#hidden behind silly names and colourful designs

[acesofspade]

i know the general consensus on ace attorney is 'haha gay lawyer games', but like, the over-arching plot of the entire franchise is 'corruption bleeds into every person it touches without realizing, and how nothing will be done about it if you maintain the status quo and sit back to let someone else deal with it, you have to fight it yourself, or nothing will ever change'

[yellowbunnydreams]

Bunny Punk (Part 1)~Punk!William Afton x F!Reader~

~So this started out as a concept, then turned into a one-shot, then I got to a point and thought to myself 'This is a series isn't it?' Thanks to @ruh--roh-raggy for putting up with my bullshit and proofing some of this story. I don't know how long this story will be, but I can imagine it might be one of my shorter series.~

CW: 18+ MINORS DNI, mention of scars, body and face piercings (inc, tongue, reference to others), tattooed!reader, punk!William, tattooed!Afton, age gap (Reader 20's, William 40's)

You sighed as you looked around the party going on in your college's gymnasium, filled with people perhaps double or so your age and the occasional peer who looked as bored as yourself, milling about and laughing as shitty music played in the background that you weren't even sure of the name of. Glancing at the sign strung over the doorway, you cursed yourself internally, wishing you hadn't signed up to help with this reunion event as you could have been doing much better things with your time. Like working on the million and one assignments that you felt like you had. Or perhaps simply just sleeping and procrastinating on those assignments.

The oversized black hoodie that you'd somehow convinced the dean of your department to let you wear sported some black embroidered gears along the sleeves, your nickname from your club printed over your left breast. Hair tied up and a tight pair of jeans, the cleanest you could find in the pile of washing that moved between your bed and a chair as required, never quite making it to the wardrobe.

Seeing the free food and drink table that was technically for the guests of the event, you bit your lip as you decided to go and visit it. What harm would taking a few snacks and drinks do? None of the faculty were looking, and the ones who were milling about were too engrossed in talking to old students and favouring talking to people too old to be wear jock-jackets and cheerleading skirts. Rolling your eyes as you wondered why they were all dressed up like they were awaiting for their class photos all over again.

William wasn't entirely sure why he'd accepted the invite back to his old college, his teeth finding the labret piercing along his lip and chewing it somewhat absently as he looked at the drinks table, thick brows furrowing as he decided whether or not to go fetch another drink. It had sounded like a good idea at the time when his friend Henry had convinced him to go, even though the theme was silly and he hadn't felt comfortable dressing as he was now for a while, but his friend had ditched at the last minute and now he was stood on the side-lines. Smiling politely as people he barely recognised came up to him and complimented how good he looked for his age, cooing over how they hadn't seen him in years.

It would perhaps be bearable if he remembered any of these people.

You weren't looking where you were going as your head darted around, trying to avoid being spotted by the dean before suddenly you walked into somebody, gasping as you stumbled back and a large hand shot out to grab you by the arm, steadying you. Blinking as you looked at who you'd walked into.

Whoever he was, he was older. Dark brown hair greying at the temple and becoming peppered through his short, sweptback haircut, greying eyebrows with the left one decorated by a complimentary silver ring. A septum piercing caught you slightly off guard, but the greying eyes hidden behind golden wire framed aviator glasses held your attention. Slight scowl on his sharp features as you couldn't help but notice a lip ring, cheeks filling with colour as you thought how handsome he was.

"Sorry! I um..Sorry." You stammered out, averting your eyes quickly before hearing a grunt, the hand letting you go. William's eyes raked over you quickly, assessingly as he took in how young you were, the oversized hoodie with the subtle designs, a name he couldn't quite read on the breast.

"Are you meant to be in here? You don't look like one of my old classmates." Crossing his thick, strong forearms across his chest, your eyes naturally flickered to the tattoo sleeve on his right, the intricate designs standing out as bio-mechanical, following where the bones in his arms laid, although there was another design you couldn't quite make out on the inside of his forearm.

"I um..I'm one of the student volunteers for the event, sir." You explained quickly, snapping your attention back to his face as you found yourself more flustered that you'd been staring at him. Hearing a snort coming from the taller man as you watched a smirk flicker across his face.

"Volunteer?" The smirk on his face developed and he couldn't help but let it spread as he looked down at your nervous face. Feeling a sense of satisfaction that you looked so flustered, watching how your eyes would momentarily flicker to his arm and trace the linework before seeming to catch yourself and focus on his face again. "They still getting you to do that stupid shit? Do they still offer extra credit for it?" He asked, making you reciprocate the smile as you shook your head.

"Nah, extra credit would be nice but we get two free lunch credits for our 'service' tonight." Shrugging your shoulders as the man whistled, looking back at the food table and then back to you. Allowing you to quickly steal glances at the tight black t-shirt and jeans he was wearing before he turned back to you.

"Two whole credits hey? And they don't let you have any of the good stuff on the table?" Raising an eyebrow before the grin returned. "How big are the pockets on that hoodie?"

"Sorry?"

"The hoodie pockets, how big are they?" He asked, gesturing to your hoodie and making you look at it, humming in thought before you answered.

"I can carry a two-litre soda bottle and a bag of chips usually."

"Perfect. Fancy stealing some snacks and ditching this snooze-fest?" He grinned, making you raise an eyebrow in return and cross your arms this time, looking up at him and wondering how serious he was.

"Snooze-fest? What it this the eighties? And secondly...I may have been aiming to 'help the help' when we collided." Grinning as the man offered his arm to you and you cautiously took it, feeling silly as you stuck close to him. Seeing a few of the people around you glancing sideways at you and the tall tattooed man, but looking away quickly as he glared at them.

Approaching the snack table, you went to break away but he held onto your arm, keeping you close as he looked about before his large hand darted out, grabbing cans and baggies of snacks and pushing them into the large pocket of your hoodie. Your cheeks burning as he kept brushing against your stomach with each pass, swallowing softly and turning to look around, see if anybody spotted you before the taller man nudged you, snapping your attention back to him.

"Don't look around, if you look suspicious, they'll look at you in turn." He said softly, grabbing another couple of cans and baggies before filling your pocket, releasing you before he nodded and winked, tapping the side of his nose with humour lighting up his eyes. "Meet me outside the gym in a moment, can't be seen leaving together."

With that he disappeared into the crowd, leaving you wondering what the hell had just happened. But after a few moments, you followed through the crowd, curious as to what he planned on doing with so many snacks and drinks, although from what little you had interacted, he seemed like a pretty funny guy.

You spotted him just outside the gym, staring into a cabinet with his brow furrowed slightly, hands stuck into the pockets of his jeans, thumbs hooked over the outside as you approached, looking curiously inside the cabinet and spotting what he was looking at. For the reunion they'd brought together photos of old clubs and trophies from games and tournaments. You guessed it was to 'relive the best days of their lives'.

One photo stood out to you though, a group of young, scrawny lads in matching t-shirts of various colours. There was a taller guy with dark curly hair and braces that looked like a stiff breeze might topple him over, but he was holding a silver trophy high up with a grin, arm around a significantly taller boy. There was something familiar about him and squinting at the photo through the layers of glass revealed a lithe figure, the start of tattoos peeking from underneath the short sleeve, piercings decorating a tight-lipped smile. Looking back at the man stood next to you and back again, your eyes widened slightly.

"Holy shit, is that you?" Earning a snort and a chuckle, watching him bite at the labret on his lip before smirking at you confidently.

"Have I really changed that much?" He teased, gesturing to the piercings and the all black, just like he appeared in the photo. Although now he was broader, more muscular and you could practically feel the confidence oozing off of him. Shrugging your shoulders, you chewed your lip absently.

"I mean, I would have thought you ditched the piercings at your age. You're not lanky either. More like a dad-bod." Fake pouting as he placed a hand over heart, raising his eyebrows in a way that made your chest tighten for some reason as his lips curled into more of a smile.

"Oh these? I just put them back in when I might run into pretty college girls. And you watch your mouth about the dad-bod. I heard girls your age like DILFs." He teased, watching your cheeks flush and your eyes snap away temporarily, enjoying teasing you and playing around with somebody so young and trying to find their rebellious feet. He remembered being like you, and he was glad he'd maintained that fire into his more mature self.

"What kind of porn level logic is that?" You sputtered out, crossing your arms and huffing to get a stray strand of hair out of your face. Uncrossing them after a moment before reaching into the hoodie pocket and pulling out a soda can, cracking it open and beginning to walk off, hearing his footsteps follow behind you with a slight scowl over your shoulder at him.

"If you're going to run off, makes sense to keep me with you, at least then you can pretend to be giving me a tour."

"You fucking went here, you should know your way around, or has some metal made it into your brain?" Rolling your eyes, flushing as he easily reached into your hoodie and pulled out another can, fingers brushing your stomach once again before he fell into step, your legs having to move faster to keep up with his long languid strides.

"Ooo, so original! You almost made my lip quiver with your meanness." Laughing as he bumped into you slightly, looking around the hall and taking in how much the decorations had changed. Rolling his eyes at the motivational posters that seemed to permanently reside on the white walls, wondering what happened to the small row of thin lockers that used to live in an alcove along the west wall. "Says the baby with virgin skin." He threw back, making you scowl at him in disapproval.

"How do you know what I look like under this hoodie? I could be covered enough to set off a metal detector and you would never know." You countered, watching his smile grow before he leaned in as he walked, slightly conspiratorial.

"You know, most punks like to show off their art. Tattoos, piercings, clothes. You'd have shown me by now if you had anything." His close, deep voice made you shiver, clearing your throat as you looked at the hall walls, realising you'd subconiously been heading towards the engineering department as you'd walked. Groaning as you remembered all the projects you should be working on.

Turning to your left, you kept quiet, allowing the tall man to trail behind you and finish his drink before he threw it into the trash nearby, pumping his fist silently to himself as he got it in from a good distance away. You secretly smiled at the image, wondering how he could continue to be so childish. Stealing snacks. Throwing things into bins from a distance.

Your hand landed on the door to your workshop before you even knew what you were doing, fishing into your jeans and pulling out a ring of keys, unlocking the door and breathing deeply as the scent of soldering irons and copper hit you. Nodding your head into the room as the man looked in curiously.

"If you're going to hang about, don't touch shit. You probably wouldn't understand half the stuff going on in here." Scoffing as you went in first, hearing his footsteps slowly entering behind you as you paced over to your project cabinet, unlocking it and pulling out a complex set of wires and metal bars and rings.

Kicking out a stool and emptying your pockets onto a free space on the table so you could sit more comfortably. He took a seat at the same table and peered curiously at what you were working on after a quick glance around. Whilst the workshop hadn't changed much, the sight of new projects scattered around at various stages of completion made him feel right at home again. Reminded somewhat of his old workshop at Freddy's before the company had gotten too big for just him and Henry to work on the animatronics alone. Now the biggest project yet 'the pizzaplex' was set to open in two months, and he had to admit, he missed the small little cramped space of Fredbear's diner when he and Henry had shared a single office with security.

Your slender fingers worked deftly as you tried to nudge wires and tense wire coils into place, swearing under your breath as you began to feel too warm in the hoodie. You always felt warm whilst concentrating, plus you needed to clear your arms for testing again. Gripping the bottom of your hoodie and pulling it over your body before chucking it over another seat. Revealing a tight tank-top underneath, one of the straps falling off of your shoulder and making William swallow as his eyes instinctually ran across the curves of your shoulders and collarbones.

"What are you working on?" He broke the silence, distracting himself as he furrowed his brow, trying to work out what was so familiar about the structure your hands tinkered with. Strand of hair falling into your face and you tried to huff it away from your forehead as you glanced at him.

"It's just a proto-type. Nothing special." Feeling suddenly embaressed about the project, brow furrowing as you noticed one of the springs out of place and using a thin hooked tool to pull it back into place again. Nose scrunching up as you took a deep breath and studied it carefully, checking for any more flaws.

"Prototypes are important, they help you find all the flaws in your designs. Maybe a second pair of eyes might be able to look over it for you?" He asked, holding out his hand in offer with a kind smile, meeting your concerned frown before you tenderly handed it over. Reluctant to give over your work that you had spent so long on, although it was more personal to you, you didn't want to have it all ruined in a moment because of somebody else's carelessness.

"Just be careful okay? It's important to me. Don't make me get the shop safety poster and make you test on it." You threatened playfully, earning a smile as his eyes sparked with mirth. Carefully turning over the device in his large hands with surprising care and diligence, humming quietly as he moved it under the lights to get a good look at it.

"Don't remind me. I had a habit of falling short on the marks on that damn test every year, probably because Mr. Schmidt hated my guts for dicking around in shop." He chuckled, making you raise an eyebrow as he revealed he used to be part of the shop. Feeling curiosity burn in your chest as suddenly you felt a tiny bit more confident in letting him handle your project.

"You used to - OH MY GOD!" Your thought was cut off as he suddenly perked up and slipped his hand between the rings and wires on his non-tattooed arm, making the colour drain from your face as his fingers became tangled into place along the more delicate parts at the end. He looked fascinated as he moved and flexed his hand, turning it this was and that to get a proper look, circling his wrist as you began to hyper-ventilate slightly.

"I thought I recognised some of this.... Is this a springlock?" He asked, perfectly calm as he flexed and checked movement for a moment more before disconnecting from the framework easily. Your heart pounding in your chest as you stared at the mechanical suit arm on the desk, wondering what had just happened.

"I think.. you may have failed the shop safety tests for different reasons." Breathing heavy as your hands snatched it up again, performing a quick safety check before placing it down again. Running a hand over your hair and feeling your hands tremble slightly. "And..yeah... it's a springlock design, V2.4 currently...Holy shit you just..."

William chuckled and showed off his arm under the light, brushing some of the coarse dark hair on his forearm so that you could make out the deep, pale scars that ran up the skin that you hadn't noticed before. Eyes widening as you showed off the same arm, your own matching scars more pink than his, from your own springlock incident three months previous during your first testing phase.

"I'm very familiar with them, as you can see. But I'm very impressed! If type I'm familiar with had been handled that roughly, I would have had myself a few more scars and a nice trip to the emergency room." He chuckled, smiling brightly, offering his large calloused hand for you to cautiously shake.

"I never introduced myself. I'm William, William Afton."

Your jaw dropped as you felt your grip on the handshake faulter. Brain turning over the name over and over again as you struggled to comprehend who was sat across from you.

"Y-You're...Oh my god you're...you're actually him aren't you?" Breathing hitched as you watched the smirk on his face reappear at your realisation, nodding slowly and releasing your softer hand to watch them cover your face as you groaned into your palms. "I've been insulting William Afton...I...Shit I've insulted you." Feeling as if the earth could swallow you up and consume you would be a preferable option to meeting your hero and having him look at your work.

"I thought it was quite cute actually. You're such a baby punk...Hmm..There's got to be a better name for that.. Bunny punk? Yeah, bunny punk, you're all soft and cute, stamping your foot like a little bunny rabbit and trying to appear tough." Your reddening cheeks almost becoming their own heat source as he smirked at you, resting his chin against his hand as he glanced over you again.

"I'm not...I'm not a 'bunny punk', Mr. Afton." Your cheeks burned as he sucked on his teeth for a moment, looking you over before he grinned again, your chest sent fluttering as that smile seemed to radiate confidence and an almost predatory nature to it.

"You're very right young lady...You're just a little bunny aren't you? I think that's what I'll call you, bunny." his smile broke and he stuck his tongue out at you, making your body ache slightly as you realised he had a silver stud on his tongue, such a cute nickname combined with your idol sat across from you looking all too hot with his piercings in flustering you all the more.

"Sir, I-"

"Wow, that's something usually only my employees or pretty ladies in bed call me. You're bold aren't you, bunny?" William couldn't hold back the teasing as you grew increasingly flustered, cheeks burning up and the flush spreading down to your collarbones. The way your shoulders curled in allowing him to see a dark mark against your shoulder blade, piquing his interest more as he stood up, walking behind you and his large hand resting on your back, feeling how you tensed up as he studied the lines of the tattoo against your skin.

"You were right, I really had no idea what was hiding under that hoodie of yours." Chuckling as he felt the goose bumps along your skin forming under his finger. He swore he could almost feel how quickly your heart beat inside your chest as he placed his hand between your shoulders. "But-" he pulled his hand away and leaned onto the desk next to you, forcing you to turn your head up and look at him. Lips parted softly, making him ache at how deliciously under-prepared for him you looked. Wondering how far he would be able to push the flirting and the teasing before you ran from him.

"Mr. Afton, I... I have admired your work for a very long time." The words were slow to fall from your lips, trying to force yourself to be polite and ignore the part of your brain that was screaming in delight at how he touched your back, how your celebrity crush flirted with you and made you feel special.

It wasn't helpful that your brain kept suggesting to you how that lip and tongue piercing would feel kissing you, or running against another pair of lips that desperately wanted attenton.

"I used to go to Freddy's when I was little. That's when I fell in love with robotics honestly." You breathed, watching his expression turn to surprise as his eyebrows raised, watching the way the eyebrow piercing caught the light before you turned your eyes to his tattoos. Finally seeing the design on the inside of his arm was a knife, mixed into the biomechanical designs that dominated the arm. "I think I met you once back then, although I don't think you had any piercings."

"I took them out in the restaurant, well, apart from a couple more....private...ones." He smiled, listening to you talk as he felt his body aching more as you stroked his ego. He might have been many things, but able to resist somebody offering him praise and idolisation wasn't one of them. "Go on, bunny."

"I found an article about the springlocks, and the designs were just..beautiful. The engineering? The design? How such complex machinery could be fitted into such a small space, it was entrancing." Feeling your heart beating faster as his grey eyes focused on you intensely, shuddering under his intensity. "So I wanted to continue the project. I was..I guess I was hoping you were still into engineering and I hoped that I could maybe recreate the spring-bonnie suit that I loved so much." Nervous babbling coming to an end as he gazed at you, a grin spreading up his face as he looked down at you.

"Spring-bonnie was my suit in particular actually." The fact made your heart only pound faster, flustering yourself all over again that you didn't know such a simple fact. All those chaotic thoughts pausing as he raised his hand and caught your chin, forcing you to look at him as he ran his tongue against his lip. "You did all this work, for me?"

"Y-Yes sir."

"What a good girl you are. Would you like a reward?" William's voice was calm and controlled, but inside he was feeling a little feral. Such a cute thing having devoted her entire career to following his work, recreating the work she loved, wanting to gift it back to him. It stoked a dark, hungry fire in him and suddenly he was back in college himself, the punk that made ladies swoon as he bit his piercing at them, with all the charm and suave that age had brought him.

The tiny nod of your head was all he needed to lean in, his lips brushing yours, barely ghosting them before they met yours fully. A soft squeak escaping you as it caught you slightly by surprise. The cold metal of his lip ring down the centre line of your lip contrasting to how hot he felt against your lips. Moving together slowly at first before your tongue ran across his lip and William growled deeply in his chest, parting his lips and pushing his tongue into your mouth. One hand moving to the back of your head and pressing you into it, allowing him to dominate your mouth, the feeling of his stud meeting your tongue sending shivers down your spine.

Finally the kiss broke, leaving you breathless, a silver strand of saliva connecting your lips before William licked his lips and broke it. Grinning widely at you, you swore his eyes almost looked black in the lights of the workshop before he handed your hoodie back to you, making you pause for a moment in confusion, perhaps a little hurt before he spoke.

"You're going to put that back on, bunny. We're going to grab our stuff, and then we're going to go to your dorm or where-ever the fuck your bed is. I think you deserve an extra special thank you for being such a dedicated volunteer tonight." The words made you light up, nodding enthusiastically, throwing on your hoodie and allowing him to stuff some of the snacks and drinks back into your pockets, more opening shivering as his thick fingers brushed against you through the fabric. Swallowing softly as he also picked up the springlock arm and cradled it in his hands with a grin as you raised a curious eyebrow.

"Come on then, bunny. Lead the way." Letting you lead the way out of the workshop and locking up behind yourself before he followed shortly behind you, watching the way your body moved hungrily as he imagined stripping you bare for him and considered how pretty you might look naked in his own workshop.

[cheri-translates]

[CN] Gavin’s Spreading Wings Date

🍒 Warning: This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 展翼之约, which has not been released in EN! 🍒

It is very important to read his birthday R&S before this!

[ This was released on 24 July 2021 ]

[ PROLOGUE ]

While heading home after work, I receive a call from Eli.

I’m guessing there’s information regarding the matter I asked of him from before.

MC: Hello? Captain Eli? Since you suddenly called, does this mean there’s a solution to what I asked about the other time?

Eli: That’s right. I personally made a trip to the municipal administration last week and retrieved the item for you. I’ve already asked City Express to send it over to you.

MC: That’s great! Thanks, Captain Eli!

Eli: It’s no problem. Although it took a little effort, it was retrieved eventually.

MC: I really have to thank Captain Eli. This item is pretty important to me, so you’ve helped me out big time.

Eli: Ah, it’s nothing. Oh yes, the STF is leaving tonight. Gavin just left the bureau and should be heading towards your place now. I shan’t disturb the both of you. I’ll hang up now. Watch out for the delivery.

MC: Mm, I’ve got it. I’ve troubled Captain Eli this time. When our TV station has a matchmaking show in the future, I’ll definitely recommend you!

I hang up. Sure enough, I receive a parcel from the STF not long after reaching home.

Tearing open the packaging, I see a dark coloured square box with the municipal administration’s logo engraved on it.

After removing the cover, a badge sits quietly among the flannel.

A cold light glints on the surface of the coiled design. The flag and peace dove clearly declare the rules of justice and protection.

It silently conveys a certain dignity that can make one hold their breath.

During an awards ceremony organised by the municipal government a few months ago, Gavin wasn’t able to attend in person. As a result, they didn’t manage to give him an honorary badge.

Although the municipal administration made several calls, the STF has been busy with missions, and Gavin hasn’t had the time to collect it.

This matter is something which I’ve always kept in my heart.

I feel that this honour, which represents an “acknowledgement”, shouldn’t be treated so flippantly and hastily.

Hence, while preparing for Gavin’s birthday, I asked Eli way in advance to retrieve this from the municipal administration using the name of STF.

This is an “acknowledgement” which belongs to him, and I wish to hand it to him personally.

All of a sudden, there are knocks at the door. Knowing that the person outside is Gavin, I quickly hide the badge and the box into a cupboard before opening the door.

Then, the person outside wraps me in a full embrace. His scent overtakes my senses.

MC: Are you leaving tonight?

Gavin responds with a “mm”. After nuzzling his head gently in the crook of my neck, he releases his hold on me.

In the short span of half a minute, he seems to have already derived all the strength he needs, and the light in his eyes is very bright.

MC: There’s no need to worry about me, but you have to take care of your safety.

Gavin: I’ll do my best to rush back. Don't worry.

The both of us speak at the same time. Gavin can’t help but laugh. Taking my hand, he pulls me outside.

Gavin: Let’s go and have dinner. We’ll eat outside today.

MC: Okay!

-

Walking along the street, I look at Gavin’s calm and resolute figure. Recalling the badge which is sitting quietly at home, I secretly purse my lips into a smile.

This year, my birthday plan is a secret which Gavin doesn’t know about. I’m looking forward to the day the secret is revealed, along with his reactions.

[ DATE ]

The faraway snow-capped mountains are reminiscent of a fog coloured outline. They stand at the end of the horizon, faraway and reticent.

On a road not too far from the border, I disembark from the car, standing underneath a street sign while staring ahead.

Approximately half a month ago, Gavin was sent to this city for a mission. Today is the day he wraps up the mission.

It’s also his birthday.

At this moment, my phone rings. I answer it quickly.

Eli: MC, have you reached the location I gave you?

MC: Mm, I’ve reached. Captain Eli, when will you guys be dismissed?

Eli: We’ve already been dismissed and are heading your way. Just stay where you are, and you’ll definitely cross paths with Gavin. Don’t worry.

MC: That’s great. I’ll thank Captain Eli in advance then~

After hanging up, I tap open my memo and verify its contents once more.

MC: The aviation park, guesthouse, cake, and presents. Mm, no problem at all!

I turn my phone off, thinking about how aside from celebrating Gavin’s birthday, I’m also shouldering a very “heavy responsibility”.

Since Gavin wasn’t personally present for the awards ceremony conducted by the municipal government, there’s a medal which has yet to be given to him.

After learning about this piece of news not too long ago, I’ve remembered it in my heart, and specially asked Eli to retrieve this medal from the municipal government in the name of STF.

With a really huge and hidden personal motive, I wish to personally hand this important honour to Gavin on this most special day.

The sudden chirping of birds pulls my train of thought back to reality.

I look at the time. It’s still very early, and the first glimmer of light has just appeared in the sky.

After waiting for a while longer, I spot a group of uniformed men appearing at the end of the road. My heart, which had been dangling in the air, immediately settles.

The person leading the group is wearing a combat uniform. Strands of brown hair curl up in the breeze, and he currently has his head turned towards a squad mate behind him as he says something.

