#fictober day 28

[underratedbananawerewolf]

Fictober Day 28

Prompt 28: "I may not get another chance to say this."

Fandom: Honkai Star Rail

Rating: T

Warnings: None

Dan Heng couldn't say what it was. He had been one of the Nameless for years and it was only after Stelle had joined the crew that they had come face to face with so many powerful enemies.

Sure, he had always had Blade in the background but that was his own personal demon. With Stelle each planet seemed to attract a world ending crisis that only the Express crew could solve. And the peculiar girl with a Stellaron next to her heart just accepted it as if she were born for this.

He had yet to hear her seriously complain about anything. Sure she would comment on the amount of errands they were constantly sent on but she never turned down any of them either, no matter how small they might be. And she faced down the possible catastrophic end battles without flinching, willing to give up what was necessary to protect those that couldn't.

Preservation and Destruction, wrapped up into one package that somehow harmonized with each other. He hadn't figured out how since the two paths seemed wildly different but in Stelle it just worked.

In the end he had chosen to accept that along with the rest of her, this dual path was just something that was unique to her and was unfathomable to everything else.

"Do you need something, Dan Heng?" Stelle's voice broke him out of his thoughts, her golden eyes curiously looking over at him now.

He must have been staring at her. "No." He shook his head. "I was just thinking."

"Oh. About what?"

He sighed. "You primarily." March would have teased him at that admittance but Stelle usually took things at face value.

"That would explain you staring at me like I had two heads." She smiled. "Or maybe that I had something on my face and you were trying to figure out how to tell me."

He snorted. "I think the only way that I'd be staring that long is if you gained a black mask and furry ears."

"Anything is still possible." She answered. "We're so close to the Stellaron on this world. That will mean a fight. Maybe I'll transform into my true form this time when I get stabbed like you did on the Luofu."

Of course she was joking for all that her voice remained its usual neutral tone. The only indication of her humor was the glint in her eyes usually only picked up by those that knew her well. At the reference he felt his heart stutter. She treated her own possible death so...casually. Did she understand the fear she put her friends through with those statements?

"Stelle..."

"Hmm?"

He sighed and reached over to take her hand and pull her close into an embrace. He could feel her tense in surprise as he wasn't normally keen to initiate contact although he had come to accept hers without protest. "I don't know if I'll get a chance say this later but...be careful Stelle." He cradled her face between his hands and without hesitation kissed her. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

Stelle stared up at the Vidyadhara, her eyes wide with surprise. Sure she had been joking but it seemed he had taken it a lot more seriously than she intended it to be. She might have reassured him if not for the fact that the warmth of his mouth covered hers and all thought stopped for as long as the kiss lasted. Oh.

Her hold on him tightened before he could withdraw, her forehead resting against his. "Um...right. I'll be careful. I promise."

A hint of a smile touched his lips as she promised, knowing that in the heat of the moment she would ignore all of that to make sure that everyone was safe. "Good."

[randomfoggytiger]

Hey there! I saw your post about sending you prompts. And since I've been following your first Fictober with great excitement, I couldn't help but comply with your request. If this isn't what you're looking for, please just ignore it:

Scully contemplates the ever-changing meaning of her cross. From getting it from her mother to Mulder wearing it when she was missing to her getting it back from Mulder after her abduction.

Thank you for writing!

Thank you for the prompt! Here we go~!

"Watch Over You Wherever You Go"

(Fictober, Day 28)

*****

Maggie watched Dana reclaim her necklace, under no illusions that her baby girl embraced it for its old purposes: a symbol of her childhood religion. (The quick look Dana gave to and away from the Catholic devotion beaming in her eyes laid that hope to rest.) 

For now. 

As a girl, her daughter had been a little tomboy. She'd swung ropes and thrown rocks (but had drawn the line at spitting) with the best of them-- the change began when an innocent snake had died by her own hands. Dana withdrew, crushed; and started asking questions about God, about Heaven, about being locked out forever because she’d done a bad thing. So, Maggie purchased cross necklaces for both her girls and gifted them at Christmas. Dana was awed, grateful, joyful (Melissa not so much); but she got into the habit of fiddling with it, twisting it around, and it was broken within a matter of weeks. By the time Maggie bought her a birthday necklace barely two months after the first, little Dana was determined not to break it, curbing her more fractious impulses and slowly shedding her rough and rowdy tomboy habits like a second skin. 

Teen years were tough for her baby: Dana had braces and seemed more interested in sneaking onto the porch with her mother’s smokes than any particular boy at school. Maggie was glad she’d figured things out by her senior year-- Marcus-- before she headed off to college, taking the second necklace with her. 

Collegiate Dana had wanted to find herself; and Maggie knew that would include questioning her childhood faith. The day she'd been dreading was the day her daughter spent the holidays Christmas shopping with Melissa instead of joining the rest of the family for Mass; but she knew God was just, Dana was good, and that everything would work itself out in the end. All the same, it was that day when Maggie sensed the necklace had been reinvented: a symbol of Dana’s love for her mother, not for a shared god. 

When Dana dropped out of medical school, Maggie had been as incensed as her husband: medical school expenses, years seemingly down the drain, and a dangerous, lower-paying career to boot. It was one thing for Dana to play with her soul and another to play with her safety. Nothing they said could convince or deter her. Everyone had an opinion, and her daughter was fiddling, twisting her necklace again. Then Melissa arrived. Scolding her family into peace, she promised her parents to have a talk with-- "only a talk"-- her little sister before they all parted ways.  

Dana recruited anyway. And after a year on the field and a few months back in the labs, she was gone. 

Then Maggie met Fox Mulder; and he'd surprised her by handing over her daughter’s necklace, subtly apologizing for having to ask about something so fundamental to his partner. She’d admitted Dana's lack of faith while staring at her cross; and tried to assure Fox this wasn't his fault, trusting him with its safekeeping.

And now here they were, on the other side of death. 

Maggie kept her eyes fixed on her baby girl, knowing Melissa would fill her in on the nuances of the young couple later. Dana’s forefinger and thumb were already inching up to her necklace, subconsciously waiting for Fox’s second exit before fiddling, twisting like old times-- as if she feared he’d catch her doing the wrong thing in a moment of weakness.  

Maybe that’s why she left the faith, Maggie realized, staring at the exhaustion puddling under her daughter’s eyes. Perhaps Dana felt she wasn’t good enough; and that the faith would reject her. 

