#he might be pampered little duck but today this comes in hand!

[maysrinn]

Happy Valentine’s Day from the lovebirds! 🪿🌹

Coryo Duck doesn’t quite understand what Valentine’s Day is, but he knows his hoomans are always extra affectionate on this special day. Inspired by their love, he decides to pamper his beloved Goosey Gray with the most romantic ducky date he can imagine—because, after all, they are true lovebirds. ✨

[souichioneshots]

Adult Souichi x Reader (2 day fic; day 1)

uhhhh idk

i was thinking about why souichi would even bring reader home and i figured there needed to be a 'logical reason' for him to do so.

So i wrote this???

its part 1 of the 2 day fic and also a slight introduction of who reader is?? idk idk

please enjoy

（oh shit forgot to mention, this fic only makes sense if you read the binzo x reader fic I wrote!!! ehehe sorry)

When Souichi was first introduced to you, he was told that you were a creature like none other. In simple terms, he was explained that you were a 'wild-cannibalistic witch'. But not just any ordinary witch, you had the ability to take and give power to others. Sort of like a vessel of power. But, because of your instability, you were passed from master to master, never staying with anyone for long.

With the fangs you were sporting, there was no way Souichi could doubt you had cannibalistic tendencies. They weren’t as large in number or as long as his son’s, but they still looked like they could cause quite a lot of damage nonetheless. However, the ‘vessel of power’ part was not something he’d ever heard of before. He was extremely skeptical.

However, all his doubts about you quickly disappeared when you physically touched him.

When the seller was explaining something to Souichi, he had accidentally gotten a bit too close to the cage you were held in. When you reached your hand out and grabbed his wrist, he was terrified that you would try to rip it off. But you did nothing of the sort. A tingling sensation surged through his hand as you looked at one another, almost like he could physically feel the power flowing through his veins. He knew then and there that he had to have you.

The seller then explained that although you were able to transfer power to others, it would only be possible when you were truly happy. A light would become ever so slightly visible in your eyes, indicating your preparation to do so. However, there was also a downside. If you were ever displeased, the counterpart would be drained of their own power, and in extreme cases, of their life force as well. Souichi was finally able to understand why you had been passed around so many times now. But he was determined to get more powerful, so he took the chance and purchased you. If anything, he could just throw you away if you ever became a danger to him.

When he first brought you to his haunt, he expected you to have a bit of a hard time adjusting to his lifestyle. However, you settled in quite quickly.

His older brother and sister were extremely displeased by his sudden addition to the 'family', but they soon came to like you. He often wondered if you had used your power in secret to make them feel such a way towards you.

His son, Binzo on the other hand… He decided to make your life a living hell. He would pull on your hair and tear up your clothes whenever you got too close. Perhaps it would have been a better idea to put you in a different room. But unfortunately, Binzo’s room was the only one properly equipped with chains to hold you back from running away. For now.

Although he could feel a bit of your power transfer into him whenever you ran your hands through his hair or held onto his hand, it wasn’t enough. It was nothing like the first time you two had touched. He wanted to feel that sensation again. He wanted to see how much more powerful you could make him.

That’s when Souichi decided to pull you from the haunt and treat you to a little pampering. That’s something you obviously never experienced before. Hopefully, it would make you happy enough to give him the power he so craved.

Souichi watched from the sofa as you looked in the mirror and shook your freshly cut hair side to side, your new dress also flowing in the air. Although you still had your mask on, he could tell that you were smiling widely.

Even though all the things you two did today made you happy, it didn’t last long. Every time you would be pulled away from Souichi so you could get your hair done, or be fitted for clothes, the light in your eyes would quickly fade away. Leaving you to be a nervously, low growling mess. He needed to figure out a way to make that light come back and keep it there long enough for him to harness your power.

“What time do we get the Kimono again.” You asked as you took off your mask.

“Around 4.”

“And then we go back home?”

He laughed through his nose at the word “home”. You had only been with him for a couple of weeks, yet you already considered his home yours. He wondered if you assimilated this easily into your other old master’s lives.

“Yeah. We go home tomorrow.”

Although he had initially planned on only going out until the afternoon, because the kimonos he had ordered for you wouldn’t be ready until the next day, you two were forced to stay overnight at a local hotel.

His eyes followed as you walked around the spacious room, examining each and every item. You picked up and put down the phone multiple times, and swirled around the desk chair until you couldn’t walk straight.

He could swear that he heard you say Binzo’s name as you played around by yourself. For someone who got tortured by his son daily, you wouldn’t shut up about him. During the entire time you two were out, you mentioned Binzo over 20 different times.

“What’s this?” You asked, tapping your long fingernails on a black glass box.

“A TV.” Souichi responded.

You repeated the word with wonder. “So… Is it like a black mirror or?...” You brought your face up close to it, examining your own reflection.

Have you really never seen a TV before? Souichi figured with the number of times your seller mentioned you were passed around, you would have been a bit more knowledgeable about the world.

Grabbing the remote from beside him, he turned the TV on. Souichi laughed as you jumped back and growled at the tiny people that suddenly appeared in the box. “Relax. It can’t hurt you.” He said as he took out a cigar from his suit jacket and lit it.

Souichi's eyes stayed glued to the TV as a large duck-like character reported the current weather. It had actually been a while since he watched tv himself.

Finally calming down, you cautiously walked over to the couch and took a seat next to the older man. Souichi passed you the remote, allowing you to flip through the channels. You barely stayed on a single one, curiosity forcing you to examine what each channel had to offer. However, due to you both staying in a hotel in a small town, you only got CS channels. In other words, 6 channels. 7 if you counted the channel with NHK’s giant logo asking its viewers to pay to watch. For some reason, you seemed to like that one the most.

Starting to feel a bit bored, Souichi turned his head to the side and called for your attention. Your eyes quickly shut as he released the smoke in his mouth onto your face.

A smile prematurely grew on his face as he expected you to turn away and cough from the smoke, but you didn’t. Instead, when your eyes opened, a small light was visible in the depths of your pupils.

You actually liked that?

Souichi’s hand snaked down to touch your exposed thigh. The light started to glow brighter. His hand tingled as you looked up at him with pleading eyes, asking him to do it again.

Bringing the cigar to his lips, he gathered up smoke in his mouth.

The smoke he exhaled towards you briefly dissipated as you breathed it in. A look of content spread across your face as the man repeated this action once more.

Souichi's eyes moved down to look at your slightly parted lips. He knew he shouldn’t…Your teeth, although nothing compared to his ex-girlfriend, were dangerously sharp, and if you misunderstood his action, there was a possibility he might get hurt.

But he just wanted to try this once…

Taking his hand off your thigh, he grabbed your chin and moved your face closer to his. Taking a quick puff from the cigar, he blew smoke into your mouth. As the smoke escaped you, Souichi pressed his lips against yours.

His free hand moved back down to your thigh, traveling further into your dress as he gave you small pecks. Your own hand moved onto his suit pants, copying his motions.

Your small hand briefly rubbed over the bulge in his pants, causing him to let out a shaky breath. He hadn’t been touched by someone like that in so long.

Souichi’s head felt like it was spinning. His entire body was tingling from the sensation of being in contact with you.

Could this be the feeling of power transferring into him?

A small whine escaped your lips as he pulled away. Your body leaned forward, pleading for him to kiss you again.

Looking at the cigar still burning in his hand, Souichi spoke to himself. “I wonder…” He moved the cigar to the tips of his fingers and, with confidence, threw it in the air.

Souichi’s eyes widened in surprise as it suddenly disappeared. He had never been able to successfully do that before. Souichi spoke in an excited voice, asking if you saw what he had just done. However, you didn’t reply.

The smile on his face quickly faded as he looked upon your tired face. Your eyes were on the brink of shutting and your head nodded back and forth lazily.

“Maybe I went a bit too fast…” Souichi said, worried that he might have pulled the power out of you a bit too suddenly.

Picking you up from the couch he placed you on the bed.

Souichi waved his hand in the air, making the cigar appear once more. A wicked smile spread across his lips as blew smoke down onto your resting body.

Getting power from you is gonna be easier than he expected.

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Shaw’s Exorcism Date (Eng Translation)

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date which has not been released in English servers! 🍒

Note: This date was translated by @redqueenschoice! It’s on my blog because she doesn’t want to put individual translations on hers...

Shaw’s Qixi Collection: Date ♡ / Call 1 / Call 2 / Event / Special Call

Check out Victor’s date (by @lucienism) and Kiro’s date (by @skyholders​) too! A lot of effort has been put in by these three lovely humans T^T💕 Do send them lots of love!!

On the night of Qixi, I had a terrible encounter and happened to be saved by Shaw. In order to repay the favour afterwards, I promised to run errands for him for seven days. Very soon, the seven days are coming to an end…

~

The crescent moon reminiscent of a bow hangs in the sky, the canopy of the heavens are painted pitch black. The little starlight that filters through the dense canopy of the forest scatters, and a line of men make their way through the mountain’s forest in a hurry, the swords on their waists still red with fresh blood.

A drop of blood falls onto the surface of a leaf, before it is trodden underfoot all of a sudden.

MC: Ahh…

Bandit Leader: Tell me the truth!

My head was harshly hit, and I let out a weak, muffled cry through the cloth stuffed in my mouth.

The image of my family’s pitiful state right before the moments of their deaths surface in my mind again, and my throat tightens, both my heart and mind unable to move on from the tumultuous upheaval in my life.

It was only supposed to be a trip to the neighbouring village to visit some relatives. How had it come to this?

Bandit Leader: The ones we’ve gone after the last few days weren’t lacking in anything, huh? Hiding so many goods…

Bandit Underling: That’s right. Especially this young girl here, she’s still young and healthy.

Bandit Underling One: Boss, before we sell her off, how about we… ehehe.

Upon hearing his perverted words and laughter, I start thrashing about in a panic, but the ropes wound tightly around my wrists and ankles just won’t budge no matter how hard I pull. Tears stain the blindfold over my eyes and I stretch my hands towards my waist, getting ready to put up a fight with everything I have - I’d rather die than be disgraced in such a way.

At this moment, however, he is interrupted by another low voice.

Bandit Underling Two: That’s enough. You can make merry anytime you like, but in this instance, it’s better for us to hurry and get on our way. I heard these woods aren’t to be trusted at night, and there are rumours that monsters come out at night.

Bandit Underling One: Big Brother, aren’t you a little too believing of these old folk tales? Where on earth would there be demons, and even if there were, I’m not scared of them!

Note from Red: and here, ladies and gentlemen, is the beginning to every horror movie ever

A cocky laugh leaves his lips, but the second he does, the surroundings in all four directions abruptly fall silent.

All of a sudden, a long, piercing cry rips the still night in two.

The sound is delightful to the ears, yet it is striking enough to tear through the haze - upon hearing it once, it would be irreversibly carved into one’s heart.

I only feel my body sway for a moment, but in the blink of an eye, I find myself shoved down onto the ground. The second my shoulder collides with the wet, slippery dirt, I hear the bandits’ terrified shouts flying to and fro above my head.

Bandits: Mon… Monster!!!

The snarl of a predator beast, the metallic hiss of a blade being unsheathed, frantic and hurried footsteps… followed by bloodcurdling screams.

The chaos and what I experienced a few hours ago are far too similar, the same sounds echoing inside my head until they slowly fade away to nothing.

I cannot see anything in front of me, and can only smell the faint scent of blood mixed with that of the cool forest suffusing my nose.

At this moment, footsteps gradually approach me.

I hold my breath, and feel cold sweat slowly trickling down my back.

Who is it? Did one of the bandits survive?

Or is it… the monster?

The owner of those footsteps stop before me, and a strong hand pulls me up from the ground.

The person lifts up my bangs and a fingertip meets my forehead, the ice cold sensation making me shiver.

Mystery Man: Hah.

He seems to have no intention of loosening my bindings, a peculiar silence filling the space between me and the nameless man before me. With the blindfold over my eyes, my senses of hearing and touch are my only links with the external world.

His breathing is very light, but with each exhale that leaves his mouth, I sense undeniable danger in the air. I can feel his gaze, like that of a wild predator surveying its prey, as if he would sink his fangs into me in the next second.

MC: Mmn!

Terrified, I duck my head away from him, trying to avoid his touch. Instead, I hear a short laugh coming from the person in front of me.

Mystery Man: Fine. Since you don’t want me to save you, just wait here on your own, then.

With these words, the heated breaths across my cheeks vanish and the man seems to disappear into thin air, leaving no trace. My surroundings are completely silent once again.

He left?

I don’t dare to confirm it myself, waiting where he left me for a moment. Once the sound of birds and chirping of crickets returns to the area, I let out a breath of relief and begin to move once again.

Since I was under constant scrutiny of the bandits, I didn’t dare to do this earlier. Now that there’s no one in the vicinity, I can finally reach for the small knife I had secretly strapped to my waist.

This is the last thing my parents, who died earlier this year, left me to defend myself with.

I carefully feel around for the handle of the blade, wrapping my fingers around it. Because I can’t see and my movements are restricted, the tip of the blade ends up nicking my skin a few times. Gritting my teeth, I bear the pain and work on severing my bindings.

Note from Red: guys this is the mc we need but don’t deserve-

When I finally pull off the blindfold around my eyes, I see that the moon has already moved considerably towards the west.

Apart from the goods the bandits had been carrying with them earlier, I don’t see anyone else when I glance about.

MC: Did those people… really get eaten?

At the thought of the danger I experienced earlier, and might still be in, I couldn’t care less about the injuries littering my body, and force myself to my feet with the support of a tree branch, preparing to leave the forest as fast as I can.

The mountain paths are confusing and complicated, and I feel like I’ve been wandering around in circles for awhile when I finally hear the sound of running water coming from nearby.

MC: That’s great! If there’s water, that means I can clean my wounds!

I hobble towards the source of the sound slowly, but just as I’m pushing through the underbrush, a sound suddenly rings out through the air, causing me to freeze where I stand in fear.

Mystery Man: Don’t panic, everyone has a share.

It’s the voice of that man from earlier!

Before I can react, there’s the sound of flapping wings in the distance, taking my attention with it. Several strangely shaped skeletal birds flap over, and from their shrill, clamorous cries, it sounds as if they’re begging for food from someone.

I turn my head, only to see a young man casually lounging in a rowboat on the surface of a pool, next to a grove of trees. In his hand is a bunch of evening primroses. Under the light of the night sky, their petals give off a gentle glow.

The young man’s long legs are crossed, golden eyes half narrowed lazily as he looks at me. His expression is leisurely and indolent, and I see the petal of an evening primrose held casually between his teeth.

If I hadn’t encountered him in such an unusual circumstance, in the depths of a mountain forest, perhaps I would have thought he was the pampered young master of a rich merchant or businessman.

Mystery Man: Oh, that sentence wasn’t quite right. It should have been ‘every bird has a share��.

As if the skeletal birds can understand what he’s saying, they let out noisy chirps before obediently taking the petals from his hand one by one. The second the petals leave his palm, they dissolve into puffs of black smoke being swallowed up instantly by the skeletal birds.

Mystery Man: Today’s haul wasn’t too bad, there’s so much evil energy about, there’s enough for all of you to gorge yourselves on for a long time…

Mystery Man: Oi, you little idiot at the back, I caught you! Be a bit more honest, you’re not allowed to cut the queue…

Skeletal Bird: Squawk squawk?

Mystery Man: What did you say? Why didn’t I swallow up that little lady from earlier?

Mystery Man: Come on, do I really seem like a scoundrel who doesn’t take proper care of women… yeah, I am.

Trivia from Red: The word ‘scoundrel’ was translated from is the negative of a Chinese idiom 怜香惜玉, meaning a gentleman who takes care of the fairer sex. Shaw referred to himself as someone unlike a gentleman, so that’s how I translated it.

Skeletal Bird: Squawk!

Mystery Man: [clicks his tongue] I was just playing around a little. After I feed the lot of you, I’ll go back and save her, is that cool with you?

At hearing his words, I secretly make a face in his direction, muttering under my breath.

MC: I didn’t need you to save me… I got out on my own...

A skeletal bird suddenly caws in my direction. The young man’s eyes narrow instantly, the light in his eyes intensifying to something swift and fierce, before he turns his gaze right in my direction.

Mystery Man: Whoever’s there, come out.

I’ve been found out!

Note from Red: She, in fact, had been found out.

I subconsciously take a step back, but all of a sudden, the injury on my leg flares up with immense pain. My body loses balance all at once, and I find myself pitching backwards before I know what’s happening.

MC: Ah!

Note from Red: MC then proceeds to black out in typical otome heroine fashion… but let’s cut her some slack she was cool here T^T

I drift in the darkness, countless strange dreams blending together and surfacing before my eyes. One moment it’s the leering grin of the bandits, the next it’s the cawing of the skeletal birds I saw earlier. But the final thing is the long, piercing cry I heard in the forest.

When my eyes blink open, I find myself in an unfamiliar room.

It’s a perfectly normal looking bedroom, and the sheets under me are fresh and clean. Somewhere, I can hear the sounds of a vendor selling his goods and the voices of kids peddling flowers drifting in from outside the window.

Everything is so peaceful, it’s as if everything I experienced before has just been nothing but a dream.

MC: Where exactly am I…

Mystery Man: You finally decided to wake up.

A young man dressed in purple appears at the door in the blink of an eye. Startled, I sit up as fast as possible in shock.

MC: Who are you!?

At my question, he leans against the doorframe casually, and after seeing my expression, the corner of his lips turn up in a smirk.

Mystery Man: What are you being so on edge for? I’m the benefactor who saved your life, you know.

MC: What benefactor, I clearly saw you on that lake earlier…

Mystery Man: You’ve had some entertaining dreams.

Note from Red: o k a y shaw

MC: Huh?

Mystery Man: You, little lady, fainted in the wilderness in the nearby mountains. If I hadn’t just happened to be passing by and decided to do a good deed, there’s no guarantee you wouldn’t have been eaten up by a demon.

What he’s saying doesn’t match up with what I remember, but the way he speaks so smoothly with absolute confidence makes it hard for me to doubt his words, and for a moment I question my own memories.

Could the glowing primroses I saw by the lake… and the skeletal birds… all been some sort of strange dream?

Mystery Man: It seems like you’ve slept yourself silly.

The young man runs a hand through his hair before straightening up once more, and I watch as he steps towards me until he’s right next to the bed, bending down to look at me more clearly.

His golden eyes flash with sly amusement.

Mystery Man: Since you’re awake, remember this clearly: you’re on my territory.

Mystery Man: The name’s Shaw, and I’m your benefactor.

Mystery Man: As for what you should do now, you should carefully think… about just how you’re going to repay me for saving your life.

-

Carrying a bucket filled with water, I stagger into the garden, out of breath.

The only other person in the garden is currently lounging next to a flower bed, legs casually swinging back and forth, the picture of idleness.

MC: May. I. Please. Ask. If. Sir. Benefactor. Has. Any. Other. Instructions.

Since the day I woke, in return for Shaw safely bringing me out of the mountain, I agreed to run errands for him for seven days. Today is already the seventh day.

Upon seeing me puffing and panting, his brow lifts in an amused arch.

Shaw: Hmm, go water those flowers over there while you’re at it, then.

MC: Shaw, don’t take your bullying too far!

Shaw: How am I bullying you? Weren’t you the one who said that you wanted to repay me by running errands? Or perhaps you want to do it by offering your body instead?

Trivia from Red: ‘Offering your body’ is translated from the Chinese idiom 以身相许, which means 1) pledge to marry or 2) have sex with a man of her own will.

I stare at him in horrified shock for a moment, face burning red from embarrassment. Grabbing the gourd dipper, I scoop up a full ladle of water and fling it at him with all my might.

Shaw ducks out of the way at lightning speed, and the spray of water splashes onto the flowerbed he had been lounging next to earlier, catching the light of the afternoon sun and forming a rainbow. Shaw’s laughter rings out clearly.

Shaw: I asked you to water the flowers, not water people. Or is your eyesight so bad you can’t tell a human clearly from a flowerbed?

MC: ...You!

These last few days, whenever we’ve had banters like this, I’ve never won even once. Determined not to fall into the same trap again, I ignore his words and instead ask a question.

MC: The seven days are almost up. Can I leave tomorrow?

Shaw’s smile turns teasing.

Shaw: Your house is opposite this mountain, isn’t it? Are you sure you won’t faint halfway on your journey back again?

MC: I definitely won’t!

Upon seeing my determined face, Shaw grins, opening his mouth to say something again. All of a sudden, however, the smile fades from his face.

MC: What’s the matter?

Shaw: Nothing’s up, I’m just heading out for a moment.

Shaw: If you want to go home, I’m not stopping you.

Shaw: But you’re not allowed to leave tomorrow. Stay put in my house, don’t take a step out of the compound.

MC: Why not?

Shaw doesn’t reply my question, and with a few strides of his long legs, he’s vanished from the garden.

MC: Shaw, wait a moment, you haven’t explained yourself-

MC: He’s gone?

This isn’t the first time he’s simply disappeared like this. With a shake of the head, I shrug off his warning. Besides, after tomorrow, I’ll have repaid my debt to him in full, and we’ll have nothing more to do with each other.

On the morning of the next day, Shaw still hasn’t returned.

I chew on my lip, looking at the doors for the seventh time, slightly hesitant to leave without bidding him goodbye.

MC: Well, it’s not like that rascal is going to bother about it anyway…

Trivia from Red: MC quite constantly refers to Shaw as 那家伙, which is a casual way of referring to a mischievous, rascally guy, and can be interpreted as ‘that guy’, or ‘that little punk’.

Even though I say those words, I find my footsteps slowing on the way out of the front courtyard.

MC: Perhaps I should leave him a letter.

I write him a letter and leave it on his table. Just when I’m about to leave, a painting hanging on the wall catches my eye.

MC: This is…

Taking a step closer to look at it more clearly, I realise that it’s a mythical beast that I’ve never seen before.

On the beast’s lower back are five tails, and on its forehead is a single horn. Just from the painting, I can sense a strong aura of pride and arrogance.

MC: This painting… it kind of resembles that guy.

Curiously, I reach out and touch a corner of the painting. All of a sudden, however, the sound of thunder rumbles outside the window.

I look out of the window, and am surprised to see that the sky, that was sunny just moments ago, is now blanketed with thick grey clouds, looking like it’s about to start pouring anytime soon.

