#he growled at the other kids on the playground and you know it

[weezmancer3]

Kyotani Hcs!!

He works on his anger issues after the loss to Karasuno but when he tries his breathing exercises he cries 'Angry Tears' TM

The team is trying so hard to be a positive environment but it makes them laugh so hard

He runs his hands over his buzz cut all the time. It's all he does. Yahaba thinks it's cute.

His canines are unnaturally sharp, and it scares the underclassman

He's not a good fighter in the technique sense, but he's feral and normally wins bc he fights dirty

He bit as a child. any and all family members have at least one scar to prove it

He really likes birds and has been bird-watching multiple times. He even has guides to the native species in the different parts of Japan.

Yahaba gifted him a keychain with a Bluejay on it in highschool and Kyotani still has it today. (he takes it to his Sendai Frogs games as a good luck charm)

[meo-eiru]

How could Elias have met his darling? I kinda feel like they were long childhood friends, like in elementary perhaps even? A cute scenario that I keep thinking about...

Elias somehow got hurt on the playground, perhaps some boy in school was jealous of him and his looks? Perhaps they made fun of him for looking pretty, mocking him to put makeup on and play with the girls? (I feel like he'd be adored more by girls than boys, simply because he looks quite feminine in not a bad way)

So he is sobbing in the bathroom, standing in front of the mirror and somehow tries to fix his face. (Perhaps poor boy got some mud onto his face?)

And his darling didn't really interact with him before, so she just walks past the bathroom but caught onto the loud and dramatic sniffles and sobs. Perhaps she got curious and went to check up on him (despite it being the boys bathroom, another headcanon I have for his darling that she might be more of a troublemaker back then or a tomboy, so she didn't care if she simply went into the boys bathroom, she would've probably enjoyed the thrill of getting caught by a teacher and getting scolded)

So she literally just walks straight in without a second thought, Elias literally jumping in surprise from overall someone walking in on him crying. (We know our boy is a pretty cryer and he knows it too) But also jumping because it's a girl in the boys bathroom, him literally squealing for a while and his darling just being like: • — •

So after his dramatic ass calmed down, his darling fusses over him, simply because that's likely her nature-?? Like she immediately tends to him, reassures him, etc ! Simply giving him princess treatment and giving him her tissues, wiping off any dust and mud off of him with the most gentle care, despite her rough appearance. (I like the idea of polar opposites, a darling that looks more like a boy and a boy that looks more like a pretty girl)

So when Elias tells her about what happened on the playground, I feel like there are two options what is going to happen. (Perhaps even both could work out ngl..)

Like his darling beating the crap out of those bullies, a girl chasing the boys and the boys being scared of her. (I feel like she might be a very talented weirdo.. like she'd be a gifted kid that probably got burnt out very soon, I also see that Elias had the chances of being gifted too, but being trapped inside a box by his parents, so he never got to develop any of that)

Then perhaps his darling told him that he didn't need any friends, because he has her now and she'll be his friend! So then they had a lot of play dates and played together as kids, even if he was boring, she always tried to make him feel included💖💖

When other kids interrupted their playtime, I just feel like his darling would growl at any kid that she got bad vibes off of. Like she'd have such protective instincts for Elias, she just KNEW who was bad for him.

Bodyguard darling 💌

Awww this is so adorable!!! Elias is such a princess and the darling is his bodyguard😭💕

So first off, I'm so sorry but this was all I could imagine when you mentioned Elias crying in front of a mirror

Other than that I love itttt! Imagine them growing up and Elias still expecting that same dynamic from darling. Darling spending her entire school life protecting Elias like that and eventually getting a bit tired of it but not being able to stop because Elias won't let her and anytime she tries hanging out with someone else he starts crying and causing a scene.

[thepixelelf]

ah! love - 2

genres: married life au, family au, fluff, comedy [best friends to lovers?] relationship: husbands 95 line x reader (feat. baby doremi line) words: 3.4k warnings and notes: mentions of alcohol; coarse language. y'all wanted more and so did I. any stuff in this au will likely not be chronological. I literally had to think about how to tell a kid they're adopted for this it sucked. (I still love it)

ah! love masterlist

Seungkwan learns a new word.

Seungkwan, like all other five (and a half!) year-olds, knows everything.

He knows how to cook eggs and how many sides an octagon has. He knows to always ask papa Jeonghan for extra sweets because he's the only one who ever says yes after you've said no. (His other parents also say yes, sometimes, if you've left the room, but Jeonghan is always the fastest to cave.) He knows Chan is a baby who doesn't know anything. 

And he knows he and Vernon are The Twins.

Because when it's time for dinner, and Seungkwan is playing with Vernon in their room, papa Joshua always asks you, "Can you grab the twins?"

When papa Seungcheol comes home from (well, hm, maybe Seungkwan doesn't know everything) wherever he goes when they go to kindergarten, he kisses you on the cheek in the entryway, kicks off his shoes, then crouches down, arms open and awaiting for Seungkwan and Vernon to barrel into them, and growls happily, "There are my twins!" 

And when he found you in the kitchen one night, while you were sitting on the counter (which is not allowed!!), with papa Jeonghan standing between your legs for reasons unclear to Seungkwan, you both looked surprised. Seungkwan concluded this was because papa Jeonghan had just whispered, "The twins are asleep," and Seungkwan was, in fact, not. 

Which is why he scoffs at the older girl who came up to him and Vernon on the playground. Vernon is busy building his sand tunnels, but the girl has Seungkwan's full attention.

"You are not twins," she says.

"Yes we are."

She is unrelenting. "No. My big brothers are twins, and they look exactly the same."

Seungkwan looks over at Vernon, who's now mixing wet sand and dry sand into a big ol' pile of sand soup. They don't look alike at all, he knows. His hair is black, and Vernon's is brown. His cheeks are rounder — sometimes you pretend to bite into them before planting a kiss — while Vernon's are a bit pinker.

"We are twins," Seungkwan says again, because maybe not all twins are like her big brothers. Maybe some twins are like him and Vernon.

Besides, his papas say they're twins. Why wouldn't they be?

The girl crosses her arms. "My big brothers have the same birthday."

Seungkwan is about to bite back, say something like maybe not all twins have the same birthday, meanie! but Vernon waves his hand in the air, yelling out, "Ms Han!" 

Their teacher comes over, bending and putting her hands on her knees as she asks Vernon what's going on.

He points at the girl. "She's saying we're not twins because we don't have the same birthday."

"Oh." Ms Han scratches the back of her neck, "Well, sweetie, the thing is…"

⭒

Jeonghan's shaky eyes glance at the rear-view mirror again, half checking for cars and half checking up on the babies in the back seat.

Seungkwan has been quiet the entire eight minutes they've been driving, which might be normal if he was any kindergartner other than Seungkwan. Vernon can get talkative too, but right now he's completely silent, immersed in squishing and un-squishing his favourite toy — a plushie shaped like a baked bean (Jeonghan has no idea where you found that thing or why Vernon is obsessed with it) — between his tiny fingers. 

Of course, Jeonghan had to be the one on pick-up duty the day one of their teachers finally gave them the whole, you may have to explain adoption talk. 

"So," he says, awkward, trying to smile. "How was school?"

Vernon squeezes his toy again. "It was," he says, and nothing else.

God, Jeonghan needs backup.

As soon as Jeonghan pulls up to the house, unbuckles the twins from their booster seats, and ushers them inside, Vernon pulls off his shoes and dashes into the house — to you, Jeonghan is sure. Vernon doesn't play favourites except that he does.

Seungkwan, though, looks up at Jeonghan and tugs his pant leg, saying, "Papa Shua wants to talk to you in his room."

Which isn't true, of course; Seungkwan hasn't been all of thirty seconds in the house, and Joshua isn't even home, out on an errand. But Jeonghan can take a social cue, even if it is from a five year old. As he climbs the stairs, he pulls out his phone and messages the guys to try to come home as soon as they can.

⭒

You're reading to Chan on the living room couch, him tucked under your left arm and a quiet Vernon who's wormed his way under your right arm clutching your shirt like you're both afloat in open water, when Seungkwan walks up, climbs onto your lap, (shoving the book out of the way in the process,) and presses his face into your stomach. He mumbles something you can't quite hear.

You chuckle, bringing a hand up to run over his soft hair. "What's that, baby?"

Slowly, he lifts his head, his eyelids low with the gaze of a war-hardened veteran. "They're lying," he says, no nonsense in sight.

Your hand pauses. "Huh?"

"We gotta leave. They lied. Could be lying about anything."

You try to smile past the confusion. "What do you mean?"

Seungkwan, sweet, adorable, chubby-cheeked Seungkwan whom you love with all your heart, fists the material of your top in both his hands, growling in a way you somehow know is protective. 

"We gotta get outta here."

⭒-⭒-⭒

"Please get me out of here."

Joshua snorted at your plea, his voice soft and teasing through the phone. “What happened to ‘living out your twenties’?”

You let your eyes roam over your surroundings — a house party (a frat one in particular, you were pretty sure) with flashing coloured lights, late 2000’s top 40 songs, and what must've been over a hundred drunken 18-22 year olds. A haze hung in the air that smelled like the unholy combination of cotton candy, root beer, green apple, and skunk. A younger friend you’d made at your internship had invited you, but they were nowhere to be seen.

“I take it back,” you said, walking through the house in search of your friend. “I’m old now. I’m a hermit.”

“You’re not old.”

You scoffed. “You’re only saying that because you don’t wanna admit you’re old.”

“No, I’m serious,” Joshua argued, though you could tell he was smiling as he spoke. “We’re only like a quarter of the way through our lives— there’s still so much ahead.”

“Okay Socrates, whatever.” You pulled your phone away from your ear when you felt it vibrate. Your friend answered your last message, telling you they were heading home to take care of another friend they trust, and that they’d text you when they got there. “I’m just trying to get out of here so I can go home, steep a nice cup of decaf tea, and, I dunno, take up knitting or something. Granny style.”

Some shuffling happened on the other end of the line, and you thought you heard Joshua say something, but not to you.

“Anyway,” you sighed, winding your way through the crowd to finally leave that steam room of a house party. “I just called to complain. I’m gonna call a taxi.”

“Don’t bother. I’m on my way.”

You paused, your hand on a stair railing. “What?”

“I’m coming to pick you up,” Joshua spoke with all the nonchalance of someone ordering coffee.

Glancing at your phone screen, you countered with, “It’s almost midnight.”

“Yeah, well, I’m already driving, so it’d actually be more inconsiderate of you to tell me to turn around if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Joshua…”

"Shush," he tutted. "Just stay on the line with me until I get there. And drink some water if you can." There was a pause as you heard noises through the phone. Joshua added, "But only if you find a sealed water bottle, or pour the water yourself."

You finally reached the front entrance, content to wait outdoors for your unexpected ride since the weather wasn't too bad. "Do I sound drunk to you?"

"You didn't drink?"

"I mean, I had one," you said with a shrug he couldn't even see. 

"Well maybe that explains why you're not having a good time."

"You're such a bad influence, Shua."

"Saying that to your designated driver is so rude, just so you know."

"I didn't ask you to DD!"

Joshua sighed playfully. "Yeah, yeah. As if you don't know we'd do anything for you."

Mouth open, you fumbled with what words to say in your head.

Did you know that? Maybe you did.

You knew that if you and Joshua had switched places, you would've done exactly the same thing he was doing now.

And why did he say "we"?

Before you could vocalize anything, Joshua said, "I see you. Turn around."

And there it was— Joshua's tiny, bright blue hatchback, affectionately dubbed the Blueberry by you and your three boys.

Speaking of whom…

"Jeonghan?" You blinked at the man in the passenger seat when he rolled down the window.

"Hey, devil," he let the nickname fall from his lips with a smirk. It was a new one, this moniker for you, his payback for you jokingly calling him an angel. He jerked his head in a gesture towards the back seat. "We're busting you out of this joint."

You huffed out a laugh at his joke, yanking open the back door of the Blueberry. Immediately, a pair of large, grabby hands pulled you inside. "Whoa— Seungcheol, you too?"

Too tired apparently to answer with words, Seungcheol only nodded, reaching over your shoulder to take your seatbelt, extend it over you, and buckle it in. He settled back down in the middle seat rather than the more spacious one on the other side of the car. Closing his eyes and crossing his arms, he relaxed his entire body and let his head fall onto your shoulder, all without a word.

"Were you asleep?" you asked him quietly as Joshua pulled away from the curb.

Seungcheol just breathed in deeply and leaned more of his weight on you.

"Guys…" You turned your attention to the two boys in front. "You didn't have to drag him along too. Did you wake him up for this?"

Joshua scoffed. "As if. You think I'd poke a sleeping bear on purpose?"

Twisting in his seat to face you, Jeonghan smiled in that sweet yet devious way you like so much. "He was worried about you all night, devil. Paced around the apartment for two hours, going on and on about 'kids these days' before he tired himself out and zonked on the couch. We tried to leave quietly, but he woke up and insisted on coming once he found out it was you on the phone."

"Oh," you said at the same time you thought you heard Seungcheol mumble, "Shut up."

You softly patted Seungcheol's arm, your fingers brushing against his with the way his hands were wrapped around his own biceps. "You know I can take care of myself, right?"

Seungcheol didn't answer, as you should've expected. Eyes still closed, he just flexed his fingers to hook one around your pinky and keep your hand where it was.

Meeting your eyes in the rear-view mirror, Joshua said, "We'd better get him home before he actually falls asleep back there. No way am I carrying him up the stairs."

"What do ya say, devil?" Jeonghan prompted. "Sleepover at ours?"

You smiled. "How could I ever say no to you guys?"

⭒-⭒-⭒

"Seungkwan," you say softly, a little bit confused and a little bit amused. "Who's lying?"

He sits up on your lap and cups both his hands around his mouth, only to not-really-whisper, "Parents."

"Me?" You point at yourself.

"Nooooooo!" Seungkwan whines with a pout, putting his hands on your shoulders. "Our other parents!"

You think about how Jeonghan was the one who went to pick up the boys from kindergarten... and how he's nowhere in sight now. "Papa Jeonghan is lying?"

Seungkwan nods emphatically, and to your surprise, Vernon nods too at your side. Chan sits in rapt attention of his older brother, who is probably blowing his four year old mind.

"And papa Shua," Seungkwan adds. "And papa Seungcheol."

You furrow your brows and tilt your head. "What are they lying about?"

"They said we are twins," Seungkwan finally reveals, and it starts to dawn on you. His words become frantic, voice wavering. "But Ms Han said we can't be twins because we have different birthdays, so we can't be twins bio-- bio--" He hiccups. "--logically."

"That's a big word," you say, because it's a struggle to respond with anything else right away. What-- Ms Han is teaching biology now?

Vernon gets out from under your arm and sits on his knees beside you on the couch. He holds up his hand for a high five. "Biologically."

Still a bit shocked, you high five him, then Seungkwan when he also puts his hand up. To be fair, that's what you do when they learn new, long words. The tears brimming in Seungkwan's eyes shouldn't deter learning encouragement, right?

"That's why we gotta go." Seungkwan sniffles. "Maybe they lie to you also. Maybe they are not biologically your husbands!"

God-- the parenting books don't teach shit like this.

"Seungkwan..." you start, though you don't know how to form the next sentence.

Vernon takes your hand and wraps all his tiny fingers around it. "Let's run away," he says with a determined nod, like a secret lover in a fairy tale.

Chan's eyes widen, and he throws himself around your middle. "I gonna save you!"

"Boys-- Wait--"

The front door bursts open to reveal a dishevelled Seungcheol. His hair is wild and fluffy, his tie loosened, and his suit jacket is in his hand rather than worn. He's barely thrown his shoes off by the time he catches sight of Seungkwan's teary eyes and your slightly-panicked expression. Immediately, he jogs towards the couch in, to you, obvious concern. "What's going on--"

But before he can get too close, Seungkwan lets out a terrified, demon-like shriek. He picks up the closest item -- the storybook you'd been reading to Chan -- and chucks it as hard as he can towards your husband.

It only hits the floor at Seungcheol's feet, but it causes him to freeze. He gawks at the book, then raises his head to look at you and the way your boys have all wrapped their little arms as tight as they can around whatever parts of you they can reach, their heads tucked in, hiding.

You can see it in his eyes-- him registering that they're scared of him.

"I--" His expression tightens, lips pressing together to stop from quivering.

From seemingly nowhere, Jeonghan appears, putting a comforting hand on Seungcheol's arm and pulling him out of the room. He whispers, "Let's give them a minute."

Both your husbands make eye contact with you as you tentatively hug your sons, and you nod, silently letting them know that you'll be okay.

("What the hell was that?" Seungcheol whispers harshly as soon as he and Jeonghan make it upstairs. "You said to come home ASAP-- I thought someone got hurt!"

Jeonghan crosses his arms. "Why wouldn't I just say someone was hurt?"

"You have got to be clearer in your texts.")

"Seungkwan." You readjust your body, trying not to jostle your sons too much. "Seungkwan, baby, can you look at me please?"

