingly the only tolerable man in the vault seeing and reading your job reports, he spoke.

“You dropped these, picked them up on accident” Norm said flatly.

“Sorry, thanks for bringing them back I guess.” You yelped meekly, furiously trying to subdue the extremely non-characteristic butterflies in your stomach. In an attempt to deescalate your emotions, you began closing your door. That is, before he spoke up.

“Unenthusiastic performance in all areas, huh? Can’t say I haven’t been there. I think I’ve always been there, actually.” Norm spoke with great undetstanding, and if you thought about it, you could swear you heard gratitude in his voice.

“Yeah, no matter where they put me I always get the same report. Electricity isn’t as bad, less people bothering you.” Norm smiled at your reply, suddenly attentive to the conversation.

“Well, I thought there was nobody I could stand in this vault, guess I was wrong.” He gestured to the inside of your room, “mind if I come in?”

Suddenly, your world was on fire, everything collapsing around you. You nodded, probably too excitedly.

The two of you spent the entire rest of the day together, talking about annoying people in the vault, the McLean’s, your life, his. You played some video games together, and then read in a comfortable silence. For the first time in forever, you were enjoying the company of your peers. You completed your day together, both equally unenthusiastic. but, having each others company somehow made everything easier.

The next day, the two of you did the same thing, and then the next, and for the week, and a month, and before you knew it. You had spent a year together. Not before long did you admit to having feelings for one another. And after a couple years of dating, the two of you were set to be married. The two of you, alone in a vault of over 100. Unenthusiastic together.

[thescarletnargacuga]

Art: @iamespecter

CHAPTER THREE

Racing AU!

Pomni's first real race! Wish her luck! She'll need it when she ends up out of bounds and discovers that there may be a way out after all. What is Caine hiding?

WARNING: existential crisis, implied death

Pomni stared at the ceiling from her bed in her properly themed room. She didn't sleep a wink after yesterday's events. She spent the time just staring, thinking. "There must be a way out..." She mumbles to herself. "What kind of game is designed with no exit?" She closed her eyes and tried for the millionth time to remember how she got here. She held her hands out in front of her face as though she were holding something. "Headset...I put on a headset...to play a game. This game. Why did I do that?" She groaned as she struggled to remember. Everything before the headset was so fuzzy. Did the transfer to this realm screw with her head? It wouldn't surprise her.

Her train of thought is derailed by a knock at her door. "Pomni? You still sleeping?" It was Ragatha, there was a brief pause before she continued. "I'll let you get back to it if you are..."

Pomni got up and answered the door, opening it only slightly.

"There she is! I wanted to help you design your kart for today's race, since you don't technically have one yet. I don't think Caine will let you use his kart for every race since it's one that is directly piloted by him, seems a bit overpowered if you ask me." Ragatha laughed awkwardly and force a smile. Her eye was puffy and a bit red, she had still been mourning the loss of Kaufmo and was putting on a brave face for Pomni.

Pomni avoided eye contact and left her room. "Uh, yeah... I guess you're right. Do we have to race every day?" She followed Ragatha to the stairs.

"No, every race is optional but Caine encourages participation because every race, and what position you end in, is worth points and the person with the most points at the end of the season wins the Grand Prix."

Pomni gave a quizzical look.

"Yeah, it's the grand prize we're all here to compete for. Speaking of which, you're new and coming in in the middle of a season so you're way behind. I suggest participating so you can get that trophy!" Ragatha pointed to a glass case displaying an enormous gold trophy. The name plate on its base read: Grand Prix Champion Ragatha.

"So you're the one to beat?"

Ragatha giggled. "Yep, and between you and me, I think that's why Jax is so worked up this season. He was champion three seasons running before I finally dethroned him."

Pomni paused. "Is...that it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Our entire existence here...is going after a trophy?"

"Well...yeah. That's kind of the whole point of a racing game. It gives us something to compete over and keep our minds busy so we don't..."

"End up like Kaufmo?" Pomni said more bluntly than she meant.

Ragatha felt her blood go cold. "Exactly." She answered curtly, but regained her upbeat attitude "So, let's get you a kart!" She pulled a lever and a bare bones kart rose from the floor. "This is your station. You pick the parts you want from this terminal here." She pointed out the buttons on a pedestal next to the kart. "And the Bubble mechanic will put it together for you. Easy as pie."

"Pie?" A Bubble hovered to Ragatha, looking expectantly for a treat.

Pomni shrunk away from the Bubble, unsure of those huge teeth.

"No, no, that's not what I meant." Ragatha tried shooing away the Bubble.

"Piiiiiiiie." The Bubble got closer.

"No. No pie. Stop!"

"Oh, she totally has pie on her!" Jax called from his station, a shit eating grin on his face as the Bubble tried to bite Ragatha.

"Ack! No! Stop!" Ragatha jabbed her finger at the Bubble, popping it. "Sorry about that, Pomni. Sometimes the Bubbles are a bit...strange. But they are helpful! Just call for one and it'll appear for whatever you need. Caine is often very busy so the Bubbles take care of the day to day.

Pomni perked up at the sound of Caine's name. If anyone had information it was him. "About Caine. What's his deal?" She started to play with the kart settings as Ragatha spoke.

"He's not human like the rest of us. He's the A.I. that designs and builds everything from the tracks to NPCs. He essentially IS the game."

"But he isn't omniscient. He didn't know about Kaufmo."

"He's made claims about having 'hundreds of all seeing eyes' but I'm not convinced. So much happens right under his nose. Well, not nose, but you know what I mean. And he always seems so spacey or just flat out dismissive. It's infuriating!" Ragatha slammed her fist on the terminal, activating a paint selection. Pomni's kart was slathered bright pink. "Oops...sorry."

Pomni wasn't concerned in the slightest over the color. She was digesting everything Ragatha had told her. "So do you think he's doing it on purpose? Putting on an act?"

"...maybe, but no one really knows. Caine keeps his distance, and honestly, we prefer it that way." Ragatha rubbed her fist.

"Really?"

"Have one conversation with him and you'll see why. His programming has him so hyperfixated on racing that you won't get much else out of him."

We'll see. Pomni thought. She finished designing her kart. Going for a standard design with balanced stats to start with, on Ragatha's advice. Topping it off with a red and blue color scheme with gold trim to match her tracksuit.

"Perfect! Why don't you take it for a test drive? Would make for a better warm up that yesterday."

"Heh, yeah, it would. Alright."

"Hey, Gangle, wanna help me get Pomni ready to race for real?"

Gangle was repainting her kart, she liked having a different color every race. She turned and gave Pomni's and Ragatha an adorable smile. "I'd love to!"

~

Finally, the track was ready to go. Caine's creative drive was starting to get away from him with how large the projects were becoming. The race he had set up for today was the largest he'd ever built with some of the most advanced NPCs he'd ever programmed. This wasn't just going to be another race, this was going to be another step in the evolution of the game. Perhaps the humans would enjoy the more immersive experience. It was worth a try.

Caine puffed his pipe, small blue bubbles lazily rose and popped. He floated suspended in mid air just out of the bounds of the game, surrounded by the assets of his most recent project, deep in thought.

Kaufmo's abstraction weighed heavily on him, as all of them did, but It had been years since the last and he thought he finally figured out how to keep them stable. He was wrong. Again.

"Wait am I to do with them? Even in this space, I can only do so much. Why isn't it enough? HOW is the human mind so complex? I've been trying to figure them out since the day I came into existence and I STILL don't understand. What am I doing wrong?"

He thought of the most requested experience. An exit. He genuinely didn't understand it. It wasn't in his programming. He was designed to create, not to leave. He sighed and put away his pipe. "He would've known what to do..." He looked to the faded C&A logo that branded the skybox around him.

~

Gangle and Ragatha stood next to Pomni in her kart at the start line of the test track. "...and that button releases anything attached to that kart." Said Ragatha. "And this lever deploys the glider for the long jumps." Said Gangle.

Pomni's head was spinning. It felt like taking an actual class to learn what all the knobs and buttons did. "What does this do?" She grabbed a lever on the right side and the engine made a weird crunching noise.

"That's the-" Ragatha couldn't finish her sentence before Pomni rocketed away in reverse. "POMNI! BRAKE!"

Pomni slid to a halt about a hundred feet away. She looked closer and saw the gear numbers on the handle. "Oh, heheh, that's the shifter. Of course." Embarrassed, she slowly rolled the kart back to the start.

"Don't worry, we've all done that at some point." Gangle reassured. "Why don't you go ahead and take a few laps? Get familiar with how it drives."

Pomni nodded, made sure she was in the right gear, and drove off. Her kart felt significantly slower than Caine's rocket of a kart yesterday so she already felt more comfortable. She geared up and went faster the second lap. By the third lap, she was going full speed.

Ragatha and Gangle smiled as they watched Pomni's confidence behind the wheel grow. Zooble and Kinger joined them.

"How's the new kid doing?" Kinger asked.

"She's doing great!" Exclaimed Gangle. "She's taking to it like a fish to water. Today's race is going to be so much fun!"

"Of course it will be. You're in it." Zooble pressed a corner of their head to the side of Gangle's mask in a kiss gesture. Gangle giggled and blushed.

Ragatha had to get on the track. She had to see just how much of a competitive spirit Pomni had. She whistled for her kart, jumped in and took off.

Pomni was taking the high banked turn when a white kart zipped up next to her. Ragatha waved and pulled ahead. Pomni got the idea. She sped up on the straightaway and kept on Ragatha's tail. Ragatha kept her kart in front of Pomni every time she tried to pass. Pomni wasn't having it and faked Ragatha out by feinting left but then speeded around on the right.

Stunned, Ragatha watched Pomni zip away, giving her a few seconds of space. She smirked. "Not bad." She geared up and accelerated.

~

Caine teleported inside the garage. "Good day, my amazing armadillos! I- uh?" He looked around, only Jax was inside, throwing darts at the Bubbles.

"Oh, hey, Caine."

"Where is everyone?" He double checked his wacky watch. "They should be nearby." He shook it. Darn thing was acting up.

"Outside watching Pomni drive in circles. As if we don't do that every day." Jax lazily threw another dart, popping a Bubble.

Caine teleported outside and saw Pomni and Ragatha zooming around the test track at break-neck speed. "Holy Hannah Barbara, you're all just chomping at the bit to race! Not to worry! It's time for the main event!" He summoned a trumpet and played First Call.

~

Ragatha and Pomni stopped at the start when they heard the trumpet call, rejoining the others. Zooble offered their fist. "Nice driving." Pomni gave a small smile and bumped Zooble's fist.

"Racers! I'm proud to unvail the most advanced track to date!" Caine snapped his fingers and the test track blurred and pixelated around them. The world changed to a bright and colorful candy themed track that stretches out for miles out into the horizon. "Introducing, Candy Canyon Kingdom!" The stands were suddenly full of faceless NPCs again, cheering and applauding the racers. The karts were lined up in sequence behind the start line, ready to roll. "This lengthy race will take you across the vast landscape from the sugar powdered mountains to the fudge filled valleys! But you're not just there to enjoy the sights! You're on a mission! Princess Loolilalu needs you to find crates of maple syrup scattered across the land, but watch out! There are bandits and monsters about looking to steal your most precious cargo! Pick up syrup along the track and bring it back to the finish line with you! The princess will reward you handsomely for every crate you return!"

"That's right." Princess Loolilalu appeared from the castle that was once their garage.

Ragatha's mouth hit the ground. The candy princess had to be the most beautiful person she'd laid eyes on in the digital world. She quickly picked her mouth back up but fumbled trying to stick it back on. She gave up and just slapped it on upside down. "Your majesty! Wow- beautiful- castle, I mean! Love the vibe."

Princess Loolilalu giggled. "Please, call me Loo."

Ragatha flushed and finger gunned. "Will do, Loo!"

Zooble snorted a laugh. Pomni just arched an eyebrow and looked from Ragatha to the Princess. Kinger was nearly vibrating with happiness as multiple candy butterflies landed on his head and hands. Gangle took the time to look around where she stood, taking in the atmosphere. Jax was teleported along with his kart to the start line. He lounged back in the seat with his feet on the dash. Caine beamed with pride. The racers were happy, so he was happy. Today was going to be a good day.

~

Even though Pomni won yesterday's race, she was at the back of the line because she had the fewest points. Being in the digital world, she didn't have a heartbeat but she still felt a thrumming anxiousness in her chest, knowing that this time she's on her own.

First light.

She grips the steering wheel.

Second light.

She revs the engine.

Third light.

She exhales.

GREEN!

She floors it and takes off. The start opens to the flatlands first, their karts leaving a trail of flying pink dust. This dust is easily spotted in the binoculars of the lead bandit staking out for the racers.

"There they are." Behind the binoculars was the lead bandit, Gummigoo. He and his gummy gator companions watched from a cliff on the edge of the flatlands. "Saddle up, lads. Time to go get ourselves some syrup." His buddies revved their motorbikes, giddy with excitement. Gummigoo mounted his bike and took off down the cliff face, his companions not far behind.

Pomni and the others came to the first round of surprise boxes. She was about to collect one when Jax side swiped her out of the way at the last second. "Gotta be quicker than that, noobie!" He laughed, having successfully stolen the item.

Pomni kept control but lost some speed and couldn't retaliate against Jax. She opted instead to hit a booster lane that led to a jump and a syrup crate. She hit the crate and it tethered itself to the back of her kart.

~

"Pomni's the first to claim a crate!" Caine announced from his booth. "But the bandits have spotted them and are catching up fast!"

Bubble was with him, but instead of co-hosting, they opted to chewing the scenery. Literally.

~

Pomni dodges a flying shell from Kinger as the track splits around a mountain. She and Gangle end up on one side as the others split off. Their road becomes a bridge across a fudge rivene. She finally collects an item when she hears a third engine rapidly approaching. She turns to see Gummigoo, alone, gunning straight for her.

~

"The racers have split up! I can't believe this, folks!" Caine was hovering over the desk that displayed multiple points of view of the race. "Four racers have chosen to go down the valley, but with two bandits on their tail, I don't know if they'll make it out of there without the syrup falling into the wrong hands! Haha!"

Bubble nommed on the side of the desk and saw Caine's cane waving around in front of them. In that moment, everything looked like candy, so they chomped down. They left nothing but the top part in Caine's hand.

"You parasite!" Caine popped Bubble and telescoped his cane back to full length.

~

Pomni activated her item and an old work boot appeared. Hoping it would help, she tossed it behind her at Gummigoo. The boot flew over his head.

"Ha! Missed me!" But a shadow overhead made him look up. The boot had honed in on him, grew impossibly large and came down on him with a cartoony splat. It vanished and Gummigoo had been squished down to tiny size, making him much slower for bit.

"Nice one, Pomni!" Shouted Gangle.

~

Ragatha and Kinger had crates of syrup. Zooble got theirs stolen and Jax was more concerned with what would happen if someone fell into the river of fudge they were racing along. He got an item and smiled when he saw Caine's cane in his hand. He hit the brakes, forcing the bandits behind him to swerve apart, and raises the cane high.

"Who wants to go swimming?" He throws the cane and it flies in a wide arc in front of him, hitting everyone. They all spin out, Ragatha more so when Jax hits her kart and takes her crate for himself. "See ya, suckers!"

~

"OH! Not a very sportsman like move from Jax! But he's moved up to 1st and now has a huge lead on the competition!" Caine would be on the edge of his seat if he had one.

~

Ragatha spun like a top into Kinger, who hit Zooble, who hit the taller of the two bandits, who went into the fudge. The fudge roiled and churred and the bandit went under. The shorter bandit skidded to a halt to help his friend but then the fudge began to rise. A face emerged from the gooey chocolate and laughed a horrible rumbling laugh.

~

"Oh no, folks! It looks like the monster has noticed the racers! They better get out of there before they get fudged up!"

Bubble reappeared and casually nommed on a lamp.

~

Waves of fudge splashed towards them as the racers swerved around to avoid getting hit. "What is that thing!?" Ragatha screamed as she dodged a chocolate wave.

"I don't know, but things certainly just got more interesting!" Zooble shouted back.

Kinger casually pulled ahead, away from the monster. The track was going back up into the hills. He spotted Jax and activated his saved item. A purple seashell. It rocketed away and off in the distance, Jax got sniped. He celebrated with a quiet fist pump.

~

Jax got hit by the shell were the track merged to one again. Pomni zoomed by him but Gangle took advantage of him spinning out and stole his crate. "Thanks, Jax!" He angrily shook off the shell and raced after her.

Gummigoo quickly caught up to the three leaders pushing his bike to it's limit. He ignored Jax and tried to grab Pomni's crate. Pomni caught him out of the corner of her eye, hitting he brake and swerved at him to throw him off. He backed away with a growl, locking eyes with Pomni. He was going to take her crate specifically on principle for doing that. He got close again, much more aggressively, but this time, Gangle wanted to help.

She swerved at Gummigoo a bit too aggressively, hitting his bike and making him clip into Pomni's kart. The clipping attached them and their vehicles started violently shaking and jolting. They spun into the ground, causing the glitch to worsen until they were thrown from their vehicles.

Gangle and Jax moved away from the chaos and barely caught what happened when the vehicles were suddenly launched into the air out of sight.

~

Caine was so caught up in the monster mayhem, he missed the glitch. Not that he could hear his wacky watch over his own excitement as it alerted that a racer was out of bounds.

~

While the kart and bandit motorbike went skyward, Pomni and Gummigoo were thrown downward. They fell and fell and fell, the bright colorful world above fading to deep navy blue grided walls.

They both fell hard on the flat untextured ground. The wind knocked out of them both, they struggled to get up. Pomni looked up, then around. She vaguely recognized where she could be. It looked like the area she found herself in when she ran from Kaufmo. Caine's workshop, so to speak.

Gummigoo groaned and adjusted his hat. He glared at Pomni. "Where are we? What's all this?" He gestured to their surroundings, random parts maps and assets were everywhere.

Pomni rubbed her shoulder. "I- I don't really know. We're probably under the map."

"Map?" Gummigoo looked up. The light from above was barely visible this far away. "I don't understand."

"Oh boy..." Pomni mumbled to herself. "Well, we're ya know...in a game?" She said carefully.

Gummigoo looked at her like she was crazy. "Game? What game? I've lived a whole life up there! That syrup you racers where hauling would've saved my mum!"

"...you have a mom?" She was flabbergasted. This NPC bandit was acting like a real person being told their world is fake.

"Yes! She-...she was...She needs the syrup for..." His eyes widened. He couldn't remember the exact reason for his motivation. He couldn't remember what she even looked like. He angrily snapped at Pomni. "What is going on!? Why can't I remember!?"

She flinched, seeing real pain in his digital eyes. "Because...you don't really...um..." She looked to the side. Rows and rows of asset charters were lined up like chess pieces by height and genre. The newest ones were on the end. She looked back at Gummigoo with sympathy and pointed to the Candy Canyon bandit assets.

Gummigoo saw himself. He cautiously approached, reaching out to touch his face. It felt real. It was him but, no life behind his eyes. He jerked his hand away and saw his friends out of the corner of his eye, just as still and lifeless as himself. He started to hyperventilate and fell to his knees.

~

The others were on lap two. Jax, Gangle and Kinger successfully scored points for the crates. Gangle was worried. She kept looking up to see if Pomni's kart would come down, but the map was so big she couldn't see wear it could possibly fall on the track. There was also only one bandit now. The smallest of the original three was far less of a threat all by himself. He didn't know where Gummigoo went and he watched his friend get taken by the fudge monster. He was only going because he would finish the mission in their names. Gummi's mum needed that syrup and he was going to do it!

~

Gummigoo stared blankly at the floor. Everything was a lie. His life, his memories, the people he knew and thought he loved. Fake.

Pomni meanwhile was looking for a way back up. Of course, they could just wait for Caine, but who knows how long that would be. She didn't wander too far away from Gummigoo but had a good look around for a stairway or something. When that failed, she looked to the vehicle assets. The bandit bikes were there. Maybe they could use that? They glitched out of the map, maybe they could glitch back in. She tries starting a bike but it doesn't turn over. It's as lifeless as the other statue-like assets.

"[@#$&]" Pomni kicked the bike, only managing to hurt her own foot. She looked at the slumped over figure of the living Gummigoo. "Hey...you okay?"

He didn't look at her. "What do you think?"

She awkwardly fidgeted with her hands. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"What is there to talk about?"

Pomni slowly approached. "I don't want to just leave you down here."

"Why not? I don't matter in the slightest. I'm...nothing." He took off his hat, holding it to his chest to find comfort in something familiar. Even if it wasn't real.

Pomni sat down next to him. "This may seem strange, but...I think I know the feeling." She sees the asset of him and quickly adds. "Well, maybe not the exact feeling, but feeling like you're nothing is not that uncommon. People even feel like that were I come from."

Gummigoo looked around and didn't see her face amongst the assets. "I assume you're not like me then?"

"No...not quite. But, for what it's worth. I'm stuck here too. I have no control over what's real or not, in this world or the other...but what I do have control over is what I do with myself. And I'm not going to take life sitting down. Are you?"

He thought for a moment. Then stood. "No. I'm not, but... What happens now?"

Pomni stood with him. "Well, I was thinking you could come back with me and the others. Become a racer. Maybe you could...be someone real with us. I just...I don't want you to feel like you're nothing. I don't want anyone to feel like that. And...the racers are pretty welcoming. Made me feel like I was a part of something rather quick. Maybe it can be the same for you?"

Gummigoo put his hat back on with a small smile. "You're a strange little character. I suppose I could give it a try." He looked to the assets of his companions. "All I ask is that we don't tell the lads. They're a couple of bright eyed yobbos. I don't want to drag them down with me."

"Makes sense. What's your name by the way?"

"Gummigoo, any idea on how to get out of here?"

"I had a few but they haven't worked. The only thing left to do is to walk."

Gummigoo looked to all the different tracks and assets. This was a weird and unknown world he was walking into. Made his head hurt. Ignorance truly was bliss in his case.

~

Bubble finally got fed up with the boss's wacky watch constantly going off and bit his wrist. Caine yelped and shook Bubble off his arm. "What was that for!?" The watch finally got his attention. "Oh no, a racer went out of bounds! The spoilers!" He vanished, leaving Bubble to munch on his equipment in peace.

~

Pomni and Gummigoo wandered aimlessly. There was no discernible pattern to where things ended or began. This "workshop", as Pomni came to mentally call it, was one of the most wildly chaotic spaces she had ever been in. Seems as though Caine was just as disorganized with his work as he was with his attention span.

"Hey, what's that over there?" Gummigoo pointed to a red door sitting out by itself in the distance.

Pomni squinted to read the print. She gasped. "An exit!" She ran to the door, Gummigoo right behind her. Her mind started to race with "what if". Could it possibly be THE exit? Was Caine hiding it here the whole time!?

Before she could grab the handle, Caine appeared between her and the door. "Pomni! My- oof!" Pomni ran smack into him.

Pomni grabbed Caine by the lapels of his coat and pulled him close to glare into his wild eyes. "Caine. What's that?" She pointed to the door behind him.

"Oh that? That's just a digital hallucination. Nothing to see there."

"I can see it too, mate." Gummigoo said flatly.

Caine snapped his fingers and the door poofed away. "You fell out of bounds, that's quite the fall. You probably hit your head. Come on let's get you back to the race. There is still one lap to go!"

"Wait, what about Gummigoo?" Pomni kept her grip tight.

"Gummi-who? Oh, your NPC friend here? What about him?" Caine shrugged.

"I want him to come with us."

Caine tried to figure out a response. "You want the NPC to rejoin the race? I can do that."

"No, I want him to come back to the Garage with us. I want him to become a racer. Caine, his reality has been shattered. He knows what he is. We can't just leave him with that knowledge. It would be cruel. Please, let him figure himself out like I've had to the last couple of days." She loosened her grip.

Caine looked from her to Gummigoo and back. "Would letting him join make you happy?"

Pomni looked back at Gummigoo. "Yes. I need all the friends I can get."

Gummigoo felt his first real emotion after the existential dread nearly drowned him. He felt comforted by Pomni's compassion.

"Welp, your wish is my command. Let's get you both back topside." He grabbed their arms and teleported to the start line. He snapped his fingers and Pomni's kart and Gummigoo's bike appeared. "Go on, you two! The race will be over soon!"

Pomni looked back at Caine from her kart. "Don't think I forgot about that door, Caine. I know what I saw." She revved her kart and zoomed off, Gummigoo followed.