MC: If I don’t leave now, it’ll be bad if I’m caught in the rain.

I fasten my cloak, pick up an umbrella and leave Shaw’s house.

Even thought it’s well into the afternoon, the little town is completely covered in a thick fog, as if it has been completely blanketed by a layer of grey. The little river that runs through the town has little lotus lamps dotting the surface, all of them floating along silently.

Just as I’m about to leave the little town, my mind gradually begins to calm.

MC: This feels a little strange…

The town that Shaw resides in might not have too many people, but on a normal day, it would usually be bustling with activity, the smell of firework smoke in the air.

Yet today, there isn’t a single person on the streets.

Note from Red: gee, i wonder why, mc-

The further I go from Shaw’s house, the faster the sky seems to darken and unease wells up in my heart.

MC: Maybe I should go back and wait for him…

[thunder rumbles]

The clouds seem to descend, and the sky darkens even further. I don’t know whether it’s just my imagination, but the mist seems to suffuse and thicken in the tunnel before me, and I can see the outline of dark shapes moving about inside.

Before I can look more closely at them,  there’s a sound behind me, and I turn around. The moment I do, I can’t help but feel shock race through me.

It’s the skeletal bird I saw that night on the mountain!

The bird hops onto the side of the bridge, cocking its head at me. When it opens its beak to speak, what comes out isn’t the shrill squawk of a bird, but the familiar cool and clear voice of a man.

Bird!Shaw: Finally found you… what are you doing here?

MC: Shaw!?

MC: How are you… this bird is-

In typical Shaw fashion, the bird does not answer my question. Instead, it turns its head to look at the tunnel, and lets out a clicking sound even though it doesn’t have a tongue to do so.

Bird!Shaw: Come with me.

With that, it flies to me, taking my sleeve between its beak and tugging me in the opposite direction. Being pulled along into a run with it, all my words come out garbled.

MC: Wait a moment… What, what exactly is going on? Just now, what was that? And you, what are you?

Bird!Shaw: You have so many questions.

MC: It’s not me who has too many questions! It’s just that you’ve hidden too much from me!

Bird!Shaw: ……

Bird!Shaw: It’s the Ghost Festival today.

MC: Ghost Festival… Hungry Ghost Festival!?

Trivia from Red: The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in certain East Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month.

In Chinese culture, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. The deceased are believed to visit the living as the realms of Heaven and Hell and the realm of the living are open and both Taoists and Buddhists would perform rituals to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased.

Bird!Shaw: That's right. This is when the nine yin converges, and evil grows easily. It is the day when the Ghost Gate opens, and evil and living souls intersect. It will be more troublesome than a typical day.

Bird!Shaw: I distinctly remember telling you to stay put in my house, who would have thought you’d actually dare to leave and make trouble for me.

As the bird says this, it turns back to eye me. Even though it has no eyes, I can clearly see the words ‘annoyance’ written in its eye sockets.

At that moment, a feeling of unhappiness washes over me, and I can’t help but open my mouth to speak.

MC: All these things… you could have just told me earlier. You made me wait for you for the entirety of yesterday… without so much as an explanation.

MC: Shaw, am I really not worthy of your trust? Am I a burden to you?

The bird stops fluttering its wings for a second before it turns its head, not saying another word.

For a moment, I wonder if Shaw is angry with what I said, but after a while, a small snort of laughter leaves the bird’s mouth, ringing in my ears.

The sound is so clean and clear, it seems like Shaw is standing right next to me.

Bird!Shaw: I don’t think of you as a burden.

Bird!Shaw: I can tell you my true identity, it’s just that at that moment, you can’t be afraid and you’re not allowed to regret it.

MC: I won’t be scared, and I wouldn’t regret it.

Bird!Shaw: Then follow me closely.

The clouds close in on us, and the first drops of rain begin to fall.

It’s going to rain.

I follow after the bird closely, and each time, I narrowly manage to escape every encounter with a dark shape. Just as we’re about to leave the small town, however, it’s as if all the spirits suddenly sense me, and they all turn and start rushing towards me!

Bird!Shaw: Don’t bother about them! Just run towards the exit of the town!

The second it finishes those words, it lets out a caw. As if rallied, a hundred of the skeletal birds suddenly fly over from behind the wall. Like arrows loosed from a bow, they descend on the mass of black spirits and attack them with their sharp beaks and wings, keeping them tightly packed together.

But there is a limit to the number of birds, and the pitch black spirits can’t be stopped.

Understanding that the birds can’t buy me all the time in the world, I grit my teeth and run as hard as I can for the exit of the town.

Even before I can take two steps, pain runs up my leg, as if I’m being yanked back by something. I fall painfully to the ground.

Withstanding the pain, I look down to see a skeletal person grabbing tight onto my ankle, refusing to let go!

No matter how hard I struggle, the person refuses to let go, and only holds on tighter and tighter. Watching the rest of the dark shapes slowly approaching, I yank out something I have tucked in my waist, and bring it down as hard as I can on the person.

Shiing!

A loud wail rings through the air, but the grip loosens enough for me to pry it off. Looking down in my hand, I clasp the dagger that had saved me seven days ago, I’ve never let it leave me even once.

But in the time it took for me to do all that, it’s too late for me to escape the town.

I grip the dagger tight.

The dark shapes draw closer, before they finally rush at me ferociously.

[thunder rumbles intensely]

Thunder rumbles throughout the sky, like the beating of a thousand drums, the galloping of a hundred thousand horses, unceasing. In that second, hundreds of white hot lightning bolts flash through the air before me, bathing the entire sky in bright white light.

Note from Red: that can’t be good for your eyes...

A large hand covers my eyes from behind.

Note from Red: who needs sunglasses when we have shaw’s big hands T^T

Shaw: You idiot, why are you just standing there for? Do you want to keep your eyes or not?

His tone is teasing and lighthearted, but it makes me feel safer than any promise or vow in the world.

MC: Shaw…

Shaw: I didn’t think you’d be able to save yourself, not bad.

Shaw: No wonder I-

The rest of his words are cut off by the rumble of thunder, the flash of lightning. I feel raindrops land pitter patter on my nose and cheeks.

In order to let me hear his words clearly, he leans down and puts his lips right next to my ear when he speaks, breath hot against the shell of my ear.

Shaw: Turn around, open up your umbrella and count to ten in your head before you open your eyes. Got it?

I nod with all my strength.

Shaw releases me and I obey his instructions, opening the umbrella and beginning to count.

MC: One, two, three…

The strikingly familiar cry I heard that night in the forest rings out from behind me, leaving yet another deep impression in my heart.

MC: Four, five, six…

The rain slows to a gentle drizzle, and the oppressive air hanging over the town seems to be slowly fading.

MC: Seven, eight, nine…

Shaw… Shaw…

MC: Ten.

I turn around.

Within the bright flashes of light, I catch sight of a silhouette of the five tailed mythical beast.

-

Evil spirits dealt with and the dark clouds gone, it seems like the town has finally gone back to normal.

Because I injured my foot, Shaw takes me to a small boat, and the two of us drift along slowly on the river. As the boat is slowly carried along beneath a bridge, Shaw, who is lazily sitting at the front, plucks a flower from the side to play with.

The lotus lamps bobbing alongside us glow softly, and what was initially supposed to be a gloomy Hungry Ghost Festival resembles more of a pleasant evening of a wedding night.

Shaw’s purple robes flutter in the wind, and under the light of the lamps hanging from the boat, the horn on his forehead seems to be softened with a soft glow.

The scenery before me reminds me of the time we first met on the lake back in that forest, the only differences being that he’s now missing a few birds, and that I am here with him.

MC: Right, why haven’t I seen any of the other town residents today?

Shaw: You think everyone is like you? I already warned them beforehand not to leave their houses, it’d make way for the souls and I can do what I need to do.

MC: Hahahaha…

Shaw: What are you laughing about?

MC: I’m laughing at you - with that image and disposition, who would have guessed that you’re actually a great immortal?

After hearing my words, Shaw lifts an eyebrow, looking slightly miffed.

Shaw: Then what did you think I was, a monster?

MC: I think that you’re Shaw, that’s all.

Shaw stares blankly at me for a moment.

MC: Shaw, on the day of Qixi, when you brought me out of the mountain, was it you who rescued me from those bandits as well?

Even though my words are phrased as a question, my tone is sure and certain. There’s a flash of surprise in Shaw’s eyes, but he doesn’t reply. He casts his eyes downwards, manner insipid.

Shaw: That isn’t a good memory to have for the Qixi Festival. Just forget it.

MC: I won’t forget it.

What he says is true. The Qixi festival is deserving of good and happy memories, and being by bandits certainly isn’t that, but still…

I look earnestly at Shaw.

MC: But on that day, you also appeared.

All around us, the lotus lamps flicker softly in the night, jade green smoke curling up faintly, the cool sounds of running water in my ears.

MC: I feel like this is the most memorable, and also the most treasured Qixi I have ever experienced.

This world’s thousands of relationships cannot be clearly defined by these dates, but on this Ghost Festival, my heart soars more than it did on the day of the Qixi Festival.

Shaw watches me silently, before he puts down the flower in his hand and leans forward, closer to me.

His hands carry with them the body temperature of one that is not human, fingertips lifting up my bangs once again.

Inch by inch, his finger trails down, as if mapping out my face.

His golden eyes are locked firmly on me, gaze intense and captivating like that of a wild beast, not letting my eyes deviate from him in the least.

This time, I don’t shy away from him.

Shaw: The last time, didn’t you ask for my true self?

Shaw: I’m Zheng, and I consume evil energy as sustenance.

Shaw: I’ve never felt like I’ve done this to help humans, and I’ve never considered myself to be an auspicious sign like the legends say.

Shaw: When I’m hungry, I eat.

Suddenly, my hand is grasped tightly in his, and he lifts it to his mouth.

He bites down slowly on my index finger, sharpened teeth scraping over delicate skin, and slight pain radiates out from where his lips are wrapped around my fingertip.

Shaw: Even if that’s what I am, you’re not going to be afraid of me?

Even though he’s clearly giving off a sense of hidden danger and his words are meant to provoke me into giving him a response, my heart skips a beat at the smile on his face.

MC: I…

Shaw: I… what? Speak louder.

With a self satisfied smirk that looks reminiscent of a cat that got the canary, he nips on my finger again.

MC: I said, I won’t be-

Before the word ‘scared’ can leave my mouth, my finger suddenly slips free of Shaw’s mouth to land on his lower lip. My fingertip softly runs against his lips, breath warm and eyes shining.

It’s clearly… a kiss.

Note from Red: yes mc you get flustered NOW when your finger was on his lips but not when he was literally biting on it priorities on point we stan

In a moment, my entire face burns bright red and I hurriedly pull back my finger.

MC: Shaw!

Shaw grins at me as he releases my hand, his gaze on me filled with an emotion I can’t quite recognise. Having fallen for his tricks yet again, my heart races and I desperately look for something to say, but didn’t expect that Shaw would beat me to it.

Shaw: Shouldn’t you be heading home?

The second he says that, I’m reminded of my original purpose: to bid my farewells to him before leaving for home.

I nod at him for a moment, before I shake my head energetically.

MC: Shaw, I…

Shaw: But today, haven’t I saved you once again?

MC: ...Eh?

Shaw: The timing’s just right. I’ve polished off all the evil energies and spirits here completely, it’s time for a change in scenery.

Shaw: The town near your home… is there anything entertaining?

He speaks so quickly that I have no time to think.

MC: Entertaining… well, not really, but there’s a lot of good food there! Recently it’s been chestnut and lotus seed season, so there should be a lot of confections sold on the streets…

MC: Wait a second, you’re not thinking of following me home, are you?

Shaw: Of course I am. How else are you going to repay this huge favour you owe me for saving you?

His words are bold and upright, but the grin on his face is that of a satisfied hunter.

Shaw: Before you fully repay the favour… don’t even think about escaping from me.

[allycryz]

Thancred x Nerys x Haurchefant for either Spring Prompt 4 or Spicy Prompt 10

I went with Spicy Prompt 10 (Praise Kink). For some background context the loose timeline right now is

Lakeland Invasion -> Emissary Haurchefant goes in disguise to infiltrate Eulmore as a soldier -> Amh Araeng- -> Thancred and Nerys get back together -> Than and Nerys hook up with Emet ->  Save Eulmore/Haurchefant -> Reunion Sex with Haurche turns into Thancred and Haurche Hooking Up for First Time

This is set after that while they work on the Ladder

Rated E, not for Everyone, Haurchefant gets praised and pampered

"Early tomorrow," says Thancred, wiping a forearm over his brow. His coat is a long abandoned pile on the lumber. "Should be ready to go by then, I think."

"Well ahead of schedule then." Nerys sits on the ground, propping her back against said lumber. They'd made her rest during the morning but she had made up for it during the afternoon. 

Better to have the distraction of work while she processed her earlier conversation with Emet-Selch.

"Come sit." She curls a finger at him. He looks...magnificent in the tight black shirt, his muscled arms shown to advantage. More than one of the laborers gives him an appreciative glance. 

"If I sit, I might not stand." He grins. "Did you see everything Chai-Nuzz had me haul around today?"

"Oh come now, you've had far more taxing days."

"After you and Haurchefant wore me out two days and nights in a row?" His grin grows bigger now and she can't help but return it.

She had imagined of course–what it might be like to have them both. Especially after she and Thancred reconciled. But she hadn't dared hope the two men would fit together as well as they did.

"So what was everything we did up until then? A warmup?"

"Well...Haurchefant is a wellspring of energy. Speaking of..."

The man himself strides towards them, clad in the golden armor bestowed upon him when he became the Crystarium's Emissary. There are appreciative glances for him too, but also double-takes.

There was a fairly recent addition in Eulmore; one of the soldiers who defected from the Crystarium after Vauthry's attack on Lakeland. A tall, black-haired, friendly fellow named Edmont Grey.

The glamour on his features is gone but there were enough similarities between the two handsome profiles. Those who didn't know must wonder if this man is related to the affable soldier. 

"I hoped I might find you together," he says. "Am I allowed to steal you away yet?"

"We were about to discuss that," says Nerys. "Thancred worries he cannot keep up with you, my lord."

Thancred nudges her arm with the toe of his boot. "Don't go spreading lies, sweetheart."

"If anything it should be the reverse. You two have been at work on the ladder all day while I have been spent the past hours in meetings or traveling via Amaro and Aetheryte." Haurchefant steps closer to Thancred, running a hand down the front of the tight black material. "Never fear, where I'm taking you has all the amenities to unwind."

Thancred watches the path of the gauntleted fingers as they stroke over his midriff. "And where is that?" 

"You'll see." Haurchefant turns to Nerys, extending a hand. She takes it and finds herself hauled up, tugged against his chest to receive a soft kiss. "Hello."

"Hello." She slips her arms about his neck, shivering as Thancred presses a hand to her lower back. "You may take us away, my lord. Alphi will tell the others where we have gone."

"Hm?" Haurchefant glances around, till he spots what Nerys had a few moments ago: Alphi trying not to get flustered seeing three of his comrades positioned as they were. He is a good ten yalms away and Haurchefant lifts a hand to wave emphatically. "Hello Alphinaud! I shall be borrowing these two, take care of the others!"

"Right," the youth calls back. Looking pointedly at their faces and not their hands. "Good evening!"

"When I was his age," Haurchefant says to the other two. "It had stopped surprising me when the knights retired to a single bunk, two or three at a time. We squires just made ourselves scarce for the evening."

"He admires you a great deal," says Nerys. "Maybe that's part of it."

"And you. And Thancred, of course."

"Mm, do not try to flatter me. That boy saw me at all my absolute worst and at best thinks of me as a wayward brother." Thancred sighs. "At least he doesnt delight in spilling about my past like Urianger and Alisaie."

"Sweet Urianger is an imp," says Haurchefant. "However, he did help me secure our destination. Please hold on tight."

They do and it is no hardship to embrace thus. Haurchefant wraps them in teleportation magicks, whirling them away from Kholusia…

...and to the colorful wilds of Il Mheg. They stand before a little cottage Nerys recognizes from her hunting ventures. Abandoned, not all that far from Lydha Lran. Or–it had been abandoned but looks freshly cleaned and aired out. 

Haurchefant holds up a hand and opens the door. "The game was that if they did not touch anything, I would give them something fun and sugary."

"And we did not!" A voice giggles above them. Three pixies hover above, watching expectantly. 

"Yes, it look quite well looked after.." He produces a handful of colorful paper straws sealed at both ends. "Tear off whichever end you like and you can eat the treat inside."

"...Haurche," Thancred says, eyes gleaming with mirth. "Are those-"

"We thank you Haurchefant," one of the pixies cooes. "It is too bad you won't play with us to-day…"

"Ah, but another day I should like to. Hide and seek the next time I am here?"

They nod, flying away with a burst of magic. None too soon because Thancred has to duck into the house and explode with laughter. The sound is like a balm to Nerys' heart–it has been too long since he made a sound of pure and utter delight like that. 

"Well," Haurcefant says, grinning. "There must be a reason the Crystarium merchants call it that. The fae love sugar."

"Good gods, Haurchafant," Thancred leans against the small dining table for support. Careful not to muss the place settings though it is a very near thing.

"It was a good idea," Nerys says, stifling her giggle. "It's no tricking them into making your tea but…"

“I prefer honest bribery with pixie sticks rather than elaborate ruses." Haurchefant grips her hand, urging her to take one of the chairs. The ache is getting worse the past few days, the churning of the light in her belly. So she doesn't protest. 

He steps over to a small ice chest and gathers up items for the table--cheese, cold cuts, fruit, a bottle of sweet Kholusian white. Butter to go with the loaf of bread he takes from a cabinet. "I...may have had a bell or two prior to bring things here, after my meetings."

"Look at that." Thancred steps over to him, laying an almost tentative hand on his arm. "You're a good man, Haurche."

Haurchefant beams under the compliment and the touch. Nerys watches the pull between them in silence, the hesitation before Thancred curls a hand in his hair and tugs him down. Kisses him soft and sweet, his murmur barely audible. "Very good."

She knows well the shiver that goes through Haurchefant. Nerys stands, needing a moment of support from the chair before walking over to them. Burying her hands in the soft fabric of Haurchefant's blue cape. "This was lovely of you, finding a private place and preparing this food for us."

"Truly, it is the least I might do." Haurchefant turns his head towards her. "And all I did was cut up some of the offerings."

"Still." Nerys finds the clasp of his cloak and removes the bilious garment. She peers over his shoulder at Thancred who gives her a minute nod. "Its exactly what we needed."

"Perfect." Thancred looks around the small space–the kitchenette, the table, and the largish bed in the corner. They'll have to huddle but that is fine. His gaze returns to Haurche and he smirks a little. "You're perfect."

"I know what you two are doing," Haurchefant says in a sing-song way. He moves his arms to let Thancred remove his cuirass. Sighs when his shoulders are bare and Nerys rubs soothing fingers into his shoulders.

"But it's working," she sing-songs back. "Let us take care of you, please."

"My love…" He turns in the circle of their arms, pressing his palms against her cheeks. His bright eyes bore into her and there is no hiding from him. There never is. "You need care as well I think."

"I do," she admits. "It will make me feel good to do this."

"And with that you have trapped me," he presses his forehead to hers. "As you take care of me, please let our Thancred also take care of you."

Our Thancred. Her heart flutters at that and she kisses him, her gratitude and joy permeating the contact.

Haurchefant's armor disappears piece by piece until he is pressed between them, cloth the only barrier left. Thancred tugs his lips down, dropping praise against his ear. "You're gorgeous in the armor and even better like this. And those hands-"

Those hands slide over Thancred who groans in appreciation. The three of them move in a tangle to the bed. Nerys feels hands on her own hips and chest, though it’s hard to tell at first who is touching what. Only that they're petting her, peeling off her leathers and tugging loosely at her short hair. 

She finds Haurchefant's ear and sucks lightly at the tip. "Do you know how beautiful you look right now? You almost never blush but…"

At that, the faint pink across Haurchefant's cheek grows. He sighs, turning his body to face hers and rubbing her hip. "This is the effect you have on me, beloved."

"Not just her, I hope." Thancred slips his arms about him from behind.

"Not just her. You're an attractive man, Thancred."

"Indecently so." Nerys adds. "He could bat those eyelashes at a king and receive half a kingdom."

"You forget, they called me Thancred of the Silver Tongue when I was a young and wild bard." That same tongue traces Haurchefant's jaw. "I am more than a...what did you say once? Infuriatingly handsome face?"

Nerys grins. "Alright then, please demonstrate how good you are with that silver miracle."

"Verbally or..." He slides his tongue into Haurchefant's mouth, kissing him into a pliant puddle of limbs. They're dazzling together–Thancred half-propped over the other man, hand curled about the knight' cheek. He directs Haurchefant's limbs upward, above his head. "Good boy."

Haurchefant groans. "What wickedness do you have planned for me?"

"No plan, moving as we are inspired to." Thancred presses a hand over his chest, kneading Haurchefant's pectoral through his shirt. "You're so beautiful Haurche, you drive a man wild. Whenever I look at you I think seven hells, how can we mortals be so lucky."

"Ha-I thought you were the pretty one," Haurchefant gasps, hands flexing above his head. "There-keep rubbing right there."

Nerys cannot hold herself back anymore, adding her hand to the ministrations. Slipping it beneath his shirt to cup the other pec, circle the nipple with her thumb. He starts to jerk forward, to reach for her-and then keeps his hands where they are above his head.

"You're so obedient for us," she says, kissing the underside of his jaw. "So good and sweet "

He sighs. "I would do anything for you."

"We know." Her lips travel to the column of his throat. The words fumble a little--Thancred and Haurchefant are good at reciting a litany of praises. She doesn't talk quite as much during.

As if he senses her doubts, Thancred grins at her and picks up where she leaves off. "How lucky we are, to have someone this giving and beautiful in our bed. Will you do us a favor, lovely one? Will you let us suck your cock?"

Haurchefant groans like a man wounded. "Fury, you don't even have to ask-"

"Of course we do." Their hands are quick at Haurchefant's laces, shoving down the supple leather leggings and the smalls all at once. They draw him out: already hard and in need of their succor. 