He lifts his head to meet your eyes.

"Did Ms Han tell you what 'biologically' means?"

Seungkwan's face scrunches up as he tries to find an answer to your question, and in that moment, Vernon sits up. "Real," he says.

"Now, that's not quite right," you tell them, and at that, all three of your boys look at you for an explanation. "A 'biological parent' is one of two people who made a baby, and that is their 'biological child."

The boys stay quiet, taking in the information. Thank goodness-- you don't want to have to skirt around the topic of "making" children.

"Biological twins," you continue, "are when two babies are made together, at the same time. Which is why they have the same birthday."

"We are not twins," Vernon reaffirms.

"That's right."

Seungkwan frowns. "Why do you call us 'the twins'?"

"It's just a nickname, sweetie. You and Vernon were born in the same year, and you do everything together, so for me and your other parents, you are kind of like twins." You smile. "Do you want us to stop calling you that? It's okay if you don't like it."

Putting a hand on his chin, Seungkwan ponders seriously for more than a few seconds.

"You can always change your mind at any time, okay?" you say, and he nods, continuing to think.

Chan tugs at your sleeve, and you turn to him. "Are you bio...ly marry?"

You chuckle. "No. Marriage is a little different-- your papas and I decided we wanted to be a family, so we chose each other, and to stay together. And now..." You boop Chan's nose, then Seungkwan's then Vernon's. "...you boys are part of our family, too."

Vernon perks up. "Did you choose us too?"

"Yup." You reach up a hand to ruffle through his brown hair. "And you know what? That makes you special. I may not be your biological parent, but I chose you three to be my sons, and I love you so much. That makes me your parent, don't you think?"

All three boys nod, Vernon still beaming, and Chan's hands clutching your sleeve. Seungkwan relaxes in your lap.

You hear the sound of the front door opening again, and, much slower than the last person, Joshua enters the house with two bags full of groceries. Chan pushes himself off you and slides off the couch to run towards Joshua, bouncing in front of him with his arms in the air. "Uppies."

Without a second beat, Joshua puts down the grocery bags on the bench by the door and scoops Chan into his arms. He walks up to the couch. "I just got Jeonghan's text. What's going on?"

You just smile and shake your head, taking one of Seungkwan's and Vernon's hands in each of yours. "And you know your papas love you more than anything too, right?"

While the boys nod, Joshua just blinks, totally lost. Chan hugs him tighter.

"I bet Seungcheol is a little bit sad about how you guys acted when he got home--"

Seungkwan pouts and drops his head. "I'm sorry..."

You squeeze his hand. "You don't have to be sorry, baby." You tighten your hand around Vernon's as well. "Either of you. You didn't understand something and it made you scared. That's okay. But now Seungcheol might not understand something, so we should help him, right?"

"How?" Vernon asks.

You tap your chin and look upwards, pretending to think. "Hmmm... How about we go upstairs and give him a biiiiiig hug!"

It turns out to be a great idea, because you find Seungcheol in his room, sitting on the edge of the bed, looking desolate. Seungkwan and Vernon climb him like monkeys, though, and they wrap themselves around him, press kisses to his face, and as soon as you mouth to Seungcheol that you'll explain later, all is right in the world again.

There's no brighter a smile on Cheol's face than when he's with his sons.

You stand, watching, with your arms crossed, satisfied with the scene until Jeonghan comes up and stands next to you, mimicking your stance. You swat at his arm, to which he reacts with such a pained facial expression, you'd think you just cut it off.

"I cannot believe you abandoned me to deal with that on my own!"

"Hey! I called for backup, didn't I?"

You roll your eyes. "A load of good that did."

"Aw, c'mon, devil..." Jeonghan slides closer to you, then wraps his arms around you and leans in to press his lips to your cheek. "Can I kiss it better?"

⭒

Joshua watches you and the twins run into Seungcheol's room with no further explanation, and he turns his attention to the youngest in his arms. "You wouldn't happen to know what's going on, would you?"

Chan shakes his head. "I'm four."

"Right."

[storm-angel989]

how would vox and the other vees react to the school calling voxs ohine saying his daughter had a seizure at school? Btw I love ur writing keep uo the good work bbg.

Hi there! So I actually have a similar request that I’m working on parallel to this. So consider this one reader’s origin story in a sense. I don’t have epilepsy myself, but I do have folks in my life who do so I hope I did your request justice! 

The spike in her vitals sent the instant alert to Vox’s phone.

At first, he thought it was a glitch. After all, his daughter seemed fine when he dropped her off at preschool that morning. Same as every other day, she had hugged him goodbye and ran into the school eager to begin the day. When he saw the school’s number, he assumed she had gotten hurt on the playground. Scraped her knee maybe, or worse case- a broken arm. But as he sat in the limo that raced towards the hospital, he wished that had been the case. 

We always call an ambulance the first time a student has a seizure at school, the school nurse had told him. I understand your preference to treat her at home, but this is our policy. 

Part of him knew she was doing her job. The other part of him was livid that his daughter was sent to a hospital. As if she was a commoner and not the daughter of one of the most powerful overlords in hell. He pushed his way inside and shoved those in line out of the way. 

“My daughter has been brought in and I need to know where she is right now,” Vox growled at the receptionist. “And then I want her discharged and sent home.” 

“You’ll have to wait like everyone else in line…” the nurse began.

Electricity crackled. He grabbed the counter and glared at her.

“Do you have any idea who I am?” he snarled. “Bring me to my daughter, now.” 

To his utter dismay, the nurse looked completely unbothered. 

“I couldn’t care less who you are. We have rules that need to be followed. Get in line behind everyone else and wait your turn.” She told him calmly. 

Vox’s anger boiled. Just as he was about to make every piece of data on this woman vanish, a familiar voice pulled his attention away. 

“Daddy!” a little voice called from the stretcher. 

He raced over to her and one of the nurses began to tell him to step aside. Vox turned around, eyes glowing red.

“You can fuck right off. This is my kid, and I want her discharged immediately.”

“Sir, you can’t…”

“It’s kidnapping if you don’t. I said, stop touching my kid,” he snapped, “release my kid, now. Or I will have you charged with assault.” 

Less than a half hour later, reader was settled into the familiar hospital room in her Uncle Valentino’s studio. Around her, her Aunt Velvette and Uncle Valentino fussed, fluffing her pillows and straightening her blankets as they waited for the doctor and Vox to come back in. 

“Babygirl, how do you feel?” Valentino asked as he smoothed back her hair. “Can Uncle Val get you anything?”

Reader shook her head. “Tired, Uncle Val. I want to sleep.”

“In a few moments baby, lets hear what the doctor has to say,” Velvette replied quickly. 

The door swung open and both Vox and the doctor stepped in.

“Hey baby,” Vox said quietly as he sat down on the bed with her. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired,” she replied as she reached for him. “Daddy, I want a hug.”

Vox carefully took her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “Daddy’s here. Let’s listen to what the doctor has to say, okay?”

Reader nodded and turned her attention to the doctor. 

“Reader, your tests show that you have epilepsy. Epilepsy is when your brain sends too many electrical messages at once and that causes seizures, which is what happened to you today. It’s almost like…” the doctor paused and looked to Vox. “Almost like when your Dad gets mad and his screen fizzes out for a moment. Your brain does the same thing, and it can make you forget what’s happening and make you quite tired.”

“Am I going to die?” Reader asked fearfully. 

Vox felt her hands grip his shirt. He shook his head no and hugged her tighter. “No, baby. It’s serious, but at the core it's just something unusual that happens in your brain. We can treat it, to an extent, but we’ll teach you what to do to keep you safe, okay?” 

“We can talk more later on, and come up with a plan,” the doctor added. “For now, you’re clear to go home. Sleep in your own bed. You’ll see me again tomorrow for a few more tests, and we can discuss what to do next. Sound good?” 

Reader nodded. She laid her head on her father as he scooped her up and carried her back upstairs, Velvette and Valentino close behind. 

“Daddy, Auntie Vel, Uncle Val? I’m scared. Stay with me?” Reader asked once the elevator door closed. “I don’t want to be alone.” 

“Always baby,” Vox replied with a kiss to her forehead. “I think we could all use the rest.”

[littlxpxtal]

Dress

TYRANTS || STORY MASTERLIST PAIRING: rafe cameron x fem!reader WARNINGS: MDNI 18+ Content, swearing, sexual content, drug and alcohol use, violence WORD COUNT: 2.8k

Our secret moments in your crowded room

They got no idea about me and you

Say my name and everything just stops

I don't want you like a best friend

Only bought this dress so you could take it off

December Continued

Rafe waits a few seconds before following me into the bathroom, keeping an eye out for anyone who might’ve seen us go in together.

“Okay take a few with the flash and a few without” I say, handing him my phone and propping my body up against the sink.

“Didn’t think I was actually gonna take pictures” he grumbles, sitting on the lip of the tub and angling the phone up towards me.

“Thats why I asked you up here duh.” I say in between flashes. “Lemme take some of you.” grabbing the phone out of his hands I take a few images of him before he stands up and presses my arms to my sides, pushing me up against the sink.

“I have a hard time believing this is all you wanted to come up here and do” he murmurs into my ear, pushing my hair back off of my neck, pressing a wet kiss on my shoulder.

I can smell the peppermint lingering from his mouth as his lips trail up to reach my chin.

“I told you, you were my photographer tonight.” I say simply, opening my phone to inspect the images he captured. 

“You know, I love to see you in all black, like you normally wear. But red. Red’s my favorite color. Did you know that?”

I did know that. I’ve known since we were little that Rafe always picked out red toy trucks, red swim trunks, he had red bed sheets back when he slept in a twin sized bed. I remember when we were little kids running around figure 8, he would wear a red cape. He also has a red scooter that he wouldn’t let anyone ride, except me. His notebooks in school were always red, and when he got a bike for his 10th birthday he got a matching red helmet. I had always associated Rafe with Red, I guess I didn’t realize it until now. 

“I remember” I say, finally letting out the breath I was holding as his hands graze over my body, pulling my dress up ever so slightly.

“I could never tell what your favorite color was.” he says, letting out a chuckle before pressing kisses along my jawline.

“You always wore purple bathing suits, but would throw a tantrum if you didn’t get the orange towel. Your bike was yellow but your helmet was pink. And you always wore those green sneakers until they practically fell apart.” I giggled, remembering those pair of green Converse I wore until the soles gave out. I smile at the thought of simpler times, when Sarah and I hung out every day, Rafe terrorizing us on the playground, always demanding to be it during tag, tackling us to the ground. 

Lost in thought, I barely realize Rafe is sliding my panties down my legs. I btie my bottom lip and look up at him, remembering all the history we had together, how we went from childhood friends, to hating each other for years and then to this. Whatever the fuck this was.

He turns me around to face the mirror, pushing me forward. I hear his pants unzip and fall to the ground.

“So what is it?” he asks, running a finger through my folds. I let out a groan and squeeze my eyes shut. “What’s your favorite color?”

He teases my entrace with his cock, pushing slowly in and out, inching deeper and deeper in. I let out a gasp and clench the sides of the bathroom sink. His arm snakes around my front, pulling me closer to him.

“Blue” I finally let out, and he pushes himself fully inside of me, covering my mouth with his hand. Blue, just like the color of the sky on a clear day in the outerbanks. Blue like the color of the sea from my back patio.

Blue like Rafe’s eyes. 

“You feel so good pretty girl” he growls into my ear, pounding me from behind. Our eyes interlock in the bathroom mirror, I fight the urge to roll mine in the back of my head, overwhelmed at the pleasure I was feeling from his dick and the sight of him fucking me in this bathroom.

There’s a knock on the bathroom door and my eyes widen in fear.

“OCCUPIED” Rafe shouts out, slamming into me, causing me to yelp into his hand. Tears brim my eyes and he moves forward to plant a kiss on my cheek.

“You like this don’t you?”  his free hand trails down my body, reaching my clit, and he lightly taps against it. I moan against his hand, bucking my hips up against his hand.

“Asked you a question” he says, placing another light tap against the top of my pussy. I nod my head aggressively up and down, speaking a “yes” into his hand. His palm was probably covered in my spit, and I feared the sight of what it would look like underneath when he finally released his hand. 

As if he could read my mind, he leans in close, his face against mine, staring at me through the mirror. “If I let go of my hand you gon stay quiet?” I nod my head up and down vigorously and he slowly releases his hand, and places it on my hip. He starts to rub circles on my clit and my head falls forward for a second, trying to control my breathing I squeeze the sink until my knuckles turn white. His hips rock back and forth at a steady pace, using his hand on my hip to guide himself. I can hear the sounds of skin slapping echo through the bathroom, and his soft grunts vibrating through his body, trailing up through my spine. I whimper beneath him, feeling myself reach my climax.

His tongue runs up my neck and I look up to make eye contact with him once again in the mirror.

“Cum for me pretty girl” he whispers into my ear before sucking on the sweet spot beneatht it. I tremble beneath his touch, my legs starting to give out as I come undone. I lean against the sink for support, and he pushes himself deep into me, leaning against my back as he finishes quickly after me. 

He tosses the condom in the trash and cleans himself up with a tissue. He bends over and pulls my underwear up and back on, pulling my dress down before he put his pants on. 

“I gotta go, Tops gonna be wondering where ‘m at and I told him I’d be sellin tonight” I nod my head in response and watch him exit the bathroom. I lock the door behind him and walk back up to the mirror, inspecting my face. It wasn’t as horrible as I thought it would be. I reached into my purse and started to reapply my makeup. A knock on the door makes me jolt.

“Occupied” I squeak, trying to mimic Rafe’s inflection.

“Its me” I hear Sabrina’s voice come from behind the door. I apply the finishing touches to my smudged lipstick and unlock the door. She slides in and locks it behind her.

“Have you been in here the whole time?” she questions as I pack up my purse.

“No I was roaming but came up here to piss. Whats up?”

“I’ve been looking for you. And Tops been looking for Rafe.” 

I shrug my shoulders nonchalantly and look back into the mirror, blotting my lips on a tissue.

“Haven’t seen him.” For a second I feel bad about lying to her, but I really didn’t want to have this conversation when I really didn’t want people to know. Not that I didn’t trust Sab, I just wanted to keep it to myself until I was ready to accept the fact that I've been fucking Rafe Cameron. 

She squints her eyes at me and I toss my tissue into the trashcan. I watch as her eyes trail down and she stares at the condom wrapper sitting ontop.

“Cmon” I say, grabbing my phone and purse off the counter, unlocking the bathroom. She follows behind me silently as we make our way back into the crowd. We find Topper, Kelce and Rafe in the backyard, sitting at table, with a crowd around them. I see Rafe with a stack of money in his hand, a blunt hanging out of his mouth.

Topper is laid back on the couch, head handing off the back, a bottle swinging around in his hand as he sings along to a rap song playing softly from a speaker. Kelce is railing a line, passing the little tube he used to a girl sitting on his lap. She leans down to the glass table and snorts the line. I look over at Sabrina and she shrugs. 

There’s no chairs empty for us to sit, so we stand idly around until Topper finally notices us. 

“My favorite ladies” he slurs. Sabrina giggles as he reaches out a hand and winks at her. She reaches out and he pulls her onto his lap. They start chatting about god knows what and I stand awkwardly to the side, looking around at the people starting to slowly leave as the party dies. I check my phone to see its 1:33. I hadn’t even realized how much time had passed. 

“Rafe why don’t you offer the pretty lady a seat” Topper finally says after a few minutes. He glances up at me for a second and scoffs, returning back to counting his final stack of cash before stuffing it into his backpack. Top lightly kicks him with his shoe and Rafe rolls his eyes, and pulls me down by my arm onto his lap. 

I lightly slap his face with my hand. “That was fucking rude.” I spit at him, ripping the blunt out of his mouth and putting it into mine. He stares at me in disbelief while Kelce watches in amusement. 

“Play some Cudi” I say to Topper, reaching over to grab an unopened beer bottle from the table. I hand it to Rafe to open for me, sprawling my body out more against his body. He grunts in response and cracks the top off with a bottle opener from his keychain.

“Actin like a real brat” he grumbles in my ear. I take a puff and pass it to Sabrina. I giggle and fall back into his chest.

“You love it” I sigh, my arm grabbing his bicep. My legs intertwine with Sarbina’s on the couch as we pass the blunt back and forth between each other before Rafe finally intercepts, grabbing it from my fingers, taking a quick drag. He grabs my face in his hands. I open my mouth in response and he leans closer, shot gunning the smoke into my mouth. I inhale, taking in the secondhand smoke and blow it out of my nose. 

“Wait that was cool I wanna try!” Sabrina exclaims after watching us intently. I grab the blunt from Rafe and push myself up on his lap. His hands stay placed on my waist as I lean forward and repeat the same actions Rafe just did to me. 

“Jesus” Kelce mutters, taking a drink from his bottle. Sabrina and I giggle at each other and I pass her the blunt before settling back into Rafes arms. 

“You need to get laid Kelce” Topper calls out across at him. He shakes his head.