Perhaps that was why she was striving here, even on her hospital bed, to be a rock of strength for Fox. He, at any rate, accepted everything about his partner, even forgave the sense of failure weighing her down; and her daughter came alive under his gentle smiles and encouragement. 

Fox left; and Maggie followed his lead, gathering up Melissa so Dana could be left in peace. They all needed time to sort through their emotions in private; and she, for one, had a lot to examine in-depth. 

The image of Dana cradling her cross and staring at Fox like he’d hung the moon burned itself into her mind-- Maggie knew, as clearly as if it had been said, that the necklace was no longer a connection between herself and her daughter. It was now a lifeline between Dana and her partner, forged over the months and miles they'd survived apart. Not that this was a surprise-- it was exactly what she'd intended, months and miles ago when she’d handed her little girl’s necklace back to Fox. “When you find her, you give it to her”, and she’d meant for the rest of your lives. 

And beyond, Maggie mentally added. After all, she believed in the goodness of God.  

*****

Thank you for reading~

Enjoy!

Tagging @today-in-fic��and @xffictober2023 and @fictober-event

[voxslays]

Hazbin Hotel “Haztober” Prompt List

I personally love love love Flufftober, Angstober, Kinktober, and Fictober! That’s why this year I am making my own! Every day I will write about one (or more) Hazbin Characters, using the daily prompts below:

Day 1: Making Caramel Apples

Day 2: Seasonal Shopping (Clothes, decor, etc.)

Day 3: “The leaves are changing!”

Day 4: ‘We fell in love in October.’

Day 5: Autumn Breeze

Day 6: Overcast Morning

Day 7: Dinner Parties

Day 8: The night I lost you

Day 9: The night I found you

Day 10: Love Potion

Day 11: The Elevator~

Day 12-15: The One (Series)

Day 16: By The Fireplace

Day 17: Pumpkin Patch Visit

Day 18: For a Fortnight

Day 19: Apple Cider, Hot Chocolate, & Pumpkin Spice

Day 20: Jumping in a leaf pile

Day 21: Making Cookies!

Day 22: Kissing (and singing) In the rain

Day 23: The red means I love you~!

Day 24: Under the Weather

Day 25: Black Cats

Day 26: Apple Pies

Day 27: Full Moon

Day 28: Underneath the Sky

Day 29: Carving Jack o’ Lanterns

Day 30: Costume Party

Day 31: Trick or Treat/Halloween

Day 32: Supriseee!!!

I’m super not excited to torture myself into writing everyday…but in the end…it will be so worth it!

Masterlist

[richonneevents]

Richonne Fictober 2024 Rules, Guidelines, & Calendar

Richonne Fictober 2024 is a 31 day challenge for fanfiction writers/creators to write/create and publish a Richonne-centric story or related content everyday for the month of October.

Fics should be between 100 and 5,000 words. Rick and Michonne must be the main pairing. Richonne is an interracial pairing, so be mindful of tropes and language that perpetuates racism and misogynoir. Rick is a canonically disabled character, so be mindful of using tropes and language that is ableist. Fanartists should be mindful of not whitewashing Michonne, Andre, and RJ in their pieces.

Please tag @richonneevents and use the tag: #richonnefictober24

Be sure to tag your prompt and which day you are filling.

In addition to Richonne-centric fanfiction, creators are encouraged to make fanart; playlists; edits; moodboards; rec lists; graphics; podfics; gifsets; photo sets; fanvids etc.

WEEK 1

Day 1: Making Caramel / Candy Apples

Day 2: Seasonal Shopping (Clothes, decor, etc.)

Day 3: “The leaves are changing!”

Day 4: “Pumpkin spice...what?!”

Day 5: Autumn Breeze

WEEK 2

Day 6: Overcast Morning

Day 7: Bobbing for Apples

Day 8: Pumpkin Patch Visit

Day 9: Rainy Day

Day 10: Scarecrow

Day 11: Haunted Hayride / Haunted House

Day 12: Horror Movie Marathon

WEEK 3

Day 13: Jumping in A Leaf Pile

Day 14: Warm Apple Cider / Hot Chocolate etc

Day 15: Corn Maze

Day 16: By The Fire(place)

Day 17: Candles 

Day 18: Flannel

Day 19: Nestled Under Blankets

WEEK 4

Day 20: Festival 

Day 21: First Frost

Day 22: Kissing In The Rain

Day 23: Baking Pies

Day 24: Cemetery Stakeout 

Day 25: Black Cat

Day 26: Dead-End

WEEK 5

Day 27: Underneath The Sky

Day 28: Full Moon

Day 29: Carving Jack o’ Lanterns

Day 30: Costume Party

Day 31: Trick or Treat

[baronessblixen]

Fictober Day 28: It's Like That

Prompt: "Just say what you want"

When Diana shows up at his door, Mulder has to choose: her or Scully? But in reality, it’s no choice at all. Rating: T, wc: 880.

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober24

At the knock on the door, Mulder opens it and while he knows it can’t be Scully, some stubborn part of him hopes it’s her anyway. Instead, it’s Diana’s face greeting him, her expression unreadable, and all he feels is the weight of disillusionment on his shoulders.

“Diana, hi,” he says, trying to sound surprised rather than disappointed.

“Fox.” She smiles at him and he remembers a time when her happiness meant the world to him.

“Is there anything you need?” Urgency slips into his voice; he’s on his way out and he doesn’t want to be late.

“Are you in a hurry? Relax, Fox. No one is chasing you.” She chuckles, but Mulder doesn’t see the humor in it. “I brought gifts.” She motions to the folder and the bottle of wine in her hand. Mulder cringes.

“I don’t-”

“Won’t you invite me in?” She cuts into his hesitation, trying to squeeze past him. She’s never been good at reading his body language.

“I can’t, Diana. I have somewhere to be.” That stops her. She stares at him, trying to find clues as to what his plans are on his face. Her lips pull into a grimace.

“You’re seeing Agent Scully?” Their dislike for each other is mutual, at least.

“I am.” Why should he lie about that? Diana licks her lip, a clear sign that she’s trying to come up with a plan B. Watching her, reading her like an old book from childhood that once brought him comfort but that he’s grown out of, he sees what Scully must be seeing every time Diana interferes with them.

