#happy ray monday

[frnkiebby]

am never and will never be over this shoot~🎃

[killthefuhkinglights]

give me your ass, tall man

[itendtothinkalot]

grumpy x sunshine!

summary: beomgyus open to his feelings about u! at work, he's always doing anything to make ur life easier...too bad, u find him absolutely infuriating. what happens when u tell him finally tell him to leave u alone...??? only to realise...maybe u do need him after all

genre: fluff

characters: beomgyu x f!reader

words: 8k words

warnings: nothing much

You and Beomgyu had always kept things strictly professional or at least, that’s what you told yourself. But unbeknownst to you, Beomgyu was already halfway in love with you. Every time he saw your face, his heart did a little dance, and when he woke up, your name was the first thing on his mind. You filled his thoughts at work, and even in the quiet moments of his day, he’d find his thoughts wandering back to you. To him, you were the most stunning person to ever grace the Earth, and it wasn’t just your appearance, it was everything about you. You were perfection in his eyes and everyone knew how much he liked you.

Meanwhile, you had a completely different view of him. You saw him as the gum stuck to your shoe—the kind of annoyance that wouldn’t go away no matter how hard you tried to scrape it off. He wasn’t bad, not really. But he was like a persistent cockroach, always popping up in your space when you least wanted him there. He was too positive, like a walking ray of sunshine who just couldn't take a hint. You'd rolled your eyes more times than you could count at his over-the-top enthusiasm, his constant energy that never seemed to falter. Sometimes, you swore he was just too happy for his own good.

It started small, as always.

You were juggling three things at once—the printer spitting out half-printed pages, your phone buzzing with emails, and a cup of coffee precariously balanced on the edge of your desk. Then Beomgyu appeared, like clockwork.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. That coffee looks one nudge away from disaster,” he said, effortlessly sliding it back to safety.

“I had it under control,” you muttered, not even sparing him a glance.

“Sure you did,” he said with a laugh, already grabbing the stack of half-printed pages. “Let me fix this for you. You keep working.”

You wanted to protest, but he was already fiddling with the printer, somehow coaxing it to cooperate within minutes. By the time he handed you the neatly printed pages, you were too annoyed to thank him.

"Anything else you need? A snack? Maybe world peace?" he teased.

“No, Beomgyu. I need space,” you snapped, but he only smiled like you’d just told him the weather was lovely.

“Alright!” Beomgyu beamed, stepping away from you.

—

Later that week, during a team meeting, you realized halfway through that you’d forgotten your pen. As you fumbled through your bag, Beomgyu leaned over and slid one across the table to you without a word.

You scowled. “How did you even know I didn’t bring a pen?”

He shrugged. “You always forget on Mondays.”

“Oh, is that so?” you sputtered, even though it absolutely was.

–

And then there was the time he rewrote the entire client presentation the night before because he noticed an error you’d missed.

You didn’t even know about it until the boss praised your flawless work. Beomgyu, seated next to you, just gave you a thumbs-up like it was no big deal.

“Why do you keep doing this?” you hissed at him afterward.

“Doing what?” he asked, genuinely confused.

“Being... helpful, doing too much...like you owe me something.” you said, the word tasting like poison.

He laughed, that stupid, bright laugh that made your coworkers glance over and smile like he was the office mascot. “I thought you liked being less stressed.”

“I don’t need your help,” you said, glaring at him.

“Okay,” he said easily, but the next day, he still managed to fix the coffee machine your work life depended on before you even noticed it was broken.

—

Deadlines loomed, emails piled up, and every little thing seemed to grate on your nerves. It was one of those days where nothing went right, especially after your boss had sent you a text the previous night, calling you an "egghead" who was only surviving because of Beomgyu. And honestly, you couldn’t disagree with him.

Today, though, you’d finally reached your breaking point.

“Good morning!” Beomgyu chirped, balancing two cups of coffee in one hand and a bag of pastries in the other. “I got your favorite—almond croissant. You need fuel for the big presentation later!”

You didn’t even look up from your computer. “I didn’t ask for coffee, Beomgyu.”

He chuckled, unfazed. “I know, but—”

“I didn’t ask for anything!” you snapped, your voice louder than intended.

Beomgyu froze, his smile faltering. He placed the coffee and croissant on your desk carefully, as though afraid any sudden movement might set you off further. “Okay. Got it. Sorry.”

But you weren’t done.

“No, you don’t get it,” you said, standing abruptly. “You’re always here. Always hovering, always ‘helping.’ Do you think I can’t do my job without you? That I’m some kind of charity case who needs your constant attention?”

His eyes widened, and for the first time, you saw something crack in his usual sunny demeanor. “That’s not—”

“You’re suffocating me, Beomgyu,” you interrupted, your voice trembling with frustration. “I don’t need your coffee, or your pastries, or your stupid jokes. With you here, constantly helping, are you suggesting I'm incompetent?"

"What—no! I..."

"Just... leave me alone.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Beomgyu stared at you, his expression unreadable, before nodding once.

“Okay,” he said quietly, his voice devoid of its usual warmth. “If that’s what you want.”

And then he turned and walked away.

You expected to feel relief. But instead, as you watched him disappear around the corner, a strange, hollow ache settled in your chest.

—

The next day, Beomgyu didn’t greet you with his usual bright smile. He didn’t bring you coffee or fix the fucked up printer. For the first time in... well, forever, he stayed on his side of the office, quietly working at his desk.

By the end of the week, it was clear he was actively avoiding you. The absence of his energy was almost suffocating.

“Is Beomgyu okay?” Soobin asked. “He’s been... acting strange.”

“Maybe he’s just busy,” you replied, your voice tight. But deep down, you knew better.

The weekend came and went, and when Monday morning rolled around, Beomgyu wasn’t at his desk. 

It wasn’t like you looked for him. Of course not. You were perfectly capable of handling everything on your own.

But when the office coffee machine sputtered and died on Tuesday morning, you found yourself glancing toward the door, half-expecting Beomgyu to stroll in, toolkit in hand, ready to save the day.

He didn’t. You scowled at the machine and settled for tea.

When the new team project was announced, you instinctively braced yourself for Beomgyu’s usual barrage of ideas. He always had a way of throwing out wild suggestions that somehow worked—like adding gifs to a formal presentation or using memes to lighten the mood in meetings.

But he didn’t say a word.

Instead, he just slid his chair closer to yours and whispered, “I’ve got some ideas if you need them.”

You didn’t need them, of course.

Except you kind of did.

And then there was the day the office printer jammed again.

You stared at the blinking red light, willing it to fix itself. Beomgyu wasn’t even in the office yet, but the thought of him walking in and making one of his stupid jokes about “printer diplomacy” flitted through your mind.

“Just hit the damn printer,” Yeonjun joked.

You frowned. “No, you have to press the reset button twice and then open the tray.”

Yeonjun raised an eyebrow. “Wow, since when did you learn printer mechanics?”

You froze. You hadn’t. Beomgyu had. And you’d apparently been watching.

—

At some point, you noticed how much of your day was shaped by him. How the absence of his easy banter left your mornings feeling quieter. How the little acts of care—an extra pen, a fixed spreadsheet, a correctly formatted email—were missing.

You told yourself it didn’t matter. That you didn’t need him.

You were just as capable on your own, with or without him.

But when he passed by your desk one afternoon and didn’t stop to say anything, just giving you a polite nod instead, you felt a pang of something uncomfortably close to disappointment.

“What’s his deal?” Taehyun asked, noticing the unusual lack of Beomgyu’s energy.

“Maybe he’s finally taking the hint,” you muttered, but even as you said it, the words felt hollow.

—

The next few days arrived and Beomgyu hadn’t. It was strange not having him in the office. Almost excruciating.

By Thursday morning, the office felt impossibly dull. It wasn’t like you missed him, you were just noticing how quiet everything was without his relentless chatter and boundless energy filling the air.

The coffee machine was still broken, and no one had stepped up to fix it. You stood there, staring at it with almost anger. Beomgyu had fixed it so many times before you’d even noticed it was broken.

You frowned. You didn’t miss him. You missed the convenience. That was all.

But as you walked back to your desk, you caught yourself glancing toward his empty chair. The space around it seemed oddly barren, as if his absence had drained all the color from that corner of the room.

Later that day, as you worked on a project, you opened your notes to find a little sticky note stuck to the corner of the page.

"Don’t stress too much—you’re doing amazing! - Beomgyu <3"

You stared at it, your chest tightening. He’d written that weeks ago, probably when you weren’t looking. It wasn’t the first time you’d found little notes like this, but you’d always dismissed them as just another one of his overly cheerful habits.

Now, though, it felt different. 

—

The memories started creeping in after that.

The time Beomgyu had stayed late to help you finish a project, even though he’d had plans. You’d been hunched over your desk, frustrated and on the verge of tears, your computer screen mocking you with an endless sea of spreadsheets.

“You okay?” his voice had come from behind you, soft but with that familiar, ever-present warmth.

“I’m fine,” you’d muttered, not even turning around.

He’d ignored your dismissive tone, pulling up a chair beside you. “Alright. You talk and I’ll type.”

You’d been too exhausted to argue, and as the hours stretched on, his presence felt less irritating and more... comforting. At one point, your head had slumped onto the desk in defeat, and Beomgyu had chuckled, brushing your hair away from your face.

“You work too hard,” he’d murmured, his voice softer than usual, almost... tender. You looked up, startled by the genuine concern in his eyes. For a moment, the air between you seemed to shift, thick with unspoken words. His gaze held yours a second too long, and you couldn’t help but feel drawn to him, your body leaning just a little closer, your breath catching in your throat.

It felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of you, the space between you charged with something you hadn’t expected. And just as you were about to close the distance, his phone rang loudly, shattering the fragile moment.

Beomgyu pulled away, glancing at his phone and groaning, declining the call.

It was so brief…so fleeting…that you could almost convince yourself it hadn’t happened. You’d blinked, snapping back to reality, and cleared your throat.

“We’re not getting anywhere if you keep staring at me,” you’d said sharply, the irritation in your voice masking the strange flutter in your chest.

Beomgyu had grinned, leaning back in his chair. “Just checking to see if you’re still alive.”

–

Then there was the time he’d noticed you were having a bad day—the kind of day where everything felt heavy, and you wanted nothing more than to disappear. He hadn’t asked what was wrong or pried for details. Instead, he’d quietly placed a piece of chocolate on your desk, tapping it lightly to get your attention.

“What’s this?” you’d asked, glancing up at him.

“A peace offering,” he’d replied with a wink. “From the universe. Delivered by yours truly.”

You’d rolled your eyes, but a small smile had crept onto your face despite yourself

—

And then there was the umbrella.

You’d been in a rush that morning, the sky dark, and of course, you’d forgotten to grab your umbrella. By the time you arrived at work, the rain was coming down in sheets, and you’d resigned yourself to staying put until it let up.

But Beomgyu had appeared at your desk, soaked to the bone, holding a bright yellow umbrella.

“Here,” he’d said, grinning.

“You’ve an extra one?” You asked.

He nodded.

It was only later, when you noticed the water pooling around his chair and the way his shirt clung to his skin, that you realized what had happened.

“You gave me your umbrella?” you’d asked.

He’d shrugged, his usual grin firmly in place. “What’s a little rain, anyway?”

You hadn’t known what to say to that. You still didn’t.

—

Now, sitting at your desk with the weight of his absence pressing down on you, those moments replayed in your mind on an endless loop. The way he looked at you during that late night at work. The way his fingers had brushed yours when he handed you that chocolate. The way his eyes had crinkled with delight when he saw your surprise at the umbrella.

You’d called him annoying. You’d pushed him away. But now, for the first time, you let yourself wonder: had you been lying to yourself all along?

Because if he was so annoying, why had your heart raced when he leaned in close? Why had you noticed the way his lips curved into a soft smile when he thought you weren’t looking? Why had you missed him so much it ached?

–

By the middle of the second week, the silence in the office was unbearable.

Beomgyu hadn’t just been the loudest person in the room, in fact he’d been the heart of it. Without him, the air felt stale, the chatter subdued. Even the irritating squeaks of the office chairs seemed less lively.

You sat at your desk, staring blankly at your screen, the cursor blinking as though mocking your inability to focus. Tasks you normally powered through felt tiresome, and even your coworkers had started to notice.

“You alright?” Kai, your desk neighbor, leaned over, his voice tinged with curiosity. “You’ve been awfully... quiet lately.”

“I’m fine,” you muttered, brushing his off.

Kai raised an eyebrow. “Are you, though? You didn’t even snap at me when I borrowed your stapler without asking yesterday. That’s not like you.”

You turned to glare at him, but even that lacked your usual bite. Kai just smirked, crossing his arms.

“I’m just saying,” he continued, “things have been... different around here since Beomgyu stopped coming in. And you’ve been different. Almost acting like a lovesick puppy.”

Your chest tightened at the mention of his name, but you forced yourself to shrug nonchalantly. “I’m fine,” you repeated, though your voice sounded hollow even to your own ears.

“Sure you are,” Kai said, his smirk widening. “If ‘fine’ means staring off into space and sighing dramatically every twenty minutes.”

“I don’t sigh,” you snapped, but your cheeks burned.

“You do now,” Taehyun chimed in from across the room. “Honestly, it’s kind of weird. We didn’t think you’d notice he was gone.”

“Why wouldn’t I notice?” you shot back, your voice sharper than intended.

“Well, you always seemed so... irritated by him,” Kai said, his tone lighter now. “But I guess even you can’t resist missing him a little.”

You didn’t respond. Instead, you buried your face in your hands, willing the heat in your cheeks to dissipate.

–

That night, you found yourself scrolling through your phone, staring at Beomgyu’s contact name. You hadn’t reached out to him since the blow-up. A small part of you wanted to believe he was being dramatic, giving you space just to make a point. But two weeks? That wasn’t like him.

You hovered over the call button, your thumb trembling. Then, in a burst of frustration, you tossed your phone onto the couch and leaned back, rubbing your temples.

Why couldn’t you just admit it?

You missed him.

You missed the sound of his voice, the way he always greeted you with that infuriatingly bright smile. You missed the way he’d pop up at your desk with some ridiculous joke or a cup of coffee just the way you liked it.

You even missed the way he teased you, pushing just enough to annoy you but never enough to truly upset you—until that day.

—

It was the kind of day that felt like it was dragging on forever. The office was busy, but everything felt distant, like you were in a room full of voices, but none of them were quite reaching you.

Suddenly, you felt a presence at your desk. You looked up, and your boss, Mr. Choi, stood there with a thick folder in hand. His usual stern expression softened a little as he slid the folder toward you.

“I’ve got something for you,” he said, his voice carrying that slight hint of approval you rarely heard from him.

You blinked, momentarily confused. “What’s this?”

“A project I’ve been holding off on for a while. But after some conversations, I think you’re the perfect fit for it.” He paused, his eyes briefly darting to the hallway before focusing back on you.

