#fluffcember day 17

[aquariusmiller]

cowboy like me

Chapter IV: Snowed In

Pairing: Jackson!Joel x f!reader

Chapter Summary: Snowed into the ski lodge, Joel and you use the time to figure out the push and pull between you.

Word Count: ~2.6k

Warnings: flirting, romantic tension, a tiny bit of swearing, mentions of Joel and reader's pasts, not much because this is mostly good old-fashioned fluff (they are so cute in this onee), slowburn

A/N: This chapter was written for day 17 of @fluff-cember (fandom: The Last of Us). I am so excited to share this because the prompts are what inspired me to write in the first place! So I wanna thank the creator of the challenge so much for that and I hope I did well! Enjoy the fluff (with a bit of angst in the middle because I can't help myself)! :)

Taglist: @mushgloomz (love her and feel free to ask to be on the taglist!)

fluffcember masterlist | masterlist

song recs: is this love - whitesnake and begin again - taylor swift ("For the first time, what's past is past") (dividers by @cafekitsune)

Joel returns your glance and your eyes lock. The silence is full of unspoken musings. What could transpire out of this? Is your truce from the past patrols solid enough to last you for these few hours? Longer?

First to break it, you stand up and kneel in front of the red brick fireplace of the lodge, looking for leftover firewood. The lodge is getting colder as harsh gusts of the blizzard hit it. Besides, you feel like the fireplace will offer some welcome comfort. There’s not much wood, but there’s some that could work. You take a box of matches out of your jean pocket to try and light it.

Joel comes over and kneels close to you. “Let me give you a hand.”

You hand him the box of matches. He rummages through the fireplace, looking for suitable wood. He hums as he finds it, taking out a log and scraping the match against the matchbox a few times until a small flame comes to life. He lights and carefully puts the log back into the fireplace until most of the wood catches the flame, starting a small fire.

You smile as you see the fire come to life and plop down on the floor, crossing your legs in front of the fireplace. You extend your arms, warming your hands. He smiles slightly, endeared by you and follows suit.

As you sit on the floor, you scoot closer and he glances at you from the corner of his eye, wondering what you’re up to. You’re not sure if it’s Joel or you’re starved for affection, but you scoot all the way next to him, feeling warmth pooling in your stomach at the proximity. You lay your head on his broad shoulder carefully, smiling. He tenses up slightly, surprised at the contact, but before you can register it he shifts his shoulder to accommodate you.

“Comfy, are we?” He’s ribbing you, but his wide smile betrays his emotions. He’s relishing in the warmth of your touch.

You smirk. “Shut up. Your shoulder was, like, right there.”

He chuckles heartily. “Yeah? An’ you claimed it as free real estate.”

You laugh, the sound vibrating on his shoulder. Yet again, he doesn’t seem to have any intention of moving any time soon. It makes you feel giddy. You’re so close you can smell his scent. It’s... Wood, gun powder... Lavender? And his unique scent that’s become familiar to you. In the moment, you feel the urge to lean in and kiss his neck, get lost in it. No, no, too close. You refrain.

The fire is crackling against the brick as you sit in front of it in silence for a moment, watching it. It casts an orange glow at the walls close by and heaps of warmth over your cold bodies.

He seems to relax further the longer you lay there. He inhales your scent too, his breathing evening out.

“Y’know, you should feel lucky you’re getting this for free. My shoulder’s a sought out commodity.” He smirks. Back to teasing.

You smile. You think you know what he’s trying to do. “Didn’t know that.”

“Yeah, there’s a line around the block of people waitin’ for this.” He smiles cockily and murmurs as a flicker of annoyance runs past his eyes. “Mostly women.”

There it is. You smirk at his attempt at flirting. “Oh really now?”

He nods, amused at his own joke. “Ya have no idea. So don’t get too attached.”

You chuckle. “I shouldn’t get attached to laying on your shoulder? Think I can handle that.”

“Good to know. No commitment suits me just fine.” He tries not to crack a laugh. “I like to keep my options open.”

You laugh but can’t help but wonder if there’s truth to his joke.

Joel’s a very closed off man. You can sense he doesn’t want to open up fully, and commitment is a form of opening up. Not to everyone, though. You’ve been committed to guys you felt nothing for.

It felt more like a practical choice than anything else; sleeping with someone else while relying on a man for shelter would be the stupidest decision possible. It stemmed from your possessive tendencies too. You wanted those men to be only yours, so you made yourself only theirs. A clear boundary. A drawn line past which no one is allowed besides you and them.

Joel... Isn’t just a means to an end, which scares you even more. If he’s trying to tell you he’s not the commitment type, he’s not your type either.

“You sound like such a dick.” You chuckle as you joke about his claim.

He shrugs. “’M just honest.” He keeps quiet for a second, memories of losing people he used to care about passing through his mind. His voice falters a bit. “Attachment ain’t for everyone.”

You sense the melancholic tone, knowing this stems from his past. You feel slight disappointment in your gut, knowing... Joel couldn’t give you what you need. Not that you’re looking for it right now, but that tiny glimmer of hope about a “maybe” or a “someday” in the back of your mind went out.

It hasn’t been a long time knowing him. You’ll survive.

You chuckle and raise your head from his shoulder and get up, trying to play it off. “Gotta get up then. Can’t risk it.”

He turns around quickly at the loss of warmth on his shoulder, but doesn’t say anything else.

You settle on an old couch in front of the fireplace. “Ah... Comfier than the floor.”

“You’re right about that one.” He gets up too and seats himself on the couch, a pillow between you. Both of you are comfortable with the reestablished distance.

Checking out the window for the blizzard somehow stopping after around half an hour, you’re both disappointed. You turn to him. “You told me Tommy and you spend hours at the lodge on patrols.” You chuckle. “What exactly do you do?”

He smiles. “We josh around, play guitar-“

You interrupt him. Have you heard that right? Prickly, no-nonsense Joel? “No way! You play the guitar?”

He chuckles heartily. “Why’s that so surprising?”

You chuckle back. “I just... Didn’t figure you for the type to be... You know... Artistic.” You grin widely.