“That’s my goal for this trip man”

“Where are you going?” I inquire, turning my head to him. The crowd has started to filter out, a few people lingering in the living room, the backporch empty except for us now. 

“Bahamas. We’ll be back for new years though. I leave Sunday” Kelce answers before finishing his beer and standing to get another one.

“Dudes totally not gonna pull” Topper jokes.

“Are you going anywhere for break?” Sabrina asks him.

“Yea we’re headed out to Fiji tomorrow, Well I guess today” he motions to the clock on the porch that shows its now 1:45am. 

“Damn. I’m just going down to the Keys” she huffs.

“You think Fiji is cool? Rafe’s going to freakin Bora Bora until schools back in session” 

“That’s still just as far” I finally remark.

I didn’t know he was leaving. I wasn’t surprised. The Cameron’s always take extravagant trips when the kids are out of school. I hadn’t asked Sarah where she was going this year, but we haven’t talked much since my birthday. I had also been avoiding her because I felt guilty about hooking up with Rafe and keeping that secret from her. 

“Where are you goin Y/N?” Topper asks. I adjust myself in Rafe’s lap, taking a swig from the bottle. 

“‘M stayin here. My family usually comes in for the holidays. They’re kind of a big deal for my mom. Both of my parents have big families and like to have them over for Christmas. It’s tradition.” 

“Damn I wish my family could stand each other to stay in a house together for the holidays” Kelce says in response as he returns, cracking open his new beer and tossing the cap onto the table. 

“I usually escape to my room after I’ve answered enough questions.” I say.

Not mentioning to the group how lonely it gets in the Outerbanks when everyone goes away. For the past few years I had been able to escape down to the cut where I would celebrate the holidays with JJ and John B, bringing them food from my family's feast and the handmade presents I made them every year. It made me sad to think I wouldn’t be allowed to see them this year. 

I also felt a ping of sadness at the thought of not seeing Rafe until we got back to school. I didn’t know why I felt this way. It’s not like we actually hung out, but I had been seeing him so often recently. 

“I think it’s time I head home” I finally say, pushing myself off Rafe’s lap.

“I can drive you.” Rafe says, starting to sit up.

“Mom said no drinking and driving.” I state, leaning down to give Sabrina a hug goodbye.

“Come see me before you leave okay?” I whisper into her ear. She nods her head, her eyes red and droopy. 

“Get her home safe” I instruct Topper. He smiles at me and waves goodbye.

“Bye Kelce” I say, waving at him before grabbing my purse off the table. Rafe is still trailing behind me as I enter the house. 

“I said no drinking and driving” I say, without turning to look at him.

“I know, I’m gonna walk you home.” I scoff and finally reach the front door, opening it and turning back to him.

“Not necessary.” I begin the shut the front door on him before he holds a hand out to stop the door.

“I said I’m walking you home.” I roll my eyes at him and start for the sidewalk. He catches up to me and stands dangerously close.

“You didn’t tell me you were leaving” I finally say after a few moments of silence.

“Thought Sarah might’ve shared that information with you.” I shake my head in response.

“What, y’all don’t talk anymore?” he asks.

“You and your friends are kind of making that hard.” I snap at him.

“I see.” he responds simply. A few more moments pass before he speaks again.

“You know we can like text and stuff”

I raise my eyebrows and turn to look at him

“Is that so?” I ask, a smile quivering on my lips. I almost want to laugh but I realize he’s being serious.

“Yea you can send me pictures of your cookies and cute little Christmas jammies and I’ll send you shirtless pictures of me on the beach.” I finally laugh and shove him lightly with my shoulder.

“I started watching Game of Thrones” he says, and I gasp in response letting out a shriek.

“AND?”

“Its actually pretty good. I downloaded some episodes to watch on the plane tomorrow.” 

“I knew you liked it.”

“I like the gore and violence. Not a fan of the incest” he says, nudging me back, a goofy smile splattered across his face.

“You get over it after a while” I say. My house not too far in the distance. 

We walk around the house and I lead the way to my side doors, turning to face Rafe, unsure of the proper way to say goodbye without making it weird. 

“You know she’ll forgive you right?” he says. I sigh and look down at the ground.  “I haven’t told anyone so she won’t find out from anyone but you, when you’re ready,” he assured me. He leans forward and places a soft kiss on my cheek. 

“See ya next year pretty girl” he says with a smirk, sending me a wink before turning around and walking out into the darkness.

Previous Chapter | Instagram AU | Next Chapter

[theworldofotps]

Day at The Park

The Demon Dad series, follows Bálor as he navigates parenthood. Description: Y/n and Finn want to take their baby to the park for some enrichment, Bálor thinks it's silly. Masterlist

Tag list: @omg-im-such-a-masochist @melissahausen @new-zealand-chic @writtingrose @hotgirlgraps @madhatterbri @sassymox @mrsacklesevansmgk @xladyxfatex @adamcolesbaybay @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @demonqueen29 @itsicantbelievethis666 @lilred91 @rebellious-desires @surdelcielo @letsgivethisonemoreshot @ava-valerie @shortyiceheart @serpantscorpio8497 @thatpanpal @wrestlersownmyheart @vebner37 @seeingstarks @whenimakeitshine1234 @legit9thlunaticwarrior @blaquekitty @ironshamelessyouth @unoficialy-married-to-ace-austin @ripleyswhore @moonrosekk @xbreezymeadowsx @alyyaanna @elevennbloom @melblacc @alliwant456 @mcreignsera @auburnwrites​ @aews-four-pillars @thatnerdwriter​ @sjwrites22​ If you wanna be added to the list lemme know.

Demon Dad tag list: @slutfortheeclaymore __________ As Y/n pushed the stroller through the gates of the park, the autumn sunbathed the playground in a golden light. It was a perfect day to be out calm, cool, and filled with the sounds of kids laughing and playing. Finn walked beside her, his hand resting protectively on her back as they made their way toward an open grassy area where some mothers and their babies sat on blankets. The three of them bundled up to keep the chill away.

Their daughter, a bright-eyed little thing with tufts of dark hair, cooed softly from her seat. She kicked her legs excitedly, as if sensing the adventure ahead. Y/n smiled, her heart warm and content carefully lifted her from the stroller. Laying her down on the thick blanket Finn laid out. Her legs and arms stretched out in front of her as she kicked around some more.

"This is going to be good for her, getting some fresh air while being around other babies. She’ll make some friends hopefully."

Y/n said as she sat down on the blanket next to their daughter. Finn gave her a lopsided grin, but suddenly his eyes flashed with something darker. She knew that look all too well, his expression changed subtly, his posture stiffened and the air around them felt thicker, more charged.

"Friends?" Came the deep, guttural voice of Bálor who made a surprise appearance. His eyes darkened, and a smirk curled at the corner of his mouth.

"She's six months old, Y/n the child has the IQ of a carrot. What exactly do you think she'll be doing here? Discussing philosophy with the other drooling infants?"

Y/n shot him a look, both exasperated and amused. She had grown used to Bálor's gruff, often sarcastic remarks especially when it came to things their daughter was doing.

“She’s here to be around other babies, Bálor. It’s good for her development. Not everything is about brains at this age, you know. Social interaction matters too.”

Bálor scoffed, folding his arms as he glanced around the park with mild disdain.

“Social interaction? She barely knows her own hand from her foot. She’s more interested in that teething toy you keep shoving at her face than any of these so-called friends.” He motioned to the group of babies nearby, wriggling on their blankets like worms. Y/n rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips.

“Not everything is as grim as you make it out to be babe. She’s learning. Babies learn from watching and imitating others; you'd know this if you read those parenting books that Finn keeps telling you about.”

Bálor stared at her for a long moment before sighing dramatically.

“I'm the king of the underworld I don't have the time nor the desire to read parenting books. However, if this is what you two want fine, but don’t come crying to me when she spends the next hour gnawing on a block instead of making your 'friends.'”

He leaned down to peer at the baby, his voice lowering to a growl.

“You’re lucky your mom is a babe and your dad likes you.”

The baby, oblivious to the demon within her father, let out a happy squeal and grabbed at his face, her tiny fingers just brushing his nose. Bálor's scowl softened, and for a brief second, Y/n saw Finn breaking through the demon's mask, the tenderness in his eyes returning.

"See?"

Y/n grinned, nudging him with her elbow.

"She’s already charming you we aren't fooled by that tough behavior."

Bálor huffed, rubbing his nose where her tiny fingers had poked him.

"She's got a long way to go."

He muttered, but the faintest trace of a smile flickered on his lips as they continued watching their daughter.

[treasure-goblin]

Lu Elementary School AU

Lunch With The Minish (ft. Four and Warriors)

Lunch had been, for lack of a better term, a disaster.

Wars sighed sadly as his stomach growled and hugged his knees to his chest. Cia had taken his lunch again, and he had lied to Time and said he had eaten quickly so he could play outside more. Instead, the 4th grader was sitting in a far corner of the playground, waiting for the bell to call him in. It was good it wasn't Wednesday, he supposed. He couldn't stay late and tutor Legend on an empty stomach.

Small footsteps caused him to look up, blue eyes blinking up at the kid in front of him.

“...you're here to feed the Minish, too?” The little boy asked. The kids' ID was yellow, meaning he was in 2nd grade.

“No. No, sorry.” Warriors said, going to stand up. “I was just waiting here, sorry.” He dusted his pants off and straightened his blazer and tie, nervously.

“You say sorry a lot.” The kid mused, kneeling down on the grass and setting down the paper towel he had in his hands. Inside the paper towel was a couple cookies, chocolate chip, and the kid started breaking the first one into pieces. “You can stay, I don't care.”

“I don't want to bother you…” Warriors said, but made no effort to leave. He stood over the kid as he finished breaking up the first cookie, then started taking the little pieces and placing them in the bushes. “What…what are you doing with the cookies?”

The kid gave him a look, then shrugged. “Feeding the Minish.” He repeated. Warriors nodded.

“Oh, the Minish.”

A moment went by.

“What are the Minish, exactly?”

The younger kid sighed and waved him closer, pointing to the little fairy houses Warriors had not seen before.

“The Minish are little creatures that only kids can see. And you have to be good, too.” The kid explained, sitting up again. “I bring them treats and tell them stories during lunch and recess, and they bring me little things like buttons or feathers.”

Warriors wasn't sure how much he believed that, but his grandmother has told him it was wrong to tear down someone's imagination.

“Oh, I see.” He replied, studying the little houses curiously. “Did you make these? You did a good job. They look cool!”

“Yup! All by myself.” The kid puffed up with pride, then took the final cookie and broke it in half, offering one half to Warriors. “Here, the Minish like to share, and since you're my friend now I'm sharing with you, too.”

Warriors blinked in surprise but took the cookie. He didn't know making friends was that easy. The two ate their cookies and sat in companionable silence till the bell rung.

“I'm Warriors. What's your name?” The 4th grader asked eventually.

“I'm Four.” The kid nodded, sticking his hand out for a shake. Warriors shook his hand, smiling a bit at the odd name. It suited the kid.

The two walked back to their classes, and didn't see each other for the rest of the school day, but Wars found he wasn't as hungry as he normally was.

He liked the Minish, he decided. And he liked his new friend.

Masterlist

Divider by @/cafekitsune

[fakesimp]

Cursed or Blessed ?

Warning !

Hurt/Comfort ; Mentions of Sorcery, Death, Trauma, Crying, Nightmares ; Special mention of other members ; Established Relationship

The story takes a part from the past to the present ! And I made this not based on Shu's lore, the entire lore story made by me !

A/n !

I am writing the fic with the help of this , And without further a do, I hope everyone enjoyed this !

➶◜◝➴

"...My dear, you have something inside you that other children don't have, and it is very, very special.."

"Really? "

"Yes, it's very special, only a few people can get them.. and you are one of them, but.. there is one rule you have to listen to"

"Oh? ..What is it? "

"The special gift is only for you, and for you to know and see.."

"Why?"

"... It won't be fun if your secret be known by others, no? "

"Ah... True, ...then! I'll keep it a secret! "

"Good boy.."

. . .

A young raven haired, wearing a dark purple kimono, preparing himself to out playing with some other kids outside.

"Mom! I'm leaving!" The raven said as he jogged towards the gate, "Stay safe!" His mom chirped from inside. The young male closed the gate behind him and jogged towards the town.

It is not a big town, also not a small town. It is a perfect size, most of the town folks work as a farmer, but there are some who works as a fisherman. There are not many kids around, some of them are friendly some isn't.

The raven walked down the path, trying to find where the other kids' are, soon after he heard their voices, their laughter. He followed the voices and saw them playing together, he stood behind a tree watching them. None of the kids noticed him, until somebody tap his shoulder, earning a jolt from the raven.

"Oh, I'm sorry did I surprise you?" A young boy who have black hair with red strands apologized in advance, "It's, okay.. I was just, .. distracted, I didn't see you there." The raven shook his head and look over at the person. "Why are you here? Are you not playing with the others?" The little boy asked as he glances at the other kids, the raven followed his gaze, only to end up pondering. "Ah, are you, nervous?" The little boy smiled, his golden eyes shines slightly, "I have some friends waiting for me, how about you come with me?" He offered, the raven stared for a good minute before taking on his offer.

Soon after The little boy led the raven meet up with another 3 boys, one with ash brown hair, one with grey hair followed with blue tips, and one straight of blonde. They were surprised by the raven's company, but soon after their faces are filled with warmth and smiles.

"Yo! Who's this!" The blonde asked excitedly, "This is... Ah, wait, I haven't asked your name..." The black haired boy sheepishly scratched his cheek, making the grey haired boy shook his head and push up his glasses. "My name is Ike Eveland! What's your name?" The raven blinked, and smiled, "Shu, Shu yamino" "Nice to meet you Shu! I'm Luca Kaneshiro!" The blonde chirped with a bright and big smile on his face, "I'm Mysta, Mysta Rias" the ash brown haired boy reach out his hand and, Shu stared at it for a second before shaking it. Smiling, "And the guy who took you here, ...." Ike look over at the black haired boy, "..Sorry for the late introduction, I was in a rush, My name is Vox Akuma."

5 of them ever since that day played together, not a day goes without one missing, until one day, the other kids are taking the 5 usual playground. Vox tried to confront them, only to get pushed away. Luca was so ready to throw a hand at those kids, but he was held back by Ike and Mysta. Shu at the other hand is helping Vox getting up from the ground, "Thank you shu" Vox thanked him and slightly glare at the kid who pushed him.

"There's very little of you guys! You can just play at another place, we are a big group, we need more space" The kid said as they stood confidently, crossing their arms. Luca who was held back by Ike and Mysta is growling behind Shu and Vox, "Calm down Luca, we can give this place up and move somewhere else" Ike said as he held Luca back, "But this is our spot! We took this spot first!" Luca argued.

It is true, Vox found this place and make this place as their gathering spot, there were only 4 of them until Vox decided to take Shu with him the other day. And then the group is now 5 people in it, the boys welcomed Shu pretty warmly too. He felt welcomed, he sees them as a part of his family now.

"Vox, Shu let's go.." Ike said, Vox frowned for a moment before sighing and walk up to the three behind him, meanwhile Shu, still facing the group of kids. Wondering why are they acting like this, he shakes the thought off and followed the boys.

In the end their gathering spot changes.

But somehow, each time they changed their gathering spots, those kids are always taking them away as if the land is theirs. Pushing Shu and the others away, it made the 5 frustrated.

"They're definitely doing this on purpose." Mysta said as he sat down on a barrel, "At this point? Yeahhh... It seems like they just, ..want to steal everything from us" Luca agreed as he stood next to Mysta. "Maybe, they're jealous of us or something" Ike suspected, earning a small chuckle from Vox. "At this rate, we don't have any place to hangout" Vox stated, and it is true, when the group tried to go back to the first gathering spot, they won't be able to last long till the kids coming by and ruined their playtime.

"How about we just go hangout at each other's places??" Mysta suggested, "That could be a good idea, who have a big area for us to play tho?" Ike asked as he stare at the others. "I do.." "Me" Vox and Shu stared at each other, "Well, I know Vox got a big place, how about we go yo Shu's today?" Ike said, and an agreement have been settled.

The group visited Shu's living quarters, his parents welcomed the group warmly and of course treating them with snacks. Ever since that day they either go to Vox's living quarters or Shu's, it is peaceful and fun.

Until, one time Mysta didn't come to visit at Shu's place early, everyone is already here and he is nowhere to be found. The group started to get worried and decided to go out and find him, it took awhile for them to finally found Mysta on the ground hands around himself and his head as other kids yelling at him. The boys immediately came into aid, pushing those kids away from Mysta. "Mysta! Hey hey, we're here!" The poor boy was shaking, Ike held him close as he glare at the kids. "WHY ARE YOU GUYS HURTING HIM!?!" He yelled, it is rare to see him angry.

"He was messing with us first!" They lied. "Yeah! He came up to us and started a fight!!" They lied again.

They're lying, why are they lying?

The raven stood at the distance, watching his group and the other kids yelling at each other. Shu gulped, he watches Vox who' struggling on holding Luca back, Ike who's holding Mysta, now here he is standing in between the group of 2 yelling at each other.