You could feel your heart skip a beat. This was the project you’d been hoping to get—an opportunity to make a significant impact. You felt a wave of excitement flood over you.

“Oh my god, thank you! I’ve been waiting for this,” you said, grinning widely as you accepted the folder. “I won’t let you down.”

Mr. Choi gave you a small, approving nod. “I’m sure you won’t. But,” he added, “you should really thank Beomgyu for this.”

You frowned, not quite following. “Beomgyu?”

“Yeah,” Mr. Choi said, his voice a little quieter now, as if he was about to let you in on something secret. “He’s been talking you up to me for the past couple of weeks. Saying how impressed he is with your work, how passionate you are about your projects. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from him—so much that I decided it was time you got something bigger to work on.”

Your heart stopped for a second.

“Beomgyu... has been talking about me?”

Mr. Choi raised an eyebrow, clearly not understanding your shock. “Yeah, he really has a lot of respect for you. He believes in your abilities. Honestly, I think he’s been pushing for this project on your behalf. He doesn’t ask for anything in return, just wants to see you succeed. So, if I were you, I’d send a thank-you his way.”

You stared at the folder in your hands, the weight of Mr. Choi’s words sinking in. Beomgyu had been talking about you? He had been saying all those things about you behind your back?

Why hadn’t he ever said anything like that directly to you?

But the more you thought about it, the more you realized—you didn’t need him to say those things to you. His actions had always spoken louder than his words. He’d been helping you all along. The small gestures, the support he’d given without expecting anything in return, were just his way of showing how much he cared.

But now, hearing it from Mr. Choi, it was like a slap of reality. Beomgyu had always been there, silently cheering you on, always rooting for you—even when you couldn’t see it.

You felt a sudden, sharp pang in your chest.

You couldn’t wait any longer. The truth was clear now. The realization hit you harder than you expected—Beomgyu wasn’t just a coworker. He wasn’t just an annoyance. He was the one who had been there for you, in all the small ways, every single day.

You knew exactly what you needed to do.

Without thinking twice, you grabbed your things and stood up, your decision already made.

-

You didn’t know what came over you. One moment, you were sitting at your desk, your thoughts a tangled mess of emotions, and the next, you were rushing out of the office. Your coworkers glanced up, confused, as you grabbed your things and bolted toward the exit.

Your heart pounded in your chest. You couldn’t breathe properly without him around.

Beomgyu.

It had been over a week since Beomgyu last showed up to work. Not a single word, not a message. You’d told yourself it was fine—that he needed space after everything. But then, today, hearing your boss’s words, you knew the truth: Beomgyu wasn’t avoiding you because he was mad at you. No, it was worse. He’d been avoiding you because he was sick.

And you missed him.

The rain had started just as you’d left the office, a steady downpour that soaked you through as you hurried to his apartment building. You didn’t care about the stares or the curious glances—nothing mattered except seeing him again. When you reached his apartment, you rang the doorbell, your wet hair clinging to your face, your clothes plastered to your skin. You were probably irritating him, but at that moment, nothing else felt important.

Beomgyu opened the door slowly, blinking in surprise when he saw you standing there, drenched. His face was pale, his hair disheveled, and his eyes were a little glazed, like he’d just woken up from a deep sleep. He looked sick. But when his gaze landed on you, a small frown creased his forehead, his lips parted in surprise.

“You’re—” Beomgyu blinked, his eyes scanning you, noting how soaked you were. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice thick with confusion and concern.

You didn’t think. You didn’t even pause. You rushed forward and kissed him.

At first, Beomgyu froze, his eyes wide in shock, but then, as though some instinct took over, he leaned into the kiss. His lips were soft against yours, and the warmth of him, the way his body seemed to melt into yours, made your heart race. But just as suddenly, he pulled away, his hands on your shoulders, gently pushing you back.

You blinked in surprise, your chest tightening with confusion and hurt. “I’m sorry! I didn’t— I just—” you stammered, words tumbling out in a rush.

Beomgyu sighed, rubbing his forehead tiredly. “No–it’s not that! I’m just sick,” he said, his voice a little clearer now, but still strained. “You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that. In fact, I'd be living out my number 1 fantasy. But I’m awfully sick, and I don’t want to get you—”

You didn’t let him finish. You grabbed his face and kissed him again, this time with more urgency. It was as if you couldn’t stop yourself, like all the emotions you had been holding in for so long came pouring out in that single moment.

When you finally pulled away, your heart was pounding, and your breath was shallow. You looked at him, eyes wide, and whispered, “Make me sick. Make me cry. I don’t care anymore… just don’t disappear without saying anything. I like you. A lot." You whispered the latter.

Beomgyu blinked at you, his expression one of shock and something softer—something that made your chest tighten. He sat down on the couch with a groan and patted the space next to him. “Alright, you’ve got me,” he said with a small, tired grin. “But before we go any further with this whole emotional breakthrough thing, I need to wrap you up in this blanket because you’re literally dripping water all over my floor.”

You didn’t even have a chance to respond before he pulled you down into the blanket with him, wrapping you so tightly that you could barely move. You could barely stop laughing either. “What is this?” you asked, amused despite yourself. “You’re sick, and you're still trying to make me feel better?”

“Of course I am,” he said, his voice warm but groggy. “That’s what boyfriends do, right?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Boyfriend?”

He grinned. “Well, if you’re gonna confess your undying love for me, I think it's only fair I start acting the part.”

You raised an eyebrow, crossing your arms. "I didn’t say anything about a boyfriend."

Beomgyu’s grin widened, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Well, I think it’s safe to say that after that kiss, you’ve got yourself one."

Your cheeks flushed, and you quickly looked away, trying to hide your flustered reaction. "You’re quite the narcissist," you muttered, trying to sound nonchalant, but your voice betrayed you, soft and a little breathless.

Beomgyu leaned in closer, his voice dropping lower. "Maybe, but you wouldn’t be so shy if you didn’t feel the same way."

You shot him a quick look, heart racing, and tried to compose yourself. "You’re impossible," you said, but it came out more fondly than you intended.

“Alright, fine, Mr. Boyfriend, what’s next?” you teased, settling deeper into the blanket cocoon.

He gave you a sly grin before standing up with a dramatic sigh. “I’m making you hot chocolate,” he announced like it was a grand gesture. “Even though I’m on death’s doorstep with this flu, and you’re the one who should be taking care of me.”

You chuckled as you watched him shuffle to the kitchen, holding onto the blanket as if it was his last line of defense against the cold.

Moments later, he returned, holding a mug of hot chocolate with way too many marshmallows. “Ta-da!” He placed it in front of you and sat back down, carefully covering both of you with the blanket again.

You took a sip, the sweetness warming you from the inside, and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“Just wait,” Beomgyu said with a wink. “I’ll be excruciatingly sweet to you when I recover.” He then shifted closer, resting his head against your shoulder.

You laughed softly, feeling a rush of warmth in your chest. "I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… I think I need you more than I realized."

"Good," Beomgyu mumbled, already half asleep. "Because you’re stuck with me, remember?"

“Beomgyu, about our argument–”

You opened your mouth, ready to apologize again, but before you could get the words out, Beomgyu cut you off. His lips gently pressed against yours, soft and reassuring, as if telling you everything you needed to hear without saying a word.

"I know," he whispered against your lips when he pulled away, his eyes still heavy with exhaustion but filled with something deeper—something comforting. "I know, and it's okay."

You blinked, stunned by the simplicity of his words, and the way he made everything feel like it would be alright. He already understood.

"Now before you start apologizing to me again, let's get you out of those clothes and into mine," Beomgyu winked, a teasing glint in his eyes.

You gasped, your face immediately turning a shade of red that could rival a tomato. "BEOMGYU!" you sputtered, half-laughing, half-shocked.

Beomgyu smirked, unphased by your reaction. "No, I meant it literally. You're dripping rainwater all over my very expensive new sofa," he said, gesturing dramatically to the puddle forming on the couch.

You blinked, your embarrassment quickly shifting to confusion. "Oh," was all you managed to say, suddenly feeling a lot more self-conscious about the wet patches all over you.

Beomgyu chuckled softly, his usual playful tone now laced with a hint of fondness. "Don't worry, I'll take care of it," he said, winking again. "But first, let's get you changed before you flood the entire apartment."

—

The next morning, you woke up to a horrible reality. The warmth from last night’s kiss lingered in your chest, but unfortunately, it also seemed to have carried over to your immune system in the form of a nasty cold. You were now sniffling, with a sore throat and a headache that wouldn’t quit. But of course, you couldn’t worry Beomgyu.

You were lying in his bed, tangled in his blankets, his warmth still wrapped around you like a security blanket. The soft, rhythmic sound of his breathing was the only thing that filled the silence. You blinked, disoriented for a moment, before it all came flooding back—last night, the confessions, the kisses... and the way you’d ended up here, curled up in his bed after well another few hours of kisses and giggling.

For a moment, you just laid there, savoring the peace of it all. Beomgyu’s arm was slung across your waist, his face relaxed in sleep. You couldn’t help but smile. This felt right. So right.

Beomgyu stirred beside you, his eyes fluttering open, a sleepy grin spreading across his face as he looked at you. "Good morning," he mumbled, his voice all groggy and cute.

"Hi," you whispered back, trying not to sound too giddy. It was still early, and the last thing you wanted was to make a scene of how perfect everything felt. You nuzzled into his chest, just content to be there for a few more minutes.

He chuckled, running a hand through your hair. “You look so peaceful when you sleep. Almost like you’re not the same person who yells at me for delivering them a croissant.”

You snorted, rolling your eyes but smiling. “You’re one to talk. I wasn’t the one who couldn’t stop snoring last night.”

Beomgyu shot you a playful glare, but his smile was so bright that it made your heart flutter. "You're lucky you're cute," he teased, planting a quick kiss on your forehead.

As you both got out of bed and started getting ready for work, you couldn’t help but feel a strange sensation in your body—a lightheadedness that made your movements a little slower than usual. Your head felt like it was swimming, and there was a dull ache at the back of your throat.

You tried to shake it off. It was nothing. Probably just a little tiredness. Beomgyu had been so sweet last night, and you didn’t want to ruin the mood by worrying him over something as trivial as a cold.

But as you went to grab your shoes, your vision blurred for a second, and you swayed slightly. You grabbed onto the wall for balance, but Beomgyu, ever the observant one, caught sight of it immediately.

"Hey, hey, are you okay?" His voice was instantly filled with concern, his hands reaching out to steady you. His brows furrowed. "You don’t look too good."

"I'm fine," you said quickly, straightening up. "Just... a little tired, that's all."

Beomgyu didn’t seem convinced. He reached up to check your forehead with the back of his hand. "You’re a little warm," he muttered, looking suspicious. "Are you sure you’re okay?"

You gave him a smile that felt a little more forced than you intended. "Seriously, I’m fine. Just… didn’t sleep enough."

—

When you showed up at the office, your coworkers immediately noticed something was off. Soobin, Kai, and Taehyun exchanged glances as you walked past them with a box of tissues, your face flushed and clearly a little worse for wear.

“Whoa,” Soobin said, his voice full of concern. “You look like you got hit by a truck. What happened?”

Kai leaned forward, peering at you from his desk. “Are you sure you should be here? You look like you’re about to fall over. Is that a fever I see?”

You groaned, sinking into your chair and reaching for your cup of tea. “I’m fine,” you muttered, your voice scratchy. “Just a little… under the weather.”

“Under the weather?” Kai raised an eyebrow. “You look like one of them sewer rats in Ratatouille. What’s going on?”

You shot him a half-hearted glare, still too embarrassed to admit what had actually happened. You were definitely not going to tell them that a kiss had made you sick—no, that would just make you die of embarrassment. “I don’t know, just caught a bug, I guess.”

Just then, the door to the office opened, and there stood Beomgyu, looking completely refreshed. His cheeks were rosy, his hair perfectly styled, and there was a spring in his step that made you want to crawl under your desk and hide.

“Good morning!” Beomgyu called, completely oblivious to your sickly state, and grinned at everyone like he hadn’t just been sick the night before.

You let out a tiny groan under your breath. “Good morning,” you managed to reply, but it came out more like a croak.

Beomgyu noticed you right away, his smile faltering as he walked over. “Hey, you okay? I told you to stay home.”

You waved him off. “I’m fine. Really. Just… a little tired.”

Beomgyu leaned closer, his expression softening as he checked your forehead with his hand. “You’re burning up. You should go home and rest.”

Of course, that only made you more embarrassed. “I’m not going home,” you muttered, your voice raspy. “I’m fine. I can work.”

Beomgyu shook his head softly, a smile tugging at his lips. “I told you you shouldn’t have stayed over to take care of me,” he said gently, tucking a stray lock of your hair behind your ear, his touch surprisingly tender.

You let out a dramatic sigh, almost pouting. “But you were sick. I couldn’t just leave you there all alone.”

Soobin, who had been watching the entire exchange like it was drama, suddenly raised an eyebrow and looked between the two of you. “Wait a second,” he said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He pointed between you and Beomgyu like he’d just discovered a treasure chest. “You two were… together last night?”

Beomgyu blinked, clearly not following. “What? No, I—”

You froze, eyes widening, before you snapped your head toward Soobin. “What? No! We—uh—we just… we were just... uh—”

Kai, who had been pretending to mind his own business but was clearly eavesdropping, leaned over dramatically, his arms crossed, giving you a knowing look. “Oh, don’t try to deny it now. The way you’re both looking at each other? So obvious. You kissed, didn’t you? Probably did a little more than that.”

You froze, blinking in disbelief. “I—ugh—this is not happening. Shut up, you fiends.”

Taehyun, who had been listening in from his desk, leaned back in his chair, grinning like a cat who’d just eaten the canary. “I knew it! The way Beomgyu’s practically glowing this morning, and you’re over here looking like you’ve been hit by a new disease? Classic case of ‘love-struck sickness.’”

Beomgyu, who had been leaning casually against the desk, now looked unbelievably proud. His chest puffed out a little, and a smug grin spread across his face. “Well, since you guys are aware of the little exchange. I guess I can brag that I kissed her. And I’ve gotta say, I’m not at all sorry about it.”

"BEOMGYU!" You exclaimed.

You groaned, face burning, as Beomgyu made an exaggerated show of brushing his hair back with one hand. “It was a pretty great kiss, too. I mean, who can blame her?” He glanced at you with a teasing wink, clearly so proud of himself. “She couldn’t resist. Honestly, I’m kind of impressed with myself, too. Guess I’m just that irresistible.”

You stared at him, mortified beyond belief. “You’re impossible,” you muttered, burying your face in your hands.

Beomgyu only laughed, completely unfazed, leaning casually against the desk. “Hey, what can I say? I’ve got game even when I’m sick.”

Your coworkers exchanged knowing looks, and you could feel your face turning fifty shades of red as they all started laughing. Despite your embarrassment, you couldn’t help but notice how much lighter everything felt now that you’d finally stopped pretending.