Although they appear to have experienced a fierce battle, the atmosphere is very light-hearted.

Looks like this mission successfully reached its end.

Likely sensing my gaze, he suddenly turns his head, staring afar off towards my direction.

After he getting a clear view of my figure, those amber eyes suddenly freeze. The strands atop his head curl up in a silly manner, as though he doesn’t know how to react.

The early morning mist has not yet dissipated. The world is enveloped in a tender and pale greenish blue, and the chirping of birds occasionally grows faint and near.

The whirring of a helicopter drifts from overhead as it circles in the sky. It’s the aircraft which is here to send them back.

Seeing that Gavin is slightly at a loss, I can’t help but chuckle, waving at him.

Gavin immediately walks over to me, his pace much faster than before. The squad mates follow behind him in a leisurely manner, not planning to disrupt this early morning meeting.

Gavin stands in front of me. He sweeps a glance over my white denim jacket, his gaze a little astonished.

MC: How is it? Does it look good?

Gavin nods, responding in a straightforward manner.

Gavin: Looks good.

MC: I specially prepared a matching set~

While speaking, I pass him the bag in my hands. Gavin receives it and takes a look. With a chuckle, he puts on the exact same jacket deftly. 

Although it’s just a simple white demin jacket, it makes him look refreshed and cool.

The early morning mist dyes his eyes, giving them a tender coolness. When his eyes meet mine, they instantly melt into a warm gaze.

At this point, Eli and other squad mates walk over as well. A rope ladder descends from the helicopter, and Eli arches a brow at us.

Eli: This rascal was so anxious to see you that he almost flew back to Loveland City directly. This is good. He doesn't have to fly now.

He pats Gavin on the shoulder.

Eli: Captain Gavin, enjoy your birthday vacation. We brothers will head off first.

One by one, they climb up the rope ladder and board the helicopter. Tang Chao whistles, and he’s grabbed through the hatch by Eli.

Gavin doesn’t bother about them. He removes his half finger gloves, revealing his dry yet soft finger pads. He entwines all ten fingers with mine.

He lifts his eyes to look at me, and they are filled with an insuppressible brightness. He asks a question that he clearly knows the answer to.

Gavin: Why did you come here?

The helicopter circles into the distance, accompanied by a deafening roar. I grin while bringing my left hand to my mouth, curving it into the shape of a trumpet.

MC: It’s clearly to... wish you a happy birthday!

-

The public bus brings us to the entrance of a park in the outskirts of the city. I pull Gavin off the bus, and we stand at the entrance of the park together.

Turning my head, I scrape Gavin’s palm.

MC: May I know if Mr Birthday Boy is ready to spend a day of surprises with me?

The hand that’s intertwined with Gavin’s moves forward decisively. The smile in his voice is unambiguously clear.

Gavin: Of course.

When I was planning the birthday route a few days ago, I unintentionally chanced upon information pertaining to this park.

As compared to other parks, there doesn’t seem to be anything special about this aviation park.

It’s just another slow-paced venue to relax in within the city. It has a pond which can’t be considered large, and a few willow trees grow along it.

Magazines are displayed on the counter of a small stall, and a child is standing on his tiptoes, selecting a popsicle from the freezer beside it.

If I had to mention the biggest difference, it would be that this park was transformed from an airbase.

In order to remember that it was once an airbase, there’s a white statute of an aircraft in the middle of the park.

Similarly, in order to be in line with the theme of “aviation”, all the shops in the park display miniature aircraft models.

Akin to colourful birds, they carry a yearning for the unconstrained sky.

Perhaps due to it being the summer vacation, a teacher has brought children to visit this ex-airbase.

The children wear yellow hats while chattering away. They surround the aircraft models, debating on which one looks the best.

Gavin and I walk along the shade of trees unhurriedly. When passing by the aircraft statue, he suddenly asks me a question.

Gavin: Did you bring me here because this used to be an airbase?

His gaze flits past the aircraft statue, then pauses on my face.

I nod in acknowledgement.

MC: I heard that this used to be one of the first airbases. In the past, many aircrafts were studied here. It’s a place with lots of commemorative value, and bears the weight of the years when people headed into the sky. Since I’m celebrating your birthday in this city, I felt that I should pick a location which is slightly more special. Otherwise, it wouldn’t leave much of an impression when we recollect it in the future.

Gavin chuckles, then reaches out to pinch my face.

Gavin: Seeing you appear early in the morning while dismissing the squad was already enough to leave a deep impression on me.

I laugh in embarrassment, then continue the earlier topic.

MC: But the airbase is only half of the reason.

I pause, my sentence ending on an upward lilt.

MC: There’s another half.

Gavin arches his brows, as though wondering what other surprises I could have hidden in this small park.

Tugging on his hand, we turn into a small path on the left, a confident smile on my face.

MC: Come with me.

The small path extends forward, and the sound of our footsteps mingles with the rustling of leaves.

After making a turn, everything becomes clear.

Before us, there’s a spacious and empty patch of land. Green grass grows wildly, covering the runway which was once used for aircrafts.

The wreckage of a plane remains on the ground, the rust on its body akin to a brown coloured decorative pattern.

Everything reveals the creases of time, but certain lingering aspirations can still be felt from it.

Gavin: Is this the other half of the reason?

He looks at me, his brows arched slightly.

MC: This was the original location of the airbase. I heard that this abandoned plane used to have the most excellent workmanship. I felt that if you knew about such a place, you’d want to take a look. Also, this is quite a nice place for a hidden scenery~

Gavin suddenly reaches out to brush dust off the body of the aircraft, revealing a series of numbers.

Gavin: Y2251. This used to be an air freighter.

Gavin pauses for a moment. As though he grasped at a fragment from his memories, his eyelashes stir gently in slight disbelief.

Gavin: A very long time ago, I made an aircraft model. This was the aircraft I referenced and modelled it after.

MC: ?!

I’m stunned for half a second. When I see myself in Gavin’s calm and composed eyes, I can’t help but chuckle.

MC: I suddenly feel as though this world might actually operate in a circle. We might move and turn around, but there will come a day when we become part of the circle.

Gavin responds with a “mm”. He gazes fixedly at the set of numbers, as though patching up fragments of memories bit by bit.

Gavin: I used it to participate in a competition and won a prize. Back then, the officer who gave out the award came from this base.

MC: What kind of a competition was it?

Gavin: An aeromodelling competition. The prize was a small aviator badge.

We walk past the propeller of the aircraft wreckage with very light footsteps.

In my mind, a face even younger than the one right now surfaces before my eyes, along with a pair of clear amber eyes.

MC: Wow, that sounds really incredible!

I suddenly see the introductory plate next to the plane, which has a picture of how it formally looked like.

Smooth contours, blue wings, floating cloud patterns on its tail... just like a beautiful flying bird.

MC: How pretty. When you referenced this plane, did you make an exact replica?

Gavin nods. He looks at the plate, his gaze very serious.

Gavin: It was more or less the same as this.

He hesitates slightly, then adds on.

Gavin: Erm... it didn’t look as good. But it was very practical and could fly.

He gestures with his hands, pointing towards a faraway ginkgo tree.

Gavin: Around here to over there - the distance of half a field.

We walk over to that ginkgo tree. Its leaves are luxuriant as it stands next to the side gate of the park.

Since it’s summer, the leaves are lush and green.

A swing is swaying gently and quietly under the tree, and a few ginkgo leaves have fallen onto the wooden seat.

Tugging Gavin over to the swing, we continue our earlier conversation.

MC: We probably walked around 500 metres to get here. An aircraft model which is able to fly 500 metres is so incredible! You must have really liked it in the past in order to do such an amazing job.

Gavin holds the rope of the swing. He nods after hearing this, and his voice is certain.

Gavin: I did like it very much.

Seeing from my expression that I’m about to burst from curiosity, he can’t help but chuckle before going along with me and speaking.

Gavin: Back then, I bought many atlases related to planes. While studying them slowly, I conducted test flights too. I spent almost half of my summer vacation on this. Although the process was very fulfilling, there were times when I faced setbacks. Once, I got into a huff and tossed all the spare parts into my drawer and went to bed. 

MC: What happened next?

A nostalgic smile flashes in Gavin’s eyes.

Gavin: I couldn’t fall asleep, so I got up and took all of them out of the drawer. I fumbled around and managed to construct the extending and retracting mechanism of the wings. The next day, I slept till late in the afternoon... My mom didn’t wake me up.

MC: Pfft.

I can almost envision a youth who is sound asleep under the covers, a prototype plane laying quietly on the table.

A breeze enters through the curtains. It’s tender and light-hearted.

MC: Looks like it really isn’t easy to construct an aircraft model successfully.

I’m a little awed.

MC: I remember when we were doing handicrafts in school, the teacher would always say that the final step is to engrave our names as a marker. If I were you, I’d definitely paint my own name at the most conspicuous spot, and tell everyone how incredible I am.

Gavin gives this some thought before he shakes his head.

Gavin: I didn’t engrave my name back then. It was on the small aviator badge, but it got lost after I sent it to my father’s squad.

The way he says this so naturally causes my slightly flinched expression to reveal complicated emotions.

Gavin: Now that I think about it, it wasn’t anything special.

He chuckles, his tone as light as a breeze.

Gavin: They’re all in the past.

He narrates this calmly, as though these memories have long since been shut behind a dusty door.

I think of a 14 year old Gavin. I think of that aircraft model he made personally. I think of the past he had to experience...

A sense of discontent rises from my heart, and I wish to smoothen these regrets.

I stand up, and Gavin lifts his head towards me in slight puzzlement.

Gavin: What’s wrong?

MC: How could we not eat popsicles in a park during summer? I saw a stall selling popsicles earlier. I’ll buy two sticks.

Gavin nods. Just as he’s about to stand up and follow me, I press him back onto the swing.

MC: I’ll buy it. You can just wait for me here.

Gavin arches his brows slightly as he looks at me. As though seeing through my thoughts, he nods.

MC: What flavour do you want?

Gavin: I’ll go with whatever you like.

I nod. Just as I prepare to leave, someone grips my fingers.

I turn around to see that Gavin is looking at me.

Gavin: Be safe.

After a pause, he continues.

Gavin: I’ll be waiting for you here.

MC: Mm, I’ve got it.

I nod, giving him a smile.

-

I’m standing at a shop near the entrance of the park. Numerous aircraft models of various styles are displayed on the counter.

However, I instantly spot one particular style exhibited in the middle. With its white body and blue wings, it looks exactly like the plane in the original picture from earlier.

When the boss sees me staring at it, he enthusiastically introduces it to me from the side.

Boss: This is a bestseller from our shop. It’s a replica of the plane in the park, built in a 1:400 ratio. This is the only piece left today.

Without hesitation, I purchase it.

Even before waiting for the boss to package it in a box, I pick up the miniature plane and store it into my bag. Then, I quickly jog into the park.

When I hurriedly weave through the crowd and make a turn at the small path, I suddenly halt in my footsteps when I spot Gavin.

He’s sitting on the swing in the park, sunlight from the summer afternoon filtering through the crevices of leaves and descending on him in specks.

A few ginkgo leaves have fallen, scattering at his feet. A few bellflowers are suddenly blown by the wind, releasing a clear and rippling sound.

Gavin watches the bellflowers quietly, and all his sharpness has been retracted.

In an instant, along with the descending ginkgo leaves, I think I see the youth who is encased and hidden by layers of solid armour.

It’s as though he has found a wound which has yet to heal completely but was forgotten with time. When he faces that scar, he waits in quiet solitude.

Akin to an instinctive reaction, I sprint towards him and take his hand.

The moment Gavin lifts his head and looks at me, I see brilliant rays lighting up his eyes.

It seems that he has grown accustomed to waiting. But this time, the person he’s waiting for has arrived as planned.

MC: Sorry, I had to queue for a long time to get the popsicles.

Gavin shakes his head, his brows arched into a smile.

Gavin: It wasn’t very long.

I stretch out my hand, waving the two popsicle sticks in my hand.

MC: Here. The other flavours were sold out, so there’s only lychee left. Give it a try.

Gavin takes one stick. I sit beside him and take a bite of the popsicle, the clear and sweet taste spreading from the tip of my tongue.

I turn my head and ask Gavin a question.

MC: Why aren’t you asking me about what gifts I prepared for you this year?

Gavin: If I said that your appearance here is already the best gift, you definitely wouldn’t be satisfied with this response.

He pauses, his tone bringing with it an unhurried upward lilt.

Gavin: So... what did you prepare for me this year?

Heading out of the park via the side gate, we make a turn at a sloping path. In front, there’s a pretty large lake.

The source of water from this lake comes from the faraway snow-capped mountains. Since there aren’t many tourists, the water in the lake is clean and pure blue.

This patch of blue is reminiscent of a gigantic jewel. It’s deep and tender, adding radiance and beauty to the snow-capped mountain, as though extending to the horizon.

There’s a tranquil guesthouse next to the lake. Gavin and I push open the gate of the courtyard together.

There’s a gigantic tree in the courtyard. July happens to be its flowering season, and the tree is layered with cloud-like petals.

I guide Gavin to the second storey. After lifting the portiere made of colourful cloth, a meticulously decorated room appears before our eyes.

Sprigs of a blossoming plant have been inserted into a vase, and a simple and unsophisticated wind chime hangs by the window.

A birthday cake stored in a transparent box is displayed on the table, and there’s a blue ribbon on it which has been tied into a bow.

Ever since we entered, I've been secretly observing Gavin’s reaction, wanting to know if he fancies such a surprise.

He doesn’t say anything. He simply looks at everything quietly, as though he doesn’t want to miss out on anything.

Then, he walks over to the window, fiddling with the wind chime gently. He sits at the edge of the window casually, and stretches out his hand towards me.

Understanding this immediately, I walk over, placing my hand in his unfurled palm. Sunlight from outside the window envelops this square inch world, and it is tender and tranquil.

Gavin: A very long time ago, somebody told me that I can’t be unhappy on my birthday. 

Gavin: Because this day doesn’t just belong to me. It also belongs to everyone who loves me, and the people who have prepared and looked forward to this day for a very long time. 

Gavin: Celebrating my birthday with you for the fourth time, I think I truly understand the meaning in those words.

He lifts his eyes, looking at me quietly.

Gavin: I’m very happy. Not because it’s my birthday, but because there’s someone who wishes for me to be happy.

The wind chime that I hung up at the window jingles, akin to a song with an unknown melody.

I had prepared many, many things that I wanted to tell him at this moment. But right now, I swallow these words back.

MC: The person who told you that must have been looking forward to this day very much, just like me. Looking forward to giving you well wishes, and looking forward to you being happy because of the surprises I prepared.

I wink.

MC: Since the atmosphere is just right, it’s time to unwrap your gift.

Very carefully, I retrieve the miniature plane that I purchased earlier from my bag, handing it to Gavin under his watchful gaze.

MC: This aircraft model is a belated gift from MC to 14 year old Gavin. I hope he remembers to engrave his name on it when he receives the gift.

Gavin brushes the body of the plane with a finger pad. He suddenly releases a muffled chuckle, then reaches out to draw me into his arms.

His voice enters my ear, mingling with the rustling of leaves outside the window. It’s very soft, and very close by.

Gavin: If 14 year old Gavin received this gift, he’d have definitely remembered to say thank you on that day.

I wrap my arms around his waist, feeling our overlapping breaths in this moment. After a long time passes, I speak up.

MC: Each time I celebrated my birthday when I was small, I always loved to make many wishes. 

MC: Thinking back, many of those wishes were really childish and even greedy. 

MC: After growing up, I experienced many regrets, and faced many situations where I had to compromise and give up. 

MC: Gradually, my birthday wishes became smaller and simpler. It’s as if I no longer had the same courage as before. 

MC: But you’re different. No matter what I want, you’ve always been willing to fulfil them all. 

MC: You made me realise that if I’m properly loved by someone, my wishes can be fulfilled no matter how childish they are.

MC: So no matter what Little Gav’s wishes are, I want to fulfil them for him.

Gavin embraces me, and he doesn’t say anything for a long time.

I pat him on the back gently, chuckling as I continue speaking.

MC: Okay, since Little Gav’s present has already been received, it’s time for yours.

I leave from Gavin’s arms, reaching out to cover his eyes. His eyelashes flutter in my palm, and it’s ticklish.

MC: You’re not allowed to open your eyes in secret.

With the greatest of care, I retrieve the honorary badge belonging to the Commander of STF from my breast pocket, putting it in front of his chest personally.

Gavin doesn’t open his eyes. Rays of sunlight outline his face and figure, immersing his entire self in brightness.

Sunlight lands on the badge, and the golden rays reflected off it give a brief summary of the storms and severe winters in this person’s past.

MC: You didn’t participate in the awards ceremony the previous time, so this medal couldn’t be passed to you. Now, I can finally hand it to its owner.

I observe how it looks on Gavin’s chest, and my voice is very soft.

MC: This is also the most important gift of today.

Gavin: The most important gift?

The entire room is filled with a tender glow. Lifting my head, I meet Gavin’s quiet gaze as he stares at me.

MC: Because I’m a witness to every single reason that resulted in you obtaining it.

I’ve personally witnessed how he has used his own body to block off all sorts of dangers, and can clearly remember how many injuries he has sustained.

But he also experiences pain. When he doesn’t sleep for several days and nights, he also gets fatigued.

It’s only today that I vaguely surmise that the reason why he never mentions anything is because since a very long time ago, he learnt that he shouldn’t anticipate any reciprocation from others.

That aviation badge which was forgotten in a corner had once sustained the weight of a youth’s pure gaze.

Afterwards, it was covered by a thick layer of dust. Nobody held it with a heart filled with anticipation ever again. Just like that, it vanished into the depths of time.

Later on, the youth grew up and decided on a correct flight path. He stepped on dark shadows, walking on the path of justice.

He saved so many people, but the only thing he didn’t know how to do was to allow himself to receive a little reciprocation.

Fortunately, I can now stand before him and take his hand. I can tell him that he has done very well, and that he’s the Gavin I like the most.

I wish to give him the most resolute response.

MC: Gavin, you’re worthy of all the honour. You’re worthy of all the recognition. I... am extremely convinced about this.

After hearing this, Gavin blinks slowly. He lifts his hand and touches the badge on his chest.

I lean forward slightly to take his hand. Looking directly into his eyes, I recite the words that I’ve drafted multiple times in my mind.

MC: There’s someone I’ve known for a really long time.

MC: I’ve seen his valiant and heroic side, and have also seen his fierce and decisive side.

MC: He always doesn’t care about how many injuries he sustains, but gets anxious and blames himself whenever I get hurt.

MC: He has brought me to see many magnificent sights, and enabled me to appreciate many stories that I wouldn’t have been able to experience on my own.

MC: He has handed his gentlest side to me without holding anything back. But he doesn’t ask for me to reciprocate in any way.

MC: I wish to keep looking at him like this.

And I also wish to... have him forever and ever.

A breeze from outside the window brings with it a floral fragrance. I watch as Gavin stares at me without blinking, his gaze blooming with tenderness.

Gavin: MC, I remember everything that we’ve experienced together. These experiences are so wonderful, and they’ve filled this space.

He points at his heart.

Gavin: Because this space is full, I can continue to walk on the path that I want to with resoluteness, and do the things that I want.

He pauses, his tone wilful.

Gavin: I’ve decided on today’s wish.

He draws closer to me, and I'm able to catch a whiff of his breath.

Gavin: MC, you are the one who gave 14 year old me a gift. You are also the one who grabbed the hands of both Gavin from the past and the Gavin of right now.

Gavin: You’re the person I was waiting for.

Gavin: So your wishes are also my wishes.

Gavin: From now onwards, keep looking at me. 

A floral fragrance fills the room. I stare into his bright eyes, as feel as though I’m embracing the warmth of an entire midsummer.

✈️ Epilogue: here

✈️ Video call: here

✈️ Phone call: here

✈️ Moments and Text: here

✈️ Support the cafe by dropping by the tip jar!

[imagineclaireandjamie]

Shielded. Chapter Five: The Repair Shop.

Anonymous said to

imagineclaireandjamie: Ask and you shall receive.

--

After a break last week, we’re back with Sunday Shielded. I hope you enjoy <3 MBD.

--

On Saturday, much to her surprise, Jamie was down in the kitchen -his pyjamas still on- frying up some bacon. Having smelled the food, she had woken later than usual and quickly gotten herself dressed to come and investigate.

“Morning.” He said, cheerfully.

“No work today?” She asked inquisitively. It had been two weeks since her arrival and not once had he taken a day off to rest.

“I thought maybe we could spend the day together, if ye like?”

He hadn’t exactly planned on staying in, but having her open up to him made him feel as if she were now ready for company...and he found he was interested in getting to know her. His neighbours had often joked that he’d find himself missing human company at some point but it hadn’t been until he’d had Claire in his house that he finally realised that they were right.

“Oh, well,” she replied looking a little shocked. She’d paused for so long that it gave him time to think and regret his decision, maybe she still needed time by herself…

Replying, finally, she looked down at her blank phone, “I’ll have to check my busy schedule and see if I can fit you in - I’m in demand, you know?”

Chuckling under his breath he passed her a breakfast sandwich before turning back to take a bite of his own. “Feeling humorous today, are we?” He jested, immediately panicking that it might have been the wrong thing to say.

Smiling around her sandwich, she blinked slowly and made her longest assessment of Jamie since meeting him. He was much taller than she’d remembered. She could see that as he ducked through the doorway into the pantry to collect the tomato sauce. It felt as though the house hadn’t been built with such dimensions in mind.

Sensing her eyes on him, Jamie poked his head around the door in time to see her hair settle back against her shoulders. She’d been quick to avoid being caught, but not fast enough. Biting his lip to stop the laughter from bubbling up he watched her fingers rest gently against the skin of her neck. The first thing he’d noticed was her height, small shoulders and a long shapely neck. The curls of her hair had been pinned up, but this morning she’d left them bobbing just shy of her collarbone. Somehow it gave emphasis to the muscles that ran seamlessly from her arm and up to stop beneath her ears. Pretty, he thought, more striking when she turned and he caught the deep blue hue of her irises. They were almost golden at the edges, like the tip of a wedding ring as the sun catches the metal.

He couldn’t stop the image of her in a long white dress springing to mind as he stumbled over a rogue stone on his way back to the sink and he had to shake his head to rid himself of the vision.

Silly, he thought as he sat in front of her.

Jenny, his sister, had been on the phone the night before talking about memories and he tried to play it off as if those conversations had merged though a strange spinning in the base of his stomach continued to bother him.

Seeing a strange confusion pass over his face, she coughed, wiping the crumbs from her mouth as she finished her breakfast. “What did you have in mind?”

The atmosphere that had subtly hung in the air vanished as fast as it had developed and, looking out of the window, she glanced at the clouds as they hovered overhead. It felt like rain, a day for being indoors no matter whether you were allowed out or not. Turning her attention back to Jamie, he tilted his head very slightly. She had no plans, obviously and had only thought as far as getting herself downstairs for a cup of tea.

“I could do wi’ some help, if ye dinna mind?”

“Of course!” The smile that spread across her face was honest, her eyes lighting up at the prospect of being some assistance. “I can’t promise that I’ll be great, it depends on what you need help with, but I’m all yours for the day.”

As it turned out, Jamie had a few pieces of furniture in the back of his bedroom that had various issues. One table with a missing leg, a chair with some damage to the woodwork along the back and some shelves in need of serious renovation.

“I saw yer books sitting in the suitcase you have, I thought maybe we could sand these down, gi’ them a new coat of varnish and put them on the walls in yer room. That way you can unpack, make the space your own?”

Holding the planks up, Jamie twisted the wood between his hands. There was a lull as he sized up what he’d got, making sure they were wide enough to hold a set of books. “Or we could paint them, if ye fancy some colour? I’m no’ totally averse to covering up the original oak but I ken enough about ‘Changing Rooms’ style that it can go horribly wrong. What do ye think?”

“I feel like a heathen for covering wood - varnish would be wonderful, though.”

“Do ye think designers are hidden behind the panels, just waiting for you to commit some crime against interior design?”

That thought remained with her through mid-morning and into the afternoon. When they finally stopped for lunch, the back utility room was covered in shavings, as were Jamie and Claire. Washing her hands, she tried to pick as many of the larger chunks of wood from her jumper and leggings. They’d managed to revitalise the former shelves and give them one coat of varnish. Now they were drying Jamie had suggested a cup of tea and something to eat before moving on to the other items.

“Have you ever thought of engraving?” Blowing across the warm liquid, she had in mind some of the more discrete carvings she’d seen on wooden furniture whilst frequenting antique shops in Oxford. “Not just initials - we could come up with a logo of sorts. Or a crest? Your family has one, doesn’t it?”

It had been one of those long nights a couple of days ago when she’d found his family crest. At first she had been amused, pulling the secret door open where it sat at the top of the stairs to find an array of hidden gems including a complete knight of the realm suit of armour. The crest had been embossed into the metal, its stylish swirls standing out clean and proud on the breastplate. She had been tempted to put it on for about a second, but had then relented, closed the door and moved on with her search.