He doesn’t doubt that Diana’s feelings for him are genuine; they’re old friends. But now he sees that there’s more. That she wants more. From him, and from this situation. He doesn’t want to question the why. He’s not going to risk losing her as a friend.

“A shame what happened.”

“Agent Ritter almost got her killed.” And in turn, Mulder almost lost his mind. He was that close to beating up the younger agent. A voice inside his mind that sounded suspiciously like Scully stopped him. He let the guy walk out of the hospital and went to see Scully.

He stayed as long as they would allow. Despite his begging, the nurses wouldn’t let him stay in Scully’s hospital room overnight.

Today, they’re letting her go home – under the condition that someone picks her up and stays with her for at least one night. Mulder had jumped at the chance.

“He’s young,” Diana says, glancing at her fingernails – neatly trimmed, with French tips. Some things simply never change. “He reminds me of you, you know. You were like that once.”

“I wasn’t. I never would have-” But he has endangered other people. Hell, he’s put Scully in danger time and again. “I just hope he stays away from Scully in the future,” he finishes.

“Be careful, Agent Mulder, or people will draw the wrong conclusions about your relationship to Agent Scully.”

“I don’t care what anyone else thinks, Diana.” She nods; she of all people should know that.

“Agent Scully might.”

“Diana,” he says, exasperated. “Just say what you want. I have plans.”

“When will you be back? I can wait here for you. You probably haven’t changed much in the apartment, have you?”

“I won’t be back anytime soon,” Mulder says, glancing at his watch. If he can’t get rid of Diana any time soon, he’ll be late. He doesn’t want to be late. Scully deserves better than that.

“I don’t mind. 10 p.m.? Midnight?” She’s not giving up.

“I won’t be home at all tonight, Diana.” His voice is soft, but he sees the impact on Diana’s face. “I’m staying with Scully.”

“Oh. It’s like that.” He doesn’t correct her. He doesn’t care what she thinks. He doesn’t want to hurt Diana; whatever Scully might think her motives are, Mulder still trusts her. But all he wants is a friendship and he sees – more clearly than ever now – that Diana is not there yet. She wants more and he can’t give it to her. He is not in that place anymore. Everything inside him wants Scully. Now, and in the future.

“It’s like that,” he confirms. No matter what his and Scully’s official status is, she is it for him. His heart is taken. So is his time. Another glance at his watch and he steps through the door, locking it behind him.

“I’m sorry, Diana. Maybe another time. Do you want me to drop you off somewhere?” She shakes her head.

“I’ll take a cab.” She hands Mulder the wine. “Take that with you.” He stares at the bottle. While Scully loves red wine – way more than he does, too – she’s not allowed to have any for a while. Not with her medication. He’s slipping into caretaker mode; he knows Scully would do the same for him if the roles were reserved. They have been often enough.

“See you, Diana,” he says and waves at her. He leaves her standing there and he knows she watches him leave, but there’s nothing he can do. Or want to do. Scully is expecting him and by her side is the only place he wants to be.

[multi-fandom-imagines8]

Fictober Challenge

Hello everyone! I wanted to get back into writing since it’s been so long (other than the Az fic). With October around the corner, I’m excited to do another writing challenge and would love some inspiration. So please send in some requests! I prefer angst, but I’m open to any ideas.

A/N: Writing every day for a whole month was nothing short of a whirlwind. There were moments of exhaustion and moments of inspiration, but somehow, I pushed through. Sometimes, I had to improvise and pull ideas out of thin air, and there were days when I found myself writing two or three pieces just to keep up. It was both draining and deeply rewarding. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this collection that came from hard work and late nights! 🧡

Fluff🍁

Appropriate amount of angst? 🍂

Pure/heavy angst 🌧️

Day 1: Still Not Over You Qimir x reader 🍂

Day 2: Bound by Duty part 1 Cassian x reader 🍁🍂

Day 3: The Price of Vengeance Sam Winchester x reader 🌧️

Day 4: Shadow of the Past Alexander Morozova x reader 🍂

Day 5: What We Could’ve Been Part 1 Eris Vanserra x reader 🍁

Day 6: A Heart Off Guard drabble Steve Rogers x reader 🍁

Day 7: Forever in the Dark Part 1 Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader x reader 🍁🍂

Day 8: Forever in the Dark Part 2 Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader x reader 🍁🌧️

Day 9: A Song of Ice & Shadow Part 10 Azriel x reader 🍁🍂

Day 10: Drowning in Silence Dean Winchester x reader 🍁🍂

Day 11: Behind the Walls Erik Lehnsherr x reader 🍁🍂

Day 12: In Another World Part 1 Kylo Ren x reader 🍂

Day 13: More Than Enough Azriel x reader. 🍁🍂

Day 14: Trouble Xaden Riorson x reader 🍁🍂

Day 15: No More Running Qimir x reader 🍁🍂

Day 16: A Heart Off Guard Steve Rogers x reader 🍁🌧️?

Day 17: A Song of Ice & Shadow Part 11 Azriel x reader 🌧️

Day 18: Forbidden Desire Rhysand x reader 🍁

Day 19: Torn by the Dark Part 1 Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker x reader 🍂

Day 20: Fading Love John Shelby x reader 🌧️

Day 21: The Mighty Cold Thor Odinson x reader 🍁

Day 22: Torn by the Dark Part 2 Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker x reader 🌧️

Day 23: Only One of You Rhysand x reader 🍁🍂

Day 24: Convenient Inconvenience Xaden Riorson x reader 🍁

Day 25: Bound by Duty part 2 Cassian x reader 🍁🍂

Day 26: A Song of Ice & Shadow Part 12 Azriel x reader 🌧️

Day 27: In Another World Part 2 Kylo Ren x reader 🍁🍂

Day 28: Die for Love Jaskier x reader 🌧️

Day 29: What We Could’ve Been Part 2 Eris Vanserra x reader 🍁🌧️

Day 30: A Comforting Presence Anakin Skywalker x reader 🍁🍂

Day 31: Not So Rational Azriel x reader 🍁

[ghostofskywalker]

Welcome Home

Carol Danvers/Reader

Fictober 2024 Day 28 of 31

Words: 760

Summary: After an injury forces you to the sidelines for this mission, you spend all your time wishing your girlfriend would be home soon.

Carol Danvers Masterlist

You stared nervously at your phone, but no messages were coming in. The photo of you and your girlfriend set as your background stared back at you, a feeble attempt to get you to stop worrying about what might be happening out there. 

