#he is not prepared for this to very much not be a normal child

[holly-fixation]

An Instinct To Protect: Part 2

Summary: Hojo successfully bred Sephiroth without the soldier's knowledge or consent. Sephiroth took the child and ran from Shinra. Now, years later, he could finally begin settling down. He didn't expect his child to be any different from him, just a young creature with high strength and intelligence.

He was wrong. Extremely wrong. 

Inspired by this post by @altocat with many of my own twists

...

Shinra agreed to a ceasefire with the Silver Soldier. It took the former Firsts and the company three years to solidify the terms and conditions, but Sephiroth and his friends were finally free of their grasp. After the encounter in the forest, the father took up camp in the colorful canyon on the western continent. It took time to convince the people of Cosmo Canyon that he meant no harm and would bring no harm. He just wanted a safe place to raise his daughter, and options were thin regarding towns and cities out of Shinra's control. Planetology never interested the company, so this canyon was the perfect place. 

For the first year, he purchased an extended stay from the only inn he could find. He would leave Nova there during the day with her own key while he made money through hunts. Whether he hunted monsters in the open lands or the soldiers that searched for him depended on the day. At night, he’d bring her out of the canyon and train her until her bed time. She wasn't afraid of the dark, but she was afraid of being alone at night. Sephiroth stayed with her in their tent until she fell asleep then left to continue his hunts. Some nights, Nova woke up to the clanging of his blade and the roars of monsters, but it didn’t bother her. She knew he could protect her. She knew he was protecting her. 

By the second year, the people of the canyon believed he would not do any harm and allowed them both a small home, but the canyon's protector followed him everywhere with a growl, his flaming tail flicking in a silent threat. However, Nova found the proud beast absolutely adorable. Poor Nanaki was not prepared for her constant badgering for rides and answers to questions. He brought these bouts of harassment to the elder of the canyon, but the old man laughed lightly and informed the teen-like protector that she was merely looking for someone to spend time with. Sephiroth was silently grateful when he found the lion-like beast walk his daughter to tire her out, as backwards as it was to have a beast walk a child and not the other way around. Other days he found himself hiding a smirk, especially when he found her completely passed out in his red fur as Nanaki carried her home. 

Finally after three years, with Nova just over five years old, the ceasefire was signed. They could finally live in the canyon in some semblance of peace. Angeal and Genesis visited regularly, and Nova practically and sometimes literally bounced with joy when they were around. 

“Angeal Angeal Angeal! Are you gonna cook tonight?!” Nova's excitement greatly increased her volume as she hugged his leg. 

He gave her a small smirk and ruffled her hair. “Yes, I am. Do you have any suggestions?”

She shook her head like a wet dog. “You always make good food. I trust you!”

Genesis squinted at her playfully, flicking his head dramatically in a scoff. “You always have an opinion when your father or I cook.”

“Don't bring me into this,” Sephiroth countered with his usual emotionless tone, but they could all see his little smirk.

She gave a little shrug. “Sometimes it's nice to be surprised?”

“Are you asking me?” Genesis gave her a challenging glare but she gave one right back. “I get that your father's a bad cook but what did I do?”

Nova glared sharply and let go of Angeal. “Father's cooking is just fine.”

The red head rolled his eyes with a soft smirk before suddenly scooping her up. Her size and age did not phase him. He lifted her with ease as his little way of spoiling her. She pouted at him for his comment but also rested her head right on his shoulder. He gently petted her waterfall of silver hair and watched her resolve loosen as she settled against him. “Looks like somebody's ready for an afternoon nap.”

She groaned against his red coat and stirred slightly. It was the only piece of his old uniform he kept after leaving the company, and she liked the texture. “No…” Her mumble earned her a small squeeze. “I don’t wanna go…”

Of course she didn't want to go to bed; all her favorite adults were here. 

“Then maybe Genesis can hold you through your nap. Does that sound good?” Her father suggested. 

However, her sleep staining mind only registered one word. “Genesisisisis…”

They all hid a little chuckle at her enjoyment of the name. He adjusted her weight for a more comfortable position then waited until her breathing slowed. “Look at her,” He whispered. “All tuckered out.”

“She's been going non stop since we arrived. She's like a little puppy.”

Nova let out a little yawn before nuzzling into the fabric.

“Are the townsfolk still weary of you?” Angeal chose to continue their earlier conversation.

The former silver soldier nodded. “About half of them are, but they accept Nova like she’s one of their own.”

“Last I checked, they’re concerned about your training as well.”

“A bit. But I will not leave her without the skills to defend herself.”

“Fair enough. Any new problems with Shinra?”

He shook his head. “Not since the ceasefire. As long as we stay within the canyon’s territory, they agreed to avoid any attacks on the town and Nova.” He watched Genesis give his daughter a confused look. “Is something wrong?”

His red brows were completely knotted in bewilderment as he scanned her body. “Does she usually vibrate?”

Now it was their turn to grow perplexed expressions. “What?” Sephiroth questioned flatly. 

Genesis leaned his head down and pressed an ear to the side of her ribs. “I think she’s… purring?”

The silver haired man assumed the soft rumbling was just the pipes or from a motor outside, not his little girl.

“Here. Let me see her,” Angeal suggested with open arms and a gesture of his hands. 

Genesis gave his oldest friend a glare. “She doesn’t like it when you hold her.”

“She’s asleep. She won’t know.”

He huffed softly before adjusting the child. She fussed a bit as she was transferred, trying to rest her head on Angeal’s shoulder but flinching away from the prickly nature of his beard. Once she settled, Angeal felt it too. “She…is. She definitely is.”

Sephiroth decided to test something. “Nova?”

His call made her stir with a small murmur. 

“Nova.”

She made a little noise before rubbing her eyes, her internal motor stopping before she even adjusted her eyes to the light.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded.

“Do you feel anything odd?”

She shook her head. “Just sleepy…” When her father didn’t ask another question, she requested, “Can I go back to Genesis…?”

Sephiroth didn’t even answer before Genesis yoinked her into his arms and sat back on the couch. Instead of fighting or pouting, she snuggled against him and fell right back to sleep. Her purrs returned. He petted her hair to pull her farther into the realm of dream.

“Well,” Angeal started before looking at the father, “It doesn’t seem to bother her.”

“I believe she doesn’t know it’s happening.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Not necessarily. But she only purrs when you two are here. She doesn’t make that sound without you.”

Genesis held his free hand to his heart. “Then we’re honored.”

Sephiroth rolled his eyes softly at his friend’s joke, but he couldn’t stop his rushing thoughts. “I want to test something.” Without explaining, he stood and left the hotel room. Sure enough, as her father traveled away, her purring lessened and ultimately stopped. When he returned, he suggested Angeal leave for a moment, just to confirm. Sure enough, her sounds faded to nothing as he left. When he returned, so did they. 

How did she produce such inhuman sounds? Why didn’t she notice? And why did she only purr with all three of them in the room?

“What does that mean?” Angeal thought aloud. 

“Perhaps she’s just happiest when we’re all together,” Genesis suggested as she tugged on his coat innocently. He adjusted the leather around her and she curled into the red cocoon, another soft yawn leaving her lips as she slept against his shirt.

Sephiroth prayed that his friend’s simple reasoning was true. 

* * * 

A couple days later, Nova could not hide her excitement for her first quest. Her father let her go hunting with Genesis in the canyon. If she could accomplish this, then she could finally aid her father. She could finally fight alongside him as she was always meant to. At least, she was told that by a vague memory of a horrible man in a white coat. 

She literally ran ahead of Genesis in search of prey. She wanted to be the absolute best she could, even though her father wasn't watching. He always had an eye on her during training, especially with the small monsters. Now, they were looking for a big one: a griffin. She was simultaneously excited and terrified. She needed to gather five of its feathers for the village healer. Sadly the remainder of the beast was inedible, so her true goal was to carry as many quills as she could in order to stock the clinic as much as possible.

However, nothing went according to plan. 

Multiple monsters ambushed them, each far too strong for Nova to damage with her current skill. For her sake, Genesis shifted his full attention to the battle before him. He didn’t see that she spotted a griffin. He didn’t see her try to take it down on her own, only to chase the injured creature as it fled. He only saw her run into the Ancient Forest alone. 

“Nova, come back!” He yelled his command as he dashed after her, but she either did not hear him or truly believed she could defeat the creature. He couldn’t track her within the trees, his enhanced hearing only working against him as every creature in the forest completely drowned her footsteps. He kept calling her name as he moved deeper and deeper into the unknown, until he heard her scream. Genesis’ heart sank as he rushed after the sound, but again he didn’t find her upon arrival. What he did find were three Shinra security troops with their throats slit and stab wounds through their hearts. 

Nova was gone. Shinra was hunting her. This forest wasn’t within the canyon’s territory. It was free reign for battle. 

Genesis rapidly searched for any clue where she ran off to, desperately racing for his best friend’s little girl. He only hoped whatever killer instinct she unlocked could keep her alive until he found her. After wasting too much time, an idea finally hit him. Yes he would confess to losing Nova in possibly the worst case scenario, but at least they could find her. 

He would never forget the look on Sephiroth’s face when he said the phrases no parent should ever hear. “Nova’s missing. Shinra troops are after her. She’s somehow killing them, but she ran away. We need Nanaki to track her down right now.” 

Sephiroth did not say a single word to Genesis. He moved so quickly he practically teleported to the canyon’s guard and asked for aid. Nanaki sensed the urgency hidden behind his expressionless wall. The protector agreed without hesitation.

Even with Nanaki’s nose, it took an hour to discover her scent not only entered the forest, but it exited the forest. It returned to the direction of Cosmo Canyon, but she was nowhere near the home. Her scent led them to the river between the canyon and a small mountain town called Nibelheim. It didn’t take long to spot their target by the river bank, but something surrounded her. Sephiroth knew without a doubt his daughter was trapped by whatever that creature was, ensnared in a large wing of shaking ebony feathers. The creature wasn’t large but it could be deadly. Thank gods that even with his blade in his hand, he did not attack instantly. 

The wing was decorated with a confetti of white and an adhesive of red. Bones and blood. He didn’t understand what he was seeing until he got close.

It wasn’t a creature capturing Nova; it was Nova, hugging her knees with her head resting on them as she sat on the ground just before the water. Her body trembled, her blood stained sword laid at her side with dirt on the blade. The wing only curled around her, but she couldn’t control her breathing. She couldn’t control her tears even through tightly closed eyes. When she finally looked up to see them all, her left eye was glowing red.

What the hell did Hojo do to her?

“Father-” She sobbed, her hyperventilating breath tainting her voice and her thoughts. “I-I don't know what happened- I don't know how- I-”

He knelt down and put his hands on her shoulders. He knew how to calm panic. He’d done it dozens of times back in Wutai with new recruits. “Follow my breathing.”

“I didn’t mean to- I just wanted-”

“Nova.”

She let out a long whine. She was reaching for the wing at her back.

“Nova, breathe with me, alright?” He didn’t wait for her to answer before he demonstrated. 

In. One. Two. Three. Out. One. Two. Three. 

In. One. Two. Three. Out. One. Two. Three.

She watched him desperately and tried with all her might to copy him, but she couldn’t. The adrenaline running through her body left her in a panic attack-like state.

In. One. Out. One. In. One. Out. One. In. One. Out. One. In. One. Out. One. In-

She was only a bit calmer before her father dared place a hand on the newborn wing. She cried and flinched horribly, almost falling back to hide. “Don’t touch it!” The limb was tender and fresh, barely even dry. Even her own touch hurt. 

Sephiroth’s hand was drawn away long before she spoke a word. “I won’t. I apologize. We’re taking you back home, okay?”

Nova forced herself to swallow hard and gesture to the river. “There’s something out there, Father- I don’t know what but it’s there-”

The silver haired father hushed her never ending string of panic as softly as he could, but she didn’t stop.

“It came back- it came back- it came back-” She grabbed her own hair, each lock knotting around her fingers, rocking back and forth. 

Sephiroth’s hands froze. He didn’t know what to do. He only knew she needed him and he couldn’t let her stay like this. 

“We need to take her to my grandfather. He’ll know what to do,” Nanaki suggested reassuringly.

The father didn’t even remember the beast led him here with his red headed friend. He saw his auburn friend cautiously remove his iconic red coat and attempt to wrap the little girl in it. 

She tensed and couldn’t hide her cries of pain from the contact against the feathers.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” He spoke softly as he leaned down, finally pulling her attention away from her cursed sobs. “We just need to keep you safe. I’m gonna pick you up, and we’re gonna take you to get help, okay?”

She nodded with terrified tears leaving her eyes. “What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me?! Am I a monster?! Why am I a monster!?”

Genesis saw his friend tighten immediately at the question, all his worst fears about her breaking the surface at once. “You’re not a monster. You never have been and you never will be. I’m gonna pick you up now, okay?”

Nova nodded again yet she couldn’t stop her tainted repetition of ‘I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry’.

He carefully hid her entire body in his coat. Instead of the usual way he lifted her, he picked her up with an arm beneath her knees and the other supporting her shoulders. Her wingless side was pressed against his chest. He felt the wing trying to move under the fabric. “Are you alright, Nova?”

Another nod, but she was clearly in pain, the wing trying to wrap around her in defense but only exposing more of itself to outside touch. 

“I know. I know. I’m sorry, little one. We just need to get back to the canyon. I promise you’ll be okay. We’ll keep you safe.”

“Daddy…” She whimpered against him. 

Did she just call him…? 

Genesis looked to Sephiroth as if his friend was the angel of death from her call alone, yet the silver soldier was already on his feet and marching back to the canyon, clearing every monster in their path without hesitation. Nanaki gave the redhead an almost angry look before flicking his head toward the canyon.

* * * 

No one dared approach the party, not with the look in Sephiroth’s eyes. They scaled the canyon to the observatory at the top with ease. The only exception was Angeal joining their little party. He saw the size of the wrap in Genesis' arms and feared for the worst. Luckily, Nova's panicked breath worked to her advantage for once. The sound instantly relieved the former First, but he kept his hopes down for everyone's sake. 

The elder may not have known what was happening, but he did have a plan for it. He told Angeal to fetch the village healer and explained that it may be a stress response to Shinra. They would attempt to cure that first. 

She was terrified, but she obeyed every command they gave her. She followed the healer to the bathroom to clean her wing with only hesitant whimpers. She sat perfectly still as they analyzed and searched her for wounds. She barely blinked as they shined lights in her eyes to test for concussions.

The lab. She acted like she was in the lab. 

They gave her some kind of mixture in a small blue bottle of glass. She needed to drink it a single shot to be effective, and they expected Sephiroth to help ease it through her throat. They didn't expect the little girl to down it all at once, her only reaction was a disgusted expression on her face. Her heart, however, stayed rapid as her breathing drowned. 

“Ask her anything you need,” Bugenhagen suggested. “But be gentle. She knows what she did. Do not barrate her yet. After that, I have something to ask of you.”

They all accepted. 

“Nova,” Sephiroth called softly and though her breath was much better, she still felt fear. In this moment, the pitiful look she gave him clawed at his parental instincts. He wanted to hold her until everything was okay again. Until she smiled or laughed again. “What came back? What's across the river?”

“The woman with red eyes…” She whimpered weakly, the potions effects already showing themselves. “The one from my dreams…”

The silver soldier was ready to burn down everything past that river if it meant helping his daughter. 

“I think… She was trying to protect me…”

His brows knotted. 

“Everything went red… I don’t remember…” She couldn't focus past the medicine, her wing covering half her body like a blanket as she looked up through the feathers. “I'm sorry… I can't… I’m too… tired…” She tried to reach for him, hoping for the smallest touch. “Father…”

He never wished he understood how to give basic affection any greater than he did in that moment, her innocent eyes begging weakly as the accursed red glow faded away. He hesitantly placed his hand on the cushion near her head, and she placed her own hand on top and leaned her forehead against it, taking the single offering as a pillow for her medically induced sleep. The pained look on her face lessened but sustained. 

“When she wakes, we must focus on lowering her stress. You must do something calming with her. It can’t be too exciting, even if it makes her happy. We think the wing is a sort of survival instinct and she still feels like she’s in danger.”

“Why a wing?” Angeal asked out loud, instantly regretting the words as Sephiroth glared at him softly. 

“Hojo did this to her. Whatever he injected her with caused this. I'm sure of it.” He returned his eyes to his little girl, watching her chest rise and fall with each strained breath. “There's no sane logic behind his decisions.”

They quickly silenced.

“Angeal. Genesis. I'd like to speak with Sephiroth alone if that's possible.”

Angeal accepted the request and gave a nod before turning to the door. 

Genesis, however, stood his ground. “What do you need to talk to him about?”

“Genesis,” Sephiroth spoke calmly at first. 

“If this is about Nova, I want to hear it.”

“Then I will relay the message to you later.”

That tone silenced him. Getting any information about her condition was far more important than all of them knowing it right now.

“...Very well.” With those final reserved words, Genesis left, and Angeal followed. 

Both the elder and the silver father waited until the two friends were out of hearing distance before daring to speak to each other. 

“What happened to her?” 

Sephiroth sighed softly. “It was supposed to be a hunting trip.”

Bugenhagen took a breath. “My apologies. That’s not what I meant.”

His inhuman eyes flicked away. He knew exactly what the elder meant. “...I did not have a single part in making or raising her until I pulled her out of Midgar. She was playing with weights when I first saw her.” He glared down at the memory. “They gave me the choice to raise her. I didn’t answer. They told her I would only go see her if she was a good soldier and listened without protest.”

“Was she trained to kill?”

He shook his head. “Not anything living. She was still fighting training bots.”

“Has she killed anything living before today?”

He sighed. He already answered these questions when they first arrived, but he explained truthfully. “Yes. When hunting with my aid. Nothing more.”

The elder hummed before he spoke again, though it seemed to Sephiroth that he completely changed the topic, “I’m worried about her. And I’m worried about you. I believe you both should seek out counseling here. It may help you and prevent this from happening again.”

“I can’t stop Shinra from appearing in the forest.”

“It’s not about Shinra. Our counselors can teach the skills to regulate and deal with stress in healthy ways. It can even stop episodes like hers from happening again. At the very least, it can help her identify what they are and let her ride out the waves without crippling fear.”

He tensed. “How?”

“First they help you adjust in the moment while together you search for the deeper reason. Usually, over the course of months, you explain your anxieties or your childhood and then-”

“Absolutely not.” Sephiroth cut him off.

Bugenhagen paused before questioning cautiously. “...May I ask why not?”

He pulled his gaze away from his daughter to the floor, taking a breath before explaining as conservatively as possible, “...Speaking of my past gets people hurt. I refuse.”

The elder decided he pushed enough for one day. The man had been through enough. 

“I…” He sighed. “I’ll look into it for her.” The gaze on him softened. “I just want her to be okay.”

“That’s all any parent wants. All we can do is raise them better than we were, and hope for the best.”

* * * 

When she awoke, her rapid breath and the fear deep in her heart returned to a significantly lesser extent than before. Sephiroth had stayed with her through her entire rest, and watching her panic return stung his chest. However, he had a plan, with permission he already obtained from Bugenhagen. The elder warned him not to speak of whatever happened to her until she was ready. If she chose to speak, he could listen until her fear returned, but he could not ask questions or prod into her just yet. She needed this unnatural panic attack to stop first. 

When her eyes finally focused on her father, he offered his hand again. “Come with me.”

She grabbed his hand as they both stood up. “Where are we going? Where's Genesis? I need to apologize-”

“We'll meet with them later,” He led her to the door, but she kept rapidly searching the room. 

“Where's grandpa Bugenhagen?” She was hanging out with Nanaki too much if that's what she called him. 

“By the bonfire with Nanaki. Don't worry about them right now,” He spoke as softly as he could.

“Where are we going?”

Pity claimed his expression for only half a second. She usually didn't ask him questions until their tasks were usually complete. She was scared of what would happen, needing to know if she would be safe. “Just outside. I promise you'll like it.”

“What's outside?”

Sephiroth simply held the door open, and she left through the open path. 

Nova immediately checked her surroundings, searching for any and every threat of the terrain, but at the top of the canyon there was nothing. The only items that seemed out of place were the thick blanket with two pillows on top laying on the ground. 

“Look up,” Sephiroth gave his only command. 

When her head tilted to the sky, she couldn't help but gasp. The sun was long gone, and the stars of the galaxy made themselves visible once again. Yet here, at the top of the canyon, she could almost make out the color of each one. It was breathtaking, a perfectly clear night with a new moon, not a single disturbance in the sky. 

Sephiroth put a hand on her shoulder and one carefully on her wing. She jerked away at first, but she didn't feel any pain. “Is it better?”

She touched the feathered limb with pokes, grabs, and light smacks. It didn't hurt anymore. She sighed in slight relief. “Much better. Much much better.” 

He watched the slightest calm in her eyes fizzle to despair that the limb still existed in the first place. Tears welled in her lids as she looked at it, so her father gave her a gentle tap on the shoulder before gesturing to the blanket. “Go get comfortable.”

She nodded hesitantly, trying to swallow her emotion as she headed over. She always had too much emotion. Before she could sit, she stared down at the fabric in challenge. What was she supposed to do with her wing?

Sephiroth originally planned on waiting for her to get comfortable with the new limb before joining her in staring up at the stars, but after a few minutes of silence, he identified her dilemma. He took a seat and held out a hand again. 

She didn't take it this time. She was trapping herself inside her own head to hide what she could. 

His gaze softened again. She was acting like she was back in the lab. Gods she was afraid. He hated seeing her like this. 

