#guessing he’ll be a black or yellow

[house-of-streams-and-dreams]

Jun in Power Rangers Prime #1

[zhongrin]

𒆙 ???

part 2/8 of ⎡∞ / 𝟔 𝟎 𝟎 𝟎 ⁺⎦, a zhongli 2023 birthday event

© zhongrin | 2023  ✼  no repost・translations・plagiarism of any kind・ai data mining. rebloggers get a free cup of tea ♡

𖧷 tags ┈ gn!reader, cuteness overload, fluff

𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓊 ❬ masterlist ❭ 𐫱 𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅 ❬ taglist ❭

𝒽ues of yellow-green blades of swaying grass nearly made you miss the most endearing sight in your whole years of living:

a dragon hatchling rolled onto its back, playing with twigs, leaves, and pebbles.

its horns, brown and golden akin to its darker shade of scales, were stubby and indicative of how young it was. the little thing’s teeth didn’t even look fully grown yet, judging from how it was gnawing the pebble clutched within its black-clawed arms. it looked like it wasn’t a pure dragon, in fact. you noted a few elements which looked a little foreign, and perhaps that was the exact reason why you had unconsciously inched closer to it, the curious being that you were.

the young beast stiffened when it sensed your nearing presence. its tail lashed for a fraction of a second, and suddenly you heard soft snarls and growls as it bristled like an angry cat, amber eyes narrowed at you.

your breath hitched, and for a moment you considered stepping back to leave it be. but alas, your curious mind wanted to get closer to it, to observe and study the little thing’s behavior. it wasn’t everyday that you would have the opportunity to find a young dragon which should be relatively harmless if you play your cards right…

you stepped backward temporarily in hope to not intimidate it further, your eyes surveying the ground closely before they settled at a suitable offering in the distance. it was perfect: shiny, smooth, and almost flawlessly oval-shaped. beaming, you bounded towards the pretty pebble to take it into your palm, only to then approach the wary hatchling yet again, palms out like a devout knight offering their sword to the emperor.

the little thing stared.

and stared some more.

the golden-colored, fluffy tuft of his tail started thumping against the ground.

its tiny claws swiped the rock from your palm, and you watched in fascination as the young dragon started biting on them.

hm. perhaps this behavior didn’t stem from his growing teeth as human beings do, but a ritual to test or mark a possession of its own?

…. you should come and see it again tomorrow.

one visit became two, which soon enough became five, ten, twenty… aaaand you lost count.

aside from normal foods like berries or meat, it seemed to be able to eat small rocks or minerals, and boy, it had its preferences. cor petrae seemed to be its favorite, and you’ve noticed that on the occasions you were lucky enough to be able to procure them, its horns would glow brighter, and the dull crystal-like rocks on its back would slowly pulse with a golden shimmer. you had to wonder if this little one had a special affinity to the geo element.

and one day you realized - the little dragon had imprinted on you.

surprising, given how it had bitten you yesterday when you tried to feed it, but then again, it had been gnawing on your hand for the past few days, and if it wasn’t a sign of aggression…

you glanced down at how the little hatchling had curled and nuzzled onto your stomach, soft purrs muffled against your rugged piece of clothing.

“i guess you’ll need a name, huh,” you mused, poking the small snout and smiling wider when it began to nibble on the appendage.

山 - a wish so that he’ll grow as big as the mountains, be just as steadfast and unwavering, as regal and composed, as immovable and permanent.

石 - a wish so that he’ll embrace struggles and turn inconveniences into advantages, for him to leave his mark on his journey, to create a trail of little history books of golden memories.

王 - a wish so that he’ll grow into a being befitting of wielding wisdom and prosperity, a being who will lead his own fate and carve his own destiny.

“let’s go home, then, yánwáng.”

𖧷 𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅 ❬ taglist ❭ ┈ @abyssmal-skies | @hamdehlesmis | @depressivecomforts | @sunnshineflxwer | @yuutasbabe | @queen-belial | @stygianoir | @silentmoths | @niktwazny303 | @dustofthedailylife | @marina-and-the-memes | @mixed-kester | @lordbugs | @anonymousficreader | @shizunxie | @ansy-tea | @irethepotato | @sassy-cat-in-town | @syrenkitsune | @smokipoki | @cakeboxie | @crystalflygeo | @ciexuvia | @illaasya | @celestewritestoomuch | @pams-comfortzone | @spidermanluvr444 | @ourstrawberryclouds | @ryuryuryuyurboat

[kquil]

SIRIUS BLACK | 09:19 ⏤A LITTLE PIECE OF HEAVEN

SUM. : after sirius escapes azkaban he is determined to get to hogwarts but as exhaustion kicks in, he is rescued and freed, experiencing a little piece of heaven through you and your daughter...

G. : post azkaban sirius ; single mother reader au ; fluff ; sirius needs some love ; padfoot gets cuddles and kisses ; your daughter is adorable

LENGTH : 1.9k

NOT PROOFREAD OR EDITED

Sirius needed a break but he knew he needed to keep going, twelve years of being unjustly locked away in the worse prison that ever existed had helped him build up a lifetime’s worth of vengeance but the adrenaline of escaping Azkaban in his animagus form was gradually dissipating and the tremor in his limbs was becoming all too present to be ignored any longer.   

Finally succumbing to his exhaustion, Sirius fell against an aged fountain decorating the centre of a small village not too far from Hogwarts just as small droplets of rain pelted down lightly before picking up to a shower. Sirius quickly looked around before dashing forth to take shelter under the window sill of a local bakery. It wasn’t adequate but it’ll do. He’ll rest tonight and continue his journey to Hogwarts again in the morning. 

If he closes his eyes, he can pretend that the rain isn’t there for a moment and finally succumb to some sleep. The time is hard to tell from the clouds that covered most of the sky but if he had to guess, it was turning into the late afternoon so if he managed to sleep a few hours, he could still make it to Hogwarts on time. It’s been a long journey and was made longer by the people that disregarded and mistreated his animagus form, taking him for a stray. It wasn’t as bad as the treatment he received in Azkaban but the unwanted stares, abusive words and occasional kick to his side reminded him that despite escaping the prison, he was still not a free man - that was his worst torment. 

Just as Sirius begins to sink into sleep, he suddenly hears an adorable, childish voice call out, “Puppy!” opening his eyes, his head and ears perk towards a cute little girl in a pair of yellow wellies and a matching yellow raincoat running up to him with a smile. Her head was hooded but the small strands of baby hairs on her forehead clung to her face from the rain and a toothy, chubby-cheeked grin was on her face. She grins at him happily, making his head tilt in confusion - what an odd creature, cute, innocent and without an ounce of hatred in her little body, she’s a breath of fresh air. Once she had made it a few steps away from him, she waved a small hand in greeting. 

Sirius finds her adorable and nods back calmly, rising up to a sitting position, the aches of his earlier exhaustion suddenly dissipating from his bones. His response makes her burst into a fit of giggles.

“Hi puppy!” she greets more formally but also with even more excitement than her earlier acknowledgement of him. She steps forward and outstretches a hand to pet him, she’s clearly excited but her pets were gentle and welcome. It’s been a long time since Sirius had been greeted with such kindness and affection, he quite enjoys the treatment. Looking like a stray didn’t help his predicament at all as he was largely dismissed by many people but this little girl in front of him was pure light, he hopes she grows up with the same light that never dwindles but only brightens. He hopes Harry is like her, “Cute puppy! Good puppy!” She praises highly, continuing her pets as Sirius continues to enjoy the affection, touch-starved and always an attention seeker, he was given a little piece of heaven in that moment.

“Ellie!” you call out in relief spotting her in front of a large black dog and quickly making your way over, your umbrella gripped tightly in your hand. Whilst there was an original spike of fear in your heart at seeing the imposing creature, when you saw how calm and gentle he was being with her, your shoulders relaxed and a softness eased into your expression, “Honey, don’t go running off like that, okay? It’s dangerous and you made me really worried,”  

Sirius had a lot of questions. Were you her older sister? Her babysitter? You were gorgeous. He attributes the thought to not having seen anything beautiful in so long, even when running through the streets to Hogwarts a majority of women and men dismissed him which only soured their image in his eyes.   

“Sorry mummy,” there was his answer. You were the little girl's mother. It was a shocking revelation but it didn’t take away from your beauty, “but look at the puppy!” the little girl - Ellie - squeals happily and Sirius cracks a smile, her merriment was contagious. Was that the result of a truly loving mother, he wonders. 

You smile lovingly at your daughter, her love for animals a characteristic you both shared, “he’s quite the handsome fella, isn’t he?” with his fur in the way, Sirius blushed freely from your compliment. A mangy mutt like him? From a stunning woman like you? 

“He’s my friend now!” Ellie smiles and giggles when Sirius noses her cheek affectionately. It’s been too long since he was last considered a friend and to be the friend of this sweet girl was an honour. She’s an adorable girl that makes his heart sing from the vast extent of her wholesomeness. She is definitely the product of love in its purest form. How lucky your husband must be to have such a beautiful wife and daughter, there was a slight pang of jealousy in Sirius’s heart, however. If the war never happened and he never went to Azkaban would he have had a family like this too?

“That’s wonderful news honey but we need to return home quickly before you catch a cold,” you pointed out, the worry furrowing your brows. 

“I want Puppy to come too…” Ellie whines looking down at her wellies and biting her lip as she clutches adorably at the hem of her raincoat. It was a cute display but Sirius highly doubts you would allow that to happen…

“You think so?” you hum in contemplation, shocking Sirius when you didn’t outright protest the idea; not everyone is open to taking in strays. What is this sudden luck and kindness he’s happened across?

“Please mummy, please!” Ellie pleads with her biggest puppy eyes and a wobbly bottom lip. 

“He does seem like a good boy…” you ponder aloud as Sirius’s heart races with hope, “alright, he can come home with us,”

“Yay! Puppy! Come home with us!” Sirius is pulled into a hug around the neck from Ellie’s little arms and savours the short moment happily. This type of warmth is more pleasant than from any crackling fire; he wants to appreciate the feeling as much as possible. 

With Ellie at his side and you on his other, the two of you lead him to your home. For tonight, Sirius will be greedy and selfish. He can allow himself this much after twelve years of torture. It’s been far too long since he last had a warm and welcoming place to stay.  

Once home, you already knew you had a lot on your plate, especially with your new guest. Your first order of business was getting you and Ellie dry but a simple spell could fix that. Your new furry friend needed a more thorough washing, however. In your occupied state, you missed the shocked, wide-eyed stare Sirius gave your wand but he quickly blinked his shock away when you led him to the bath. Thankfully, Ellie was up for washing her new friend clean. It took a little longer as you wanted to give him a thorough wash but that was anticipated, at least the activity helped you work up an appetite. 

Rid of his annoying fleas as well as all the mud and dirt his fur had accumulated, Sirius guiltlessly followed Ellie around your cosy home while you made a start on dinner. It was comforting to know that you were a witch too but as Ellie gave him the grand tour of each room, especially hers, Sirius came to notice the absence of a very important male figure in the home. Dinner was soon served however, and Sirius hadn’t had the chance to ponder on the issue too long.

“Mummy’s cooking is the best, right Puppy?” Ellie announced mid bite, her cheeks swelled up like a greedy chipmunk as she looked down at Sirius, who barked in return. There was no dog food in the house so you just gave him sausages, mash and vegetables too. It was heavenly finally being able to have a nice warm meal.  

Dinner was over sooner than Sirius expected, he had quite the appetite so he finished his food quickly. Noticing this, Ellie saved him one of her sausages and fed it to him herself. 

“You’re such a sweet girl, Ellie,” you praised your daughter for her kindness as Sirius licked her face in thanks. She really was a sweet girl. 

Soon enough, Sirius found himself curled up under a warm blanket with Ellie who insisted on cuddling him by the fireplace. While Ellie petted and kissed his head under the blanket they shared together, you sat on the couch embroidering a handkerchief whilst telling a whimsical story about fairies, trolls and an adventurous knight, smiling as Ellie’s yawns and sleepy mutterings increased by the minute. Sirius noticed it too and anticipated she would be falling asleep soon, confessing that he was also on the way to a peaceful night’s rest. 

As your story came to an end, Ellie knew you were soon going to lead her to bed and tried to prolong the night as best as she could with a distraction, “Mummy, give Puppy kisses too,” 

You knew exactly what your daughter's ulterior motives were but complied with her request anyway, “Alright dear,” you set aside your embroidery and came to kneel down beside the two. Sirius’ heart was beating rapidly in his chest and he halted his breathing as he watched you lean in and pepper him with kiss after kiss after kiss, just like your daughter. Heavenly. Sirius was so happy he didn’t protest returning to your home because he had never felt so at peace. For a blissful moment, he wasn’t Sirius the falsely accused murderer of his best friend, he was just Puppy. The new identity was freeing and Sirius wished he could live like this forever. 

Cuddling and kissing him made Sirius blush furiously under his fur as he practically melted into your lap loving the attention and affection. 

“Maybe we should keep him,” you voiced, smiling fondly as Sirius picked his head up from your lap, “we need a man around the house,” Sirius felt both equal amounts of happiness and sadness all at once. As much as he has grown to love you both in the short time you’ve spent together, he knows he can’t stay longer than tonight; Harry is waiting for him and Peter needs to be exposed for his evil deeds. Sirius is only allowing himself tonight to be selfish and that was it. He can’t risk endangering the two of you either; he needs to leave as soon as possible. 

“Yes yes yes! Puppy stays!” Ellie cheers, her sleepiness evident in that her hurrahs were much more demure than they were earlier that day. 

“We’ll have to name him though, we can’t call him puppy forever, dear,”

Ellie ponders to herself with the cutest expression, “Black!- No! Noir! That means black in french mummy,” she finalises. 

“I see I see, that seems like a fitting name for our handsome friend,” you affectionately stroke Sirius’s head as he chuckles to himself, how ironic this whole situation was. 

A/N: im a sucker for domestic, single parent au's and i just want to comfort my comfort characters so here you go!

NAVI.

[pandorafairy]

Fire of Souls

Part 3: The Forest

// part 1 // part 2 //

Enemies to Lovers // Tsu'tey x Reader (younger sister of Jake Sully, dreamwalker)

Tsu'tey and reader are hunting a beast to protect the Omatikaya. When Tsu'tey gets hurt, will he let you help him? Will you be able to work together or will your differences keep you apart?

Contains: arguing, angst (ish), hunting, and blood (injuries)

Reader was in the army for a year before getting into some trouble. Then you became a scientist and came to Pandora. (secrets will come out later in the series)

Anything written in italics is spoken in Na'vi

We’ve been riding for hours. The insides of my legs are raw as they cling to the side of my direhorse. Tsu’tey and I haven’t spoken since we left Hometree, which was hours ago. The sky is beginning to darken. Eclipse will be here soon and we haven’t anywhere to stay. 

Tsu’tey holds his hand up, dramatically telling me to stop. I nearly roll my eyes as I stop my steed. He’s done this every thirty minutes of our journey. He’ll pause, hop off his horse and search the area for tracks from the beast. I sigh but he ignores me as he probes the area. He has various red and yellow feathers placed along his hair. He crouches down, his strong legs supporting himself as he touches the moist ground. 

My stomach growls. It’s growing late and we haven’t eaten. Tsu’tey stands, his eyes drawn together as he stares off into the distance. 

“We should stop,” I say, my voice rough from not speaking all day.

Tsu’tey doesn’t look at me but his ears quirk to the side so I know he heard me. 

“It’ll be dark soon and we need to eat.” 

Tsu’tey grunts before turning around. He doesn’t meet my eye but he grabs a sack of things from the side of his direhorse. I take this as agreement and hop off my steed. 

“You hunt,” Tsu’tey says, his voice harsh, leaving no room for debate, “and I’ll take the direhorse to the pond for a drink.” 

I nod but Tsu’tey has already grabbed the horses and is walking through the trees, his slim hips swaying as he goes. I hope we find this beast soon. I’m not sure I can take this much silence. I guess when it comes to Tsu’tey and me, silence is better than talking which for us— means arguing. I grab my bow, a parting gift from Neytiri. 

The ground shifts beneath my feet as I slip through the trees. I want to find a small animal, one that can easily be shared between us. The forest breathes all around me as plants begin to glow in the evening light. Chitters from various animals fill the air. I inhale deeply, smelling the pine and freshness of the air. 