You never went on missions without her. The two of you were always a package deal, and every single person in the compound knew it. But after a leg injury on your last assignment sidelined you for longer than you’d thought was necessary, you were stuck sitting around in the empty rooms as your friends and allies braved the dangerous world of espionage without you, and you had no idea what was happening. 

You had pitched some kind of strategy role when you started to feel better, but it was shot down. Hell, you would have even served as the getaway driver if someone had given you the keys to the Quinjet. But the fact of the matter was that you were still not truly well enough to put your body in any more high-stress situations, no matter how much you wanted to ignore that. So for now, you had to be content in waiting for the team to return. 

There was nothing good on TV, there was nothing you wanted to do, there wasn’t even any music you wanted to listen to. Nothing in the world could take your mind off the fact that you were waiting for your team (and more importantly, your girlfriend) to return. The feeling was akin to that of watching paint dry, and on more than one occasion you had just stared at the screen of your phone for extended periods of time, hoping that something would flash and catch your attention, but nothing worked. 

Sleep was your greatest ally in this time, but even then you found yourself worrying. The mission wasn’t even a particularly dangerous one, and the most likely scenario was that everyone would return fully intact and exuberantly successful, but it was the fact that you weren’t there that stung. 

As a joke, you tossed a small ball against the wall, trying to get it to bounce back to you. This place might as well have been a prison anyway, your (overreactive) brain said. 

Your eyes widened as they took in the rumble of the hangar bay opening, and you knew that your boredom was about to be over.

If your doctor had seen how fast you pulled your body off the couch and began to sprint (well, as much as you were able) down to where the rest of the team was arriving, you would likely be on the receiving end of a lecture. But you didn’t care; Carol was home, and you wanted to see her. 

The moment you burst through the door into the hangar bay, you locked eyes with her, and immediately the two of you ran towards each other. She was much faster than you were though, because the point where you met was much closer to the door than it was the ship. Her arms wrapped around your body, and you breathed deeply as you returned the hug, never wanting to let go. She smelled slightly sweaty and there was some dirt on her suit, but none of that mattered right now. 

When she finally pulled back from the hug, there was a smirk on her face. “Did you miss me?” 

Playfully, you rolled your eyes. “Oh shut up.” 

Her arms wrapped around you once more as the two of you laughed, and she leaned in for a kiss. It wasn’t graceful or picturesque, but the two of you poured every ounce of emotion you had into it, and you were sure your smile could be felt on her lips. 

When you finally broke apart, you could hear playful teasing from the others. “Alright you two, we get it, you’re happy!” 

“Yeah, get a room!” 

You turned back towards your teammates with a smile on your face and jokingly stuck your tongue out at them. 

“Gladly!” Carol called out as she took your hand and began to lead you inside. 

Slightly confused, you looked over at her. “Don’t you still have stuff to unpack?” 

Carol just shrugged, a scheming smile on her face. “They can handle it. And besides, I’m just following previous instructions.” 

You leaned in to kiss her once more on the cheek before continuing to head inside, the grin on your face a mile wide. This day may have started out terrible, but things were definitely looking up.

- the end -

i no longer have a taglist! if you're interested in being notified when i post, you can follow my library blog @ghostofskywalker-library and turn on notifications!

[thiswillbecomesomething]

Day 28. 'Just say what you want'

Peter Parker x Reader - Debating is a Stark trait and some win, while others leave the comp early.

Masterlist | Fictober

[delilaahh9]

Fictober day 4! 🤎

Skates and dates - Luke Hughes

October 29th, 2023

2:28 pm

Halloween is rounding its corner and Luke can not wait for it to be over.

He’d never been a fan except for the candy part, but being the youngest, his brothers would play nasty scary pranks until he was old enough to prank back but he just didn’t, instead he focused on autumn and winter, completely jumping over spooky season.

But that’s even more of a reason he loves his girlfriend, because she feels the same way.

Luke had a whole day planned out, she’d come home from work, they’d get there skates and go to the rink for a little skate before he had to actually be there for the game, then after the game they are gonna go out for dinner. But she had no idea what was happening all she knew was Luke wanted her home by 3.

“Hey babe, I’m home. What’s going on” she asks and sets down her purse.

“Get changed!” He calls back and she walks to the room to throw on a pair of jeans and a hoodie. Then she slipped on her blundstones plus a vest and met him in the living room.

“Where are we going, I told you I will not be going to the mall while the kids- costume thing is happening”

“It’s okay, we aren’t.. we are going skating and then your gonna watch my game and then dinner”

She gasps and he leads her out of the house, to begin there journey to the prudential centre.

“Luke do not let go” she squeals as he picks up his pace, but in stead of listening, they turn the corner and he launches ate straight forward, luckily she at least has skated enough to keep her balance, long enough for him to sprint up behind her and catch her before she hits the boards.

She’s terrified but he’s just giggling at her squeals.

“Are you having fun” she asks and he nods but returns the question.

“I am, you know, sometimes I see all the Halloween costumes that couples do, and I wonder what we would do, then I remember of all the other things we do on Halloween and I just… I feel so content, it’s weird, you know?”

“Yea I get it, but I think I like Christmas pjs and driving with you better, until we get a call from either your friends or my friends wanting a ride. But i wouldn’t have it any other way“ he smiles and places a kiss to her temple.

[guardian-angle22]

Felt like putting together a little themed fic rec list! Here are some coda/missing moment fics for 3.07 Red vs. Blue. If I've missed any, let me know and I can add them to the list! (I also might make edits to these posts to add more fics as they get written. If I ever do so I'll be sure to reblog the post for visibility!)

Enjoy all of our amazing fandom writers and leave them some comments & love!

[Disclaimer: If you're an author and don't like to be tagged or linked for any reason, let me know and I'll remove the tag and make sure not to do so in the future, no questions asked.]

SOFTBALL FOCUSED:

◆ Win or Lose by @heartstringsduet (Words: 8.3K; Rating: E; d/s elements)

What if the softball game ended with nothing but TK receiving his rightful reward for winning? What if Carlos ever so slightly tweaked his plans?

◆ in your corner by @heartstringsduet (Words: 7.1K; Rating: M; d/s elements; part 5 of a series)

Win or lose, Carlos promises to reward TK after the softball game tonight. But all it takes is a single moment to unravel what they’ve built together.