“Take your time.” He coaxed her into trying with just a few simple words. Nova gave a little nod and sat down, leaning her head all the way back to stare up at the stars. Her wing rustled in the breeze, its feathers extending to prevent falling to the ground. 

They enjoyed a few minutes of silent calm before a question rose in the daughter's mind. “Father, why are we here…?”

He took a breath before answering truthfully, “To help you feel calm again.”

“Can I be calm after I apologize to Genesis?”

He stared at the stars to avoid her gaze, trying to follow the elders advice not to prod. 

Nova glanced at him. “Father?”

His only response was a small glance. 

Now she looked away too, deliberately facing away from her new limb. “Do you think I'm a monster…?”

She might as well have stabbed him through the heart with the question alone. “No. You are not a monster. Nova, answer me honestly, do you want to talk about what happened in the forest?”

She nodded softly, but he heard her heartbeat increase nervously. “I just wanna explain… I want these thoughts out of my mind… They keep repeating… I just want to stop thinking about it…”

“Talk then. Start whenever you can.”

Another nod came in response before a pause claimed them both. She stared at the sky as she explained, using the cosmos to ground herself. “I missed the killing blow on the griffin... I tried to take it down myself, but it ran away… It wasn’t going to survive its injuries and I didn’t want it in pain…”

Her father sat up as she explained. She didn’t have a desire to kill. She wanted to end its suffering.

She used his breathing technique to keep her heart steady. 

In. One. Two. Three. Out. One. Two. Three. 

“So I chased it… And I almost had it before Genesis called me back… But I was so close so I kept going anyway…” She shook her head at her own decision and took another slow breath. “Then it ran past three Shinra soldiers and by the time I saw them they already knew I was there…” She suddenly grabbed his arm, using the touch as a lightning rod for her focus. 

“Nova,” He called in a small warning. Her heart was beating too fast.

“I can do it,” She denied. “I can, just…” One. Two. Three. “I tried to run but they chased me… I was so so scared… They didn’t use any magic or their guns for a while but then a bullet just missed me and…” She squeezed his arm and squeezed her eyes closed. The stars would not protect her from this. “I saw her… I saw the thing from my dreams and she grabbed my neck and everything went red- and then I was in the canyon and there was blood on my sword- and I was too scared to go home- and when I ran away- I felt this pull in my chest- and when I made it to the river- the wing came out- and it hurt so much- and-”

Tears fell from her eyes and he grabbed her shoulders to pull her attention away. “Nova, stop.”

She obeyed, stopping her explanation but not her flood of memories.. 

Damn it he was supposed to keep her calm. The fear and panic in her eyes only increased with each word as she relayed the events of the incident. He should have stopped her sooner.

“F-Father…” she cried as she tightly grasped his arm. “Can you pick me up…? Please…?”

She always felt safe in his arms.

He stood and lifted her up, keeping his hands on her only as support. He didn’t know what else he could do but her sobs peaked quickly as tears dropped into the fabric of his shirt. He walked around the top of the canyon with her in his arms, hoping the motion soothed her even a little. 

He didn't want to tell her that the same nightmare creature grabbed him as a child. He remembered fighting it off, screaming, kicking, clawing, completely forgetting it wasn't real. Only when the lab techs finally tranquilized him did he truly see who he attacked: the brown haired woman and little girl with a pink bow that Hojo took far too much interest in. He didn't want to hurt them but his fear made him. Yet Nova didn't remember killing the troops or leaving the Ancient Forest. This was different. Why did her sight only go red? Why did her eye glow red?

Nova was far too fragile to answer these questions now. Her breath regulated, and her mind calmed a bit. She just held her father tightly, her wing wrapping around his shoulders and aiding her squeeze. The feathers were warm and soft. 

Eventually, he managed to hush her into worriless silence. He coaxed her into laying next to him and staring calmly at the universe before them. With each passing moment of her eyes on the stars, she seemed more and more tranquil. This did not stop her from asking every question she had, however. Luckily Sephiroth knew the answers to nearly all of them. He always loved the stars too. He studied them as much as Hojo allowed in his youth, and he certainly made time for the occasional book on the topic during his time in SOLDIER. 

Some of her questions were still fairly complex considering all the time she spent with Nanaki and subsequently Bugenhagen. He answered as best he could to slow her questions and keep her from getting too excited. 

He wasn't sure when, but he felt exhaustion grow in her tiny body, her heartbeat slowing and her breath deepening as she began falling into a real rest rather than a chemically induced one.

“Are you ready to go home?” Sephiroth asked softly, trying not to disturb her too much. 

Nova shook her head. “I wanna stay by the stars…”

It was such a beautiful night. Why would he dare argue with her, even as she fought her own eyelids open? Not much time passed before she curled herself into her own wing and leaned against him, her purrs violently returning. Now he felt the vibrations against him. This sound was much stronger than before, and judging by the frustrated and fearful look on his daughter’s face, she felt it too.

He swallowed before forcing himself to tell her what she needed to hear. “You’re okay. You’re not a monster. And Genesis thinks your purring is cute.”

She barely murmured with small surprise, “really…?”

Sephiroth nodded. “Really.”

Nova gave a small hum in response. She didn’t last much longer. Sephiroth waited until he was certain she would not wake before wrapping her in his long coat and carrying her home.

* * * 

Days passed of trying to calm Nova enough to trigger some kind of reaction with the wing. A normal life would be impossible to manage with the extra limb no matter how cool or fluffy people claimed it to be. Sephiroth and Genesis purchased her new shirts and dresses that wouldn’t interfere with the wing. Angeal just tried to make her comfortable by cooking as many meals as he could for her. Nova spent her few hours alone with Nanaki hidden in alleys and just talking. Any time she dared lay next to him or fall asleep on him, she’d purr. 

In fact, she purred almost constantly now. Instead of a subtle hum the former Firsts could barely hear, she was unignorable and unavoidable, as if standing next to a washing machine. Despite the abnormal nature, Genesis couldn’t help but make it his mission to make her purr as loudly as possible. He’d wrap her in the fluffiest blankets he could find, and she’d giggle from the fuzzies along her skin in response. He’d trap her in his lap before tickling her until she couldn’t stand it. He’d coax her into sleeping against him, petting her hair and her feathers. The louder she purred, the more accomplished he felt.

Nova spent a lot more time with Genesis than either Angeal or even her father due to the wing. Instead of silently encouraging her to be calm enough to send the wing away, if that was even possible, Genesis sneaked her out at night and sparred with her. He told her to try to use the wing in any way that felt natural. Of course he didn’t expect her to fly away or anything. She probably couldn’t fly at all with only one wing. Nova may have sorta accidentally called Genesis ‘Dad’ during these little hidden sessions. Though she was terribly embarrassed when the word fell from her lips, Genesis cherished the moment. 

It took three weeks for the wing to dissipate into a swirl of black magic and feathers right in front of all of their eyes. Sephiroth hugged her tighter than he ever had that day, and she was so happy. 

She can be normal. She can be normal. 

Nova hugged him back with no knowledge of his internal worries. She told him she was thankful it was gone, but that it was still there. She felt it lying in wait in her back, ever present but not pressured to release. 

Sephiroth just kept her close. It was the first time he hugged her that he didn't feel like a copy or a mimic. He did what felt right and held her in his arms until his own heart calmed. 

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Thanks for reading! 

[liketolaugh-writes]

I've been playing with a no-one-knows AU where Danny has been married to Jason for years but hasn't told him his secret. Jason knows that Danny isn't human, but hasn't pressed because Danny is so terrified when he approaches the topic. The Batfamily do not know.

Presently, the GIW are in Gotham and closing in, and the Box Ghost has come to Danny seeking help.

----

“You’re a ghost,” Jason said gently, pulling one of Danny’s hands away from his face to wrap it in his own. Danny let him. “Aren’t you?”

Danny’s breath hitched again.

Surprisingly, the Box Ghost looked almost as horrified as Danny.

“What? NO! I, the BOX GHOST, would not out Danny Fenton to his human family! For he is as human as I once was!” He flailed his arms in blatant panic. “There is nothing to reveal, for Danny Fenton is most certainly NOT a ghost!”

“What’s wrong with Danny being a ghost?” Box Lunch wanted to know, tilting her head up to peer up at her father in confusion. “Is it a secret?”

“BOX LUNCH!” the Box Ghost wailed, every inch a mortified parent.

“Yes, it was, or your father would not be so blatantly lying about it,” Damian told her, taking pity on the child ghost.

“Oh!” Box Lunch nodded seriously. “Danny isn’t a ghost!”

Danny let out a slightly hysterical laugh, and then started to cry, gasping quietly with tears pouring down his face, hunched down to hide from them. He didn’t pull his hand out of Jason’s.

“It is no longer a secret here, as it has become apparent,” Damian elaborated.

Box Lunch scrunched up her nose. “Oh.”

“Ghosts are not bad,” Cass said softly, “if ghosts are Danny.”

“Danny.” Jason scooted closer and pulled Danny against him, and Danny let him, pressing into him without unwinding at all. “Danny, I already knew. I’ve known for years.” Danny tilted his head up to give him an incredulous look, and Jason grinned at him. “You’re not good at hiding it, stardust. Your freckles glow when you’re excited and your eyes flash green when you’re frustrated. You walk through closed doors when you’re sleepy and things fall through your hands when people startle you. I’ve known you aren’t human since we moved in together.”

“…Oh,” Danny murmured, guilt and relief and wonder swirling together in his still-wet eyes.

“Phantom!” the Box Ghost scolded. Jason took note of the sudden change in address. “You are the worst secret keeper ever!”

“Shut up, Boxy,” Danny snapped. He pulled away from Jason and wiped his eyes, sniffling. Their hands stayed locked together. “We, we need to hide you and bitty-bite b-before we talk about this any more. I wasn’t joking about the Guys in White.”

The Box Ghost flapped his arms dismissively. “They will not find us! They are looking for YOU, and their instruments will not be prepared for such subtle spirits as Box Lunch and I!”

“They are looking for me while I am hiding,” Danny said, soft but barbed. He wiped his face again and turned around to better face the other ghost, glaring sharply. “Something I am well known to be very good at. Far better at than you.”

The Box Ghost went so pale he was almost translucent.

“You don’t look like a ghost at all,” Tim said, studying Danny. “Your skin is pink, you don’t glow… most of the time, no pointed ears or fangs. Your eyes are normal.” His eyes narrowed. “Is this… not your natural appearance?”

Danny flinched. “I… I…” He swallowed, staring at nothing, and then forced his attention back onto the Box Ghost. “Your base signatures are pretty low. If you stop using your powers and suppress your auras as much as you can, you can probably bring them low enough to hide.”

No answers would be forthcoming for now, Jason understood. He signaled sharply to Bruce and Tim, the most likely to try to interrupt. Wait. Time-sensitive, finish operation before proceeding.

Bruce didn’t look pleased, but he nodded sharply. Tim just watched, thoughtful eyes fixed on Danny. Damian was scowling, Dick frowning faintly, but Cass’ curiosity looked borderline idle. Jason watched Danny interact with the other ghost with a healthy blend of interest and concern, and tried not to wonder if Tim was right.

“Box Lunch, do you know how to land?” Danny asked. It seemed like a silly question until Box Lunch wrinkled her nose and cocked her head.

“Land?” she asked, audibly uncertain. For that matter, her father looked vaguely baffled too. “Like… with my feet? On the floor?”

Danny managed a smile and nodded. Box Lunch eyed the floor, then drifted down to hover at floor level. “Like this?”

“Not exactly,” Danny said, sounding more fond than anything. He slid off the bar stool and knelt down in front of Box Lunch. Jason couldn’t look away; he’d been deprived of any open knowledge of Danny’s nonhuman side for so long that his curiosity was damn near insatiable now. And Danny teaching a kid of his species? That was doing things to Jason. Good things. “Close your eyes.” Box Lunch did. “Feel the energy in the air. Do you feel gravity? Do you sense how it pulls things down?” She nodded uncertainly. “Hold onto that feeling. Let it hold onto you. Do you feel it?” Nod. “Good. Now- let go of the sky.”

The instructions didn’t make a lick of sense to Jason, but Box Lunch dropped right out of the air and landed on her feet. Her eyes flew open, and she pinwheeled dramatically until Danny caught her.

“Ahh!” she squealed, looking dismayed. “I’m heavy!”

Danny chuckled. “No, bitty-bite, you’re still light as a feather.” He picked Box Lunch up and held her out in front of him, smiling. She squealed again, kicking her feet, her eyes bright with delight. “Good job. Do you think you can hold that?”

“Um, sure,” she mumbled, not looking at all sure.

The Box Ghost landed on the floor with a grunt - Jason suspected that he’d been listening to Danny’s instructions too. He held out his arms for Box Lunch, and Danny handed her over willingly.

“Now what?” the Box Ghost asked tentatively, staring at the floor like it would eat him. Yeah, Jason could definitely believe that he’d never landed before either.

“Now, you listen to me,” Danny said seriously. He reached out and grabbed Box Ghost’s arm, demanding his attention, and forced eye contact. From the Box Ghost’s wide eyes, this behavior was as new to him as it was to Jason. But then Danny continued, speaking as firmly as if he were willing his words into existence. “You are not a ghost. You are not a ghost.” Understanding flickered across the Box Ghost’s face, and he screwed his eyes shut. His glow started to dim. “You are solid. You are heavy. You are warm. You are made of flesh, blood, and bone. You are not a ghost. You are not a ghost. You are human.”

The Box Ghost’s glow receded and disappeared. Except for his blue skin, he almost looked human now. He opened his eyes uncertainly, and Danny gave him a weary smile and a nod, letting go of his arm and leaning back.

“But what about Box Lunch?” the Box Ghost asked anxiously, looking down at Box Lunch. She’d squeezed her eyes shut to try and follow Danny’s instructions, but didn’t seem to be meeting with the same success.

Danny sighed. “I’m not sure how to explain it to her,” he admitted, reaching up to run his fingers through his hair as he looked at the little girl with worry. She opened her eyes and gave him an anxious look, and Danny gave her a small smile. “It’s not your fault, bitty-bite. It’s just… you’ve always been a ghost, so you don’t have your dad’s memories of what it felt like to be human.”

Box Lunch stomped her feet. “I can pretend!”

“Then pretend,” Danny said seriously. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just do your best.”

“Wehh!” Box Lunch flailed her arms, brow furrowed in concentration. “I am human! My body is super solid and I crash into things a lot! And I run around on the ground and eat human food! Fear me!”

It was so cute that Jason muffled a laugh, and he wasn’t the only one. Box Lunch ran a circle around the floor, then crashed into a wall on purpose and bounced off, giggling. Even Bruce’s hard expression softened into a fond look.

“That should keep you off the sensors,” Danny said to the Box Ghost, voice low. Something about his eyes looked exhausted. “Just make sure Box Lunch maintains it. Maybe keep playing human with her.”

The Box Ghost nodded uncertainly. “Thank you, Phantom,” he said quietly. “I know that we can count on you.”

[desultory-novice]

TWISTED ICARUS ALLEGORY YES! YES! I even had that excellent Icarus liveblog post in the back of my mind as was drawing this. 

To paraphrase a discussion I had with thecrashman...

"Through pride or resentment, Marx says nothing as it goes on. Not till their little game has become too much to handle. Dragged to his doom by the very wish he made, his first murmurs pleading for something he does not yet know become naught but colorful stardust by the time he has found the strength to cry them aloud."

.

Ahhh... I can fit so many myths and fairytales into these two...

"Grasping At Ghosts"

Dess here to tell you that these three make up the very core of my being. Also, time for my bi-monthly reminder that Kirby did not beat Marx into submission, Marx's very crown-like wings went haywire after taking enough of a beating (just like the Master Crown) and it was that which sent him crashing into Galactic Nova to his doom.

Parallels, parallels...

I suppose the really frightening thing is that, unlike with Magolor and the Master Crown, Marx still possesses (possessed by) the wings to this day, meaning if they really are akin to the Crown, he's still under its(?) sway. Given the fact that his eyes bug out if you leave him standing in Star Allies long enough... and yeah...

[whisperofwonder]

Oh, Baby | Part 1

Haikyuu men x pregnant!reader

Part 2 is here - after baby is born

Featuring: Miya Osamu, Kuroo Tetsurou, Kageyama Tobio, Sakusa Kiyoomi (~ 400 - 500 words each)

Most likely to be followed up at some point by scenes after baby is born because I have absolutely no chill

MIYA OSAMU

You pick at your dinner, trying your best to eat enough to satisfy Osamu. It's not that you aren't hungry, really. It's more that what you're hungry for isn't this. Osamu already worked hard to make it, though, so you'll make yourself content.

"What's wrong?" Osamu isn't fooled. He points at your plate with his chopsticks. "Isn't it good? I knew I shouldn't a' switched out the spices."

"No, it's good!" You insist quickly. "Really. I just - you're gonna think it's silly." You warn.

"Try me," He says, sitting back in his chair and watching you expectantly. You have no choice.

"I'm just really craving something in particular. Something different," You try to mask your disdain as you gesture at your plate. "I want onigiri."

"Really?" A smile breaks across his face. "Little guy wants onigiri, huh? Well that's not so bad. I can whip something up-" He's already out of his chair and poised to root in the fridge. "Whaddya want? We got tuna, umeboshi, or maybe..." He pauses to shuffle things around in the fridge in search of more ingredients.

"No," You interrupt before he can get too far, bracing yourself for what the baby is making you say next, "Actually, I was kind of thinking, well, peanut butter?" He goes still, head stuck in the fridge. "And, jelly?" You add more quietly. Slowly, he backs up and pivots, fixing you with a penetrating look.

"Sorry. It was all muffled in there. What sorta filling did ya want?" You repeat yourself, and watch as the smallest part of your husband dies. He blinks once, twice, then nods very slowly. "Okay," He says, quietly, almost as if he's steeling himself. "Okay." He repeats.

Hands resting on your growing middle, you watch as he methodically prepares the onigiri, with the exact fillings you'd requested. He hesitates with his spoon in the peanut butter, but he does what you asked. "Are ya sure this is my child?" He asks despairingly as he presents you with three perfectly formed onigiri.

"Positive," You assure him with a small chuckle. You can't help it - you're itching to dig into these onigiri, so you do. Is it an absurd combination? Yes. But does it satisfy the craving you'd been trying to ignore all day? Absolutely. You can't disguise your delight as you eat, humming happily as you savor the food your husband had so lovingly prepared for you, despite the desecration.

When you look up, you're surprised to find him smiling at you, head propped on his fist as he watches you eat.

"What're you grinning about?" You ask teasingly.

"Can't help it," He grumbles, "I'm just happy you're enjoyin' the food, even if it is an abomination. I love you." He gives your cheek a gentle pinch, then your stomach a loving pat.

"I love you too, Samu. We both do." You pause. "Want a bite?" You ask, holding the last onigiri out to him.

"Absolutely not."

KUROO TETSUROU

You're in bed, and it's barely 8:00. You never expected your normal day-to-day routine to tire you out this much, but then again you've never been 7 months pregnant before, either.

"Aw, come on," Tetsurou is cooing at your stomach, stroking it gently. "Just a little tiny kick? Mama gets to feel you move all the time." He's curled up with his face inches from your stomach, a dopey smile on on his face as he chatters to the baby as has become his nightly routine. You reach down to run a hand through his unruly hair.

"If you want someone to kick you in the bladder, that can probably be arranged," You say drily, snorting out a laugh when he looks up at you with a pout.

"I just want to feel her move," He sighs, "I feel like I always miss it. Everybody acts like it's so special."

"It is," You say softly, resting your hand on top of his. You can't deny that. "It'll happen," you say optimistically. With how bad he wants it, it has to, you silently tell your daughter.

"Yeah," He doesn't sound convinced, rolling to a sitting position. "Guess I'll go brush my teeth," He says, heading for the bathroom. You roll onto your back, reaching for your phone on the bedside table. You've just opened a conversation to respond to a text when you feel it - the faintest movement.

"Tetsu!" You call, "Come here!"

"What?" He's at the doorway in half a second, toothbrush hanging out of his mouth and a frown creasing his brow, "Wha's wrong?"

"She's moving," You say, and shift to a sitting position. You hear him spit the toothpaste in the sink, and he's there in a heartbeat, hand on your belly. Right beneath his hand, you feel her kick. You watch as the look of wonder crosses his face.

"Hi, baby girl," He breathes, focusing all of his attention on the movement of your daughter beneath his hand. "I love you so much. I'm so excited to meet you." He turns to look at you then. "Finally," He grins, and you can't help but return it.

"Didn't I tell you?" You say smugly.

"Yeah, yeah." He silences you with a minty kiss.

KAGEYAMA TOBIO

At this point in your pregnancy, there's very little that soothes your aching back. Lying down, standing up, moving around, the pain is always there in the background to some extent. That's why you find yourself in the living room in the middle of the night, propping yourself up between the arm chair and wall in search of a position that will provide some relief.

"Are you alright?" You nearly jump out of your skin at the touch of Tobio's hand on your back. When you left the room, he'd been sleeping like a rock as usual.

"Fine," You assure him, stretching to a slightly more dignified position. "My back's just a little sore."

"Oh," He runs a hand gently up and down the muscles of your back. "Is there anything I can do?"

"Hold this for a second?" You say with a breathy laugh, mostly joking as you press a hand beneath your round stomach.

"I can try," He says seriously, moving behind you. You're about to tell him it was just a joke, but then you feel his chest pressed against your back and his hands gently supporting the underside of your belly. Instead of the protest that had been forming on your lips, you let out a groan of relief.

"Was that good?" He asks uncertainly.

"Very good," You're quick to assure him, letting your eyes close. He only hums in response, pressing a light kiss to your shoulder. You'd forgotten it was possible for your back to feel this normal. It's blissful. You could almost fall asleep right here and now.