"You look amazing like this," Nerys says. "So still and good, and needing us to take care of you. And one of the prettiest cocks I've ever seen."

"Agree," says Thancred. "And we've both seen enough to know. Yours is by far one of the best."

Haurchefant groans, disobeying so that he might cover his eyes with a forearm. "You two will destroy me before I even feel your mouths on me."

"Look at us," Nerys begs and he lifts the arm. His lips are parted, his cheeks flushed, his eyes blown wide with desire. "There. I want your eyes on us, and not just because they're exquisite."

Thancred nods his approval at that. "And promise to be vocal, so we know when we're doing a good job."

"You have my vow."

"Good boy." Thancred licks a stripe along one side of the shaft and Nerys the other, meeting in an open mouthed kiss at the head. Haurchefant obliges them with a moan and some very improper Ishgardian curses. "Nerys, suckle him."

She obeys without hesitation, drawing the swollen head into her mouth. A gentle but insistent hand cups the back of her neck, lips brush her cheek and whisper, "Good girl."

Nerys shivers. If she isn't careful, Thancred will have her as overwhelmed as Haurchefant is.

The pressure increases until she takes more of Haurchefant, savoring him with the flat of her tongue even as her jaw aches and he slides further into her throat. She watches as Thancred changes his angle, drawing the heavy sac into his mouth while she bobs up and down the shaft.

Haurchefant gasps, hands once again reaching for them before he returns them above his head. Thancred draws himself up and murmurs something into his ear-too quiet for Nerys to parse but Haurche’s cock twitches in her mouth with each syllable. 

She looks up and can see Haurchefant's eyes shut tight, his breathing growing faster. Nerys takes a shallow breath through her nose and takes him deeper. It is never an easy feat, big as he is, but she wants this for her dear knight. 

Haurchefant gasps, pressing his face into Thancred's shoulder. The words become louder, probably for her benefit.

"Look how she takes you, big boy that you are. That's how much she wants to make you feel good. You deserve to feel good-"

"Thancred," Haurchefant pants. "Nerys, I don’t have much control left-"

"Yes you do. We know you do." Thancred slides back down, tugging Nerys away with gentle hands. Putting his own mouth upon Haurchefant's straining cock.

"There you go," Nerys says, cupping his sack with gentle fingers before subtly increasing the pressure. "Our lovely knight has so much control left."

"Yours," Haurchefant sobs. "Yours, I'm yours-"

"Ours," she hums, lips pressing to the base of his shaft where neither of them can manage to swallow. "Our wonderful, perfect Haurche."

His back arches and she can feel the control shaking through him, the strain to hold back and be good for them. 

Nerys' eyes meet Thancred. He pulls off with a gentle pop and their twined hands replace their mouths, their mouths hover close to the head.

"Come for us," Thancred says, drawing their hands quick over the spit-slicked cock. "We need you."

"Please," says Nerys and it seems to be the last straw for Haurchefant, who comes with a desperate yell. Painting their faces, their open mouths. He babbles through it–declarations of love and need that twine with the other two's fervent praise.

He sags into the mattress, as if it might cocoon him. Tugs at their hair and arms until they rise to meet him with slow, tender kisses. 

"You did so good," she tells him and he smiles.

"So did you. And you, dear Thancred. Silver tongue indeed."

"He's very good with it." Nerys says, curling against her love. And then seeing the mischievous glint in his eye. Uh oh.

"Oh really?" Haurchefant smirks. "I think I need to see it again, on a willing test subject. Do you volunteer?"

Her own need pulses between her legs and she nods. Swallows. "Yes, I think I do."

"Good girl," says Thancred, as he crawls over to her, a leg swinging over her waist. "Shall we?"

[mosylufanfic]

The Game’s Afoot

Merry Christmas, @halflingmerry! I was your Secret Santa! You asked for a modern James Bond/Lara Croft AU, and I hope this delivers.

The Game's Afoot  

Report: Target arrived in town. She has been supplying herself for an excursion, indicating a local temple she wishes to investigate. The consensus is that she's just another bored, rich tourist who will probably die in the jungle.

Reply: Proceed as you see fit.

**

Jyn hired a guide in Merida. Tenoch spoke very little English, but Jyn's map and pesos communicated for her very well. He gave her a skeptical look when he saw the destination, but she added more pesos to the pile and he shrugged. 

They made good time the first day. She checked her GPS after they made camp for the night and did some calculations. If they kept this up, they were about two days out from the temple, which was what she'd planned for.

The satellite signal on her phone was a little shaky this far into the jungle but she could still get a video feed of her foster brother, Bodhi. "Oh good," he said when he saw her face. "You haven't been eaten by a jaguar."

"The night is young," she said. 

"You've got a good guide?"

She glanced at Tenoch, squatted down over the fire, stirring something in a little tin pot. "Seems to be. We're not doing a lot of talking. You know how crap my Spanish is."

Bodhi started to say something, then paused and changed it to, "As long as he stops you getting crushed to death by a - " He looked off into the distance. "Wait, what's that snake? The one that wraps around your throat and squeezes you to death?"

She rolled her eyes. "There are no boa constrictors in the Yucatan. I'm more concerned about falling down a cenote."

"What're those then?"

"Bloody great sinkhole with a lot of water in the bottom. If the fall doesn't kill you, the drowning will."

"Are you sure you're going to make it to that temple alive?"

"Probably not," she said cheerfully. "You'll inherit my millions."

"I'll be very sad about that," he promised solemnly. "I promise to wipe my eyes with thousand-pound notes at your memorial service."

"I only get a memorial service? Wanker."

"Yes, because your body is somewhere in the jungle, swollen to twice its size after being bitten by some hideously poisonous bug."

"Venomous," she corrected. "Poisonous is when you eat it." She thought. "Or touch it."

"Right," he said. "I stand corrected. I'm glad you called, anyway, and not just because it's proof of life. Saw Gerrera's been in touch."

She let out a heartfelt groan. "Come on, Bodes, none of that business stuff. It's so deadly dull."

Bodhi, who'd been neck and neck with her all throughout their MBA program, looked taken aback. She cut her eyes to his left, where his tall, dour new assistant was sorting out the day's mail.

He adjusted and sniffed, "Well, sor-ry, but it's your money, and you should know what's going on with it."

"No," she retorted, studying her nails, "your job is to know what's going on with it, Mister CEO. I'm the owner. I just have to sign the checks."

"And go gadding about the world."

"That too."

"As long as you're back for the founder's ball."

She sobered. "In twenty years, have I ever missed my mother's birthday?"

"No," he said, voice equally gentle. "Not even once."

They chatted a little more, Bodhi sharing some misadventure his youngest sister had got into over the weekend and Jyn telling him about her flight from London to Merida.

Just as Bodhi was asking her about her preparations for the excursion, his new assistant hove into view like an iceberg looming over the Titanic. "Mr. Rook," he said. "You have a meeting with the VP of finance in exactly seven and one-half minutes."

"Thank you, Kay," Bodhi said, giving Jyn a look through the video feed.

"I would end your call with Ms. Erso as soon as possible."

"Thank you, Kay," Bodhi said again. "Do you have the reports we'll be going over?"

"They are on your tablet."

"I'd like paper copies, please."

Somehow managing to impart that Bodhi was the most ridiculous and unreasonable boss in the world without changing his expression, Kay stalked away.

Jyn snickered. "Go on to your important and scintillating meeting," she said. "Me, I'm going to shovel down some rations and sleep like a log."

"Pace too rough for you?" he teased.

She flipped him off. "Jet lag, if you must know." She rolled her shoulders. "Love to your mum and the girls."

"Stay safe," Bodhi said, and signed off.

She shut her satphone down and leaned against a tree, thinking hard.

Bodhi's old assistant, Tivik, had left suddenly for a new job, and Kay had turned up as if by magic. They were neither of them stupid, and they knew Kyber Limited had its fair share of business rivals. Corporate espionage was to be expected. But she'd always felt it best to keep your enemies where you could see them.

Her satphone slipped from her hand and she made a grab for it.

There was a high-pitched whistle and a reverberating thud. 

Jyn's head jerked up. Her guide was a dark shape looming over her, both hands gripping a machete handle. The machete itself was stuck fast in the tree that she'd been standing under.

If she hadn't ducked her head to grab for the satphone, the blade would have gone through her neck.

Her heart hammered in her chest as she stared up into his shadowed face. Only a faint glint showed her where his eyes were. She had a knife in her boot and the machete was stuck fast. Could she reach her weapon before he could retrieve his?

A thump and a rustle by her feet caught her attention.

Half a snake flopped over the ground, still writhing, the mouth gaping open and fangs glittering evilly in the dusk. Instinctively, she kicked it hard with the steel toe of her boot, and the body soared into the campfire.

Tenoch watched it disappear into the flames with sizzling, popping noises, and then said, "Una vibora."

Viper.

She swallowed hard. "Si. Yo se." She nodded stiffly. "Gracias."

"De nada."

He wrenched his machete from the tree trunk, and the other half of the snake crashed to the ground. Put together with the front half, Jyn guessed it had been two feet long at least, and she swallowed bile.

Seemingly unaffected, he used the bloody machete to flick the second half of the snake into the darkness. "La comida está lista," he said, jerking his head toward the fire and the little tin pot he'd been stirring.

Thank god he'd covered it.

She followed him back to the campfire with shaky legs, cursing at herself. She'd been so deep in thought she hadn't stayed aware of her surroundings.

She of all people should know that the jungle would kill you to death given half a chance. It was what had happened to her mother. 

She and Bodhi might joke about it, but Lyra Erso had gone into this jungle and hadn't come out. Jyn was well aware she might not find a trace of her mother at the temple that had been her last, failed expedition, but she'd been planning this trip for years, and she wasn't about to let a snake or a bug or a jaguar or a cenote or even a taciturn guide stop her.

**

They agreed that he would take the first watch, and Tenoch settled himself cross-legged, with his back to the fire to preserve his night vision. From the corner of his eye, he could see Jyn Erso crawling into the tent.

He listened to the rustling and shuffling sounds of her getting ready for bed. The zip of the sleeping bag, the further shuffling of her getting comfortable and settled. He waited half an hour more, eyes tracking the jungle for animal or human intruders, ears cocked to the noises from the tent, patient as the grave. 

Then he rose soundlessly and made his way to the tent. He eased the zipper open silently, eyes and ears both attuned to the slow-breathing form in the sleeping bag. 

She lay curled on her side, one hand knotted up under her cheek like a child. The traces of light from the campfire behind him outlined her face. The line of her chin remained stubborn even in sleep, and her chapped Cupids-bow lips were ever-so-slightly parted . . . 

He shook himself. He was here to do a job, not moon over a pampered English heiress.

Although for a pampered English heiress, she'd done very well on the trail today.

Her pack was settled at her feet, right at the opening of the tent. He closed his hand around any buckles and metal pieces that would jingle and lifted it out of its place, letting the tent flap fall closed behind him.

He checked the outside pockets first. First aid kit, extra foldable canteen, iodine tablets, sunblock, insect repellent . . . All manner of small necessary items, but no top-of-the-line satphone.

He moved to the central compartments, pulling each item out and mentally noting the way it had been packed so he could replace it exactly the same way. Rice, dried meat, beans, carefully and thoroughly wrapped in plastic. Extra clothing. Soap, again wrapped in plastic. Rain gear. Toiletries, in more plastic.

No satphone.

His own, with its mirroring app pulled up and ready to do its job, waited in its pocket against his thigh.

She'd kept hers on her all day, gripped in her hand or locked into its case on her belt. He'd attempted to mirror it this morning as they set out, jostling up next to her on the trail, but the security on it was rather better than most. He needed more than mere proximity; he had to get his hands on it, possibly unlock it, in order for his own to do its job. 

Did she keep it on her body even as she slept? When did she charge it? The things sucked down power like a drunk swallowing rum.

Their trip would take at least a week more - two to the temple, one or two to explore, and three more back to Merida. He would surely have a chance to hack into it. 

But the longer he took, the more information his superiors could miss. 

Frowning to himself, he re-packed everything scrupulously back in its place and fastened it tightly closed. He lifted it off the ground and turned to go put it back in the tent -

And found the supposedly fast-asleep woman standing behind him, her heavy walking stick ready to swing at his head. In a deadly pleasant voice, she asked in perfect Spanish, "Find anything interesting?"

He went still, staring up at her, calculating which of several stories he could use.

“Don’t waste either of our time playing innocent,” she said. She switched to English. “And don’t pretend you don’t understand me, either. I know you were listening in on my call."

Some of the possible stories were discarded.

“Do you blame me?” he said. He layered his English with extra helpings of his accent. “I could sell this pack and all its contents for many pesos.”

“And what would you have done with me?” she asked silkily.

“You have experience, hiking the jungle. You might have made it back.” He shrugged, as if to say it was in the hands of a higher power. “Then again, you might not.”

She gave a little huff of amusement. “I might buy that if you hadn’t had a brilliant opportunity to let me die of snakebite earlier this evening.”

He wanted to scowl. He did not. 

"You're not just some con man out to make quick money. Not the way you ignored all my easily pocketed supplies and tools. You were looking for my satphone. You've been pointedly ignoring it all day, after you tried to mirror it this morning."

He felt the scowl almost emerge, in his forehead and the corners of his mouth, and purposely blanked his face. He was usually much better than this at controlling his expression. 

Her mouth quirked up smugly. "Who do you work for? Alderaan Corp? Mos Eisley and Company?" She narrowed her eyes at him. "Not the Hutt brothers?"    

Calculations churned. 

It was a common misconception that spies always lied. Sometimes, if it would get them what they wanted, they told the truth.

He let the pack fall and rose to his feet, not missing the way she resettled her grip and her stance in response. "Interpol,” he said. 

"Interpol," she said with deep and withering skepticism.

He shrugged. Believe it or don't, the shrug said.

She eyed him. "And what does Interpol want with Kyber Limited?"

"Perhaps Interpol wants you."

She snorted. "It comes to the same thing."

Damn. He should have known better than to believe her loudly proclaimed disinterest in business. Not after she'd done an MBA at Cambridge. But the woman flitted around the world while Rook stayed in London at the Kyber Limited offices.

He tested her out. ""What do you know about Imperial Industries?"

She shrugged. “Weapons manufacturers. We don’t have much to do with them.”

“An energy company could have a lot to do with a weapons manufacturer.”

“Yes, well, the company my mother started doesn’t.”

“And your father works for Imperial.”

She snorted. “This is about Galen Erso? You’re barking up the wrong tree, Interpol. I haven't spoken to him since he left for California, the day after my mother's funeral."

"That's a very long time to ignore your only child."

"I didn't say he hadn't tried. I haven't responded. Kyber Limited does very well without Galen Erso." She frowned at him. "What's he done?"

"Interpol has reason to believe Imperial Industries is building a device that contravenes international standards."

"Those naughty boys," she said.

"And by international standards, I mean the Geneva Convention."

"A super-weapon, " she said. "How delightful. I'm sure we'll all sleep cozy in our beds, knowing the Americans have that."

"It may not be the Americans. Not if they're not the highest bidder."

A moment. Then - "Ah." Her thumb rubbed over a knot in the wood, the only betrayal of restlessness. "And my father's building that, is he?"

"His research has applications."

"Well, as I said, Interpol - "

"Andor," he said.

"What?"

"My name is Cassian Andor."

She could run his name and get proof that he was who he said he was, and he had no doubt she would at the first opportunity.

"Cassian," she said, and his eyes narrowed. "As I said, I'm not in touch with my father, and I don't intend to change that." She narrowed her eyes back at him. "I think if I did, he might get suspicious."

Cassian thought otherwise, but he kept it to himself. 

"So," she finished. "You can traipse off back to your superiors if you like. Let them know I'm a dead end."

"You hired me to guide you to the temple," he said. "I prefer to finish a job I've started."

"Do you even know the way?"

"I grew up in Merida," he said. 

"Merida's the state capitol. Lots of people grew up there. That's not an answer."

"I know the way," he said. "And I have my own reasons for wanting to check it out."

"Do you now? Because as far as I know, my father's never been here."

"No," Cassian said. "But his boss has."

"His boss," Jyn echoed.

"Orson Krennic," Cassian said. "In fact, he went at the same time as your mother's last expedition."

Her face went to stone. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying nothing," he said. "I'd merely like to do some checking of my own at that location. See what there is to see."

Her thumb rubbed over the knot on her walking stick again.

Cassian tested the waters. "Or we could go back to Merida. You could hire some other guide."

"No," she said, and cleared her throat. "No," she said. "We're already a third of the way there and I don't feel like wasting the trip. As you say, we've both got reasons to go."

"True enough," he said. "And perhaps we could help each other."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Interpol." She scooped up her pack. "Just you keep your mitts off my satphone, and I'll do the same for you."

**

Once back in her tent, Jyn slid her satphone from her pocket and texted Bodhi. You were right, he's Interpol. Counter-terrorism. Apparently, Imperial is being very bad indeed. What’s Kay after?

Bodhi texted back right away. Either his meeting was done or it was a crashing bore. So far he’s been digging through most of R&D. Nice to know he’s not going to sell the false leads I’ve provided. Have you got your fellow hooked?

Oh, yes. He even brought up Krennic himself. Now let's see where our two fish lead us.

**

Back by the fire, Cassian sent a text of his own. I dangled Orson Krennic in front of her and whetted  her appetite. Continue to monitor her communications with Rook. If her father reaches out again, she'll tell him. Galen Erso is the weak spot, and his daughter is our way in.

FINIS

[reyesstrand]

not sure if I’m allowed to send another but, what about 85 for tarlos?

sorry for the wait for this, but this idea got in my head and it kind of got out of control — a good ending to this series, i guess!! i hope you enjoy! 

prompt taken from this list. also available on ao3!!

Three weeks to the day after the solar flare, Carlos receives a cryptic text from his mom: come for lunch today?

He mulls it over; he loves his mother, and it’s no secret to anybody that knows him that he’s a total mama’s boy, but there’s got to be a reason behind her impromptu meal, and an evil part of his mind tells him it has to be bad news. She doesn’t mention anything about his sisters joining them, and Carlos doesn’t know if that should stress him out more or less. If it’s something bad, he’d assume that he and his sisters would find out at the same time — but that only leaves him more confused.

She’s a strong woman, and is a complete health-nut — ever since his abuela started having mobility issues, his mother’s been a champion for organic eating and natural sleep aids and doing yoga every morning. Carlos can’t put bad news from the doctor completely off the table, but he starts to drift towards the other countless possibilities — and so he can’t say no to her. Even if it’s his only day off that lines up with TK’s schedule, he spares a glance at his softly snoring boyfriend before figuring the man’s close enough with his own father that he’ll have to understand a shift in plans. And so Carlos finds himself more alert than he’d been when he’d rubbed sleep from his eyes and initially checked his phone five minutes ago, thumbs hovering over the screen before he sends her a simple of course, mami, and sets about getting ready for the day after pressing a quick kiss to TK’s hairline.

He’s showered and had his coffee and is trying to quietly get dressed when Carlos hears TK groan and grumble, clearly fighting between catching a little more sleep and getting out of bed. Carlos watches with a small smile as TK slowly sits up when he realizes he’s alone in bed, before their gazes catch, and his heart soars as TK’s eyes visibly light up at seeing him.

“Everything okay?” TK asks, voice still deep and groggy, and Carlos nods as he starts on buttoning up his shirt.

“We might have to change our plans today,” Carlos says apologetically. “I really—fuck, I really wanted to spend he day with you, but my mom wants me to come over and she usually doesn’t spring stuff like that on me unless there’s something wrong, and—”

“Hey,” TK cuts him off, and Carlos raises his brows at him. “It’s okay, seriously. Marjan’s been bugging me to take Buttercup to get some pampering, anyway.”

“You’re the best,” Carlos says, and TK grins at him.

“Damn straight.”

TK tilts his head up, clearly looking for a kiss. Carlos huffs out a laugh and comes in close, so their mouths are nearly touching, before he whispers, “You have no shame, do you.”

“Nope,” TK grins, eyes crinkling in the corners, popping the p before he closes the space between them and gets the kiss he wanted. “I’ll see you later, though?”

His eyes shine with hopefulness, and Carlos nods earnestly. “I’ll text you when I’m on my way home.”

There’s another brief kiss, before Carlos sighs as he presses their foreheads together.

“I hate just leaving on you,” Carlos admits, even though the thoughts surrounding what his mom’s intentions are with lunch are swirling around his mind.

“I’ll be fine,” TK says, ducking forward to press another kiss to the corner of Carlos’ mouth. “Say hi to your mom for me.”

It’s only half a joke — TK’s been talking, metaphorically, about meeting Carlos’ family for a week or so. He mentions it whenever Carlos talks about childhood memories or a story from one of his sisters, noting that Carlos has known his dad technically even before he knew TK. But it never evolves from a few jokes, and even though Carlos wants nothing more than to continue to make their relationship solidified through introducing each other properly to the people that mean the most to them, he doesn’t know how to seriously approach that subject.

Instead of trying now, Carlos leaves with a promised, “I’ll see you later,” before he grabs his keys and phone and makes his way out of his home.

The half-hour drive goes by mostly in a blur, because he’s too caught up in what might unfold at the lunch. They usually try to have big family dinners bi-weekly, due to everyone’s work schedules and his sister’s kids’ schedules, but he can’t remember the last time a meal like this was just dropped on him the day-of. He does have the right state of mind to stop and grab his mom a bouquet of lilies, her favourite, before he pulls up to the humble farmhouse he’d lived in his whole childhood.

“Is everything okay?”

The words are out of his mouth within seconds of stepping into the house, half-startling his mother as she pours out two glasses of sweet tea.

“Can’t I ask my favourite son to have lunch with me when I know it’s his day off?”

Carlos flushes a bit, handing the flowers to his mom as she pulls him in for a hug. “I’m your only son.”

“Still my favourite,” she grins, smacking a kiss on his cheek before she gestures toward the back deck. He follows her, taking a deep breath as he goes.

* * *

“I know something is up, baby.”

He'd been expecting something regarding her own well-being or health, or his abuela's, so when the conversation turns to him he's sort of confused. And Carlos has grown up hearing from people that he has his mother’s eyes, and as he looks into them now, he thinks he sees the similarities as she looks at him with a particular warmth laced with concern he’s been accustomed to since he was born.