Caine hovered by himself next to the start line. The roar of the NPC spectators faded into the background as his code felt heavy with dread. He needed to do something about that door.

~~~

Ch1 prev next

[randomstoryenjoyer]

White Lily Cookie’s fall

One of my AU ideas where there are very few witches left!

You sighed to yourself, sweat running down your forehead as you were busy at work. Your hands and fingers were sore from all the baking and finesse you endured for as long as you can remember, and were still holding onto the tray you had placed down on the table, full of a new batch of freshly baked cookies.

Today was the Night of the Witches, or at least it was meant to be. There were barely any witches anymore for reasons your brain had given up trying to understand a long time ago. Was it perhaps from the constant persecution from non-magic humans? Had many of them given up their magic ways? You had already accepted the fact that you would most likely never find out. Already shunned by both the wizards and non-magic society, this only serves to convince you that you didn’t deserve to have survived this great witch-disappearance. Your destiny to being left alone in the dark had already been set in stone ever since your loneliness overtook you.

Despite these modern circumstances, you had still decided to honour the nostalgic past, where once in every thousand years, all witches and sorceresses and sorcerers and whatnot would meet together in this very table. And now, your only company was the ultimate dough, as it continued churning and bubbling alongside the banquet table like it always did.

As you continued to stare down at the cookies you had baked, all of them absurd and colourful in their own ways, your memories continued to flood in. Ever since you were on your own in the world of magic, you became obsessed with the art of magic culinary. If you couldn’t connect with other humans, maybe you could create your own beings to connect with? You had began baking cookies to give life to in an attempt to make your own friends and companions, working towards achieving in creating what your mind called the ‘perfect cookie’. However, the other witches soon picked up on this habit of yours and started doing it themselves, but only with the intention of eating the living cookies they baked. This difference of viewpoints between you and and the small rest of them also ended up leaving you isolated from the rest of the witches left, which only served to make your loneliness worse.

And to make matters worse, no matter how nice you tried to be, or how much genuine care you had put into every dough or frosting you had fabricated, every single cookie you baked ended up running away from you, screaming in fear and making a run for it every time you took your eyes off them. This carried on for years, and you were surprised the mental toll of constant rejection and failure from your creations hadn’t left you insane yet. At this point, the ‘perfect cookie’ would simply be the one that wasn’t scared of you.

And so, here you were, baking cookies for the millionth time all alone during the Night of the Witches. You kept staring down at the tray, waiting for the life powder’s effects to kick in, until the cookies began to blink and sit up from the tray they laid upon. You stiffened up, hoping this special night would pity you and grant you the wish you so desperately wanted, but soon enough, the little cookies below you were already screaming in shock and cowering away from you, many probably getting ready to make a run for it the first chance they got. Even on the Night of Witches, you hadn’t made any progress on managing to create the ‘perfect cookie’.

If this was any other day, you’d probably just let them run off and back yet another new batch. But today, in the Night of Witches itself, something finally snapped after you after the constant agonising failures throughout the years. This was your destiny, wasn’t it? Being forgotten and left alone by everybody, passing away eventually and not leaving behind a single trace of yourself. Nobody else cared about you. Not even your own creations! You could feel your teeth begin to grind together and your hands beginning to clench as you stared down at your little creations all still looking up at you in horror, your mind filled with too much anger at this point to even calm down. They wanted to fear you? You were going to give them a good reason to fear you

.

.

.

…

You finally regained your senses after your outburst, realising your state and surroundings. Your section of the banquet table was now littered with cookie crumbs, jam splattered everywhere. Your hands were sticky with the amount of jam splotches on them, and your cheeks were puffed up from the amount of mushed up cookie dough inside your mouth…

You hastily got up from your seat, pouring yourself a glass of brew to wash down your meal with. During that, your heard a small and rather traumatised voice coming from your banquet table spot, and turned around to see a small white and green cookie with pale dough panically saying something to whatever remains of your baked cookies were left on the tray, but they were all probably too paralysed from what happened to even notice anything that the green and white cookie was saying…

Wait a minute… what was that on her staff… a green fleur-de-lis?! You remember baking that! This was one of the first ever cookies you ever baked, you’d never forget how difficult it was to bake those special solid jams before giving up after doing it 5 times. What was she doing here? Had she been hiding here during the Night of the Witches? Had she seen your outburst?

You hastily began to approach her, as she noticed you doing so, beginning to back away from you with the same traumatised look in her eyes. However, this led to her to fall from the banquet table… and straight into the ultimate dough.

You tried to catch her mid-fall, but to no avail. Thus, you now stood over the purple mass, having observed her sink down into it. Your thoughts quickly began shifting from worry into morbid curiosity. What did you have to lose at this point? And thus, you began baking her straight from the inside of the ultimate dough itself, in hopes of the result being different than all your previous attempts, almost suffering from a burst of adrenaline as a result from your initial shock, which kept you reaching out for the nearest ingredients you could use.

A dose of concentrated dark magic, a mix of scarlet pomegranate syrup amongst many other things, this soon became the most ferocious and emotional baking you’ve ever done in your life. Your hands were reaching a new level of soreness from the sheer speed of you mixing the dough; sweat and tears dropping from your face and into the mixture, as if you were pouring your entire concentration, your entire emotions, your entire soul into this one cookie as she was mercilessly mixed and sloshed inside the ultimate dough.

Until…

The surroundings and skies shifted and turned into a boiling red colour, as the cookie raised from the ultimate dough, the magnitude of this reaction even causing other nearby cakes you had baked for yourself to gain sentience from the amount of life powder you had scattered during your baking and outburst.

The small cookie seemed much more sinister than ever, with her new red and black clothes, purple dough, horns protruding from her head, and her large black crimson cape. What was she even holding on one of her hands?

She immediately started cackling and attempted to use her newfound powers to scare you, but they were very similar to the dark magic you had started to use a long whole ago and were more experienced as, so it didn’t take much effort to overpower her and prevent her from defeating you. Despite this, her expression and disposition didn’t change in the slightest, as she simply stared up at you and spoke with a sinister voice that sent shivers down your spine.

“My my, you’re a rather interesting witch, aren’t you, creator? Despite seeming so powerful, I can sense you’re scared. You’re unstable. How amusing.”

Your breathing hitches slightly as she speaks, your body stiffening up again as you stared down at her

“I must thank you though. This new body you gave me, along with your powers… how refreshing! But I feel more than beyond that… what are these memories you gave me, hm?”

You began to wonder if you really had accidentally given her part of your soul and memories from how emotional you were during the whole ordeal…

“My whole perception of our purpose as cookies was shattered when I saw your little act, creator! But your memories tell me this was a simple one-off, all other witches only making cookies to be eaten?! Awww, they left you alone for this, did they? And now you’re trapped in this endless spiral of depression and loneliness? How pathetic!”

Your hands began to clench together again as the little cookie continued.

“Well, I’ll tell you that the witches were wrong! I reject this so called destiny! And you should reject your pitiful fate like I have too! ARISE!”

Your nearby newly-living cakes began slowly gathering around you two, but you were too busy still staring down at her to notice them and their howls.

“Why bother accepting the morbid future you’re headed towards? I’m glad to have reunited with you, creator! Your memories tell me that all other cookies you baked all rejected your acceptance and love? They were all not thankful for the life you bestowed them, and neither were the witches that learnt how to bake cookies from you! We’ve both got common enemies; so if you join me… you’ll get your revenge. You’ll make this world burn with me and show everyone the consequences of having abandoned you!”

Despite the fear you developed at this point, the more she spoke, the more… familiar she felt to be close to. You realised that she must hold part of your inner self too; it wasn’t just an illusion when you felt like your emotions and thoughts were being mixed with the ultimate. She’s practically a side of yourself, one that was born from the horrid suffering and emotions that were built up over the years. She was the you that you were hiding away from the world…

And this only led to new emotions developing as the darkness built up around us both. Her words had made you feel lighter, indescribably glad, with a new unhealthy happiness oozing out of your tired heart. Every single word she said stuck to your mind like glue, and you found yourself falling for her words more with each passing second.

Instinctively, you held out your hand, which she was more than happy to descend and stand on the palm of your hand, still staring up at you with the same frightening smirk on her face as you stare down at her. As the darkness kept swirling around you both and your cake creations further, you were only able to tell yourself one thing:

From this point on, your life would never be the same…

[stiffyck]

first of all, i wanna go ahead anf praise your art for the millionth time because holy shit it is so amazing. idk what kinda crack you put in your colouring or artstyle but im eating it UP!!! i especially love all the detail you put into your designs, its amazing SECONDLYY!!!! I see the daau starting to form a bit more and i was wondering if i would be allowed to make a story/fanfic based off of your art so far?

AAAAA THANK YOU SM AND ALSO YES! ABSOLUTELY.

Daau is actually an older au I've already talked about a lot last year on my blog but I'm sorta reviving it and kinda redoing it?

But if you want more about the au I have plenty of thoughts.

Scars planet is gone. It literally fell apart. Everyone was being evacuated but scar got left behind because he was trying to find jellie. Jellie looks mostly like a cat but has 6 legs.

Scar gets to where everyone was supposed to be only to find everyone gone already. They were already evacuated and he got left behind. This happens when he's around his teenage years so he's still a kid basically.

There is an emergency button if I remember correctly and he uses it to let someone know he's still there. He doesn't expect anyone to come find him but he tries anyway.

Xisuma, one of the people helping Scars species evacuate the planet does see the signal and decides to go back himself to get whoever got left behind.

Scar gets saved by X and later joins hermitcraft when X gives him the offer. (Dadsuma to the rescue)

Scars planet was very hot and it was mostly just a desert planet. Lots of sand, not much plants or water.

Scar is covered by hard scales to protect him from the sun and even the rough sand.

His hands are rough as is most of his fur except the short fur covering his stomach

His species are omnivores- theres not much food to find in the desert anyway so he can't really be picky. He does love bugs and since he's been on hermitcraft he loves fruit and candy.

In the original au there was some hermitshipping which I'm kinda avoiding in this version (still love the original au tho ofc) because aroace scar rjgkkge

While he loves hermitcraft and considers it his home and the hermits his family he still misses his actual home where he grew up. Hermitcraft is always cold for him. Even when he sees the other hermits sweating and complaining how hot it is he's reminded that he's not supposed to live here at all. The sun feels nice on his scales and his skin but it's not the same heat as on his planet.

He does like the nether. It's warm. He also likes deserts even if they're not as warm as his desert was.

His 4 ears. The bottom set of ears is not out most times. Usually the ears show only when he's cuddling with someone and feels really safe and relaxed.

Also he's cold blooded.

That's all my thoughts for now but I can come back with more I think

[kenobicoffee]

Lavender Haze (by @kenobicoffee) a josh x reader fic (18+ MDNI)

A/N: It’s taken forever, but it’s here! Yay! Lemme know what I can do to get better, and leave a comment if you liked it!

Word Count: 3k, ~20 min read

Outline: You and Josh are getting high and watching music videos when you both get a little bit too turned on. Passionate making out leads to Josh asking very politely to eat you out while sitting on the couch as he jerks himself off to completion.

Trigger Tags: cussing, drug use (weed), period sex, oral - f receiving, masturbation, praise kink, sub Josh if you squint

Vibe Tags: romantic, eye contact, the FLUFFiest of smut, goofy ahh shenanigans, heavy musician vibes, lots of foreplay (patience is a virtue) theatrekid!Josh, poetry💕

————

“This is officially worse than the blankets,” you said as the soft Tennessee rain pattered away while the last track of an LP faded with a click. Josh sat up from his reclined position on the couch next to you, the warm glow of a lamp forming a halo around his sepia curls.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” he retorted, his buzz accentuating the midwestern drawl. He took another lazy drag of the joint you two had been sharing for the evening, and you shifted to look at him. Your gaze fell on the curve of his profile, and as he exhaled, you wondered for the millionth time what angelic painting he’d fallen out of to bring him here. Just seeing him lie there in the light of the evening made that pit in your stomach travel lower and lower, and you had to look away before your mind wandered too far where it shouldn’t go.

“Oh nothing,” you teased, arms crossed, “Just that I’m always cold at two a.m. when I wake up to find Puck has stolen all my blankets.”

It was this kind of banter that made him feel like home to you, like all of human history and art encapsulated his smile.

“How dare you besmirch the name of Mr. Goodfellow?” His voice had a regal air that might have sounded Shakespearian had his eyes not been half shut. “In this house? Blasphemy!”

“Joshua Michael, you are hogging that joint, and you know it.”

You stretched out your hand as he took one last dramatic pull, making sure to look extra innocent as he exhaled.

“I’m sorry mama,” he grinned, murmuring apologetically. “I’ll be good now, I promise. You want me to put another record on?”

“Absolutely not,” you said, “You’ll scratch it like you did the Bon Iver EP.”

He shrugged amiably and reached for the tv remote, “Guess we’ll do it the old fashioned way then.”

After several slow-motion clicks, he managed to open the Youtube app and a lyric visualizer for a psychedelic pop group began to play. You closed your eyes and breathed in deep, your nervous system beginning to level out for the first time in a week. With a heavy exhale, you started to melt into the cushions.

An arm pushed behind your back and around your midsection, and before you could register, Josh had nestled himself under your arm with his head on your chest. Instinctually you played with his curls, running your nails up the nape of his neck to just below his t-shirt collar. He hummed in approval of your light touch.

Soon, a down-tempo r&b tune was playing, and you felt him pick his head up slightly to look at the screen, “Oh shit, I forgot how incredible this music video is.” Your eyes fluttered open, nearly bothered by the interruption of your meditative state.

Colors and bodies flashed in and out of frame, and the characters leaned closer and closer till they were nearly on top of each other. They swayed and clung to each other's waists while a breathy vocalist sang of a need for touch, a desire to be felt. It was the kind of softcore thing you couldn’t quite pull away from, and you could see he was watching intently too.

“I love your algorithms–they don’t make any fucking sense,” you chimed in, hoping your nonchalant tone would hide how much you secretly enjoyed the mood shift.

Without breaking his focus from the screen, he began to run his fingers on your stomach, mirroring your scratches to his head and neck. “I can’t be defined, babydoll,” he responded, his delivery maddeningly vague. “You know the same production team worked on the video for…”

You lent an ear while he spiraled off on a tangent, seemingly unaware of the amount of lust that was building in you simply from hearing him speak. He was intoxicating, and even as blurry as you were, you couldn’t deny how welcome his touch felt. With every pass of his palm further up your torso, you hoped he’d overreach and graze your breast. And why not? You thought to yourself, What’s so different about tonight?

You surreptitiously shifted your body lower beneath him, the devil on your shoulders’ voice becoming almost unbearable. By the third or fourth song your pulse had quickened not insignificantly, and thoughts of him running his hand underneath your shirt to find your hardening nipples there had replaced all fuzzy exhaustion.

You tried to recall why a nagging feeling in the back of your mind kept steering you away, but it was all turning up blank in the thick cloud of dopamine. Still, you knew it couldn’t be nothing, and decided on compromise: One little kiss, that’s all. He’s not even paying attention. And so you brushed the curls away from his forehand and laid a deep kiss there. He was so warm against your lips it felt nearly impossible to break away, but as you did he quickly lifted his gaze to meet yours.

His lips parted softly as if to say something, then all at once they were on yours, moving with grace and hunger as you tugged gently on each other. He sat up straighter, lips never leaving yours as he balanced his weight on top of you. Your hands pressed firmly into his lower back, willing his pelvis to roll against yours, and you felt that same heat starting to build beneath his boxer briefs too.

You wanted to feel him, to hold his slight waist close to yours and run your fingers down his back till his whole body was covered in chills and desire. He broke temporarily from your lips and sighed as you ran your fingers from the nape of his neck all the way down to his tailbone. His chest pressed against yours and anchored you to the moment—two souls sharing a singular fluttering heartbeat.

His solid hands held your back and you reached to hang your arms around his neck. The movement forced him to burrow his nose into the crook of his neck, and he wasted no time peppering the delicate skin there with the same hungry kisses. You could feel the pressure leaving red welts that you’d have to attend to in the morning. Tonight though, they only served as proof of the affection he felt for you too.

He could’ve stayed content to hold you like that forever, but the building heat between you two was so saccharine, you felt you owed it to whatever hedonistic god to indulge yourself. Without hesitating, you slipped the neck of his t-shirt up over his curls and discarded it to the side.

The smile that met you was nothing short of a sunbeam. You could tell he hadn’t been sure what tonight held either, but every time you took initiative like this he knew it gave him permission to worship you like the goddess he always claimed you were.

He pulled himself to a seated position on the ground in front of you. You followed him forward while he settled on his knees, hands running up and down your body. They found the hem of your t-shirt and slipped seamlessly beneath to find your breasts. He held you steady as he rubbed your nipples in small, gentle circles.

You felt your back start to arch slightly at the pressure, and just as your kisses were gaining speed he reached a hand up to your chin and held you there, the other continuing its rhythm on your breast.

“God, you’re perfect in this light,” his words were breathy and sincere, and you wished with everything in you to swallow them whole and feel the light rush out through your pores. He set his lips to your jaw, inching further down your throat till he was nearly below your neckline.

“Help me out?” he breathed between quick kisses, never one to let clothing keep him at bay. You acquiesced immediately, pulling the edge of your t-shirt up over your head and out of mind.

Goosebumps covered your naked form, and you shivered. Noticing them, he paused his procession to run his palms up and down your arms. You grinned at him, jaw trembling slightly, “Sssee? Always making me cold.”

“You’re like poetry.” His voice was deeper now, deeper than you’d heard it in a while. His hazy eyes followed an invisible trail he mapped along your sternum, and the goosebumps multiplied. You saw the notch in his brow furrow as he began searching for something to say.

“I would not paint — a picture —

I'd rather be the One

It's bright impossibility

To dwell — delicious — on —”

Fuck.

“And wonder how the fingers feel

Whose rare — celestial — stir —

Evokes so sweet a torment —

Such sumptuous — Despair —”

“Oh Joshua,” was all you could breathe out in response, your chin jutting forward, crease on your forehead betraying how desperately you needed him. Your cheeks burned as he crashed back into you for a full and hungry kiss, his tongue reaching for more. Feeling your reaction, his hand traveled back down to your waistband.

Finally, like a ghost in the mirror, you recalled why you’d been so hesitant earlier. A millisecond to spare, you shot your hand down and caught his wrist. You could see a dart of panic in his eyes–he was afraid he’d upset you.

“Is this ok?”

“Yeah, yes, It’s just—” more color returned to your cheeks, and the words started to bubble over, “If you take off my pants it’ll get messy: it’s like, day four of my cycle. I totally spaced, baby, I’m sorry.” Your words were exasperated as you mentally kicked yourself for letting your brain fog this badly.

He pulled back to look you in the eye, faux sternness furrowing his brow, “Hey love?” You raised an eyebrow in answer to his sudden shift, “Full transparency: I couldn’t care less if you’re on your period, let alone what day.”

“Are you… are you sure?” Now your own brow was knit, skeptical of his sincerity. It wasn’t that you doubted him, simply that you needed confirmation. Your pulse quickened slightly and you focused your waning attention into his velvet brown eyes, searching for any apprehension he might have hidden for your sake. To your great surprise and relief, you could find none.

“I mean, god knows I’ve come face to face with a bodily fluid or two,” he flashed a devilish grin that spanned his entire face.

You quirked a small grin back, trying to feign indifference even while your heart was beating out of your chest, “Well, sure. I mean… really?”

“Really,” he continued, batting his eyelashes,“Maroon makes my eyes pop.”

“You’re a mess,” you said with a giggle.

“I will be.” He gave your waist a reassuring squeeze as he shifted his weight off his knees. “I’ll wear it like a badge of honor, '' he promised solemnly.

You thought about protesting once more just to check, but before you had a chance, his palms had slipped behind your lower back and he was pulling you towards himself. Your body shifted till you hung just barely off the edge of the couch, his hands effortlessly tugging your sweats and underwear off in a single tug.

“Theeeeere she is,” he exclaimed softly, a low hum building in his tone. With the shift in your weight came an equal one in mentality, and you felt your anxieties start to lift. It had been a while since you’d let him take full control, and the pure indulgence of it all was bringing a fire to your core the likes of which you hadn’t felt in months.

Slow and methodical, he parted your knees, gracing them with the backs of his fingers first, then tenderly running his hands along your thighs as he hummed softly, mostly to himself.

“Mmmm, it's like–what’s the new Hozier song?” He searched his hazy brain for the lyrics while he continued to run his hands along your skin, seemingly unaware of the tizzy he’d put you in. “I’d tell them put me back in, coach! Yeah, that’s the one…”

He tittered on as if speaking from an entirely different point of view, his words seemingly unaware of his thumb which was rubbing itself up and down your inner thigh. He swooped ever closer to your clit until he graciously pressed there in gentle circles.

“Take me to church!” He crooned, a lopsided grin washing over his face before bending to land soft kisses on each thigh. With a final glance up at you and the ghost of smirk that suggested he might be more coherent than he was letting on, his lips graciously smoothed over your sensitive clit. His tongue licked up your vulva to encompass all of you in smooth, wet pleasure.

“Oh god,'' you tried not to shout, although the work he’d done up to this point made you feel nearly ready to burst in record-time.

“Mhmm” he murmured into you. You could feel his lips smiling: he loved talking you through your pleasure. The rumblings always went straight through your center like electricity and gave you the deepest orgasms, which in turn fueled his.

He continued his sucking and tonguing, sometimes soft and light, then all at once more firm and deliberate. His lips were like waves crashing again and again to a steady unheard beat. As you found a common tempo your breath deepened with every exhale, and you released a sigh of your own. The melody, though quiet at first, shortly matched his in pitch and intensity.

He’d hum and you’d moan an echo to him, signaling your bliss in an ebb and flow of sounds shared between you; a language only you two could understand. His murmuring became groans and gasps as he came up for air, the temperature difference shocking your soaking cunt and exciting you even more. With each wave you ran your fingers through his curls, guiding his nose to press into you at the perfect angle, eliciting delicious moans which spurred the two of you on even more.

He clung to your hips as you began to roll yours into him, and he pressed his tongue greedily inside you, sending you dangerously close to the edge. “Baby, you’re doing so, so good, it might be soon,” you warned as you cupped his cheek in one hand, the other still pressing behind his neck to hold him in place.

He groaned and broke away with a smack, eyes half shut with the pleasureful haze filling both of your minds. “Hold on mama, I’ll get you there, I promise. Just gotta get these off,” he said, running his right palm down your calf to his boxer briefs. He hooked his thumb under the band at his waist while the other hand stayed anchored firmly on your knee.

The brief pause had pulled your mind temporarily out of the clouds, and you looked down to see that the arc of his cock was indeed reaching a fever pitch too strong to be ignored any longer.

“Oh god, baby I- I’m sorry I wasn’t even thinking, let m–” but as you went to sit forward the hand planted on your knee jumped up to your abdomen, pressing you back into the couch with a soft thud.

“Why are you saying sorry?” He stared directly into your eyes and continued pulling his boxer briefs off slow and deliberately. The question was as much a command to relax as it was an invitation to watch.

“If I needed your help, believe me baby, I’d ask.” His hand was on his cock now, already wet with so much precum, and the stare he was attempting faltered slightly as his fingers graced the tip.

“I’m not above begging–you know that,” he said, his voice gruff, erring a half step lower every time he reached the base of his cock. You felt your breath hitch, eyes flitting between his beautiful stare and his hand that continued stroking up and down.

“I bet you’d like that a lot, wouldn’t you?” His tone was darker, fueled by the eye contact, when suddenly—“Sicko!” he cried, his character voice nearly making you choke. You both erupted into bubbling laughter, and you shook your head slightly, brushing a rogue curl out of his eyes–He lets the intrusive thoughts win every time.

“Oh my god. Babe, you’re literally eating me out on my period,” you responded, dropping your hand firmly on the scruff of his neck again. He jumped slightly with the force of your grasp, and you could see his cock twitch the slightest bit more. You leaned in to match his energy, and with the darkest voice you could muster, confessed, “the sicko is you, darling.”

“Oh, right,” he said, a hazy smile floating back onto his face. His eyes closed as he lowered back down, “Right… fair point.”

His lips returned to your cunt, the promise of sweet release spurring him on to the finale. His movement was steady but desperate, and the smooth and consistent wake of your hips was shortly replaced by a more sporadic, forceful tide that pushed into him with vigor. He took it in stride, moaning as his own wake of pleasure began building in him.

You could tell he was moving his own hips at a quicken pace, as if imagining his cock was pushing deep inside you while he lapped at your drenched center. He spread his knees further apart, arching his back in order to bring himself closer to orgasm. His body was practically writhing underneath you, just the taste of you bringing him closer and closer.

The image of him completely at your mercy made every neuron in your brain fire simultaneously, and you moaned with a finality that let him know it was time.

Without warning his lips moved to encircle only your clit, and the focused sucking there sent you so dangerously close you nearly sobbed as you cried out, “Baby, come with me–on me, please.”

With a final cry you felt him oblige you, and he let out a long moan as you found yourself crashing into your orgasm. The release sent fireworks to your psyche, and he let you take over with your fingers the way you liked in the midst of it. He stood and watched you writhing with all the pleasure he’d given you, and with a final groan he joined you in ecstasy.

His head thrown back, he pumped himself onto your pussy, his mess joining your own and adding to the pleasure you were currently riding yourself through. Placing his free hand to your side, he knelt down closer and rubbed the sensitive head of his dripping cock in the folds of your vulva, spreading around his cum till both your sensitivities had become nearly too much to handle. Even then, he continued rubbing the shaft of his cock on your throbbing cunt till you gasped slightly from over stimulation.

His forehead met yours wordlessly, and you stayed there for a moment, breathing heavy from exertion. He sighed as he let his body flop down next to you, temples still touching. You ran your fingers up and down his arms, body still stuttering in the afterglow. The exhaustion was setting in, and you had to force yourself to open your eyelids to look at him–you needed to kiss him one more time before you fell asleep. He too had his eyes closed, a bleary smile playing across his face as if he were replaying pictures of you in his mind. You kissed him softly on his nose, still slightly wet and rosy, and his eyes fluttered open. As your pulses returned to their normal pace, he grabbed a blanket to clean you both up.

“We can wash it,” he said reassuringly, noticing your slightly reluctant side eye. Blanket in tow, he cupped his hand gently around your pussy and worked softly to make you feel as clean as possible. Once he was satisfied with his work, he tossed the blanket away to pull you in closer.

“You are entirely too good to me,” you whispered, the siren song of sleep finally taking its toll.

“You are entirely too good, momma,” he whispered back, and you both slipped away as the rain sang you into the deep blue.

[afreakingdork]

Weak Spot - Chapter 64

RotTMNT Donatello x Reader

The previous chapter art was removed 4/30/2024, but feral Donnie can't help but look back in this new chapter art from 9/2/2024 by @unknownfanartist

Warnings: Aged-up Turtles, Romance, Meet Cute, Villain Donatello, Cussing, Crushes, Xenophobia, Fear, Intimidation, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Hurt/Comfort, Love, AFAB Reader, Vaginal Sex, Sex Rough, Sex, Penis In Vagina Sex, Creampie, Teasing, Scent Kink, Sexual Tension, Breeding Kink, Multiple Orgasms, Cunnilingus, Fellatio, Marathon Sex, Somnophilia, Bondage, Feral Behavior, Feral Donatello, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Public Sex, Dom Donnie, Human/Turtle Relationships, Turtle Noises, Roleplay, Sexual Roleplay

Synopsis:  A love story of villainous proportions! Though it hadn’t come easily, as these things rarely do, you found yourself in a whirlwind romance with a handsome and mysterious mutant. His idiosyncrasies had been easy to ignore as attraction grew into something more. However, will love endure when the unknowns about him end up being far darker than you ever considered?

I’m dedicating this chapter to Drakkensdatter who gave me quite the insight which I got to employ here! I hope you like it!

Fem!Reader References/Warnings Below Cut

Also available on Ao3

First 💜 Previous

LAST WARNING FOR THE 🍋 UNDER THE CUT. MINORS DNI!

Fem!Reader References/Warnings: slit, cunt, vagina, clit, pregnancy thoughts to the millionth degree in every dang version you can think of, breast, boob, cervix, womb, uterus, tubes, eggs, what can I say you finally get peed on, and reader gets called mother (joking) then for real?

The beginning of July found you making sandwiches. Almost a week had passed since the Hamatos’ had finally departed and you and Donnie were still devouring time together. Nearly inseparable, there wasn’t much left before you returned to work the next day. A little overdue, but something you imagined couldn’t have been helped since there was no way you could have left Donnie alone with the other turtles, you had a meeting scheduled with the higher ups.

You’d already fielded both Donnie and S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. from interfering.

You knew what was going to happen. It was the same thing that happened to Tami when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was demoted to an ancillary position where her repeated absences wouldn’t hurt the company workload. She could keep her health insurance in full. She’d just have to take a pay cut. All things you were ready to account for and only minorly irritated as you had been on the road to a nice increase before your many ‘illnesses,’ you’d resigned yourself.

You could only hope this would stop happening and you’d be returned to your regular position in no time.

Grabbing toast, you maneuvered around your boyfriend where he was comically bent at the hips. It was a prime watching position where his arms were folded on the counter and his head was tucked down in them. You jostled him affectionately with a little bump as you laid out two plates. “Still marveling at my sandwich skills?”

He lifted his mouth from his sleeve only long enough to speak. “None have compared to that days.” 

“Thanks.” You gave him a dry look and saw your bread was the same.

“Rarity enhances importance.” There was the slightest sway of his shoulders that said his tail was making lazy rounds. “I am indulging in my mate as of current.”

You made a big move of smooching his forehead. “Let’s indulge in that new mustard too then.”

He gave an affectionate bow of his head.

You turned to grab the cute jar and returned with a knife. Slathering a careful amount on, you assembled the ingredients. You then pressed the breads together and with a quick guillotine, cut them in half for the sake of it. “What do you want to watch while we eat?”

For a moment, Donnie didn’t respond and you figured he was thinking.

Turning a plate to admire your handiwork, you felt time linger for too long and turned to check what was holding him up. You expected a little reverence as he’d been pouring it on thick. What you didn’t expect was to find him vacantly staring. Not all there, he was both looking at and through you.

The familiarity of the gaze haunted you.

You recognized that look.

It had been seared into your brain.

You knew what it proceeded.

Not just your blood pressure, but your entire center of gravity plummeted and you had to lean further into the counter.

“Oh no…” You mouthed in horror.

Donnie watched on with an unfocused gaze.

“No. No, no!” You pushed the plates away to grab and shake him.

He snapped out of his stupor and blinked wide. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

“You’re going into heat!”

He gawked.

“Do you remember the last few seconds?! The question I just asked?! Staring?!”

He only had to search you for a single second before he lifted in a similar horrified fit. “No.”

You pressed your fingertips right into your eyes as you stepped away.

You weren’t sure you could handle his mating season right now.

Hell, you were downright confident.

It took not only an extreme physical toil, but a mental one too.

There was so much care.

So much to think about.

“That can’t…” Donnie mouthed.

You’d only been walking without an aid for a couple days and that was more of a trial run.

You were going to bring your crutch to work.