One of the kid raise up their hand towards Ike, and before Vox could react the kid's fist is burning. Everyone stood shocked, the kid who's got burnt is screaming and crying. Some of the kids from the other group tried to put out the fire, while the rest slowly turn their heads towards the raven's direction. Staring in horror. "You-! You're a monster!" One of the kids shouts and then soon after the group ran away, leaving the boys confused also shocked.

Shu, had unconsciously used his special gift. To save his friend, isn't that supposed to be a good thing?

"Shu... You, did that... Just now right?" Vox asked hesitantly, the raven look at the group, scared that they'll act like those kids. "Guys, we gotta take Mysta back home! I don't think we can play today.." Ike said as he look down at unconscious Mysta in his arms, trying to distract the boys for a bit. Vox whip his head down towards the unconscious boy and look back up at Shu. "Right. Come on Shu! What are you standing there for!" Vox shouted at him, snapping the raven back and immediately take action.

The group walked in silence as they escort unconscious Mysta back home, his parents apologized at the group for the trouble and they will take care of him. Personally thanking the group for saving their boy.

Soon after the 4 walked down the path back to where they found Mysta, there was heavy silence between them. Shu started to grow fidgety as he stood facing the three, "First thing first... Thank you, Shu for saving me... And Mysta, I appreciate your... Help, ...I am, a bit shocked for what happened back there.." Ike said as he look at Shu, but instead of showing hostility, his gaze is soft towards the raven.

"I don't know how you did that Shu but that is, amazing! Is there some kind of trick you learned?" The blonde sounded so excited, making Shu blinking at him confusedly. "Uh.. I learn? No, ..But my mom said, it is, a special gift only for me and some other kids that is chosen.." Shu said as he look down at the ground, playing with his fingers. "Ah, well then I am must be one of those other kids your mother mentioned, I also have a special gift that, only I have, other's don't." Vox said looking at Shu, closing his eyes and the next second there is a pair of horns on his forehead growing.

The other two smiled at the sight and looked back at Shu, "I'm glad I am not the only one that got the special gift" Vox said, Shu took a good moment to realize what Vox said. "Wait, does that mean Ike, Luca and Mysta??" Shu stared at the two, "I don't have any of that special gift" Ike said as he laughed sheepishly, "Yeah.. sadly I also don't have any" Luca pouted and soon after he smiled again. "As for Mysta, he got the special gift!" Luca said and letting out a breathy laugh. "Oh?" "Ah yes, Mysta also one of the other people your mother told you"

It is such an amazing discovery, his own friends! Also have the special gift! No wonder they didn't act that scared when they see Shu's magic, they were shocked because they have found another kid that's just like them.

Shu was pretty surprised himself about how his special gift works, he wasn't expecting it going to go like that.

What a way to learn about how his, special gift works.

The 4 talked for quite sometime before going back to their respective home, Shu was kind of delighted about the discovery, but he have yet to tell his mom about what happened that day. He's, not quite ready to tell her.

But, the day after that, it was a complete ruin, not a day goes without him being shouted by other kids 'monster' , 'the devil' , anything bad that describes his special gift.

One day, "Shu, come and sit with me for a bit" his mother called out, the raven was in his room writing. He was a bit confused, but he oblige anyway. So he got up and went out of his room, and searched for his mother. He then found her sitting outside, watching the scenery before her, it was the garden she's to taking care of.

"Come here" She invited the raven to sit down next to her, and he did, he sat down next to her watching her garden in silence. Soon after she broke the silence first, "Is there, something, ..you haven't told me, Shu?" She gently asked as she look over at him. Shu stared at her for a moment before he look down on his hands, "I, did something bad..." He whispered. His mother's mouth opened slightly, but she didn't say anything afterwards.

She reach out her hand and started patting the raven's head, "Are you, afraid of what you see?" She slowly asked him. Making the raven immediately look at her, he couldn't find himself to answer her.

Is he scared of what he have inside him?

Or is he happy about it?

"I, ..I am not sure.." Shu replied, she placed her hand on his cheek. She gently rub her thumb along his cheek, "... I'm sorry.." she whispered making the boy confused as for why she's apologizing. He held her hand and shook his head, "Don't Apologize, it's not your fault" he softly smiled at her. "...Mom, you, ...heard about it didn't you?" He asked her, her eyes said everything as she stare into Shu's.

Both of them stared in silence, soon Shu just wrapped his arms around his mother. They both hugged each other in silence, basking in each other's warmth. "Mom.. we're going to be okay... Right...?" He asked, barely in a whisper. "We're going to be okay, as long as I'm here.."

. . .

Everything went well under the clouds, despite the rumors are spreading around. Everything is peaceful, the group couldn't freely wander around like before. They decided to meet up at Shu's living quarters often nowadays after what happened last time.

One night, in a peaceful night, the raven was abruptly waken up from his slumber. "Shu, I am so sorry for waking you up so sudden, but take this and go out from the window and ran as far as you can-" It is his mother who woke him him, him looking at her confused. "Wh, why? What happened??" He asked, she just stared down at him, smiling with sorrow. "Just go and don't ever look back okay?" She said as she planted a kiss on the raven's forehead, "..Mom?" He called out to her as she slowly stood up and stand by the door. "You'll listen to me, right?" She asked, Shu nodded and then slowly rise up from his futon.

He climbed out from the window, he look back at his mother who's looking at him over her shoulder, she smiled before within seconds there's pink purple fire surrounds her, changing her attire entirely. "Stay safe, my baby" she whispered out before she went out from the boy's room, into the smoke.

Shu was speechless, confused what is going on? He asked himself. He was told to run away, with this small bag in his arms, he doesn't know what happened, but the last thing he knew as he ran into the woods he heard a big explosion behind him. He stood for a moment, he was about to look back but then he remembered, he was told not to look back. And so he continue running. As far as he could, holding onto the small bag as tight as he could.

He didn't know how far he have ran, he stopped running the moment he sees a lake before him. Breathing heavily as he drop down onto his knees nearby the lake, he looked up into the night sky. The moon shines bright, it's a full moon. His lips trembled ever so slightly, he then sat down and pulled his knees close to his chest, silently sobbing under the moonlight.

. . .

Ting!

The raven blinked, and look up for a moment, looking around.

Ting! Ting!

His brows furrowed slightly as he then realized the noise is coming from the small bag his mother gave him, he then slowly reach out to the bag, opening it and then within a flash there was 3 white things flies up into the sky so fast for. Making Shu immediately shot his head up to see what it is, it is a human like papers.

He silently stared at them, rising up from the ground, he reached out his hand to one of them that' slowly gliding down to his palm. He examined them for a moment, then it clicked, "Are you.. a shikigami?" The paper doll shook both of their hands and nod it's head. "Ah.." he then look up at the other two shikigamis floating near him, "My mom..." He held back his tears as he mentioned his mother.

The shikigamis glides closer towards the raven, they pat his head. "...Is she really..?" He asked for confirmation, the shikigami took a moment before they nod their heads.

He lost his mother.

He stuttered out a sigh and slowly sat down on the ground again, he closed his eyes as he settled himself again. "What do I do now.." the Shikigamis glides over to him, one on his right and left shoulder, and the last one is in front of him.

The one that's floating in front of him pulled his hand back towards the bag again, making the raven a bit confused, but he went on and checked inside.

There is some sort of scroll. Inside. He took it out and gently opened the scroll, revealing some weird writing inside. Making him furrowed confusedly at the scroll, he look at the shikigamis and then back down at the scroll. "Am I suppose to understand these?" He asked, they nodded in unison. "Ah, ...okay, uhm, ...I don't know how I'm suppose to read these but, I'll try to understand them.." he said as he opened the scroll entirely on the ground.

The next thing he knew there was a bit of a purple and pink spark appeared in the middle of the scroll, there was a weird shape, some type of like summoning circle inside the scroll. He look at the shikigamis again, unsure of what to do, they glide over to the circle and pull his hand gently towards it.

He hesitantly put his hand on top of it and then there's a bright dark purple light coming from it, the next second the writings of the scroll slowly changes. He slowly could see the words, he could read them.

After a whole minute of astonishment, he pulled his hand away. He look down upon himself, and he's relieved nothing happened to his body. "... okay, I'm... Glad nothing happened to me.." he look at the shikigamis, "I, can read the scroll now.." he said as he glances down at the scroll, "Great job master!" "Well done! " "Yaay! Master can understand us now!"

Shu blinked, owlishly staring at the shikigamis. "Did you guys just--" he paused, "...talk?" They nodded and glided closer to his face. "Yes Master! You can now understand us because you had touched the magic scroll! There's nothing on your body but there's this mark on your forehead!" They poke his forehead, making the raven slowly reaching up towards it. "Oh also, master's hair changed a bit " one of the shikigamis pointed at his hair, "Huh?" He immediately ran his fingers through his hair.

It grows! It grows longer, he immediately brushed his long hair to the side to see, there's a bright purple color under his dark raven hair, he couldn't see how his bangs look like, so he immediately went to the lake to see his reflection. There's also some pink hair strands on him, followed with a weird yellow strands. "What.. is happening?" He whip his head back to the Shikigamis, "We have a long journey ahead of us master! My lady have ordered us to protect and take care of you!" The shikigami said as they glides closer to him.

"My lady have put the gift of sorcery upon Master... To continue her journey, she felt guilty for doing so, she knew the consequences on what's gonna happen once the town folks found out... She sacrificed herself so you can continue her journey and grow, also to learn more ways of the sorcery out there to protect yourself from." One of them explained, the young raven boy slowly rise from the ground and frowned for a moment before there was a small smile on his face.

"Then, I have to continue her journey right? By that means, I will have to write my own story now.." The shikigamis nodded their head, "Don't worry master! We'll always be by your side! "

With that, he had started his sorcery journey alone, not knowing what's gonna happen ahead of him. But he'll try his best to continue his mother's path.

. . .

Years have passed the young boy have grown into an adult, and somehow. He got himself teleported away into a, rather, unique world. Where, there's a high technology in it. It took a moment for the sorcerer to adapt into the new world, how did he ended up there? It's because he may have accidentally draw a magic upon himself and got himself,

Time traveling.

After awhile inside the modern world, he realized that, there's also some of his old friends got teleported into the same world. It took the Sorcerer a few months to find them all and gather everyone together, he's just glad he could find everyone again.

Living in the modern world for quite sometime, adapting into the world, blending in with the society. After a few years of finally blending into the society, he got himself a lover.

Who would've thought that he, would get himself a lover in this world. Nobody did, not even the Sorcerer himself.

. . .

One night, it was dark, he see a glimpse of his mother, where she walked into the smoke, and soon after he heard an explosion behind him.

When he was about to run, he couldn't move, his body doesn't want to move, instead it's slowly turning around, looking back at the burnt down house. The fire blares brightly, consuming his home.

He soon saw a figure, staggering as it slowly approaching the raven.

Within a blink, he was standing before the figure, the figure grabbed him by the neck and yelled at him.

"It is your fault " , "This wouldn't happen if it weren't for you to burn the kid's hand " , "It's your fault "

Repeats, again and again, the darkness soon consumed him. He couldn't breathe, the grip the figure had on his neck is so tight. He writhe, coughing. He then stared into the figure, that have no face but void.

And then, he saw a bright pair of violet eyes that' similar to,

His mother.

. . .

"Shu! Babe! Wake up!-" He heard somebody called his name, he opened his eyes and abruptly rise from the bed. "You were thrashing around.. it seems like you got a nightmare again.." he looked to the side, sweating profusely. He let out a breathy laugh, that's right. This isn't the first time he got this nightmare, "I'm sorry, I.. don't know why I kept on getting the same dreams.." he apologized to you.

You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him towards you as you gently ran your fingers through his hair locks. "It's okay Shu.. I'm here for you, you want to talk about it?" He pondered, but then shook his head, you hummed softly and kissed the top of his head. "Okay, I'll be here whenever you want to talk.." he wrapped his arms around you, tight. As if he'll lose you if he loosen up his arms, "It's okay... I'm not going anywhere" you whispered into his ear.

"Thank you.." he whispered, as he then closed his eyes, listening to your heartbeat.

. . .

There are days, where Shu locked himself in his room, all day. Not eating anything, even drink. He refuse to talk to you when these days happened, you tried to talk to him but he just won't let you in.

And today is one of those days, he's behind the locked door you stare before you. "Shu.. babe.." you put your hand by the door, you rest your forehead by the door. As if you could feel him right behind this door, doing the same thing.

"...Shu?" You whispered.

You waited, and you softly sighed and took a step back. But when you're about to leave, you finally heard his voice. "I'm sorry..." He said, you immediately went close to the door again. "Why are you sorry? You did nothing wrong" you waited for him to talk back to you, "I'm.. scared that, I'm gonna hurt you" he sounded hurt as he explained what's going on though his mind.

"Shu, you won't hurt me." You said, "I trust you.." "But I don't" he replied back as soon as you said that.

His sorcery journey had made him become a dangerous man, for his power he had learned both good and dark sorcery.

But at what cost? He will lose control over his magic and will start attacking surroundings.

And the dark sorcery he had learned will consume him, his mana for a few days. After they have consumed him, they'll die down. Till the next 6 months, and yes, it happened 2 times in a year. And today is one of those days.

He is scared that he'll hurt you, he couldn't control himself.

"I believe in you Shu.." you said as you leaned to the door, silence returns but then you heard the door clicking from the other side.

The door slowly opens, revealing your Beloved Sorcerer standing before you, you could see dark purple markings on him. Slowly creeping up towards his face.

He looked ashamed of himself as he avoid eye contact from you, he stood still in the middle of the room, you could see the markings are consuming his body.

You took a step closer, and he took a step back from you. "Shu..." You whisper his name, he still refuses to look at you. You gritted your teeth and walk up to him, grabbing his hand, making the Sorcerer jump. He tried to shake your hand off but your hand hold his wrist firmly, soon after he stopped trying and look towards you.

You smiled gently at him, your other hand slowly reaching out to his face, placed on his cheek, your other hand that's holding his wrist soon follows, holding his face and slowly pulling him close to you.

Your forehead touches his, his eyes slightly widen, he stuttered out a sigh before slowly closing his eyes. His hand slowly going up and touched your arm, then you slowly took a step away from him. You look down at his neck, his arms, the markings slowly fades away. You smiled in relief, you look back to your lover's violet eyes. He stared at you full with love and admiration, he then look down on his hand.

He realized what have happened, what you did to him. He then without hesitation wrapped his arms around you, hugging you tight.

You saved him.

You can feel him stuttering a bit, he whispered a thank you to your ears as he then bury his face at the crook of your neck.

"ありがとう、おれのあかり..."

Now at least he knows, you can save him not only from his nightmares but also from the darkness that will consume him entirely. He knew that, with you in his arms, he knew he will find solace.

At least, he could finally live for another year. Together with you.

He used to think that it is a curse to have these sorcery, but now, he might change his thoughts on them. Perhaps, they're not entirely a curse afterall...

©fakesimp . 2023

A/n !

God no, that's taking way too long... I hope you guys enjoy this ! This is unexpectedly longer than anticipated.. phew..

Translation for the last sentence !

"Thank you, my light..." ; "Arigatou, Ore no Akari..."

[leaderpinhead]

Cheka - Costume Catastrophe

Prompt: Partner Costumes

Cheka hated his costume. 

Mama had said he looked handsome, and daddy had agreed when Cheka showed him. Baba gave him a bundle of extra leaves to attach to the hood of the costume. Kifaji had just started arguing with mama again about him going to daycare, so Cheka had taken mama’s phone and called Unca Leona to show him too. 

Unca Leona laughed. 

He laughed so hard, he dropped his phone so Cheka could see the flowery tree he was underneath. Ms. Yuu picked up the phone and cooed when Cheka sniffled. “Don’t listen to him, Cheka! I love the colorful mane you made. You’ll be the most handsome tree in the play!” 

Cheka heard Unca Leona laughing even harder. 

Cheka glared at his teacher now when she hovered over him. He actually liked her despite the fact she wouldn’t let him, Timmy, and Pupa climb the large rock on the playground. How were they supposed to know who was king of the rock if they weren’t allowed to climb it? 

“Cheka, please.” Cheka’s eyes narrowed, and his ears twitched at the whine in her voice. Unca Leona had told him only the weak whined. A Kingscholar didn’t bow to the weak. “The play will start in ten minutes. Can you please put your costume on?” 

Cheka huffed and stomped his foot. “No! I don’t wanna be a tree!” 

“But you were excited when I gave you the part earlier this week.” 

That was before Unca Leona laughed at him! If Unca Leona laughed, then it wasn’t cool! “I don’t wanna!” 

His teacher sighed, but another teacher called her name. Cheka puffed his cheeks when she left him standing in the corner alone. Timmy and Pupa were already in their costumes and running around with the other kids. Cheka didn’t think it was fair. How come they got to be bugs, and he was a tree? How was a tree supposed to be so important for the savanna? 