"You sure are making trouble for your mama," You hear your husband whisper, drawing you back out of your drowsy state.

"It's okay," You murmur, "It'll all be worth it." He presses another kiss to your shoulder, and you sink back into silence.

"I really think we should get you back to bed," He says finally. Even though it means he'll have to let go, you feel you don't have any choice but to agree. "We can do this again tomorrow," He promises as he takes your hand to make your way back to the bedroom. You give his hand a tug and press a kiss to his lips. You'll hold him to that.

SAKUSA KIYOOMI

"I'm home," You hear Kiyoomi call from the front door. You freeze, but it's too late to hide the evidence. Soon enough, your husband appears in the nursery doorway, and you're caught red-handed.

"I told you I'd build that bookshelf tonight," He says, striding into the room and plucking the loose shelf from your hand. He takes the bag of screws from the other, sets them down, and then draws you away from your project.

"I know, but I just had to do something," You insist. "I already put all the clothes in the dresser, vacuumed, washed the drapes, and the box was just sitting there." His brow creases, and you realize you've said too much.

"You washed the drapes?" He heaves a heavy sigh. "How did you even get them down? And put them back up?"

You smile nervously. "A chair," You try to sound nonchalant. "They really aren't that high."

"My love," He says, taking your hands in his. "Please don't do something like that again. What if you fell?" You lower your head, biting down on your lip. It truly hadn't crossed your mind.

"Sorry," You whisper, "There's just so much to do! We need to be ready. The baby will be here in just a few months. I just want everything to be perfect."

"I know," He says, now rubbing comforting circles into the backs of your hands, "And we'll take care of everything. Together." He draws you into him and tucks your head beneath his chin. "I promise. I just want you to be safe."

His voice is a comforting rumble against your ear, and you nod your head against him. "I know," You agree softly.

"Good," He says, pulling back and pressing a kiss to your forehead. "Now, since you've been busy all day, why don't you let me make dinner?" You open your mouth to protest, but with one look at his face, you close it again. "After dinner, you can read me the instructions. I'll build the bookshelf."

You smile at your husband. "Thanks for taking care of us, Kiyoomi," You say, and his expression softens.

"Of course. It's my job."

[juletheghoul]

home

a/n: The premiere look was a literal gift from the Gods, truly fantastic stuff. With that said, of course I had to work on the next chapter of The General and his Girlwife. This isn't the end for them, there is still so much life for them and I have a whole inbox full of amazing asks (I promise I haven't forgotten about them!) to get through, and I always welcome any and all comments and questions or deep dives! Hope you enjoy 💕xo

Warnings; 18+ no minors, vague but big-legal age gap, piv sex, dirty talk, Marcus eats pussy because he's a KING, lactation kink, creampie, Marcus gets emotional, pregnancy and baby stuff, childbirth and some graphic descriptions of pain, talks of infertility, **FEELINGS** let me know if I missed any!

This is the fic I referenced in this preview

Pairing: Marcus Acaciusx F!Reader

word count: 5k (whoops!)

reblogs are appreciated

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The ritual had been completed, and a week later–life had gone back to normal. The two of you had vowed to put it out of your mind until the Gods made their intentions for you clear. 

Marcus, however, was leaving; he'd been called on by the Emperor for a tour, and he had no choice but to accept.

You pouted, and he smiled. 

“It is only for a short time, my love. Barely a moon's turn and I will be back in this house, and your arms.” He smiled despite your obvious displeasure, giddy with the way you clutched so greedily at him. 

“I wish to follow you Marcus, I do not wish to stay here without you.” You buried your face into his neck, taking in his comforting scent greedily. Your nails dug into his shoulders, holding him close while his own wrapped tightly around your waist. 

“And I wish nothing more than for you to be with me, but you cannot. It is not a place for women and I would not have my beautiful,” his hands cupped your cheeks, pressing kisses to your mouth between words, “lovely, tempting wife there pulling at my attention, as well as that of the bolder men in my company.”

You sigh, knowing he would not change his mind. 

“Very well. I will content myself alone.” Your tone made him laugh, and you smiled into his skin, well aware that you sounded more akin to an unruly child than a grown, married woman. 

“You are spoiled, terribly misbehaved and spoiled.” His hands slipped down and grabbed at your backside, “and it is entirely my fault.” 

“Yes it is.” You jut your chin out and he pressed a kiss to it. “When do you leave?” 

“Preparations are being made and I depart in three days time.” He pressed another kiss to the back of your hand, smiling as he led you to sit with him. “Once I am back, I shall plan something for us. How does that sound?” 

“And what shall you plan?” 

“We could travel, we could go to the sea and take in the fresh air, we could do anything my love. Whatever makes you happy.” His eyes shone with the same love you felt in your very bones for him. 

“I only need you for that.” 

-

The intensity of the craving made you frown, pulling your attention from the task of refilling the cellars of your house. One minute you had been taking note of how much grain there was, how much olive oil and wine was in your stores and the next, the desire for figs and honey and fresh, ripe pomegranate was so strong it almost moved your feet towards the kitchens. You stopped yourself though, running through your mental tally of days since your last blood and willing yourself to stay calm. 

“Girl, be a dear and fetch me figs and honey if you would.” You pat her hand softly, unable to stop yourself from softening the imagined blow of asking for something instead of fetching it yourself. Her eyes widened for a moment, before nodding. 

“Yes Domina.” She ran off, and you ignored the looks of the women who were helping you with your accounts. 

“Shall we call for a Medicus, Domina?” The eldest of them whispered in your ear, one who has always treated you with a softness that at times felt motherly, her work roughened hand landing soft on your shoulder. Nerves fluttered in your belly, a deep seeded fear threading through your very being as the memory of your loss filled your mind's eye so vividly it set your hands to shaking. But another emotion emerged, a fragile thing coloured with a hope so big it didn’t fit within your body. Without Marcus, it was difficult to navigate the swirl of different feelings fighting for dominance.

“Domina, let me call for the Medicus.” Gently, she guided you to sit, silently dismissing the staff tending to you. “I think it best you rest while we wait, I shall have him brought here to look you over.” 

“Yes, yes that is what we must do. I—yes I should rest a while.” With a shaky breath you smiled a smile that did not reach your eyes, and headed towards your chamber. 

When the medicus finally did arrive, the older woman held your hand, doing much to calm you in the absence of Marcus. Silently the man went about his business, checking and prodding and looking for the signs that you tentatively prayed were there. 

When he raised his head and smiled with a nod, both you and the woman cried with joy.

-

He was eager to step foot in his house, eager to be reunited with his heart. 

His blessedly peaceful campaign had gone well, the Emperor was in good spirits and for the first time in years, there was peace. He couldn’t wait to tell her how it had gone, couldn’t wait to press his kisses upon her skin. 

The house was surprisingly quiet when he finally arrived, the guards were hushed, his usual attendants were nowhere to be seen and his love was not where he thought he’d find her. 

When he reached their shared room things were stranger still, the gauzy linens were drawn across the windows, blocking out most of the sunlight. Incense was burning, and for a moment he feared she’d fallen ill while he’d been gone.

“My love? What is the matter?” She reclined in their bed, propped up on a nest or pillows, and her face lit up to see him. She was glowing, a soft sheen shining on her brow and for a moment he thought it might be a fever but she looked well, she looked beautiful. 

“I am well Marcus, truly.” She beckoned to him, arms outstretched and he all but ran to her side, sitting close to hold her hands. “We have been blessed, my love, truly blessed.” Tears shone in her eyes, he frowned for a moment until she placed his hand on her belly, and then it felt like his heart would jump out of chest. 

“You are sure?” He brought his face to her womb, pressing his lips to it while trying not to fall apart with joy. “Truly?”

“It has been confirmed, I am with child. You are to be a father, Marcus.” She shone with life, with vitality and was as beautiful as a Goddess, he couldn’t handle the joy in his heart. He wept into her belly, thanking the Gods, and praying for the health of the love of his life, and the child inside her.

-

Every single day of those first few weeks greeted you with fear.

Every free minute, every spare thought was filled with silent prayer, offerings were made to appease the Gods, you ate only the foods suggested by the Medicus. Marcus let you do nothing except rest, and take short, slow walks throughout the house. He was thorough with the instructions given to him, he rubbed the special oil onto the skin of your belly to help with the growth, he never left your side, he was gentle in all things. 

Once you started to show, and the most dangerous period had passed, even you started to shed some of the fear. Hope, and joy filled the house and everyone shared in it. The women were eager to have a little one running around, Marcus grew more and more excited at the prospect and filled your house with things for the child. Toys and a special chair, robes and little tunics to dress them in.

“Have you thought of a name?” You asked him as he rubbed at your tired feet, easing the ache as your stomach seemed to grow before your very eyes. 

“I have, but I haven’t really given any option much thought. It is best to wait until the child is born I think. And you? Is there a name you favour?”

“Well, a boy would definitely be named Marcus after you.” You smiled, imagining a miniature of him. 

“And for a girl?”

“We could honour the Gods, name her Diana, I also think Aurelia is quite pretty, or Acacia and name her after her father.” Your smile grew, imagining a little darling with his soft waves, his square feet.

“Fine choices.” He smiled, moving to the other foot and you sighed, soothed by his touch. 

“I will pray for a boy, to carry your name and carry on your legacy.” He shook his head.

“Give me a clever girl with your eyes, and your smile and I shall be happier than any other man alive.” He pressed a kiss to your shin. Tears sprung to your eyes, it was happening a lot of late, the baby made your emotions run rampant, his sweetness didn’t help.

“There there my love, no tears.” He soothed with gentle tone, well aware of your sensitivity, yet still as patient and loving as always. 

“I cannot help it, the joy is overwhelming, the love for you, for this little being is too much to fit inside me.” You held your belly, tears falling to dampen the skin of your chest. He moved to sit beside you, and gathered you into his arms, once again soothing you beyond words could explain. 

“I understand, I have been so blessed in this life it is difficult not to dwell and fear the worst. Let us just enjoy our good fortune, no more tears, it pains me to see you cry.” He pressed his lips to your forehead and you nodded silently, throat aching with emotion. 

With a tenderness that only made the ache stronger, he kissed the tear stains on your skin, smiling softly. When he got to your mouth, it was a reassuring press, a silent promise to you and to the life growing inside. It helped, but your mood, your appetites changed like the winds these days and the tears turned to desire for him so fast it made your head spin. 

Your tongue breached his mouth, corrupting the softness of his kiss and pulling a groan from somewhere in his chest. His hand pressed softly to your womb, while his mouth claimed yours in the softness of your shared bed. 

“Marcus-” It came out half moaned, half pleading. 

“Yes my love?” He breathed the words into the skin of your neck, his tongue mapping out the lines he liked to travel with his kisses, unsurprised at how quickly your passion for him was stirred with the child inside.

“Do you desire me? Do you wish for me to give you my cock?” Slowly, he exposed you, pulling the special tunic made to accommodate your belly off. The large swell, the heavy weight of your breasts, the swelling in your feet–all of the changes in your body had made you fear he would no longer find you desirable. He’d been quick to correct that assumption however. 

With your lip caught between your teeth, you nodded. 

Carefully, he turned you on your side, supporting the weight of your belly with pillows and linens before divesting himself of his own layers. The sight of him, skin golden and cock hardening turned your cunt to liquid. He smiled at the open desire on your face, positioning himself so he straddled the thigh resting on the bed, while lifting and holding the other, lining himself up at the mouth of your cunt. 

“Are you comfortable?” Your heart swelled for a moment, smiling at him before nodding. 

He took himself in hand, stroking a few times to bring himself to full mast before finally sinking in to the hilt. 

“So wet.” He whispered almost to himself, eyes focused on the way your cunt swallowed his length whole, coating it in your arousal. “My pretty little wife, with her pretty little cunt.” His fingers gripped at your thigh while he found his rhythm, angling himself to find the spot–

You keened, gasping as he huffed out a satisfied laugh. 

“There it is, that is the spot, yes?” He focused, hitting it like a bullseye while you clutched at the linens, too blissed out to answer but it mattered not, he knew. Sweat beaded on his brow, the muscles in his arms gleamed in the low candlelight as he panted out his exertion. His beauty so obvious, so highlighted there as he loved you that it filled the little space in your belly not filled with his child with the beating of butterfly wings. 

Your fingers reached out to him, needing to feel him surround you and he smiled, leaning forward to catch the tips of them with his lips while his hips moved faster. Your arousal pooled at the base of him, soaking the fine patch of hair between your legs, as well as the curls at the base of his cock.

With a crooked grin, he reached between your legs to swirl his thumb around your swollen clit and the climax is so close your legs start to tremble. 

“Don’t stop, please don’t stop Marcus–” It was so close, building like a fire in your hips, spreading like lightning throughout your veins, dripping from where you were joined onto the linens of your bed. Your hand crept down, joining his to press his fingers closer, to guide his movements faster until you burst around him, squeezing him so tight he groaned and slowed his steady thrusting to a grind, his groin pressed tight. Your cunt fluttered around him, pleasure blooming and flooding your body like good, strong wine and it only intensified when he started moving again, chasing his own end while you floated on your cloud. It only took him a few thrusts before he filled you, fucking his seed deep. 

His chest rose and fell with each rapid breath, smiling and laughing softly as he pulled himself out.

Your combined passion smeared against your hip when he surged forward to claim your mouth in a kiss. His big hand curled around the curve of your neck softly, such a contrast to how it gripped your thigh. It slid down, smooth as silk before squeezing at your breast. 

“Oh!’ The warm drip shocked you, the milk beaded at your nipple before dripping down the valley between your breasts. The bigger shock though, was how quickly he chased it with his tongue. The arousal only flared again, sharp as a knife at the moan he let out. With an almost drunk expression, he wrapped his lips around the peak, and tasted your milk straight from the source. 

“Good?” Your fingers threaded through his sweat-soaked waves, cradling him close while he drank deep. His expression was almost sheepish, almost ashamed when he pulled away. 

“I do not know what has come over me,” He licked at the tip, staring at the other breast longingly, “I had to taste you, it’s so sweet.” He dipped his head again, drinking from the other breast, deep, strong pulls that only made the red hot coal of desire within you burn even brighter than before. When he pulled away he was breathing hard, shocked at his own reaction. 

“Did I hurt you?” He licked at sensitive peaks again, filling your brain with a fog of lust so strong you could barely think. 

“No, not at all, it feels really good.” You pulled him closer, urging him to drink, while guiding his hand between your legs. With a knowing grin, he obeyed. 

-

You knew from the moment your eyes opened in the morning, that the baby would come. There was an ache, a pulsing, a violence to its movements within your womb. The child was as impatient to emerge, as you were to give birth and finally have it whole and healthy in your arms. 

With a sigh, you tried to adjust yourself, smiling as Marcus pressed himself closer in his sleep, his big hand holding the swell. 

“I think today is the day, hmm?” You whispered to your belly, it kicked hard enough to make you wince. 

“Gods above, I felt that one, this child will be strong.” He pressed a kiss to your shoulder, pulling another sigh from you. “How are you feeling?”

“I think it will be today, it feels like the baby has moved lower.” You did your best to rise, groaning before he all but lifted you to sit upright. 

“I will make the preparations, the midwife is ready and waiting for our summons.” He rose quickly, making you laugh with his urgency.

“Peace Marcus, it will not be right this second, but I do feel it mightl be today.” You stood, gingerly padding towards him, waving away his frown of concern. “Walking is good for me, it will help me with my labours.” He still frowned, meeting you halfway and squeezing you as tightly as he could without causing you pain. 

“I will be with you, at your side the whole time.” There was a small tremble in his voice you did not recognize, a nervous aura about him that seemed to bolster you. How curious, you thought, that his moment of fear, is my moment of courage. 

“The midwife and her attendants will be there, most men wait until the child is born–”

“I am not most men. I will be with you, holding your hand and wiping at your brow. This is a battle I cannot fight for you, but no one will keep me out of that room.” He pressed his face into your neck and you softened, his fear was justified. Many children did not survive their coming into the world, many mothers died alongside them. You said nothing, nodding softly as his fingers dug into your robes. 

The sun made its way across the sky and as it did your pains grew stronger. Cramps painful enough to steal your breath would squeeze at you like a fist for a few minutes before releasing you. The midwife walked with you, she took note of how much time passed between each attack, readying the birthing stool as well as her oils, her sponges and enough water and linens to be able to tend to both you and the baby. 

The sun was kissing the horizon when the water came, spilling all over your feet like a tidal wave and sending Marcus into a cold panic. 

The midwife did her examinations while your body ripped itself in two. With barely contained screams, and sweat dripping down your brow you got into position, doing your best to focus on your breathing while Marcus kept his word, silently wiping at your brow, and letting you squeeze his hand as hard as you could. 

“It must be now, push.” The midwife and one of her girls were in place, moving your robes aside to have access and you did what you had to do. You pushed. 

It was agony. 

It was liquid fire burning its way through your body, this baby wasn’t being born, it was clawing and tearing its way out of you. 

Marcus whispered into your ear, encouragingly, lovingly, patiently guiding you to breathe, to not give up. He reminded you how strong you were, how loved and how soon it would be over. How could it be over soon? It felt as though this pain had been with you at your own birth, all of your life this pain has been here, it had to be. Hours, days? You could not tell how long it had been.

You cried, you begged for it to end, you willed it to be so; shouted and screamed that it hurt too much, that it was too hard and that you could not do it. You told them that the baby would not come, that you could not do this, you were not strong enough. You screamed that this would surely kill you, you would tear in two and die.

“You will not die, you can do this, my love. Bear down, and push.” His gaze was steely, focused and firm and it filled you with courage.

With a sob and a scream you pushed, and pushed. You pushed so much you thought you’d burst and then pushed more still. Until finally, blessedly, the baby came out.

“You have done it! You have done it my love, my beautiful, strong, courageous girl, you have done it!” Tears were in his eyes as he held onto your limp form, but he was not looking at you. 

“Why does the child not cry?” It felt like you’d drunk too much wine, the relief from the pain so great you would faint soon, yet still, silence. There was a lot of movement, a terrifying moment that seemed to stretch on for an eternity and despite Marcus all but carrying you and laying you back to rest, no one met your eye. 

“Answer me, Marcus, why does the baby not cry? Give it to me! Is it a boy? Is it a girl?” Tears flowed and fear swelled like bile crawling up your throat until a cry loud enough to hurt your ears sounded and the entire room breathed a collective sigh of relief. 

“She is a beautiful, healthy and whole baby girl.” Swaddled and screaming, the bundle was placed at your breast. Marcus sobbed, openly and loudly into your shoulder, his big hand covering her tiny head while you looked at her in awe. She had so much hair, such strong lungs, such a force that you laughed, still crying. 

“Yes my little love, I know, you fought so hard.” You pressed a kiss to her little brow, doing your best to soothe her. 

She took to nursing your breast quickly, a good sign the midwife said and while she and her girls set everything to rights, you could focus on nothing but her. Her little hands clutched at you, taking a few greedy pulls before falling asleep, milk smeared all over her perfect face. 

“She is utterly perfect, she has your hands.” Marcus lay beside you, his gaze on her as though entranced. 

“She has your hunger.” You smiled, the euphoria eclipsing everything. It was so hard to stay awake though, the birth had taken so much out of you. 

“Give her to me and rest. I will be here with you.” With gentle hands, he took her, managing to put her onto his chest without waking her and before he’d even fully settled, sleep had claimed you. 

-

She had fought, both of them had. 

His girls had battled, fought tooth and nail and had come through victorious, though his love had paid a price. She’d bled, bled enough that it had frightened him, chilled him to the bone and when the midwife pulled him aside he already knew what she would say. There would be no more children, another birth might kill her. 

He mourned the fact that his daughter would have no siblings, no other children to fill this house alongside her but his wife would live. That was all that mattered. 

He watched her as she slept, glowing still, if a little wan, weakened by her labours but beautiful all the same. He could no longer imagine living this life without her, he could not see the joy in anything without her there beside him and now his daughter held the other half of his heart. She was the fruit of their union, she was the parts of them that would live on, the living embodiment of his good fortune and just the sight of her filled his eyes with tears. 

He pressed his lips to her little brow, smiling at the furrow in them when he jostled her, so like her mother it made him cry all the harder. 

This was all that mattered, his entire world was in this bed and he was loath to ever be separated from them again.

He didn’t know which name to call her, they’d never settled on anything. Acacia didn’t seem right, how could he name her after himself when she so resembled her mother already? Aurelia, that was pretty, Diana too. He would wait though, let her have the last say. He basked in the glow of the candles, in the comfort of his wife’s warm weight beside him, in the small weight at his chest and said another silent prayer in thanks.

-

She was so big already, three whole months and her growth never ceased to amaze you. She still looked tiny in her fathers arms, his broadness compared to her small body always made you smile, especially because for her he was less the brutal Roman General, and more of a soft, lump of honey. She ruled him implicitly, her every cry, her every happy sound was the reason he breathed.

“My love, I need to change her, those little robes are covered in milk.” There was no bite in your words, there could be no anger or annoyance in you at his adoration of her.

“Yes, yes you are right, she must be changed.” He smiled, bringing her to you. She was tired, yawning and fussing, fighting off her midday slumber with a fierceness that made you laugh. 

“Yes yes I know Diana, one moment and then your father will rock you.” You cooed at her, making quick work of the change and taking the opportunity to wipe her down with a damp cloth before returning her where she slept the best, her fathers chest.

Once he took her and sat at his favoured chair, she was out, little fist curled under her chin. This was his favourite, and yours. Watching her sleep peacefully, safe and loved within your arms, or his. 