A branch breaks from a few feet ahead. My eyes snap open. A small animal with black skin and no fur, eats a nearby plant. It’s perfect. I slowly crouch down, making sure to be completely silent. I pull back my bow, feeling my shoulder blades crunch before releasing the arrow. It splits through the air and rams into a nearby tree. The animal’s head shots up in shocked betrayal before sprinting off into the forest. Damnit. 

I blow out an irritated breath when a familiar voice jolts me. “Great. Tree for dinner.” 

Tsu’tey stands behind me, leaning by a nearby tree, his loincloth hanging loosely around his thighs. He tilts his head at me, his usual scowl etched on his face. I roll my eyes at him. 

Another animal runs into view, the same kind as before. The animal stops and looks around. I don’t have any time to waste. I lift my bow and shoot again, praying that it meets its mark. It doesn’t. The arrow splits through the air and disappears into the forest. I curse under my breath as Tsu’tey lets out an angry groan. 

I stand up, my fingers clenching the bow. I’m not a bad shot. I’m usually good, but something about being here, I don’t know. It feels off. My hands keep shaking and there's a constant pit of nervousness in my stomach.

“I’ll hunt over there,” I mumble and push past Tsu’tey. I don’t want him watching me fail again.

I walk past him, his scent filling my nose. He sticks his arm out and grabs me. Surprise spreads through me as he turns me around. “You’ll never kill anything with that posture,” he says. He yanks my arms up. I force myself to stand in my shooting pose. I lift my elbows and aim the bow. “Argh,” he hisses in distaste before smacking my stomach lightly. I jump at the contact. “Tighten your form,” Tsu’tey says, his eyes not meeting mine as he stands next to me. “You’re too loose. Did Neytiri not teach you anything?”

“She taught me well!” I shove his hands off of me. “I’m just off today.”

Tsu’tey sets his mouth in a hard line as he slowly brings his hands to his side. “I’ll hunt then.” He takes my bow. “I knew bringing a scientist would be useless,” he grumbles.

He turns and walks off before I have a chance to snap at him. I was a warrior once, before this. Ugh, anger coils in me, he’s so… I don’t even know. But it’s annoying. I whip around and head back to our horses. 

After a while of petting the direhorses, Tsu’tey appears through the trees, a dead animal over his shoulder. Sweat sheens under his braids. He doesn’t acknowledge me as he begins to make a fire. I keep rubbing my direhorse and try to look busy. The air between us feels tense even though we avoid eye contact. God, I want to find this beast. 

Cooked meat fills the air, making my stomach grumble. Tsu’tey is cooking the small animal over a contained fire. The warm light glows on his hard face, making his stern expression somehow tenser. Is he always stressed out? 

“What?” He asks bitterly. 

“Nothing, just admiring your rotating ability,” I state sarcastically. He looks up at me with an expression that says, are you stupid? I motion to the animal that turns above the flames. “Nice skills.” 

Tsu’tey blows out an irritating breath. He peels off the animal and gives me a small part. I grab it eagerly and shove the meat between my lips. 

The taste burns in my mouth. It’s awful, dry and full of a shocking flavor I don’t recognize but pray I never taste again. Oh no, keep it together. Don’t, don’t. I can’t help it. I gag. Full-on open-mouth gag. I slam my mouth shut.  

Tsu’tey scoffs. I stiffen. He takes another bite before looking at me. “Don’t like it?”

“No,” I say. No point in lying. I take a sip of water, rinsing my mouth.

“Ungrateful sky people,” he mumbles under his breath. 

“I speak Na’vi.”

He smirks as he takes another bite. “I know.” 

“What’s your problem? I’m trying to help.”

“No,” he says flatly, “you want Pandora. You don’t care about my people. Skypeople take and take. They never give.” 

Is he really saying this to me? “I’m risking my life to find this beast for your people.” 

Tsu’tey pauses. “Don’t speak to me in Na’vi.”

“Why?”

“It sounds wrong.”

We don’t speak the rest of the night.

~~~

His scream shatters my dream. I bolt upright on the ground, my heart pounding in my chest. My direhorse stirs uneasily and nudges my side. 

Where Tsu’tey had slept is empty, just rumbled dirt. The fire from our dinner is out and a loose strand of smoke floats into the air. 

“Y/N!” It’s Tsu’tey’s voice, at least I think it’s his voice, it’s hard to tell because of how panicked he sounds. I stumble to my feet and grab my bow before running into the trees, following the sound of his voice. 

“Tsu’tey?” I scream. There’s a path of direhorse prints. He must have slipped off during the night— without me. What was he doing? 

“I’m here!” Tsu’tey’s voice is weaker this time but I’m closer. I push through an underbrush, a few animals howl above me. The breath is sucked out of me. 

“Oh my god,” I say instinctively. Tsu’tey is lying on the ground, his head covered in sweat, his face pale, and his eyes struggling to stay open. There’s a large cut across his chest and blood pours down his blue stomach. I inch closer as if he were a stray cat. “What happened?”

Tsu’tey inhales shakily. “The beast but someone…”

He did not. He did not hunt the beast without me. My mouth splits open in anger, ready to yell vile things at him, when his skin surrounding the cut twitches. I gasp and sink to my knees beside him. The cut is not only bleeding but oozing a strange, dark fluid. His veins surrounding the cut are not blue but turning black, and spreading right towards his heart. All my anger drains out of me. “Poison.”

Tsu’tey shakes his head. “Go back to Hometree.” 

I ignore him and reach my hands towards his skin. I think I’ve studied this before… That fluid looks familiar. This is Na’vi poison.

My fingers hoover right above his chest. “Don’t touch me, dreamwalker.” 

I scowl. “You’re really going to be rude,” I motion to his wound, “in this condition?” 

“I won’t make it back,” Tsu’tey breathes. His pupils fight to stay focused on my face. His hands twitch uncontrollably at his sides. His blood continues to splay down his body but soon enough it will clot, and the poison will spread to his heart. “Take the horses and—” He inhales, trying to take a breath but clearly unable to. 

My heart clenches. Something about the sight of Tsu’tey laying in the dirt, his weapon strewn beside him and his face is determined. He’s unafraid of death. I used to want him taken down a notch, but I don’t like this. Fear races through me. The darkness around his cut is fanning out. The sides of my vision blur as I try to remember what that textbook said. I don’t have long. 

“Don’t move,” I say to him and jump to my feet. “Don’t speak unless you have to.” I turn and scan the plants around me. “I’ll be back.” I run into the forest, heading straight for the pond. 

Tsu’tey didn’t reply. His eyes had fallen shut. 

~~~

I don’t remember what I did or how I did it. It was like I was on autopilot. I remembered the textbook, the poison, and the antidote. I gathered what I needed and brewed it together. Even started my own fire. My direhorse stared at me in confusion but I ignored her. I didn’t have time to think about anything other than Tsu’tey and his diminishing breaths. 

I gave Tsu’tey the antidote, forced it down his throat since he was unconscious. The skin around his cut was completely black and his chest was rising and falling rapidly. Once the antidote had gone down, I stepped back and waited.

I’ve been waiting for hours now. Eclipse just passed and darkness covers the forest again. I moved our camp to Tsu’tey because the thought of dragging him through the dirt seemed wrong. I lit a fire so we’d be warm. My stomach grumbles but I haven’t dared to leave Tsu’tey to hunt. 

His breath is more even now, his chest rising slowly. His cut is still gruesome even after I cleaned it, red and angry against his blue skin. His ears are flat against his skull and his lips are parted softly. Is he dreaming? I wonder what he dreams about. 

I grab a stick and poke at the fire. What if the antidote didn’t work? What if he’s stuck in this coma-like state? God, I don’t think the Omtikaya would let me near them ever again. I sink my head into my hands, feeling my braided hair and the perk of my ears. To think a year ago I was on Earth and now I’m here, trying to save a Na’vi. 

He inhales sharply. My head snaps towards him. My heart flutters in my chest, suddenly nervous. Why am I nervous? 

He fights his eyelids open and his head falls to the side. “Wha—”

“Don’t speak,” I say quickly at the sight of his chapped lips. I grab my water pack from my direhorse before making my way over to him. He watches me the whole time, his stare boring into me. He probably just doesn’t have enough strength to turn his head away. 

“Water,” I say and sit beside him, “drink.” He struggles to lift his head, his neck muscle straining. I hesitate. He didn’t want me to touch him… A strangled groan escapes him as he tries to lean towards the water. Ah, screw it. I slip my hands under his neck, feeling his beaded hair flutter against my skin, as I lift his lips to the pack. 

His eyes widen slightly but they immediately close the second he sips the water. He gulps it down greedily, his body clearly needing it. After a moment, I bring the water down and softly rest his head against the dirt. 

A small frown covers his full lips. I tilt my head to the side. He blinks a few times before saying, “How?” 

“I remembered the antidote,” I reply as I secure the water pack, “guess having a scientist around isn’t always useless.” 

He grunts and then begins to cough. 

“Easy,” I chime, worried at the redness brimming around his eyes as he coughs. 

He stops coughing and narrows his eyes at me. “I’m okay.” 

“Yes,” I say, slightly annoyed at his rude expression and abrupt shift to English, “thanks to me.” 

He grunts again and looks away. 

I let out an irritated scoff. “Would it kill you to say thank you?”

He doesn’t respond. He keeps staring off into the forest, his tail twitching beneath him. 

“Why did you go without me?” I ask, anger slipping into my voice. “We are supposed to be a team.”

“Skypeople cannot work with Na’vi,” he says flatly.

I resist the urge to slap him. He would be dead if it weren’t for me. I cock my head to the side. “What would have happened if I wasn’t here?” Silence. “And who was it that cut you with poison?” 

His jaw tightens. “That’s different.” 

My stomach curls at his words. How ungrateful is he? “You know what,” I say as I climb to my feet. “I’m done with your crap.” 

I stand and walk towards my direhorse. I’m leaving, I don’t know where but anywhere is better than here. Fury boils in my gut but I refuse to look back at his weak body. Why did I think this could work? He doesn’t trust me. He never will. 

“Wait,” he calls after me. I freeze at the sound of his voice. 

I turn around but don’t move any closer to him. I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him. 

He sighs.“Thank you,” he says. I blink in surprise. I didn’t think he was capable of saying that. He turns his head so his gold eyes stare into me. “Thank you.” 

I clear my throat, suddenly uncomfortable. I take an awkward step towards him. “Yea, well… I don’t know how to get back to Hometree so I kinda need you alive.” 

A laugh escapes Tsu’tey’s lips. It’s rough from his injury but full of life. All my anger slips away and something sparks in my gut at the sound. Tsu’tey just freaking laughed. I think the sound will echo in my mind for hours. 

He stops laughing and his face grows serious. “So you know who uses that poison?”

“It’s a Na’vi poison,” I respond, “we aren’t the only ones hunting this beast, are we?” 

Tsu’tey nods his head, his eyes squinting in pain as he does. “And they aren’t kind.” 

I resist the urge to say, obviously, as I observe his wound but I say nothing. His braids are spread around his head like a halo as he lays in the dirt and stares at the moons. His direhorse somehow found his way back. Both our steeds sleep peacefully beside each other. 

“We need to kill the beast before the other tribe,” Tsu’tey says, his voice stronger than it has been, “for the Omatikaya.” 

“We will kill the damn thing and whoever cut you,” I agree.

He watches me for a moment like he’s realizing something that he hadn’t before. I cock an eyebrow at him and he looks away. “What’s for dinner?” he asks. 

~~~

“No,” Tsu’tey grumbles as he swats my hands away. 

“I need to sleep!” I snap at him. 

It’s the middle of the night and the antidote is wearing off. Which means the pain is setting in. I need to clean his cut so that tomorrow, he’ll be good as new. For most people, that would be incentive enough to let me help them– but not Tsu’tey. He refuses to let me help. 

“Will you stop being a pain in the ass for two seconds?” 

“No,” he replies, his voice thick with sleep.

“I’m gonna kill you,” I threaten.

“Try to,” he states, his voice becoming sharper. 

“You have a massive hole in your chest,” I remind him.

“So?” 

I pause. His eyes glitter beneath the moons. Even with his wound– I wouldn’t want to fight Tsu'tey. 

“Do you want to walk tomorrow or not?” I hiss at him. If I don’t clean this cut, it’ll get infected.

He relaxes. “Fine.” 

I roll my eyes to which his mouth turns downward. I pull out a few pieces of cloth and my water pack. Yesterday, I brewed an extra antidote so I could use it to clean him. I mix it into the water and dip the cloth in it.  

Tsu’tey is watching me. I can’t make out the expression on his face. His eyes are narrowed but he isn’t wearing his usual frown, and his lips are parted slightly. I lean forward, my fingers gripping the cloth. I hesitate right as my hand hoovers above his skin. Nerves spread through my body. I brush them off and place my hand down. 

He flinches slightly at the contact. I slowly place my other hand down, feeling the tauntness of his chest. His skin is smooth beneath my fingertips as I dab my other hand lightly on his cut. The glowing forest illuminates his skin just enough for me to see where his wound is. 

I pour more antidote mixture onto the cloth. I lean closer, making sure I get every part of his cut. I spread my fingers across his chest to keep my balance. 

He inhales sharply.

“Does it sting?” I ask, suddenly alarmed. 

He moves beneath me before going still. “No.” 

I’m close to him, much closer than I thought. Now that I’m focused on him talking, I’m practically inches from his face. His amber eyes watch me carefully, his lips twitching slightly. I swallow. His eyes travel from my face, down my arm, and to my hand, where my fingers lay against his hard chest. 

His tail flicks from beneath him. “Are you done cleaning?”

It feels like someone’s shaken me. I blink a few times. “Yea.” I clear my throat. “Yes, you’ll be fine.” 

I peel my hands away. Cool air hits my body as I climb to my feet. I hadn’t realized how warm he was. He grunts and rolls over. 

I settle back into my sleeping spot in the soft grass, on the other side of our camp. He breathes steadily, his figure rising and falling in the distance. I close my eyes but it’s a long time before I’m able to sleep.

~~~

“I found tracks,” Tsu’tey says. 

Morning light pierces my eyes as I sit up, shaking off sleep. Rage sparks in my gut when I see Tsu’tey holding his weapon. “You went without me? Again?” 

I cross my arms and glare. I ignore the happiness in my heart at seeing him healthy. 

He lifts his hands out in front of him. “Just to get breakfast,” he states and motions to the animal slung over his shoulder.“I just happened upon the tracks.” I narrow my eyes on him. He cocks his head to the side, a nearly playful smile tugging on his lips. “I swear. I felt fine and wanted to eat.”

“Okay,” I recede as he begins to light the fire again. “We’ll follow the tracks after breakfast?”

He nods and starts preparing our meal. The cut across his chest is now a thin, angry red line. Not pleasant looking but much better than last night. His face has also regained its color. His long fingers move around the animal, “you must be on the lookout for the other Na’vi.”

My face deadpans. “I will.” Everyone seems to forget that I have a military background…

He grunts as a familiar smell wafts into the air. I squint. Oh, great. It’s the same animal as the other night. The one that tasted absolutely putrid. I nearly gag at the thought of eating that again. I think I’d rather starve. Tsu’tey looks up and his jaw tenses as he sees my expression. I internally groan, steeling myself for another sky people lecture. 

He reaches into a pouch on his loincloth, his muscular arms straining beneath him, and pulls out a small bag.

He shakes his head in disbelief, at me or himself, I'm not sure. He tosses me the bag and continues cooking the animal. My eyebrows furrow as I open the cloth baggy.

Six pink fruits stare up at me. My mouth falls open. The first time Tsu’tey and I had met, he’d made fun of me and my stained fingers. How I’d loved these fruits, they’re my favorite food on Pandora. How did he know? Where did he find these?

I open my mouth to say thank you but no words come out. I’m completely shocked. 

Tsu’tey glances at me from the corner of his eye. He shrugs at my shocked expression. “You like those, don't you?”

I nod, a small smile slipping onto my face. 

He rolls his eyes and returns to his meal. “Don’t smile. I need you to be strong for our hunt.”