◆ it's hotter than hell where i'm at by @petalwritesx (Words: 1.3K; Rating: M)

“If I would’ve known a softball uniform did this to you,” T.K. says, breathless between kisses, “I would’ve bought one a long time ago.” OR: Before their little award ceremony, Carlos and T.K. have some alone time.

◆ Sex Drive by @welcometololaland (Words: 3.8K; Rating: E)

Carlos has a thing for TK playing softball and TK has a thing for reflective surfaces, apparently. OR A season 3, episode 7 missing scene.

◆ "You love this, don't you?" by @irispurpurea (Words: 403; Rating: T)

Fictober 2022 Day 28. Prompt: “You love this, don’t you?” Missing scene from Red vs. Blue

◆ Gold name and number by @goodways (Words: 3.6K; Rating: E)

“I’m just saying Carlos, it was a simple ‘talk shit, get hit scenario’, the law has no place getting involved,” TK spoke with a tone like he was explaining simple first grade math. “First of all, that’s not true and second of all… no, no I think that’s it.” * Carlos has some feelings about TK in his softball outfit.

◆ Take Me Out to the Ball Game by @chicgeekgirl89 (Words: 1.5K; Rating: T)

He’s seen his boyfriend’s ass in a lot of outfits; his uniform, jeans, slacks, but nothing, nothing tops this. His boyfriend is hot. He’s so fucking hot. Carlos isn’t sure he’s ever seen anything hotter in his entire life.  A follow up fic for 3x07 "Red vs. Blue" in which T.K. wears a new kind of uniform and Carlos likes it. A lot.

◆ your hand under my jacket by @kiras-sunshine (Words: 5.8K; Rating: T)

"You know, I’m grateful you came to watch,” TK hums as he steps into their loft through the door, and immediately turns around to give him one of those wide and brilliant grins, and pokes the peak of Carlos’ cap upwards, “even though it looked like you were trying to be as incognito as possible.

END OF EPISODE FOCUSED or BOTH (TW: discussions of grief/death/dying):

◆ Everest to mariana by @paperstorm

A tag for 3x7, 'Red vs Blue', in which Carlos fulfills a teenaged fantasy and TK gets devastating news.

◆ i can't just bring them back, but darling i can hold your hand by @morganaspendragonss (Words: 2K; Rating: T)

It’s been hours, and TK hasn’t said a word. He hasn’t screamed, or cried, or done anything that Carlos has come to expect from someone who just found out a loved one passed away. He’s just curled up in a ball on the bed, staring blankly at the wall, and that’s where he’s been ever since he walked away from the party like a ghost. * a 3.07 coda/3.08 spec fic

◆ underneath by @kiras-sunshine (Words: 4.2K; Rating: T)

Grief is a powerful thing, and it affects everyone differently, creating unique pain and ache for everyone, and it is always a process, and TK has had his grief only for mere hours. It is still new, growing and invading space in him.

◆ not a victory march by @reyesstrand (Words: 2.8K; Rating: T)

Carlos approaches, still under the assumption that everything is fine because it's supposed to be, and TK feels his eyes start to burn when Carlos asks him to tell his mom he says hi.  Because that's something he's never going to do again.

◆ Surrounded by Love by @bluenet13 (Words: 5.8K; Rating: T)

A look at TK in the days, weeks and months following Gwyn’s passing as he processes his grief with the help of his family and friends. A 3x07 Coda

◆ this weight off your shoulders by @marjansmarwani (Words: 1.9K; Rating: T)

When Andrea Reyes receives a call from her son with terrible news, she makes a promise to a woman she only met once but always felt she knew. A 3x07 Coda

◆ may there be abundant peace by @maxbegone (Words: 2.6K; Rating: N/A)

Carlos sighs. “Baby, I’m so sorry.” “Yeah.” “I’m so sorry.” It warrants no further reply, because at this point Carlos is crying along with him, resting his forehead against his temple and securing his hold even tighter. If he didn’t feel so numb, TK would reciprocate somehow. But this day has been simultaneously a blur and the sharpest image, burned red-hot in his brain. He could relive every single moment in perfect accuracy, he swears. __ An introspective episode coda sometime after the events of 3.07 and 3.08.

◆ No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. by @tkstrrand (4 fic series, Total Words: 13.1K; Rating: G)

TK tries to balance moments of joy with grief/guilt following the months after his mother's passing.

◆ sometimes grief is an open wound - it bleeds and bleeds and bleeds by @morganaspendragonss (Words: 663; Rating: M; TW: Self-harm, Suicidal Thoughts)

His doctor puts him back on his antidepressants and he takes them without complaint, even when sometimes they feel like they’re doing more harm than good. The side effects leave him nauseous for a week, his already unpredictable sleep schedule fucked up beyond repair, but TK dutifully swallows them down every morning, because this means that he’s trying, right? It means that… It means something. It has to.

◆ wrap me up, enfold me by @strandnreyes (Words: 2.3K; Rating: G)

“She’s dead.” Those are the last words he has spoken in at least ten minutes. Now as Carlos sits beside TK on the couch, he isn’t sure what to do. His boyfriend is silent and unmoving, almost hauntingly so, and there’s this vacant look in his eyes that makes him look so unlike himself that it jars Carlos.

◆ Before...And After by @littlemissmarianna (Words: 256; Rating: G)

TK takes a shuddering breath. He doesn’t remember much about last night, except that he was catatonic after the call, then dissolved an hour later into a sobbing, hyperventilating mess. The only reason he didn’t shake apart was because Carlos had held him.

◆ wrapped in a cloak of misery by @pendragonsandbuckleys (Words: 1.1K; Rating: G)

The phone clattered to the ground only seconds before TK’s knees buckled from underneath him. - a 3.07 coda.

◆ silent answers by @blueink3 (Words: 577; Rating: T)

It’s Paul who notices first because of course he does. “She’s dead.” Who clocks the fact that something has gone horrifyingly, catastrophically wrong. “She’s dead.” “Carlos?” Not ‘hey, man’ or ‘you good?’ Not the casual, easy tone Carlos has come to appreciate ever since that night at the club. It’s diffused more than one high pressure situation, but this -  Nothing can fix this. A coda to 3x07.

[val-creative]

Fictober Day 28 'just say what you want'

William T. Spears/Grelle

For @fictober-event Day 28 prompt!

Type: Fanfiction | Fandom: Kuroshitsuji | Ship: William T. Spears/Grelle Sutcliff | Warnings & Triggers: Body Dysphoria.