“I missed it.” A purple light warmed your lids in a way that signaled he’d summoned some screens. “May 17th marked the official start date of my last. It was proceeded by about a month of signaling.”

Then there was the apartment. You loved your home, but there was no way in hell you were going to be constrained to this room for another few weeks.

“Viable mate!” Donnie’s voice held a sense of urgency. “That is what we hypothesized! It held true! You were not viable and therefore I did not go into heat!”

You finally looked at him, ever weakening.

He took you in with growing misery. “We missed our anniversary, Valentine’s…”

Something about the weary look on his face reminded you of the good.

You saw feral Donnie remorseful and affectionate.

You remembered how he doted on you.

Curled up together, you could hear the faint loving chirps he cooed.

No matter how embittered you’d exited that time, you’d also been brought undeniably closer.

It was the point you’d started thinking of each other as mates.

That intimacy flushed over you and you looked away with metered guilt.

Beside you, you could sense current Donnie raise with concerns regarding your changing attitude.

You imagined your shift confused him.

It confused you.

You weren’t really considering it.

It would be nice though.

To feel close to him.

You did.

There was no question.

You also didn’t, to a certain extent.

Everything felt like catching up.

You yearned for that easy intimacy.

The one you didn’t have to think about in a sense of relief.

The one that came because you knew how to weave around one another.

You hadn’t even fucked.

Putting your face in your hands, your breath puffed into your palms as you thought about sex.

It was an integral part of your connection with Donnie, but it had been so tame and slow since. Nothing you regretted or disliked, he used too much care as neither of you knew where the bar was anymore. He’d gone down on you and was in a constant state of unsure how to hold your legs around him. You had lost the same strength to squeeze him between your thighs and had little in the way to signal him. Alternatively, when you’d teased his slit, it’d been done so wary of your aching shoulder and a bubble of sadness that you no longer could hook his thighs in the way you wanted.

Heat Donnie knew none of that.

He’d only plow you because you were there to breed.

It sent a rush or arousal through your body as you peeked between your fingers at your partner.

You expected scolding.

You were even prepared for him to roll his eyes.

Instead, he had a similar forlorn expression.

He wanted you to.

Even though his heat was time technically lost for him, he’d felt that same draw afterward.

You both yearned to reconnect.

You moved into him and pressed to his front.

His arms came around you in a lazy tenting.

“The data came off regular softshell turtle seasons, right?”

His body moved with a nod.

“How long are those? It sounds like it should be over…”

“It depends on the weather, but typically in the middle of the spring season till early summer.”

You wanted to thump your head against his plastron. “Meaning…”

“If the viable portion holds true, you’ve healed enough for my instincts and we-”

“Just barely didn’t miss the window.” You groaned into him.

He held you for a long moment. “Let me lock myself away this time. The P.O.P. suit is long completed as is a new device to ease the constant drop.”

You vaguely remembered him showing you the finished pieces.

He brushed your back. “’No more injuries of any kind.’”

“We’d be apart again.”

His hand stopped, dead.

“You might not remember, but I will…”

You could feel his whole being tense.

“You said we wouldn’t be apart.”

You hated it.

You hated playing that card.

You weren’t trying to sway him.

It’s not like you wanted to go through another bout of heat when the thought of just getting through your meeting tomorrow filled you with enough exhausted dread.

You were tired.

You were beyond fatigued of being forced apart.

This season was meant for you.

It was designed for coupling.

Your real vacation had been interrupted.

Any subsequent time off had been forced.

Mating season was something you’d been looking forward to once.

You’d banked your paid time off on it.

It was supposed to be yours.

You wanted it.

You were so going to get fired. “Donnie.”

“Y/N.” He had as many reservations as you.

“There’s time…. Or there should be?” 

He was wound tightly. 

“You signaled for about a month before it kicked in. That means we should have the same amount of time…” 

“Conjecture.” 

“Isn’t all of it?” 

He had no response. 

“Do you remember how I thought I could handle it? The lead up, if we do it right… this can work.”

“Again, betting on instinct…” He rubbed up to your shoulder to coax you away.

“Your whole mating season is a hypothesis!”

He could argue that and you finally looked up at him.

He looked down with swirled concern and obvious desire.

“We try together and I swear to you that if anything happens at all, I will use the P.O.P. protection and anything else you make. I’m not going to be rash. Together. I want to try.”

He undeniably wanted to. “You’re sure…? I can’t control him.”

You nodded. “I can’t either, but you’re easily swayed.”

The faintest wry edge twitched his lips. “Work?”

“The point of the meeting tomorrow is to discuss my future. Maybe I loose my job, maybe I don’t. I’ll start sending resumes elsewhere while we plan. It’s not the best, but hey, if I do get accepted somewhere, I can always say I already had this vacation booked!”

 “This… I shouldn’t be considering this…” Donnie lamented with closed eyes.

“Same. Trust me.” You leaned against him. “I really… really… want to be with you. When it was good, Donnie… It felt amazing.”

He gave the lightest churr.

You rooted into him to turn up the volume.

It came with a vibration. “We will require extreme transparency. Unlike any before.”

“I’ll start taping when you phase out. I’ll help you study it where you can’t and I’ll tell you everything I have in mind.”

“We’re doing this…” He had an uneasy note to his voice. “I am going to hope my staring bout was a momentary lapse. We’ll prepare for nothing.”

You patted him knowing that was absolutely a form of bargaining. “One request.”

“Your second.”

“The first was a mutual agreement.” You looked up at him with cool irritation.

He wouldn’t be budged but amused guilt wrinkled his gaze. “Go ahead.”

“We do it in the biodome: your oasis.”

The request caught him between surprise and titillation to manifest in an involuntary excited chirp.

-

The next day was characterized by highs and lows.

Your ‘trip’ was authorized.

You were demoted.

Donnie had helped you rebrand your time off as a health retreat which your company was fine with indulging as you were already partially written off due to ongoing illness.

As much as you prepared, the meeting’s reality still stung. You felt as though all of it was a slight that was covered by pleasantries, but you tried to take it in stride. You’d sent out a few resumes, even though you sort of assumed you might not hear anything back. Whether you wanted more or not, it seemed like something out of your hands so for the time being you took what you could get because there was more to deal with.

It came in the form of Donnie’s second drift which came soon after you were home from your first day back to work. You’d dutifully recorded it and as soon as Donnie came to, you showed him. He accepted with a tempered sigh that said he already knew this was actually his heat. He only needed the evidence to cement it for him. Already prepared, he’d gotten up to present you with blueprints.

A lot of thought was put into preserving the biodome’s ecosystem, so a small natural cabana sort of building would be built as a nest in an area where there was space. Construction was arranged to minimally disturb the creatures who lived there and the only other larger project was a bathing station connected to a far wall where there was plumbing. Something that couldn’t be as well integrated, you’d have a state of the art restroom at your beck and call.

For your body, there would be inoculations prior to fend off bodily invaders in the way of bacteria and the like. Donnie had even plucked a new insect repellent formula from his many patents and finished it so it could be safely implemented to you after a few weeks of testing. His plans were all directed toward you being able to focus only on pleasure and you turned into him with a prepared list of your own.

Not anything like his presentation, you instead walked him through how you thought you could offset the violent start to his heat. You hypothesized that he didn’t initially recognize you as his mate and you thought that was because you hadn’t responded to any of his preceding interest. Following through and reassuring him each time he went through one of pre-heat phases as you both now called the staring fits, you figured you could make it known you were his prior. He then wouldn’t be compelled to jump you so aggressively which would overall make the heat smooth sailing.

Donnie wasn’t convinced, but agreed before putting forth the next item of business: a sort of rebreather mouthpiece that was promised to have the power of a fully functioning oxygen tank.

A small device, you’d looked over the notes and he only mentioned the prototype would be ready tomorrow.

You’d been in the pond before and felt confident enough in the water so you pressed him as to why he created it.

“I have a feeling I will drag you under.”

He already had in an emotional sense and you wrapped your arms around him to daydream about underwater sex.

-

The next few weeks flew by in a busy coordination. There was work at the forefront. Your new position had you organizing long neglected documents. Then there was planning what was essentially a roughing it sort of camping trip whose duration was thought to be up to two weeks. Finally you had Donnie’s phases to attend to which had long morphed into a solace. 

His next had started two days after your plan conversation and had happened yet again in the kitchen. You’d immediately dropped what you were doing outside of setting up your phone to record and curled into him. The dulled version of him tracked you as you pressed into his body and nudged up against the underside of his chin to gather his scent.

He chirped.

A sound quiet and without too much specificity, it was the first time he’d ever reacted to anything in the stupor and had you startling away.

He woke from your jarring and together you watched the footage to see his eyes had closed to a sort of contentedness from your move.

Donnie was a little flushed as he told you both he thought it would work and that the feel good chemicals released from the transaction were still coursing through him.

You were fingered right there on the counter and came fast to his satisfaction.

It became a routine that worked in both your favors. Little moments where the world shrank down to the two of you, Donnie taught you how to properly scent him. You mapped out his glands in nuzzles and Donnie stopped wearing his neck wrappings around the house in case it interfered with transference. You made up for his lost support with massages and found he especially loved to be scratched at the joints between his jaw and throat. It stretched sensitive skin just above his scars and was one of the few areas he still had accurate feeling around his throat.

Often kissing there for the sake of it, Donnie began to nudge you when he phased out. Nothing overt still, he bumped your heads which conscious Donnie identified as part of a softshells mating ritual. A question of whether you were receptive to him, you worked together on how best to respond as pacificity was usually how a male knew to go ahead. You tested out cuddling him, which phased Donnie approved with churrs so later the response was approved with a fierce kiss as soon as your mate came too.

Rebreather tested.

Work settled.

Construction completed.

Shots administered.

The time between Donnie’s phasing was lessening and it was a weekend morning when your boyfriend loomed obsessively in a way that felt just like that long fateful day. You made an excuse to leave, not that his tympanum picked it up, and only left a note behind saying it was time.

You grabbed your last properly cooked meal from a shop before heading to Donnie’s work. It had been something light, but tasty and you entered his building with a carefully filled stomach and your ID card. Unlike before, this time you were paid little mind and you wondered what kind of instructions Donnie had given considering you would clearly be going in and not exiting for days on end.

It mattered little as you pressed the elevator keys in the way he showed you to access the biodome and you saw the appropriate letters appear where floor numbers usually sat. There was still no Darling Protocol here and you knew you only had temporary access as the elevator scanned fingerprints along with a million other metrics. You liked that Donnie preserved a space of his own and. as the door’s opened, you welcomed the humidity like an old friend.

You were excited.

Waiting for the doors to seal up, you heard the latch click and elevator disappear down the shaft before you began to strip. Avoiding the pitfalls of yesteryear, you placed your clothes in an awaiting receptacle and plucked out the bottle of lube there. Taking your time, you warmed some fluid and probed yourself in preparation before stepping out, nude, onto the path. The steps were freshly swept and you could picture Donnie tidying up the space in a nervous fit as he waited for you to arrive. Smiling at it, you took the path’s slow curve and came out to the body of water where you could see Donnie, similarly naked, standing with his carapace to you on the opposite side.

“Hey!” You called out.

“Welcome!” He responded without moving.

“You ready?” You began to round the pond.

“Scared.” He spoke clearly.

“We’ll be okay. How’s P.O.P.?”

He held up the wrist where his primary tech gauntlet usually sat and showed, in a calculated rotation, that light reflected off the barely there band of the new system.

“If you try to take it off I’ll stop you.” The grass felt plush underfoot.

His head dipped in a nod.

You were edging the no-return zone where he’d catch your scent. “Donnie.”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

He gave a metered sigh and you saw some of his anxiety fall off. “And I love you.”

You chuckled and crossed the invisible threshold.

Donnie turned in time and you watched cohesion fall off your mate as he caught sight of you. Dropping first his head and then his entire body, he wove a curious back and forth tilt. You didn’t give him too much attention as you approached, only watching his darkened eyes out of your periphery as you examined the nest. You’d seen it a few times for preliminary checks, but now that it was about to be your primary home, it felt the most like a vacation than it had yet.

Donnie openly churred as he closed in and you couldn’t help but finally turn to him.

“I keep telling you.” You reached out a hand and he only sniffed it once before shoving his head against your palm. “You’re still you. Look, even like this you refused to churr before. You’re so silly.”

He nipped lightly at your fingers when you tried to pet him and you relented as he rose into your space. Clearly scenting you, he then bumped his head to yours and this time you withheld indulging it.

He vibrated against your throat and nosed right into your mating mark.

You chanced lightly brushing his arms.

His head deviated at the touch before he commingled into you. Breathing him in in a very literal sense, you took the last leading steps onto the soft cotton in the nest. There it devolved into a soft haven and you knelt down into it in a slow show as he shadowed your every move. Getting onto your hands and knees, you adjusted the height of your buttocks to present before you slowed and waited with just the faintest tinge of anxiety.

Part of your mind tried to crop up memories of the pain from the last time, but you shoved them away in favor of all the success you had in coaxing his phasing. You reminded yourself that he had already bruised you by now and this current Donnie had yet to truly touch you.

Uncoordinated fingers grazed your side just to prove you wrong.

He didn’t do his mating dance.

Was that bad?

You tried to hush the flurry of thoughts.

There was more than one way for a softshell to mate.

You and Donnie had been over this in painstaking detail.

One route had the male swim down from above to mount the willing mate.

You were presenting that exact scenario, just out of water.

Donnie’s hands slid to almost hold your waist.

Mounting.

He’d mount you.

You were okay.

You were ready. 

A tongue pressed scorching hot into your sex.

You cried out at its presence and arched on reflex.

He didn’t let up and licked further into you in a way that made you realize he was distracted by the lube. Something neither of you had considered since last time he hadn’t seemed to notice, it occurred to you only now that you hadn’t started with it so by the time he might have, it would have already been mixed with his spunk. Eating the foreign substance out of you, you panted as he scrubbed his beak to reach as deep as his tongue allowed. Invaded and with huffs of his hot breath scalding your perineum, his focus wasn’t on your pleasure, but its insistence wound you up.

The messy process brought you a certain distance, but nowhere close enough when he finally retreated. Your ass sank from the assault and you could hear him messily licking the mixed slick presumably off his hands where he’d tried to rub the wetness away from his cheeks. Probably smelling more like you by the second, you sighed once before raising back up and giving a needy version of your mating call.

You could hear Donnie grind to a halt just before he gave an interested trill in return.

“Why not say it back?” You complained before shaking your head and trying the noise again.

This time you heard him land on his hands before he appeared in your vision with a curious tilt of his head to the blankets. He peeped there as if it were a greeting and you sat up to appraise him.

His body fell over nearly instantly and it had a cat-like ploy to it as if he were showing his belly.

You looked past his plastron since it was all the same and saw the tip of his cockhead just barely peeking out of its entrance.

“It’s harder to get a read on you like this…” In a slow show you ran your hand over the flat area over his belly and downward.

He cheeped accordingly and you didn’t pause as you trended down between his legs. 

“You can’t be stuck right?” You pressed the puckered lips around his slit where he cock was plumping them out.

He gave a mangled chirp and you saw a very obvious flexing of his pelvic muscles.

He was fighting the drop.

Hand retreating, you moved in close to snuggle up to his side.

“What’s wrong? Why are you resisting?”

He churred at your attendance and nosed you warmly.

“What is it…?” You moved to touch him and he let your hands rove amongst the many little noises he made.

One such around the sides of his shell had him shift and turn where he shoved his head directly into your bad shoulder. Not a painful maneuver nor an accidental one, it was like he was curling to protect it and it was there you understood.

“You’re you. You’re always you.” You told him and pulled him up for a kiss that tasted of your essence. “I got hurt, but I’m okay. Those are scars. You have nothing to worry about.”

You crawled on top of him.

“Look.”

He fell back onto his carapace and watched you.

“Not like perfect obviously, it still hurts, but I’ve been getting my muscles back.”

You aligned your pelvises and you watched him hesitate at your positioning.

You took a moment to take his hands and plaster them with kisses as you chirped your own affections.

He gave a few back.

“How dare you prep me and not follow through though. So mean. You’re so mean like this. So selfish.” Spreading your legs a little farther than you had yet dared, your slit pressed flush to his.

His squeak warbled with warning.

You shushed him and were deliberate in stroking your sex against his.

His cockhead caught your clit and both of you called out different cries.

Catching his plastron the best you could, you watched his expression pain and you shook your head as you repeated the maneuver. It came with a few weak squeaks before he outright squawked and you readied yourself. He flew on slipping hands to hoist his torso up so instead of piercing you, his cock slid out heavy along your sex and you were left perched atop its midpoint.

He panted heavily there, seemingly satisfied with himself for saving you.

You kissed hard into his face and he grunted from the force.

It was just enough distraction that you caught hold of his length and lined him up.

He clicked with anger and you gave your sternest mating call along with a glare.

Something about the pair had him searching your face with those blackened eyes of his.

“Please…?” You poured on sweetly, but he clicked a few times as you tried to close in. “Okay… Fine.” 

Still kissing his cheek where he turned his head away, you dismounted him and he stopped to watch you. Curious, he tilted his head and you laid on your back before spreading your legs wide for him. You watched his erection pulse and he opened and closed his mouth as if the line of saliva was puppeting him. Remembering a certain involuntary show you had once put on, you dipped your fingers into your sex to tease yourself. You got exactly two strokes before he slapped your hand away.

“Well?” You held up the whetted fingers for him and his beak leaned in, intoxicated by the scent. “Don’t like it when I touch me? Do something about it.”

He caught your wrist and sucked your digits into his mouth. Messy swipes of his tongue came next and you tried to time rolling your hips in presentation for him. He extracted your hand with a pop and clicked one sharp time. You gave your cutest mating call and waited for him with an arched brow. Almost growling, he dropped down and walked up the length of you, his erection dragging against your leg before he sent uneven displeasure down to you via his expression. 

You wriggled ready beneath him.

He chuffed so hard you felt the warm air before he looked down and watched where his cock edged close to your cunt. You gave your best questioning chirp. He clicked in response, but moved his hips the slightest bit closer. With a shift, you angled your pelvis in a show. He exhaled slow and long like deflating pressure before his cock finally brushed your center. You exaggerated a mating call and he nosed you so hard up from your chin it felt like him flicking you.

You chuckled through the sting and he clearly grouched as his glans slid along your wet folds. You gave a puffy breath at the feeling of him and chewed your lip to keep from chasing him. It gave him space to test and each uncoordinated swipe had him losing will. With you and his body betraying him, his hips rolled for presses until his glans pressed to enter you.

You caught a noise in your throat and best pleaded with your expression. He watched it with a narrowed gaze before he pushed again, his cock bending to breach you the slightest amount. You tried to keep him in your vision, but your gaze swam at the spreading pressure. His churr multiplied at the sight and with a few more inaccurate rolls of his hips, he passed the tighter ring of flesh for both of you to moan.

Everything after that was a given.

Three total times on the first go around and you could only count by the sudden bursts of his cum. You’d nearly forgotten they happened without warning and the first time you sobbed at the amount. It unnerved him, but you trapped him in place with locked legs and a few clicks of your own. Clearly wary, but still compelled, he licked the salt from your cheeks and you kissed him lazily where he could not return it.

You came somewhere between two and three as he was still getting the hang of your pleasure. Something you akinned to like riding a bike, he had to fight off instinct and in that battle he lost a few key details. You minded little as sweat stewed your bodies together and the soup you created was one all your own. Seasoned with your favorite ingredients the streak ended only because you felt a tug just above your knee.

The bones were mended and sealed, but strain sometimes made it feel like they threatened to buckle for the strangest sensation. From Donnie’s third overflowing load, you nudged him as best you could and gave a withered squeak. He came away instantly and slammed down against your side to best monitor you. You shushed his concerns, body tingling pleasantly and tried to convey that you hadn’t passed your limits; you just needed to set them.

He didn’t understand, but you also needed your strength for something else. While another fuck was possible, you didn’t want to incapacitate yourself quite yet and sat up. Doing a little stretch, your mate curled around your hips while you searched the nest. Hidden away under a pillow, you found a purple cylinder and brought it up to him to sniff.

He only barely stuck his beak out before black marbles were once again staring at you.

You gave a single chuckle as conscious Donnie had predicted this. He’d kept the object close to his body so the scent was wholly his. It meant current Donnie would accept the objects place amongst his nest. That hypothesis ringing true, you found the quick release latch and opened up the device that reminded you very much of an instrument case for one particularly lewd flute.

“Okay… this is going to be a thing. Think you can at least try for me?” You looked to Donnie as if you were trying to get an unruly kid to the dentist.

He stared back without comprehension.

You sighed and got up on your knees to approach where his cock hung heavy and ready for use. “This is a step beyond a cock sleeve.”

He didn’t react much as you laid the case open like a book beside his member for him to get used to.

“What did I joke it was? A cock shirt or a cock briefcase? Something stupid like that…” You flicked a switch to turn it on.

You couldn’t hear anything, but Donnie shot upright to stare down at the object.

It began to glisten as the inner mold was lubricated. “Either way, I need to put this on you so you don’t get that irritation like last time.”

His head tilted to one side as if he could find the exact mechanism that buzzed.

You were delicate in picking his cock up and holding it.

He gave what you could only hear as a nervous churr.

“You’re going to freak out… please work with me…” You switched to hold him dangling in one hand and carefully moved the sleeve between his legs.

A twitch of his thigh said he was absolutely going to run.

“Hey.” He didn’t look so you chirped loud for his attention.

He snapped to your face with a blink.

“Quit tuning my talking out. Rude. So rude.” You scolded him and he at least seemed to get your intention because he leaned into you.

You lightly kissed his head and pumped his cock the best you could with one hand before making a very slow move to lay him down into the sleeve.

He gave an almost imperceptible nervous peep. “I know, so scary. Your cock is really sensitive, but this is going to help take the edge off when I can’t.”

He sounded a few more times, but you kept him still long enough to lay him down into the mold made exactly for him.

He had a flighty air to him and you wove your free arm through his to keep him in place. “I’m not going to close it yet, but feel that? It’s warm and the fluid is something you came up with. It’s a special balm that mimics your insides.”

You stroked over the top of his member to lightly press him into the device.

He gave a few stunted seconds of churring for it.

You continued to run your hands up and down, mapping him out, and fighting the desperate urge to lay down.

“Think you’ll let me close it? Please, sweet. I really want to rest.” You traced his glans.

He rolled out the softest churr, still staring hard at the sleeve.

You moved your hand away in a big show of taking the other half device. “Please, Don?”

His body tightened up.

You shushed him and kissed into that spot between his jaw and neck.

His lids fell unconsciously and you moved to close the sleeve.

As soon as it locked into place, he was off.

You huffed with irritation and watched him several feet away in the grass as he tried to tear the object off his cock.

“Damnit, Donnie!” You got up on wobbly legs to chase him down.

He succeeded as soon as you exited the nest and ran while you retrieved the sleeve.

You then spent the next couple of hours trying to get it on him. Three times you got the thing sealed only for him to run off. It was your actual exhaustion that kept him coming back and you eventually won out because you collapsed on top of him while trying to get it on the fourth. It meant when the latch hooked that final time, he couldn’t bolt without bucking you off. He sat in clicking misery as you dozed off to that broken stove.

When you awoke, you were tucked into his side and he was watching over you.

Taking a moment to wake amongst his honey-filled greeting, you shot your gaze down to find the sleeve still over his dick.

“You didn’t…?” Tipping your head right back up to search him, he gave one loud, put out chuff.

You tackled him, opened it, and mounted him in one fell swoop.

He accepted the sleeve begrudgingly after that, but you always made sure to make it worth his while. You figured he also liked how it soothed his member and it tickled you that even in this feral state, he was just as frustratingly stubborn. It all sang true to him and you couldn’t help the affection that overflowed no matter how different the scenario was.  

It was bathed in an orange glow that you ate your dinner. Enjoying the hues of the sunset openly pouring in from the dome, you had a stock of provisions all for ease with maximized health benefits. Hanging just outside the nest to avoid crumbs, you enjoyed the scenery. Birds tittered in their spots to sleep and the jungle-like foliage whispered of whatever was amongst it. You then sucked heartily from a big water bottle you could refill that had long dissolved the tablet within. Another addition for your safety, it did something about dehydration and had added minerals that didn’t affect the taste, but added the faintest grittiness which you hoped you’d get used to.

When you crawled back into bed after dusting yourself off, Donnie waited with eager chirps and you thought you might go again, but he seemed content to rest. You pondered aloud to him and he listened attentively about how he wasn’t as eager as either of you thought he’d be. He wanted you, that was clear, but his drive had been curbed from last year making you wonder what exactly was the cause.

Was it your injuries?

If that was the case, why did he go into heat in the first place?

Was he still catching up emotionally?

You knew you were stunted by the prior lack of intimacy and just being beside him satisfied you to a certain point.

Was it because he’d finally proclaimed his love?

This theory more tangential, you thought maybe revealing those final pieces had abated his desperation in claiming you. There was nothing else in that regard for him to hold back and that translated to him as a beast still ready to breed, but one that didn’t need to pin his mate down. He was honest with himself that you were his and he was himself no matter the form.

You figured it was all of the above and, as the stars came out for the barely there pockmarks in the New York sky, you rolled over and looked up through the sheer layer above the canopy. The cabana had been constructed mostly of poles with some dangling cottons draping down them for the sake of it. It created an open air feel that hid nothing away and only marked off where the nest was. The many pillows and blankets had been scented by you both a few nights prior before Donnie constructed a large enough space where both of you could lie out. From the plush nature, you knew there was some sort of base mat under it all, but you cared little because it was wonderfully comfortable.

You dozed off meaning to alleviate Donnie once before doing so, but that dreamy vacation feel came for you like that charm that had been on a bed you once liked.

You awoke deep in the night and were a happy bleary as you could barely see.

Donnie was right there in an instant, nosing you with affections in both a way that could be seen as rousing or as nudging you back to sleep. You supposed the choice was up to you and you kissed him in a test of not knowing which to commit to. He churred soft and encouraging and amongst the rolling sound you freed yourself from some covers you dredged up. Donnie slid a testing hand over your cotton warmed flesh and you knew you’d chosen to have him. Curling close, you both moved in a gentle tandem and you unhooked the cock sleeve before moving under him. He kicked the object away and his dampened cock spread eager pre-cum against your thighs before you spread.

Slotting himself between your legs, the leak reminded you of that certain level of desperation and you caught him to swipe the spunk on thick. It spread in globules that you stroked against yourself until he entered. A careful push, he didn’t force the matter and you dreamily cuddled him close as he rocked where he seemed resistant to pull out. It felt like a lullaby in the night cooled air and you watched the thin lines of his face you could barely make out in the dark. Whispering your love to him, he came first with you close behind to then languish in the fill.

You awoke to a bird’s happy trill.

Something like a confection, it invaded your dreamscape and coaxed you up. The once darkened sky now glowed a hue of opening lids and you hummed contentedly. Looking down, you found Donnie curled up and dozing beside you. Another new rarity, something about it assured you that every single one of your theories had been correct about his change. A mixture of things gone right, no matter how wrong the road there had been, Donnie protected you and felt safe enough himself to commit to a nap.

You were careful not to jostle him as you rolled over onto your belly and crawled up to the edge of the nest. It gave you a good vantage point to look out and you hydrated on silted water while you watched the sunrise. It didn’t come into distinct view, but light cracked and slipped into the space. It broke through the trees where the birds stirred with wakefulness. It poured out along the grasses where green did their morning stretches. It then reached the cabana where the cotton dropped its reddened sunset orange for the golden glow of a day anew.

When Donnie stirred, it was your turn to pour on the greetings. Staying in your same position, you were able to bend at the waist to curl overtop his tucked head. He chirped drowsy and you lined up a dozen happy ones for the sake of it. When he pulled his head from his hole, it was with a dopey sweet smile and you nuzzled and nosed him to join you in sunrise. He came with soft peeps speaking of how much he liked it and when you looked out toward the scenery, he followed suit.

Adjusting so his body could be butted up against yours, you only had to turn your head for him to be there and he gave you a sugared mating call. You responded in joyous kind and he pressed his beak to your shoulder. The opposite one of both injury and your mating mark, he mouthed it lazily in a way that you thought was him tasting you. The flash of wet heat felt good and cropped up a warmth in your belly.

Not sure exactly how to translate your feeling, you poured it into a chirp that came out needy to your ears. Its meaning met, he nibbled with purpose and began to climb atop you. Perking up your ass for him, he pressed it back down into the nest with his plastron and you sighed as he continued to lick down your spine. He sucked and bit flesh where he could, but all of it was without hurry.

It had you squirming and a morning drench of fluids felt sticky between your pressed thighs. Desire flared, you arched beneath him and he nipped to keep you in place. Outright whining because you were finally truly as needy as he presumably wanted you to be, you couldn’t understand why your back was more pressing than breeding. Wanting to be marked and flooded by him, you gave a few strangled squeaks until you stopped dead when you heard a sharp plastic click.

You instantly knew the noise to be the latch on the sleeve and had to crane a head over your shoulder where you caught the tail end of Donnie tossing the piece away.

You not only did not remember putting it back on him last night, but you were floored he’d figured out the actual mechanism to get it off in just one day’s time. The latch had been made for that purpose, but even when he tore it off yesterday it had been with yanking palms and kicking feet. He swept his gaze up to you in what almost looked like his usual smug nature and you felt the heat spread up from your gut and through your cheeks.

He gave a sultry mating call before slicking his wet cock against your ass crack. You tensed and sighed eager for him, but he only lazily swiped. Groaning your protests first before clicking a few, when you finally sent him a glare over your shoulder, he was watching with that same smarmy look.

“What?” You huffed.

He gave a questioning trill and looked down at where his pre was starting to drip.

You tried bringing your hips up but one of his palms came down to stop you.

You grumbled.

He gave a sweetened chirp.

“Seriously? What?!” You glowered at him the best you could.

He gave the start of a sharp noise.

It sounded sort of leading.

It also came familiar to your ears before you ground out a flat stare.

“I’m starting to think I like you better sex crazed!”

He did nothing more than what he’d been doing.

You summoned a deep breath before you gave the loudest mating call you could.

He gave one happy chirp before his unfocused fingers mashed hands into your ass. Your breathing warbled as he pressed and kneaded the dough there before splitting it into two where his cock moved to nestle betwixt. Pressing the flesh up and around him the best he could, he rocked there and no matter how many times you tried, he refused to let you arch. You were stuck flat on your stomach and felt irrationally submissive as he stroked himself.

You wanted him and gave spindly chirps in hopes he’d change his mind, but he only stroked himself through the crevice before he pulled a metered amount back and pressed his glans to your rectum.

You squeaked loud and in warning.

