#has to carry around their trash until they're back at home

[majflodder]

Fuck hostile architecture, I hate that stuff so much

[serxinns]

LoveFever~

Older! Yandere class 1a x reader

Summary: In which you have a fever and your caring and overbearing amazing pro heroes help you feel better!

Inspiration: @lady-ashfade (check out her newest fic it's so cool!)

"Seems like the cold got worse fuck..." you lie in your bed staring at the client your body felt heavy and your body feels like an oven but your room was usually cold you weakly raised your arm to where you can see it and waved it around slowly and rubbed your eyes your forehead, Shirt and hair was covered in sweat you felt like shit honestly but that's you had a job to do and that was heroism!

You got up careful to not do it quickly to cause more dizziness and dragged yourself to the bathroom you usually hate cold showers but your body was so hot you just needed one so you took a shower, it was unpleasant and discomforting even but it lowered your fever a little bit (author here and I recommend you to not take a cold shower while you have a fever please it could make it worse thank you) you dragged yourself into your closet and got out the spider suit you struggled to get it on you almost fell but managed to get it on you didn't care to make lunch like you usually do you'll just have to suck it up or just find a nearby cafe on your break

You wobbly stumbled down the steps holding on to the rails for dear life until you reached the door where Sero was about to knock "Hey bud! Your 30 minutes and-woah are you okay?.." Sero stopped to look at you his eyes filled with concerned "I-Its nothing Just a *Cough* *Cough* Cold" you said struggling to hold back your coughs zero didn't believe anything at all "Darling you have a fever and you're not taking it well at all you need rest!" "No! im fine I promise it's just a cold that's making me a bit dizzy and sweaty no biggie I've dealt with much worse this is just a pinch now let's go" You tried walking passed Sero but he blocked your doorway not moving a inch with a serious look on his face

"Y/n you're sick very sick it's my day off anyway I can take care of you" "No im *Sneezing* Fine! No *Coughs* weak virus is gonna make me *Coughs* stay home" You broke into coughing fits and that was when Sero had enough "Yep that's it you staying home" he began as he picked you up burial style ignoring your protests he took off your hero costume and tossing it to the side where all you have left was a t-shirt and some shorts he gently laid you down on your bed pulling the covers over you "comfy?" "Fuck you"

During his stay sero has taken extra care of you making sure you take your medication (He had to force your mouth open to take the nasty medicine cause u wouldn't budge but don't worry he gave you water) whenever you feel like throwing up he quickly grabs either the trash can or carries you to the bathroom to throw up while gently rubbing your back and cooing you he hates to admit it but seeing you weak and helpless makes the heart race he wants to be the one to take care of you like this to comfort you when you have days like these and baby you he knows your a very strong and dependable hero but he can't help but wonder what how dependable you might be for him

That was until he heard banging at the door he snapped out of his thoughts and grumbled to himself "I'll be right back make sure to eat your soup" You stuck your tongue out and gave him the middle finger which he chuckled when he opened the door he could see Ochako, Kirishima, Denki, sato, Iida, Izuku, shoto, and momo all standing there "Uh can I help y-" "Wheres y/n!" hakagure cut off his sentence he could tell that she was glaring at him but he didn't care "they're fine we're just having a hang out at his house now will you excuse me they said they just want ME to hang out with him" sero lied with a stern and serious tone "Oh yeah then why can't we see them then?" Ochako glared at him not taking Sero's bullshit zero was about to tell her off until fits of coughs were heard across the room everyone quickly ran past Sero and uninvitedly went into your room

They saw you with a bunch of tissues on the bed and a you trying to eat the soup "uh hey guys when did you get here"

Cue the drama

"Sick?! why didn't you tell us you were sick?!" momo said feeling your forehead with her hand and getting out her thermometer while Ochako was trying to get in your bed to cuddle you to make you feel better Kirishima was trying to make you drink his protein shake saying "It helped you get more manly" while seek was trying to urge them out saying you don't need this iida in the other hand was trying to control everyone and trying to calm down the situation but it's just creates more yelling

Sato was in your kitchen making you a "get well fever" cake in your kitchen, while Izuku was trying to look up recipes and house remedies to help you get better shoto was giving you ice pack after ice pack reassuring you that you'll be ok in his care, everyone was all over the place bickering at each other about what where they doing was wrong and what they were doing was for the best of your health and you were just getting tired of this that was when the small bickering turned into a whole argument

"They need me to take care of them you don't know what you're doing!" momo yelled out in union

"What do you mean you're the one trying to hog them not letting us know that they're sick!" hakagure argued back

"Oh please like you could do anything I bet I could make y/n better less then a day!"

"like you could do any My protein tea mixed with protein powder could make them all better in a minute!" kiri butted in

"You all need to stop fighting your gonna make them have a headache" iida said with his chopping motion

"Yea so inviting yourself in was a good idea?" shoto said

"You did the exact same thing shoto" izuku said while looking so done with everyone's shit

The arguing soon was rising making your headache worse so you crawled under the covers and buried your head under the pillows while arguing sero was 1st noticed this and realized enough was enough so he sneaked into your room while the others were arguing and quietly shut the door and locked it "Mi amor..?" he quietly said and seconds later your head slowly sprout up your nose stuffed up and your hair was messier then ever you looked so tired and miserable it broke his heart

"Mi Amor I am so sorry I shouldn't have been arguing like this in the 1st place I promise im gonna fix this ok?" too tired to even protest that it was his fault as well you just wanted the yelling to stop so you slowly nodded your head and he softly smiled, you point to your dresser where the pain pills were at and got some tissues from the bathroom in your room you took the pills and helped you blow your nose soon enough the pill made you drowsy and knocked you out pretty quick sero ruffled your hair and went out the room to handle some business

"SH" Sero whispered harshly as everyone stopped what they were doing "While you were bickering and arguing about who's better I helped them get to sleep and they ordered me to tell you to get out only but me" Everyone gawked at the statement and tried to argue again but quickly shut their mouth only realizing that your sleeping in the other room "but we need to go check on them they need-" "They don't need anyone help mochiko you all "helped" enough now it's time for you to leave you're happy to give them a get well gift but that's it" "And what makes you think we'll leave," izuku said glaring at the dark-haired boy he only shrugged "How about we all settle this in a fight ONLY outside" sero's grin grew wider while the others look at him and at each other "Deal whoever wins gets to take care of y/n for the rest of the day" Momo grinned confidently that she'll be able to win your heart and affection

And now a bunch of pro heroes are fighting in your front yard and you just peacefully sleeping with your favorite plush ochako gifted you

Nobody won the fight because Bakugo was sent there to stop a commotion at your neighbor so he was already worried and ready to kill anyone who dared to mess with you but all he sees is a bunch of pro heroes fighting on your front lawn needless to say they all got scolded and was harshly sent home by bakugo and when he heard you were sick as well?! Oh hell No! How could those pests fight over something so stupid when poor little you are suffering from a weak virus when everyone was sent home he went into your house and made sure to take care of you the PROPER way he fixed you some tea his mom made when he was sick as a kid and some of his famous chicken soup and waited for you to wake you up while he sat by your bed

but you had other plans when you thought his lap was pillows so you lazily crawled yourself over and slept on them he was flushed he wanted to shout and insult you to get up but he suddenly had an evil grin on his face and decided to take a picture with you laying down on his lap his fingers tangled between your hair and decided to post it on a secret group chat they still used today for crazy sheingains and gushing about you and let's say they were all PISSED

everyone was hurling insults at Bakugo making him laugh mina was jealous that she wasn't there to see you and take care of you Denki and Kirishima were whining calling Bakugo unfair and mean when behind the screen both were glaring jealously at their phones jirou and tsuyu was bit sad she couldn't come but was secretly cropping the photo with your sleeping face as their new wallpaper

Bonus: when you woke up bakugo demanded you to eat his soup to make you feel better and you were now spammed by worried-obsessed fans and angry and jealous Pro Hero 1a spamming your phone

[deusvervewrites]

Wildcard AU speculation, playing around with ideas.

The changes Izuku starts with trying to help Himiko lead her to trashing her parents' house inside and outside while they're absent as she Berserks.

Even like this, she's too afraid to confront them directly. She doesn't think she's able to hurt them. But she can destroy their life and reputation they so desperately cling to. She can destroy the place where she was so often hurt.

She might still attack Saito because of canon echoes, but it's possible she holds back enough that we know he stays alive.

On the other hand, she attacks at least one other bystander on her way to the house as well as causing more property damage during that.

All of that would still give her reason to run. She will not be locked away. Izuku worries about her, until one day, she reveals she's been hiding out next to his and his mom's home.

On the one hand, he's relieved that she's been safe as she can be. On the other hand, has she been stalking him?? Does she know about All Might??? On the other other hand, has she gotten enough food? What about blood? Is she still starving?

She doesn't say. She trusts him - he has seen her at her worst and respected and cared about her.

She's also still reeling from everything. She's paranoid her parents could be looking for her. Unlike canon, she directly attacked part of what they hold dear, in a very obvious way. She fears that they carry a grudge.

If she has a Wonderland, she is already berserk. That's important because it means she might not even be lucid enough to talk. Or at least, she isn't really hearing anything anyone says to her if she is talking. More like rambling to herself.

By now, I think, the berserk phenomenon should be a known thing. I'm going to tentatively call it Berserk Syndrome in the same vein as Apathy Syndrome.

Berserk!Toga mistaking him for Saito and accidentally dragging him into her Wonderland would be a fascinating way to start off that half of the plot. Especially if her Shadow envelops her and drags her off, forcing Midoriya to investigate the twisting landscape which warps in on itself as he tries to figure out what's happening. Dropped right into the deep end.

[firapolemos05]

@augusnippets Path of Hurt

Day 10: execution/fake execution/begging for mercy

CW: minor whumpee, mock execution, government corruption, abuse of power, imprisonment, framed for a crime, future captivity

Itzal (he/him)

Word count: 756 (a bit longer but I couldn't resist)

The Champion taglist: @emmettland , @ostensiblywhump , @scoundrelwithboba

They don't listen when he says he hasn't killed anyone. When they shove the gag into his mouth and secure the strap at the back of his neck, Itzal realizes they're not going to listen to anything he has to say.

He doesn't want to die.

It didn't make sense. There wasn't a trial. No evidence given that tied him to the supposed death of whatever unnamed Lapis guard they mentioned.

Only twenty-four hours between Itzal getting brought down to this prison and learning they were going to kill him.

‘ “Rebels don't get trials,” ’ they had said, sneering laughs lapping up the tiefling's terror.

He cursed them. Would've trashed and clawed up his cell had the shackles at his wrists not held him down. Would've tormented the guards with illusions had his magic not been suppressed. All he had were his words and he used them. Such fragile pride they had that they'd waste time and resources to silence a seventeen year old vandal who dared to insult them.

Itzal's anger spat until they gagged him.

He realizes now part of that anger had been fueled by denial. Armored guards clutch his bound arms as they drag him towards the courtyard, and dread clutches his gut.

He's going to die.

He tries so hard to fight. Bucks at the grasping hands until their grip is hard enough to bruise. Lashes out with his horns until one guard grabs one to force his head still. The blindfold around his head is wet with tears he failed not to shed.

He should’ve been more careful. Should've picked a safer, less public spot for his last graffiti run. Should've went home when his mother told him to and wait for a different day. 

His mother's face flashes into Itzal's mind. His father's. His little sister's. 

What's going to happen to them?

He won't even get to say goodbye. 

The screech of a metal door opening preceeds a waft of warmth as the sunlight hits his skin. The Crescentine sun is always harsh in the summer. The guards force Itzal to his knees in the dirt, latching the chains to a bolt in the ground so he couldn't stand. Couldn't flee. He balls his hands into fists to hide how much he's shaking. 

“Itzal Azarola,” a voice booms from behind. “For the crimes of treason, accomplice to murder of a government official, defacement of government property, government slander, and resisting arrest, you have been sentenced to death under orders from the Cerulean Constellate.”

Treason?

It doesn't seem real. It can't be real. This has to be a nightmare. He'll wake up home in his bed and be safe.

There's more noises. A rifle being loaded. His heart hammering in his chest. 

He will wake up soon. He doesn't want to die.

A click of the safety being released. A muffled sob escaping his lips.

He doesn't want to die.

“Fire!”

HE DOESN'T WANT TO DIE!

A trigger being pulled. 

A deafening blast sends him reeling, all other sound drowns under the piercing ring in his ears. His head throbs. His body collapses. He hopes it'll be quick. He hopes it'll be over before he feels it. He-

He's still alive.

The pain of a bullet tearing through his organs doesn't come. No smell of blood or burning flesh. The world still dark under a blindfold he can still feel on his face. Itzal is still alive.

More hands grab him. The chain is released from the ground and he is being carried away. His legs drag uselessly. His muscles feel like gelatin. His mind in a fog.

Why?

He should feel relief but instead there's a void. Nausea burning up his throat he has no choice but to force down because he's still gagged. 

What's happening?

Was there a mistake? Is he actually dead and his thoughts now are from his ghost trying to cling to life? Where are they taking him? He still can't see. No one's saying anything. What're they going to do to him now?

They drop him on hard stone. “Is this the one you wanted, Lady Matar?”

The blindfold is removed. There's a woman standing in front of Itzal. Short red hair and red eyes. Cloaked in the luxurious vestments of the Constellate. Lady Matar. High Martinet Scarlet Matar.

The master of judicial law stares down at the young tiefling, drinking in the tears on his face.

The way she smiles at him is the most terrifying thing he's ever seen.

“Yes. I will be taking him now.”

[salternateunreality2]

AGSZC ND AU: Overstimulation (not the fun kind)

Disclaimer: not an expert

AU setup: all the boys are neuro-spicy except Angeal, who has depression/anxiety. I HC that GZ are more ADHD-leaning and SC are more Autism (ASD)-leaning

From: the archives of my convos with @strayheartless

---------------------------

The Big Light (can go back to hell from whence it came)

It is EVIL sometimes, and Angeal learns that the hard way from all his boyfriends hating it at random times. He also learns the hard way that dimmer switches are OF THE DEVIL. They make such obnoxious electronic buzzing noises that even Chill-geal gets annoyed and changes it back an hour after installing one.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....(wait a second)...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

"HOW IS IT A NEW PITCH?!?!?! I CHANGED NOTHING?!?!?!"

---------------------------

People Entering One's Domain

If Cloud's in the barracks and the other troopers/thirds come back from going to drinks, he instantly hates everyone and everything because they are SO MUCH. So he cringes away and tries to preserve his sanity, which his squad mates misinterpret as rejection and being stuck up.

Boy no, it's because you smell of 50 different things, sound like a herd of elephants at a football match, messed up the air currents and temperature, and TURNED ON THE BIG LIGHT.

-------------------------------

Coming Home

At the end of the day, sometimes The Guys (tm) barely make it to Angeal's apartment before angrily grunting and violently shedding itchy/uncomfortable uniform pieces until they're left panting and half-naked in the entryway.

Angeal only made the mistake a few times of trying to start something sexy, narrowly avoiding getting his fingers bitten off.

--------------------------

Mako dials the already heightened senses up to 11.

Cloud trashes a science room before Zack and Angeal are able to subdue him and carry him out, his fingernails slicing into his head as his hands are clamped over his ears, face buried in Angeal's chest to block out the smells and light. He only gets a brief reprieve from sensory hell before they get home and he starts vomiting and getting sick from the mako, since it would bother him with or without ND.

While Cloud's Going Through It (tm), Angeal's getting Stressed (tm) and somehow Zack's ADHD superpower of being great in emergencies kicks in and he keeps the polycule sane, escorting Sephiroth out when the sounds of Cloud being sick get to be too much, helping Genesis channel his angry energy constructively, and being a shoulder for Angeal and Cloud to lean on.

Zack is actually the one that makes Lazard pay for noise-canceling headphones and sunglasses out of the SOLDIER budget. His advocacy is so effective that Lazard ends up making it standard that these things are available on request to anyone in SOLDIER.