Now it’s my turn to roll my eyes. I dip my hand into the bag and take a bite of the fruit. Tsu’tey doesn’t look up at me again as he continues rotating his animal above the fire. His face drawn together in concentration and his limber body hovering above the ground. He’s beautiful. 

The thought jolts me. I nearly drop my fruit. I quickly stare at the ground. I did not just think that. 

“Eat up,” Tsu’tey says harshly, “we have a long day ahead of us.”

I swallow, forcing all the thoughts of him out of my mind.

PART 4

~~~

Hi beautiful human! Thank you for reading <3

I've been struggling to write this series because I never feel satisfied with my chapters :/ If you have any feedback or recommendations to improve; I would love to hear it!!

Thank you for all your support and let me know what you think!!

Taglist ((thanks for the support bbys, ily)

@qu33n0fth3n3rds @dragon430 @extreamlycutecuban @syulangg @seashelldom @iwannabekuromi @deliciouscheesecakee @panandinpain0 @lovekeeho @dumb-fawkin-bitch @rededfoxy @v7nt7 @starjane312 @cupidddd-d @findingourtreasure @remoryu @dakotali @humbug5 @touchedflowers @darkcrystal-wolf @ishadori @haunted-day-dreamer @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @neteyamslovrr @msecho19 @skinmittensgoblin @cheari @cupidlot

[ladelinee]

As promised, 50s Elvis was the winning choice in the survey for my next fic. So here it is! I hope you enjoy 💕

♡ Summary: Red is introducing his friend Elvis to the group. You're not in the mood for it, so Elvis starts teasing and irritating you. 50elvis!xreader; Fluff.

♡ Word count: 4K

Saturday night

As you reached for your favourite cherry red lipstick, you found yourself looking in the mirror. With a final dusting of powder to complete the look, you smiled at your reflection, pleased with how you looked.

You heard your favorite song, "All I Have To Do Is Dream", playing on the radio. Your friend, Betty, started singing along and fixing her soft blonde hair in the mirror next to you.

Saturday night was always your favorite night of the week. It was the time you would meet up with your group of friends. Before going out, hours would be spent in your room with the girls, getting ready and planning what to wear or do to look great and impress the boys.

"Are we running late?" You asked, still trying to decide between the yellow dress and the pink one.

"Don't worry" Betty replied, applying blush on her cheeks as she spoke. "We won't be late. Red is always the last to arrive, so we have plenty of time."

“By the way, guess what?” Nancy, the group rebel, chimed in as she looked through the row of perfumes on your dresser. “He’s bringing a new friend with him tonight.”

"Oh, great. Can’t wait." You rolled your eyes and forced a sarcastic smile.

Dealing with a new person was the last thing you needed tonight. Having to censor yourself and deal with some idiot ruining the mood was not something you were looking forward to.

“Oh, come on,” Nancy teased. “Don’t be such a downer. Maybe this new guy will actually be cool.”

You rolled your eyes again, scepticism all over your face. “Yeah, I’m sure he’ll be just as amazing as the last five.”

The diner on the main street was the perfect spot to kick off the night. Pretty much everyone from high school ended up there at some point, grabbing a bite to eat and exchanging the latest town gossip.

As you, Betty, and Nancy got in, your friends, who had already settled in at your usual booth, began clicking their tongues in a playful way, letting you know that you had kept them waiting.

You huffed in response.

"Awesome! We just need Red now. Once he shows up, we can order" Nick exclaimed chuckling, he was the most impatient one in our group. You could even hear his tummy rumbling from your position.

“Oh yeah, he's coming with this new guy. He is in a different class. I have never seen him, but I’m quite excited to have another pal to play football” Arthur, his best friend, added.

As the conversation dragged on, their voices all blended into background noise. You totally lost interest in what they were saying about him. You rolled your eyes, and let out a sigh, thinking to yourself, "Fantastic, the night is starting out real great”

Then the conversation went from gossip about who hooked up at the drive-in to that crazy incident where someone puked in the school's equipment storage. Then, the diner doors swung open, and everyone turned to see who was coming in.

You all watched as Red strolled in like he owned the place, swinging the doors open like some cowboy in a movie. Couldn’t miss that shaggy hair of his, he threw a look back at his buddy as they came in.

You became curious about how his friend looked. Behind Red, you could spot a guy of the same height as him, maybe a little bit taller, looking down while rearranging his slicked-back black hair. Did he have sideburns? The weirdest thing you had ever seen.

Then he glanced around, noticing everyone checking them out. That's when you got the full picture of him. He had on a black lace shirt and beige trousers, he was not exactly built like a tank but definitely in good shape. His face was friendly, with blue eyes, a straight nose leading to plush lips, and a perfect smile.

You watched as both guys walked towards your table. Your heart thumped loudly in your chest. It was obvious that he was the popular type, the kind who gets whatever he wants without a care in the world. You thought to yourself, "Are you kidding me? I can't be friends with a self-centred jerk like him. He's nothing but trouble."

Red greeted everyone and then turned to the new guy, introducing him. "Hey, guys, meet my buddy Elvis" pointing at him.

Elvis jumps in with a friendly smile, "Hi, nice to meet y'all."

Betty and Nancy were totally swooning, practically drooling over him. Pathetic.

You made a conscious decision to keep your mouth shut and avoid sharing any personal information. You knew from experience that people like him would take any juicy tidbit and use it to taunt and bully. Not this time. You'd remain poker-faced, giving him no ammunition to use against you.

Red glanced at your face, noticing your expression of indifference and annoyance. He chuckled slightly and told Elvis, "This is y/n. Don't mind her, she's just having a bad day."

Red gave you a quick knowing look, silently asking, "What's going on? You okay?"

“Well finally we are all together, now we can get some food!” Nick said interrupting. Then the whole group went to the queue to order, leaving you and Elvis alone.

Elvis flashed a friendly smile and took a seat beside you. Sensing your silence and avoiding eye contact, he asked casually “Just not in a real talkative mood tonight?”

“Just tired” You replied. Well, it wasn’t a lie. Just tired…of all the nonsense.

His smile faded slightly at your tone, but he pushed through, even though he could tell you were not being straight with him. “...uh huh...well, then what’s makin’ ya so shy?”

“Not shy! I just don’t want to talk” You insisted, your voice giving away your nerves.

He raised an eyebrow at your defensiveness but kept grinning, staying chill. “Oh yeah? Then why’d you let me sit here?”

You blushed, but then you glanced around, making him realize he had you cornered in the booth. With a hint of resignation, you shrugged and said, “Well, I didn’t exactly have a choice, did I?”

Elvis chuckled softly at your stubbornness. “‘Didn’t have a choice’, huh? Oh, darlin’…” He shook his head, clearly amused by your banter. Leaning back on the seat, he casually dropped his arm across the backrest, as if inviting you to relax. He smirked, seeing right through your tough act.

You sighed, resting your elbows on the table, your hands covering your face. Slightly uncomfortable under his gaze, you muttered, "Stop staring at me. I can feel it."

He grinned widely as he kept staring at you, tilting his head and licking his lips. His eyes slowly travelled down your body and then back up to your face. “Sorry darlin’, but you’re sitting right in my line of vision.”

"Fine then, I'll switch seats," you muttered.

You moved to the other side of the booth and crossed your arms, determined not to look at him. However, whenever you did glance his way, his smile and the dimple on his cheek caught your eye.

Your focus on his smile was interrupted when your friends returned to the table with the food, bringing your long-awaited vanilla milkshake.

"You know, baby... that ain't gonna change much. I still got a perfect view of ya." Elvis replied, he winked and smirked at you once more as he grabbed his burger.

The girls exchanged glances and started chatting and laughing to lighten the mood, discussing weekend plans and some random gossip.

You seemed to paying more attention to them than you are to Elvis, so he is left with only one goal in mind: get your attention. With a playful sparkle in his eye, he grabbed a chip and tossed it at you.

He peeked at you and saw you were still trying to ignore him, so he sighed and got an idea. He took a huge bite of his burger and chewed loudly, making all crazy eating sounds. He grinned when he saw your eyes narrow in annoyance.

“Oh, could you just stop?” You asked, rolling your eyes. The girls were watching the whole situation with wide eyes and trying to hold back their laughter, but it was getting harder by the second. They’ve never seen you so riled up before.

As Elvis munched on his burger like a wild beast, Betty couldn't help but chime in,“Lord, Elvis, could you chew any louder? I don’t think the folks in China heard you.” She teased, trying not to laugh.

He grinned wider, with a playful glint in his eyes “Stop what, darlin’? Can’t a guy enjoy his burger in peace?” He asked innocently, clearly enjoying your reaction to him.

Red chuckled and patted Elvis on the back “Yeah, buddy, you’re really making an entrance today.” He joked, knowing Elvis was annoying you on purpose.

Elvis grinned innocently and swallowed part of his burger with a satisfied sigh. He then grabbed his coke and slowly started sipping through the straw, still watching you waiting for some sort of reaction. The group, including Red, started shaking his head at Elvis’ acts.

Nancy attempted to redirect the conversation. "Elvis, tell us more about yourself!" she asked.

You tried your best to tune out Elvis and ignore the conversation that centered around him, but the group's interest kept drawing your attention back to him.

He glanced at Nancy and grinned, clearly loving the attention. Leaning back, he crossed his arm over his chest while sipping his coke. "Well, what do you ladies wanna know?" He glanced over at you, catching your reaction to Nancy's question.

Nancy looked at the others, then back to Elvis “Just, like, what are you into? Do you have a girlfriend? How old are you?” She asked with a playful tone, giggling with Betty.

Elvis chuckled at her question and looked over at you before replying to Nancy “I’m into a lot of things, music mostly. No, no girlfriend at the moment, not sure what kinda girl could keep up with me.” He answers, his lip curved into a smile knowing you were listening.

"No one, to be honest" You snapped back rudely at his answer.

Elvis raised an eyebrow and grinned, amused by your rudeness “No one, huh? Think I’d be too much for anyone to handle, darlin’?”

The girls smiled, enjoying the banter between you and Elvis. Betty pipes up, giggling “Well, it’s not like anyone’s been able to handle her so far, Elvis.”

Elvis couldn't help but chuckle as he glanced over at you, picking up on your growing grumpiness. "That's true, isn't it, baby?"

You shoot Betty a deadly look. "What the fuck are you doing, Betty?" you thought to yourself. This is exactly why you didn't want to open up about personal stuff. You just knew he was going to make fun of you now. As if it was not already bad enough that you haven't been kissed at this age.

“Yeah! She has never been kissed before, Elvis!” Betty stated amused talking as if she had known him for ages. She didn’t have the right to say that.

Elvis’ eyes widen slightly at her comment, surprised. He looked over at you, taking in your annoyed expression and biting his lip to keep from laughing.

“No way, honey. Really?” He asked, faking disbelief.

Red laughed from the other side of the table, finding amusing to see the interaction. "Yeah, can you believe it?" he said, knowing that Elvis was really enjoying this information.

Elvis paused for a moment, a sly smirk playing on his lips as he looked at you. "No wonder you're the way you are, darlin'. All pent-up frustration, huh?"He teased, knowing it would get a rise out of you.

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. The thing you'd been trying so hard to avoid had actually happened, and it was all thanks to Betty. You were so mad that you just blurted out, "Can you just shut up?" You could feel your face getting all red from being so frustrated.

Elvis jokingly pretended to zip his lips and leaned in to listen to the lively conversation, but his eyes kept looking at you. When he saw that your milkshake was almost gone, he mischievously shifted closer and checked if anyone was watching. Since everyone was busy talking, he sneakily grabbed your milkshake, took a big sip, and grinned at you.

He winked as he swallowed a mouthful of your milkshake, then smacked his lips together and looked at your shocked face “Hmm, tastes good” He teased, enjoying every second of this.

“What in the hell are you doing???” You asked, getting on your nerves.

Elvis took another sip of your milkshake, making an exaggerated noise of pleasure as he swallowed. He then sets the glass down and he leaned closer to you, his knee brushing up against yours. “Ya mad at me now, baby?” He asked in a low devilish voice.

"What's your deal?" you barked, feeling totally embarrassed in front of everyone by that jerk.

“What ya gonna do, honey? Be mad at me? Well, ya already are” He teased, laughing at your obvious irritation.

Red laughed along with Elvis “Looks like someone's not happy at all” he commented.

Elvis looked at Red and leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms “Can't blame me, though. S'not my fault she's such an easy target” He shot a wink at you, enjoying riling you up.

Red chuckled and nudged Elvis' shoulder

"You flirtin' with her or what?" He asked with a smirk.

Elvis cracked up and shook his head "Nah, nothing like that. I'm just havin' a little fun, seeing how much I can piss her off" He looked over at you, noticing your grumpy expression "But seriously, darlin’. You gotta lighten up a bit. You're gonna spoil the night for everyone else."

You didn't know what to say after he spoke, so you just looked down at the floor, trying to figure out what he meant. It seemed like he was intentionally trying to bother you, with no other intentions, and you couldn't shake the feeling that your friends were annoyed with you because you were in a bad mood. As everyone else continued chatting without realizing the tension between you and Elvis, you felt more and more like no one understood you.

Out of nowhere, you stood up from your seat, and rushed towards the diner exit, tears rolling down your face. It felt like all of your emotions came rushing out at once, and you couldn't hold them back any longer. It seemed like everyone was really into Elvis and his charming personality, and it seemed like they preferred him over you.

Elvis and the others watched in surprise as you suddenly ran off.

"Whoa whoa whoa, where's she goin'?" Nick asked, stunned

Elvis pushed the table away to get up, went to the window to see where you went, and said, "I, uh...... I'll go talk to her," Without waiting for a reply, he quickly left the diner and started looking around for you.

Elvis hurried to catch up to you, determined to reach you. He finally saw you walking away, looking really upset, and felt even guiltier with every step.

"Wait up!" he called out, struggling to keep up with your fast pace. When he finally caught up and started walking beside you, he said, “Damn, you're fast, baby" trying to catch his breath. He stared at you, seeing the tears rolling down your face, and asked "Hey... where ya goin’ all angry and upset?"

"Leave me alone!" You managed to cry out, your voice shaking and tears streaming down your face. You couldn't stop the hysterical sobs that wracked your body, making it hard to speak through your hiccups.

Elvis felt bad seeing the anger and tears in your eyes. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling guilty for making you feel this way.

"Nah, can't do that, sweetheart. I gotta talk to ya," he says firmly, walking beside you at your pace.

Elvis stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking down at the ground as he walked. He took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking up.

“M’sorry, I shouldn't have pushed so much at the diner. I went too far." He looked up at you, his eyes sincere. He took a deep breath and continued, "I was just trying to have some fun, you know, trying to get a reaction out of you. It wasn't right. I didn't mean it. Can ya forgive me?"

Elvis looked at you, seeing the tears still streaming down your face. You couldn't bring yourself to speak.

“Hey, hey, please don't cry anymore. I'm really sorry, darlin’. You didn't deserve that”

He paused for a moment,

“But you're great, ya know? Feisty, stubborn, and damn pretty too” He added.

He looked concerned as he reached into his pocket and took out a tissue. Slowly, he wiped away your tears while gazing into your eyes. "I’ll buy you the whole damn diner, darlin’. Any milkshake flavour, as many as you want. Anything to see you smile”

You and Elvis made eye contact, and you could see regret in his eyes. He took a step back, giving you some room to breathe. Despite any assumptions you had about him, there he was, trying to help you through this tough time. You felt a little relieved, even if you didn't want to admit it. And you had to admit, the way the light was hitting his face was pretty captivating.

He noticed your silent sigh, and a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth

"Ya won't speak to me? No insults, no smart comeback? Am I that irresistible up close?" He teases, trying to lighten the mood

“Idiot…” you muttered, chuckling.

Elvis smiled widely, feeling a sense of relief to hear you chuckle. He tucks the tissue back into his pocket, still standing close to you.

"Ah, there it is. There's that feisty attitude I know" He teased, his eyes glimmering with mischief

You laughed at his response. “Well, the thing is, I didn’t expect anyone else to come with the group. And I had some personal stuff I didn’t want to share, like the fact that I haven’t been kissed… because I don’t want to hear some stranger making jokes and comments about it. I thought you might be that kind of jerk…” you said.

Elvis's expression softened as you mentioned your situation. He nodded and leaned against a nearby wall, stuffing his hands into his pockets again.