It wasn’t until they were knee deep in their project that she’d had the idea.

“I suspect I’d need some practice if I were going to try and add that, there’s quite a bit of detail on it.” There was no surprise in his voice, but she did notice the subtle change in his face as he put his sandwich down for just a moment. His almost undetectable shock soon turned to amusement as he took a crisp from the bowl between them.

“Take a rubbing, that way you already have an almost identical copy of it.”

“Aye, good idea. What next to get it on the wood?”

“You use something sharp. I’d say a compass would probably work alright. Et voila,” with a flamboyant flick of her wrists, she pointed towards where the half broken items sat waiting their turn for sanding and fixing. “You have yourself the beginnings of your own engraving. A personalised signature on your recreations.” She looked excited at the prospect, which, in turn, made Jamie feel similarly joyful.

“My mam would have liked you.” He said without thinking. For a second he felt abashed at his words but when he saw that it hadn’t phased her, he took a deep breath and a gulp of his tea.

“She wouldn’t have been worried about you taking in waifs and strays, then?”

“Nah. She would have encouraged it. Especially since yer so handy wi’ hints on how to continue the Fraser legacy - it’s something she would have been keen on too.”

Sitting back in her chair she tried to picture what his mother might have been like.

“I’ll get out the albums later, if you like? Show you some pictures of her and da.” He said, answering her silent question.

“Sounds perfect. Now,” sitting up straighter, she put her hands flat against the table, “let’s get these chairs mended and back on form eh!”

“Couldn’t have put it better myself, Claire.”

With purpose, she nodded and stood, the name (though natural on his tongue) still feeling unnatural to her ears.

“You start the sanding, Jamie, and I’ll go and take the first rubbing of the crest.”

[samwritesforyou]

Booked (pt.2)

Summary: you decided to go grocery shopping since the amount of people in your house significantly grew and diego keeps you company. after that crazy hargreeves family prompts you for a beach trip?

Warnings: gender-neutral reader

Wordcount: 2.1k

A/N: this fic is making me feel things, i cant quite place it. like... whenever i write it i feel weirdly at home?? idk :D feel free to share your thoughts either in tags or comments! its Very appreciated and motivating, actually! have a lovely day! <3

part one can be found here!

“Okay but if we kill them, nobody will have any questions, will they? We just bought a house and they moved somewhere far away!” was the first thing you heard, as you have awakened from your “nap”, deciding to keep your eyes shut just for a moment longer, not to lose it again.

“Five!” seems like everyone else said that in unison, grunting and groaning.

Okay, they don’t want to kill you. That’s great. You think it’s safe to open your eyes now.

You were laying on the king-sized bed upstairs, all siblings huddled up around you, watching intensely.

All the chatter between them came to a stop when they noticed that you woke up.

“So.. you’re like all superheroes or something?” you said tiredly, despite feeling rested.

Your mind still felt fuzzy from that info, hearing about such thing only from the tv series or sci-fi genres.

“Guess so,” Luther piped up, shrugging his massive shoulders and offering you a small smile.

Your eyes slowly drifted towards the kid standing by the frame of the bed, wearing a serious expression.

He sighed and frowned at you.

“To be clear, I’m not a kid and I’m actually older than all of you here. I’m a time traveller and I witnessed more in my life than any of you,” his passive-aggressiveness was directed at you, but by the choice of words it felt like he was talking to everyone who was present in the room, “There’s going to be an apocalypse by the end of the summer and our job is to stop it. We failed once, but we won’t fail twice. We rented this house, thinking it would be a good place where we can practise our powers without anyone interfering with us, so please,” his face turned into an exaggerated, wide smile, “don’t get in our way nor mention it to anybody. Thank you,” and as he finished his angry monologue, the blue colour filled the space around him as he disappeared in the thin air, right in front of your eyes.

Hm. Okay?

Only two seconds passed after that, when another sibling started talking to you.

“And I can talk with the dead!” he said happily, spreading his hands in the air like so monk preaching.

“We have a dead brother who’s named Ben and one day I will definitely let you two meet once I learn how to properly conjure him,” he concluded, very pleased with himself.

“Hi, Ben,” you just said with a warm smile on your face, somewhere into the air next to Klaus.

He literally cooed at your action, coming over to you and giving you a quick hug with a pat on the back.

“Okay, maybe we can reveal all our powers later, but let’s leave (y/n) to rest a bit, alright?” Allison proposed, rushing everyone out of the room and then just sparing you a wave and an apologetic smile, closing the doors and leaving you alone.

Maybe you can get used to all this madness. To this family.

You really rested after that.

A room had a roof-window, so laying on that bed allowed you to look up at the sky and lazy, white clouds that every so often rolled along with the blue background.

Soon enough you heard muffled chatter downstairs, this old house being absolutely the worst in being soundproof.

It all reminded you of simpler times, actually, no matter the crazy circumstances.

But enough was enough, and closer to the middle of the day you managed to get out of the bed and descend to the first floor by the wooden stairs, looking around.

Suddenly it seemed quiet.

You shrugged at that and just made your way towards the door, energetically jumping down the few stairs from the veranda and felt your feet hit the hard tartan surface.

Since it was six (plus one spiritually) more people than you were used to having in your home, you decided it was only logical for you to go and buy more food into the local store.

You almost reached the gate to go outside of your property as you heard some fast steps behind you, catching up to you.

When you turned around, you saw a man with longer hair and almost expression on his face.

“Uh... hey, you’re going somewhere?” he asked, brushing the back of his neck.

“To the market, why?” you asked, tilting your head sideways at him.

“Well.. don’t laugh, but I wanted to jog a little, but got concerned that I might get lost..” the end of his sentence was almost inaudible already as he lowered his voice, “so.. mind keeping me company?”

That kind of surprised you and as you slowly realised the meaning of the said words that came out of his mouth you bit the inside of your right cheek *hard*, just not to laugh.

What a silly guy. Getting lost in this hole?

But sure, why not keep him company.

“Be sure to catch up with me though,” you teased as you basically broke into the run, opening the gate and hopping straight onto your bike and starting pedalling really hard to get as far away from him, finally bursting out laughing at the significant distance.

“What?!” was the only thing you heard from him and then you felt the breeze from the hot summer air caressing your cheeks as you were passing your neighbours in the well-known road.

“You seem happier than usual today, darling!” some granny said to you from her garden and you just waved in reply with a huge grin plastered on your face.

After spending last years of your youth more or less alone, you couldn’t even phantom the thought of people your age living with you for the eternity of one summer.

You could never complain about a life you had here, it was all you ever wanted, but the connection with the people of the similar age to you was really lacking sometimes.

And the absolute joy that was washing over you right now was the witness.

You slowed your pace after some time, pretty soon being followed by jogging Diego, beads of sweat rolling down his muscular hands.

Your gaze lingered for a second longer than necessary and you quickly tore it away from him, a slight blush creeping on your cheeks as you now looked straight ahead of you at the road.

“I’m not the best runner, but also not the worst, hun,” he said between the breaths as you continued your ride/walk and you just smiled.

“Pretty decent, I’d say,” you finally stopped at the market’s “parking lot” where there were two spaces for cars and at least a dozen of handles for bikes.

You put yours into one of them, not even bothering to lock it. Everyone knows each other here and everyone knows you.

A young person in the village mostly consisted of people in retirement.

“Alright, what do we have here,” said Diego as he followed you into the store that reminded him of something out of the 70s, really old school design and brands that he never heard of before.

“Everything is mostly homemade here,” you answered, making your way towards the fridge with cold drinks, opening it and throwing him a cola can, “except these bad boys.”

“Hell yeah,” he smirked and then looked around, but his gaze kind of kept wandering back at you, while you were too busy picking the right type and amount of groceries.

Why would you live here all by your lonesome?

“So..” you finally heard him say, as you checked out and we’re both putting the groceries into the deep basket on your bike, “you seem pretty chill with us being.. abnormal.”

You briefly looked up at him when your fingers accidentally touched between the cans of soda and glasses of milk and then your hand moved the other way, eyes too.

“Well.. who’s to say what’s normal and what’s not in this world, honestly?” you jumped on your seat when you were done with loading and started your ride back.

“I know,” he agreed, jogging way less intensely now as your pace appeared much slower, “but seven siblings all having some weird shit powers is... kind of crazy, don’t you think?”

That made you nod, “Yes, of course. But still, I’m not too baffled about this. What are the odds that a village person like me would even get into a situation like this?” you asked rhetorically, gaze fixed on the rocky-sandy road ahead, “You should accept life as it is! Confusion and denial are a waste of time,” you concluded and extended your left hand as you were driving past an apple tree and managed to rip two fruits at the same time, offering one to Diego - all while still riding a bike.

“I have my superpowers too,” you laughed a little and winked at him, making him flustered as he tried to hide it by biting into his apple.

.

.

“What do we have here?” Klaus welcomed both of you at the entrance to the summer house, topless and in a skirt.

“We just bought some groceries since we’re capable of eating the whole fridge out in a day,” Diego deadpanned as he - despite your protests - unloaded your bike storage and went into the house to put the bags there, his arms showing extra muscle that’s normally hidden when his body is relaxed.

Your stare lingered for longer than necessary and Klaus *definitely* picked upon that.

“Darling, if you want to get Diego, be a bit more straightforward with him. He’s a dum-dum,” with the last word he knocked on his own head with a finger and rolled his eyes, giggling playfully afterwards and smacking you on the shoulder.

You defensively did the same, blushing and looking anywhere but at Diego nor Klaus.

Hmmmm, such interesting trees you’re having at your own garden all of the sudden.

“But hey, we’ve all decided that before we start training for the inevitable doom of us all, we would take a break for at least a few days and just go to the beach. When we were coming up we noticed the sea behind all the forests, like.. four kilometres from here?” he looked at you with question, “Have you ever been to the beaches there? Could you guide us?”

You gave it thought only for a brief second and then nodded with a confident smile.

“Sure! I haven’t been there in a year or two but the beaches are still the same, I bet,” you answered and put your hands on hips in a cool posture.

“Thank god!” he impulsively hugged you and let go that instant, “otherwise Five said he wouldn’t let you go with us,” he pouted and then sighed, making his way towards their rusty turquoise-ish car.

You followed him, his words piquing your interest.

“Why does he hate me so much? And why is his name Five?” you narrowed your eyes, plopping yourself on the front seat and sat sideways so you could look at Klaus while talking to him.

“Well, darling...” he started, animatedly throwing his arms in the air, “Five was always a strict man, especially after he came from the future, where he spent like billion years and now he’s 50 year old and always shoves this fact into our young baby faces,” he clearly complained and with annoyed expression continued, “and he’s Five because my name is “officially” Four, but Five was the only one of us who disappeared from the house before our dad even bothered to give us names instead of numbers,” he finished but then remembered and continued, “Actually, it was our AI robotic mom Grace who gave us names,” now he was finished, from somewhere materialising a bottle in his hand and taking a sip from it.

“Anyways, beach trip, babeyyyy!”

“Huh..” you just blinked a few times at him as you heard a hoard of different voices going your way.

You wanted to get out of the car to let them sit however they wanted - you were the odd one out after all - but then they all hoarded in there so quickly that you couldn’t even react, being left in the front seat.

Driver’s seat next to you was empty for now.

As you looked back, Klaus was sitting right behind you, next to him Vanya and on the other side Diego, looking out the window.

Behind them was supposed to be a storage area but they apparently turned it into some diy seats as well, Luther and Allison sitting there, not minding the small space.

Soon the blue sort-of-teleport appeared next to you at the driver’s place and Five briefly threw his gaze at you, swiftly starting the car.

The whole inside of the vehicle roared and you were on your way towards the beach, with you as a main gps they had.

Lovely taglist: @radcloudenthusiast @spacenerdpascal @white-wolf-buckaroo @a-girl-who-loves-disney  @undead--ghost​

NEXT PART→

[retroateez]

Prophecy - Chapter Sixteen

words; 2729

prophecy masterlist

tag list; @hewwo-from-the-other-side

"What are you doing?"

The book crashes heavily onto the stone floor, your arms darting out in a panicked effort to catch it.  Hopelessly, you watch as it clatters loudly, though as it hits the ground, it falls shut, not allowing the intruder to see the contents of the page.

"Iris? What are you doing down here?"

You peek upwards, and you see the confused figure of San standing before you, bewildered.

But you can't answer him, all too consumed by the fizzling feeling darting through your body. The burning from before simmering to a halt like a cauldron taken away from roaring flames. Your breathing becomes erratic and heavy, a weight pressing down on your chest rendering you in tears.

"Oh gods," San mumbles and rushes to your figure, mimicing your own position of sitting on your knees. "Oh gods, oh gods."

You kneel, trembling and yet somehow completely motionless opposite San.

"Iris?" he calls to you gently. "Can I touch you?"

You don't register the movement, but you assume you must've nodded, as San slowly reaches out and places both of his palms on your cheeks, lifting your head up and forcing your streaming eyes to look into the concerned, inky wells of his own.

"Breathe slowly, okay? Slowly... There you go." San slows his own breathing down, allowing you to match the rhythm and soothe the manic pace your lungs were working at.

A few minutes pass, and your breathing returns to it's original pace. San is still sat across from you, his hands in his lap as he waits for you to explain what on earth just happened.

"I'm so tired of feeling useless..." you frown, and pull your knees up to your chest, hugging them tightly to your body.  "It's my fault everybody is involved in this mess, and they only let me help when they need it.

"I thought maybe... maybe if I learnt something useful and showed them that I am capable then they would be forced to listen to me." Sniffling, you wipe the tears from your eyes with the sleeve of your shirt.

"I know how you feel." San sighs, and you study his frown. His cold, defensive demeanour from the last few weeks melting away and being replaced with a sadder, vulnerable version of him.

"I know that I'm the court jester," he continues. "But I'm more than just jokes and silly costumes. I can do much more than that, and... and I wish people would let me prove that to them."

"It isn't fair." You whine.

"Life isn't fair." San agrees.

"You won't... tell anyone about this, will you?" You ask timidly after a few moments silence.

"Were you doing anything bad?" He asks.

You shake your head. "Just studying." You weren't technically lying. Just concealing the truth.

"Alright," San nods. "I won't say anything. But I better not catch you doing it again."

He stands up and brushes the dirt from his knees, then extends a rough palm out towards you. Gratefully, you take it, quickly bundling up Yunho's book and clutching it to your chest to conceal it from San's view.

"I hope you're prepared for the ball tomorrow," San says suddenly. "If your dancing is as shocking as it was the other day then there's zero hope for you."

"I'll be fine. Wooyoung'll teach me how to dance."

San rolls his eyes and shrugs, telling you that he'll see you around and that you should go to bed before somebody else catches you. You watch him leave, peering at his raven black hair bouncing as he walks until he was finally out of view.

It's not until you hear the distance clunk of the door closing that you release a breath you didn't know you were holding. You grip slackens on the book and your arm muscles sigh in relief. Letting go of the book, you study your right hand curiously, turning it over to examine your palm and fingers, trying to remember the fizzing feeling in your blood.

The tingling had stopped now, only the tiniest remnant of power was left in your body, slowly dissipating until it disappeared entirely. Never in your life had you expected to feel something like that, something so exciting and yet so dangerous. Staring down at your outstretched hand, you imagined red hot trails of angry, bubbling lava, slowly seeping into the crevices between your fingers and wrapping down your wrist, crawling down the expanse of your forearm.

It felt... good.

But nobody else can know, you remind yourself. If Yunho found out you stole his book, he'd kill you. If Yeosang found out you were learning magic, he'd kill you. You didn't want to think about what Wooyoung would do.

You figured that anybody detecting magic from the castle wouldn't be a problem, concluding that there's no way you'll be able to produce any substantial power that could be detected. Yeosang had told you that anybody could do magic, but only certain people could wield the chaos enough to do any damage. There was no way you would be able to do that. Besides, you were teaching yourself, so there's definitely no chance of anyone being able to rat you out.

You tuck the book under your arm, and start the quiet creeping back to your room.

Nobody will catch you. You won't let them.

-----

"I really don't- Ow! I really don't see why I have to wear this ghastly thing." You grunt in pain as the poor woman behind you tugs harshly at your outfit.

She's got a foot on your lower back and she yanks at the strings of the corset that is built into your - admittedly, very beautiful - dress. It is an incredibly elegant, sky blue silk gown that grazes the wooden floor beneath you. Complete with flowing sleeves that end past your fingertips, made of a crystal blue, sheer material that makes you feel like a princess of a fairy kingdom in a land very, very far from Ateez.

The sheer fabric also lays atop the baby blue silk of the skirt, with small, rose pink butterflies sewn into them at various points. The bodice is tightly laced both at the front and the back, luckily the neckline doesn't sweep too low, only showing your collarbones.

"Because, His Majesty says you have to." The woman, named Callonetta, tells you. "Besides, you look wonderful in this dress."

She's right too. You do look amazing in the gown, but you frown at yourself as you catch your own gaze in the mirror ahead of you. Inspecting your right arm, clad in ocean blue sleeve, and admiring how serene your blood feels compared to the way it was angrily boiling not even a whole day ago. Your gaze falls onto one of the light pink butterflies stitched to the bodice, the way it's wings have been poised make it look like its about to take flight, rip its tiny little legs free of its string prison and soar out the open window.

But of course, it can't. Because it isn't real, it's fake body pinned down to the bodice and you imagine it wriggling and writhing in pain as the seamstress pushes her needle into its frail wings. Such pain caused only to look beautiful. Totally restricted, unable to live life the way it was intended to be; free, happy, uncontrolled.

Another sharp jerk of the bodice strings from behind snaps your attention back to the mirror, allowing you to survey yourself properly.

Your hair, braided tightly and pinned back to form a crown around the base of your skull, with small curls pulled out to frame the sides of your face. Tied together with a sparkling silver circlet, the sides hidden under the expanse of hair, the metal twisting together to form a intricate design that presses against your forehead. In the center, encased in silver, is a single, circular sapphire that glitters in the candlelight everytime you move. Small, yet detailed silver leaves surround the gorgeous gem, and you even notice tiny, metal roses trailing up the sides of the circlet and disappearing underneath your hair.

You wonder if the late Queen had a tiara or crown as impressively beautiful as your circlet.

"The circlet belonged to Her Majesty," Callonetta informs you suddenly, as if she could read your thoughts. "This was the one she wore when she and the King announced the birth of King Hongjoong."

You could imagine how graceful Hongjoong's mother had looked. Radiant from the miracle of childbirth, tired yet still regal and proud of her newborn son. Sapphire circlet glistening in the rainbow coloured light of the main hall.

"What about this dress?" You whisper.

Somehow, you couldn't picture the Queen wearing a gown such as this. Sure, it was stunning, but for a Queen, much too simple. And yet you couldn't ignore the definitive lack of women in the castle, Callonetta and the cook being the only two you had met thus far.

"Heavens no," Callonetta scoffs, throwing her messy, ginger plait over her shoulder as she refocuses her attention on tying your bodice, "This dress was made for you specifcally. His Majesty has a personal tailor, he will refuse to wear anything made by anyone else."

Your face flushes at that, an embarrasing, startling shade of pink that puts the butterflies on your dress to shame.

"The tailor is renowned for his work," she continues, "All his garments have his printed emblem inside the back of the neckline, a small, roaring bear. Nobody knows why he chose a bear of all things, but it certainly is striking."

Your mind is cast back to the bear at the inn you and Yeosang stayed at on the journey to Wooyoung's. It all seemed so long ago now.

“Did you hear that?” you whisper to Yeosang.

“It’s just a bear.” He mumbles in response, making you jump slightly because you thought he was still asleep.

"A bear?” you hiss.

“I know,” he says sarcastically. “Un-bear-lieveable.”

You retrieve one of your pillows and launch it at his figure, smirking triumphantly when he grunts in surprise.

“That was a terrible joke.” you complain and bury yourself back into your improvised bed.

“Whatever,” Yeosang yawns. “just go to sleep, we’ll be meeting the astrologer tomorrow so you need to rest.”

Finally deciding to listen to the mage, you squeeze your eyes shut tightly in hopes you’ll fall asleep quickly. Luckily, you do just that, sleeping peacefully and dreaming about the bear in the forest outside. He’s wounded, bleeding heavily from a nasty gash on his neck and panting in pain. You reach out to help him, but of course it’s just a dream; he’ll be okay. You hope.

You think about that bear more often that you'd like to admit, imagining his large, brown eyes, watery with pain and the wounded yelping haunted your dreams.

A final, squeezing tug of the laces and Callonetta sighs in relief. She tells you that you're ready for the ball, and that you should wait in the dressing room until somebody comes to get you. Before you can ask who, or when, she hurries out of the door and you hear her shuffling quickly down the stone hallway.

Once again, you stare miserably at yourself in the mirror, wishing that you could attend the ball in your typical white shirt and plain black breeches.

Maybe Wooyoung is right though, perhaps the ball will bring some enjoyment into your life, away from all the secrets and worrying and death.

You suspect that nobody will be coming to get you for quite some time, so you perch yourself at the window seat opposite the mirror. Reaching under the cushions, you retrieve Yunho's book, which you expertly hid before Callonetta arrived.

Flicking through the pages, you spot the spell you learnt yesterday and your heart freezes between your ribs. Holding your breath, you decide to ignore that one, and flip the pages eagerly. Eventually, you come across a double page spread that piques your interest. You can't decipher  Yunho's messy drawing of the hand movements this time (perhaps for the best), but you can make out his scrawled handwriting of 'circular' just below it.

"Aevon bleidd." you whisper aloud, the language feeling foreign on your tongue.

After repeating the phrase multiple times, you realise you must have nailed the pronounciation as there's a dull pounding in your skull, and your fingertips are turning a concerning shade of blue. From your nails all the way down to the tip of your elbow, you feel a travelling freezing feeling flowing through your veins like a great and powerful river. Your veins pulsate a vivid blue, much like the way Yeosang's thundered with lightening the first time you met him.

“I’m a mage,” he had told you suddenly over porridge one morning. He clenched his large palms into equally large fists and laid his forearm upon the table, facing upwards towards the canopy of jade leaves above your heads. “You see those blue lines? They’re called veins, and our blood runs through these.”

You nodded silently, unsure of what his point was.

“In mine, flows blood as well as chaos,” he explained. “Almost anybody can do basic magic, provided you’re taught by the right people.”

Using his other hand, he ran a gentle finger down the stripe of his prominent veins, and the cerulean bumps bubbled and boiled into a startling shade of sunlight. You squinted in awe; you swore you could see a lightning storm rattling around inside of his arm.

“But only those born into chaos possess the abilities to truly wield it.” Yeosang snapped his fingers, and the bolts of lightning in his veins returned to the cool, sea blue they were before.

Snapping the book shut abruptly, you clutch your forearm to your chest and squeeze your eyes tightly shut. This is wrong, you think. Everything about this is wrong. Is magic supposed to feel this way? Make your insides wriggle and writhe and struggle in a desperate attempt to become your outsides? Yeosang had said only certain people had the ability to properly wield chaos into magic, did this mean that you were one of those people?

Ordinary peoples veins didn't stream like rivers.

Ordinary peoples blood didn't burn like fire.

Stuffing the book back between the cushions, you stare out of the window at the castle gardens below. Despite spending the majority of your time amoungst the flowers, it is only from up in the window you notice the penstemons - beardtongues, representative of bravery - arranged to spell 'HJ'.

It was surreal, your life, when you truly sat down to think about it. How barely a handful of months ago you were just a poor, lowly thief stealing bread to make it through the day, and now here you were, sitting in a dressing room within the castle of the most powerful kingdom on the planet, wearing a dress and jewels so expensive you felt dizzy at the thought.

Surrounded by elves, mages, kings, bards, magic and with all of those came danger.

A light tapping on the door, then the creaking of the door slowly opening catches your attention, and you look over to see a very proud looking kingsguard.

"I must say little thief," Seonghwa glides towards you with a small smile on his perfect face, watching you attentively through his narrow eye, the other eye obstructed by his hair. "You do scrub up incredibly well."

Hopping off the window seat, you offer Seonghwa a grin of your own. His hair, as always, is not a single bit out of place, shiny black and hanging over his left eye. Uniform pristine and blacker than the night sky, with various medals and badges pinned to each breast.

"I could say the same about you, sire." You mockingly sweep down into a curtsey, and Seonghwa scoffs.

"Enough joking around," he says seriously. "Are you ready to go? His Majesty is just finishing his preparations, you must take your seat at the head table before he arrives."

Your blood runs cold, sudden panic sprinting through your body, and you're not sure whether this feeling is worse than the spells or not.

You nod, ignoring the anxieties, trusting Wooyoung's words and making a silent pact with yourself to have a good time.

"Excellent." Seonghwa holds his arm out to you, and with a final smirk leads you towards the door.

"Your elven prince awaits, m'lady."

hi! sorry this took so long to get out, things have been very busy lately! thank u for reading and i hope u enjoyed! once again, the language for the spell is taken from the witcher 3′s elder speech!