He smirks to himself. “I’ll have you know, back in the day, I used to play all the time. Would play for hours, annoyin’ everyone in the house.” He pauses as a wave of nostalgia hits him. “Hell, even dreamed of bein’ a singer.” He shakes his head, smiling as he remembers his teenage musings.

You smile as you listen to him intently. You know what it’s like. “I dreamed of being a singer too. Grew up in LA surrounded by it.”

He shrugs, surprised to share something like this with you. “Guess we have somethin’ in common.”

You nod and smile teasingly, turning your head to him fully. “Who would’ve thought?”

Next thing you know, you get lost in talking about your favorite artists. His favorite singer is Johnny Cash and his favorite band Pearl Jam, classics from the nineties he grew up in. He’s very surprised by your extensive music taste and yet a particular fondness for Taylor Swift. You already know he’ll use it as ammunition to tease you.

The pillow between you was moved by Joel somewhere along the conversation, and you’re both leaning your elbows on the old couch, practically jumping into each other’s sentences. Time doesn’t seem to move so slowly anymore and you feel like you could spend all the hours stuck here just... Talking to him. Looking into his hazel eyes.

He leans on the couch, his eyes glinting in the light of the fireplace, all of the shades of mossy green and light brown in full show. You get lost in them.

You realize it’s not just about the conversation. It’s about Joel’s grounding presence. You feel like nothing could shake you as long as he’s around. Usually, you’d try to bury this feeling down in the depths of you where it’s deemed unreachable, but for the moment... You let yourself feel it in full.

You get a sudden idea. “Joel?”

He turns his gaze back from the fireplace to you. “Yeah?”

You smile bashfully. “Do you have a guitar laying around here?”

He smiles slightly and shakes his head. “No... I know what you’re tryin’ to do.”

“What?” You ask playfully, acting clueless.

“I ain’t gonna play for you.” He shakes his head and raises his hands. Playing for someone seems more personal to him than you thought.

“Why not?” You chuckle and give him your best puppy eyes and a feigned pout. You don’t want to breach his boundaries, you just hope to hear a bit of his skill. “One song... Please?”

“Damn, pullin’ out the big guns.” He smirks. “Puppy dog eyes and the magic word. You’re good.”

You keep up the puppy eyed expression, hoping the long silence will make him relent.

You’re about to give up when he breaks out into a chuckle. “Fine, fine. I’ll play somethin’ for you.”

He gets up and takes the guitar out of the bedroom of the lodge, coming back to the living room. It’s a classic brown acoustic guitar, a white moth design on the fingerboard sticking out. You can tell by the way he carries it with care and the proud way he shows it off to you this one is his favorite. “Here’s my guitar. Pretty nice, huh?” He smiles at you.

You smile back. “I love it. Looks well-loved by you too.”

He nods. “Damn right. Been playing this one ever since I got back to Jackson.” He sits down on the couch with the guitar and starts tuning it, turning the pegs and strumming the individual strings, humming the tones to himself. It’s quiet, but you notice he has a husky and deep singing voice. A faint thought passes your mind; you could listen to him sing all day.

Satisfied with how the guitar is tuned, he looks up at you. “Have any requests?”

You look to the side as you think. “I don’t know... What’s your favorite one to play lately?”

He doesn’t have to think long before he settles on a song. “Ya know ‘Is This Love’ by Whitesnake?”

You shrug. A love song? Full of surprises. “Of course I do. It’s a classic.” A thought pops in and you smile. “Wait... Can you play the guitar solo?”

He smiles proudly and nods. “Damn right I can.” He prepares to play, looking down at the guitar, before he speaks. “Bear in mind, I’m a little rusty.”

You’ve never seen Joel so hesitant about anything before. You can’t help a comforting smile. “No, no, it’s alright. I can tell you’re good.”

He smiles bashfully as he starts strumming the chords of the song, humming the lyrics. The sound is rich and full, evidence of years of practice, his deep voice perfectly in tune. The melody echoes from the walls of the lodge and you find yourself mesmerized by it.

You’ve heard a lot of guitar performances, but something about this one felt special... Even as the blizzard raged on outside, you felt like only him, you and the guitar in this room existed.

“Is this love that I'm feeling? Is this the love that I've been searching for? Is this love, or am I dreaming? This must be love 'cause it's really got a hold on me A hold on me”

He plays his version of the solo and you look at his fingers moving on the guitar with awe. This was obviously practiced for hours, the classic hook sounding more soulful on an acoustic guitar. His brows are furrowed and his movement careful. You can’t help but notice... Aware of it or not, he’s trying to impress you. Warmed by the fact, you’re smiling widely.

He ends the solo and looks up at you slowly, almost as if he’s scared of your reaction.

You clap. “That was so good! Rusty, my ass!” You exclaim fervently, your impressed reaction written all over your face. You try to hold your horses and say in a softer tone. “I loved it.”

He smiles softly and shakes his head. “Ain’t that good, but thanks. Been workin’ on this for a while.”

You smile and nod. “Yeah, I can see that... You know I don’t just give out compliments.” You chuckle. “Especially not to you.”

He smirks. “And here I thought you liked me.”

You feel something sink in you as you get scared you got figured out. But he seems to be just joking. You mask your mental blunder well and grin. “Poor you.”

“Poor me indeed.” He smiles as he looks at you fondly for a moment. He clears his throat faintly and gets up from the couch to put his guitar away.

Leaning on the couch, you look at him exiting the room. You’re lying on the couch pillows on your own for a short while, the warmth of the fireplace and the winter sun going down lulling you.

You close your eyes, getting in a comfortable position for a nap. As you do, Joel comes back into the room. “Hey.” He says your name quietly.

Opening your eyes, you turn to where he’s standing with his arms crossed. “Yeah?”

You hear care in his tone. “Gettin’ sleepy now?” He grins. “You don’t gotta sleep on the couch. There’s a bedroom down the hall.”

The walk to the bedroom feels tedious, but you figure it’s probably more comfortable. You rise from the couch groggily and smile. “Thanks. I’ll be back in a bit.”