Later, Cloud tries to apologize to Sephiroth and Lazard, and Lazard's about to say "This happens sometimes, the labs should have done a sensitivity test before giving you a full dose" when Sephiroth jumps in with, "No that was awesome, do it again next time, even if it's not as bad."

---------------------------------

Vacuum Cleaners (May they burn in the fiery pits of hell, just one circle above Hojo)

Vacuums smell bad, sound bad, look bad, probably taste bad, are unwieldy, and go BONK.

Angeal: *starts pulling out the vacuum*

Zack: WAIT WAIT WAIT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT!

Angeal: whyever not?

Zack: *grasping Angeal's shoulders* trust me. And put. Down. The machine. Before any of the-

Cloud: HISSSSS

Sephiroth: YOWL!

Genesis: *charging up a firaga as Cloud and Sephiroth scamper into the distance*

*12 hours later*

Lazard: Where are Sephiroth and Genesis?!?!? And that trooper always hanging around?!

Zack: SOMEone touched a vacuum.

Lazard: FFS, Hewley

Angeal: How was i supposed to know?!

Later, in Aerith's church, Aerith comes across Genesis prowling outside, glaring and only barely not hissing, while Sephiroth and Cloud are cuddling in a dark, quiet corner, clutching each other and nuzzling.

Aerith: Oh, honeys...was it the accursed machine? Did Zack do this to you?

Sephiroth, signing: -Angeal-

Aerith: aww, nooooo, and you had trusted him so much!

Cloud: *shivers*

I think Zack wouldn't mind vacuuming if he was in control, and Angeal likes having a clean house, but to the rest of them it's a literal devil. That's why they call it a dirt devil. E V I L.

If Zack's not in control, he feels like following it around and yelling back at it.

[heartfullofleeches]

Chief wich one of ur ocs is the best to take out on a Halloween night? With full costume and shi

We don't have Halloween here but I got curious 🤔 -🎃

My monster/sheet ghost oc Casper only comes out around Halloween and raids countless neighborhoods to bring you your favorite treats.

Liu embraces their hidden horrors and walks around in their parasite form, ready to bite the next person that tries to touch their face and carrying you around like a purse dog

Screamscicle. Screamscicle. Halloween is quite literally year round for this goofball. They stitch together a new costume leading up to the big day nearly twice every month. It breaks their heart each year to decide between a scary, "are you sure those aren't real organs" costume and a soft, innocent "I demand all your candy" vibe. Either way, you'll be returning to town at the crack with trash bags full of sweets. If the town holiday is in swing, you'll get up to a bit of mischief before you head out. Please don't give Apple or Milk Tea heartaches...again.

Cinnabar and Izzy love autumn/winter as a whole. As the weather cools, Izzy is able to venture outside with you more - and Cinnabar loves to welcome you home with a fresh batch of rolls and your drink of choice. As for Halloween, Cinnabar makes or looks for matching costumes for your trio (any suggestions lemme know). She makes popcorn balls and rice treat bars for treaters that stop by before you head out for the night - hiding a few in the back for you.

Honestly all of the candy fiends are good for the holidays. Gumi and Lollie rob trick or treat with you, but they also make you goodie bags out of their own flesh and blood like Sucrose, Jollie and Mocha.

D.Kay, Devlin, and Silas are the night's greatest tricksters. D.Kay sets up a haunted house in whatever location they can find, and doesn't let anyone leave until their smiling - while also ripping their mask off and revealing the endoskeleton underneath... probably covered in the skin of the last person that fucked with you. Devlin and Silas stage robberies and shot each other dead to sell the show. Whoever brings you more junk - whether it be money, candy, or lawn statues, gets to pick the night's movie and eat sixty percent of their haul as you cuddle. Silas goes as Ghost face. Devlin is the headless horseman. D.Kay is....D.Kay

Alien takes you to go alien hunting.....it doesn't go well with their shiny ass costume and platform boots. Once again, the only thing that's extraterrestrial is the time that you spend together - and their bones as they crack their neck and scare passing trick or treats out of their bags. This is the one night you can get them to try some ghost summoning rituals and if there's a ghost in the mirror... There's no more mirror. They're cool with a ghost from an ouija board because they can touch your hand.

C.C takes you out to a rave...after starting the night at a haunted house with Amyas if he's involved and ditching him there. Ass out, tits out - C.C is showing you his best moves and doesn't quit until he's passed out on your couch. Unfortunately, you'll have to sleep there too as his claws are quite literally embed into your clothes/clothes.

Gus, Ventri and Rush... (With the reluctant help of Sir) put together a mini circus in your living room/backyard. Popcorn machine, balloon station, face paints. If you can think it, they'll probably do or have it. Ventri steers clear of the apple picking game because they are afraid of their paint rubbing off - Gus is found head first still in the bucket. Sir is a little Jealous of Rush's candy giving methods (they are a living candy machine that dispenses them through their mouth), but he'll just tongue kiss you to get over it.

It's already been shown in last year's Halloween event that Host upstages this all. His entire stage and crowd becomes a circus for you, and he dons a new persona to fit the part. You'll always be the star here, but he has so many wonderful things to give and reveal to you. Aren't you lucky?

Miller hosts a big stream. With your consent, they hold costumes up at different goals for you to put on. They're all met before the first hour is up, and you're left changing countless times during that period. Miller orders whatever your heart desires and ends the stream earlier than planned so you can get up to something without the attention

Pin is another who makes costumes for you, and they're probably the best of the bunch. If you hand out treats they made the perfect prop and scare for your yard. You can convince them to take off their body, but they'll make the most elaborate and attention catching husk if you don't. Rag doll, scare-crow, or what makes them happiest and whatever goes along with yours

Ruthieland is great for the holidays. Despite being over the age limit, you're given a bucket for treats and allowed to wear your costume. Farmer Crow is especially active and always looks for you in a crowd when it's time for one of their "staged" kidnappings. Ruthie hovers around you and just dumps all of his candy into your bag when it's refilled

All hell breaks loses with the fast food yans. Halloween is when the fog that separates your realty from the ball pit entity is weakest. The mascot traverses outside the establishment to find supplies for their big surprise. The janitor is barricading you in the break room with strange symbols drawn in blood on the door. The ice cream machine ghost is searching for you and comes across your other coworker still smoking in the bathroom. Kidney Guy has gained a few more mouths from a passing van of college kids... and is singing the monster mash to lull you into false security.

Elliot creates the perfect film for the two of you to watch, mixed in with a few classics. If you think you recognize any of the actors...no you don't. More popcorn?

To round things out with the person who I think is the worse on halloween.... it's V it's always fucking V. If he has his way - you'll be walking around in strings... only for him to get jealous at the thought of others seeing you when you've finally worn him down to go out and do something. At least he buys candy and rents whatever films you want to see?

[hmshermitcraft]

Pearl has creation magic. She can create life and death, and she is darn good at it. She created all her pets as most animals avoid her, but not Tilly! And Goosy and Froggy. She is 100% okay here in the basement of the apartment. She has all she needs!

And she is lonely.

Sure, she loves her constructs, but she has no reason to leave the basement other than food and water. But who would help her anyway she is a freak with freak magic and not normal magic.

The others who live in the apartment don't need to know how lonely and sad she is. She just is Pearl, the power source in the deal with X. She makes resources to power the building, and X lets her stay. She is totally okay and not in need of friends. But friends would be nice.....

But why would the hermits be her friends anyway!?

Bit more of Life Death magic Pearl

The Hermit Complex is having a massive party! And everyone is invited.... even Pearl.

She is confused. Why would anyone want her around. She belongs underground and alone in the basement. Her constructs reflect her emotions, but they want to go? Sure, it could be fun, but Pearls presence could be a danger to everyone.

While down in her basement home, she gets a visit from Gem and Impulse, the two who visit Pearl the most other than X. Hell, sometimes Pearl thinks that some hermits don't even know she exists.

Well, Gem and Impy want her to go to the party but she tells them that she won't go and that she is busy. Gem asks her with what since she barely leaves the basement, and Pearl simply responds with.

"I don't deserve nice things"

After that, she closed the door. She didn't need the hermits! She had herself, and that was everything!

But like friends would be nice.....

She expects that to be the end of it. She's made her stance clear. For her to mingle with mortals would be too much of a risk. Sure, she cries into Tilly's fur, but it's okay. Her sadness will pass and then everything will go back to normal. The same it always is.

She pretends she doesn't hear the sound of music above her. They're all up there having fun, they didn't need her! Why would they? She'd just bring the mood down.

She's half asleep when there's loud knocking on the door. She blinks at it, then groans when she hears Gem and Impulse's voices. They ask her to let them in and they're not leaving until she does. They even brought her cake! Pearl ignores them. They'll get bored, she knows they will. And sure enough, they eventually stop calling for her. The music upstairs quiets.

Pearl opens her front door, hoping to sneak her trash out now everyone is back in their apartments. She finds Gem and Impulse asleep against the wall, leaning on each other with a plate stacked high with cake between them. Pearl stares for a long time, long enough even Goosy pokes out to see what she's doing.

She grumbles to herself, knowing she should wake them up, call them creeps and tell them to go to their apartments. But instead...

She carries them inside with the help of her constructs, placing the pair gently in her bed and pulling up the covers. Tilly jumps up and curls between them (traitor.) The plate of cake is placed in a box.

She's terrible at this whole loner thing, isn't she?

She watches Gem and Impulse sleep, listening to Impulse murmur incoherently. They cared so much they were willing to wait outside for as long as it took. They left the party and their friends to come see her.

Is being bad at being a loner such a bad thing?

[angrelysimpping]

Can you drop a few Hamster LIs headcannons🥺 (from the same anon from the first)

Man, I always wanted a hamster 🐹

Alex

Animal

Poor Alex is freaking out.

They've always been rather proud of their strength and now they're a little hamster.

Doesn't want to be away from you for a second and will either break out of their enclosure or scream until you pick them up.

Worried sick over the farm and Remy's raids to the point that they won't eat.

Hybrid

A bit rougher in bed for a while. They feel like they need to prove themself after being a literal hamster.

Likes their ears scratched.

Doesn't mind animal-based pet names.

Avery

Animal

Angriest hamster alive.

Seriously, how can so much rage fit in such a tiny body?

Grooms. A lot. To a concerning degree.

Will start screaming if you don't give them attention.

You gotta get them the fanciest toys and food.

Hybrid

Do not touch their ears for the love of god.

They are livid beyond words that they are now a hybrid and a hamster hybrid on top of that.

Do not tell them that it's cute, they don't care!

Their nose twitches a little now when they're really angry.

Eden

Animal

A mixture of fear and rage.

Does not want to leave their cabin but knows it's now even more dangerous for them to be in the woods.

Get them a bubble to roll around in.

Somehow still intimidating. Very large. Could be confused for a guinea pig. Never makes a sound.

Hybrid

Will try to act like nothing happened.

It's a really long time before they're okay with you touching their ears, but it turns out they like it.

Going to absolutely wreck you at the first opportunity. Says it's a reward for taking care of them, and that's partially true. They also missed having sex.

If you weren't at the cabin when they turned back, they're carrying your limp body back with them.

Kylar

Animal

Small. So, so small.

Don't bother getting them an enclosure, they will escape.

Makes a nest out of your clothes inside your wardrobe.

Will sneak into your pockets.

Bites anyone who tries to touch you, though it may end up in them getting yeeted.

Hybrid

Though they are glad to be human again, they miss their nest.

Will get overstimulated begging you to touch their ears.

Surprise them and they squeak.

Robin

Animal

Scared.

Hides in their enclosure.

Likes to be carried in your pockets, but they'll stay at the orphanage.

As they start to grow more confident, they'll start breaking out of their enclosure more. They won't trash or steal your things, but they like to cuddle with you when you're home.

Talkative. Will be quiet at night so you can sleep but during the day, they're squeaking nonstop.

Hybrid

Touch their ears while they're playing games and they squeak.

Touche their tail while they're playing games and they're tossing their controller aside and tackling you.

Sydney

Animal

Pure Sydney will stay in their enclosure at bedtime. Corrupt Sydney is breaking out to sleep on your pillow.

Makes a bunch of noise to wake you up on Sundays so you'll go to the temple. Will scream until you take them with you.

Used to being busy and now they're doing nothing. Has an abundance of excess energy as a result.

Hybrid

Squeaks easy.

Pure Sydney blushes when you touch their ears and tail. They'll stop you from doing it in public but will allow it in private. Corrupt Sydney also blushes but takes it as a sign that you want to go somewhere private and fool around.

Whitney

Animal

Bitter that they're a hamster, of all things.

Also escapes enclosures.

Will make a lot of noise at night just to be an asshole.

Bites everyone.

Sleeps in your hair.

Will climb into your pockets. They're bored and they're not staying in your shitty room.

Hybrid

It does not matter how much they like being scratched behind their ears, don't do it unless you're alone and ready to take the chance that it will end with Whitney on top of you.

Stroke the base of their tail while giving them head and they cum so fast.

[Bonus because of course]

Bailey

Animal

Angry.

Bites anyone and everyone.

Cannot be contained, they will escape any enclosure.

Hides in their office.

If you keep catching them, they'll sleep under your bed because it feels safe there.

Hybrid

Do not laugh.

They're so pissed over the ears and tail.

Might let you touch their ears if they're in a relationship with you and drunk, but no amount of alcohol will lead to them willingly letting you touch their tail.

If you surprise them enough to make them squeak, run.

Wren

Animal

Wren is going to cause as much chaos as they possibly can.

Escape artist. Let's you put them back in their enclosure just so they can escape again.

Sleeps in pockets because it feels safe to them.

Steals shit and hides it.

Very talkative.

Hybrid

Hey, they can hear way better now! Did you know all the cute sounds you make?

Make Wren squeak and they'll try to laugh it off but there's a blush dusting their cheeks.

Will fall asleep if you play with their ears.

[shenanigans-and-imagines]

Would Leddie pick out trinkets for each other, ie jacket pins? Actually Leddie and love languages in general? But especially gift giving?

Okay, to make this easier on me, I'm just going to break down how they each express different forms of love language because a healthy relationship doesn't just rely on one.

Gift Giving

Lucy has given Eddie so many different patches and jacket pins over the years it's not even funny

Eddie is also more than capable of sewing on his own patches, but Lucy almost always offers do to it herself and Eddie can't say no

She likes making things for him in general; pieces of costume for his characters, a knitted scarf, even just a bandana since he keep getting his other ones dirty

Eddie meanwhile doesn't do it as often, which he sometimes feels awkward about

He doesn't think he's that good at gift giving and he usually doesn't have a lot of extra money to spend, which he'd rather save to do something fun with Lucy

Once they're solidly together though things start to change

He starts to pick up pins and patches for her at gigs so she can have her own vest

When they've got to Ren Faires, he insist on buying her the perfect flower crown

He also at some point absolutely gives her one of his rings

Physical Touch

Near constant, for both of them

We're talking hugs, we're talking hand holding, we're talking kisses all day every day

I went into full detail about it here

They are that obnoxious PDA couple and there is no stopping them

Acts of Service

This one mostly goes to Lucy, even if Eddie is all over this too

Lucy expresses her love through food; making a nice meal, packing a lunch, bringing a tub of freshly made cookies to DnD, it's how she shows she cares

This is all good news to Eddie who had a stomach like a trash compactor

He loves absolutely everything Lucy makes and knowing it makes Eddie happy just makes her want to do it more

Lucy also is in the habit of just doing stuff for people

When Lucy had her first Hellfire meeting she stayed behind to help Eddie clean up without having to be asked

She becomes a chauffeur to the kids once she gets her license, she helps Corroded Coffin load up the van after gigs, doubles checks if anybody needs her to pick something up from the store; it's just what she does

Eddie's acts of service are a little different and not always as obvious

He helps Lucy carry whatever she needs carried without complaint

He'll becomes defacto designated driver on the rare nights Lucy decides to drink

Sticking around late at night while Lucy is at the theater so she'll have somebody to walk her to her car

Honestly they really start to become friends when Eddie offers to drive her home after Hellfire rather than she her ride her bike back home in the dark and cold

It's not as showy as some of Lucy's displays, but it's there

Quality Time

Another big one for both of them

Eddie and Lucy are the type of couple where if Lucy says she's going to the store, Eddie will literally launch himself over the couch and offer to come with her

They need their designated movie night with just them otherwise the rest of the Hawkins gang will just invite themselves over

It's really important to them to be able to watch a movie or read or just process a story together and then be able to talk or just joke about it after

Before they even get together, they really value that extra time after Hellfire where Lucy helps Eddie pack up and then he drives her home

It's really only an extra half hour, but it's time for them to really just talk one-on-one

Genuinely get antsy when the other has been away for too long

If Eddie or Lucy are out of town for some reason, they'll get on the phone late at night and just keep talking until one of them falls asleep

Words of Affirmation

You want to get Eddie to melt? This is how you get Eddie to melt.