[worldwidemochiguy]

closer

anonymous request:

Can I request Jin with either 18 or 23, best yandere writer ever?? 🥺 (if you’re still taking requests, if not it’s fine thank you still) 💝

so first of all, jfsljdskvbkhifjodabhv thank you, and second of all i didn’t see the ‘either or’ bit whoops 💀 but N E ways i know i have other requests, some of which have been there for a while, but anon called me the best yandere writer ever ok i had to do theirs first it’s the law 🥺

18 - “This’ll make us closer, I promise. Just hold still.”

23 - “I don’t like violence, angel. Please don’t make me do this.”

(list of prompts if you would like to give me one pls)

Word Count: 1.8K

Masterlist

“Angel?” You heard the voice of your boyfriend as he entered your shared apartment with his usual dramatic flair, pushing the door open so hard that it banged into the wall. You sighed. You had only just fixed the cracks in the wall from when Jin had done it the last time. Of course, that time was quite different. The cracks were in the shape of a fist, a fist that you had dodged after Jin got angry at you for not waiting up for him.

You shook your head, as if trying to dispel the negative thoughts. When you looked up again, Jin was stood in the doorway with a fond smile on his face.

“Ah, Jagiya, you’re so cute.” You blushed at his unexpected compliment, and he swiftly joined you on the couch you were splayed across.

“What are you doing today, hmm?” He hummed, rearranging you on his lap, his chest pressed to your back. You sighed and relaxed against him completely.

“Waiting for you.” You felt his full lips curve into a smirk against the side of your neck, and fought the urge to pump your fist triumphantly. You had pleased him.

“Well, now that I am here you will have to find something else to do, and I have the perfect suggestion.”

“What should I do today, Jinnie?”

“Ah,” he smiled knowingly, “it is a surprise, angel.”

You pouted, but got off his lap, understanding he wanted you to get dressed so that he could take you to whatever he was planning. You knew better than to ask what it was he wanted you to do. You knew by now never to question him.

Ten minutes later, in one of Jin’s baggy sweaters and loose jeans, you felt ready to go out. You knew Jin was only comfortable with you wearing modest, covering clothes outside, and if you were wearing one of his clothes then it would soothe his volatile protective side even more. However, when you presented yourself to Jin, he seemed to disagree.

“I’m sorry, angel, you have to get changed.”

“But-“ your brow furrowed, trying to find a way to express your confusion without questioning him. “I thought you liked it when I wore your clothes?”

“Of course I do, baby. I just think you deserve to be shown off today. Perhaps you could wear something with a lower neckline?”

You felt your mouth drop open in shock. Jin wanted you to wear something… revealing?

“Jin, are you… alright?”

“Yes, of course I am, angel. Why, what’s wrong?” His voice, previously soft, began to take on a deeper tone, “I hope you’re not disobeying what I ask for.”

“No, no,” you hurried to appease him, feeling your heart skip into overdrive, “I’m just- confused. You told me you wouldn’t let anyone else see what is yours. And, I’m yours, right?”

Insecurity started to seep into the back of your mind and you pressed your fingernails into your palm, digging for some sense of normalcy.

“Unless… I’m not yours anymore, and you’re taking me away to abandon me.” It all became clear, Jin didn’t want you anymore since you didn’t stay up and wait for him to cook you a meal to share together, he was going to leave you, abandon you, and then you would have no one left because Jin was all you had and he didn’t want you anymore because you had been bad and-

“Jagiya!” Jin’s arms surrounded you in warmth. You hadn’t realised it, but as you spiralled into insecurity, you had slid down against the wall until you were curled up on the floor, hyperventilating through your uneven sobs.

Jin was upset by your distress, obviously. But there was a part of him that couldn’t deny the satisfaction that reared its head when you had a breakdown over the thought of him leaving you. It showed that you truly had become dependant on him. You were perfect, he thought to himself as he made shushing noises and pressed kisses into your hairline.

Once you left the apartment, clad in one of Jin’s t-shirts — it was designed to fit his broad shoulders and impressive height so on you the neckline was lax and dipped down to your sternum — Jin led you into a car. He had one of his drivers take you to wherever the two of you were going so that he could snuggle with you in the backseat, pressing kisses all over your face to comfort you even though you had stopped crying already. He kept whispering silly little puns to make you laugh, and you caught yourself wondering if you’ve ever been happier.

After ten minutes of the car journey, Jin brought out a silk blindfold. You blushed deeply, thinking perhaps the reason why he had wanted you to wear something more revealing was because it was to do with a sex thing. But, that didn’t make sense. Jin was way too protective to ever allow anyone outside to see you in the way that only he should be allowed to see you. He had told you that himself, and you agreed whole-heartedly. Nevertheless, you ignored your reservations and obediently sat still while he tied the black silk around your head, obscuring your vision completely.

He led you out of the car and you were only outside for a short amount of time, judging by what you could hear, before the sound of heavy doors opening and closing behind you alerted you to the fact that you were now inside again. You exhaled in relief. Being outside after so long felt strange and unpleasant, even though Jin was there to protect you. But, Jin made no move to take off your blindfold, leading you to sit down in a chair.

The place — wherever you were — smelled peculiar, though not exactly unpleasant. It was like some kind of cleaning product, mixed with lavender, oddly enough. Faint whirring noises occasionally stirred up in the background of your hearing, far enough away that it didn’t trouble you. Jin was talking in a low voice with someone, but they were either too quiet, or too far away for you to hear the conversation properly.

The chair was uncomfortable, the surface plastic-y and cold like a hairdressers chair and you wondered for a bizarre moment if Jin had taken you to get your hair coloured. But, you realised that was not the case when he finally removed the blindfold.

In front of you was a man who made you want to run and hide behind Jin’s broad shoulders. His long, dark hair was tied up in a man-bun, exposing the littering of tattoos across his neck. They continued along his heavily-muscled arms and onto his fingers, and you were sure there was more ink hidden underneath his exclusively-black clothes. His eyes, surprisingly wide but still intimidating, locked onto yours and you restrained a whimper.

Twisting around in your seat, you desperately tried to find Jin. To your great relief, he was standing right behind you, though you probably would have been more relieved if he were standing between you and the tattooed man. He seemed to notice your fear, though in all honestly it would be difficult to miss, and stroked a soothing hand along your hair.

“Don’t worry, angel, you know I won’t let anything bad happen to you.

“Wh- what am I doing here?”

“Are you questioning me?” His voice turned sharp as his grip on your hair tightened and then you did allow yourself to whimper, trying to shake your head even as he gripped harder.

“I-I’m just confused, please…” you trailed off, unsure of what you were asking for.

“You’re in a tattoo parlour. My friend Jeongguk is going to give you a mark that will last forever.”

“A- a mark?” You didn’t want a tattoo. You had very low pain tolerance and it was never something you had wanted for yourself in the first place, but your very being was screaming out at the thought of denying Jin.

“Yes, a mark.”

“What will…” you struggled to get the words out, “What will it be?”

Jin smiled down at you suddenly, as if he was perfectly content.

“My name. Tattooed right over where your heart is.”

You tried to calm yourself down, forcing your breaths to slow as Jeongguk cleaned the thin skin of your chest with green soap, and then closing your eyes and pretending you were somewhere else as he pressed the design of the tattoo above your heart, holding it down until the ink transferred. But when he brought out the tattoo gun, all you could see was the whirring needle, painfully sharp and permanent and smothering.

You practically flew out of the chair, running for the exit as fast as your legs could carry you. Jin didn’t let you get very far, of course, gripping your wrist and yanking hard. You fell to the floor, and he stood over you with a disappointed look on his face. You wanted to cry.

“Angel, why do you do this? Why don’t you trust me?” You pushed yourself to your feet again and sprinted to the doors. You didn’t know where you were going, you just knew you had to escape. From the parlour, from Jin, from your life — you didn’t know which.

As your hand brushed the wood panelling, Jin’s body slammed into you from behind, knocking you against the door so roughly your head snapped forwards and struck the hard surface. You felt a warmth spilling from your temples.

“I don’t like violence, angel. Please don’t make me do this.”

His voice, soft and nice, broke a dam within you. You cried, stuck between Jin and the door, two immovable objects slowly crushing you into nothingness. As soon as he was satisfied you wouldn’t try and run again, Jin stepped back slightly and you moved back with him, your blood-stained head lolling to the side. Your pupils were dilated and darted about the room, confused. You might have a concussion, Jin thought hopefully, in which case this would be a lot easier.

He carried you back to the chair where Jeongguk was still waiting, his grim expression unchanged. Jin nodded at him, and Jeongguk started up the needle again.

“I- I don’t understand why- why do you-“

“Hush, angel.” He murmured to you, hoping to stop your fractured stuttering. You were still distressed, but now there was nothing you could do except lie there. But, you tried again to ask him, hoping that it would cure the pain in your head if you knew the answer.

“Why do y-you want this for muh… for me?” Your eyelids fluttered, and Jin started worrying you might lose consciousness. He tried to comfort you, stilling your half-awake shiftings.

“This’ll make us closer, I promise. Just hold still.”

send me requests pls

[su-homebroken-au]

Homebroken Chapter 2

The halls of the gem society are hauntingly quiet as they made their way down the never ending corridors. The lack of background noise besides the sound of their own footsteps was extremely unnerving. It was unnatural, he had grown up his whole life with sound but now? It was empty.

He'd give anything to hear the sound of Amethyst and Pearl arguing about anything. Even if the bickering made his anxiety swell, and when it got particularly bad often caused him to hide. Steven desperately needed that little bit of comfort, some kind of comfort even if it was only the size of a speck of dust.

He glanced at the Jaspers on either side of him, their presence also adding to the unnerving atmosphere. They walked in such a way that he was essentially caged between them, and if they were anything like the Jasper at home he knew he wouldn't stand a chance against them all. He was stuck.

Rubbing at his arm, he sighed nervously as his mind drifted to Lars. What would become of him? Would they actually bring him to Earth or would they abandon him somewhere? Would they bring him to the Zoo?

The thought of the machines trying to fit the earrings into Lars' earlobes was a little funny, but it did nothing to cure the pit in his stomach.

Instead he just shivered as they continued, on and on. Deeper and deeper into Homeworld. Each step taking him to a destination that he didn't think that he would survive, taking him somewhere he didn't want to be.

He let his mind drift back to the Trial, finding his memory fuzzy and his head was still spinning a little. The ache was nowhere near as bad, and he could only guess that his healing powers had started to eat away at the pain.

What had caused the destruction of the trial site? The courtroom was cracked with light peeking through the damage and instead of being annoyed, the Diamonds were ecstatic.

Well, in their own ways he guessed.

Briefly, he can recall a deep feeling of fear followed by an immense surge of a single feeling.

Protect.

It exploded out of him, tearing at the world around him as he unknowingly commanded it. His own mindset being the one that brought it forth. He registered only one thing, that he needed to stop Lars from getting hurt.

It was a deep, primal feeling. A single motive driven from pure instinct. It came from his very core, his being. An instruction written into his DNA that suddenly came out in that exact precise moment.

Steven wondered why that power hadn't shown itself before. Perhaps it was only then he had felt the emotions necessary to bring it forth. He was angry and upset, all at once. It was a dangerous cocktail shaken by his confusion and desire for answers, even though he was the one that was supposed to deliver it.

It is peculiar how such a dangerous power could come from him, it seemed a lot of his powers were based upon the idea of defence. He reasoned that in some cases, going on the offence was the best way to combat a dangerous and frankly scary situation.

Still, now that he is no longer focused on the Diamonds he felt jittery. It made no sense, but maybe it was due to not being in the clear just yet? It didn't seem like they wanted to hurt him, but he also didn't understand their reasoning for it. Pink Diamond? Steven wasn't Pink, his mom shattered Pink and because he had her gem that meant he shattered Pink inadvertently.

Right?

Steven squeezed his shirt, he isn't so sure about anything right now. He wished Connie was here, if she was here they could theorise and plan. She was the brains and the brawn, he was.. The jokester, but with a 'b'.

'Bokester'?

No, that didn't sound right.

Steven paused as they reached a large pink wall. There was engravings suggesting that there was far more to the wall than what met the eye initially. He watched as one of the Jasper's pressed her hand against a panel on the wall, and suddenly the door opened to reveal a large empty pink room.

"My Diamond." One greeted, saluting him like they did with the others. "Please head into your room and stay until you are contacted again."

Feeling no energy to argue, Steven headed in.

The room was massive, the only other escape besides the now shut door was a balcony. The ceilings were huge, expanding so high that Steven was sure it would take practice to be able to reach the top. Even with his powers.

"I wish I had something to sit down, at least." He sighed quietly, the room was massive and empty. It made him feel smaller than he really was, an intentional design perhaps?

Something clicked, and Steven watched in awe as a small platform raised from the floor. He saw small grey humanoid creatures tapping away, suggesting that they were responsible for the arrival.

"Hi." Steven greeted, crouching to get a better look at them. That seemed to spook them however, and with hushed surprise they headed back into the floor as quickly as they arrived. The chair however, remained.

The plea from them to remain is stuck on the tip of his tongue, but there was no use in asking them to. Right?

He glanced around, the gears of his mind whirring to come up with an idea on how to meet the mysterious chair bringers. Did they build other stuff?

"I would like a bed."

A long rectangular platform rose from the floor.

Tapping his chin in thought, an idea sprung to mind.

"I would like a place to rest my chin on."

A panel from the wall shifted, coming out. Steven moved quickly, shoving his head into the gap that had been created in the wall. He's able to observe many of the curious beings with little stair cases and other mechanical things in the walls.

Noticing their alarm as they backed away from him, Steven quickly felt a little panic driving his system. He felt a lot more jittery. "No, no! Please don't go!" He would plead softly. "I wanted to thank you, for your creations."

"Pink?" One inquired in a little voice, taking a few steps towards him.

Suddenly, they all rejoiced and pounced on him. He didn't fall over, their combined power was not enough to knock him over but certainly enough to bring joy. Steven couldn't help the giggles that came as they settled on him. Two are in his hair, one on his shoulder and another in his pocket.

"Oh, oh no. No, no." He interjected, looking around as a dozen more began to dance around the room. They started crafting something, taking fabric from different storage areas hidden behind the pink walls. They moved so expertly that for a moment Steven was completely entranced. Quickly he shook his head.

"I'm, I'm not Pink Diamond. I'm Steven!"

"Heh, silly Pink. Thinking she can trick us Pebbles!" Another giggled, continuing the craft with little issue.

"I'm Steven!" He insisted, lifting his shirt to reveal his gem. That didn’t seem to faze the Pebbles. They laughed instead, patting his gem with a little giggle.

“No, that is Pink’s gem right there!” They’d insist in unison, smiling at him.

“Pink has been shattered, she isn’t here anymore.” Steven insisted, dropping his shirt and smoothing them carefully. “She’s.. She’s gone, y’know?”

"You’re most certainly Pink!" A Pebble hummed, reaching to twirl a lock of Steven's hair. "That gem is like hers, that bright pink is so much like hers. Other Rose Quartz gems aren’t typically quite as pink.”

“They’re not?” He thought back to the Rose Quartz gems bubbled in the Zoo and strung in the air like constellations. “They.. They looked quite pink to me.”

“We’ve been around Pink so long, we know her gem so well. The differences are very subtle.” The Pebble hummed while rubbing his cheek.

"I bet Pearl would've known." He groaned, sitting down before falling onto the floor. He stared at the ceiling, disliking how small he felt in this space. He couldn't imagine how the pebbles felt. "I wish she was here.."

"Where did you go Pink? Did you have fun?" They're all climbing on him now, he feels like a jungle gym but not in a negative way. They're curious, not spiteful. He is happy they're here.

"I'm not Pink, I'm Steven." He reminded softly, looking up as one decided to sit on his cheek and stare into his eyes. A little unnerving, but they were so tiny that it was mostly cute. "My name is Steven Universe. I'm the son of Rose Quartz. The gem who shattered Pink, but apparently didn't?"

"That is very confusing! No wonder you did not know that you are Pink!"

"What's a 'son'?"

Oh geez, he was in for a long one.

It had taken time, more than he would have liked truthfully. He cannot tell how long it took to fully explain everything, but by the end he believed they were informed. Maybe he was too, answering questions he had too through speculation and from the knowledge he had already.

It seemed Pink was never shattered, and his mom was her all along. It was a mess to wade through, and he wished more than anything that Pearl was here. She'd know, he was sure of it. She was the closest to mom.

Although, Pearl didn't know about Lion.

"Oh Pi - Steven!" They knew his name now, that's what they called him. Steven wasn't sure that the Pebbles understood that their Pink was no longer here, but at least they called him by his actual name. "We have finished your clothes!"

"My clothes?" He inquired, approaching the garments that were currently on the floor. They even made shoes too, how did they manage to do that?

"Yes! You will need to dress appropriately to meet White!" Another explained, smiling at him kindly. "She will be quite surprised to see you like this! Maybe it would help her more if you looked a little like Pink, but we made the clothes more fitting to you!"

He examined the new clothes, lifting them carefully. It was frilly, but that wasn't a bad thing and extremely pink. He smiled a little, he did like the colour pink.

"Thank you. I'm going to have to explain this to White now too, aren't I?" Steven smiled at them, already tired. He was in for an exhausting day, he wondered if he could get a few winks of sleep in before he was summoned.

Unfortunately by the time he had dressed and adjusted himself, someone had arrived. A Pearl, monochrome in colour and damaged. The sight of her face was enough to make Steven wince, and he slowly approached her. Could he heal her?

He didn't have time to ask.

"Pink Diamond!" Oh boy. "Your presence has been requested!"

[transformers-extrication]

Seaspray’s anniversary

Words: 3,129 It’s a special day for Seaspray! Many cheerful memories to be had!... Many... memories...

The Ark’s internal chronometer, adapted to the Earth's cycle, alerted it’s crew to the dawn steadily encroaching their world. A sound beyond human hearing thrummed away in the rooms of those who had not been on any sort of night-guard, rousing their sleeping systems up from a well-earned rest. If you listened carefully you could probably hear the creaks and groans of stiff metal and fibre stretching as various bots got up from their rest and eased their systems into motion. A loud thud echoed from one room as a body hit the floor with unnecessary force. Seaspray was too excited to care that he’d flopped out of bed so unceremoniously, forgetting to put his arms out to cushion the fall. It was a brilliant day for him, as it was every other time this date rolled around. In a quick dive-like motion forward Seaspray flattened his body and pushed with his arms, sending him into a controlled slide across the smooth metal, the automatic door opening for him and letting him out to the Ark’s hallways. Using his arms and short legs Seaspray avoided a head-on collision with any walls and slipped between his fellow Autobots as carefully as possible, disgruntled growls from Ironhide were easily shrugged off. Jazz had organised a schedule for various mechs and Seaspray had already had a lengthy chat with the relaxed senior officer who had been more than fine with allowing the aquatic mech some time off, at least enough to cover the day, something Seaspray always tried to do for this day with varied success (usually depending on who he spoke to, of course). Regardless, he still put aside some time for it no matter his schedule. Getting to the Arks entrance was easy, getting outside wasn’t so. Earth’s surface was so varied and changed on a dime or was a mishmash of textures and bumps. It wasn’t as if Seaspray couldn’t get about on Earth it was just that it felt odd and was often a bit jarring if he was just zooming out the Ark without a care in the universe. Regardless, pushing up with his flat, spread legs along with his arms he moved quicker across Earth's surface in an ungainly looking waddle.