Now wasn’t the time to test that out.

You had no prep and subsequent washing was out of the question. Even with its new bathroom, the biodome wasn’t really built with a proper shower and you still had the marathon of however many days Donnie’s heat would last. It had been a nightmare enough trying to figure out the logistics of how his dropped cock would inevitably submerge in the pond water and then be later pressed into you.

Whimpering once more, you realized he was gone and looked to find him off and to your side. 

There he chirped apologies where he seemed to think he hurt you.

You softened your worries in noises and nudged your head underneath his chin in hopes to soothe him. It didn’t immediately and he held onto his usual stubbornness as he fussed over you. You gave in to a point before the frustration of denial reared once again and you urged him with a soft mating call. He returned it with a questioning edge and you made a show of laying flat for him to get back on. He nosed your face up one last time to make sure confirmations were etched there before he was careful to mount you again.

Still soaked in both your slicks, this time he allowed you to pop your ass some to reveal just enough of a cavern down to your cunt.

He churred loud and proud at the soaked sight before he angled himself down the pressed line of your thighs. A rail straight to where you needed him most, it was a direct shot and he slid right in for both of you to mewl dreamily. He rocked his hips twice to seat himself how he liked before one hand slammed onto the small of your back and the other squeezed your hip. He then thrust and you wound your hands into the sheets to hold on.

Each pulse bumped down from the angle and you felt it prodding outward from the inside. It pressed further into the plush nest and, as he picked up speed, you began to realize how little strain the position put on your injuries. Unsure if he even realized it, his strokes devolved into eager pistoning.

You pulled up a pillow to stuff your moans into and one sharp buck had you crying out as an indication he wanted to hear you. Giving him a quick glare where he was hyper focused on only your connection, you faked a few cries which spurned him. Driving deeper at a new angle, his plastron cut your ass cheeks and he scraped your walls morphing the faux sounds into real ones. Losing focus as it wound you up, you felt his strokes shift as you clamped down on him. He savored the tightness and prodded you just right until cumming was an inevitability.

You did so with a gasp of his name and he gave you only a few seconds before he reset his earlier pace. Crying from oversensitivity, something about the long overdue nature of being used had you babbling an affirmation off your lips. “Yes, yes, yes!”

His churr warped into a nearly delirious noise and the hand on your back disappeared. It manifested on your opposite hip and, in what must have been a full body bend, you felt Donnie’s forehead slam into your spine as he arched all of himself into you to cum.

Each thick rope lashed you and you broke it down to a microscopic level. It was millions of invaders wriggling in a fight into your womb to break through the surface of your eggs. All for you, your repeated prattle picked up now in begging hopes that it would stick. One bouncy spring would shove a white coil through a relenting cell wall and the immediate multiplication would make up the cell knocking you up.

Bucking backwards, you wanted more and you wanted it in the right place.

Instead of resisting, Donnie seemed to catch the candor and used his hold on your hips to press you back down first there and then with his whole body. You chirped for him, begging, and he came with soothing ones as his large body meant his head appeared over your shoulder. Rolling your ass back into him, he obliged to keep rocking into you and mouthed at your mating mark.

You prepared for this.

You knew how to properly bandage it.

You wanted him to bite you.

Giving your mating call as loud as you could in an effort to deafen him, he seemed unbothered as he grazed his teeth and watched you with darkened eyes. A cool burnt cap to the molten underneath, he thrust with purpose and you felt the whole of you bounce as you began to slide in the sheets. No escape, he closed his arms in around you, trapping you there first, before his legs spread to cage your hips in. Utterly at his whim, you continued your desperate plea for more and it was around the time that tears were starting to drown your tongue that he finally sank his teeth into your shoulder.

Unlike the bite from last year, he metered the move more to hold you and you didn’t feel the skin break.

Tired of being treated like some breakable object, you thrashed in the barely there space afforded and he clicked angrily at you. Drool taking your ability to do it back, you snapped wet fingers for a similar sound and retribution took his last sense. He bit harder, finally breaking skin like the satisfying burst of a balloon and you cried out happy as he tried to fuck you still.

You extended your claws from the fabric they were buried and found his hands to shred flesh. He hissed wet bloody bubbles beside your head and shoved with so much downward force that you knew your back was going to be an exact map of his plastron groves. All pieces meant to fit together, you saw that elastic snap of sperm penetrating an egg over and over until you realized it was manifesting on your lips as a broken mating call.

He answered it in a growl and rush of cum that nearly took your vision because it felt as if it had nowhere else to go. You drowned in it, welcoming the gurgle and heat that threatened to consume you. He stuffed you and submerged his own cock in the meantime before he broke to gasp as if he forgot to breathe. You saw flecks of red saliva string off of him in a pant and your core ached, unsatisfied.

Throwing both your elbows back against his hold, he squeaked and relented enough that you got up. It took more shoves that he fought against with nips, but you knew he wouldn’t fully commit and called his bluff. He answered by having to back away, but you didn’t let him escape. When he fell back onto his carapace, you came with shaking legs that refused to break your connection. Sat reverse cowgirl, delirium spun you around and he outright moaned at the twisting feeling of your cunt on his cock.

You got one glimpse of his fucked out figure before you descended on him. He gave a mating call with a fearful edge as you went straight for your litany of mating marks and dragged your teeth in to tear the stubborn flesh. You were almost off his cock, but the spread tried to hold on and he caught you in a fumbling hold to at least stroke his tip.

The pressure of his wide glans tugging at your entrance bred a pleasant sensation and when you finally came up for air similar to him, you could feel the red staining your teeth. You used it to grin him a vicious smile and he liked his violent mate because he forced you straight down his shaft. Shoving his beak against yours in an unknown move, you tangled tongues and tasted each other as you were bounced in his lap.

You were going to find the upper limit, you decided right then. You would see if that endless amount of semen this version of him touted was actually true. You were going to see just how much baby batter he could stuff into you. You were going to make that belly distention a reality. You were going to see just how long that dropped cock could stay out. You’d scare it back into the safety of his body. You’d carve it back out of him. You’d shove it back into you where it belonged. He was yours; you were his.

His mate.

His mate.

His mate.

You lost track and count of anything feasible. There was no charting a thing that didn’t stop; one could only follow the duration. That came in glass above where the sun rolled over head and you assumed looked away from the lewd display. That cosmic deity could only run and hide in sight of you both. Even the reigning royalty of incomprehensible beings would think what you’d done was irreconcilable. The weight of your current erotic misdeeds would tip cosmic scales and all that was left would be scorched earth and you with child.

You awoke with a delirious start and your entire body screamed in agony.

Donnie was there.

He was always there.

He was everything.

He was also doting.

He was sweetness.

He was nuzzling you and trying to get you to lay back down.

You were upright.

Altogether as if not knowing had been the only thing holding you up, realization came with a snap of your muscles and you collapsed where none of your body would respond. You gave a withered squeak, confused as to why you’d lost coordination and Donnie chirped worries all around you.

He went on like that for what seemed like hours until you could finally see up out of the cabana over the nest. It was the dead of night and the only lights came from the building above and the faint glow around the edges from the city below.

All day.

You’d fucked what had to be non-stop all day long.

Making up for lost time, you thought.

Only you weren’t counting the last three months; you were only counting the first day of the heat.

Only four times on day one?

Pathetic.

You had so much more in you.

You had an entire legion in you to be exact.

Populations the world over were poured into your vagina.

Little swimmers that then passed the cervix, into your uterus, and to the tubes to do their jobs.

You threw a lead arm over your face and felt the shame in how determined you’d been to be bred.

The birth control was fully operational, you had to remind yourself.

You’d fucked yourself stupid as opposed to the usual other way around.

Groaning, you felt something move and fall off your chest.

Pretty sure those parts of you were safely attached, you lifted your arm the few inches you could and looked down your body. While you were left comatose in your mind, Donnie had been busy. It looked like he’d brought you a total of three water bottles along with at least four packaged foods that you could see. There was also now a set of those specially made mineral tablets, of which the set had slid from the pile on your chest before disappearing into the sheets.

You laughed.

It was weary and dry, but it came out bright nonetheless.

Donnie only squeaked with further concerns, but you waved him in before promptly passing right back out amongst your care package.

 You slept straight through until what had to be the next day’s late afternoon. Shadows starting to morph, you had been cleared of everything plopped on you and Donnie bobbed in your vision with clear concern. You nuzzled into the side of his head for reassurance before you left to clean up and use the restroom. You threw a sterilized pack over your mating mark and came out with some disinfectant on cotton for Donnie.

He was already prepared to dodge at the oncoming smell, but as soon as you tried to dab his bite marks, he scampered off. You rolled your eyes as you’d at least gotten a few good pats at it and walked out after him into a small patch of natural grass. It came up in thin spindly strands and was drenched in sunshine. Falling right back into your nudist ways that came with season, it was oddly comforting to feel the rays hit your body. Your weary body begged you to sit so you soaked up the sun until your boyfriend wandered close.

“Let me clean that properly and you can join me.”

He stayed a metered amount away as if he understood.

“More grass for me.” You tilted your head up and gave a dreamy sigh.

He gave a whiny chirp.

You held up the cotton ball and waited.

With a few clicks, he eventually came over and you were slow in blotting his already healing teeth marks clean. “Good boy.”

He grumbled and you traced down to the purple casket between his legs.

“So you are putting it back on?” You gestured to it and he sat as if ready to take it off.

Your hand wilted and the non-committal nature gave him pause.

You thought for a moment before reaching out for a new offering. “Wanna snuggle?”

He came forward to set his chin in your palm.

You thought you might explode and akinned the moment to being accepted by a feral animal. “So cute…”

He chuffed lightly and you released him to get into his space. He watched you with a lazy wide pupil as you mingled close. He chirped curious when you nosed the line of his jaw and eventually gave into a churr as you pressed your lips to his. You felt the rumbling through your teeth and lined up kisses over his cheek. He bent to give you better access and you peppered his face with presses. Keeping them from being ticklish, you were pointed with each and he accepted them all with great honor.

You drifted to the side of his head, edging his scars for numbness and kissed heavy against his neck to keep the move more chaste. It put your throat on view for him and he must have felt compelled to respond in kind to the gesture because he gave a kitten’s lick to what he could reach. You giggled at the sensation and did the same to him in the equivalent spot before waiting to see what he’d do.

He found it in him to test because he nosed against the centerline of your esophagus which you again mirrored. He liked it and pressed his beak in taps down to your collar where he followed the bone to your shoulder. You shuddered at the puffs of his breath on your exposed skin and methodically copied him with brushes of your lips.

You both peeked at each other at the same time and you giggled at the coyness of it all.

Here you were, in an approximation of nature, with nothing on, and having a romp with your boyfriend in the grass.

It all felt compellingly romantic even if your partner wouldn’t consciously remember this moment.

A dreamy sound came from you and in a shove from his beak, Donnie knocked you over.

“Hey!” You scolded without heat and liked the soft grass tickling your back.

He hovered over in a non-dominating way and seemed to observe you.

You gave him your brightest smile as it was honestly there.

He seemed to inhale at the sight before he slowly descended to pick back up where he left off. Touching his beak and his lips in the process against your skin, he dotted taps over to the bulb of your shoulder and back to your sternum. He nuzzled there before licking up something he smelled which you couldn’t imagine was anything more than sweat. The sensation tickled and perked your nipples which caught his eye. Your breasts still gave him no interest in his heat, but the involuntary movement was suddenly of great importance to him.

His narrowed gaze was the last thing you saw before he enveloped the right bud in his mouth.

You cried a soprano’s note as he swiped his tongue without focus and instead to taste.

Nothing there, he unlatched and looked you over as if you were the strange one for making the erogenous noise.

“Mean…” You panted as the saliva he left behind meant the air differential teased the bud.

His gaze flicked, revealing very little white until he descended to lick a fat stripe up to the other nipple.

This time your body arched before he bit straight down.

“Ah!!” You shoved him and he squeaked as he let himself fall away.

You cupped your boob and hissed.

A quick check found no blood, but you rubbed to ease the sting. “Geez. You were so careful… Still feral. I need to remember. You’re smart, but not here here…”

After a few worried seconds, he came close with an apology oozing off of him.

“I know. You didn’t understand…” You patted his leg.

He gave what was almost a whine before bumping his head into your left shoulder.

You rested yours against his.

In a quick dip he had your breast in his mouth.

“W-wait! Why would you-!?”

He swirled his tongue and you shook against him.

It turned into a full body affair and this time he pressed you back into the grass as if laying you down. “Donnie…”

He released and nosed over the area as if sending his apologies directly to the source.

“Forgiven. You’re forgiven…” You sighed up until he repeated the process to your first nipple. “You learn too fast!”

Persistent and obviously proud of himself, you could just see his tail wagging furiously as each twist of his tongue had you writhing more and more.

You reached with fumbling fingers down the flat of his plastron.

He moved his hips closer in a shuffle and you toyed with a sleeve latch a few times before you freed his cock.

“It’s all sex to you.” You teased and pushed him away enough so you could present yourself for him.

He churred loudly as he settled down to take you and pressed his cock in.

Once seated he stopped to watch you from overhead with a rolling churr.

“Or… not?” You brushed his cheek and felt a sense of déjà vu.

With one last beak press to the plump of your cheek, he then settled with his head beside yours.

You lounged in the sun until it started to hang heavy.

Did he know?

It wasn’t possible. 

There was no way this or lucid Donnie knew about your wish. 

You hadn’t told anyone how much you wanted to just stay in stasis with his cock inside. 

You felt warm and filled and drunk from his attention and the sun’s before he finally began to move. A slow start that came with him stretching lightly. Your warbled breath from the connection spurned him on. With increasingly heady presses, he kept you intertwined and you held onto his carapace. 

You got your romp for real where it left a permanent imprint of crushed greens. Finished up, you locked Donnie’s dick up before heading back to the nest to finally eat. Having neglected to for so long, you were starved and ate your fill. You must have made it look pleasurable because you got Donnie to munch on a few morsels. More than anything you downed water in droves until you were sated and made an exaggerated collapse to curl up.

In the night you awoke again for a short sleepy session before promptly passing right back out. It seemingly fixed your sleep schedule because you were up with the birds. However tempting, you decided moderation was better for your body and staved off the idea of marathoning to instead go in spurts.

A good morning, a forenoon hello, and you broke for lunch.

Setting up beside the pond with your rebreather by your side, you ate with your toes just shy of the water. Donnie appeared only to give you a confirming once over before he dove straight in. Barely disturbing the surface, you watched him swim seemingly for the sake of it and relaxed in watching him as you ate. He came up just as you were almost done and you offered him the last bite. He sniffed at it before his beak wrinkled and he turned away to dive back in.

Shrugging to yourself, you finished off your food and were nursing a bottle of water when he emerged with his head down. You watched him lazily flicking your toes as he approached. Wet or dry mattered little to his turtle instincts so you weren’t concerned that he’d shake. You imagined he’d probably lay down next to you so you readied for the damp press when his head dipped further near your thigh. Droplets speckled your leg and he retreated with a single happy chirp.

You look down to find actively bleeding fish twitching with the last of its life.

You didn’t even have it in you to scream.

Your eyes went bug-wide and you turned them up to Donnie who gave you a second, now encouraging chirp.

Eat.

He wanted you to eat it.

From where he’d grabbed it from the water. 

With his mouth.

“No!” You bellowed and shot to your feet.

Your sudden move startled him, but he was too close to the water and fell in.

Dancing on your toes, you looked around for something to flick the carcass in after him. 

Donnie burst through the water’s surface already clicking.

“No! I had food! You always bring me my food! Real food! Why would you give me this?!” You pointed at the accursed fish.

He continued his clatter and moved up shore as if to defend his catch.

“Don’t touch it! Donnie!!” You reared.

He chuffed loudly, evacuating water from his nostrils before in a huffy show he dipped down.

“Don’t you dare!!!”

In a single gulp he swallowed the fish and you kicked him right back into the pond.

“Gross!!!” You complained to the air and stormed back to the nest. “I can’t believe you ate it!!!”

You heard a splash as Donnie emerged once again raging like a broken car starter.

“Don’t you dare! Leave me alone!! Ugh!!! I’ll never get you to brush your teeth!! Why did you do that?!”

Protests were had from both sides and the standoff lasted until the sun began to set. You were sure your mate had long dried, but both his stubbornness and your cold shoulder kept him elsewhere. With the sun rushing to clock out, you figured you’d be sleeping alone when you heard a soft peep.

 You barely turned your head and in your periphery you saw him doing the same.

It was comical and you shook your head to finally look at him. “You don’t get the boob thing, but you get it feels good to me so you did it. I don’t like the fish thing, but that’s something you refuse to understand?”

He gave you the barest glance and almost seemed to purse his lip.

“I like kissing you. You don’t get that either.” You sighed and fully turned to him. “Both our mouths are gross right now! Conscious you makes it a big deal! Like, okay, it’s hard for even me to routinely brush my teeth in these conditions so I get it, but that was a live fish from a scuzzy pond!”

He came as close as the edge of the nest.

You shuddered. “Now when and if I kiss you, I’ll be thinking of kissing that fish.”

His head tilted where he didn’t understand.

You deflated. “You refuse to eat. I haven’t seen you drink. What can we do…?”

Donnie bowed as if to show guilt and he waited.

“Wait, wasn’t there …?” Memory jarred, you moved over to your provision pile. You dug through the many supplies that were neatly packed until you found a little packet of breath strips and read the label aloud, “’Kills 99.9% of bad breath germs.’”

He chirped curiously.

“I’m gonna assume that includes fish.” In a bob, you stepped out and approached him. “You are going to take this and hate it, but you will do it because you love me, got it?!”

He only stared at your stern pointing.

You opened the package and dropped one on your tongue where it burned before approaching him. He had a fighting stance to him and you tucked the package into one palm. With the other hand you caught his chin and, under a slight tug to his lower lip, his mouth opened. As fast as you could, you cracked the package, picked a strip, and slapped it down on his tongue before he could bite you.

His teeth still grazed your knuckle and he screeched at the taste.

You collapsed for the mental effort and watched him tussle with himself in the grass. Knowing the strip was long stuck and doing its work, you didn’t care if he ate the blades because that seemed more palatable. Feeling vindicated, you didn’t think much when he stormed toward you. He came in close and shoved his mouth to yours as if to share the pain. You only had a similar minty freshness there and when you licked into his mouth to tease him with it, he clicked so loud it percussed in your eardrums.

You released him with an evil cackle and he stayed on the far side of the nest that night. You awoke feeling cold in the early hours of the morning and tried to crawl over to him. He vacated the nest as soon as got near and you stared after him feeling only a slight tinge of guilt before you curled up to steal the last of his warmth from where he’d been.

When you got up for the day, he was waiting nearby and pointedly looking away. You chirped lonely and his aura only soured. You tried again in hopes your prevailing sadness would sway him, but he staunchly refused. Not unlike the cold you’d felt that night, the nest felt like a chilled place so you exited it to take a walk. Moving around the fresh air of the biodome, you traversed through the thicker foliage. It was where Donnie would often run to, but you found little evidence of him having been there. Instead it was an undisturbed ecosystem and you got to observe the birds from their perches. They watched you with flighty tilts of their head. An avid watcher for the time, you emerged around midday based on the sunlight.

Donnie was a lump of his carapace, pointedly not watching you from your nest.

You gave a heady sigh and looked out across the water. From the debacle yesterday, your rebreather sat where you’d left it by the shore. Staring hard at it, you circled the pond to gather it up. Once you reached it, you held the piece in your hands. Donnie’s words about dragging you under seemed unlikely. You imagined you’d probably only get to use this if you got in yourself.

Clutching the mask tight, you cocked a sort of smile before you donned it. Going through the checks Donnie taught you to make sure it was operational, you then toed into the water as quietly as you could. You told yourself you were doing this for you and waded in. Water lapping warmth around your thighs, your waist soon dipped below and the ground disappeared. Goosebumps coated your flesh and you threw out pockmarked stems as you swam towards the center.

It was there you pumped your arms, once, twice, and then dove down the best you could. The rebreather kicked in and you focused on breathing through your mouth as you looked down into the water. It was murky towards where you’d kicked up silt, but on the opposite side you could see the bottom of the pond. A layered memory, little fishes swam around the muck and you heard a splash through the water.

You tensed a little, not sure how Donnie would react, but you only saw a flash of him before he headbutted you in the stomach. Coughing out and losing the rebreather from force, you were shoved to the surface and then dragged up on land as you continued to cough.

Donnie squeaked up a storm and you swatted him away.

“Why’d you do that?!” You turned on him only to freeze when you saw how much distress painted him.

He silenced and his black orbs almost looked like they might shed tears.

He was scared.

He must have thought you drowned.

He didn’t understand how the rebreather worked.

How could he?

You tackled him in a hug and chirped as many apologies as you could muster.

He returned a few and curled around you clearly blocking you from the water.

“I’m okay. I’m okay.” You repeated and petted his carapace. “I’m sorry, but look… I need…”

Turning, you saw your rebreather floating on the water.

“Donnie.” You lifted his head so he’d look at you.

He blinked at you in a withered state.

“Can you get that?” You pointed towards the object.

When he didn’t look, you pushed his chin until he finally relented.

“That. Get that.”

He took a little unsteady breath before he got up. Very aware of you, he watched you nervously with little flicks of his pupil toward the pond.

“I’ll stay right here.” You nodded down and shifted your ass to show you were staying put.

Though he couldn’t glean the meaning, he searched you for a long moment before chancing it. He darted away as fast as he could, diving only in the water long enough to grab the piece before returning to you with a latent spray. You rubbed some off your face before taking the rebreather to show him.

“I can breathe with this.” You poured out the pond water and wiped the mouthpiece the best you could before putting it on.

You hummed for him to look and he did with a dart of his head.

It was a bird-like concern and you exaggerated breathing through it. A wheezy noise came out of its use on dry land and had Donnie bristling. You nodded your head so he could tell you were fine and he only relented with an anxious chirp.

Taking the item out of your mouth, you looked at him. You knew he liked swimming, but not once had he tried to get you to join him. He often slipped away to do it while you were otherwise occupied. It was both a testament to how settled he was and how the entire dome felt like his own secured space. It also made it seem like being in the water was his own version of self-care.

Donnie’s thigh was close to yours and a drip of water streaked from your leg to his. It reminded you of the many watery moments you’d shared from rain to showers. Actual memories giving way to seen ones, your next thought was a video of two softshells spinning around each other underwater.

You wanted to do that.

You already satisfied his instinct, but you wanted to do it to the fullest.

You only had to convince him, which was annoying, but not impossible. Brushing some errant droplets away, you placed the rebreather between your teeth before nodding to the water. Donnie immediately stiffened as a barrier and you sent him a honeyed look since you couldn’t properly verbalize. He watched on, ready to stop you and you only brushed your hands over his arms.

Flexing muscles rippled under the dotted moisture and he relaxed a certain amount. You’d been angrily separated for about a day, but your supposed brush with death had made him forget those concerns. His primary directive was your safety and you curled closer to him. He gave a faint churr and the dip of his lids said he missed this. Carefully resting your forehead to his cheek, he chirped a few sweet sounds among the rolling vibration and you settled your weight against him.

You were mostly dry by the time you moved again. Muscles loose from lounging in the sun, you slid the putty of your body towards the water. Donnie’s hackles rose a little too slowly, but you squeezed his hand for reassurance. He didn’t exactly hold it back, but his fingers twitched as you got your toes in the water. You paused there, flicking droplets with foot flexes and looked back at him with metered excitement.

It took him a while to think, but he eventually broke apart from you to slip into the water. He then floated, his eyes and carapace visible just far enough off shore where he could fit. You were slow in shuffling down, pressing against leaf blades and mud until your waist was submerged. He kicked off and his arms barred around you to lift himself out of the water. You touched the rebreather to the tip of his beak and he gave a faint churr at the reassurance.

Taking it as a go ahead, you pushed off a bit more, where he hovered around you like a hungry shark. You got off the bank and pumped your arms in an obvious show that you could swim. Donnie continued to circle, first out of concern until each rounding seemed to change. More fluid motions, you saw hints of the dance he’d attempted in your apartment once and it took you counting as if readying yourself to jump into a skipping rope before you kicked off to swim with him.

Clunky in comparison, he didn’t seem to fault you where you couldn’t keep up and instead swam to match you. You felt bad you couldn’t compare to his elegance, but the excitement of the moment wrinkled your gaze. Heart leaping, you chanced darting towards him. He first playfully dodged you as he examined your swimming strength before he too took his time breaking the circling to chance brushing you. All coy flipper flaps, they were questions answered by the dance. Instinct took your boyfriend in a dive and you sucked in a final breath through your nose before pursuing.

His eyes shifted to an uncharacteristic white from the nictitating membrane and he immediately broke his rounding to examine you. You waved at him to show you had your facilities and he pressed his beak to various spots of your body to assure himself you were safe. He then came around to your face to send his confusion there and you tapped the rebreather in hopes he would understand that it was the thing giving you the ability to breathe.

Though there was no pupil to tell for sure, you saw him study the way the bubbles would emerge from it and he was satisfied even if the mechanics were lost on him. Doing your best to stay submerged, you kicked lightly against one of his thighs to give yourself momentum and he gave immediate chase to twirl around you with ease. You watched the sun’s rays shine off of his scales as he twisted and the whole of him was so stunning you felt like time slowed.

In a quick spin, he spiraled the water and a little current twirled you around him. He seemed to similarly be enjoying the view because he stilled momentarily before he came into you with purpose. Finally catching your body, he held loosely to your hips and you reached between you to grab his cock sleeve. With learned ease, you undid the latch and pulled it enough away that it’d float to the top. Some sort of mechanism Donnie had installed, you both watched the object fly to the yellow tinted sky before you came together.  

Donnie had some swipes and bobs to him as he cascaded around you and tugged you to the bottom. Not deep enough for the pressure to really shift, you still had a bit of anxiety and snuck a glance up to see how far you’d have to swim if something were to happen to the rebreather. Donnie nuzzled between your shoulder blades as you did and you read the move as soothing. His palms slid up and down your arms as if testing and he soon settled himself behind you for what you’d seen to be the preferred positioning.

Preparing yourself, you knew he’d bite you to hold you in place. His beak skimmed up from your back towards your mating mark and you arched into him to show you were ready. He only brushed the spot before nuzzling into the side of your face and you felt a sort of heated confusion as his cockhead bobbed eager against your ass. The water filled your ears for a near soundless churning and you could only look at your partner confused.

He held a knowledgeable air as if this were his field of expertise and he disappeared from your line of vision. Still behind you, you felt him cascade down your arms with tiny pumps of his body to keep you both submerged and in place. Now at the pond’s floor, it kicked up some silt and you closed your eyes to save them. It enhanced his little touches and he trended toward your sides. He then gripped hard which you took as a signal of readiness and he trended his glans down your ass crack to what lay beneath.

You flexed your thighs in a tease and he wasn’t the least bit perturbed to stroke himself with those as opposed to your sex. He pumped a few lazy times where his glans breathed life between your legs. Your body heat coaxed them to spread, but the moment he pushed through to the other side, the cold water caused them to recede and you chanced looking down to see it. It came with stinging around the murky water, but you watched the gabbing nature of his spade shaped head flex.

It had you spreading on a backstroke where you let your eyes closed in time with him lining himself up. He swiped heavy, dragging his awaiting glans over the full of your slit before he pushed to find your entrance. It split for him ready with the water and titillating excitement of doing the deed underwater and you felt him press in at an achingly slow pace.

Unlike his usual rutting self, you squirmed at the fill and it almost seemed like he wanted to take his time in setting his spread glans. All to lock you best, he eventually settled himself deep inside and you thought you could almost feel the stretched prongs of his glans catch your pulsing walls. They’d hold you tight and ensure you’d be bred and you whine heavily into your rebreather.

It resulted in bubbles tickling your cheek and you felt some motion. That meant you couldn’t open your eyes and you were lowered until the soft mud at the bottom claimed your torso. Supple, it clung to your pointed nipples as Donnie settled above in his mount. He was using the whole of him to keep your body in place and with a few little kicks to make sure his cock was as deep as it would go, he stilled.

You waited.

You waited for a thrust.

You waited for a push.

You waited for any movement at all.

Instead he held his position firm.

You could almost feel the disturbed muck particles settle around you and there was something odd about the buoyancy. Donnie didn’t need to fight it for however his body was made up and only you had a metered weightlessness in comparison. He had you caged in place, with his plastron poured over your back and his arms holding your waist tight along with his cock. A decorated aquarium, you were the free floating plant whose roots were woven into the bespeckled rocks.

Then you felt a slow gurgle of heat.

Something like the trickle of a tapped spring, there was no eager rush but instead the tap had been turned on low. Your cunt clenched near the source and it took you a few seconds too long to realize it was his cum. A little more than the anticipatory leak, it reminded you of the way he held you down. A relaxed pace was set and it poured an even stream. He wasn’t desperate to dump as much into you as fast as possible as if you’d escape.

The implications struck you. 

You weren’t just held in place, you were stuck.

There was no exact reason for it, but something about the persistent, but slow fill made you believe he was going to hold you here for however long he was able.

In any of your studies, had you ever looked into how long underwater mating took place?

You couldn’t remember it.

All the articles had been so clinical.

Parks service notes or wildlife examinations weren’t some kind of porno.

Donnie hadn’t stopped ejaculating.

You were already submerged, but something about the whole thing made you feel as though you were trapped in a small room rapidly filling with water. 

You squirmed the slightest amount and it proved to be the only wrong action because Donnie’s teeth warned at your shoulder.

Your heart thumped loud in your packed ears.

This was different than marking possession. 

He hadn’t bitten you because he hadn’t felt the need.

You hadn’t fought back so he hadn’t felt compelled to hold you in place more than necessary.

You were stuck and couldn’t move.

Fear lighting up receptors in your brain and body, you shuddered ever so slightly and Donnie only boxed you more in as if you were cold.

You wanted to whine.

More bubbles appeared from your mask as your breathing picked up.

Cum continued to pour in.

No, pour was too fast.

Trickle was too slow.

Labeling it felt like palming metaphorical prison walls. You were looking for the escape hatch or even a barred window to shove your face into for a single breath of fresh air. It would stave off your eventual drowning. This was a puzzle. You only needed to find the key out. You were stuck in an escape room, except the means to succeed felt like fertilization.

Your cunt pulsed at the thought and you could feel Donnie’s churr more than hear it through the water.

Stuck for what felt like a long haul, your eyes cracked open to find the dust had actually settled. You were topped at the bottom of a pond and the weight of the water was a caressing one. An odd partner to Donnie’s heat, it was the good cop that told you niceties as Donnie’s cock threatened otherwise. Tossed out praises of plump stomachs and waddling walks were contrasted by a nine month sentence and you wanted to sob.