“I never grow tired of studying her, already her little face is changing.”

He pressed his lips to her head, breathing in the clean, baby milk smell of her. 

“She will have your hair, already it curls when I wash it.” You thread your fingers through the fine wisps of it softly, smiling to imagine her older with curls flowing down her back. 

“She has your look, your look exactly. I am still in awe that we have created something so perfect.” His hand took yours and brought it to his lips, you bent to press yours to his forehead. 

“As am I, how blessed we are to have her, to have each other.” 

-

When he slipped into bed, you pressed your fingers to your lips, eyes wide to warn him.

“She is finally asleep, we must not wake her.” Your whisper was frantic, and he nodded.

“Yes my lady, I will be silent as the grave.” He pulled you close, whispering in your ear before pressing soft kisses to your shoulder. 

“So long as you can keep your voice down when I love you.” His hands pawed at you but you were so tired, it was hard to reconcile the intense want for him, with the ache of the day settling heavy on your bones. 

“My love, my mind desires this, but my body is so tired.” You pouted at him, mildly upset to deny him.

“Shall I use my mouth? You can lay back and relax, I can take care of you—my lovely girl deserves pleasure, and rest.” He smiled, undeterred and you could not help but smile. 

“And it does not bother you that I will just lay here? Most likely asleep before you have come up for air?” His grey waves were so soft when you raked your fingers through them. 

“It pleases me to please you, you are the mother of my child and the love of my life, I would do anything for you.” He kissed your fingers before spreading your legs wide with the breadth of his shoulders. “Do you wish for me to stop?” He pressed a kiss to your inner thigh, and then the soft patch of hair at your mound, before kissing the lips of your sex. 

“No, I do not wish for you to stop.” You spread your legs a little wider and his smile grew bigger, letting a big glob of his own spit fall onto your sex before chasing it with his tongue.

He is focused, honed in with his gaze and with his tongue on your clit, flat wide licks from where your arousal drips up to the bundle of nerves and it’s like a spike of arousal pierced the very heart of you every time he swiped his tongue over it. Warm, wet and perfect, he swirled around it in time with your heartbeat, fanning the embers burning in your belly for him. 

The fingers that softly scratched at his scalp, now curled into the waves holding him in place as you struggled to keep your mouth shut, but he made it so difficult. The ache building as his brow creased with concentration and his own excitement. His own hand crept down and grasped his cock, stroking at it in time with the delicious circuit of his tongue. That he gained so much pleasure from this only heightened your own, and soon the knot tightened. 

Muscles clenched, all of your body a taut string waiting to snap with every pass, every strong lick. You pinched at a nipple, pulling his eyes up to find yours and he let out a low groan, the vibration of it pushed you over the edge with a silent gasp, and empty rhythmic clenches around nothing. He bestowed a final, filthy kiss to your overstimulated clit before moving quickly to get into position. With the shine of exertion glinting on his golden skin he knelt between your legs, pumping at himself furiously before silently, violently spilling onto your still fluttering sex. Hot, milky splashes of him covering it while he gripped at your thigh hard enough to bruise.

He caught his breath, smearing himself in his own mess between your legs past the point of discomfort. He was so beautiful like this, with the flush of passion lighting up his cheeks and his ears, spreading down his chest. 

He smiled, winking at you before he grabbed the cloth from the basin and cleansing the mess he had made. You wanted to hold and be held by him, but by the time he was done, you were already asleep.

-

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[youngheejay]

Dad and Husband responsibilities

Where Jay could never leave you alone pregnant - even if he missed his members dearly

Starring: Jay x pregnant fem!reader [married] + 3yo son Taesan + enha members

pls comment & reblog 🤍 appreciate all the likes but tumblr doesn’t :(

*****

Jay snorted as he couldn’t stop laughing and cackling at the jokes the boys were cracking. After hearing him snort another round of laughter erupted. He tried to calm himself down, clutching his stomach in pain as a few tears escaped his eyes from all the excessive laughing.

“Wow, hyung, I don’t remember this. How come manager didn’t caught you?” Riki asked with a grin and curious wide eyes. Jay smirked at the memory.

“He caught him! There was this huge tension for a few days between the managers because Jiwoo Hyung didn’t scold him and the others were pissed at him!” Jake explained energetically in a loud voice, almost shouting. Normally, Jay would’ve shut him down but at that moment, as he was in a state of glee, he didn’t care.

“Yeah, I got caught because in the next morning I was totally hungover and still wasted. I missed that one event- what was it?”

“The prada store event.” Jungwon rolled his eyes in amusement as he remembered receiving all the nagging from management. Back then he was furious at Jays behaviour but now it was definitely a story to reminisce and laugh about.

“Yeah, yeah, Jiwoo hyung found me dead in the hotelroom and then-“

“What’s dead, appa?”

All of the seven men whipped their head at a record-breaking speed and looked at the 3 year old with shock written all over their faces.

Jay internally face palmed himself. He totally forgot that his son was in the same room as them as Taesan was previously occupied with his drawing. Usually, the toddler wouldn’t even look up during his focused drawings and, therefore, whenever he called him for dinner, Jay would have to interrupt his art sessions by taking away his drawings.

He probably got distracted from all the loud noises, Jay assumed.

“It’s nothing, buddy,” Jay quickly tried to dismiss his question as he knew that this is not the time and place to answer his sons philosophical questions, and because he knew you’d kill him if you’d find out that he used such expressions in-front of your son.

“Hm,” Taesan pouted but luckily he was too tired to think any longer as he abandoned his play table and waddled towards his dad in a sleepy manner. Jay reached out to him from his spot on the couch and sat him on his lap.

“Tired? Wanna sleep?” Jay brushed the younger ones hair with his fingers and glanced at the clock.

7:13 pm, I should put him to sleep now. He played a lot today with his uncles.

And his uncles defined ‘playing’ not in a classical way but more in a wrestling-taekwondo-kick-boxing-throwingthekidintheair-kind of way.

“No!!!” Taesan whined and kicked his feet. “I don’t wanna sweep appa!!! I wanna pway!!! I wanna pway with uncwle!!!”

Any other day Jay wouldn’t have tolerated this behaviour and would’ve sent him to prepare for his bed-time.

Jay could be a very strict dad sometimes, especially when it came to bed-time. He just knew that his son couldn’t handle staying up too late.

But today he felt like an exception would be appropriate. Taesan missed his uncles just as much as Jay missed his brothers.

“Alright, son, but clean up your play table first, then brush your teeth and change your clothes already.”

“Okey!” Taesan hopped off of his lap and with new found energy he left the living room to climb up the stairs leading to his own room.

Jay shook his head in amusement as he took note on how Taesan skipped the first task on purpose.

“This kid,” he muttered and shook his head again when he saw his child climbing the stairs on all fours whilst imitating dog noises - something he’s never done before. Leaving Jay to wonder from where he picked that.

“Sooo? Don’t leave me hanging? What happened next?”

“Hm?” Jay turned his head back to his friends and faced Riki. “Ah,” he started to smirk again. “Then nothing, I got caught and received a penalty,” he mumbled in a rushed and quiet tone.

Riki almost didn’t caught what he said, “what?” He squinted his eyes at the anti climax and was disappointed at the fact that his hyung wasn’t telling the full story.

Seeing his expression jay nudged with his head towards the stairs, indicating that Taesan might hear them. Frustrated, Riki leaned back on the couch and let out a sigh.

“We were having so much fun ‘til now,” Sunoo pouted and expressed the thought everyone was having.

„That brat literally killed the vibe,“ Jake snickered at Rikis comment. Jay reached out his hand and flicked Rikis forehead, „ouch!“

„Don’t call my son a brat, he is cute.“

„Yes, hyung, he is cute, trust me I know that, I’m his fave uncle-“, “hey!” Riki ignored Sunoos shout, “but ever since you’ve become a dad you are no fun no more! We never really got the chance to talk and let loose like we used to,” he said in a hurt tone as he avoided eye contact.

Jay laughed in disbelief, feeling somewhat offended, “that’s not true we always hangout.”

Riki shot him a look, „ok now you’re just lying, hyung - when was the last time we went to our spot?” he challenged as he referred to the bar where they used to drink and let loose after work - twice a week used to be the minimum.

“I- well, maybe we don’t go there anymore but we still see each other every so often, right?” Jay looked at Jungwon in hopes of support.

Jungwon pursed his lips, “well… we haven’t seen eachother in a longgg time now...”

“What? I just saw you yesterday!” Jay exclaimed. Riki shot up from his leaning position: “eh?! You two met?”

“No! No, hyung, I just quickly came by because my girlfriend needed her hair machine thingy back- what’s it called?”

“Dyson?” Heeseung said. „Yeah yeah, that one, it’s really expensive,“ Jungwon sighed as he remembered buying it for his girlfriend.

Heeseung chuckled at that, „tell me about it. My girl‘s been wantin’ me to buy that for her.“

„Just buy it hyung, it’ll be worth it- she still thanks me for it every time she uses it.“

Jungwon looked at Jay again, „as I was saying: we didn’t meet up and hung out yesterday, I just had to run an errand, hyung!“

„But I mean, Riki said that ever since I became a dad I’m not that fun anymore? That’s just exaggerating.“

Riki started groaning at that, „I’m not the only one who’s been saying! Everyone feels the same! I get it, you have your responsibilities bla bla - whatever you call it - but come on!“

„it’s not responsibility ‘bla bla’ Riki! I’m a father and husband! I can’t just go out whenever? My family needs me.“ Jay scoffed in disbelief feeling irritation crawl up his blood pressure.

„I think what Riki is trying to say,“ Heeseung meddled calmly in, „what everyone’s been feeling lately, that the band hasn’t been together in a long long time- I think all seven of us met at New Year’s Eve.“

“And we’re not the only ones who have been missin the old times, manager said it also yesterday…” Jake said.

“But guys! We’re hanging out right now, aren’t we?”

“Yes! And it was nice playing with Taesan but that’s not the same! We were laughing and retelling stories but then he interrupted us. Which is not the same as when we chill at our spot”

Jay huffed in response, turning his head to Sunghoon who’s been quiet the whole time during this argument, “Hoon?”

“I think, yeah, I think they’re right, Jongseong. You should also go out from time to time and balance the stress out which stems from fatherhood and husband responsibilities,” he nodded as he thought about his own experience so far as a newlywed.

“I’m not stressed!” Jay furrowed his eyebrows.

“Yeah, we can totally tell.” Riki rolled his eyes sarcastically.

“You know, with your second baby on the way, you should take this opportunity and go out with us for once. Just like the old times! No responsibilities, we will have fun like we used to!“

Jay was hardly convinced at Jakes suggestion. He couldn’t leave you just like that, you’re eight months pregnant! And Taesan-

Jungwon interrupted his train of thoughts, „you’re not even trying, hyung. I don’t think y/n would mind. She also knows how much you do for her, maybe she would be happy for you to do something fun.“

„Jay-ah, you should just ask her. You’ve gotten too uptight lately, always stressed, always thinkin’ too much. She’ll probably be happy for you to want to go out.“ Heeseung said in a matter-of-fact tone.

„We all know her, Jongseong. She would want you to go out for once,“ Sunghoon adds. “What’s the saying? ‘Happy wife, happy life’? That also applies to the husband. If you’re always so tense, eventually, your family will also be affected by that.”

Jay was surprised at how mature Sunghoon sounded, not like the Hoon he used to know.

“Wow Hoon, didn’t know you’ve become a big boy.” Jake slapped him rather aggressively on his back, to which Sunghoon just shrugged, “what can I say? I’m the best husband that’s ever walked on this planet.“ Typical Hoon was back.

Jay let out another sigh. They’re not wrong, I haven’t hung out with any friends in a long time.

Just as he was starting to feel convinced he heard his son rush down the stairs and, ultimately, tripping down the last two steps.

Jay sprang up from his seat and comforted his crying son. He had to bite his tongue as he tried not to laugh at his son lying on the ground like a starfish.

„Appa!!“

“Appa told you before not to rush down the stairs, didn’t I?”

Jay picked him up and rubbed his back while cooing: “aw my baby is hurt? Hm? Show me where it hurts“

Taesan pointed at his right knee and hand, still sobbing and whaling. „Shh, it’s ok, appa is here, I will take away the pain, hm?“

He softly blew on his tiny hand and his pajama clothed knee and rubbed it soothingly. „Better?“ Taesan indeed calmed down and nodded. He leaned onto his fathers chest and sniffled quietly, playing with the fabric of Jays shirt.

“Taesannie, you hurt yourself?” Jake asked in a tone he used with his dog.

“He’s not a dog, idiot.” Sunghoon hit him on his head.

“Woof woof,” Taesan replied, putting out his tongue and imitating a dog.

The group started to laugh to which Taesan shyly smiled and hid his face in Jays neck, his injury long forgotten.

Jay wiped away the remaining tears and took out a tissue from a box placed on the dining table.

„I’m sorry, guys. I really want to but you’ve just seen what happened. Y/n is eight months pregnant, I can’t leave her alone with him.“ He said in a soft sigh as he wiped away Taesans snot.

„Aghhh! You little rascal!“ Riki exclaimed as he took away Taesan from Jays hold, spinning and flying the little one around. As giggles and laughters escaped from his son, Jay felt his heart squeeze.

Seeing Riki play with Taesan awakened nostalgia and affection towards his youngest member. Sure, Riki was now a grown man, but that didn’t change the fact that Jay raised him since he was 13 year old. In some sort of way, Riki was his first son.

And he did missed him a lot and the other members just as much. Sometimes, he caught himself reminiscing about their group activities, their dorms and their ups and downs. He could proudly say that they were his second family after he left his home as a teenager.

But now he found a new family - his love, his precious wife, y/n. He had now other, new priorities. That’s what marriage was about after all. Commitment.

Jungwon spoke up: „Hyung, it’s written all over your face - you wanna go out with us“

„How about you put Taesan to sleep, check up on your wife and then we’ll be gone for only a couple of hours. You’ll be back before midnight, It’s not even 8 yet.“ Heeseung suggested.

„That’s actually not a bad idea to have Taesan asleep.“ Jay admitted. Taesan being asleep while he was gone minimised any chaos.

But then Jay thought of you. What if you needed him? You couldn’t even get out of the bed without any support. Well, you always told him you could but he saw the way you struggled.

„But then again guys, y/n is pregnant as f.. as heck. I can’t leave her ‚to have fun‘,“ he gestured the quotes with his hands. „I put her in this situation after all,“ he smirked cheekily.

„Ew,“ Sunoo commented, „just ask her hyung! The worst she’ll do is say no!“

„No, the worst she’ll do is-“ he took a quick glance at the stairs leading to your bedroom in which you have been, presumably, still sleeping.

Jay lowered his voice, „in worst case scenario, she’ll get mad at me for asking and I’ll have to sleep on the couch tonight.“

„So you’re scared of your wife?“

„No!“

…

„no… yes.. maybe a little tiny bit, but you guys don’t get to say anything before you’re in a committed relationship,” he glanced at Jake and Riki with narrowed eyes who snickered around and made fun of him.

„Jongseong!“ Jay twitched when he suddenly heard you calling him from the bedroom.

“Just ask her, dude!” Jake whispered loudly. Jay took a glass of water and made his way upstairs whilst rolling his eyes, hoping Taesan didn’t see his father just do that.

—

“Hi baby, how was your nap?” Jay pressed a kiss on your hair and helped you up to lean comfortably against the headboard.

“Good,” you mumbled sleepily when he sat beside you and handed you the glass of water. When he saw your hand tremble whilst holding the glass, struggling to balance it properly, he sighed softly and took it in his own hand to bring it to your lips.

What were I thinking? I can’t leave her alone in this state to have fun on my own.

————

“Yes, just like I assumed: your blood pressure is way too low, Mrs. Park,” the doctor looked at the machine and scribbled down some notes.

You just entered your 27th pregnancy week when you fainted. Jay just came home when it happened, still clothed in his jacket and cap. Luckily, he caught you in his arms and you didn’t land on the hard ground.

The faint didn’t come as much as a surprise to you than it did to Jay. Which is why he did his best to stay calm when you told the doctor you’ve been feeling a lot weaker and dizzier lately, especially in comparison to your first pregnancy.

Jay rubbed his face. Why didn’t you say anything to him? So he wouldn’t worry?

He chose to stay silent, not wanting to stress you out any more than you already were, so he just silently took your hand and caressed it with his thumb.

“We’ll run some tests. But I can assure you, Mr. and Mrs. Park, there’s nothing to worry about,” the doctor explained, “the best way to get your BP on the normal range, in your pregnant condition right now, is to bedrest, hydration - you have to drink a lot of water - and a certain diet. I’ll print out a spreadsheet for you. If it helps you with the dizziness within a week then we’ll have to stick to that.”

——

Jay was grateful that the diet and bedrest did indeed help you a lot. The only times you felt dizzy and weak were after you’ve just woken up, like now, but everything else was going perfect.

Well to you at least.

Jay didn’t allow you to stand for more than 10 minutes and he always made sure you were hydrated.

Which was cute! Really!

Ok, it was a little exhausting sometimes to not freely do whatever you wanted. But you knew it was for the best. And that he was only doing what was the best for you and the baby.

You just wished he wouldn’t be too concerned sometimes. You can get up on your own but he treats you like a patient with a terminal illness!

Still, you didn’t want to complain.

There were women out there pregnant, and the men who got them pregnant were nowhere to be found. What a shame… you couldn’t help but get emotional at the thought.

You blinked away your tears, quickly brushing your sensibility off as you didn’t want to worry or even irritate him. You could already sense that something was wrong the moment he sighed.

Of course, it didn’t go unnoticed by your husband, “what’s wrong, baby?” he asked. He put the glass on the side table and started caressing your baby bump - a habit he developed during your first pregnancy, claiming this helped the bond between father and child. But you knew he also took it as an excuse to touch you.

The comfort you felt radiating off of Jay, gave you the courage to share your thoughts with him. Which is why your lips formed a pout and your eyes began to tear up on their own: “I’m just so happy and grateful that you’re the father of my children. I wouldn’t know what I’d do if I were ever left alone pregnant and with a child.”

Jay felt his heart rip apart in two pieces. “Aw baby, don’t imagine stuff like that.” He put his other hand on your cheek and caressed it with his thumb, “I’ll always be there for you and our children.”

“Don’t cry, honey. Think of happy things, hm?” He put a chaste kiss on your lips. You nodded and smiled a little as you put your hands on both of his.

Jay was truly disappointed in himself.

How could I think of going out and having fun when my wife is all hormonal and crying at the thought of me leaving her? And not even a few weeks ago she fainted in my arms?

I have to take care of her and stay by her side until the baby is here and until she’s fully recovered, no matter what. He made a promise to himself.

“What are you thinking, Jjongie?”

His hand let go of your cheek, only to hold your hand in it, and while kissing the back of it, he murmured: “nothing, baby.”

You raised an eyebrow and squinted your eyes at that. “Just that I love you very much.”

You were still suspicious at his answer but chose to ignore it by changing the topic.

“Why are you still here? I thought they wanted to take you out tonight?” Jay raised his eyebrows at your question.

“Jungwon told me when he came yesterday,” you chuckled as you brushed away a loose strand falling right above his eye.

„I’m not going with them. I have you here, how could I go just like that? I’ll tell them to leave now so that we can cuddle,” he sent you a cute smile.

As tempting as it sounded, you couldn’t help but furrow your eyebrows in confusion, „why? You always talk about them, Jjongie. You should go!“

This time Jay furrowed his eyebrows in surprise. „No, y/n, I’ve already decided that I’m not going,“ he said firmly and with finality in his voice, „wait- I’m confused, I thought you’d be against it.“

„Why would I be against it?“

„You just said it yourself: you don’t want to be alone all pregnant and with a toddler?“ he said more like a question than a statement, now unsure himself.

„I didn’t mean it like that! I meant like being alone forever and raising children on my own, not for a few hours,” you laughed at his silliness. “And speaking of toddler: why is he not sleeping yet, Jongseong? His crying woke me up, he’s probably all fuzzy and tired from the excitement of todays guests.“

Jay pursed his lips and furrowed his eyebrows in a cute manner, „he wanted to stay awake and play with his uncles… he missed them. So I let him, ok?“

You cooed at that, „aw, you probably didn’t want to tell him no because you also missed them,“

„hm,“

„don’t be grumpy now,“

„’m not grumpy,“ he sulked with a pout.

„You missed them a lot, didn’t you?”

Jay could only respond with a nod, not finding the words to speak.

“So you should go with them tonight!” You exclaimed excitedly as you pinched his cheek, “you’ll regret it otherwise.”

“I don’t know, baby, I- I’m scared. What if something happens to you while I’m gone? What if something is with Taesan and you can’t help him? He literally hurt himself just now!”

“When you fainted that day, you have no idea, I was so scared. I just happened to be there on time to catch you, otherwise you would’ve landed on the floor and could’ve hurt your head or the baby.”

“And,“ Jay let out an amused scoff, “I really thought you’d also be against the idea of me going out and leaving you alone.”

“Whyyy?? Am I not a sweet wife who wants the best for her husband?” you said in a cutesy tone which melted his heart every time.

“I do understand your concerns but babe- listen-“ you grabbed his face in your hands and looked directly in his eyes,

“after we visited the doctor, I already told you, I feel a lot better! Yes, sometimes, I don’t feel well but I stay in bed all the time! So nothing can happen, ok?

- So, let’s do this: I’ll go to the bathroom on my own and also walk the stairs on my own, this way you can see that I’ll be fine! You’ll put Taesan to sleep. And whilst you’re gone I’ll be in the living room, eating dinner and watching some drama. I won’t stand up until you’re back, ok?”