“You know, I saw an interesting photo of you the other day,” she says it off-handedly, but Carlos still manages to choke on his drink. She doesn’t hesitate, going on to describe the picture he knows intimately because he posted it to his Instagram only forty-eight hours ago: him and TK, smiling as they stand close, too close to just be friendly to any onlooker, taken by Paul in the late hours of the night as they strolled around downtown after their shifts. He hadn’t even considered his family seeing the photo, and he silently rues the day his sisters made their mother various social media accounts so she could keep up with their lives. Her voice turns soft, as she squeezes his arm and asks, “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Uh, I have to pee.”

He says it quickly enough that he can run off to inside the house, where the remnants of their lunch sits scattered over the counter. Carlos beelines for the bathroom and leans against the sink as he pulls out his phone.

how do you feel about my mom knowing about you?

seriously.

Carlos sends the messages to TK and taps his phone against the heel of his palm as he waits for a response. He thinks back to his mother’s implications — that she knows about them, is okay with them — and figures that he could always lie. It’ll look suspicious as hell, of course, after he just fucked off like that, but he’s never really brought any boyfriends around before. Mainly because he’s never been in a serious enough relationship to warrant that. But he thinks — he knows that there’s something real between him and TK, and he wouldn’t hate his mom and eventually his sisters knowing about him and meeting him and welcoming him into the fold of their family dynamic. But he needs to make sure this is still something TK’s okay with, that it’s going at his pace.

TK texts him back quickly, like always. i was serious about wanting to meet her someday. maybe even soon. so if you want to talk about me i support you.

you’re sure? Carlos texts back, as he feels his nerves starting to both tamper off and confusingly grow at the same time as he walks toward the backyard again, preparing to let his mother into this part of his life.

100%. tell her only the good things, i wanna impress her, TK replies, along with a string of heart emojis. Carlos huffs a little, quickly typing out, she’ll love you no matter what, before pocketing his phone and sliding back into his seat across from his mother.

“Sorry,” he mumbles, meeting her eyes, and as he opens his mouth to continue, she quickly interjects.

“Don’t lie to me, Carlos,” she warns, though there’s warmth behind her words, a desperate plea to tell him that she wants to be included in this part of his life, no matter how new it might be. "You know you can talk to me."

So Carlos takes another deep breath, not really looking at his mother as he whispers: “I met someone, mami.”

He stares down at the ground; after a few seconds, he shifts his gaze to stare at the blooming gardens that live in clusters around the yard, various vegetables and flowers alike growing with vengeance as the summer welcomes them back into the world. When she makes a noise and he finally meets her gaze again, she’s looking at him with nothing but fondness.

“Oh, baby,” his mom is smiling, now, and she brings his face close to press a kiss to his forehead.

“It’s only been official for a few weeks but, um, I really like him,” Carlos admits, as his mother lovingly squeezes his hand. With a laugh, he adds: “I like him a lot. And I’d love for you to meet him.”

His mother leans forward and curls her arms around him, like she did when he was a kid and he felt too small to conquer the world, and he immediately feels calm wash over him. “I would love to, mijo.”

(Carlos has a flash of a memory, then, coming out when he was fifteen years old and terrified but desperate for his truth to be known. He first told his older sister Camila, and then his mother a couple of days later, and he remembers so vividly how they hugged his then-tiny frame, all knobbly bones and a height he was getting used to, both of them supportive and loving and adamant that nothing would change how much they love him. He towers over both of them now, but he feels protected in his mother’s arms, like he always has).

As they pull out of the hug, his mother elbows him good-naturedly. “Alright, tell me about this boy then.”

His mama’s grinning at him teasingly as she says it, and Carlos sits back and huffs out a laugh of his own, rubbing the back of his neck.

“His name’s TK. He’s a firefighter,” Carlos says, barely holding back a bigger smile when his mother makes an approving face at that tidbit of information. “He’s—he’s funny and beautiful and has the warmest heart.”

“I’m so happy for you,” his mother says, eyes bright with love, as if just listening to him talk about TK has made her realize how truly happy he is. And maybe it's allowed himself to look at inside retrospectively and figure out that yeah, he is happier than he's ever been. “I’m sure I’ll love him. You’ll have to bring him around.”

“I will,” Carlos promises, feeling like he’s floating on air. “Oh, and he’s from New York City.”

He says it pointedly, knowing his mother’s always wanted to travel to the Big Apple.

“Well,” his mother says, “I guess we’ll have to show your city boy how we do family dinners, then.”

She brings him in for another hug as she smiles, before she goes off to refill their glasses. Carlos sits back, considering the idea of TK being a part of his family, for good — and he finds that he wants nothing else in the world.

[thecardsimagine]

The Sun’s Happiness

Surprise! I was able to pinch hit for @fieldsofvesuvia and was allowed to write for @thermophilic-lizzy adorable MC Kachiri! I hope you enjoy this one-shot ♥

≿————-————-   ❈ ————-————-≾   

Characters: Nadia Satrinava X Kachiri, Portia Genre: Fluff, Comfort

≿————-————-   ❈ ————-————-≾   

“Look at you,” Nadia hummed, a smile playing over her lips. With her finger’s soft touch, she brushed through Kachiri’s hair, still damp from the bath the two had just taken. Kachi couldn’t deny that it felt heavenly to have Nadia tend to her. The occasional spoiling she’d allow the Countess was nothing less than exquisite every time it happened.

With a sideglance to the mattress around her, Kachi noticed the tiny lilac flowers falling down onto the sheets from above. They were dancing through the air and along the silky bathrobe she was wearing, some of them settling on her shoulders, while others fell all the way to her legs and hands, resting on top of Nadia’s enormous bed.

 “My little flower catcher,” Nadia chuckled, bringing her hand - filled with more flowers -  forward for Kachiri to see, making her smile too, as she heard the sweet nickname Nadia had given her.

“Do you believe me now that even for a bath as big as yours, that were just too many flowers?” Kachi teased, having noted this fact before when they were in the bath still. It had been quite a surprise when the servants brought in three big baskets full of flowers on Nadia’s order. Back then, Kachiri had already uttered some concerns about the amount, while also wondering just where in the world those flowers had come from. After all, Kachiri had to be pleaded with, since she wouldn’t usually let Nadia spoil her like this regularly, so there wasn’t much time to prepare that amount in advance. However, that Kachi’s hair had - unwillingly - become the net catching those delicate flowers, still amused her too.

“Never, Darling. Besides, only the best for you! And I believe you are quite fond of lilacs, considering you usually halt and admire them when we encounter their bushes on our walks.”

Responding with a confirming hum, Kachi couldn’t deny Nadia’s perceptiveness of her. With a blissful sigh, Kachiri let herself be tenderly persuaded, with a tug on her hair, into laying her head back, giving Nadia more playground and allowing her to inspect the top of her beloved’s head for more flowers. “They did smell amazing, Nadia,” she admitted, her nose still faintly making out the sweet scent of this particular flower. It really was no secret that a lilac bush could always invite Kachi for a minute of staying and wondering just how it could smell this good. Then again, this had been the first time she ever bathed in it, only knowing it as a remedy against fever and digestive problems until now.

However, the smell was barely able to take hold anywhere anymore, as Kachiri was more or less engulfed in Nadia’s very own lavender scent, coating the room into the calming smell. And that was much appreciated by Kachi, who - when she wasn’t talking with Nadia - was fighting the anxious bubbles in her stomach. It didn’t go unnoticed by the former princess sitting behind her, as always, Nadia being extremely perceptive of the people around her - especially someone so dear as Kachiri was to her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. Kachi hesitated for a moment before telling her, unsure if she should even bring up the topic again. It was nothing new that the talks around the palace were something Kachi had gotten better with, yet, dreaded still as she simply couldn’t keep up with nobles. Nadia was a natural talent, paired with years of experience how to handle these people, but Kachi was only now learning, and that day again, had left her exhausted.

“I was just wondering if I might have angered the Duke who you introduced me to today? He didn’t seem too happy as he left for his afternoon rest.”

Nadia’s touches never ceased or changed as Kachiri opened up about her worries. In her heart, she knew, Nadia wouldn’t judge her for something like this, but still, it was hard to open up about her weaknesses to someone as great as the Countess. “You mean because of the fig-trees? When you said you’d prefer a field of sunflowers over a garden full of figs anytime?”

Nadia’s words were followed by a rare snort as she remembered Kachi’s words from that afternoon, soft laughs falling off her lips. “D-Don’t laugh!” Kachiri stuttered lightly, a bashful blush falling onto her cheeks. “What if that changes anything with the connections of his lands with Vesuvia?”

“Oh, Darling,” Nadia chuckled. She reached past Kachiri towards the brush she had taken with her into the bed, finding Kachi’s hair to finally be free of flowers and ready to get brushed by a tool instead of her fingers. “First of all, it’s my duty and responsibility to be liked by them, not yours. I have to represent Vesuvia, but you are free to speak as you want and see fit.”

“Secondly-” Carefully, Nadia began to brush through Kachi’s sensible hair, knowing it had the tendency to be quite hard to shape and get through despite the conditioner they had used on it beforehand. “Ah, there’s a knot,” Nadia warned, interrupting her own speech and using her fingers once more to untangle the strands of hair tied together. Kachiri had to wait for another breath or two before Nadia went back to her words, after she freed the hair, readying it to be brushed through now.

“Secondly, I like it much better when at least one person in court speaks her mind, instead of fifty others only nodding and bowing.”

Kachi knew it was a compliment, her lips curling briefly into a smile before reality pulled her back. Despite Nadia’s encouragement, Kachi still felt the responsibility on her shoulders to be liked, too, especially now that she and Nadia had grown closer more than ever. It meant she was going to stand by her side more, and as such, she wanted to support her partner as best as she could too.

“It’s just…” Kachiri let out a long sigh, shrugging lightly in frustration as she found it hard to put her thoughts into words. “I am not someone exceptional, or extraordinarily smart or pretty, and I feel like I need to do more to earn--”

Cutting herself right off before she could say anything more, Kachi bit her lip, trying to brush off the topic with a quick, yet awkward, laugh. “‘Your place’? Is that what you wanted to say?” Nadia caught her red-handed, even though she had yet to stop her brushing, remaining as calm as ever. Kachi sighed deeply as she felt busted by Nadia’s sharp wit. If anything, Nadia wasn’t a woman you could keep something hidden from easily, which was a pain whenever her birthday came around, and there were presents to hide.

Finally, the brush was set aside, as Kachi felt two hands on her shoulders, squeezing them lightly. “Kachi? Look at me, please.”

There was no reason for Kachiri not to follow Nadia’s request, despite finding herself unable to maintain eye contact with Nadia’s eyes, which were as purple as the lilac flowers. But before she could duck into herself like a child about to receive a scolding, Nadia pulled her into a sudden hug, giving her a tight squeeze, unlike the usual tender embraces Kachiri was used to from her.

“As long as you want, your place will always be here.” Raising some butterflies in Kachiri’s stomach, Nadia slowly let her go, but not without lifting her face by her chin so the two of them could face each other properly. “No matter what you do, things are not eaten as hot as they are cooked here, even if they seem to have a serious impact. And while I say it’s my responsibility to take care of anything that might occur, it helps me a lot to know I have you by my side to mend all the things that could come my way.”

She smiled as Kachi blushed over her words. Letting go of her chin, Nadia leaned forward to kiss her forehead, bringing her hands to Kachiri’s cheeks to tenderly caress them. “You’re perfect just as you are. And besides, you are the hero of Vesuvia! Don’t think I would let anyone who might take offense in something minor like your words, forget what you did for all of us.”

There wasn’t much Kachiri could return back at Nadia, the Countess having a way with her words that left Kachi with nothing but butterflies in her stomach. Sometimes, it could get really tough being the partner of someone so rational, yet kind. But hearing she had all this trust and respect from Nadia, who Kachi loved and idolized in many aspects of her life, certainly helped calm her.

“Also!” Nadia picked up, suddenly perking up and climbing off the bed. “Your words gave me such a good idea for tonight’s outfit!”

As if on cue, a knock echoed through the room, Nadia calling a tender, “Come in!” at the door, which opened to reveal Portia peeking her head in and grinning. “I got them, Milady!” Portia announced, door flying open widely to reveal another bucket full of flowers in her hands. The bright yellow, palm-sized flower heads were everything to Kachiri, immediately bringing a smile to her face, which Nadia perceived with a satisfied expression.

Portia didn’t waste time to bring over the sunflowers, setting them down next to the bed, before taking place at the edge of it herself. “Ready for some flowers in your hair?” she asked, expression turning into confusion when both Kachi and Nadia couldn’t help their voices rising in a laugh. “I am, apparently, a flower catcher, after all,” Kachiri chuckled, and Nadia agreed with a nod, climbing back behind her on the big bed.

It was a surprise that Nadia would arrange sunflowers for hair decoration, but Kachi was thankful she did. They were her favorite flowers after all, and it put her into the pleasure of having Nadia braid her hair loosely, whilst Portia handed her one flowerhead after the other. Nadia was well aware that anything too strict or a big up-do might be complicated once Kachiri’s hair dried. Then again, both of them enjoyed a more natural style anyway. Kachi sat back as she got pampered with some more soft touches, and tending to her, Portia giving away the reason for all of this.

“Nadia thought it would be grand to show the Duke just how much prettier sunflowers are after you mentioned them to him.”

“Nadia…” Kachiri gasped, surprised to find out that Nadia had thought this through way beyond sunflowers being Kachi’s favorite flowers. “That’s so sly!” she added, chuckling, and Nadia’s lips curled into a knowing smile, the three ladies falling into soft laughter. “Well, I believe he just has to appreciate your taste a little more, you know?”

Portia hummed loudly in agreement, leaving the room for the enclosed closet, gathering the evening clothes as Kachi presumed, while she and Nadia were left behind in silence.

“Thanks, Nadia,” Kachi eventually muttered sheepishly, slightly embarrassed.

For the first time, Nadia’s diligent fingers halted their movement, processing the words before continuing with their work. “For what, my Love?” she asked, voice soothing and calm, fitted to the situation. “Just…” Kachiri let out a short laugh, lifting her hand and gesturing from side to side aimlessly. “Everything.”

Blushing lightly, Kachiri fidgeted with the hem of her bathrobe, twirling it between her fingers. “Accepting me and fixing my mistakes… I’ll work even harder on myself in the future, I promise!”

Tender chuckles fell off Nadia’s lips as she finished braiding Kachi’s hair, pulling her fingers out of the artwork that was the big braid interlarded with the strongly shining, yellow flowers. Instead, her hand dropped to Kachiri’s, tugging her gently after Nadia off the bed and towards the large mirror in the corner of the room. “Look,” she pointed at Kachi’s reflection, wanting to show off how sweet she looked, with the soft braid from one side of her head to the other.

The golden gleam in her hair matched perfectly with the sunflowers decorating her now, together with the green of her eyes, which blended in as if they were stems. “I have a wonderful, beautiful partner. Every day I wake up with the rays of light, lucky to look at my personal sun sleeping next to me.” Nadia mused, hands on Kachi’s shoulders as she looked at her reflection in the mirror, standing behind her.

“I could never put into something as simple as words, how grateful I am, and what admiration I harbor for the strength you give me every day. So please, never feel less than deserving of everything that I can offer you, Kachiri. You made me the person I am today, and this person wants nothing more than to show you to the rest of the world, declaring you are the sunshine in my life.”

By now, it was impossible to hide the bright blush on Kachi’s face, especially when so exposed to her own reflection. All she could do is bring her hands up to her mouth, trying to shield it from revealing that huge, dorky grin on her lips. Though, Nadia had long seen it flash through the gaps in between Kachi’s fingers, a smile just as wide on her own face, proud and happy. “Let’s face the Duke and whoever comes afterwards - together, alright?”

“Okay,” Kachi agreed, turning around to face Nadia head-on for the first time. Their arms were quick to wrap around each other, lips finding the other like a perfect fit. After all, they were a well-attuned couple, knowing each other’s actions like their own. Through the affection and tender caress of her cheek, Kachi could feel Nadia’s strength and determination. Nadia was ahead of Kachiri already when it came to faith in herself and also in Kachi. Still, she’d be sure to take an example, wanting to give back exactly what Nadia offered her.

They only separated as they heard the shuffling of fabric, Portia returning from her scavenger hunt for evening clothes, laying them out on the bed. “What did I miss?” she asked chipperly, as she found the couple still united by their arms around each other. “Or… was I interrupting something?” she eventually figured, blushing lightly as the awkwardness hit her. Kachi and Nadia exchanged a quick glance before they started laughing, denying Portia’s worry, instead, opening up their arms for her to join them in a group hug.

“Careful now, we wouldn’t want the flowers to fall, would we?”

Laughing, Portia eased her heartful hug, and Kachiri chuckled. “We’ll show the Duke just how much better sunflowers are compared to figs!” she announced, now in agreement with the other two who were already doing their best to speak this into reality.

“You’re going to show him, Kachi!” Portia encouraged, and Nadia gave a sophisticated nod. “You can do it.”

Smiling from ear to ear, Kachiri let out a strong, “Yes!”, all the anxiety of the afternoon gone, as she knew that the people she could always count on, had her back. And in an instant, she was tightly smushed back between Nadia and Portia, their hug resuming as they all grinned widely.

And she wouldn’t have wanted to exchange the happiness she felt for anything in the world.

[goldenlaquer]

IM SO DUMB it was kamui's birthday on june 1 and i forgot 🥺😭 may i ask on romantic hcs with him, a bday edition would be fitting pretty please? Thanks so very much!

Me: waiting for a kamui bday ask bc i freakin love him

also Me: there are 20+ other asks in my box that i gotta get through

OMG this is so bad of me but I can’t help ittt. Also, mildly spicy bc its his bd

Kamui Birthday Headcanons:

Kamui doesn’t really care about birthdays in itself, it’s just the day he was born, nothing more nothing less; the Yato clan keep track on the years that they manage to not die, rather than to celebrate the years since their birth. But even if the day isn’t all too special to him, who is he to complain about your undivided attention and pampering coming his way? 

The day starts with you waking up to the sight of Kamui and his sharp grin, all teeth and excitement, as he playfully tickles the end of his braid underneath your chin.

“Today’s my birthday,” he looks at you with undisguised glee as he easily pulls your sleepy, pliant form up into a sitting position. “That means you can’t say no to anything I want, yes?” 

No, Kamui, that’s not what it means. But the birthday boy has never been able to take ‘no’ for an answer anyway, going as he pleased without a single fuck on the opinions of others. “Yes” You tell him, feeling like it might bite you back in the ass.

The teasing throughout the day is merciless, and when you feel like snapping back at him, Kamui only wags a mocking finger at you, reminding you that it’s his birthday. 

Much more of a brat than usual, if you haven’t noticed. He just won’t leave you alone, tucking his head against the curve of your shoulder and jaw, even as you prepare for a little birthday dinner between the two of you. 

Any food that falls out of a plate or your hands is fair game, he’s snatching that up into his jaws, dodging your admonishing hands with a mirthful laugh. 

The 10-layered, chocolate cake is a monstrosity that you baked yourself, messily decorated with frosting and sprinkles-- and tastes a lot better than it looks. You spent about three days just to make the cake, but it’s all worth it to see his face light up in delight. 

you manage to get a slice of cake for yourself and Kamui finishes the rest of it in an impressive, record-breaking five bites.

The gift? Kamui is a hard person to find a gift for, besides food, because he doesn’t have many interests outside of getting stronger. If you’re dead set on getting him a present, you could maybe splurge on some expensive cologne he will never use, or you could-

Kamui hoists you closer, his lashes grazing the planes of your cheeks as he ducks to place a small, chaste kiss at the edge of your jaw, uncharacteristically gentle in his approach. He continues to lave butterfly kisses on you, until he reaches to your ear, where he whispers with a cheerfulness that somehow sounds strained, “Yes or no?”

Y e s . 

[phobiadeficient]

Sniper + 1 or more other mercs punish Scott after he's been a brat

demo/sniper/scout is a pairing combo i really like even if there’s like. practically no content for it. its good shit tho for real

-

“Tavish, your boyfriend is being a bloody menace again,” Sniper started in, dragging Scout by the scruff of his neck into Demo’s little workshop.

“Why’s it that he’s only my boyfriend when he’s acting out, and your boyfriend when he’s being sweet?” Demo asked, not looking up from the bundle of wires and switches that he was working on, canisters lined up neatly in front of him.

“Because he only ever works this hard to piss me off,” Sniper replied.

“And why do you think that is, Mundy?” Demo asked, a little bit sarcastically.

“Because it’s way funnier,” Scout cut in, and shut right back up again when Sniper shook him once, hard.

“The temper on you, love,” Demo tsk’d, working his hands free and standing up from his workbench, moving forward to look Scout up and down. “Careful with him. The munchkinlander bruises easy, y’ken.”

Scout glared at that, and Demo raised an eyebrow at him briefly before turning his attention back to Sniper.

“Look, you know why he keeps doing this, aye?” Demo asked, amusement in his tone.

“Because we can’t leave him alone for ten bloody minutes before he gets bored and wants attention, and then he has a bloody temper tantrum over it when we don’t give it to him,” Sniper said, tone biting. He seemed legitimately pissed off. Demo was curious as to what Scout had actually done this time.

“And?” Demo led, and continued when Sniper just frowned, not understanding. “Lad, you keep using negative reinforcement is the thing. Stubborn little bastards like this,” he said, taking Scout’s chin in one hand and tilting his head up to face Demo head on, “just dig their heels in with that. Love getting a reaction.”

“So what else am I meant to do?” Sniper asked, confused.

“Watch and learn,” Demo said, and leaned to grab a length of rope from where it was hanging on the wall.

He had a setup for making his much larger explosives, which included a big bracing apparatus—currently folded and stowed away—and a large hook on the ceiling. Demo, in clean, efficient movements, first tied Scout’s wrists together, then he looped the rope up over the hook, pulling hard, and Scout was yanked so he stood flat on his feet with his arms well up above his head, only enough slack to stand comfortably.

Scout looked surprised. He clearly hadn’t really seen this coming. Demo barely spared him a look though, busy tying off the rope.

“Care to pass the box cutter, Mundy?” Demo asked idly, and he saw Scout go tense in his periphery.