And as Beomgyu grinned at you, his pride practically radiating from him, you realized… maybe, just maybe, you kind of liked it.

—

The day dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. Your head was spinning, your throat felt like sandpaper, and your body was starting to ache. But you refused to acknowledge it, not wanting to worry Beomgyu further. You did your best to push through, but by the time lunchtime rolled around, you were barely holding it together. The heat from your body had risen to a feverish level, and you could feel it in every bone.

You made it through the morning meeting, but when you got back to your desk, your vision blurred again. Your hand trembled as you tried to type, and the cold sweat on your forehead was beginning to drip down your face.

Beomgyu, ever the observant one, noticed the moment you faltered. He was standing in the doorway of your office, arms crossed, his eyes narrowed in concern. “Okay, that’s it,” he said firmly, walking toward you with determination.

“I’m fine,” you protested weakly, trying to straighten up in your chair.

“No, you’re not.” Beomgyu didn’t give you a chance to argue. He grabbed your bag off the chair and slung it over his shoulder, then gently lifted you out of your chair. “You’re going home. Now.”

You tried to pull away, but you didn’t have the energy. You felt like you could barely stand, your body growing weaker by the second. “Beomgyu, I’m fine,” you muttered, though it sounded more like a plea than anything convincing.

“Nope,” he said, his voice brokering no argument. “We’re done here. I’m taking you home, and you’re not going to work like this.”

“But... but I was going to get ice cream on the way home,” you murmured, trying to argue. “Maybe some chocolate or...”

Beomgyu stopped in his tracks, his expression immediately hardening. “You’re not getting ice cream. You’re not even getting out of bed until you’re better. Do you understand me?”

He was being so stern that it made you pout. “But I want it,” you complained weakly.

“No.” Beomgyu’s tone was firm, like he was scolding a child. “You’ve been taking care of me but not yourself! You’ve barely eaten today, and you’re just running on fumes. I’m not letting you make it worse by stuffing your face with sugar.”

“But—”

“No.” He interrupted you with a pointed finger, like he was laying down a final rule. “You’re going to rest. You’re going to hydrate. You’re going to take care of yourself. No exceptions.”

You let out a dramatic sigh, but you weren’t in the mood to argue. You knew he was right. You just felt so weak and drained, and the idea of doing anything for yourself felt like too much.

“I’m sorry,” you muttered under your breath, your voice barely audible.

Beomgyu looked down at you, his expression softening but still serious. He rubbed the back of his neck before pulling you gently toward him. “You should’ve taken better care of yourself,” he said, his voice quiet but full of concern.

You groaned, a bit frustrated. “Well, it’s your fault.”

His eyebrows shot up. “My fault?”

“Yes,” you said, trying to muster some energy to tease him. “You kissed me first! I wasn’t even planning on getting sick. I was perfectly fine until you—”

Beomgyu’s eyes widened, and before you could finish, he interrupted you with an exaggerated sigh. “No, no, no. I did not kiss you first. You kissed me first, remember?”

“Excuse me?” You blinked, trying to keep your focus, but your fever was making it hard to think straight.

“You kissed me, and I just... responded,” he said, raising his hands defensively. “You were the one who attacked me at the door, not the other way around.”

“Beomgyu...” You couldn’t help but laugh weakly despite yourself. “You’re such a liar.”

He didn’t let you go. Instead, he lifted you in his arms, ignoring your protests. “Don’t worry about it. I’m getting you home. And I swear, if you try to make me feel guilty for that kiss one more time, I’ll... I’ll throw you in bed and make you take your medicine, whether you want it or not.”

You rolled your eyes, even as you leaned into him, grateful for the warmth. “You’re really something else.”

“Only for you,” Beomgyu said, his voice softening, the teasing edge gone as he carried you toward the door.

Once you were in his car, he kept his eyes on you, making sure you were resting, making sure you were okay. When you arrived at his apartment, he didn’t waste any time getting you to the couch. He insisted you stay wrapped in his blanket, and after a few minutes, he came back with a bowl of soup and a bottle of water.

“Drink this,” he said gently, handing it to you. “I’m not going to let you off the hook, so don’t even think about avoiding this.”

You glanced at the soup, then at him, trying to muster up a pout. “I still want ice cream.”

Beomgyu stared at you deadpan. “You’re lucky I’m not forcing you to take the medicine I bought.”

You blinked at him. “You bought me medicine?”

“Of course, I did. I’m taking care of you,” he said, crossing his arms and sitting beside you. “Now, drink the soup.”

You rolled your eyes but gave in, slurping a little of the warm soup. It actually felt good against your sore throat, and soon enough, you felt a little more human.

“Fine,” you muttered, “I’ll take care of myself... But only because you’re being so over-the-top about it.”

As the last bit of warm soup slid down your throat, Beomgyu stood up, his movements slow and deliberate as he went to grab the cough medicine. The bottle was a little too big, and the label had a cartoonish cough syrup mascot that you couldn’t help but laugh at.

"Here, take this. It’ll help you feel better, I promise."

You obediently took the medicine, but the moment it hit your tongue, something in your brain snapped. It wasn’t the usual medicine taste that made you feel better; no, it was something else.

It'd been a few minutes since the medicine had started to kick in. You started to giggle, this time uncontrollably, feeling the lightheaded, giddy rush of the cough syrup hitting your system.

“Beomgyu, you’re—” You hiccupped between giggles. “You’re so hot. Sexy. Kind of like a Ryan Gosling, except way hotter.”

If you weren't sick and fully aware of your behavior, you'd probably kick yourself. A ton.

Go figure, cough syrup had turned you into... well, a giggling mess.

He blinked, taken aback, and raised an eyebrow as he sat back down beside you on the couch. “What did you say?”

“You’re like, ridiculously hot,” you said with a giggle, your fingers reaching for his shirt, tugging at it gently. “I mean, look at you. That shirt… wow.”

Beomgyu’s cheeks flushed just a little, though he tried to hide it behind a soft smile. His white dress shirt—loose enough to show off the muscles in his arms—was half unbuttoned, revealing just a hint of his collarbone. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, the casual elegance of the outfit doing absolutely nothing to hide the fact that he looked so good.

You couldn’t stop laughing as you reached up and tapped his chest, your touch playful. “Like, seriously. You look so good, I can’t even—” You started giggling again, barely able to finish your sentence.

Beomgyu gave you a soft, amused smile, leaning back into the couch as you leaned closer, giggling like a schoolgirl. “You’re not making any sense, baby,” he teased, his voice smooth.

"I’m serious," you whispered dramatically, pressing your face into his chest as you clung to him. You couldn’t help it, your body was buzzing with warmth, and Beomgyu’s closeness was making everything feel even more intense. “Like, you're telling me...Choi Beomgyu...is my boyfriend?"

Beomgyu chuckled softly, but it was clear he was trying to rein in his amusement. He loved the attention, but he also needed you to rest. “Okay, okay. I’m flattered,” he said, rubbing your back. “But I need you to fall asleep, okay? You’re way too giggly right now.”

You pouted, your giggles fading into small chuckles as you settled back against him. “But I just—" you hiccupped again, “I just...can I touch you? I want to touch you.” You said, placing your hands on his arms.

Beomgyu sighed, but there was a warmth in his eyes as you traced small patterns on his arm with your fingers. “I know you do, but I need you to rest. We’re not getting anywhere with you all giggly like this. You’re supposed to be resting, remember?”

You stuck your lip out in a mock pout. “I can’t help it… You look so... nice.”

“You really can’t help yourself, huh?” Beomgyu laughed softly. He let you snuggle into him, his arm around you as he shifted you into a more comfortable position. “Alright, alright. I get it. But I’m not letting you get up for anything else until you’re asleep. No more giggling.”

You nuzzled into his chest, feeling ridiculously warm and happy. “Fine,” you murmured, your voice soft and drowsy. “But you look so good… even when you’re being all mean about my ice cream.”

Beomgyu rolled his eyes, but there was something endearing about your persistent giggles. He gently kissed the top of your head. “Go to sleep. I’ll be here when you wake up. You just need to rest, okay? That’s what I’m doing, too. I’m not going anywhere.”

You lifted your head just slightly, enough to look up at Beomgyu with a mischievous grin. “You know,” you said, your voice still a little giddy, “I’m actually feeling better now. So, maybe we can go back to making out instead of sleeping? I mean, you are really cute right now…I’m cute, you’re cute, we’re all cute.”

Beomgyu raised an eyebrow at you, his lips twitching as if he was trying not to laugh. He was clearly tempted by your playful tone, but he knew better than to give in. “Nice try,” he said, his voice firm but soft. “You’re not getting out of resting just because you’re feeling a little better. You’re still sick. I’m not letting you off the hook that easily.”

You pouted dramatically, rolling your eyes and flopping back against his chest. “I’m not sick anymore, though! Come on, just a little make-out session? You know you want to…”

Beomgyu’s lips curled into a small, teasing smile as he ran his fingers gently through your hair. “You’re impossible,” he chuckled. “Resting. Right now. You’re not going anywhere.”

You whined again, poking his chest with your finger. “But you’re not resting, either! I mean, look at you, sitting there all hot in your shirt... It’s like a sign!”

Beomgyu rolled his eyes dramatically. “You’re really gonna keep going with this? You’re so stubborn.”

“I’m not stubborn, I’m charming,” you said, winking up at him, but your eyes were already starting to flutter. Despite your protests, the weight of exhaustion was starting to settle over you again, and the warmth of Beomgyu’s chest was pulling you into a calm, sleepy haze.

He shook his head, a small laugh escaping him as he kept talking to you, though you were barely listening now. “Seriously. You need to rest. No more ice cream, no more giggling, just sleep.”

Your eyes closed fully, the last of your playful energy draining away. The next sound that filled the air wasn’t another whiny protest—it was a soft snore.

Beomgyu paused, his words dying on his lips as he heard the unmistakable sound of you falling asleep. His gaze softened as he looked down at you, completely knocked out in his arms, a small smile tugging at his mouth.

"Well, guess that’s one way to get you to listen," Beomgyu murmured, shaking his head in disbelief.

[sweetkpopmusings]

felix coworker headcanons <3

a/n: i've got headspace focus music playing and i'm in my stray kids feels today so here is another coworker headcanons post !! this one realllllyyyy catapulted me into felix feelings, so i hope it brings you comfort and serotonin as well <333 pics not mine !!

content: fluff, nonidol!au | wc: 0.9k | warnings: none really! some mentions of food | pairing: coworker!felix x gn!reader | requests: open

oh sweet felix!! 

you’ll never forget his first day–the receptionist was walking him through the workspace, introducing him to everyone, and explaining their roles. felix, a genuine ray of sunshine on that gloomy monday morning, smiled and waved at everybody with pure enthusiasm :’-)

when the receptionist introduced you, felix pointed at the mug on your desk and commented on how cute he thought it was ! you could practically hear the exclamation points in his voice when he spoke :,-)

later in the day, you noticed he was struggling with the coffee machine how rude of the coffee machine

you offered to help–though admittedly, you didn’t know much about it either–and he was so so grateful someone was being this kind to him 

like he actually was so touched he ended up telling his friends about it that night :,-(

but anyways back to you and felix vs. the coffee machine

eventually you did get it working…you just pressed different buttons a ridiculous number of times until felix’s hot chocolate came out properly

once his mug was full, felix cheered and high-fived you, promising to pay you back one day for your service

you assured him that he doesn’t owe you anything and that you’re happy he isn’t defeated by the coffee machine on his first day

that led you two into a conversation about what it’s like to work here, the do’s and don’t’s of the office, the cool people, tips and tricks for boring meetings, and so on

felix looks up to you so much after this interaction :,,,,-)

he calls you his mentor <333 

it doesn’t matter that you work in completely different departments–even the person who is supposed to be mentoring felix refers to you as his mentor lmao

at the end of his probation period, felix bakes brownies for you because he swears he wouldn’t have survived this long without you to keep him company <33333333

you two share the brownies during your lunch break while watching silly little videos 

it’s so cute that everyone is jealous but they wouldn’t dare interrupt because they know for a FACT that you’re felix’s favorite

aside from being your personal baker, felix loves to play little pranks on you in the office

they’re super harmless–i’m talking pranks like leaving stickers in random places around your workspace, so you can transfer them to your laptop or water bottle whenever you find them–but he is THRILLED every time you get a surprised look on your face as a result of his antics

there’s no doubt in your mind that felix was behind it, so you look over to where he’s sitting and he’s just staring at you like >:^)

while he’s too far away for you to hear him, you know that he’s doing his classic little heh heh and plotting his next attack :,-)

felix also has cute polaroids at his desk !!

you get him one as a gift :,-) and he cherishes it so much !!!!

it’s displayed at the center of all his polaroids and he even wrote “from y/n <3” on the bottom of it so everyone knew it was his most special one :-( 

he encourages you to decorate your desk because he thinks it's important to have things that make you smile while you're working !! and he's so right for that

if you don’t know where to start, felix will dedicate an afternoon to making a mood board for inspiration

he loves nothing more than shopping online with you for the perfect items

felix gets so invested that he helps you to organize everything and workshops all possible setups before you both decide on the best one though honestly he’s more concerned about it being the optimal arrangement than you are lol

after your new desk decorations are complete, felix proudly takes a picture of you at your redesigned workstation

when you make that your profile pic for your work chatting platform, felix just about faints from happiness

he’s practically twirling his hair, giggling, and kicking his feet when he messages you “nice profile pic!!” :,,,,,-) <3333

felix, though known as being happy-go-lucky, is far more in-tune with your emotions than you realize

if you come in sleep-deprived, felix is the first one to ask you if you would like coffee/tea/a pick-me-up

when you’re feeling stressed due to an upcoming deadline or having a pile of work upon your return from vacation, felix stays late with you to prioritize all your tasks so you have a clear game plan

he’s also always, always, always reminding you to take breaks !!

it’s a mini tradition for you two to do desk stretches together :-( like you just look at each other from across the workspace and do the same stretches while making funny faces at each other and holding back all your giggles :-((((

activities and conversations with felix become so embedded in your daily routine that you can’t imagine how you got through the workday before he started here

one quiet afternoon when you two are hanging out in the breakroom, you ask him why he takes such good care of you

without missing a beat, felix smiles and answers, “i promised you i’d pay you back for helping me out with the coffee machine on my first day, didn’t i?”

all you can manage to do is smile and i’d be tearing up if i were you because, just by stepping into the breakroom and offering a hand, you met the brightest, sweetest, most loving man on the planet

little do you know, felix also can’t believe his luck in meeting someone as caring, reliable, and wonderful as you <333 

this is why, sitting in the breakroom where your friendship began, he pinky promises to stay by your side through coffee machine problems, stressful workdays, and whatever else life has in store for you :,-)))) 

oh i love felix so much i'm inconsolable my sweet baby angel </33

[frnkiebby]

ray…what….those fucking sunglasses~🎃

[project-sonadow]

happy hour drabble # 2

Sonic had been dragging his feet all day. It was Monday again, which meant there wasn't much to do at Speedy's. Count the change, polish his roller skates, clean the fryers. That was his routine. By the end of his shift, it felt like there were lead blocks stuffed in his socks.