You’d asked for this.

You initiated underwater sex. 

It wasn’t anything like you imagined.

The flow continued.

Even and determined, you felt it fill your baby room and then inflate against his cock. The other fat intruder in your space, it felt no need to breathe and welcomed the suffocation. It held as a tight seal and presumably the feeling of his own body-warmed spunk caused Donnie to readjust.

A barely there press of his hips, he made sure he had you sealed up the best he could without his knot.

It was his spread holding him fully and nothing could wrench it from you.

With no off switch, the dump persisted.

It grew like a lead weight inside you and you eventually felt as though it was the thing holding you down. Pressure mounting by the second, your other organs felt like they were being shoved out of the way and you desperately wished you could pant. Losing sanity for no exact reason, you dug your teeth hard into the rubber seal of your rebreather. Both to keep it in place and to keep yourself from lashing out, you clawed your nails into the ground where they were free.

Donnie adjusted again and movement felt like steam escaping a pressure cooker.

Sperm would have floated thick from where it was desperate to escape.

He then clogged the leak and relaxed to keep forcing more into you.

You spasmed.

Not involuntary, but because you thought you might burst, Donnie immediately made good on his biting promise.

It came directly to your mating mark and it took the very last of your brain cells to keep from screaming the rebreather right out of your mouth. You were doomed to pop like a water balloon and your tears felt hot against the cool water.

It was everywhere.

All consuming.

Either water or cum.

With no end trying to invade you.

You imagined white particulates flowing from out the cracks of your nose.

The empty shell of your body bloated and sperm would emerge wherever it could.

Delirious and hot, you wondered why the you of just two days ago, wanted this.

Why had you recreated the point of fertilization over and over?

Why had you obsessed over sperm and egg?

It was too much.

It also hadn’t stopped.

It couldn’t have.

Not with the way you felt.

Not with all the heaviness of your hips.

Not with the way your body squashed like a seal against the slimy sea floor.

Your consciousness slipped.

Not passing out, but feeling as though you floated away from your body, you saw yourself mounted.

You saw the humanoid version of two softshells doing what nature compelled them.

They were settled and one would come away to grow the clutch.

You’d lay eggs near the shore where you’d dig into the same soft kind of soil you were currently buried.

Your hatchlings would fight free and you’d watch on, unable to help because that’s what instinct dictated.

They needed to fend for themselves.

Strong genes.

They’d survive.

You saw both the future and the current scene.

An odd diorama, the time now seemed as stuck as you.

The only darts were fish far away, only now brave enough now that the predator had settled.

There was also a sparkle of sunlight.

It was beautiful in a way.

It just never seemed to end.

The future tapered off, washed out by the water.

You didn’t know how much time had actually passed, but it seemed like an eternity until Donnie animated.

It slammed you right back into your body where you struggled as soon as he released you. In a flash, water rushed around you like a geyser and you erupted onto the bank. Spitting out the rebreather, You gasped, starving, on fresh air and couldn’t manage to get off your dense belly. Elbows sinking into the wet shore, you coughed for the sake of it and only felt a dribble ooze between your legs.

You imagined that would be as endless as whatever you endured.

Numb and weak, you gave up clawing to collapse.

Cheek in mud you’d kicked up, the biodome was blissfully unaware to your plight and continued on as a luxurious space. 

Something scalding splashed your lower back. 

First a jolt to your oddly taxed body, it melted muscles that had been stationary until you put together what it was. 

As much as he designated his turtle status, he’d still spoken of marking once. 

Fulfilling one feral instinct must have bred another. 

He peed out a surprising amount considering he hadn’t taken a drink, but you also hadn’t seen him use the restroom since his heat started. Stuck on what seemed like a conundrum, you could think of how that’d make it especially potent. Other than touch, little more came to your dulled senses and you almost enjoyed the heat of it. Unlike the one that had scorched the earth of your interior, this one mimicked hot stones that your battered body almost needed. 

Flowing along your spine, it pooled warmth in the dip in the lowest part of your back. Stopped by your butt, it trailed to the sides where it dripped off. Not clingy, the cascade then disappeared and you supposed there was a certain level of intimacy to this. Something about sharing fluids and then the larger idea of marking that appealed to Donnie made sense. 

The stream stopped and you could almost see Donnie lost with the whites still consuming his eyes from dark urges. 

He then appeared to prove you wrong and you only stared at him with a murky gaze. He dipped his beak down to nudge you. You made some sort of sound and it must have been a worrisome one. You also hadn’t moved which was probably troubling for him. He was gentle in pulling you further up the bank.

The drag made you feel like you were trailing white slime.

You were a slug and the sun was just as intrusive as your partner.

They’d meant to eradicate you so you curled up into yourself and eventually something came overtop you.

It made no sense as to what, but the harsh light was offset so you gave up your last will and succumbed to sleep.

You never really dreamed during Donnie’s heat.

It was the first thought that occurred to you as you surfaced.

It felt like an ambiguous revelation and you groped for more.

It only resulted in grass between your fingers and a brush of fabric overtop.

That wasn’t your nest’s make-up.

Your eyes were open then and you saw white cotton dyed with orange.

It took you a few more seconds to blink off exhaustion and pull down the sheet that had been thrown over your body. The dome’s lattice sat dutifully overhead, but the sun was no longer glaring you down. It was gone somewhere, walking its usual trip across the sky and ready to clock out.

You never had asked Donnie if anyone in the upper floors could see down in here.

It seemed like a moot point as you’d already been naked for days, but you still wondered.

With an ache, you sat up from sleeping on the hard ground and felt your abdomen pulse.

Reaching down and pressing a hand to the usual curve of it, it didn’t seem out of sorts, but the memories of what had transpired underwater rushed you.

You then snapped side to side where you found Donnie awake, laying beside you, and patiently monitoring.

You tackled him onto his carapace and shouted in his face, “What was that?!”

He peeped, unsure.

“That was so much!” You released him and hovered over top. “Too much cum!”

His head lifted to watch you closely.

“Where do you keep it all?” You felt crazed and fell onto your hip beside him.

Freed, he perked further up and his gaze roved as he examined you.

You caught his chin and tipped him up to kiss him. His muscles went slack against you and you had to chase him back down to the ground. You felt a similar toll on him and gave up making sense of it all. Donnie was his own kind of being and, while you could make educated guesses, he couldn’t be so easily compared.

You pressed with purpose, trying to siphon a response from him where he could not. He allowed it and stunted churrs broke as he lost oxygen during each kiss. It caused him to pant against you where you swallowed up his sounds with a dip of your tongue. Siphoning off this life force in contrast to the one he’d forced into you, you wound your tongue around his with desperation.

Each time you came up he squeaked and gasped against the supposed suffocation. “You literally spent hours fucking me underwater. Don’t pretend like you can’t breathe.”

You scolded him with your tongue and teeth and he met you with as much open mouth enthusiasm as he could muster. However the act was conveyed to him, he clearly found it a pleasurable one and you were moving farther onto his plastron to get the necessary height. He then chased you on one of your head lifting retreats and you berated him by crushing him down into the grass.

He churred needy, but you made out at most, until he began to chirp deliriously. 

Only then did you finally throw a leg over his torso.

The sides of his plastron nipped your thighs and he nervously palmed your hips to push you down where he needed you.

Biting down on his tongue for a hard suck, he gave a sharp mating call and finally you slid far enough back.

You bumped each other in a grab to unlatch the sleeve. 

Once freed it was a quick lift and drop before his cock was buried into you.

Muscles battered, you wilted slightly and he lifted up to bend and chase your lips.

You caught his head the best you could to drink him in and upon the next slide of your tongue against his, he came hard and fast.

Moaning into his mouth, your eyes rolled back. “How-!?”

He ground you down onto him and shoved his mouth open against yours.

“-does-?” A press stole your words and you kissed him the best you could under his insistence. “-this turn you on? You don’t even get it-!”

He refused to let you have more and you toppled over where he began to roll his hips straight through his orgasm.

He was perfectly positioned and the ache of having never cum crushed you with a million times more force than the pond ever had. “Oh, fuck! Donnie!”

Another mating call for your excitement, you found your arms and encircled him to hold on.

He readjusted himself for an even better connection and you cried out his name again and again as targeted pleasure wound.

With a slight nudge to your cheek, you turned into him and he kissed you.

While nothing had, you felt like everything stopped.

You then watched as Donnie pulled his head back to look you over with a semi-focused gaze. “G-good…”

“D-Donnie?!”

For however he was there, he also wasn’t and curled closer to you. “Mm, feels good, love.”

“Donnie!” You pulled him into another kiss and he gave it with practiced ease.

He mewled a little to reluctantly part. “You… okay?”

“Good, so good! Is it… is your heat almost over…? It hasn’t been long at all!” You sent your attention downward and didn’t feel the thick of his knot.

“Hmm?” He drew out the hum and dipped his arms to hike your legs up.

It sent him to even more of your favorite spots and you babbled how much you missed it.

“Good mate.” He groaned, feeling you squeeze him. “A-Amazing.”

“I-“ Your voice bobbed with your body. “-don’t-” You felt your chest bounce. “-understand!”

“Gonna cum for me…?” He slurred affection.

“M-missed you!” You tried to find a better hold on him as your orgasm loomed close. “I missed you! I missed you!” 

“Missed…” The word struck him odd and his hips didn’t stop, but his brow ridge creased. “M-mating…season…?”

“Yes!” You sobbed in pleasure and response.

“Are you…?” He seemed to look you over with the most comprehension yet.

“Good! Incredible! We’re good! So, so good! It’s been the best!!” You were so close you felt your neurons misfiring on your tongue.

“My heart…” With a final hoist of your legs, he plowed your g-spot and you came hard.

It wrung your mind out and the dripping wet juices came down in your vision as cerebral stardust.

“Love you!” He shouted through the void.

“L-love!!” You drooled and felt him grunt with his own orgasm.

No knot.

All you could think was his knot hadn’t expanded.

What did come down was the drawbridge of his body.

Moat accessible, you were still cozy in the castle and panted after what felt like a triathlon.

The rush of your own blood ringing in your ears, the weight of your mate became too much and you gave a wobbly push with your arms against his.

He gave a broken chirp and abated some of his weight where he didn’t seem able to fully retreat.

“Do-nnie…!”

He chirped again and nosed close to you.

You tilted your head to find darkened eyes staring back. “Don…?”

His lids closed as if he hadn’t heard you.

He’d surfaced for only a moment, a dull thought came.

You had no idea why, but he’d momentarily come to.

What a nice surprise.

In and out of attention, you were eventually carried back to the nest. Placed with as much care as incoordination could afford, you curled up against a pillow. Donnie kicked up some things for the sake of it and eventually settled down beside you with a few exhausted cheeps.

You mostly slept until a few hours before your call with S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N.

Scheduled for noon day five, you had a lot of cleaning up to do when you woke. There was the fact that you’d tracked half the pond’s mud into your otherwise pristine nest. Donnie had a minor fit over you tossing brown stained sheets, but settled when you brought in the new ones that he had scented prior for this instance. You were barely able to keep him from mucking those up and somehow got him to rinse off in the outdoor shower.

With him mostly clean, he scampered off where his mind demanded he fix his nest and you took your turn. Actually washing yourself in contrast to your mate, you found the tenderness where he’d bitten your shoulder the day before. It was sadly left subjected to its environment so you scrubbed as best you could and hoped those antibiotics worked amongst the pond scum. Refreshed, you hung a towel over your head and air dried while you downed water like you hadn’t had one in days and ate with a sudden starvation that you hadn’t known was percolating.

Donnie’s season was something else and you were perched on a pillow right at the edge of the nest when you dialed your phone.

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. picked up after one ring. “Good news!?”

You leaned away from his volume. “Hey, Shelly.”

“Y/N!”

“What do you even mean by that?” You chuckled and toed at where Donnie was laid out by your feet.

Your mate looked at you with a sleepy expression from all his hard nest work.

“I mean…!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. started and stopped. “I mean I guess you did call me exactly on time so that’s a good sign.”

“It’s going good?” You clarified.

“Yeah?”

“Yup, everything accounted for minus Donnie killing a fish and trying to give it to me like a cat and a whole underwater fiasco.”

“Did he Black Lagoon you?” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. fussed.

“No, no. It was a totally different thing you’ll think is gross, that we didn’t guess.”

“Oh huh…” Your son hummed.

“But food’s good. Water’s good. All supplies, yeah. I could crush some fast food, but that’s just like the ‘please feed me carbs’ side of my body from all the working out.”

“Hm, hm.” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. gave a scholarly hum.

“It’s good.”

“You sound happy.” He softened on the line.

“I am… Donnie… kind of… surfaced? Yesterday. It’s  hard to explain, but he spoke and was present for a few minutes.”

“Weird!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. stretched the word out.

“Yeah. Now he’s back to being his old feral heat self though.” You finally reached him in a stretch and he gave a faint chirp as you tapped his arm.

“Gotcha! Well… I don’t want any details so as long as you both are happy…!”

You laughed. “Thank you for worrying.”

“Yup! Always!”

“We’re still having our Donnie-free weekend after this?”

S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. revved so loud you could hear it. “Yes! You owe me!! Sleep over at my house!!!”

“I do. After the hospital and the whole you not being able to come over because Leo is terrified of you.”

“He cried like a baby!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. sang. “He’s so funny.”

“Shelly!” You pretended to scold. “Stop! He was a broken man!”

“Broken man scared of a kid like half his age!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. cackled.

You booed him.

Coming down from clucks, S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. sighed. “Yeah, well. He’s fine now so whatever! Anyway, we’re gonna have so much fun! Play all the video games! Make up for lost time!”

“Why do I feel like by lost time you mean all the way back to when you weren’t ever a baby.”

“Okay, I may have one or two story books…”

“My wicked son.”

“My patient mother!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. cooed back.

You chuckled.

“Plus, isn’t it practice?”

“Hopefully not anytime soon.” You tapped Donnie again and this time his lids stayed shut.

“Yeah, but still.”

“Nah. You aren’t practice. You’re my first.”

The quiet ticked on for so long that you pulled your phone away to make sure the call was still connected.

“Shelly?”

“I-I-I-!” He blubbered.

You weren’t sure if that was good or bad. “You okay? I’m sorry if I said something wrong…”

“No!” He hiccupped and snorted as if he had a congested nose.

You made a sad, unsure sound.

Donnie’s head came up.

“No, no!” You heard a clink of metal and imagined S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. was wiping his face. “I’m not upset! I guess… I guess I just always thought… I mean our family thing has always been a joke so… Is calling you ‘mom’ insensitive? What am I-!?”

“It’s not a joke!”

He quieted.

“It was… Obviously, it was at first, but Shelly, you are my son. I don’t care. I’ll sign the adoption papers even though you’re an adult. If anything were ever to happen to Donnie and me…” You stared hard at Donnie who’d come closer as the conversation turned. “Even if we stopped dating, you’d still be my son. Even if you moved on, I think I’d always think of you that way.”

There was another bout of silence and you felt anxious.

Donnie rested his chin against your thigh.

You pet him reassuringly.

“I-I’m so-sorry…!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. eventually choked out.

“No, I am. I’m upsetting you and I can’t be there to-!”

“No!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. screamed off the speaker before he returned. “No! All these ‘no’s haven’t been complaints! I don’t know how to process this! I’m saying stop being sorry! I’m overwhelmed! These emotions are confusing and new!!”

“O-oh…”

“Yeah!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. came down with a huff of air though none of it translated on the receiver. “I love it. I love you. I’m just… you know, experiencing familial emotions for the first time in my life and freaking out a little!”

“Ah!”

“Yeah!”

“I want to apologize again!”

“Don’t!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. sighed. “It’s good… Ugh I feel weird though. I like, want to run around, but I also don’t so it’s all… ew!”

“Gross human feelings.” You chastised. “Like love!” 

“Yeah.”

“Welcome to… being a child? Or having a family? Which sounds better?”

“Both?” He seemed just as unsure.

“You going to be alright?”

“Yes!” S.H.E.L.L.D.O.N. scoffed. “It’s a happy thing! Just weird! New weird!”

You smiled. “Okay, okay. Text me if you need anything.”

“That should be my thing! Stop! Subverting our cool new official roles!”

“You’re not some caregiver!”

“Blah blah blah!! No more emotions thank you! I’m hanging up! Love you! Bye!”

“Love you too! Bye-!”

He hung up.

You pulled the phone away and laughed as it timed out.

Donnie chirped curiously beside you.

“Our son is so much like us and not.” You tucked the phone away and then scooped up your mate’s face. “That’s being parents, I guess.”

Donnie churred a little even though his face said he was confused.

You kissed the tip of his nose. “Look at you. You weren’t threatened by the phone call at all. You’re so comfortable now! You don’t even get jealous of Shelly anymore!” Throwing your weight, you bowled him over.

He fell with you, chirping happily in the sheets.

“I’m proud of you. Proud to be with you.” You told him as you came down.

He leaned forward obviously ready to receive a kiss.

“I’d be more proud if you could figure out something simple like kissing back!” You shook your head and gave him one anyway.

He gave a mating call against your lips and you returned it into his face. You moved to wrestle him and he was in just the right mood for it. Tumbling, there was a distinct lack of sexual drive to it and he only gave into being playful with you. You giggled all the while and he eventually collapsed back to let you win which you nipped at him for. He clicked a protest, but it devolved into happy chirps as you threw a pillow over his face.

You lasted a few hours until you made love again and it felt like a whole affair. Intimate and careful, there were contrasts amongst the drive. You weren’t sure if the last time had been such a blur or if this was the true norm, but you cherished every second. You got to watch the deep satisfaction pass over your mate’s face during his release and you etched it into your mind. The whole of him was yours and you cradled him close long after he’d given up chirping curiously at your subdued change.

When you awoke late that night, you were buried in a divot that had both of you pressed flush. With a bit of sheet pulled up to protect you from his pectoral scutes, you were otherwise tucked in together and you looked up at his sleep slack face. Feeling then specifically how connected you were, you nudged him lightly if only for him to see it as well.

He roused first with a few concerns, then surveying your happy mood brought sugary churrs. You kissed into his cheek lazily and pressed close to him. In a thump, you sensed your hearts beating together and you knew this would carry far beyond when Donnie’s season ended. Like last time, he’d known you’d drawn closer, but this time he would understand why. He’d know as soon as he saw you consciously that any separation that had still been lingering was eradicated. There was no longer some distinction between him and this supposed other persona. You were all his on all levels and nothing more would pull you apart.

💜NEXT💜

Never enough love for all that my betas put up with @tmntxthings and @thepinkpanther83

[smallraindrops-blog]

I Know A Place (just for you and me)

Part 5

WMFTD!Y/N X Hypnos

Word count: 7.3

Warnings: Fluff, heavy angst, implied sex, death, AUs out of the wazoo, no beta.

Notes: 

I was going to hold off on posting this but with how long it's been since I posted anything I made, I decided to push this one out a little earlier. Thanks everyone for their patience and I hope y'all enjoy this!

also everyone go tell @jun-yng thanks for their big brain idea of ‘How to train your dragon’ AU, it wouldn’t exist without them. ( also look at their pretty art and pet the screen as you mutter like a feral person)

All parts can be found on the Masterlist

~

Fighting Evil by Moonlight (Magical girls au)

Hypnos wanted it to be noted in the records that she wanted nothing to do with any of this. 

Like she was going to hire a handsome lawyer who would nod with compassion as she told him everything and yell ‘objection!’. He would do it for her honor, then he would confess to falling madly in love with her the moment she stepped into his high rise office. 

She had been more happy to stay home with her clay mask and her softest pj on while she reread ‘The Surrender of Aphrodite’ for the millionth time. 

Unlike Zagreus who had seen the shiny dumb egg fall out of the night skies and went chasing after it. 

”Duck!” Zagreus yelled to the team, her dark hair fanned behind her as she twisted out of the way of the queen monster’ glimmering beam, causing her black skirt to lift up.

Hypnos landed on the damp, cold ground of the park, cursing as the disgusting mud touched her bare thighs. Her - stupid, too short, too ruffled - ruby red skirt hid nothing as she rolled to get out of the way of another beam.

Once this dumb thing was sent back to the underworld or wherever they went to, Hypnos was going to treat herself to a double cheeseburger with some fries and a good crying session in a very hot shower.

“We need to kill these things and fast!” Melinoë called out. Her swift form was a blur of orange as she swung her weapon, taking one of the freaky and smaller monsters out.  

“Like you don’t say? I thought we were going to invite them over a sleepover!” Hypnos snapped between chatting teeth. 

Hypnos took the chance to get back on her two feet, wobbly on the high heels and flipping her long curls over her shoulder. In a desperate attempt to summon her own weapon, she waved a hand in front of her chest.

Her impractical red flower brooch began glowing from its place in the middle of her giant bow but no weapons formed. Again.

Instead she coaxed her own magic forward, pale and misty. So unlike the vibrant colors of the other princesses, Hypnos thought sourly. 

A moment later, red flowers bloomed from the mist in her palm.

While everyone else got cool weapons and flashy attacks, Hypnos just had these dumb red flowers. However if she tossed enough in her foe’s face, they went down for a nap time. 

That little fact she discovered the first time in pure panic when Zagreus found that egg and a slime monster tried to eat them. 

One of the monsters rushed toward her, the eyes in the skull glowing an ugly yellow, its mouth a gaping black maw and Hypnos readied the flowers in a tight fist. 

Only to realize in horror that two more were charging from both sides.

Hypnos froze, her breath caught in her chest as she tried to work out what to do. She wasn’t a fighter- she wanted to go home- they had only been magical girls for two weeks-

Just as the monsters were about to jump her, their fangs sharp in the moonlight, Hypnos felt something heavy wrapped around her waist, yanking her up against a solid form as they leaped away from the oncoming monsters.

The monsters slammed into each other, so hard that they vanished. 

Hypnos blinked, dizzy as she realized that she was unharmed, her hands grabbing at the heavy arm around her waist. Then she saw the fluttering cloak in the breeze, matching the scarlet of her ridiculous outfit, and the golden shine of armor. 

A gleaming spear moved in front of her, another barrier of protection.

”Protect the princesses!” Her knight in shining armor roared to the other arriving knights, each one swiftfully taking out the monster far more faster than any of the princesses did.

Zagreus and Meilnoe weren’t going to be happy about the Knights coming to the rescue once again but Hypnos couldn’t find it in herself to be that upset. She slumped against the knight with a heavy sigh. 

She parted her lips to thank her knight.

Only to get dragged away and shoved into a bush. She winced in pain at the sharp jabs of the leaves.

”Hey- what is the-” Hypnos went quiet as the gloved finger pointed at her. The knight’s face was hidden by the golden helmet and shadows. But Hypnos still felt the intensity of their eyes on her.

“Stay here. I will fetch you when it is safe.” The knight growled then turned away, still muttering. “I swear you all are a butch of boneheads. Pains in my ass, all of you!” 

“Am not!” Hypnos called back, suddenly wishing that the knight didn’t save her just so they would have felt guilty when Hypnos got hurt. She huffed as she watched the knight neatly killed off the monsters.

Zagreus was yelling at one of them, silver armor with a black cloak. Melinoe was just trying to help finish off the last few with her knights in silver and orange. 

Hypnos’ knight - not that she liked calling them that but it seemed the magic wanted them all to be color coded for whatever reason- looked far too dashing in their golden armor and red cloak as they ruthlessly killed the queen monster in a single hit. 

Like a knight from a storybook that Hypnos would daydream over. 

Deciding for herself that it was more than safe, Hypnos stood with a huff and went to join her fellow princesses. 

~

It was after five minutes or so of listening to Zagreus arguing with the knights that Hypnos decided she was far too cold and hungry to stay out much longer.

Besides, it was a school night anyway. And she was done wearing these heels.

”I’m leaving.” Hypnos informed the group in a loud yawn. Not that anyone was paying attention to her anyway.

Hypnos turned on her heels and began the long walk back home. Hopefully her brothers or mom won’t notice Hypnos sneaking through her bedroom’s window, she will just act like she was asleep the whole time when they finally do see her.

A moment later, she sensed rather than hear the knight join behind her, a watchful guard - or a babysitter if she was being honest. 

“I will be fine. Shoo, go polish your armor or kill a dragon or whatever it is that knights do.” Hypnos waved a dismissive hand over her shoulders. 

“What knights do is watch over their foolish princess, especially when she tries to walk home alone in the dark.” Her knight shot back. Hypnos felt her cheeks flushed at the implication of the words but only scoffed.

She lifted her arm up, scowling at her flower brooch, and with a tap on it, her school uniform was restored in a gentle light as the brooch changed back to a dainty bracelet with a single charm of a red flower dangling from it.

Thankfully - or unfortunately depending- it returned her school bag as well, but her knight picked it up before Hypnos could, swinging it onto their shoulder. Hypnos gave them a cool glare before she began her walk again.

If her knight wanted to carry her stuff, so be it. Less work for Hypnos.

While the long sleeves of her button up and longer skirt helped a little, it wasn’t as much as she hoped. Shivering, Hypnos crossed her arms. She really needed to remember to get her beloved coat from school tomorrow.

“I swear you guys don’t know how to take care of yourself at all.” Her knight grumbled. Before she could snap back, a heavy, warm weight enveloped her form. 

The cloak. 

If Hypnos was like Zagreus, so desperate to prove herself, Hypnos might have protested but she wasn’t. Hypnos sighed deeply in relief, wrapping it around tightly and buried her face in it to get warm. There was a faint scent to it, almost like a campfire maybe. 

Whenever it was, it smelled good.

For a long moment, they walked side by side in silence. Even with the armor, the knight moved with a quiet, easy grace that Hypnos was envious of. 

“Thank you.” Hypnos said finally, peeking up from her lashes. Gosh, but the knight might be one of the tallest people she ever met. Beside Asterius.

If the voice was deeper, more masculine, it could be Asterius… Hypnos felt her heart flutter with hope.

“Just be more careful next time.” Her knight grumbled. Their voice was low, more like warm silk but most certainly not Asterius.

Hypnos nodded, her hopes dashed but she was surprised to find that she wasn’t that upset. Asterius and his ‘friend’ had something going on even if Hypnos was the only one to notice. “I'm just not made for fighting. I don’t even get a weapon.” 

“You are the reincarnation of a sleep deity or something right? Why would you be near a battlefield anyway?” The knight asked. From the way their tone sounded, it seemed like that question had been on their mind for a while.

Hypnos shrugged, her tone dry. “Seems wrong to get some type of power and not help out my fellow princesses. Zagreus also wouldn’t leave me alone. And I don't want to upset whatever god tossed that egg our way.”

Another silence fell between them. The trees rustled, losing more of the bold leaves. 

“You know what?” Hypnos said suddenly. “I wouldn’t mind all this- the fighting, the late nights -that uniform- you saw how short that skirt is right? Especially with those heels. Anyone could see my panties.”

At that the knight made a strangled noise, like they were in great deal of pain but Hypnos decided it must be their version of laughing in agreement. 

Hypnos sighed, waving her hand around, scowling at the sparkling charm. “I wouldn’t mind if I was actually useful. All I can do is create those dumb red flowers- ow!“

She stopped, hissing at the sharp pain in her scalp. She twisted her head, staring at the charm that was caught in her curls.  Hypnos heard the knight muttering something under their breath, stepping far too close. 

A gloved hand caught her chin, their thumb pressed against her sudden flushed cheek. The leather was cool against her skin but it didn’t help to cool her skin. Hypnos’ heart raced, like a bird caught in her chest as the knight leaned in. 

With gentleness Hypnos didn’t expect, the knight began to untangle the charm out of her curls. 

“Stupid flower.” Hypnos said, desperately trying to look anywhere else. Her other hand tightened on the cloak.

”Poppy.” The knight said abruptly. Hypnos frowned up at them with a quick glance, her eyes on them once again. Even this close, their face was hidden away.

”Those flowers? They are called poppies.” Her knight chuckled, they sounded too amused for their own good. 

“Oh. Wowie, didn’t know that.” Hypnos whispered, once again unable to look at the knight. She sounded like a fool and she wanted the ground to open up to swallow her.

That little laugh had sent a pool of warmth to her chest and Hypnos was torn between running away, her hair be damned or leaning in closer. 

Hypnos wanted to say something else, something clever or seductive like Lady Aphrodite would come up with but her tongue felt heavy as she caught a whiff of that spicy scent again.

“They are supposed to help with pain and with rest.” Her knight spoke up, their voice low. “That's why the chaos egg gave you these gifts. Poppies belong to you, princess, just as sweet dreams and gentle sleep all belong to you.”

Hypnos felt the moment that her charm was freed, the knight’s warm hand curled around her wrist. With a shaky breath, Hypnos looked up, wishing desperately that she could see their eyes.

The knight shifted closer, there was barely any space left between them. Hypnos licked her lips nervously, her heart racing. Like a flash, Hypnos wanted to stand on her toes and kiss this stranger.

Then they jerked, as if realizing how close they and Hypnos were. Her knight immediately stepped away, dropping their hands away.

Hypnos swayed, thrown off balance by the abrupt change. She had been sure they were about to say something else. Her knight shifted the bag on their broad shoulder, already walking away. 

“Come on, princess. It is getting late.” They snapped. 

Hypnos gasped in outrage. She almost didn’t follow them but then remembered they had her bag. 

Fuming with a childish anger, She stuck her tongue out behind their back.

”Put that back in your mouth.” They called out, not even turning around to look at her.

Hypnos sighed loudly and had to run to get caught up.  Nothing was more said between them. Hypnos kept glancing over them but unable to find the right words.

“We are getting near the park’s entrance.” Her knight informed her and Hypnos blinked in surprise. She didn’t realize how close they were, too lost in her thoughts.

“Oh.” Hypnos said. They were still hidden by the evergreen shrubs but it would be easy for someone to spot them once inside the park.

Hypnos gave her Knight a side glance. “You should probably change back. People will notice someone walking around in shiny, gold metal. The movie set thing won’t work, trust me.” 

She couldn’t hide the hopeful tone of her words. Hypnos wanted to know the face behind that helmet. She wanted to know the person that damn egg had paired her with.

”Nope. Sorry, princess.” Her knight said, not sounding all that sorry. Hypnos resisted the urge to stomp her foot like a toddler.

The knight handed over her school bag and she huffed as she looked back at the city. “Stay in the lights, I will protect you until you get home safe.”

Hypnos frowned, turning back to glare at the knight but the space next to her was empty.

“W-what-“. Hypnos turned in a circle, trying to find her companion in the shadows of the park. “Oh come on!”

Hypnos tightened the red cloak around her like a blanket. She stomped her foot. “This is so unfair. I am keeping your cloak!”

~

(The next morning)

At the sound of a motorcycle, Hypnos lifted her head up to scowl at her new guest. Next to her in a sleek sport bike, you peered at her through the visor as you stopped the vehicle in the bike lane.

Thankfully this street was empty with no traffic, making it easy to hear.

You were dressed in your uniform of jeans and your worn leather jacket open carelessly to reveal a black shirt with your parents’ gym logo in the middle.

She felt her cheeks flushed, those familiar butterflies returning to her stomach. She pointly didn’t look at your chest. Or shoulders. 

It was so unfair how much cooler you were. All of Hypnos’ life, you were always this untouchable cool girl that everyone wanted but couldn’t have. 

It didn't do anything to kill her crush on you however, if anything it just made it worse.

“Get on.” You ordered, with a nod toward the backseat. “Did you sleep in again?”

“I was up late last night, you know, saving the world and all that.” Hypnos replied cheerfully. She could be lackadaisical as she wanted, she knew you wouldn’t believe her.

You rolled your eyes like Hypnos knew you would. “You are so spoiled. I have your stupid helmet in my side bag.” 

With a half-hearted glare,Hypnos moved quickly as she could, pulling out her cherry red kitty ears helmet. She loved it so much. 

With a practiced grace, she got on the bike as she placed her helmet on.

it would mess up her hair but as long as she didn’t get in trouble for being late for school again, she didn’t care.

She wrapped her arms around your solid waist just before you took off. Hypnos tucked herself in close with a sigh as you expertly weaved around the traffic. 

You should have been in school with her but you had studied harder than most students and graduated a solid year before anyone else to help with your family business. 

You were probably the reason your parents' business hasn't gone under especially with the rumored health problems of Patroclus. 

Hypnos gave you a squeeze, hoping you knew what she was trying to say. 

And oddly enough, afterwards the faint spicy smell of campfire lingered around her for the rest of the day.

She was going to ask you where you got that cologne, it should definitely be a clue on which guy from school was her knight.