"I get it, darlin’. Sometimes ya just wanna keep things to yourself, especially when ya don't know the people you're with. I ain't tryin' to poke fun at yer troubles"

He looked at you again, his eyes holding a hint of vulnerability “So I hope ya don’t think too badly of me after this, darlin’”

Elvis took a deep breath and looked at you. He stepped closer, and before you knew it, he pulled you into a hug. You were a bit surprised at first, but as he pulled you close, you noticed the faint scent of his hair gel and the clean, woodsy scent of his cologne. He held you tightly, one hand resting on your waist while the other gently patted your back.

He whispered into your ear "M’really sorry, darlin’. For everything." As he hugged you tighter, he kept talking, "I've been focused on you the whole night, and I guess I let my dumb teasing get out of control." He paused, his face buried in the crook of your neck, and you could feel his warm breath against your skin, causing a slight shiver to run down your spine.

Your heart was racing. No one had ever given you such a warm hug. Feeling remorse, you said, "I'm sorry I didn't make you feel welcome either."

Elvis let out a soft chuckle against your neck, his chest vibrating with the sound. He kept his arms wrapped around you, not ready to let go just yet. "I deserved that. I was acting like a real sonofabitch" he said as he pulled back slightly to look you in the eyes.

"But I'm glad we're good now, baby. That's all I care about," he said with a tender smile, pinching your cheek.

He looked down at your face and saw the hint of a blush on your cheeks. His grin grew wider, and he couldn't resist teasing you a little more. "What's this? Is the tough girl feeling a bit flustered?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“You wish!!!” You let out, trying to hide your embarrassment.

Elvis laughed at your fast denial and crossed his arms "Aw, come on. You’re terrible at hiding it, darlin’."

He took a step closer, a smirk on his lips "I can practically hear your heart racing" he growled.

Elvis locked his piercing blue eyes onto your lips, drawing closer until his chest almost touched yours. Your heart quickened as you felt his nearness, his gaze fixed on your lips, inching closer to your face.

You closed your eyes, heart racing, waiting for a kiss. Your first kiss. Seconds ticked by, but nothing happened. Elvis didn't close the gap between you both. Instead, he just grinned wider, teasing you with that mischievous smile, inches away from your face, clearly enjoying your anticipation.

He left you staying like that for a second, then spoke, his voice low and amused “I knew it. You were hoping for a kiss, weren’t ya?”

"OH MY GOD, I JUST HATE YOU SO MUCH!!" Your cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, betraying your inner agitation.

Elvis bursted out laughing, bending over and clutching his stomach. Your annoyed look and outburst just made him laugh even harder.

"Oh, I love it when you get all riled up like that!" He managed to say between laughs.

You kept stomping away from Elvis, totally ticked off about what went down.

Elvis quickly got himself together, his laughter fading into a wide grin as he noticed your embarrassed expression. He hurried after you, catching up in just a few strides.

"Oh, don’t be mad now, darlin’. I was just having a bit of fun. Can't blame me for wanting to see your cute, flustered face"

As you kept walking, still grumbling about how much you ‘hate him’, Elvis walked beside you, his smile never leaving his lips. He listened to your muttered complaints, and suddenly his eyes sparkled with mischief.

Out of nowhere, he grabbed you by the waist and pulled you close to him. Before you had a chance to protest, he pressed his lips against yours in a swift, unexpected kiss.

The unexpected kiss left you speechless, your frustrated words stuck in your throat. Elvis enjoyed the sensation of your lips on his for a moment, then pulled back slightly to gaze into your eyes.

"You were saying something about hating me, baby?" He smirked, his voice filled with a smug satisfaction.

Your heart was racing, partly from surprise and partly from the lingering feeling of his kiss, but you attempted to stay composed. You shot him a glare, though there's no real anger in your eyes—just a touch of confusion.

Finally, you found your voice “You…..you idiot. Why’d you go and do that?”

Elvis chuckled, his hand still at your waist, holding you steady “Couldn’t help myself, darlin’. You looked too cute when you were all mad at me. I had to do something to shut you up”

He smiled, pulling you closer to him “Besides, you clearly enjoyed it” He teased, winking at you.

Your cheeks kept blushing, you didn't want to admit that you loved it. So, you gave him a little slap on his arm.

Elvis playfully gasped and rubbed his arm where you smacked him, still grinning. “Ouch! Feisty as always, baby” he teased, chuckling as he guided you back towards the diner.

“Alright, I guess I had that coming. But now, here’s the tough part. Chocolate, peanut butter, vanilla, or strawberry milkshake?” Elvis asked, raising his eyebrows up and down. God, he was really set on treating you to the whole diner, just like he promised.

“What about peanut butter?” You chuckled, feeling butterflies in your stomach watching Elvis holding your hand.

“Atta girl, you sure have a good taste, baby.”

🍨

[lilyruthere]

HONEYSUCKLES

synopsis: Zayne thinks you look beautiful in the snow, and that honeysuckle’s are meant for your love.

cw: reader referred to ‘girlfriend’ but other than that, no other uses of she/her, third person point of view, no use of y/n, black!reader friendly! Reader has hair, but it’s not descriptive.

ZAYNE

It’s not out of the norm for Zayne to be late for dates. He’s a very busy man, and a doctor, so of course patients should come first. What is out of the norm you might ask? Him not texting you that he’ll be late.

Surely, he has a good reason for not texting you right? You don’t want to be a bad girlfriend and just leave in case he comes back. So you wait half an hour, which turns into a whole hour.

Now things are fishy.

You’re looking around the snowy sidewalk, it hasn’t gotten cold enough for you to leave, because if there’s one thing you’re sure of, it’s that Zayne will absolutely text you to go home if he wasn’t going to show up at all.

You look up at the street lamp, focused on the bright area it swallows up. There’s a tap on your shoulder and you spin around to face the stranger.

“I’m sorry. I should have told you to wait inside somewhere nearby. I didn’t think I’d spend so much time in that flower shop.”

Right in front of your face, blocking your view of Zayne’s face, are yellow honeysuckles.

“Oh!” You take hold of the honeysuckle’s, looking up to meet Zayne’s gaze.

Beneath the glowing streetlight, Zayne looks cute. His cheeks are red from the cold, and snowflakes decorate his raven colored hair strands, as well as on his long eyelashes. You can’t help but huff out a laugh.

“Hm? What’s so funny?” He looks at you with a straight face, but you catch the curious glimmer in his eyes.

“Nothing. You look cute covered in snow.” You smile and stand on the tips of your toes to brush snow off his hair.

“Thank you…you also look very beautiful in the snow.” His hand guides up to the apple of your cheek, giving it a quick squish between his pointer finger and thumb. “I got so distracted by your beauty that I was late.” He says.

“Liar!” You tease.

“It’s the honest truth.” *he chuckles, and looks over his shoulder to point somewhere behind him. “See over there? I was standing right there staring at you.”

“Yeah, yeah. So, why the flowers?”

He offers his arm for you to hold on to, and you gratefully accept, wrapping your arm under his and resting your hand on his bicep.

“Do you know the language of flowers?” He speaks while walking, headed towards the restaurant you both decided on for this particular date night.

“Hmm, can’t say that I do. What do these mean?” You bring your eyes to the yellow flowers.

“Try and take a guess.”

“Mmm…maybe, something like ‘I love you’?” You say cheekily, and he can’t help but chuckle at how bashful you look.

“Yes, pretty close. These mean ‘true love’ or ‘affection towards one another’ and ‘first love.’ ”

“And I am..?” You question, raising an eyebrow up at him.

“You are all three.” A small smile spread across his face, leaning down to press a kiss against your temple.

“I apologize for being late again. Next time, you can just go home if I take too long. I’ll meet you back there.”

You hum. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

You smile, and tighten your arm around his.

“It’s okay. I’ll always wait for you, no matter how cold it gets.”

“That’s fine, but I would prefer my lover to not be sick on our dates.”

“You know Elsa from Frozen said the cold never bothered her anyways.”

“Shouldn’t that be my line..?”

[fairy-heart-magic]

More Dragon Slayer Headcannons

Uhh holy shit the last one blew up like crazy, so here I guess have more dragon slayers being creepy.

Because they have more air in their lungs they can hold their breath for a stupidly ridiculous amount of time, they’re also excellent swimmers.

They have really dense bone structure but hollow air filled bones so they’re all extremely sturdy, they also have much denser muscles which leaves them unnaturally strong.

The more they use their dragon slayer magic, the more dragon like they become both in physical appearance and personality as over time it starts to slowly show up in their personalities, they become territorial and protective of what they deem to be ‘there’s’, they growl at people as a warning to back the fuck off, they bear their teeth as a sign of aggression, as for the physical their eyes will take on an unnatural glow, Natsu’s becoming orange like embers glowing in the darkness, Laxus’s become electric yellow, Gajeel’s become like brownish rust red and so on, their teeth become longer even the way they walk and carry themselves becomes more inhuman, they way they fight becomes like that of a beast only not wild, extremely intelligent and cunning to a frightening degree.

They naturally seek out their own element, almost like a honing instinct, Laxus tends to travel towards storms, while Natsu often travels as much as he can to hot places where fires are likely to start, Gajeel always visits a city’s junkyard, Rogue always finds his way to dark, pitch black caves while Sting always climbs to the highest sunniest peaks he can to bathe in the light, Wendy frequently visits high up or isolated mountains to be closer to the sky.

Dragon Force effects more than just their magic, it also effects their personality and they can become almost completely different people entirely retaining only their base most present thoughts from before hand with their instincts often telling them to do one thing only; defeat whatever enemy is in front of them.

They’re also in part nocturnal which is both inherited from their magic and because it was how they where raised, while it varied from dragon to dragon, most preferred to hunt and move at night-time due to the fact less humans where active at night and they could see perfectly well in the dark which made avoiding humans easier. Both Laxus and Erik are also semi-nocturnal because of this and most dragons slayers find it difficult to sleep at night as their brains are hard wired to be active during the period most humans are sleeping. The only acceptation to this is Sting who while he can use his magic in the dark, it doesn’t work nearly as well as it does in the day time.

They heal at an incredible fast rate, almost double the spend of a normal human. Though they can’t regrow limbs or anything like that, this incredible healing ability makes it easier to survive severe injuries and wounds. Laxus however using electricity can stimulate the cells in a particular area to heal even faster than other dragon slayers however overusing this technique leaves him severely exhausted and if he used it too much he’ll overload his entire nervous system and just collapse.

That’s about all I can think of for now, I hope you guys like them and feel free to use or reblog if you want.

[7-wonders]

‘laying wide awake at night after watching a horror movie that left them unnerved’

could you do that prompt with the reader being the one who can’t sleep and Adrian comforting them and promising he’ll keep them safe?

I had two people request this prompt, thank you! Man I've MISSED writing for Adrian, this was so fun.

You've made a lot of dumb decisions in your life, though that's not specific to you. No, being human is about making dumb decisions. What is life if not a string of dumb decisions, one after the other?

Still, letting Harcourt and Economos pick The Exorcist: Believer for a team movie night instead of fighting harder for your and Peacemaker's choice, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, probably ranks up towards the top of your list of dumb decisions.

It probably wouldn't have even been that scary of a movie if you weren't watching it in the movie theater! Yes, The Exorcist scares you (you don't know a person who isn't scared by that movie), but it doesn't terrify you—there is a distinct difference between the two. Watching it in a darkened room, in surround sound, with 100+ other people just as scared as you are? That's terror at its finest.

After the movie was over, every member of The 11th Street Kids excitedly talked about how good it was, how scared they remained. Yet none of them looked affected or like they actually were still scared, so you pushed down your own fear and laughed it off as well. You went out for a couple of after-movie drinks, kissed Adrian goodbye as he went on patrol with Chris, and went home.

Now you're here, lying paralyzed under the covers and staring through the dark room intently as you try to discern if you're actually seeing something lurking in the inky blackness. Are those the yellow eyes of one of the possessed little girls, glowing dimly in the dark? If you strain your ears enough, can you hear the Latin of the exorcism? Your body begins to shake in fear, and you slowly draw the covers up over your head.

So wrapped up in your own mind are you that you miss the quiet sound of the door slowly opening. After having worked at A.R.G.U.S for a few years, it should be second nature to catch on to the feeling of the air shifting outside of your safe haven. But fear is a very powerful thing.

When something grabs the blanket and tugs it down, you scream.

The lights flick on as you do so, blinding you momentarily. When you blink the brightness out of your eyes, you come face-to-face with Adrian, your boyfriend. He's still in his Vigilante costume, which means he's just come back from patrolling. His mask is pulled off, and he's staring at you in bewilderment.

"Hey, I didn't mean to wake you up!" Adrian apologizes profusely.

"You didn't," you assure him, even as you try to get your heart to stop beating in your throat. "I wasn't able to fall asleep."

"Really? That's weird, you're always asleep by the time I come home." He hits the screen of your phone, lying on the nightstand, to check the time. "Do you know that it's three thirty right now? You're supposed to have a full eight hours of sleep to function healthily, and you're not gonna be able to get that."

Your lips twitch up in a smile. "I know."

"Then why aren't you asleep?"

"Promise you won't laugh?"

"I promise!" His face is so earnest, and you wonder why anybody would think that your open book of a boyfriend didn't have emotions.

"It's because of that stupid fucking movie."

"Which stupid fucking movie?" he asks cluelessly.

"The one that we saw only a few hours ago?"

Clarity dawns on him. "Oh, that stupid fucking movie! I didn't know it scared you that bad, pumpkin!"

You appreciate the seasonal term of endearment, probably one of the more tame ones that he's come up with. "You mean it didn't scare you?"

"It was a little scary, I guess. Maybe I'm just built different."

"You almost cried when we went on 'It's a Small World,'" you remind him, referencing your trip to Disney World.

"Hey, those dolls are fucking scary and definitely have the souls of children trapped in them!" Adrian defends. He must see something in your face that betrays just how scared you've been since you arrived home, because his own softens. "Man, that movie really scared you, huh?"

You nod, and he nods back.

"Alright, then." He sits on the bed abruptly, pulling you into his arms and laying down on the mattress with you.

"What—Adrian, you're all sweaty! You need to go shower!"

"Not until you fall asleep. I'm gonna stay right here and keep you safe."

"You know that I know the movie's not real, right?"

"I know. But your fear is. So I'm gonna make sure that you fall asleep, and then I'll fight off any nightmares if they try to come knocking."

He's so sweet sometimes that it makes your teeth ache. "What about your eight hours of sleep?"

"Screw that, I can catch some zzz's at the office tomorrow."

You laugh. "When you're supposed to be doing the mission paperwork that you've been putting off for over a week now?"

"Pssh, paperwork, shmaperwork."

Your conversation dies down, and Adrian reaches a long arm over to turn the lights off. Despite your best efforts, your eyes close from the heaviness of sleep calling to you, Adrian's humming and his hand rubbing your back helping to get you there. The memory of fear zings through your brain, however, and you jolt with a sharp gasp, feeling like you do when you're about to sleep and have the sensation of falling.

Adrian's immediately holding you tighter, making sure that you feel him with you. "Don't worry, I'm right here."

You nod and settle back into him. "Love you."

"I love you more...my moonlit lake." You chuckle, and that's the last thing you remember before finally falling asleep.

True to his word, Adrian makes sure that no nightmares bother you tonight.

7-wonders Halloween Spooktacular

[designatedgrape]

Uncle Wayne, How Do I?

I’ve never done a tumblr ficlet before, but @sullymygoodname mentioned older Steve having his own “Dad, How Do I” YouTube channel, and my brain immediately went off in its own direction.

Steddie modern AU, rated G, 700 words. Written in less than an hour, and not edited.

---

It takes less than a day after Steve moves into his first apartment for him to realize that he’s in over his head. He’d thought the hardest part of moving out of his parents’ house was scraping together enough money for first month, last month, and the security deposit. But apparently, he was sorely mistaken. He looks helplessly between the picture frame in his hands and the large swath of empty wall above his thrift store sofa, and he realizes…he has no idea how to hang this thing.

So of course, he turns to YouTube.