One of his coworkers gave him a strange look when he hung up his hat. "What?" he asked.

"Nothing," the girl replied. For some reason, her eyes looked sad. "Get some rest tonight, won't you, Arthur? We can't have you calling out; you're our best skater!"

Sonic raised an eyebrow, but before he could ask what she meant by that, she disappeared out the back door. Though her voice was muffled now, he could still make out her last request: "And don't forget to lock up!"

Rolling his eyes, Sonic twirled the keys in between his fingers and shook his head. This wasn't his first rodeo! After switching out his skates for his regular, non-wheeled shoes, he left the restaurant with his laces still untied. The door closed behind him, and he locked it with a soft click.

Shadow was waiting for him in his usual spot. The headlights on Shadow's motorcycle illuminated the dark parking lot with warm yellow light, and its engine filled the air with a weighty hum. Sonic hopped onto the back of the bike in one swift motion, and then wrapped his arms around Shadow’s waist like he'd been waiting to do it all day.

"No detours tonight," Sonic said. "I'm bushed!"

Shadow glanced back over his shoulder and was greeted by a mess of wild brown-and-blue quills. "Fine," he said. "That disaster you call a coat would give us away in an instant. Save your strength so I can fix it before bed."

If Sonic replied, it was drowned out by the sound of the motorcycle's engine as it roared to life. Sonic rested his head against Shadow's shoulder as the dark hedgehog drove them back to their apartment. The cool air felt nice against Sonic's fur as the wind whipped through it.

Soon, they arrived. Shadow parked the motorcycle in front of their apartment building before the two of them got off. Only then, under the bright white streetlights, did Shadow see the red flush on Sonic's cheeks. Without so much as a word, Shadow stepped forward and pressed the back of his hand against Sonic's forehead.

"Uh?" Sonic blinked. "Sh-- Lance? What're you...?"

Shadow dropped his hand from Sonic's forehead. "You're burning up," he said matter-of-factly. Then, he took Sonic's hand. "Come. Let's go inside."

Sonic let Shadow lead him up the stairs as he processed what he'd just said. "Wait," Sonic said as Shadow pushed open the door to their apartment. "I'm sick? But it's Monday!"

"Correct."

After both of them were inside the apartment, Shadow shut the door. Now, Sonic's face was screwed up like he was trying to solve a difficult math problem. "That doesn't make any sense," Sonic was saying. "I wasn't sick last Monday, or last last Monday, or--"

Shadow interrupted, "It's possible our minds aren't the only things that remain intact throughout time."

Sonic frowned, "So, someone's germs from the last loop are making me sick in this one?" He paused to think about that for a second. "That's not good, dude. That means..."

"Any consequences will persist regardless of our current place in time," Shadow finished. He was frowning now, too.

"Great," Sonic said, even though nothing about this was great. "Well, there goes my Plan A."

"And what was that?"

Sonic grinned, "'Run straight at the bad guy and hope for the best'!"

Shadow pursed his lips and sighed. Loudly. With agitation. "That's always your plan."

Sonic opened his mouth to reply, but a sneeze cut off whatever snarky remark he had prepared. His grin faded as he remembered how tired he was. Talk about a buzzkill! Next time he saw Tails, he'd have to ask him to make a shrink ray, so he could fight off germs with his fists.

Shadow shook his head as he watched Sonic's ears droop. "Go. Sit," he said. "I'll take it from here."

Sonic wanted to argue, but Shadow’s stern brown eyes made him feel funny. “Whatever,” Sonic muttered as he averted his gaze. “Just don’t take too long. I can’t promise I’ll stick around if you do!”

In truth, Sonic wasn’t going anywhere. Now that he was free from the constraints of his 9 to 5, and the horrors of capitalism were held back by the immutable strength of their apartment door, he was left with nothing to distract him from his fever. He shuffled into the bathroom and plopped down on the stool, waiting for Shadow to come in with the dye.

He sniffled. His bones hurt. He scratched his head, irritated. This never would’ve happened to world famous superhero, Sonic the Hedgehog. It was only because he was disguised as some random punk that he’d gotten sick.

“I seem to remember your fox friend recounting a tale to the contrary,” Shadow suddenly said. He’d appeared in the doorway, dye in hand. “Something about you and Arabian Nights…?”

Sonic waved his hand. “That was different,” he said.

Shadow popped the lid off a bottle of brown dye. “Oh? Is that so?”

Huffing indignantly, Sonic replied, “Yeah. That time, my worst enemy was a super powerful genie. This time, it’s customers!”

Shadow lowered his head. Sonic could’ve sworn he saw him smile. “Hold still,” Shadow said, his hands freshly gloved up and covered in dye. “I’ll be quick.”

Regardless of the truth of that statement, Sonic was physically, mentally, and emotionally incapable of holding still. He tried. Of course, he didn’t want to squirm around like a worm in the rain. But he couldn’t help it! Just like he couldn’t help but tap his foot against the linoleum, his claws clack-clack-clacking against the tile as he did so. That was, until one of Shadow’s hands moved to the back of Sonic’s left ear, and Sonic froze.

Sonic felt Shadow rub the dye into his fur. He felt his claws brush gently against the softest part of his ear. And Sonic stopped thinking about how lame it was to be sick. He didn’t worry about holding still. His heart fluttered in his chest and his eyes closed, totally focused on how good it felt to have Shadow’s fingers in his fur.

Shadow paused, having noticed the strange shift in Sonic’s behavior. But there was no time for him to lean forward and investigate, because a gentle pressure was now pushing against the palm of his hand, urging him to continue. 

It was Sonic, leaning into Shadow’s touch. 

Shadow nearly choked, but he managed to keep his composure. He isn’t feeling well, Shadow reminded himself. That’s all this was.

And yet, when Shadow resumed styling Sonic’s quills, he wasn’t thinking about covering up all the blue spots anymore. Instead, he focused his attention on just that one spot behind Sonic’s ear. He didn’t know why. Maybe he pitied Sonic. As the Ultimate Lifeform, he would never know how it felt to be ill.

Sonic leaned deeper into Shadow’s touch. His tense shoulders relaxed. His job, their mission, the time loop–none of that mattered anymore. Somewhere inside his chest, next to his heart, a soft rumbling began. Purring.

Sonic was purring.

Abruptly, Shadow stood. He turned away from Sonic, so he didn’t see him blink his eyes open sleepily. 

“Shadow…?”

“That’s all for now,” Shadow said stiffly. “Count yourself lucky. If not for your… illness… you would’ve been sitting there for much longer.”

And then he exited the bathroom, leaving Sonic sitting there as the last of his purrs quietly faded away.

[bloodlust-1]

The Consort ₊⁺જ⁀➴

NSWF | Explicit 18+ | Angst | Blood | Ascended Astarion | Spawn Tav | Dark | Smut | Trauma | Stockholm Syndrome | Violence

Ascended Astarion x fem Tav

Chapter: 1 | The Consort

Summary: In a tumultuous tale of love, power, and betrayal, Tav finds herself entangled in a complex relationship with Astarion, a heartless vampire lord who will stop at nothing to maintain control over his newfound spawn. As Tav witnesses Astarion’s transformation and descent into darkness, their love is put to the ultimate test amidst love triangles, drama, and the pursuit of world domination. Redemption seems like an elusive goal while Tav grapples with the realization of who her lover has truly become.

UPDATED EVERY MONDAY.

Notes: Hi, hi ! New series cause Astarion is heavy on my mind. I’ve been writing this on the low so I’m posting the 1st two chapters today so enjoy :*

AO3 LINK | MASTER LIST

Lovely photo by @aristenfromwarsaw

Tav sat against the window of a palace, her eyes fixed on the bustling street below. She hummed a tune so sweet to herself, the laughter of children playing echoed through the glass, and she hugged herself in this peaceful solitude.

Tav's fingers grazed softly over the bite marks that scarred her skin.

Astarion.

Her lover, her home, and ultimately Tav's only reason why she couldn't step foot in the sun any longer.

Being Astarion's spawn changed Tav's life instantly, and everything felt so - silent.

This was her love, and she'd almost do anything for him, including going threw the ascension.

And because of this, Astarion was always gone during the day, and it was so unfair.

Memories flooded her mind as she gazed at the sunlight streaming in. She remembered the warmth of the sun on her skin, the way it kissed her cheeks.

A ray of sunlight pierced through the window, illuminating a small patch of floor near Tav.

Sunlight.

What it would feel like to just...touch it. Would it really hurt? Maybe Tav could be the exception some how? Either way, the curiosity inside Tav chewed at her better judgment.

Tav bit down on her lower lip, whispering, "Just a - touch..."

With a hiss, the beam sizzled her skin, leaving behind a faint burn that quickly healed before her eyes.

“Ouch,” Tav winced and pulled back her hand with glossy eyes.

She watched as the mark faded away, leaving no trace of burns. That's it, no more daylight: this was Tav's sacrifice to Astarion.

As she leaned back against the window, Tav’s gaze lingered on the street below once more. She sighed and played with her hair.

They were so carefree and happy. She wished she could be like them again. Changing into animal form and feeling the warm grass beneath her feet. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Tav couldn’t not let her vampirism control her. She would find a way to live a normal life again.

Especially with Astarion at her side.

Astarion burst through the door, shouting, "Darling, I've got great news! I- " He stopped mid-sentence, his words trailed off as he noticed Tav suddenly jump away from the window.

She nervously smiled and waved at him, with a hint of unease. “Hi, Star… How was your morning?”

Astarion’s gaze lingered on Tav’s face and then shifted to her reddened hand. Whatta trouble maker. He shook his head and sighed annoyed while grabbing her hand, forcing it for closer inspection. “Were you playing with the light again, dearest?”

Tav murmured slightly, feeling a pang of shame knowing how much Astarion hated when Tav tested her new form.

It was dangerous and foolish of her to push limits with her life. Astarion claimed she was better than before and that she should accept his gift to her.

“Must you continue to do this to yourself? Remember, you’re better now. I made you this way; learn to love it, my consort,” he rubbed his thumb over Tav's knuckles. Despite his stern words, a soft smile graced his lips as he leaned in to press a gentle kiss against Tav’s forehead.

"I just can't help it." Tav turned her head to the window, "It still doesn't feel real." She looked back at Astarion with confusion etched deeply in her furrowed brows, "It's like I don't believe it's real until I get myself hurt."

Astarion stared at her, confused and maybe even a little weirded out. "Riiight - well, please don't take it too far, I wouldn't want you to crisp into a chip right in front of my eyes." He grabbed Tav by the waist and gave her hugs and squishes.

Tav chuckled against his hold and bombard of kisses.

“And I trust you haven’t been practicing your wild forms in the house, dear?” He glared down at Tav with a sternness again.

Astarion did not accept animals in the house, not even for poor Druid Tav.

Tav smiled. “Noo…”

Lie.

Astarion's eyes glared down at her longer than usual. "Mhm. Do you want to try that again, Tav?"

She averted her eyes from his, “If I could just get some time to practice…I almost perfected my panther form!” Her eyes lit up with determination. If only she could just show him. It was quite impressive.

But no, shut down.

He scuffed with a slight squeeze of her body, “There will be no need for a panther form. I carry all this power and it’s all you need to depend on. Besides, I found animal fur on the carpet the other day.”

Oh, right.

Tav half-giggled against Astarion’s strength and pushed away with a smug look on her face, "Soo, what's the good news?"

"Ah, yes." He fixed himself before speaking while putting some distance between them, "I've been invited to Waterdeep, a party. I want to make connections with the nobles near us. I think it's a good opportunity to sniff out whatever advantages present themselves to us. Gossip and have fun of course."

Tav's eyes lit up and she clasped her hands together, "A ball?!" She took in a sharp breath, "It's been deathly boring here, I would love to get out and see new faces."

Being a spawn could be so sheltering sometimes, especially when Astarion kept her on such a tight leash. Not that she minded his attention, that was the plus.

Astarion rolled his eyes, "Of course, you're coming." He popped out a hip and with a smirk, "You are my lovely consort after all." He leaned over and brushed away a strand of Tav's hair, fixing it perfectly in place, "And you will put all those Waterdeep prissy noble-women to shame."

Finally, something to look forward to.

"You think so?" Tav bit down on her lower lip, flashing him playful eyes. Tav stepped closer to Astarion again, resting her hand on his chest and sliding his down to his stomach gracefully.

Astarion mirrored Tav's gesture and his fingers grazed over her hips, holding a hand full of her love handles, "I don't think. I know."

She smiled at his touch, and a sudden yawn escaped Tav's lips.

Astarion's ears perked up, "Tired are we?"

She rubbed her eyes and nodded softly, "Yeah...I'm still getting used to this whole nocturnal schedule." Tav tilted her head, "But I wanted to see you before I went to bed."

With one swipe, Astarion scooped Tav into his arms, "You'll see me for eternity." His crimson eyes fell on Tav as he craddled her in his arms, "My spawn."

Her stomach knotted. Did she really like being a spawn? Well...No. But she would definitely try to for Astarion. They were in this for life. Tav tries to find life's simple pleasures, but it's hard leaving a life she once had.

Regardless, she'd never admit it to Astarion. Tav didn't want him to think she was regretful or doubtful. Even if she felt like it deep down. He mustn't know. Tav loves Astarion. After all, he said he wanted this power to protect them.

Astarion held Tav bridal style and brought her into their bedroom. The king-sized bed was draped in red silk fabric, and he poured her onto the mattress like the rarest of jewels.

And to her surprise, Astarion crawled into the bed next to her, holding her body tight against his. He nuzzled against her neck, his breath warm against her skin, and it sent shivers down her spine.

He was unusually cuddly than most days.

"Are you okay?" Tav spoke out. This wasn't normal behavior, not after he ascended at least.

"Nothing." His eyes were cold and emotionless but the squeeze in his embrace contradicted that. "I'll stay until you fall asleep." He softly kissed the tips of her ears.

Oh...how sweet.

Tav smiled, her heart aflutter as she nestled into the soft pillows. Astarion held close and watched over Tav as her eyelashes fluttered closed.

She was so emotionally fragile lately, especially with her little accidents. It worried him when he wasn't home more than he'd ever tell her.

No, don't feel bad. She's made her choice.

Astarion's inner thoughts battled within himself. Mostly because Tav consumed his mind and thoughts, even when trying to engage in any political social climbing. Part of him despised how weak he was for her.

But for now...This feels nice.

Next part here

You made it to the end! Mwuah.

Also so sorry if this series triggers anyone

Any thoughts? Comment 👇🏼 I love to engage!