“Are you gonna pout the whole time or put your costume on?” 

Cheka huffed at the little girl when she stepped into his corner. Cheka didn’t know who she was, so she must have been in one of the other daycare classes. She wore a brown sheet with a corded belt around her waist, and two sticks with tiny green leaves poked out from beneath the sheet. Her dark blond hair was tightly braided around her twitching ears, and her darker skin drew Cheka’s attention to her light blue eyes. 

Cheka stared at her eyes. He had never seen eyes so blue. They looked like the two shiny shells he found on the beach when he’d gone to visit Unca Leona at school. 

Her eyes narrowed but didn’t look any less bright. “Are you listening? Put your costume on.” 

Cheka shook his head. His cheeks expanded. “I don’t wanna, and you can’t make me!” 

The little girl looked as angry as mama did when she caught two lionesses fighting over a hunted wildebeest. She flung her sticks to the ground and snatched Cheka’s costume from the chair next to him. She bunched it up in her hands. “My nana came all this way to see me, and I'm not gonna let a spoiled brat ruin it!” 

Cheka’s eyes widened when a few of the leaves Baba gave him crinkled to dust beneath her fingers. He lunged forward to save his costume. “Stop it! You’re breaking Baba’s leaves!” 

The little girl’s eyes widened. Cheka yanked his costume out of her hands. A lot of the orange leaves he had glued to the hood of the brown sweater were broken. More pieces fell off when he shook the hood. It made his hood look less like a big lion’s mane and more like a wild dog with patches of mange. 

His eyes stung, and he sniffled. The little girl took a step back. Cheka ignored her and laid the sweater flat on the chair. He gathered as many of the leaves from the floor and tried to stick them back to his hood. Cheka tucked his tail around his ankles when the leaves just crumbled more. 

“I’m sorry...” 

Cheka angrily rubbed his forearm across his eyes. He tried to give the girl the same kind of growl Unca Leona gave people when they said bad things about him and daddy, but it didn’t sound as mean. “Go ‘way! You’re a big meanie!” 

The girl’s ears flattened against her braids, and her pretty blue eyes shimmered. Cheka didn’t care. He turned back to his costume and tried to stick the leaves to the hood again. How was he supposed to look like the handsome tree mama and Ms. Yuu said he was now? 

“Move!” 

Cheka yelped when he was shoved to the side. He angrily growled at the little girl. She ignored him and gripped a small tube between her hands. The top came off the tube with an audible pop! She wielded the purple glue stick like it was one of the spears the Lioness's Guard used. She stabbed it onto his hood with the same fierceness of one of those lionesses. 

Cheka yelped and tried to grab her elbow. “What’re you doing? You’re gonna mess it up more!” 

“I’m gonna save it!” Cheka blinked. The little girl swung her arm in a tight circle to get the glue everywhere. Her fierce blue eyes snapped to him. “Don’t just stand there. Give me all the leaves!” 

Cheka gasped but did as she said. Daddy never hesitated to do what mama told him when she had the same tone. Even Unca Leona listened to Ms. Yuu when she ordered him around. He gathered the leaves that were the most whole and stuck them to the hood when she commanded him to. 

The hood still looked really patchy when they finished. Cheka sniffled again. The little girl popped the top back onto the glue stick and ran to the other side of the classroom where the arts and crafts bins were. She returned quickly with scissors and thick orange construction paper. She shoved one pair of scissors into his hands along with half the paper. “Here! Cut them to look like leaves. Like this.” 

Cheka followed the girl’s lead and slapped the crooked ovals onto the hood. She found a marker and added little lines on the paper to make them look more like leaves. It didn’t look as good as it had before with all the real leaves, but it didn’t look like a mangy wild dog either. 

When they finished, Cheka took the sweater and pulled it over his head. The hood fit snug around his head. He turned to the girl and waited. She hummed. “Hold on.” 

She ran across the room to dig through the arts and crafts bins again. She came back with a long length of twine, which she tied around his waist into a crooked bow. She smiled when she stepped back again. “There! Now we match.” 

Cheka looked down at the twine. One of the paper leaves flopped onto his forehead. “Do trees wear rope?” 

“Some do,” the girl said with confidence. She picked up the sticks she had abandoned on the floor and shook them at him. He realized the tiny green leaves were paper too. “The tree by my house has a rope. We made a swing with it and a tire!” 

Cheka’s ears wiggled beneath his hood. “Really? That’s cool! I’m gonna ask daddy to make me a tire swing too!” 

Cheka’s teacher appeared again before the girl could say anything. She put a hand on her chest. “Oh, thank the Seven! You’ve got your costume on now. Did Zahara help you? I’ve heard from your teacher you’re quite the helper. Now, come along children! All of your parents are eagerly waiting for your performance in the auditorium.” 

Cheka perked. Daddy and mama said they would both be here to see him in the play. Unca Leona was even gonna watch through a video call! Knowing everyone was watching him made him sing extra loud and shake his leafy mane harder from his spot on the stage next to Zahara. 

Later, he excitedly told his mama and Ms. Yuu, who had put Unca Leona in “timeout” for laughing too much, all about Zahara fixing his costume and her pretty blue eyes. 

[quoththeowl31]

The Little Boy

Summary: A new survivor joins the manor or maybe he was always there.

"Naib..." Naib tried to ignore William. It was late, he had a match early in the morning, and he already knew there was going to be a new guest during that one which means he had to be extra vigilant so the newbie isn't taken out by the Hunter early.

All that before breakfast he might add.

"Naiiiibbb....are you awake?" The Forward called out in a low voice.

"I was Will..." Grumbled Naib who sat up. Clearly ignoring him wasn't going to do anything. "What do you want?"

"I think I saw a ghost when heading back to my room from the bathroom." The Mercenary raised an eyebrow.

"And?" If William hadn't noticed before but the manor was filled with all kinds weird things, ghosts included.

"It's not one of the ones we know and I think it was following me." A pillow came flying his way. William ducked while Naib curled back under the covers.

"Go back to bed." He said in a mutter.

"Ok, ok, sheesh..." The door closed and Naib sighed in relief. Whatever spooked William can wait after the match and breakfast.

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

A child....

The Mercenary stared at the seat at the end of the lobby table in disbelief.

Another child....

A little boy with a messy mop of black hair, brown eyes hidden under said hair, a simple shirt with the sleeves rolled up and suspenders. He was happily swinging his bare feet in the air humming a tune and playing with a wooden bird.

Sitting next to him was Tracy Reznik who was clearly dozing off. She must have worked late again; bad idea when it comes to early morning matches. The boy noticed him and gave him an enthusiastic wave. Naib only returned with a small wave of his own.

"That's the ghost!" Naib nearly leapt out of his skin from William's sudden bellow and Tracy had certainly jumped a foot or two in the air.

"I'm not a ghost. This paper says I'm the In...ter...lo...per. What's that mean?" This boy really was a child.

Interloper....That was probably one of the more interesting titles among them. Did he understand what was happening?

Before anyone could answer the sound of glass breaking and the fog descended on them.

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

Darkwoods;

This map was eerie; what seemed like what was once a child's playground was now littered with debris, traps, feral dogs, and gods know what else. And they were up against Nightmare and this was one of the grounds he was most dangerous in.

Like the others, Naib had gone to decode a cipher working slowly so as to not set off the gods awful sound it would make if he didn't get it right.

"Hi" A voice squeaked and it caused Naib to miss a calibration. "Oops."

Oops indeed, Naib whipped his head around to snap at the other player and saw it was the Interloper. Sweat was already forming on his brow as he tried to take deep breaths trying to focus on the now than the past.

"What are you doing here?!" His voice was shaky. He should be decoding his own cipher in order help the team.

"The other cipher was broken, can I help with this one?" The older man was about to answer but a crow started circling the cipher. The pounding of his heart started to grow louder.

He was coming.

"No run now!" The Interloper obeyed but followed where Naib was going. Crap! Right, a kid, he's dealing with a kid and the kid is going to follow him, not pick the smarter choice and split.

"There you are brat!" The deep and crackled voice of Nightmare cut through the air. If Naib didn't know any better though, that voice sounded much more angry than usual.

Nightmare lunged for the child but thankfully the boy quickly dodged and leapt over a windowsill with much more ease than most of the other survivors. Nightmare growled and vaulted over the same window when a new sound started to fill the air.

A single warbling bird call that soon erupted into a cacophony when hundreds more birds started to swarm just above their heads. Naib covered his ears it was so loud and Nightmare seemed to be doing even worse with the noise. This was a good chance to put distance between himself and Nightmare.

It wasn't long before Naib was out of the area the swarm was flying over, the noise lessened. It was then he heard at the sound of a cipher pop, then another. Two down,three to go, if things went right, they could win this.

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

A tie....

Nightmare was a menace at the end game usually if he used both the teleportation ability and his own ability. He managed to down Tracy and Naib himself when his own mind fought against him at a crucial moment and a single hit brought him down.

In the end, The Forward and the Interloper made it out while Tracy and Naib were sent back to the manor. They met again at the lobby and found something rather interesting.

"Back off man! The tie was fair!" Forward was keeping Nightmare from reaching the boy.

"Hand me that brat!" He really sounded angry. Naib and Tracy watched as the child only blew a raspberry at the Hunter.

"I said back off!" Nightmare only growled before angrily storming off. In a fit he swiped at the wall leaving a large gouge behind.

"What the heck was that about?" Tracy asked.

"Nightmare was pissed the kid kept outsmarting him, ain't that right Little Man?"

"Uh-uh! I kept calling birds to help!" The Interloper proudly declared coming from under the table and showing off the wooden toy around his neck.

"So that was you?" Naib asked.

"Yeah! When I use this whistle I can get a flock of birds to swarm over me and anyone near me. It's loud though so everyone has a harder time running. If I wanted to, I can make them attack the Hunter but that means my whistle breaks faster."

"Oh I get it, you help contain the Hunter." Tracy deduced.

"Yeah!" A creak echoed in the lobby. In a doorway opposite the survivor and hunter entrance stood the peculiar form of Miss Nightingale herself.

"Oh I gotta go, I haven't had breakfast yet." The Interloper ran off to Miss Nightingale both disappearing through the doorway, leaving behind three puzzled survivors.

"...Intruder..." Tracy said aloud.

"Wha..." William arched an eyebrow.

"That's essentially what his title means. He's a stranger, an outsider..."

"He's not supposed to be here." Naib finished.

Like so many of the survivors before, this one had questions surrounding him. But unlike the others, his seemed to go in another direction. Rather than what brought him to the manor, why was he at the manor? What did he have to do with Miss Nightingale. Why was Nightmare so riled up when he saw him?

What made him the outsider amongst outsiders?

Naib sighed.

Only time would tell he guessed.

[plasticfangtastic]

Anybody Else Won't Do. Ch. 2

A Homeash Fanfic

A/N: apologies for the delay but I hope y'all enjoy this chapter if y'all wanna be tagged plz let me know, prev. chapter here:

Tags: romance, fluff, Homelander warning, dadlander, slight spicy not really smut.

Chapter Two

He tried controlling the narrative, flirting with some of the single moms, some receptive and some terrified of the kind of wrath they would incur from his woman if she ever found out.

What took him by surprise was the disgust of the alpha moms– the audacity of him to be openly unfaithful in a room of mostly married parents, they thought of him as shameless, unbefitting of his image, certainly not the Homelander they've known for decades, and he could tell by the way they stared at him from a distance.

These women were spiteful, protective of their code of honor, and mothers who dared flirt soon found themselves in piranha infested waters according to playground whispers.

Homelander could only find the situation disturbingly familiar.

Disgusted looks for him and pitiful stares welcomed Ashley.

Other parents became nicer towards her, suddenly actively trying to befriend her, throwing invitations for coffee and to join them with their kids for playdates whenever they spotted her, most of the times catching her by surprise and all she could do was smile awkwardly in absolute confusion as to what was going on, at first anyways… eventually it began to eat her with anxiety for they had a habit of speaking over here, convos being so brief she hardly had a second to spit out her words, or a child that was at times just as pushy as his father pulling her away before she could respond properly, at times she wonder if Ryan was trying to protect her from that pack of hyenas instead of being impolite.

And it was all she could think about at work, the words wife simmering in her mind.

Watching him grumble and curse after another verbal lashing disguised as a meeting she stays back as the rest of the team leaves, he lifts his gaze annoyed to witness he wasn’t alone.

He straightened his back, grinding his jaw but he isn’t menacing– he’s visibly uncomfortable by her presence, it’s admittedly both unnerving but masochistically soothing to witness.

“Can we talk?” She tried to sound as sweet as she could, for she was just as frightened as he was uncomfortable– is about Ryan…”

That washed away his discomfort and wrapped him with anxiety. She hurried to take a seat as the man eagerly awaited for her to spit it out, his eyes so wide she wondered if she should’ve worded things differently.

She takes a deep breath before turning her phone towards him, he stares at her annoyed, ready to bark and growl until he reads the speech bubble.

“You’re not on the groupchat.”

“What am I looking at, Ashley?”

“The Mom’s groupchat… I don’t know how they found me and added me to their groupchat but you're not there and–” She takes her phone for a moment and switchest group– they added me to a private one… with Brooklyn and Steph.”

Homelander designate them as the alpha moms, the leaders, those so fawn over that their lives were not just exemplary but worthy of imitation-- from the way they dresses to their way of thinking after all they were the creme de la creme of New York City socialites: classy, wealthy and beautiful. The kind to get their own spin-off of The Real housewife of New York type, MET Gala invitee for no reason type, he was certain that at least one of the women had been on the show... if not at a Whitehouse dinner for Steph's perfume was familiar, and her husband some congressman.

Homelander took the phone off her hand, almost cracking the screen as he read the exchanges.

“I’m cheating on you!?? We are not even together!?” He shouts, his eyes flicking faster than police sirens in a high speed chase– what…? They think am a scumbag!?”

“They gave me their lawyer’s phone number in case I need it.” She bites her lip– I don’t think I can pick up Ryan anymore–

“So they think that you left me because I cheated on you!!” He barks– You don’t leave me Ashley! I leave you!”

He threw the phone across the table, his mouth ajar and his eyes so wide and mystified by it all.

“If this gets out… dear god I would have more than TMZ on my ass.” He stares at the phone from afar– Fucking Brooklyn Buccellati… How long has she been spreading this? How long have you been in these groupchats!?” He shouts.

“Two weeks before I noticed you weren’t in, I mean you don’t like using your phone much Homelander and Also Ashley handles your socials so I didn't notice am so sorry, sir… and maybe for a while…”

“Are all these jobless bitches just gossiping and talking shit about me in there?” He began to sound hurt, his eyes getting pink in the corner– I can’t believe they didn’t include me! Am Ryan’s actual parent!! Not you!”

His voice tries not to crack at the end, as miniscule as she was the thought of her replacing him haunted his thoughts, Ryan who was fond of her, who didn’t hate her or found that being around her was a waste his time... certainly seen her in a light Homelander never had and now he feared this was by design and not his son's innate compassionate soul.

Last night memory of being in the theater watching 'Cats' was soiled even further by the fact that that was her recommendation the kid had followed, he had picked her's over his, and irritation that had been carried snce last night.

Ashley was unknowingly trying to replace Homelander, she wanted to steal him away and take him back to Vought’s lab, he thought. His heart palpitation tickled his ears… she was just another one of them not somebody he should trust… a familiar voice whispered to him alone, he was struggling to breath and yet Ashley could only sit there wondering what was eating him up.

“It’s mostly talking about tutors, extracurriculars and tennis… but yeah they don’t like you and I think they kicked out some of the members because you flirted with them, Homelander.” 

Ashley shrank in her seat.

Her tone was so normal… spiced by anxiety… he calmed down a bit reminding himself that she was useless without him, he had broken her and groomed her to his liking, she wouldn’t have the audacity of conspiring against him.

She didn’t have it in her to hurt Ryan... not anymore.

He paced around the boardroom, she dared not leave for fear this was her fault, for she barely replied to the messages mostly lurking and answering things about Ryan’s schedule obviously Brooklyn and Steph’s kids were friends with Ryan, Homelander had competition in the fake bitch department for that woman was perfectly poised and friendly when he was around, never acting like she was better than him, never letting him suspect she held such disdain, even when sharing bellinis while Ryan joined her son Credence for piano lessons no wonder she wouldn’t shut up about owning a Grothian, she was bragging about being more cultured than this beach blond hick, and he had been too narcissitic to note.

Yet as he took a deep breath he realized that he couldn’t intimidate her, he couldn’t kill her– he could but it might not be a good idea; she had too much social clout to risk a Starlight-lite situation… especially not when he was being used so heavily in a presidential campaign, a scandal was the last thing he wanted in his lap.

“Okay. Who else knows about this? Beside Miss Piggy, Annie Sue Pig and the Snowths!”

“Just us.”

“You have to fix this. You have to cheat on me… publicly.” He said with a deadpan tone– flirt with one of the mom’s or dad’s I don’t care– just have your cooch eaten, then we “break-up” understand?”