This boy turns into a god damn puddle on the floor if Lucy gives him any kind of compliment

It takes a lot for Eddie to blush, but Lucy touching his face and calling him pretty will just about do it

And leaving a little note in his lunch? Forget about it, he's lost

Lucy is super encouraging to everyone she cares about, it just so happens that Eddie is especially receptive to it

But don't let that fool you, Lucy can just as easily turn into a mess if Eddie does the reverse

It's not so much when he calls her pretty, which he does, often, but more when he praises her for her skills or talent

Nothing will turn her into a blushing mess faster if after a performance Eddie sweeps her up and tells her how amazing she was

It's the actor in her, it can't be helped

[memphisfaith]

Hearts of Lust: Chapter 12

Pairing Kim Namjoon X Reader

Genre: Collage!AU, Smut

Word Count: 1.3K

Warning: Cursing, mentions of smut, smut, consumption of alcohol, mentions of violence, violence, crack personality disorders, Chaotic energy.

Summary: College is any young adult's prime years, at least that's what Lee (y/n) and Kim Namjoon thought. The two are infamous for two reasons, by two very different crowds. Among the professors they are picture perfect students with perfect scores, attendance, and image. However, among the student body they're the very essence of lust with amazing bodies, sex appeal, and skill. The two, although strikingly similar, butt heads quite a bit with competitions of everything from grades to who can get a person to drop their pants the fastest. With the two of them ready to conquer the school year it's all a matter of Go Big or Home.

"V took the two girls to the bathroom and Jungkook left with the other," Rm sighs. I nodded my head, and began to eat my food as well as work on some PowerPoint ideas. It isn't until the two boys come back with a satisfied smile do I pull away from my work.

I look over at them with a grin. "How'd you do?" I question as I scoot over to make room for V. He throws himself into the booth with a tired but satisfied smile. "I think I did good for handling two girls," He mumbles as he leans onto my shoulder to rest. 

I place his food in front of him and he eats without leaving my shoulder. I look over at Jungkook who is just as tired. He nibbles on food as he drapes himself over RM. "I think we can take a rest." I smile.

Without so much as a breath of disagreement, the four of us relax into a more natural state rather than our lustful one. I brush my hand through Tae's hair as he eats and rests, I glance down at my watch to see we only had a half an hour of lunch left. 

"Finish your food and take a nap Tae, I'll wake you up when it's free time okay." I whisper softly. The child-like man nods as he stuffs the remainder of his food into his mouth. He then curls up into me as I throw my jacket over his leaning frame. 

I look over at Joon who seems to be doing the same with kookie. He has one arm draped over the boy's shoulders as he sleeps on his. A smile paints my lips as I go back to illustrating a background cover for a PowerPoint slide.

When the clock hits 1:00 I shake Tae awake and he mumbles something that doesn't translate into a known language. I shake him again before he wines and sits up. His natural sleepy grumpy look forms on his face. I smile as his lips form a cute pout.

The boy stretches his arms out and a few pops echo from his bone. He falls into a slump with a huff before a yawn pours from his lips. I look over to see Joon struggling to get Kookie off his shoulder. I lean across the table and lightly pat his cheek. "Come on kookie, it's time to get up." I sing.

He moans before sitting up, Joon gives me a grateful nod before his face twisted in pain as he pulls his arm back to his side. Must have fallen asleep, I bet it'll ache from being positioned like that for a while.

Tae lets me out as I gather trash, he helps me carry it to the trash before moving back to the table. Kookie slumped in his seat, a tired expression on his face as he looked around. Joon gathers his notes and places my tablet and pen in my bag. 

When everything is gathered we leave the café and make our way back to the main aquarium. "Alright boys, you get to drag us around for an hour. So make it count." I sigh, the two previously tired boys are quick to become energetic again as they spin in all directions to look for something to do. 

Jungkook came to an erupt halt before pointing wildly in one direction. "PETTING ZOO!" He screamed, pulling on Namjoon's arm. Namjoon jerks with each pull but nods in hopes the boy will stop. 

Taehyung takes me by my arm and simply pulls me in that direction leaving Namjoon and Jungkook behind. The two of us managed to catch up to them before we could reach the entrance. The pair of boys let the both of us go before running over to different shallow tanks.

Namjoon and I walk side by side as we wander tank to tank, each of us taking turns to shoot a quick glance over to the boys to keep them in check. It isn't until we come to a crab tank do we actually decide to pet something.

I laugh as Namjoon is quick to pull off his shoes and roll up his pants to step inside the tank when he finds out he can. I watch as Namjoon squats in the shallow water to gently hold a pretty pearl white crab. Namjoon holds it in one hand before wiping the other off. He uses his dry hand to fish out his phone.

"(y/n)! take my picture." He demands as he tosses me his phone. I barely catch it in time before it hits the floor. I quickly kick off my shoes and roll up my pants before climbing into the shallow water. 

I bend down slightly with Namjoon's phone in my hand to take the picture. He carefully holds the small crab near his face. A large dimpled smile spreads onto his face as I take the picture. A smile plays on my lips as I show him the picture. 

He nods his head in approval before going back to the crabs. I keep hold of his phone and take pictures of him as he wades around in the water playing with different crabs. After fifteen minutes and at least twenty pictures later I pulled him out of the water. 

A small pout forms on his lip as he slowly puts his shoes back on. I laugh at his childish behavior as I put my own shoes on. Speaking of childish, I take a glance around the room to find the two boys but when I don't spot them I take a long hard look around the room.

I feel panic sink in when I don't spot them, "Namjoon! Our kids are gone!" I panic. Namjoon's head shoots up as he scans the room with his own eyes, and soon a panicked look spreads onto his face.

I shoot up and run around the room to look near each tank carefully. When I don't find them I run to the nearest worker, Namjoon hot on my heels. "Excuse me, It seems our kids have wandered off. Could you make an announcement to them?" I ask hurriedly.

The worker nods calmly, this probably isn't the first time this has happened. "Are they old enough to understand an announcement or do we need to send a search party?" They ask calmly. 

"No, they're old enough to understand an announcement." Namjoon sighs, the worker nods. "I can only send it through this section of the aquarium if they aren't here. You'll need to go to the main office and ask." They say, Namjoon and I both nod.

"What are their names?" The worker asks as they reach for their mic, "Jungkook and Taehyung." I answer. The worker nods before speaking into the mic, "Can Jungkook and Taehyung please make their way over to the turtle petting center please? Your parents are looking for you." They announce over the intercom. 

"Do you need me to wait here with you or are you okay?" they asked, Namjoon and I shook our heads. "Thank you," I bow before the worker walks off to deal with something else. It only takes a few seconds later to see Taehyung and Jungkook run over to us. 

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! YOU ABOUT GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK!" I scold loudly. the two duck their heads in shame. "We're sorry Noona," They bow, I cross my arms with a huff. "Don't just apologize to me, You worried Namjoon as well." I spoke more calmly. 

The two turn to Namjoon and bow, "We're sorry Hyung" they apologize. "Aish, just don't go running off again. I don't want to have to trouble the workers by sending out a search party." He scolds a lot more calmly than I did. 

The two bows to us again before standing up straight. "Alright," I sigh with a light smile, "Where to next?" I ask.

<---- Prev // Masterlist // Next ---->

[hopeintheashes]

let go

Buck and Chim, during and after that scene in Home and Away. Read it here or on AO3.

It comes out of nowhere, and it comes out of everywhere, everything pent up and held back finally set free.

It comes out of nowhere, and it rings in his skull like a hammer on an anvil, the strike of steel on steel.

It comes out of nowhere, and leaves him reeling, righteous indignation rising, bleeding through the shock.

He doesn't move, at first. The blow falls and the door slams and he's frozen still, and the lights that flood his apartment in the darkness are like a display case in a museum. He wonders if anyone saw, looking out their windows into his as if his world is a stage. What they assume, if they saw. What sequence of events they imagine led to this.

She left, but she'll come back. It was so simple, in his mind. I made her a promise I had to keep. Pinky swear. I can fix this, I can fix this, I can fix this. Until the edges start to fray.

They're more than frayed, now, here with the shock wearing off and the pain setting in. Something has given way, snapped, the tension more than the line could take. And he'd been standing there, wrong place, wrong time, and caught the recoil in the face.

That's it, right? Wrong place, wrong time? Because he knows what Maddie needs. She just needs time.

She always comes back.

Chim just hasn't done this before. It's hard, the first time. But she always comes back.

He's sure, and his face is starting to throb. He unsticks his feet and closes the blinds. Strips, and showers, and gets half-dressed again. Sits on the couch arm, feet on the cushions, phone in his hand.

Who—

Who? Who do you call, and what would you say?

What could you possibly say?

He texts Taylor, short but enough that she could read between the lines. That maybe she would call. Come over. Stay the night.

Yeah, she says, a lot going on here, too. A photo from work, always work alwayswork, and he blinks back tears at the sudden rush of this is never going to (work) and saliva fills his mouth but he will not. Puke, cry, feel any of it right now.

Just that low ache. The way the skin around his eye is already getting tight. The headache setting in deep.

He could do something about that. Ice it, numb it, dull the pain.

Wouldn't feel right.

He lies on the couch and stares at the ceiling until the world blurs, and at some point sleep takes him and he dreams of losing Maddie-Chim-Eddie-Bobby-everyone.

His fingers hover over Eddie's name in his phone in the middle of the night, after this single dry heave over the trash can in the dark. I can still taste your blood on my tongue; please tell me you're alive.

He presses his palms to his face instead. His breath catches at the pain, but he just leans in.

He's still holding the phone come morning, blinking back to consciousness.

Certainty rises with the sun: She made me promise and She always comes back.

He makes coffee, makes breakfast, holds that certainty in his chest. Texts with Eddie like everything's fine. Makes it two hours of stop-and-start conversation before Eddie says, You want to come over? Chris would love to see you. Buck stares at the words, and turns the camera to selfie mode, and snaps the picture and hits send.

Jesus Christ, Buck, and then there's nothing for a while.

A knock at the door, even though he has the key.

He opens it.

A breath sucked in quick between teeth at the sight, and a hand, strong and warm, on his jaw, near his eye. In so close.

It all spills out without Eddie having to say a word. He moves around Buck's kitchen like he lives here (god, the thought of it), and then he's back in close, and the ice is coldcoldcold and when he flinches away it's into Eddie's waiting palm.

"Gotta do it," he says, with this undercurrent of why haven't you yet? and the answer is—

The answer is—

He sets his jaw and leans into the cold, into the pain, away from Eddie, and the momentum carries him out the sliding glass door.

Eddie lets him go. Follows behind with two beers in hand and stops too far away.

"She'll come back," he says, and Eddie just looks at him, those eyes those eyes those eyes, and he says it again: "She always comes back."

Begging for it to be true.

Not many more words for the whole first beer, and when Eddie takes the empty out of his hand and sets it on the table next to his own and gestures for Buck to actually put the ice on his eye while he goes in for a second round, it feels like some kind of exhale.

"What am I supposed to do?" Was I supposed to break a promise? A Buckley sibling pinky swear?

"She's your sister. And you're the guy who likes to fix things. But maybe this isn't something you can fix."

- - -

It comes out of everywhere. Out of everything. Eight days of torment; of sleepless, sickening fear. Of finding out that in the end, what wins are Buckley family secrets and lies. He'd thought—

It would be naive to say he'd thought they were past that. That kind of shit runs deep. He'd just—

Thought they were in this together.

Eight days.

Sometimes he's managed three hours of sleep in a row, when his body just fucking gives out. He's running on coffee and adrenaline and fear and delusion (is it delusion if you know it's not real?), and on desperate, desperate hope. And Buck's been there, all along. Eddie, too, tagging along, doing laundry and dishes and diapers and meals without ever asking or being asked.

Jee-Yun looks up at him like he's some magical creature, the way he smiles at her and tickles her chin. Buck watches them both with his heart on his sleeve, spilling out of his fucking chest, and Chim wants to cry and puke and punch through a fucking wall at how goddamn perfect they look, like some family in a magazine, and how they, he and Maddie, never got the fairytale.

He'd thought they did. For a while.

Apparently he's good at being fooled.

So maybe he should've seen it coming. But he didn't. Eight days of betrayal. Of straight up fucking lies.

"Did you know?" Sickness roiling in the pit of his stomach.

And he's not affronted, or offended, not attempt to deny it. He's just resigned.

Resigned, and then explaining to his goddamn face why all of this makes sense; why Maddie's the one who's thinking straight, here, and he's just losing his mind.

It boils over like sap in a pan, angry and acrid, and his fist meets flesh and bone.

He doesn't regret it.

He will, later. But in that moment? It's the only thing that's felt real all week.

He drives even though he knows it's a terrible idea; even though he's shaking hard. He drives, and he finds himself telling his phone to call Hen, and she picks up before he can change his mind.

"Chim?"

A ragged inhale, and a choking sob, and her voice in his ear, all around him, in the car. "Are you driving? Pull over. I'll come to you."

He pulls over in some warehouse parking lot, empty for the weekend, and stumbles to the edge, and pukes in the gravel.

His knuckles are starting to throb.

He loses time, he's pretty sure, because he blinks and Hen's there, getting out of her car, striding toward him, arms open wide.

"He knew," he says. Sobs into her chest. "He fucking knew this whole time."

This angry, protective sound, deep from within her with her arms around him tight, and somehow that's what makes his knees give out, like a sanity check that came out in his favor for the first time all week.

She catches him, and holds him through the wracking sobs, the outpouring of grief, and, once he can see straight, follows him home. Takes him inside. Pours him a drink, and lets him talk himself out, and spreads a blanket over him on the couch when he can't fight the exhaustion any more.

He drives.

Jee-Yun's asleep in the back within the first fifteen minutes, but it takes him an hour to settle. It feels good, to have a direction. Somewhere concrete to start.

Jee-Yun wakes up eventually, ready for food and attention and a diaper change, and he finds a park where they can do all of the above in the shadows of some trees. Spreads a blanket on the grass so she can play for a while.

There's a text from Buck. He takes a shaky breath and opens it.

i'm sorry, it reads. for thinking i could fix everything. i don't know what the right move is here, but i love you. all three of you.

This is the right move, Buck. This is the only move. He hits send, and then looks down at Jee, and opens the camera app. Sends three photos of her playing with her feet. He stares at his screen long enough that the read receipts appear, and then sends, The punch was too far. I shouldn't have done that. Is your eye ok?

yeah, it'll be fine. The typing dots appear. Disappear. Reappear. talk when you get back?

Yes, he sends, and pockets his phone. "Okay, Jee." He gathers up her and the blanket and the toys, and faces the sun. "Let's go."

[nagito-kissmaeda]

Alone at the Edge of a Universe - Komaeda x Reader

Summary: You were in an accident before everything went to hell. You don't remeber how it all started. Now you live in a small apartment with a strange man who seems to be trying his best to look after you, but doesnt know how to take care of himself.

AKA: oh my god they were roommates.....Despair Edition TM

Word count: 7169 Contains: fem reader, no pronouns usage, explict sexual content, unsafe sex, very mild blood/injury, panic attacks, despair era Read on AO3 ミ☆ Please send me a DM or an ask if you’d like me to write something for you!