[butcherlarry]

hello! I got your blog recommended to me by frownyalfred when I asked for whump bruce recs, and I have already put sooo many of your recs in my "to read" list, they all look so good! That poly lois/clark/bruce one especially!!

If you ever feel like it, could I humbly request a bruce whump rec?

It's your lucky day Anon! You ask is my weekly fic rec list! Everyone clap for Anon!

Weekly Fic Recs 79

I've had an ask before wanting some Bruce centric fics, here is a link for you! Some are angst-y with a bit of whump, but let's see what else I can find for you ;)

A Bat with a Broken Wing by agoldengalaxy @agoldengalaxy - Battinson, General, 3048 words, complete. Battinson gets injured and Jim helps him find medical attention. For some reason, Batman want Jim to take him to Wayne manor. Weird.

A Sacrifice Love Demands by second_hand_heaven @second-hand-heaven - Trinity, General, 1453 words, complete. Bruce gets hit with fear gas. Good thing Clark and Diana are there to help.

A kindred bond by Nyszu @theocddiaries - Superbat, Mature, 76,971 words, wip. Bruce gets kidnapped by an evil Superman from another universe. He Does Not Have A Good Time. Bruce's Clark (and Justice League) save him, but struggles with his mental health after.

The Xenomorality Hypothesis, Revisited by MaskoftheRay @ray-gurl - Superbat, Teen, 4508 words, complete. A different first meeting of Batman and Superman in BvS: Dawn of Justice.

control by TheResurrectionist @frownyalfred - Bruce & Clark, Not Rated, 2008 words, complete. Bruce gets roofied, Clark is there to help.

pull out the pin by TheResurrectionist - Superbat, Not Rated, 4488 words, complete. The Justice League get stranded on a supposedly empty planet. Bruce gets possessed. Shenanigans and feels ensue.

Bruce Wayne and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Sleepyhollow_101 - Superbat, General, 4104 words, complete. Bruce as a civilian gets kidnapped and Has A Bad Time. Clark is there to the rescue.

Worth It by Noknownname @allgremlinart - Superbat, Not Rated, 845 words, complete. Battinson falls into Gotham Bay. Clark helps warm him up.

Bruce Wayne Being a Good Dad (Bonus Whump) by WhumpTown - Batfam, General, 4170 words, fics complete, series not. Bruce gets injured while Batmanning. His kids are there to help while he recovers.

Monday, You Can Fall Apart (It's Friday, I'm in Love) by BatsAreFluffy @silivren-vera - Superbat, Teen, 6487 words, complete. Four times where Bruce gets injured and is Not Having A Good Time. Good thing Clark is there to help. Very whumpy, very hurt/comfort, a favorite reread of mine :)

Tropical Vacation (Sun, Sand, Sea, and Superman) by cattyk8 @cattyk8fic - Superbat, Mature, 12,279 words, complete. Three times Bruce is forced to take a vacation because of his injuries, and one time he goes on vacation on purpose (with Clark).

Maybe You'll Learn to Live with What's Inside Your Head by not_whelmed_yet @notwhelmedyet - Batcat, Teen, 8410 works, complete. Hey, remember how in the The Batman movie, Battinson at shit after trying to use his wingsuit to escape from the top of GCPD building? Or when he got shot in the chest point blank with a shotgun? Or when he cut that live wire and fell into the water below? And then just got back up and did some rescue work like he was fine and nothing was wrong, no bodily injuries to worry about, at all? Well, this author remembered and wrote a fantastic fic about him dealing with all those injuries in the aftermath. Don't worry, Selina is there to help :)

Happy Reading!

[todayontumblr]

Monday June 12.

For reasons unbeknownst to us...

...Merlin (2008) is trending, as it is wont to do. But who are we to argue? From time to time, our dashboards delight and surprise us with the news that #merlin is once more in the hearts and minds of the fandom, who have propelled it into the forefront of our collective cultural zeitgeist. And this Monday, June 12, to the delight and surprise of everyone else, our favorite homoerotic budding sorcerer/knight-to-be duo find themselves the talk of the town. Even if this talk is largely comprised of: wait, why is merlin (2008) trending? i mean im not unhappy about it... Or, in the more magnificent phrasing of this post in particular, everyone seeing merlin trending and going wait. it's not december. it's not merlin month. like a dad reading the newspaper and squinting at the date on the top of the page when the paper says there's a heatwave in february. 

Well, consider us all squinty newspaper dads on this suspiciously warm day in February—who are happy nonetheless to see the sun shining and #merthur once again basking in its rays and glorious warmth.  

We will now spend the week manifesting a similar trending renaissance for Life on Mars (2006-2007) x

[levithestripper]

romantic headcanons with peeta mellark

masterlist

warnings: fluff, gender-neutral reader.

length: 1k || read on ao3 || join my taglist

notes: rewatched the movies again and you can guess what happened from there.

peeta with a crush is singlehandedly the cutest thing you’ve had the privilege of witnessing. he’s super awkward around you, practically tripping over his own feet before he discovers his confidence.

his favorite date activity is picnics! he enjoys sitting under a shady tree and watching the clouds roll by, soaking up the sun’s rays with you by his side. more often than not, he’ll fall asleep there too. hands behind his head, one knee in the air, chest slowly rising up and down.

peeta is the biggest cuddler you’ll ever meet, hands down. sitting together? he has an arm around your waist and his head on your shoulder. sitting across from each other at a table? you can feel his knee pressed against yours. walking together? he laces his fingers with yours every chance he gets.

you’ll find yourself with more forehead kisses than you know what to do with. not that you’re complaining.

he teaches you how to dance! when peeta was little, his mother would put on a record and dance with him in the living room. there weren’t many records—or record players—left in district twelve, so his mother took great care of her small collection. his favorite was a love song by elvis presley. he nor his mother knew anything about the artist, but it didn’t stop them from getting lost in the singer’s words. years later, peeta plays that same song when teaching you how to dance. listening to the lyrics now, with you in front of him, peeta finally understands what elvis had been telling him all this time. he really can’t help but fall in love with you.

this boy is the biggest sap in the entirety of panem. he handmakes you cards, drawing cute doodles around the words he writes. sometimes you swear he’s making up new ‘holidays’ just as an excuse to make you a card. he looks so cute when he says, ‘did you know today is hug your partner day? the capitol declared it a national holiday!’ so you can’t help but go along with it.

not only does he create new holidays, but he also says random days are ‘national [blank] day.’ in the mellark household, mondays are ‘national breakfast in bed day,’ wednesdays are ‘national sleep past noon day,’ thursdays are ‘national kisses day,’ and sundays are ‘national candlelight dinner day.’ you’ll never admit it, but secretly, you love it when he uses excuses like ‘national kisses day’ to kiss you more than he already does. you tease him about it all the time, but it only backfires, as peeta gives it right back.

it doesn’t matter how long the two of you have been dating, peeta will still flirt with you like it’s the first time he’s laid eyes on you. he’ll lean against the closest piece of furniture, chin resting in the palm of his hand, proceeding to use only the cheesiest pick-up lines he could think of. you play along, of course, something you’re more than happy to do. the game ends when peeta asks you out on a ‘first date,’ and he cheers when you say yes.

you can always tell when peeta wakes up from a nightmare. he presses himself into your side, his head on your chest or pressed into the crook of your neck.

peeta will hurl compliments at you all day, but the minute you give it back to him, his face lights up like a strawberry. at the start of the relationship, he had a tough time accepting praise, regardless of what he did to receive it. he’d always subtly deflect it somehow, saying it was ‘no big deal, really!’ or ‘don’t mention it, anyone would’ve done the same.’ with your help—and a never-ending wave of admiration—peeta slowly grew more comfortable accepting the accolades he deserves.

if it wasn’t obvious, he loves all things domestic. something he loves about it is when he has together-alone time with you. each doing your own thing in the same room, silently keeping the other company while they work.

i’ve said this before, but peeta has multiple sketchbooks filled with drawings and half-finished sketches of you. peeta never tells you when he’s sketching you, claiming he prefers a ‘candid, more natural’ look to his portraits. once he fills a sketchbook, you’ll cuddle up next to him as he eagerly shows you everything he’s completed.

peeta’s love language is physical touch, acts of service, and gift-giving! (if that wasn’t obvious enough already). you almost regret telling him your favorite dessert/meal because peeta ensures you’ll never go without it, cooking/baking whatever it is whenever you mention you have a taste for it. you can’t help but love it and him.

as for physical touch, if it wasn’t clear before, peeta’s a top-rate cuddle partner. but his love for closeness manifests itself in different ways, too. back rubs, for one, are a prime example. he starts at the base of your neck, having just finished running his hands through your hair. from there, he rubs down the ridge of your spine, his thick, calloused fingers hitting the best spots every time. it never fails to turn you into a pile of mush, something peeta is (not so secretly) proud of.

with gift-giving, don’t always expect these extravagant, over-the-top presents that cost more than either of you make in a year. if he knows there is something expensive you’ve been yearning for, he’ll save up some cash to surprise you with it. typically, you’re gifted things like a bouquet of flowers, a new book, or something interesting/unique he found at the hob. you’ve slowly begun to fill a shoebox worth of stuff he’s given you over the years.

after you get out of the shower, under the guise of ‘helping you dry your hair,’ he’ll brush through it, detangling any knots still present. to be completely honest, peeta was playing with your hair more than actually drying it. you’re not in any place to complain; you do the same thing to peeta after his showers.

[kalims]

⊹ THOSE EYES | malleus draconia

premise. perhaps the universe really wants to keep him in the dark, unintentionally or not being forgotten yet again seems to be a frequent event in his life. parties aren’t for malleus anyways, nor are people.

but when he’s right next to you, a witness to your shine perhaps you’re the one for him.

content. gender neutral reader, fluff

wc. 4k

note. commissioned by faru who wanted to stay anonymous but wanted a nickname instead <3

sorry for being offline for a few. I was working on this hehe

lately, the skies seem gloomy, most people would think that it’s perfectly normal but there’s something oddly familiar about the hue of green beyond the dark, rainy clouds. besides the fact that the rain seems to fall on everyone else but you? your mind can’t help but drift to a certain horned man.

the timing seems appropriate. the weather has been like this plenty of times whenever malleus was in a particular, dejected mood. (you’d know because he’d have that certain tone. quiet and slow. If it wasn’t already obvious you can tell from the exaggerated huffs he emits, which you are starting to get suspicious of that he’s actually making it to get your attention.) speaking of malleus, you haven’t seen him around. not even a glimpse, which is surprising because he’s always trailing after you.

to the dismay of sebek who tried to tell malleus that sticking around a human like you, in his opinion: who apparently didn’t live up to the ‘young masters’ glory would lead to no good.

though you don't know what happened or why, you caught a moment of malleus staring in sebek's direction for a second and the latter immediately shut up and looked away. (presumably in shame? but you can't say.) you never really pondered on it seeing as malleus had whisked you away and distracted you with an easy smile.

you do agree with sebek. malleus' glory is unmatched, even if no one bothers to befriend him everyone notices. his mere presence is so strong that everyone can feel him coming, and when he does they stop and stare. even the gods agree! they seem to want everyone to know that malleus is favored.

amongst.. other means besides social.

he's destined. you don't know why he's referring to you as a ray of light in his darkness when he's practically binding everyone. at some point, his power had reached such a level that his emotions can affect the weather.

it's funny. you think, with such a poker face malleus is really expressive.

the sun seems to illuminate its rays brighter when he's happy, you can see its light even from beyond the clouds covering it. it dims in comparison when he's sad, and right after it loses its color it rains for long periods that the weather forecast was being canceled for not being able to predict it.

you've seen lots of people be a victim of this. be it a student grumbling away, soaking wet from the unexpected pour, or the other crying about their now-wet project.

when he's angry the clouds are darker, and the amount of lightning striking depends on the level of his rage. even you can say that being caught in the middle of it is no good when you're trying to predict where the next one will hit.

but it was strange. this week was chaotic, on monday the sun was blaring all the way to tuesday. you were just glad he seemed to be in a good mood until it started raining around the afternoon of wednesday. it just started pouring so fast out of nowhere that the lightning had actually frightened you because the rain was never accompanied by it.

you've only been in diasomnia a few times.

but.. this time you're quite surprised and it's not because of the beauty of the dorm.

the weather was so stormy that you were afraid you were gonna start flying away. there weren't any students stationed before the bridge. you don't question it because how were they even gonna guard the gates when the wind is gonna be the one breaking it open?

it only meant one thing.

malleus was in the dorm, seeing as the dorm seems to be the core of the storm.

even when you're a little way over the dorm you could still hear sebek's yells. it wasn't like the trudge to the dorm was hard, contrary to your belief the wind only whipped your clothes around like crazy. so you weren't going to get flung anytime soon, your struggle though. was the question of whether you'd be able to hang onto your gift all the way there or not.

because you were holding onto that plastic bag with ice cream in it for dear life—praying that the dessert is the right kind of softness he liked.

the time you found out he liked the dessert was by pure coincidence. you had brought a whole cake in to eat whilst celebrating your birthday together with your friends. you were too distracted talking with one of them to notice the grimace on malleus' face once he took a bite.

you were shocked when he confessed after a while.

… no, not the kind of confession you're thinking about. (even though you'd admit you'd like it to be.)

"why didn't you tell me? ahh... I should have bought another dessert, I knew it. I'm so sorry they already ate the ice cream—"

he cuts you off. "there's no need. it won't hurt." he had said, pausing to add: "if it's for you I can do it."

that night you stayed up late staring off into your ceiling before burying your head in a pillow with a warm face. you didn't have a nightmare or a dream. but his face practically engraved it in your mind till all you could think of was malleus all day.

it was driving you insane!

even when you've reached the front door, sopping wet and dripping all over the front porch all you could think of was the fact that you haven't seen malleus all week. which you didn't really think would bother you if not for the fact that you were wrong in assuming how close you thought both of you were.

again, it was driving you insane as you could tell from the amount of thoughts you have of him.

you'd have to apologize to lilia. you know all about how the man hates getting his porch wet.

"oh my."

 oh well. looking like this was definitely not how you wanted to arrive at diasomnia. 

lilia casts a curious gaze at you, ears twitching when he takes in your appearance before his lips curve into an easy smirk. you're suspicious that he knows the reason for your sudden arrival. "If I'd known you were coming, I would have sent sebek for you." lilia sighs like a disappointed mother. he gives you a quick smile before looking back and yelling:

"sebek, be a dear and fetch me a towel would you?" 

you could vaguely hear a rush of heavy footsteps and you awkwardly just stare until sebek appears carrying a folded towel in his arms. you could emit a sigh if it wasn’t so freezing when sebek's face contorted to that of distaste when he saw you.

lilia with a knowing look merely shook his head. "don't just stand there, will you? we have a guest." he chimes and probably had enough cause he ended up snatching the towel right off the boy's arms.

who actually looked like he felt bad for a second.

lilia ushers you in after drying most of the droplets of water away, so you enter without much complaint. a towel wrapped around your body, over your shoulders. you clutch it like a blanket. looking around trying to look subtle.

this one is looking for him. lilia muses with an amused chuckle. you'd be surprised at how gloomy malleus' mood actually is, that boy had practically washed up the dorm with how long the rainy weather had kept going. lilia knew cater forgetting to invite malleus would have some damper to his mood.

but of course not to the extent.

you have perfect timing. lilia knows malleus considers you dear, perhaps even dearer than him and if lilia can't resolve his mood then you definitely can.