“We could also set it straight that we are not a couple” Her grimace was painful to look at.

“Oh, yeah.” His smile comes with a whiplash– You’re just my pet.”

Ashley could feel her own brain malfunction, maybe it was the casualness of his tone, frankly she had been forever curious as to what he saw when he looked at her but never did she picture herself with a collar– a minion, slave, a servant, a grunt, those were things she could definitely see herself as.

But not a pet.

“Pet?”

“A gerbil, with your big eyes and nervous disposition.” He takes a few steps back towards her– little, simple minded, adorable and easy to break.”

Her jaw tightened as she processed his expression, he walked towards the discarded phone mockingly lamenting the cracked screen before returning it to his owner who sat defeated.

“It be easy if we release an official statement but I think it is best if you just use those manicured paper pushing thumbs of yours to type one final comment.” 

“But that would mean you won’t have access to their conversations anymore” 

He had just missed that smirk forming in her lips.

His eyes perked up, likign the sound of her idea... there were benefits of knowing the backdoor gossip, to learn what he could use against them, and for once he was glad to have Ashley around.

“Oh you think I could what… blackmail them? With what stolen gluten-free eggless carrot cake recipes?”

“They talk shit of their husbands… of each other… am sure they wouldn’t like it if anything leaked… it’s an invite only exclusive group.” Her smile as sharp as her nails– am sure we could cause a little scene just to get back at them for thinking they are better than you.”

He felt his ears grow warm, he gave her a pat on the shoulder.

“You are the only one left worth something in this company, it seems.”

She watched his cape sway as he left, she cursed silently as she digested his words: A gerbil. That’s all she amounted to? After all the abuse, after doing everything to win his graces, all she was was a glorified rat– bit rich coming from the lab rat, she thought.

It made her throat itch, as her eyes burned slightly. He had no right to see her that way after all she has done for him, after being the most diligent and loyal person in this room– certainly most of it came from being utterly frightened by him but it wasn’t without perks, she was CEO! 5 years ago that would had been a fantasy, forever just an assistant always running to get matcha lattes for Stillwell and the other execs that laid eyes on her, she had broken her back, endure disrespect and unfairness before landing her first major league gig with 'the Seven' back when Starlight arrived, she was so proud and excited for the opportunity to prove she was more than just a glorified secretary... but somebody of value to Vought.

Then of course she was fired.

She could still feel the throat pain from screaming, crying then hollering when she got the call from HR saying that The Homelander had personally recommended her for the job, a man she had sworn had barely acknowledged her existence.

If she was in the room he might had given her a glance, call her by the right name 4 out of 10 times, he barely bothered with her yet the moment she finished that phone call– she was over the moon, to think that deep down he had noticed her… then the incident and everything else after and continues to happen… Now it made sense why he liked her above all the others.

She was just his pet and people liked their pets.

She was glad that it came with the security of being in his inner circle, people kept their distance, gave her respect and did not piss her off for she was Homelander fave… lapdog more accurately, but still only he got to belittle her not them.

So she squeezed her fist so tight she fail to notice the blood under her nails.

She was gonna force him to say he liked her.

After all they have endured together, she would make him like her.

To look at her.

Not at the gerbil fursuit he dressed her with.

Is not like the bastard had friends… subjects most definitely but not even a real confidant, just him in his depressingly emptied tower.

And what better way to bond together but by scheming petty vengeances? For he was the pettiest man in the whole kingdom, it should be easy, she thought.

Homelander scratches at his ear thinking of her big green eyes, her sultry expression, that flirty smile that was obviously trying hard to be alluring… he never expected that woman to even be capable of it, much less that it would fail to disgust him.

That even if he suspected she could betray him, he didn’t despise her… trusting her inability to try to fuck with him. 

It stayed with him until his head rested on silk pillows, silk was a slippery thing but it was good for his skin allegedly, yet he hated it on nights like this.

Rolling side-to-side, earning no eyeshut or rest, no force can’t keep his eyes closed, he rolls off his bed walking around with a dried mouth, his apartment sparsely lit by manhattan’s skyline but is not like he would bump against anything. He looks around the various groups still working in the offices below most of the building its barren, not surprising considering its past midnight, he can tell The Deep its still binging some comfort 90s sitcom, A-Train has left the building probably hanging out all night with his friends and the others are either asleep or glued to their devices– he can’t say he’s entertained wrapping his silk robe as he defeatedly moves towards the kitchen with the hopes that a drink will help him sleep.

He continues looking beneath him, following the working ants that are still glued to their computer screen typing incessantly while half-drank coffee cups and energy drinks piled up on their desk, security guards doing the rounds and a scientist yawning as he does his runs.

A glass fills before his ear catchest muffled moaning, a dirty smirk decorates his features as he follows the sounds, taking a sip until his eyes catch a glimpse of a nasty scene, a man having his bindings undone, his hair a complete disaster, his behind covered in red stripes from the belting he’d received and his darkened gaze it's glued on the woman speaking to him.

He takes a bitter sip as he witnesses that salacious sight.

Blouse hanging open covering very little of a lacy two-piece set... bold choice he noted.

Homelander could care less about what the two are speaking of, for all he knows Coleman is not even in the room, all he’s witnessing… all he’s paying attention– is her body, that demure expression of pure satisfaction as her hand smoothly re-wrapped a pink rope.

Licking his lip as she fixes her hair, her lipstick smudged just a bit.

Homelander stays planted on that spot thinking of gossiping tongues, women looking at them solely as a pair, it peeved him, unable to accept that it peeved him to see her make such an expression to men like Coleman and Bourke, when she could be aiming higher… after all he was the best she would ever get even if it was just for a rouse.

Giggling in the dark, he continues to watch her.

“They think you’re my wife… at least they think you can pull better than that! Have some self-respect Ashley” he whispers to himself– jesus…”

Watching her until she’s home alone, glad that she has a day off tomorrow, showering without care, her hair had returned and now styled into a trendy pixie cut he much prefer if it was longer… it suited her best, brushing her expensive wig before finishing with her skin care routine, he can’t say he was entertained.

But he watched, feeling nostalgic. 

tag-- hope you enjoy this @ultrasoniccarousel

[tabbyhoney]

Gorgeous

Original story by @sleepwalkersqueen , go check her out

Notes:I actually have nothing to say except enjoy :D and that I have a tablet now and once I figure it out properly I might post some pictures ;)

<<Last ●●● Next>>

Warnings:panic attacks, still not a therapist, bad words, trauma-related content (If I forgit something let me know)

Chapter 03

It was the end of summer, the school holiday just ended and we were back to start a new year.

A tiny little school in a village near Fukuoka. Only about twenty kids filled the school from various ages and classes.

The school had a big playground at the front with a big sandbox, some things to climb on, and a little forest space. The building was small and only had three classrooms.

Currently, there was a break and everyone was playing outside. Twenty young children playing around while one teacher watched to make sure everyone was safe. It was clear that there was a lack of mutant children, only one.

Near the forest was a group of three children playing rescue. With a princess, a monster, and All-might.

"Oh no! Please help me" a girl with red hair says while striking a dramatic pose. Clutching over her chest and making her voice sound like a tragic damsel in distress.

"Do not fear for I am here!" The boy with the purple ears said, jumping up behind a bush, while doing the All-Might pose. Making sure to look as high and mighty as possible.

"I will not let you save her All-might," I say with a growling voice, a smile on my lips exposing my white canines and wings a little flared out to make me bigger. "For I am the great bird and I will eat yo-... This isn't fun, why am I always the monster?" I lisped while puffing my cheeks.

"Because you have those teeth! And wings!" The purple-eared kid said, pointing to the parts he mentioned. "You from everyone here look the most like a monster"

"Well... You have purple ears, so why not you?" I argued back, stomping my foot

"Because I am the only boy here and I wanna play All-might!"

"Then I don't wanna play anymore" I crossed my arms and stomped away from the other kids. I sit down in a corner and start drawing in the dirt with my already dirty talons. I chirped happily before the bell rang and it was time to head back to the classroom.

With jumpy steps I walk inside, a big grin on my face. Happily showing everyone my newly grown canine teeth, sharp and shiny.

A big crowd surrounded my table, giggling. I blinked confused before stepping inside, everyone staring at me with expressions I couldn't quite place.

A few people stepped aside and what I saw placed on the table made my tummy feel weird.

A bloody dead bird.

I halted in front of my table feeling a shock wave creeping up my back. Heart hammering in my chest like never before.

I heard my classmates snickering and whispering until someone said to me, in the most arrogant and hurtful voice I ever heard someone talk "We thought the mutant wanted a little snack, Hawks eat their prey raw, right? Now you have the perfect teeth for that"

My heart was hammering uncomfortably in my chest and my body started to get stiffer the longer I looked at the bird. My ears deafened the surrounding sounds of my classmates, sounding like too many songs smashed together.

Only the voice of my teacher was able to bring me back to reality. I looked up at him, seeing no pity in his eyes at the cruel, cruel thing my so-called friends did.

"Can you bring the bird outside? How about you make him a grave?" My teacher asked, squatting down.

I nodded with teary eyes and gently took the small body of the bird in my warm, dirty hands. Leaving the classroom. It felt so tiny in my hands, yet it was still so warm.

Behind the school, I buried a small hole, holding the bird in one hand.

With the bird in my hands, I stared down. My heart was pounding in my ears and I could feel something build up inside of me. Cold sweat ran down my spine.

My mouth was standing slightly open, saliva falling down on the ground and the bird. My eyes were wide open and my breathing was wet and heavy. I had never felt so much water forming in my mouth before.

Without being able to control an instinct that was so implemented in my brain that it was starting to hurt I bit down. Eating the poor bird that was a victim of my classmate's cruelty and my own. It tasted like chicken.

Monster

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

"You look tired"

"I am"

"Why?"

"Had a fight with my boyfriend, wasn't able to sleep after that"

"Trouble in paradise?" He cooed clearly to rile me up.

"Who said anything about paradise?" I said as I lay my head down on the table.

"Is he an asshole?"

"Who cares..." I mumble before bringing my head up again and combing my long hair out of my face. Not denying his implication.

"Wait seriously now? Oh wow- and you said I had relationship problems"

Perhaps he was right. Why should I of all people judge his broken marriage with my broken relationship? This was too hypocritical to call smart. I am was just a stupid woman, with a stupid boyfriend, with a stupid job, with stupid patients-

"Are you crying?" He asked looking at me with a face I wasn't able to see properly because the tears blurred my vision.

"no" I sniffed, wiping the tears away from my face that continued traveling down. The voice was so small I wasn't even sure if he heard me

"Nonononono don't cry," he said in a calm voice

"I can't stop," I said between broken sobs, burying my face in my hands.

I didn't see how overwhelmed Shinyo was with the whole situation. He looked frantically around the room, trying to find anything to calm me down or maybe a way to escape to make me stop in a not so nice way.

"Hey uhm.... Did I ever tell you about the time I lived on a ship?" He started leaning his head down a little to get a better look at my burried face.

"W-what?"

"Aye, when I was a little smaller and more stupid than I am now. I worked for a big guy called Harima along with my brother"

Harima?

"Brother?"

"He isn't anymore"

"Oh.... I'm sorry..."

"Don't be, he made his choice"

Again I wiped a few of my tears away. Taking a deep breath.

"I never had any siblings"

"No shit Sherlock," he said in a flat tone.

I laughed a little bit "Well yeah... My parents always wanted another child... Or perhaps a lot more than just one but they both have deficiencies that prevent them from ever getting one... I was practically a miracle that happened to them..."

"Be thankful, siblings are the worst"

"I trust that. Besides mutant siblings can be the worst"

He looked at me confused, opening his mouth to say something probably stupid to that.

"I am also a mutant, Hawks as well funny enough" I chuckle but he still looked unconvinced. "I am not so proud like you about being one, life can be... Cruel I suppose"

"I.. uh... Where are your...?" He asked looking behind me. Searching for something invisible.

"Birth defect, I can only grow them back again because of my quirk, not for long though otherwise I get too tired, takes a lot of energy"

"Sucks probably"

"I can manage"

The cell room fell quiet for bit, an awkward silence one where even I wasn't able to think of a good silence breaker.

"Can I see them?" He asked looking interested like never before. Like a child who really wanted to eat ice cream from a truck that just stopped.

"They are pretty boring, no fancy colour like you"

"I don't fucking care, just show me"

I sighed before standing up from my chair. Taking off the white coat, luckily my shirt had a free back, which in itself was pretty common for my wardrobe.

I concentrated for a moment, feeling warmth creeping up my back. Slowly my wings started growing back, a feeling like a wound that closed but started itching out of nowhere and feeling the need to tear it open again only for it to be even more itchy.

Brown feathers started to regrow and once nothing grew anymore I opened my eyes that I closed for concentration.

"Happy?"

"Aye... They are pretty, just so you know"

"Oh. Thanks..." I rubbed my arm lightly before shaking my body, stopping my quirk. Bit by bit my feathers started falling onto the ground.

"Does it hurt?" He asked while following the path of each feather that was falling.

"Maybe a little bit, but I don't know" I yawned. Rubbing my sleepy eyes before sitting back down on my chair.

It was silent, in an ear-deafening way. Only his heartbeat was still going too fast for it to be normal. Still gives me the creeps, how can one be so calm on the outside but heartbeat faster than a racecar.

The silence was imterrupted by a knock from the outside. I groaned annoyed before standing up and opening the door. A man I had never seen before was standing with a coffee in front of me. He smiled before extending the coffee to me.

His heartbeat went even higher....

"My name is Imawashi, I used to work here and I wanted to thank you a little bit for the great work you are doing" He lied. I just had this feeling he was lying straight to my face.

"Thanks but I don't drink coffee, it's not good for your skin"

"Oh... Uhm..." He was startled, looking at the cup of coffee and then back at me.

"I also hate to be interrupted, my time is precious, so bye-bye" I slammed the door shut before locking it again.

"Some people" I rolled my eyes, turning around. Eyes fall directly on Shinyo who is breathing like he just ran for ten miles or something.

I silently ran over to him, keeping a small distance.

"Shinyo? Shinyo look at me if you can"

"What!?" He grunted but didn't look up.

"I don't mean to be rude but you look like you get into a stress grip if your heart rate doesn't calm down at least a little bit," I said with a gentle voice. Keeping my hands up for him to see I wasn't planning on touching him.

"I need yo-"

"Fuck you! Just leave-"

"I need you to breathe with me, slow and focused" I explained while not trying to be overpowered by his fear. Even though his panic made me in turn panic too.

I started breathing in a slow rhythm for him to easily hear and follow. It took a while before he started to follow my instructions.

"It's not working," he said with a tense voice and a shaking body.

Of course, it doesn't work after three breaths. But I needed to come up with a new solution that got his brain off everything. Only one thing came to mind.

"Do you know the story about Sun Wukong?"

He looks at me with confused eyes and a face that could be read as 'Are you serious?'.

"He is the king of monkeys born from a stone egg. It is said it was fertilized by the wind, the smell of the earth, the power of the sun, and the gracefulness of the moon." I moved closer again, to take off most of his chains. His rigid body fell down on the ground, but I caught him and went down with him. Pulling him closer to me and gently stroking his hair. His hands dug uncomfortably into my arms. I could feel something slowly breaking.

"Sun Wukong was a master at fighting and jumping very, very high he was able to change into 72 different forms, a really powerful being"

Shinyos head was resting against my chest, his eyes were wide open and his breath was wet. His entire body was working against him, shaking yet unable to move a muscle. Nature can be a cruel thing.

"But one day he wanted to have more. He wanted to be this invincible force, a king, a god even. He managed to conquer the sky and become a god to the other gods' dismay. Only one day he was punished by Buddha and locked under a mountain"

"D-did he escape?" Shinyo asked with the most pitiful tone I have ever heard him speak. But the question wasn't of interest in the story, I had the feeling he saw himself in the hopeful escape.

His body started to relax again.

"Maybe one day," I said, gently stroking his hair. We continued to stay in this quite awkward position before his hands on my arms and his muscles completely calmed down. Leaving a row of big gaping wounds where his talons left holes in my arms, exposing a fractured bone.

When he was able to register what his stress grip caused he wanted to apologize, so much I could read in his eyes. For someone who doesn't care he seemed to care a lot.

"It's fine, I can just heal it" I reassured before scooting a little bit away from him "It wasn't your fault, to begin with"

"It was a shitty story..." He laughed, head still resting on me, I felt too bad neglecting him now.

"My father always told me stories when I got too overwhelmed, which helps with keeping your mind off the panic. Just like counting, breathing, or anything you could do"

"You? Overwhelmed? Thought you ate confidence and no wrongdoings for breakfast"

"I know I can be arrogant, but that doesn't mean I am a complete bitch. I have struggles like everyone else, and so do you"

"I'm perfectly fine"

"Sure, and I am the jade king"

"Do you wanna ta-"

"No" and after that he and I fell silent again.

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

"Let me get this straight... You poisoned the tea that you gave to a child and Shinyo?" I could feel my eye twitching from just the blatant stupidity of this woman in front of me "Why again would you give your own son poison?"