“Pinky promise?” Jay held his pinky after thinking for awhile. You smiled, locking your pinkies with one another, “pinky promise. But only if you don’t try to check up on me while you’re away. No calls, whatsoever.” You squinted your eyes at him.

He squinted his eyes playfully back, making you laugh as you still held on to his pinky.

“Ok. Deal.” He said after a short while.

You sealed it with a kiss.

“I love you.“

„I love you too, my overly concerned hubby.“

—

When you walked down the stairs, Jay did in fact not help you but was standing at the bottom watching every move, ready for - well, you didn’t know either but if it made him happy, so be it!

When you spotted Riki sitting on your couch, you saw that your son was sleeping in his arms. His tiny head laid on Rikis broad shoulder, wrapped in a blanket and tightly snuggled against his - you guessed it - ‘faworite uncwle’.

„Aw, did he get on your nerves Riki?“ You cooed as you caressed your sons hair lightly.

„Nah, this little man is alright. I could actually get used to him.“ He answered teasingly in a low tone as he laid his cheek against Taesans head, closing his own eyes to enjoy the moment.

——

Later that evening, when Jay came back, he settled beside you on the couch. Draping an arm around your shoulder, you cuddled onto his side.

„Was everything alright, babe?“ He caressed your baby bump softly.

„Hm, of course, Jjongie. How was your boys night?“

„It was fun,“ he smiled and for the first time after a while you saw that childish glimmer shining in his eyes.

„You look like you had a lot of fun.“

„Yes, I think I really would’ve regretted it.“

„See? Told you so,“ you smiled in victory.

„Hmm...” he nuzzled his nose against your cheek and closed his eyes, “you always know better.”

“Hey! Are you mocking me?”

“Nooo.”

“Jongseong!!” You frown.

Jay let out a quiet, hearty chuckle, before he started pecking your cheek with a smile on his face. The hand that laid on your bump went to the other side of your face, holding it as close as possible - his eyes were still closed the whole time.

When he heard you giggle he trailed his kisses along your jaw and travelled further down to your neck. He placed a last kiss on your exposed shoulder before he nestled his face in the crook of your neck in satisfaction.

“I’m truly the luckiest man on earth that I married such an understanding partner,” he mumbled against your neck and brought his arm back to wrap it around your stomach.

“I’m the lucky one,” you whispered back, trying to suppress the lump forming in your throat.

You placed a kiss on his forehead as you leaned further into him and rested your head against his. Your hands clasped his arm in-front of you as you closed your own eyes.

…

„I know you cleaned up the living room and the kitchen.“

„Only after you ‘accidentally’ called me.“

You both chuckled quietly.

[bwabys-scenarios]

You get pregnant HCs

!!REBLOGS APPRECIATED!!

characters: Kurapika, Illumi, Chrollo, Feitan, Leorio

warnings: slight yandere vibe to Chrollo and Illumi, mentions of sex

Kurapika

-honestly he’s been wanting to bring up the idea of trying for a baby but didn’t want to put that burden on you until he had more time on his hands

-so it was a nice surprise to hear you were pregnant! He started crying, putting his hand over your belly and crouching down to kiss it.

-he waits on you hand and foot for your entire pregnancy. You want a snack? He’ll get it for you. You’re sore? He’s massaging you.

-if you’re not married yet he makes sure a ring is on your finger as soon as possible once you tell him you’re pregnant. You’re his, and he wants it to stay that way.

-can’t get enough of your baby bump. He’s always caressing and kissing it, keeping a hand on it when you’re sat on his lap.

-he just can’t believe he’s created life with you, and tears up just thinking about how his mother would have wanted to see her grandbaby

Illumi

-he already made it clear that having children was one of your duties as his wife. After marrying you, he’s been stuffing you full of cum every night he’s home.

-when you give him the news, he’s calm, nodding as he calls up a doctor. For the entire pregnancy, a team of doctors and nurses is kept on standby, ready to examine or care for you. You’re giving him an heir after all, and an heir to a Zoldyck is worth more than gold

-you’re out on a strict and healthy diet, not allowed to skip meals or complain. He wants the baby to be healthy, and more important for you to be safe. Illumi doesn’t show it much, but he loves you in his own way, and he shows his love by controlling every aspect of your life to ensure you’re safe and taken care of

-of course you’re given lavish presents and pampered for carrying his baby. Not like you weren’t already sitting in the lap of luxury, but now it’s dialed up to a ten

-he’s always been a bit possessive and controlling, but now you never get any time away from him. Illumi is always by your side, and takes off of work for your entire pregnancy. He won’t admit it, but he gets severe anxiety and paranoia when you aren’t in his line of vision

Chrollo

-chrollo never really wanted children. He’s lived a pretty selfish life, and didn’t want to involve a child in it.

-but when you tell him you’re pregnant, he feels strangely… warm. Telling you to get rid of it doesn’t cross his mind. Instead, he’s preparing a nursery and trying to find a home to settle you down in.

-He never thought he’d be a father, but now the very thought of losing you or the baby fills him with dread. Chrollo has this weird fantasy of having a normal life, one without the lingering trauma of his childhood, where he can truly enjoy being a father without it being tainted.

-but reality was cruel. His trauma caused him to be protective, treating you like a caged bird. Even before your pregnancy you hadn’t had many freedoms, but now you were stuck in a single room, doing the same thing every day. You woke up, got a check up from some doctor, ate, slept, did bits of exercise, then slept.

-sometimes he wondered if you hated him, hated what he had done to you. But he’d watch you smile faintly as your fingers traced your baby bump. You knew he was just scared, and would tolerate it.

Feitan

-he literally looks at you like you’re crazy and says to get rid of it. Bluntly.

-when you start to tear up he freezes. Oh fuck, you were being serious.

-now he’s stuck comforting you as he tries to comprehend the fact he’s knocked you up and that you want to keep it. Is he ready to be a father? Hello no. Will he step up because he loves you.

-fuck. Yeah, he will.

-he hates getting teased as he steals baby clothes and diapers during heists, but relaxes at home when you waddle his way. Surprisingly, he… does thing your baby bump is cute. He has a soft spot for you anyways, and the thought of a little one growing inside of you…

-he’s really gone soft.

-he still steals things and kills people, but now he’s thinking about the future and trying harder to stay uninjured in battle. He has a lover and child to come home to, he couldn’t possibly leave you all alone.

Leorio

-he freaks out when you tell him. Leorio knows very well that pregnancies can be hard on a woman’s body, and honestly he’s terrified that it’ll hurt you.

-once he finds out it’s over for you. Every single morning before he leaves for work he gives you a check up, monitoring your morning sickness and making you eat and take your vitamins.

-he’s taking you to the hospital he works at weakly for exams and checkups. If he doesn’t he’ll go ins and with worries about you and the baby.

-Leorio starts saving up, wanting to make sure every little thing the baby could ever want or need is neatly stored in the nursery before they arrive.

-he’s very lenient with you, and folds every time you give him those teary eyes and ask for chocolate. You’re so spoiled and you know it

[livinghalfway]

Younger Years

Summary: Damian gets temp de-aged to 6yrs old; cue him asking where his twin is. This is how everyone finds out about Danny's existence Word Count: 1541

No one was prepared for the event that occurred a mere hours ago. Nightwing and Robin had been investigating an unknown target that had recently been causing trouble near the docks. There wasn't supposed to be an altercation, but when the person of interest showed up they weren't going to just let him walk away. 

This target had a trick up his sleeve though; literally. The moment he was cornered by the two vigilantes he had thrown a magical blast at Robin that managed to hit him square in the chest. By the time Nightwing had reached his side it was already too late and the magician had used that as his way to sneak away. 

“Robin?” Nightwing's voice is hesitant and soft as he peers down at the very small passed out child that lays in a pile of clothes. “Oh no.” 

As soon as the now tiny Damian is into his arms he’s rushing back to the cave. “Oracle, Robin and I ran into some trouble during our investigation. Alert Batman that he needs to get back to the cave as soon as he can.” 

“What’s happening? Do I need to get Dr. Leslie to the cave as well?” 

“No, not yet at least; neither of us is injured. We’ll need to contact Zatanna or Constantine though. It seems Robin got hit with some kind of de-aging spell.” 

The line on the other end was silent for a few moments before a soft snickering sound filled the comm line. “... I’m contacting everyone. How young would you say he is?”

“If I had to take a guess I’d say he’s 6 maybe 7.” Nightwing says as he glances down at the sleeping boy in his arms. He is taking so many photos as soon as he’s back in the cave Dick promises to himself. 

"So we have a baby assassin who's still deep in the LoA mindset. Is he awake right now? I can't imagine you'd be talking this calmly if you were trying to settle a Damian who  doesn't know you and seemingly woke up in a new location."

"He's asleep right now." He couldn't help but let out an exhausted sigh knowing that it wasn't going to be a fun time when Damian eventually wakes up, "As long as Robin doesn’t kill or hurt anyone by the end of this I'll count it as a personal win." 

"That'll count as a win for all of us." She hums, "Everyone available tonight has responded and should be waiting for your arrival. Good luck."

With that sign off the comm link went silent. He looks down at Damian's sleeping face once more and can't help but can't help to mourn the fact that this is the youngest he's ever seen his baby brother. He loves Damian at his normal age of 14 years old, but he also knows that he's going to enjoy having him this young as much as he can. 

It only took a few minutes after that to finally reach the cave. Dick took note of Bruce, Alfred, Tim, Jason, and Duke who were also in the cave, but ignored them for the moment in favor of rushing Damian to a med bay bed to lie him down. 

Before Dick can even fully settle Damian down he feels the familiar looming presence of Bruce standing behind him. "I hope you have a camera with you; I want to fill a photo album before this whole thing is done."

"We need to confirm that this is actually Damian first." Bruce reaches out, running a hand through the child's hair before gently plucking a couple hairs and turning away back to the computer. 

With Bruce occupied on the other side of the cave Jason, Tim, and Duke all shuffle in around the bed. Predictably, Tim does have a camera at the ready and immediately snaps a picture of Damian as soon as he's in the room. "I'm never letting him forget about this." 

"Just make sure you send me all your photos of this before trying to blackmail him to do anything with them." Dick is quick to say; he's getting his photo album one way or another. Knowing Damian he's going to try and destroy all evidence of this occurring. 

It is then that Alfred walks into the room as well, "Before we continue with the photos I insist we dress Master Damian in clothes that will more properly fit than the ones currently wrapped around him." 

After that was said Alfred gestured for all the boys out of the med bay room while he got Damian dressed in what must be some of Damian's smallest clothes that the older man was able to find. While waiting to be allowed back in the room a ping sounds out from behind them. It seems the DNA test is complete. 

"Well B, is it a boy, or are you still paranoid that the demon brat in there isn't actually Damian?" Jason questions as he walks forward and snatches the report. "Let's see! Yup, the boy is Damian alright; Bruce was being paranoid for no reason as usual." 

"How funny would it be though if the spell did just replace Damian with a 6 year old look alike though?" Duke grins as he takes a look at the report as well.

"… You think there's a spell that does that?" Jason looks far too interested in knowing that answer if the smirk on his face was anything to go by.

"We could ask-"

"You will not be asking anyone that question." Bruce quickly interrupts that conversation from continuing. If Dick had to guess though he'd say that it wasn't over based on the look Jason and Duke share with one another.  "I've already contacted Zatanna, and she's on the way now to assess the situation; nothing more." 

Tim scoffs and gives an exaggerated eye roll, "Oh, might as well let them ask otherwise-."

It was just then the zeta tube pinged and Zatanna was then standing in the Batcave with them. At the same time Alfred also exits the med bay room. "Well Batman, I'm sure you don't want me to be here more than necessary so let's go ahead and take a look at the little Robin." 

"Hm." 

With nothing else said Bruce turns and walks to where Damian is sleeping; Zatanna follows silently behind him. Dick and the others follow as well, not wanting to not hear what she has to say about Damian's situation. 

Everyone watches silently as she examines Damian, saying a few magic words before addressing Bruce.  "Well the good news is that this isn't permanent. The binding magic surrounding him is pretty weak."

"And the bad news?" Dick is immediately asking.

"The bad news is that this isn't something I can just undo right here right now. De-aging magic is always complicated, and the less risks we take the better." Zatanna tells him, "Which means you're just going to have to wait this out. It looks like it'll only last a couple of days." 

Perfect! Dick can't help, but think that is a perfect amount of time. He can definitely get a photo album of the amount of pictures in that time, and they all get to spend time with Damian as the youngest they've ever seen him! The only thing they need to do is make sure the baby assassin doesn't hurt anyone. 

The group after that naturally filters back into the main area of the cave. Zatanna and Bruce share a couple quiet words before she enters the zeta tube and it is only them in the cave once more. 

"Guess the only thing to do now is to wait for the demon brat to wake up." Jason gleefully exclaims, "I for one am excited to see how B handles the little terror." 

"Should one of us be there when he does wake up?" Duke asks; clearly thinking about the kid possibly waking up and trying to attack them.

Tim immediately shouts out, "Not it!"

"I'll do it," Dick assures Tim, "I still need to write my report anyway. I'll let you all know when he wakes up." 

With no complaints Dick gathers his things, and goes to take a seat next to Damian while he writes up an official report of the events that occurred tonight. As he does he makes sure to look up every few minutes; he's not sure when Damian might wake up, and he wants to be ready when he does. 

After half an hour Dick was just finishing up, and he could still hear his brothers loudly talking about something. It warms his heart to think about the three of them getting along; with that in mind he takes another glance at his littlest brother. Damian is of course glaring at him with the cutest little pout.

Wait.

Damian's awake!

"Hey Damian," he makes sure to speak as gently as he can, "do you feel okay? What's the last thing you remember?" 

Now, Dick expected Damian to attack one of them at some point during this; what he didn't expect was for him to do it immediately to the first person he saw. He probably should have though.

[yandere-romanticaa]

she walks in beauty.

🎀 Today is Diluc's birthday. However, instead of focusing on himself, he can't help but to fall into his usual lovesick trap of gentle obsession.

yandere! diluc ragnvidr x fem! reader.

Ever since he was a young lad, Diluc could recall every single banquet and celebration which was hosted by the Dawn Winery estate. He could still sense the smell of various colorful liquors and taste the endless sea of pastries and cakes which were served at such events, making the inner child in him smile.

However, Diluc was no longer a young child.

Ever since the passing of his father, the need to throw any grand banquets was thoroughly diminished. While yes, there were certain things he could not avoid due to societal expectations, he still made the decision to keep things to an absolute minimum.

His birthday was not one of them. At least, not by his choice.

Everyone and their mother knew what day it was today and Diluc lost count with how many birthday wishes and gifts he had received. He was a little touched with the plethora of people who wanted him nothing other than joy, but those same people quickly became a nuisance because he could not seem to be with the one he actually wanted to be with today.

And there stood Diluc, hidden in the shadowy hallway as he watched his beloved prepare for the upcoming festivities. With both his arms crossed and his left side pressed firmly against the dark wood doorframe, Diluc decided in that moment that there was nowhere else he'd rather be than here.

His red eyes watched you thoroughly like a hawk, making sure to remember the ravishing scenery before him.

As much as you disliked his gifts, you didn't have a choice but to accept them this evening. The gentle sapphire necklace hung around your neck perfectly, the fine silver glimmering gently beneath the flickering candle flames. Diluc's gaze quickly shifted to your arms as they toyed with the various strands of hair at the top of your head, carefully adjusting the matching pin he had gotten you not too long ago.

He felt his heart skip a beat once he caught a glimpse of the wedding ring on your finger, causing him to nearly lose his composure and blow his cover altogether. His own ring seemed to come alive as he felt it around his finger, seemingly pulsing with a firey need to just take you, to see the light in your eyes, to beg you to please forgive him-

Even now, he could still hear you weep, for each tear felt like a stab straight into his bleeding heart.

Please, don't lock me away, you pleaded.

"I will be with no one but you. I will give you everything you desire but please Diluc-

Do not keep me as a prisoner!"

He sighed as he fidgeted with his gloved fingers. Diluc hated himself for doing this to you, for making you so utterly miserable. He was the one who took you away, it was him who had stolen that precious smile away from you. If you had been a normal couple perhaps this evening could have been more bearable. Perhaps he could have even enjoyed it, with you by his side.

But that was not how things were going to play out.

Diluc was stuck in a Hell of his own making. Every single tear that you had shed and will shed - that was all on him. Money can buy a lot of things but your love was not one of them. A new surge of determination was born deep inside of Diluc on that night of his birthday and he finally knew what his wish was.

He wished to make amends. Perhaps he could learn to live without your love, even if the mere thought made his teeth shake in fury and heart cry out in blind sorrow.

But he needed you to know that you were loved. He needed you to know that he was going to keep you safe. He was going to love you until his very last breath and even then, he would wait for the day of your sweet forgiveness.

🥀 TAGS: @genshinarchives, @mod-kisa-blog, @juuuuuj101010, @kalopses-sonderes, @mayulli, @b10h4z4rd, @xiaopleasecomehome, @saturnalya, @alatusprinz, @lakxcpsta, @mewmeowmika, @ranposgirlboss, @goldenglow149

Happy birthday to this wonderful man. He was my first ever husband in Genshin Impact, he deserves something extra sweet from yours truly.

[sanguinesmi1e]

Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3 (you're here)

Full fic on Ao3

Art of LBM

Pt. 4: An Unexp-ectoed Party (not on Ao3 yet)

Constantine was quietly freaking out. He couldn’t be sure, but he suspected that the ghost who had turned itself into a cute little tatzelwurm to avoid answering questions might be something far beyond his capabilities to deal with. Everything it said and did suggested it was way outside his scope of experience. While Tim used a shoelace to play with it like a rambunctious kitten, John mentally catalogued the things that threatened to give him a panic attack:

Before the ghost even arrived, the blinding power flowing through his spell array nearly knocked him flat. It had felt like being swatted in the eyeballs by an eldritch god.

The ghost appeared in human form, fully alive, before being transformed by the summoning magic. John had only ever heard whispers of legends about a being who could do such a thing. The legends were vague and grandiose, but some epithets included The One Who Walks Between, He Who Straddles Life and Death, Twilight Walker, Shroud Danger Child, and The Halver. 

The ghost could not only see his soul at a glance, it could perceive all the damage he had done making deals with demons.

The ghost implied it was on casual, friendly terms with the Ancient of Time aka Chronos, Kala, Father Time, etc. And that it had altered the timeline at least once already.

It could age. Despite what the ghost said, only Neverborn should be able to age. The dead were static, and given the death that he could feel sustaining the portal, this ghost had definitely died.

It was brilliant enough to pinpoint a weakness and successfully distract Tim by transforming into a shape that could manipulate his protective instincts. John did not want to admit that he also felt protective of the cute little blighter.

It had hopped out of the summoning circle as if it were just chalk scribbles, despite John working in some of his most powerful containment spells as a matter of what he had thought was excessive precaution.

Shite, the list had already reached seven items. The tatzelwurm (had Drake really just named the thing Little Baby Man?) glared at him and called him “Gross!” 

“Seriously!? This cloaking spell should be more than sufficient.” John grumbled. “Did it really have no effect?” If so, that was gonna be item number eight.

Little Baby Man tilted his head. “It worked.” Then he huffed with amusement. 

Thank fuck for small blessings. 

A quickly muttered spell turned his burning cigarette into a makeshift sort of laser pointer, and Constantine distracted Little Baby Man while he tried to think of what to do next.

“Hey kid, this is a problem.” He kept his voice low, and watched to see if the tatzelwurm appeared to pay any attention to him. It dedicated all its attention to the glowing dot, and ignored the two men.

“I assume this isn’t the normal direction your interrogations go.” Drake wound his shoelace around his hand and pocketed it. “It’s certainly a first for me.”

“Ditto, in so many ways.”

“Any idea what to do now?”

“We should probably return him where he came from, and wait for Zatanna to get back from wherever she’s disappeared to now.” John would really like a second opinion. He would also like to dump this mess in someone else’s lap and be on his way. 

Although to be fair, watching the tatzelwurm careen around after his lazer dot was actually pretty fun. Not that he’d ever admit it. Still, the creature was done answering questions and John wasn’t prepared to bind the thing because he didn’t think he’d need to pack the tools to bind an eldritch god when Batman called him to do a “quick consult.”

Danny couldn’t remember the last time he had this much fun. The CEO person played with him! He did feel a bit bad for hurting his foot, but it was difficult to dwell on regrets or worries when he could attack the string instead. And now there was a red dot to chase! It was very fast and sneaky, but he was faster and sneakier.

Is this what Paulina felt like when she wished herself to be a giant chibi version of herself to be loved and worshipped by everyone? Because he felt adorable. And fierce. He was going to kill that red dot so hard when he finally sunk his claws in it!

Frustratingly, it seemed to also have intangibility powers. Well, Danny knew what to do about that! He concentrated ectoplasm into his paw and bapped it down hard on the dot. This scorched the floor a bit, but when he lifted his paw, the red dot was skewered on one of his claws. It tried to tug away, but he clung tight. Apparently its size belied its strength, because it started to drag him across the floor. 

Danny tried to release the dot, but his claw was firmly snagged, so he resigned himself to being dragged back into the chalk circle. He tingled a bit as he crossed the perimeter, but it wasn’t a bad sensation, just a little odd. Then a portal opened up and pulled him through the water filled tube snake toy sensation in reverse and ugh! Just as bad the second time, if not worse.

The spell spat him out in human form under the Specter Speeder. Or rather, it ejected him at speed so he smacked into the bottom of the Speeder before falling back to the ground with a heavy thud. Thankfully he didn’t crack his head against the concrete, but he still couldn’t stifle a pained groan.