He nods as you pass him to go to the bedroom down the narrow hallway, the floorboards creaking under your step. He looks at you walking to the bedroom with a frown, but decides to keep quiet and let you.

It’s small, a big bed in it, made with white sheets and a duvet folded on the side of it. The brown plaid covered wall above it is surrounded by light wood paneling.

The sheets look very dusty, yet clean, as if this bed – surprisingly so – hasn’t been used since the outbreak. You pat some dust from the sheets before you unfold the duvet and lay down, covering yourself with it. You tuck yourself in until you feel completely wrapped up and you close your eyes.

Joel stays in the living room and you figure it’s because he doesn’t want to interrupt your nap. You like how considerate and unimposing that is. He’s giving you space, but you know he’ll be there if anything goes wrong. Not that you mind his presence, but you like knowing that, beside the closeness, you can share distance too.

You think as you turn to lay on the colder side of the pillow; no arguments this patrol without trying for it. You’re finally settling into a comfortable rhythm. You’re growing fonder of him by the day and still don’t know what to make of it. You feel powerless to stop it, not for a lack of trying.

The last thing on your mind before you drift in peaceful slumber is – for once in your life, you might just let this happen. Damn the consequences.

[gregorovitch-adler]

Snowed In

I write this piece of document as 221 Baker Street gets covered in a blanket of snow, as the last month of the year dies.

Holmes and I are both comfortably seated in our armchairs beside the fireplace with thick, warm blankets draped around us.

Writing this document like this is somewhat challenging, to be honest. I carry on with it anyway.

A lit cigar rests between the long and thin lips of my companion.

Holmes' eyes are closed, and all the fine lines on his face have momentarily smoothed out. He looks as though he just left all the problems and worry in the world outside of this room - or even outside of this flat - before stepping in.

A rare sight indeed.

Somehow, all of his carefree energy and attitude - no matter how temporary it is - transfers into me.

I sit back in my chair and let all the heat of the flames coming from the fireplace thoroughly warm me up. A smile slowly spreads across my face of its own accord.

I decide to set aside my piece of paper and try to live in the moment, promising myself to continue with this unfinished document later.

I close my eyes.

Deep down, I do not wish this particular evening to ever come to an end.

***

Prompt: Snowed In by @fluff-cember

Tags: @lisbeth-kk @helloliriels @jamielovesjam @gaylilsherlock @totallysilvergirl @keirgreeneyes @topsyturvy-turtely @peanitbear @calaisreno @nowiamcoveredinyou

[fanfics4all]

Snowed In

Request: Yes / No Fluffcember Day 17!

Don’t be shy, request things! <3 Have a nice day/night

John Murphy x Fem!Reader 

Word count: 750

Warnings: Just nice cozy fluff!

Y/N: Your Name 

Prompt(s): Snowed In

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(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

The wind howled as John and I pushed through the deep snow, searching for any sort of shelter. We’d been hiking for hours, and the storm only grew worse, blinding us with flurries of white and the cold biting at our skin. My fingers were numb and we both knew we couldn’t last much longer out here. Just as I was about to tell John we needed to turn back, he spotted something up ahead. It was a bunker door, partially buried in snow. I let out a relieved sigh, my shoulders dropping. 

“Thank God.” I muttered. He grabbed my hand as we trudged toward the entrance. We pulled the metal door open together, and he went in first, checking it was safe. I stepped in behind him, shivering as I closed the door, shutting out the bitter cold. The bunker was empty, a small space with old supplies and a couple of dusty blankets. It would keep us out of the store at least. Murphy shook the snow off himself, glancing around. 

“It’s not camp, but it’ll do.” I gave him a tired smile, sliding down to sit against the wall. 

“It’s perfect. I don’t think I could’ve taken another minute out there.” I sighed. 

We settled in, bundling up with the blankets and whatever supplies we could find to keep us warm. The bunker was chilly, but without the wind it was bearable. Murphy took off his jacket and wrapped it around my shoulders, despite my protests. 

“Keep it on. Can’t have you freezing to death on me.” He insisted. 

“You’re not half-bad sometimes, ya know?” I said, giving him a grateful look, my cheeks still flush from the cold. 

“Don’t let it get around.” He chuckled, settling beside me. We sat in comfortable silence for a while, the faint sound of the storm outside schooling through the bunker. The dim light flickered, casting soft shadows across his face, and I couldn’t help but notice how close we were. His shoulder was pressed against mine. 

“John… have you ever thought about what happens after all this?” I asked, breaking the silence. My voice was quiet, almost hesitant. 

“After what?” He looked at me, surprised. 

“After all the fighting, and survival.” I looked down at my hands. 

“What happens to people like us? Do we get a chance to… I don’t know, have something normal?” Murphy swallowed. We’ve been through so much together, fighting to survive, saving each other’s lives, risking everything. Yet, we never talked about what might come next. Or if there even was a ‘next’. 

“I don’t know.” He admitted, his voice rough. 

“Guess I never thought I’d make it long enough to find out.” I looked up at him, my eyes soft and vulnerable in a way I never let myself be before. 

“I want you to make it. I want us to make it.” I said, my voice barely a whisper. 

“Y/N…” Our faces were inches apart. I took a shaky breath, my fingers trembling as I reached out and took his hand. 

“John, you’re my best friend, but you’re more than that. I’ve felt this way for a long time, but I was always too scared to say anything.” I let out a nervous laugh, my cheeks turning a darker shade of pink. 

“I guess nearly freezing to death kind of put things into perspective.” He squeezed my hand. 

“You think I haven’t been feeling the same way?” I looked at him, surprised and he let out a quiet laugh. 

“Y/N, you’re… well you’re the only person who ever really made me feel like I was worth anything. I didn’t wanna mess it up by saying something stupid and you running off.” We stared at each other, the weight finally lifting. Slowly, he leaned in, brushing his lips against mine in a soft kiss. I sighed, my hand reaching up to caress his cheek, deepening the kiss until the cold around us seemed to melt away. When we pulled apart, I smiled, my eyes shining. 

“So, does this mean I’m stuck with you now?” I asked and he chuckled, pulling me closer. 

“I’d say I’m hard to get rid of.” I cuddled into him, the storm still raging outside, but neither of us cared. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe. 