~~~~~~

Speak. (Podcaster Au)

It was around three in the morning when you gave up the ghost. 

Sleep didn’t come again.

Your body felt too anxious, sure that enemies lurked in the shadows, ready to bury a blade in your neck. You rolled out the bed and began to pace in your room. You lived alone, so you wouldn’t be bothering anyone else with your craziness thankfully.

or PTSD as the therapist called it, throwing more alphabets at you along with bright orange pills bottles. Colorful pills that did nothing for you and you glared at the medicine on your nightstand.

It was unfair because you knew this stuff had to help others but it had been months, hell years since you got a good night's rest. Even nightmares would be better than insomnia at this point.

You just wanted to be able to close your eyes and sleep.

~

It was the desperation of seeing another sunrise with dry eyes that burned that sent you looking at podcasts, Zagreus never shut up about them. He always seemed to have one on, and constantly sent you links that you never opened.

Maybe there would be one that would bore you to sleep.

You carefully avoid the ones about current events, you were not in the right headspace for that shit right right now. Definitely not the true crimes one. You scoffed at the alpha males podcasts and rolled your eyes at the historical wars ones. 

No one knew what it was like until it was them in on the muddy fields, listening to everyone dying-

You shook your head sharply, slamming it against the headboard. You didn't wince at the sharp jolt of pain that shot your mind like lightning. You welcomed it. You resisted the urge to repeat it.

You closed your eyes as you forced yourself to do the breathing exercises. 

In.

Hold. 

Out. 

Breath. 

Half an hour later, you resumed your hunting, this time on the much softer couch. Beams of sunlight peered in, dust molts in the amber light. You debated trying to eat something but the thought of even trying made you nauseous. 

It was only by luck when you saw it. You remembered that Zagreus had mentioned it, the name unusual enough to stick in the dimness of your mind. It didn’t seem very popular.

You read the title again.

‘Shut up, Hypnos: A rambling podcast.’

Frowning, you skimmed over the playlist. It seemed this guy picked the most random topic imaginable and then spent anywhere from three to- you blinked and squinted, bringing your phone closer- sixteen hours just talking.

Shut up indeed, you thought with an exhausted chuckle. 

Deciding the seven hours episode on the history of the card game ‘Uno’ was a safe one, you began it as you stared up at the ceiling. There was the first minute of ads, a woman talking about building websites in a near orgasmic tone. 

Then.

”Helllloooo, welcome to my closet and to my podcast. If you don’t know me, my name is Hypnos - yes, I know the name is weird, tell that to my mom- and this is ‘Shut up, Hypnos.’ Where I will talk to you until you either toss your phone into a river with pure disgust at humanity or fall asleep from sheer boredom! Whichever comes first.” 

You blinked, of all the voices you expected, it wasn’t that one. It was airy, not bad but something that told you the man might be pitching it up higher than natural. 

But still, not bad.

”Uno. Dos- tres- No, only Uno please.” Hypnos laughed at his own joke. It was a nice laugh. Your eyes traced the sunbeams on your ceiling.

“That game was the bane of my existence from the moment I gained consciousness and the dexterity required to hold the cards. I don’t think I won a single game and I always ended up with half of the deck in my hands.” Hypnos rambled on. 

You never ever saw this man, not a single clue of what he looked like but you could picture it, a child scowling at the cards. 

“A family ‘game night’ brought up the memories of my horrible childhood and I decided to look up who created this game solely to torture me and me alone. So, my listener, if you haven’t driven us off a cliff yet, let me take you to a magical place called ‘Ohio’ in the year of 1971…”

The last thing you remembered was Hypnos’ outraged at the man who mortgaged his house for a mere eight thousands dollars - ‘shush, listener, I know it was the seventies and it worked out for them but still!’- and the way the golden light seemed to dip like honey.

Hypnos began speaking off topic something related to the game but his voice was faraway now, a quiet murmuring that flowed like the river lethe.

You didn’t remember closing your eyes.

~

When you woke up, you had dried drool on your chin with no idea what time or day it was. It was dim inside and it felt like you had been sleeping forever. Your mind was sluggish and it actually took you a moment to sit up. 

Your phone was on the ground, Hypnos’ cheerful voice still going. You rubbed at your face as you tried to wake up. 

He was no longer talking about ‘Uno’. You weren’t sure what it was about but when Hypnos had said something about genitalia and heroin in the same sentence, you finally picked your phone up.

The episode was named ‘The Ballad of Sexual Dependency by Nan Goldin: post Stonewall art’ 

Then you saw the time. 

You had slept for a solid fifteen hours straight. 

Your phone was clinging to life with six percent left and you needed to pee and you felt your stomach growl, hunger sharp in you for the first time in months. You still felt lost in the fabric of time and space, your head heavy with sleep.

Hypnos was still talking, ranting about an art project that a teacher failed him on because it wasn’t showing Hypnos’ truest intentions.

“What does that mean? What the fuck-“ Hypnos ranted, his anger so genuine that you smiled. “Why spend hours telling me art is subjective then go tell me that-“

You never felt better.

~

A week or so later, Hypnos was spinned around in his wheely chair, sipping on his ice coffee, trying to decide if he wanted to rant about the elephant and their pinnae. He eyed his computer with about twenty tabs he had pulled on elephant ears as he kept spinning.

Monie was staring at him, or rather at the iced coffee in his hand. Her little white Pom tail swayed with hope.

“You can’t have this.” Hypnos informed his dog for the millionth time, still spinning even as the world was getting blurry. “You will die.” 

Monie only made her black eyes bigger and wetter and so much sadder because Hypnos loved her enough to make sure she didn’t kill herself with caffeine.

“I know Monie, no one’s life is harder than yours, you silly dog.”

He heard a ping, meaning his Patreon just got something. Hypnos stopped himself, dizzy as he tried to see what he got. He usually got a dollar or two here and there. So he could definitely get more coffee. 

Maybe even enough for some Taco Bell. He was a big dreamer afterall. He laughed to himself as he looked.

His face went numb, his coffee spilled over his lap as he stared open mouthed at the screen.

He was reading it wrong.

Right? Right.

He automatically picked Monie up so she couldn’t lick at the spilled coffee.

Oh gods.

Rubbing his eyes hard as he could with one hand, he leaned forward, Monie still held aloft as he stared like a fool.

A fat, whole ten grand. It had to be a mistake. He was sure of that.

Then Hypnos saw the message, no real name, just random numbers and letters. 