"Shinyo gave it to him" Her eyes were dull and her voice was monotone, like a soulless puppet.

"But you didn't stop him, correct?"

"It wouldn't have worked otherwise, he would have become suspicious"

"I-" trying to find the right words for a situation like this surely took a toll on my patience. Even dealing with Shinyos constant belittlement in prison was more manageable than this.

The eyes of the flame hero bore holes into my back while I was trying not to lose my mind over this woman.

The conversation made my blood boil in a way I hadn't expected. Not only did she have an arguably cute and intelligent little kid, no, but she couldn't have cared less about him.

Takami Nitsuki was officially one of my most hated people in the world... Right after my most hated person.

"Alright... The government wants you to sign papers to give Keigo into the care of us, you can Of course decline if you wish to take care of him instead" I laid the paper forms down in front of her, along with a heavy metal pen. This procedure was giving me the biggest icks I had ever felt.

The worst part was that she actually signed them. No questions, no blinking. She took the pen and slowly gave her signature on the boxes.

I didn't share another word with her after that.

Standing out in the cold with my coat closed I stared holes into the ground, like Endeavor did with my poor back earlier. Only to abnormally large feet that were part of an abnormally large human that was a living heater.

"What is it?" I asked annoyed. Squinting my eyes shut as I exhale.

"Takami and I made a deal"

"So?"

"I need you on this mission, if he doesn't -"

"Don't you think it is strange how much she didn't care?"

"Don't cha-"

"I mean come on, who doesn't care at least a tiny bit about their child? Have you seen the poor kid? He was way too tiny for his age, not to mention malnourished and left behind, why doesn't she get any punishment for this?!" I pace around with a heavy step. Grabbing my hair as I let out my frustration on Endeavour.

"It's not our problem."

"You have kids too! Don't you care the tiniest bit?"

"And you don't so why do you care?" His voice was as rough as ever.

"I... Because I have another type of connection when it comes to family, especially because you know" I gestured all over me. "Is it normal for nonmutants to not care? Both my parents would have done anything to keep me"

[werepuppy-steve]

gimme

what do you want to know? 👀

bc personally, i'm thinking about how wayne found out. how did he become the one sitting across from those two 13 year old boys, hands clasped tightly together, who looked like they'd start growling and snapping like threatened coyotes if anyone tried to separate them?

i think he figured it out on his own. one too many times rounding the corner behind the trailer just in time to see his boys spring apart from each other like they'd been burned, steve leaning against the metal siding with the reddest cheeks wayne's ever seen and eddie, fidgety and stuttering up a storm in a way he hadn't since he was seven, telling wayne that there was a bug in steve's hair and he had to get it out.

thinking about what kind of place i can shape forest hills into to make it their safe haven. i think eddie picked up his love for metal music from a neighbor in his 40s who let eddie come over and go through his tapes and records.

there's ms. loretta and ms. carla who used to babysit him when wayne was working. they lived together in the trailer across from them. wayne said they were good friends, but they wore rings on their fingers like married couples do, even though there weren't any signs of men living there.

the trailer park kids stick together. they all run in different friend groups at school but they'll nod at each other in the hallways and hang out after at the park playground, swapping gossip and copying homework. when steve starts hanging out with eddie, he finds camaraderie in them.

[layce2015]

Supernatural (Dean Winchester x Female!Reader)

Something Wicked

Masterlist

"Yeah. You probably missed something, that's what." Dean said as we roared down the highway. "Dude, I ran LexisNexis, local police reports, newspapers, I couldn't find a single red flag." Sam exclaims.

"Are you sure you got the coordinates right?" I asked Dean as I leaned forward against their seat. "Yeah, I double checked. It's Fitchburg, Wisconson. Dad wouldn't have sent us coordinates if it wasn't important, guys." Dean said, angrily. "Well I'm telling you, I looked and all I could find was a big steamy pile of nothing. If Dad's sending us hunting for something, I don't know what." Sam said, frustrated.

"Well maybe he's going to meet us there." Dean said, shrugging. "Yeah. Cause he's been so easy to find up to this point." Sam remarked, rolling his eyes. "You're a real smart ass you know that?" Dean spat and the two brothers glare at each other before Dean looks back at the road. "Don't worry I'm sure there's something in Fitchburg worth killing." Dean said.

"Yeah? What makes you so sure?" Sam asked him. "Cause I'm the oldest, which means I'm always right." Dean said and I let a laugh. "No it doesn't." Sam said, shaking his head. "It totally does." Dean said as he glances at Sam then looks back at the road with a little grin.

In Fitchburg, Sam and I were leaning against the Impala staring at the playground when Dean crosses to the road to us, holding a drink carrier with three coffees. "Well...the waitress thinks the local freemasons are up to something sneaky but other than that no one's heard about anything freaky going on." Dean said as he hands us our coffee.

"Dean, you got the time?" Sam asked Dean, who looks at his watch. "Ten after Four. Why?" He asked and Sam and I nod towards the deserted playground, which only had one child playing and climbing. "What's wrong with this picture." I said and Dean looks the playground over.

"School's out isn't it?" Dean asked. "Yeah. So where is everybody?" I asked and Sam nods. "This place should be crawling with kids right now." Sam said just as a woman sits on a park bench, reading a magazine. Dean and I approach her.

"Sure is quiet out here." Dean said to her. "Yeah, it's a shame." She said and we give her a curious look. "Why's that?" I asked her. "You know, kids getting sick, it's a terrible thing." She replied.

"How many?" Dean asked her. "Just five or six but serious, hospital serious. A lot of parents are getting pretty anxious. They think it's catching." The woman said then the three of us watch the little girl playing by herself.

"Dude. Dude I am not using this ID." Sam growls as we enter the hospital and come up to the receptionist desk after we changed clothes. "Why not?" Dean asked. "Cause it says bikini inspector on it!" Sam exclaims and Dean and I start to smile. "Don't worry she won't look that close all right? Hell, she won't even ask to see it. It's all about confidence, Sammy." Dean said then he spins Sam to face the desk and he and I keep walking. 

"Hi. I'm Doctor Jerry Caplin, Centers for Disease Control." Sam said to the woman behind the desk while Dean and I watch him. "Can I see some ID?" She asked and Dean and I start to snigger. Sam throws us a dirty look before he looks back at the woman. "Yeah of course." He said and quickly flashes his ID to her then retracted it.

"Now could you direct me to the pediatrics ward please?" He asked her. "Okay well, just go down that hall, turn left and up the stairs." She said and Sam turns and approaches us, glaring at our smiles. "See. I told you it would work." Dean said as Sam shakes his head, irritably. "Follow me. It's upstairs." He grumbles and we walk down the corridor.

We walked down a few steps and I was about to turn to Dean when I noticed that he wasn't there. I turn and see Dean was staring inside of a room. "Dean!" I shouted and he jumps slightly then follows us.

"Well, thanks for seeing us, Dr. Hydecker." I said as the boys  and I walked down the corridor with the Doctor. "Well I'm glad you guys are here. I was just about to call CDC myself. How'd you find out anyways?" Hydecker asked us. "Oh some GP, I forget his name, he called Atlanta and, uh, he must've beat you to the punch." Dean explains, quickly, and Hydecker nods.

"So you say you got six cases so far?" Sam asked him. "Yeah, five weeks. At first we thought it was garden variety bacterial pneumonia. Not that newsworthy. But now..." Hydecker before he trails off. "Now what?" I asked him. "The kids aren't responding to antibiotics. Their white cell counts keep going down. Their immune systems just aren't doing their job. It's like their bodies are...wearing out." Hydecker said as a nurse comes up to him.

"Excuse me, Dr Hydecker." She said as she hands him some forms to look over and sign. "You ever see anything like this before?" Sam asked him. "Never this severe." Hydecker said. "And the way it spreads...that's a new one for me." The nurse said as she looks up at us.

"What do you mean?" I asked them. "It works its way through families. But only the children, one sibling after another." The nurse said and the boys and I share a glance for a moment.

"You mind if we interview a few of the kids?" Dean asked her. "They're not conscious." The nurse said. "None of them?" Sam asked, shocked. "No." The nurse said, shaking her head.

"Can we, uh, can we talk to the parents?" I asked them. "Well, if you think it'll help." Hydecker said and I nod. "Yeah. Who was your most recent admission?" Dean asked him.

Minutes later, the boys and I stood in front of a man, who was sitting in a chair against the wall, asking him questions. "I should get back to my girls." The man said. "We understand that, and we really appreciate you talking to us. Now you say Mary is the oldest?" Sam asked. "Thirteen." The man replied.

"Ok. And she came down with it first, right? And then..." I said and the man nods. "Bethany, the next night." He adds. "Within 24 hours?" I asked him. "I guess. Look, I, uh, I already went through all this with the doctor." The man said to us and we nod as Dean holds up a hand to him.

"Just a few more questions if you don't mind. How do you think they caught pneumonia? Were they out in the cold, anything like that?" Dean asked. "No. We think it was an open window." The man replied. "Both times?" Dean asked him. "The first time, I, I don't really remember but the second time for sure. And I know I closed it before I put Bethany to bed." The man said.

"So you think she opened it?" Sam asked him. "It's a second story window with a ledge. No one else could've." The man replied.

"You know this might not be anything supernatural. It might just be pneumonia." Sam said as we walked down the corridor of the hospital. "Maybe. Or maybe something opened that window. I don't know man, look, Dad sent us down down here for a reason. I think we might be barking up the right tree." Dean said.

"I'll tell you one thing." Sam mutters. "What?" Dean and I asked him. "That guy we just talked to? I'm betting it'll be a while before he goes home." Sam said, giving us a knowing look.

We break into that man's house and check Bethany's room with the EMF. "You got anything over there?" I asked Dean as he holds his device out. "Nah, nothing." Dean replied. "Yeah, me neither." Sam said as we keep checking until I move to the window and noticed something odd on the windowsill. 

"Hey boys?" I said. "Yeah." They said as I stare at the windowsill closer and see a handprint that had rotted into the wood. "You were right, Dean. It's not pneumonia." I said as they come over and see it as well.

"It's rotted. What the hell leaves a handprint like that?" Sam asked as Dean stares at it, intently.

Flashback 

*3rd Person POV*

Dean, who was around ten years old, was staring at a photo of a handprint when John and (father's name) come out of the bedroom, loading their sawn off. "All right. You know the drill, Dean. Anybody calls, you don't pick up. If it's me or (father's name), we'll ring once, then call back. You got that?" John said to Dean, who nods.

"Mm-hmm. Only answer the phone unless it rings once first." Dean repeated. "Come on, dude, look alive. This stuff is important." John said to him, firmly. "I know, it's just...we've gone over it like a million times and you know I'm not stupid." Dean said to his dad. "I know you're not, but it only takes one mistake, you got that?" John said to Dean, firmly.

"John, go easy on him. He's a smart boy, he can handle it." (Father's name) said to John, who stares at him. (Father's name) raises an eyebrow at John before they gather their weapons.

"All right, if we're not back Sunday night...?" John asked Dean. "Call Pastor Jim." Dean said to him. "Lock the doors, the windows, close the shades. Most important...." John said. "Watch out for Sammy and (y/n)." Dean said and they look over at Sam and (y/n), both of them sprawled on the couch, watching cartoons on TV. "I know." Dean said to the men as they nod.

"All right. If something tries to bust in?" John asked. "Shoot first, ask questions later." Dean replied and John smiles and places a hand on his shoulder. "That's my man." John said as (father's name) looks at his young daughter.

"(Y/n)." He calls and the young girl, with two ponytails, gets up and walks over to her dad. "Now, I'm gonna be gone for a few days, okay? You stay here and be a good girl." He said to her as he kneels down to her. "Yes, daddy." (Y/n) said. "Dean's in charge, so listen to him and don't give him too much of a hard time." (Father's name) said, smirking, as the girl nods.

"And you help out any way you can, alright?" He said. "Yes, daddy." (Y/n) said and her father smiles. "That's my girl." He said then he goes and kisses the top of her head. He stands up and turns to John, nods at him and the two men walk out of the motel room and, immediately, Dean goes to the door and locks it.

Present Day

*(y/n)'s POV*

"I know why Dad sent us here. He's faced this thing before. He wants us to finish the job." Dean said to us as he stares at the handprint, looking a bit sick.

"So what the hell is a shtriga?" Sam asked Dean after we pull up to a motel office and get out of the car. "It's...kinda like a witch I think. I don't know much about 'em." Dean replied. "Well I've never heard of it. And it's not in Dad's journal." Sam said.

"Dad and (father's name) hunted one in Fort Douglas, Wisconsin, about 16, 17 years ago. You two were there. You guys don't remember?" Dean asked. "No." Sam said. "Vaguely." I said as I think. "And I guess Dad caught wind of the things in Fitzburg now and kicked us the coordinates." Dean said.

"So wait, this...Shtriga. You think it's the same one our Dads hunted before?" I asked Dean. "Yeah, maybe." Dean said, shrugging. "But if Dad and (father's name) went after it why is it still breathing air?" Sam asked Dean. "Cause it got away." Dean replied, simply.

"Got away?" Sam and I asked as I start to think that this is very odd. My dad and John always made sure when they were hunting monsters, they made sure it would never come back. "Yeah, guys, it happens." Dean said, frustrated. "Not very often." Sam points out. "Yeah, especially if my dad was helping." I said to Dean. "Well I don't know what to tell ya, maybe our Dads didn't have their wheaties that morning." Dean said.

"What else do you remember?" I asked Dean. "Nothin'. I was a kid all right?" Dean said, defensively, before he goes into the office. Sam gives me a look and I shrug and follow Dean into the office as a young boy around ten or twelve years old comes up to the desk.

"Two queens." Dean said to the boy. The boy looks out the door and towards Sam then sniggers. "Yeah I'll bet." He mutters. "What'd you say?" Dean asked him and the boy looks up at him, smiling, and I raise an eyebrow at this.

"Nice car!" He said then I come up to Dean and pull out my card. "Hey, honey...you forgot your card." I said to him, sweetly. He looks at me, slightly confused, but I smiled at him and he caught on what I was doing and takes my card. "Thanks, sweetheart. What would I do without you?" He asked me and my smile widens. "Probably spontaneously combust." I said and Dean chuckles then he leans down and kissed my cheek.

My heart leapt for joy once his lips touched my cheek. He pulls back and I look down, in embarrassment, then looked over at the boy, who had a look of shock on his face.

Then a woman enters the building, smiling at all of us. "Hi." She greets. "Hi." Dean and I greet. "Checking in?" She asked. "Yeah." Dean said then the woman turns to the boy. "Ahh, do me a favor, go get your brother some dinner." She said to him. "I'm helping a guest!" The boy exclaims.

She gives him a look and he grimaces and turns to go. The boy looks at us and scoffs before he turns to the back. "Will that be cash or credit?" The woman asked as she goes to the computer. "You take MasterCard?" Dean asked and she nods. "Perfect. Here you go." Dean said and he glances at me and I nod then he hands my card to the woman.

Then Dean stares ahead and I follow his gaze to see the boy pouring a glass of milk for a younger boy.

Flashback 

*3rd Person POV*

Sam and (y/n) were sitting at the table as Dean pours them a glass of milk. "When's Dad gonna get back?" Sam asked Dean as he grabs a pot from the stove. "Tomorrow." Dean replied. "When?" Sam asked as Dean brings the pot over and pours the contents into Sam's bowl and then (y/n)'s bowl. "I dunno. He and (father's name) usually come in late though. Now eat your dinner." Dean said to the young kids.

"I'm sick of scabetti-ohs." Sam whines as (y/n) begins to dig into her dinner. "Well -- You're the one who wanted 'em!" Dean said, slightly annoyed. "I want lucky charms!" Sam said. "There's no more lucky charms." Dean said.

"I saw the box!" Sam argues as (y/n) looks between the boys, she always hated it when they argued like this. "Okay, maybe there is but there's only enough for one bowl and I haven't had any yet." Dean said and Sam gives puppy dog eyes.

Dean sighs then grabs Sam's bowl. "I'll take it if he won't finish it." (Y/n) said just as Dean was about to go to the trash. Dean turns to her. "You sure?" He asked her and she nods. Dean goes and pours the contents out of Sam's bowl into her bowl then places Sam's bowl in the sink. He grabs the cereal box and thumps it on the table instead.

Sam reaches into the box and grabs the toy then holds it out to Dean. "D'you want the prize?" Sam asked him, smiling.

Present Day

*(y/n)'s POV*

"Sir?" The woman said as she holds out the card to Dean, who seemed like he was lost in his thoughts. "I'll take it." I said as I take the card and elbow Dean. "Sorry. Uh...Thanks." Dean said, once he comes back to reality.

Later, the boys and I were sitting in the motel room while Sam was looking at his laptop. "Well, you were right. Heh. It wasn't very easy to find but you were right. Shtriga is a kind of witch. They're Albanian, but legends about them trace back to Ancient Rome. They feed off spiritus vitae." Sam explains.