We slowly drifted to sleep, tangled in each other’s arms, and I knew I’d fight through anything as long as John was by my side.

Tag list: @les-bio-lie @tashy-bear @ashwarren32 @hollie-blogs-blog1 @lover-of-books-and-tea @nerdygaloresposts @teenwolfbitches28 @kmc1989 @drw0301bieber @lady-of-lies @ravenmoore14 @ravenempress101 @cillianchamp @rowanthomasknapp @rachelxwayne @ready-4-fanfiction @madammarvellous-blog1 @emo-godess-loves-you @now-imagine @bruisedfists-and-splitlips @vanessa-kom-skaikru @jjmymaybank

[violadiaries]

Fluffcember Day 17: Snowed In

@fluff-cember

Fandom: Final Fantasy IV (TAY)

Pairing: Golbez x Kain

Additional: After TAY (post canon); Golbez lives in Baron

crossposted on AO3

Kain sighed as he watched the flames flicker in front of him. Watched the fire, Golbez had been able to lighten up in that cabin they had found. All the while the winds howled outside, having practically stranded them on that deserted, unfamiliar continent.

"Shit…" Kain mumbled.

He looked down on himself. His sight was still swimming, ever so slightly, as he looked at the bandages wrapped around his midsection. Part of him should be glad that Golbez had decided to come with him out here. Part of him knew that it was his fault they had gotten stranded in that cabin.

"I'm sorry…" he added.

If he had been more careful from the beginning on, this wouldn't have happened. Or if he had signed off on the mission in the first place, then at least two airships with full crews would be out here. And not only the two of them.

Alas, now it was too late for Kain to regret anything. Golbez and him had gotten snowed in, and wouldn't be able to go anywhere, any time soon. Though at the same time, he supposed it was better that the snow storm had hit them, while they had been sheltered somewhere, instead of while they had fought those beasts out there. "Rest. That wyvern left you quiet injured, Kain," Golbez said.

He sat with his back to Kain, mulling over how he would be able to get word out there to send for help. Kain let out a sigh and stared back at the fire. Neither of them would have thought that they would encounter a special breed of wyvern up here. But then again, this was an unclaimed region.

A dangerous region, from what Kain had already been able to tell from the intel they had possessed. Which was exactly why he hadn't wanted any of the Red Wings up here. Especially not the younger ones. They would have never been able to keep up with these conditions. Too young and inexperienced.

"Why did you even come with me?" Kain asked.

Golbez was a welcome help. Even if things tended to be rather awkward between them. Because neither of them had expected Golbez to return to Baron, after the things on the True Moon had been wrapped up. And yet he had. Blue Moon with all remaining Lunarians awoken from their slumber in tow.

And now he was in charge of the newly formed magic research unit in Baron together with FuSoYa. And Kain did get along rather well with the older Lunarian. Even with some of the other's he had talked to, he hadn't had any qualms. But whenever Golbez and him were in the same room, things got awkward.

"Why did you want to go alone?" Golbez asked.

He sat down next to Kain, making sure that his cloak was securely wrapped around Kain's shoulders. Before sitting a little bit closer, just to be able to share some body heat. He had gotten out of that fight rather unscathed, after all. And only because Kain had been foolish enough to charge in headfirst.

"Drink," he said.

Golbez handed Kain a small vial, containing a turquoise liquid. Which Kain couldn't really identify. Though he supposed he wasn't really looking to do him much harm. Kain had been impulsive enough to get hurt, and now he would have to go through with the necessary treatment.

With a long sigh, he raised the vial to his lips, swallowing the contents in one go. Grimacing at the stinging, bitter taste of the contents. Definitely and antidote mixed with a potion. Absolutely a vile combination, which he wouldn't even have needed to swallow if he had just retained enough magic to heal himself.

"Ugh… I hate you," he mumbled.

He looked at Golbez from the corner of his eyes, pulling his knees to his chest. Whenever they were together, Kain felt like a boy again. And idiotic, impulsive, teenager, in desperate need to prove how great he was, just so he wouldn't need to face his own insecurities.

Golbez nodded and hummed, holding his hand out to the flame slightly. Letting some more of his, already low running, mana flow into it. To stroke the flames even more. Kain knew that for him, it was even more dangerous to get low on magic. Because then the Lunarian side of his heritage would start to shut down. And yet he had been the one to ultimately fend the wyvern off, with rather advanced magic. From what Kain had been able to tell, at least. And then he had carried Kain, only half conscious at the time, due to the injuries and poison of the wyvern, to this cabin.

"Fine by me. As long as it's not strong enough to want to die, I can live with it," he said.

Kain blinked at him, before he groaned and hid his face in his knees. He pulled Golbez' cloak tighter around himself, just to be able to hide himself a little bit more. He did not have to take that literally. Kain told Cecil and Rosa the same often enough when he was annoyed with them.

"Seriously?" he asked.

His voice muffled by the fabric of his leggings and his knees. Kain didn't need to look at him to know he was nodding. He was humming too, so Kain knew he actually was being serious.

Yet Golbez never had been the one he had been having a grudge on. At first, before he had known everything, maybe. But even then, something had always felt off. Whenever he had wanted to hate Golbez, his gut had told him that it just wasn't right. Not when he had seen him vulnerable within that Tower as well. "You have ample reasons to hate me, Kain," Golbez said.

Kain groaned, though the sound transformed into a wince rather quickly. He had forgotten how much of a pain in the ass, poisons in combination with rather deep wounds and the biting cold could be. Kain had thought he was more mature by now, to not get himself in situations such as those.

Though apparently not when Golbez was involved. He wasn't even quite sure why he lost his reasoning like this whenever Golbez was concerned. They should have easily been able to bond over their shared experiences. Yet both of them seemed to avoid talking about it like it was the plague.

"You're insufferable, Golbez. Seriously," Kain grumbled.

He opened his eyes and turned his head to the side, to be able to look at Golbez properly again. They should have been able to talk everything out. Maybe even become friends over it. Maybe more? Kain grumbled to himself as he pushed that thought away.