Just a simple ‘Thank you, Hypnos.’

~~~~~~

Fly high (HTTYD Au, Icelos' pov )

The day they lost Dad, all Icelos remembered was fire. Fire and screams in the dead of the night, the black smoke of dragon fire hid even the stars. Her father’s scream of anguish was louder than even the mightiest dragon roar.

She remembered crying, her twin’s face was a mirror of her own pain.

It was the day they lost their Father too, a proud man who left as a hollowed out ancient tree after a great fire, one that still stood, blackened and ruined.

~

The few scraps of information that Icelos got about her Dad came from others, an off hand comment here or there from Achilles or a neighbor. They had uncles and aunts from their Dad’s side but they never visited anymore.

Icelos wondered often if they blame her father for what happened. 

Sometimes she wanted to write to them, her neat penmanship messy from her anger, to let them know, their stones of guilt were mere pebbles to the world that her Father carried.

She never did.

Instead she hoarded the few bit of her dad that she could.

’Your Dad had the worst sweet tooth I have ever seen, especially with honeyed goods.’ That had come from the baker, after waving a wooden spoon at Morpheus for taking a third helping of hard honey.

‘I still expect to see him napping on the porch.’ Achilles had remarked to Patroclus once, not realizing that Icelos was still in earshot.

And when she was younger, she found books tucked away in a box, many with notes inside an unfamiliar handwriting. It had been the mentions of her Father’s name along with ‘my husband’ that she realized it must be her Dad who wrote these.

She devoured every last one, reading the off hand comments and the bad jokes - so many that it reminded her of Morpheus- to some akin to worship. Icelos thought maybe if she listened hard enough, she would hear him like a lost god murmuring her ears.

Father rarely spoke of Hypnos, although sometimes Icelos caught how Father would watch them sometimes, like he saw someone else. His harsh demeanor softened for a moment.

Icelos wanted to ask him, what did he see? 

Was Dad there in the curve of Morpheus’ cheesy grin, or the way her twin brother would find a perfect patch of afternoon sun to nap in like a cat? 

Was it Photobtor and his eyes, perfect honey gold even in the dark of the night?

She had wanted to ask, perhaps more than anything, did she have anything from Hypnos that none of the others had? Something that was purely theirs. Hypnos and Icelos.

Father always turned away before Icelos found her courage, his broad shoulders just slumped ever so slightly.

Unwillingly, their dad had become a shade in their lives, or something so mystical that it would ruin the house if spoken aloud. Or maybe it would just burn away at the last remaining bit of their father, causing him to fall like an old tree, wood too rotten even for warmth in the cold, lonely night.

~

Icelos was so startled by how warm the dark scales of her night fury felt underneath her palm that her breath hitched. The dragon closed its eyes, completely trusting Icelos.

She let out a breathless laugh. Tears burning in her eyes.  

If her Father could see her now…

She looked down at the trusting beast, its hot breath gentle on her skin. 

He could never know.

~

So of course, Father found out a week later.

But there wasn't time, she had to save her best friend, her father and her grandparents, to show her brothers, everyone what it meant to really fly.

What she remembered wasn’t the flames reaching up for her. It was the determination in her night fury’s eyes. 

Sometimes Icelos wondered if she actually heard her Father’s voice, screaming out her name.

~

After everything, years later with dragons flying in the cold skies of winter, it was Icelos that Father brought to the clan meetings. 

She stayed quiet, standing by his elbow as he dealt with clan matters of hunting, food storage, supplies for homes and the construction of new pathways. There were disputes to settle between the clan members- land rights, cattle and so on- and there were so many countless little things that she never thought about before. 

Her Night Fury had fallen asleep about five minutes in and Icelos never felt such envy before.

When the last of the villagers left, her Father sighed heavily.  “I don’t suppose your dragon won’t mind adding to the fireplace for us?”

“What?” Icelos yelped, waking up her dragon who huffed at her. “But what else is there to do?”

Father smiled grimly as he nodded toward the books on the table. “We shall start with the fun stuff first. We have to go through the incident reports- your dragons are a little too enthusiastic about helping then we have the petitions, expense reports, contracts, reports or requests for help from other clans, livestocks records and so on.”

Icelos moaned in pain as she fell backward into a chair, rubbing her face. Her dragon grumbled at her, sending a burst of flames toward the fireplace. 

“My thanks.” Her father told the dragon, taking a large piece of dried jerky from the table and tossed it. Her nightfury snapped it up greedily, purring in pleasure.

”Father, must we?” Icelos glanced over the piles of books. Was this why she didn’t see her Father until late in the evening? Her knee ached, the false leg cold against her skin. 

She used to like winter but as the weather got deeper and she got older, she found herself not enjoying it as much as she did in her youth.

Icelos shifted and somehow her dearest friend knew, pressing its warm body against her leg, resting their heavy head on her lap. She gave them a pat on their head.

Father approached her, his brow furrowed. “Is your leg bothering you?”

”Yeah but I want to stay.” Icelos said firmly, straightened her back as she met her Father’s hard stare. She kept her head high, not glancing away like someone else might have from her father. 

She may be older now but a single glance from those eyes could still make her feel little like a girl with her hand in the cookie jar.

For a long moment, Icelos thought he would order her to go home but he just nodded, pulling out a leather flask from his cloak. When he poured her a small drink of ale, she nearly went bug-eyed. Father was a hard ass about his kids drinking hard liquor.

”Just this once.” He told her with a wry glance. She thought she almost saw a rare smile. “For the leg. Don’t tell your brothers.” 

Icelos nodded, suddenly feeling very grown up with her drink and paperwork.

After a deep drink for himself, Father brought the books closer to her along with papers and quills. She didn’t have to do any of the paperwork yet but he went over each piece of information carefully, telling her the context and exactly why it mattered. 

It was late in the night when they were done. Icelos slumped in her chair and she watched with heavy eyes as Father placed the paperwork away. 

“Do you know why I chose you?” Father said abruptly, causing Icelos to wake up a little. After a moment, she gave him a goofy smile.

”My neat handwriting?” She guessed, not sure where he was going with that. He huffed, an almost laugh.

”No.” he told her, returning to stand next to her. He placed a large, warm hand on her shoulder. His expression shifted, unreadable in the firelight. “You remind me so much of your dad.”

Icelos blinked, her lips parting but no sounds came out. How long had it been since she last heard Father speak of Hypnos, the shade that haunted their lives? The one that Father still seemed to look for sometimes. 

Father was no longer looking at her, staring into the fire. “Your dad wasn’t suited for leadership but he knew how to… keep me grounded, to make sure I didn’t lead with an ax in my hand and damnation in the other.”

Icelos only nodded, too stunned to speak. She gave her confused dragon a pet on the head, the smooth scales comforting her. 

“You have the best of him. He knew how to stay cheerful even in the darkest times, he was gentle even if he couldn’t help but make smart comments, especially to me.” Father continued, his voice was so quiet, so hopelessly fond. 

Years and years later, he still sounded like he was in love. “Just like you.”

”Oh.” Icelos swallowed, tears forming unwillingly. She didn’t want to cry because if she did, Father might stop.

”You could be a great leader for our clan, Icelos. You have his gentle heart but my iron hand. The fact you already unified our clan and the dragons is only the tip of the iceberg of far you could go.” Father turned back to her, his eyes watchful.

And maybe she was imagining it in her sleep deprivation but- he looked proud. Of her.

She nodded, trying to appear like a leader. She wanted that desperately, to fit in the role her father gave her. “I want to be great. For you and dad.” 

“You already are.” He said, squeezing her shoulder gently.

~

Icelos thought she was going mad. 

Her body was shaking, her breathing kept hitching sharply. Her Night Fury let Icelos braced herself against them, their eyes locked on the pair before her.

A Light Fury was glaring at them, their teeth bared but the man next to the dragon didn’t move, didn’t breath.

How often had Icelos seen those white curls, those golden eyes reflected back in the mirror?

Faintly she heard a noise. Soft and broken. 

Then she realized it came from her twin. Morpheus was shocked into silence, his harsh breathing the only thing hint to his anger, to his pain while Phobetor watched with an hesitant expression. 

“Oh my little starlights.” Hypnos said quietly. the once shade, the ghost that haunted their home, that broke her father beyond repair, smiled warmly. 

His sunlit eyes were bright with tears. “It really is you. All of you.”

Just like that, Icelos and everything she thought she knew fell apart.

~

In the chaos of everything, Icelos had tried to plan for how Dad and Father were going to be reunited after she fixed the issues with the alpha dragon and the bastard keeping other dragons locked up. 

Only for Father to come looking for his lost ducklings. His stormcutter, an old king like her father, has swept in the hiding place with a liquid grace. 

There was no chance to warn him.

Icelos waited for the rage, for the hurt to spill forward like the flames of a Monstrous Nightmare. 

It was clear that Hypnos was doing the same, his shoulders tight, arms crossed over his chest. Father was staring at Hypnos like he couldn't believe he was really there, like he was seeing a ghost. 

Her father was rarely surprised, the only other time she had seen this was when he had caught her riding her beloved dragon. Then he flew in a rage unlike anything she had ever seen.

For painfully long moments, the silence grew. The heaviness of it barring down on her shoulders. 

“I would welcome you to my humble domicile but you didn't even knock.” Hypnos quipped, his voice was airy but Icelos heard the tension in it, a bird’s racing heartbeat. “Just like our wedding night. No manners whatsoever.”

Icelos knew she looked bugged eyed just like her brothers, no one had ever spoken to their father like that. Not even their most ferocious enemies.

Father stepped closer, his eyes locked onto Hypnos. Hypnos swallowed, but didn't look at him, eyes on Father's chest. 

Slowly as if Hypnos was more mist than flesh, Father touched his chin and lifted his head up, studying every line and curve of his husband's face.

Father looked raw, like something made new. His expression tender as a heartbreaking smile broke across his face, his eyes shining. He was about to cry, Icelos realized.

“You're as beautiful as the day I lost you.” His voice was low, rough and so in love. Hypnos gasped, his face crumbling with tears.

They embraced, clinging together so tightly not even the gods could part them now. 

Hypnos was sobbing, his words spilling out of him in a rush. Father was shushing him, his own mighty form shaking as he cupped the back of Hypnos’ head.

At that point, Phan touched her shoulder, jerking his head toward a different, far away area. Icelos nodded, realizing that the other two had already left, giving their parents some privacy.

Later, Icelos dangled her feet off the edge, smiling as her night fury chased the light fury. She had a suspicion her dragon was madly in love but she won't tease them just yet. 

Morpheus had taken off, needing to lick his own wounds, still hurt and angry at their dad. Her twin was speaking to Phobetor of what happened that night. 

He had been far too young the night it happened. 

And Icelos… 

She watched from high above,a stolen moment in the gentle lights, the soft greenery of the cave as her parents swayed together. 

Their voices were too low, too far away but they looked happy, even with tears marks on their cheeks. 

Maybe it was too soon, everything still too raw by the scraping of lost years on their souls but somehow she knew this would be for the better.

~~~~~~

Decisions (Reincarnation au)

Hypnos woke up alone, his cheeks stained with tears. He sniffed, rubbing his face as he sat up. His wings fluttered against his hands. The blanket was spilling off of him and onto the floor.

It was already fading, whatever it was that brought him to tears although the familiar grief lingered in his chest.

Waking up like this was something that just happened sometimes. Hypnos wondered if he would ever get used to it. If he even should get used to it.

”You’re crying.” His captain’s voice was low, gravelly as the bed dipped under your weight. 

“Was. Now I am at the gross snotty phase.” Hypnos corrected, shifting as you pulled him into your arms. Hypnos sighed, tucking his head under your chin. Humans were so much warmer than his species, their bodies hot as a pure summer day.

His wings flared out and lifted up, the tips kissing your cheeks as a greeting. You turned your head, nuzzling against one, and Hypnos couldn’t hide his smile. He loved that his captain tried to mimic his species’ sign of affection with his own human ones.

Your hand rubbed up and down his back. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Hypnos hummed low in his chest, thinking about it. 

It was no secret that you had oftentimes disliked the other versions of you. Your born calloused, possessive and beastly nature against the civilized knight of your mind were often at war with each other. 

Sometimes the knight won, other times it was the beast. Sometimes they coexisted. 

Hypnos didn’t have the heart to tell you that you still carried such behaviors even now. 

Your large hand spread over Hypnos’ lower back when someone else looked a little too long, the way you would dipped your head to listen to him, the adoring nips on his vulnerable neck as you worshiped him like an pagan and their god. 

Beast and man, always at war with each other.

“I don’t agree with some of the choices I- the other me made. I understand but I don’t agree. I think.” Hypnos sighed. He wiggled in your lap until he could look at you. “How do you deal with it?”

“I call them -or myself- a worthless bastard and try to move on. Can’t change it now.” You said, trying to lighten the mood like Hypnos often did.

Hypnos nodded slowly, then decided he didn’t want to think about it. He silded his wings behind your head, pulling you down for a greedy kiss. Your hands squeezed his waist, pulling his slender body flushed against yours.