The first suggested video for “how to hang a picture” is from a channel called “Uncle Wayne, How Do I?” Steve snorts. He wonders how many videos it would take to cover all of the knowledge that Richard Harrington failed to impart on his son.

He clicks on the thumbnail—and a man in his late 40s, looking stoic as he stands next to a picture frame on a wall—and turns up the volume on his phone.

“I’m Wayne Munson, and this is how you hang up a picture frame.”

Okay, good start. 

Steve is expecting Wayne Munson to walk him through each step, describing what he’s doing as he goes, but…no. Wayne does something with a ruler, and something with a long yellow thing that might be a ruler, but has a bunch of clear tubes with greenish liquid inside? And then he uses a pencil to mark the wall, because he’s somehow figured out where he wants the picture to go. Steve must have missed that part. He’ll have to go back in a minute, but for now he just wants to see what comes next.

Wayne uses a hammer—Steve knows that tool!—and a nail… Wait, no. Not just a nail. There’s also a hook. But the nail goes through the hook? Did Wayne make a hole in it?

And then suddenly, the picture is hanging on the wall, and Wayne faces the camera, unsmiling. It’s the screenshot from the thumbnail. And that’s…it. What the fuck kind of how-to video was that?

Steve is just about to click away in annoyance, when the sound of a shrieking guitar comes through his phone’s speaker, and a black screen with “Eddie Translates for Uncle Wayne” in blood-red letters appears.

“All right, boys, girls and everyone in between, let’s go over that again, shall we?”

The voice is distinctly younger: low and mysterious, melodic and teasing. Steve waits for a face to appear to match it, but one never does. Instead, Eddie just talks over the same video that Steve watched a moment ago. This time, though, there are pauses and replays and slow-motion sections, all while Eddie says things like, 

“So when I asked Wayne what he did here, he just grunted and gestured at the screen, which I’m pretty sure means that you need to measure from the top of the frame to the hanging wire or triangle ring or sawtooth hanger or whatever you’ve got.”

and

“Pop quiz from Uncle Wayne, little sheepies: why should you use a picture hanging hook on the wall instead of just a regular nail? If you guessed, ‘because it looks f-ing badass,’ you’re damn right it do— Ow, Wayne! Jesus! I’m getting to it!” Eddie clears his throat. “The correct answer, according to Uncle Wayne, is, quote, ’So that you don’t rip half the damn wallboard off when your picture falls down because you didn’t take ten seconds to find a damn stud.’ Cool. So there you go.”

Steve is grinning so hard that it feels like his cheeks are getting a stretching workout. As soon as the video ends, he immediately clicks on the next one. Wayne—or more accurately, Eddie—is teaching him how to plant grass seed. Steve definitely won’t need this information for the foreseeable future, given that he doesn’t have any yard to speak of, but that’s neither here nor there.

He doesn’t notice how many videos he’s watched until he realizes the arm holding up his phone is starting to ache, he’s desperately thirsty and also has to pee, and the sun is starting to set. And he still hasn’t hung up the picture that started this all. 

He might however, be a little bit in love with Eddie.

[certifiedlovergirlsstuff]

packing up to go

pairing: steve harrington x fem byers!reader

summary: the moving boxes are being filled and tears are being shed.

series masterlist

previous chapter next chapter

October 7, 1985

She kept saying, “Fresh starts will be good for everyone” “This is good for us.” Any variation that came to mind, Joyce Byers said it aloud to make everyone feel better. It never worked though, all four of you, plus your friends hated the idea of your family moving to the other side of the country.

California was thousands of miles away from everything you grew up loving and hating. Everyone was now a phone call, letter, or five-hour plane ride away. It sucked. So you sulked and held back tears as you packed the last of your room into cardboard boxes.

“I’ll miss you, Mr. Teddy. Nice and soft.” Steve’s voice bounced off your bare walls while hugging a stuffed animal from your childhood.

You sighed dramatically, “Guess that means you’ll mourn his loss more than mine. I get it, bears before girls.” Tapping off your box of clothes.

“Well, me and Mr. Teddy have a history. You wouldn’t understand.” Lovingly petting the plushies head.

You scoffed, “What history? You’ve ‘met’ him two years ago. My grandma gave me him for Hanukkah. When I was four.”

You walked over to Steve, who stared into the doll's cold black eyes, and you felt a pang of jealousy towards the doll. You can leave the bear with Steve and he’ll get to hug it to sleep every night, it’s cotton-filled ears won’t short-circuit whenever Steve says I love you. A stuffed bear will be able to stay with Steve when you can’t and it makes you sad.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Steve set Mr. Teddy atop your box so his hands could reach out to cup your cheeks. You didn’t realize you had tears falling until Steve was getting blurry and he was knuckling away the waterdrops.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to be separated from you.” A blubbering mess as you wrapped your arms tight around Steve's middle, trying to burrow into his yellow sweater.

“It's gonna be okay, baby. We’ll still talk on the phone and I’ll start sending letters and pictures so you aren’t missing out. And I’m gonna save money so I can visit you during the holidays.” 

You sniffled your tears as Steve pressed a deep lingering kiss to your hairline. “I love you too much to lose you. 

So you're stuck with me one way or another.” And he squeezed you tighter.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

-

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[cielos-pintados]

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you

🌟Atlas🌟

Or at least the beginnings of him. If anyone wants to draw him, go for it 😅 I can’t. So instead you get concept art, picrews, and hopefully helpful descriptions. Here we go!

The Concept Art

Look at him 🥺 he’s so precious

The Picrews

Star 👆 eh. It’s just an idea…a rough base?

Human uh 👀 disguise yeah disguise 🥸 👆gotta get around Rosas somehow!

Hopefully Helpful Descriptions!

So his outfit’s mostly black, like the art of him flying over Asha. But it’s got this kinda shirt under that half cape thing.

Pretend it’s black, and all the stitching’s gold thread. And then the half cape/shoulder/cloak..thing…has constellations. He absolutely has the pointy elf shoe boots, also black, because yes. Who doesn’t need pointy elf shoe boots? Pants are just…pants. Black pants. Super exciting.

So his cape and hair are fun. When he’s being magical, it sorta starts at the base of his hair? A really rich yellow, then it fades into a white at the ends. And the cape shows after that? It’s just a sorta vague cape shape, very transparent because it’s made of stardust. And then stardust kinda settles over his freckles? He’s very dramatic 😆 and it’s a very smooth kind of..transformation? I guess you could call it that.

Personality

Now my boy is like Rapunzel-meets-Ariel-meets-Peter Pan-meets-lightbulb. Everything about the “World Below” is absolutely fascinating. He’s easily distracted, a little naive, a bit of a jokester, and a whole lotta “see the best in everyone”. A good contrast to Asha’s “the world is out to hurt me”. He’s gonna learn that earth isn’t what he thought it was, but there’s still good in it. It’s big and broken, but good. Yeah, still good.

Oh also he’s mute. So this is both a stretch of a reference and just something I thought would be neat. He mostly communicates through stardust and sign language. The stardust is a stretch-erence of Mini Maui. Tiny Maui. Idk what he’s called- this guy

Because he makes little scenes to show Asha when he thinks her plan is a terrible idea. …which is most of the time… and he’ll also shoot off little silent fireworks when he’s really excited? As for the sign language…let’s say…they’re gonna rely on some library books for that? They both have to learn.

At first, he doesn’t understand why Asha’s planning to take down the king and queen. They seem like perfectly nice people to him. It’s only after plot that he really understands.

I FORGOT HE SHAPESHIFTS INTO ANIMALS YEAH

Okay, now I leave him to you:

What do you think?

For now, Cielo out!

And back to your regularly scheduled programming!

@chillwildwave @ishadow246 @signed-sapphire @oh-shtars @annymation @gracebeth3604 @uva124 @rascalentertainments @thisnameisnotspokenfor @snackara @cerulean-crow @your-ne1ghbor

[void-f3lt]

1st🐍Chap: A New Roommate            Snake in a Panther’s Cage Now

.*•——————————————————————————•*.

Six months.

Six Fucking Months.

It has been six months—probably—since he’d last been back on Earth. 

Him and Loki, his younger brother, were on a plane together to go see their Father and then the plane got intercepted/fucking abducted??? by actual fucking aliens, people knew that aliens existed but they usually didn’t fuck with humans, something happened during WW3 or some shit and a very thin peace treaty was passed around, and some new laws got added to the Geneva Convention along the line of just because they ain’t human doesn’t mean they have to be experimented on.

After failing to escape stupid space jail, yes he knew it is a trafficking ship but he didn’t care. Alistair had just waited for something. Anything other than a trip to The Gladiator Ring. Though after a while he waited for that too, even got excited when it was time. Yes he is a sadist, why do you ask? It’s fucking revenge. (he knows it’s not the bastards he’s fighting fault but it’s still therapeutic) He memorized how often the guards walked by. He painstakingly counted the seconds when he realized there was an actual schedule. 

Two and a half hours of the Light Cycle and around every five hours of dark because they don’t have nocturnal Fuckers or timetable’s apparently, resulting in only two switch overs. Assuming he didn’t screw up his counting at any point. The alien wardens brought food and water. Their food smelled like this one time that he lost a muffin under his bed for about a year and it grew black mold, mixed with rat poison. So yeah, he obviously refused to eat it. 

Normally he just takes out one of his granola bars and eats half of that. He’s down to twenty-four so far and he eats one every three Day cycles so he’ll last about (*Math Later*).

There was that one time when an alarm had gone off for some reason. That had been somewhat interesting and fucking hurt. His dragon roommate didn’t seem as bothered, behaving how Alistair probably would at a fire alarm back home. But to him? It was unbearable. It drove him to tears and he ultimately passed out. It hadn’t happened again, yet. He guessed it was either a false alarm or a breach somewhere else on the ship. That would also confirm that there were other floors with prisoners. 

He tried to find a way out, looking for loose bars and checking out the locks but he genuinely couldn’t figure those the fuck out(he really should have been taking notes whenever Father went on one of his engineering rant) and when he first tried to he could barely get a grip on the bars due to the stupid electric force field science fiction bullshit. Yes earth, and human settlements almost everywhere, has similar tech but he’s still gonna call sci-fi bullshit ‘cause it is.

Eventually, his captors figured out he wouldn’t eat the rat poison, and they brought something else. A lot of something else, actually. He avoided what didn’t smell or taste right, hoping for the best of the things he did eat. Raw, yellow meat? Questionable. Some kind of pink and orange slugs? Absolutely not. The plant lookin’ things that were probably fruit were fine. He liked the almost carrot. And they had jerky. The rest he gave to his dragon roommate as a peace offering. 

At one point, some of the wardens came in, like they usually do, only this time they tried to take the alien dragon. When the dragon started struggling, Ailstair decided that helping them might earn him some kind of favor with it. (Definitely not because he grew attached to them and feared for their safety) So he attacked the guard that had tried to keep him back. 

And bit the Bastard arm off. 

Aliens are… really fucking squishy. Their taser baton things didn’t really phase him, but it killed a Guard whenever he snatched it and used it against them. As it fell, its arm tore off. Inside of his mouth. It was disgusting. It tasted disgusting. He knew the fuckers were fragile, he once just lightly stepped on one that he knocked to the floor—didn’t even jump on the fucker— and snapped its rips but still, That was a lot.

They didn’t open the cell door anymore after that. Food and water were delivered through the little slit under the door, pushed by sticks. He tried to grab the sticks but they pulled back as soon as he started to approach. It was starting to piss him off. Maybe next time he’ll take more than an arm. 

Currently he’s just sitting in said cage with his dragonborn frien-Roommate staring at the ceiling after his newest escape attempt. Seriously, these fucker’s are so dumb. Thinking that watching him from all angles will make it any harder for him to escape. News flash, it won't stop him from trying as he’s tried four times by now, and almost succeeded 2 & 1/2 of those times(the half is cause he killed a fucker then took a hit to the bottom of his spine which kinda scared him and his dragon). 

He trying his very best to ignore all the chatter around him. Just because he can technically make them shut up doesn't mean he wants to let them know he can understand them. He normally takes the thin but still metal food trays, that they give him everyday, bend and snap and sharpen into shanks during when he’s bored but he ran out. He’s pretty sure they either can’t figure out what he’s doing or know what he’s doing and are to surprised to realize it’s a threat and try and take them away. And if they try and do that they’d have to pry them out of his cold, dead hands.

Alistair is getting real off track with his thought process tonight but what else is he supposed to do? It’s in the middle of the Night and nothing ever hap- oh wait, never mind something’s happening maybe they’re probably just gonna take him to The Gladiator Ring I swear to god if I have to fight another IRL nomu from MHA, I will go for the crowd next time. But he can hear a Fucker carrying something… no someone? large?? alien, with the way they're yelling at another Fucker. 

“You are such a hujari axten! Just lift the hujari thing for once you DRIDE!!!” Fucker One said. “Look, I told you with the other one. I. Can’t. Touch. It.” Fucker Two responded with exasperation. “The dride is three times lighter than you would think, but still hujari huge and heavy and one the most violent and capable of this species we’ve taken alive!!” Fucker One yelled.

“Oh well I’m oh so sorry, that only me and you are walking around doing quiores right now. If only we could take one of the other guards that are on patrol just to lift this thing to a cell, when it is obviously easy for you to lift… you are just krefftin lazy and want to go back to sleep, well guess what ya’ blasted axten SO DO I BUT SOMEONE HAS TO BE WITH YOU JUST IN CASE SOMETHING KREFFTIN HAPPENS YOU AXTEN’VERN!!”

Alistair was kinda shocked that they were just casually arguing while dragging someone to a cell where they will either be killed, experimented on, or put into The Gladiator Ring, or even just to sell the poor souls to the highest bidder. He wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t uncommon to see other aliens that just sell others cause, y’know, Money. Alistair is preeetty sure Father is either a cannibal or just sells human organs.. or both.

As he glares at the cage door with a new found hate. He doesn't mind the others in the cell block because they're in their own cages but he absolutely hates sharing his personal space. (Loki and his dragon are entirely different stories thank you very fucking much) While most of the other poor souls are asleep or close to, he must stay awake, his paranoia demands it what if they put.. whatever/whoever the hell, in his cage. 

He waits as the arguing gets closer and closer, louder and louder, more annoying by the second because the other Fucker should just help the other other Fucker because it will get the work done faster. 

He’s very glad that he is already used to very low light levels he and Loki both hate having the light on in their rooms, everyone (including themselves) are very confused by how well Loki’s eyesight actually is. His eyesight is also a whole ‘nother miracle and a half ‘cause both his mother and Father have reading glasses. After what felt like way too long they finally make it in the cell block. And stop right in front of his cell, Lovely. Alistair glares at them, bringing in another poor soul into this shit-hole, how many have they done this too. 

(Oh my gawd, why do I caaarreeerrhhr) 

Alistair just watches as they open his cage, if this was a good time he would use his new knifes to stab these dumbasses in their dick-equivalent so he could escape. IF it was a good time but Alistair still doesn't know where Loki is being held and his dragon roommate is both seven fuckin’ feet tall and asleep curled into a ball a couple feet away from the wall in front of him, doing something like that now would also be a death sentence cause off how many Fuckers he maimed. 

It seemed they finally stopped yelling at each other, probably trying to restrict the information they might let slip in front of him. Both of them looked at each other for a second, having some seyelent conversation.

And then in quick succession, Fucker one turns off the electricity, opens the cage, as Fucker two throws the body bag as hard as they can, and when he says as hard as they can, this is a being getting tossed so hard they hit the back of the cell. 

He hopes that didn't electrify whatever or whoever was in the bag. Then as soon as whatever is in the bag left the guards arms, the cage closes and the electricity gets turned back on. Poor bastard might be dead with a hit against the bars like that. The back bars were still electrified so that just added moredamage. Alistair wanted to keep glaring at the guards as they walked away but he couldn’t, this Stupidly lowng bitch in a bag(might be a snake or ferret.. why was That the second option)may not be dead. He flicks his glare back and forth between the Fucks and bag but ultimately picks the bag. 

Alistair slowly makes his way over to the bag and hears some chuckling from the Fuckers at the door. He doesn't care about them right now, he needs to make sure what ever is in the bag is 1) dead or not 2) if it’s sentient, prey or predator so he can either make it afraid of him or take his chances with the bars 3) if sentient and not hurt to bad, can they be useful.