---------------- “Hey! You lookin’ a bit nervous there!” Seaspray jumped with the sudden sound and jerked his head around to the beach. The time was far, far in the distant past, Cybertron was still… alive and bustling. The sun was high in it’s peak of the current solar cycle, and on the beach a very young charcoal-coloured mech lay, optics staring at Seaspray. Equally as young as the tiny figure gazing at him with the type of curiosity only younglings had Seaspray sunk into the water a little bit before mumbling. “N… nothing...” “M’ names Coldseep! I live near here!” The other child seemed somewhat oblivious to Seaspray’s shyness, “Haven’t seen you around before is all!” they chirped. ‘Oh’ Seaspray thought, this was one of those moments his parental units told him about, one where he should really speak up. “I’m Seaspray… I, uh, we just moved here… recently…” He barely emerged from the water anymore, just a pair of optics above its surface. Coldseep immediately burst into excited squeals and thrashed his way into the water, coming to a halt s short distance away from Seaspray, arms in the air. “YAY! New friend! We can see each other every day!” Coldseep practically bobbed up and down in his excitement. Seaspray, however, wasn’t quite at his level of excitement. “I… I dunno” He muttered back, rising out the water a little more, “I live on the water-side… I’m more of a sea-mech” “Oh! Tha’s okay! I’m a submaran! Marin! Dangit!” Coldseep fumbled over his words with a frown deepening on his face plates. “A… A submarine? You’re a Submarine?” Seaspray rose up a bit more, daring to get closer to examine him with a curious optic. “YEAH! Tha’s it! I always mess up the end bit!” Coldseep’s grin could’ve split his face apart. -------------- In the present Seaspray had slowed down to a very slow amble only pausing slightly to watch his own hand press into some sand and sink down. Feeling the loose grains softly envelop his digits before slowly pulling it away and looking fondly at the imprint he left behind. --------------- A much smaller imprint was left in the sands of a newly local shore. Since meeting him Coldseep had come to see Seaspray every day, he was indeed a submarine and joyfully accompanied Seaspray on several swimming excursions. Coldseep would always claim he could make a bubble-ring simply by swimming in a circle fast enough. He never did and would just throw off his balance, even underwater, it was fun though Seaspray often giggled at this antic and promised he’d swim rings inside the bubble when he made it!. Seaspray would point out various local sea life and promised to one day help Coldseep find and see a Warwhale! The two spent so much of their time swimming that it was like a cold slap to the face when Coldseep bounded onto the beach after a dive and ran around, somehow still having the energy to after all their underwater antics. Seaspray came out of the water, but only halfway. “Hey!” Coldseep snapped him out of his moment of silence, “You should come to my place! I can show you some cool shells I found!” “Uh” Seaspray retreated back an inch becoming worried. “Eh? Wha’s wrong? D… don’t you wanna come over?” Coldseep caught his nervous tone and promptly deflated. “No! No! I do!” Seaspray panicked, he didn’t want to upset his first friend of his ‘new life’, or at least that’s what his parental units called it, “I just… I just can’t get out the water…” “Whaaaaaaaaat! Of course you can silly!” Coldseep’s manner flipped like a switch and he returned to grinning. “It’s true! Well, I can barely move when out the water… I hate it… and… and I have to go to the education centre here when it’s b-back open” Seaspray started to sniffle, “An I, I gotta go an… and it’s on land… I don’t” Seaspray flopped to the ground and covered his face, “I’m gonna be a freak! Everyone will laugh!” A long silence ensued between the two children. Seaspray couldn’t bring himself to uncover his face, it only became harder when a weight suddenly pressed upon him. “You’re forgettin’ I go there too! I’ll fight anyone who says meanie-aft things about you! They know I will! It’s how I got sent to the nurse with a bent rotor once!” Coldseep announced with a loud pride that made Seaspray uncurl a little, mostly out of shock at his volume. “Th… thank you” Was all Seaspray could whisper through the tail end of his sniffles. There was a brief silence again. Only this time it got broken by a scream as Coldseep gripped Seaspray’s sides and yanked him out of the water and onto land. Coldseep bellowed with laughter as Seaspray flopped about in a panic trying to get a footing but only wiggling his rear fruitlessly. It took a few more astroseconds of laughter before Coldseep got up and grabbed onto Seaspray. “Hold on buddy, hold on!” Seaspray responded to his words by wrapping his arms around Coldseep’s, “There, not so bad now!”. Seaspray whimpered only just opening his optics to peer around him. “I bet I can help you walk on land just fine! I also totally bet an awesome tub of Energon ice cream that I could even get you running on land too!” Coldseep announced. ---------------- Just like him, brash and loud. Never stood down when he knew he could push on. Seaspray sighed as he clambered over some rocks, nearing the Ocean. He could distinctly remember Coldseep holding his middle and helping him work on his locomotion above water. It still wasn’t graceful but he was able to move on-land with little issue, Seaspray chuckled to himself remembering when the weather turned colder. The ground had gone icy and more compact in various areas, Coldseep had hidden away behind a rock, only to rush him and push him, causing him to slide along the ground. Seaspray allowed himself to let out an actual chuckle, remembering how they had spent entire days sliding around on ice, reaching high speeds, Coldseep often riding on Seasprays back as they whizzed up and down. Tactics he still used to this day, they never failed him. ---------------- The learning room hushed as the one designated to oversee their communal learning held an arm out, presenting another youngster that was to be added to their sector. “This” they announced, “Is Depth Charge. I want you all to welcome them here and make them comfortable”. Depth Charge had blues and purples across his frame and gold accents, yet his red optics scoured the class with cold anger, many of the others in the class avoided their gaze. Coldseep looked over at Seaspray with a cocked optical ridge. “What a nerd” He whispered. “Wha! What do you mean?” Seaspray kept his head ducked down glancing at Coldseep and back to the rest of the room, “He’s scary!” “Nope!” Coldseep grinned, “Watch” The teaching section of the day went quietly, no one really wanted to interact with the angry-looking new kid, but it came to the ‘free’ section of the day. Building bonds with your fellow mech was always a promoted activity, so a good amount of free time to talk and strengthen your social connections even at such a young age was encouraged. Cybertronians are quite social afterall. Coldseep nearly had to drag Seaspray with him to the corner of the yard where Depth Charge sat glaring at everything, but mostly his own pedes. With one last drag Coldseep dropped Seaspray, letting him scuttle behind him to put some distance between himself and the new guy. “Whas’sup nerd?” Coldseep had his hands on his hips and another one of his big grins on his face. “What do you want?” Depth Charge snapped back his optics darting away from the pair so quick they probably should’ve fallen out. “Seaspray here says he’s gonna show me a Warwhale one day!” Coldseep made a slight move to show off the nervously shuffling mech behind him. Depth Charge slowly turned his head around to look at the pair giving a look up and down between the two. “That’s dumb” he grunted, “They don’t live remotely near our waters” “HAH! KNEW IT!” Coldseep suddenly jumped, pointing a triumphant finger at Depth Charge. In response Depth Charge shuffled back and tensed up. “You don’t know anything!” He snapped back. “You’re a neeeeerd” Coldseep lilted, “One of us!” He changed to a chant, “One of us! One of us!” Depth Charge continued to shrink back optics snapping in different directions as if searching for a way out. Seaspray finally managed to pull himself from behind his friend, realising the motion of distress. Closer to him Seaspray had a better view of the panels that spread from Depth Charge’s back. “You’re an aquatic mech too” He uttered. “SO!?” Depth Charge finally snapped his optics down, “Just what my family unit are!” He hissed. “Uh, duh!” Coldseep stopped cheering to roll his optics “So are we! Dum-dum!” A silence fell over their corner and Depth Charge finally seemed to look up and truly take in the pair that stood before him. “Our lot know a lot about sea-stuff! You just have a grumpy face! Plus this is a coastal place!” Coldseep beamed, “Seaspray moved here too! Better suited for us!” Depth Charge seemed to soften up a little bit, which was good because if he got any tenser he looked like he might’ve snapped a few muscle fibres. “Y-yeah” He stammered, “Better than Vos...” “WHOA! You came here all the way from Vos!?” Coldseep immediately glued himself to Depth Charge’s side sitting obnoxiously close to him, “Fliers live there! What was it like? Why’d you move? Isn’t that place super cool!?” Seaspray also moved in, but slower, hoping to appear more normal and less in-your-face than Coldseep who had clearly startled Depth Charge. ------------------------ Seaspray remained perched on a rock looking out at the section of the beach, taking in the salty wind that washed over him. So different from Cybertron, yet, it made him feel more at home. The memories that washed over him with an equally constant flow, his circuits tingled with surges of nostalgia. Depth Charge had moved from Vos due to an altercation at his other learning facility. Apparently he got into frequent trouble with a trio of Seekerlings that also attended that place, he didn’t know their names merely referred to them by colour. The blue one was the oldest, and thought it was funny that he couldn’t fly, only ‘fly’ in water, the red one was the worst, often making snide comments yet able to twist situations to cover his own back, probably, Depth Charge had claimed, to ‘cover’ for how short he was. The purple one was an idiot but tagged along anyway. He’d spotted them teasing another student and tried to defend them, but it didn’t work out and Depth Charge was kicked out for his behaviour. He always lamented not being able to help or protect the other student. “Hmph” Seaspray mused, that was just like Depth Charge. Depth Charge who stood up for them when someone mocked Coldseep’s lively attitude, or Seasprays own awkward gait. The trio almost never left each others side, they were as the humans say ‘thick as thieves’ despite no thievery taking place. It was even Coldseeps idea… he was the one who named them the ‘Sea Seekers’ a trine of the best sea-fairing mechs Cybertron will ever see, or so he’d claim. They were all into it, Depth Charge in his awkward manner had decided to take this as a cue to announce how he’d protect them with his life. Guess that was his way of showing how thankful he was to have them. Protecting others… Seaspray allowed himself a sad flop onto the sand below. Depth Charge always took it personally when he couldn’t defend others… Probably why he was given charge of a peaceful sector that’d refused to take part in the war. Then Rampage came along… The Decepticons unleashed that… thing upon all of Cybertron. It had slaughtered anything in his path… Seaspray curled in slightly, remembering the look on Depth Charge’s face… how hollow he’d become, a hollowness that became filled with hate. He was like a different mech, he scared Seaspray now. Yet, Seaspray refused to leave him they were a trine! Despite Coldseep… they weren’t going to lose each other. They already lost Coldseep, he followed the Decepticons lead. It was odd, Coldseep almost seemed to change into a different mech more and more each time he snuck out to meet them. He’d begged Seaspray and Depth Charge to join him. That Megatron promised to make Cybertron equal for everyone!. It was like Coldseep couldn’t see how Megatron was just taking everything for himself, and merely lived in a fantasy world where all of Megatron's lies were true. It almost broke him when he finally agreed that Megatron wasn’t acting right, he said he was going to leave… he said… It didn’t matter now… Seaspray dragged himself upright and slowly to the Ocean’s edge, the light glittering off it’s surface turning bitter in his mind, churning up bad memories. He tried, oh how he tried, he tried keeping up with Depth Charge after the ‘incident’ but he couldn’t. Depth Charge went to ridiculous lengths to fulfil his desire to fight Rampage. He punched Seaspray when the latter suggested he stop hunting him. Seaspray sucked it up, Depth Charge wouldn’t abandon him if he was in his place! He’d wait until the time was right, until they were ready to accept the help then stand by them all the way! He was all Seaspray had left… his last friend. Then they found Rampage, his trail of destruction easier to follow than initially believed. The fight lasted for barely a few astroseconds, Rampage was too strong for a battalion let alone these two mechs. Depth Charge said he had a plan. Depth Charge told Seaspray to get a head start and he’d join him. Depth Charge lied. Seaspray looked into his reflection in the Ocean, his optics were getting as watery as it’s surface. It was too late. Seaspray didn’t know. Depth Charge had stolen the Energon Destroyer, made by the late scientist Rhinox. He’d taken it and charged Rampage with it. Seaspray didn’t have a chance to react as a Autobot team grabbed him and rushed him away, having discovered the weapon was missing they took Seaspray and fled from the blast. It was like an explosion, but in reverse. The ground broke off in chunks, rising into the air as it crumbled. It was as beautiful as it was vile, the aim of that weapon… horrid. It did its job. Rampage was gone. So was Depth Charge. All that remained was a crater. Tainted by the blast, no life would EVER return to it after such an action. And like that… Seaspray was alone… The water made a quiet sound and Seaspray broke from his minor trance, tears streaking down his face and dropping into the sea. “I miss you guys” he sniffled, lying down and letting the water lap over him and around him. If he pretended hard enough it was as if the two were there, beside him. On the anniversary of them becoming a Trine. --------- Several miles down the beach, a dark and stealthy shape prowled along, looking to the water with a deep longing, yet painful apprehension. Ravage was a Decepticon and never allowed himself to be taken by emotion. Megatron wouldn’t allow that, be it by words, fist or the end of his cannon he would not allow it. Ravage had to be far away from his leader for this… curious emotion to thrum through his damaged Spark with no repercussion. Looking across the landscape he spotted a yellow figure, also at the water's edge. The enemy. THE ENEMY!. Ravage cringed hard, his face plates bunching up as he forced down the raging senseless anger that arose everytime an Autobot neared him. That one. That one was okay. Ravage didn’t know why, but that yellow one was okay. Ravage also had no idea why he felt the compulsion to be here today. Just that for him it held some sort of significance. Settling down to rest Ravage nosed the water, and ignoring the tear that rolled down his face.

[3rachanstuff]

Poison

GROUP: Seventeen MEMBER: DK PAIRING: DK x reader GENRE: Smut WARNINGS: Unprotected sex, bondage, blindfolding, orgasm denial, overstimulation, rough sex, D/s dynamics, face fucking, a bit of dirty talk. WORDCOUNT:~3.8k

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You could have never imagined what you were in for when you had suggested it. Instead of the flustered reaction that you were expecting, you got a cautious silence, followed by a dark gaze that you never thought you'd get to see on Seokmin's face. 

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You had been thinking about it for a few weeks. You needed a change. It's not that you were unsatisfied with your sex life, far from it. However, it did get boring doing the same all the time. Always soft and sweet, nothing too crazy or out of line. You would find yourself daydreaming about Seokmin being rough, pinning you against the wall and grinding into you, making you beg for more. Ideally, he would have you tied up, maybe even blindfolded, totally at his mercy. You'd have to beg for him to let you come, and then he'd have you beg to stop when your legs were unable to hold you anymore, your whole body shaking from the overstimulation. You craved for something different, and you were ready to ask for it.

You were on your apartment having dinner together. It had been a while since you last got a night for yourselves, so Seokmin had decided to sleep over. You thought about the stuff you had carefully stashed away in your drawer. There were several ropes of different colours and thicknesses, as well as some silky-smooth ribbons. There were also many different gags and blindfolds, and a few toys and tools completed the collection. You had kept most of it in a box, hidden away on the furthest corner of your closet while you waited for someone who'd hopefully use it on you. You shifted on your seat, returning the smile Seokmin was giving you. The wait was almost unbearable, but you kept telling yourself it would be worth it. You smoothed out your skirt, smiling wider when you felt the leather garters that you were wearing under the fabric. Your mind wandered off to the lingerie set that you were wearing, the exact shade of pink that he had told you he loved on you.

"Is everything alright, honey?"

You almost jumped, startled by the sound of his voice. You felt your face getting hotter as you nodded and looked down to your lap. The rest of the dinner went by in a blur. The conversation between the two of you flowed smoothly as always. You almost forgot what you had planned for the night. 

Before you could realise, you were making out lazily on the couch. His hands were on your hips, almost touching the garter belt. You felt a thrill of excitement at the thought of him discovering your little surprise before you had a chance to tell him about it. You wondered how he would react. He'd be so shocked; he probably wouldn't even know how to act. You had half the mind to push yourself off of his lap, but before you could, his hands found the leather strap. He tilted his head to the side while he ran his hand all over it, trying to figure out what it was. You kept your eyes on his even when his hands traveled down your thighs, following the garters to where they ended. He shoved his hands under your skirt, following the harness all the way up to your waist and back down again. You could almost see the cogs in his head turning. He lowered you onto the couch, turning his body to yours before speaking.

“Darling, what the hell is that?” His voice didn’t sound any different than usual, if anything, he sounded cautious. Your cheeks were burning. You kept your eyes fixed on the way your hands clenched and unclenched around the fabric of your skirt. Explaining what you wanted was easier in theory than it was turning out to be. You were sure that your voice would falter if you spoke up, so you decided to stand up in front of him and strip down to your underwear, letting Seokmin see your whole get-up for the first time. He raked his eyes up and down your body. He took in the way the pale pink lace looked against your skin, just as soft and delicate. The faux leather harness, a few shades darker, was a stark contrast to everything. The metallic details caught on the light, making it look even sharper than it did. It had already started to leave soft dents on your thighs, which didn’t go unnoticed by him. His fingers traced the slight marks as his eyes found yours. You swallowed under the weight of his gaze. He was so intimidating without even trying. You could tell that he was still waiting for an answer, a verbal one. You took a deep breath and started talking.

“You know I love you, like, a lot.” You didn’t wait for him to reply before going on. “And you know I’ll love you no matter what, right?” He nodded slowly as you caught your breath. You relaxed a bit. “So, don’t take this into account but… But lately I’ve been feeling our sex life is a bit…” He squeezed your thigh reassuringly. “...More like very dull.” You let out a nervous giggle before going on. “Anyway, I was just thinking that maybe, if you want, we could… perhaps try something kinda new. I mean, there is this bunch of stuff that I was kind of into before we met, and then when we got together I just didn’t bring it up, so I kind of forgot about it until… well, until I started missing it.” You giggled again. “So yeah, that’s… But we don’t have to do it if you feel uncomfortable or you don’t want to, it’s probably kinda silly anyway so-” He cut you off before you could go on.

“Baby, it’s not silly if it’s what you feel.” You shivered at the pet name. “Tell me, what are those things? I’m sure we can do something about it.” 

“It’s- Well, I think it will be easier if I show you.”

You led him into your room and guided him to the bed. When he sat down on your bed, you took the drawer out from the nightstand and placed it carefully on his lap. His eyes widened when he saw all the different toys and accessories that you had managed to rack up over the years. He let his fingers run through the ropes and ribbons. He picked some ropes out and laid them on the bed. He placed some gags and blindfolds next to them, as well as some of your toys. When he was done, he put the drawer back on its place and signaled for you to sit next to him. You sat on your bed, taking one of his hands on yours. He lifted your chin with the other one, making your eyes meet his. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind your ear. 

“Listen, babe. I know it’s hard to talk about these things, but you need to be more clear about what you want. There are many different things that we can do with all this stuff.” 

You sighed. He was right, and you knew it, but it wasn’t easy to voice all that you wanted him to do to you. Even though a weight had lifted off your shoulders when you saw he was interested in what you had to say, you were still scared of rejection, or of scaring him away. You mustered all your courage and told him all the things you would fantasize about, trying not to leave anything out. The more you told him, the easier it became. His kind eyes never left your face, and his hand was still on yours, squeezing encouragingly whenever you hesitated to say something. His reassuring presence had made a burdensome task become almost enjoyable. When you were done speaking, he looked at you. His expression was unreadable as he studied your face, nodding slowly. He seemed to think for a moment before standing up in front of you. You kept your eyes fixed on his shoes, scared to look up.

"So, let me get this straight. You want me to be rough, tie you up, gag you, blindfold you and basically take complete control of you, and you thought there would be any part of it that would make me uncomfortable? Do you know how many times I've thought about ruining you, baby?"

It took you a few seconds to register the fact that those words had actually come out of Seokmin's mouth. You lifted your head slowly until you met his eyes. Your jaw dropped when you saw his devilish grin and his dark gaze. You had never imagined he'd have this side to him. You were starting to believe you were in a dream. He knelt in front of you.

"Should we get started, or do you want to keep watching me like that?" You shook your head in embarrassment. "Great then. How about we get you out of those clothes now? They're too pretty to go to waste." 

You stood up from the bed and took off the lingerie set straight away. The harness was being a lot more challenging than it usually was. After a few minutes of fumbling uselessly with the buckles, you turned your attention back to Seokmin. The sight you were met with left you breathless. He had taken the chance to get everything ready while you were busy with the garter belt. He had left some pink and purple ropes prepared on the bed, as well as a blindfold and a couple of your toys. All the other things were back on the drawer. Seokmin looked at you, undoing the top button of his shirt. Your knees faltered and your arms fell to your sides;  you had forgotten all about the harness. He quirked his eyebrow up. 

“Are you having trouble, baby?” You nodded once. There was something intimidating about him. His voice was lower than usual, and the aura he gave off was completely different than what you were used to. He signaled you to get closer, and you obeyed right away. His skilled fingers had the offending item off in a matter of seconds. You sighed gratefully. Finally, you’d get what you wanted.

You spent the next thirty minutes on your knees while Seokmin secured the ropes around your torso on an intricate design that he hadn't even needed to check a reference for. He looked focused and at ease, totally in his element, which made you wonder how often he practiced. You fidgeted around. The position you were in was starting to become uncomfortable. He only had to do a few more adjustments before he looked satisfied with his work. He pulled you up to your feet and made you do a couple slow twirls to admire the final result. You managed to take your eyes away from Seokmin and sneaked a glance down. He had built a beautiful pink and purple harness around your body, from your neck all the way down to your crotch. The ropes were tight enough to feel each and every one of the knots and twists, but not enough to feel uncomfortable. It was perfect. He waited until you looked back at him to tug you closer to him. He hooked his fingers on the ropes around your hips. 

“You’re so pretty like this baby, but before we go on, you have to tell me if everything’s good.” You nodded. “Use your words.”

“Yes, sir.” Your hand shot up to cover your mouth as you felt your face going red. Seokmin bit his lip.

"Don't worry, babe. You can call me whatever you want. Besides, it sounds so nice when you say it like that." You blushed even harder at his words. "Is the rope too tight?”

You shook your head before you remembered he had told you to use your words. "N-no, it's perfect like this." 

Suddenly, Seokmin lifted you on his arms and threw you on the bed carelessly. You moaned his name as your back hit the mattress. You had told him to be rough, and he was delivering. You positioned yourself properly on the bed while he looked for something else in your drawer. He climbed onto the bed and crawled between your spread legs, holding a shorter rope between his teeth. He pulled your hands up above your head to tie them to the headboard, you supposed. Sure enough, he looped the rope around your wrists a few times and secured the rest of it to the metal surface. You tugged on your restraints to make sure they felt right, nodding your approval before he even got the chance to ask you about it. Pleased, he moved on to the next item. He grabbed the blindfold and held it up to your eyes, but instead of tying it right away, he leaned his face closer to yours. He let his lips brush your earlobe, somehow still holding the blindfold in place. His voice was low and rough when he spoke.

“Poison is the safeword, got it?”

With that, he tied the blindfold to the back of your head. His hands drifted down your body, from your bound wrists to your thighs, which were still at either side of his body, on a feather-soft touch, making you squirm underneath him. He stood up. You hadn’t been aware of how close he was until now, when you felt the cool air on your skin. You could hear his dull footsteps on the carpet, back and forth from one side of the bed to the other. You heard him getting closer to you again. After a few seconds of silence, you heard a soft click and very faint vibrations, followed by another soft click when he turned the toy off. He did it a few more times. You guessed he was weighing the many possibilities that having you so vulnerable and so eager to please had. You felt the bed dipping under his weight on your right side, followed by the soft touch of his fingertips dragging down your arms, giving you goosebumps. One of his hands continued on the same way on your neck and down the ropes, pressing them further into your skin. 

You pulled on your restraints, screaming as you felt him press one of your toys against your clit and turn it on in the highest setting. His other hand was still on your body, tracing the soft rope marks that were visible where the harness had shifted. You were starting to feel your first orgasm building up. You tried to press your thighs together, but Seokmin wasn't having any of it. He slapped your thigh and pushed your legs apart again. He ran the vibrator up and down your slit slowly, making you whine. After a few minutes, he turned down the toy until it was off. He turned it on again without a warning when your breathing had slowed down. You let your legs fall flat on the mattress and arched your back, trying to grind on it. Seokmin pinned your hips down on the mattress with his free hand before pushing in the tip of the toy. A high-pitched moan slipped your lips as you pulled against your restraints again. You could feel your high building up once more. The sensation disappeared as suddenly as it had started when he took the vibrator away from you. You whined and moaned, already begging him to let you finish. You took his amused chuckle as a negative. The night had only just started, and you had a feeling that it would be long.

You had lost count of the amount of times that he had kept you from coming. He had repeated the same process– teasing you, getting you close, stopping, then pushing in a bit further and starting all over again– until he was thrusting the full length of the toy in you. He had set an unforgiving pace, hard and fast, with the vibrations turned all the way up. You let out cries of his name in between your many begs and broken moans. You could barely hear his praises, encouraging you to endure it just a little bit longer. The tears that were streaming down your face mixed with your sweat and the thread of drool that was spilling from your mouth. You could tell that he had leaned closer from his hot breath on your neck. He sounded more affected than you had expected when he spoke.

"Babygirl, I'm going to let you come now, and then we'll go for six more; one for each time I kept you waiting."

He kept his teeth on your skin, dragging them along your neck as his hand sped up. Within barely a few seconds, you felt a wave of pleasure washing over you. You thrashed around on the bed while he helped you ride out your orgasm. He removed your blindfold and wiped your face clean while you came down from your high. Eventually, you opened your eyes slowly to the sight of him staring at you. Except for his lust-blown eyes and rolled up sleeves, he still looked like as put together as he did when he had arrived in your house. He ran his hand through his perfectly styled hair as he adjusted his position to be even closer to you. He held your face on one of his hands and rubbed your cheek with his thumb. 

"You did so well, honey. Let's count out loud, shall we?" You nodded, mumbling one as clearly as you could. He let you see his proud smirk before securing the blindfold back over your eyes. "That's a good girl." 

His hand had started moving down your body again. "You'll be coming on my fingers alone now." You nodded again. His hand stopped on your belly. "Let me hear you, dear."

"P-please sir... make me come on your fingers… plea-" 

Before even letting finish you the sentence, he shoved two fingers in you. He still kept the pace he had set earlier. To your relief, he wasn't telling you to wait, opting instead for whispering praises and words of encouragement on your ear. You clenched around his fingers, chasing your second orgasm. He let the heel of his hand rub against your clit. It only took you a couple of minutes to finish this time. He slowed down enough to let you catch your breath but not enough for the feeling to lose intensity. 

"Aren't you forgetting something, baby?"

"...t-two…" He let out a content hum and picked up the pace again, pushing you over the edge for the third time in under a minute. You moaned out a soft three. He didn't slow down. You clenched your fists; you were close to an orgasm again, almost before you were done with the last.

"Do you like sir's fingers, dear? Should I let you finish like this again?"

"Y-yes plea-" You came again, a silent scream leaving your lips. You counted four right as he pulled his fingers out. 

Without wasting a second, he loosened one of your wrists and flipped you over. He knelt  behind you and hoisted your left leg up on his hand. He pulled you closer to him and thrust his cock in almost straight away. He started pounding hard into you. The new angle was driving you crazy. Seokmin had finally lost his composure; he let curses slip through his clenched teeth whenever you clenched around him. He held the hand that he had loosened behind your back, using it as leverage to thrust into you even harder. He pulled out almost all the way in before slamming back in every time. It wasn't too long until he had you screaming five. His thrusts were becoming sloppy, but they weren't losing any strength. He managed to rip your sixth orgasm from you within seconds from the last, pulling out as you repeated six all over. 

He untied the blindfold before flipping you on your back again. He looked absolutely sinful. He was still dressed, only having lowered his pants enough to pull his cock out. The sweat was making his hair stick to his forehead, and his lips looked swollen, as if he had been chewing on them. He knelt over your chest, keeping his legs on your sides. You looked up at him. He slicked his hair back and leaned closer to you. 

"Let me fuck your face, babygirl."

You locked your eyes on his and nodded, letting your jaw go slack. He thrust in your mouth slowly, stopping when he hit the back of your throat. You looked at him with pleading eyes, trying to push your head further down his length and placing your free hand on his thigh as encouragement. He seemed to understand what you were trying to tell him; he started thrusting hard into your mouth, so deep that your nose touched his body. He tangled his hand on your hair to help himself to keep the thrusts steady. You kept your eyes open. It was one of the hardest tasks you'd ever had to do, but the sight was worth it. You could see him getting closer by the second. He had his head thrown back, his eyes closed and his bottom lip between his teeth. Droplets of sweat were rolling down his neck, into his shirt. His chest heaved up and down almost in time with his thrusts. After a couple minutes, he slowed down, pulling out so that only the head of his cock was in your mouth when he finished. You sucked him through it, until he pulled you away gently by your hair. Your eyes were still on his as he tugged himself back in his pants and pulled them up. The fact that he had stayed dressed through all of it was as disappointing as thrilling, being as exposed as you were. You let some of his come dribble down your chin, still keeping eye contact. He took in the sight and, without hesitation, leaned down to crash his lips to yours on a hungry kiss, tasting himself on your lips. The feeling of his tongue brushing against yours was distracting enough for you not to feel his hand sneaking up to your cunt until he thrust three fingers deep in you. You moaned in his mouth as he started finger fucking you. He held your face with his other hand, keeping you locked in place as he kept using his mouth in a way that he never had. He only pulled away when he felt you clenching around his fingers. He bit his way to the base of your neck to your ear to whisper seven on the filthiest way you could imagine. That was all it took to make you finish.

You collapsed back on the bed, panting heavily. Seokmin freed your other hand before letting himself fall next to you. The both of you laid there, coming down from your highs. You could get used to it.

[sserpente]

A/N: Request from anons and @wingardium-letmefuckyou. I feel like this is so different from what I usually write when it comes to Loki (you’ll see what I mean, I guess) but it just… happened. Hope you’ll like it. Happy Easter, everyone! ♥

Words: 3626 Warnings: smut, quite a bit of angst

Avengers assemble. Rolling your eyes, you shook your head, grinning at your phone screen where Tony’s message had popped up. You were flattered he considered you an Avenger now but then again, he was only a few yards away in the living room, stretching out his feet on the sofa and sipping a glass of whisky. Nothing serious, nothing to write home about… you shrugged. It was flattering nonetheless.

