#even his first friend he got through having her as a sparring partner

[goldenbeastkeeper]

"Oh- titan," he laughed even further at her reply. "No, no, you're right." Why did this keep happening to him? Most of the other times he'd bonded with people had been through life threatening situations. This had just been the first time he'd been on the healing side of it.

As he calmed down, he said, "But no, yeah. It's just been me and my little sibling since we got to the human realm, so it's . . . nice, to have someone else."

"That's good. I haven't had many chances to put what I've learned into practice, so I'm glad it's doing well.

Valor shrugged. "You get used to it. Using your knees to hold it can help distribute the weight, too, if that makes it easier. People do sit side-straddle sometimes, but only after enough they've gained enough experience. It's difficult to steer that way if you're the one in control, and as a passenger you don't have as much of a grip to keep yourself on."

As she attempted to mount, Valor actually got off, lowering the staff further and waiting to correct her form if needed.

“Nothing says bonding like prevented murder!” Came the joking reply, and she shook her head in amusement. “Though I get what you mean. I don't really know any other mages, myself, so… it was nice to have someone to talk to that at least sort of knows what it's like, even if our magics work differently.”

Alex gave a roll of her shoulder to show that she had pretty good range of motion. “Nearly good as new. A little sore if I strain it a little too much, but that's what ice is for. You definitely wouldn't have known I was recently gouged, at least.”

Attention shifting to Valor's demonstration, she furrowed her brow slightly. “Straddle, not side saddle. Got it. Though… isn't that kind of… uncomfortable?” She couldn't help but ask, even as she moved to first stand behind where Valor was, then attempting to actually mount the staff.

Easier said than done when you're as short as she was, even with Valor having lowered himself a little.

[sien-ten]

Kabru X Laios post-finale headcanons, because Tumblr decided to shower me with content about them

Kabru said "you guys can't build any political connections with elves without me " and stayed as a royal advisor, which surprised Laios big time (he was sure that after fulfilling his promise Kabru would lead his party somewhere else)

Laios turned out to be well-mannered when necessary, so following court etiquette wasn't too hard for him – Kabru felt deep annoyance every time his king greeted or complimented anyone in such a royal manner, until he learned that Laios' trademark airhead behaviour now showed up only when he's with someone he trusts (family, friends... and him)

Kabru warmed up to Laios significantly in a first year of them rebuilding kingdom, they both were stressed to no end, but the more situations they've got to solve together, the more Kabru trusted Laios (even if he doesn't like to admit it)

Laios had to send Falin off to their parents to rest and heal a bit, since at first kingdom was very much unstable (Marcille accompanied her); after his party departured, he felt pretty much very lonely, so he had a lot of time on his hands to contemplate, why he's so gravitated towards Kabru all the time; he vented to Senshi about some of his thoughts and got advised to try courting his advisor – it was later registered as one of the first crisises that kingdom faced since Winged Lion's departure (Kabru was so oblivious that Laios nearly ended his reign)

Kabru and Laios started seeing each other officially only after Falin and Marcille returned – because of Senshi's panicked letters they've brought Chilchuck, who properly scolded the King and set the pair for a nice dinner (yes, Laios hasn't tried that one before)

Laios never experienced romantic relationship before, so a lot of things hit him like a truck – to Kabru's grief, his lover still was too honest of a man, so if Laios though that Kabru looks extra handsome today, everyone in courtroom would know that (exactly because of that Marcille had to take over courtroom proceedings, they couldn't have Laios distracted and guests giggling)

Kabru and Marcille became good friends really suddenly, but they had too much in common not to: elven mothers, grievances about mortality, Touden partners; they made a tradition of having a private chat throughout the day, even if they had meals with everyone all the time (king's order), having their own space to unwind felt good (Falin told Laios about these meetings/tea parties and forbid him to disturb them)

They enjoy to spar on swords and read to each other; sometimes they would stroll through the forest together and look for ruins

On one of Laios's birthday Kabru learned how to cook monster barbecue imitation as a gift (it was a struggle), and Laios was overjoyed (it didn't taste like monster at all, but the thought is more important)

[thedemoninme141]

Her Heartbeat, Chapter 4: Her Walls.

Summary: The therapy session is torture for Wednesday, made even worse by the fact that you seem to enjoy it.

Warnings: NONE STILL NOT IN A MOOD TO BRING THE ANGST!!!!

Previous ChapterWorklist.

Wednesday fully expected you to be insufferable during the maths class. She braced herself for your annoying chatter, the constant whining about how boring the class was, and pointless attempts to get her attention. But to her surprise, you were... tolerable.

A part of her kept glancing at you, expecting something, waiting for you to break the silence and turn back to throw some insipid remark her way. But you never did. Instead, your head remained down, taking notes as if nothing else existed in the world but the math equations she learned years ago.

It felt.. weird.. Wednesday couldn't understand it.

After class, Wednesday didn’t see you. Of course, your schedule was different. She was relieved, or at least, she told herself she was. Other students, having witnessed her outburst in the quad, avoided her path as if she were a rabid animal. Good. She preferred it that way.

Still, as she walked into fencing class, she couldn’t help but notice Bianca’s absence. Pathetic. Bianca could’ve at least tried to channel her anger into something productive, like giving Wednesday a real challenge. Instead, she chose self-pity. It was disappointing, really. But there was another problem: none of the other students wanted to spar with her either. Even the coach didn’t bother forcing anyone to step up. So Wednesday sat through the entire class, watching others clumsily clash swords, her grip tightening on her sabre with each passing second. She’s going to maim Bianca next time they’re in the same room.

By the time she returned to her room, she felt a strange, simmering tension in her chest. She washed up, as usual, but for some reason, she found herself standing in front of Enid’s mirror, checking her appearance. Why? Why did it even matter? Annoyed with herself, she forced her mind back to the present.

It's time for torture and not the good kind.

When she arrived at the therapy building, she saw you leaning against the wall outside, cheap headphones covering your ears. Your eyes were closed as you hummed softly, lost in your own little world. Wednesday’s gaze lingered on you longer than it should have. She took in every detail—the way your lips moved ever so slightly with the melody, the way your fingers tapped gently against your leg in rhythm, the faint smile tugging at the corners of your mouth.

The sound of your humming... it did something to her. She couldn’t place the feeling. But there it was again, like an itch she couldn’t quite scratch. “Hey,” you greeted, pulling your headphones off. “So, what’s the plan for today’s therapy session? Maybe you can tell me more about how much you don’t care.” Wednesday gritted her teeth. "The plan is for you to sit quietly and not bother me." You chuckled, clearly not taking her seriously. “Got it. This is going to be fun.”

David beamed and clapped his hands. "Wednesday! Finally found a partner, huh? That’s great! I’m so proud of you! The first step is always finding a friend." Wednesday’s eyes darkened, and she shot him a deadpan stare. “If I were you, I wouldn’t confuse necessity with friendship. We’re not going to hold hands and braid each other's hair.” David's smile remained annoyingly the same, “Well, you know, every relationship starts somewhere!” Wednesday muttered something unintelligible under her breath, most likely about wishing she could bury him somewhere. You stood beside her, fighting the urge to laugh at the interaction. Your lips curled into a smirk, and you elbowed Wednesday lightly. "See, he's already proud of you. That's progress!" “Be silent, or I will make you regret ever breathing,” Wednesday hissed in return, but you just chuckled. David’s smile was still the same, "Well! Let’s get started, everyone!"

The room was already filled with other unfortunate souls, each paired off with their so-called “partners.” They all sat in a circle, as though that would somehow make this agonizing process more bearable. “Alright, everyone’s here, so let’s get started!” David said, clapping his hands together. “Today’s session is all about why we chose our therapy partners. The person who’s helping us on our journey to be better, more balanced people. Alex, why don’t you go first?” Alex scratched the back of his head awkwardly. “Uh, yeah, so, Milo’s, like, my best friend, y’know? He helps me not punch walls when I’m mad at my dad. He’s super chill and doesn’t, like, ask too many questions. That’s why I picked him.” Milo just nodded, looking half asleep. “Yeah. We vibe.”

Wednesday felt the beginnings of a headache coming on. She glanced at you, expecting to see a similar expression of exasperation, but instead, you were trying (and failing) to stifle your laughter.

David nodded with excessive enthusiasm. “That’s wonderful, Alex! Learning to control our impulses is such an important step. Okay, Rick, your turn.” “Well, I chose Ashley because I know where she hid the body,” Rick said casually, causing Ashley to elbow him sharply in the ribs. The room went silent, everyone staring at them. Wednesday's interest piqued for the first time since arriving. Congratulations, you are hired. David, slightly flustered, cleared his throat. “I... I think we’re going to pretend we didn’t hear that, Moving on! Brooke, how about you?” Brooke, a girl with bright pink hair, clasped her hands together dramatically. “I chose Mike because... because I believe we’re destined to help each other. You know, like twilight.” Mike blinked at her, clearly bewildered. “You met me like, ten minutes ago.” “Exactly! Fate.” Brooke grinned widely, completely unbothered by Mike’s confusion.

Wednesday facepalmed, wishing the earth would open up and swallow her whole before this circus of a session continued.

“Okay, Carl and Eddie, how about you?” David asked, his enthusiasm unshaken. “I chose Eddie because... well... he’s my cousin. And our family said if we don’t start ‘working on our issues,’ they’ll stop letting us come to Thanksgiving.” Eddie nodded solemnly. “Can’t lose the turkey, man.”

Wednesday clenched her fists, trying to maintain her composure. This was, without a doubt, the worst form of torture she’d ever endured. Worse than Bianca. Worse than Enid’s surprise hugs. Worse than your smile— “And last but not least, Wednesday and Y/n,” David chirped, turning to her expectantly. “Tell us why you chose your partner!” Wednesday groaned, already dreading this. She didn’t choose you. She got stuck with you, and that was an entirely different situation. Not that it mattered. David would twist it into some sick, heartwarming story about growth and friendship. “I helped her kidn—” You quickly cut Wednesday off “She helped me take care of my brother’s kids. So, I’m helping her in return.” The room fell silent. Wednesday’s eyes snapped toward you, narrowing dangerously. Taking care of kids? That was your excuse? Of all the ridiculous things you could’ve said, that was what you went with? And yet, somehow, it worked. The group nodded as if you’d just revealed some profound truth. David, predictably, beamed. “That’s wonderful! Helping each other is exactly what this program is about!” Wednesday’s jaw clenched. She hated this. She hated the entire scenario. But what she hated most was how easily you had manipulated the situation. How easily you had turned the group’s attention in your favor. You were playing a game—a game she was determined not to lose. You leaned back in your chair, clearly enjoying yourself. Wednesday shot you a look that could’ve killed, but you merely smirked. You are insufferable, she thought, her irritation reaching new heights. And then, as if things couldn’t get worse, David announced the next activity: a communication exercise.

This day just keeps getting better.

The collective groan that echoed through the room was almost palpable. Even the most upbeat participants looked deflated. Wednesday, however, remained silent, though her jaw clenched slightly at the thought of partaking in this ridiculous charade. David, as usual, didn’t notice the room's resistance. He pressed on, walking over to the whiteboard and scribbling “Empathy is Key” in bold, enthusiastic letters. “Remember, it’s all about empathy! We’re learning to understand each other better, to grow emotionally, to have control over our emotions, to understand other's emotions and to support our partners in their personal journeys.” You leaned over toward Wednesday and whispered "This must be your favorite part." Before Wednesday could reply with the dark retort brewing in her mind, David began calling out pairs to start the exercise. "Alright, let’s have Rick and Ashley go first. Rick, why don’t you tell us about a recent challenge you’ve faced?" Rick, still smirking from his earlier comment about the hidden body, shrugged. “I dunno. I guess I’m struggling with how to keep my drug selling a secret from my mom.” David shot him a look, clearly unsure whether or not he was joking. “Okay, maybe let’s keep it a little more… grounded, Rick. Something real, something you’ve been working through emotionally.” Rick rolled his eyes but finally relented. “Fine, fine. I guess it’s dealing with my anger issues. Like, I tend to fly off the handle whenever I get stressed out at school, and I took it out on my mom the other day. I didn’t mean to, but I just snapped, and now I feel kind of guilty about it.” David nodded, his smile now one of understanding. “That’s a great start, Rick. Now, Ashley, how do you think Rick felt in that moment?” Ashley, who had been mostly silent up to this point, glanced nervously at Rick before speaking softly. “I think... I think he felt frustrated and maybe overwhelmed. Like, he didn’t know how to deal with the pressure, so he lashed out.”