---

It is certainly unusual. Most unusual. Seeing Grelle return to a case involving undercover work as a plain-faced and human butler.

She sneers, her teeth no longer elegantly pointed.

"Oh! You fiend! Just SAY what you want to say!" Grelle fusses, glaring heatedly between her reflection in a spoon and William. "I already know you want to say something HORRID to me when I'm like this!"

William ignores the dramatics, sighing and closing his extendable pruner of a scythe. William's darkly gloved hands clench, empty.

In the middle of another tearfully savage rant, Grelle hesitates, looking down to those fingers straightening her bright red ribbon-tie.

"Presentable enough," William monotones, not moving away. A true and undeniable compliment from an individual of the Management Division. He again ignores Grelle who squeals softly and clasps her hands together, little red sparkling hearts twirling in Grelle's eyes.

"Ooohhhh~~! I don't mind at all crossdressing for my dear Will~!~~!!"

"Young women should behave more proper. Learn how to."

"KEEEEEEEEEEEEYAAAAAHHHHH!!~!!!~~~"

[allzelemonz]

Well Behaved: Colm O’Driscoll X Male Reader

Fictober Prompt: Day 28, Daddy Kink Pronouns: he/him, Reader referred to as ‘boy’ Physical Sex: None Mentioned Rating: M/References to sex Warnings: Colm being sweet, cuddling by a fire, blankets, soft behavior, daddy kink, neck kissing, sensual touching, cozy setting, I wrote this in thirty degree weather because cold Summary: A warm night by the fire with Colm.

The cabin Colm claimed at this camp is nice. Nicer than usual at least. The bed is bigger, the fireplace actually warms the whole structure, and there’s a clean-ish bathtub. Colm’s first thoughts of what to do with such features were all perverted, of course. The only thing that hasn’t been a focal point yet is the fireplace, but Colm is feeling sweet tonight. It’ll be christened like everything else.

He’s gotten you a nice, warm drink, blankets sprawled a somewhat safe distance from the flames, cozy clothes that he’d kill anyone else that saw him in. A cold night by the fire makes for perfection and pampering. Colm has you sitting between his legs, his arms around you and his face buried wherever it fits so he can take in your newly-bathed scent or press kisses to bare skin. Of course, Colm insisted you not bother putting your clothes back on. Your modesty only protected by a warm blanket.

“How’s my boy?” He murmurs against your neck, stilling his kisses for only a moment.

You set your cup down carefully, knowing that his question means what comes next will result in a spill if you keep holding it. “I’m good.”

“Come on now, sugar.” He nuzzles his nose in behind your ear. “Daddy worked hard tonight.”

“I know.” You sigh, leaning a bit more into him. “Thank you, daddy.”

“That’s a good boy.” He sighs.

His hands wander over your bare skin, fingers digging slightly on occasion. He has his favorite parts of you, pressing his palms against your freshly washed skin and feeling the warmth that remains from the water and is renewed by arousal.

“Daddy’s feeling a little tired tonight, sugar.”

You carefully look back at him, earning a quick kiss to your cheek. “Tired?”

“How about we just settle fer the night?” Colm says, his lips hovering above your shoulder. “Cuddlin’ my little boy in front of the fire, sounds like a nice night.”

“You sure, daddy?”

He smiles against your skin, chuckling softly. “I’m sure, sugar. I can always fuck ya proper in the morning” He brings a hand up to hold you jaw, making sure you look at him. “I now daddy’s little boy can’t go too long with a good fuck, can he?”

“I can wait until morning, daddy.”

He smiles, releasing your jaw to press one more kiss to your neck. “Yer such a good boy for me.”

Colm groans a bit as he moves, his joints not quite agreeing with the strain. He settles back onto the blankets he laid out, holding an arm open for you. After taking a sip from your cozy drink, you settle into Colm’s arms, head resting on his chest. He tugs a blanket up and over the both of you, pressing a kiss to your head before he settles back again.

“Get a good sleep, sugar.” He sighs. “Ya got a long morning tomorrow.”

[orimuraa]

⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆ Malangz Fictober 2024

𝑨𝒏 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒃𝒚 @𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒂, @𝑱𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 @𝑺𝒆𝒐𝒛𝒊𝒊 🍂.ೃ࿔*:･

Day 1: My royalty - Kim Sunoo (enhypen) by Yeji Day 2: Letters - Nishimura Riki (enhypen) by Seo Day 3: We fell in love in october - Park Jongseong (enhypen) by Jaxi Day 4: Sweater weather - Lee Heeseung (enhypen) by Yeji Day 5: Silent reading - Park Sunghoon (enhypen) by Seo Day 6: It's too late - Park Sunghoon (enhypen) by Jaxi Day 7: Our season - Shen Ricky (zerobaseone) by Yeji Day 8: Day 9: Two clueless best friends - Yang Jungwon (enhypen) by Jaxi Day 10: Mine all mine - Nishimura Riki (enhypen) by Yeji Day 11: Us - Nishimura Riki (enhypen) by Seo Day 12: The distance in his eyes - Lee Heeseung (enhypen) by Jaxi Day 13: Hundred broken hearts - Sim Jaeyun (enhypen) by Yeji Day 14: Bf! Text - Lee Heeseung (enhypen) by Seo Day 15: We belong together - Park Jongseong (enhypen) by Jaxi Day 16: Wait for your love - Sung Hanbin (zerobaseone) by Yeji Day 17: I Luv U - OT7 (enhypen) by Seo Day 18: Mockingbird - Sim Jaeyun (enhypen) by Jaxi Day 19: 143, I love you! - Lee Felix (stray kids) by Yeji Day 20: Big baby - Sim Jaeyun (enhypen) by Seo Day 21: Lie about us - Park Jongseong (enhypen) by Jaxi Day 22: Die with a smile - Yang Jungwon (enhypen) by Yeji Day 23: Day 24: Day 25: Forever and ever with you - Lee Know (stray kids) by Yeji Day 26: Tired - Park Jongseong (enhypen) by Seo Day 27: Day 28: Day 29: Day 30: Day 31: You had me at... - Han Yujin (zerobaseone) by Yeji

��. Perm taglist: @vmpivory, @yuvany, @seozii, @pinknjm, @greentulip, @jongbean, @nxzz-skz

comment or send in an ask to be added to the taglist!