As a, what the people around you would probably call you, witch, it had taken you quite a few weeks to prove them you were no hostile being, mainly because your powers reminded them a lot of those of a certain God of Mischief who had also taken up quarters in the compound, ever since his grand resurrection before Thanos’ demise.

Oh, the abhorrent expressions on their faces when Thor had insisted on bringing him back, on changing the past and save his only brother even though adopted. You were glad he had. Loki was by far the most fascinating being you had ever met and you had to admit, you admired his seidr, his many tricks and magic inspiring you to improve your own skills and you wondered, regularly at night when one of your hands sneakily disappeared between your legs, whether Loki was as talented in bed as he was in creating illusions. Who were you going to blame? You wanted to have sex with him, without a doubt.

You blinked. Focus. Tony’s message. Right. Sighing, to scare the naughty thought away, you made your way into the living room where the majority of the Avengers had already gathered around the huge leather sofa, waiting for Tony to tell them his news.

“Happy Easter, everyone! Thank you all for hiding in your rooms and not come out except for coffee on this ambiguous holiday…”

It was then you sensed a barely noticeable movement in the corner. Inconspicuously, you glanced to your left, spotting Loki leaning mutely against one of the stone pillars with crossed arms, a few feet away from where your new friends had gathered.

Nobody else had discovered him as of yet. They were all busy groaning at Tony’s sarcastic words and truth be told, you couldn’t really blame them. When one fought aliens, monsters and supernatural Nazi organisations on a regular basis, family holidays like Easter, Christmas and even New Year’s Eve became rather insignificant. To you, however, it had caused the exact opposite. Holidays were one of the few occasions of the year where you could at least pretend to have a normal life and celebrate with family and friends, even if that involved silly little traditions.

Tony seemed to be thinking the exact same thing… or maybe it was just young Peter Parker who had convinced him.

“So FRIDAY and I have organised a little Easter egg scavenger hunt.”

“Seriously, Tony?” Rhodey interrupted. Natasha only chuckled and Thor looked as confused as ever. Amused, you studied the various reactions in the room. Pepper’s was by far the most adorable. The hormones, probably. Pregnant women always imagined doing these kinds of things with their husbands and children. The fact that Tony was about to be a father was probably another reason for this childish Easter egg hunt.

“Seriously. Get in pairs of two. There’s chocolate eggs hidden all over the compound and they all contain clues that will lead you straight to a plane ticket to the Bahamas.”

Rhodey’s mouth fell open. “You’re joking.”

“Would I be joking about the Bahamas?”

Startled, you took a step back when Sam rushed right past you to team up with Wanda, hoping that her mind reading skills would get him some sort of advantage. Next thing you knew, the Avengers erupted in a huddle of enthusiastic voices. Steve decided to search with Bucky, Natasha and Bruce were the perfect match anyway, Thor tried his luck with Peter Parker and Rhodey promised he would win this trip for Happy and himself.

Being the newest member, you were the only one left and while you certainly wouldn’t mind searching alone, it was both a wicked and naughty idea forming in your mind that had you turn around and finally react to the blue gaze staring daggers into your back.

“Are you just going to stand there, Loki?” You loved how his name rolled off your tongue. Like a sweet praline melting in your mouth.

“What is this nonsense?” He asked quietly, approaching slightly. “Why would he hide eggs for you to find?”

You shrugged, suppressing a giggle. Loki was not wrong, the way he said it, it actually sounded quite crazy.

“Not real eggs, silly. Chocolate eggs. It’s a common Easter tradition.”

“And what is it? Easter?”

“It’s a Christian holiday. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Loki frowned, clearly taken aback. “I see… why eggs?”

You laughed. “Good question. I think they’re meant to symbolise said resurrection and then people made up stories about the Easter bunny hiding them for children to find.”

“Easter bunny…” You had to admit, he looked pretty funny when disturbed. Chuckling, you looked up at him, the Avengers around you scattering around the compound. They had learnt quickly to simply ignore the God of Mischief’s presence, if anything because he usually made himself scarce and refrained from any kind of social interaction except for the occasional chat with his brother. That made it all the harder for you to spend time with him.

“Search with me. I could use a trip to the Bahamas.” Maybe you took pity on him and you couldn’t care less about those plane tickets. An Easter egg scavenger hunt, however, was the perfect opportunity to get closer to Loki. You wanted to kiss Tony for the chance.

And much to your surprise, Loki nodded in joyful anticipation. The prosperity of stealing away a dreamy vacation by the beach was too tempting to be ignored. He briefly considered leaving them to you if he won but to simply rip them into tiny little pieces out of pure spite seemed much more alluring. Loki was very well aware that every single one of them had attempted to persuade Thor to leave him to rot in the depths of Hel, trapped in the afterlife when he had sacrificed his own life in order to put an end to Thanos’ schemes. It would be a small, insignificant triumph—but a triumph nonetheless.

“Let’s start in the kitchen.” While the microwave, the fridge and the coffee machine posed excellent hideouts for small chocolate eggs, your main goal was it to stall him. Summoning things was not your speciality, you had to focus hard to achieve a decent result. Pretty soon, however, you realised that Loki was a natural. The chocolate eggs he found within a matter of mere minutes either came with a letter or a blank. Quickly, you ushered him into the hallway and through the backdoor into the sunny garden behind the compound where he spotted another chocolate egg hidden in a bush next to a vast flowerbed.

You had only found one letter thus far, quite useless when it came to the actual scavenger hunt and still, your heart beat faster and faster the closer you came to the massive apple tree blooming beautifully around the corner, close to where you had hidden your own surprise for the God of Mischief.

“Do you celebrate Easter?” He suddenly asked, genuine interest resonating in his voice.

“More or less… I grew up with it, my parents used to hide chocolate eggs for me to find every year. I’m not… well, I believe I stopped being Christian when I turned to witchcraft.”

“And why is that?” Loki smirked triumphantly when he picked up another chocolate egg. A blank, still, he seemed rather pleased with himself when he threw it in the tiny basket you had conjured to carry them all.

“I took interest in various other beliefs, with paganism leading the way. Rune magic and ancient seidr is what harmonises with my body the most. I was consequently starstruck when I faced you and your brother for the first time—actual Norse gods I had read so much about over years of practise.”

“Most of these stories are twisted truths, some of them utter lies.” Loki claimed. Any moment now, he would find it. Bracing yourself, you smiled your sweetest and most irresistible smile. Becoming a witch had made you confident and you made sure to use that to your advantage.

“Maybe… but they never lied about your abilities, now did they?”

“What—” Loki frowned. He had walked around the tree now, spotting the green and golden egg hiding on the grass next to a few condoms. Truth be told, you could not be certain Loki would defer to your unsubtle invitation. There was, after all, a chance he would rudely reject you. In fact, you had never seen Loki initiate any form of social or body contact. But you were willing to take the risk.

“My… whoever designed this egg must have an exceedingly good taste for colours.”

“I meant to decorate it with green and gold jewels too but you see, materialising objects I imagine in my head never turn out the way I want them to.”

Loki spun around. “It is yours, then?”

“I don’t care about that stupid scavenger hunt, not really. But I’ve wanted to be alone with you for a while. You never leave your room, you know.” Leaning against the tree for some sort of support, you listened to your rapid heartbeat and awaited his reaction. Loki simply narrowed his eyes at you.

“Alone with me?” He repeated, almost mockingly. “Is this a subtle request for me to ravish you… right here under this tree?” Gosh… his voice rushed into your ears like liquid gold, saying such depraved words. You held your breath when he closed the small distance between you, pressing you against the trunk so you could feel the strong muscles dance against your clothed skin. Almost thoughtfully, his left hand came up to caress your face. His demeanour changed. Gone was the dominant and intimidating god you had read about, replaced by a young prince unsure of how to deal with your sudden confession.

“You seem so… surprised.” You whispered.

His honest answer startled you. “It must have been a while since a woman took interest in me instead of my oaf of a brother… especially after all that happened since his first, failed coronation.”

It was a painful sting that went through your heart, guilt washing over your body. Your Easter egg was no more than a stupid metaphor for a cheap Tinder match, a quick fuck you would get over with and then on with your life. You had never honestly considered your feelings for Loki to grow beyond sexual attraction. You admired his skills and you worshipped his powers and wit… oh, you would be all too willing to kneel before him and tend to his Easter eggs before focusing your attention to his surely thick and long shaft, to lick over his length and suck on his tip until he rewarded you with his godly seed… without a doubt, Loki would taste delightful. But romantic interest? Potentially falling in love with the mischievous god? You had never considered yourself to be that kind of woman. Not since you had dedicated your life to witchcraft.

“Trust me, I do not want Thor. I want you. Right now.”

If Loki was suspicious, he did not show, his vulnerability vanishing from his stunning blue eyes. You would not claim he had his emotions under control… not if he let his guard slip so easily upon unexpected affection. But now, his smirk was downright malicious.

“Be careful what you wish for, little witch.” He purred into your ear, sending pleasant shivers up and down your spine. His mouth found your neck, brushing lightly over the sensitive skin until you squirmed in joyful anticipation.

“What are these for?” He tilted his head, eyeing the condoms on the ground.

“The condoms? For protection. I have no desire to get pregnant today.”

Loki hesitated. Then, he chuckled.

“Are you familiar with contraception spells?”

“N-no…”

“I shall take care of it, then.” And with that, he captured your mouth in a wet and passionate kiss, lips devouring yours in such a devastated manner you moaned against him, granting him perfect access to slip his tongue past your lips and start a playful fight with yours, battling for dominance.

This first round would be a quick one, you both knew that. Exhibitionism was not your style, neither was it Loki’s. When he claimed a woman, he wished to do so in private. There were not many things he could call his own—but he certainly would when it came to the pleasure of a beautiful naked maiden underneath his strong body.

He growled when he busied his hands with your skirt, sliding it up your thighs so he could tend to the annoying piece of thin fabric separating him from your delicate quim underneath. Without hesitation, he ripped it off your body and tossed it aside, his long fingers taking only a split second to find your wet folds and fondle them excitedly.

You gasped when he parted them to coax your clit out of its hiding place, getting you all worked up and aroused for him—not that you needed any more stimulation; but Loki of course knew how to please a woman. It was something a man did not forget, even after years of confinement.

Moaning loudly, you let your head fall back, exposing your neck to him. Loki eyed you down greedily, studying each of your reactions so intimately you felt a strange, longing sensation in your belly. Like butterflies, fluttering around nervously.

“This will not do…” He decided nonchalantly. With but a flick of his wrist, your clothes vanished. You felt the all too familiar tingling of seidr dancing over your skin, then the cool spring breeze having goose bumps decorate your limbs, your nipples hardening both from the sudden temperature change and your imminent arousal. “Hmm… much better…” Loki mused. All you managed in response was another, blissful moan.

Oh, happy fucking Easter. You sighed when Loki removed his fingers from your sex to free his aching and pulsing member from his tight leather trousers, barely sliding them down his pale but well-defined thighs. And seeing his erection was no small thing. He truly was a god and you longed to taste that long shaft and please him with your mouth until you gagged because of his sheer length and girth.

You squealed when Loki lifted you up to position himself between your legs, smirking hungrily when you spread them even further in his tight grasp. Clearly, there was no need for him to prepare you any more. With but one eager thrust, he impaled you with his hard cock, sheathing himself so deep inside of you your eyes rolled to the back of your head, your muscles gripping him tightly, unwilling to let him retreat entirely. Loki withdrew almost completely still, torturing you with slow and deep strokes. He took his time, appreciating the warmth of a tight cunt squeezing him so delightfully, greedy for his seed. And he was about to give it to you, about to give you what you had asked for.

Loki’s angle allowed him to hit your hidden pleasure spots with every single stroke, carrying you up towards orgasm on a cloud of pleasure. Moaning relentlessly, you dug your fingernails into his armour, allowing him to bury his face in your neck and inhale your scent, leaving passionate love bites in his wake.

By now, he was rutting into you like a wolf in heat. Loki seemed to forget himself. Tension, desperation, fear and frustration all appeared to seep from his body so suddenly he realised with a start what he had been missing out on. To have a woman desire him, willing to give and receive pleasure…

“L-Loki… I-I’m… I’m going to… ahh…”

“Come for me,” he ordered, looking you dead in the eye, urging you on, fuelling your arousal. “Come. Now.”

It felt like he had pressed a button, his naughty words rippling through you along with the endless waves of pleasure caused by the strongest orgasm you had ever experienced. Screaming his name, your toes curled as Loki fucked you through your climax almost violently, unwilling to stop and let you catch your breath. By the time he was about to reach his own peak, you were ready to cum yet again. And Loki’s shaft pulsing and twitching inside of you as he spurted ropes of his rich cum inside of you, filling you up nicely, was enough to push you over the edge once more. Spasming around him, you milked him for all he was worth, the pleasure unwilling to subside until he slipped out of you satisfactorily, watching with delight and pride how his seed dribbled down your inner thighs, staining your body. He sure did enjoy claiming a woman…

Carefully, the God of Mischief set you back down on your feet, making sure your knees would indeed support you before he let go.

“God… that was… wow.” It was better than you could have ever imagined. You were filled with energy you could not describe. Myths of Loki and his seidr had already given you strength but Loki himself… you felt like a new witch.

“Indeed it was.” He chuckled, tucking away his softening member. He did not look flustered in the least. You, on the other hand, were panting as if you had just run a marathon. Closing your eyes for just a brief second, you magicked some clothes back on your body, feeling Loki’s blue eyes on you with every movement you made. You shivered when his hand came up to caress our face yet again. There was hope sparkling in his eyes.

“Have you ever seen the Northern lights? With your own eyes?” He suddenly asked.

You frowned. “What?”

“I realise that we started this in the wrong order and I shall make sure to remedy that mistake and court you properly, my little witch.” My little witch. You were his little witch now.

“Um… Loki… we are not… going to… are we?” Your heart was aching. This had been about sex and lust… not the beginning of a romantic relationship. Was it not clear? You swallowed thickly, looking up at him hesitantly.

He paused, lifting his chin to feign confidence.

“Ah. I see.” He said eventually. “You merely wished for carnal satisfaction and you received it.”

You had hurt him. When you had thought you had done him a favour by dragging him straight into Stark’s stupid scavenger hunt, you had achieved the exact opposite. And it finally dawned on you. Loki wasn’t craving sexual touch. He was craving emotional touch.

“Loki, I just… I’m not the kind of woman who… I mean, I don’t…” But why, now, did it hurt you so much to have disappointed him? Those feelings tumbling around in your belly, what in the nine realms, were they on about? It was a fuck. A meaningless fuck you would not mind to repeat… or was it? Biting your lower lip, you remembered Loki’s cheeky smirk. Your heart seemed to skip a beat upon the mere imagination of him being playful with you.

“It had to be me, no? The Norse God of Mischief, the one you had read so much about. Tell me, was it exciting?” He asked, scornfully and condescending now.

“It… the best sex of my life.” You admitted ruefully.

“Well. I am pleased to have bestowed this life-changing experience on you. You will be disappointed to hear you were a rather ordinary and nearly boring companion.”

He stroke back immediately, choosing hurtful words to distract from his own pain and inflict the very same on you. It did not matter if they were true or not, you both knew they hit home.

“Loki, I’m sorry… I… I didn’t mean it like that, I just…”

“(Y/N)!” You flinched when you heard Tony yell your name. Jogging towards you, in no rush, really, he came to a halt a few feet before your trembling form.

“There you are. Rhodey won, the scavenger hunt is over. We’re all going to the Bahamas though. You better start packing.”

“Come with me.” You heard yourself mumbling when he had gone but not before shooting Loki a suspicious glance. “I’m not going without you.”

“Whatever for? You have what you wanted.”

Those feelings. Could it be? Were you… falling in love with him?

“No,” Frantically, you shook your head. “No, I don’t. Please, Loki. I’m sorry…”

“There is no need to apologise, my little witch.” My little witch. Oh no… you definitely did not want to let this breath-taking god go. He did not have to explain it. There was no need to apologise because this was what people always did. They used him and then tossed him aside when they had no need of him longer. They claimed they loved him and then revealed their true intentions. By the Norns, what had you done? You had never wanted to hurt him like this.

“I think… I should be the one courting you. Please… let me prove it to you.” You choked out, holding back your tears. You were falling in love with him. If he turned his back on you now and left, never looking back, your heart would shatter. Broken, you tried for a reconciling smile. Your heart almost leaped out of your chest when Loki sighed.

“You should go and pack your things, my little witch.” My little witch. Your smile widened, genuinely.

 A/N: If you enjoyed this story, I’d be flattered if you supported me on KoFi! kofi.com/sserpente (or hit the “Support me” button on my blog) ♥

[embersoot]

LFRP: Cestalia “Cesta” Embersoot

General–

Full Name: Cestalia Embersoot

age: 324

birth date: July 26

race: Void Elf

sex: Female

gender: Female

Romantic Orientation: Demiromantic

Sexual Orientation: Lesbian

religion: Not religious

spoken languages: Common (fluent), Orcish (fluent), Thalassian (fluent), Goblin (fluent), Gnomish (fluent)

residence: 137 Magni Ln. Dwarven District, Stormwind City

Professional–

occupation: Engineering Consultant / Legion Tech Researcher

education: Underwent an extensive High Elven education afforded to nobility. Well-learned in various areas such as writing, mathematics, physics, engineering, arcane golemancy, and some alchemy. Competent in both Goblin and Gnomish engineering, though she prefers Goblin.

work experience: Worked for Silvermoon as a civil engineer, tasked with constructing roads, arcane golems, spires, buildings, and pipelines. Delved into skullduggery in her adolescence under her family’s noses. Intimately familiar with how a criminal underbelly functions. Currently working both as a freelance engineering consultant and employed by Stormwind to maintain city structures and other complex devices such as the cathedral clock on occasion.

titles: Younger Embersoot, Lynxmother

Physical–

Eye colour: Fel Green

Hair colour: Dark Green

Height: 5′10″

Body Build: Toned

Tattoos + Piercings: Sleeves display a circuitry-like design. Studs line her ears.

Notable Physical Traits: Fel green eye color, highly unusual for a void elf. Tiny horn stubs are present on her forehead, though they’re often filed down and hidden behind her hair.

Relationships–

Parents: Sarinel Embersoot (Mother, deceased); Rahesh Embersoot (Father, deceased)

Siblings: Qorenia “Qory” Embersoot (twin sister, alive)

Children: –

Other Relatives:  –

Mental–

intelligence: Has a natural mind for anything to do with machinery, ballistics, and explosives. Can often visualize the inner workings of most machines without peeling off the cover. Has a developed sense of street smarts and gut feeling. Often relies on her gut instinct when dealing with people. 

likes: Boldness, creativity, innovation, excitement, danger, adventures, 

dislikes: Pretentiousness, arrogance, closed-minded people, being judged, racism, classism, timidity, inefficiency

fears: Hyenas, scavenger animals, deep water, Loa, Trolls, drowning, ship travel

disposition: Calm and polite when in public or in a professional setting. Can become extremely rowdy and boisterous when among friends or alone

Traits–

extroverted / introverted / in between.

disorganized / organized / in between.

close minded / open-minded / in between.

calm / anxious / in between.

disagreeable / agreeable / in between.

cautious / reckless / in between.

patient / impatient / in between.

outspoken / reserved / in between.

leader / follower / in between.

empathetic / indifferent / in between.

optimistic / pessimistic / in between.

traditional / modern / in between.

hard-working / lazy / in between.

cultured / uncultured / in between.

loyal / disloyal / unknown / in between.

assertive / timid / in between

Hooks–

A Family Never Acknowledged

In the heart of arcane magic on the Eastern Kingdoms, those with lower professions were deemed inferior to those who took up more magical occupations such as the Magistrate and spellcraft. The Embersoot Family was one of those families deemed uncivilized for “playing around with brutish Dwarven and silly Gnomish machines.” While the family was a driving force for much of the city’s internal infrastructure such as the roads, building structures, pipelines, and arcane golems, the majority of the noble houses never did see the Embersoots as equals.

A Bloody War

Cesta joined the Iron Lynx gang during her adolescence in Silvermoon under her family’s nose. The gang was originally a small-time group of troublemakers and pranksters. As it expanded, its membership grew to be violent and partook in criminal acts despite pushback from its founding members, Cesta included. As tensions increased, the gang ended in a bloody civil war with many of its members incarcerated or killed. Cesta is one of the few that hid her tracks well enough that she didn’t serve time and wasn’t found connected with the gang.

Illidari Intelligence & Mission Command

During the Legion War, both Cesta and her sister Qory acted in supportive roles for the Illidari. The former was tasked with intercepting Legion communications, gathering intelligence, planting false information, and reverse-engineering demonic machinery. The latter was tasked with mission control, often directing Illidari troops on the ground; deploying close air-support with hijacked Legion fighters and other demonic ordnance; and direct combat if needed.

Embersoot Engineering

Since the Scourge Invasion of Quel’Thalas, the family’s company, Embersoot Engineering, has gradually been rebuilding. The company is now a neutral group with Cesta as a liaison for the Alliance and Qory as a liaison for the Horde. Embersoot Engineering stays far from weapons of war. Instead, the company focuses on life-enhancing inventions practical for the everyday civilian. The company has a positive reputation, known for donating toys to the various orphanages on Azeroth and aiding the various cities in infrastructure and construction.

Budding Demonologist & Black Harvest Tech Support

While she shows clear-cut potential in both the Demonology and Destruction schools, Cesta still remains a greenhorn within the Black Harvest. She’s known to be one of the few warlocks to spend substantial amounts of time specializing in the summoning and control of the Wyrmtongue and Mo’arg species. Even more, she attempts to blend applicable portions of her engineering with the use of fel magic. Though her mentor Fnipper is well-known, Cesta has yet to prove herself worthy of respect. Eyes remain on her, however, curious of observing what she is capable of with the Wyrmtongue and her knowledge gained from reverse-engineering Legion technology.

[scream-tears]

The Royal Invitation - Part 6

Aerowyn Matilde George Rothchester might seem like a very long name, but it definitely is not for a royal in the Kingdom of Dalewin.

After her grandfather, the beloved king, passed away, Aerowyn (also known as Winny) is called back from her art school in New York. She’s thrown back into her royal duties, expected to know what to do.

But with the Royal advisor on tour with the new king, Winny is left to figure things out with his stepson. The only problem, he has no idea what he’s doing, after all he’s only the lead singer in a band.

Co-written with @aweirdkindofyellow

Alex’s POV:

I straightened out any wrinkles that the steamer already hadn’t before turning to my reflection in the mirror. Over the last week I had put more attention into my outfit choices than I had throughout the last twenty four years of my existence, and it was pretty obvious. Even my hair was styled back and straightened rather than it’s messy uneven cut hidden beneath a beanie.

I tugged at the bottom of my jacket, glancing at the mirror one last time before grabbing the clipboard I had acquired from Garry now that I actually had a job to do, and my phone. The only job I really had for today was to keep the princess on schedule for the coronation, which seemed easy enough.

I weaved in and out of the crowd, eventually finding myself on the large central staircase. The banisters were covered in a silk drape-embellished in royal colours of teal and white. With each pillar wrapped in a golden tassel and adorned with the kingdom’s crest, it completed the ceremonial look of the coronation.

Turning onto the east wing, I continued down the empty corridor, away from the rush of people downstairs. I eventually found myself outside the designated room. Aerowyn opened the door almost instantly, leaving it open as she ambulated around the room. I slid in, closing the heavy door behind me.

"Aerowyn?" I called, to which she ignored me and continued pacing. She hummed quietly beneath her breath, completely forgetting about my existence all together. I stepped forward, grabbing her hands in time for her eyes to creep up and meet mine.

She broke her gaze, pulling her hands from my own before moving to the window. Her fingers tapped impatiently at the aging wood whilst she stared out at the bustling crowd beneath.

"If you want to be alone I can just go.." I uttered, pointing with my thumb to the door behind me. She shook her head softly, though keeping her eyes on the rush below.

I understood how the coronation could be overwhelming. If I hadn't been so used to big concerts, I would probably be feeling like a deer caught in headlights right now, but she's a princess. Wasn't she raised with the soul intention to one day become queen?

"I can't," she spoke, her voice breaking slightly, "do this…"

"Wait, why?" I asked, walking a few steps to be beside her. I leaned against the wall to the right of the window, staring down at her panicked expression.

Her eyes flickered to mine and she shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she insisted, carefully wiping the tears pooling in her eyes.

“I can see you’re not.” I replied, looking at her expectantly. She shook her head again, moving across the room to where her gown was hung on the wall. Her fingers brushed against the expensive fabric, inspecting it sullenly.

“It’s nothing important,” she mumbled, fumbling with the silk chiffon aimlessly.

“It clearly is, otherwise you wouldn’t be upset about it.”

She shook her head again, shrugging it off.

"Hey, come on. I can't help if you don't let me."

"It's nothing." She repeated, looking up at me, her eyes red and watery.