"ah that's right. what brings you to our humble abode?" lilia leads through the halls that lead directly to the main area. you clutch the towel a little tighter. feeling the embarrassment seep through your mind. were you gonna tell him that you all but ran to the nearest convenience store and bought a tub of ice cream for malleus because you figured he was upset?

talk about a test of courage.

you grimace. "I-uhm.. haven't heard from malleus so I got worried." 

lilia's face doesn't change from its laid-back nature.

"is he alright, by the way?"

the flicker of surprise in his eyes doesn't go unnoticed by you. "were you at all asim's party, prefect?" he asks, already drawing an answer from your confused face alone. it's not like he already doesn't know, you were nowhere seen at the party after all.

".. no?"

kalim in fact did invite you. but you weren't too fond of the idea when there was a pile of homework from the professors and another one from crowley sitting in ramshackle all alone with no one to do them. so you chose the option that would save you later, and make you suffer currently. 

(plus, you did promise to join malleus for a walk since he asked you earlier. but kalim doesn't need to know that, right?)

frankly, you're starting to get concerned with how many times malleus occupies your thoughts.

lilia places his chin in between his fingers with a hum. you listen to him keenly even when he sits you on the couch of the living room. "malleus got invited you see." that was a surprise to you. you smile from ear to ear. that's great for him! but you're expecting a 'but'.

and boy was there one. "but it was rescheduled earlier, you see." he closes his eyes and casts you a closed-eyed smile. for someone whose 'son' had been forgotten, he seems oddly relaxed about it.. and.. wasn't lilia part of the group inviting everyone else?

as if he reads your mind lilia makes sure to say, "cater was the one who said he's got informing malleus all covered. I'm afraid he had forgotten and the party had already finished." 

that's pretty.. sad.. no wonder the weather was more extreme than usual. malleus was probably feeling a mixture of sadness and anger. 

lilia's eyes drift downwards. and you curse when you realize where he's looking. "what's that you've got there?" somehow every word that comes out of lilia comes out jokingly like he's teasing you. 

there was no point in hiding it was there? you sigh and hand over the plastic to lilia who graciously takes it, spares one glance at it, and casts it aside to the table. probably planning to put it in the freezer for later.

it looks like he knows already but you still answer blankly. "ice cream for malleus."

he seems to brighten up after your clear display of intention. good thing sebek had ran back to his room after you stepped foot in the dorm because if he were here right now he probably would have been suspicious and assumed that you'd somehow put something in the ice cream.

"to cheer him up?"

".. yes."

"ah. how sweet. young love never fails to entertain me."

you sputter. "i—that's not.."

a look for lilia is all it takes for you to shut up. he shakes his head with a laugh. "as the youngsters say, 'denial is a river in egypt' do you get it? fufu.. quite funny." he giggles continuously but you can't help but think that he's trying to make a joke. you deadpan. "I do but that's not the point!" 

an unfunny joke clearly.

point is your practical son needs some severe cheering up if you just witnessed a tree get struck by lightning a while ago.

from your experience, the tea parties held by heartslabyul is a pretty nice way to unwind.

"does malleus like tea?"

he pauses. "why, yes. he's been raised as a noble after all."

never in your life have you been so stressed. you have to give props for riddle, cause you just found out how hard it is to actually organize a tea party. you don’t even wanna think about what jamil does, you swear he grows a white hair every time kalim throws a party.

nearly all desserts had some kind of association with ice cream, you made sure of it. though you do have to give credit to lilia since the man had graciously let you make use of his fridge to place them there until your scheduled tea party had arrived (honestly saving a bunch of residents from his.. ‘special’ meat.)

you had left sebek the job of informing malleus since you were sure that he was the only person that wouldn’t forget about him. the boy actually approved your choice of who you gave the job to and commended you.

but hey at least he liked it, right?

the guests were.. yet to arrive which is making you anxious because malleus himself was about 1 hour early to his own party.

when he approaches you there’s a clear look of joy. you’d fall over from the small, genuine smile of pureness on his face. you almost forgot to question yourself why in the hell he’s here when the party is scheduled to start in.. one hour.

you sweat. few of the desserts haven’t been taken out of the fridge yet to preserve them! "what.. are you doing here?" you nervously ask but malleus thankfully doesn't seem to mind.

"ah, lilia informed me." his eyes crinkled. "I am very happy to be here."

lilia that bastard.. but wasn't sebek supposed to inform him.. but even if sebek did you're sure that this man would have still shown up early.

now you're wondering what happened to poor sebek. that boy is either angry or devastated.

you find malleus' pure and innocent intentions a little endearing.

ㅤ

lilia stands in front of the door that malleus never really opened. ah that child, even in his absence for dorm leader meetings didn't upset him this much. lilia presumes that he must have looked forward to an invitation he hasn't had in.. a long time.

he raises a hand to knock. once, nothing. twice, nothing. lilia guesses he'll have to use that card.

"malleus dear, the prefect was just by here."

almost immediately there's shuffling behind the door and not a second later it creaks open to show the horned man's curious face. lilia smiles. one mention of you and he already responded.

this is is his non-verbal way of saying: 'where.'

malleus tilts his head and looks past lilia's shoulders, who then shakes his head and gains the former's attention back. "they are not here anymore if it is them who you're looking for." 

"ah."

almost immediately he comically deflates, and lilia resists holding a chuckle. 

"but they did leave something for you." the shorter male adds.

as if the energy in malleus comes back, he immediately brightens. the child of man left something? for him? oh.. malleus releases a long sigh. his heart could leap out of its chest and start dancing if it could.

although it pains him to leave your side malleus did just that. you could say that he was.. feeling under the weather and he doesn't want to face you in a state where his anger could possibly take over.

he does not know what he'll do if he hurts you.

people like you are a luxury that malleus doesn't often come across. it's not every day that he meets someone who doesn't falter at the sight of him or one whose eyes don't fly to his horns but to his eyes instead.

he wonders if you knew who he was at that time. would it be different? would you have turned and left him in the dust? malleus supposes there's no point in wondering about what could have been when all he wants is right here. 

lilia smiles fondly at him. "your favorite. they've left ice cream and an invitation for you."

just like that, all the sadness in malleus pours out like a continuous river never stopping. something warm thumps in his chest and it's all he can hear. it blooms until he can feel it crawl up to his hands and on the tips of his ears. something warm and worthwhile. 

then malleus realizes right then and there. why did he spend so much time worrying about it, since when did he care about the view of others? it's not his fault if they forgot. they should have been grateful that they had the privilege to talk so freely with him.

simple things should not strike such a nerve within malleus.

who needs the other people anyways when he's got everything in his hand? it's not like they have someone their entire being beats for.

but you. weren't you just perfect? malleus had never felt happier. "when and where is this invitation of theirs?" 

ㅤ

you deadpan. you should have never assumed that lilia wouldn't have heard your words to sebek. the walls of diasomnia have ears of their own after all.

you shake your head. "oh uh.. there's a few people that came early—" for once you're appreciative, cause god it would be awkward if it's only the two of you. you're not sure if it's because you'll be having an inner crisis during it or the lack of guests. 

as you can see you definitely weren't all that prepared. you see malleus smile at you from the corner of your eye when you lead him to a table and sit him down, the man doing so without many complaints. 

jamil knows when someone is looking at him. he knew he should have ran back into the kitchen when he saw you staring at him intensely. but before he could even escape you already— "jamil." you say, loudly and he winces.

"why don't you get the others to join us?" you smile at him thinly and jamil understood. there was no room for arguments. he sighs. for a person mysterious to the entirety of NRC you are pretty scary.

oh, fuck did you even look okay? because next to a quite literally sparking, shining man like malleus you feel like you're a bag of trash.

eventually, you find yourself with a strange group, an unlikely group. very weird group. despite malleus being the obvious exception (dare you say he's the most happiest.) there are looks across the table with varying degrees of disturbed, irritation, or just plain fear.

okay, so the fear is mainly from idia who you're surprised even showed up. scratch that. maybe it was just him being nervous?

malleus doesn't look bothered at all.

you laugh awkwardly. "uh.. fine weather we're having?" but two out of five react positively to your words. rook cracks a bright smile while malleus nods slowly.

"indeed! it has been a while since the skies have cleared up." rook chirps, and you sweatdrop. you and a few other people cast a glance at malleus who doesn't seem to be concerned, nor care about the second of attention.

oh god. how awkward, everyone here knows that he's the reason why the weather was so bad.

"I'm just glad it stopped raining." jamil comments, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. he's met with several mumbles of agreement. all you could say was, same. no more struggling to keep your school works under the umbrella.

malleus hums. "I must thank you for the invitation, child of man." he smiles at you and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to not let the similar face break out so obviously in yours. "you're welcome." 

jamil side eyes the two of you just staring at each other. if he'd known he'd end up being a witness to this.. subtle lovey-dovey stuff he would have never helped you and trey bake the few treats you asked them to in the first place.

plus rook absolutely eating up whatever you two were doing? yikes. god can kill him now.

speaking of trey he should be here suffering. he narrows his eyes.

.. right. "what are you doing here so early? hasn't lilia told you it starts later?" you inquire. it would also have saved you the trouble of creating a group to surround just one table for malleus. 

shortly, he replies. "I did not want to be late." malleus blinks at you and almost everything he does makes you swoon, you get to see a clear view of his crystal green eyes. "I also wanted to talk with you," he admits.

and.. essentially have you all to himself before everyone starts to hog you like moths to a flame. maybe that's how malleus got attracted to you as well.

should you be embarrassed that he just said that in front of jamil, rook, and 3 other people, or should you be rolling all over the ground out of joy?

"oh jeune amour!"

"woah."

"malleus-chi at it again earning love points.

"seriously." 

your lips wobble as you attempt to hold in the wide smile. you feel like the sun just flashed you in the face from the amount of heat you're feeling right now

"wh… do… uh.." 

you don't usually describe yourself as someone who freezes up like this but clearly, you're proving yourself wrong to assume so. "oh haha.." your finger flies to point at the newcomer to direct attention. "would you look at that? the desserts are ready." 

saved by trey who enters with a handsome smile. how in the hell is he balancing all those dishes with one arm? you have no idea. one step from you and all of those would have crashed down onto the ground.

then you'll blame gravity.

before you know it the tense atmosphere had melted into something warm. even jamil seems to have eased up, idia isn't hiding in the depths of his hoodie anymore, and rook is rook.

and malleus, despite his usual blank look has a faint lining of peace in his expression. it's rare to see it in a place so.. crowded? his lips quirk up further once he spots the dessert on the plate.

"ah, my favorite, tea and.. ice cream?" 

"and crackers." you make sure to add.

he chuckles. "and crackers."

everyone digs into their respective plates. besides malleus' favorite, you made sure to ask what kind of food they'd like to have at the party. it would be rather boring if it were just ice cream, wouldn't it?

well. the ice cream was for malleus only so.

you can't help but sneak glances every now and then. thoroughly enjoying the delighted look on his face when he eats another spoonful. you're suspecting that he might even ask if there's another batch.

coincidentally malleus looks at you the moment you look away. it's a repeating thing. you look, he's looking away. you look away and he looks at you. a never-ending cycle that just results in unsaid feelings.

but everyone knows that if there was ever a god that exists he always has a plan for it.

perhaps once the feelings you bore have bloomed into something mature and people would be the time when you could hold malleus in your arms and worry not about every single thing. it's not always you get to pine for someone.

so I will always love you until you're mine. he thinks. you will be.

malleus casts you a small smirk. "I am hoping you'll spare me that talk later."

"later, please. for now let me finish this." 

seriously. the food trey and jamil cooks are scrumptious. 

he watches you eat, chat with rook and idia with a smile. he can't seem to invite jealousy in his heart because of them when you've so clearly put in the effort to clear the troubles in his.

next time I shall prepare a feast and festival for you. he thinks seriously. 

but that's a plan for another day! one.. you're not exactly aware of.. yet...

[pasdetrois]

I don't understand how they can write about it. I couldn't. It's impossible to explain. Happiness... It's like trying to pin down a sun ray. We'll Live Till Monday (1968) dir. Stanislav Rostotsky

[angelstate]

Why do you hide?

Peter parker x fem!reader

Genre: Fluff, Angst, Happy Ending! :)

Warnings: explicit trauma, low self-esteem, panic attack.

summary: being introverted usually made you end up alone in most things, people nowadays didn't put effort into relationships to actually stick around and get to know who you are. Everyone except Peter parker.

words: 2.9k!

this is my first ever post here so i'm sorry if is not really good. i hope you enjoy it!

it was normal by now, people ignoring your existence in the hallways, bumping into you and never stopping to say sorry. Still, it couldn't be described as bullying, nobody directly picked on you, called you names or made awful comments about how you looked. they just made no effort in pretending they weren't annoyed by your existence in the busy hallways.

even though you were an introverted, not even once in your life you acted as hostile as all the other kids were. what kind of people had been raising them that saying sorry was a punishment and not a common manner? It was ridiculous at some points.

For example, why wouldn't Jessica Williams say sorry when she accidentally hit you with her backpack the last Monday? you could never forgive yourself if you were the one to hit somebody on accident and didn't acknowledge the incident and apologies.

for children it's ok if they are embarrassed to say sorry or admit their mistakes since they are still learning manners but for a 16 year old girl to not be able to say sorry was worrying.

of course not all people in highschool were this dense and unfriendly but the once that were actually nice already had a lot of friends and it felt disrespectful to just go in the friend circle and demand to be accepted and befriended. it even felt selfish to want friends at all, even fake ones.

you parents always reminded you that most people present themselves with a fake persona so you should never trust them until they really star behaving in a realistic way and if people around you didn't felt inclined to acknowledge your existence that screamed a lot of who you are as a person.

and thanks to your situation at school it felt real your parents words. nobody was interested in the slightest about who you are so there was no point in trying to be friends with anybody.

then, Peter Parker came around and all the progress you had done into accepting that nobody wanted you around went to waste in a matter or days.

finally, after manifesting to the universe for someone to enter in your life and be able to understand your pain and why you were the way you are, peter showed up. with his super intelligence, dorky star wars t-shirts, pretty face, and awkward but charming personalty to crumble everything you knew about people because he was so nice.

actually, not just nice. he was warm like a ray of sunshine in spring, so calming and cozy that you feel like melting everytime he talks, every word he says just feels like one good secret that only the both of us knows or a promise that will last for eternity, there is no in between when it comes to peter parker.

everything about him was perfect but....you weren't.

you didn't have super intelligence, didn't like you apparrence even though you always made the effort to look good, and definitely weren't charming like him.

you are soft-spoken, introverted, shy and more simple in the way you expressed yourself.

you have to many layers, a thousand walls that try to protect the real you from getting hurt again by fake people who just wanted the benefits of being your friend, and it's ok. you need that safety but at the same time you only end up further isolating yourself and losing opportunities to grow because you prefer the comfort of being alone over the possibility of being a better version of yourself in a community.