"No, I don't actually hate you, alright?" he clarified.

Golbez just was the same kind of obnoxious as Cecil, whenever he got some idea stuck in his head. And Kain hated how he saw that similarity just now. Because where there was one such similarity, there definitely were more.

And somehow the last thing Kain wanted was to see his best friend in Golbez. He was his own person, which showed in his skillets. Cecil undoubtedly would've toppled over the moment he even so much as tried to lift the sword Golbez swung around effortlessly with one hand. Looking rather attractive while doing so.

"I'm just confused, why you volunteered to accompany me into an unknown, snowy, cold as fuck, wasteland," Kain asked.

He scooted closer to Golbez, shifting the cloak in a way, that he could maintain a small amount of contact to his skin. Thinking about it, the Blue Moon, at least how Kain had gotten to know it, was a 'cold as fuck wasteland' as well. And the cold didn't seem to bother Golbez at all.

Then again, Kain knew that Golbez was a good liar. Just like he himself was a good liar. So he could be just putting on an act. Yet, the moment Golbez turned his head to look at Kain, he knew he wasn't putting on an act for Kain. He was being sincere, which was something Kain could appreciate.

"Just as I'm confused why you wanted to come here alone, Kain. This would have been suicide," he said in return.

Kain groaned and rolled his eyes. He hoped that would be the most of a lecture he would be getting from Golbez. He already knew he would be in for one hell of a lecture once they would get picked up by someone. And if not from Cecil for being reckless, then from Rosa.

Golbez' eyebrows were furrowed, his mouth pulled into a thin line. He let out a sigh before he looked back at the flames again, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth. Kain kept watching him. He supposed he had somewhat screwed up in that regard. And he was glad he wasn't alone. Dying like this wasn't what he was trying to do.

"You…actually do care, do you?" Kain asked.

He diverted the topic, simply because he knew he would be getting lectured if he revealed his true reason. If he told Golbez that sometimes, he still felt like he didn't belong in Baron. Didn't belong with the Red Wings. And by doing this alone, he wanted to prove himself again.

Something he didn't need to do. Yet something Kain knew Golbez would be able to relate to. He got the feeling that Golbez' reason for volunteering to tag along with him had been of somewhat a similar origin. Maybe not to prove something to Cecil, but to prove something to Kain?

"I do," Golbez said.

He turned his head again, looking at Kain again. While Kain was able to watch his fascinating eyes again. Deeply affected by the powerful magic he commanded. A deep, rich, almost glowing purple. A colour Kain found himself been drawn in by over and over again.

He shook his head and straightened his back, bringing his face closer to Golbez. His head and his body screamed at him for the motion, yet he didn't allow himself to succumb to it. He had a point to bring across after all. Golbez shied away slightly, eyes widening in shock at the sudden motion.

"Good, because I care about you as well, bastard! So no self-sacrificing behaviour any more in the future!" Kain scolded him.

He knew it had been a necessity that Golbez had looked for the Blue Moon by himself. But Kain also knew he had contemplated sacrificing himself multiple times over on the True Moon. Because just like Kain he was still feeling the guilt gnawing at him for what had happened all those years back.

Just like right now Kain noticed something he didn't like in the slightest. Something he would tell Cecil about if Golbez didn't have his back, when he got his lecture later. Because Kain could tell. The way the glow of his eyes dulled ever so slightly, and his skin cooled down.

"Starting now! So preserved your god-damn magic and come here," Kain grumbled.

Golbez' eyes widened even more, surprised that Kain had even noticed him using his reserves to the last drop. Kain looked back at the fire, grumbling to himself about how much of an idiot Golbez was behaving like. The fire would warm them up eventually, and until that time was there, they could still huddle together for warmth. Now that they had established that they cared about each other.

Golbez eventually chuckled at that, before it evolved into a full-blown laugh. All the while, Kain tried to not let his deep voice send the most positive of shivers down his spine. He was just still a little bit cold from the blood loss from his wound.

"Only if you do the same," Golbez said.

He reluctantly placed an arm around Kain's shoulder, so they actually could really huddle together for warmth. And somehow Kain was feeling a little bit warmer already. He just hoped that wasn't his brains final illusions, before he decided to pass out again.

"Now let's wait, I've contacted FuSoYa," Golbez added.

Kain hummed and nodded. He let his eyes close, seeing no reason to force himself to stay awake. It should be safe to fall asleep. He wasn't alone, and his wounds weren't life-threatening. Even if Rosa would absolutely treat them as such.

He allowed himself to relax. To lean more against Golbez. Yes, he really did care about him. Just like he also liked him. Even if things tended to get awkward between them. They would just need to talk about that. Though not now, and rather later.

"I… like you a lot…Golbez," Kain mumbled.

Already half asleep, having falling more against Golbez' larger frame. Body going more and more lax. Golbez looked at him for a moment, furrowing his brows. He brought his hand to hover in front of Kain's mouth just to make sure he was still breathing.

Afterwards a smile formed on his lips. He would not tell Kain that he had been monitoring his thoughts ever since he had brought him into that cabin. Just in case Kain tried to lie about the severity of his wounds, or the amount of pain he was in. Maybe someday later, but not right now.

"Yeah…me too, Kain. Rest, I'll be here," he whispered.

Kain mumbled something unintelligible in his sleep, as snuggled closer to Golbez. Causing him to quietly chuckle. Just so he wouldn't wake him again.

Golbez didn't even need to say that he would keep Kain save. That much was a given, after all.

[legofanguy]

Fluffcember day 17 snowed in

A Inuyasha Modern AU fanfiction for @fluff-cember event Fluffcember day 17 snowed in.

After the big snowstorm last night, Inuyasha and his family check their bedroom window to find snow piled outside and the family are snowed inside the house for today. Kagome said to her family, "I guess we have some games to play to past the time." Moroha quickly downstairs and shout, “I call first on the video games!” and Kagome shout, “No! This is an opportunity for some family time without screen time.” and Moroha groans.

In the living room, Kagome got out a game of monopoly and she said to her family, “Okay, we are going this game best out of three.”