David beamed. “Exactly! It’s about understanding where the other person is coming from. Well done, both of you!”

Wednesday groaned inwardly. What's next? Group hugs?

One by one, each pair shared their challenges. Most of the stories were mundane—failed tests, fights with siblings, petty grievances about social media. But Wednesday barely paid attention. Instead, she was counting down the seconds until it would be over.

And then, it was your turn.

David turned to you with that same eager expression he’d had since the beginning. “Alright, Y/N and Wednesday! Who wants to go first?”

You gave Wednesday a playful nudge. “Ladies first?” Wednesday shot you a cold glare, her fingers tightening around the edge of her chair. “No. You will go first. I refuse to partake in this farce until absolutely necessary.” You chuckled but didn’t argue. “Alright, alright.” You turned to David, scratching the back of your head as you thought for a moment. “A challenge I’ve faced recently, huh? Well, I guess... it’s been trying to balance everything. You know, school, family stuff, and figuring out what I’m supposed to be doing with my life. It feels like everything’s happening at once and... everything is going extremely fast." David nodded sympathetically. “That’s a very real struggle, Y/N. It’s common to feel overwhelmed when there’s so much happening at once. Wednesday, how do you think Y/N felt in that moment?”

Wednesday stared at you, her expression unreadable. She didn’t want to indulge in this ridiculous exercise, but she knew David wouldn’t let them leave until they participated. So, she took a slow breath and answered, her tone flat and clinical.

“You felt lost,” she said simply. “Like you were being pulled in different directions, unsure of which path to take. You hate having pressure, having to choose between two things, I won't say it's selfishness, it's curiosity."

You blinked, slightly taken aback by the accuracy of her response. For a moment, there was a flicker of something between you- something in Wednesday's eyes that you couldn't catch.

Wednesday’s walls went up again, and her gaze hardened.

David’s eyes widened, clearly impressed. “Wow, Wednesday! That was... really insightful! You nailed it.”

“I only said what was obvious,” she muttered, crossing her arms.

David, clearly overjoyed by how “well” the exercise had gone, clapped his hands together again. “That was fantastic, everyone! Great job today. I think we’re really making progress. I have to go out of town tomorrow so gonna have to move our schedule" Finally some good news. "Don't worry, something special awaits then." OF COURSE "Also, it will be the other person’s turn to discuss their recent challenge next.” He glanced pointedly at Wednesday, who sighed inwardly.

You stood up, stretching lazily before turning to Wednesday with a grin. “They are kinda.. umm.. different.” Wednesday stared at you blankly. “I’m considering taking out a restraining order on every single person in this room.” You laughed, shaking your head. “You’re fun, you know that?” “I am not fun,” Wednesday spat, clearly disgusted by the notion. You laughed, clearly enjoying her irritation. “Come on, it wasn’t that bad. Besides, you did pretty well. You’re good at reading people.” Wednesday rolled her eyes. “Reading people is easy. Dealing with them is the real challenge.” You raised an eyebrow, that familiar smirk tugging at the corners of your lips. “Is that your way of saying I’m a challenge?” Wednesday glared at you, she felt something inside, something she wasn’t ready to acknowledge yet. “You are an inconvenience. One that I intend to rectify.” You chuckled again. “Well, I’ll take that as a compliment."

As you both stepped out of the therapy building, you took a deep breath, savoring the brief moment of freedom from the exhausting session. Wednesday walked beside you, her silence heavy but not unwelcome. Without thinking too much, you broke the silence. "Hey, want to grab a coffee?" Wednesday stopped in her tracks, her dark eyes narrowing as she turned to face you. “What is with you?” You blinked, confused by her sudden sharpness. “What?” “This.” She waved a hand between you. “All this. You trying to spend time with me. Your part is just the therapy, so why do you keep pushing for more?” Her question caught you off guard. You hadn’t expected her to be so direct about it. There was an answer you could give, one you weren’t quite ready to say aloud yet, but you couldn’t let the silence stretch too long. “I didn’t mean to offend you with my forwardness,” you began, choosing your words carefully. “I just wanted to get to know you, since we barely had the chance since yesterday.” “Why? Why do you want to know me? What is your real intention?” “Wednesday...” you sighed, searching for the right words. “People can get close to you without any real intention, you know?” “No. They always have an intention. Tyler did.” The name felt heavy, and for a moment, there was a glint of something in her expression—bitterness. “The sheriff’s boy from Weathervane Café?” you asked, “He always gave me the creeps. What’s with him though? I heard he was the monster killing people in the woods. Was he close?” “He tried to court me.” You winced. “Gee, you have a taste.” Wednesday rolled her eyes, her irritation palpable. “I didn’t know he was the Hyde then, idiot.” “Ah yes, the classic ‘your love interest is the killer all along.’” She shot you a glare. “What now?” “Nothing,” you waved it off. “Anyway, I can’t turn into a Hyde, but I do wish I could turn into a cat and sleep all day. Aaaand, you can give me some remark about how you’d rather drink acid than have coffee with me. I wouldn’t mind. I would just go for the coffee alone.” You turned and began walking away, pretending to dismiss the whole interaction casually. You could feel her eyes boring into the back of your head. What were you even doing? Pushing Wednesday like this? Wednesday wasn't even wrong, you did have an intention but it wasn’t something you could explain—at least, not yet.

After a few steps, you suddenly felt her presence beside you. Surprised, you glanced over at her.

“I am only going because I want to,” Wednesday muttered. “And you are paying for the coffee.”

Next Chapter [Sorry for the late update, Had to cook]

[pizacat72]

Here's a headcanon of mine that I couldn't stop thinking about. Tw for major character death

The reign of Kiara and Kovu comes to be known as one of the most prosperous eras of the Pride Lands since Mufasa's reign. Though not without its struggles, their kingdom remains for the most part, at peace. Simba and Nala have long since joined the ranks of the Lions of the Past but not before they got to see their grandcubs.

The royal couple begins to train their firstborn cub to rule fairly and kindly. Vitani, Kion and their friends train the secondborn cub for their future role as leader of the Lion Guard. Timon and Pumbaa are gone but certainly not forgotten by their family and friends. The Circle of Life continues its unceasing turn.

Their pelts begin to gray but their love for each other remains unwavering. The cubs grow in wisdom and compassion. Though their joints have gradually stiffened, their kingdom remains protected. Everything is as it should be.

Still, the Circle of Life continues. Wars are fought, peace treaties are forged, diplomatic ties are strengthened. Vitani passes the torch to her successor. Members of Kion's Guard are mourned. Kion retires to the jungle with Bunga. Time stops for no one, not even Kiara and Kovu.

Kiara begins to grow more tired. The change is gradual, almost imperceptible at first. Long journeys to neighboring kingdoms take more effort. Naps during the day become more frequent for her to gather enough strength. Though she plays it off as exhaustion from a busy life at first, deep down, she knows. The sun is setting on her time.

Kovu becomes worried and is more reluctant to leave her side. He fears spending the rest of his life alone, as he has dealt with nightmares and intrusive thoughts from his past. He knows the rest of his family will still help him through it but Kiara is his strongest support in terms of helping keep the nightmares somewhat at bay.

Kiara becomes sad as she fights to remain with her family. She doesn't want to leave them alone. She wrestles with it for a while before finally seeing Simba's spirit for advice. He reassures her that she can always watch over them but also gently encourages her to accept that her time is up and to get her affairs in order.

Kion is sad and frustrated. Though the two of them argued fiercely at times, they became something akin to best friends. His favorite sparring partner will soon be lost to the stars. He becomes a bit more irritable and withdrawn, trying to hide it from his sister. Of course, she calls him on it.

As Kiara declines further, she comes to accept the end of her journey, whispering love and warmth to each loved one, with the occasional playful vow of haunting thrown in. She implores Kovu to seek her out whenever he needs it and he promises, nuzzling her one last time as she joins her parents in the stars at last.

[awarmbowlofhomemadesoup]

Leoichi but make it Oblivious x Oblivious Part 3

(I just realized I’ve been projecting my ace-spectrum ass to another ship.) 

Part 1

Part 2

Part 4

心の友 (Tomo no Kokoro) (Heart of a Friend)

Usagi first learns about ADHD from the turtle brothers and sister. 

Usagi is delighted it’s another thing he shares with Leo. “It’s amazing how our ADHDs synchronized,” Usagi says to him. “It’s like we’re twi-”

Donnie slams his hands vehemently on the table. “I’m sorry but the twin title has already been taken,” he says with more force than he intended (not).

Usagi didn’t seem to mind. “Old friends?” he tries.

“Nah,” April says, even if she’s only teasing, “I think that would be MY title.”

Leo raised his hand for a high-three at him, “Shell yeah, soul sisters!”

Usagi brightened. While his English is not yet native level, he tried to match Leo’s words. “Soul” plus “sisters” closest in Japanese is tomo no kokoro, so in other English words....

He clasped Leo’s hand instead and smiled at him. “Soulmates,” he agreed. 

Usagi is very much confused when everyone around him and Leo hoots as Leo chokes, jokingly shoving him while laughing with a darkened face.

Later, they all have to clear the air that the word soulmates in English mostly has romantic connotations, and when Usagi meant tomo no kokoro, the closest word in English is a platonic soulmate. 

Of course, someone tattled to Gen, Kitsune, and Chizu, and they didn’t live it down for a few days instead. It’s just a few days because the incident gave them insight into why Usagi still isn’t dating Leo despite having an intimate friendship. 

After the teasing at Leo’s side from his fam, Leo just put it at the back of his mind to try to focus their team on whatever needed them in New York because of his narrowly-avoided-apocalypse guilt. 

Eyeliners and Fluttering Claws

Yuichi Usagi feels put out, but April has never been so amused by how he got excited over friendship rings and plans to buy one for Leo until she has to explain they’re for pre-engagement with a romantic partner. 

Luckily, Kitsune and Chizu find a makeup stand and make Usagi one of their “blank paper.” Usagi asks if they can use red for his eyes. The girls teach him how to use an eyeliner. 

Usagi wears them for a couple of days in Neo Edo, like getting used to a pair of shoes before he finally feels confident wearing it in New York.

He’s a tad nervous when he enters the lair. But Leo takes one look at him and fucking squeals at the sight of him. 

Like scoops him up and twirls him around as he takes a good look at his red-lined eyes. “We match! Well, kinda.”

Usagi grins, “I was inspired.”

“Looks great on you,” Leo said, running his fingers through the fur on Usagi’s cheeks. 

Leo pauses, looking at his hands in confusion before shrugging. 

Basketball and Bunny Circling

Leo and Usagi made a makeshift hoop on the flat area of the farm to teach the ex-ninja orphans how to play basketball.

Leo almost regrets introducing basketball to Usagi because he became a match his turtle brothers couldn’t compare to.

Usagi is fast and likes running circles around him (even in their sparring), so Leo responds by running around him as they both try to get the ball from each other. 

Usagi’s aunt passes by the area to see them playing. She knows Usagi isn’t that much of a show-off, but there seems to be an unnecessary amount of running circles around his friend until she realizes he was circling. 

She continued on her way, smiling. She has never seen him do that since he was a kid.

Sunbathing and “Purring”

Leo likes sunbathing, which he and his brothers can only do with a giant sunlamp in the lair. But on Usagi’s farm, he and his brothers could soak up the rays without alarming anyone (more or less). 

Usagi tends to flop on top of Leo’s shell for a few minutes (it makes an excellent back stretcher, as recommended by April and agreed on by Kitsune). 

Leo was taken aback by what he thought was purring until he realized Usagi was grinding his teeth.

Usagi has to reassure Leo that he wasn’t teeth grinding out of stress and didn’t harm his teeth. Rabbits just have that habit.

Title: Two Voices, One Song

Donatello has to wake up to a song playing ON LOOP for the whole lair to hear while Leo belts out along with it.

He’s clawing for coffee when Raph appears.

“Leo! Turn that down!” And “Isn’t that from the Barbie movie?” Raph asks.

“Yep!” Mikey answered, jiving to the beat.

“Ah yes,” Donnie said loudly with an eye roll after straightening up brew. “That song. From the Barbie movie. From one of the most heavily queer-themed movies of the Barbie franchise.” 

The lyrics,“…Somehow when you're around / The sky is always blue”, play, and they all get on the same page.

“Aaaw, love is in the air,” Mikey gushes.

“Wrong,” Donnie says, putting on a gas mask. “It’s neurotoxin,” he promises.

Okay, he’s joking. He’s just going to gas the lair with nitrous oxide to knock Leo out, but the others still feel the need to stop him. 