🍂 all rights reserved to @orimuraa, @jongbean, and @seozii 🍁

[gorogues]

Fictober 2024

Prompt number #28 Fanfiction Fandom: Flash Rogues Rating: T – Teen and up Warnings: Mild profanity

Day Twenty-Eight: “Just say what you want”

Mark sighed contentedly, because it was so rare to get time with a good book these days.  He rested on a solid cloud high in the air, occasionally grimacing when disturbed by the sounds of the local jackasses shouting and fighting nearby.

They just can’t help themselves, he thought derisively of his teammates, but his old pal Twain never let him down.

His phone rang, and he would have ignored it except it was Len’s ringtone and it’d be an extremely poor idea to snub the boss.  His ears were still metaphorically blistered from the last time it had happened.

“Yes?” he answered without even the slightest hint of civility.

“O great and powerful Wizard, we pray that you’ll bless us with your magnificent presence,” came the equally snide reply, accompanied by an angry snort.

“Just say what you want,” Mark said with a rolling of eyes.

“Get your goddamned ass down here and help the team against the Flash!”

[slusheeduck]

Casual Banter Masterpost

aka my Fictober 2023 drabbles! I figure I might as well get them all in one place on Tumblr, since I have them in one AO3 fic. Using the titles and descriptions from AO3.

Featuring my named Tav (Falerin), Tav/Astarion, a lot of Gale, and most importantly INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE COMPANIONS.

Day 1: Smart - Astarion asks for a magic lesson. Day 2: Prize - Karlach wins a prize at the circus. Day 3: Fireside - One last campfire chat before the Shadowlands. Day 4: Cooking Lesson - Lae'zel learns to cook. Day 5: Mask - Astarion tries on a mask for funsies. It goes badly. Day 6: Sick - Gale and Falerin chat about friendship and illnesses Day 7: Anchor - Astarion regrettably holds Halsin's hand. Day 8: Good Taste - Gale shares a treat, and a good time is had by all. Day 9: A Talk - Just a little chat, in regards to some campsite romance. Day 10: Drizzt Do'Urden - Wyll, Karlach, and Astarion find some common ground. Day 11: Temporary - The campsite romance hits a snag. Day 12: Mirror - Gale makes good on teaching Astarion magic. Day 13: Lost Wizard: If Found, Contact Tara - Tara despairs over the state of her runaway pet wizard. Day 14: Clowning Around - Falerin uses a disguise kit. Astarion wants a divorce. Day 15: Proper Horn Care - There's no possible way to write this summary without it looking horny. Day 16: A Token - Halsin carves a little gift for Astarion. Day 17: One Nice Thing - Karlach shows Shadowheart something nice, when she really needs it. Day 18: 90% Evil - Why WOULDN'T the rogue be the one to talk to the death cultist? Day 19: Seamstress - No one in camp but Astarion would have survived Home Ec. Day 20: The Selfless Choice - Or, How To Be A Confidant To Both Halves Of A Couple In The Face Of World-Ending Catastrophe, By Gale Dekarios Day 21: Taste Test - Falerin is...kind of a fucking weirdo. This is Gale's burden to bear. Day 22: Curl-based Despair - Astarion experiences #curlygirlproblems. Falerin helps. Day 23: Hunger - Someone gets a little hangry. Day 24: Pact, Pt. 1 - Astarion finds out about Fal's illness. Day 25: Pact, Pt. 2 - Astarion finds out about Fal's illness. Day 26: The Cuddliest Foe - Lae'zel does some research. Clive assists. Day 27: Homecoming - Two resident Baldurians discuss coming home. Day 28: Date - Astarion gets some new clothes. Day 29: A Healthy Dose of Theatrics - Are you really best friends if you've never been tempted to throttle each other? Day 30: Starfall -The newly formed party takes a moment to enjoy a magical sight. Day 31: Epilogue - A quiet moment after saving the world. Post-Fictober Drabbles:

Stars in His Eyes - Fal learns about naming ceremonies--and why Astarion has the name he does.

Slumber Party - Astarion and Gale have a fun night of kicking their feet, giggling, and discussing the all-consuming power they both intend on taking for themselves. Kidnapped - Astarion's siblings succeed in getting him back to the manor - but he's stronger now. Plus he has a very, very pissed-off partner. Rewriting The Story - After defeating Cazador and a tryst in the graveyard, it's time for some relationship reflection. Happy - Surely being the lover of an ascended vampire is the happiest ending one could hope for. (Ascended Astarion AU)

Wild Heart - A brief moment, the morning after the almost ascension, where two early risers have a chat.

Matters of Balance - Withers performs a resurrection. Breathe Deep, and Move - You can never really go home.

Side-Tracked - As they're embroiled in a murder mystery, Fal decides to take Astarion out for some enrichment.

Late Night Thoughts - Astarion has some thoughts on Falerin's lie from earlier in the day. (Bonus chapter for Side-Tracked)

New Tricks - Astarion discovers a new trick while trying to herd a cat.

Party Favors - The ultra-self-indulgent take on the ever popular tiefling party.

Meet-Cute - Every couple starts somewhere. And sometimes that's on the ground, with a knife.

Five Good Nights - Four good nights shared before the tiefling party, and one shared after.

The Brink - Falerin reaches his breaking point in the House of Hope. Luckily, Gale knows exactly what he's going through--and he's more than glad to help.

~

Rewinding the Thread - CB adjacent 3-shot

A chance conversation in Baldur's Gate leads to an unlikely visitor to Falerin and Astarion's home a year after the Netherbrain's defeat. She pleads for just one thing: that Astarion pays a visit to his family - his true family, the one that's mourned him for two centuries.

In The Weeds - Astarion decides to take in the sights of Baldur's Gate during the day, and has a nice conversation with a local.

The Invitation - A surprise visitor leads to a bit of arguing, an invitation home, and quite possibly Faerûn's most awkward tea.

[baronessblixen]

Prompt: 28. "I may not get another chance to say this."

Sequel to "The Truth Is (Not) Found In A Glass of Whiskey": It's the morning after and Skinner wakes up with a hangover - and remembers way too much from the previous night. (wc: 1,409)

Tagging @today-in-fic @xffictober2023

Fictober Day 29: Glass Half Full

When Skinner first wakes, he thinks he’s lost at sea. It doesn’t make sense, but then again, most of what happened yesterday doesn’t. He opens his eyes with difficulty and is hit with a wave of nausea.