[gremlin-girly]

Day 17: Snowed In

Pairing: Zemo x gn!reader

Fandom: MCU

Tags/Warnings: FLUFF

Not beta'd and that's a warning. I do not give permission for my work to be translated, reposted, copied or fed into an AI machine.

Summary: Follow on from Day 8. The snow answered you and left you snowed in in the Zemo household.

Word count: 183

Prev | Next | Fluffcember Masterlist | Navigation

The snow that you had adored had apparently taken your silent prayers that your flight be delayed a little too seriously.

The morning of your flight home, you couldn't see out of the windows, save for the very top two inches where a trickle of sunlight edged it's way in.

You'd stayed with Zemo for two weeks now, and the last few days had been depressing. Helmut had tried putting on a brave face, but he was visibly saddened by your departure.

You didn't want to admit it either but the thought of leaving made you want to dig your heels in or drag him with you.

But now, looking down at the notification on your phone that read flight cancelled you couldn't be happier to be snowed in.

"Looks like I'll be here a little while longer." You smile over at Zemo, who is practically radiating joy.

"What a shame." Zemo says flatly, clearly not bothering to hide the fact he was ecstatic. "Tea?"

You giggle softly, your heart swooning as you join him at his side and peck his cheek. "Please."

[amypihcs]

It's scandalously late and i should be asleep but you get day 17!

Just the usual dose of cuddles and stuff, i'm so dead, i'm going to bed now.

Love you dears

@i-dont-talk-for-days-on-end @fruitviking @cackled0g @kimgmac63

@tyrannosaurusnacks @usergreenpixel @louieclamlent @friday411

@rudbeckiasunflower @rainbow-person @skyriderwednesday @blistering-typhoons

@sadieb798 @yulagrandeur @angryducktimemachine @eisenkrahe

@geeoharee @r2y9s-notartblog @jeremys-come-to-bed-eyes @somethingintheforest

@neverquiteeden @gooolabatooo @fluff-cember @haedraulics

@calaisreno @its-notlupus @a-candle-for-sherlock @dontsmokedontdrinkfuck

[directionerplusgleek]

Submission for @fluff-cember 2024 - 17 Snowed In

Fandom: The Maze Runner

[fluff-cember]

Fluffcember 2024

Heyho.

@alpaca-clouds here!

I was asked whether I would create Fluffcember as an official challenge this year, and I thought to myself: You know what? Why not?

Hence this blog - and a really early posting of the list.

Rules

This is a 1-month-challenge for fluffy fanworks.

All sorts of fanworks (art, writing, graphics) welcome.

We will however not accept any AI-Art or AI-Writing!

SFW and NSFW is both welcome - but please make sure to tag it accordingly.

Tag CWs if you share under this tag!

No minimum or maximum word count for writing!

We will reblog entries during the month of December!

If you have questions: The asks are open!

Full list of prompts under the cut.

Day 01: Roasted Marshmallows

Day 02: Winter Flu

Day 03: Snow Man

Day 04: Christmas Sweater

Day 05: Northern Lights

Day 06: Gingerbread House

Day 07: Condensed Breath

Day 08: Sparkling Snow

Day 09: Sugar Rush

Day 10: Carols

Day 11: Slippery

Day 12: Skiing

Day 13: Fire and Ice

Day 14: Winter Soup

Day 15: Naughty List

Day 16: Chocolate

Day 17: Snowed in

Day 18: Mistletoe

Day 19: Fondue

Day 20: Fairy Tales

Day 21: Cabin in the Snow

Day 22: Winter Storm

Day 23: Confessions

Day 24: Christmas Tree

Day 25: The Perfect Gift

Day 26: Forgiveness

Day 27: Family Gathering

Day 28: Cold Turkey

Day 29: Mint

Day 30: Warming Up

Day 31: Fireworks

Alternatives:

Hot Bath

Fallen Through The Ice

Holiday Decoration

Homecooked Meals

Coming Home

[icycoldninja]

FLUFFCEMBER DAY# 17: (Rook x Reader)

FLUFF HEADCANNONS

That smile is contagious

-Despite being a very eccentric, borderline psychopathic person, Rook isn't a bad guy.

-He's actually very sweet and makes an effort to get to know you and all your interests.

-Sometimes you wonder if there's a hidden agenda behind this, but Rook assures you there isn't. This doesn't explain why he has so many detailed journals full of information on you and only you, but you'll take his word for it.

-Loves seeing you wearing his hat and would be glad if you could wear it all the time. Unfortunately, he needs that hat, so he got you a similar looking one, except in your favorite color.

-Since he basically has a map of your entire schedule, he knows when you have free time and uses this knowledge to remind you to do tasks and stick to your Vil-assigned skincare routine. Also, he will know if you have any medications and will remind you to take them every day without fail.

-Will protect you from Vil's wrath if you ever end up neglecting your skincare routine despite everyone's stern warnings.

-Once shot an arrow with a note attached to it through your bedroom window and almost took your head off in the process. Thankfully, your gut instinct told you to duck so the arrow went past you and ended up lodged in the wall. A small hole remains to this day, reminding you of Rook's folly.

-Sneaks into your room at night for cuddles, regardless of what dorm you're in. He does this quietly so no one else knows, and makes sure to cover your mouth so your surprised shouting doesn't alert unwanted attention.

-Is somehow aware of your location at all times, even if you aren't even on NRC's campus. It's like he put a tracker on you or something, there's no other possibility. However, no matter how hard you search, you cannot find anything.

-His smile and laughter are one of the most beautiful things you will ever witness; fear not, you may tell him this freely. Vil will never know.

-It takes a long time for him to build up trust in you, but once he has, you'll find that you know more about him than anyone else in the school. This is how you know he really loves you, he's willing to truly relax when you're around.

-Please play tag with him. Even if it's downright scary because of how animal-like he becomes and how he never makes clear what exactly will happen when he inevitably catches you, play it, and you will make him happy like nothing else ever could.

-After time, Rook decides he wants to train you to be a "hunter" like him and teaches you the art of stalking. A few months later and NRC has not one, but two menaces on the loose. Here's to hoping you don't turn out exactly like him.