"Spiri-what?" Dean and I asked, confused. "Vitae. It's Latin, translates to breath of life. Kinda like your life force or essence." Sam explains. "Didn't the doctor say the kids' bodies were wearing out?" I asked Sam. "It's a thought. you know she takes your vitality maybe your immunity goes to hell, pneumonia takes hold. Anyway, shtrigas can feed off anyone but they prefer..." Sam said but then Dean and I finished his sentence.

"Children." We said and Sam nods.

"Yeah. Probably because they have stronger life force. And get this. Shtrigas are ...invulnerable to all weapons devised by God and man." Sam explains. "No, that's not right. She's vulnerable when she feeds." Dean said and Sam and I give him a curious look.

"What?" We said, confused "If you catch her when she's eating you can blast her with consecrated wrought iron. Ahhh... buckshots or rounds I think." Dean said. "How do you know that?" I asked him. "Dad told me. I remember." He said. "Oh." I said.

"So uh, anything else Dad might have mentioned?" Sam asked Dean. "Nope, that's it." Dean replied but Sam and I keep staring at him. The way Dean was talking it sounded like he knew more than he was letting on, which is odd for Dean.

"What?" Dean asked us. "Nothing." Sam and I said before Sam continues. "Okay. So, assuming we can kill it when it eats we still gotta find the thing first, which ain't gonna be a cakewalk. Shtrigas take on a human disguise when they're not hunting." Sam said.

"What kinda human disguise?" Dean asked him. "Historically, something innocuous. Could be anything, but it's usually a feeble old woman, which might be how the witches as old crones legend got started." Sam said then Sam crosses the room. "Hang on." He said.

"What?" Sam and I asked as Dean grabs a map. "Check this out. I marked down all the addresses of the victims. Now these are the houses that have been hit so far, and dead center?" Dean points out and my jaw drops. "The hospital." I said and Dean nods.

"The hospital. Now when we were there I saw a patient, an old woman." Dean said as he turns to us. "An old person huh?" Sam asked. "Yeah." Dean said. "In a hospital? Phew." I said, shaking my head and sniggering. "Better call the Coast Guard, Sam." I said and Sam laughs. "Well listen, smart-ass, she had an inverted cross hanging on her wall." Dean said and Sam and I look over at Dean, serious. "Well, why didn't you say so." I said as Dean raises an eyebrow at me.

That night, we come down the hallway of the hospital, but we quickly duck back when we see Dr Hydecker. "Good night Dr Hydecker." A nurse said. "See you tomorrow, Betty." Hydecker said. "Try to get some sleep." The nurse said.

The boys and I hide until Hydecker passes, then we continue on to the old woman's room. We open the door and sneak in, Dean taking the front and Sam and I hanging back, guns drawn.

The woman was in her wheelchair facing toward the corner. She seemed to be sleeping. Dean slowly leans in closer and closer to her face until she turns her head and yells. "Who the hell are you?!"

Dean freaks and leaping back against a wall cabinet, pulling his gun up. "Who's there? You trying to steal my stuff?" She asked then she grumbles to herself. "They're always stealing around here."

Sam turns the light on and I come up to her other side to see she has cataracts. "No! Ah, ma'am, we're maintenance. We're sorry. We thought you were sleeping." Sam said to her. "Ahhh, nonsense. I was sleeping with my peepers open." She said then she laughs and gestures at the wall.

"And fix that crucifix, would ya? I've asked four damn times already!" She exclaims. Dean, still looking slightly freaked out, jogs the crucifix and it swings the right way up.

[ellies-little-gun]

He hears her laughing before he sees her. Can hear her giggles from down the block. The sound, that sweet melody, floats on the breeze and brings a grin to his face. One he can't get to go away no matter how hard he tries. So, he lets it stay. Grins all the way to the playground, smiles wider at the sight that greets him.

Ellie, on the ground, with about five kids, young ones, all on top of her. She's laughing so hard now she's barely making noise and something warm and soft spreads through his chest at the sight. He wishes he had a video camera, so he could record that laugh. Burn it to a DVD and carry it with him everywhere he goes. So he can hear it whenever he wants. Wants to be able to keep it, cherish it like the precious thing it is.

She manages to get her feet back under her, rises from the ground with a roar. The kids all shriek with laughter and run away, darting in all directions. She chases after them, growling and laughing the whole time. She isn't much taller than the kids, despite being fifteen. Never did hit a growth spurt, even after coming to Jackson. She's small but mighty.

His little fighter.

She manages to catch one of the kids, Alice. They let out matching giggles when Ellie sweeps her up into her arms. Alice screeches with laughter when she spins her in a circle and Ellie joins in. The sound of it makes something in his chest clench. He blinks and Alice isn't Alice anymore.

Blinks and Ellie is holding a mini Sarah, while the real Sarah stands by and shakes her head at their antics. Can see her in the corner, rolling her eyes and fighting off a smile. She'd join in, after a while, he knows she would. And then it would be both of his girls, chasing his grandchildren around. Can picture joining them, can imagine the taunts of come get us Old Man, yeah Dad come get us as they both race away from him.

It hurts him, makes his chest feel tight. Makes his heart hurt, that his two babies never got to meet. Hurts him somewhere deep inside, that Sarah never got to meet the little sister she always wanted. Pains him that Ellie has to be the little sister to a ghost. They would have loved each other, he knows they would. Knows Ellie loves Sarah anyway, without ever having met her. Knows she would adore being Aunt Ellie.

"Joel, Joel help," Ellie yells, bringing him back to the present.

In a bid to rescue their friend, the other kids have joined forces and are currently using Ellie as a jungle gym. She has one on each arm and one on her back, arms around her neck. Two of them are wrapped around her legs, sitting on her shoes. She's trying her best to walk despite the weight, walking towards him with exaggerated roars and a blinding smile. It's kinda impressive, that she can still move at all, toting around 5 kids.

His little fighter indeed.

"Uncle Joel, help us, help us," one of the kids shouts, breathless from laughing.

Uncle Joel. He still isn't used to hearing it. Isn't sure when it started, exactly. Being Uncle Joel to every kid in Jackson. All he knows is that one day he was dubbed Uncle Joel and it's been that way ever since. Not that he minds it, not at all. Doesn't even mind being roped into babysitting at events, because the kids love him and he loves listening to them laugh. Loves listening to them have normal childhoods, something so simple but so rare in this world.

"Uncle Joel to the rescue," he calls.

The kids all cheer from where they dangle off Ellie. She does her best to shoot him a look of betrayal but her smile kind of ruins the effect. He advances on her, even as she does her best to run away from him. She doesn't get far, the 100-and-something pounds of small children slowing her down. He raises his hands, wiggles his fingers in her direction.

"Joel, don't you dare, Joel. Joel!"

He lunges forward, digs his fingers into her sides. She bends at the waist, like he knew she would. Collapses into giggles, gives the kids an opening. They take it, piling on top of her until she's once again on the ground. She must sense that she's defeated, because she spends an awful lot of time "dying." Makes noises and bemoans her fate, before going limp. The kids all snicker at the production.

She would have made a good Aunt.

"Kids, ice cream," Alice's mother calls from across the playground.

They all abandon Ellie in the pursuit of frozen goodness. One of them stops halfway to the ice cream, turns back around. Falls back on top of Ellie, hugs her around the middle. Races back to meet the others with a thanks for playing with us thrown over his shoulder. Ellie watches him go with a smile on her face. She never had a childhood, and he knows how important it is to her that the Jackson kids do.

"I want ice cream," she complains with a huff, even though the smile on her face never wavers.

"We have some at home," Joel informs her, reaching down to help her to her feet.

She uses his hands to stand, follows the momentum to wrap her arms around his middle. Squeezes him tight, seemingly for no other reason than she can. He hugs her back, rests his cheek on the top of her head. Loves that she is still short enough for him to do that. Loves that she probably always will be. Presses a kiss to her forehead, just because he can.

"I earned my ice cream," she says matter-of-fact, "dying is hard work."

"You sure did, Kiddo, you sure did."

Yeah, she would have been the best Aunt ever.

[sweetlikehoneystingslikeabee]

Nothing naughty or romantic here, but how would Killer Croc react to a group of kids thinking he's super cool because they think he's a dinosaur? They're not scared at all or being rude, they're just in awe. "Fuck Barney, this guy could wreck Barney's shit!"

Killer Croc in the Park

So. I ended up writing a short fic.

Tw: ableism, not particularly dark but unfortunately related directly to his appearance, implication of past drug addiction/abuse

When Killer Croc got to the park that day, he was already in a terrible mental space. He got released from Arkham on rehabilitation. Again. And again he found the outside world just as hostile as before to anyone that didn't fit their mold. Another job interview that ended before he could even get a word out.

Maybe he should try going back to sideshow gigs. The wrestling paid alright. It was that or stealing shit- not that he thought himself suddenly above it. But he's not fucking crazy like they say.

He knows the consequences of what will happen if he goes down that road again. The only time he seems to feel any kind of peace anymore is at the park. He can sit and no one bugs him. It's peaceful. He can watch the ducks.

What he didn't realize is that today he sat closer to a playground in the park than he normally would have. The moment this becomes apparent is when he sees a small girl running in front of him and then eating shit into the dirt and rocks. Before he can really stop himself, he's grabbing her up by the scruff of her shirt with his talons and setting her down on her feet.

As he speaks, the hint of a creole accent slips through, "You better watch it. Could get hurt." His voice is graveled and low- the result of teen smoking combined with his condition wreaking havoc on his vocal folds.

When her eyes open wide, he prepares himself for the screaming. That he's a monster. Scary. There's been many times he's made children cry just by his appearance. Got used to it when... that all started.

Instead of a frightened shriek, it's one of delight, "Are you a dinosaur?!"

He pauses. What. There's a moment he wants to tell her to fuck off. To scram.

He hesitates for a moment before clearing his rumbling throat, "Kid, you really think I'm a dinosaur?"

She nods, "Well- not one I've ever seen. And I've seen a LOT- my mom takes me to the museum a lot and- oh! OH! Hold on-! Don't go, okay?" She speaks so quickly he can't even get another word in edgewise. Then she's running off.

He figures she's just hyperactive until he sees a mob of small humans rushing towards him. Oh fuck, there's more of them. In an instant, the children surround him, staring. After the day he's had, he doesn't want to feel like he's on display. He's ready to stomp off when the little girl steps forward and speaks to the others, "I told you! This is my new friend, isn't he cool?"

"Is he a dinosaur?! Like... like Barney...?" A shy little boy asks.

Another boy crows, "Fuck Barney, he could wreck Barney's shit!"

Croc almost growls, "Watch your fff- frickin' mouth! Outta wash your mouth out with soap!" He points a talon and the cursing boy wilts.

"Sorry..." the kid looks nervous and now he feels bad.

"Don't be sorry," he says, "Just watch it. Too many... You're too little." He feels weird scolding children. It's not something he's done since he scolded younger cousins when he still lived nearby.

Another child in the group chirps, "What's your name?"

He almost answers his criminal name. Almost. It's what most know him as now. Yet as all these young faces look him he can't help but mumble, "...Waylon."

The girl is sitting next to him, "I knew that! My friend, Waylon."

He can't help but laugh, "Oh, yeah? Why don't I know your name, then?"

"Ella. I just forgot to tell you." She shrugs, "'Sides it was WAY more important to show you my other friends."

"Oh." He snorts, "What, you guys all like dinosaurs?" His grin is sharp and toothy. It doesn't quite look right with his lack of "lips." He can see one of the other kids looks nervous.

He stops smiling.

"Uhh um..." Ella seems to think, "Not Susie, Ethan or... Bobby. But they're not going to be mean to a new friend."

"Haven't your parents ever told you not to talk to strangers?" He finally asks.

"Yeah but that's like. Creepy people." One of the other kids is almost laughing at him, "You're not creepy people. You'd eat creepy people!"

He looks off to the side. They have no idea that he's actually tasted human flesh. Definitely not something they ever need to know, actually. Not exactly something he's proud of.

But he grins again, "Right I would. Especially if they try to hurt kids." That gets them excited.

"I bet I could fit my whole head in your mouth!" Another kid announces, "That's SO COOL!"

Before he knows it, he has several children hanging off his arms as he carries them around. Being above 7ft tall he can definitely get them high up off the ground. Swinging them lightly and safely. A couple of the more shy ones he lets them touch his ridges and claws. He's not surprised that several of the parents look over and seem frighted. Ushering their own children away. Yet none of these little beasts. It's only after about an hour and they're all laying in the sun talking that they start to get called to leave. One by one, they all laugh and tell him goodbye- that they'll see him soon!

Its just him and Ella now.

"Where's your mom?"

"Oh. She's right over there. Watching." The little girl points to a nearby tree where a woman sits on a bench, reading. She waves as the pair look over.

He hums, "How come she ain't scared? None of your parents..." he shrugs.

The question seems to confuse the girl, "Why would they be scared...? Oh. 'Cause they might be scared of dinosaurs, huh? That's for babies." She squints at the sun. She looks up. Croc looks up. Ella's mother is approaching.

"Hey, squirt." She smiles, "Having fun? I hope you haven't been bugging this nice man."

The little girl immediately goes into a ramble about all the things she did with her new friend and obviously she's not bugging him. Croc gets up off the ground and stares down at them both. Awkward. Why is this woman not acting the way others do?

The moment her daughter stops, the woman turns to him, "Nice to meet you, I'm Lenore." She reaches her hand out for him to shake.

He looks at her hand nervously, "I don't uh... I don't shake hands. I'm Waylon." He shows his claws and she takes back her hand.

"Sorry. Thank you so much for humoring the kids. They're a handful." She laughs and tilts her head.

"Nah, no- it's... it's no problem." He says softly. He looks around. When was the last time he had a pleasant conversation with someone where they just treated him like a normal person?

Too long.

He finally broaches the subject, "You all seem. Pretty okay with... with a freak playing with your kids."

Her brows move to sympathy and she shakes her head, "You're not- oh, please don't think that. Look. The truth is, it's a bunch of us parents that regularly bring our kids to the park. At first, yeah, we were kind of nervous when we first saw you." She shrugs and he winces.

But then she continues, "Derrick, he works in IT, Tim's dad, he did research that you were... rehabilitated. And some people were still weird about it... but then we noticed something."

He waits with baited breath, "What did you notice? Did I do something?"

Finally, Lenore shrugs, "It's not something you did. It's Gotham. And what we noticed is that suddenly- the park was way safer once you started hanging out. I mean. At least one of us would have something stolen, like, once a month. Creeps, super villains. Maybe it wasn't your intention, but hey. None of us are going to complain."

"And uh... the kids?" He motions to Ella who is already running and buzzing around them.

"Oh, she..." the woman is trying to think of a way to say it without offending him.

He gets it, "I look like a dinosaur. They like dinosaurs."

"She's crazy about them right now." She says, apologetic, "Just obsessed. And you know, we took all of them to the natural history museum so right now that's all they want to talk about- I'm... really sorry if they offended you."

It makes him smile, "It's not the worst thing I've been called. They're sweet kids."

Her smile in return is sweet, "Thank you. There's a lot of different people in the world. They need to know that."

"Yeah... yeah, there are." There's a moment he thinks briefly that if more parents were like these ones, maybe growing up wouldn't have been so bad for him. He's not going to say that, but the thought is there.

After a moment of silence, she clears her throat, "So hey. Waylon. Did you know that the uh. Playground here and the daycare are owned by the same guy?"

He shrugs, "Not to state the obvious, I'm not exactly a guy who pays attention to that."

"...Right. Well. Long story short, my uncle does. And..." she looks awkward herself, "I don't want to assume anything. But if you were ever looking for a job, I think I could put in a good word."

He scoffs, "As what? Hiding under the beds at naptime to be the bogeyman?"

That makes her laugh, "God, no! As an attendant. Kind of like security but a lot of it you're just watching them. At the actual daycare, on the playground. Ella hangs out there when I'm working and she's not at school..."

It's a strange idea for him. Working with kids? With his face? Jesus, he can't think of a job he'd be less qualified for.

She's quick to wave her hand, "I'm sure you have better offers. I'm probably coming off like some kind of ass- jerk." She's quick to correct herself. As the woman rubs her arm, he sees what he thinks are faint raised scars in the pit of her elbow.

When she notices him looking, she shrugs, "It can be hard raising yourself back up. Second chances are hard. Or third chances, or fourth..."

His eyes grow softer, "I hear that. How long did it take you?"

"She was three when I finally made my chance stick." Lenore smiles, "I know it's different but..."

He puts his hands up, "I'm not judging you, believe me. I uh... thanks... for sharing that. If you don't mind, I think I'd like an interview."

There's another pause between them. Then she laughs, "Do they even make dress shirts your size, big guy?"

He shrugs, "Sure. My tailor works well when I tell him I'll eat him if he makes it too small again." He's laughing and there's a moment she covers her mouth to laugh. Horrible!

Ella steps next to him and grabs one of his giant fingers in her small hand. When she smiles there's a gap from a missing tooth. Yeah. Maybe working with kids wouldn't be so bad.