"Can I know what nothing is?" I inquired, smiling weakly as her eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm scared, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm scared that the next time I attend a coronation it will be because my father will have died. I'm scared that my family, and kingdom, are going to have to go through another loss like the last. I'm so… scared." Her voice trailed off and she returned to fumbling with the silky fabric.

"It's normal to be scared, you know. If you think for a second that I'm not shit scared of what tomorrow awaits, then you're mistaken," I stepped forward, drawing her attention away from the dress and back to me. "Fear happens, no matter what you do. Now fight it, or let it consume you, it's your choice."

She stared at me, eyes widened.

"You can do this. It will take time, but you will get through this. How do you think I ended up in a famous band?"

She snorted, grinning at me childishly. "I can't believe you just turned into a fucking life coach over a minor panic attack."

"Hey! Language! You're a princess." I point at her accusingly, to which she scrunched her nose.

"I'm merely stating the truth." She defended, wiping away the last of her tears.

"You done messing around now? 'Cause we seriously need to get a move on." I added, glancing between my watch and the schedule.

"Yes, get out." She spoke, pushing me towards the door. The maids followed her in after I had left, closing the door behind me.

"Be quick!" I called, just in time for the heavy door to close in my face. I pulled my phone from my back pocket, informing Garry that the princess crisis had indeed been solved before leaning against the wall, awaiting Aerowyn to get changed.

“Ready?” I asked, accompanied by a knock on the door. 

Seconds later, a maid opened the door and Aerowyn was stood in the centre of the room, twirling slightly in her ball gown. The dress itself was a faded cream, embellished with floral patterns. The colour perfectly complimented her pale complexion, emphasising her already beguiling appearance. 

“Ready.” Aerowyn grinned back at me, her mood seemingly happier than only moments prior. She slipped into her skin toned heels, lifting her dress up slightly as she sauntered in my direction. I smiled back at her, genuinely happy that she was.

“Shall we?” I asked, glancing over at Garry who was waiting by the stairs. She nodded, making her way down the corridor. I followed behind, stopping beside Garry as she made her way downstairs to her family.

“Thank you for your help today,” he spoke, tapping me on the shoulder.

“Of course.” I added, nodding assuringly. We walked down the stairs, eventually finding ourselves stood on the last step, the family of four turning to smile at us. Seconds later the main doors opened and we were all being ushered into the royal limousine. With a police escort, we were soon on our way to the church.

Crowds of people were waiting, cheering for their favourite family. The windows were soon wound down and Aerowyn and Augustus were waving to their people, beaming grins against their lips. The soon-to-be king and his wife were talking to Garry, though it was nearly impossible to hear over the screaming crowd surrounding the church. The limousine came to a halt and the doors were soon opened, the king being the first to leave. I watched from beside Aerowyn as he reached his hand out for his wife to take, whilst his other waved at his people. Aerowyn was next to go, shooting a bright smile in my direction before leaving, and then her brother after that. Garry and I climbed out shortly after, allowing the family to make their way inside before we did.

The rows of pews were filled to the brink with people, just like they had been only a few days before, only this time they were dressed in bright and festive colours. Garry and I walked down the side of the hall, meeting the family at the top. Garry took his place beside the soon-to-be king, and I found myself stood close behind, beside Augustus.

The ceremony itself was all about commemorating a past period of time and welcoming the change and growth that will come with a new one. Within an hour the new king was crowned, as well as his queen, and we were all being ushered out of the church for one last wave to the kingdom before heading back to the castle for the afterparty. You see, the kingdom was more focused on celebrations, than it was actual ceremonies, so after the crowning, the royal family held a huge party to welcome their people and partnering countries to the next generation. 

I stood on the last step on the stairs beside Garry as I had only a few hours before, watching as the family greeted their guests. A short conversation was held before they were directed towards the ballroom. Once the last guest had arrived, the doors were shut and the family was free to mingle.

"Do you need anything?" I asked, turning to Garry as he skimmed over his clipboard assiduously, making sure every task was crossed and completed.

"No, I'm good. Go and enjoy yourself." He spoke, smiling softly though not exchanging a glance.

"Does that mean I can steal him?"

I turned to Aerowyn, surprised by her sudden input in the conversation. She smiled softly at me, swaying slightly as she awaited my reply.

"Yeah, okay." I jumped down from the step, standing beside her as she held her arm out at an angle. I chuckled lightly, interlocking my arm with her own. We walked in together, finding ourselves on the dance floor in no time at all.

"I forgot to tell you that you clean up well." Aerowyn spoke, taking my hand in my own and placing her other on my shoulder.

"You don't do so bad yourself." I smirked, placing my hand on her back and pulling her further into the embrace. We swayed rather clumsily, and much faster than the other couples on the dance floor.

"No, but seriously, you did good today. I wouldn't have been able to do that if it wasn't for you." She spoke, slowing down the dance as she stared back at me.

"Of course you would have."

She contorted her face, her eyebrows arching slightly with the expression she made.

"You're stronger than you think, Aerowyn." I added, only to fumble over actually saying her name out loud. Though she tried to keep back the laughter, her face spread into a smirk.

"You can't say my name," she teased.

"Of course I can, don't be silly. Aerowyn, see."

"You can't say my name, you suck at the pronunciation," she sang in a sing-song voice. I shook my head, refusing to believe this was actually happening.

"It's not funny!" I argued, watching as she desperately tried to fight the laughter.

"It is just a little bit," she countered, grinning up at me sheepishly.

"Okay then. Winny it is." I bit back, though her face softened into a warm smile.

"Then Winny it will be." She whispered, resting her head against my shoulder as we finally slowed to the pace of everyone else. I smiled down at her, confirming my previous suspicions. It was definitely the girl rubbing off on me.

[alexdarceyposts]

Lipstick...A bag..A cup. A few, silly childish pranks. How did it spiral out of control to this?

I fought with myself as sleep ebbed away. I didn't want to open my eyes, but my body was already awakening itself. My eyelids were struggling to open and let in the sunlight, my muscles wanting to stretch, an annoying itch on my arm. "Fucking hell!" I whispered through barely open lips. I was hoping I could convince my body to go back to sleep. "Miss Alex." A voice rang out, a voice that was way too happy for this time of the morning. "Either you've been there all night, or I missed your entrance....while I was sleeping," I growled as I flung myself onto my back. Sleep wasn't going to show itself again anytime soon now. "Miss Alex!" The annoying voice was now sounding demanding. "WHAT!" Sitting bolt upright in bed, mistake, big mistake. The pulse that attacked my frontal lobe caused my stomach to do a flip that would make an acrobat jealous. I opened my eyes; this didn't help any situation whatsoever. "It's here." The voice informed me, as sunshine filled the room from the drapes being flung open, after which, a hand shot out in front of me, there, resting in the upturned palm was a small silver serving tray, the edge of the tray where engraved intricate swirls turning in on each other, the suns reflection catching on them. Covering the centre was a pristine white envelope, no stamp, but my name, beautifully written. "Are you going to look?" I slowly moved my eyes from the envelope up to a face that was giving me a disapproving look. I gave a small chuckle and smiled. Through the disapproval, Anetta's face was warm and caring, her loving eyes looking down at me. Anetta was 'The Maid,' her working title in the house, but she was so much more than that. I was a child of absent parents when I say absent, that's exactly what I mean. The honourable Mr and Mrs Darcey had missed every milestone of my life, first steps, school productions, my period, you get the picture. Annetta had always gathered me in her arms through all of it, she'd mopped my tears, picked me up when I fell, sat front row for my graduation. She was the only parent I knew. "Well!" She waved the plate right under my nose; I swear I could smell the cologne of the person who delivered it. "Shower first, and then I'll open it." I could hear Anetta's disgruntled mumbles trail behind her after she'd placed the tray on my bedside cabinet, then continued to leave my room. The bathroom filled with the steam from the shower as I strip, my slip making a small pile of silk on the floor as I step out of it. The waters jetstream parting as I climb into the shower, steamy rivulets pounding down onto the top of my head, droplets finding their way onto other parts of my skin. The constant sensation on my skin from the water surprisingly calming, considering what that envelope would contain. I was a little surprised anything would be able to achieve this. I closed my eyes, enjoying the heat soaking into my skin, just for a second, I let myself believe I was somewhere else, it can't last though. The tray teased me as I sat on my bed, the sunlight still dancing across the silver,  projecting an artificial rainbow effect on the wall. I ignored the envelope as much as I could, it seemed, wherever I turned though I could see the teasing white envelope out of the corner of my eye as I dressed. ~~~ Seduce Owen Wearing ~~~   The only three perfectly positioned in the centre, words, wrote on the paper inside the envelope. I read and then re-read them, time after time. I felt the massive sigh from deep within me, before it found it's way up and out my mouth. My head flopping against the top of the back of the chair I sat in, even the damn sun now seemed too happy, its sparkling sunbeams happily dancing across the ceiling. "ANETTA!" I wasn't sure why I was screaming at the ceiling, but suddenly a face appeared in my eye line above me, interrupting my view of the dancing sunbeams, I squealed and quickly sat up. "Stop doing that!" I was beginning to think that perhaps she was a figment of my imagination of a maid we'd once had, who could, at any given time, walk through walls. Maybe she'd died, and I'd refused to accept it? That's a therapy session all on its own. "Get me Owen Wearings itinerary." I saw her eyes peruse over the paper in my hand as I turned to look at her. Anetta's eyes left the paper and met mine. "Are you sure you need it?" Her voice had a hint of warning in it, but, there was care as well. "Yes." She flounced out the room surrounding herself with disapproving 'Tuts' and mumblings. As she shut the door, I heard the words, "Been going on too long.'  Perhaps she was right, this game we continued to play, had, at times, gotten out of hand, to the casual observationalist. I deserved this one, though. Owen Wearing was the son of Justin Wearing; Wearing Industries was a multinational, multibillion-dollar company. The snivelling little shit walked around in his designer clothes as though he owned the world. Princeton educated, though the rumours were his Daddy had bought his graduation with an undisclosed 'donation'. We'd crossed paths at a few events over the years. His grubby little hands had caressed my ass once, and the one-time act had earned him a Whiskey Sour in his face. I informed him, in no uncertain terms, he would be replacing the drink before he left. "Fuck my life," I whispered to myself. "He has meetings all day." Anetta floated a piece of paper down to me. "Tonight he has dinner at...." I felt her body weight pressing down onto my shoulder as she leant over, her finger-pointing at the name of the restaurant. This would be my chance. I submerged my body into the warm water, the smell of the oils that had been added spread with the steam in the bathroom, making the air smell divine. Lifting my leg out of the water after a while, running my palm down the pinkening skin, I smiled. Owen didn't know what was coming his way. I plunged my leg back into the steaming water, slipping my whole body down further into the bath following my leg. As I lay under the water, the only sound, my pulse echoing in my eardrums, I thought back to how all this had started. I broke the surface of the water, gasping a little for breath, that would teach me to get lost in thought. I laid back and relaxed. The dares had started when we were young, stupid ones to begin with, though they were dumb, still, neither one of us would surrender. I remembered the first lipstick I'd stolen, in fact, I still had it all at the back of my closet, hidden away with all my other ill-gotten gains, Tiffany earrings, a brooch, a pair of silk stockings, even a pair of Louboutins. None ever wore. None ever saw daylight and nor would they, but, still I kept them. The older we got, the more complex the dares, the more serious the consequences of our actions should have been. I want to say we'd never been caught; if I did, it would be a lie. The break-in and taking off with the Lamborghini, along with the subsequent crash, saw to that. That should have been a prison sentence. It wasn't thanks to the name of Darcey. It held a certain amount of respect and along with substantial amounts of cash handed over in bribes, saw that never happened. Nothing negative ever got printed in the press, no court cases to stain the name, no prison time. I suppose the elusive parental unit was good for something. The water my body was submerged in, had cooled, way too much for my liking. I'd stayed in too long; a giant white prune wasn't going to be alluring, my thoughts had got lost in times past. I stepped out of the bath, water dripped onto the floor as I grabbed my robe, heat shrouded me like a welcome home hug. My reflection stared back at me from the mirror; my blonde hair looked dark due to the wetness; it reminded me what my natural colour was. I ran my fingers through it, the wet strands falling into my eyes, I pulled faces at myself, the reflection copying me exactly I couldn't help but laugh. There was always time for pulling faces. My closet was filled to the brim with clothes; as I pulled some out holding them against myself, then discarding them on the bed, none seemed right. I heard the door down the hall open and close; this caused an eye roll. My door opened a few seconds later as I knew it would, it opened more politely than I'd slung his this morning. "You're not ready?" That damn annoying gravelly voice asked. I was guessing that he'd seen the clothes on the bed, so already knew the answer. "Does it look like it?" Without looking around the closet door. "You backing out?" For just a second I thought there sounded like hope in his voice. "He won't be around for long." I heard the door close, with another eye roll and exasperated sigh, I continue to grab clothes out. The cool breeze brushed against my skin under the sheer material on my arms, wrapping itself around my bare calves in the skirt I'd chosen to wear, as I stepped from the car. "Will you need the car again tonight?" I contemplated saying no, just for a second. "Yes, yes, I will." I nodded my head to emphasise what I was saying. "I'll call you." As I stepped towards the restaurant, the doorman opened the door for me to enter. The heels of my peep-toe Louboutins caused a clicking sound against the wooden herringbone pattern of the floor; I was maybe concentrating a little too hard on ignoring the chatter that filled the room. Everyone was too deep in conversation to notice the small clicking sound. The wall lights help to light the room now dusk was setting in, the wall of windows would seem to disappear soon into the darkness. The plush bar seats littered with bodies either come for dinner or on their way elsewhere. Tables precisely scattered across the room, just far enough away from each other that conversations couldn't be overheard by others, without raised voices. A nod of my head towards familiar faces, a fake smile to those who knew my parents, brief platitudes to those I knew. Slowly, but surely I made my way to the fire burning at the other end of the bar. The fireplace took up a quarter of the wall, a grandiose thing that had probably been imported so they could say it was an 'original feature'. It wasn't the fire I was interested in, a group of men sat around a table, sat, might be an off the cuff way to describe it. There casual lounging, arms across the back of the chair, legs spread, each trying to display who had the biggest ball sack, in the middle of it all, holding court Owen Wearing. Owens seat, just to the side of the flames behind the glass of the fire, the top button of his white dress shirt open, his slim black tie slightly askew while being pulled down to just under his open-top button. His suit jacket must have been replaced at some point, with a leather one, an orange cast from the flames in the fire reflected on one side of his black hair. Owens sharp features were even more predominant in this light, his beady eyes scanning the face of one of the slightly over animated men in front of him. He hadn't noticed me making my way over to him, so I excused myself from the small talk and took a deep breath. The clicking sound of my heels ceased as my shoes hit the carpeted area near the fire, my hips swayed just slightly more than usual, the soft smile on my face wouldn't fool anyone who knew me well, he didn't. "Alex?" Owen's eyes had flickered from the face of the man he was in conversation with, a small look of shock on his face as he noticed me as I approached. "Owen, it's nice to see you." I just hoped he wouldn't catch the slight hint of boredom in my voice. The man that sat in the chair turned around, his face slightly flustered, I couldn't help but wonder what that conversation had been about. "Mr Jackson." Stunned by the face that was looking up at me. I didn't let the shock remove the smile that was fixed upon my red-stained lips. Reginald Jackson was a self-made man; a respected man in the business world and upper society. Why would he be with one of the low lives of it? Polite coughing ensued, both men rushed to stand, Mr Jackson, bent, kissed both cheeks, made a lame excuse to leave after a brief "Good evening, Alex." I didn't miss a beat, ignoring the man who had left returning my full attention to Owen. His face was a mix of confusion and apprehension; I felt the muscles in my cheeks start to ache from the smile that was still in place on my lips. "I saw you when I came in." My hand waved behind me towards the bar. "I thought I'd come over and say hello." My eyes trailed down his slightly unkempt appearance, as they found their way back to his face, his own eyes were sparkling, a leering smirk sat upon his lips, and I'm sure if we weren't in the company of other people I'd be wiping drool from his chin. Repulsion ran through my body, I took a few calming, quiet breathes. "Want to buy a girl a drink?” Owen stepped towards me; his fingertips slid down the inside of my arm, unfortunately I felt it through the sheer material, my skin crawled under his touch. “Of course, I would.” His hand was moving from my arm. Instead, he placed it in the centre of my back as he manoeuvred us both to the bar.The barman placed a whiskey and whiskey sour down, napkins set before the glasses, of course, couldn't have marks on the shiny wood of the bar. Owen had pulled the stool out for me as I'd sat before we ordered. Unfortunately for me, my feet couldn't quite reach the bar on the base of the barstool; I sank my heel behind the piece of metal as I crossed my legs, the leering look at my legs Owen was giving had made me grateful that the skirt I'd worn was calf length. "How have you been, Owen?" My voice was overly high in the hope of drawing his eyes upwards. It worked. "I've been busy, Alex; I'm taking over the business...." My thoughts began to wander as he continued, my eyes left him, searching around the room for nothing in particular as long as it wasn't him. "...Do you think?" I diverted my gaze back to him quickly, my mind trying to catch up with the conversation I'd missed. Owen's voice sounded happy, perhaps excited, that could be a clue. "I.... do." I hesitantly replied. It must have been the right answer because he continued. I watched as the sharp angles on his face became animated again, he had the look of a hawk I found as I scrutinised him. I reached for my glass, and as I did, his hand moved quickly to grab mine, his fingers entwined between my own, giving him a coy smile I ran my thumb down the outside of his. Owen leant in towards me; my skin rippled with repulsion as his cheek pressed against mine. "You've always been the one I wanted Alex." His lowered voice whispering in my ear. I felt his warm breath brush against the hairs on the back of my neck; his head tilted slightly as his lips began to make their way along my jawline. Looking for an excuse to pull away from him; the bartender kindly giving me that excuse as he placed fresh drinks on the bar for us, a sign, from the Lord Of Alcohol that Owen was to close. I pulled away. My fingers opened slightly slipping away from his grip, as they did my hand knocked his whiskey over, the golden liquid fanning outwards making its escape from the glass creeping its way to the edge of the bar. Owen grabbed the napkin, halting the getaway. We continued to talk, or more precisely he spoke at me, I was trying my hardest to pretend to be interested in about what he spoke, nodding and smiling along even throwing in a giggle or two. A trio of men walked over to us in the middle of a sentence, Owens faced glowed with pride as he discontinued his talk and introduced us, the men had already had a few drinks, their suits crinkled from being sat too long. They where dishevelled. They grabbed stools from the bar, placing them next to ours. Tonight wasn't the night for the dare. As more drinks were drunk the more impaired Owen and his friends got. They began reaching out, touching, leering and using suggestive words, I was starting to feel uncomfortable, an unnerving feeling was beginning to spread through my body. When a natural pause came while they all syncronised their drinking, I quickly made my excuses and picked up my purse. A smiled sat upon my lips, a genuine one, first of the night. "Goodnight gentleman, it was a pleasure to meet you." I said politely but whispered through stilled lips "In the loosest term." I walked as quickly as possible without looking as though a fire had started under me. Smiling and saying "Goodnight" to those I knew. The doorman opened the door, walking down the steps after thanking him, practically running to the corner of the building I took the turn and leant against the wall. My whole body shook as my mouth gulped at the air, my lungs stinging from the amount of oxygen I was trying to inhale. I felt as though I'd ran a marathon. There was a noise of the flimsy material giving way as Owen grabbed for me, I pushed his hands away, grasping at my shirt, pulling it into a bunch. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?" An overwhelming wave of shock running through me that he would have the audacity to do that. I could hear his friends laughing as I tried to speak to him before this got out of control. "Owen, I think you've had too much to fucking drink," My voice dismissive. I was silently admitting to myself that perhaps I'd taken this a little too far. I hadn't seen this coming. Turning away quickly, still convinced it was just high jinks between him and his friends, it was then I felt his hand roughly on my arm. "Where do you think you're going, bitch?" That sickening, grating voice asked as I felt myself being spun back around towards him. The sarcastic retort I was about to answer with cut short as a sharp sting hit me, the bastard had slapped my face. The look on my face must have been priceless; Owen just sneered at me. The sneer changed to a menacing look as his face got nearer to mine, then he kissed me, all I could smell was the alcohol, my stomach turned, even then I was convinced he wouldn't hurt me, even though my face was still stinging from the slap. I could hear his friends saying things to him, egging him on, slurred whispers in the night, but I was to busy trying to keep myself covered up from him and them. It was then I felt a shove to my chest; I fell not quick enough to save myself, my arms landing beneath my torso. There was excruciating pain in my head as it hit the floor, ringing in my ears, stars in my eyes, and a haziness was descending on my vision. It gave me a feeling of everything being far away. After that, everything was in slow motion. My voice didn't seem my own as I said, "No No No" over and over again. Owen's hand smelled of whiskey from the spilt drink as he covered my mouth with it, the other hand ripping at my clothes. I managed to roll over it was easier to move, my legs trying to kick at him, my hands hitting out, the sick, realisation, suddenly dawning on me what he was going to do. He was going to go through with this. He jammed his knees between my legs to stop me from kicking.  "Do it, do it." Owen's friend's voices were now more evident as my hearing began to come back. His hands muffled my screams, my hands now curled into fists as I continued to punch then scratch at him, the panic I felt now turning to utter terror. After moving my head from side to side trying to remove his hand I stopped, I stared at him trying to communicate with him with my eyes, pleading with him to stop. The pain that ripped through me was worse than anything I'd felt in my life, my mouth opened but no noise came out as my insides felt as though they were being torn apart. I could feel the tears trickling down the skin on my cheek, my fingernails dragged onto the ground, looking for something, anything, but I did it with such force they ripped from my fingers. One after the other, they took their turn, they found it funny to hit me maybe by then because I'd closed down, no screaming only tears, perhaps they liked the blood that was running down my face from the cuts and grazes, I do not know. Still, I felt myself slipping away, and I thanked God, my breathing got shallower as I fought for oxygen. When my eyes reopened, I was laid alone in the street, but stars were twinkling in the sky. My eyes flickered open, my pupils retracting quickly against the pulsating false light above my head. I groaned as I tried to move. Every muscle in my body screamed against the motion. "Keep still." I knew that voice. I turned my head towards it. "Anetta, we need to go home." My voice was hoarse and strained. "Soon."Anetta's voice sounded like an angel. I pulled myself up, and every muscle made sure I knew the disgust it felt. I continued to look around the hospital room, a massive bouquet of peonies the first thing I saw, all the colours I loved sat on the table. I didn't have to ask who they were from, I knew. As I continued to look, I saw suitcases, magazines, empty cups. The place looked like a drop-in centre for street people. "How long have I been here? Have you been sleeping on that chair?" I couldn't hold back the disdain in my voice. "You've been here for three days and yes... I've slept in the chair." Anetta rubbed at the bottom of her spine to prove the point. "You..." Her eyes diverted away from me. "You needed to sleep, rest...." She lowered her voice. "You needed to heal Alex." "Well, I'm healed now. We are leaving!" I snapped. Doctors came and went for around the next hour, asking questions, talking at me, trying to explain medical terms that I didn't want to listen or understand. I wanted to go home. My body co-operated with me enough so I could get to the bathroom after the removal of numerous tubes, pads and needle lines. Why did hospitals have white bathrooms? Didn't they realise a  little colour would make the place feel much less clinical? I wasn't quite sure why I'd come in here, perhaps to get away from the constant noise of the beep, beep of the machines. To remove me personally and mentally from the fact I was in a hospital. "I'm sorry I didn't realise...." I looked closer, and I couldn't help but gasp in shock as the pair of grey and hazel eyes looked back at me. Tentatively my fingers explored my face, the cuts, the bruises, my top lip no longer the perfect cupids bow, the plumpness of my bottom lip unnatural. My cheekbone lifted so high that it seemed to be connected to my eye socket. I moved my finger, catching the tear trickling down the side of my nose. "NO!" The person in the mirror shouted the word the same as I did. The door flew open; a woman ran in her head flying from side to side. "Miss Alex?" Anetta's voice filled with fear. My head dropped for a second, my shoulders sunk, and as they did, I felt familiar arms surround me, the feeling of home shrouded me, protecting me, loving me regardless of everything. I allowed myself to wallow, the self-pity, the pain overwhelmed me, my knees gave way, but those strong arms didn't falter, didn't let me fall. They were holding me in place. I wasn't sure how long we stood there, how long I took strength from this formidable woman, but my legs became my own again. The self-pity ebbed away; the pain seemed to ease. "I'm fine, Anetta, thank you." I composed myself, pushed away from this most amazing lady. My saving grace. I gave a small cough. "Are we ready to leave?" "When you are Miss Alex." She didn't look at me with sad eyes as she removed her arms, her business face back in place. The soft hum of music filled the hallway of the apartment as we entered, my steps shorter than usual, my body slightly off centre, I ignored the music he was home. I didn't have to thank him for the flowers; I knew the sentiment they had meant. I continued down the hallway. My room had cleaned back to its usual perfection, the bed made, no clothes left strewn on the bed, all back correctly in the closet. "Anetta, get me an envelope." As though she knew what I would say both paper and an envelope appeared on the table, every muscle in my body relaxed as I sat down. Three words perfectly positioned in the middle of the paper.         ~~~ Kill Owen Wearing ~~~Three weeks had passed; the bruises had faded, the scrapes that had adorned my skin had healed. The only two remnants a discolouration on my back that the doctor said would fade in time, and the scar inside no one could see. That was something that I wouldn't ever allow to be seen or touched. The ping of phone drew my attention, collecting it from the unmade bed I'd just crawled out of I read the headline:   ~~~ Heir To Wearing Industries Found Dead ~~~ I reread the headline, the words screaming at me from the page, I wasn't sure how to react. Yes, it was what I wanted, there was never any time limits on our dares, but still reading it in black and white was different. He'd deserved it,  they deserved it, and I had no intention of feeling guilty. My eyes scanned the rest of the article reading what had happened. The car had, had a head collision with a wall; the picture left nothing to the imagination. The cars front end had crumbled under the force; the wall had hairline cracks a complaint of the impact. The paramedics had discarded clothes as they'd tried to save lives, bloodstains were evident on the fabric, on the road. The bastards had suffered, and it made me happy. No, it made me ecstatic. I cleared my phone, with a little pep in my step I went to the bathroom, considering to myself what the best way to say thank you was. It was slightly less brain hurting than I thought to find something. The three girls stood in my room. The blondes hair perfectly straight down her back apart from one errant piece which laid over her shoulder, dropping to her natural breasts. Chocolate brown eyes sparkled, her arms perfectly toned with a tan that would make most green with envy. She wore a pale grey silk dress, and the dress stopped in the middle of her perfectly shaped thighs, her ass perfectly pert. The sultry brunette looked around at the surroundings she found herself in, my bedroom wasn't that exciting. Her hair shone through the curls like those on the commercials on tv. She had slightly too much make-up on, her breasts slightly too big for her frame to be natural, the top she wore revealing that much. Her shorts left little to the imagination. The redhead had a sprinkling of freckles across her nose, and her short pixie-cut suited her. Her porcelain skin exquisite she too wore a dress, not overly tight and leaving something to the imagination. She would be his favourite. "Ladies please make your way to the room down the hallway, pass on my thanks." A small chuckle ran through my voice as I told informed them where to go. Anetta opened the door, the three women sauntered through the door and disappeared. I gave one look around my room and then picked up my coat. "Anetta, I think I will be out for the rest of the day." I walked down the hallway after leaving my room, and I didn't need to be here for the sounds of the show. The number of jewellery boxes under the tree gave me a silent message; the message was that the parental unit had no intention of turning up to celebrate to Christmas. The red boxes from Cartier, the royal blue boxes with trim from Bvlgari and the black boxes with HW initials scattered neatly. Anetta hovered around, waiting for someone to appear to consume the breakfast banquet that had been prepared, the smile and happiness she exuded had my mouth turning into a smile. Ignoring the gifts, I walked straight into the dining room. The heart of the home. Our heart though needed some sort of electric shock to bring it back to life and hail the return of the parents. A crisp, creaseless, pristine table cloth covered the solid wood, the edges perfectly falling towards the floor. Red snowflake placemats with white plates sat upon them, green napkins perfectly folded into a Christmas tree shape laid in the middle of the plate. I sat in my usual seat, the smells of breakfast mixed in the air but through that, the overwhelming aroma of coffee. Strong coffee. The clear pot placed in front of me, Anetta on the ball, as usual, her smile warm and only love sat in those old worn eyes. "Happy Christmas." Her voice high pitched, slightly excited. "Happy Christmas Anetta." A small chuckle ran through my voice as i replied. The double doors sat slightly ajar, and I couldn't help but look down the corridor, all the doors firmly closed. Anetta must have caught me looking. "He's not here."Anetta's soft, understanding voice said. I ignored her, my eyes firmly staring at the suddenly oh so alluring coffee pot. Of course, he wasn't, why would he be? No one else was either. "Bacon, sausage and eggs." I knew I'd snapped, but I couldn't help it. My plate of food was as perfect as always. As I ate, I looked around the table, imagining others sat with their families, laughter and chatter filling the air. Young children excitedly shuffling in their chairs for what surprises the day would bring them. My thoughts came back into the room to be greeted by silence. Every place setting still as it was when I sat down except mine, my knife and fork now sat close together on the dirty plate, my cup also had a circle of brown fluid in the bottom. I left the room, wandering down the hallway past my door to the double doors further down the corridor, the ones I'd been looking at through the ajar door. Placing my palm on the cold wood, hoping to feel something through it, of course, I didn't but the overwhelming need to feel something, feel warmth, had pulled me here but there was none to be had. There was nothing. I laid my forehead on the door, and a whispered "Please" The word came out somewhere between a plead and a sob. The sudden noises from the dining room had me removing myself from the door. I quickly composed myself in case Anetta did one of her appearing magical acts. The cleaning elves had been in my room. While I'd eaten breakfast, everything had returned in its rightful place. On top of the throw that now lay across my bed sat a box, not an expensive box like those that still lay beneath the tree. A plain, brown unassuming box. I bent down, lowering myself to my knees, my finger ran across the top of the box, I could feel my whole hand start to shake as my finger stopped and flipped it open. A red silk cushion held a silver band in place, the thick rudimentary silver seemed old, the lettering old fashioned and clunky. I took the bracelet out, slipping it onto my wrist. Perfection. As I looked down and read the words, 'Every fairytale needs a good old fashioned villain' I felt the tears start to fall down my cheeks. Before I knew it, everything that had happened over the last few months overwhelmed me. The attack, the killings. The being alone.