There’s an explosion outside your window, and something huge tumbles to the ground. Everything in the apartment is shaking, Knick-knacks wobble and fall off the mantle, smashing on the floor, the bed frame shakes and lurches underneath you. Your fingers are digging tight into the quilt, trying to find purchase somewhere in the quake.

It is not your first collapsing building, and you fear it will not be your last. The world outside the apartment is dangerous and frightening, layers upon layers of horror folded together into the culmination of true despair. You don’t remember how it happened. It was some time ago (weeks? Months? Years?) that you woke up in a hospital, weak and emancipated, barely able to walk. You had been in some sort of accident, whatever happened to the world, started while you were still comatose and all the doctors were long gone when you finally came to. The fact that your life support was even still running was a stroke of luck.

There’s another thundering outside, but this one doesn’t make the house shake. Another building? You can't be sure, it was too far away to be of any danger to you so there is no reason to think about it. Instead you pull yourself up from the bed, bringing one foot down on the floor and being absolutely sure that there won't be any aftershocks before standing up properly. There are little broken pieces of glass and china all over the wooden floorboards, you cross the room on your tip-toes, careful to avoid any of the more dangerous looking shards. It is as you feared, your favorite knick-knack had also broken. You drop into a crouch, trying your best to gather the shattered pieces of what had once been a small glass jar full of little keepsakes.

Your housemate (if you could call him that) frequently brings back little presents from his adventures out into the fractured city. But this had been your favorite, a blue jar with a cork stopper, full of buttons, beads, marbles. Any pretty trinkets he could find for you. The shattering of this particular gift hurts something terrible, because you know it took him a very long time to collect it all. You manage to find a sturdier jar that survived the quake (it was once holding three stems of lavender, long since dead) and scoop as many of the shards and trinkets that you can inside. It isn't as pretty, but it will do for now.

He’s been gone for a week now, and you are hoping he will be back today.  

When he first brought you to the apartment, you couldn't even stand. Confused and scared about what had happened to the world during your coma, and having trouble remembering what your life was like before either. The apartment was a mess when he first found it, but there was a bed and clean sheets in a closet, so it was fine. He sat with you for hours, barely moving, just watching as you slipped in and out of consciousness, as the world finally came into focus. At first you were afraid of him, of his dishevelled appearance, trembling limbs and wide watery eyes. He never made any move to touch you, he sat there and would answer questions if you asked them, but otherwise just watched.

Once you were able to move on your own, he started heading outside for longer stretches of time. He used to just leave for a few hours each week to bring you back enough food until his next trip, but now he is often gone for days at a time. You wonder how long it will be before you can go outside with him. He is strange, but given the state of the world outside, you can’t imagine anyone else is faring much better.

You manage to salvage a decent amount of the broken trinkets and either pour them into a vacant jar or the trash and are in the middle of sweeping away any remaining shards when you hear a shaky knock on the door. He has a key, but he always knocks anyway. You let the broom drop to the ground and dash over to the door to let him in.

“Hey…” you say, pulling the door open. His red striped sweater has more holes in it than it did last you saw him, his hair curled and messy, more grey than white. His disheveled appearance means little, you are thrilled to see him, “Welcome home.”

His eyes are desperate as he looks you over, crossing the threshold of the apartment and closing the door behind him, “The quake...are you okay?”

“I stayed in bed the whole time, I’m fine.” You attempt to take his rucksack from him, to help him carry it to the kitchen. He pulls it away from you and carries it on his own, “A bunch of the gifts you brought me fell off the mantle, though. I should have been keeping them somewhere safer, I’m sorry.”

He wheezes, giggling under his breath as he starts pulling food out from the rucksack and onto the bench, “Don’t waste such sweet apologies on me. I can find more gifts if you want them.”

With you standing in the sitting room, and him unloading groceries in the kitchen. In a different time, this may have been domestic. Your heart warms at the thought, “No, it’s okay. I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”

“Trouble?” He doubles over with laughter, the sound is scratchy in his throat, “You could never cause me any trouble.”

He doesn’t look like he belongs in the nice clean apartment. He stands in the middle of the room, all shaking limbs and wheezy breaths, clutching his own arms like it’s the only thing still keeping him together, but you can tell he is trying, he doesn’t want you to feel uncomfortable around him.

“Are you okay?” You ask, “you were outside when it happened”

He giggles breathlessly, gnawing on the cuff of his sleeve, “you are worried about me?” His knees shake like they're about to give out and he buzzes with manic energy, “Aha! the extent of your hope, it’s incomparable!”

You suddenly notice a line of blood running down from his forehead, curling down past his eyebrow and over his cheekbone. You rush over to him and take his face in your hands. His skin is pallid and sickly, his lips chapped and bleeding. You push his mess of dirty hair away from his forehead and gasp, “you’re really hurt, why didn't you tell me?”

He doesn’t say anything, he’s just staring at you with wet unblinking eyes as a wide smile tugs at his lips. Shuddering under the soft grip of your hands. The gash on his forehead is shallow, but blood is gushing out of it quite quickly and you aren’t really sure what to do. As you look closer at the wound, his eyes flutter shut and you feel him leaning into your palm. Your heart thunders in your chest, he’s cute under all the dirt and grime.

He cares for you a great deal, you aren't sure why. He won't even tell you his name.

“I’ll wash it out for you. Okay?” You say, taking one of his hands in yours and tugging him towards the bathroom. The one gentle tug on his hand is enough that he almost topples over, but he rights himself quickly. His hand is quivering in yours.

“Oh! You don't need to do that!” he protests, but continues obediently following after you, “I’ve dealt with much worse, aha! Don't bother dirtying your hands to fix something that will only break again.”

You grab him by the shoulders and lower him down onto the toilet seat. His big eyes peer up at you from behind the mass of hair now tumbling down over his face, he watches you with a pointed devotion that might make you uncomfortable if you weren't already used to it. He brings his sleeve up to his mouth to chew on it again, you take his hand in yours and lower it before he gets the chance, “I’ll be gentle. Don’t worry.”

His nails dig into the meat of his thighs and he is shivering again. You can feel his legs bouncing as you lean forward to take a better look at the gash on his forehead, he whines when he feels your fingers brush his hair away from his face. You sigh at him, “You know this will get infected if you don't clean it, don't you?”

He whimpers, practically rattling as his tremors get worse, “How kind of you to notice! But I have more important matters to attend to of course.” another bout of laughter boils through him, shaking his bony shoulders,“like you, for instance!”

You drop to a crouch so you can meet his eyes, resting one hand on his shoulder and holding his hair back with the other, “You can't look after me if you’re dead.”

“Oh I won't die.” He breathes, the depths of his eyes shining with a shocking lucidity, “Not yet.”

He really believes that. You can see it on his face, “Either way. I’m going to clean it. Sit tight.”

Sitting tight is not possible. To his credit, he doesn't move on purpose, but he is still shaking intensely as he waits for you. His protruding knees knocking as his legs bounce up and down. You purse your lips and wet a cloth in the sink, the water is a little brown, but all of the water is a little brown so there isn't much you can do about it.

“Okay.” You say, turning back to him and lifting the cloth to his forehead, “Let me know if it stings too much, alright?”

He nods, smiling up at you pleasantly as you bring the cloth down on the gash. There is a lot of blood, the coppery smell is overwhelming but you try your best to seem like it isn't affecting you. If there is any pain, it doesn't seem to be bothering him, his eyes are closed again and he is leaning gently into your touch. Your heart warms for him, and the hand you are using to hold his hair out of his face starts gently scratching his scalp. You hear him gasp, but he makes no move to stop you. His hair is soft, you can feel the grit of dirt and smoke caught up in it, but under that...he is so soft. The blood running down his face is well clean by now, but you don't stop. The washcloth falls from your hand with a splat and his eyes snap open. One of your hands is buried in his hair, combing the mess through your gentle fingers, the other traces the sharp line of his jaw, all the way up to and then down his cheekbone.

“What are you doing?” He asks, you are dimly aware that his shaking has stopped. At least for now.

Your pointer finger runs up the bridge of his nose and over his right eyebrow, now you are the one shaking, “I...don’t know.”

“You’re touching me.” He breathes

Your voice is barely a whisper when you reply, “I am.” you let your hand drop, “I’m sorry. I don't know why i did that.”

He reaches out and takes your hand in his, pressing it firmly to his cheek. His eyes are wild, “You can do whatever you want to me! I don't mind!”

His suggestion raises an unwarranted heat to your cheeks. You gently tug your hand from his grasp, “There’s some vodka in the cupboard. Give me a moment to disinfect you.”

You pick the cloth up off the ground and leave it on the side of the sink as you walk over to the kitchen. All of the food he brought back with him is still strewn about on the countertop, abandoned when you realised how badly hurt he was. You worry about him. Constantly. He was the one who found you half crawling, half stumbling through the desolate remains of the city mere hours after you woke up in the crumbling shell of the hospital. Since then he has been so careful of you, making sure you are well fed, bringing you gifts or clothes, anything he can find out there. He clearly doesn't extend the same olive branch to himself. You stand up on your toes to grab the alcohol from the top shelf, it was already here when he first found the apartment. Half empty. You hope whoever lived here before you had enjoyed it.

“This is going to hurt.” You warn as you step back into the bathroom. He nods loosely and you wring the cloth out as best you can before dousing it in the vodka, “Are you ready?”

“Pain or pleasure,” he starts, looking up at you with a loopy smile, “anything I feel by your hand is exhilarating.”

Oh. You liked that . It made something in the pit of your stomach twist.

You clear your throat and crouch down in front of him, pushing his hair out of the way. His eyes are half lidded, and you can tell he is uncomfortably lucid. He intimidates you a little like this, there is a sharp intellect behind his big green eyes that feels like he is dissecting you with his stare alone. Even though he has stilled quite a bit, his hands are still jittering at his sides. You gently press the alcohol soaked rag to the gash in his forehead, he hisses through his smiling teeth, but the sound teeters dangerously close to being a moan. You swallow, continuing your ministrations.

“Did you get hurt anywhere else?” You ask, purposely focussing on cleaning his wound so you don't have to meet his eyes.

“No.” He says. It doesn't sound like he’s lying.

“Okay.” You reply, “I trust you, but you can't hide these things from me. I have a duty to keep you safe, too.”

A shudder runs through him at your words and his eyes flutter shut. Like he is savoring it, “You are too generous, truly.” his voice is so breathy, and your positioning makes it sound like he is whispering in your ear. You bite your lip.

“It is not generosity.” You laugh a little, your fingers tangling in his hair again, “It’s selfishness. You are all I have and I don't want to lose you.”

He is shaking again, his long fingers grasping at nothing. Like he desperately wants to hold you but knows he can't . His arms wrap around himself instead, fingers digging into the fabric of his jacket as he rocks back and forth, “Aha! A regular Pylades you are, looking after trash like me!”

You have long since abandoned any pretense. Not even pretending to be tending to his wound anymore, your fingers brush through his hair unhindered, “Pylades?” you ask, twisting a lock of pale hair around your index finger. Surprised with how much classic literature he’s managed to remember through all this tragedy, this is not the first time he has quoted one such piece to you.

“From Euripides!” he’s grinning now, lips curled almost painfully wide, “You need me to jog your memory, hm?” He asks, leaning forward. He is very close to you now, and your hand freezes in his hair, “Orestes says ‘it’s rotten work’ and Pylades replies-”  

Oh. You do know this one.

“Not to me.” You breathe, heart thumping in your chest and mouth going dry. Your hand slides down from his hair to cup his cheek, you can feel his pulsepoint racing like a hummingbird under your thumb. He is so close now, you can see flecks of gold in his eyes. You can count his eyelashes. You are shaking, “Not if it’s you.”

For a moment, you think you are going to kiss him. For a moment, you want to kiss him. Instead you let your hand drop from his cheek and stand back up, “It’s um...it’s as clean as im going to get it. Might need stitches, but i dont have the means or the skill to do that for you.”

He brings his arms up in a shrug, “No matter. So long as you’re satisfied.”

“This isn't about my satisfaction.” You say, crossing your arms, “You need to take better care of yourself out there. Look, maybe next time i should come with you and-”

He shoots upright, suddenly towering above you, all quivering limbs and sweaty palms, “Nonononono. You have to-” he sucks in a wheezy breath and shakes his head, “-you have to stay in here. For you to be tainted by the world outside, the despair it would-” a breathy laugh escapes his lips, growing and growing in volume, his hands tanging his hair pulling strands out at the roots, “-It would be glorious .” He growls, shaking and panting as he starts hitting himself in the head with his fist and a crescendo of, “nononononononono” is erupting from the cavern of his mouth.

It is frightening, but you are used to it. He gets in these fits sometimes, but has never attempted to hurt you, it’s more like he’s fighting himself. You wrap both your hands around his wrist, holding his arm still so he can’t use it to hit himself anymore before slowly bringing it back down to his side. He is still shaking with a mania that seeps out through every pore, but at least he isn't hurting himself. His mouth runs a mile a minute, arguing with both himself and people you have never met. He talks to them a lot, these other people, you don't want to ask him about them.

“Hey.” you whisper, “I’m here. It’s okay.”

His big eyes turn to you, but he doesn't calm. He is still muttering and shaking, but this is okay. You start slowly rubbing your hands up and down the length of his forearms, “You’re doing fine, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.”

He whines and brings one of his sleeves up to his mouth to gnaw on it. You don't stop him, when he gets like this it’s one of his less destructive habits. It's preferable to scratching. You keep rubbing his free arm, your other hand curled around his hip. His eyes are slowly growing less wild, drool is dripping down his chin, “Alright. We’re going to move to the couch. Nice and slow.”

You loop his arm over your shoulders and tuck your other hand into his back pocket, slowly walking him over to the couch. This is the main reason you haven't left the apartment, the door unlocks from the inside so if you really wanted to, you could leave at any time. You’re scared though, both of what is waiting out in the city, and of what will happen to him if he comes back one day to find you gone. He is finally starting to calm when you lower him down onto the couch, still chewing absently on his sleeve, but his breathing has slowed a little. A soft smile tugs at your lips, and you tuck some of his hair behind his ear.

“Why do you worry about me so much?” You ask, more to yourself than to him. Stroking his cheekbone with the pad of your thumb, “I am no one to you.”

He is tired now after his episode, his arm is slow and shaky as he reaches out to you, resting his hand in the dip of your waist. The warmth of his skin seeps in through your shirt, your heart climbs up into your throat when he squeezes , “You are hope. You are everything to me.” his eyes are half lidded, and his smile is soft, “The corruption, the despair it...haahaa...it tainted us all, but you-” he takes a deep, shuddering breath, “-you slept right through it. You’re still hopeful...still perfect…”

“And if I hadn't. What would I be to you then?”

“Dead, most likely.” He sighs and it rattles through his chest, “Is there even a point to talking about what might have been? In my experience it has never helped any.”

He’s right. You hate the idea of a reality where you never meet him. This realisation makes your stomach turn. Familiarity breeds comfort, but when what is familiar is a man who is (under dirt and grime and sweat)  incredibly beautiful, you find that it breeds something else as well. You give the hand on your waist a pat, and he lets you go.

“The sun is setting.” You say, trying to distract yourself from how much you want his hand against you again, “I’m going to light some candles before it gets dark.”

“Oh! Before you do.” He manages to pull himself up from the couch and stumbles over to his rucksack, bending over and rummaging through it some, “I hm...i found something for you.”

You stand in the middle of the room, the last dregs of daylight are casting an orange light over his shaking form. He comes back over to you, holding out his offering, for a moment you're not even sure what it is.

“Oh my god…” You whisper, turning it over in your hands. It’s a polaroid camera, a little banged up but it looks like it will still work, “thank you.” you smile up at him, heart melting to nothing in your chest, “thank you so much.”

He laughs a little, shaking as he passes another two objects over to you, “I only found two film cartridges, but i can look for more!”

“No! This is perfect, I'm amazed you even managed to find two.”

“My luck may not be worth much.” He says with a sad smile, “but if i’m able to bring you some happiness with it, then i'm glad!”