A firm hand wrapped around Danny’s ankle and dragged him out, and he found himself staring up at Drake and Constantine for the third time that day.

“Uh, hi,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I suppose I have some explaining to do.”

Being able to create ghost portals would come in real handy right about now. Maybe he should just commit some arson and let these two deal with escaping the basement on their own.

[pearlywritings]

Surprisingly

synopsis: for the public eye, the head of the Oak Family and his wife are a loving couple. In private they are astonishingly content with each other too.

pairing: Sunday x fem!reader

tw: fluff, arranged marriage, reader is halovian, established some time before the game quest on Penacony.

word count: 2.8k+ words

Nothing supports the man’s prestige and public image more than a proper marriage with a proper woman. So, I want you to meet this very woman, my child…

Two months, fifteen days and one hour. That’s exactly how long ago Sunday became a husband. A role he didn’t imagine himself playing, not with the role assigned to him from above. But, it was Gopher Wood - his adoptive parent basically, who brought you to him and announced his grand plan. And even if the head of the Oak Family had his doubts initially, a thorough conversation held with and without the Dreammaster, plus your immaculate background and some more specific matters proved to him that you were indeed chosen rightfully. He wasn’t sure if it was Mr Wood’s way of helping him, offering you as an aid at handling some of the work-related matters but with the seemingly perfect image of being wed - the elder gave no answers, however Sunday knew better than to question some of his schemes.

And so, your union was sealed. The ceremony wasn’t something exceptionally huge, none of you wanted that, but it was public enough for everyone and their mother to be talking about it. A couple of perfectly sterile interviews, some joint photos and three or four public appearances together, and people have been fooled enough to believe that.

That was enough.

Something as shocking as a wedding would avert the public eye and serve a great purpose in deceiving the people. After all, newlyweds are far too busy for one of them to be plotting something, right?

Right. So right, that Sunday himself was in a somewhat daze for the first week. But it’s understandable - on top of his regular responsibilities he had to prepare for the wedding and get to know the person he was about to spend life with better. Surprisingly, you turned out to be very understanding and supporting from day one, actively participating in whatever additional activity served on the man’s plate. It was weird, new and confusing, but above all he caught himself considering it not unwelcome.

You are astonishingly easy to work with. Well-versed in the matters of Family (but he shouldn't be all too surprised, given who brought you to him), soft, yet - when needed - firm spoken, not afraid to face the crowd in your husband's place for a public announcement and taking a portion of his responsibilities without any questions asked. If not for your interactions outside of all of that, Sunday would've thought you were his secretary and not a wife (but even a secretary wouldn't have known as much as you are aware of).

You are…comfortable. Sunday should really reproach himself for giving in so quickly, but it’s so hard not to. Maybe his vigilance is lulled with security of his patron’s choice or maybe it’s his own longing for normal civil interaction with someone close, but it didn’t take much time to start entertaining your sparks of curiosity.

Oh, how curious you are. Despite being trapped in a loveless marriage, you’ve been willing to learn about him from day one, trying to unfurl at least one tiny secret of his every day. He knows that because you are methodical, because you write it down (and you don’t hide the fact - when he, alarmed, asked or rather demanded you to show him that little notepad of yours, you just did so, with an explanation of your reasoning.)

Speaking of getting to know each other better… It’s still half an hour before your recently established tea time, but… But maybe he could summon you earlier? 

I hope, my child, this woman will become your reprieve. You are not obligated to love her, see her as just a companion, but feel free to treat her as a continuation of yourself. I educated her to match you specifically, after all.

As a continuation of himself… Isn’t it cruel to speak such things of a sentient being? Isn’t it putting one into the position of submission? 

Somehow it feels bitter on the tongue when he thinks of you.

His hand reaches for the bell, but promptly stops before the fingertips can touch the polished metal. Ah, of course, he asked to not be disturbed today. So, let him not violate his own order. He can find you on his own, not to mention, a small walk around the building might help clearing up his mind. Lately, he’s been thinking too much.

Spacious halls of the Dewlight Pavilion are empty, he knows as much, yet he hopes he won’t have to roam for too long, as the gloved hands push the doors of the meeting room. Today you two decided to work from the main Family residence in need of some materials here, and since no congregations were scheduled for the day, the building was all yours.

Each step of his is muffled by the carpet, lining the exactly 39 stairs, every next one lifting some of the weight from his shoulders and smoothing the deep frown of light gray brows. When his heels click on the small podium with the additional three steps, Sunday feels like his head is cleared. 

Stepping on the carpet again, he finally ends up in the big hall with the 5 Lineages symbols and a big City Sandpit in the middle. Quickly fishing his phone out of the pocket, he swiftly unlocks the screen and finds your name in the recent calls, dialing it.

When did it happen that conversations with you outnumbered ones with his sister?

You pick up the phone after just two seconds.

“Hello? What is it, Sunday?”

Ah, straight to the point, he admires that. And the calmness of your tone is surprisingly grounding.

“I was wondering if you’d join me earlier,” he speaks softly, barely holding off from calling you ‘dear’. It’s not wrong for the spouses, but how would you react? He asks strange questions lately. “Tell me where you are, I’ll come fetch you.”

“To answer your first question, I’d love to,” the young man might lie to himself, but he swears he heard your voice sweeten just a little. It makes the little wings behind his ears flutter, which he is quick to still. “As for your second one, however, you might want to look down.”

Sunday follows your instruction without much thought, looking right at the red carpet covering the marble floor.

“...I don’t believe I understand.”

He hears you chuckle, a tinkling sound, lacking any malice. His left wing slightly jerks as the favorable noise fills his left ear through the phone.

“The City Sandpit, beautiful. I am not far from the origami birds’ nest.”

As he moves to round the table, your husband’s heart skips a beat. You called him beautiful, you have done so on multiple occasions already. You praised his intellect, you gently clapped for the perfect choice of the clothes for the day he made, you agreed with him on the most mundane things incorporated into your daily lives. And not once it felt forced or fake. You were surprisingly sincere with him - he would’ve thought that with the Dreammaster’s upbringing you’d have been all mastered flashy smiles and sickly sweet polished words.

But here you’ve been, admiring him in your own quite blunt kind of way.

He immediately spots your tiny figure among the fake buildings on the city’s layout. You are waving at him with a smile.

“Found me,” he hears again in the speaker, but now also from you as well.

“Found you,” Sunday echoes, reaching his free hand to you. When he curls his fingers, you understand and, clutching the strap of the bag hanging from your shoulder, carefully climb onto his open palm.

Your husband is careful, finishing the call and putting the phone aside, before cupping the other hand under the one holding your sitting figure. Bringing you closer to his eyes he can see all the little details on the pretty pale blue dress you left home in this morning, with your second pair of clipped wings wrapped around the waist like another skirt. Then his gaze skims along your neck, adorned in one of the pendants he gifted you and then up to the first pair of wings, bigger than his when you are your normal size. 

He doesn’t have an opportunity to marvel over your intricate halo, because your eyes capture his in a vice, looking at him inquiringly.

“Didn’t expect you to take a break earlier. I thought you liked to stick to your routine.”

This was probably the first thing you learned about your back then betrothed.

“I do,” a tiny smile adorns his pale lips, “however, today I managed to wrap the most attention-requiring matters up earlier. Now only the mundane cases are left.”

“Good to hear that,” you hum, swinging your stocking-clad legs a little. His golden eyes look over your form once more, capturing the image of surprising comfortability in the hands of a bigger being, one that could crash your body so easily at the moment.

“I do wonder however about the reason behind your current predicament,” the male tilts his head in an inquiring way. “I believe I’ve never seen you enter the City Sandpit.”

Well, not to count the very first time he was giving you a tour.

“Oh, as I said, I know your routine, so I usually leave it before our meetings. I actually enter it quite often when we stay here,” is your answer that makes Sunday’s eyes widen in surprise.

“Pardon?”

“It’s easier to do paperwork this way,” motioning to the bag still on your shoulder, you then huff in annoyance. “If only you knew how eager your subordinates to bother me whenever you are unavailable. I am well-informed of my seeming position as the “lady-of-the-house”, but I’ve never signed up to be a link element between you and them, let alone a pawn in someone’s game of becoming first to seek your favor. Pardon me for my straightforwardness, but I much prefer interactions without actual feedback from the interlocutor if the situation doesn’t require otherwise. Except for you, of course.”

Except for him.

“You are my equal. You can always order them not to bother you,” drawing his hands closer to the chest, Sunday turns and starts walking closer to the table’s side where the gates are located.

“As if,” he glances down and catches just the end of your eye roll. “Mister Wood would have had my head if I ruined your picture as little as being distant from your inner circle. I’d much rather prefer just to hide away when needed and return to my secondary duties once I’m done with the primary.”

With the Dreammaker’s upbringing you would think a person can’t be as open-minded. Sunday is sure that it was no different from his - after all you have the clipped wings to match his. But, it seems, you found a way to temporarily escape from the suffocating clutches. Today he learnt a new thing about you, and, surprisingly it warms his soul instead of feeling repulsed.

He carefully puts you down just in front of the gates from the city’s side. Almost knocking off  a little ”DO NOT TOUCH” card near it, your husband moves to the right to let you step out. And in a couple of seconds of blinding light you stand before him in all your tall glory.

“Thank you for making the trip across the city so much shorter,” you grin, shaking the bag’s strap down your shoulder and rolling it, before unwrapping the wings from around your waist and spreading them in a stretch.

“It was my pleasure,” his tone is even, yet the gaze with which he watches you move gives him out. To this day and probably for a long while the levels of intimacy that used to be unknown to him yet which you display are going to surprise him. Sunday almost feels an annoying twinge of upsetness when you rewrap your wings around the dress’s skirt. Though it lets him see a couple of ruffled feathers and he has to suppress the urge of his hand to reach and fix them for you.

Yes, there is some intimacy between you lately, but not close enough.

“If you give me a moment to drop off my papers, I’ll be swift in joining you,” your voice breaks the man out of his self-restraining thoughts, and he lifts his eyes from your waist back to your face.

“Ah, it won’t be necessary. I’d like to have our tea time back at the meeting room, I have some things to discuss with you.”

“So official,” you smile, taking a step to join his side. “Alright then, let us be on our way up. Would you like to fill me in on the agenda of our ‘meeting’?”

“Sure,” Sunday chooses to ignore your teasing, but habitually offers you his elbow to hook your arm in it. “My sister is going to visit soon and she seems to be quite pissed at me.”

“Miss Robin?” Your question is laced with puzzlement. “I assumed from your stories of her that she is hardly in a sour mood.”

“It is true, yes,” your husband sighs, leading you up the first set of stairs. “But I would’ve been mad too if my sibling had gotten married and I did not know a thing.”

“She does not know about us?”

The man nearly halts in his ascending. If he didn’t know better and where your thoughts and loyalties stood in this marriage, he would’ve believed you are offended that he kept such an important fact a secret from his only family member. Nevertheless, he continues his walking.

“I sent her an invitation, you know that. But it seems the planet she’s been on is pretty far away and she’s gotten my message only recently, on her way back. I loathe to admit it, but now I feel very bad and the situation itself is iunjust. I am aware we were in a rush, all because of the- you know why,” he sees you nod from the corner of his eye and feels your fingers carefully dig into his arm, “but Robin has always wanted to be a maid of honor at my wedding. And I ripped this opportunity from her.”

And I am not going to get married the second time. This he did not voice out loud.

For a moment you both fall silent. You get lost in thought, Sunday does so too, analyzing his own words, wondering if this speech of his was too personal, if it was painting him as weak in your eyes.

And his own.

You speak only when he reaches for the knob and twists in to swing the door open and lead you two inside.

“So, how much time do we have before she gets here?”

“Maybe a couple of days,” he breaks the lock of your arms and gets a hold on the strap, sliding the bag down your shoulder and turning to put it aside for the time being. “Why asking?”

“You are a good brother, I can see that, “ ah, here you are, praising him again. “And it’s obvious you care for your sister and wish to give her the world. I suggest organizing a small party for her. This way she could experience what she missed and get familiar enough with me. I can negotiate with Mister Wood, I am sure I can convince him - he has some sort of a soft spot for you, Sunday.”

Surprisingly, it twists something uncomfortable in the halovian’s stomach.

“It sounds… delightful. However, are you certain you’d like to go to such lengths for Robin?”

“Well, she is your sister,” you chose the table farthest from the one your husband has been working at and grab the back of the chair to move it so you could sit, “and I am your wife. I’d love her to believe in us too. If I am not overstepping, of course.”

That’s actually not a bad idea. If almost four months ago someone - even you - suggested he let his sister and future wife meet, he’d be hesitant. He knows his little sister, he knows how perceptive she is - he is not so sure he wouldn’t have cracked under her inquisitive questions about whether he was happy with the arrangement or not. Plus leaving her sad and aching for brother if he let her know of the unjustness of the situation and still chose to proceed with the wedding is just too much for him.

Now he, at least, will not be lying that he is content if being asked.

“I accept your offer and thank you profusely for it,” Sunday slightly bows his head, to which you shake yours, reaching your hand out to beckon him to join you.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You’ll have time to thank me later, once we’ve already done something, alright?”

Surprisingly… It is indeed alright.

[mochinomnoms]

i know in the leech family that its a running joke that the mc is their cleaner shrimp and i cant help but think when its finally the leech parents turn!

Imagine mc and the leech family are going out to do some family bonding and the mc causally picks off some lint or hair off papa leech or mama leech and their mood just instantly brightens :D They go like “thank you dear! Is there anything else on me?” And the parents are just spinning around happy because their child-in-law is doing shrimp things with them! (Meanwhile jade and floyd are off to the side being like “what about me D:<”)

also may I be 🪸 anon or 💫 anon?

YEEAAAAH FAMILY SHRIMP!!!

I think it's a very sweet idea! Whether it's just one of the twins or both that you've gotten involved in, they both enjoy your fretting and picking at them. Floyd most often gets your attention, as he's always getting up to stuff and messy. However, he's more prone to scrapes from basketball and burns from cooking at the lounge, so he gets lots of attention from you. Floyd loves it, he loves being taken care of for once, instead of being feared or seen as a big bad eel. He needs loving too! He needs to be treated tenderly and kindly. Floydie just wants to be loved, and who better to do that than you?

Jade on the other hand will just get dirty when hiking and foraging, but rarely get any scrapes or cuts. He might bruise here or there depending on how it went, but over all you're more likely to need to clean stray twigs, leaves, and dirt for him. In fact, you'll find Jade approaching you after his extensions, every single time, asking for your assistance. Maybe join him in the bath and help him clean up? As his cleaner shrimp? Pretty pleeease? After all, the caretaker needs some caring too sometimes.

When you eventually get introduced to the family and properly fit into your place with the Leeches, with an appropriate shrimp merform! Papa and Mama Leech are just happy that their boys have such a sweet partner. You further solidify your spot when they learn about your “shrimp” tendencies. They think it's so cute! So imagine their delight when you start tending to them like you do their sons!

Papa Leech will often find himself get into...”scuffles” after work. Normally, the family doctor would be available to patch him up, but they were already attending to a patient of theirs. Here comes their resident shrimp, offering to patch him up! You babbling about Floyd and how he always got hurt from his activities at school, so it wasn't a problem. At this point, you're practically a pro! Papa Leech has stars in his eyes, though, he has the cutest child-in-law!!! And you've been doing this for his boys, for free??!! Screw Floyd and Jade if they ever break up with you (like they'd ever would) cause Papa is keeping you in the family for the foreseeable future. Not only are you convenient, but you care for him like family, he'd be a barnacle to let you go. If you're not already married to his boys, prepare yourself, cause he's already organizing the engagement and wedding. No, he did not ask his boys beforehand.

As for Mama Leech, she's been repeated described as a worrywart, and overly cautious, especially regarding her family. I think that, since you weren't brought up in the family like her boys, would be prone to keeping you at her side. If Papa and the twins are off for “work” then you can find her snatching you up for some mother-in-law time to keep you nice and safe! This is when she gets her own version of shrimp tending, via you doing her hair and makeup! She does love dressing up and looking pretty, and is delighted when you start brushing through her hair with your fingers, braiding it and softly applying her lipstick. It's been so long since her boys were little and played dress up with her! But here you are, so sweet and soft and gentle with her! She's now become attached, if you so much as try and leave the family, Mama is sobbing and begging you to stay, while also strangling her sons for what ever they did wrong (she knows they did something the little troublemakers).

I'd say that the twins only get mildly jealous, after all, the more time you spend with their parents the less they get with you! And you're their partner!!! They suppose they should be happy that you get along so well with their parents. Except Floyd. Floyd wishes to monopolize your time and will hide you away with Jade in a dark coral nook. He called you Shrimpy first, it's his right!!!

(I will dub thee 🪸 anon!! welcome!)

[pinescent-and-gingerbread]

˖✧ Through my eyes

✦ Pairing: Arthur Morgan x Fem!Reader ✦ Summary: Karen explains Mary and Arthur's story to you. Saddened, you're convinced you could never compete with her until the man in question proves you wrong. ✦ Warnings/Tags: Self-depreciation from both sides, kissing, comfort, fluff. Reader has been with the gang for a year. Use of Y/N. ✦ Words: 3k ✦ a/n: This is the answer to this ask by the lovely @crystalofmoon19. I really hope you'll like it, dear! And thank you for your support, you've been really sweet to me and my work! As always, I got carried away and wrote way too much. And as always, please reach out to me if you spot any misspellings. Also idk why I made this in Colter, guess I just feel way too hot rn and want some fresh snow + Arthur's coat is perfect for comfort. Credits. Arthur's pic is from my playthrough. Other pics are not mine found them on Pinterest. AO3

“And in the end, she rejected his proposal, then a few months later, sent him a letter telling she was marrying some wealthier gentleman!”

Your mouth hangs open in the air. Karen’s words enter through your ears and create a nice little nest for themselves in your brain. You had no idea. No idea Arthur had been this close to being married. That their relationship had been so strong, that, according to hearsays, he had reached his lowest after their break up, drunk most part of the day, fighting the rest of the time, obnoxious to everyone, even Dutch and Hosea.

“Y/N? You’re okay, there?” Karen asked you, disappointed her big reveal had left you reactionless.

You focused your gaze back on her. Her blonde hair is softly litten up by the setting sun, her breath exhaling a puff of steam as she breathes. Colter is a cold place, and it probably felt even colder because of the morose mood of the gang. You suddenly remember you’re supposed to be shocked. You are, of course, but in a very bad way. Not in an “Oh my God, I can’t believe this Karen, so much gossip!” kind of way.

How could you ever compete with that?

“Yeah, I’m alright. God, I had no idea so much happened between them.”

“Oh, trust me, it was definitely his biggest love story. Never saw him get into someone else after her. Not even Mary-Beth! Could you believe that?”

No, you couldn’t. You weren’t sure why but every word from Karen felt like an enormous stone falling into your belly and dragging you deeper and deeper into the sea. Your silly little crush on Arthur, when you first joined the gang a year ago, had turned into a way stronger attraction. Denying it at first, you had little by little let your emotions win, cherishing every moment with him, thanking Dutch for assigning both of you to the same missions, loving the quiet evenings where he would just sit next to you around the campfire to scribble in his journal while you would do your little hobby on your own. Silent most, but enjoying each other’s company, and so, so peaceful.

More than your emotions, you even had let your imagination take the lead, dreaming about a selfish future with him, seeing it every time he would give you a smile, or laugh at one of your jokes. A happy Arthur, relieved from his obligations, enjoys life's simplest joys. A house, a garden. Maybe a dog, considering he had loved having Copper. A marriage even. And why not a child? If he would feel ready. Something in you was telling you he would be a good father.

But now, you felt like this dream was rotten, condemned.  Like a broken match. The fire, the very thing it’s designed for,  not being able to be lit. Would never be lit. A wasted potential.

You tried to continue your gossiping chat with Karen, voice light but gaze elusive as you peeled the potatoes you were supposed to prepare while discussing, tedious tasks often ended up less difficult this way when you were working with the other girls. But behind your seemingly normal smile and hollow words, a haunting thought was hanging on to you as strongly as a rock trapped in a thousand-year-old iceberg. 

Arthur never fell in love again after Mary Linton.

Night had definitely fallen on the frozen mountains. After your endless vegetables centered-chores, you had helped Mr. Pearson turning them into a decent meal, his incessant blattering about the Navy giving you some sort of distraction. During dinner and after though, once you didn’t have any goal or job left to do for the day, your conversation with Karen came back into your wandering mind, her speech playing again and again like a used gramophone record.

Never fell in love again...

Sitting at one of the corners of the big cabin you had been sleeping in for the past few days along with the girls and some other gang members which mainly served as a common space, you were looking outside by a dilapidated window. A frozen World spread out before your eyes, every inch of surface covered in snow and ice, the landscape ending up looking like it was coated with a thick strange substance —dark blue colors Queen of this gloomy, misty horizon.

Arthur had returned from a very busy hunting day with Charles. Thanks to them, meat had been added to the vegetable paradise of a meal, resulting in a better-than-usual supper. He should have felt cheerful, but his mood wouldn't lighten. 

He had spotted you from across the room, noticing the hurtful absence of your smile on these sweet lips of yours. Smile he secretly loved. Lips he secretly fancied. 

Hesitating for a long moment, debating with himself, a self-depreciative rambling turning in his head like a well-oiled motor, he had ultimately decided to join you and investigate. Something pretty important must been bothering you, because loosing your usual little grin and eating your plate all by yourself really wasn't in your habits.

Approaching you, his boots and spurs clicking and stomping before you could see him, he plants them in front of you, standing there while his eyes lock on your face.