He’s getting closer to the bag when he finally notices it’s moving a little bit. He tries to get a little closer again but stops at the sound it made. It sounded like a growl from a demonic lion that is half reformed from being blended in a blender about to claw its way out of hell, might be from the pain, might be because it’s stuck in a bag, or it’s sensing him and telling him to back up. 

Whatever it is (probably) can’t see him so, it shouldn’t end up as badly, he’ll just be even more careful. Dragon(who woke up when they heard the loud crash and clang, apparently) whispered at him to “Do not go and open that fucking bag.” He’s so glad he actually know common so he doesn’t have to guess what the curse words are. Ignoring his concerned frRoommate and moving as slowly as he can, Alistair gets right beside the cursed creature in the bag. It’s moving a bit more and making more, demonic clearing throat noises, but he has deducted that it must just be waking up, surprised that it’s hurt, and/or pissed. 

He stares at whatever this thing is, pocketknife in hand ‘cause those shanks are not thick nor sharp enough(yet) to cut through the bag. He runs different ways he could get killed doing this in his head and decides that whatever it is, it would be more upset if it was still stuck in a bag, better to make sure he’s the one to get it out. Alistair was about to raise his pocketknife to cut through the bag but jumped back as the bag started thrashing back. 

Absolutely not, safety first! He thought as he backtracked to his claimed corner, Dragon looking him like ‘I told you so’ and looking at the bag like it was going to eat them, the thing would probably kill him the moment it saw him going by the fact that it sounds like The Horrors and is like fifteen feet longso. Alistair eyes zero in on the bag and is amazed by how much it’s thrashing around in that thing. But it stopped thrashing almost as fast as started and he thinks he can see little impression of cat/maybe dog ears.

It’s quite around them besides the huffing breaths, growls and the untranslated probable curse words he can hear from the bag. Everyone is just staring at them now.

Alistair watches to see what it might do, does it have claws or something to cut the ba- Why is it gripping where the knot is? They usually don’t do that! Others in the past, either claw their way out or someone else cuts through the bag, either way no one goes for the knot.

He watches as the top of the bag that is tied off gets pulled into itself a bit. It’s confusing trying to figure out what this thing is doing. Does it think it can somehow bring the knot into the inside of the bag and untie it or? If it somehow, by a sheer miracle, gets it fully through the bag…. What will it do now? 

Alistair watched in silence, honesty amazed, horror as the now untied knot got tossed out and then the bag opened up. “Finally,” was said followed by more probable very creative insults directed at the Fuckers given their faces. He waits slowly breathing in the forgotten breaths for when it will leave the bag, he hasn’t known any sentient race that can do that. 

His eyes track the…. 

Hand? 

I mean it’s furry and has built in claws, but still, HAND???

Slowly exiting the bag first, It has long almost metallic black claws and the hand looks to be short charcoal black but dense fur, from wrist to a little below the elbow the fur seams to be compacted down. (And a little glittery as he reflects on later) The other hand reaches around a little as the opening of the bag opens to let themself through better. The guards at the door froze in fear as the creature’s eyes stared down into their souls, then it pounced.

[golvio]

A list of my current guesses about what’s going on in Echoes of Wisdom based on the private demo footage/descriptions floating around.

(Early game spoilers below cut)

The game’s pretty obvious about Hylia existing in its continuity, given the bigass Hylia statue plonked right in the middle of the hallway during Impa’s into scene. Also, Tri absolutely has something to do with Hylia & maybe the Golden Goddesses, both because of the obvious name + triangle motif connections to the Triforce, but also because they and “their friends” are apparently custodians responsible for mending any tears in reality that open up. Tri’s “echo” powers seem to be a limited, imperfect version of the Triforce’s power to grant any wish, which may presumably grow stronger the more “friends” they’ve gathered. I think EoW is going to touch on the Fujibayashi Reset!Creation Myth by talking about the creation of Hyrule, what the Triforce is, what Hylia’s role was, and what that means for Zelda as her ostensible successor.

If they’re going with the Fujibayashian version of the creation myth, then it’ll likely draw heavy inspiration from Shinto. Basically, I think the Still World might be some kind of pocket of the “primordial chaos” that existed before the goddesses created Hyrule. Either that, or Hyrule itself exists as some kind of island of differentiated creation in a sea of Primordial Chaos, which encroaches on the land and tries to revert it to Chaos if the realm isn’t actively being maintained, as it seems like the world’s “default state” is formless Chaos, given that living things trapped and frozen in the Still World are said to dissipate after a while. The “outer space” and “goopy black water” visual motifs also remind me of the Ancient Greek description of Chaos as a location full of “endless air” or associated with water. Ancient Egypt also characterized existence before creation as a “watery abyss” personified by the god Nu.

I’m also curious about whether the Still World might tie in with other parts of Shinto cosmogony, given the association between stagnant water and the concept of “kegare.”

Based on the Link mini boss, I definitely don’t think the “Ganon” we see in the intro is actually Ganon. I think he’s an echo-puppet being controlled by whatever’s controlling the Rifts. I think Ganon was among the first living creatures to be yoinked by the rift, and was likely either caught by surprise or spirited away while freshly revived and in a weakened state. I think Zelda’s definitely going to find his frozen body somewhere in the Still World, and she’ll either accidentally release him while figuring out how to rescue the captured townsfolk & her dad, or she’ll release him on purpose to sic him on whoever’s trying to assassinate her, because he’s absolutely going to be pissed when he wakes up. He’ll also likely turn the tables on Zelda to become the final boss, because he’s Ganon. Upstaging first act villains is what he does.

I’m not sure what that means for his trident, though. The camera focusing on it and it being a vibrant purple that’s a complementary color to Tri’s bright yellow suggests it might also be a special Echo-Weapon, but I’m not sure what that means yet.

There’s another place associated with “endless space” and “water” that we saw in Skyward Sword—the arena Demise set up for Link at the very end of the game. If Hylia’s here, would EoW possibly revisit Demise, too? Is Demise, as Hylia’s divine counterpart, some kind of personification of the Rift?

This one’s a long shot in the vein of crack theory territory, but I’m still holding on to hope that the metaphorical bus Ghirahim got put on when Demise died will come back. The first boss has certain similarities to both Scaldera (animated rock monster) and Koloktos (human-shaped vessel animated by purple goo), which might point to it being a simple construct animated by Ghirahim. We have the extremely sus “Trident of Darkness” analogue that echo-Ganon was wielding. Also, Ghirahim trying to destroy the world by putting it in eternal stasis, or “making it the way it was” would be a rather fitting and tragic expression of his grief over losing Demise, since his whole deal in SkSw was trying to force the world to go back to the way it was before Demise died by resurrecting him. Him being emotionally “stuck in stasis” after Demise totally beefed his second chance at life, leaving Ghirahim without a purpose, and Ghirahim taking it out on the rest of the world would make sense. It’d also be really fun to see him as a rival to Ganon instead of immediately accepting him as Demise’s successor and kissing his ass like he did in HW. I think the two of them could have a really interesting relationship.

[justimajin]

The Profit & Love Statement » Pt. 19

↠ Pairing: Seokjin x Reader

↠ Genre: Fluff, Comedy, Angst

↳ 3.2k / CEO AU

↠ Summary: Through hours of endless training and hard work, Kim Seokjin is finally the CEO of Kim Electronics. He has everything at his hands - status, money, power. He owes it all to you, his rigid and sarcastic mentor who overseed his entire training. But as he steps into the shoes of becoming the CEO, he can only wonder what it means for your relationship now.

↠ Warnings: so. much. fluff. (love is *indeed* in the air)

↠ Next Update: Tuesday, November 7 (series masterpost here)

You wait outside your apartment complex. 

The sun is luminous and shining brightly, the orange fall leaves descending down from trees. There’s a slight breeze in the air, making you tug your loose cardigan closer to your form. 

It’s the ideal day to go out, and the ideal day for a date. 

A sigh passes though your lips. It was just yesterday when Jin was holding onto your hands, confessing that he wanted to ask you out. While you were most definitely taken aback with his words – you weren’t entirely against the idea. 

You can’t pinpoint when it happened exactly, when the intern turned CEO seemingly became someone you knew you could lean on, someone you would look so genuinely forward to seeing. Because as hazy as it was, something just felt right when you had simply nodded, watching his expression contort into utter bliss at your response. 

Which is why you’re currently standing outside, eyes flickering occasionally over to your watch. You’re dressed in a bright yellow sundress – something Yuna had picked for you the moment you told her who you were going out with. You muse how it was incredibly amusing to watch your younger sister fuss all over you, attempting to make your hair look nice and throwing a white cardigan over your shoulders. 

Glancing down at your attire, the corner of your mouth tugs at how proud she would be. 

A couple of minutes pass by, and Jin shows up right on time with his car. 

The moment you catch sight of him, your stomach churns a bit. You know you shouldn’t be nervous, but there’s no telling the butterflies dancing in your stomach about that. 

Yanking the car door open, you slip into the passenger seat as he grins at you. 

“You look nice.” 

“Thanks.” You muse, leaning over to grab your seatbelt and buckling it. He’s dressed in a white t-shirt and black ripped jeans, a dark blue baseball cap resting on his head.

As he begins to reverse, you throw curious glances at him. 

“So, where are we going?” 

His mouth curves into a smile. “It’s a surprise.” 

You frown, mind swimming around with possibilities.

Your most likely guess is that he’ll take you to some kind of restaurant, or that he’ll want to explore around an area with a ton of them. But after twenty minutes spin away, there’s a hand planting right against your eyes. 

Your field of vision is completely cut off. “Jin!” 

“You can’t see it yet!” He chides, but you scoff. 

“I can close my eyes then!” You hear a faint ‘oh’ come from him and he releases you, resuming back to his driving. 

“Promise me you’ll keep them closed, Y/N.” He insists. 

“I will, I will.” You firmly state, hearing faint sounds of voices surround you. After a couple of minutes, the car abruptly stops and you hear Jin click off the engine. 

The door to your seat opens, and he grabs onto your hands, slowly helping you out. 

“Can I look now?” You probe, having no vision this entire time.

“Not yet.” You hear him lock the car, before your hands are being guided again. Taking small steps, the voices only get louder and louder until Jin stops you completely. 

“Okay, open them.” 

They flutter open and your jaw drops. 

Jin has a huge mischievous grin, his eyes twinkling. 

Because right in front of you, is a huge amusement park. 

“Come on, Y/N!” You don’t even have a chance to retort anything before Jin grabs onto your wrist, pulling you along. “Let’s go have some fun!” 

You follow along reluctantly. 

You didn’t realize how truly childish Jin is. 

His eyes are practically shimmering, taking all of his surroundings in one by one as he whips his head back and forth. He begins to construct a scheme on things to do and how long they’ll take for the entire day, marking everything eagerly down onto a brochure he retrieved. 

You, in the meanwhile, are caught up between observing him and trying to recall the last time you came to an amusement park. It seems like only yesterday when your parents took you and Yuna, when you were just entering middle school and the latter was a newborn. 

You hear Jin let out a loud yelp. 

Immediately swiveling around, his eyes are latched onto a specific stall and it’s not long before you’re being tugged along. 

“We need to go on this!” He gestures to one rollercoaster with too many loops that has your eyes doubling. 

You harshly gulp, “Jin, I-I don’t think…” 

“Trust me, it’ll be fun!” His hand laces with yours, an action you can’t even bring your attention to when he’s running over. The roller coaster thankfully has no line up, and you’re truthfully not so sure if that’s a good thing. 

Jin sits on your left side as you get buckled into the ride, hand still clasped with his. It begins to move slowly and you throw anxious looks at Jin, who only seems to be ecstatic that it’s starting. 

The first dip happens and you scream at the top of your lungs. 

Your heart is thudding against your chest and the wind is smacking against your face, body practically coursing with sheer fear. 

However within mere seconds, that fear morphs completely into something else. 

Your heart rate and blood pressure rises and all you can think about is how thrilling it actually is, savouring the way the wind whips through your hair and how the anticipation only builds as you go through the numerous loops. 

Once you get off, you can only stare at Jin in astonishment. 

“That was so much fun!” 

He brightly grins, “What I’d tell you?” 

“Let’s go on that one!” Now you clasp onto his hand, dragging him to another one. Jin instantly recognizes it as the infamous teacup ride. 

He smiles as he watches you wait in line, eagerly anticipating the ride as you watch others spin around. It’s a side to you that he hasn’t had the opportunity to see, one you would probably just dismiss as being childish. 

But when you grasp onto him and drag him over to one of the teacups, he’s just grateful to hop on with you. 

You spin around, squeals and giggles leaving you as all the teacups rotates. Jin has to hold onto his hat, the cap nearly disappearing with how fast you’re spinning the centerpiece around. 

Your laughter is contagious and it mixes with his own. 

Getting off the rides, you’re eager to try more – but Jin beats you to it. 

He practically loses his shit when he sees the giant Mario House. 

You loudly gasp, not knowing they had one. 

“We have to go!” You're pushing Jin towards it and laugh when he picks up on speed, practically sprinting over as you run behind. 

“Oh. My. God.” 

Jin is at the entrance, eyes wider than you’ve ever seen them. 

There’s Mario merchandise everywhere – to clothing, stationary and even snacks. 

Jin looks like a kid that’s been dropped off at a candy store. 

You watch as his eyes are darting everywhere, grabbing onto a giant Mario plushie and showing you in awe. You urge him to buy it, amongst other things he shows you, even the giant Mario cap he replaces the one he’s wearing with. 

You’re soon leaving, with Jin holding two bags that are bursting with different kinds of Mario merch and you trailing behind him, eating a bag full of Luigi themed chips. 

“Where to next, Captain?” 

He checks his brochure, mumbling underneath his breath, “We’ve done two roller coaster rides, gone to the Mario house…” 

“Can we go there?” You innocently inquire and Jin glances up. 

His smile drops. 

You’ve picked the haunted house, the place that wasn’t even on his list to begin with. 

“Uh, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He shifts his focus back to his brochure. 

“Why not?” You whine. 

“Y/N, there’s a guy with blood all over his face at the front.” 

“So?” It looked interesting, and you’ve truthfully never been to one. 

Jin doesn’t budge, not moving in the slightest. 

A pout forms on your lips. “Please?” 

Jin lets out a deep exhale. He knows the saying that love can turn you completely blind and to be quite honest, he hasn’t felt that statement more than right now, especially when your bright eyes flutter as you continue to pout. 

Sucking in a harsh breath, he prepares his heart and nods. “Okay, let’s go.” 

You instantly beam, your whole face lighting up. Jin fondly smiles at your reaction, but then the two of you get closer to the haunted house and it disappears altogether. 

The man at the front handing out tickets is dressed as a zombie, “T-Two tickets for the haunted house.” 

He hums, taking out wristbands for the two of you and putting it around your wrist. When he reaches down, the frantic man whispers in his ear. 

“Has anyone died going in here?” Jin truthfully ponders and the zombie grins. 

“A couple.” His heart drops and the man laughs, “Just kidding, it's completely safe and not really scary.” 

“T-Thanks, good to know.” You grasp onto his hand, leading him in. Immediately, the creepy music fills his ears, alongside the faint echoes of screaming voices. 

“Woah.” You mutter, glancing around the room to see hanging spider webs, splatters of blood, and fake skeleton bones littered everywhere. 

It almost looks too real and you’re impressed with the level of effort. 

Jin, on the other hand, wholeheartedly agrees with your statements, letting out a shriek when a spider web dangles too close above his head. 

“Are you okay?” You ask right away and Jin shakes his head, clinging to your side. 

“L-Let’s just keep going.” 

You enter more rooms, all with more intricate designs and including more props, like coffins and bats. You’re more intrigued than anything, but that’s when you realize there’s a visitor in the room. 

The man dressed as a vampire shouts a low ‘Boo!’, getting an unamused expression from you and a jolt out of Jin, before he resorts to hiding behind you as a shield. 

“Nice place you got here.” You point to the coffin on the ground, and the vampire mutters a small thanks as you leave, making you smile. 

Jin is practically glued to you, head attached to your shoulder as he lets you lead. You whirl around, having seen the majority of what you were curious about. 

“Jin, we can leave.” You whisper, “I’m serious, there’s nothing more I want to–” 