“Here, just...give me a second.” Your hands are shaking as you fumble with the first cartridge, popping open the back of the camera and clicking it in. Before he has a chance to protest (because you know he will) you lift the camera up to your eye and snap a photo. For a moment he is dazzled by the flash, but then immediately starts wheezing.

“Wha....What?” His knees are wobbling again, his eyes are wide and unblinking.

The photo slides out of the camera and you grab it between your index finger and thumb, giving it a light shake, “I took a photo of you.”

“Why would you do that?” He’s laughing, but it sounds more confused than it does manic, “You only have two cartridges of film and you would waste a photo on garbage like me?”

“I don't think it was a waste.” The photo has just about finished developing, the light from the flash doesnt do his already pale skin any favors, but you smile all the same, “Sometimes you’re gone for a long time, and if i can't come with you then...i dunno, it’ll be nice to have.”

“You...miss me?”

You see no reason to lie, “I miss you.”

He is just staring at you now, eyes slowly examining every inch of your face. Your heart is racing. He takes a slow, shaky step towards you, practically vibrating with nervous energy.

“I shouldn't.” He says, even as his trembling hand rests on your hip, the pads of his fingers slipping up under your shirt to stroke your skin, “I’m disgusting for even thinking about all that I want to do with you.” His grip on your hip grows tighter, and you feel a warmth in your stomach, “If you knew...eheh...if you could see what i was thinking right now.” his breathing has quickened, and the hand on your hip is trembling. So are your legs, “you’d kick me out of this apartment like the...the...haahhaa...the perverted trash that i am.”

Any thoughts within you about resisting or denying him have long dissipated. You do not even hesitate as you loop an arm behind his head, digging your fingers into the back of his hair, “I wouldn't.”

He doesn't say anything, he’s just looking at you and trembling. A whiny moan escaping his lips.

“The things you want to do to me…” You start, fingers slipping under his striped sweater, just enough to feel his skin, “Show me.”

His hand joins its brother on your hips, and he tugs you towards him. Your lips colliding in a desperate kiss, all tangled tongues and nipping teeth. You moan into his open mouth, your fingers tangling even tighter in the mess of hair on the back of his head, he groans when you tug a little harder, slipping one of his hands up the front of your shirt and palming you over your bra. You cling to each other like two lost sailors adrift in the sea, attempting to find purchase in a world long gone. Your kisses open mouthed, wet and sloppy, desperate and needy. He is moaning and shaking, his long fingers tightly squeezing your breast as his other arm wraps around your waist and somehow tugs you even closer. He is so thin, pressed up against him like this you can feel his bones shifting under his skin. You bite his neck so hard you taste copper on your tongue and a moan explodes from his lips.

“Yes... yes! ” He stammers, drooling and shaking. His mouth pulled in such a wide smile that his lips tear and bleed, “hurt me...hng-hahAHA... destroy me !”

Your hands become frantic, grabbing his jacket and tugging it down his arms. His sweatshirt soon follows, ripped up over his head with a tenacity you didn't even know you had. You want to feel his skin, to suck, to bite, to bury your nails in it. Desperation is building inside you, almost ready to overflow. His skin is salty with sweat when you run your tongue over the length of his collarbone, fingers on your left hand running over each jutting rib as you slip your hand down to grasp his hip. The bone is sharp under the soft skin of your palm. Despite all his sweating and panting, his flesh is still cold under your hand, you want to warm him up. You tug your own shirt up over your head, chucking it behind you and unclasping your bra.

A wheezing laugh escapes him, he pushes his hair away from his face but it immediately falls back down again, “You...you’re…” his breath hitches, his pointer finger traces the underside of breast, shaky and cold, “you’re so soft...so warm .” he moans, licking his lips, “my goddess...would you permit me to pleasure you with my mouth?” he purrs. His eyes are swirling with arousal, his hand creeping up to massage your breast in his palm. It feels so good, he feels so good. He looks at you with this endless devotion, like you are something precious to be protected and loved .

“My guardian angel.” you whisper, tucking a wisp of hair behind his ear, “Whatever you want to do to me. Do it.”

His ghostly green eyes are blown wide, and he is wheezing again, “You just...what did you just call me?”

“I would have died out there on my own. You know that right?” You say, leaning in close enough that the tips of your breasts brush against his bare chest and cupping his cheek in your palm, “You saved my life. You are my guardian angel.”

“You are too kind to me, truly.” He whispers, his cold hands moving to your shoulders as he guides you backwards, “I am little more than garbage after all.” the back of your knees hit the couch and you collapse onto it, “Just a bug under the heel of an ultimate’s shoe...but you...hm…” he drops to his knees in front of you, his grin is all sharp teeth and drool. Some people might have been afraid of him, you thought he was the hottest fucking thing you’ve ever seen, “you deserve to be worshipped .” he breathes against your skin, leaning in and wrapping his lips around one of your nipples. His mouth is warm and wet, you throw your head back in a wail, digging your fingers into the mess of hair on his head.

His hand slides up the side of your ribcage, thumb rubbing small practiced circles around your other nipple. A needy moan escapes your lips, and your legs drop open almost instinctively. He scrambles forward to nestle himself between them, the sharp angles of his torso dig into the soft flesh of your thighs and his free arm wraps around your waist to tug to two of you even closer together. A strangled cry rips through you as the bare skin of his chest presses firmly against your sex, hips bucking against him almost involentarily, overcome with a desire to just feel him . He laughs against your breast, sinking his teeth into your flesh as his tongue continues lathing across your pert nipple.

“Mm...you’re so soft…” He whispers, resting his cheek on the plump skin of your breast, “your skin is so smooth…” His other hand is still toying with your nipple, rolling it in between the calloused pads of his thumb and forefinger, “haaAAH...I’m so lucky. You permitting scum like me to pleasure you? Your kindness is...hm, how could I put it?” his tongue darts out to give your nipple a lick, you shiver, “It is inexorable ”

“Wrong again.”, You laugh breathily, carting your fingers through his unruly hair, “This is no kindness. This is desire, unflinching. I want you so badly, selfishly .”

A raspy giggle escapes him, shaking his shoulders as he pulls his arms from you to wrap them around himself instead, “Someone like you getting so riled up over someone like me...eheh…” His hands are shaking when he brings them back down to your waist, gripping the elastic waistband of your sweatpants, “The ideas I have - the things I want to do with my fingers,” he starts pulling your pants down. You lift yourself up a little to help him pull them over your hips, warmth blooming in your cheeks, he moans at the mere sight of your panties, “f-fuck…” he whines, all drool and sweat, “i want to finger you until i die . Oh... oh god… ” he’s kneeling lower down now, you can feel him shaking between your thighs, “you smell so good...i want to eat you until there's nothing left. Like you’re my last meal…” his hands come up and grip your thighs tight, he leans in closer to your center and you can barely hold in a moan when you feel his nose bump against the wet spot on your panties. You don't hold in the moan when you feel his tongue. You aren't sure you could if you tried, it tears out of you, the one swipe of his tongue over your soaked panties is like a bolt of lightning to your cunt.

He continues like this for a while, moaning and shaking as he drags his tongue up and down your panties. Occassionally suckling your clit through the fabric. His bony fingers dig so tight in the soft flesh of your thighs that you swear you’ll have bruises tomorrow morning. After one particularly brutal suck, all you can do is sob, pulling his hair so tight that his lips are torn away from your centre.

“Something wrong?” He asks, playing innocent, but the look in his eye is cool and intelligent.

You heave a shaky breath, staring down at him, “Take them off. Please! ”

You swear you see his hips twitch at your demand. Eyes glazing over and tongue lolling out of his mouth as he hooks his fingers through the legs of your panties and tugs them down, leaving them to dangle off your left ankle. A whimper escapes you at the feeling of his breath against your wetness, his hands are hovering above you, shaking in the air like he isn't sure what to do with them. He wants to touch everything, he just can't decide where to start.

In the end, his left hand comes to rest at your hip, while his right middle and ring fingers push their way inside you. Your head lolls backward and your mouth drops open with a long moan at the feeling. His fingers are longer than yours are. A lot longer.

“I can feel you... twitching around me.” he makes a strangled noise, half a laugh, half a moan and pistons his fingers slowly in and out of you. The sound it makes is obscene , but it seems to only encourage him further. He leans in, and wraps his lips around your clit, sucking gently and occasionally flicking it with his tongue. Your hips buck reflexively, trying to get closer to his mouth.

“Ahh - ah! You taste so sweet...” he whispers against you, his breath cold on your burning flesh, “I - mmph...i feel like adam biting the apple...or persephone swallowing the pomegranate seeds...haah…” he removes his fingers, and his tongue slips inside you, swirling around before he returns his attention to your clit, “But which do you think it will be, hm? Will i be forced to leave you, or will i be bound to you for all eternity?” his eyes meet yours, boiling with passion and desire. He looks godlike between your thighs, grinning up at you with sharp teeth and the sheen of your own slick all over his chin. All you can do is shake and moan, quivering for want of him, “Care to try your luck answering the million dollar question, my goddess?”

“Never leave me…” you say, chest heaving. You reach down and cup his face in your hand, “I will never ask you to leave me.”

“Never?” he asks, his smile growing manic and his nails digging into your thighs. You hiss at the pain, “A dangerous promise.” His tongue enters you again and he moans sinfully against your skin, slowly thrusting the wet muscle in and out of you. His hands slip down under you and he lifts you up by you ass, pulling your sex even closer to his face. You whimper and moan and grind against him. Fingers tangled in the mess of his hair as he tongue fucks you into oblivion.

He’s whining and groaning, devouring you like a man starved, and when you feel the couch lurch, you realise he is also desperately grinding his cock into the front of it. You tug on his hair again, weaker than last time as the wobbly feeling of pleasure has overtaken you. He slowly draws back from your sex, licking his lips and staring up at you with his intimidating eyes, “Mm?”

A shaky breath rattles through your lungs and you lean forward to kiss him, tasting yourself on his lips, “I want you inside of me. Would that be okay?”

“I was already inside you.” He says, smirking and sticking out his tongue as a reminder.

“You know what i mean.” Your eyes flit down to the tent in his jeans, making what you really want even more obvious than it already is.

“You spoil me.” He breathes, pressing a wet kiss to your jawline, “You couldn’t possibly know how desperately I want to sink myself inside you...but I- haaahh ...I am not worthy of such an intimate act.” His fingers reach out, and slowly begin circling your clit, you choke on a moan, “I am more than happy to pleasure you like this...no need to worry about my satisfaction.”

“But I want to see you come undone.” You hiss as his index finger circles you entrance, “I want you on top of me, inside of me. I-“ his finger pushes inside and your breath catches, “-I want you to fuck me. Please .”

A giggle bursts from his lips that quickly grows into a cackle. His shoulders shaking with its intensity, a line of drool dripping down his chin, he throws his arms wide and shoots you a manic grin. All teeth and gums, “If that is what you truly desire, then it would be pointless to deny you any further!” He clambors up from the floor, stumbling a little as he struggles to remove his jeans, “After all, I want you as well.” He purrs, his jeans and boxers dropping to the floor, “More than that…” he breathes, lowering you by your shoulders until you are lying back on the couch and nestling himself in between your open legs. Your heart is racing, he is hovering over you now. His lips barely a breath from yours, and the head of his cock brushing against your sex. He groans, “My goddess, I hunger for you.”

He hisses a breath in through his teeth as he starts pushing himself into you. Hips shaking as he resists the urge to shove himself in with one long stroke, his eyes roll back into his head and he moans. The feeling of him slowly entering you, combined with watching the strangled ecstasy on his face, it’s the most aroused you’ve ever been. You can feel yourself clenching around him, your own hips quivering as he finally bottoms out inside of you with a raspy groan, “So wet…” he hisses, “You feel so good around me…” he slips one of his hands down between the both of you, rubbing gentle circles around you clit. You keen loudly at the feeling and his hips stutter into yours, “Y-you like that, huh? I felt you tighten around me…”

You nod loosely, struggling to speak through your moans, “Please...move…”

He visibly shudders at your request, slowly inching his hips backward, and then forward again at full force. A moan that shifts to laugh halfway through escapes his lips, and he finally sets his rhythm. His hips snap against yours with a desperate fervor, he whines and mewls above you, his hair bouncing delicately with the movement. Eyes half lidded and drool slowly dripping down his chin. You look up at him in absolute awe, he looks and sounds like an angel . Covered in grime, twisted and tangled, but an angel all the same. His fingers return to your clit and you moan again, digging your nails into the skin of his back, tracing the protruding vertebrae with your fingertips.

A particularly deep thrust causes a choked sob to break forth from his lips, his head lolls forward and he nuzzles into the join between your shoulder and neck, “You’re perfect .” he breathes, hips still pumping, “I’m throbbing...can you feel it? Can you feel what you are doing to me?”

You can . You can feel the warmth of his cock pulsing inside of you. His arms are trembling and his breath is a rapid staccato, he’s trying to maintain his composure, “You feel so good, sweetheart.” you whisper, running your fingers through his hair. He breath hitches when you call him sweetheart .

“You are so kind to me…” He wheezes, his breath warm against the column of your throat. You shiver, a strangled moan escaping you as his dexterous fingers circle your clit even faster. Your thighs tighten around his narrow waist, hips grinding against the meat of his palm and deeper onto his cock. All you can do is shake and moan, the muscles in your stomach tight and only growing tighter. He looks at your face, visibly euphoric, “are you close?”

You nod and he drags his tongue up the shell of your ear, “Jeez...I can’t believe trash like me is going to make you cum.” His eyes are wide when they meet yours, lips pulled tight in a grin, “You’re going to cum for me!” His hips move against yours at a frantic pace, his hands groping any part of you he can reach, a laugh in his chest building to a crescendo as he hits deeper and deeper inside of you, “You’re going to cum around me and I’m going to feel it...I-haaaaHAAAAA-“ he can’t speak any more, he’s laughing and moaning and fucking into you with an unbridled desperation.

“You need to...cum...Ah~ I want you to cum too…” you swallow, words catching in your throat when his fingers start working your clit again, “Cum inside me, angel. Please .”

“In-Inside?” He stutters, breath heaving and teeth clenched as he grows closer and closer to climax, “You would permit me to soil your insides with my filthy seed?”

“I don’t just permit you. I’m begging you! ” Your hips are canting up to meet his, wanting to feel him as deep inside you as possible. Drawing yourself tantalisingly close to orgasm, “I want to see you, to feel you. Come undone for me, please.”

His breath hitches, and his eyes grow dark. His fingers begin circling your clit at a brutal pace, his mouth collides with yours in a desperate kiss, all tongue and clicking teeth. You moan loudly into his open mouth, legs twitching underneath his frantic ministrations. His fingers on your clit, his cock pumping in and out of you, his tongue tangled with yours. The heat in the pit of your stomach is boiling, your breath is coming in gasps. It feels so good.

“You’re mine.” He whispers against your lips, and you swear you hear a sob catching in his throat, “accept me, please. Cum for me, my love.”

With those words, he kisses you firmly, thrusting deep and slow inside of you, and the coil in your stomach finally snaps as you cum with a strangled moan. Dragging your nails down his spine and curling your toes, warmth settles through your entire body and it feels like a perfect finality. He whines against your lips, grinding and writhing as you walls clench around him, then his eyes flutter closed and his mouth drops open in the most beautiful moan you’ve ever heard, and he cums .

His face softens in that moment, and for just a second, he looks normal. Like someone you might pass on the street or sit next to in class. You see him , and your heart turns to butter. You love him. Slowly, the speed of his thrusts peter out and he heaves a breath, eyes half lidded, giving you satisfied (albeit sleepy) smile. You return it, brushing your fingers down his cheekbone.

“Thank you.” He whispers, eyes moist with what will soon be tears.

You curl your hand around the back of his head and tug his forehead down to your lips. His skin tastes like sweat, “No. Thank you .”

*

He leaves the next morning. Unlike all the other times before, he never comes back.