Sniper did so, and Demo flicked it open, moving forward. Scout had a slight edge of fear in his expression, and Demo flicked the thing back closed, moving a hand to press soothingly into Scout’s side.

“Not gonna hurt you with this, darl,” he said, stilling the mile-a-minute train of thought that was probably going through Scout’s head just then. Scout relaxed only a little bit.

To be fair, it wasn’t often that he and Demo played this way. That was more Sniper’s rodeo, with Demo occasionally asked to help with more complicated ones. And when Demo did play he usually did so with Sniper, and they didn’t exactly have a set dynamic, switching between who was in charge and who was tying up who depending on the mood. Mostly Scout got his fill of that particular kind of attention with Sniper and then he and Demo messed around in a more vanilla way, Scout getting pampered just a bit in the wake of getting tied up and used. That was more Demo’s dynamic.

That said, he did have some ideas.

“Hold this,” Demo directed, taking the dog tag lying against Scout’s shirt and lifting it up towards his face. Scout carefully took it between his teeth, clearly hesitant, not sure that’s what Demo wanted from him. Demo nodded approvingly. He then opened the box cutter again and sliced Scout’s shirt clean off of him in three cuts, two from the edge of the sleeve to the collar of the shirt and once right down the center, baring him to the world. He tugged lightly on the chain of the tags and Scout released it again, letting it drop back into place, face flushing.

He was aware of Sniper moving to lock the door somewhere in his periphery, even if he didn’t turn to look. Scout glancing to watch him did that work for him.

“So what’d you do?” Demo finally asked, tone bright.

Scout set his jaw, looking off to one side.

“The little menace just—“ Sniper started, but Demo shot him a glance.

“No,” he said, looking back at Scout. “He’s gonna be the one to say it.”

“Or else what?” Scout challenged, no small amount of fight there behind his eyes.

“Or else you get to stand there. But if you do tell me,” Demo led, reaching forward to close the distance for a moment, thumbs moving to Scout’s nipples and kneading and rolling them in smooth motions that had him writhing, gasping in need within only a few moments. Then he pulled back with a parting pinch, and Scout went still again, breath coming a bit heavier, pants tighter. “Well, I think you’ll like what happens.”

Scout was quiet for another few seconds, glancing between Sniper and Demo a few times.

“Care for a drink, Mundy?” Demo asked, attention shifting to Sniper.

“Could go for one,” Sniper shrugged, catching on in an instant. “What do you have?”

“Got plenty of options—“ Demo started, taking only a step away from Scout before he started stammering.

“I, alright, so, it was really an accident this time I swear—“ Scout said, speaking quickly.

“Right?” Demo said, returning to stand in front of him again.

“I…” Scout was flushing further. “I went over to the camper to see if Snipes was busy, because you told me you were workin’ on somethin’ today, and he was just taking his stupid gun apart and putting it back together again—“

“I’ve told you a million times that my rifle needs actual maintenance or else I’ll need to replace it within the year, it’s not my fault you don’t take care of your bloody things and I do—“ Sniper started to snap, and quieted again when Demo glanced at him.

“So what’d you do?” Demo prompted, raising an eyebrow at Scout again.

Scout ducked his head. “So I… sassed him for a while,” he trailed, speaking carefully. “And he told me to go away, and… that he wasn’t good to play today. That he was busy.”

Demo nodded, waiting, aware that that wasn’t enough to piss Sniper off so badly.

“…And then on my way out I slammed to door,” Scout admitted, “and it shook the camper and knocked over a bunch of shit.”

Demo hummed, stepping a bit closer, running hands down Scout’s sides, making him shiver as he traced over the sensitive parts of his ribcage, gentle even with calloused fingers. “What’d you knock over?”

“A few glasses, a jar—it was empty,” he hurried to say, seeing Demo’s eyebrows rise. “But glass got everywhere. And a box of bullets slid off the table and scattered. And… and a picture fell off the wall. It was an accident, really, but then Snipes freaked out on me and yelled at me and dragged me over here.”

Demo hummed, hands rising to toy with his chest some more, and within moments Scout was leaned forward what amount the ropes would allow, reduced to gasping again. “Good,” Demo praised, and Scout shivered.

“How the hell did you manage that?” Sniper asked from near Demo’s shoulder, incredulous.

“Positive reinforcement, Mickey m’boy,” Demo said, a little smug. “Now, Scout.”

“Mmmwhat?” Scout asked, eyes blinking open, hazy.

“Now you’re going to apologize,” Demo said.

Scout tensed up a bit, eyebrows furrowing. “Aw, go to hell,” he said, even as his voice wavered. Demo stopped playing with him. “I didn’t even do it on purpose, it’s not my fault he’s a dumbass and left his goddamn dishes stacked up like that and doesn’t know how to hang up a poster—“

Demo removed his hands entirely, and Scout stopped talking, looking down and watching them retreat, returning to Demo’s side, one to his hip. “I don’t care if you did it on purpose, lad. You’ve made a mess and now you’re going to apologize for it,” he said firmly.

There was that gleam again. “Or else what, Cyclops? You gonna make me?” he asked, taking some of the slack in hand and leaning hard on the ropes.

“Nope,” Demo replied, reaching up to cup Scout’s jaw in hand, angling him just so. “You’re just gonna stay there tied up until you do. And you won’t get a single lick of attention until then. All you have to do is apologize, lad, that’s all. Just a little one.”

Scout huffed, sinking, glaring at Demo when he gave Scout a parting pat on the cheek before stepping away, gesturing for Sniper to follow.

“Mate, he doesn’t listen to that,” Sniper said quietly, too quiet for Scout to hear as they went to the cabinet on the other side of the little workshop. “He’s stubborn as hell. Buttering him up doesn’t get him anywhere but pleased with himself.”

“Mundy, every time he acts out you rough him up. But that’s what he wants you do to,” Demo replied just as quietly, pulling out two glasses and two bottles, setting to mixing some drinks on the countertop nearby. “You’re giving him what he wants. If you want him to do what you say willingly, you’ve got to promise something that he’ll like just as much as whatever punishment you’re threatening him with. Either punish him hard—which might well just get him to safeword before he’s done what you’ve asked, the little bastard’s a slut for pain and doesn’t know when to quit—or offer him something he wants more than his pride.”

Sniper took the drink that was offered to him, clinking their glasses before downing a gulp. He considered for a moment. “Think that’ll work?”

“Depends. You can rile him up real desperate-like then get him to do what you say, but only if you can make it that long without losing your own self-control. Or, you can offer something he wants desperately already.”

Sniper paused. “Oh. Well, mate, then I might just have an idea.”

-

Scout was sulking. There he was, shirtless and tied up, and Demo and Sniper weren’t even looking at him. Assholes. Couldn’t they see how hot he was? What a chance they had right then? He was just there, good-looking and helpless. Seriously.

He perked up when Demo started walking towards him, only to slump again when he moved right past him. Then he felt a pair of strong hands at his hips and he was pulled back against Demo’s body, and his breath hitched.

“So me and Mundy have been talking,” he hummed, quiet into Scout’s ear. “We think we know what your reward is gonna be for when you tell him you’re sorry.”

“Yeah?” Scout asked, tilting his head closer, trying to look at Demo.

“Yeah,” Sniper said, and Scout looked forward again, and his breath caught when Sniper stepped forward close enough to press their fronts together, leaving him sandwiched and immobilized between the two larger men. “Remember that time we all got together?”

“When me and Mundy both had a lend of you? At the same time?”

“You put that sweet little outfit on to beg us for it, to try and get us to give it to you, remember? The black one?” Sniper prompted, nibbling a line down Scout’s neck between phrases.

Scout remembered exactly what Sniper was talking about and his pulse hammered. Demo pressed a kiss to his pulse point as it apparently showed, and he swallowed hard, breath hitching as Sniper caught the motion of his adam’s apple under his teeth. “Yeah,” he said weakly.

“I knew how much you liked that, and god knows me and the lanky bastard both liked it too. If you apologize, we can do that again, right here,” Demo coaxed, hands falling from his hips to instead run along the inside of Scout’s thighs.

The idea ran loose in Scout’s mind for a few moments. Himself, tied up and helpless, getting absolutely railed into by the two very hot guys he was dating.

He flushed clear down to his chest, heart hammering.

“Okay,” he agreed, voice breaking a little. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’m sorry Snipes. I—I promise I won’t do it again, I’m real sorry.”

“You gonna help him clean up later, lad?” Demo asked, hummed into the back of his neck.

“Yeah, yeah I will, promise. I promise,” he agreed, nodding feverishly.

“Gonna whinge about it, or will you be a good boy and help nice and quiet?” Sniper asked.

“No, I’ll be good. I can be good,” Scout said quickly.

Quiet for a few moments. Scout rolled his hips forward at the sound of Sniper and Demo sharing a kiss over his shoulder. “Bloody genius, Tavish,” Sniper praised lowly, and Demo chuckled, and then they were starting to get undressed.

Scout moved along to make it easier when his pants were undone and pushed down, trying to kick off his shoes as best he could. Sniper got them open, and then Demo pulled them down and off, guiding them off Scout’s legs one leg at a time. When Demo returned to pressing up behind him, his chest was bare, and Scout groaned at it.

“Lube, Mickey?” Demo prompted, and the bottle was passed over. “Thanks, love. Right, up you get lad.”

Scout felt hands pulling at the back of his thighs, and he took the prompt, shifting on his feet for a second before taking hold of the slack in the rope again and lifting his legs up into the air, wrapping them around Sniper’s middle. Sniper grabbed hold of him to help him keep his balance, hands on his ass, both keeping him supported and spreading him enough that Demo could start in.

Scout moaned and babbled pleads into Sniper’s shoulder and neck as Demo worked him open quickly and efficiently, knowing his body and his tells pretty damn well by then and knowing that Scout could take the discomfort involved in moving fast. Loved to, even. Loved the slight burn, the knowledge that he’d be just a little sore the next day and that he’d know exactly who was responsible for it.

But Demo worked him up well into three fingers, his hands bigger than Sniper’s, spreading him more than was usually needed. Scout was asked to hop down for a second to let Sniper get undressed, which he did with efficiency, before he was being held again, Demo helping support his weight while Sniper slicked up and found the right angle and—and—and—

His brain always whited out for a second at that first push, and it was a good thing he managed to keep his legs in place and had Demo holding him up, that he clenched his fists, because he might’ve outright fallen over otherwise. Sniper filled him in three easy pushes, and Scout tried to say something like “it’s fine, I’m not in any pain, we can go ahead”, but mostly it just came out in a moan.

Sniper got a pretty good read on the situation, though. “He’s awright, Tavish. Go on,” he prompted. Another kiss shared over his shoulder, then Demo shifted, Sniper taking the weight back to free up Demo’s hands.

Sniper started rolling up into him in slow, steady motions, and Scout heard the sound of more lube before on the next roll, one of Demo’s fingers followed alongside Sniper’s cock and Scout couldn’t help but release a sharp gasp of pleasure, hips jerking. Demo shushed him with a kiss at the apex of his spine, starting up a gentle motion alongside Sniper’s. One finger became two—another hard gasp from Scout, they were talking to each other quietly but he couldn’t seem to make himself focus on what they were saying—and then finally three. All of a sudden, Scout felt a bolt of something, and he whispered a frantic word into Sniper’s shoulder.

Sniper’s motions stopped in an instant. “He asked for yellow, Tavish,” he relayed, and Demo stopped as well.

“Need me out, lad?” he asked sympathetically, free hand kneading at Scout’s thigh to soothe him.

“No,” he managed, voice weak, and with everything stopped for a moment he could process suddenly that there were tears leaking out of his eyes. “Just-just gimme a second. I can do this. I know I can do this. Just need a second.”

Demo nodded, kissing Scout a few more times, beard a comforting, familiar rasp against his skin. Sniper did the same on the opposite side of his neck, a tremble to his hands where they supported Scout’s weight.

Finally Scout felt like things had reached a manageable level, and he exhaled, relaxing just a little bit, taking a deep breath. “Okay. I think I’m good now,” he said, tilting his head to make it clear he was addressing Demo.

Demo ignored that for a little bit, continuing to stretch him and coax him open for a few more moments before he even pulled his fingers out and his pants off. Scout squeezed his eyes shut and took a few more deep breaths, listening idly to the sound of slicking up further, hands being wiped off.

Then Demo had a hand on his thigh, pulling, working Sniper out until just the head was left. And Scout heard Sniper’s breath catching, and then his own followed as he felt Demo line up.

“Ready, lad?” Demo asked, and Scout nodded half-frantically, and he started lowering Scout to allow them both to push in.

Whiteout, world blurring at the edges. He was aware, distantly, of Demo murmuring for him to relax, of Sniper telling him good, he was doing such a good job, what a good boy. His own dick was absolutely throbbing, trapped between him and Sniper, teased by the hair on Sniper’s stomach and desperate for contact, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t touch himself, couldn’t do anything but let himself be used, and oh, oh fuck—

Breathing picked up, Sniper and Demo thrusting in what rhythm they could find, both of them using their upper body strength to lift and manipulate Scout as they pleased, bouncing him on them with only some small amount of effort, seeming to get a real kick out of all the noise he was making. Demo reached around and took hold of Scout’s dog tags, pressing them to his mouth, and Scout took them between his teeth like he had earlier without even really thinking about it.

Hands were everywhere. Supporting his weight, groping up and down his thighs, dragging nails over his back, and—that was Demo’s, he was pretty sure��teasing at his nipples and making him whine and jerk.

“Want me to bite you?” Sniper asked, liquid gravel into his ear, and he nodded desperately, and writhed when he started in.

“Gorgeous, love,” Demo praised, low into his shoulder blade, licking and sucking at the freckles there that he could find, and all Scout could do was moan.

“Such a good boy,” Sniper praised, voice hard and rough, marking up his shoulders and neck with abandon between panting, and all Scout could do was moan.

“Gonna come, are you? Gonna come for us? Go on, give us a show,” Demo teased, nose buried in his hair, hands pinching his nipples hard, and all Scout could do was moan.

He wasn’t sure who came first, sensation and pleasure blurring together, feeling only his own sounds transform into begging, then praise, then no words at all, just moaning and keening, a rough voice following with him, someone else humming satisfaction into his shoulder.

When he came back down to earth, shivering, shaking, out of sorts in his own skin, like he’d touched a live wire, like he was fresh off the high of winning a fight, he could confirm pretty easily that yes, both Sniper and Demo had come. And Demo had pulled out, gingerly, gently, and pulled away from Scout’s back, leaving him cold. Scout felt an involuntary roll of embarrassment hit him at the feeling of dripping that followed the exit. Sniper hefted him carefully, slipping out, and a moment later Scout’s arms were suddenly released and dropped down around Sniper’s shoulders.

Sniper looked at him. He looked at Sniper.

“Made a bloody mess of you,” Demo observed, returning, helping guide Scout‘s feet to the floor and stroking over one of the bite marks Sniper had left, other arm wrapped around his waist to help keep him upright. “That’s gonna leave a mark, Mundy. What’d I tell you about bruising?”

“Sorry,” Sniper said, a little sheepishly.

“You right, Scooter?” Demo asked, hand smoothing down his flank, one of Sniper’s moving up to mop his face dry. Scout nodded, not quite ready for words again yet.

“I’m…” Sniper started to say, hesitated. “I’m sorry I snapped at you like that, love. It was an accident that you made such a mess. An accident because you’re a careless little bugger, but still an accident. And I, er, appreciate your apology.”

Scout couldn’t help but smile, and buried his face in Sniper’s shoulder to hide it. Took a deep breath or two. “You can make it up to me by helpin’ clean me up. I can barely fuckin’ walk right now,” he murmured weakly.

“Sure,” Sniper agreed.

“We all sorted out then? Anyone still pissy? Is the domestic over?” Demo teased, moving to the side of them to look them both in the face. He got some sheepish nodding. “Good. Gimme your hands, lad, you’re not getting out of those cuffs yourself.”

“Thanks, Demo,” Scout said, more earnest than he generally allowed himself. Sniper echoed the sentiment.

“Don’t you even mention it,” Demo said, kissing both of them square on the cheek, first Scout, then Sniper, then Scout again. “Love you both, happy to sort it out that I get to keep loving you both instead watching of you throttle each other.”

“What if that’s hot, though? What if we get a safeword first?” Scout joked, grinning at Demo even as he offered his hands to be untied.

“Och, then I’ll watch you throttle each other seven days a week, darl,” Demo teased, pinching his cheek, and Scout laughed, and Sniper laughed, and all was well.

Until next time Scout decided he wasn’t getting enough attention, at least. But Demo was looking forward to it.

[apprenticedelilah]

almost forgot to post today but it’s still day 3 for now so !! the prompt for today from @lovelikeyoursfest is ‘say it like you mean it’

i decided to do a few different things for this: can be seen as poly!au or just a compilation of a few different routes. i haven’t done muriel or lucio bc i haven’t read their routes yet!

delilah (mc) x nadia/julian/portia/asra

"I love you."

Nadia smiled against Delilah's neck, her hands curving around Delilah's waist as she threw herself into Nadia's awaiting arms. In her hand, Delilah clutched a stunning, hand-tailored gown of a stylish, unobtrusive gold colour. Delilah clung to Nadia for another drawn-out moment, practically strangling her with the force of her embrace. When she slipped out of Nadia's grip, she ran across Nadia's bedchamber to the floor-length mirror and held the gown up in front of herself. 

Daylight filtered in through the massive windows behind the bed, illuminating the dress until it glowed like it was on fire. Somehow, Nadia had matched the colour of the gold perfectly to the brown of Delilah's kin. Down the deep V-neck and at the ends of the sleeves, the dress was collared with a rich, ruby-red and adorned with jewels. Delilah presses the soft fabric to her cheek, mostly to hide the way her face was beginning to scrunch up with tears. 

"I'm glad you like it," Nadia said, her soft, elegant voice overtaking the room, as warm as the caress of sunlight. "I heard you weren't feeling very feminine recently. I thought I would take upon myself to treat you... Make you feel like a princess." Nadia's arms slid around Delilah's waist, and she rested her chin on Delilah's shoulder. The familiar weight turned Delilah's lips up in a wobbly smile. Sniffing hard to hold back her tears, Delilah rested her cheek on Nadia's head, making eye contact in the mirror. Nadia's crimson eyes were fondly narrowed, a much richer colour than the rosy blush on the highs of her cheekbone.

"Thank you so much, Nadia," Delilah murmured, nuzzling into Nadia's silky hair. She felt rather than heard her lover's chuckle. A moment later, she was turned around in Nadia's arms, faces almost close enough for a kiss. Nadia's jasmine and lotus scent wafted over her, seductive and flowering. Heart in her throat, Delilah let her gaze wander over Nadia's face, from her eyes to her lips. With a gentle, loving smile, Nadia pressed a kiss to the corner of Delilah's mouth, teasing a full kiss to her lips. But just before it happened, Nadia leaned back. Delilah whined as Nadia slipped backwards to lie sensuously down on her bed.

With a single gesture of her hand, she stopped Delilah from following her onto the bed. With a tempting smile playing on her lips, she settled back on the pillows and said, 

"Well? Don't you want to put it on?"

---

"I love you."

Julian fumbled with his glass, spilling alcohol over the fingers of his gloves. As he put down the glass, he coughed into his sleeve, hiding the warmth coming up on his cheeks.

"What?"

Delilah hid her smirk behind her own pint, nursing her beer with practised nonchalance. "I said-"

Julian flushed even harder. "I know what you said, I just- why did you say it?"

They were at the Rowdy Raven, and around them, the night was brimming with energy. The grandmas playing cards were shouting at each other across the table, waving their canes around threateningly. Regulars moved expertly passed them, dodging between tables to order and collect their drinks from the crowded bar. Across the room, a booth packed with too many people roared as the gathering began to chant in a language Delilah didn't know. 

Julian, who probably knew every nasty bar song and chant in any language, smiled a little and tapped his glass in time with the shouts. Before Delilah could ask what they were saying, someone bellowed from the centre of the pack and leapt up onto the table, smashing a pint glass over his head and soaking himself in beer. The bar jeered. 

"Oh dear," Julian tsked, around his own glass of salty bitters, "That's going to leave one nasty headache in the morning."

And then, there was Julian. There was a dreamy look in his eye, as if he was imagining all the trouble he could be getting into if he wasn't supposed to be entertaining Delilah that evening. Or maybe he was imagining all the trouble he could get into to entertain Delilah. His mouth was curved in a sordid line around the rim of his glass, mirroring the hard line of his jaw. In the, frankly quite awful, light of the bar, the lines cut under his eyes were slightly less harsh, the dark circles were blurred, the pallor of his skin was not so harsh. That wasn't to say he looked any less himself and certainly not any less beautiful, he just looked more... Alive.

Delilah rested her chin on her hand, gazing up with a particularly soppy, over-the-top, lovesick expression. "I just love you. Do I need a reason?" 

Julian went a little red again, though this time, he managed to conceal it behind a louche grin. He leaned forward in his seat, his long legs tangling with Delilah's under the table. 

"Darling, you flatter me," he said, pressing his hand over his heart. "Though, I'd prefer to show you how I feel in return." And without ceremony, he kissed her hard on the mouth.

---

"I love you."

Portia purred in response, her eyelashes shining like copper in the direct light of the sun. Delilah slid her fingers through Portia's smooth hair, massaging her scalp with the flat ends of her nails. The cottage was scented with myrrh and eucalyptus from the incense Delilah had lit.

The evening light came through the foliage outside the open cottage window coloured green, a perfect contrast to Portia's orange hair where it was laid out in Delilah's lap. Delilah's fingers brushed through it lovingly. They were curled up together on the loveseat underneath the window, Portia laying down with her head in Delilah's lap. Birdsong wafted in on the cool breeze. In the kitchen, the kettle began to whistle. 

The whole evening was nothing short of perfect, just as Delilah had planned. For the past few evenings, Portia had come back to her cottage and flopped straight down into bed, exhausted. So Delilah, with Pepi's assistance and Nadia's leave, had dragged Portia out from the Palace early and forced her to lay down and be pampered until she finally relaxed. 

Portia sighed, cracking open one smiling eye. "Could I ask for a better girlfriend?" she teased. Delilah breathed out a chuckle, lifting Portia just enough so that she could get up and wander over to the kitchen. 