“Miss Y/L/N? Is everythin’ okay?”

“Oh, Mr Morgan. Yeah, don’t worry. Everything is great.”

He doesn’t believe you and honestly, you wouldn’t have convinced yourself either. And Arthur is a stubborn man. A stubborn, and caring one. He leans against the cabin's old creaky walls, on the other side of the window.

“Come on, don’t lie t’me girl. Everyone noticed you’re not in your right mind.” He honestly doesn’t know about everyone, but he surely did. His words are accompanied by a small, polite smile.

“I don’t think… I don’t think you’re the right person to talk about it.”

Arthur’s entire body froze. The hands he had on his belt as always when he was comfortable, flew to his chest as he crossed his arms, his thick winter coat folding with difficulty. His encouraging smile flattened, his brows pleating in a harsh frown.

“Erm… Alright, I get it. I won’t bother you, I guess.” 

Without loosening his arms, he pushed himself from the wall, taking a step to leave you some space. You couldn’t have missed it. This change of behavior, the hurtful expression he had displayed, as if he was truly pained by your words. Disappointed, maybe even shameful to have thought he could help you at all. He was just a sad, ugly bastard, after all.

You felt like you could hear all of it from where you were, and see it in the shadow that had taken his face and the gigantic mass that seemed to have fallen on his shoulders.

No, you didn’t want this. Didn’t want him to feel like that because of you and your stupid feelings, or your own dark thoughts.

“Wait, Arthur!”

He turned around the second you talked again.

“I’m sorry it’s just…” You sigh and look at him with an uncertain expression, knowing your next words were going to be risky. “It’s about you and Mary Linton…”

His eyes turn into two literal plates, his mouth slightly opening in outer astonishment. This was really not what he had in mind. You could have been sad because of a hundred logical reasons, the death of Davey and the loss of Sean and Mac, the complete fiasco of Blackwater, the hundred of dollars lost, the terrible and tough conditions of the Grizzlies plunging everyone into an unbearable cold and a threatening famine.  Not mentioning Hosea’s alarming coughing, Dutch’s mysterious decisions, and Micah as a whole.

But you, out of all these things, were worried about Mary.

Once his eyes had grown as round as they could, they got back into an interrogative expression, the wave of surprise over.

“Wha’…?! How d’ya even know ‘bout her?”

“Karen speaks a lot when she’s bored…” You briefly explained, trying to sound detached.

Arthur rolls his eyes to the Heavens. Of course, folks talked, and you had to know about it all at some point. But this wasn’t ideal at all. He would have preferred to tell it to you himself, at a time he would have felt comfortable doing so, with his own words. He didn’t want this to change anything between the two of you.

“And erm… What exactly bothers ya?”

You open your mouth to speak, but your words are jammed. Explaining that you feel jealous of what the both of them had shared would just come down to confessing your feelings for him plain and simple. 

You felt completely stuck. 

He’s right there before your eyes, the very source of all your worries and your every joy. Looking at you with those confused blue eyes, wondering what is happening in this pretty head of yours. But the words still won’t come out.  You feel more and more powerless, and instead of a sound, your eyes take over to get something out of your body, slow and sad tears filling them like a lonely glacier fills a mountain lake on its own.

Arthur’s usual frown furrows, his wrinkles more visible, contrasted by the shadows from the warm lights of the fire. Suddenly, his internal melancholic speech shuts down, as if the view of a single tear streaming down your cheek were absolutely intolerable to him. No worries nor anxious self-restraints crosses his mind —it’s now only instinct. He sees you crying. He has to help you. This is as easy as that.

His right hand reaches to you by itself.

It feels warm but coarse. This big, big hand on the side of your face.

“Oh, Y/N. Don’t waste those pretty tears for a sour-faced idiot like me.” His thumb gently wipes the drops of sadness that had overflowed from your two delicate lakes. “Come on, les’ jus’ talk about this somewhere quiet.”

Arthur gently uses the hand he had on your cheek to wrap it around your shoulders, solid arm gently pushing you up. He then leads you through the door, other members throwing curious gazes at the both of you.

But he doesn’t care. His priority, right now, is your well-being, and some privacy to allow him to finally whisper things in your ears he should have a long time ago. Not in front of everyone. Not with the other men looking at your sparkling eyes, and listening to the change in his voice he knew would crack, his usual intimidating persona crushed into a million pieces with only the sound of your own. Or with the other girls hearing the oh-so-important words he had to say. No. You would be the only one to witness this. 

He had brought you to the barn where the horses were kept. The snow was falling lazily, a few flakes passing through the holes in the dilapidated roof. The place is enveloped in a heavy silence, as if it was muffling every sound coming from the outside.

Once Arthur had closed the big wooden doors behind you and before he could do anything else, you finally burst.

“I shouldn't cry, I’m so sorry Arthur, I just… She looked like an incredible woman, so beautiful a-and distinguished, and me well… I'm just… me.” Your eyes fell to your feet. You like everything was coming out of you all at once and you couldn't contain it anymore.

“Stop it.” 

“How could I ever mean something to you? You've been with her for so long and even proposed to her and… and never fell in love again after her and…”

“Stop it, Y/N!”

Arthur cut your blabbering panic by pulling you against him. He held you so tightly you were almost crushed by his powerful arms, but it felt so good. Like he was holding together all the little pieces of you that had cracked, melting them with his warmth and molding yourself again with it.

“Now you l’sten to me, sweetheart. I don’t want ya to say things like this ever again.”

The sudden use of the pet name soothed your heart immediately. You buried your face into the furred collar of his big winter coat, the hairs tickling your nose. There, you can feel a little bit of his bare skin, your cheek finding shelter against it.

You stopped talking.

You just wanted him to continue to. His deep voice seemed to come directly from the inside of his chest, and you could feel it vibrating before actually hearing it.

“Ya know I’m no… Am no poet or, or good with words like Dutch…” He started, visibly unsure of what he was going to say. He’s relieved he had initiated the hug, this way, with your face in there, you couldn’t see his. The worried expression it was carrying, like a burden. “But lemme tell ya just how much I care about ya. Oh, my sweet girl.” 

This is it. He tries not to but his low tone begins to tremble. It’s so strange. It feels like forever since that happened for the last time.

“Yeah, Mary has been a real’ important part of my life, I won’t lie to ya. But it was so long ago, gorgeous. So long ago.” 

He knows he won’t shed a tear. He never cries. But his hands shake. His vocal cords vibrate in a vulnerable, softer, and higher-pitched quaver. His body tenses, heart as fast as if racing with a million wild horses galloping in the Great Plains. Even if his words couldn’t explain just how much you meant to him, you could have guessed by how you were affecting his entire flesh.

“Ya know what? It’s true. Our story ended badly. I never fell in love again after her.”

You sigh, more tears wetting your face and his blue coat, this truth so hard to swallow.

“Until that morning, when I saw you brushing Boadicea’s mane; your hair all covered in hay, the brightest smile I ever had the chance to witness on that sweet face o’ yours. That day, I knew my stupid foolish heart had done it all over again.”

You let out a single chuckle mixed with tears and emotions, so relieved. Even when you felt like you were at your lowest, he succeeded at making you smile.

“Grimshaw had forced me to groom all the gang’s horses to “get used to camp’s work”. Must have looked terrible.” You remembered with a smile, details of your first encounter with Arthur flooding your mind.

“You looked like a goddamn Angel, honey. T’was like the sun was shining jus’ for ya. Jesus, I knew it was too late for me.”

You pulled back from him just a little, enough for you to look at him in the eyes, but not for him to let go of you. Now that they had found you, his hands, still slightly quivering, refused to let go, their place on your back and behind your head feeling so natural and right. Your eyes behave the same way as them but with his face. He looks so moved that you have to pinch yourself internally to make sure you’re not dreaming this whole thing; never in your life you had seen him like this.

“I love you too, Arthur.” You confessed back to him, fingers cupping his cheeks in a delicate touch.

You had to stand on your tiptoes to reach his face, but his arm helped you, your lips gently discovering themselves, brushing against each other in a soft and shy caress. Even if both your mouths were chapped by the biting cold, it was the most gentle kiss you had shared in your life, a satiny embrace that left you completely dreamy and light-headed.

The snowflakes silently swirl around the both of you, Nature the only witness of your souls melting into each other.

Opening your eyes again after this moment out of time, you're met with the happiest smile Arthur ever had on his face. He looked like and idiot in love, and you were sure you looked exactly the same.

“Please darlin’, don’t ever compare yourself to her ever again. What’s in the past stays there. And I wanna have a future with you.”

Your dreams sprang back straight from your heart to your mind. The visions you had about the both of you were more alive than ever, reinforced by his own needs shared with yours.

“You’re sweet, you’re funny, you’re so smart and stunningly gorgeous. And, you wan’ a proof?” He playfully asks you, taking his hat off his head, a thin layer of snow falling from it.

Turning it over, he carefully pull a piece of paper out, hidden between two leathered segments in the inner part of his hat. His cut and reddened fingers unfold it and he gives it to you, his big smile turning into an embarrassed and sheepish one.

It’s a sketch of you.

You’re mesmerized by the details of it, the blades of hay messily tangled in your hair, the sparkling in your eyes, the exact clothes you were wearing that day. This smile, you’re more than certain he drew it way more beautiful than it really is. Arthur even had added some lines traced from your head to the end of the paper, as if you were the Sun itself and were emitting your own light.

This was impossible this was the same person as you, her beauty was too radiant and fascinating.

But no matter what you thought about yourself, seeing his work curled your lips in the exact same way as yourself on the drawing. With snowflakes replacing the twigs, you had turned into the living recreation of it. Arthur laughed when he noticed, and realized just how much he had loved you and continued to since that morning from a year ago. He bent towards you to put a small kiss on your forehead.

“Arthur it’s… It’s beautiful.” You find it difficult to find another word, speechless once again. 

You also had no idea of how talented at drawing nor attracted to you he was. This day definitely was full of surprises. You chuckled fondly before taking a last look at your portrait and giving it back to your lover. But Arthur’s large palm wrapped around your hand.

“No, please, keep it. This way, you’ll always remember how you look through my eyes.”

More tears threaten to escape your own, even though those were a direct extract from the immeasurable happiness you were experiencing.

“And... Now that I don’t have to hide myself while sketching ya, I’m going to draw lots of new ones.”

tagging: @a-court-of-valkyries Thank you for reading all of this! Also, I didn't know this was a thing but if ever you want to be tagged in my works too, let me know! It would be my pleasure.

[syrupfog]

Sanji was not born a natural fighter. 

He, very specifically, was NOT born with the superhuman fighting abilities of his siblings. He was born normal. Weak. Useless. He knows this. 

Zeff taught him to fight and Sanji practised. Learned. Grew. But the natural talent wasn't there.

When Luffy picked him up, added him to the crew, Sanji knew it was for his cooking abilities. 

But he knew that being on the crew of the future King of the Pirates meant he couldn’t just be the best cook on the Grand Line. He had to be able to fight, too.

And that’s where Zoro came in. Zoro, who scoffed at him from day one. Who liked his cooking well enough but didn’t seem to care much for Sanji as a person. 

Sanji was pretty confident he knew why. Zoro knew they needed to be strong, and Sanji— he wasn’t strong enough.

He didn’t think he ever would be— he was too normal. Born normal. But he TRIES. On the Merry before everyone wakes up and after they go to sleep, between preparing meals. He sets himself a brutal training regimen. 

He’ll train until Zoro stopped giving him that scathing look.

They get Nami back from Arlong Park and Sanji finds himself limping to the after party. Zoro takes one look at how he’s favouring his foot and scowls. 

In Little Garden Zoro straight up challenges him and Sanji revels in the ability to prove himself. It doesn’t work. They tie.

At Drum Sanji gets injured. He’s too weak too weak too weak— he barely gets Nami help in time, it’s his fault she almost— 

He’s strapped down and his spine fixed and all he can think is that Zoro is right. He doesn’t deserve this role.

People have started calling them the wings of the pirate king. Fucking laughable. Sanji could never be on Zoro’s level and Zoro knows it. 

They fight. They blow off steam. It helps Sanji to cool down, to gauge what level he’s at. He knows Zoro’s holding back.

He thinks, for a moment, that he has finally moved up a rung in Skypeia. He’s getting better. 

All it takes is one moment when he’s changing. For Zoro to spot the marks from the lightning that litter his back. That angry scowl that sets his features makes Sanji’s heart sink.

He takes his frustration out on the Davy Back fight. He tantrums like a child for Zoro’s respect even when he knows he hasn’t earned it, can’t earn it. 

It sort of works, though.

Everything goes to shit in Water 7 and for once it’s kinda nice to know he’s not the one fucking up. Not that he would tell Usopp that. He plans good spicy pasta for his return. 

He fights a ramen man with knives on the train and thanks the stars that Zoro isn’t there to see it.

(After all, Sanji doesn’t fight with his hands— he doesn’t want Zoro to lose the last of his respect for Sanji by seeing him break with his own ideals). 

They get out of Water 7 with a new crew member. He’s a cyborg. He’s strong. 

Then Thriller Bark happens. Thriller Bark sucks.

Zoro just— he just pushes him aside. 

He knows Sanji can’t handle it. He knows he’s too weak. And it’s true but it HURTS. Sanji’s tried so HARD he’s trained for so LONG he’s tried to balance fighting and cooking as best he can, he barely SLEEPS— 

And Zoro pushes him aside.

He takes the damage. 

He almost dies. 

That should’ve been Sanji. 

Sanji hates him for it. 

He hates himself for it. 

He sits in the infirmary and stares past Zoro’s mangled form and wonders what he’s supposed to do now.

They get to Saboady. 

Sanji doesn’t see any of them for two years.

Zoro looks good. He looks strong. He’s missing an eye. 

After two years, Sanji can admit that he had been desperate for Zoro’s approval for more than one reason. 

He sees Zoro’s face light up when Luffy appears and he thinks, so selfishly, that he wants that look too.

Fishman Island isn’t a great start. 

Punk Hazard is— well. 

Zoro doesn’t scowl at him when he’s in Nami’s body, his expression is DIFFERENT. Pained. Sanji doesn’t know why. He doesn’t like it. 

Then he’s back in his own body and Zoro’s scowl is back and Sanji— 

He’s sick of it.

He’s so so sick of it. 

He spends what feels like hours running back and forth in this hellhole of a lab with poison gas invading his lungs and fucking Vergo attacking him and the next time that Sanji sees Zoro once everything is over, he’s busy doling out soup to the masses.

They like his soup, because he’s a good cook. Because he spent two years learning secret recipes and two years training harder than ever before and Zoro still has the gall to scowl at him like he doesn’t want to share the same air. 

Sanji snaps. 

He hands off the ladle to Franky

He walks over and aims a kick at Zoro’s head. 

Zoro ducks. 

He parries the next kick. 

Sanji is relentless. He’s yelling. Insults, obscenities. Their fighting empties out their half of the room. Zoro works all the way up to three swords, breathing hard.

They only stop when Nami throws a weather attack at them and yells to take it outside. Cowed, Sanji calms down enough to slip out he door. 

He’s surprised, honestly, when Zoro follows him. 

“You gonna tell me what that was about?” Zoro asks. 

“Shut up.”

Zoro scowls at him. 

Sanji snaps his teeth. “That! That’s what this is about! That fucking face!” 

Zoro blinks. “You’re mad at my face?” “Yeah! I fucking am! You keep— you’ve ALWAYS looked at me with that fucking face! Like I’m fucking BENEATH YOU!” 

Zoro blinks again. His scowl, briefly, disappears, replaced with confusion. “I don’t think you’re fucking beneath me,” he says, sounding bewildered. 

Sanji pauses. “What— is your face just stuck like that?” 

Zoro’s face drops back into a scowl. “Shut up,” he says. “Maybe I’m just annoyed by you.”

Annoyed. 

Well. That does hurt. The part of Sanji that has realised by now just how much he wants something more than just approval from the swordsman. It… sorta hurts that he doesn’t trust him as a fighter AND doesn’t like him as a person. 

“Oh,” he says.

Zoro’s eyebrows knit together. “Hold on,” he says. “What the fuck.” 

“…What?” 

“You think I don’t like you because you’re, what, not competent?” 

“I’m competent,” Sanji lies. 

“Yeah,” Zoro says. “I know.” 

What? 

Sanji peers at him. “You… know?”

“We’re the strongest people on Luffy’s crew. Of course I know.” 

Sanji’s not strong. He’s never been strong. “No we’re not,” he says. 

“I mean obviously I mean besides Luffy.” 

“I— that’s not what I meant.” Sanji tugs absentmindedly on his hair. It’s fucking cold here.

“So you don’t hate me because I’m weak… you just hate me because I’m annoying,” he intones. 

Zoro looks at him like he has two heads. “I don’t hate you Cook, fucking hell.” 

Sanji throws his hands up, face hot. “Then what is your problem with me? You’ve always done this, always given me this— this LOOK when we’re fighting people—“ 

“You’re coughing,” Zoro says.

 “…Excuse me?” 

“You got some of that poison gas in your lungs. Not a lot, but enough that you’re affected.” 

“Fine. I fucked up—“

“I should’ve been faster,” Zoro says. 

Sanji blinks. “Been faster at what?”

“Clearing the area. I should’ve gone after that fucking clown.” 

“You had a job to do—“ 

“Every time I’m too slow, people get hurt. You get hurt.” 

Sanji scoffs. “We can protect ourselves. We’re all in Luffy’s crew.” 

“But you shouldn’t have to,” Zoro says, hand gripping his swords. 

“You’re the fucking cook, that’s your job. It’s my job to keep you safe.” 

“I’m a pirate, I’m just as capable—“

Zoro growls, shoulders hunching up. “It’s not about being CAPABLE, FUCK, SANJI OF COURSE YOU’RE CAPABLE. But it’s my job.” He starts pacing.

“Those scars on your back from the lightning are still there in the right light. That scar from Drum island too. I’d known you for two days before you ended up covered in fishman blood to the point I wasn’t sure if you had just killed someone or were actively dying.”

He stops suddenly, turning and grasping Sanji’s upper arms, that scowl firmly in place as he stares into Sanji’s eye. “Every time you get hurt? That’s MY failure. My ONLY job on this crew is to keep people SAFE.” 

Sanji stands rigid, keeping eye contact. “Zoro,” he says.

Zoro drops his arms as if burned. 

“Zoro,” Sanji says again. “Mosshead. You’re not in this alone.” 

“My job is swords,” Zoro mutters. 

Sanji, despite himself, barks out a raw laugh. “And here I spent the last two and a half years thinking you just hated how weak I was.”

“You keep saying that,” Zoro says, looking utterly baffled. “You’re not weak. You’ve never been weak.” 

Sanji thinks of metal weighing his head down, of dark dungeons and rats. 

He thinks about Zeff teaching him. About his flaming kicks. “…Huh,” is all he says.

Then, because he’s not weak, he reaches out and grabs onto Zoro’s robe. “You don’t hate me. You don’t think I’m weak.” 

“I’m not going to keep upping your ego,” Zoro growls. 

Sanji pulls him in by his robe and— he doesn’t kiss him. He knocks their foreheads together.

“Shit, ow,” Zoro groans. 

Sanji breathes against his skin. “Mosshead,” he says. “Why do you scowl at me and no one else?” 

There’s silence for a while. Sanji can feel his eyelashes when he blinks. 

“It’s because you’re annoying as fuck,” Zoro says.

And then he surges up to kiss him. 

Sanji welcomes it. 

It’s a kiss with a lot of teeth and too much heat and the taste of cheap sake. 

It’s just what Sanji needed. 

Maybe it’s just what Zoro needed. 

Sanji can feel him scowling into the kiss and it feels like a promise.

[hisui-dreamer]

we are one

Characters: Trey, Ruggie, Rook, Sebek

Synopsis: You shared a night of passion with your lover before you left for the other side of the mirror, but fate's cruel hands strike once again as you realise you have to raise his child alone in your original world. Thankfully, your child is incredibly drawn to magic, and they opened a portal...?

Tags: slight angst, fluffy end because im a sap, fem reader, reader gives birth to a child, reunions

Word count: 4.5k+

Notes: im sorry this took so long lol, but part 4 is finally here!!

Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 3✧Masterlist

A few months passed as you settled back into your routine at home. Eventually, with the noticeable changes in your body, it dawned on you that you were with child—his child, your lover from the other side of the mirror whom you could no longer reach.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turn into months. You had adapted to the trials and tribulations of parenthood. Juggling the responsibilities of work, childcare, and household chores was no easy feat, but you found solace in the small moments of your child's growth and development.

Your child was a true joy to behold, a mirror image of their father in many ways, and you often see the ghost of your past lover in them. Having inherited his magic, your child experimented with their powers, leaving you to support them with what limited knowledge of magic that remained from your NRC days.