Days later, they heard Usagi humming it. 

“Sorry,” Usagi says when he sees them staring at him. “Leo introduced it to me, and it became our song.”

Cool, cool. As far as Donnie is concerned, best friends have their own songs sometimes. As much as he likes to be knowledgeable about everything, there are some things he’d rather be ignorant of. Like Leo and Usagi’s… whole situation. 

What does the fam think

Raph is torn between “Please only date when I’m dead” and “Where did I go wrong?” with his brother not even noticing what he and the rabbit have. 

Mikey is more chill and has Dr. Feelings ready if Leo ever looks conflicted and needs someone to talk to. 

Splinter almost has a heart attack when Usagi asks, “I would like to ask for your permission to ask Leo... to go on a training pilgrimage with me.” (Draxum has to listen to him rant that his sons turned his hair white but that Yuichi boy will make him bald.)

April and Casey Jr. are content to wait in the “let them figure it out” league (April is waiting with a bat, just in case).  

Disagreements

Disagreements with Leo often end up with someone exploding or confrontations because Leo tends to use avoidance tactics and show that he isn’t mad, as it wouldn’t match his cool persona.

But that doesn’t work with Usagi if he senses something wrong. Because whenever Leo tells him, “It’s cool, so drop it,” Usagi doesn’t drop since he’s not much of a listener, so they can work together to fix it. 

Let them be Ace

“You know, I think I’m ace,” Usagi confides.

“Ace?” Leo asks.

Usagi nods. “I thought I liked both, but it turns out I don’t really care either way.”

“Oh.”

The next day, Leo speaks out of the blue. “I think I’m ace too.”

“Yeah?“ Usagi asks.

“Yeah, I read about it. I’m still gay. But I’m just more of a cuddler than the other, y’know?”

Usagi brightens. “I know! Sometimes, I have the urge to nuzzle my face on yours!”

“You too? Me too!” Leo exclaims. 

Leo wakes up one night. “Waitaminute…”

Daydreaming at Night

On the same night, Usagi’s thoughts were running.

Usagi has the tendency to space out with his comic book fantasies inspired by his Usagi Yojimbo comics. It’s his favorite thing to do while waiting to fall asleep.

It’s normal to fantasize about meeting your best friend as if by fate and having to fight together like you’re both reading each other’s minds, growing closer along the plot, declaring to each other that you’ll always have each other’s back, and overcoming the bitter rivalry of their ninja and samurai clans with the power of your friendship, right?

But after his ace talk with Leo, it’s like his mind was finally allowed to explore a little bit further...

Which has Usagi sitting up all flustered because-

And suddenly, the realization hits, and the pieces fit. 

The sun rises, and Usagi still hasn’t slept at all.

(I’m really trying to exorcise all these ideas into a post since they won’t leave me alone, but it seems like there’s gonna be a part 4 for the conclusion.)

[awildaspenappeared]

Day 2 of @traumas-tmntober-2024 :Isolation

Embers of a Shattered Legacy

Word Count: 1347

Hamato Yoshi let Oroku Saki destroy his life. Burnt away is his legacy as he rots in his loneliness. His clan, his livelihood, his budding family. All smothered under ashes and blood.

OR

Splinter wallows and mourns the past but new beginnings are afoot.

Hamato Yoshi thought he was turning into a spiteful, bitter, young man. Well he was pushing that now, growing older by the day, an entire legacy blew past as ashes in the wind.

He had long lost his brother. Saki, his beloved brother, was a monster. He wasn't a fool. He certainly wasn't wise but he knew he noticed they had grown apart as of late. No, not as of late. Now they were mortal enemies but truly, he could see signs even as teens when they'd started drifting and it pained him.

Memories of his sensei scolding them for roughhousing instead of sparring properly flooded in front of his eyelids. Thinking back on the countless times they had fought he had never taken Saki's worries and anger sincerely. He had just brushed it off as silly and childish: insignificant. He put his brother down and had pushed him away to the path that had to have led him to The Foot.

The anguish was almost as painful as the loneliness. Yoshi didn't like being alone. Not the physical sense of being alone, that was something he could even find solace and enjoyment in. No. What he was talking about was the bitter, skin tearing, ear aching, foul smelling, gut punch of there being no one. No one to give love to. No one to share soft moments with. No one for him to sit quietly and listen to anymore.

Yoshi was utterly alone for the first time. Even as a kid he could only remember being surrounded by his clan. He always had someone to answer his inquisitions and always had someone to guide him or his brother or friends to connect with on a deeper level. Being so surrounded and smothered made being alone a luxury yet now that same haven was the materials of his cage.

His loss of self may have been tied to his clan but he could survive that if he had his family. His sweet Tang Shen and Miwa. His life partner and precious daughter. The calm yet powerful nature and blooming fire to his cold rocky base.

Yoshi missed his fiancé. His Shen. The girl he’d been enamoured with since he was a foolish teen and who had liked him back. He reminisced on the days where he would break so many wooden boards practising kicks and punches that the floor was covered in splinters. Shen had given him the nickname Splinter after that but now he had no one to share such a silly nickname with.

He had no one to talk poetry or philosophy or couplets with. His dear, sweet, intelligent Shen was enriched in culture and always wanted to be in a deep intellectual conversation and Yoshi was never happier than then. Yoshi would never get to see his beautiful partner teach his little Miwa her first words. How to read. About her heritage and culture and about her beloved philosophies.

His Miwa. His beautiful, bouncing baby girl. Torn from his arms and the world as the fire consumed the house she was meant to grow up in. The house that was meant to hold her siblings. They hadn't just wanted Miwa. Tang was adamant on at least 5 pairs of feet running around.

Yoshi had years of plans and hopes and dreams that had burnt with his girls. He lost it all. Staying in Japan was too heart-breaking. Seeing his homeland through eyes that knew his kid never got to see them, that his late partner was never to bear witness to them again was too painful to even exist in.

Instead he fled to New York City, United States of America. Shen had always wanted to visit America. One of the reasons Yoshi had put off seeing it was because he knew Shen would most definitely want to move there. She had an obsession with the culture there and most of her literature had expanded about the Americas in recent years. Now it was just another regret. Something he stopped her from doing in her short life.

Touching down on the American soil a week ago was a blur to him already. He had made the decision hastily as his life moved in a blurred slow motion. He was as dead as his family for those few weeks after Saki had fought him in their home. He'd never had more regret than when he felt the crimson of Shen's blood coat him and allow for the smoke to stick in thick clumps on it. Tainting it. It burned despite being just blood.

He hadn't even registered what had happened at the time. He and Saki had been fighting in his home and wrecking it. It sent Splinter into a rage and he let Saki's words anger him further. He hadn't even noticed the lit candle they had knocked until it was too late and the home he had so lovingly built up was engulfed within the flames.

Tang had thrown herself in front of him and all he could think of was why. He was weak to let the woman he loved die for him. To let her murderer escape as the supports gave out and buried him as he shielded her body.

He had blacked out after that and had woken up outside of their home. His sweet Shen and Miwa still trapped inside as the flames continued to burn the dwindling remains.

He had not even stayed long enough for the firefighters to put out the fire. He had travelled to the nearest town and slept on the street, unable to pay for any accommodation right then. He hadn't stayed long enough for their bones to be dug out of the ashes for their burials of which he hadn't stayed for either.

Instead he let those last two weeks in Japan go by quickly. Besides meeting with Shen's family to tell them the news and withdrawing the remains of the Hamato fund, all he had managed to take with him were a few keepsakes and family heirlooms.

On his last day before his loneliness cemented into his bones and he left for America, he went to Shen's favourite place in the forest and buried her now withered flower which had survived the burning miraculously. It was his way of remembering his partner's livelihood and how he'd tucked it behind his baby's ear, her hair just having developed enough to cover her head entirely. He buried the flower and laid their souls to rest with it.

Now he was alone. Sitting in a dingy, cheap apartment in New York with rattling pipes and the deeply ingrained smell of mildew. On the wall was a pet shop poster. They were holding a fundraiser and had many animals for sale to support a couple of charities.

That poster had blown in his face whilst he walked alone to the cornerstore for the bare essentials a couple of days ago. He had since decided to do something good, support others whilst becoming a dad to a couple of reptiles. Shen had always been fascinated by the creatures and always spoke about getting some. Snakes and lizards but especially turtles. He knew more about them than he thought he ought to as he lovingly listened to her ramblings.

He was currently setting a large tank up on the small table. It looked comical but was sustainable for a few baby turtles. Shen would never forgive him if he let himself waste away and mourn. If she was around she would have smacked him up the head and talked some sense into him. The thought had the corners of his mouth tugging unwillingly into a smile.

He was going to be a dad somehow but no one could ever replace Shen. Maybe when he was ready he'd adopt but for now, he'd father some turtles until they passed. Pet turtles typically lived much shorter lives than their counterparts anyways.

It'd just be another chapter in his life.

Maybe he wasn't so bitter yet.

Hi!! So I enjoyed writing this so much. Splinter does not get enough attention and there are so few Splinter-centric fanfics nowadays, its unreal!! I really wanted to take this in a different way than you might first interpret it. The pure mental and physical isolation Splinter must have felt when his entire family and life went down the drain must've been huge and I wanted to capture that while throwing some Yoshi x Shen headcanons in there :3

I hoped this was a good read!!

I forgot to on my last post but a huge thanks to my best mates for Beta-reading these and keeping me focused. Love you all ♡♡

[agent-oo-z]

Ok more Tad-fools and Tavi-cule thoughts

Yada yada spoilers potential blah blah you know the drill

Atavia loves all her companions on a soul deep level. Maybe not all romantically and/or sexually but her platonic and familial love is just as intense and all encompassing. Everyone stays in touch in no small part because Tavi is always on top of who’s where and what they’re doing. She’s always down to lend a hand if need be. Animal sitting, baby sitting, house sitting, sure of course. But also! Need help on a quest? Want backup for a fancy schmancy political event? Need someone to do some sneakin and spyin? She’s your gal! Maybe not quite a grand hero adventurer any more but she’s certainly not “retired”

But that got me thinking about the others. How they interact with each other with or without Atavia being involved. So here we are! This post is about Astarion and the others.

Shadowheart

Astarion and Shadowheart continue their “tea time” (cough wine cough) gossip get togethers of course. But they also just enjoy spending time together. Whenever Shadowheart is in town form Sèlunite things they make sure to have a night out on the town together.

When Astarion is eventually cured of vampirism, Shadowheart helps teach him how to swim. She’s on the “help Astarion adjust to being not un-dead anymore” committee and helps him go through various foods to make sure he doesn’t have any allergies.

When something pisses Astarion off like. A WHOLE LOT. He writes to Shadowheart about it and then they meet up so he can get full on angry screaming ranty. His partners all struggle when he’s upset like that because they want to fix the reason he’s upset, but sometimes that’s just not an option. So Shadowheart steps in to be there for him while he just gets the anger and frustration out of his system. She’ll also call him out if he’s being the unreasonable one.

Lae’zel

As another part of the “help Astarion adjust to being not un-dead anymore” committee, Lae’zel’s main job is helping him get used to fighting again. His senses are all different, his body far more vulnerable to damage, etc. so she spars with him while he gets used to being alive again.

He also uses her for stealth practice. He’s abysmal at sneaking up on her for the first month or so but every time he fails she tells him exactly what gave him away. It’s very helpful.

When Lae’zel is working on adjusting to living in Faerun, Astarion helps her bridge the gap from “hyper practical survival focused analysis” mode to “social etiquette and interaction” mode. Because he knows how to view social interaction in the survival mode and knows how to view survival in the social interaction mode. This helps Lae’zel start to pick up on things on her own without having to be explicitly told about them.

Karlach

Once her engine is fixed all the way, Astarion helps Karlach cope with being used by Mizora and Zariel. Same with him and Wyll. They get together and talk about being used against their will by horrible beings. Astarion and Karlach talk about the physical effects of it, the lingering pains and phantom hands, the ways that having your body torn apart so often can impact you mentally. They do lots of “I’m in charge of my own body” activities together. Getting piercings, tattoos, etc.

Karlach is very physically affectionate. She’s just about the only person aside from his partners who have standing permission to just hug him and hold him and cuddle him at all times(unless he says otherwise). It also helps that he’s cool and she’s hot so they can help sort of even each other’s temperatures out through physical contact.

When Astarion starts to get twitchy because things have been “normal” for too long Karlach takes him out to a seedy bar and they indulge. Sometimes they get in fights, sometimes they just get intoxicated, they just generally fuck around for a little while. A bit of controlled chaos.