“Fuck,” he groans, willing his stomach to behave. In his many years on this planet, he’s gotten drunk several times. Too many to count. This hangover, he’s convinced, is the worst yet. And where the hell is he? His head spinning, he tries to find something that looks familiar. This is neither a boat nor his own apartment. Then it hits him when he sees a book called Bigfoot is Real: The Truth About Your Favorite Cryptid on the nightstand. He’s at Mulder’s place. That may or may not explain the waterbed under him, too.

Skinner sits up slowly, feeling dizzy. He squints his eyes at his watch, seeing that it’s just after 6 a.m. Good to know that his body still knows when to get up, even after he’s tried to kill all his brain cells with expensive whiskey. He hasn’t thrown himself a pity party in so long; probably not since his wife left him. He was due. But, he realizes, as he stumbles to the adjoining room where he hopes Mulder’s bathroom is, he should keep it to the weekends.

As he relieves himself, staring at the tiles in the bathroom, he wonders what Mulder would say if he showered here. Does he have enough time to drive home and take a shower? Is he even sober enough to drive? There's just a slight problem: Mulder and Scully brought him here last night. He doesn’t have his car. Of course, he doesn’t. He can’t imagine driving to work with his two troublesome agents. Especially after last night. He doesn’t remember everything – and he’s thankful for that. But he remembers enough to feel heat creep into his cheeks.

The apartment is quiet as he steps out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom, at a loss for what he should do. He finds his pants and is relieved to realize that he must have taken them off himself. He doubts Mulder or Scully would have haphazardly thrown them about. He never did take off his dress shirt but some buttons have come undone and it’s wrinkled. Fuck. He either has to ask Mulder for a spare one or drive home.

He decides to venture further and see what his agents are about. He knows he should be thankful. They could have just left him at the office and who knows what would have happened. He’s sure he would have finished his whiskey bottle that Mulder took from him. Who is to say he wouldn’t have wanted more? Mulder may have saved him from doing something incredibly dumb and potentially dangerous. Well, he was probably due for a favor anyway, considering he keeps saving their asses.

No one bothered to shut the curtains, so there’s light peeking in through the blinds, making it easy for Skinner to find Mulder and Scully on the couch. At first, he thinks they’re watching him and he freezes. But that’s not the case at all. They’re upright but fast asleep. Mulder has his legs outstretched and his head tilted toward Scully, who’s leaning against him, a hand on his stomach and drooling on his shirt. Not a couple my ass, he thinks.

He wants to wake them and yell at them that he’s known all along. Then again, he’s pretty sure he already did that last night. He watches them, confronting his own feelings. The reason why he got drunk in the first place. He wonders if they even know how lucky they are to have found each other. All he does is search and hope. Only to have his heart crushed again and again. He’s not sure he can keep looking for love.

How many times can a heart be broken? At what point will he be unable to put the pieces back together? He’s forever bruised. But the longer he watches, the more he understands that he wants what they have. He’s never seen two people so in love. Who are friends, partners, and equals in everything they do.

He tears his eyes away; he’s creeped them out enough last night. He tiptoes into the kitchen, looking for a glass so he can drink some water. His mouth is dry and his tongue feels too big. He down one glass of ice-cold water, then another, feeling more sober by the second.

“Do you want coffee?” Skinner almost chokes, setting down the glass, and staring at Mulder with bleary eyes.

“You were asleep,” he says.

“Heard you walk around.”

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m not a good sleeper anyway. Unlike Scully. She can sleep through everything.” He’s smiling as he says this, starting the coffee machine. “How are you feeling this morning, sir?”

“As well as can be expected after a night of heavy drinking,” he admits. “Mulder, I may not get another chance to say this, but I’m grateful for what you and Scully did for me. I was in a bad place last night. Thank you.”

“What do you mean? Why wouldn’t you get another chance to say this?”

“I doubt I’ll make it to work on time,” he says. “I have a meeting with Kersh early this morning. Can you imagine what he’ll do when he sees me like this?”

“Go take a shower. I’m sure we’ll find something for you to wear. Scully is resourceful. Hell, she might put some makeup on you to make you look radiant.” He grins. “You may not remember last night, but I meant it when I said we’re your friends. We’ve all been there.”

“I was right about you two,” Skinner says.

“Sir?”

“You’re dating. You know that HR-”

“We’re not dating,” Mulder says.

“I may be hungover from last night, Mulder, but I do have eyes. I really am happy for you two. I know I said some things last night, but… I really am. It’s good to know you’re out there together, keeping an eye on each other. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. I promise you that.”

“We’re really not-”

“Mulder, it’s okay.” He sighs, sounding frustrated. The length these two will go to deny their feelings for each other astounds him. “And now I really got to get ready if I want to keep my job and with the way my life is going, I’d really rather not add unemployment to the list.”

Mulder nods. “Go take a shower and I’ll wake Scully. She’ll know what to do.”

“I have no doubts.” He finds himself smiling.

Back in the bathroom, Skinner can’t find any towels, cursing under his breath. He returns to the living room, intending to ask Mulder where to find any, when he sees him crouching in front of the couch, one hand cupping Scully’s cheek and the other one on her hip.

“Time to wake up,” he whispers softly, a genuine smile on his face. Skinner knows he’s peeping on an intimate moment and should turn away, but he’s mesmerized by what he’s witnessing.

“Is it morning already?” Scully mumbles and Skinner is surprised to find that between his two agents, Scully is the one who’s grouchy in the morning.

“It is,” Mulder replies, his voice still gentle, and his hands still on Scully. “And we need to get Skinner ready for work.” Why does he make it sound like he’s their toddler and not their boss? “I need your brain for that.”

“Hmm, do you really?”

“I do,” Mulder says, leaning forward to kiss the tip of her nose. And to think that five minutes ago he was denying they’re dating. “No one is as smart and as brilliant as you.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Mulder.”

“That’s what I was hoping.”

Skinner chooses that moment to retreat and give them this moment. He’ll find a towel in Mulder’s bathroom or he won’t. He, too, can be resourceful. Unlike last night, he feels hope sprout in his chest. Who knew he was still capable of that? And he has to thank Mulder and Scully. Or maybe he won’t. He can keep that little tidbit to himself.

He steps under the warm water, closing his eyes, and finds himself whistling. There will be better days. And who knows, maybe he'll find love again, too.