"You can, but why would you want to?" Delilah replied, with the same teasing note. She poured them both out a cup of tea before refilling Pepi's bowl and settling down on the loveseat again. "I can only think of one girlfriend in the whole world who's better..."

Portia curled up against Delilah's side, snuggling under her arm with her tea. Her face glowing in the remaining sunlight, Portia looked up at Delilah with a teasing smile. "Well, why don't you try and move up the ranking?"

After pressing a kiss to the upturned end of Portia's nose, Delilah had just enough time to set their teacups aside before she was tackled down into the seat, her lips attacked by Portia's. Their laughter shook the leaves like the breeze.

---

"I love you." 

Asra didn't seem to hear. He was in the kitchen, humming to himself as he prepared dinner- some disgusting combination of rice and chilli and cardamom. His hips swayed seamlessly in time with the melody he hummed. Every now and then, he would mutter something to the stove salamander, and the fire would spark and grow or crackle and shrink.

The air was warm and heavy, giving the room a drowsy, heady atmosphere. Delilah lounged on the bed, Faust in a bundle on her stomach as her fingers ran idly over the cool scales of her head. Asra's scarf was wrapped around her shoulders, high enough around her chin that she could duck her head just a little and inhale deeply Asra's familiar scent. It was almost as good as having him in bed with her. 

"I love you," she said again, a little louder. Faust glanced up at her lazily, scenting the air with her tongue, then lay back down in her pile.

"Oh, you did say something," Asra said, glancing over his shoulder at her. His hair was held back by a clip, so that she could perfectly see both of his eyes. There was a casual, homely affection that warmed his eyes to shining purple. Delilah couldn't help the smile that tugged on the corner of her lips. 

"Wow," she breathed. "I really love you."

Asra raised one eyebrow, bringing a ladle of rice to his mouth to taste for spice. "Is something wrong?" he asked, feigning concern, "Are you a bit delirious? Do you need some water?"

"I might be feeling a bit out of it..." Delilah replied, affecting a pained expression and pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. "Can't you come here and check my temperature?" 

Asra snorted, dropping his ladle to come and lay down beside her one the bed. Faust slithered from Delilah's stomach to wrap around Asra's arm as he reached out to brush the hair out of her face. He kissed her cheek, then her forehead, but avoided her lips, whispering playfully that he didn't want to catch her illness as he ghosted past them. Then he moved down to kiss along her jaw and down her neck. 

She thought he might finally kiss her mouth when there was a loud popping sound. Delilah helped as Asra sprung back. Across the room, the rice that Asra had been cooking was burnt and exploding. Rushing over, Asra removed the pot from over the fire. Delilah hopped to her feet to clear up the rice that had leapt out of the pan. And, as they cleaned, they laughed and laughed and laughed.

[yamithediaperdork]

The wall and the baby (DC Universe, AU)

Amanda Waller, AKA the wall was known for many things. Her hard nose attuide, her belief that she knew right and damn everyone else, and her big baby husband Bruce Wayne. They had met at a gala, where Bruce had been head over heels with her despite well, less the striking figure but it didn't take long to figure out a few things about the Billionaire playboy. One, he was a chubby chaser who had actually kept drooling as they chatted, blushing and saying sorry when she had pointed it out with a smirk. Two, Due to his parents passing away in a skiing accident when he was 12, he had a VERY strong attraction to ladies who gave off a semi mommy energy. Now normally anyone who worked under the wall would of told you that the last aura she projected was that of a mommy, but since she had been there to suck up for some more founding for task force X, she'd had on a kinder face then normal. She did have to admit that it was cute seeing this handsome young man stumbling over his words and clearly love stuck, and so had come home with him that night. And the next night and the night after that. They had barely dated for a bare four months before they were walking down the aisle, Waller in a dashing white dress and Bruce in a pair of short alls and a puffy butt as by that point he was living as her big baby, 24/7. She assumed control of Wayne enterprises and put the corporation to work for Task force X, though most of the day to day was handled much as before, by Mr.fox. Bruce's days meanwhile were filled with making pretty pictures for mommy, playing with his toys and playing in mommies office, and of course, making mommy presents.

It was 7:30 am as Waller came into Bruce's nursery, wrinkling her nose a little at the smell that filled the room but it was all part of the mommy game and she forced the look off of her face as she made her way over the plush carpet that filled the room. Technically she could of sent Alfred in to wake Bruce up but she still felt bad about making Bruce sleep in his nursery last night instead of in bed with her, she'd been up late monitoring a mission to take out a drug cartel in San Baquero. For the most part Bruce just thought she had a very special job with the government and didn't ask too many questions, and in a way he wasn't wrong. but that still didn't mean she wanted him to see the ugly side of her work. shaking those thoughts out of her head, and hat a pain it was gonna be to replace Knockout on the team, she leaned over the side of Bruce's crib railing and smiled. here was a fit young man who could of been a star athlete, and instead he was sucking on a pacifier wearing a light grey onsie that helped keep him from wiggling out of the custom made extra bulky diapers that made it a chore for even Bruce to waddle, and let him stew in his messes for hours on end just like he wanted. 'Sometimes I wonder what I did to end up so lucky~' Waller gushed mentally, then gently patted the bugling (and not just from natural bulk) seat of Bruce's pamper butt. "Hey there sleepy head, time to get up~" she called softly. She of course had been up since 5 am, but unlike Bruce she thrived on little to none sleep and actually was more grumpy when she got a full 8 hours in. Bruce gurgled behind his paci and opened one eye, then grinned and let the paci slid out of his mouth. "Nggggh five more minutes mommy~" He giggled playfully. the big baby knew Waller let him sleep in as long as she could if he wanted to come in with her to work, and he'd been VERY clear that he got to come into the office today. "Sorry my adorable little stinker, if you wanna be mommies cute widdle secretary you have to get up now. for one thing, SOMEBODY needs a diapie change." "-GASP- Did Alfred poop himself!" Bruce asked and giggled like he'd told the funniest joke ever. "heh, you're such a goof ball~ come on Bruce Sweetie, let's get you changed before you make mommies nose fall off."

One smelly diaper change later (which had left Waller seeing just how 'happy' he was to see and regretful they didn't have time for a quick roll in the sack) and Bruce was dressed in triple thick diapers and a black diaper shirt with light grey overall's on, Black and grey being his favorite colors. His bottom was puffed out and he was forced to crawl to the dining room where he was helped into his high chair, and while Waller had her normal steak and egg's with black coffe,she would pasue now and then to spoon anther mouthful of apple cinnamon oatmeal into the mouth of her big baby who gurgled and coo'ed, gushing about how much 'artz' he was gonna do for mommy t'day. "I'm gonna draw you a duck, and a bat, and and a fire truck and and and-" he babbled, only shush as mommy got anther mouthful in in mouth, taking care not to get any on his clothes. "Mhhm I bet you are, and they'll join the rest of your pretty pictures on my office wall, though I might bring some home for the fridge. what do you think Alfred?" She asked, amused and turning to look at the butler. The older man gave a smile. "well i for one would be VERY much honored if I could have some of Master Wayne's artwork on the fridge. But I didn't wanna speak up." he said. Waller had been worried the seemingly stuffie old butler would of been a stick in the mud when she and Bruce had first started dating, but in fact the old Englishman had helped give her pointer for dealing with his immature employer. "oh! I sowwy Alfred! I didn't even think bout that!" Bruce said, looking guilty. "Think nothing of it Master Wayne, I was just saying." "Nooo I'ma draw you a super cool picture!" Bruce promised, then grinned impishly. "Butttt not gonna tell ya what it is, it'll be a surprise!" he added with a giggle. "I shall be waiting with baited breath." Alfred chuckled and cleared the dishes away as Waller helped Bruce out of his high chair. "We should be back around 5:30ish Alfred, and I'm thinking me and Bruce would like some-" Waller started, but was cut off by her little guy as he wiggled his massive diaper butt back and forth. "Grilled cheese and fries! grilled cheese and fries!" He chanted. "heh..Grilled cheese and fries apparently." Waller said and ruffled Bruce's hair.

One half hour drive later and Bruce was crawling next to mommy as they made they're way though the hall's of Cadmus, getting amused looks and waves from staff who knew all about him, and baffled looks from those who had just been transferred. (and in one case the new head of genetics looked at her coffee she had been drinking from and dumped it in the nearest waste basket.) Getting into her office, it was almost exactly what you would expect for the head of a secret branch of the government charged with policing meta-humans and nipping problems in the bud. A high tech desk with a built in computer that could connect Waller to any database she might need, a direct line to the president him, a selection of hand guns in protective cases that only Waller could open (the glass had been installed after Bruce had mistakenly believe they were toys, thankfully no one had been hurt). The office would of had a cold and sterile feeling to it, if not for the corner of it that was dedicated JUST to Bruce. there was a patch of extra plush carpet, a small toy chest with just stuffies, a little desk (fisher price but bigger for the big baby) for him to make his drawing at and of course lots of crayons for him, and the walls were plastered with all the pictures he had made so far. Of course justifying having her big baby in the office hadn't been easy, even for Waller, at least till she pointed out just how much Wayne enterprises helped with the budget for the last line of defense against say, a rouge justice league. add in the expense of his little space was coming right from the Wayne/Waller fortune and well, The president had dropped the topic fairly quick. Bruce took his seat at his drawing table, and getting out some paper got right to work making arts, after getting a pair of headphones on that would be playing nursery music. marveling at just how god damn cute her widdle Brucie was, then brought up a chat with Rick flag so they could go over options for replacing the decreased Knock Out.

Bruce was humming away, rocking to his favorite song, 'the wheels on the bus' when he felt a cramp in his tummy. Looking up at the clock he was a little shocked, he mostly had a soiled schedule for his BM's but he knew when a poopie was brewing and it was a full 2 hours early, with it only just going onto 9:30. He looked over and Mommy was still making a call with one of her friends, and while she mostly dotted on him she had asked him to try and refrain from 'playing the butt trumpet' when she was on a call. He tried to focus on the picture he was making for Alfred, he was drawing his own superhero he had come up with, even though he knew for the most part mommy didn't like them. This superhero actually had no powers, and was like a ninja with a whole bat theme going on, and Bruce called him Bat Dude. he knew the name could use a little work but for now, it would work. As he colored in Bat dude's cape, all black of course, the cramps got worse and he leaned forward to try and help with the pressure. all that did however was bring thing to a boil and he could hear himself, even with his music playing loudly in his ear's let out a massive roar of a fart. if mommy hadn't of been on a call, and giving him a glare, Bruce almost would of been proud of it. Instead he gave a meek smile and lisped out a sorry, then made a face and stuck out his touage as the smell reached him. Looking over at mommy, who normally could take on his smelliest diaper with a bare reaction, he watched her nose twitch and she reached into her desk and brought out a scented handkerchief and pressed it to her face. "S-Sowwy.."

Rick flag did his best not to react to the sound that interrupted their call, but he was only human and the corners of his mouth were twitching as Waller was forced to grab a scented handkerchief and pressed it to her face. "Ma'am, If you need to call me back, I understand you may have other pressing concerns." He said. "I'm Muting my end of the call, but stay on for a few colonel, and I'll let you know." Waller said, hitting the button and muting Flag before he could reply. He was a good soldier and she knew he'd follow his order's anyways. Getting up from her desk she walked over to Bruce who was hunched over, holding his tummy. "are you ok sweetie?" She asked, leaning down and rubbing his back. "I..I don't think so.." Bruce said, of course having slid his head phones off as she walked over. "what's wrong Bruce?" she asked, putting a hand to his forehead and noting a slight fever for the first time. "Tummy hurts. gonna go uh-oh any second. I sowwy." Bruce whimpered, tearing up. "Shhh it's ok Bruce. you can go ahead and go uh-oh, and while you do that Mommies gonna arrange for one of her work friends to take over for her. I think somebody needs to go home, he's under the weather." she said warmly. She of course wouldn't of gone home if it was just her who was sick, having famously stayed at her desk and suffering though a Thangarian flu last year, but she wasn't gonna make her little guy suffer here when he could be looked after in the comfort of their home. As she moved back over to her desk to let Flag know he could make the final selection for the new member of task force X himself, as she trusted his judgement, as well as trying to decide between Eiling or Hamilton for taking over for her, a long booming blast came out of her little guys butt. Turning around she was almost transfixed on the site of the rapidly growing seat, and for a second wondered if maybe just maybe, if this wasn't some sorta meta human power manifesting. Sure, super human pooping would be a first but who knew with some of these freaks? She banished that thought almost right away even as the fumes from Bruce's diapers filled the office, so powerful she almost swore for a second she could SEE them. One because she had secretly had Bruce tested for the meta gene, and Two because she could never consider her little guy a 'freak'. "Guess it's a good thing we triple diapered you huh?" She asked, as Bruce was standing now, the back of his overalls straining as he grunted and groaned, but he nodded lots. "Oh god mommy, Hurts!" he whined and then sucked on his thumb, finishing his uber mess off with a last few weak sputtering farts. Alarms went off in the office as air quilty dropped, and Waller made the command decision to just make her calls from the car..as well as change Bruce outside.

After a check up with a trusted family doctor, one Leslie thompkins, Bruce was diagnosed with just a bad tummy bug..and being guilty of having been sleep waking in the middle of the night and raiding the fridge. Alfred had just assumed that Waller had been doing it since between his diapers and the high railing.. In any case there were changes to be made around the house, more baby proofing to be done, and Waller just spent the day field testing a new set of nose filters that would keep one save from toxic gasses and did a decent job with bad smells. Snuggling with he big baby on their bed, and watching tv, Waller again thought about what life might of been like with out the little stinker..and decided it wasn't worth thinking about before planting a kiss on his forehead.

the end

[bellatrixobsessed1]

The Art Of Remembrance (Part 9)

The night is relatively cold for a Fire Nation one. Mostly, the streets are vacant, he can’t imagine that she will be too hard to find. He forgets how elusive and sneaky she is. And he can’t come up with one possible location for her. It would be entirely useless to return to the palace and ask Zuko where she usually runs to when she needs an escape when she doesn’t even know where that place is.

He runs his hand through his hair. Angry as he is with the woman, he finds it hard to picture her alone and mostly aimless. He gives a frustrated groan; he had gone through so much trouble to rescue and care for her only to cast it all away over one stupid, heated argument. Spirits, he doesn’t even think that the argument was that important.

The more he dwells on it the more he understands. Of course she was agitated he had left her in the dark after promising her the truth. Just because he couldn’t stomach recanting the darkness of her past, doesn’t mean that she couldn’t.

He weaves in and out of crowds, trying to spot a familiar face within it. It doesn’t help that she is so small. It is absurdly easy for her to burry herself among many people and wander further away without issue.

“Sokka!” Katara is softly panting by the time she reaches him. “What are you…”

“She’s gone, Katara.” He replies. “She overheard us talking and she ran.”

Katara’s lips press into a thin line.

“She doesn’t want to go back to the institution.”

“No kidding…” Katara mutters.

.oOo.

Having successfully gotten herself completely disoriented and unquestionably lost, Azula finds a large maple tree and nestles herself against it. As far as shelter goes, at the very least, the tree will block the bite of the wind.

She wraps her arms around herself and tries to remind herself that this is bearable. That she has survived much colder. She peers at her disfigured hand and clenches her teeth. If she can handle that, then a chilly night Fire Nation shouldn’t hassle her at all. Whatever discomforts the streets of her nation will provide, it surely beats returning to whatever institution that held her captive.

She pulls out a bundle of clothes, makes herself a rudimentary pillow, and tries to make herself comfortable.

In way of food, she doesn’t have much, but if things go as planned it should last her until she can secure herself some sort of job.  She supposes that her memory loss holds a small mercy in that regard. Without the hindrance of knowing what it is to be pampered, she has nothing to miss. She supposes that she doesn’t have any pride or dignity to worry about either, having slipped far enough to be shipped away to an asylum. So long as she doesn’t think too much she will be fine, she promises herself this.

Yet she can’t help but feel a sense of unease. She draws her legs up to her chest and tries to keep the butterflies tingling in her stomach at bay.

.oOo.

Sokka paces about his room, running through the ups and downs of telling Zuko that his sister has run away again. He could certainly use a team of royal guards to help him comb through and search the capital. But it won’t do Azula’s reputation much good to do so; they trust her so little as it is.

He rubs his hands over his face. He has made his own mess and he isn’t sure that he can fix it. Not on his own.

He bites his cheek and decides that he will give her and himself three days. If she doesn’t show up then, he will come out with his secret.  

He doesn’t have to start dodging questions until the second day. He sits himself down for breakfast and begins picking away at it, though, for once, he isn’t all too hungry. The longer she is away, the harder she will be to find. One day is more than enough time to chop her hair off and acquire boat passes to the Earth Kingdom. It’s more than enough time for her to have been mugged or stolen away. Or for her to have maimed someone else who attempted to try either. Granted he hasn’t heard of any disturbances in the capital. No bodies nor acts of violence.

“Maybe I should go talk to her.” Zuko muses, it takes Sokka a bit too long to realize that he is referring to Azula.

“Maybe you should just leave her alone.” Sokka comments quickly after putting two and two together.

Zuko quirks a brow. “And why is that?”

Sokka glups and gives a shrug as impassive as he can. “She’s still pretty mad.”

“Have you talked to her?”

“Well...no...but…”

“Then maybe someone should. Then we can decide once and for all if we should have her locked up again.”

“How about I do it?” Sokka asks. “She’s not as mad at me as she is you.”

“Fine.” Zuko agrees. “But you tell me exactly what she says to you.”

“Yeah. Sure, I can do that.” He pushes his chair in and wanders into  Azula’s room. He can make it seem as though he is having a conversation with her while searching to see if she’d left any clue as to where she might have gone. He flops onto her bed and scans the nightstand first.

.oOo.

Azula nibbles on a slice of bread. So far she hasn’t had much luck with finding a job other than two small tasks. For a few silver and copper pieces she had helped an elderly woman organize and beautify her garden and assisted a family with rearranging the furniture in their living room. She keeps the coins hidden in her boots, deciding that she won’t waste it on food yet. She’d rather secure herself a trip to the Earth Kingdom. If she can make it there, she can evade captivity.

She finishes her slice of bread, gathers her scant belongings, and makes her way into town. Perhaps today will be her day.

Something in her stomach flutters. She is already growing used to sleeping on the ground and the dirt and soot gathering on her cheeks. She is already used to having grime on her clothes and being on the receiving end of cross and judgemental stares. It is fine so long as she won’t be whisked away and wiped clean again. So long as her hands are unbound.

Azula makes her way to a pond and strips. Perhaps if she can scrub away the dirt smears that taint her face, she’ll have an easier time finding work. That is if the smell of fish and dirty pond water doesn’t drive them away.

The smell of fish�� Her mood perks up some. Perhaps if she smells of the sea, she will be an attractive candidate to assist on fishing or sailing trips. Her stomach lulls some, as she recalls her aversion to rolling waves.

She supposes that she will just have to get over it.

.oOo.

Two days turn into three and then three into four. Zuko’s men fan out all over the capital and some into the surrounding cities. Sokka feels nothing but sick to his stomach. Somehow he feels like he is betraying her all over again. He shakes his head, trying to tell himself that they aren’t friends. That she hates him and he returns the favor. He’d saved her due to a moral obligation and that is it. It is now his duty to save everyone from her.

It is something that he should have done four days prior, instead of pretending like he could bring her home and make her see the light. The spirits know that he has already gotten an earful for being so secretive. And he deserved it.

Still he finds himself saying, “you’re not going to transfer her back there, are you?”

“She ran away, Sokka.” Zuko replies. “I think that that’s more than enough proof that she needs to go back.”

“Of course she ran, they did something to her…”

“Katara told me a bit about that. It sounds to me like she did that to herself.” Zuko pauses. “Which is another great reason why she needs to go back. If she doesn’t hurt someone else, she’s going to get herself killed.”

“I don’t think that she will, Zuko. I think that...I just have a feeling that we shouldn’t hand her back to them.”

“Well we can’t keep her here. I can’t keep her under control.” Zuko counters. “And Mai certainly doesn’t want her around.” He pauses. “I’m not going to take risks because you have a bad feeling.”

I don’t know Aang, why don’t you ask Sokka’s instincts. It had been so long ago that Katara and Aang had made those jabs, yet they hit him full force now have him nearly hanging his head in defeat. But he had been right then, hadn’t he…

“I can…”

“What? If I can’t get her to listen then you sure can’t.”

“Zuko, just let me talk to her for real when she gets back.”

“You said it yourself, she’s angry with you.”

Sokka pauses. “I don’t think that she’s angry. I think that she’s hurt. She seems to get the two tangled up.”

.oOo.

Azula throws herself into the alley and rushes to the other side. Her lungs burn and ache with the effort. They leave her no time to truly catch her breath and so she pants very heavily when she emerges. One moment. She takes one moment of pause; hunched over with her hands on her knees, breathing rapidly and forcefully.

She hears several footsteps and bolts. She doesn’t think that she can run forever. She finds herself frustrated, nearly to tears. She had almost made it. She had successfully secured herself a job as a tradesman of fish. They had a course bound for the Earth Kingdom. She would have had freedom. Instead…

She rounds the corner and narly slams into one of the imperial firebenders. She comes to an abrupt halt and backtracks. A second guard has already filled that space. She is completely and helplessly surrounded.

She swallows and ducks down into a spinning kick. A circle of flames gives her an opening. An opening that she is too drained to act further upon. She tries anyhow, using a final burst of energy to push forward.  A tense cramp in her leg sends her crashing to the pavement. She barely throws her arms up in time to keep her head from taking the brunt of the blow.

She knows that her knees are going to be terribly bruised and swollen. Her arms are certainly scrapped and bloodied, a burning, stinging sensation lets her know that much. She squeezes her eyes shut and suppresses a frustrated cry. Her rugged panting doesn’t abate.

When they pick her off of the ground her stomach tingles with rage, hopelessness, and defeat. They are going to send her back.

She can practically feel the slimy wet of spirit vines against her skin. Feel the leather straps digging into her skin. Feel the bite of the cold as it works into her being. Her head aches and her body trembles.

.oOo. Sokka hadn’t expected her to be in good shape upon arrival. But he hadn’t expected her to be shaking and half-sobbing, covered head to toe in dirt and small cuts and scrapes. The imperial firebenders hadn’t been gentle. They certainly haven’t any compassion.