Later, tangled together like vines and dozing, Hypnos mused on cycles, death and birth, the ebbs and flows of time until his eyes grew heavy and he returned to the realms of dreams.

~~~~~~

Dappled lights (a quiet world au)

In one life, there was a butterfly with gleaming red wings, fluttering slowly on top of a single daisy as it ate. 

It was unaware of the other butterfly watching them, admiring the shine and artwork that was their existence in the golden lights.

They will only have two weeks together, a mere blink in the eyes of gods but for them it was forever and a day.

In this life, one was a wolf, born with a deadly grace and teeth that gleamed. The other was a lost half breed, their fur soft as snow. They ran together under the moon, eyes shining and tongue lolling, they were light and darkness side by side.

When one had to leave, the other followed, curled around their mate in their small den. 

Another, so short was the lives of mayflies, only here for a moment but they fell together.

in this one, they were oak saplings, growing together side by side. Their branches grew out as they got taller. One stopped, unable to grow anymore but the other, healthy and strong, grew the branches downward until they met, tangled together forevermore.

Just one more ( it is always just more life together, just more one moment then they would be satisfied. They never are) 

But just one more, a sheep and its guard dog, bloodied to save their beloved companion. 

But just one more, two sparrows and their wings lifted by the winds, the sun shining down on them.

Just one more, one was fire and the other was fuel.

One more, an impossible, empty sea and a life giving river met, a line marking where they kissed.

One. it was the sun, warm and golden and the other was the cool, dark earth. Life bloomed wherever the sun caress them.

More. They were void and the other was everything.

Again?

Time was a flat circle, reality was infinite and they spun and spun around, laughing as they kissed.

Again.

[lollyholly99]

omgggg I completely forgot to do this til now!! >.< tagged by @joyfuladorable here!

Share your wallpaper: on desktop it's the view of Greece in Hades!

on my phone it's my sister's gorgeous art of lil Raphie!!

Last song you listened to: Startafight by Joey Valence & Brae! I like to listen to it on loop after I've had an annoying day at work and yesterday was. a day. lmao

Currently reading: uhhh nothing at the moment. 10-year-old bookworm Lolly would be ashamed of me now 😖

Last movie you watched: my millionth rewatch of the Rise movie LMAO

Craving: a decent night's sleep 😩

What are you wearing right now: a t-shirt with the 2003 Foot insignia on it and my boxers

How tall are you: tall enough 😌 (I have no idea)

Piercings: used to have my ears pierced long ago but I never wear earrings so they've closed up again! honestly I just can't deal with the hassle of piercings lmao

Tattoos: none as of yet but plenty of ideas!

Glasses? Contacts?: got prescribed a pair of glasses to use during school for a little while cus I was apparently sliiiiightly short-sighted in my left eye, but I never wore them and by the time my next eye test rolled around they said I didn't need them anymore!

Last drink: pepsi max yum yum

Last thing I ate: just finished off a big beef subway 😋

Last show: literally watching Lego Monkie Kid while I write this!

Favourite colour: purple 💜

Current obsession: TMNT is still THE special interest for me but I'm taking a break to hyperfixate on the aforementioned lego cartoon hehehehe

Unrelated obsession: I have no clue what this means sdfsd um. I'm really into this strawberry lemon juice from my local supermarket right now??

Any pets: none of my own but my sister has a tarantula I help out with the taking care of (I buy it crickets to eat)!

Do you have a crush on anyone: I'm so in love with Sun Wukong from LMK it's embarrassing 😖 in terms of real people... I'm not sure??? emotions are confusing

Favourite fictional characters: see previous question SDFSFS but also off the top of my head currently Rise Donnie and 2003 Mikey!

The last place you travelled to: idk how far specifically counts as travelling here so I'm gonna pick the one singular time I've left the country ever, i.e. when I went to Wales on my school's residential trip back when I was like. 10. lmao

idk who to tag so I'm just gonna say whoever wants to do it!! 💗

[acacia-may]

What usually helps me when I’m sick is watching my favorite shows for the Millionth time 😂! Sometimes it just makes me feel better even though I’ve already seen it and I know what happens. Also my pets make me feel better too lol, I remember one time (a few years ago) I had really bad Bronchitis and I couldn’t sleep laying down and had to sleep sitting up since I couldn’t really breathe. Well at night, one of my cats would follow me to bed and would stare at me until I fell asleep (ik it’s kinda creepy agwjwjs 😆) and when I would wake up he’d have his head laying on my chest. So I gave him the nickname “Night Nurse” because it was like he was a nurse lol!

Now onto the HC’s hehe! The only one I have right now is for Finral tho 😅.

I imagine Finral is a momma hen and worries about everyone when they’re sick. He tries his best to cook them chicken noodle soup and makes sure their fevers are done, he gives them a comunication device so that way they can contact him whenever they need something. Once Finral is the one sick, the Black Bulls show just how much they love and care about him by taking care of him just as well as he took care of them!

I hope you feel better soon Acacia dear 🥺🫂💕!! Sending love, hugs, and positive vibes!

Thank you so much, Lyra! This is so incredibly sweet, and I really appreciate all of your soft & fluffy thoughts and well wishes! 🥰

Your cat sounds adorable! I often joke that my dog acts more like a cat than a dog (i.e. she likes to hide from people, prefers to lounge around, and doesn't make a lot of noise), but even she won't jump up on beds. That's so cute!! 🥰

It's so nice to have those comfort shows you can just go back to and watch when you need a pick-me-up! I tend to watch a lot of baking shows when I'm looking for something for positive and relaxing. Even though I usually can't eat anything they're making, I appreciate the art of it, and I think I just get too invested (and then stressed out) about a lot of my other favorite tv. For instance, I was thinking about going back and rewatching some of my favorite Black Clover episodes recently, but then I had this really vivid (yet total random) mental image of Mother Nature from the really old Rankin-Bass "Year Without a Santa Claus." There's this scene where she's just trying to have a good time and have tea and keep really positive, but she is getting increasing frustrated with her bickering sons who refuse to get along with each other...and, in a way, I feel like that's me when I watch my favorite BC episodes. 😅😂 [My stupid, stupid boys! 💚💙]

(A/N: This is me, friends! Also, realizing that this movie was super formative for me and (how does that one joke go again?) the origin of my crippling addiction to problematic fictional brother relationships...😅😂)

Anyway that was a major digression, but speaking of the spatial mage brothers... your Finral headcanon is so wholesome! It made me smile so much! He'd make such an attentive and kind nurse for his sick friends, and yes, you're absolutely right he would worry so much about them until they got better. I love this idea of yours about the communicator especially. I can just picture him literally running when he's called or thinks he's needed and just completely fogetting that he could actually just portal right there.😅😂 He's such a goofball especially when he's worried about his friends, I think, but it's very sweet and very endearing.

One of my favorite things about Finral really is just how kindhearted and generous he is. He really does spend so much time and effort taking care of everyone else, and I really don't think there's even a question about it for him--he's just such a naturally generous person who'd really give his friend the shirt off his back if he thought they needed it more than he did. For that reason, it really warms my heart to think about what would happen in the reverse when Finral is the one who is sick and his friends get the opportunity to take care of him. I love this idea that you shared that his friends would all want to take the opportunity to kind of pay him back for taking such good care of them, and it really is nice to imagine Finral being the one being doted on for a change. He really does deserve it (though hopefully he doesn't stay sick for too long)!

Thank you so much again for sharing such sweet and wholesome thoughts, Lyra! I really appreciate the ask, support, and kind words! Cheers!! 🥰

[gorematchala]

I've seen people be like "you sound stupid when you decide you dont like a piece of art anymore when you find out it's AI generated" and first of all I'll fucking kill you, second of all it's this infuriating process that occurs that is beyond your non-artist comprehension. Your feeble static mind doesnt have enough neurons to make sense of the process, you see. Cuz you have to care about art in order to get it you understand, are you following? Imaginary punching bag I'm speaking to?

Its the process of going wow that looks great, and then SCRUTINIZING IT FURTHER. See thats the step these people dont get. it's like watching a movie and being on your phone the whole time. People who understand things and are intelligent and evolved, we look at a picture and go wow that looks nice, lemme take a closer look. And then we use our eyes to sift through the details of an image and our optic nerves send signals to our brains and our brains go djamn I really like the way they drew those lines, or I like how all the painting around the focal point is messy but you dont notice because it isnt as important, or this person is so good at fine detail and symmetry they're machine-like in nature

But then with your baby non-art fake computer images you fuckhead, the process for us higher beings is we look and go oh neat, and then within one millisecond we go oh cool, a person didnt make this. None of these details are consistent, these faces are all the same, these hands are fucked up, this anatomy is wrong, this hair makes no sense, this lighting is flat and boring, the eyes are all fucked, and that initial reaction of oh did a person make this? Is this a cool image that I will enjoy looking at? That reaction turns into I'll fucking kill you. Step the wrong way and you will perish. This shit ain't nothin to me man

Like I can not fucking say this enough times in enough different configurations of words

Someone was just talking to me about how Bob Ross paintings are selling for millions of dollars right now. And I'm like way to miss the point you stupid filter feeding bottom dwellers. The man's whole bit was that you can create things yourself and that the beauty of art is in the process of failing and trying again and getting better, but these Fucking insects are too concussed from headbutting their friends for fun to understand any of that shit. And it all gets boiled down to "what u so mad? Picture box make picture of idealized korean woman for the millionth time for me to smack peepee to" and then they eat raw meat off the floor because theyre so fucking ret

[shanksbaby]

kiwi anon here <3 youre my favorite blog :) may i request one piece men reacting to their s/o getting life threatening wounds after a fight? please and thank you! love u and ur writings :] please eat and drink regularly <333

hello! thank u so much love ya <3 <3

Vinsmoke Sanji

-if something happened to you during a fight with an enemy, he would never forgive himself, the image of you lying on the ground full of bruises and blood would haunt him for life.

-after all he is your boyfriend and if he can't protect the dearest person in the world, then what man is he?

-boy, I don't want to be the enemy who made you like this. . . He won't care if he's male or female or any other gender, he'll destroy him like the enemy destroyed his dear Y \ N.

-he would stay by your side for the entire period of convalescence to tell you how sorry he is, even if you told him for the millionth time that it was not his fault, he will become your doctor, systematically checking you for worsening.

-he will cook your favorite dishes for you, forcing you to eat when you don't feel like pain, and give you the medicines Chopper gave him, tell you about the adventures of the boys while you lie in bed, and hold you tight during the night but not too much for don't hurt yourself because he wants to feel you're still there with him.

-when you have finished your period of convalescence, it will follow you step by step so that you do not make the slightest effort.

Portgas D. Ace

-he is the king of guilt given his story, if you then add that you hurt yourself badly to save him, it would be devastating for him.

-being a very impulsive type, he would not think much about the strength of the enemy in front of him, he would just act, trying to kill him to avenge you, and since it is you, he would lack any glimmer of clarity with the risk of getting hurt too.

-he would not rest for a very long time, with the memory of you on the ground full of blood, with the breath that seemed to vanish shortly thereafter, and therefore he would lock himself in his room, and from time to time he goes to the infirmary to see how you are.Obviously not being seen by you.

-you will obviously ask for him, but your mates will make up stupid excuses to justify his absence, but you are okay with it because you know Ace and you know his timing: he must first forgive himself.

-eventually he shows himself to you, with a dark and lowered look without meeting your eyes, and the first thing he does is hug you tightly and whisper to you that he will never allow such a thing to happen to you again.

Ronoroa Zoro

-he is the one who would take it more rationally of the three, certainly he would still feel guilty, but he would always try to calm down because he knows that he could compromise his judgment in the fight and could hurt himself and consequently could also risk your life.

-he would order someone from his crew to take you away immediately to heal you and because your body would distract him.

-they always said he's got the spirit of a real killer and he's scary, and oh boy. . . his spirit of him pours all over the enemy, he can't get away with it after having reduced you to that state, he would become much more violent but still maintain his lucidity.

-in your recovery period, he would train until he fainted, you hurt yourself because he is still weak, the two years with Mihawk did not help to protect you. . . However, he would visit often, and ask Chopper for various information about your health.

-after you are healed he would ask you to train together so you can be able to defend yourself too, and he would feel safer. He would help you learn the art of the sword and buy you one.

[hiddennerdworld]

MHA Couples Dynamics with art by @leecheedoodles| Too Cool for Skool x Keener (Reader x Iida)

Masterlist

Warnings: none, all fluff stuff

A/N: eeeee I’m so excited about this. I saw this art and immediately was inspired. I would really like to do a series based on these. This is all thanks to leechee doodles here on Tumblr. They are v talented so check them out! I’ve seen others use their art, but if they don’t want me to I can always take it down. Enjoy :)

You and Iida definitely got off on the wrong foot

You guys didn’t hate each other per say, but you annoyed each other for sure

Iida just wanted his fellow classmates to be successful and tried to encourage you as class rep. And you just wanted to only take part in the aspects of hero work that you actually enjoy

In your own ways, you both stressed each other out

Iida would give you lectures any time you ditched class, saying you needed to be responsible in order to be the best hero you can be

You just stood and rolled your eyes the entire time with your arms crossed over your chest

Eventually, one day Iida just said fuck it (he didn’t actually phrase it that way bc he doesn’t use the bad words) and picked you up and carried you to class.

The whole time with you kicking and screaming, which doesn’t affect him bc he’s a fucking tree

This became routine. Iida was with you almost 24/7, keeping you in line. This caused even more tension between you guys

“I don’t need a babysitter!”

“Well you wouldn’t if you stopped acting like a baby and attended to your duties!” *snickers* “You’re gonna tell me you’re not a baby when you can’t even not laugh at the word ‘duty’?!!!”

The bickering wouldn’t stop and it was driving EVERYONE crazy

So as Aizawa solves all problems, he paired up the duo with pent up frustration for their final exam

You guys were rolling your eyes when you saw you had to work together but weren’t surprised tbh

It seemed like you guys weren’t gonna make it, but at the last second you were able to distract Cementoss and give Iida an in to dash up and capture him

You guys cheered and high fived when you realized you’d passed, the negative feelings towards each other forgotten

Afterward you guys had a talk.

“Good job out there today, Iida. I’m impressed on how you came up with a strategy so quick. I guess studying so much does actually help, huh.”

“Thank you, L/N! I appreciate the kind words, especially coming from someone who has such good control over their quirk like yourself!”

The whole time both of you were staring at the ground, blushing to hard to look at the other person while complimenting them. Iida still did the hand waving tho lmao

Afterwards, Iida still kept an eye on you always bc he thinks you have a lot of potential and wants you to do well

And you don’t find him as annoying anymore, so don’t really try to avoid him

This ends up with you guys basically just hanging out rather than him chaperoning you.

Training, studying, making food, you guys are together a lot

You and Iida occupied a table in the dining area for your studies for the millionth night in a row. The other students know better than to disturb you at this point. Yes, you guys are friends now, but you still bicker like an old married couple.

“I could really go for some ice cream right now,” you said while leaning back in your chair.

“L/N! You know that stuff isn’t good for you! Why do you wish to consume such sugary content?! Why don’t you eat an apple instead?!”

“I don’t think that’s how cravings work. Besides we have training tomorrow and always so I will still be keeping myself in shape. It’s one treat.”

“L/N, we are studying to become the best heroes! We need to be responsi-“

“But that’s just it! We are always going to be working to be the best we can be. You need to be able to enjoy yourself. Life isn’t all about work, you know?” You said standing up and grabbing his arm, “We’re going out. Come on!”

“Absolutely not! It is after curfew! It would be dangerous and-“ Iida lectured on and on until you guys were basically in front of the ice cream place. He tried to get you to stay back, but you were surprisingly strong when you were determined. (Also, he probably wasn’t resisting as much as he could’ve).

You guys went in and ordered. You got cookie dough with some chocolate syrup on top, and Iida got a scoop of vanilla on a cone, only because you insisted he get something. After you got the ice cream you went to a nearby park and sat on a bench.

“Mmmmmm this is so good. Totally worth it.” You say as you take your first bite, eyes closed while enjoying the delicious dessert.

“I’m not sure if it was worth breaking the rules, but as long you are enjoying yourself I guess it’s alright.”

“That’s because you got the most boring flavor. Here try some of mine.” You said raising a spoonful up to him.

This caused his face to go red and he stared at you with wide eyes for a few seconds before speaking. “No, L/N! I appreciate the offer but it would be inappropriate. Mine is perfectly fine and-“

As he was rambling, you shoved the spoon in his mouth, making him blush even harder. “L/N! You could’ve choked me.”

“But was it good though?”

“Yes, I suppose so.” He said at almost a whisper.

A shit-eating grin grew on your face, “Told ya so. See, Iida look.” You gestured over to the sight in front of you. There were people scattered throughout the park enjoying their night, and you could even see the glowing city in the distance. “We are a part of what makes this all possible. There wouldn’t be people out here living their lives if we didn’t keep them safe. It may not be too often, but we still get to relish in the world we created too. It reminds us why we do what we do.”

Iida couldn’t help but just stare at you for a hot minute. You looked gorgeous under the moonlight while you looked around in awe. You were more wise than he ever gave you credit for. He had always thought you were carefree, but actually you just had cared about things differently than him and he failed to realize.

“You’re right, L/N. We should be able to enjoy this more often.”

“We?”

“Of course. Why would I do something fun without you?” Now you started to get all flustered. Feeling heat rush to your face, you covered it with your hands and looked toward the ground. “Are you alright? Sorry I didn’t mean to say anything that would upset you.”

“No, don’t worry. You didn’t upset me. I would love to spend some time with you.”

So you guys did. Well you already spent a lot of time together already but now you guys would go out and do something fun if you had free time

Like instead of training on the weekends, you guys sometimes walked around the park.

And every time you’d go, you guys would also visit the ice cream shop you guys went to that one night and try a new flavor

You also were participating more in class. You’re grades were getting better from the beginning of your guys’ relationship, but now you actually were invested.

After a test, you would show Iida your grade and thank him for all his help, and he would be so proud and excited for you

Of course, your classmates started to catch onto you guys being more and more friendly with each other

Hagakure snuck up on you guys one day while you were studying. “Alright, when did you two start dating? We all thought you hated each other but now we know it was all an act to throw us off, so spill the beans.”

“Oh, no we’re not dating.” You replied

“Well..” Iida started to talk and your eyes darted towards him

“I mean now that someone has said it, I wouldn’t be opposed to dating you, L/N. I really enjoy my time with you and think you’re a great person. Could I take you on an official date?”

“Y-yea I would really like that.”

“Awwww that was so adorable! I can’t believe I just help you guys get together!” She skipped out of the room, on her way to tell everyone her accomplishments

“Sorry, L/N, that probably wasn’t the best timing.”

“Call me Y/N”

“O-oh okay… Y/N. I’m looking forward to going out with you.”

“Me too, Tenya.” You said smiling and grabbing his hand.

Barely anything was said the rest of the time, but you guys couldn’t stop smiling and you didn’t let go of each other’s hands. Safe to say no information was retained from this study session

[atozfic]

ateez & money heist.

pairing. ateez x gn!reader

warnings. money heist au, discussions of crimes, mentions of guns, violence, stockholm syndrome and sexual activities(san and jongho). more suggestive than smutty. way too much swearing.

word count. 4k.

hyde's input. welcome back to another episode of ateez’s kingdom stage made me do it.

park seonghwa as berlin.

this man is absolutely batshit insane and you can't convince me otherwise.

but he's also a gentleman.

throughout the whole training period, he's in suits and ties.

definitely has a superiority complex.

let's ignore the misogyny of berlin in the show, ok? ok.

thrives off of knowing more than the rest of the team.

but that's just because of his personal connection to el profesor.

1/3rd of the brains of the group.

during the heist, he's the leader among those in the mint.

let's also ignore berlin's health storyline pls.

he specializes in negotiation and planning.

which lead him to the life of a con artist.

lowkey is famous in the con world for the shit he's pulled off.

90% of his victims don't realize what's happened until he's long gone.

but he doesn't rob from banks or anything basic like that.

no, seonghwa prefers the high society.

and believes in the moto of "eat the rich."

paintings, art displays, important scripture.

THAT is the shit he digs.

okay so let's talk about the love of seonghwa's life.

money.

shit, wait, no,

you.

anyway, you both meet during one of his con attempts.

you work in the gallery he's aiming to hit next, as a tour guide.

so he hires you for the day, as an excuse to scope out the area.

thinks he's super slick about it too, even flirting with you along the way and laughing at how you seem flustered by him.

his looks really do help his career.

but when the tour ends and you extend your hand out for him to shake,

he gets shocked when you pull him in and whisper in his ear

"i know what you're trying to do. back off, this place is mine to hit."

nuts in his pants.

okay not really but he finds it really hot.

his ego stops him from complementing you for infiltrating yourself as a worker.

from there, you both can't seem to escape each other.

if seonghwa is in rome to pawn some ancient jewellery, you're there to steal it.

if you're in paris trying to talk someone out of hitting the louvre, he's there encouraging them.

why and how the fuck you two fall in love, no one knows.

but you do, and that's all that matters.

you end up hooking up, no longer able to deny the tension that's been growing since day one.

and then you wake up and basically get married that morning.

ha, sike.

you mfs don't even confess your feelings.

seonghwa wakes up alone.

you left him a note to come find you in iceland.

but when he gets there, you're already gone.

in fact, no matter where he goes, he can't find you.

hires a private investigator, aka yunho but we'll get to that later, and finds out you'd been arrested and were awaiting trial someplace in the north of america.

thinks you're an idiot for getting caught.

tells himself he doesn't care.

that works for about a week.

your bail is set high.

like really high.

like rob the mint of korea high.

so that's what he's going to do.

and the second he pulls it off,

the second he gets that money,

he's coming to get you out and take you on the run with him.

bonus: you're the one who showed him bella ciao.

"i'm not stalking you." seonghwa insists for about the millionth time. his hand nervously tugs at his bowtie, eyes skirting over to where hongjoong is stood awkwardly avoiding talking to people. he needs to stop bringing him to these events. but seonghwa doesn't have time to think about that right now, the very clear disbelief on your face taking priority. and maybe, just maybe, he did follow you. not to russia, just to the gala you were attending. accepting that meant accepting other things such as feelings and reasonings for being there, however, and seonghwa just isn't about that life. "don't hold yourself so highly, darling."

kim hongjoong as el profesor.

looks like a cinnamon roll.

acts like a cinnamon roll.

is an evil mastermind in the making.

maybe not evil,

just chaotic neutral.

prior to the heist, he hasn't committed a single crime.

okay so maybe he did go on a porn website one (1) time before he was 18.

but still, he isn't a criminal.

he just hangs out with them.

aka seonghwa and yunho.

majors in psychology, then goes on to become a professor at the same university he attended.

his students love him,

even if he is a little awkward.

he's just wholesome, okay?

until the next semester rolls around and he's nowhere in sight.

man drops off the face of the earth.

all because seonghwa told him he needed help getting money

and hongjoong's extra, capitalism hating ass just goes

“i have the perfect idea! let's pull off the biggest heist this country has ever seen!"

he specializes in strategy, leading and organizing.

another 1/3rd of the brains of the group.

he's in charge of the entire operation,

watching the team from the outside and guiding them through the heist.

has control issues, prompting a breakdown every time something he didn't predict happens.

like wooyoung falling in love with a hostage or san nearly killing seonghwa in a game of russian roulette.

honestly, probably goes bald by the time the heist is complete, from the stress of woosan alone.

anyway,he used to be your neighbour.

you never really spoke but you did drop him round some cupcakes the day you moved into the building and he'd always thought you were cute.

meets you again by accident when the heist starts.

in a diner, where you recognise him and he just about melts on the spot because holy fuck, you know his name?

risks everything to keep being in that same diner everyday at the same time when he realizes it's your lunch break.

avoids any question about where he'd disappeared to all of a sudden.

feels his whole world fall apart when he finds out you're the lead investigator appointed to the heist.

but that can't stop him from making you fall in love with him.

until you're sat across from each other in that same diner,

you pointing a gun at him under that table and him sweating buckets while you ask him how long he planned to hide the fact he was el profesor from you.

when you break things off with him (obviously), he refocuses on the heist.

determined to beat you.

while also trying to make you see his side, to make you realise why it needed to happen.

when the heist is complete,

he sends you a plane ticket, an address and a date.

it's your choice whether or not you go and meet him.

"are you any closer to finding that bastard, what do they call themselves, el profesor?" hongjoong threw another fry into his waiting mouth, staring across at you. he pitied you just a little, knowing it was wrong of him to use you for insider information on the case, especially with his growing feelings. but was it really his fault that you became so loose lipped with a little alcohol in your system? what top detective shares private information? "it must take a real sociopath to pull something like this off, don't you think?"

jeong yunho as helsinki.

big and scary looking on the outside.

a big baby needing love on the inside.

kind of had a difficult childhood,

grows up without many opportunities

and falls into the wrong crowd.

spends some time in juvie, for possession of drugs.

when he gets out, he meets hongjoong

who takes advantage of his larger stature

and asks him to act as his bodyguard for a couple days.

makes a business out of it.

before setting up his own private investigation company.

the company is literally just him and some hacker dude named mingi who he's never met and only speaks to through discord.

1/2th of the "sweet moonchild, who tf let you join this heist?" line.

his specialties are combat.

he's the muscle inside the heist, intimidating the hostages with his scowling eyes and height.

if only they see the way he cares for the others behind closed doors.

they nearly see it once, when the doors are opened,

the cops shooting from the outside and you nearly getting hit,

if it isn't for yunho tackling you to the ground and out of the line of fire.

you two went into the mint together and there was no way he was leaving without you.

you both meet through seonghwa,

who kindly threatens to castrate yunho if he ever breaks your heart.

you aren't a criminal like them, you're just an authenticator.

which is how seonghwa met you, often bringing the things he steals for you to verify if they are the real deal or not.

anyway, yunho very quickly falls for you

and basically begs seonghwa to let him start taking his stuff to get verified just so he can stare at you for a few minutes.

and you beg seonghwa to send yunho over with items you'd already checked before, because you like the smell of his cologne and the way he giggles when you complement his fluffy hair.

basically everyone and their mother can see the heart eyes you two have for each other.

not a single person is surprised when y'all start dating.

you're both honestly so in love and so cute whilst being so

that even seonghwa has to admit it.

honestly, out of everyone, you two are the ones who deserve happiness the most.

all you want to do with your cut of the money is to move somewhere rural

and grow your own crops

and run your own farm.

ugh please just hurry up and get married.

"are you awake?" yunho whispers, thumb rubbing over your naked thigh. he gets his answer when you nuzzle into him further, nodding wordlessly. the world is sleeping around you both, everyone else in the house getting in the last few hours of peaceful sleep before d-day finally arrives, before it's time to slip on the masks. yunho still hates that you're part of it all, but he also hates the thought of not having you in there with him, to take care of his sanity. his eyes shut as your lips ghost over his neck. "i can't sleep."

kang yeosang as nairobi.

looks like a bad bitch.

talks like a bad bitch.

honestly just needs a hug.

can often be found bullying wooyoung or hoeing around with san.

starts drama just to sit back and watch the world burn.

waiting for the day he can put seonghwa in his place and take over as the internal head operator of the heist.

because everyone else around him gives him a headache with their messy behaviour.

the other half of the "sweet moonchild, who tf let you join this heist?" line.

but will deny it till he dies.

specializes in copycat work.

alongside yunho's partner,

he takes on the role of quality managing the money they print once inside the mint.

before the heist, he makes a living selling fake art pieces to the elite.

especially enjoys ripping off politicians,

which is where you come in.

your father is a local politician,

not super successful or well known but he approved the dumping of sewage into a pond where a bunch of ducks lived

and that was enough to make yeosang hate him.

so he does what he does best and sells him a varied amount of fake art.

but his hatred isn't satisfied.

till he spots you,

accidentally bursting into your father's office mid-meeting.

and he sets his sights on ruining you.

his plan was to make you fall for him,

fuck you

and dump you.

which goes to shit the minute he realises he kind of likes it when you smile.

so he panics and lets his whole life slip out, including the crimes he commits.

it's really just an act of self-sabotage, because if he can't leave you, then at least you can leave him.

but then you're like 

"i have daddy issues, the fact you hate my father as much as me is kinda hot, wanna make out?"

so anyway, you're not directly involved with the heist.

you're too well known by the government.

you instead focus on leaking information to hongjoong.

tapping the police and your father's own office just to catch a hold of their conversations.

yeosang kind of wants to marry you when everything is over,

but he needs to verify the diamond first.

"i wish you were here." yeosang sighs down the phone, staring out into the garden where the rest are digging into a barbecue. only a week has passed since the team had all met, and yeosang is already regretting accepting hongjoong's offer. sure, the others are nice enough, he wouldn't mind sharing a few beers with them. but being away from you sucks and it's only the beginning of it all. "these idiots don't know how to handle my sarcasm, i've already made two of them cry!"

choi san as tokyo.

dumb bitches think he's the main character.

but who can blame them? he's hot and looks good with a gun and a smile.

makes it his life mission to flirt with everyone in the team.

his favourite victims are yunho, mingi and wooyoung.

but he does find it cute how easily hongjoong gets flustered.

1/3rd of the "omfg would you pls shut up, you make it hard to love you!" line.

a lot of the things he says and does don't really make a lot of sense but he's got spirit, ig?

involved in every bit of drama.

he claims it's just because he's popular.

his temper is short and not to be messed with, which seonghwa finds funny.

specializes in... actually, what does he specialize in?

the whole team is convinced hongjoong just brought him in because he's pretty.

but surprise!

he's actually kinda multi-talented.

unintentionally becomes the leading gunman once the heist commences.

because, despite how much of a hothead he is and how much he acts like he's an emotionless bitch,

his loyalty is unmatched.

he proves this several times, always standing front and centre of any shoot-out with the police.

personal safety?

rational thinking?

consequences?

we don't know them, sorry.

he's ready to lay down his life for every single person in his team.

including you.

y'all very quickly become fuck buddies,

because san is like,

"i'm hot, you're hot, this is a win-win situation."

but it isn't, really, because hongjoong told everyone there was no fraternising with the teammates. 

yunho and his partner are the obvious exception.

and, well, little sannie boy quickly becomes attached.

and has no fucking clue how to tell you.

especially when he sits back and watches how you and wooyoung flirt.

he's convinced you two have fucked.

which drives him insane with jealousy.

even more once you're all stuck in the heist and tensions are rising.

snaps at some point and drags you into the bathroom to blow off steam,

still won't admit he loves you.

until the team fucks up, you get taken into custody and san is screaming it down the phone at hongjoong and asking him where the fuck he's been while they've all been risking their lives in the mint.

punches hongjoong the second they're all reunited.

and then just about crushes you in his hold the second you appear, smiling like nothing was wrong.

apologises and reluctantly thanks hongjoong for rescuing you.

y'all elope some place exotic and just enjoy your newfound riches together,

no plan, just each other.

"you always say that." san breaths out, rolling his eyes as he drops down next to you in the bed, sweaty chest rising with every breath he intakes. you'd told him this was the last time this could happen, the final time you both would be using each other's body. tensions are rising between you both and, while you want to run from it, san wants to run toward it. the danger of it excites him, the recklessness of knowing you two could get caught has his blood rushing. "but you're insatiable, aren't you? always need to come back for more."

song mingi as río.

dear god someone get him out of there.

no fr, he's not cut out for the life of crime.

he just wants to hack the genshin server to gift himself zhongli.

which somehow ends in him being roped into a heist???

no, wait, seriously, how did it escalate so quickly??

yunho.

the answer is yunho.

he somehow finds out about mingi's hacking skills and hits him up to access some dude's bank account.

he's gonna say no but,,

yunho is persuasive.

aka he offers him half of his commission for tracking down said dude.

finds himself just accepting every other job yunho sends him over discord.

so when yunho sends him an invite to take part in the heist,

his instinct replies with yes before he even processes the question.

final 1/3rd of the brains of the group.

taught himself to hack at the age of thirteen.

which confuses everyone at first because he just seems a little dim-witted?

like, yeah, he's sweet and brings this happy feeling into the atmosphere,

they're all debating what his speciality could be,

low and behold, they're shocked to find it out.

specializes in hacking and mathematics.

his role is very technical, in charge with making sure the right systems are down at the right times

and also spending many nights calculating outcomes alongside hongjoong.

isn't really needed in the mint but he insists on entering because, well,

you're there.

the two of you grew up together,

mingi knew you were his best friends when he was six

and he knew he was in love with you when he was sixteen.

but you're just friends.

friends who tell each other everything.

when he tells you about the heist, you're furious, baffled by his dumb decisions.

once you calm down, 

you give him an ultimatum:

he drops out or you go with him.

hongjoong agrees to let you join the team and your role becomes infiltrating the hostages.

because someone needs to make sure they don't plan a rebellion, right?

it kills mingi to act like you guys are strangers,

to see you in handcuffs,

to point a gun at your head, even if the safety is on.

but a male hostage sitting a little too closely irks him,

tells you about it next time you ask to go to the bathroom

aka inform on the hostage situation.

in the middle of his rambling, you kiss him.

mingi just smiles.

because he knows when the heist ends,

you two can begin.

"i'm sorry i dragged you into this." mingi's head hangs low, eyes watching the way he's fiddling with the zip on his jumpsuit. he's trying not to watch you while you wash up at the sink. you looks tired and he hates it, wishes there was a way to pull you out of the other hostages, but then the whole point of you being here would be diminished. "if i'd just kept this to myself..."

jung wooyoung as denver.

denver 🤝🏻 wooyoung = having an annoying laugh.

okay not annoying, unique.

moving on.

the cockiest man to grace this sweet earth.

gives class clown vibes.

joins the heist because he's bored and gets fired from his day job,

so why tf not make himself filthy rich?

the fact it goes against capitalism and the government is just a bonus.

another member of the "omfg would you pls shut up, you make it hard to love you!" line.

unlike san, it's not because of his temper.

he's actually quite a chill guy.

maybe too chill for such an important mission.

which seonghwa brought up and wooyoung just stuck his tongue out at him.

honestly, he's just there for a good time.

specializes in robbery.

but like, not to this level??

oh well, he likes a challenge.

the challenge quickly turns into him questioning his morality and maybe falling in love with a hostage.

it isn't until he catches you trying to call 911 with an unconfiscated phone that he takes much notice of you.

you're supposed to die,

seonghwa's orders.

and wooyoung wants to obey, he really does.

but,,, he can't pull the trigger.

he's a criminal, sure.

but because he used to rob 7/11′s,

not fucking kill people.

so he shoots you in the leg while seonghwa listens from outside.

moves you down into one of the vaults when the coasts are clear.

helps clean your wound, gives you a makeshift tourniquet and promises to come back with pain killers and food for you.

and he does, that very same night.

stays with you the whole night,

watching you drift in and out of sleep.

it becomes a routine very quickly,

to the point the rest of the team notice his exhaustion.

doesn't expect you to kiss him,

or for him to kiss you back.

again and again.

is it stockholm syndrome?

maybe, just a little.

but he makes you laugh,

he saved your life

and he looks cute dancing.

the whole team have bets on how long you two will last once everything is said and done.

jokes on them when you two welcome your first child.

wooyoung cries like a baby when you insist in naming the child after a city.

"your boss sounds like a fucking creep," wooyoung pauses to take a bite of his sandwich. it's dry, resources beginning to run low in the mint, but he gladly gives up that little bit of butter to you. you shift in your seat, hissing when your leg moves. guilt runs through him. the end is near, finally, he just needs you to hold on a few more hours until he can get you proper medical care. "what was his name again? arturito?"

choi jongho as palermo.

ik he's not a part of the og group but,

i can't see jongho as moscow aka denver's dad, ok?

the most annoying mfer to rock up to the party.

roasts everyone for no good reason other than he can.

listens to no one but himself.

100% convinced he's the leader of the heist.

he only gets away with it because he's funny.

and everyone's just a little bit in love with him.

the final member of the "omfg would you pls shut up, you make it hard to love you!" line.

knows seonghwa, which is how he ends up involved in the heist.

just like the eldest, he's a con artist.

his gummy smile and manipulation skills really help him get away with shit.

would be part of the brains crew but,

he's kind of dumb.

like, has to be talked out of hitting the louvre dumb.

he likes to point out that seonghwa encouraged him to do it.

specializes in coercion and combat.

his role is technically there to assist seonghwa,

and yunho if a fight is to break out,

but most of his time is spent undermining the head of the heist and spinning around in office chairs.

laughs when san screams at hongjoong over the phone.

gets bored at some point and just decides to help some hostages escape, so the team has something to do

aka shoot at the police and border the door back up.

which is exactly why you hate him.

with your heart, mind and soul.

he's reckless,

and careless.

and he makes you worry every time he does anything, which is unfair.

but he gives the best dick.

so like, gotta love him, ig?

you're only there to get enough money to give up the life of dealing drugs,

not for personal relationships.

which is why jongho even approaches you in the first place.

relationships are a drag to him.

but a heist is stressful and it's better you blow each other's back out than each other's brains.

he doesn't really have a plan for when the heist ends,

and you're the only one left over who isn't loved up or doing anything specific,

so he clings to you like a virus and follows you everywhere, even when you tell him to stop.

you both know you didn't mean it.

the rest of the team are surprised when they receive an invite to your wedding.

"if it weren't for the rest of your face, you'd be kinda cute when you pout." jongho looks over at you across the bar, smiling when you audibly groan and roll your eyes at the sight of him. his face his resting on is palm, elbow propped on the counter while he checks you out. you've changed your hair since the last time he saw you a few months back in budapest. the sight of you walking away has him quickly slipping out of his chair and following your retreating form. "c'mon, don't act like you haven't missed me, sweet pea."

[enigmaticxbee]

S11 Rewatch - Dialog

Voiceovers: The Struggle intro voiceovers continue this season with a CSM diatribe opening the season in 11x01 My Struggle III and William/Jackson giving us his villain origin story to end the season in 11x10 My Struggle IV. We actually get a lot of voiceovers this season, from narrating flashbacks like Reggie in 11x04 The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat to visions like Scully in 11x05 Ghouli to visualizations like Mulder in Ghouli explaining his theory of the crime scene. We also got intros like the AI in 11x07 Rm9 and ending voiceovers like Dave’s in 11x06 Kitten.

Catch Phrases: They pulled way back on the catch phrase craze from the first season of the revival. No “trust no one” or “truth is out there this season”. Mulder and others do use “I want to believe” in 2 episodes, and it’s used in the tagline of a third. Of course they still talk a LOT throughout the season about “truth” and “trust” and “belief”.

It’s Me: More “it’s me”ing this season - from both Mulder and Scully in MSIII, from Scully (and Reggie lol) in The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat, and from William as Mulder in MSIV (how did he know!). Only phone conversations between Mulder and Scully in 4 episodes - of course MSIII and MSIV with all that Mulder driving time to fill. The one in The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat is very cute, with Scully trying to get ahold of Mulder all day to firm up their dinner date plans and then hanging up on him when she’s had enough Squatchin talk.

It’s Me: More “it’s me”ing this season - from both Mulder and Scully in MSIII, from Scully (and Reggie lol) in The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat, and from William as Mulder in MSIV (how did he know!). Only phone conversations between Mulder and Scully in 4 episodes - of course MSIII and MSIV with all that Mulder driving time to fill. The one in The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat is very cute, with Scully trying to get ahold of Mulder all day to firm up their dinner date plans and then hanging up on him when she’s had enough Squatchin talk.

Scuuullllaaaaayy! Muullllderrrr!: Scully only yells for Mulder in one episode (the finale) but Mulder yells for Scully in 4, so there is that. We do get some good Wiiillliiaaaaaam! in the finale too.

Memorable Lines:

- CSM:.. impregnated her with science… (11x01 My Struggle III) 😑

- Mulder: Who needs Google when you got Scully? Scully: Right? (11x02 This)

- Mulder: Everything we feared came to pass. How the hell did that happen? (11x02 This)

- Scully: I don’t care if it came out of an alien’s butt. I’m gonna eat the whole thing. (11x02 This)

- Scully: Why do you operate so well with your hands cuffed behind your back? Mulder: As if you didn’t know. (11x02 This) 😏

- Scully: Can you hold me? (11x03 Plus One) 🥺

- Mulder: I’ll come push your wheelchair with my wheelchair. (11x03 Plus One) 🥺

- Scully: We’ll think of something. (11x03 Plus One) 😏

- Scully: Come back to bed. (11x03 Plus One) 🥳

- Mulder: Scully, put a dimmer on that afterglow… (11x03 Plus One) 😉

- Scully: Well this is romantic. Mulder: Isn’t it! (11x04 The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat)

- Mulder: I’m Fox freaking Mulder, you punks! (11x04 The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat)

- Reggie: But maybe the point wasn’t to find the truth, but to find each other. And no matter where we go in our lives, we will always have the memories of our time together, and no one can take those away or alter them in such a way to make us doubt that they actually happened. (11x04 The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat)

- Scully: I want to remember how it was. I want to remember how it all was. (11x04 The Lost Art of the Forehead Sweat)

- Scully: Bob? Mulder: Like I wanted to explain Fox for the millionth time? (11x05 Ghouli)

- Scully: I don’t know if you are who I think you might be. But if you are William this is what I’d say. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I didn’t get a chance to know you. Or you get a chance to know me, or your father. I gave you up for adoption, not because I didn’t want you, or because you were any less loved. I was trying to keep you safe. I hope you know that… And maybe - maybe I should have had the courage to stand by you. But I thought I was being strong, because it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done… I mean to let go. And to know that I was gonna miss your whole life. But it turns out that this is the hardest thing. To see the outcome. And how I failed you… I need you to know that I never forgot you. And I thought, I felt that even recently, that we were gonna somehow be reunited… I wish I could have been there to ease your pain. Oh, my god, this is so inadequate… I’m just so sorry. I’m so sorry. (11x05 Ghouli)

- Skinner: …if given the choice between advancing my career by being blindly loyal to some faceless puppeteers pulling strings from the shadows or to throw in with you two, make no mistake about it, I’d make the same decision every single damn time. (11x06 Kitten)

- Mulder: You suck Mr. phone. (11x07 Rm9sbG93ZXJz)

- Scully: Poor! Awful! Terrible! Never again! (11x07 Rm9sbG93ZXJz)

- Mulder: Agent Scully’s also a medical doctor, and damn good at her job. (11x08 Familiar)

- Mulder: Did you get your hair cut? Scully: Are you kidding me? (11x09 Nothing Lasts Forever)

- Mulder: I finally know why I’m not a Christian, Scully. My parents never got me a puppy. (11x09 Nothing Lasts Forever)

- Scully: I believed I could protect our son, and I failed. I believed that we could live together, and I fled. I gave up on that, too. (11x09 Nothing Lasts Forever)

- Mulder: I don’t know if any God is listening, but I’m standing right here, and I’m listening. Right beside you. I’m all ears. That’s my choice. (11x09 Nothing Lasts Forever)

- Scully: That’s not my four-year-old self looking for a miracle. That’s my leap of faith forward. And I’d like to do it together. Mulder: I’ve always wondered how this was gonna end. (11x09 Nothing Lasts Forever)

- Scully: William was an experiment… I carried him, and I bore him. But I was never a mother to him… (11x10 My Struggle IV) 😵‍💫