[edna-skiffens]

Ooo what about some teacher!Haz angst? Him and the reader get into an argument and avoid each other for a few days, their students find out and remind them of why they're together - the perfect couple - and they forget about the argument?

I love this! I hope it is okay. I got a bit carried away - sorry it took so long.

Lesson Learned

Summary: You and Teacher!Haz had an argument. Everyone at school can see the tension and they try to help.

Word Count: 1.8K

Warnings: Some angst, Some fluff, Some bad attempts at writing an English lesson

The moment you pulled your car into the parking lot, Tom knew something was wrong.

“Haz not coming in today?” You only gave him a small smile and a shrug as you walked by the boy that got stuck doing car rider duty each morning.

Less than a minute later, Haz pulled in, trying not to glance at your car as he made his way towards the building.

“How come you didn’t pick up Y/N?”

“Ask her, mate.” was the only information Harrison gave out, before he made his way inside.

When you signed in, the office staff noticed the tension as well. Usually Harrison would be holding your bag or the two of you would be way too giggly for the early mornings. Today you were managing your purse, work bag and mug of tea all alone while signing in. You’d have to put on a better act if you wanted to make it through the day. The last thing you wanted was to be the subject of workplace gossip or have your students interrogating you.

When the first bell rang, you knew you needed to stand in your spot in the hallway to watch the students, but knowing Harrison would be out there across from you made you drag your feet.

When you saw him standing there- in his stupid glasses and his stupid jumper - you froze. How could you be angry at such a face? But you were angry.

You were still stalled in the doorway when one of your students started walking in.

“Hey Emma, will you help me with something?” Sure. You used her to get away from the hallway.

“Sure, Ms. Y/L/N. What do you need?”

Once you were safely inside you turned to her. “Oh uh.. never mind I think I’ve got it actually..” You knew you were a coward, but you couldn’t face him yet. Harrison saw you retreat and hung his head. He noticed how you had an excuse to avoid the hallway all day. You two used to be inseparable and now it felt like across the hall was a world away.

He wasn’t the only one to notice. The students and other teachers noticed. Even the custodian pointed out how during lunch you were eating in your separate rooms.

“You must have a lot of work to do?” He joked light heartedly while emptying Harrison’s trash.

“Sorry?”

“To not be eating with Ms. Y/L/N today you must have a lot to do.” He smiled before leaving the room.

After school Harrison coached Track practice. You would usually busy yourself with work while waiting or occasionally host Yearbook Club and Prom Committee meetings. Today you had no reason to wait. After the dismissal bell rang, it felt odd to start packing up immediately, but you did. Avoiding anyone’s questions or awkward run ins, you made a quick exit and headed to your own place.

The next day was much of the same. The staff noticed the tension even more, though they tried not to point it out. The students were also beginning to pick up on the sudden change.

You couldn’t just avoid the hallway for another whole day, so in between classes you moved down to Mrs. Greene’s area and made small talk with her, occasionally calling out a student to put their phone up or hurry to class.

During lunch Tom popped in to check on his friend, noticing that he was eating alone again.

“Hey, mate.”

“Hey Tom. What’s up?”

“You tell me.” Tom responds while leaning against a students desk with his arms crossed.

“Sorry?”

“What’s going on with you and Y/N?” Harrison stared at his friend for a moment. He loved having a close friend that cared so much, but sometimes hated how persistent he could be.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t do that. Everyone has noticed how you two are acting differently, so you can’t say it’s nothing. And I’m your best mate so I’m going to worry about it if I can see it’s affecting you.”

“We got into a fight.” He said after a moment.

“Was it bad?” Harrison gave his friend a ‘seriously?’ look before rolling his eyes. Obviously if they weren’t speaking it was bad. “Okay okay. Well, you didn’t break up right? So you can still repair things. That is, if you want to?”

“Of course I want to.”

“So then what are you waiting for?”

“She doesn’t want to talk to me. She does everything she can to avoid me and we work right across from each other.”

“Okay, but sitting in here and moping about it isn’t helping anything.” Harrison knew Tom was right, but it was still tough to hear. “Look, I don’t know what the fight was about or who was right or who was wrong, but if you don’t want this to ruin the relationship then you’ve got to suck it up and go over there and talk to her. The silence isn’t doing anything for anyone.” Harrison just nodded, taking in his friend’s advice before the bell rang. “I’m here if you need me.” Tom called out as he made his way back to the science lab.

It was the last class of the day, your AP Literature class, and you were discussing Little Women.

“What are some themes we saw throughout the novel?”

“Love.” Shouted out one of your students, Jessie.

“Yes, love is a big one. We see it in many different ways that we can explore as well. But let’s go a little deeper into those relationships, shall we? What themes do we see?”

“With Jo and Laurie there is tension.”

“Yeah we see that a bit.” You turn to add it on the board.

“Could you say war? Because of the actual war but also the arguments the characters have.”

“Good one.” You say with your back to the class as you write it on the board.

“And with Amy and Jo, they don’t communicate very well. They just argue a lot.”

“You’re right. They do.” You say turning back around, suddenly uncomfortable with where this is headed. “Okay that’s a good starting point. Why don’t you write down all the themes you can think of being consistent throughout Little Women and turn it in at the end of class.” You smile before heading back to your desk.

It wasn’t long until the end of the day approached and the afternoon announcements came over the loudspeaker. After they were over, your students started turning in their papers to your desk.

“Ms. Y/L/N?”

“Yeah, Sam?”

“Um-” they looked back at their small group of friends who seemed to be encouraging them. You smiled, waiting for them to continue, “Did you and Mr. Osterfield break up?”

“Oh my god, Sam. You can’t ask that!” Hannah gasped from her desk. The classroom seemed to suddenly get very quiet. The color drained from your face and you were thankful there were only minutes left in the school day.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. No, we haven’t broken up. But that’s all I’m going to say because this is a personal matter and not something to discuss with our students.” Sam smiled sheepishly before returning to their desk.

“I’m glad you didn’t break up.” Carter, one of your typically quieter students, commented.

“Me too. You two are better together than Laurie and Amy.” Megan remarked as other students nodded.

Thankfully, the bell rang before you needed to make any reply. “Thanks guys. See you all tomorrow.” You told them while ushering everyone out the door. You headed back to your desk when you heard the door shut. Wondering who and what it was, you whipped around.

“Harrison.”

“We need to talk.”

“We can’t do this here. And now.”

“If not here and now then when? I know you’ve been avoiding me and I can’t stand not seeing you or talking to you any longer.”

You hated conflict. You hated not being able to control your feelings in moments like this.

“Harrison.” You turned around to face your desk. Your emotions were a confusing cocktail inside of you. You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to pick somewhere to begin.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry because I know you don’t like being cornered like this, but I didn’t know how else to talk to you. And I’m sorry about this weekend and the things I said and the way I acted. I didn’t mean it. I love you and would never want to hurt you. And I’m sorry I let you avoid me this long as I sat there and did nothing. I should have come to you sooner. I’m sorry I didn’t. But I’m here now, will you please talk to me?” You bowed your head, taking in everything he just said. “Will you at least look at me?”

You turned to face him with tears brimming in your eyes. “Oh Y/N.” he stepped closer, but stopped short in front of you. Unsure if he was allowed to hold you still. Unsure where you stood.

You gave him the answer by reaching out and pulling him in. He quickly wrapped his arms around you.

“I’m sorry too. I should have just talked to you sooner, I’m sorry.”

“Oh love.” He kissed the top of your hair while holding you in his arms for a moment. “Are we okay?” He asked, holding your face in his hands as you stepped back.

You nodded and sniffled, letting your tears subside. “Yeah. If anything, this has shown me how much I enjoy being with you. I don’t want to not talk to you again. You are what matters most. Not winning silly arguments.”

“I couldn’t agree more. How about I take you home and we make up for lost time?”

“Harrison!” You hid your face in his chest and giggled. He just smirked before picking up your chin with his finger and kissing you yet again. “Well, I drove my own car so I guess I’ll take myself home.” You reminded him while you gathered your things.

“Just for today, love.” He said as he took your heavy work bag from your arm. “Tomorrow, I’ll be there with your tea, a blueberry muffin and a ride to work.”

“Back as things should be, yeah?” You both walked to the door of your classroom, turning off the lights and locking up for the day.

“Back as things should be.” He gave you a quick peck outside your classroom door, knowing you could now possibly be seen by students. You weren’t though, they were long gone.

Tom, however, saw the brief exchange and smiled to himself, ‘lesson learned.’

[babeyvenus]

The Wolf Among Us

Bigby x OC

Summary: Sonya Blaze, A.K.A. Hell Rider, is a half fable, half mundy girl who comes to Fabletown to learn more about her side of the folktales. She works alongside Sheriff Bigby Wolf as his newest partner and together they strive to find out who's behind the unexpected murders in Fabletown.

TW: Mentions of death, gore/blood, alcohol, smoking, drugs, sex implications, suicide, guns and ofc language.

A/N: just a little filler for now.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Chapter 19: Off Day

As they arrived, Bigby looked around, taking in the new sights. He hadn't been on this side of New York, considering he never bothered to interact with the mundane side of the city.

Sonya parked and took off her helmet, sighing as she looked up at her previous home. "Home sweet home...", she muttered as Bigby got off and dug into his pocket. "You need some time with that?", she asked teasingly.

He gave her an unamused look and lit his Huff n' Puff. He took a long drag, enough for big puffs of smoke to exit his nose before he drops the cigarette and smushes it under his foot. "Let's go.", Sonya says and leads him up to the house.

She pulled out the keys and opened the door, looking around to see a living room and smiled widely. "Pico!" She grins at the sight of a light orange fluff whose head pops up in attention.

Bigby looked over her shoulder to see a Shiba inu running toward her. Sonya kneels down and picks the excited dog up, whining and barking happily.

She set her bag on the couch and sat on the floor with the dog, Bigby followed behind and stood awkwardly in the middle of the living room. "You can sit down, y'know...", she says, making him scratch his head and sit down next to her on the couch.

Pico looks over at Bigby and growls lowly. Bigby frowns. "Easy, boy.", Sonya warns. Bigby snapped his attention to her. "I hope you're not talking to me."

Sonya chuckles and shakes her head as she pets Pico. He looks up to hear something walking downstairs and runs over to the sound.

They looked up to see a shorter woman who sleepily walked down the stairs and looked at them in surprise. She looked like Sonya, or rather a slightly older version of her. Her skin was a bit darker than Sonya's, her eyes almost a dark honey color. They seemed to light up when they caught onto Sonya's smile.

"Hi, ma.", Sonya greets, getting up. The older woman rushed to her daughter, bringing her in a tight hug. Sonya hugs her back, swaying back and forth before her mom cups her face to examine her. "Where have you been? You're a mess!"

She glanced at Bigby. "Who's he?" Sonya looked at Bigby with a smile before looking back at her mom. "Mama, you remember the place Dad kept talking about?", she asked. Her mom nodded. "Well, this is Bigby Wolf. He's practically the protector of Fabletown. and he's my... boss."

Bigby stood to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you." Her mom smiled. "You too, I'm Theresa. I hope she hasn't been giving you any trouble."

He rubbed behind his neck. "It's actually the opposite…" Sonya rolled her eyes. "We've been through a lot."

Theresa frowns at her. "Is that why you couldn't update me on anything?" Sonya nods. She glances at Bigby, "Can I tell her?" Bigby thought for a moment before sighing. "I don't see why not. She already knows about us."

"You can tell me after we do something with this head of yours. I can't believe you let it get this bad!", Theresa complained, giving Sonya's arm a slap. Sonya frowns. "I haven't exactly had time to groom myself, Ma."

Bigby waited as Sonya was pulled away to get her hair washed. He looked at the dog who stared back at him. Be rolled his eyes but raised an eyebrow as the dog walked over to him and sat by his feet.

Bigby looked to his left to see a photo set on top of a lamp table beside the couch. He examined it to see a younger version of Sonya, Theresa and a man and a baby he didn't know. He assumed the man had to be her dad. "She looks so happy...", he muttered.

His attention snapped to his right as he saw Sonya walk out of the kitchen with a towel draped over head. She pulled the towel off to reveal her shorter, wet, coiled hair, some curls stuck to her face, some dripped onto the towel.

She gave him a sleepy look as he looked back at her in curiosity. "Did you cut it?", he asked. She looked at him with confused eyes and shook her head. "Of course not. Water just makes my hair shorter.", she says, picking Pico up and sat down by Bigby's feet. She pulled Pico into her lap and rubbed his back and his head.

Theresa comes into the living room with a small container of grease and a blow-dryer. Sonya glanced at Bigby. "If you can't take the noise, you might wanna cover your ears."

Theresa looks at him. "You have sensitive ears?", she asked. "You could say that.", he replies. "You still haven't caught onto what fable he is, Ma?", Sonya asks.

Theresa thought about it for a moment, and shook her head. "I'm not sure." Sonya chuckles. "It's in his name."

Theresa looks at Bigby for a moment before her eyes widen in realization. "You're the big bad wolf??"

He nodded, rubbing behind his neck again. "I wouldn't have thought so. I thought you would've looked a little more... hairy.", she says. "And maybe a little meaner."

He smiled awkwardly. "Yeah...I'm trying my best not to be as monstrous as I was before."

"They made him sheriff but still treat him like trash.", Sonya deadpans. Theresa frowns, while she starts to apply the grease to her daughter's head. "Sometimes people don't wanna see the change in someone because they're so stuck in the past. The best thing you can do is move on.", Theresa says.

Sonya nods in agreement. "I gave up trying to be everyone's friend. Realized not everyone deserved my kindness and just stuck with whoever accepted me for who I was rather than someone I wasn't."

Bigby took in their words and frowned a bit. He hated that they were right. He did care about what other fables thought of him, simply because he was trying to change.

It didn't help much that they kept bringing up his past in the Homelands. It wasn't fair. But he supposed he didn't deserve a better life like everyone else. No one else went around eating pigs and grandmas.

Sonya noticed his silence and tapped his foot in reassurance. RIght after, Theresa started blowing out Sonya’s hair, the sound making Pico rush up and run to his bed and Bigby wince a bit before he started to get used to it.

Moments later, Sonya started to fall asleep and Bigby took note of that. He didn’t understand how she could fall asleep with something so loud in her ears. “I don’t know what you guys went through, but y’all must’ve been working hard.”, Theresa says.

“We did solve two murders…”, he says, making her turn to him in shock. “What happened?”, she asked. He explained what happened, gently informing her about her daughter being targeted as she silently listened and did her daughter’s hair.

“She protected me… a lot more than I can say anyone has done… She’s got guts.”, he says. Theresa finally finishes, now aware of Sonya’s soft snores. “She gets her impulsiveness from her daddy. I think that’s why she got her powers. She just accepted without thinking. Expected me to just be okay with that.”

Bigby glanced at Sonya’s sleeping state. “When she rushed in to save me...she told me she panicked. She didn’t have to, but she did. I’m grateful.”

Theresa gave him a smile. “She does that a lot. Always has to play the hero. I kinda expected that out of her brother but I think he admires her for that. He didn’t get to know his dad very much… so she stepped in.”

‘That’s why she said that about T.J….’, he thought. “I think she did a good job.”, he says. Theresa appreciated him. “Me too. She took on the role all by herself. She knew nothing about being a boy, but helped him whenever I couldn’t. Sometimes I hated it and I felt helpless that she seemed so independent at such a young age.”, she frowned softly. “It hurt. Made me feel like I wasn’t doing a good job as a mother. But she always reminded me that it wasn’t my fault.”

“She does her best at everything. She can be lazy but if its something really important, especially as important as what y’all went through, she won’t stop. She’ll overwork herself until she passes out.”, she says, looking at him. He nods. “I kept telling her she could take a break. She only took a nap when we were almost close to finishing up, we just got some food last night too.”, he confessed.

Theresa sighed. “I hate that she does that. She’s gonna die quicker if she doesn’t take better care of herself.”, she says, fluffing Sonya's hair. She smiles. “She hasn't been taking care of her hair, but it got longer…”, she mutters.