Wyll

Wyll and Astarion end up really close friends after Karlach’s engine is fixed. Astarion spends a lot of his free time studying modern law. He’s not a proper legal professional but he could be if he put his mind to it. Mostly he just uses his knowledge to help Wyll navigate high society political dealings and all that. Astarion becomes the unofficial Ravenguard legal counsel. Having an intimidating legal counsel who will take no shit on his or your own behalf proves very useful. And Wyll works with the Gur and the spawn in the underdark to help study vampirism and its potential cures/treatments. His connections and influence help them all get hold of rare materials and powerful allies.

As mentioned with Karlach they talk about the struggles of losing your bodily autonomy, especially in regard to your physical appearance, together. I personally head canon that when Astarion is “cured” he still retains a lot of the physical changes of vampirism. Sharp canines, red eyes, the bite scar, and running cooler than most. Which at first is really upsetting and frustrating for him. But talking with Wyll helps him process that looking like his “old” self would be equally weird and unfamiliar.

Astarion LOVES being invited to fancy upper class affairs. Parties, galas, dinners, all of it. Atavia doesn’t often attend(social anxiety Babey) and Gale and Halsin are both usually too busy with their own work. So Astarion and Wyll end up spending most events together just the two of them. He loves to be an absolute menace and flirt with everyone in sight. Wyll pretends to be super upset but secretly enjoys it.

[deathbxnny]

Omg official first request I've made ever?

Okay so hear me out, Dragonkin Reader, Dragon of war at a point of time in the past who was best friends with Morax in ye olden days. Reader who use to drink Osmanthus wine with everyone and such, ended up in a marriage with the great Morax and over time things got shaky, when he faked his death and took the name Zhongli and decided that having a dragon partner with obvious features of Dragonkin isn't great for his whole Human(tm) brand he has going on so he just neglects the reader except for during meetings with Childe on occasion, and reader just so happens to befriend Childe who definitely has his eyes for the stunning dragonkin...and perhaps even challenges them to a spar in which Reader wins and he just falls over head in heels with them..and perhaps reader shows up soggy in the rain at the inn room he's in when Zhongli presented Divorce papers and essentially kicked them out 👀 or something of the sort. Extra angst extra forbidden(ish) romance 👀👀👀

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A/N: Why hello there! I am honoured to be the recepient of your request, dear definitely-a-stranger of mine! I love the idea, but have changed it maybe a little bit too much on accident, so I hope that you'll like it anyways!<33 Content: Mention of non-sexual nudity!!!, some light flirting, neglect, Zhongli being a bad husband (like in most of my writing for him-), some angst, emotional adultery???, hurt/kind of comfort, talks of divorce, Childe being a sly homewrecker, somewhat forbidden romance, romantic tension, characters might be ooc?? idk- Female reader, who has some dragon-like features! Word count: 2.2k ((Not proofread at all!!!))

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"Take a leap into the waters below with me, won't you?"

It was a cold and misty morning, when Ajax decided to take a nice swim in an uncharted lake he had found during his travels. It was close to the borders of Liyue city, hidden in a lush field of tall grass, and yet no map seemed to acknowledge it's existence. This intriuged him greatly, as not even locals seemed to be aware of it. And so, whenever the tempratures dropped, he ventured out for a quick dip in the cold water, a familiar tradition from back home. He trudged through the thick grass, his eyes narrowing against the mist. It was easy to miss the lake and so he was always very careful in looking for it, having even gone as far making a small pathway for himself.

A content smile pulled at his lips, when he finally saw the still surface of it in the distance, his steps speeding up, until he stood at the small part of the shoreline that wasn't covered in rocks. His boots came off first, then his shirt and jacket, then his pants. All unceremoniously thrown onto a nearby rock, right next to the foreign silken robes he hadn't seen in his eagerness to get in. Ignorant to what may linger below, he was quick to lower himself into the water, letting out a soft hiss at how cold it was.

Just like how it was back home.

He closed his eyes, muscles tensing and flexing, before they relaxed and his mind drifted into thoughtless dreams of work and his family. It was quiet and peaceful here... perhaps a little too unnaturally quiet. But his apparent fearlessness didn't allow him any doubt or worry. Every now and then, he'd hear the soft movement of the water in the subconsciousness of his mind, until it became a little too often and began near approaching him. He cracked a tired eye open, his arms crossed over his broad chest, as he tried seeing what the source of the sound was. was it a fish? Frog? ... A woman?

The young man gasped softly, his body straightening up in surprise, when he saw her carelessly step out of the water, goosebumps spreading across her body when the cold breeze hit her skin. He opened his mouth to perhaps apologise or question her... yet not a word was able to escape his lips. And she didn't seem to particularly acknowledge him either. Instead, she just now stood next to him, calmly looking off into the distance, before her head slowly turned to look down at him.

The silence was suffocating, but Ajax's mind was racing with millions of thoughts at once. He should be looking away from her nude form. He should get up and... No, he can't do that either, as he was in a similar state. Yet he seemed to have more shame than her. So instead, he could only blink in surprise, when he noticed the scales, horns and cat-like slitted, intense eyes. She was no human, he then determined. A siren maybe? Was she going to rip him apart with the sharp teeth he spied under her lips? Was she going to dig her sharp nails into his heart and take it for herself? Was she going to seduce him and drag him into the depths of the lake as punishment for being so careless? Ajax fidgeted nervously. At least she was beautiful, he supposed. Breathtaking, in a literal sense, if you will.

And yet, his creative imagination came to an end, when the woman finally spoke up, still so unbothered by it all. "It's been a while, since a human decided to lose it's way into my territory..." She hummed, before just stepping out of the water and collecting the robes the harbinger had ignored. "... Have any of them survived to tell the tale?" He asked, trying to retain some semblance of his composure, which seemed impossible in her presence. He heard a small huff, perhaps a chuckle. "Some, yes." She mused, but her voice was oddly devoid of any emotions. Or perhaps, human emotions.

Childe dared to look behind him then, his eyes catching as her bare shoulder disappeared under the silk. "I won't go down so easily, if you happen to be in a bad mood today then." The man near challenged, but he was only met with a slight turn of her head in his directon, as she halted her movements. "I doubt, that you'll ever be a match forme, even in a good mood." She replied, before slowly walking away, her hands gently brushing against the tall grass. But her words only ticked off Ajax's challenging nature, which made him swiftly stand and give her a slight grin. "Then fight me. I assume you are an ancient creature, one with great power. I'd appreciate the challenge-" "-Maybe next time." Was all she said, as her form merged with the mist and disappeared soundlessly. Childe stood in the still water for a while after, his breathing a little laboured from the excitement that had filled him from her words alone.

So much for relaxation...

--

He visited the lake often afterwards, in hopes of seeing the woman again. And every now and then, he'd be lucky enough to do so, even if she never agreed to a fight. Instead, he'd spend his time speaking to her, although that was a little difficult at first due to her reserved nature. Something that Ajax was eventually able to break through as well. He learned three things about her over the few weeks he had spent here. Her name was (Y/N), she was once an ancient, powerful dragon... and she is married, unfortunately. To who exactly however, she refused to say. Not that it mattered anyways, since childe's brewing, selfish jealousy only saw it as a challenge too, if anything. Especially when he learned that your dear husband wasn't very attentive to you in the first place.

"Say, wouldn't your husband get quite angry, if he saw his wife and a foreign man sitting in a lake together... naked?" He one day asked, loosely gesturing between the two of them lazily to empathise his point. But he had learned over time, that dragons didn't care about nudity all that much. They techincally usually didn't wear clothes anyways, right? (Y/N) seemed to have learned some human customs at least regarding that, but her lake, her rules, he supposed. "He forgets I'm there most of the time. I doubt he'll care now." She hummed, her body laying across the warm sand. It was a hot day, the sun shining down and reflecting against the lakes still surface. Ajax kept his eyes away from her, mainly out of odd embarrassment, that he usually couldn't care to feel. But she made him feel alot of similar emotions against his will anyways.

"How can he forget you? I certainly think about you all the time." "About me? Or the duel you are itching to have?" He simply grinned knowingly in response. It was both, ofcourse. "I guessed so... but I'll have to disappoint you once again, I'm afraid. There is a meeting I have to attend with my husband." She muttered, sighing as she sat up with a slight frown. Ajax raised a brow, a silent question she understood. "Appearances are important to him." "I see... but what about your...?" He trailed off, eyes daring steal a glance at her horns, that made her nod. "Yes, I hide them around him... or other people for that matter." "Ah, so, I'm special then?" He teased, making her huff and pull on her thin robe. "Perhaps in a way, you are... but then again, you are in my domain." She said, which made the man smirk a little. He'll take that for now.

She took her leave then, a small wave and bow of her head, before she disappeared in the tall grass. Ajax sighed to himself and sunk deeper into the water. He also had a meeting to get to... but for now, he'll stay in your domain to relax in your comfort, that even lingered in your absence.

--

"Perhaps I shouldn't have done that..." He cursed, when he was running late from falling asleep in the lake. He didn't know how it happened and was quite irritated at himself. This was a mess, but knowing him, he'd always find a way out of everything. So when he arrived at the restaurant, he put on his best, apologetic smile, as he went to greet the man. "Ahaha.... my apologies, Mr. Zhongli! Last minute work came up, that I had to take care of and..." His words trailed off, when his eyes found the familiar gaze of the dragonic woman. He gulped, when it all dawned on him... but then the confusion settled in. Why would such a powerful, ancient dragon be with a funeral consultant? Unless... he didn't know? Yes, that made alot of sense, especially when she looked so human-like now. Somehting that irked Ajax deep down, for some reason.

"That's alright, things happen." Zhongli hummed, ushering the man to take a seat, when he absently waved a hand into the direction of his near stoic wife. "I hope you don't mind my wife joining us for the evening?" He asked, making the harbinger clear his throat. "No, ofcourse not... it's an honour.." (Y/N) seemed less affected by the whole ordeal and so he decided to reel himself in as well and go ahead with the meeting. Every now and then, his eyes would find her calm form picking at her food or idly looking off at a nearby wall. He also quickly noticed how... indifferent Zhongli was to her.

His eyes never trailed to her breathtaking form in her fancy, silken robes. He never spoke a word to her, never asked for her opinion. It irritated Ajax. If she was his, he'd show her off, boast bout the strong, powerful wife he had at his side. He'd never allow her to hide her dragonic features either. She was to be worshipped, just like she told him she once was... but then again, Childe was selfish. He'd rather just worship her all on his own.

And by the end of the evening, it took all his strength to not rip her away from the other man's unworthy grasp. What did he have, that Ajax didn't? But all he could really do, was watch the two walk away, her eyes meeting his briefly, before she disappeared after her husband in the dense crowd.

--

"Even after a nice evening, you can't seem to acknowledge me, Morax." (Y/N) said, although she knew her word would just fall on deaf ears. Especially when she used his old name, actual name. "I don't expect much else from you however.... Would you like it, if I simply disappeared into the depths of my lake forever? Far away from any civilisation, forever alone?" More silence, as the man simply took off his coat and shoes. He only responded when she used that pathetic human name of his. But she'd be damned, before she allowed herself to sink that low. "I will warn you, that I will not be alone however. I have perhaps found someoneelse. Someone who appreciates the war and carnage of love much more than you ever could have."

Zhongli stopped in his tracks, his head tilting ever so slightly in her direction. He wouldn't even spare her a last glance it seemed. He had fully given up on his past and his wife of eons with it. "Then leave." "Very well, Morax." She saw his jaw clench, a last dig at revenge, the sound of a ring hitting the marble floor blending in with the door falling shut.

--

The moon was high up in the sky, by the time (Y/N) arrived at her lake. As expected, Ajax was already resting in it and for a while it seemed. "It's a little late for a swim, don't you think?" He asked, making the woman hum in response, as she shrugged her clothes off and walked past him into the lake, until it reached her hips. "Says who? I make the rules here." The man sat up, his head tilted back a little to laugh softly. "My, when did you get so sassy? Seems like I'm rubbing off on you." "Perhaps so... why are you here?" She finally asked the obvious question, that earned her a smirk. But it was a dangerous one. "It's not for a duel, for once." He mused, the message clear.

This type of burning love he felt was forbidden and perhaps for a good reason. A dragon and a human couldn't possibly be together, and then there was Zhongli, who he still assumed was just a mere human. People would call him a homewrecker, or maybe they'd dare to blame you. But alas... when was Childe ever the one to back down from anything? Especially when he wanted something? It was a risky, uncharted part of life for him... yet that alone seemed to have worked out for him before with this lake, right? "I see... then what is it?" She asked carefully, eyes narrowing a little, when he chuckled.