_____________________

it had become a routine, stand in front of your locker and looking for what you needed for the next class and peter parker appearing next to you, ready to try and engage in some sort of conversation that you were always unprepared for.

"you know the movie Titanic?" he asked.

" yeah, i like that movie"

"i was reading the other day that almost all the love story is made up" he tilted his head to get a better look at your face.

you frowned.

"oh, that's...sad. i always thought it was a real love story of one of the survivors of the Titanic" you sighed.

"me too! whoever wrote that story is a genius." he laughed a little and took the books you pulled out of your locker from your hands

you closed the locker softly and turned your body to face peter completely, taking your books from him and smiling.

"it's a pretty good love story but i don't think is my favorite" you admitted.

Titanic is a good movie and the love story is great but not the type you prefer. 'Me Before You' that is the type of love story that absolutely captures your heart. it didn't have the happy ending you prayed for the entire movie and absolutely crushed your heart that Sam didn't changed his mind but it also added a cruel human aspect that made your heart feel warm.

"Titanic is great!" Peter argued

"i agree but there are better movies out there" you argued back

"like which one?" He questioned

"Me before You is great" you responded

"i haven't watched it" peter frowned and crossed his arms.

"you should, it's amazing." you smiled once again and began walking towards your next class, peter followed you immediately since it was one of the classes you shared. Algebra.

"we could watch it together, i mean if you want to watch it with me, you don't have to i just wanted to know if you'd like to watch it with me" he stuttered and panicked slightly.

"i would love to, we could watch it tomorrow"

"yeah, that would be great" peter answered quickly.

you already knew where peter lived, this was going to be good, right?

_____________________

yeah....it was too god to be true.

those were the words that kept repeating in your mind and were the same words your mom said when she reacted to the news of you finally beginning to be friends with someone that was actually a good person.

"it's too good to be true, kid" your mother spoke without even looking at you, too busy preparing herself something to eat. the smell of alcohol still lingering in her skin and hair. you doubt a shower wold be able to get rid of it, it was her signature smell after all, even if she didn't want to admit it.

"peter is my friend, mom." you explained with desperation in your voice, wanting your mother feel happy for you once in her life. it was so hard to prove her that your social life wasn't all tragic but also good and promising thanks to peter.

"you sure? I don't want to come to me crying if he turns out to be like Sarah"

...

you froze in your spot, your mom was aware of how much you have avoided the topic of Sarah. How she created a new world of pain just for you to suffer when she pretend to be your friend because how much of a people pleaser you are. that's why she didn't felt the need to question your motives when you beg to go to a different high school.

nobody in your family knew the things Sarah manipulated you into doing, of course your mom was aware Sarah was a trouble maker, that was what she was so known for, what she didn't know is the trouble she forced on you.

smoking was bad, drinking too but that didn't compare to all the 'rituals' and 'tests' she made you do to prove loyalty to her. To prove that if she ever got caught doing something bad you would have her back and lie her wait out of the situation.

it would be an understatement to say that you were naive, the second your mother knew about the things sarah did to you she didn't hesitate to call you all names existing for stupid and that memory never went away.

finally after almost 2 minutes of silence you spoke again, voice trembling and out of breath.

"he isn't like Sarah, he is like me"

"that's worse."

that's worse? i am worse?

"how is that worse? I'm a good kid"

you mom laughed hard, and for the first time looked at you. it was evident in her eyes how she wasn't taking you seriously in the slightest, it was so clear she didn't gave a fuck about this that it was painful to watch her enjoy your pain so much. she was so joyed about mocking you and the one optimistic thought you had in months that she couldn't contain her excitement in shutting it down immediately

"a good kid? if anything your a pain in my ass. If that kid is as stupid as you are then god helps his family because i certainly need gods help when dealing with your dumbass"

how cruel of her to speak like that about you, the kid how always kept quiet, that did everything she was asked for even if it wasn't convenient for you to do so. the one that made sure she passed out in her bed instead of the floor every time she drank too much.

she was mean and bitter about your existence when she should be joyed about your upbringing. the worst mother.

"you don't have to be so mean" you whimpered, the knot that began to form in your throat made it hard to breath and the tears that were leaving your eyes so softly began to feel overwhelming, just like your sweater and pants. It felt like you were overflowing with so much emotions of distress that your body was trying to escape from itself.

without waiting for her answer you went to your room and locked the door, everything felt so suffocating. Your clothes all of a sudden felt tight and uncomfortable, but your hands began shaking too much to be able to take any piece of clothing off and the open window didn't seem to let enter any air inside the room.

This was a nightmare in real life.

The panic attack was ripping you apart and all you could do was to sit in the hard wood floor and sob uncontrollably and feel the way your heart seem to be going even faster every passing second.

but someone saw you and got worried about you.

_____________________

a few days later

how could you face him? how even dare you face him after everything that happened with your mom? Obviously peter didn't know what happened but the incident was in your mind and it had infested every corner of it. it was impossible to ignore the fresh memory or get out of the state of shame you were on.

After laying awake all this nights you came to the 'realization' that whatever you had going on with Peter wouldn't work.

He isn't like you and you made a mistake saying he was to your mom. He is so much more, so much better that saying that you were like him felt like one of the worsts sins you ever committed.

Once again, how dare you come close to a good person just because you were lonely? you didn't want to go close ever again or face him in any kind of way, not even with pictures.

so you did what any coward would do, you began hiding.

at first it was easy, just keep every book you need in your backpack so you never need to go to your locker. But then your back started to hurt, a lot.

So you created another plan, hide in the bathroom and wait till its almost time for your classes run to your locker and arrive late to class, at least the ones you didn't have with Peter.

In those you had to get more creative, you started to use a big scarf that covered almost half of your face and using big hoodies to hide the rest of your face, since it was winter the outfit was according and almost all the other girls were doing the same things.

it didn't hide you completely but that was the best you could do to at least hide a little bit. it felt pathetic most of the time but the shame kept you from stopping.

peter wasn't an idiot though. he noticed, first when you didn't showed up at his house to watch the movie and later on that night when he watched you have a panic attack in your room when we went to check up on you as Spiderman.

he knew something must have happened and was planning on speaking with you about it the next day but you didn't went to school for days and when you finally appeared you didn't give any opportunity for peter to talk to you

it was like you had turned into a ghost, peter rarely saw you in the hallways and you always seem to arrive to your shared classes with everybody else to hide your silhouette from him.

but one day you didn't hide good enough...

_____________________

you were in the library almost nobody came here in lunch so it was the perfect hiding place, you were reading one of the harry potter books that the librarian had in her desk and kindly let you borrow.

being a fan of the books you directly began to read in one after sitting in one of the tables that were hide by bookshelf's it was so peaceful, too peaceful to be exact and you didn't realize until it was too late.

until peter parker was already standing in front of you, at the other side of the table looking at you with mixed emotions and a blank expression.

"here have you been?" he questioned you the moment you looked at him. his tone was harsh but also full of pain

"here." you answered softly, it was barely a whisper but peter heard you loud and clear.

"i don't mean today, i'm talking about this week. where have you been?" he questioned you again this time in a softer tone.

"at school, i've been busy with stuff" you broke eye contact and looked at the table in shame.

"but you haven't gone to you locker at any point"

"i have"

"when."

"after the bell rings" you admitted.

"why? i mean you'd end up being late to class if you do that"

"i know"

"what happened? did i made you mad or something? if i did i'm sorry i swear it wan't my intention and i'd like to make up for it." he spoke i desperation, the same way you did to your mother and that made your heart clench in pain.

"you didn't do anything wrong, peter" you sighed and covered you face with your hands in stress

"then why do you hide?

shame. you wanted to scream but something inside of you just wouldn't let you speak, it was everything too embarrassing, the fight with your mom, your obvious attempts into avoiding peter, getting caught by him and being confronted about it.

taking a deep breath, you uncovered your face and looked at peter with your best 'sorry' face and just explained your thoughts to him the best you could.

"i just...i don't think you and me are compatible. you're a genius and a just amazing in general and i'm well me. your out of my league in so many way that i can't understand why do you even talk to me half of the time. i don't know even half the things you do and even when i do know some of them, you have much more knowledge about it so you have no logical reason to be close with some one so stupid like me"

"that not true"

" it is, peter. and it's not even abut you being intelligent. it's about me not being it; not being any good to you or anyone in general. i am dumb, stupid, idiotic and foolish. i am empty. not even my interest are interesting enough and the worst thing is that can't never find it in me to just try and be more likeable "

"you are likeable, i like you. that's why i'm always talking to you and around you every chance i have"

you looked at him wide eyed and watch as he processed what he said. his expression filled with panic and before he could even explain himself you were already speaking

"do you mean it?"

"what..well i mean, you know i...uhm i guess what i'm trying to say is that....yeah i mean it but you don't have to feel the same i mean i totally get why you would not want to be with me is just... let's pretend this never happened"

"i like you too" you spoke softly and felt your face blush profusely. this felt like a dream, peter parker could not be in love with you. is too good to be true. everything with him felt too good to be true.

"you do?" peter said with a hopeful tone, his eyes are shinning with adoration and relief from not being rejected by the girl he loved so deeply

"i do"

he basically rushed to your side, picked you up and kissed you with passion and love that it took everything in you to separate yourself when you ran out of breath.

peter parker loved you, there was no point in hide yourself anymore. and if he was too good to be true then it was meant to mae you just as great being by his side.

"i love you" you both whispered at the same time.

[tavs-tressym]

Delicious Denial - Chapter Two

(AO3 Link) | Master List | Ko-Fi

Rating: Explicit, 18+

Pairing: Astarion x Fem!Tav (You).

Word Count: 3240 (approx)

Tags: Fluff, eventual smut, domestic fluff, camp life, slow burn romance, sexual tension (A LOT), violence description.

WARNING: Contains violence description.

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

A reimagining of the game's events if Tav had zero magical or fighting ability. But she's still pretty fucked up. 👍

(Lots of comforting camp life content.)

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

A/N: Happy Monday!

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

Chapter Two - Six

The ground shakes beneath you as the boom of a war horn ravages the forest. You stand behind Minthara on a large boulder. There’s a small gathering of tieflings above the ivy-covered gate, and they don’t seem like powerful druids. Your heart plummets in guilt.

What have I done? These people… Gods, they’re barely even armoured… They’re all going to die…

Your mind continues swimming in panic. You scan the crowd of goblins, it’s clear to see that they’re outnumbered. They don’t stand a chance. A singular arrow darts towards you, Minthara swipes it to the side with effortless magical ability. “Blow that gate open! Now!” She commands. The goblins release their warcries. Some, carrying barrels of explosives, rush to the gate. Arrows rain from the sky and puncture as many foes as they can but it’s not enough. Through smoke and floating gunpowder, you can see the destruction of the gate. The grove is compromised. But before Minthara can give further command, you spot silhouettes amongst the wreckage. 

Six silhouettes, all different in stature and weight. A very odd-looking alliance, indeed. Minthara holds her tongue, waiting for them to reveal themselves so as to gauge this new enemy’s abilities. 

Weighted thumps on soil grow faster and louder as two of the silhouettes reveal themselves. A powerful, red tiefling, brandishing a greataxe with what looks to be living fire escaping her chest leaps forward, burning rage in her eyes. Then a skilled, female, githyanki warrior slicing through goblins with no hesitation and shaking off hits like they’re nothing. They make quick work of their foes, pushing the army back.

Behind them, a black-haired half-elf can be seen healing the injured with one hand and casting radiating destruction spells with the other.

Just as they’re beginning to feel overwhelmed by enemies, a ray of devastating lighting scorches the earth, electrocuting all goblins in it’s path. Your eyes follow it to the source, a human in a humble, purple robe, his eyes filled with determination and pride at his own magic.

The scorched goblins begin to twitch and spasm. You flick your gaze back to them, realising that they are dead no longer and are now fighting for the opposite side. By the gate, another human with a darker complexion, noble attire and a rapier in hand stands proudly, leading his new, undead army into battle.

That’s one, two, three, four, five… There were six… Weren’t there?

Minthara snarls and leaps into the centre of battle. Surrounded by these new, mighty enemies, she calls upon Lolth to aid her before attacking each foe with excellent precision and strength. You look around, frantically trying to keep up before realising… This is it. Your chance to escape. Your breath shudders as you slowly back away and once out of Minthara’s field of view, you run.

The makeshift shoes you were given start to rip and come apart beneath you with each desperate collision with the floor. You look back to ensure that you aren’t being followed, then you… Stop? The wind in your lungs is forced out of you as your back hits something solid. But that can’t be, there was nothing there, right? You feel a cold, hard, sharp sensation against your neck, your breath hitches. You try to wriggle free from whatever this is, but something strong holds you in place. In confusion and panic you go to let out a shriek before, yet again, you are stopped. A soft, smooth, cold texture contains the sound within your mouth. “Shh…” Suddenly the force around your mouth becomes opaque: a hand. The sensation on your neck: a dagger. The solid pressed firmly up against your back: A person.

Number six…

“If I move my hand, are you going to scream?” A male voice hums into your ear. You shake your head in response, there are no tears in your eyes, only fury.

You. Were. So. Close.

“Are you sure? I’d hate to ruin such a pretty neck…” His threats are theatrical, but you hear his earnesty and feel his eyes burning into your exposed skin. He allows the dagger to make a small, irritating cut on your neck to emphasise his point. Breathing comfortably would surely deepen the wound and seeing no way out, you give in and douse the fire inside of you, for now. You nod. He slowly removes his hand and you catch your first glimpse of him. His hand is pale and his nails are manicured. There is little hair and through his almost translucent skin, you see hints of dark veins. You feel his breath on your ear, it’s surprisingly warm for someone so cold.

His now free hand grips the plush skin of your arm and he moves the dagger to allow you to breathe as normal, but ensures that the threat remains. He guides you back to the, now quieter, battlefield. Minthara is on her knees, clutching her stomach, blood slipping through the gaps between her fingers. She coughs and gasps, lifting her head to see you, captured again. “T-true… S-soul…” Her words aren’t of sorrow, but of pride that you are still standing. She knows death will soon claim her, but you? You can finish her quest and bring glory to The Absolute. She grins. A greatsword’s blade, coated in thick red, is held beside Minthara’s neck. “Any last words, istik?” The githyanki sneers.

Minthara does not break her eye contact with you. “F-for… The Abso-” The sword traps her words in her throat forever, as it severs her head in one fell swoop. It rolls towards you, her now limp grin of devotion still smeared across her face.