[rooksunday]

fluffcember day twenty five: the perfect gift

thorn lunged for the command office comm when its lights started flashing in the we need a commander stat pattern, gleefully snatching victory from thire’s too-short grasp. triumphant, thorn held the comm aloft with one hand and affected a flourishing senatorial bow with the other, inclining his body toward stone’s slow applause.

“i believe this call is for me, gentlebeings,” thorn said.

thire slung himself back into his chair with a huff. “you only won because fox is out. i hope it’s another nexu with the pox.”

“whatever it is, at least i don’t have to deal with ration requisition in triplicate anymore. fingers crossed for a litter of pox-ridden kits.”

“dream big,” stone said, snorting, before returning to his datapad.

“fall soft.” with a final sullen grunt and a rude twist of his fingers—precious baby, thorn adored him—thire resumed his work.

smug in victory, thorn saluted his fellow sufferers and made for the front office. he checked his vaccination record on the way, just in case it was senator dilby’s infirm nexu again. the amount of troopers who had discovered their version of the template had a suite of allergies…

thorn’s thoughts crashed out of hyperspace as he entered the front office. with glacial slowness, he dragged his gaze from the… incident… spitting and snarling in the centre of the coruscant guard reception, toward the trooper on duty, who had presumably hit the summons.

widget returned thorn’s look with horror that almost visibly leaked from the seams in his armour.

“sir. thank you for your alacrity,” widget said, a fine tremor in his voice. “as you can see, we have a situation.”

“we do,” thorn allowed, eyeing it.

the situation growled. the situation rattled its chained hands. the situation thrashed in its surprisingly sturdy sack. the situation’s yellow eyes gleamed.

“has commander fox been made aware?” thorn asked, though without much hope. he couldn’t hear explosions or screaming, after all.

widget swallowed audibly. “not yet, sir. i thought one of you might wish to, uh, assess the situation first.”

he thought one of the commanders could break the news, thorn translated. crafty bastard. thorn was proud. annoyed, but proud. he strode toward widget, circling widely around the situation, careful to keep his posture confident and his thoughts behind their usual shield. good practice, after all. especially considering the… situation.

“how did we receive this delivery?” thorn asked, being sure not to turn his back on it.

“there was, uh, a note, sir. special delivery from alpha-17, sir. it says, enjoy your decanting day gift. that’s all it says. there’s not even an addressee.”

at the sound of alpha-17’s name, darth kriffin’ maul thrashed and spat and almost certainly swore behind the gag someone—no bets that it was an alpha the size of a droideka—had shoved between his fangs. yet nothing outside his direct influence so much as rattled.

“that explains why the force collar has a bow on it, i suppose,” thorn observed mildly.

fox was going to have kittens. pox-ridden kittens.

served him right for sloping out of the office for his decanting day.

thorn sighed. “i hope fox is up to date with his inoculations.”

[tcartblog]

Fluffcember day 17, Snowed in. Lil bit rush, but here's my ocxcanon, Laura and Michael Afton, walked in middle of night snowed in.

@fluff-cember

[leaderpinhead]

Vil - Snow Pun Intended

Day 17 of Fluffcember 2024 Prompt: Snowed In (Fluffcember) & Movie Date (Fandom-Free Bingo) Rating: Teen Characters: Vil, Yuu Pairing: Vil/Yuu Notes: This is a type of continuation of the Vil - Ski Lift Terror, but it's not entirely necessary to read that first. Both fics are just taking place in a similar timeline.

The snowstorm came in quick and strong. Within five minutes of arriving at the cabin, the wind whipped into a raging howl, and the delicate snowflakes that had painted a picturesque scene became their captor. Vil sighed and dropped the curtain to hide the impenetrable wall of snow swirling outside. “There will be no returning to the lodge tonight. The storms up here can be unpredictable and swift, so I’m sure this cabin has been well stocked by the lodge staff.” 

Yuu hummed with only mild interest as she nosily explored the cabin. She carefully poked the antlers on the lamp shade next to the plush couch. “The aesthetic is very...hunty.” 

Vil shook his head but acknowledged the rest of the antlers decorating the walls and any other available surface. “The cabins lean very into the hunting aesthetic because that is the reason many people rent them. If the occupants are not interested in the hunting area, they want to feel like they are huntsmen.” 

Yuu hummed again and continued her snooping. Vil let her do as she pleased and searched the cabin for his own reasons. After finding the heating unit functioning, plenty of wood stacked beside the fireplace, and a pantry filled with non-perishable necessities, he returned to the main area of the cabin to find Yuu picking through the large cabinet beside the entertainment system. 

She held up one of the movie boxes when he joined her. “We might as well pass the time somehow.” 

“As long as the snowstorm doesn’t knock out the power,” Vil agreed. He thumbed through the available movies along with her. “These cabins should have a backup generator, but there’s always the possibility of it failing.” 

“I bet Grim is enjoying the hot tub back at the lodge right about now.” Yuu pulled out one box and snorted a laugh. “He’ll be all over me when we get back saying, I told you so! If you had listened to the Great Grim, you wouldn’t have been snowed in at a tiny cabin, hench-human!” 

“Your talent for mimicry is astonishing. I almost thought he was standing behind us.” 

Yuu snorted another laugh before pulling out more movies. Vil raised an eyebrow at each cover. The same realization dawned on Yuu a second later. “Are these all movies you star in?” 

“It would appear so,” Vil said. He took one of the movies and stared down at the picture of his younger self wearing a devilish grin while Neige ran away from him in the foreground. “I knew the lodge’s owner was a fan, but this is a bit...” 

“Creepy,” Yuu finished. She held up three copies of the same movie where he and Neige were once again the focus of the cover art. “You might want to get with Mr. Howl when we return to the lodge and discuss calling in one of your bodyguards.” 

Vil batted the boxes away with a huff. “I have experienced stalkers before. This is merely an earnest fan.” 

“I’d still check your room for cameras.” Yuu continued searching through the movies. She pulled out one particular movie. Vil tensed when he recognized the costume design of the characters. “What’s this? You're not chasing Neige like a maniacal villain on this one.” 