Your words are caught in your throat, a man dressed as a serial killer standing at the end of the hallway near the exit. He grins, before letting out a low groan and sludging his way towards you. 

Your heart thugs against your ribcage and you turn, tugging against Jin’s shirt, “Nevermind, we need to run!” 

He picks up the cue right away, interlacing your hands and sprinting as fast as he can. The man is on your toes, happy he’s gotten two victims. 

You reach a dead end and there’s no exit. Frantically looking around, he emerges and you let out a loud scream. 

“Hey!” Jin envelopes you immediately, waving his trembling finger against the man, “Back off!” 

The man stares at him unamused, before letting out a sigh and leaving with a mumble of ‘Man, couples are no fun.’ 

As he leaves, you touch your chest, attempting to calm your racing heart. 

Jin holds onto your shoulders, “Are you okay, Y/N?!” 

“Y-Yeah…just wasn’t expecting a s-serial killer to come out of the blue…” You sputter out. 

He stares at you intently. “I’m taking this as we leave?” 

“Yes, please.” That’s all he needs to haul you up, leading you out of the haunted house. You’re relieved to find sunshine immediately, your eyes gladly adjusting to the light. 

“Well, I’m glad that’s over.” Jin remarks and you nod. “Let’s go eat?” 

You grab onto his outstretched hand, letting him lead you to a nearby food stall. 

Turns out eating after getting scared shitless, is the absolute best. 

Jin drags you to a stall that’s selling waffles, coming with an assortment of toppings ranging from strawberries to whipped cream. You both place your orders swiftly and you muse at getting to eat some after so long, too accustomed to serving them previously with your waitress job. 

Unfortunately, Jin beats you to the bill. You don’t even have a moment to search through your wallet before he’s yanking out his credit card, sliding it over the cashier’s terminal. It earns protests from you, to which Jin just retorts with that he’s the one that wanted to take you out so you should just let him dote on you. 

Moments like that make you completely forget you’re on a date with the CEO. 

The waffle is placed within your hands and you dig in, the sweetness from the cream and sourness from the strawberries tasting all too good. You laugh when Jin takes a particularly big bite, practically stuffing his face with it. 

“That was amazing.” You exclaim, tossing out both of your empty plates. Jin hums from behind you, seemingly lost in thought. 

Swiveling around, a pair of orange cat ears land on your head. 

Jin snickers as you raise a curious brow, scrambling to grab his phone from his pocket. 

You smile unamused as he takes your picture, “You had to pick a cat?” 

“Yeah, it seemed to fit you the most.” He cheekily smiles as you roll your eyes at him. “Oh! Here.” 

He hands you a huge cat mask from the stall nearby, taking your cat ears off. You put on the mask with a sigh, watching him glance around before his eyes widen. 

“Found one!” He turns to you, “Ta-dah!” 

You burst out laughing. 

“What?” He whines, offended by your reaction. 

Yet, you can’t help it all, especially when he’s chosen a huge white alpaca mask for himself. 

“It’s just–” You wheeze, “It’s so you.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” He clasps onto your hands, bringing you closer to his mask. “Hey, I’m cute, right?” 

“Very cute.” You remark, causing him to beam. He takes out his phone, placing his hand on your shoulder to take a picture. You throw up a claw hand, attempting to mimic a cat that makes Jin laugh. 

“I’m definitely making this my wallpaper.” He taps on the screen and your eyes sweep around, before they enlarge dramatically. 

You’re tugging Jin within moments, entering into a photobooth station. 

“Quick, pose!” Tilting his head towards yours, the flash goes off. It nearly blinds the two of you, but the image of both of your masks gets captured and the machine’s rounds up for another photo. 

You hurriedly gesture for him to take the mask off and he immediately smiles, snaking his hand around your waist as the second flash goes off. 

The flashes go off twice more, one with a picture of you two doing weird faces and another, with Jin insisting that you look like you’re fawning over him, which you comedically attempt to do. 

Laughter spills from his lips. “I don’t think Yuna is the only good actor in the family, Y/N.” 

You lean over, attempting to look at the copy of the photos in his hand. The photo he refers to has your eyes extremely wide and filled with adoration, a dramatic hand covering your gasping mouth as you look at Jin, who pulls his most confident look. 

It draws a giggle out from you, before your eyes playfully snap over at him. 

“Who says I was acting?” 

Jin plays along. “You’re right, you were taking a picture with me after all.” 

“The most handsomest man ever.” You retort, causing a soft smile to grace his lips. 

“Come on.” He grasps onto your hand, “The day’s not over yet.” 

You happily accompany him with a grin. 

You start to lose track of exactly how many rides you’ve been on. 

Jin takes you on the more popular ones first, making an immediate beeline for them. It makes you laugh when he practically waves his arms frantically, grabbing the conductor’s attention instantly for tickets. There’s lines crossed off on his brochure with the amount of rides you’ve been on and soon, night falls and you’re brought to the last one of the day. 

The high view you have is expansive, the tinkering and dazzling lights illuminating the entire amusement park. Your eyes latch onto it, hands pressed against the window of the spindling ferris wheel. 

Jin watches you with a grin, smile only increasing when you twist around, finger pointing towards the first ride you were on as it starts to glow with its own fluorescent lights. 

Leaning back, he clears his throat. “Did you have fun today?” 

“Huh?” You’re too memorized, but you catch his voice and his words sink in. 

You separate from the window, knowing you would have the view for a good couple of minutes thanks to the slow motions of the wheel. 

“I had lots of fun.” You confirm, turning to him. “I wasn’t too sure of where you were going to take me, but I’m glad it was here.” 

The corner of his lips curls and he directs his gaze to the right side, staring at the lights. 

“We’re always at the office. I just wanted to take you somewhere you wouldn’t take yourself,” He glances at you sneakily, “A place where you could have a good time.” 

You catch on, “Of course, because I’m such a fun person, right?” 

“Surprisingly so.” He mutters a bit too dramatically. 

You shake your head at his antics, words laced with gratitude, “Thank you, though. I genuinely loved it.” 

His gaze connects with yours and you both smile fondly. 

Jin moves forward, his knees bumping into yours. His expression falls, a flicker of uncertainty spreading through. 

“Um, can I–” His confidence crumbles, something that has you alarmed. “I-I don’t know if this is going to be weird or anything, and I’d hate to make you uncomfortable in any wa–” 

You lean forward, intentful eyes surveying him. “What is it, Jin?” 

“Can I kiss you?” 

Your mouth falls slightly agape, smile fading. 

Jin immediately shakes his head, “Actually, you know what, forget I said anythin–” 

In a split second, your lips brush against his. It’s a bit too short and very sweet, so similar to how your entire date has felt like. 

Jin blinks wide-eyed at your actions, “I thought you’d never ask.” 

You back up with a mischievous grin, finding it lowkey adorable that all his confidence manages to flee in instances like this – but Jin doesn’t let you be the only one with the element of surprise. 

He’s pulling you forward again, planting his lips on yours. A hum of content escapes you, the butterflies in your stomach blooming. 

A few moments pass and the ride conductor halts your cart, undoing the lock before prying open the door. You and Jin both step out at the same time, faces flushed and fluctuating gazes meeting. 

You let out a giggle and Jin intertwines your fingers, exiting the ferris wheel. 

Heading back to the parking lot together, neither one of you lets go. 

[ohtobeleah]

Minimal Losses // Jake Seresin

Chapter Two // Partner in Crime

Summary: Hangman takes you up for a fly over turned impromptu training session only to show up at your dorm with a peace offering you can’t refuse.

Warnings: None. Fluff? Jake Seresin x female reader pairing.

Word Count: 4.1k

Author Note: I don’t know about you but I love this version of Jake. He’s just so soft. My heart really cannot take it. MASTERLIST

“Shouldn't that be you out there Romeo?” Rooster couldn't help but to quip as his hands came down to slap against Jake's shoulders from behind. Both men watching as Bob helped guide you up the wing of Jake's new double seater super hornet. “Or has that ship sailed already?” 

“Nope, the ship is still docked–” Jake responded with a grin, watching as Bob helped you settle into the cockpit. Laughing nervously as embarrassment flooded your systems when you slipped a little and lost your balance–falling into Bob without meaning to. “We cleaned our slate.” Jake Seresin wasn’t a man that believed in love at first sight, but you were starting to make him question his long-standing beliefs. 

“Ah, so you aren't gonna hold any grudges for her little escape stunt?” Oh god Jake had forgotten he’d spilled the beans on that one. He was so used to flaunting his conquests to his friends, his colleagues. Jake had never really cared enough about whoever he’d been fooling around with enough to not blurt out all the horny details—but you? Well it was quite simple really. Jake didn’t want everyone on base knowing what you were like to be with. At least it was just Rooster, and at least he only knew about the way you left and not the way you came. “Let bygones be bygones huh?” 

“Yeah, we’re gonna just start fresh. Told her I’d let the dine and dash thing go as long as she promises not to turn around and arrest me for borderline domestic assault.” Jake didn't stick around to hear Rooster's response. All he knew was that the expecting father stood in utter shock at Jake's admission that whatever you two had gotten up to together on Saturday night, that it had been pretty full on. 

“Okay so Hangman's just taking you up for a fly over, we’ll be up there not far behind you but in case of emergency–this is your ejection handle.” Bob pointed to the yellow and black striped handle that was under your seat between your legs. “It's not a fun experience by any means but it sure is better than the alternative.” 

“Have you ever had to eject lieutenant Floyd?” Bob could hear it in your voice, you were nervous as all hell. Nodding in response to your question, Bob checked over all the systems. Turning on the radar for you and making sure the back up radio was in fact operational. 

“A time or two, the last time I had to eject it was from a bird strike.” 

“What's that exactly?” 

“It's when a bird gets caught in the engine, can't really control nature or the weather.” Bob physically saw the panic rise in your eyes as he double checked you were strapped in properly. “Sorry ma’am.” His voice softened as he fiddled with the straps. “Are you not good with planes?” 

“Um, if I can avoid them I will, but uh–I guess I can't really do that if this is meant to be my job right?” You were trying to downplay your fear, you were terrified of flying. Usually you had to be self medicated for anxiety whenever you got on a commercial flight. A fighter jet was a pretty big step up. But to let your own fears interfere with an ongoing investigation would be a disservice to yourself and those you were sworn to protect. 

“Well, Hangman’s a pretty good pilot, just don't tell him I said that because he’ll never let me forget about it.” Bob tried his best to soothe your obvious fears, not having realised Jake was coming right up behind him. 

“You know Bob, I think in all the time we’ve flown together, I think that's the only compliment you've ever really paid me.” Jake smirked as he walked up the wing, jumping into the front seat of the cockpit. Bob couldn't roll his eyes any more than he did. Causing you to laugh behind your hand. “Ready to go Agent Kas?” Jake beamed as he went through the same procedures he went through each and every time he was getting ready for a flight. Checking all his systems and making sure everything was working the way it should be. “Robert, unless you're planning on making this a threesome man, I'd be getting going if I were you.” Again, Jake heard you laugh and he was instantly addicted to that sound just as much as he was addicted to the way you moaned his name in his ear. Perhaps even more. 

“Right, I'll uh–see you when I get up there ma’am.” Nodding softly and pressing his lips together. Bob made his way down the wing of the plane before vanishing out of sight. Walking towards where Rooster still stood in disbelief. “Hey, is there something going on with Agent Kas and Hangman? Am I missing something?” 

“Oh yeah.” Rooster sighed as he clipped his helmet to his vest. “Yeah big time buddy—but doesn’t mean you can’t have a crack right?” Rooster liked to stir, especially whenever it involved Jake Seresin. “Shoot your shot before it’s too late.” 

“Probably not a good idea—“ Bob knew well enough to leave Hangman's stuff alone, if he’d already called dibs then he wasn’t going to interfere. He did think you were pretty though. That he’d openly admit. 

“Yeah I probably wouldn’t wanna be Eskimo brothers with Bagman either.” Pretending to shiver at the idea, Rooster slapped the back of his palm into Bob's chest. C’mon man we better get up there.” Bob didn’t move, still processing what Rooster had so easily let slip. “Don’t want them having all the fun right?” 

“Wait, they slept together?” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

“Okay aviator’s—“ Pete Mitchell’s voice came through your communications as you looked out over vast distance of clear blue sky. Only a few clouds in sight. “This session is all about free fall control.” Wait what? Hang on a minute no one had told you that! 

“Uh, Lieutenant Seresin, are you participating in that exercise?” Your voice was shaking as you tapped Jake on the shoulder. He couldn’t help the grin that plastered itself across his face. 

“I wasn’t supposed to, I’m just up here for a fly over.” Jake responded. The two seated super hornet had been due for a full scale service and a fly over was a good way to access what could possibly be looked at. “But by the sounds of it you seem pretty keen on joining in so I think we might, what do you say Kasper?”

“Uh I think I’m go—“ Before you could even say that you wouldn’t mind passing on the experience, Jake cut the engines. “Oh holy shit—!” Your hands flew up against the glass of the canopy as you dropped rapidly. Plumitting back down to earth. “Jake!! Jake, stop! Oh my god—!” Jake had full control over the engineless free fall he’d entered. He wouldn’t have put you in a position where he knew he could easily pull himself out of. That was the entire purpose of the training exercise that most of the squad were up running today. 

“It sounds like Kas is having the time of her life. Phoenix chuckled as she regained stability of her aircraft and leveled out. Much like you? Bob jaded free fall exercises, it made his head spin more than usual. 

“Yeah, I’d be just as delighted if I had Hangman for a pilot.” Bob was quick to quip back, you’re pleading still ringing out throughout the comms as Jake finally ignited both engines and leveled out. “He’s gonna have her in shambles by the time they land.” 

“Something tells me she’s gonna need a bucket.” Phoenix laughed. She was keen to see how this played out, knowing how Hangman flew it was only a matter of time before you were either requesting anyone other than him to fly with you or he was apologising with his natural charm dialed up to astronomical heights. Only to do the same thing over and over again. 

“What the fuck is your problem!!” You shouted as you steadied yourself in your seat. Fixing your helmet that had been so kindly made for you. Kasper in bold lettering with two cartoon ghosts on the front. 

“Consider us even for the sneak out—“ Jake beamed. Laughing to himself as he heard you gagging and heaving in the backseat of his F-18. “Vomit bags under your seat Sweetheart.” 

“I thought we had a clean slate!?” Coughing up whatever you’d just thrown up into the bag Jake had told you was under your seat, you wished you could see his stupid face. Probably smug and full of himself. “I said I was sorry, okay!” For a brief moment Jake wondered if he’d taken it too far, but then the realisation hit that you’d have to pass yourself off as a weapons system officer. You wouldn’t be able to do that if you couldn’t handle a free fall. 

“How do you expect to pass as a TopGun graduate if you can’t even handle a barrel roll?” 

“I’m kinda banking on the fact I’m really good at what I do so I won’t have to go up in one of these while I’m onboard the Lexington.” You let your head fall back against the seat. Lulling side to side. “If you really just did that because of the way I left on Sunday you really need to reevaluate your priorities.” Jake was head over heels. He knew well enough to know he didn’t fall often, but when he did he fell hard and he fell fast. “God I’m gonna be sick again—“ 

“Jesus, I hope you’re right about being good at what you do Kas.” Jake shut down the engines again as he forced a controlled plummet. Spinning around and around as he held back on the throttle. “Because if you can’t handle this? I can’t imagine what you’d be like in a dog fight.” 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

By the time Jake was touching down against the tarmac, you had filled the vomit bag to the very brim. It was needless to say you were incredibly eager to feel solid ground below your feet yet again. 

“This is your captain speaking,” Jake taunted as the canopy popped open. “Please remain seated until cabin crew have cleaned up the mess in the aisle.” You sent the gentleman who’d climbed up the wing to assist you with your impromptu luggage a soft smile. Handing him the knotted bag of vomit before you uncliped and stood up. “Kas I’m just giving you lip alright, you did well.” 

“I don’t need lip from you, son of Satan.” Not wasting a moment as you walked steadily with arms wide—holding you balance down the wing. Jumping to the ground below, you let out a dramatic sigh of relief as you dropped to your knees before laying flat on your stomach. Jake laughed aloud as he watched you from a bird's eye view. “Sweet steady ground.”

“You know, that won’t be the last time you go up right, if anything it’s just the first.” 

“It’ll be the last time I go up with you.” You groaned as you pressed your cheek to the tarmac. “God you fly like you aren’t trying to live, little egomaniacal of you to death roll me in the name of a covert operation.” 