You begin to breathe deeply… Heavily… You can’t breathe… You need air, now. You try to escape your captor’s grasp, you’re going to die, you’re sure of it. “Let her go!” The tiefling’s command frees your body and you feel your legs give out from underneath you. No matter how much air you suck into your lungs, you can only suffocate.

A warm, delicate hand rests on your back and rubs it in firm circles. “Breathe properly now. With me. In… And out…” A gentle, yet guarded voice attempts to guide you back to reality, but it isn’t working. The half-elf shrugs and looks to her companions for assistance, to which the githyanki scoffs and rolls her eyes. You rake your fingers through the soil, desperately trying to ground yourself when - Black. __________________________________________

How long has it been? Is this… Death? No, it feels too familiar. Sleep? It could be. It’s certainly peaceful… But it can’t be, mine doesn’t feel like this anymore. Mine is more… Restless… I haven’t felt like this in… Well, too long anyway…

No… Please don’t go…  Just a little longer… Please… __________________________________________

The world is fuzzy when seeing it through barely open eyes. Green sways above you, sheltering you from sharp lines of yellow light. Your eyes open further. It’s midday, same as before, as though no time has passed. How much time has passed? You begin to sit up to get your bearings. “Woah there soldier, take it easy.” You flinch at the voice and search, eyes wide for danger. It’s the tiefling from earlier. “It’s okay! It’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you.” You huddle yourself into a ball, keeping your eyes on hers and shuffle away. She smiles with such warmth you almost feel tempted to let your guard down, almost. “The name’s Karlach, and you are?”

“What makes you think I’d tell you? Your friend held a dagger to my throat!” You force anger through your fear and surprisingly, Karlach seems to understand. She sighs and nods, rubbing her face. “I know, I’m sorry. I wish there was no need for it, but you have to understand, we don’t know what we’re dealing with here. Before we can trust you and let you go, we need to know who you are.” You know better than to trust promises of freedom, but then you look around. 

You seem to have found yourself in a humble camp, surrounded by one-person tents, hardly a prison. An unlit campfire stands in the centre and your captors are idly going about their business. All of them you recognise, all except one. A lean, pale elf with white, well kept curls meticulously arranged on his head. He stands, reading a book amongst neighbouring silk cushions that are scattered around the entrance of his tent. There’s even a stool right next to him, but he chose to stand. Weird. Watching him turn the page, you notice his familiar hands. You grit your teeth and furrow your brow. That’s the fucker that caught you.

Flicking your eyes back to Karlach, you can see how desperately she wants you to cooperate. You check your ankles and wrists, there are no restraints. “How long was I out for?” You ask in a dull, numb voice.

“A day.”

You nod, realising how energised you feel, a rare occurrence for you. “And… How?” Although you’re grateful for the rest, the last thing you remember was clawing at the ground, not exactly a bedtime routine. 

“Oh… Ha ha… Well…” She gestures to her head sheepishly, you place your hand on yours and jolt at the sudden pain, a bandage covers a gnarly bump on the right side of your head, then the headache hits you. “Ugh… Gods…” You rub your eyes but doing so only produces stars, you lay back down.

“Yeah, sorry about that too, soldier.” You hear approaching footsteps, but moving to protect yourself right now would be too painful.

“So, she’s awake at last… What now?” Asks a gentle, male voice. You try to peer through the stars to see which companion it is. You see… Purple. This must be the wizard.

“Yes, what now, indeed? Shall I get my tools and see what information I can get out of her?” You recognise this as the familiar voice of the half-elf.

“With all due respect, Shadowheart, I think she’s a bit… Out of it. Maybe adding more pain into the mix isn’t such a good idea.”

“Alright, what do you suggest?” She asks, clearly disappointed and irritated.

“You could start by sparing some magic and healing that wound on her head. She can’t even speak.” Shadowheart sighs and reluctantly casts Cure Wounds, your vision clears and the pain subsides.

Thank the Gods…

Finding your strength, you sit up once again and your eyes meet the wizard’s. His features are soft, kind, though you suppose looks can always be deceiving. “Welcome back. Now, let’s cut to the chase. You don’t trust us, we don’t trust you, that much is clear. But, we can help each other. And I’ll get into the ‘how’ of it all soon enough, but for now, I’ll settle for your name. I’m Gale, of Waterdeep.” He reaches his hand out to shake yours. You inspect it, searching for trickery, then you look at his face. He has a friendly, inviting smile and you sense no ulterior motive. You take his hand and shake it gently. “Tav.”

“Tav! Excellent.” Once you let go, he claps his hands and turns to his companions. “This is Shadowheart, our fierce cleric.” He gestures towards her, she forces a smile but unsuccessfully hides her distaste for the introduction. “And you’ve met Karlach.” She waves at you excitedly, seeming proud of you for opening up, just a little. She emanates friendliness, you can’t help but smile back. “Let’s see… That’s Lae’Zel, our resident githyanki.” He points her out, upon hearing her name, she looks over, sees you and immediately scoffs before returning to her task. “Over here we have Wyll, ‘The Blade of…” 

“The Blade of the Frontiers, at your service.” The one who bent the dead to his will approaches and performs a grand bow. “My lady.” You raise an eyebrow.

Is this guy for real?

You smile and nod politely. You take in his features as he raises his head. Brown skin, facial scars and one eye seemingly made of stone. Intriguing…

“And last but… Eh… not least, Astarion. The stealthiest of the bunch.” He doesn’t look up from his book, he just makes a vague, waving, hand gesture. You raise an eyebrow again, but this time you make no effort to conceal your judgement.

“Yes, I remember.” Just as you’re about to look away, you spot a smirk on his face. The prick.

“So, now that we’re all well acquainted, maybe now you could tell us everything you know about this ‘Absolute’, yes?” Gale looks at you expectantly.

“Hold on, you said we could help each other. What am I getting out of this?” The companions exchange worried glances before Karlach takes over.

“Well that all depends on your answers to our questions, soldier.” She looks at you apologetically.

“Seriously? You want me to give you all this information for the mere chance that you could give me something in return? Yeah, no thanks.” A moment of tension passes.

“We know what’s in your head and we have them too!” The words practically burst out of Karlach’s mouth, to everyone’s disapproval. Gale brings his hands to his head, eyes wide in disbelief at Karlach’s lack of control, Shadowheart essentially slaps her hand into her face, holding it there in disappointment, and Wyll just pinches the bridge of his nose, breathing deeply, shaking his head. You get the slight feeling that you weren’t supposed to know that.

“You don’t mean…”

“Yes, that little worm in your skull. We all have one.” Shadowheart admits in defeat.

“How did you…?”

“Minthara, she called you True Soul. That seems to be the name for people like us.” Gale explains. “However, none of us have succumbed to ceremorphosis yet, nor are we under this ‘Absolute’s’ control. We want to understand why. Any information you can give us would be greatly appreciated.” You listen intently, his explanation that only fills your mind with further questions. You ask about ‘ceremorphosis’ and process the definition.

“I’m sorry, what now? You’re-… I’m-… We’re turning into MIND-FLAYERS?!”

“No- well, maybe? We aren’t quite sure. All we know is that our infection has been highly irregular thus far.”

Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods, what the fuck, what the fuck, what the fuck?! Interesting how Minthara left that fucking detail out!

“In any case, we’re searching for a cure. Please, if you know anything, anything at all, we need all the help we can get.” Gale pleads.

“And soldier, you do too.” You look up at Karlach who’s smile alone brings you down from another episode. You take a deep breath.

“A-alright…” You go on to describe your experience in the goblin camp and repeat all the information that Minthara shared with you during your time there. As you reach the point in the story of the ‘interrogation’, you are… selective with the details. Choosing to describe your actions through the eyes of a mere, horrified spectator rather than the confused, active participant you truly were. Astarion’s mouth twitches at your story as he cocks his head to the side. He seems intrigued. Too intrigued. The others listen and nod thoughtfully as you speak.

Once finished, they stand there in silence, processing. You search their faces, hoping to catch a glimpse of what their judgement of you will be. Gale breaks the silence: “Just a moment.” He gathers all companions, including Astarion and Lae’zel around the campfire, just out of earshot from you. You watch as each one has a turn to speak, occasionally glancing at you before returning to the conversation. It’s a passionate discussion between very strong personalities, it’s a wonder how they’ve remained allies for longer than a day. Eventually, you see nods of agreement, some begrudging and some pleased as they all turn and walk towards you.

Gale steps forward and attempts a formal speech pattern: “So… Tav, was it? We… we cannot, in good conscience, leave you to the, er- aforementioned fate. And so, we would like to extend an invitation to accompany us on our journey, as we search for a cure. What do you think?” You think for a moment, feeling all six pairs of eyes on you.

You sigh as you come to the realisation that you don’t have much choice. It’s either this, or ceremorphosis. You nod, yet still feel their unsure gaze. You give in and say the words: “Yes, alright. I’ll join you.”

You feel your companions relax… mostly. Lae’zel isn’t hiding how displeased she is with the arrangement before she leaves to tend to her collection of weaponry. Your stomach growls, no, roars. Loudly. It’s been over twenty-four hours and you haven’t had a single bite to eat. Karlach chuckles “You know what, mate? Me too. Gale, dinner time!” She taps her tummy as she follows Gale to the makeshift food station. Shadowheart leaves to light the campfire and Wyll smiles at you before helping her.

That’s one, two, three, four, five… and six.

Astarion stood, resting his weight on one hip, watching you. You look up at him, making eye contact. The slight warmth you feel towards your newfound companions grows colder once he is in your view. A brief look becomes a fight for dominance, neither party willing to lose. “Can I help you?” Your voice is laced with contempt, yet the only effect you have on him is widening his insufferable grin. He holds you in suspense for a moment before speaking.

“You don’t like me.” His tone is playful, flirty even.

“Hard to. First impressions are everything.” You slide yourself off the stone slab you used as a bed to face him properly, trying to regain control.

“Oh darling, you know I only did that because I had to.” He laughs and tilts his head down, intensifying his gaze, effortlessly. He steals a glance at the small cut on your neck, the corner of his mouth twitches in the thrill of knowing that he put it there. “But enough about the past. You’re one of us now, we should be… Acquainted. Don’t you agree?” You fold your arms and allow him to continue under the weight of your suspicious stare. “Well, I don’t know about you, but the idea of waking up to a dagger lodged in my chest doesn’t sound particularly appealing.”

“You’re not scared of me, are you?” You smirk back at him, unfolding your arms and finding your wide hips before resting on them with your hands. He steps closer and speaks softer.

“No, not scared. I just don’t trust those who withhold the truth.” Your smirk drops and your mind races.

What does he know? How could he know? No, this is stupid, there’s no way…

“Oh don’t worry darling, I would have trusted you even less if you had laid, whatever it is, bare for us all to see. That’s why I voted to let you stay.” You raise an eyebrow in surprise. “And just so you know, I didn’t tell the others.”

“Why not? What loyalty do you have to me?”

“Oh, absolutely none, my dear… But, you never know when an ally might be useful.” He chuckles to himself, tucking his hair behind his pointed ear.

“You’re a smug one, aren’t you?”

“Hmm… Some say smug, some say charming, it’s all the same really when you get what you want. So… Allies?” He leans in, expecting an agreeable reply. You scoff at his audacity before rolling your eyes and giving him what he wants.

“Allies.”

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[frnkiebby]

absolute sweeties i love them~🎃

[chevvsgotanumbrellatattoo]

I haven't even seen the full season, but from Tumblr alone (yall are troopers), I am devastated. Even my shitty fic from 2020 made more sense than this shit (before you ask, no I will not sharing /gen /nm. My writing pre-4-years-of-creative-writing-classes was AWFUL)

Also, the true ending was revealed to me last night in a dream:

Viktor owns and runs his bar. Sissy is alive and well. The two of them and Harlan (kid aged, like S2) live on a farm and go to the record store every Saturday. Mr. Pickles comes along each time. Harlan has no powers.

Ben was never in jail bc crypto currency can't exist when the best phone tech is a rotary phone??? Anyway, he goes to art school, hones his craft, and makes up with the family by inviting them to his first art show. He visits Klaus on Mondays for lunch.

Five works at the CIA. He truly loves solving big puzzles, he learned that from the Commission. After work, he comes home to human!Delores and helps her cook supper. They talk about science and how Five's boss keeps telling him to pick up a new hobby for stress relief. Delores smiles over her glass of wine and suggests picking his guitar back up.

Klaus lives in a 2 bedroom apartment with Dave. His OCD and anxiety is still rampant, but with Dave's support, he gets on meds (which Dave holds onto and administers for him since pills make him nervous) and gets a handle on it. He and Dave have movie nights every Friday and talk about tarot. Dave makes the best menudo Klaus has ever had.

Allison lives happily with Claire and Ray. She learns to manage her guilt and anger, apologizing at length to the family and vowing to herself to be a better person. Claire needs a better role model than the person she'd been. Ray and Allison take Claire for picnics with the at least one of the Uncles once a month. Claire looks forward to it every time.

Diego and Lila are happy. They have their 3 little nuggets and love them to pieces. Diego learns that his father-in-law has a friend at the archery range in the next town over. He drives over with him one day and decides to pick up knives again. It takes a long time to make peace with the fact that his aim will never be marigold-perfect, but Diego is entirely happy with his progress.

Lila is ELATED to have her parents. She talks to them daily and plays Twister with little Grace and the twins while her Mom and Dad take turns spinning the Twister wheel. She goes to the gym to scratch the itch of adventure she sometimes finds herself needing and talks to Diego when something is bothering her. Diego does the same. They call it 'Thick-Headed Therapy Thursdays' and they get ice cream afterwards.

Luther lives in a lovely house with Sloane. He studies space and cooking at the local college and helps Sloane kickstart her fashion designs (based off when she made her KILLER wedding dress in like,, no time at all). They have a small dog named Moon-Moon McGee. Sloane keeps her moon-rock wedding ring safe in a small box in her nightstand.

Grace works at a daycare and is the favorite of kids and grownups alike. She visits Diego and Lila on Sundays and makes little Grace and her siblings pancakes and chocolate milk for breakfast (Lila and Diego partake in this as well).

Pogo works at the library. He prides himself on neat bookshelves and loves when people ask him for help. He calls everyone "Master," "Miss," or even "Mx." and asks politely for preference and pronouns before doing so.

None of them have their powers.

Reginald Hargreeves still has a heart attack and kaputs. Abigail never bothers the Brellies.

The family all make it to little Grace's birthday party. The piñata breaks when she hits it. The cake is gone within an hour. Little Grace and Harlan are damn near inseparable. She makes Mr. Pickles hats for the holidays, much to Harlan's delight.

Case in point, they're all so happy and love each other! They each go to therapy and work out their own issues and don't take it out on each other!! The kids love all their aunts and uncles!! Everyone wins!! (Except Reggie bc FUCK YOU).