He notices that even Zuko and Mai have gone tense as they practically drop her before Zuko. “What should we do with her?”

“Take her to the infirmary for now.” Zuko instructs.

They lift her once more. Her hair, unbound and tangled, clings to her sweaty forehead. Sokka feels a pang of guilt. He should have searched longer before calling them.

She lifts her head, just enough to fix him with an absolutely simmering glare. In it he sees nothing but resentment.  “Just remember, I have a lot of space in my head.” She practically growls. “I’ll remember this, Sokka. I’ll remember it in precise detail…”

[marsupials-of-mars]

It Surfaces on the First Freeze of Winter (Pt 3)

"Yes, I can get the results to you, just give me a moment." Logan sandwiched his phone between his ear and shoulder and reached for his laptop. He opened a new email and attached the Excel spreadsheet full of tediously recorded lab results. He typed up a subject and a brief body and sent it. "I apologize for the wait, this disorganization won't become a habit of mine... yes, I'm suprised as well... no I don't need a sick day." Logan quickly covered the receiver before he sneezed. "Yes... yes I fell into ice water... well thank you for your concern, but it was nobody's mistake but mine... yes ma'am. Thank you ma'am. See you tommorrow, yes. Goodbye." Logan allowed his boss to hang up first. He was relieved that his reputation as a near perfect lab assistant was paying off. He basically had a steel cable safety net with how perfect his record was at that point. He prided himself on his workplace perfection; he and his boss were even working to get him a promotion of some kind. That made it all the more odd that he had forgotten to turn in his data the previous night. Whatever had happened had taken a far greater toll on him then he thought it did, his mind often drifting back to the night's events without his concious effort, making it difficult to focus. He had an urge to go back, to find his attacker and inspect every inch of it, regardless of his schedule or his job or his financial stability. The beast seemed so much more important, no matter what he told himself to the contrary. It felt big, revolutionary, life-changing. He finally gave up. He shut his laptop and grabbed a notebook and writing utensils. He slig them into his work bag and slung it over his shoulder. "Roman! I'm going to work!" Roman's head peeked out through the kitchen doorway. "I thought you didn't have work today? That was the whole reason we went out last night." "I forgot to write it on my schedule I guess." Roman gasped dramatically. "YOU? Forgot to schedule something?! The end must be coming for us all!" Logan rolled his eyes. "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, simple statistics." "Alright. But take care of yourself, stay hydrated. I'm not gonna let you get sicker after I went through all that trouble pampering you last night." Logan could still almost taste the hot cocoa and chicken chicken noodle soup and feel the blankets wrapped around him from the previous night. "I'll be okay. If it's any consolation, you're in my will. Bedside drawer, you can't miss it." "Shut up!" Logan smiled slightly and pulled on his coat. He grabbed his galoshes and ducked out the door. The drive seemed much longer without Roman, even though they hadn't talked much anyway. Logan gripped the wheel in anticipation. And maybe a hint of guilt for lying to Roman, but he reminded himself of his reasoning. He was a little apprehensive, considering that he was reentering dangerous territory without Roman's extra protection, though he might have been even more scared of the alternative. He tried not to consider that he may have come out for nothing, that he may have to live never finding out what the thing really was. He thought back to Roman's legend, the note that the creature only emerged on the first freeze of winter during a half moon. Logan hoped, considering that that part was a little more ghost-story like, that it was merely dramatization. After all, species weren't nearly that specific. He pulled once again into the empty gravel lot. He checked the temperature. Not freezing, but not warm either. Thirty-eight. He took a breath and gripped the swiss army knife in his coat pocket before stepping out into the chill. The woods looked much different in the day; much less intimidating. Logan plunged into the swamp with little hesitation. It was a bit difficult to locate the scene of his fall considering how dissimilar everything seemed in the light, but after a relatively short amount of time, Logan found it. He dipped his hand into the water and grabbed a piece of hard plastic. He shook out the poor, waterlogged flashlight and tucked it into his pocket. It was of no use to him, but he wasn't one to litter. He looked out intently across the still surface of the water for any disturbance. A few minutes went by. His eyes flicked toward some fresh ripples. Just a twig fallen from a tree overhead. He sighed as he finally began to reflect on what he was doing, how dumb it was, how much time he was wasting. The longer he stood the more stupid he felt. Until he felt something glide across the toes of his boot. He jerked his foot back and reached out for a nearbye tree. He gripped it for stability and retrieved his knife from his pocket. He brandished it down toward the water. Against his better judgement, he forced himself to remain still. Once again, he felt something slide over his foot. It wasn't a tentacle, it was larger, heavier. The body. Logan waited a second longer to be sure. The creature rested its weight against his leg. Logan sucked in a breath. Just as he felt tentacles begin to wrap his foot, he kicked. His leg strained under the weight and his foot was enveloped by boneless flesh, but he managed to throw it off. The beast breached the surface of the water, just long enough for Logan to see a dark green mass of writhing tentacles, before crashing back into the swamp, sending waves tall enough to soak Logan's socks. Logan gripped his blade and plunged his arms in where the creature had fallen. They were met with what he imagined a human corpse would feel like after a month soaked in vinegar. He resisted the urge to let go and wrestled the cephalopod from the water. Before it could slip out of his arms, he strained his back muscles and swung his upper body, effectively granny-tossing the beast into the risen root system of a fallen tree. A chorus of wet flopping sounds accompanied the creature's struggle, similar to one repeatedly lifting spaghetti and dropping it back into a pool of sauce. It soon realized it's helplessness, now tangled uselessly in roots and it's own tentacles, and ceased to thrash. Logan blinked, still reeling from the adrenaline. The cryptid of the Florida swamps. He had it. He hesitantly stepped forward to get a closer look. The creature let out a pitiful noise, a bubbling, growl-type whimper. Logan reached out, and rather than recoiling, the thing reached out as well, matching his approach. Logan retracted his hand, prompting another whine. He inspected the creature: it was primarily a dark grey-green, though it had scalloped patterns of black which grew and shrank, seemingly dependent on it's level of distress. It's eyes were surprisingly human in external shape, though they were a fluorescent green and it's pupils were shaped similar to those of a cuttlefish, in misshapen Ws. Most suprising, though, was that it was vaguely human-shaped, with a similarly proportioned torso and head, though its limbs split off into tentacles. It's beak, which Logan could only assume it had, was hidden under a Cthulu-style beard of tentacles. Overall the creature was abhorrent, in a beautiful sort of way. It was much less terrifying out if water, limp and surprisingly small. While attacking him in the water it had seemed easily larger than Logan, but in reality it was about five feet long at most. It suddenly began to emit some uncomfortable bubbling noises, and before Logan could interfere, it had thrown up a full fish skeleton and a half-digested snake, along with a foamy froth of salt water. "Oh!" Logan once again reached out but stopped himself. He had no plan after this point, a very rare sensation for him. The creature was clearly terrified and couldn't survive long out of water, but if it was returned it could become aggressive. It whined once again, another bit of foam spilling into the water, sending light ripples that lapped at Logan's shins. Logan wracked his brain for anything potentially helpful. He cupped his hands and dipped them into the water, then threw the handful of water at the creature. It hissed at the spray, followed by a long, drawn out rumble in it's throat. It must not have been water it needed. Once again, the creature extended a tentacle toward Logan. It didn't seem aggresive, rather, it was more needy, like a child making grabby hands to be held. A very stupid thought crossed Logan's mind, one that in any other circumstance he would have rejected immediately. But he had nothing better. He bundled the end of his coat sleeve in his fist, allowing no opening. He pocketed his knife and readied his other hand on his zipper. If the creature got ahold of his coat, he could throw it off and escape. He readied himself, and reached his protected hand toward the beast. The cephalopod trilled in what appeared to be joy, and immediately took hold of Logan's arm. Before Logan had the chance to unzip, it had freed itself from the roots and made it's way up his arm, around his shoulders, and squeezed down the back of his coat. Logan froze in shock at the sudden cold sogginess embracing his entire torso. He grabbed a tree with one hand to manage the sudden weight, and with the other, he produced his knife from his pocket. Before he could reach back to defend himself, though, he felt the beast's head nuzzle into his back. It seemed oddly content. Logan blinked and cautiously lowered his knife. If he didn't need to damage the specimen, he supposed he shouldn't. "I won't hurt you if you don't hurt me." Logan found he'd begun speaking to the creature despite himself. It let out a peep, then a series of rumblings. It's tone began to shift, slowly evolving from bubbling to grumbling to vocal outbursts that sounded strangely similar to a human voice. Then something that was hardly expected; "I won't hurt you- -don't hurt me." It wasn't fully human, it was pitched oddly, and sounded vaguely similar to Logan. Like a parrot. Logan's eyes widened and his mind raced. This thing was intelligent. This thing was important. This thing was absolutely incredible. "You talk?! Can you understand?" "-understand?" Logan's astonished breaths billowed out in frozen steam. "Why did you attack me last night? Why aren't you attacking now?" "-aren't- -attacking- -last night?" "You weren't attacking last night? You nearly drowned me. Why?" "Why?" The creature pushed on his back with it's head as if to nudge him on. "You want me to guess? So you can say it?" "-guess?" Logan thought over what had happened. If it wasn't attacking, why would it grab him? Why did it want him now? He shivered. He pulled his coat tighter to block out the cold. The cold... "You're cold blooded, aren't you? You're cold! You need external sources of warmth!" "-warmth!" Logan smiled. Incredible. "If I give you my coat, can I take you off of me?" "-give -coat, can- -take- off-" the creature loosened it's grip. Logan unzipped his coat and pulled it off, making sure it was accessible while not dropping it. The specimen climbed around to the front of his torso and oozed into the garment in his arms. Logan held the thing to his chest. "Do you need water? Most octopuses can survive out of water in moist environments for thirty to sixty minutes but it's rather dry out right now..." "-moist-" "You need water?" "-moist-" "What do you need?" "-moist-" Logan squinted. "Do you just like saying 'moist'?" "-'moist'? -'moist'? -'moist'?" The creature trilled in amusement. It had a sense of humor. Not a very good one at that, but it was another sign of an incredibly advanced organism. Logan waded over to the fallen tree and carefully set the beast down to free his arms. It's posterior tentacles wrapped the trunk for stability while it's anterior tentacles clustered into the coat sleeves. It bundled itself up and nuzzled into the fabric. Logan pulled his notebook from his drybag, sat on a nearbye tree, and began to sketch. He wasn't quite as good as Roman, but he could do structure. He held his pencil up to judge proportion and translated it to the grids of graph paper. His elation grew as he managed a scientific sketch. After ten minutes or so, the creature once again began to whine. Logan looked up from his work and tucked his notebook back into the drybag. He stood and made his way to his specimen. Upon touching his coat, he found that his prior body heat had left it and it had become fully damp and cold with salt water and mucus. The beast whined again. Logan checked his watch. He'd been gone nearly three hours, and it was another hour drive back. He'd need to leave soon for lunch. He was once again met with a dilemma. If he left the creature in the swamp, it would suffer in the cold. But he couldn't really bring it with him, and the swamp was it's habitat. It had presumably survived for twenty plus years having surfaced every freeze. "I'm going to leave. Can I have my coat?" The creature whimpered loudly, echoing out into the forest. "-my coat?" "No, it's my coat. I'll be back, and I'll bring you something warm that you can have, okay? Yes or no." The beast huffed. "-no." Logan sighed. "I promise I'll be back. I know you must be extremely cold... fine. You can keep the coat for tonight, but I'm taking it back tommorrow and giving you something you can keep." The specimen squeaked with joy and bundled itself tighter in the coat. "Try to keep it as dry as you can, or it won't be warm, okay?" "Yes- -keep." Logan reached out and layed his hand on the creature's head. It pushed up into his palm in response, relishing the warmth. Logan stepped back, allowing it to slip out of the coat and back into the water. It swam a few laps around him and once between his legs before poking it's bright green eyes out of the water. Logan made sure he had everything, patting his pockets. "Well. I'll be back... probably tommorrow morning. I have work at night." Logan doubted the beast knew what work was, but he found himself telling it anyway. "Do you... want me to call you something in particular?" "-call- -me-" the creature finished it's sentence with a loud trill, followed by a low growl and ending in a hiss. "Ree...mmm...sss." Logan felt ridiculous trying to name the beast based on it's inhuman noises, but he found himself playing along anyway. "Remus. Like twin. You seem to be a mimic octopus of sorts, with your color changes and vocal abilities. It's perfect. It can be your species name too. I don't quite know your genus, or even your phylum really with any certainty... but I can name your species, I can't imagine anyone has yet. Does that sound like a good name?" Remus darted around Logan's legs for a few more laps and surfaced once again, eyes bright. "Remus. -perfect. -good name?" Logan smiled. "Glad to hear it. I should tell you my name then, shouldn't I? Logan. I'm Logan." "Logan. -good name?" Remus twirled in the water. "Logan." "I'm glad you think so." Logan stared at the creature a few moment's longer before turning and heading back to his car. "Oh no you don't!" Logan turned to see Roman pointing accusingly. "Don't be a shut in! I gathered some ridiculous movies and you're going to watch one with me." Logan looked down at his sandwich and back up the stairs. He usually ate in his room, though he knew Roman disliked it for some reason. He sighed. "Okay." He turned back and gently set his plate on the coffee table. Before he could sit out of his own volition, Roman wrapped his arms around his waist and pulled him down onto the couch. "ROMAN!" "Hm? There a problem?" Roman released his hold and blinked at Logan with innocent puppy dog eyes. Logan shoved him, breaking his facade into a quick bout of laughter. "You're an absolute menace." Logan fixed his hair and brushed himself off. "So what movies are you suggesting?" "Well, I wanted to be topical even if last night didn't go as well as we hoped." Roman flicked through his Netflix queue. "Our first option; The Creature from the Black Lagoon!" He imitated an old horror announcer, wiggling his fingers as if there were blood dripping down an imaginary title card in front of him. "Sound's patently ridiculous." "Exactly! Who doesn't like to riff on old horror flicks?" "I'm not generally one to 'riff'." Roman sighed. "I suppose not... then I guess that rules out 'Swamp Thing' too. Well if we want to take a bit of a departure we've got 'The Shape of Water'." Roman wiggled his eyebrows seductively. Logan winced. That was not something he necessarily enjoyed thinking about considering his morning. "Alright. We can watch Swamp Thing." "YES! You can be the Tom Servo to my Jonah!" "I will not be doing any riffing." Roman sighed. "Well then I'll do enough for the both of us." The show was as ridiculous as Logan had expected, and Roman's commentary, although silly, was quite entertaining. He found he had been subconsciously moving closer on the couch, not noticing until his shoulder touched Roman's. Roman looked over, but turned away quickly, almost as if he hadn't noticed at all. Within the minute though, he made another jab at the movie, using his resulting bout of laughter to slip an arm over Logan's shoulders. Not the most subtle or original of come-ons, but Logan's face flushed nonetheless. He returned the gesture by leaning into Roman's hold. The relative chaos of the last couple days was nearly forgotten in the moment. Logan spent the rest of the day brainstorming. He didn't want to reveal his secret to Roman quite yet, so he needed excuses to get out of the house. Of course work would be one, but that only made him think about how he'd manage his work as well as his escapades. The most clear but also most insane idea would be to bring Remus closer to him, but that was out of the question. He had nowhere to put it, Roman would most certainly find out, and their landlord hardly allowed guinea pigs let alone swamp monsters. Then that brought up another problem, being the creature's misery in the cold. Logan was certain it had lived through intense cold fronts before, but that didn't mean its suffering was to be brushed off. Logan chose to focus on the heat issue first and foremost. He considered ways to allow Remus relative warmth without removing it from its habitat. Anything electric would be unwise considering the water and distinct lack of electrical outlets in the middle of the forest. Coats were barely helpful either; the creature was cold blooded, so as soon as the coat lost warmth it would have no way to regain it. It would simply function as a windbreaker of sorts. Logan thought a moment. He pulled out his laptop and did a quick search. The idea was expensive, but doable. It would definitely be a good way to get the beast on his side. Logan found where to buy such a gift and closed his computer. He trotted down the stairs, grabbing a jacket on the way to the door. "Going for groceries!" "Don't strain yourself specs!" Logan ducked out the door and once again into his car. He started it, though before he pulled out he noticed the fuel gauge, indicating he was near empty. He sighed. This project was going to cost him an awful lot of gas.

[big-deak-energy]

Delightful.

Ben x Reader

AN: This is another fluffy as hell drabble thing that I wrote on the bus to and from work last week, lemme know whatcha think, if anyone has any requests feel free to drop me a message!!

——

Having an actor boyfriend is great. Visits to set. Seeing bits of the film that the audience won't see in the final cut. Travelling with them all over the world when it's time for the premiere. Getting all pampered before the red carpet. Meeting new friends.

But having an actor boyfriend while looking after a little female clone of him is difficult.

Lola Evelyn Jones-Hardy. Three years old. Spitting image of her Dad, the most gorgeous blue eyes, silky blonde hair that's currently braided. The most luscious pink lips- just like her dads. She makes missing Ben all that much easier knowing I have an actual clone of him running round my house.

It's been a wild ride welcoming Lola into our life.

We'd been together for three years when we found out we were expecting. We were sunning it up in Mauritius when I had a feeling I might have been pregnant. So we came home with a little something more than island souvenirs. And nine months and six hours of labour later, our beautiful baby girl was born. And we're just as in love with her and each other as we were when she arrived.

Me and Ben decided that we don't want anymore. She's too precious to us. She's completed a missing part of us both.

We're currently on our way to set of Ben's new film to surprise him. He's filming in LA and we’re in the most beautiful house - a house that him and his cast mates from Bohemian Rhapsody all put in for so they have somewhere to stay when they’re all in LA. We haven't seen him properly for a while and he told me he's finishing early today so we're going to go for food and just be together. He left early this morning, not before pressing kisses all over my skin. Before he finally peeled himself away from me to leave for work.

Lola is sat next to me jamming away to the radio as we head down the winding streets.

"You excited to see Daddy, Lola?" I reach over to hold her hand. She's dressed in jeans, a white tshirt, a little leather jacket and a pair of vans that Ben brought home a few nights ago. She rocks it. She's always been fashionable, because Ben always bought her the best. I didn't want her to be spoiled but seeing as she's our only child, it's allowed.

"Yes!" She grins at me, a smile so similar to her Dad's.

"Good, were nearly there," I grin as I pull up the barriers at the studio's and roll the window down.

"Good morning ma'am, do you have an appointment?" He ducks down and leans his hands into my car.

"We're here to surprise daddy on set, Ben Hardy on 6 Underground," I grin at him, leaning back so he can see Lola.

"She's definitely his daughter, she's a spitting image of him," he grins, tipping his hat to me.

"Thank you, what studio is it?" I ask and he consults his clipboard.

"Studio seven, there's plenty of parking over that way, have a lovely day," he taps my window again and raises the barrier and we crawl into the lot and follow the signs for number 7.

I park up and jump out of the car so I can get Lola and my bag. I sling my bag over my shoulder and Lola grabs my hand.

"This way baby," I pull her over to the door I've been through before. Inside the sound stage, it's eerily quiet, like normal. But as I follow to where all the people are gathered the scene being filmed gets louder. I swipe Lola up into my arms and balance her on my hip. We grin at each other. I smile at the few people I pass and head into a gap in the crowd. We spot Ben straight away, he's dressed casually, he's currently getting his hair fixed.

"DADDY!" Lola shouts at the top of her lungs. Thankfully they're not filming. It causes the director and everyone else on set to laugh. Ben hasn't noticed yet, maybe because he's still getting his hair fixed.

She shouts again and he snaps his eyes open and scans the crowd of people until he finds up when his eyes light up. He grins, standing up so quickly that he knocks the chair over he was sitting on and dashes over to us.

"Hi," I grin just before he reaches us and envelopes us in his arms, he takes Lola from me and she clings around his neck.

"This is a lovely surprise," he runs a hand around my waist and peppers Lola's face with kisses making her squeal with happiness, before finally giving me a kiss.

There's a lot of movement around us and the director shouting that it's a wrap for the day. I stroke his cheek.

"Thought we'd come down and take you to lunch," I grin as he guides us outside to his trailer.

"We're thinking pizza, then home for a movie and cuddling under a blanket," I run a hand around his waist as he guides me.

"I think just spending time with my ladies will be my favourite," he kisses me again and I feel a pair of ting hands against my cheek.

"Daddy, stop," and we laugh as we pull away from each other.

"What's up my angel? You want daddy kisses too?" He grins, he stops, throwing her up into the air, she screams and it's delightful. That's their thing.

"Okay, kisses for Lola," he squeezes her close and kisses her all over. I link his arm as we continue to walk.

He leads us into a trailer and passes Lola back to me.

"I'll just get changed and I'm outta here, did you come in the car or get an uber?" He asks, wandering into the back of the small trailer.

I put Lola on the floor and she runs after him, I follow behind and she's flopped onto the bed. I join her, pulling her into my lap.

"We came in the Beemer," I wink. He knows that I'm in love with that car as it's the same as the one he drives at home and I drive the Audi Q5 but I'm dying to have a car like his, but we need two different cars because we can't pack up for weekends away in a tiny BMW.

"Look at you flexing in my car, it's a smooth ride init?" He whips his clothes off in the tiny walk in wardrobe, I catch the occasional glimpse of him.

"Have to control myself when I have our little misses in the car," I tickle Lola, making her laugh.

"Me and Lola go fast on the car all the time don't we princess?" Ben pokes his head around the door. Pulling a funny face at our daughter.

"Daddy! That's a secret," she shushes him. I laugh, knowing damn well he speeds with her in the car but he's an excellent driver and knows when to be sensible.

He steps out of the wardrobe, dressed almost identically to Lola. He's got a camel coloured coat on. But the jeans top and shoes are the same.

"We're all matching!" He grins, propping his foot on the bed.

"We are, shall we go, I'm rather hungry?" He claps his hands silently asking if Lola wants carrying, she leaps over to him and he catches her just in time.

As we walk back to the car we hold both of Lola's hands and swing her happily. Her laugh lights up my day.

"Here, you're driving," I throw him the keys out of my bag and he catches them.

"You're directing?" He raises an eyebrow.

"I know just the place," I grin.