"I'd like to take a leap of faith." "A leap of faith?" "Yes." His answers were clear and confident, filled with an arrogance only he perhaps could have. But that intriuged the woman, who hummed and reluctantly held her hand out to him then; A final test.

"Then come... Take a leap into the waters below with me, won't you?"

"Challenge accepted."

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A/N: Alrighttt, my back hurts! And this took me about 3 hours to write... and I maybe went off the idea alot... BUT I know you'll appreciate it anyways. I hope everyone else enjoyed this too and thank you again for the request, dear!<33

[scuddle-bubble101]

Can you tell us about Teddy?

(Absolutely!! We had to take a moment to tend to Wicker but, we can shimmie on back into these :]! You all wanted the entire Asterisks family and its adorably amusing hgnjvfndfj)

Teddybear~!

Human name: Timothy Ann Asterisks youngest of her only twin brother, Stick(Jeremiah Comic Asterisks). Fathered by her biological parent Whacky(Aster Asterisks).

Teddy's a bubbly sweet-nature, never always gets it right kind of gal with a similarly heart of gold complex to her father. She can't always help herself to wanting to help others and, better her time on the world for it. She became a guard this way! Unlike her brother, whom had a whole degree in line for him and settled for botany instead.

Like Stick, she had the same tumultuous like childhood and shared the same if not more struggles to it than he did. She loves her brother, deeply she does but his actions nearly caused them to fall apart... Luckily, it didn't happen and they stayed living together for a time before Matrix came into their lives. During this time, she met someone she considered a training partner. He was pretty blunt and unfriendly but did good as a sparring partner. Turns out really, he was just a stressed guy, really bad at socializing, and did a whole ton of work for his dad on the daily.

Something about sparring helped him out and it didn't take long for him and Teddy to grow to being friends. And through shared interests, complaining about family, picking each other back up when the other was down. That friendship became romantic. Unlike her brother's constant shifting love-life and "activities" (Before Matrix), Teddy was a stationary sort. She doesn't care for constant hookups and when Pj started to come onto her, she was firm on those boundaries. Course, well- Obviously he's got her now, but she put up a good fight before he did! X'D

Additional notes...

.Teddy takes her job as a security/post guard seriously. She welds twin axes bigger than her whole body and if you laugh at her, she's liable to whack you with one of the handles.

.Not really any health problems to account for. She really did win the twin lottery and left Jere with the rest. (Even though he's the oldest by ten minutes. She was technically born a day "after him" so her birthday is after his and yes, he holds that above her to this day.)

.One of the first people to really do her best to welcome Matrix into their home. Sure he was snappy, and grumpy for the first bit, but they are pretty solid friends now! When Stick couldn't, Teddy would lend a hand.

.Pretty much the backbone of the household or "was". (Ever since they got partners, the twins separated and Teddy gave up the house to Matrix and Stick. Though! She's just a few houses down nearby!) Teddy maintained the workload and the fiances, Stick mostly did the cooking and cleaning and the occasional, commission work. (He wasn't always the best at it, but he made sure at least something was cleaned or food was on the table. Ted liked doing the desserts, but she usually didn't have time for it.)

.She's never stopped believing her brother could be a better person than how he started. She's still very proud to see he's never once proved her wrong.

.Her blaster is a Polar-bear mix Grizzly. Fluffy and plump, good for hugging~

[regaliasonata]

Ranger Headcanons Batch

-Marah and Dustin, after settling out their differences, have become rather good friends. Mainly like two braincells forming together in unison. She kinda likes to play dress up with him and with attending the academy invites him with Kapri to sleepovers.

-Marah loves Doja Cat, though Cameron had to take away her speakers when she kept blaring music in the Watanabe Estate. She gets music from Conner who in turn gets it from SPD so she has access to future artists.

-The Wild Force zords and animal spirits in JF are the same but have variations. The animarium used to be affiliated with Pai Zhua but split off, WF focuses on sharing wild force powers through their crystals as outside sources while JF utilizes animal spirit powers from the inside.

-Some dimensions share a universal counterpart, Shelby and Scott are counterparts along with their fathers. This may also count with other characters such as Mack and Venjix or Kendall and Dr. K.

-A lot of the older red rangers from MMPR to Time Force do not like the newer reds. For many reasons...One they aren't exactly keen on being respectful just because of bragging rights, Hunter is hated the most by some of them for good reason due to Jason trying to impede on personal business the Bradley's had with their parent's old enemies and the red ranger came back with electric burns on his body. Two the amount of gimmicks and forms kinda show up the older reds, Jayden and Casey jumped Tommy during a forced sparring match. And finally three, Tyler doesn't know who they are and for all we know there could've been different teams in his universe so who the hell is Jason Lee Scott?

-Hunter does actually like TJ, Eric and Andros, Cole is nice but he doesn't like him cause Dustin's got eyes for the fellow lion ranger...it's on sight if Jason comes to Blue Bay Harbor.

-Taylor and Jen despise SPD, Syd and Z's treatment being the reason.

-The first yellow ranger meeting happened during Ninja Storm and Dustin literally became the marshmallow of the group.

-Some teams that are more secluded have reasons mainly due to feeling indifferent about zordon or the increase of mmpr rangers trying to come in a fix everything when they aren't needed.

-while Mystic Force may the the strongest team due to their magic, raw power wise that category goes clearly to Ninja Storm with their non ranger elemental powers and training...if anything if lothor kept them as evil then I feel like it would've been even harder to change them back than in the DT crossover. Jungle Fury might be abel to take care of them if they are lucky.

-Rangers, specifically those with civilian powers, are banned from the Olympics. Or at least until there's a division crested specifically for them.

-The Morphin Grid has a spiral of collective unconscious with ideas, hence why Tarrick and Leanbow share a dort of similarity. The idea is that there might've been some magical aspects on Rafkon giving Tarrick the same appearance armor wise or a dimension where Leanbow was his counterpart.

-Necrolai and RJ had a feud during the Twilight era of media...Vida and Casey were hyping both sides up(mainly supporting their respective partners🩷🖤❤️💜). Luckily this wasn't about the movie and more on which were better, werewolves or vampires.

-Hunter and Blake's willingness to kill Kanoi wasn't by circumstance. They really were down to murder if needed, the Thunder Academy had some rather different ways of training but from being fueled by losing their parents if anything was to happen to the other sibling then it would be lights out for their enemies.

-During the Cosmic Fury invasion the Mystif Force team didn't lose against Zedd but only got caught off guard. He needed a backup plan because he knew he wasn't strong enough to beat them, they roasted the shit out of him from the ranger prisons.

-Majority of the rangers aren't straight.

[odditycircus-2002]

Imagining a timeline where Shang and Medusa!reader have like some kind of slice of life sitcoms or something normal at least for them, been married for thousands of years in peace and have their own children and their own home on Shang and Medusa’s island that is a paradise since mk tournament got dissolved centuries ago with Shang as its last champion. Hell he’s on good terms with Raiden and everything, most of the people in their timeline live normal lives.

Then this Shang and Medusa!Reader get transported to Liu Kang’s timeline and are separated due to the timeline shenanigans happening, with a Liu Kang and the others having to deal with an worried and desperate domestic husband timeline Shang trying to look for his wife while his Medusa!Reader is fighting for her life because she ended up with Mk1 Shang and Quan Chi’s fortress.

Now that's an interesting idea and one filled with fun possibilities!😁😁😁

Always the damn time shenanigans that gets everyone in Mortal Kombat misplaced, but lead to mirror matches. However, given this is Shang Tsung we're talking about here, everyone in the New Era would immediately have their guard up and throw hands with the Sorcerer. Much to Hubby Shang's confusion since he just wants to find his wife and go home. Adding to his confusion is that a version of his wife in this New Era hates his guts enough that she immediately tries to attack him on sight. Lui Kang or Raiden and Kung Lao have to peel her off the Sorcerer, as he tries to explain she has the wrong man. Then probably goes on to say how he would never do anything to hurt her, his wife, and the mother of his children. That last part shocked Y/N enough to finally be dragged away. This is surprising news to everyone else as well, especially when Hubby Shang Tsung pulls out pictures of him with other versions of the Mortal Kombat characters, such as how Quan-chi, Sindel, Mileena, and Raiden were at Y/N's first baby shower, and a picture of Shang Tsung with Y/N and all 7 of their children.

Meanwhile, Wifey Y/N ended up on the New Era's Shang Tsung's island, just as he was in the midst of conspiring with Quan-chi. She was walking through the island's ruins calling out for Shang Tsung or their kids, or Quan-chi as he sometimes does pop by for a visit. Imagine her horror when she spots them and happily calls out to them before approaching them, only to immediately be bombarded with the feeling of stepping into a wolf's den. The smile this imposter of her husband gives her is not the loving one she's used to, but rather one of deranged infatuation. While Quan-chi, Shang Tsung's best friend and godfather to her firstborn, looks upon her with contempt. The nail in the coffin for her was finding this new Shang Tsung didn't have a wedding ring matching hers. Luckily, even though the Mortal Kombat tournament has long since dissolved that doesn't mean Y/N let her combat abilities become rusty. In all honesty, her Shang Tsung and Quan-chi are usually more difficult of sparring partners compared to these New Era ones. However, they don't play as dirty as them, who repeatedly attempt to blind Y/N after she takes off her mask. Yet, she knows her main priority isn't them, but to get off this island and find her Shang Tsung then go home.

[divine-nymphet]

Is my love enough? Pt1?

Hi! So this is my first official story it won’t be that good because I’m new to writing and still getting used to all this but I hope you like it and please give me suggestions about what to change in the future or add I’m open to any and all suggestions thank you!

~~~

Backstory:You are the reader and you are dating Roy Harper AKA Arsenal you have been dating for 5 months are his tragic break up with his ex Jade Nguyen. You are also the daughter of Bruce Wayne.

~~~

After sparring with Artemis for two hours, I was afinally tired. I thanked her for helping me with my training and thanked her for my room, walking through the living room to get there. The first thing I saw when I got there, was the main justice league,my father,my siblings,Roy and hurt? all having a hushed conversation and sometimes, voice’s would get loud but no one was yelling so I head to where everyone is sitting “What’s wrong? Is everything OK?” I asked and immediately everyone drops the convo and starts acting weird and, after a few moments of silence, my father asked “Yes Darling a…Situation just came up” “Is it something I can help with?” I, still concerned “No but you do need to know “ He says looking at Roy and jade when he finishes the sentence, Catching that I look to Roy and repeat my previous questions “What’s wrong? Is everything ok?” And this time he sighs “It not news to take lightly but just know I’m struggling to” hearing that jade roll’s her eyes and I’m even more concerned before I can ask what he means he speaks again “I just found out today I promise I didn’t know “ “Roy what do you mean your scaring me” “Jade…S-She’s pregnant and I’m the father “…And just like that my world crumbles just a little back story me and Roy have been dating for 7 months but we’ve liked each other for a long time before he ended up getting with jade because it kinda wrong to date your best friend’s sister anyway he and jade broke up two months ago so if you do the math she had to have gotten pregnant in that month they broke up and didn’t tell him “i-i don’t know what to say to that “ I say still in shock “I swear I didn’t know until today baby” I nod and Diana speaks this time “I know this is already a lot to take in and I don’t want to spring to much in you at once but jade is moving into the tower until the baby is born “ and just like that my heart shatters even more she’s having his baby and now I have to see her and her baby bump everywhere I go? I just have to lie in a pit and die. “But don’t worry, once I have the baby I’ll be there,” Jade says with a smile that makes this any better. It’s bad enough she was a horrible partner to Roy and know this? It’s too much to handle right now “I need a moment “. I said, getting up and running to my room. Roy is the first to call after me, but I just need to breathe.

[shadowgeist-stars]

Behold, my Genklintville headcanons and other tidbits

Yeah, turns out I ship two polycules in The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles. One is Asobaroryuu, and the other is this. I've honestly got a healthy number of headcanons for each, but I'll focus on this one for now. With that said, albeit probably not very well organized, on to the listing!

Genshin and his wife, Sayaka, were a failed arranged marriage romance. They were friends, but really couldn't bring themselves to be more than that even after having Kazuma. Even if they both loved their son to pieces, the lack of proper closeness between one another was a small point of tension that they had to hide from their son.