She frowns again. “She’s probably gonna be out for a while.”, she turns to him. “If you can get her up to her room, that’d be helpful. I’ll cook y’all some food while y’all are here.”, she smiles. “I haven’t had to cook that much in a while.”

He nods as Theresa gets up to go wash her hands and starts on food.

Bigby leans down a bit to gently shake Sonya awake. She mumbles, frowning in her sleep and relaxes her face. He shakes her again, getting no response. He sighs and picks her up, with Pico following behind him as he carries her up the stairs and is met with a divided hallway.

There was one room on the left of the hallway that had easy access to the stairs, and another door to the farther part of the hallway.

He went to the right side of the hallway and noticed a hanging nametag on a door that had Sonya's name and he walked up to it.

He entered the room, his nose being hit with her potent scent. He was almost sure if she went missing, he could find her.

He looked around her room to see a XL twin bed covered in black and gray sheets. She had a purple rug under her bed that seemed untouched and fluffed. An empty desk with just a monitor on top and a black desk chair, and a purple dresser that blocked her window and seemed to be a bit dusty.

He saw a full body mirror that had small polaroids taped onto it, and his curiosity spiked. He looked around at some posters she had on the walls, snorting at some of them before he gently laid her down. Pico struggles to get into her bed before he finally does and snuggles up to her.

Bigby smiled a bit and continued to look around her room and sits down in the chair. He squeaked a bit from under his weight as he leaned back a bit. It was a lot more comfortable than his rustic, ratty chair back in his office. He almost considered taking it.

He closed his eyes for a moment before sighing and getting up to leave her room. He walked back down the stairs and into the kitchen where he smelled seasoned meat. He looked over at Theresa as she smiles at him. "She still asleep?"

He nodded. "Is it okay if I step out for a bit?" She nodded, saving her hand in his dismissal. He left the kitchen and left the house to pull out a Huff 'n Puff, lighting it immediately. He took a long drag of the cigarette, sighing out softly and letting out a large puff of smoke.

As he leaned against a lamp post, he almost contemplated his own mother. Theresa seemed so kind, it almost made him wary of her regardless of her knowing about fables. But her daughter's a half fable and the way she talks about her and treated him more like a person rather than a monster…

He considered letting his guard down, just a bit. He finished the cigarette, stomping it out before he walked back inside. The smell of the previous meat entered his nose dully. It smelled good, though.

He walked back into the kitchen, peeking his head around the corner and saw Theresa loading barbeque brisket into a bun. His stomach rumbled loudly, making Theresa jump a bit as she turned to him, placing a hand on her chest as she laughed.

"You scared the shit out of me.", she says, gathering her composure. "Was that your stomach?"

He nodded, scratching behind his head in slight embarrassment. "Well, luckily for you, the food's finished.", she says, smiling.

She handed him a plate and had him sit down at a table. He softly blew onto the food before taking a bite. When he took the first bite, he nearly gulped the rest, making Theresa grin. "Glad to know it was good.", she says.

She took his plate before handing him another one and smiled at Sonya walking into the kitchen, yawning. "That was quick.", Theresa says.

Sonya grumbles. "Pico wouldn't stop kicking me." She saw Bigby eating and smiled. "Finally got you some food, huh?"

She walked over to get herself some food and hummed in delight once she took a bite. After they'd finished eating, they talked for a while until noon arrived.

Sonya and Bigby stood up. "We gotta go before the princess bites our heads off for being gone too long.", Sonya says, rolling her eyes and giving her mom a hug. "Try to keep in touch, please.", Theresa says. Sonya nods and leads Bigby to the door. Sonya exits just in time to see school buses dropping off kids.

Bigby starts to follow her but is stopped by Theresa. "Please look after her.", she asks. Bigby gives her a reassuring nod before leaving. He closed the door and looked to see Sonya hugging a boy about the same height as her.

He walked over to them, catching the boy's attention. The boy frowns a bit. "Who's he?" Bigby almost snorted in amusement at his attempt at being intimidating.

Sonya turns to Bigby, “This is my brother, Eric. Eric, this is Bigby, my boss.” Eric looks Bigby up and down. “He better be.” Bigby raises an eyebrow with a soft chuckle. Sonya gives Eric’s arm a slap. “Cut it out.”

Sonya sighs, looking at Bigby. “Let’s go.” He nods, following her to her bike. She starts it up and looks at her little brother. “Stay out of trouble.”, she says, making him nod before she rides off with Bigby.

The Woodlands

She parks outside the gate, letting him off. He looks at her in confusion. “You’re not coming?” She shook her head. “Nope.” He crosses his arms. “Why not?”, he asks. “Ask your Deputy Mayor.”, she says, bluntly before driving off, leaving him in confusion.

“What does Snow have to do with…”, he muttered before walking into the apartments and made his way to the Business office, seeing the previous line had been gone. He walked into the Business Office and walked up to Snow.

“Mr. Wolf, what’s wrong?”, Snow asked. “Sonya’s not coming into work. I’d say that’d be fine, considering the circumstance, but somehow you have something to do with why she isn’t coming into work.”, Bigby says, making her pause. He raised an eyebrow. “Why is that?”, he asked.

She smoothed her hair, taking a curled strand of hair behind her hair. “Well, the case is done. I told her she can take some time off until there’s a new case.” Bigby’s eyes narrowed a bit before he nodded. “I guess that’ll be for a while… I suppose that’s fine.”, he says, and shakes his head at Bufkin drinking a tall bottle of wine.

“Do you ever get tired of drinking a whole bottle?”, Bigby asks. Bufkin drunkardly smiles. “Nope!” Bigby sighs a huff through his nose before walking to the mirror. “Hey, mirror.”

The green face appears, looking at the man stoically. “Hello, Bigby.” Bigby scratches at his stubble. “I gotta know where Sonya’s going. Can you show me her?”

The Mirror hums. “You know our rule.” Bigby rolls his eyes. “We ate, talked and parted ways, now can you, please, show me Sonya Blaze?”, he rhymed.

The mirror shows Sonya entering an electronic store he’s never seen. Bigby frowns, looking closely at the store name. “Best buy…?”, he mutters. “Where’s this at?”

The mirror hums, coming back. “5th avenue.” Bigby sighs. “Okay.”, he says and walks away. He walked out of the Business Office to walk into his own, and closed the door. He walked over to his desk, plopping down in his chair and grumbles at the paperwork that waited for his return.

[tabloidtoc]

Star, March 1

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Humiliated Jennifer Lopez used for money and fame by Alex Rodriguez

Page 1: Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, who is a UK ambassador for George Clooney and Rande Gerber's tequila brand, welcomed a son on February 9 at London's Portland Hospital

Page 2: Contents, Robin Thicke in front of a piano at Gold Diggers studio in L.A.

Page 3: Star Shots -- Serena Williams honored late Olympic gold medalist Florence Griffith Joyner by rocking a one-legged Nike catsuit at the first day of the Australian open, Chrissy Metz brought some vibrancy to the virtual SCAD aTVFest where she discussed This Is Us and was honored with the Vanguard Award, Olivia Culpo checked out the view before heading to the Shaq Bowl in Tampa

Page 4: Inside Britney Spears' nightmare -- a shocking new documentary exposes how Britney was used and abused by people she trusted -- Britney's unable to communicate with fans directly without permission -- fans flooded Justin Timberlake's Instagram to demand an apology for what one called profiting from trashing a woman

Page 5: Facing a lawsuit from her estranged older sister has rattled Mariah Carey -- Alison Carey alleged to a NYC court that Mariah had intentionally inflicted emotional distress by writing about her in the 2020 tell-all The Meaning of Mariah Carey and Alison is seeking $1.25 million after the singer accused her of, among other things, throwing boiling hot tea on her and trying to sell a 12-year-old Mariah to a pimp -- now Mariah has become wary of even those in her inner circle and is making longtime employees re-interview for their jobs -- Mariah's always been on the paranoid side but everyone is a suspect now and she's grilling everyone from bodyguards to chefs to stylists and household staff who have been with her for years and if anyone pushes back they are shown the door -- her great fear is that people could cross over and spill secrets to the enemy because she's been caught off guard before by those she trusted

* Catching ZZZs has become a real problem for Kelly Clarkson -- between her gig as a daytime host, trying to sell homes in Nashville and Encino, and battling her ex Brandon Blackstock over custody of their two kids, she is beyond stressed and she can't sleep and nothing works; the most shut-eye she gets is two to three hours -- it's gotten so bad she's even tried hypnotherapy but her workaholic brain outwits it -- meanwhile her legal woes including a lawsuit with her husband and ex father-in-law's talent agency are getting nastier and Brandon has told her in no uncertain terms that he's not going to stop until he gets what he wants which is a ton of money and time with the kids

* She was the most loathed mother in America and now Casey Anthony wants her say -- 10 years after she was acquitted of murdering her two-year-old daughter Caylee, Casey is making a documentary about the trial and she thinks she can clear her name -- she's not looking for sympathy but she believes she's a victim too and was unfairly convicted in the public eye -- she is planning on dropping bombshells in the doc including her take on the theory that the toddler accidentally drowned in the family pool as well as shocking secrets about her own abusive upbringing but don't expect much remorse

Page 6: Just over a year after her father Kobe Bryant and sister Gianna Bryant perished in a tragic helicopter crash, Natalia Bryant who is Kobe's oldest daughter, has signed a modeling contract with IMG Models who also represent Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid and the just signed Inauguration standout poet Amanda Gorman

* Rumer Willis was heartbroken when her months-long relationship with Armie Hammer fizzled out in December but after harrowing reports of Armie's alleged abuse of women including asking to barbecue their ribs and carry their severed toes in his pocket, Rumer is telling friends she feels lucky -- she wanted to defend him when the cannibalism stories first came out because she thought they were outrageous and now she feels badly for all of the victims and she's really grateful she didn't get caught up in the Armie nightmare

* Star Spots the Stars -- Eva Longoria, Mandy Moore, Demi Lovato, Dan Levy, Dorinda Medley

Page 8: Star Shots -- Meg Ryan wore some wide-legged trousers and a cute cap on a nature walk in Santa Barbara, Gavin Rossdale wore pink socks while playing tennis in L.A., Ciara holding six-month-old son Win during a family getaway to Hawaii

Page 9: Delilah Belle Hamlin and Love Island's Eyal Booker removed their masks for a quick street smooch during a coffee date in L.A., Sofia Richie enjoyed some PDA with shipping heir Gil Ofer in Miami

Page 12: Kate Upton doing yoga, Tia Mowry-Hardrict and her husband Cory Hardrict shared dishwashing duty after cooking at home, Robin Roberts tasted a treat on Good Morning America in New York City

Page 13: Pregnant Brittany Cartwright brought her dog along to retrieve the mail in L.A., Victoria Justice showed off her toned tummy post-workout in L.A.

Page 14: Goldie Hawn turned quality time with granddaughter Rani into a workout toting her in a backpack, Madonna and Guy Ritchie's son Rocco Ritchie waded in during a vacation in Tulum in Mexico, Lucy Hale on a stroll with her dog Elvis in L.A.

Page 16: Chris Noth put in a day's work on The Equalizer in Paterson in New Jersey, Flavor Flav and Flo Rida at The Super Glow Super Bowl kick-off party in Tampa, Bradley Cooper kept daughter Lea close as the two ran errands in NYC

Page 17: More than a week after celebrating 18 months of sobriety Lily Allen enjoyed a snack on-the-go in London, Jessica Alba lifted her son Hayes while riding scooters with husband Cash Warren in Beverly Hills

Page 18: Normal or Not? Cody Simpson got physical with new girlfriend Marloes Stevens during a romantic getaway in St. Barts -- normal, Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn picking up a portrait of herself in L.A. -- normal, Jack Black raised Thor's hammer in a parody posted on Instagram prompting Chris Hemsworth to call it the greatest thing he's ever seen -- not normal

Page 19: The Crown's Emma Corrin looked intrigued by a leafy object she stumbled upon during a stroll in London -- not normal, Sarah Jessica Parker kicked back in heels during a break from assisting shoppers at her flagship store in NYC -- not normal

Page 20: Fashion -- stars look sweet in tiered dresses -- Maude Apatow, Logan Browning, Margot Robbie

Page 21: Julianne Moore, Camila Morrone, Saoirse Ronan

Page 24: After months of quietly dating, Aaron Rodgers and Shailene Woodley are ready to marry and they announced it in the most low-key way possible and the couple are madly in love and feel unequivocally that this is the real deal -- Aaron and Shailene were friends long before sparks flew in August last year and having to endure a long-distance romance during football season actually made their bond stronger -- Aaron and Shailene are already planning to start a family and they're at that stage when they feel ready to be parents and are keen to have a baby

Page 25: Olivia Wilde and Harry Styles have found another dynamic duo to spend their downtime with which is Florence Pugh and Zach Braff -- the foursome hit it off on the set of Don't Worry, Darling which Olivia is directing and in which Florence and Harry star -- they have the best time together and know how to forget the world outside -- as it turns out bearing witness to Florence and Zach's happy relationship despite their 20-year age difference played a part in Olivia taking a chance on dating Harry who is nine years her junior following her split from Jason Sudeikis and seeing them together inspired Olivia to go for it with Harry and she's so glad she did

* While some couples are overwhelmed being with their kids 24/7 in lockdown, Prince William and Duchess Kate have enjoyed the extended family time with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis -- having the kids at home during the pandemic has given Kate baby fever and she loves being around them and wants to have one more and she and William are trying for another, with Kate saying she's hoping for a girl -- as for raising four young kids, the pair are up to the challenge because Kate's a pro at multitasking and William is a devoted dad and they'll split parenting duties

* Matt Damon is hoping a change of scenery will save his rocky 17-year relationship with wife Luciana Barroso as the couple and their three girls have set up house in a lavish $7000-a-night rental in Australia's tony Byron Bay while the actor films Thor: Love and Thunder -- the beachy new surroundings are just what the couple needs after hitting a rough patch and Matt is working overtime to make sure Luciana enjoys herself Down Under by arranging date nights and buying gifts for her to open every day and even when he's working he's got time set aside for just them and the gestures seem to be working and it's the shot in the arm they both needed

Page 26: Cover Story -- Jennifer Lopez humiliated and used -- shocking cheating allegations rock J.Lo's world as fiance Alex Rodriguez's mistress Madison LeCroy tells all -- while Jennifer is putting on a brave face the affair rumors are devastating to her whether she admits it or not -- after revealing she and Alex exchanged DMs Madison said she doesn't want anything bad for his family or for hers -- Alex says it was innocent and that nothing happened but Jennifer is not fully buying it -- Jennifer and Alex's relationship is personal but it's also business; together, their fortunes have doubled

Page 30: Chip and Joanna Gaines -- inside our farmhouse reno -- Chip and Jo are expanding and renovating their Waco home and it may be their toughest job yet

Page 32: Celeb Parenting Fails -- these celebrity moms and dads share their hilarious hapless moments -- Anne Hathaway, Brad Pitt

Page 33: Willie Geist, Mila Kunis, Pink

Page 48: Parting Shot -- Despite it being her first concert in over a year, Miley Cyrus was ready to rock while headlining the TikTok Tailgate Super Bowl pre-show event in Tampa -- the show treated 7500 Florida-based healthcare workers to a set that included guest appearances by Joan Jett and Billy Idol, who both collaborated on Miley's latest album

[mikkomacko]

Dear Daisy 5

Daisy never realized how big the house is until Harry's not there. Without his large personality sitting at the table, or his lanky legs kicked up on the coffee table while he works, or his broad body moving around the kitchen, Daisy feels like she's living in an empty palace. It's gotten to the point that she hates being at the house, but going to visit her family is just as depressing with them now crying over Sterling's departure. Her father's taken up more work with Thomas, hoping to make up for the usual revenue Sterling brings into the family. It's not much seeing as most of her brother's earnings goes into his personal savings so he can afford to marry Stella and take care of her. Daisy tried spending time with her future sister too, but that ended up being even more depressing then staring at Harry's empty couch cushion. So she goes on walks now. She's been putting off walking through the park because it reminds her of Harry now, and she stays as far away from the beach as possible. That really only leaves the town for her to walk through, but she likes the shops so she doesn't mind. She hardly buys anything, but the browsing keeps her mind off of Harry and how much she misses him and if he's okay. Her favorite shop to go in is the local bakery, owned a ran by a man named Robin and his kids. It's nice to sit at one of the tables, picking at a scone or mini pie and watch Robin teach his son's to roll out dough correctly and cut shapes into the pies. The three men are always so happy and carefree, and the feeling rubs off on her after sitting there for a bit.