“I fly like lives depend on me—“ Jake corrected you as he jumped off the wing of his F-18, landing right behind you with a thud. “And I can assure you, I’m just trying to help you pass as an avid aviator with flying colours.” 

“You made me throw up!” You knew full and well that you had made yourself throw up, it just wasn’t something you wanted to admit. Jake had a shit eating grin plastered across his face so promptly he could have passed for the Cheshire Cat himself. You had a weak constitution, it never served you well in crime scenes or on planes in general. Add the free fall barrel rolls into the mix and you had the perfect storm made for up chuck city. 

“By the sounds of it you had a full gourmet breakfast.” Watching as you stood to your feet, Jake taunted you a little more, knowing he was getting a rise out of you. “Next time? Try a banana or a bowl of white rice and ginger.” 

“There’s not gonna be a next time—“ Dusting yourself off you scoffed at Jake's advice. “You’re supposed to be my partner! Have my back! You just tried to kill me!” Turning on your heels you walked away without giving Jake a chance to retaliate. 

“You’ll thank me later!” He shouted after you, watching as you flipped him off over your shoulder. Rooster was by his side in no time, having seen the poor display of sportsmanship Jake had shown you. 

“Consider that ship sailed Romeo—“ 

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***

You were the only resident currently using the dorms on base. As far as you could tell—all the pilots that had been stationed out at Miramar had all been assigned their own off base house. Either one or two bedroom homes that all looked identical besides the personality each one brought to the home they’d moved into. 

You were in the common area living room. If there had been others living on your particular floor you were sure that there would be people buzzing around in the kitchen, dining and living room areas. But it was just you. Basking in the peaceful tranquility the silence of your own company brought, you took a small sip of the tea you were drinking. Hibiscus and strawberry. Sitting the warm coffee cup back onto the coaster before flipping the file you had been reading up on over to the next page. 

Something about pulling apart your pistol, cleaning it in its entirety before putting it back together like a puzzle brought you a sense of calm. To know your weapon inside and out. To know every small piece, every nook and cranny of the service issued weapon made you feel more comfortable with the fact you held the power to take a life away in an instant in your palms. 

As you reached out for your coffee cup full of tea, a gentle knocking coming from the main door of the floor you were the only resident off had your pausing in your play. For a Federal Agent you could be rather skittish. Especially when you weren’t expecting anyone. 

Even if you were on a navy base, you tucked your gun into the waistline of your tracksuit pants. Covering it with the sweatshirt that matched. You jumped from your spot on the ground with another knock timing out through the empty hall.

It wasn’t that you didn’t feel safe, no. It was more the fact that this was your first solo case. You’d always had someone with you—someone watching over you. Sure you had Agent Bradshaw around, but she wasn’t going with you onto the Lexington. She was leaving you in the hand of Jake Seresin. 

Another knock rang out as you padded down the hall. Shifting slightly as you approached the closed and clicked door, you waited a few seconds before asking who it was. 

“Who is it?”

“It’s me—“ Well that really didn’t give you much to go off now, did it?. “Hangman.” Oh, now that said it all. With a huff of frustration and a sigh of relief you swung the door open, revealing Jake who stood in his own sweats with a brown bag and six pack of beers. “Consider it a peace offering.” He gestured to the greased up bag. “Burgers and beers?” Expressionless, you stepped aside to let Jake in. He watched as you closed and locked the front door again, pulling out your gun that had been pressed against the small of your back. Placing it on the dining table carefully—making sure the safety was on. 

“What?” You questioned. “I wasn’t expecting anyone—“

“And your immediate response was to be armed and at the ready?” 

“Better to expect the unexpected than to underestimate the circumstances.” Shrugging your shoulders in response, you eyes off the bag Jake had placed on the table. “Why are you here exactly?” Your stomach growled with a mind of its own—you’d been so caught up with your case research you hadn’t organised yourself dinner. 

“Rooster's wife, you know—your boss.” Diving into the bag for a few stray fries, Jake placed them in his mouth before he went back in. Fishing out and throwing you a burger. You caught it with two hands. Unwrapping it as your glands watered. “Kinda gave me an absolute scathing after you apparently begged her to place you with someone else.”

It was true. The minute you were on solid ground again after Jake had death rolled you into a weeping puddle of throw up and bile, you were matching into Agent Bradshaw's office. 

“I need a new partner!” It hasn’t been a request but a demand. “Jake Seresin just tried to kill me—“ She didn’t even bother looking up from her paperwork. 

“I’ve known Hangman for quite a while now and I can assure you Kasper, he didn’t try to kill you.” 

“I don’t trust him, he could jeopardise the entire operation! How is he supposed to have my back at all times when he’s purposely trying to make me feel weak and vulnerable.” 

“Did Jake make you feel weak and vulnerable or do you naturally feel weak and vulnerable around him?” Agent Bradshaw questioned as she finally raised a cautious brow and looked at you through her eyelids. She’d mastered the art of the Kubrick star that was for sure. “I know he was the one you slept with Kas, and believe me when I say I hope you have enough common sense to get tested.” 

“If you knew I slept with him why didn’t you partner me with someone else?” Agent Bradshaw placed her own down with a soft sigh. Like you were truly interrupting something important. You were, but right now you couldn’t care less. She took a few steps out from behind her desk, opting to rest against it as she crossed her arms over her chest. Forearms testing on her baby bump. 

“Because no one spends the night at Hangman’s house sweetheart, if there’s even the slightest chance he cares? I’m willing to bank good money on the fact he’d have your back no matter the consequences.” 

“Well after the stunt you performed today I wasn’t entirely sure I could actually work with you.” You had already taken a bite of your burger as you sat down at the table. Slumping. Jake offered you a beer before cracking the top, passing it along the wooden table. “But since I’m stuck with you—“ rolling your eyes, you fished out the badge you’d asked Agent Bradshaw for. All it said was NCIS Special Agent. It held no merit on its own without personal credentials. But it was still something. “Consider this my peace offering.” Throwing it underarm style, Jake caught the silver badge with a smile so pure it made your heart flutter momentarily. “It’s NCIS, that’s all she had lying around. Pretty sure it’s actually hers but I didn’t really stick around the press for answers.” 

“What’s the chances of me getting a gun?” You couldn’t help the laugh that escaped as Jake shined the badge against his shirt. “Nah this is cool.”

Sitting in comfortable silence for a while as you ate, both you and Jake retreated back to the living room where you’d been going over your case files. Your tea now cold, discarded off to the side as you explained in more detail to Jake what had been going on. 

“So you really think this guys on board the Lexington?”

“I do, but the presence of NCIS and FBI would just freak him out, we need him caught off guard—hence the FBI lead and undercover agent scheme we’re concocting.” 

“And they choose you because?” Jake didn’t know who much weight his question truly carried until he noticed your face drop slightly. Second guessing your response. You wanted to say something along the lines of being the best pick for the job or that it had been your case since the first murders. But you didn’t—you opted for the more believable option. 

“Because it’s easy to go undercover when no one ever really noticed you to begin with Lieutenant Seresin.” It was a harsh tea that you’d learnt to accept a long time ago. It was just the way things were. So when Jake Seresin had paid just a little attention to you at the bar? It was no wonder you were so easily swayed into playing into his charming ways. He got the girl alright, but only because she’d been so deprived of affection for so long that even the slight chance of it falling into her lap had you acting outside of your own personality. 

“That’s why they call you Kasper?” Jake wanted to get to know you, he felt like he’d skipped the first six chapters of a really good book. Skipping all the way to the part where the two main characters fall in love before even reading how they met and who they were. 

“Always invisible, honestly it was an inevitable nickname really.” You tried to hide the sudden onset of bashfulness that had stricken you. Hiding a blushed smile in the dimly lit light of the abandoned living room of the dormitory. 

“But why with a K and not C?” Jake hadn’t noticed the gap between you two had gotten smaller and smaller with every question he asked about the case and even more so with every question he asked about you. 

“It's just how one of my professors spelt it, pretty sure she had some level of undiagnosed dyslexia but I was only like fifteen at the time so I wasn’t about to question it.” Explaining why you had always stuck with Kasper and a K, Jake didn’t want to pass over the fact you had just said professor and fifteen in the same sentence.

“Wait, how old are you again?” Jake frowned for a brief moment, counting on his fingers because the math in his head wasn’t adding up. “When did you graduate?” Holy shit he had broken a federal law hadn’t he. Fuck. 

“I’m twenty six—“ You knew Jake would freak when he found out. But it was bound to happen sooner or later. “But I graduated high school in two thousand and eight.” Yep, this wasn’t math he could do on his fingers. Jake just stared at you, waiting for you to make it make sense. “I uh, I may have graduated high school at like twelve—“

“Twelve!!” Jake shouted as you cupped his mouth. Laughing as you told him to keep his voice down even if no one was around. It was the same response everyone gave you. “Jesus Kas I was just learning how to fucking jerk off at twelve and you had graduated high school!?” 

“I know I know—“ Sitting back on your heels you looked down at the carpet that held scattered papers everywhere, completely defeated. “Even prodigal brilliance doesn’t help me stand out in a crowd.” Jake just looked at you, complete spell bound. He’d never been so intrigued by a woman ever. Especially one so beautifully gifted. 

There was a lingering moment of silence before you went to speak again, but before you could Jake was lurching forward to press his lips against yours. Letting you register what was happening as you softened against him. Welcoming to kiss he so desperately wanted to give you since he’d seen you walk into the hanger. 

“You stood out to me.” Jake mumbled as he pulled away for a brief moment. “Saw you the moment I walked into the bar and knew I had to get to know you.” It has you melting into the palms of his hands. Cupping your face as he kissed you again. This time with more confidence, opening yourself up to Jake you let your tongue explore with his. “And it turns out you’re some sort of genius—“ Jake smirked against your bottom lip,  biting it softly as you gently moaned at the sensation. Lifting you up off the ground as he carried you back toward wherever the hell you pointed. Helping to blindly guide him back towards your room. Your legs wrapped around his waist as your arms wrapped around his shoulders. Fingers carding through blonde locks. 

“Which is so unbelievably sexy agent Kas.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

Tags // @auroraboreallisfine @buckythewintersquirrel @a-lil-bit-nuts @bookaholics-stuff @ilovewhalesharks444 @a-serene-place-to-be @alexsisrebekah @rhirhikingston @caitsymichelle13 @twsssmlmaa @chaoticversion @topguncultleader

[tropes-and-tales]

I tried not to request more than one but I couldn’t help it 😅

Could I request “If you called just to get off on my voice, i’m hanging up” with Benny Magalon?

The dashboard clock reads 1:42 in the morning, and Benny Magalon is fried.  He’s on babysitting duties—not even a proper stakeout.  His only job is to watch a certain house in Pomona to make sure the inhabitant doesn’t step out.  The other guys are stationed elsewhere across the county as LAPD runs a raid.  It’s a joint effort, but Benny is alone in his unmarked car.  He’s exhausted but keyed-up, jittery from chain-smoking too many cigarettes.

He pulls out his phone and checks the time to make sure the car’s clock is right.  It’s off by two minutes.  It’s only 1:40 in the fucking morning.  

Benny sighs.

Checking the time turns into checking his email, which turns into scrolling social media.  

Which turns into scrolling through your page.  Which he’s done a hundred times.  There’s no new pictures, but he’s familiar with the ones there.  He thumbs the scrollbar until he finds his favorite one—taken at Zapata’s birthday party with an expanded group that included you.  Ben met you that night.  

It took him months to casually ask Z about you.  The man hadn’t provided much information, so it took Ben another few months to be more blunt, to ask is she single? and do you think she’d be interested? and can I have her fucking number, Jesus Christ, dude, get a fucking clue.

You were single.  You were interested.  Z finally coughed up your number, and Ben wasted another month working up the courage to text you.

He’ll be forever embarrassed that the best he could come up with as a first text was “hey.”

It’s all still early stages, but each day draws him a little further out of his depth, a little more into uncertain territory.  He likes you a lot.  He could fall for you.  He thinks he’s already more than halfway there.

It’s a Friday night, so that’s how he justifies tabbing through to your phone number and calling you.  You work a regular job, a Monday to Friday gig, so Ben pushes down any guilt at waking you up.  You can fall back asleep.  You can sleep in.  He just wants to hear your voice.

“’ello?”  Your voice is rough, froggy with sleep.  “Benny?”

“Yeah, it’s me.”

“Are you okay?”  He hears the alertness come into your voice, the concern.  “Shit, what—”

“’m fine.  It’s fine.  Everything’s fine,” he rushes to say, cutting you off.  “I just missed you.”

“Oh.”  He hears rustling, and he can picture you nestling down into your usual bank of pillows and blankets.  “I missed you too.”

“Sorry to wake you up.”

“No worries.  What’re you up to?”

He gives you the broad strokes of the operation without getting mired down in it.  Then he urges you to talk about your day because his shit is tedious, but he misses you and wants to hear you talk.

You do.  You tell him about your day at work, about the Thai place you went to for dinner with your friends.  You tell him about the book you’re reading and how you fell asleep later because you kept reading just one more chapter—

“What are you wearing?” he cuts in, remembering that you’re lying in bed.

You miss his intention.  “Oh, just pajamas.  The blue ones with stars.”

Ben’s never seen any blue pajamas with stars.  He wonders if you’re still holding back, saving your sexiest sleepwear for when he’s over and your comfortable stuff for when he’s gone.

“Describe them,” he says.

He hears the confusion in your voice.  “They’re….blue.  With stars.  Yellow stars.”

“They comfortable?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“More comfortable than that black thing you wore the last time I was over?”

You laugh.  “Yeah, Ben.  That was a corset.  It has, like, boning in it.  Not very comfortable at all.”

He feels a touch of…guilt?  A sting of conscience that you’re still putting on your best face with him, still forcing yourself into uncomfortable lingerie for him.  Not that he’s complaining—he liked the view of that corset very much—but he wants you to be yourself.  And anyway, he’s never really been a man to care much about lingerie.  He’s always preferred his women naked in bed.  Lace or mesh or silk can’t ever quite top the sight of a naked woman.

Still half-asleep, you finally catch his intention.  He hears the intake of breath over the phone, then your light laughter.

“Wait, are you trying to have phone sex with me?” you ask.

“No.  Nope.”

“You’re a liar, Ben.  What do you care what I’m wearing in bed?”

“I care very much about what you wear to bed,” he argues, playful.  

“Bullshit.  You were trying to have phone sex.”

“Maybe a little.”  He glances at the dashboard clock.  It’s a few minutes past two.  Another hour, then the drive home.  Maybe he can stop by your place, just crawl into bed with you.  

“Just a little phone sex?”

“You have a nice voice,” he replies.  “Especially right when you wake up.  It’s sexy.”

Another light laugh.  “If you called just to get off on my voice, I’m hanging up.”

“I called to hear your voice.  Big difference.  If I happened to get off to it, then that’s just a happy coincidence.”

“You’re the worst, Ben.”  

He knows you well enough now to know that’s your quirk, using opposite words for what you mean.  Saying “I hate you” affectionately to really mean “I love you.”  Saying “you’re the worst” when you really mean “you’re the best.”

You’d done it to him right out of the gate, when the two of you started texting.  After you got past his embarrassing hey and you realized who he was.  You’d replied oh yeah the hideous dude from Tony’s party, by which you really meant that you thought Ben was good-looking and had noticed him and remembered him.

“I know it,” he plays along now.  “The absolute worst.”

“Be careful out there, okay?”  Your voice loses its teasing quality and turns serious.  “I worry about you.”

He’s already more than halfway to falling for you, and that takes him another step in that direction—the concern you have for him.  The fact that you think of him when he’s not around.

“I will,” he replies, just as serious.  “Sorry to wake you up.”

“Oh, it’s fine.  Always happy to hear from you.  And next time, just give a girl a little warning if you want phone sex.”

He smiles.  “I’ll let you know the next time I have a stakeout.”

He hears your laugh, then hears you say, “I hate you, Ben.  Goodbye.”

Then he hears the line go dead, but he feels a warm lightness in his chest.  Your little quirk.  I hate you, Ben.  

He knows what you really mean.