It would be considered massively scandalous and against most teachings of bushido for a man from a samurai family like Genshin to feel or act on any sort of need for connection, let alone via relations with foreigners. But before he left for Great Britain, Sayaka decided those taboos didn't mean shit to her, and ensured he'd leave knowing he had her blessing if he finally found someone to love him as he deserved.

Klint's prone to switching into this Julius Novachrono-level geek mode when it comes to swords; especially swords that aren't commonly found in the West. So when Genshin first met Klint, the first thing out of Klint's mouth was asking about Karuma. Luckily, this works in his favor, as the best way to befriend and bond with a samurai is talking about their beloved ancestral sword.

In the first attack on Klint that Genshin was involved in, he managed to break some of the attackers' weapons in the ensuing fight along with getting in the usual hits on the guys themselves. Somehow, the thugs themselves didn't learn all that quickly that taking on Genshin would mean losing their own blades against Karuma. As far as Klint was concerned, though, this just made Genshin his new sparring partner.

The maiden name of Klint's wife is Adelia Baskerville, known as the Bloom of the Baskervilles. She's all about tea blends, fusses over all of her boys (Klint, Genshin, and even Barok), adores animals, and first met Klint through a fateful encounter involving a runaway Balmung in a park.

Speaking of Balmung, Genshin's first meeting with the giant deerhound mix was also the first time he was brought to the Van Zieks manor for an introductory spar with Klint. Balmung knocked Genshin off his feet the second the door was opened and was inexplicably very attached to him from that point on. Don't worry; he warmed up to the big goober fairly quickly.

By the way, there are actually a bunch of hunting dogs on the Van Zieks estate. Balmung is just Klint's favorite since he's the only one he personally raised from puppyhood.

That being said, Adelia has an unexpected Mama Bear streak that EVERYONE forgets about. If you say/do anything that she reacts to with anything less than a smile, you should know you divinely fucked up and should absolutely start running. Not from the guys, though. No, not when the rest of the hunting dogs arguably listen to her more than her own husband, and she's also more willing to pull out the "sic" command on purpose than Klint.

Adelia has gone out into a dark London night alone because her boys didn't come home after getting attacked. Usually armed with her dogs and sometimes a pistol for good measure.

As far as courtroom behavior, Klint is pompous and arrogant and unleashes all kinds of playful jabs at the Defense (i.e. Klavier-adjacent attitude, Simon-level snark). Private life is where he's a bit more awkward, especially with Adelia.

Klint's courtship with Adelia was actually fairly consensual for the time. By that point, he was already the lord of his household and decided to use his own status to take things at her pace, allowing them to fall for each other before any marriage arrangements were discussed.

Genshin and Klint are a role-reversal of Kazuma and Barok. That is to say, where Kazuma is expected to be the one who annoys Barok in post-canon, Klint was the one who would annoy Genshin in pre-canon.

I might add more in the future, but this is plenty for now. Hope you enjoy!

EDIT: Here are a couple more

It's honestly not hard for Klint or Adelia to fall in love with Genshin. After several of his visits to the manor and even overnight stays, the two wind up confiding in each other about their attraction to him.

The van Zieks family hasn't had any religious affiliation for quite some time. If you ask them about their religion, you won't get anything concrete out of them. They're actually the closest you'll get to modern-day atheists. Among other nobles, they're the detested godless family, but they're legally and morally more respectable than every corrupt noble who wears a cross around their neck.

This is partly due to their legacy of work in the law and just generally disliking how various religious castes tends to mistreat certain people who've done nothing to warrant it, sometimes to the extent of twisting the law to their whims and letting actual criminals in the clergy get away with severe crimes.

The beginning of the non-platonic relationship between Genshin and the nobles happened entirely by accident. They were celebrating a hard-fought win with a really difficult case at the manor and wound up drinking to the point they all blacked out. Genshin winds up getting the full "Morning After" treatment the next day.

Genshin is very starved for affection and touch. He doesn't even realize what's going on with him when being held by his newfound lovers makes him weirdly sleepy and even subconsciously clingy. At the same time, however, the shame and internalized homophobia hits him hard, even while Klint and Adelia reassure him that there's no need to beat himself up over it.

By the way, Adelia's hair when it's down is basically the exact same as that of her daughter. Coral pink, very curly, and kinda puffed out. Klint and Genshin both admit that her hair looks better when it isn't done up into her usual tight bun.

[too-destiny-panda]

Wyllvember Day 21: Kids

A/N: This is once again very chaotic, but Wyll with children just makes me so soft. Credits: @sagscrib Tags: @commander-yinello

WC: 618

Wyll was great with kids. Even before he became the renowned Blade of Frontiers, children flocked to him as he grew older, be it at fancy balls or a neglected playground, they always seemed to recognize his kindness and joviality.

When he first entered the Emerald Grove and assessed the situation, he immediately made his way over to the kids, to at least offer them a distraction from the world around them by regaling them of his deed if nothing else. Their smiles and star-struck looks warmed his heart, their endless questions a challenge to keep up with, but he was determined to keep it up for as long as his circumstances allowed him to. Which was not long as Asharak approached him, a kind smile on his lips though his eyes betrayed cheerlessness at the favour he was about to ask of him. So, instead of stories, he managed to as nonchalantly as he could suggest sparring, telling the tiefling children that although not needed, swordsmanship greatly helped when it came to being a hero. He fooled very few of them, but not a word was uttered in protest, instead squabbles and taunts began to carry throughout the training grounds in a way only children’s voices managed to do.

His heart broke at his powerlessness to guarantee a safe journey for the refugees when the goblin leaders fell, but he hoped they at least wouldn’t need to run for their lives anytime soon. The foreboding sense of dread in his stomach as they descended into the Underdark told him otherwise.

When they met again at the Last Light Inn, the Blade of Frontiers was acutely aware of how little his words and stories mattered in such an instance. Most of their relatives, neighbours, friends, caretakers lay dead at a crossroads, their bodies often mutilated for no reason other than to instil fear and submission. Alas, all he could do was offer his condolences and a steel-wrought vow that he would make sure they got out of here safe and sound. His words rang true and soon Mattis was scrambling up and down the floors of Moonrise Towers in search of trinkets or things that could be passed off as trinkets. He was relieved to see them alright, though Mol’s continued disappearance and Umi’s rapidly changing personality were concerns that gnawed at his heart.

Finally, at Baldur’s Gate, a true weight fell off his shoulders when he recognized the faces of what remained of the tieflings. Although scattered, they were safe (or at least as safe as they could be with the Netherbrain hiding in the city). He bought a worthless and overpriced trinket form Mattis, reinforcing his promise to find Mol, and spent an evening entertaining the children in front of the gates with his cantrips, accompanied by Karlach and Halsin. He was happy to see them laugh for the first time in a while. Inside the city, he encouraged Silfy, boosting her confidence until her voice stopped being a whispered tremor and instead rang clear through the air as she pitched her newspaper sales.

And as the threat was subdued, the Chosen and Grand Design a threat no more, his thoughts turned to slightly different horizons, to up until now uncharted territory that was as different as it was similar to entertaining random children, a longing sparked by their presence. A desire to have his own child. It mattered not to him whether they would be born of his blood or adopted into it, whether there would be only one or five, as long as he had a bundle of joy to love and care for alongside his partner, that was all that mattered to him.

[iela-0989]

Hello, I hope you're doing well.

Is Shān a bender? If so, does Azula and him spar? What other headcanons do you have on him?

😍😍😍 Thank you so much for asking! Most importantly, for asking about Shān~ I'm soo touched!🥹🥹🥹

Since I have yet to reveal about his background and how he got himself involved with Azula (which I plan on doing so in the future, hopefully😅), but still I'll share someof the headcanons I have on him so far:

1- He was an Earth Kingdom refugee. He was taken to Fire Nation at a very young age (around 10-11 years old, maybe🤔)

2- For some reason, Iroh adores him because somehow Shān reminded him of his late son, Lu Ten.

(As for how he managed to clash fate with the Fire Nation royals, well, it has everything to do with the person who took him in, also the one who brought him to the Fire Nation in the first place😅) 

3- Zuko & Azula befriended him since they are around the same age. So practically, they grew up together as childhood friends. 

4- The scar on his right eyebrow was accidentally caused by little princess Azula when one of her rebellious acts towards her mother went pretty far. And Shān just happened to be there, since he is her partner in crime, plus victim😅

5- His common tagline to Azula: "Anything for you, Princess😏"

Regarding whether he is a bender or not, I went with a Non-Bender. Even so, he is a reliable warrior with expertise in a certain type of weapon (which I haven't quite decided yet😅) And, maybe at some point they would always train together to master their own respective skills (perhaps that is how they bond too😏) 

I'm sorry for my late response. I got to think certain things through😆 Thanks again for the question~ I totally appreciate it!🥰🥰🥰

[talltalesandbedtimestories]

Rated: Teen and Up

Pairing: General, hint of Dean/OFC

Tags: Witchcraft, Animal Transformations, Angst, Fluff (and Fur)

Word Count: 5500

Hello, and welcome to my very first foray into a big bang! Of course, if I’m going to give one a try, Dean Winchester will be the focus. This particular one was also much less intimidating as it was the 2023 Dean Winchester Big Bang: Mini Edition. So, the word count wasn’t high, and we had a couple of months to work on the project with our artists. My artist is TwinOne. I had such a fun time sending over suggestions and watching their artwork come to life through the process.

I hope you enjoy and please let TwinOne know how sweet and lovely the artwork is. I’m over the moon with the results, and it was so satisfying to see someone’s interpretation of my story! It scratched that itch (wink, wink).

Thank you to the mods @deanwbigbang for hosting and running such a fun challenge! Your time and effort is appreciated!

Summary - Set pre-series, Stanford Era: Dean has been sent on a solo hunt in New Orleans. He meets up with an ingenue witch, Selina, who needs his help to save her mentor from a voodoo priestess. The plan doesn’t go as expected; when does it ever? Dean, though, gets a little breather in the aftermath, and it turns out to be just the thing to scratch that itch.

Prequel to "Oh, I'll Be Anything You Want"

Tendrils of smoke. It swirls, radiating bright white, pulsing with life in an empty void. Growls. Incessant barks. Distant at first. With every passing second, the panic rises as the sound pounds closer. Suddenly, hot and foul breath chases out the smoke.

Dean’s lids popped open from the nightmare. His head tilted from side to side, inspecting the area.

He’d hoped the entire thing had been a self-constructed comedy of errors in his mind. A bad dream from which he’d blessedly awakened.

Unfortunately, the current situation he found himself in was very, very real.

There was no way Dean Winchester would ever tell his dad about this.

If he somehow managed to escape this debacle, he might die of humiliation if someone found out.

New Orleans had been a disappointment in so many ways. No booze. No beads. No boobs.

He whined at the unexpected stab of pain emanating from his shoulder. He’d been lucky to win the fight in one piece. The sparring partner’s fangs had sunk into Dean’s flesh like malleable clay.

But before the ambush, he’d at least accomplished what he’d set out to do. The hex bag had been buried in the priestess’s backyard. Selina had provided specific instructions. Dean’s sense of direction easily found the northernmost corner of the parcel lot. The muslin-wrapped ingredients he’d been charged with rested beneath a half foot of dirt. All his tasks were completed well before midnight under the brightest full moon he’d seen in ages. He hoped Selina had gone ahead with the spellwork even if he hadn’t gotten back to her in time.

He stared out between the steel bars into the pitch-black. The absence of light left him bereft of shadows to discern as friend or foe.

An itch tap-danced over his neck. Skin rippled at the sensation while he fought the temptation to scratch. Discomfort from the wounded limb took priority for a short spell. 

He hadn’t thought things could get worse but turned out jail time was the worst thing that could have happened on top of everything else. Getting caught, literally, in this condition left him vulnerable.

Dean’s nostrils flared and twitched at the overpowering stench of pungent piss and stale shit. He got a whiff of cat dander and sneezed.

The cell block buddy to his right barked to keep it down. It was lights out, after all. Just because he’d been brought in late last night, he was told with a fierce growl, didn’t mean he couldn’t acclimate himself to the way things ran around here right quick. Dean rose only to circle the middle of the floor again. He eventually flopped back down, forced by the pulsing throb of his barely treated and badly bandaged wound. He curled like a ball atop the hard surface. The bone-cold of the place sent a shiver through his body. He closed his eyes again and prayed for sleep.

A fluorescent electric buzz hummed into his ear canal. The flicker of light flashed over closed lids. Tapping into all his senses, something alien swept left to right along the surface of his eyeballs, lazy and slow, as his sight focused.