Before we get in the car I take a photo of our matching shoes and post it to Instagram with the caption : 'a fashion forward family'

Once were all buckled in Ben heads back out of the studio lot.

"Follow signs for Universal Studios Hollywood," I say, sitting back in the seat, pushing my sunglasses onto my face.

"We're not actually going are we?" He laughs, the bags under his eyes really showing now he's wiped all his makeup off.

"Noo, we're going to CityWalk for Blaze Pizza," I grin. Knowing it's his favourite.

"Oooh, now you're talking," he grins, reaching over to hold my hand as he chauffeurs us to CityWalk.

Two and a half pizzas later and lots of refilled drinks later. We are full. Ben demolished his before I'd even got half way through. But at least I know he's eating. Blaze Pizza was the first place me and Ben went to eat on our first holiday to Florida together and he fell in love, that was before we had Lola and now she loves it too. No other pizza compares.

Ben is carrying Lola who is still sipping on her drink as we pop into Sephora so I can pick up some mascara. A good thing about staying out here with Ben is that I can finally go into Sephora whenever I need something and not order it online or trek into central London.

We make our way back to the car when his phone buzzes in is pocket.

He reads it with a creased forehead and then it turns into a grin.

"What's happening?" I stroke his arm.

"I have the next two days off," he grins.

"Oh wonderful," I run an arm around his shoulders and up his neck and pull him down to kiss his cheek.

"What about taking my ladies to Disneyland again?" He grins.

"Oooh, yeah, how does that sound Lola?" I grin at her. She absolutely loved it last time. She was a high as a kite the morning of our first day. She dragged us in whatever direction she wanted to go on, Ben bought us matching ears and took lots of photos. She ended up passed out against Ben's shoulder while we were watching the fireworks, hopefully if we go this time, she can watch them.

Settled in the car again we stop via Target to pick up some water and snacks and a few treats for ourselves and then we finally make our way home.

Our beautiful rented home in the Hollywood Hills. It's secluded with absolutely amazing views of the city. It's a house that his friends, Joe, Gwilym and Rami all stay in when they come to LA, sometimes it's the four of them all in the house, we had Joe staying with us three weeks ago, Lola was delighted to see him. Joe took her out for the day to Target so me and Ben could have the day to ourselves.

It was needed but the family cuddles we had when we got home was so lovely. We feel like we're missing an arm when she's not with us.

We arrive home and head inside, putting the shopping on the kitchen island. Lola runs off to her room and it's me and Ben in the kitchen. Ben his checking his phone as I'm unpacking the bags. I quietly walk over to him, pull his phone from his grip and push myself into his body. Wrapping my arms around his neck and pushing up onto my toes to kiss him softly. His hands link together, resting on my lower back.

"I've missed you," he whispers against my lips.

"I miss you always, but having Lola around helps, it's like having a mini you running round," I stroke his face. My fingers running through his sideburn.

"You know when I have to leave early in the morning, I go in and give her a kiss and a cuddle, just so she knows that I love her," he whispers.

Tears prick my eyes. I never knew he did that.

"Don't, I'm going to cry," I whisper.

He just pulls me into his arms and strokes my hair and my back.

"I can't wait till filming is finished and I can be together with my ladies again. Back in London, in our actual, cozy home, feel like I haven't seen my little lady properly in ages, need to get all them cuddles in,"

We stand holding each other in the kitchen until a little pair of arms wrap around our legs.

We pull away and look down to see who it is. And Ben swoops her up into his arms and we have another cuddle.

"Daddy you can choose," Lola smile at him, stroking his hair.

"Choose what?" He grins at her. Their smiles are identical, my heart swells looking at them both.

"The film!" She laughs.

"Oh I know what we can watch," he grins, putting her down and they make their way onto the large couch and get comfy. I mooch about in the kitchen getting snacks and drinks for my little family. He's flicking through the tv looking for the film.

I carry the tray with drinks on down the two steps and push it onto the table.

"Right before we put the film on shall we go and get changed into some comfy clothes?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at Ben. He knows I mean pyjamas and not just his boxers.

"I think that's a wonderful idea, let's go," he picks Lola up again and tickles her as we head down the corridor to our bedrooms.

We quickly change into some comfier clothes, baggy jumpers and sweatpants and a onesie for Lola. One that Uncle Joe bought her when they went out together the last time he visited. They've got matching ones.

Once we're settled back on the sofa again, I pull the blanket around us. Lola is sat between us, Ben has his arm over the back of the sofa and I'm snuggled into the corner. Ben has his daughter tucked into his side. She's grinning up at him as he presses play on the movie.

The famous Disney castle plays out before us. I know what film they've chosen as the chords of a song I've heard a hundred times before start to play. It's Moana. It's a good job I love these two humans. We're going to have a singalong and I am beyond excited.

Life hasn't always been smooth to get where we are today, Ben's away a lot but he always makes it up to us, by whisking us away for mini holidays, with no phones, just the three of us.

And I wouldn't want it any other way. I want to be like this forever.

[spectrumscribe]

Three Days to Live (preview)

hey all, as you have seen on my blog, i’ve been gone a lot lately so i could write a massive new fic for the @tmnt-big-bang that’s coming up. however! the end is within sight and the comp is currently just waiting on artists to claim spots as illustrators for the fics.

i’ve also gotten permission to release a preview of my own fanfic for the tbb, so here you go guys, have some “futuristic dystopian hitmen turned bodyguards” au. (rottmntverse with minor use of 2012 tmnt characters)

Mikey hums softly to himself, pushing the cleaning cart along the plush carpet of the hallway. Even with how many fancy upper-class hotels he’s worked in, each new one never fails to impress him. And this one even has the sort of aesthetic appeal that appeals to his aesthetic. It’s swanky, but at the same time, not as soullessly gold plated as some places are.

Still. He’d mix it up with a dash of street art and thrifty furniture. Kind of like the place he and his brothers live in. Having a good balance of what they grew up with alongside everything they have now is just… aesthetic.

“Room 324, Mike. Coming up on your right.”

Mikey nods imperceptibly, not responding directly to the voice in his ear. As he reaches the suite, he gives his hijab and apron one last adjustment, and then knocks.

“Housekeeping,” he says, modulating his voice to be the right blend of young and old. Harder to identify in recording, even if someone managed to get an audio of this.

“Just a minute!”

Mikey waits patiently, and has a kindly, apologetic smile on his face when the door opens. The young lady on the other side of the doorway has her hair in two pigtails, each a perfect dark cloud. Red rimmed cat’s eye glasses are perched on her nose, almost distracting from the very faint freckles across it. Her outfit, while casual formal, is very obviously expensive.

April O’Neil smiles at him. “Hey, sorry. I didn’t know I was due for cleaning just yet.”

“Oh, no, that’s alright,” Mikey replies, adding an accent in the right places. “We’ve just been quickly today, you see? Everyone on this floor has very clean rooms.”

“I’m sorry to say I won’t be one of those people,” O’Neil says wryly. She steps back from the door, moving inside. “C’mon in, ma’am. I’ll give you my trashcans and take care of everything else myself. I’m not gonna make you pick up my dirty clothes or anything.”

“Thank you,” Mikey replies, ducking his head and pushing the cart halfway inside the room; casually nudging the door to shut quietly behind him. Not standard behavior for cleaning ladies, but standard enough for his line of work. Removing the easiest exit from the room.

He bustles through the suite, admiring the fine crystal of the light fixtures and the sleek design of the furniture. Everything is milky and warm colored, ranging from cream to darker browns. Hints of gold on fixtures really bring it all together, connecting the overall look of the room.

“God, I’m so sorry for the mess,” O’Neil is saying, walking around one half of the small living room her suite has. She’s kicking clothing piles into larger piles, grabbing them up and trying to get them out of sight. “I’ve had such a hectic schedule lately, I haven’t had time to clean anything.”

“That’s why I’m here,” Mikey replies brightly, shooting her a smile. “It’s my job to clean up after you people.”

“Right, right. You better get paid for dealing with messy assholes like me; you definitely deserve it.”

Donnie scoffs. “With the kind of fallout you people leave us to deal with? You bet we deserve a decent paycheck.”

Mikey silently agrees with his brother as he bends to pick up the first trashcan. Man, even the trashcans in this place are better than everyone else’s. He takes the half full can with him as he heads back to his cart, dumping out its contents of meticulously shredded paper and takeout boxes. Interesting mix! Mikey is pretty sure Donnie would have a field day with the paper’s written contents, but sadly, that’s not what he’s here for.

He follows O’Neil’s movements with his hearing, noting that she’s drifting back towards him. She’s making pleasant casual conversation, talking about how the rainy weather lately has been awful for her hair and asking how Mikey’s been dealing with it.

“Oh, it’s not too terrible,” Mikey says, reaching under his apron. “Braids help keep the frizz down.”

“If I had time and energy for that, I’d probably set myself up with that style again.”

If she wanted braids, she really should have done it before Mikey got here.

Oh well. Maybe they’ve got salons in heaven. Or hell, given her family background.

“I know a good stylist,” Mikey says, “and I could hook you up if you wanted.”

“Yeah? Hit me with the details; I got my phone right here.”

“Sure,” he says, smiling. “But one thing first.”

Mikey turns, pointing the barrel of his handgun and its silencer at April.

Her fist shoots out, diverting the shot.

Mikey blinks- blocks the next attack, tries to realign his shot with the target, has it diverted with a well-timed slap to the wrist, then fails to break the startlingly strong twist to his arm, loses his gun- and yelps as knuckles meet his nose, stumbling backwards as the past two seconds catch up with him.

“Ow,” Mikey whines, feeling his nose spurt blood. “What the hell, lady?”

“You’re saying what the hell to me?” O’Neil says incredulously. Her foot shoots out and Mikey narrowly avoids the kick to the kneecap. April moves fast and brutal- punches aimed precisely and only diverted by the slimmest of margins. Except Mikey is unprepared to suddenly be in such a fight, and feels himself slip up.

Targets aren’t supposed to fight back like this. Pampered rich kids aren’t supposed to fight back like this.

Mikey makes an embarrassing rookie mistake, and trips backwards over a stupid little coffee table. O’Neil stands over him, panting and still holding her fists ready to fight.

“Jeez, girl, you treat all your cleaning ladies like this?” Mikey gripes, smarting in both body and pride.

“Not all my cleaning ladies try an’ kill me,” O’Neil snaps. “Also, your camograph nose is sideways.”

Mikey touches his face. He can’t properly feel the holographic camouflage mask, but the reaction is automatic. He scowls, stripping off the thin microfabric on his features and tugging the hijab off while he’s at it; dropping the façade of a middle-aged cleaning lady entirely.

O’Neil shoots him an extra disgusted look. “And fyi, using a disguise like that is just plain rude to people who actually follow the religion.”

“How do you know I’m not a follower of this particular holy book?”

“Are you?”

“Nah.”

“Well, alright then.”

Mikey is not expecting the crazy lady to try body slamming him, but with how the past half a minute has gone, he probably should have.

He rolls out of the way, getting on his feet and taking advantage of O’Neil’s prone position. He grabs her around the neck and shoulders, hauling her backwards and trying to strangle her. She responds by slamming the back of her skull against his mouth, splitting his lip and sending sparks across Mikey’s vision.

She elbows him in the ribs, wrestling herself free and making for the gun on the floor. Mikey recovers in time to give chase, tackling her away from his weapon and sending them both to the floor all over again. He tries to punch her, and she fucking bites him on the arm. Mikey hisses and swallows a cry of pain, punching O’Neil in the stomach with a quick series of harsh jabs and forcing her to let go- but not without her tearing the fabric of his dress, and leaving a swelling bitemark underneath.

He gets off her, scrambling for his gun and snatching it up off the carpet. When he turns to fire, a vase clocks him right in the face.

His nose is going to be a mess of bruises after this, won’t it?

Mikey feels a hand grab his, trying to wrench the gun out of his grip, and he snarls and fights back- both of them catching each other’s opposite hands as they try and get the advantage. O’Neil is giving him a fierce glare as she fights him, surprisingly strong as they hit a stalemate, neither of them giving an inch as their arms shake with effort.

“You…” Mikey grits out, smiling nastily at his target, “are bein’ a real thorn- in my side- right now!”

“Says the guy- that’s here to kill me!” O’Neil hisses back.

Then, she and Mikey break the stalemate simultaneously, both of them trying to knee the other in the gut and colliding as they do. They rip away from each other, the pistol going flying as O’Neil scrapes her nails along Mikey’s wrist, forcing him to release it as they dart away from one another.

Mikey realizes that Donnie has been talking to him this entire time, but his focus isn’t on whatever his brother is saying. It’s on taking O’Neil down.

Besides, if he can’t salvage this on his own, his brothers will totally bug him about it forever.

Mikey runs for his gun, which has landed under the legs of a plush chair by the wide windows of the room. It’s as his grip closes around it again that he hears the whine of electricity charging.

Mikey whirls, raising his pistol to take the shot, but yelps and has to dodge as what he swears is a bolt of lightning blackens the chair, filling the air with the acrid stench of burning. O’Neil’s glasses shine as she aims the gauntlet she’s retrieved, the palm of it glowing as it charges and fires again.

Mikey keeps moving, avoiding the blasts, thanking his lucky stars that he’s the best gymnast in his family. Even with the gun clutched in his hand and wearing an ankle length dress, he nimbly avoids being shocked by the electricity, vaulting furniture and moving in ducks and leaps. Mikey overturns the small dining table as he reaches it, getting behind it and using it as support as he lines up a quick shot and fires.

O’Neil is on the floor before the gun has even gone off, taking shelter behind the couch. Mikey pants, keeping his pistol trained on where O’Neil’s head might appear. He takes the racing adrenaline inside himself and breathes it out in a slow gust of air, easing the slight tremor in one hand and settling his heartrate.

“MIKEY, god dammnit, ANSWER ME!” Donnie yells in his ear, finally breaking through the storm as it clears from Mikey’s head.

“I’m good, Don,” Mikey says softly, licking his lips as he watches April’s hiding spot. “I just… hit a small snag.”

“I’m sending Leo- and Raph, too, actually. Fuck, fuck it, we might as well all go-”

“No!” Mikey says. “No, dude, seriously I got this.”

“It really doesn’t sound like it.”

Mikey’s face gets hot, frustration rising with his embarrassment. He’s just as capable as his brothers, more so in some aspects, and he doesn’t want to beg help off his older siblings over one measly rich lady getting a few lucky shots in-

Mikey jerks as something flies up into the air from the couch, arcing towards him- he moves to flee before he realizes it’s not a bomb but instead a pillow, but even still he can’t be too careful, who knows what’s inside that pillow-

Mikey realizes his mistake right after, as he leaves the meager protection of his dining table.

The pillow gently hits the carpet floor with hardly a sound.

Mikey hits the carpet a lot harder and louder, shocked right in the center of his chest as his target takes advantage of his stupid choices.

He doesn’t hear Donnie’s voice as his eyes roll up into his skull and he collapses on the floor. Mikey doesn’t hear anything but ringing as he passes out.

.

.

.

.

.......and now we all have to wait for the artists to claim this piece, and for me to finish the latter 20% i haven’t written of this big boy.

[marshmallowprotection]

Chasing the Sky

AO3 | FFN

Pairing: Choi Saeran/Reader

Description: You wanted to become the next Pokemon Showcase Queen, but something pipelined your quest! Actually, it was someone. It was this mysterious boy that you kept running into. His green eyes bore into your heart like nothing else, and his voice invaded your dreams every night. Who was he? Why did trouble follow him? All you knew was that you wanted to learn more about him. POKEMON AU!

Chapter Two | Chapter Three (Right Here!)

III

"Adventurers Unite."

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" the blond-haired boy apologized profusely after he offered you his hand.

You graciously took it and hopped back onto your feet, dusting off your pants. "That's perfectly alright! I wasn't looking where I was going either, don't worry about it!"

Today was really proving to be rightly a mess. You thought that you were going to be able to get everything back into order after you left Lake Verity behind, but you definitely been proven wrong. Your clumsy meter had been cranked up to ten thousand! The minute you got to Twinleaf Town you were rudely crashed into by a boy on a bike that seemed to be a hurry, and if nothing else, a bit terrified. He had blond hair that had been brushed out of his eyes and the cutest eyes you had ever seen. He looked to be around your age if not a just a little younger than you. It was possible that he was late to meet with someone or maybe he just always ran around like a Torchic with its head cut off!

You both started to walk up the path as you talked with one another about things.

"Why were you in such a hurry anyway?" You asked him.

He looked down at his feet as the smallest bit of red rushed to his cheeks. "Um... well, you see... I was on my way to get my first... Pokemon. I promised I wouldn't be late, but I kind of overslept."

Oh! That's why he looked a little embarrassed. Most people were already well into their journey by the time they were close to your age, even if they weren't all that successful at it. They still were out of their houses before they knew it. He was a late starter to the field, his parents must not have wanted to let him leave the house until he was a bit older than the usual starter age for Pokemon trainers.

"Wow, congratulations!" You told him with a grin. "I remember when I started my journey. You must be feeling really excited about it... everything changes and gets more exciting when you have a partner at your side!"

He looked back up at you and strained a smile. "If there's any Pokemon left by the time I get there... that is."

"Now, what kind of attitude is that? You can't let yourself get to feeling down like that! I'm sure there will be plenty of Pokemon left by the time you get there, Professors always stock up their starters for specific people. That's why there's always three! There's always going to be one left for you, or did you not know that?" You pursed your lips.

"...I did not know that." He mumbled, pitifully.

"Well who you otherwise?" You asked.

He rubbed the back of his head and admitted. "Well, this friend of mine told me that you have to get to the laboratory when the sun rises otherwise all the Pokemon leave."

"Well, somebody played a mean prank on you, I'm afraid. You'll be just fine!" You reassured him, patting his shoulder, "Today is a really special day for you, um... what's your name? Forgive me, I should have asked!"

"It's Yoosung," he said.

"Well, Yoosung, today's the day you meet your new best friend! I don't know which Pokemon you get to choose from here in Sinnoh but I bet they're pretty neat." You said.

He nodded his head. "I haven't made my mind up on who I want to pick yet, either. There's Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig... they all seem pretty great but I don't know which would be best for me. There are benefits to each of them! I guess since you don't know what the starters are... you aren't from Sinnoh, are you, um... what's your name?"

"It's (Y/N)! I'm from Kanto, originally, but I've been all the place since I was a kid. " You replied.

Yoosung's eye widened for a moment in surprise. "Oh, wow, you must have gotten to pick from Bulbasaur... um... I think it's a Squirtle and... uh... I forget the last one."

"It's Charmander! That's all of them, but I'll have to tell you and let you down, I didn't start out with what most trainers start out with. I met my first Pokemon on my own and he wouldn't take no for an answer," Tapping the Pokeball on your neck, you told him about your precious but oh-so-very mischevious partner. "You see, I met my partner one day when I was out playing in the forest. There had been a big storm the day before and I had hated being cooped up inside my house... so when I got the chance to play, I took it. It was really beautiful out that day but I stumbled into a hollow tree and found a very sick Eevee. I thought he must have gotten sick from being out in the storm... but it turns out he had been left behind by his friends because he was a little different from most Eevees."

"Different?" Yoosung stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean by different? I don't think I get why he would be left behind like that. Does he have a silly haircut or something?"

You laughed and shook your head. "No, no... it might be easier to show you, rather than tell you about him and his specialty." Clutching his Pokeball that you had returned him to, you let it rip and out sprang your Eevee. He blinked and looked at the newcomer with a bit of interest. "Yoosung, meet Eevee... Eevee, meet Yoosung."

Yoosung's eyes lit up and he dropped down to the ground to inspect the furry creature. It approached him and allowed himself to be pet. "I've only heard of these variants, I never thought I would see one in person! I thought they were a myth! He's totally all silver, instead of brown, wow, (Y/N), you must be some kind of lucky."

"I'm just lucky he likes me," You replied, politely. Eevee ducked past the blond boy and hopped back into your arms where he comfortably snuggled up. That was the benefit of his, being able to be carted around like a pampered baby just because he knew he could. Eevee knew what he was doing, always, and made a habit of getting his way.

"...I just hope my Pokemon likes me, like that." he ducked his head in embarrassment. "I've only ever been around a few that have liked me, you know? Ugh, what if I get an attack straight to the face?"

You laughed. "Even if they don't like you at first, it's not a bad thing. You learn to trust each other, and bond as you go along, of course! You shouldn't worry so hard, Yoosung, the world won't end if your partner sticks up his nose at you once. You wouldn't be the first guy to get a water gun to the face or a razor leaf to a knee! If you're that worried about, I can tag along with you to protect you from a mean ol' Pokemon."

"H-hey! I'm not scared!" he tried to say to rebuff, but you could tell he thought otherwise. "You don't have to tag along with me, (Y/N), you probably have better places to be."

You shook your head. "I don't, actually, the first Pokemon Showcase isn't going to be held for another week... I think it's in Jubilife City. Which is still a ways away from here, right?"

"Pokemon Showcase?" Yoosung echoed your words, an eyebrow raised. "What's that?"

"Oh, it's like... hm, Pokemon Contests, but it focuses more on the dynamic beauty and relationship with your Pokemon instead of showing off beauty and battle skills. They originated in the Kalos region but they recently started up the league here in Sinnoh for the first time, and I can't wait to get started! Eevee and I have been practicing for a while."

"Like a contest? I think I get what you're saying," Yoosung murmured. "Huh, I have a friend who is a coordinator and a performer, but I've never heard of something like before."

"It's new here, so of course you're out of the loop!" You replied, Eevee nodding his head in agreement with you. "Plus, it's always more fun to travel with a friend someplace instead of alone. If you don't mind Eevee and I tagging along, that is."

Yoosung shook his head. "Oh! I don't mind. I just... I just didn't expect anyone to want to come along with me."

"Are you kidding? You seem like a nice guy, you apologized for running into me! Usually, I'm the one that has to apologize to people for running into them. It's good luck on the start of a journey to fall flat on your face, that's what my Mom always says!" You grinned. Ahead of the both of you was the pathway that leads to the next town, where the Pokemon Professor was located. You couldn't help but be a little curious about what kind of Pokemon were given to trainers in this region, and any chance to meet somebody new was always fun.

"Well, okay! Let's go to Sandgem!"

"Together!"