“It is one of the few movies Neige was not a co-star, which means the smaller company could only afford hiring one of us,” Vil said. He tried to be as nonchalant as possible, but he winced when she flipped it over to read the summary. “If we have to watch one of my movies, I think I would prefer the one where Neige and I are shrunk by a laser.” 

Yuu flipped the box over several times. Vil knew he was in trouble when she held it up and looked at him with shining eyes. “It’s a rom-com.” 

Vil loudly sighed. “I am aware.” 

“I thought you didn’t do rom-coms.” 

“I do not.” Vil paused. “That was the one—and only—exception.” 

“We’re watching it,” Yuu firmly decided. She abandoned the cabinet to set up the video player. She pointed at the couch when Vil attempted to object. “Get comfortable on the couch. We’re having a date night.” 

Vil propped his hand on his hips and frowned. “Really? Is that how you ask me out on a date?” 

“Sorry. I’m fresh out of gold encrusted roses and traveling minstrels to serenade you.” Yuu finished inserting the movie and grabbed the TV controller. She dropped onto the couch with the grace of a flopping walrus. She patted the spot beside her. “I promise not to laugh too much.” 

Vil dramatically huffed but joined her on the couch. Yuu grabbed the throw blanket on the arm of the couch and spread it across their laps before using the controller to start the movie. Less than ten minutes in, and Vil remembered exactly why he had erased the movie from his memory. His agent had presented the script to him during his final year of middle school, and he had been too eager to accept the chance of a lead role to question why the studio had not approached Neige first. 

They had—Neige's agent was just smart enough to reject the horrible script. 

Vil groaned after the third horribly cliche scene where he and the female lead awkwardly flirted like the middle school aged children they were. “I regret ever agreeing to this role.” 

“I love it!” Yuu scooted closer to Vil. Her head dropped onto his shoulder, but any sense of intimacy was ruined by her whispering, “Come taco walk on the wild side.” 

Vil sighed and shoved her giggling face away from his ear. “Of course the puns are what you fixate on.” 

“Taco chance with me!” Yuu recited with another snorting giggle. Vil sighed and allowed her to lay her head on his shoulder again. “How many taco puns are in this movie?” 

“Too many.” 

“Who knew a movie called Taco Tuesday would be so spec-taco-lar?” 

Vil swatted Yuu with a throw pillow. “Are you going to do this the entire movie?” 

“Only until I’m salsa-tisfied.” 

Vil sighed again. He leaned his head against the top of her head. Yuu’s snorting giggles continued throughout the movie. He hated every moment of watching his younger self in the worst role he had ever played to date but listening to Yuu quietly repeat the more atrocious puns with a giggle put a reluctant smile on his face. 

[alpaca-clouds]

My Fluffcember 2023 List

I am going to do another Fluffcember this year as well and if anyone is interested, you are obviously very welcome to join me. I will put down the list of the prompts under the cut.

As always: Free choice of fandom and the like!

Day 01: Stardust

Day 02: Mittens

Day 03: Candlelight

Day 04: Fallen through the Ice

Day 05: Family Supper

Day 06: Hibernation

Day 07: Tea and Coffee

Day 08: Sledding

Day 09: Ice Skating

Day 10: Hot Chocolate

Day 11: Sudden Snow Fall

Day 12: Marzipan

Day 13: Shooting Star

Day 14: Pine Trees

Day 15: Starry Sky

Day 16: Christmas Alone

Day 17: Children’s Laughter

Day 18: Rainy Winter

Day 19: Christmas Cake

Day 20: Polar Lights

Day 21: The Longest Night

Day 22: Hot Bath

Day 23: Frozen Solid

Day 24: Secrets and Gifts

Day 25: Cinnamon

Day 26: Fairy Lights

Day 27: In Front of the Fireplace

Day 28: Jingle Bells

Day 29: Blood in the Snow

Day 30: Nut Cracker

Day 31: Endings and New Beginnings

Bonus Prompts:

Candy Canes

Snowball Fight

Snuggled Up

Marshmallows

Cookies

[xx-jasper-xx]

❄️Mistletoe❄️

*Fluffcember day 18*

@fluff-cember

���This is an ATHF short story/drabble🥤

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The night had gone on for far too long. The lovers thought it would have been fine to go out drinking. Oh, how wrong they were.

It was by far the most boring event they had gone to. No drama, no fighting, just talking. Wasn't even anything entertaining they were discussing. Just work. Who willingly wants to talk about work? Boring people, that's who.

Frylock was able to cut his loses, but something caught his attention. He grabbed the collar of Shake's hoodie and dragged him out of the main room and into the hallway. Away from wandering eyes. Away from all the noise. Just the two of them.

Shake couldn't get the clue as to why he was here. Only ever seeing what was right in front of him. Never taking in his surroundings for a second. Frylock had to point out to him that there was a mistletoe above them for him to get the point.

"Oh, is that what you wanted? A little kiss? You don't have to ask me twice."

Shake pulled his lover in close, preparing for the kiss. There were two ways he could go about this. Sweet or sensual. One would just be simple; while the other could offer a reward later, if he were lucky.

Shake obviously went with the more fun option and let fate decide if it would pay off or not. The lovers shared a deep passionate kiss; getting a bit too carried away in the moment. Shake knew he was going to have a rather fun night once they leave this party.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[gremlin-girly]

The Jake Jensen Collection

I bit the bullet and decided to add more character collections for the characters I've been writing about most.

Dividers: @/cafekitsune

Navigation | Masterlist | Other Chris Evans Characters

Fic Key: 💖 fluff, 🔥smut, ⛈️angst, dark

Less than 750 words

All Nighter 💖

part of the Sleepy!Reader collection

Bubbles - 6.1k 💖🔥

Part of Sun, Sea and Sirens

Space Cakes 🔥 - 4.8k

Part of the Green Collection

Flufftober 2024 💖

Day 7: Hoodie Weather

Day 25: Haunted House

Kinktober 2024 🔥

Day 2: Office Sex

Day 15: Blowjobs/Milf

Day 17: Costumes (Honey Bunny)

Fluffcember 2024 💖

Day 11: Slippery

Day 23: Confessions

Nothing here...