A languid yawn escaped. The clink-clack of a door unlocking bolted him upright. He scampered to the front of the cell closest to the hallway floor. Nose stuck between bars, Dean tilted his head in vain to glimpse who entered.

Whines. Barks. They echoed off the walls. The instinctual urge to join in added his voice to the chorus.

“I found one that fits the bill a few hours ago.” A raspy elderly voice mixed in with all the noise. Dean recognized it. It belonged to the dog catcher that had entangled him in what looked like a big ass butterfly net. He was the reason Dean was here. He’d done the bare minimum caring for the Pitbull bite. Dean transferred most of the front weight to his left paw. The ache of his right shoulder thrummed in sync with the beating of his little heart. Dean had to be the one to fit the bill.

All Dean could view in his line of sight were soiled, grass-stained tan pants from the knees down and dirty brown combat boots. Pride filled his lungs. The tug of war he’d put up in the net brought the dog catcher to the ground. Their scrap amidst dirt and weeds and a flounce in a mud puddle had left his mark on the human.

Human. Christ, it has to be her coming to claim me. Please.

Hope soared in Dean’s chest when his gaze clamped on the blue (which would be violet if he was looking through his human eyes) leather of a familiar pair of high-heeled ankle boots. A crepe skirt rivaling Joseph’s technicolor dreamcoat covered the boot tops and swished in time with the steps.

“I hope it’s him.” A barely audible female voice floated above, drowned out by the pound puppies’ cacophony.

Selina! Thank Christ! A tinny, high-pitched bark erupted from his throat. Down here! Down here!

Both pairs of boots stopped in front of him. “That’s him there,” the catcher added. A wrinkled finger pointed in his direction.

Selina’s figure descended. Hands gathered the skirt up as she settled into a squat.

Her big almond-shaped eyes, a tad oversized for the heart-shaped face, blinked in relief. Dean halted his bark in mid-yip. Instead of her usual deep purple irises - a breathtaking sight in and of themselves on any given day - he was met with equally captivating dark blue saucers, swirled with golden flecks. The sight of her large frame stirred up amazement.

She grinned. “Yep, that’s him!” 

The dog catcher huffed and fumbled with the key into the padlock. “You should take better care of the mutt. No collar or chip. He’s lucky I found him.”

Lucky, my ass!

“He’s not a mutt,” Selina responded in her typical curt fashion. “Purebred beagle.”

“Aint never seen a beagle with green eyes ‘fore,” the dog catcher mumbled. He fished the padlock from out of the loop. “Or one with paws that damn big.” The cage door squeaked with Dean’s nose nudging it open. Dean bounced off his hind legs into Selina’s lap. 

Selina slammed a hand on the concrete to remain upright. “Oh, thank God! Scooby!” She wrapped her free arm around Dean. 

“Scooby, huh?” The old man removed his cap to smooth down the ten wiry hairs on his head.

Dean’s pulse began to slow, nestled tight and secure in Selina’s embrace. The scent he’d connected with her, spicy incense and pink bubblegum, enveloped his now small and furrier frame.

One back paw reared up and swatted repeatedly at one of his floppy ears.

“What happened to him?” Selina’s tender touch caressed the gauze bandage.

“Got ‘imself in some trouble. Looked to be an animal bite.”

Dean’s lids clamped tight. He cocked his head and continued to flick and dig his paw into the spot behind his ears. Maybe if he used his claws.

“Does he… have fleas?” Selina asked in a tone that regrettably already knew the answer.

Fleas? Dean whined, still scratching. Why the fuck not? On top of everything else.

“We’re gonna take care of this, Dean. Promise.” Selina white-knuckled the steering wheel, hands at ten and two. Her lithe, petite frame perched on the edge of the bench. It was the only way she could reach the Impala’s gas pedal.

Dean languished on the passenger side and sunk into the center of the seat. It was still dark out. Street lamps popped overhead in a rhythmic pattern and spilled light through the windshield. Cobblestone-paved streets jostled the chassis. His baby usually drove like a tank with barely a hiccup; all smooth sailing. He wondered how much the bumpy ride had to do with the road condition under the tires or the person driving his car. 

He sighed, closed his eyes, and shivered at the pinprick, itchy tingle of his skin. 

Apparently, the spell Selina had cast didn’t include telepathy. No matter how much he wished for her to reach under the seat, feel for the damn bar to pull the bench forward to close the distance between her and the wheel, she wasn’t tuned into his mental signals.

Dean straightened his front legs and stiffened his elbows at the sudden screech of tires. His paws dug into the leather. He lurched forward with the momentum, watching Selina do the same from the driver’s seat. Once they settled to a stop, she stared over at him with a regretful frown. “Sorry. I haven’t driven in a while.”

Dean slitted his lids and yipped.

“It’s not much farther to the shop.” The pointy toe of her boot met the gas pedal and the car sputtered along again. “Once I got a lock on your location and saw how far away you were, I didn’t have a choice but to take your car. But don’t worry, we’re gonna take care of this, Dean.”

You already said that. Dean’s little barks echoed in the Impala’s interior.

“I know you’re trying to tell me something. But I can’t read your mind.”

No shit, Sherlock.

“Man, you’ve got a powerful set of puppy lungs. Want some good news? I was able to lift the hoodoo trance off Esme. All thanks to you.”

Well, at least something good came out of this mess.

It was very good news. He was in New Orleans because his father sent him on a case to help out an old friend. The old friend happened to be a witch doctor named Esmerelda. Esme for short. 

Dean’s boots had hit Danneel Street and crossed the threshold of “Step on a Crack” Magical Notions Shop, which Esme owned, one day too late to prevent the inevitable escalation. Esme had been cursed and was unsure when the fallout would take full effect. She hadn’t stepped on a crack but the toes of a powerful voodoo priestess in the French Quarter. That’s why he and Selina had partnered up. To save her teacher, who’d been rendered catatonic. Esme was currently being watched and cared for by the coven, whose members were taking shifts at her bedside.  

Glad your mentor is on the mend. That’s even better for me. She can probably zap me back quicker than you. Why aren’t we heading there?

“She’s still pretty weak, though, from what Harold told me over the phone.”

Dean huffed.

“I’m sorry, Dean. I know you wanted to turn into a German Shepherd. But I did say I couldn’t guarantee what kind of dog breed the spell would transform you into. That’s not in my control.” Selina tangled her hands one over the other along the steering wheel column in a clumsy fashion. Dean swayed to the right with Selina’s left turn. “I’m pretty sure, though, the shop’s got some things that will take care of your fleas while we wait out the magic.”

It was true. Selina hadn’t guaranteed much about the spell. And it had been his idea to try it when they rifled through the pages of an ancient grimoire. The voodoo priestess had stitched some warding around her property, only permitting certain humans to cross. An animal transformation made perfect sense. 

Dean groaned and rubbed the side of his head into the backrest to ease the itch. Fleas better not have been part of Selina’s witchcraft.

Dean scrabbled paws along the slippery marble floor, trying in vain to sit upright. Every time he thought he’d achieved a precarious balance, his body toppled. He’d starfished, even done a few Bambi-on-ice skating maneuvers waiting for Selina in the tiny bathroom. Claustrophobia settled in, though it’d only been a few minutes since she promised to return and closed the door behind her.

How old was this puppy skin he inhabited? All of Dean - his mind, sensibilities, and humanity - wrapped up tight in this fur burrito felt like him, except when it didn’t. Curious instinct made its presence known. Once he relented on the sitting still attempt, his nose glued to the floor and led the inspecting. He tried to zone in on something interesting to escape the fear. And the endless itching he’d been ordered not to scratch. When Dean thought about it, it wasn’t that different from any given human day. 

Overhead, water poured out of the claw foot tub’s red copper faucet. Steam plumed over the deep basin. The impending bath temperature also drew concern. Being a beagle was terrible enough. A boiled beagle? Hell no!

Flared nostrils filled with the overwhelming scent of Selina. A sense of calm broke through the nagging flight response. He’d been in the small apartment only once since arriving in Louisiana. Perched over the magic shop, his first step into her home had flooded his sight. It was a treasure trove of textiles and trinkets blazing with gemstone brilliance. Shelves stuffed with books. Glass jars of unidentifiable powders. Vials of transparent or opaque liquids. Everything a young witch needed to learn the craft.

She smelled nice before. He’d caught whiffs of her here and there when he passed her frame on his human feet. But his canine senses were picking up every atomized particle now. He spotted a forgotten hairbrush hiding in the corner and catapulted forward to claim it. His speed and the slick marble took away any ability to stop in a semblance of elegance. He face-palmed into the rubber tines of the brush. Tangled hair in the brush tickled his nose, and rapid inhales took more of her into his lungs. Yeah. This was nice. It felt good. Safe. He debated chewing.  

The door creaked. Dean spun in a flash and let out a pathetic growl of defense, having painted himself into a corner with no way out. Selina stepped inside, paying him no attention. The giantess silenced him with only her presence. 

“Apple cider vinegar.” She held up a bottle in victory, clutching a few small droppers in the other hand. They clattered from her grip into the pedestal sink. Sitting on the tub edge, she uncapped the vinegar and emptied the contents with a rhythmic glug into the water. 

Drops splattered up and out of the tub, landing near Dean. He flinched. Doggie brain told him this was not going to be pleasant. 

“Okay.” Fingers twisted first one faucet knob, then the other, shutting off the flow. Her arm dipped into the water. Dean’s ear perked up at the sloshes. “Not too bad.”

Says you.

“Come on, Dean.” Her wet hand gestured with a come hither.

You know, I might be able to hang on until the spell wears off. I’m good.

Selina sighed. “You’re gonna make me come over there, aren’t you?” She slinked on the floor, knees stretching the fabric of her skirt as she crawled towards him on all fours.

Seriously, it’s fine. I’ll be fine. I’ve dealt with worse.

His insistence fell on deaf ears. She snatched him up in a second. The next, he dangled above the water. Her hands cupped him under whatever a dog’s version of armpits were. He kicked and wriggled. Whined and whimpered.

“It’s okay.” She submerged his hind quarters like a tea bag in and out three times until he gave in and went limp in her arms to steep. “Not gonna hurt you, no matter what you think of witches.” She leaned him forward with care. “Good boy.” When she let him go, he stood in warm water that rose up to just meet his back.  

He shivered, puppy heartbeat racing. His nose twitched at the acidity of the vinegar additive. The sound of skin rubbing together crept up behind him. “Next ingredient we need is peppermint.” A soap bar popped into his peripheral vision. It smelled of candy mints left atop a restaurant check, then absentmindedly stuffed in a jacket pocket. “Okay?” she asked.

You gonna stop if I say no? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Okay, so Dean had to admit to himself - even if he’d never cop to Selina - the bath hadn’t been that bad. Selina had a gentle but firm touch. She’d sudsed all of his coat, lifting him first from the front and then the back end. She apologized for getting a little more intimate than Dean had expected with his little puppy prick and ass. The fleas could be anywhere, she reminded him. As the tub drained, she sprayed water from the shower wand and rinsed him clean. 

Once he was taken out of the tub and laid atop one towel, another enveloped and rubbed until his fur was damp and not dripping. She communicated all of her actions beforehand. The dropper bottles contained various oils to help rid Dean of the dreaded fleas. With fabric under his paws, he sat tall and tilted his head to study Selina while she worked. She smiled at him, patiently naming each essential or botanical oil she squeezed into a water bottle: Almond, Cedar, Eucalyptus, Lavender. 

The concoction soothed immediately on contact. The mix of smells dispelled the last remnants of his anxiety. Delicate, soft fingers caressed his coat and threaded through the fur to find the skin. The blissful massage helped chase away the panic. Yet another thing he’d never admit to Selina. If he ever got the chance to admit anything to her with his human voice again. Weirdly, he seemed perfectly willing to accept such a fate. Maybe things could be much, much worse after all. 

After tidying some of the bathroom mess, Selina opened the door and ushered him forth. Dean’s legs scampered toward the makeshift doggie water bowl beside the bank of kitchen cabinets. One would have thought he’d never want to dip his snout in water again. But he gobbled and slurped with his tongue like he hadn’t drank a drop in days. He didn’t know how much time had passed before a plate of cut-up deli ham had been deposited alongside the bowl. He was greedy for that as well. Fangs hooked into the meat. He hitched his head upwards to encourage the food down his throat.

“I know human food isn’t the best for you… like this. But let’s hope we don’t have to experience the results and the spell wears off before then.” Selina commented, leaning against the countertop. “Do you need to go outside and do some business?”