On one such experiment, your environment started to shift as a wave of magical energy engulfed you. When you opened your eyes again, he was there, right in front of you—

Shizuka (靜菓) with 静 meaning "quiet, still, calm" and 菓 meaning "confectionery, sweets, pastry"

your daughter had silky green hair the colour of fresh matcha and golden yellow eyes that were reminiscent of fresh honey

you named your daughter after her father's dislike of noise and his culinary abilities that never failed to amaze the whole of Heartslabyul

she's rather a quiet child, not very loud but too quiet either

she gets along with other kids perfectly fine, and she doesn't mind sharing or taking a step back at all, always choosing to go with the flow and not get worked up over small things

honestly she's really a mature kid

also just really good at being a peacekeeper and stopping other kids from getting into big fights

buut she does have a mischievous side and may tease her friends when she's in the mood to

at home, she's pretty obedient and will listen to you, but there are moments when she sneaks around

loves helping you with cooking, and her eyes sparkle when she's baking with you

she loves sweets and desserts, but thanks to your warnings about her dental health, she does stop herself from eating too much sugar

is slightly freaked out about cavities so don't you worry, she'll never need any reminding about brushing her teeth or late night snacks

when it comes to school, she doesn't put in too much effort, but you can tell she'd be excellent if she cared more about her grades

which is clearly shown when fixates on learning magic, always so focused that you'll have to call her twice before she snaps out of her trance

you can't blame her for giving it her all though, after all, you've never seen her more excited than when you told her how amazing a person her father is, calm and soothing like a gentle summer rain

once she puts her heart to it, there's really no stopping her

so on another normal evening, as you were cooking dinner while she was studying on the kitchen counter, you found yourself enveloped by a soft light

when you open your eyes, you find yourself standing outside a charming bakery, the fragrance of roses engulfing your senses

and peering through the bakery windows, was the man you had yearned for all these years

It was just a normal day of running the bakery for Trey. With the sun on the verge of setting, he began preparations for closing, when the soft chime of the bell announced a new customer's arrival. He turned around, catching sight of you. His eyes widened in surprise, mirroring the disbelief in your own.

Before words could be exchanged, Trey rushed past the counter. The warmth of his embrace enveloped you as he pulled you close. The years melted away, and the two of you were transported back to a time when you always had each other.

"Is this real?" he wondered aloud, your hearts pounding in sync.

You nodded into his shoulder, tears flowing freely down your cheeks. He pulled back slightly, brushing away your tears as his gaze softened, a warm smile gracing his lips.

"It's been a long time," he whispered. "I missed you so much."

he's just holding you tight, crying as he thanks the heavens for being so lucky to have you in his life again

trey returned to his hometown after graduation, helping out and eventually inheriting the family bakery

he loved incorporating your favourite foods into the store's selection, adding some new desserts from your world that you taught him, and always reminiscing on those tender moments when it was just the two of you in the kitchen

he always knew you had to go home eventually, but that didn't stop him from wishing you could be his life-long partner, supporting each other through thick and thin

so he's beyond grateful and excited to know you and his daughter(?!) shared the feelings even though you were apart

he's rather surprised about said daughter, but there would be no denying how similar they looked

shizuka is a bit nervous, tugging your skirt as she stares curiously at her supposed father

but Trey very quickly makes her feel at home, his warm smiles and even warmer hugs melting away all her nervousness!

he closes the bakery for a few days to help the two of you settle down a bit

this involves reunions with friends and of course, the clover family, who welcome you and their granddaughter with open arms

the clovers are just really really glad their son finally has someone in his life and that he seems a lot more energised now

Shizuka is very quickly introduced to uncle riddle!! who is very surprised but delighted by the behaving little girl who seems to stick to him a lot

uncle deuce and ace also get along with her wonderfully!! especially when Shizuka wants to play around with riddle for a bit hahaha

don't forget uncle cater who flies instantly to meet his new adorable niece and show her off on magicam!!

the three of you settle into a nice rhythm and you help out trey at the bakery now

Trey is very very affectionate with you always, pecking you on the cheek or nuzzling into your neck any chance he can get

Shizuka loves helping out whenever she can too!! she loves learning from her papa and sometimes will just spend hours watching him work

all in all, a blissful, simple family that Trey had always dreamed of, but never would he have believed he was so blessed to have the two of you come back to him

Trey gazed at the young girl, her silky green hair catching the light in a way that seemed surreal. With a heart full of emotions, he approached her hesitantly, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Shizuka, was it?" he spoke softly, the name lingering on his lips like a prayer. "It's so nice to meet you."

Shizuka's gaze flickered from Trey to you, seeking reassurance. With a gentle nod from you, she turned her attention back to him, her eyes studying him intently.

Trey knelt to her level, his heart racing. "I know this might be a lot to take in, but I'm your father."

She took a small step forward, cautious but curious. Trey extended his hand tentatively, offering a warm smile. Without a word, Shizuka reached out, placing her small hand in his.

A soft smile graced her lips, mirroring the warmth reflected in Trey's eyes. With a tentative but genuine embrace, Trey enveloped his daughter in his arms, tears cascading down his cheeks. Shizuka, feeling the sincerity in his embrace, wrapped her arms around him as well, a sense of belonging beginning to bloom within her.

Kenji (賢至) with 賢 meaning "intelligence, wisdom, cleverness" and 至 meaning "to arrive at, to reach, to come to"

Kenji (賢至) with 賢 meaning "intelligence, wisdom, cleverness" and 至 meaning "to arrive at, to reach, to come to"

your son had the softest hair the colour of wheat, and blue eyes that reminded you of cloudy skies

you named your son after how clever his father was, and his endless determination to reach his goals

he's a really sweet kid, always eager to help around and even others when he notices they're in need

you've heard about the many experiences his father had when he grew up, so you've tried your hardest to make sure Kenji wouldn't have to go through them, knowing it's what your hyena would've wanted

but even then, he's never complained about not having enough, there's a subtle wisdom to him that really mirrors his father

though he differs from him in that he's always willing to share, because he knows not everyone can be so lucky

he may not be too good at haggling prices, but his puppy dog eyes work just as well!

he loves doing chores with you, always smiling and laughing that familiar laugh as he helps you sweep the floor while he tells you about his day

he loves cuddles and kisses!!! his favourite part of the day is climbing into your warm bed to wrap his arms around you, asking you for a goodnight kiss and sometimes even bedtime stories

his ears and tails are a bit of a problem, so you keep his hair a bit long to hide the ears, or just say they're fun accessories

you've told him how his father's determination to support his family and community shined through even in unfortunate circumstances, the resourceful and intelligent man he became and you fell in love with

his blue-grey eyes almost resembled a clear sky when he listened to you, asking you more and more questions about this amazing person

he'll try learning more to be like him, but his kind nature stops him from being too schemey

he's not exactly academic weapon material, but he's pretty quick at absorbing information and putting it into practice

and with lots of determination and practice, he somehow manages to manifest the very thing the two of you wanted, and before your eyes was the man who never failed to make you laugh with him

As Ruggie's eyes adjusted, your figure slowly came into focus, revealing the very person who took his heart with them. "Prefect...?" He whispered, his voice a mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy.

His usually carefree expression shifted to one of disbelief, and then a bittersweet smile spread across his face as the tears welled up in his eyes. Without a second thought, he rushed towards you, sweeping you into a tight embrace.

"You're here... You're really here, right?" Ruggie mumbled, his voice choked with emotion.

You nodded furiously, comfort washing over you at his touch. "Yes, Ruggie, it's real. I'm really here."

His hand reached up to thread his fingers through your hair, cupping the back of your head. "I'm so glad... So, so glad..."

he's holding onto you as tightly as he can, so afraid that you'd disappear into the light if he let you loose for even a bit

after graduation, Ruggie followed leona to become his official attendant, what with him knowing how leona likes to get things done, and his ability to pick up etiquette cues

he's also a great information gatherer, so he's perfectly able to assist leona with his foreign affairs

it's leona's voice that finally breaks the two of you out of your trance, him rushing over to investigate that weird light

the two of you pull back and you almost wouldn't notice it, but leona's smile has softened a bit from the image you had in your memory

Ruggie never expected himself to be a father, and things are going a bit faster than he'd like, but there's no denying he's absolutely grateful to have you and your kid at his side

almost immediately the next day, he takes you back to his hometown so you and Kenji can meet grandma and the neighbourhood

grandma bucchi welcomes the two of you so warmly, she even gets a little teary eyed when she sees Kenji, with him looking so similar to the very hyena she raised

leona and Ruggie delegate a room for you in the side palace, where they also live, so you'll be able to see familiar faces often

Kenji loves following his father around, picking up his mannerisms and wanting to learn more about being more schemey

Ruggie's a bit conflicted his angel of a son wants to learn his ways but even he can't deny those puppy dog eyes

uncle leona and guard jack also love spending time with him! though one of them pretends it's annoying

leona shows him magic tricks and jack will teach him how to fight! he'll be getting great lessons all around

Kenji is very eager to learn more and explore this world, so sometimes you'll have to hold him back a bit just in case he gets hurt

but you suppose with the splendid man his father is, you don't have to worry too much

Ruggie's schedule can be a bit hectic and he pulls a lot of late nights, but he always tries to make time for his family

they're the most precious thing to him in the entire world, did you think he'd let them go that easily?

"Dad!" Kenji exclaimed, darting over to grasp at the fabric of Ruggie's pants. "You're my dad, right?"

Ruggie blinked in disbelief, shifting his gaze towards you. "Is... Is he?" he asked, hope saturating his voice.

You affirmed with a nod, and Ruggie redirected his attention to Kenji. "Yeah... I'm your dad..."

Instantly, Kenji wrapped his arms around Ruggie's legs. "Yay! I've always wanted to meet you, Dad!"

Ruggie couldn't help but marvel in awe at the bundle of joy now clinging to his legs, realizing that this spirited kid was the product of your love.

Ayaka (斐佳) with 斐 meaning "elegance, beauty, grace" and 華 meaning "flower, splendour, brilliance"　

Ayato (斐斗) with 斐 meaning "elegance, beauty, grace" and 杜 meaning "forest, grove, woods"

maybe a part of you should have expected it, with how unpredictable your beloved hunter always has been, but you ended up having to raise twins

the two had luscious golden locks that rivalled sunlight and sharp green eyes akin to the forests in the summer

you named the two of them after their father's love for all things beauty and his love for forests and nature

the two are well-behaved children, though they can be surprisingly sneaky and mischievous

Ayaka is more outgoing and is always fascinated by the pretty things in her vicinity

while Ayato is more introverted and quiet, often silently following his younger sister and nodding along to her ramblings

he definitely appreciates beauty, but he's less vocal about it

and whereas Ayaka is more fascinated by gems and cute plushies, Ayato is more interested in nature, finding beauty in the moss, the trees and the insects

the siblings are just really really curious about the world and they love observing the little details, from catching beetles to keep as pets, to planting flowers they found on a hike

they really do reflect your hunter's wide range of appreciation

the twins love sticking to each other and they're rarely arguing

though they do fight a bit over who helped you more with chores or who you love more

they're very helpful and efficient, and though they may complain about not wanting to work because the other twin is lazing, they'll still get the job done

they love watching tv shows and dramas, often acting out scenes in the shows or in fairytales

and oh the way their eyes sparkled when you told the fascinating man their father was, a man who could control his own heartbeat, keep track of time so accurately, and with such incredible eyesight, who devoted himself to spreading joy and beauty

almost immediately they doubled their efforts in studying, wanting desperately to meet the man to learn his ways and see for themselves just how interesting he is

and just like that, the dazzling light gradually subsided, unveiling a world that you thought only existed in your dreams

you remember the villa, it's where he took you on vacation for the first, and supposedly last time

You hesitantly knocked on the weathered wooden door of the villa, the echoes of your anticipation mingling with the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. As the door creaked open, memories flooded back to the first time you entered this place with the man who had captured your heart.

Rook's usual stoic expression shifted, replaced by a mix of surprise and unspoken emotions. "Mon amour... You're really here," he murmured, his voice a tender whisper that hung in the air. Without uttering a single word, he enfolded you in an embrace, as though afraid you might slip away like a fleeting dream.

"I missed you so much," you whispered back the tears flowing freely now that you've felt as you savour the warmth of his touch and the comforting scent of his cologne.

He pulled back, soft brushes of his fingers wiping your tears, his eyes lingering on your face as if trying to capture the essence of the time that had passed. "I missed you too, so dearly..." he admitted as tears threatened to spill from his eyes, a rare vulnerability in his gaze.

this was the most emotion you'd seen from him, even when you said goodbye he kept a smile on his face

he's holding you so delicately, as if you were going to fade away if he applied just a bit more pressure

he's surprised by the children, but he instantly warms up to the idea!

he's remained a pursuer of beauty even after graduation, sponsoring artists while he makes a living through hunting and his film critique

he was taking a break in the family villa for old times sake, but it's almost as if the universe planned it all along

he's very affectionate with you, even more so than before, which you didn't even know was possible

always a warm hand on your waist, an occasional peck on your cheek, and every once in a while he'll feel the urge to pull you in for a hug

he tries to do everything for you so you don't even have to lift a finger, breakfast in bed, waking the children, even cooking and cleaning

he loves spending time with the twins!! teaching the two of them how to hunt and explore the forest safely

he'll show them pretty plants, and interesting fungi, all while explaining what properties they might have and whether or not they're poisonous

the twins are so fascinated by everything, their excitement and energy are seemingly endless

and who's a father to deny his children? he spoils them rotten

he also loves showing the kids a certain idol he's supported...

as well as films of vil!! occasionally talking over the movie to express how perfect a scene is or how flawless his acting is

and when the twins get to meet the vil schoenheit, they're beyond thrilled

asking questions, throwing compliments, all directed towards vil, but they're quiet the moment he tells them to shush

uncle vil loves talking to his niece and nephew, but only when they're... calm

uncle epel also loves popping by and giving the twins some apples so they'll get proper nutrition!

really, you'll have to step in to prevent your kids from being spoiled rotten

but you'll indulge Rook for a while, he's just blissfully happy with his family after all

"Are these...?" he began, his voice trailing off as he looked at the children with a mix of awe and wonder.

"Ours," you answered, a gentle smile gracing your lips as you delicately wiped away the tears that had welled up in your eyes. "Meet Ayato and Ayaka."

The hunter knelt down to their eye level, his usual face softening into a loving. "Ayato, Ayaka," he said, his voice gentle, "It's so nice to meet you. I'm your father."

The children exchanged glances before Ayaka stepped forward. "Hello father!" she exclaimed, throwing her tiny arms around him.

Ayato, the quieter one, followed suit with a nod, a shy smile on his face.

The hunter embraced them both, a warmth in his eyes that spoke volumes. "Such angels... Mon amour what a blessing you've granted me...," he sighed as he held them close.

Atsuki (惇貴) with 惇 meaning "sincerity, loyalty" and 貴 meaning "precious, valuable, honourable"　

your son had curly hair with the softest shade of light green, and piercing golden eyes with slits that reminded you of reptiles

you named your son after the chivalrous values his father had devoted his life to

he's a rather loud and excitable child, always forgetting to control his volume when he gets too emotional

doesn't really get along with other kids, but it doesn't affect him much, he's just happy to have his mama with him

if he's done something wrong, you don't even need to yell at him really, most of the time he's already holding back tears at the thought of disappointing you

very into sports and is also really good at several sports, he's earned a couple of medals and trophies already

he's not the best at magic, and you're also not too sure how his dark fae blood affects that, but he's still pretty good at making progress

he really is just a good kid who tries hard at everything and tries to make the right decisions, but he's quick to get disappointed when things don't go his way, and suddenly you're faced with a very familiar and endearing puppy dog face

so a lot of times, you'll just have to pull him in a hug, and remind him things almost never go the way we plan, and it's okay to accept defeat and learn from it

but there's nothing he's more motivated about than learning more about his dad, who in his mind, is an honourable, talented knight straight from the fairytales who devotes his life to protecting the people important to him

so much so, that you'll find him swinging around the toy sword you got him for training

he'll also start putting even more effort into learning magic, wanting to connect to his amazing papa in a way

and then on one night, you're not sure what triggered it, but he's incredibly emotional and crying about how he can't help you and you're always taking care of him and he just wants to have his dad in his life and it's all so unfair why his mama is alone and-

he starts emitting bright light, so bright you can't keep your eyes open, but you reach to hold him in your arms

when you no longer feel the bright light, you tentatively open your eyes, only to find yourself standing in the dark, spacious throne room of Briar Valley

and standing there, right next to the throne, was your knight in shining armour

Standing next to the grand throne, was your knight in shining armour, Sebek. He, along with Silver, stood in positions of defence, but the moment his eyes met yours, the mask of composure crumbled, and he rushed toward you with an urgency that mirrored the longing that had lingered in his heart during your separation.

He enveloped you in a fierce embrace, his arms securing you but also gentle to not hurt you with his armour.

"I thought... I thought I lost you," Sebek's voice was a shaky whisper against your ear, his grip on you tightening as if trying to confirm that you were indeed real.

"I'm here, Sebek. I found my way back," you reassured him, feeling the softness of his hair against your cheek.

"I never thought I'd see you again," he admitted, his words a whispered admission of the fears he had harboured, pressing his forehead gently to yours.

he's a mess the instant he sees you, and he melts completely when you're finally in his arms

malleus and silver are also immensely happy that you're back, calling lilia to join the family reunion

Sebek's pretty overwhelmed with your presence on its own, so silver and lilia have given him a gentle push to actually function and introduce himself to Atsuki

he's grown to be less awkward with his affection, and particularly with how long you've been away, he doesn't hold back too much

his hands are always inching closer to touch you, his forehead resting on your shoulder every once in a while, it's all really endearing

but his parenting style is a bit awkward

Atsuki really admires him, but that also makes him ever so slightly afraid of him

meanwhile, Sebek is nervous because he doesn't want to do anything that ruins the image of a perfect knight for his son

so they're a bit awkward, but with you as the middle person they can get along pretty well!

they bond over training, with Sebek teaching him sword fighting (with you reminding him not to push him too hard)

Atsuki also really enjoys sparing with uncle silver, who always lets him him, but Atsuki just wants him to fight for real, so it's just silver being "this is real??"

uncle malleus taking him out for gargoyle studies (Sebek is jealous lmao)

and of course, uncle lilia who cooks extremely nutritious meals that always end with Atsuki puppy dog eying you to save him

sebek's family is also very very happy to have you two!!

grandpa baul grumbles around a lot, but he keeps note of Atsuki's favourite foods to prepare them when he visits

also comments on his sword fighting and stance when he feels like it

mom and dad also adore you guys!! mrs. zigvolt loves giving you gifts and talking about sebek when he was younger haha

all in all, sebek's so incredibly grateful you could come back to him, and though he's still awkward with his affection sometimes, he'll never stop trying his best to love the both of you

Atsuki's eyes widened as he took in the sight of his father, the mythical figure he had only heard tales of until now.

Sebek's gaze shifted from you to Atsuki, and his breath caught. His eyes softened as he knelt down to be at eye level with the child who was undeniably his son. "Hello," he said, his voice trembling with a mix of joy and uncertainty. "I... I'm your father."

Atsuki's eyes flickered with a mixture of awe and excitement. "Papa?" he questioned, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sebek nodded, his hands trembling slightly as he reached out to gently cup Atsuki's face. "Yes, little one. I'm your papa."

The room seemed to hold its breath as father and son locked eyes for the first time. Atsuki, still processing the enormity of the moment, broke into a wide, joyful smile. "Papa!" he exclaimed, launching himself into Sebek's arms.

Sebek, overwhelmed with emotion, held Atsuki close, a mix of laughter and tears escaping him. "I've missed so much, haven't I?" he murmured, his heart swelling with love for the son he never imagined to exist.

Part 1✧Part 2✧Part 3 ✧Masterlist

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[whisper-in-the-night]

My headcanons for Art the Clown

Tw: mention of violence, blood, killing and etc

Note: sorry for long waiting, I had some stuff to do. But I watched this movie last night, just can't not to write something

• Suppose that by some miracle you interested him, and Art changed his mind about killing you.

• Art is a man of the moment, of impulse, in this regard he is like a child. If he wants something, he will get it, no matter how. If he's interested in you, he'll get you and keep you.

• Again, he is quite childish, and since he cannot speak, all his emotions are visible in his body language and antics. His childish behavior can also manifest itself in frequent insults. He will be sitting on the couch with his arms folded and fundamentally avoiding your gaze. Try to guess what he's offended about. And it's better to do it quickly, before the desire to tear some human flesh wakes up in him. His mood changes very often, so be always prepared for the fact that at the moment of rare hugs he will suddenly become agitated or, conversely, aggressive.

• He's very jealous. It's not that he's insecure, he just doesn't like sharing his stuff, including you. You better not pay too much attention to other people unless you want to see their guts smeared on the wall in your bathroom.

• Despite this, Art is quite protective. He won't let anything happen to you. Be prepared that he will be constantly watching you. But now you can safely walk through the dark alleys, Art is always there, you are under the reliable protection of this guard dog.

• Art likes to scare you more than his victims. He doesn't know why, but he really likes the taste of your fear, it really turns him on. But Art will never really hurt you enough, except for a few cuts or bruises. There's something about you that makes him fear losing you for real. There's something special about the way you're scared of him. Maybe it's your expression or your cute screams, he doesn't know. But your guardian definitely makes him feel a lingering warmth in his lower belly.

• His actions and feelings can hardly be called love, because he really does not know how to get attached, he is just not quite the person for this. But he shows a certain affection in his own way. First of all, he's not killing you. Secondly, sometimes he tries to take into account your wishes in many things, tries to find out what you like. Thirdly, he can be quite clingy. When Art realizes that he wants your attention, he can gently pull the sleeve of your hoodie, as if asking for a hug, or he can just roughly grab you by the waist and put you on his lap.

• He really doesn't care about your appearance, he has a weakness for you because it's you.

• Talking about what you like. Art is very narcissistic and cruel. But over time, he will realize that your smile and your joy create some kind of strange feeling in his chest, he likes it. In fact, Art makes you happy only because it gives him a certain pleasure.

• He loves using you as bait for his victims. This gives him an extra push to kill his victim in an even more brutal way.

• In general, he can be kind to a certain extent, he even brings you small gifts from time to time. Besides, he's crazy about the sight of someone else's blood on your face and skin. But you'll definitely have to teach him to wash more often and eat normal food.