Today, however, is different.

The bell above the door chimes as she pushes it open, stepping into the little shop and expecting a smile from Richard who's usually behind the counter. He's not there today, and walking up to the counter she realizes that Sam isn't either. It's just Robin, lips drooping down in the corners as he dusts some flower onto his apron. Daisy's smile falls, confused by the unusual gloomy mood in the bakery.

"Oh, hello Daisy." Robin greets when he notices her, offering her a pathetic smile. Daisy rests her elbows on the counter, holding her chin up.

"Is everything okay Robin?"

The man shrugs, shaking his head with a sad chuckle. "My boys left today," he mumbles, "one of them to the Poland, the other Germany."

Her heart falls to her stomach, and she thinks of Harry again. She's so worried knowing he's in France, she can't imagine how upsetting it'd be if he were sent to the front lines. "I'm sorry," she sympathizes, pausing a brief second before deciding what the hell, "my fiance shipped out a few weeks ago."

Robin looks up, a bit surprised as he moves to stand across from her. "Mr. Styles was called out?"

She shifts uncomfortably, scratching her fingernail across the wooden counter to keep her mind off of the war as much as possible. "To France for training and then assignment. I haven't gotten a letter yet informing me of where he's heading afterwards."

One of Robin's hands move over the counter, patting the top of Daisy's comfortingly. "It's tough, but I can't think of a greater man than Harry Styles fighting."

Daisy pauses, looking up at him curiously. She's never heard anyone say anything remotely kind about Harry before. He's always whispered about, gossiped about, but they're all tells of his rudeness or his harsh words. Daisy, having been privy to both, never really questioned anyone's dislike for Harry. But she'll definitely question their compliments for him.

"You know Harry really well?"

Robin nods, moving to untie his apron. "Grew up with his father. When he passed away I tried to keep an eye on Harryand Gemma. Of course that uncle of his stepped in, tried to raise Harry to be a prick like him-" Daisy giggles, never having heard Robin curse, "but good always beats bad."

He hangs his apron up, reaching under the counter for a small basket of oatmeal cookies. He places them on the counter in front of Daisy. "Free of charge, for Harry." He says, smiling softly. Daisy watches him for a moment, thinking that Robin must be a great father. He's kind, compassionate, but also tough. And judging by the two boys she's met in here before, he knows how to raise a good son. It's then that she realizes he's the only one running the bakery now, and while rations for the war have started, bread is always in demand. He'll be getting busy, busier than usual, and he might need help.

"Mr. Robin," she murmurs carefully, waiting for him to look at her expectantly, "if you'd like company or help around the shop while you're boys are away, I'd be happy to do so. Don't have to pay me or anything, I'd just like to get out of the empty house."

Robin's smile is warm and grateful, and he looks around the kitchen as if trying to picture Daisy back there helping him. Finally, he nods. "I'd love to have you Daisy, and I'd be happy to let you take home the tips for the day."

"No that's-"

"It's the least I could do," Robin interrupts, "owe it to Harry and his father."

She knows by the firmness of his voice that there's no room for arguing, and she knows tips aren't very much right now anyway so she won't feel bad for taking money from him. Plus the holidays are coming up, and she'd really like to get gifts from everyone without having to use Harry's money. It doesn't feel right to use it without him there, but then again, nothing really feels right while he's gone anyway.

~

Dear Daisy,

My training has been completed and I've received my assignment. Luckily for us, I'm staying in France, patrolling Paris in case Germany attacks. I'm sorry I didn't write sooner, it was difficult to find time during the first couple weeks, but you should know that not a day has gone by where I haven't thought of you. I ache for you, long for you so much it makes me dizzy. Patrolling Paris is wonderful, I've been here a few times, but I can't help but find you on ever corner. In the flower shops, laying among the soft petals. In the warmth of the bakeries and restaurant, beckoning me. Swirling in the air around me, shining in the stars above me. It's not the first city I've found you in and I'm certain it won't be the last.

I know I have so much to say to you. Secrets and truths that have been on the tip of my tongue since the night we met, pleading to be told. Oh how desperate I was on our last night together, aching to tell you everything. Again, I'm sorry, for I'm making you wait. I know you hate me, enough to cry for me, enough to marry me. I was once told my parents hated each other as well, and I had never seen love like theirs.

I hope you're staying warm as the days get colder, maybe planting vegetables in your garden in the back. Pumpkins grow well against the wall of the house and my mum has a wonderful pumpkin soup recipe. I'll dream of you tonight, and maybe every night, in our kitchen with the pretty blue apron around your hips, filling our house with a warmth only you could bring. My radio playing in the background, I'll wish to be sat there with you, argue over how you under-cooked the pumpkin just because I like the color of your pink cheeks when we fight.

Stay safe for me Daisy for I need a home to come home to.

-The Harry Styles x

~

Cold winds come with fall, blowing into the bakery every time the door is even slightly cracked. Daisy's lucky enough to be on oven duty, staying warm in the back while Robin works the counter. She's been working with him for almost a month now, finally skilled enough to help decorate the Halloween cookies and package them. Robin does most of the baking, but she always helps, and every time she finds a recipe of interest he goes out of his way to teach her to make it. Daisy finds working at the bakery to be quite wonderful. It's a good way to spend her time and she's never been good at cooking despite her mother's hard efforts to teach her. Meredith isn't much of a baker either so Daisy never learned that growing up either. It's exciting, working here. Like she's got a new hidden talent or secret that only her and Robin know.

It's only a matter of time before her mother or Summer starts questioning what she's been doing during the days, and she's dreading having to answer. Some may it find it silly but if she tells them about her new hobby she's afraid it'll lose its appeal. When she's here, everything is simple. She bakes and laughs with Robin, forgetting that men are fighting a few countries over. And if she's feeling particularly lonely, she can imagine that Harry's just at work, that she'll finish her goodies for the day and take them home in a box wrapped with pretty ribbon, body flushing when her husband praises her.

Even if it makes going home even more disappointing, Daisy will enjoy her time in the bakery. She's nearly curling the ribbon on a package of croissants for the girl on the other side of the counter when Robin says he's going to take the trash out back real quick. They were starting to close up when the lady came in, a Mrs. Weathers as Robin had greeted her, and he instructed y/n to quickly wrap her order. She carries the package over, smiling politely at Mrs. Weathers and charging her.

"You're Mr. Styles' fiancee aren't you?" She asks, counting out the coins in her purse. Her green eyes look Daisy up and down (as much as possible with the counter between them) but she looks more curious than judging.

"Yes ma'am."

Mrs. Weathers hums, accepting her change from Daisy. "Never thought I'd see the day he'd find a wife." Her tone is amused, mixed with a little bit of surprise, and her eyes shine at Daisy with a newfound respect.

"Why's that?" Daisy questions. She knows Harry's not well liked. He's not really liked at all, but everyone has their person. Maybe she's not Harry's person but her family made it so she is. And it turned out to be better than expected. So maybe she actually is his person and she never knew.

"I had a bit of a crush on him myself a few years ago." Mrs. Weathers admits, looking sheepish. "Tried to talk to him on the beach once, maybe get him to take me on a date in that pretty car of his. Barely spoke to me though. Ignored my flirting, even went as far as telling me I was desperate." Daisy cringes at the word. Harry used to hint at her being desperate too, but he never outright said it to her. If he had she thinks she would've hit him.

"I'm sorry," she apologizes, feeling the need to make up for Harry's rudeness. "He's got a sharp tongue and an ego big enough to keep his mouth flapping."

Mrs. Weathers laughs, waving her hand. "Don't apologize! It hurt at the time but I'm grateful he's the way he is. I probably would've married him and that would be awful. My husband Terry is the greatest love I've ever known."

Daisy smiles at the dreamy look in Mrs. Weathers eyes, but her chest aches for Harry. He may be rough on the edges, but she knows deep down he's sweet. He has a reason for all his actions, and maybe that's why he's terrible to everyone. A sort of test, wanting to see who cares enough to stick around. Or it could just be him knowing what he wants and being careless. Either way she's proud, knowing she was the one to turn him.

"It just takes him a bit to warm up." Daisy defends, "But I'm the lucky one that stuck around, I suppose."

Mrs. Weathers chuckles, picking up the package and nestling it in the crook of her elbow. "If you say so." She hums, adjusting her scarf and then she's heading out into the chilly air. Daisy stares at the door for a moment, thinking that Harry's actually a lot kinder than Mrs. Weathers and any other person that something bad to say about him.

~

Daisy's crouched on the lowest porch step, fingers begin to burn as she lights the last of the Jack-O-lanters her and Summer had carved yesterday. Harry had been right about the pumpkins, she grew so many that they were able to save two for soup, leave three on the steps here, and take two back to Summer's house.

Tossing the match to the side, Daisy watches the candle flicker through it's smile. She can't help but notice that this particular face has the same little bunny teeth as Harry, even if it's big smile is nothing like Harry's. Her heart sinks, eyes stinging as she pathetically imagines him. Not exactly sure how long she watches the flame dance, wishing it were Harry's eyes in front of her, she practically jumps out of skin when two hands jab her shoulders. "Boo!"

She almost falls off the porch steps as she leaps to her full height, the hands of Gemma being the one thing to steady her. "You scared me." Daisy says sheepishly, holding a hand to her racing heart.

"That was the point," Gemma teases, "it's Halloween." Her eyes look over Daisy, smiling falling. "And you're not dressed up at all."

Blushing, Daisy picks at the bow around her waist. "I was gonna be a kitten but I haven't had time to draw my nose and whiskers on. What are you?"

Gemma adjust the sleeves of the button up, tugging down the too-small sweater vest and holding her arms open. Her hip pops out sassily, "I'm Harry!" Daisy examines her again, realizing she's wearing her version of the outfit they mocked Harry about when wedding shopping. "I figured you could use a little Harry today, and I'm as close as it gets right now."

Daisy's glad she hadn't done her makeup yet, because Gemma's words send her to tears.

~

Dear Harry,

I've never been to Paris but I can't help but find comfort in the city knowing you're there. I'm sure it's not exactly what you were expecting for assignment; you've always been a front line man, but I'm grateful the universe is on my side this time.

I grew pumpkins like you suggested and your mother made the best soup for us after Halloween. I wish you could have been at the house with me. A girl came dressed up as a fighter pilot and I thought of how much you'd enjoy that. Gemma came over to hand out candy and stay the night, which was nice. The house is to big without you in it, but for some reason it made me miss you more.

While your secrets make me nervous, I respect your choice to wait to spill them. At first it drove me mad and I spent days like a tornado in the house. I've found a distraction though, one I think you'll be proud of. An old friend of you father's, Robin, has been teaching me to bake. His son's shipped out as well and we've found company in each other's presence. I don't like cooking, as you very much know, but I really enjoy baking. Maybe one day that'll be our routine. You'll come back from the war, safe and sound, and I'll bake lots of desserts for us to devour while you cook our meals. And of course your radio will be on, and maybe I'll make you dance with me. I happen to be a very good dancer when you're my partner, and no matter how much I try to fight it, you'll always be my greatest partner.

Stay safe for me Harry or I'll have no husband to bake for. With all my heart, Daisy o

~

Rain pelts against her umbrella, ice cold in the November air. It far too late for her to be out here, but at least it's a nice neighborhood. Not as nice as Harry's or Thomas', but still better than the one she grew up in. She doesn't dwell on that thought too long though, because she's still trying to figure out why she came here. Shivering, the red door stares back at her tear filled eyes, daring her to step forward and knock. She wants to, she really does. Wants to go inside, sit next to the wood burning stove she'd sat by with Harry that one time he brought her here. Maybe drink some tea. Maybe wrap a blanket around her frame and cry. It felt too empty to cry in their house. Her sobs echoed and rattled, reminding her she was alone.

Still in her pajamas, she'd thrown on one of Harry's peacoats and grabbed the umbrella from the coat closet, running through two streets worth of puddles. Her soaked socks remind her of that.

Sniffling, Daisy wipes her eyes with the cuffs of the coat, finally stepping onto the welcome mat. Inhaling shakily, she knocks before she can duck out and spend all night crying in the street. Harry would be so upset with her if he found out she was even out right now. He told her not to worry, yet here she was.

It takes minute for the door to be answered, lights flicking on upstairs, and then on the staircase, and then in the living room. Daisy wills herself to calm down, bouncing anxiously as the door swings open.

"Daisy?"

Anne has wrapped her robe around her nightgown, rollers mussed in her hair, and eyes bleary but her eyes widen when she meets Daisy's red rimmed ones. "Oh dear, come in! Get out of the rain!"

She waves her in, Daisy's umbrella dripping water on the rug as she closes it and places it in the rack. Anne shuts and locks the door behind her, immediately reaching to help Daisy out of her son's coat. "I'm sorry," Daisy mumbles, shaking off the damp fabric. Helpless, she watches Anne hang it by the door, bottom lip trembling with surpressed cries.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" Anne coos gently, reaching forward to push back her wet hair. Daisy crumbles under the affection, chest aching so bad she thinks it might crack open to reveal her longing heart to the cruel world. "Are you hurt?"

She shakes her head, finally breaking down. Her body shakes against Anne, shoulders hunching as her mother-in-law wraps her arms around Daisy. Anne shushes her, rubbing her hand in soothing circles over her back. "It's okay darling. You can talk to me."

Somehow, Daisy manages to choke out the one thought swirling through her brain. "I miss him so much." It's simple, but the words make her cry even more after finally admitting it. She didn't realize how much she enjoyed being around Harry, how much better he made her days. Being without him is like missing the broth in the soup, the flour in a loaf of bread, the roots of a plant. Nothing feels right and she hates it.

"Oh darling, I know." Anne coos, stroking her soggy hair tenderly. Daisy feels small in her arms, cradled like a girl as small as Kitty even though her feet are on the ground and not around Anne's waist. She thinks back on when she wishes she were as tiny as her sister, innocent to this kind of hurt, and she can't help but think this night was born out of that wish. Maybe the universe started a war, drafted the one boy she may one day love, just because she was being sad and petty. It's stupid, Hitler's not invading previous German land because she wished to be little again. But it does feel nice to have Anne hold her, tell her she understands. All Meredith’s ever done is tell her to grow up, act her age, learn to cook, get married, have kids. Everything she always felt like she could never do.

“He’s really irritating but I want him back.” Daisy murmurs around trembling breaths, beginning to calm down. Anne laughs, whispering an agreement before pulling back enough to see her face. She strokes her cheeks tenderly, motherly.

“Let’s her you dry clothes and a cup of tea, yeah?” Daisy nods shyly, letting Anne guide her up the stairs and into a random bedroom. She digs through the dresser, pulling out a cotton tee and striped pajama bottoms. The same pajama bottoms Harry owns multiple pairs of. “These were his favorites as a boy. Don’t fit him now but I can’t get rid of them.”

Daisy changes into them in the bathroom, recognizing the scent of Harry immediate. He still smells the same today but more manly. Maybe it's that nice cologne he wears that makes him smell older, more mature. But his teen scent is comforting too. The two of them, feeling small but together. It makes her ache a bit more, but she smiles at it. Maybe Harry's thinking about her, smirking as he fall asleep and imagining her crying. Soulmates maybe, reaching out to jab at her throbbing heart. It's a very Harry thing to do, she thinks.

And she continues to think of him when she crawls into his childhood bed, an old record player playing an album he loved as a kid, with her mug of tea on his old nightstand. Buried in his sheets, it almost feels like he's there too. That's how it should be, husband and wife, buried next to each other forever.