Again, without any say in the matter, Dean’s head sprung upright to lock his gaze on the sweet human caretaker at the words “go outside.” He mulled it over. He’d pissed in the nearest grass as soon as they’d left the pound. An impressively long and satisfying leak. He wanted to shake his head “No” but couldn’t do it. Instead, his eyes tracked a small rug by a chair. His claws clicked along the hardwood - thank god the entire floor wasn’t marble - to what he decided would make a perfect resting spot. He corkscrewed his frame into a compact fur ball atop the cushy velvet and let out a deep, well-earned sigh.

“Good idea. I’m beat, too.” She pointed somewhere behind Dean. “Can get a few hours of sleep before sunrise. I’ll be able to find out how long the spell will last with a clearer head in the morning.” She shrugged. The motion appeared to loosen a yawn from her throat. “But, maybe you’ll wake up all back to normal.”

Dean yawned in return, finishing it with a high-pitched squeak.

Selina giggled. “You are adorable, Dean Winchester. Night.”

Too exhausted to be any more humiliated, Dean’s tail thumped softly in response. He closed his eyes. Clean. Warm. Cozy. Well fed. Watched over.

He drifted off, hard-pressed to recall the last time he’d ever been all those things.   

Dean’s running. His puppy paws gallop atop the soft, giving earth of a field. He’s darting through the wheat. His snout cuts through the crops, scraped by wispy stalks. 

He can hear how heavy he’s panting. The exertion and speed has his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.

But he’s not running from something.

Dean’s just running. Because he can.

He breaks through and into a clearing. The sun’s rays warm his furry coat. He spots a quintessential farmhouse in the distance. He can see the large wrap-around porch. A pair of rocking chairs. Off to one side is a laundry line studded with freshly washed clothes, flapping in the breeze. An oak tree, taller than the two-story home, stands guard along the other side. A tire swing dangles from one of its sturdy branches. A few white cotton candy clouds rest above it all in the bluest of skies. 

He feels the farmhouse calling to him. He just knows. It’s home.

All the colors of the rainbow that his human eyes normally detect fill his vision. He zig zags between a row of apple trees, closing the distance. A fallen apple halts him. He sniffs; the sweetness is too good to pass up. He gnashes into the mealy flesh, attacking it from all angles. He tongues the juices into his welcoming throat.

“Deeaaan!”

His head snaps up. That voice beckons him home. He resumes his sprint. That voice. He hasn’t heard it in ages.

He cuts through a tall patch of sunflowers to find the voice's owner waiting for him, seated on the porch steps.

“There you are!” Sam calls out. He tosses a tennis ball a few feet in the air above his head, catching it without having to glance at his palm. This Sam is young. Thirteen or so. He’s spindly, a toothpick with knobby joints, and a smile that takes up half his face.

Just like he remembers.

“Mom said we’ve got time before dinner.” Sam juggles the ball from one hand to the other.

Mom. Mom’s here.

“Ready?” Sam asks, winding his arm back for a killer pitch.

Dean yips.

Dean yipped himself awake. 

It’s morning. 

He’s still a beagle.

Selina watched as Dean did his business in the backyard of the Magic Shop. Unlucky, she had to experience the results of feeding puppy Dean human food. But she didn’t complain, picking up after him. “All done? How about some breakfast? Eggs and bacon sound good?”

That sounds amazing to Dean. But he’s beginning to think Selina is a glutton for punishment.

The bacon sizzled in the cast iron pan. Selina explained why Dean was still walking on four legs instead of two. “So, even though the magic worked and Esme’s on the mend, I should probably have bound your reversal spell in with that enchantment to speed things along. You would have been human by the time the full moon set this morning.” She fished a couple pieces of bacon out of the pan with a fork and laid them atop some paper towels. “I’m pretty sure it’ll wear off by tomorrow. If it doesn’t, Harold said he’ll come by and see what he can do. He doesn’t want to leave Esme yet. I’ll ask one of the other witches if you can’t wait, though.”

Dean knew that Selina trusted Harold almost as much as Esme. The other witches in the group were fickle and not the kindest to Selina, from what Dean saw firsthand. Witches, man. Dean trotted over and sat by one of Selina’s legs. He rubbed his face along her smooth calf. She looked even younger in her sleep shorts and t-shirt. Still massive, though.

“I will, Dean. I’ll eat crow for my mistake. You’ve done more than anyone would’ve for someone they don’t even know.”

A friend of Dad’s doesn’t get left behind. It’s cool, Selina. How about some bacon to smooth things over?

“What does that whine mean?”

He raised up onto his haunches and leaned front paws on the oven door.

“Oh, bacon. Right.”

The rest of the day is easy, lazy. A day he hasn’t felt in a while. Not since Sammy left him.

The days without his brother have brought out more of the hard lines and jagged points in John’s countenance. Deep down, Dean wants to hope it’s not him bringing that out in their father. That it’s the void, the empty spot that used to contain Sam that no longer filters out the hate and hurt; that used to misdirect all that drill sergeant behavior. His little shit of a sibling was all of John’s fervent focus of protection for so long. Dean sees it plain as day. John doesn’t know what to do with all his feelings. So he bottles them up. Drinks them away. Or spats them out at Dean, chipping away at him.

Dean has been coping with his feelings as best as John. Realizing he’s handling the broken compass in his core the same way. Nose down. Find a job. Work the case. Kill the monster. Fill the despair with a win. Fill the despair with booze. Inflict rage on any other to empty out the despair. Stoke passion in any other to empty out the despair.

Anything and everything to kick the can down the line. Because he’s realized - Sam was his hope and lifeline as much as he was dad’s. And, without him, well, he doesn’t really know what’s left.

He’s been tossed a lifeline here and there when he’s built up the nerve to call Sam at Stanford—only a handful of times over the past couple of years. The knots and twists in his stomach unfurled when Sam picked up the phone. Accepted and acknowledged his presence. That he’s still here, he remembers he has a brother. Even when that brother had to risk the wrath of John if he ever found out a connection was made.

But this day, wrapped in fur, small, and defenseless, he’s reminded of what could be left for him. Selina softened around him in his puppy form. Her smiles widened. She shined sweet and gentle. 

They holed up in the apartment for safety. Scampered out to the backyard for potty breaks and played fetched with a tennis ball. It’s the sunniest day he’s felt in years. Warm. Light. Clear. Fresh.

It’s the snuggles at the end of that day that he loved the best. Allowed entry into Selina’s bedroom. Allowed to hop onto the mattress and curl atop the crushed velvet comforter. “You’re lucky you’re so cute, Dean. No one gets to spend the night in my bed.”

He pushed in close, nuzzled into the layers that separated their bodies. Her energy - different, charged, holding what he thinks is potential magic - gives him comfort.

He slept like a baby.

“Oh! Dean!” Selina screamed. 

Dean eyes popped open. 

He’s chilly. 

Bigger.

He’s back.

He’s naked.

“Shit!” Dean barked out in his human voice. He glanced at Selina's side of the bed. An upheld hand shielded her view. A racing heart matched the speed of his legs swinging off the bed, standing up.

But he doesn’t have a fucking clue where his clothes are.

Selina pointed to the bedroom door, still not daring to look at him. “Living room. Side table, by the chair.” She squeaked.

He fled the scene, spotted his folded clothes. Faster than a cowboy caught fooling around with a farmer’s daughter, he donned his underwear, t-shirt, and jeans. He called out, “All clear. Nothing more to see here!” His cheeks blazed with humiliation under his attempt at nonchalance.

Selina crept through the doorway. Cheeks red and flamed. Excited, amused, and happy. Remnants of the smiles bestowed upon him yesterday in his canine form. “You’re back,” she sighed.

Dean outstretched his arms for display purposes. “I’m back.”

“How do you feel? Any different? Weird?”

He stopped to actually think, taking a moment to process. “Um, kind of hungover.”

Selina nodded, exhaled. “Okay. That’s normal, from what I’ve been told.”

Dean chuckled. “Nothing normal about this.”

“For us, it is.” Selina corrected.

Selina doesn’t skimp on the bacon for breakfast.

The celebratory feast tasted sublime, well-earned. He was starving.

Sat around the small bistro table, they talked as they ate. Their conversations before the spell had been curt, filled with sass. Selina had snapped at him with every one of her responses. He’d understood, of course. Even if he hadn’t given her an inch of understanding in his smart-ass attitude. She’d been under immense pressure. The stakes were high, and the outcome relied heavily on her ability not to screw up.

Man, did he understand.

Now, they’d both mellowed with the shared experience. Relief. Success. Dean cataloged every inch of her. Human eyes took in all the vibrant colors hidden from his doggie view. Her purple eyes and porcelain skin held an ethereal quality. A tad punk with violet highlights and a nose ring. She was beautiful.

“What was it like?” Selina dolloped more scrambled eggs on his plate. She leaned in, hanging on his every morsel of information.

“Man,” Dean snorted. “Trapped in a funhouse mirror, with none of the fun.”

“But, you still felt like you?”

“Yep.” He chomped away on a strip of bacon.

“You understood me,” she stated. “I could tell.”

He tilted his head in question.

Selina giggled. “Yeah, you’d give me one of those expressions like you were thinking things over. Wanting to communicate.”

“Hmmm,” Dean nodded. Lips smacked. He wanted to ask in a way that didn’t make it seem like he was overly concerned about the answer. “I know you said there wasn’t any telepathic stuff going on… you couldn’t read any of my thoughts?”

Her head shook, matter of fact. “Not a one. Which would have been super helpful if I could’ve. You typically can’t get that kind of bond or connection at my level. And, more often than not, that’s pretty rare. A familiar type situation.”

He chewed his thoughts down.

“I wouldn’t have pulled off the reversal spell that cured Esme if it hadn’t been for your plan.” Selina sipped her coffee.

Dean cocked his head, emphasizing the ridiculousness of that statement. “You would’ve figured something out.”

“Not as quick as I needed to.” Selina shook her head. “Not without your help. Making it so that the reversal spell had to be performed by the greenest of Esme’s students and without any coven assistance… the priestess wanted it to be next to impossible.”

“Well, I’m glad I could help.”

Selina grinned. “Even with fleas?”

Dean shivered. “Yeah, that I could’ve done without.”

“I’m glad you came back all in one piece. I was really worried there would be some pet residue. Like a tail or floppy ears.”

“I don’t know,” Dean contemplated. “A tail might come in handy.”

The thought had them both laughing.

“So,” Selina began, “any chance that brother you mentioned, Sam, is gonna find out about any of this?”

“No way. Not ever.” Dean shook his head.

“Well, I hope you get to see him soon. The way you talk about him. He seems like a pretty great guy. I don’t think he’d tease you too much about being a beagle.”

“You don’t know, Sam.” Dean almost added he probably didn’t know him anymore, either, but pursed his lips shut. 

“I owe you, big time.” Selina offered.

Dean nodded. “Yeah, you do.”

“Well, I should get dressed and we should go out. Let me take you on a proper tour of New-or-lins.” Selina drawled, “Laissez les bons temps rouler.”

Dean swallowed hard and locked eyes with her. “I don’t know. We could probably just stay in and find some ways to let the good times roll.”

Selina side-eyed him, but Dean sensed the interest brewing underneath the show. “Didn’t you say you’d rather roll around in the mud with a pig than ingratiate yourself with a witch when we first met?”

He shrugged. “I think I can make an exception for you.”

Selina held a hand to her chest. “I’m honored.”

He grinned. “You should be.”

The moment was perfect for Dean to lean over and kiss her.

Of course, that’s when John called.

John needed him. There was no time for a tour of the French Quarter or even a half hour of good times in Selina’s apartment.

Dean stood at the door and waited as Selina packed him a breakfast sandwich for the road. “Don’t you think you’ve fed me enough?”

She waved a hand in the air, walking towards him. “Hard to tell. You never stop eating.”

He grabbed the bag she presented. “Thanks.”

“It’s the very least I could do. Thank you again, Dean.”

Instinctively, he wrapped her up in a hug. “Anytime.”

She whispered in his ear. “Next time you swing by, look me up.”

He breathed in the scent of her - wanting something else to remember her by - and placed a kiss atop her forehead. Anything more and he knew he’d never leave. “Absolutely.”

It wasn’t until he descended the stairs and was out the back door, away from Selina’s view, that he gave into the urge to paw at his ear like a dog.

Yeah, the next time he called Sam - which he felt would be soon - there was no way he was telling him about any of this.

Well, he might mention the beautiful witch he met in New Orleans with the purple eyes. And how she had been just the thing he needed to scratch that itch.