~TBC~

[mona-stay]

A valentines hunt - Peter Hale

Prompt -  Peter sets up a scavenger hunt for y/n for valentines day

Warnings -  none pure fluff

Pairing - Peter Hale x reader

Notes -

Y/n = your name Y/d/n = your dogs name Y/f/m = your favourite movie

Story - Peter had never celebrated valentines day before, heck he’d never been in love until he met you. So he had no idea what to do.

His first thought was to book a table at the most expensive and exclusive restaurant in the city for you. However he knew you wouldn’t really enjoy it, it wasn’t really your thing and he wanted it to be special.

He’d spent a week planning the perfect day. Waiting till you feel asleep he kissed your forehead and whispered “sleep well baby hope you have fun” before leaving his first note too set up his hunt and get back in time to cook breakfast and disappear before you woke.

The light from the open curtains woke you up. Rolling over to try and block it out, you felt the empty space next to you. where peter should have been a note laid in its place.

‘my dear y/n, good morning I hope you slept well. In the kitchen you will find breakfast already made and your first clue. See you shortly all my love Peter.’

Confused by the note you quickly got out of bed, putting on your dressing gown and went to the kitchen. On the table was 3 heart shaped pancakes, with strawberries and syrup. You couldn’t help but smile imagining Peter making them, cutting out heart shapes just for you. Next to the plate was a small card with clue one written on the front

You sat down in a happy giggle over the mystery of it all. Tucking into your valentines breakfast you opened the card. 'hello sweetheart for valentines day I have arranged a scavenger hunt solve the clues and get your reward.

Clue 1 Let’s start your valentines treat Your first gift a sweet treat. Our start was the day we met, Do your remember, at the ___!

You bit your lip smiling at the words, reading them over and over. The answer was easy, outside the veterinary office. You had collected your dog from Dr Deaton after a check up. The husky pup wriggled her way of the lead and ran into the road. Peter was walking passed and stopped (y/d/n) from running into the road.

You smiled at the memory, Peter was so charming and swept you off your feet that day. After getting dressed you picked up the clue card and headed to the vets. The walk there you thought about how charming Peter was then, how you fell in love with him that day.

You pushed open the door hearing the bell ding. Scott was stood by the counter talking on the phone, you stood in the same spot but let your eyes scan the waiting room for a clue. You couldn’t see anything and guessed Scott held the next clue. Waiting till he finished on the phone you asked Scott about Peters next clue.

Scott however was clueless in all sense of the meaning. He didn’t know Peter had made you a valentines hunt and certainly didn’t know there was a clue in the building. “maybe you got the wrong place?” Scott offered trying to make you feel better. “it has to be here it’s where we met” you told him.

Giving up you left the vets ready to head home. Looking up the street you thought again about how the dog was saved by the wolf. That’s when you seen it a small envelope tied to the lamppost where Peter stood that day. Running over to it you seen your name on the front. Trust Peter to put it in the exact spot he first seen you.

You pulled the envelope off the post. It felt heavier than just a letter inside. Ripping it open you found a necklace inside, it was delicate silver with a small silver wolf pendant with light blue gem stones for the eyes. You smiled at the sweet gift, putting it on right away. Next you pulled out the little card.

Clue 2 Knowledge is the key for the next part, At the school would be a good start. This place to me means a lot, It’s a hiding spot.

You laughed at the clue this was more confusing then the last one. There was lots of hiding places at the school, too many to count. The first one could be the hale vault, or the basement. You decided to just head to the high school and whittle down the possibilities on the way.

Peter wouldn’t have put it in the vault, if he did you wouldn’t be able to get in to get it. The basement seemed a good idea but you can’t even remember a time you had both been in the basement together. Starting to think about times you and Peter had both been at the school. At the entrance only one memory came to mind. Smirking you headed inside going to the maths room.

Last year you had been helping Scott with the dread doctor problem. They came after you running the wrong way you had found yourself running the length of the second floor hallway alone. You screamed when a noise from a classroom, in fear you didn’t know where to go. Peter appeared in the class door way, “y/n get in here” he said in a whisper.

The both of you could hear the clinks and clanks of the doctors getting closer up the stairs. Peter grabbed you pulling you inside with him. As the sound got loader the pair of you hid in a small equipment cupboard. Your body shook in fear, you was about to be taken and experimented on, knowing you’d had a skin graft in the past making you compatible for their chrimias.

He held you tight inside the cupboard, keeping you calm, whispering in your ear “your safe, ill never let them take you” and other feel good sentences. However the most memorable thing Peter said “I promise I won’t let anything happen to you y/n I love you” it was the first time either of you had said the words to each other. To his word he kept you safe and got you away from the school and the doctors. You knew yourself you’d truly fallen in love with Peter that day.

As you opened the cupboard door you seen a long box with your name on it. You felt so exited to find a bunch of long steamed (y/f/c) roses. You took them out the box and smelled them, happy with his choice.  You picked up the card reading the next riddle wondering how many there actually was.

Clue 3 A movie and take out was our first date, I still wonder if you hate me for being late. Can you remember what we actually did see Find a copy in the movie store, maybe?

There was no maybe about it. You knew the movie would be at the the store and so did Peter. Since that first date you had rented (y/f/m) 50 times over, until Peter bought you the dvd for Christmas.

As you left the school building you heard someone shout your name. Turning around you saw Lydia walking behind you. “what are you doing here?” she asked. You smiled showing her the roses, “Peter made a valentines scavenger hunt” you say with a silly smile.

You went on to tell her about breakfast and all clues so far. Lydia seemed as giddy as you felt and offered to drive you to the movie store. “so what happened, why is he asking if your still mad?” Lydia asked referring to the line in the clue.

You chuckled “it was are first date and Peter was 20 minutes late to pick me meaning we were late for the show at the cinema. So Peter decided to drop by the movie store and get a take out and he turned Derek’s loft into our own cinema for the night. It was so romantic” you told her.

Lydia smirked “who’d of thought Peter could do something so sweet. I swear you’ve changed that man” she said. You knew Peter had a history and a terrible one too but part of you didn’t want to truly believe Peter was as bad as they all said. The way he’d always been with you was nothing but kind and respectful, and tried to keep his anger hidden around you.

Soon enough Lydia pulled up to the movie store, you went in to find the movie. As always the store was practically dead the only person inside was the store worker who was too interested in his mobile phone then the sound of the bell.

When you went to the section where your favourite movie is but all the copies were gone. In its place was a black and red paper bag with a fancy logo. Lydia gasped seeing the bag, no doubt it was a designer she knew.

Inside was a stunning dress, Peter had an eye with fashion picking out the perfect colour to make your skin tone. Holding the dress to your body you spun on the spot showing on the item. “y/n it’s gorgeous” he smiled at you. Your smiled beamed at her complement and slight hint of jealously.

Lydia noticed a card fall from the dress as you turned. She picked it up seeing clue 4 on the front “looks like this is yours too” she giggled. You placed the dress back in the bag, then took the card ready for your next clue.

Clue 4 End of the line your hunt is done, Hope your enjoyed your gifts and had fun. However if you look closer you’ll see another clue Put them together and find me, you know what to do.

As you went to leave Lydia desided she wanted a shush puppy. At the counter the store owner seen your bag. “so your Peters girlfriend” he said. You smiled and nodded watching him crane his neck down one of the aisle. “did you find the gift in the horror section?” he asked knowing you hadn’t. You and Lydia both looked at each other giddy, quickly walking to the horror movies.

On the floor in the corner was a gift box black with a red bow. On top was a fallen dvd, you picked it and put it back on the shelf turning all your attention to the box. As you opened it you gasped to find a pair of flat knee boots. The ones you had been looking at for a few weeks now but were a bit out of your price range. You squiled in delight at the boots. “dress up and find me when you figure out where” you heard Lydia say. You turned to face her seeing her read a small bit of paper.

You spent the drive home re reading Peters clues trying to work out his final stop. So far with no luck. Lydia was talking about the shoes and dress Peter had bought and how stiles would never get her things like that. Once you were home you got showered and Lydia did you hair and makeup. But it didn’t matter if you couldn’t find Peter.

“maybe it has something to do with a memory, and meaningful places. Your first meeting, first date” she said moving the clue cards. Lydia was right they were all firsts, just in the wrong order.

“they need to be in time order, look” you said taking the card. “Clue 1 it’s all about our first meeting” you say putting the card in place. “Next is clue 3 our first date about 2 weeks after we met” you said sliding that card next. “now the school attack. The first time Peter told me he loved me” you say with a smile.

As you looked at clue 4 Lydia asked “and this one isn’t that just the movie store too?” she asked. You were partly stumped with this. You tried to think of where in the order clue 4 went. “these boots are to die for” she said getting bored with Peters puzzle. “Lydia your a genius” you say. She looked at you smiled “I know but what did I do” she said.

“clue 4 its the last one. When we were at the movie store the was a dvd on the box at first I didn’t think anything of it. But it was an American werewolf in London. Peter made a joke about how he wanted to tell me something important about himself and the dvd would help him explain who he is. He wanted to tell me he was a werewolf but I already knew because of Derek. But when we left the store I asked him to show me, show me his wolf side for the first time” you explained moving the card into place.

“so is that where he is were he showed you himself as a werewolf for the first time?” she asked. You shook your head no “that was at the back of the movie store” you answered. Once in order the bigger clue became clear the first letter from each clue spelt out the answer, Peter was at the L A K E.

It didn’t take you long to get there. You should have guessed its where you’d had your first kiss with Peter. As you walked the path you could see the glow of lights ahead, walking faster with excitement. you reached the clearing, finding it covered in little fairy lights and candles.

A big blanket was laid out with a picnic basket in the middle, a fire was lit close to the blanket. Before you could take anymore of it in your dog came running at you almost knowing you down, followed by Peter. He walked over looking smart dressed in a black shirt and not one of his famous v-necks. He kissed you telling you how beautiful you looked. You both sat down the eat the meal he’d made all your favourite foods and sweets in the basket.

As it grew darker Peter got another big blanket and wrapped it around you both. You spent the next hour watching the stars or (y/d/n) playing on the grass. Peter looked nervous checking his watch every now and then like he was waiting for something. Soon Peter took something out of his pocket but kept it hidden from your view.

“y/n I wasn’t going to do this today. I thought it would be too clique but I couldn’t wait and I don’t think I could find a better time or place for this” he said. Moving he turned and sat on his knees, grabbing your left hand “y/n I love you and always have from the day we met. I don’t want to spend my life with anyone but you. So will you spend the rest of your life with me as my wife?” he asked showing you a diamond ring.

You nodded yes, happy tears running down your face. Peter slid the ring on your finger and surprisingly it fitted great. Picking you up of the ground he kissed you passionately. Your kiss was interrupted by a loud bang. You jumped and Peter laughed turning you to face the lake. The sky soon filled with fireworks you watched them light up the sky in a mix of colours as Peter held you from behind. “this is amazing” you say snuggling more into his hug/hold. “only the best for my girl” he said in your ear.

Soon they stopped and a small boat came towards the shoreline. Inside was Scott, stiles and Derek, they had helped Peter all day set up the little area and waiting out on the lake for the time to set the fireworks. The sound of footsteps on the path made you turn your head and see Lydia, malia and Liam coming too. Lydia held a bottle of champagne smirking at you, she’d known Peters plan all along.

They popped the bottle and everyone toasted to your engagement and for the rest of the night you, your fiance and friends celebrated the rest of valentines day and your future.

[autopsyreportofadrownedshrimp]

Hi I was curious if u could do a fanfic or imagine with Jerome and Jeremiah either expanding on ur ticklish suggestion about them or them together cornering the reader and tickling them ? Maybe 😂

“Jerome. Not now.”

The root of tongue is envenomed with only a slightly bitter hint of aggravation. With timeless dexterity, one disgruntled hand extracts the projectile wad of masticated gum from impeccably trimmed combover.

“These are salient blueprints. Mr. Wayne made his urgency very clear on this project. I can’t have any distractions as an alias.”

Vicinal to the toilworn man’s hunched form, a pallid, fresh-faced ginger boy idled behind, head saturated with a fiercer auburn shade to his hirsute mane.

At the word “alias”, the sprite, young flame furrows his brow, intuitive enough to know it was one amongst an ever expanding lexicon of his brother’s technical linguistics and not, in fact, referring to dual personality. It was moments like these that convinced him of his twin’s estranged relation to automation. At times, more machine than man.

“So our dear old whore cleans up her act, sends you to study with Christ himself, and now you inherit the delinquent gene.” Jerome grins, unblemished, roseate lips pulling taut against smooth cheek. “Nature vs. Nurture, huh?”

Jeremiah can’t resist the nanoscopic twitch gracing that equal complexion of rose that paints his lips. Jerome’s use of the term ‘delinquent’ was, for once, germane. A genius, his brother was, undoubtedly. Although not readily apparent. All the same, despite the compulsion to gnash teeth before admitting said genius, he could be smug about the fact that his twin’s intellectual scope was fairly limited with special regards to the stabilised reticles of language. Which, speaking of, for all his unusual fascination, relating to the more unrefined margins of text, he wasn’t too keen on the adopted sobriquet for their mother.

“Why do you insist on calling her that?” Annoyance reflects sharply from one lens of thick frames. The strength of his eyeglass prescription was complementary to that of his work intensity, multiplied exponentially by the raw vexation encroaching upon his momentous occasion of solitude. Solitary pursuits were a venture fit for Sisyphus when your residence was, quite literally, a circus. Fortunately, with a certain charming redhead being the crew’s bread and butter, his performance time alleviated Jeremiah’s increasingly diminished pilgrimage to perpetuated seclusion.

Desperation was no less evident in the numerous layers of labyrinthine schematics scattered about the sectioned corner of personal living space that was their trailer. The nagging hiss that was his addled conscience would lecture him with every revisit of revision to those contiguous lines devising winding paths of confusion. Much like his mind, there were hesitation marks marring every bend. Imperfect. Incomplete. A distant yet intimate siren, shrieking with the pained cries of divorced morality.

“Force of habit.” Much to Jeremiah’s discomfort, his shoulders tense to a greater extent as gloved hands seize them in a firm squeeze.

“Term of endearment.” Jerome’s feverish heat of breath fans his ear with foul notes of Uncle Zach’s porridge medley. A piping hot soup consisting of dubious chunks, from only Satan knows what, of which Jeremiah had often likened to fresh vomit recycled as dive bar cuisine.

“Who doesn’t love a good pet name?”

Jeremiah’s attempt to shrug him off is futile.

For a hot minute (pun intended), Jerome sighs with a fervour akin to impending calenture. Jeremiah pauses; swallows. Viridescent eyes narrow as those leathered fingers flex from grasp.

If geneticists needed identical twins for an experimental group concerning the proposed shared frequency of thought, he’d be the first to volunteer an inkling of empirical verity to the semblance of (one-sided) telepathy.

“You work too hard.” Jeremiah could hear the frown punctuating his complaint. “Broski can’t spare a blink to play hide-and-seek.”

Jeremiah scoffs internally.

“All work and no play makes Mr. J a dull boy.”

In a matter of milliseconds, Jeremiah ejects from his swivel chair, making a jarring jerk of velocity to Jerome, who catches it in time to see his pristine second half flaring at the nostrils, chin jutted in defiance. Nimble fingers ball into fists.

“Don’t you fucking dare.”

Jerome whistles. 

“Ho-ho. Look at Potty Mouth here.” 

He’s amused by this sudden surge of ire. Tendrils of shoulder-length hair tickle his face, displaced from the brunt of chair’s assault. Lips curl to a sadistic smirk.“Basketball Diaries got it right with the damage done by Catholic schools. They must be putting an extra spice of sin in those cafeteria lunches.”Jeremiah begins to grow restless. Cornered like a mouse. Jerome blocks the only entrance/exit and Jeremiah wants nothing more than to sprint from the looming clutch he anticipates.

“I mean it, Jerome. Don’t come any closer.”

“Or what? You’ll tell mommy?”

Jeremiah’s lips press into a line, huffing through the nose at his mocking sad face.

“Oh, lighten up, Poindexter. After all these years, you know it’s inevitable. Or would you file a restraining order on your dearest brother because of one silly little fear.”Jerome wags his fingers in the air, as if in preparation for surgical operation.

“Or, should I say… delicate sensibilities.”

Jeremiah sears him with a glare.

“Either way, you can’t escape what’s coming.” Jerome pushes the chair aside, beginning to approach with measured steps, each smug stride of gait further inching Jeremiah into his desk. One jolting misstep generates a force of impact resulting in a single lamp being shifted, taking refuge from table to adjoining bed, still arranged in disarray.

Per reflex and muscle memory, he can’t not put the apparatus back in its proper place. It is here where his execution deals a grievous error.

Jerome leaps in for the kill. A flurry of lank limbs waltz in the tangled heap of sheets and devices of precise measurement. As a comet shower raining down to impress its lingering tease of touch upon the earth, Jerome’s fingers commence a loafing ascent from the heaving man’s chest beneath, pressing firm in gradual increments as the same pulse of vibration begins to quicken.

Jeremiah, pinned under, hips nestled between his brother’s thighs, burrows his head to the side with scrunched eyes. Glasses were askew. Hair, now an unkempt thatch fraying at the seams. Those same fingers, correspondent in structure and build, cling expectantly to the cool expanse of unwashed fabric.

“Proceed, fair jester. Do your worst.” Vaguely quivering monotone is his defeated delivery, seasoned only by savoury aftertones of dry humour.

Jerome is possessed by an awful stretch of smile. One so wide as to give the illusion of a person who suggested scarring at the corners of a lacerated mouth.

“Fighting the urge will only make the burn more intense.”

Asserted with low, gravel pitch, a redundancy in the system of warnings for what horrors were coming. The once rancid stench of his vocal emissions had since begun to abate, petering out to a patronising lull of scented pine cones.

“Don’t want to be consumed by eternal flame, do you? An angel like you?”

Indeed, Jerome was the morning star fallen from grace. The pressure of his rakish body is almost too much to bear. Equivalent to the oppressing weight of a phantom ton, minutes before commencing session of lucid dreaming.

As soon as pressure builds, it dissipates, posthaste, with an inverted swell of climax. Jerome extends the distance, erasing proximity of peart face from the tired shadow below, still waiting.

Too little, too late.

Too… boring.

With a roll of 20/20 vision, he sits back on his haunches, the bulk of his nether regions compensating for axing blow to pressure. Under more relaxed circumstance, he might have begun to consider a steep curve of insight to burgeoning sexuality. Shocking even to him, his hallmark affinity for moral decay hadn’t fully contemplated indulging one of humanity’s most contentious vices.

This brief moment of introspection fades immediately. He ponders the thought of clemency no longer. No quarter. No mercy. Sparing no further delay, that terribly alluring, Cheshire grin is plastered back in place.

In placid hues of owl light, dithering suspense, the tepid brush of distressed leather makes a diving descent. To the deep end of sensitive nerves, fingertips double as candle wicks, setting alight the wan neck, divested of vibrant colour.

To Lila Valeska, the sight could be described as ‘freakish’. In spite of being born and bred as a performer, surrounded by a farrago of bizarre characters, the act of comedy occurring before her was one she would never quite become accustomed to.

Pale hues of moon filter as a spotlight to the curious show. Shafts of radiance illuminate Jerome’s tousled locks to a mirage of inferno. His face is obscured by contorted angle, nuzzling the neck of his captive like an affectionate pup. The captive in question is helpless to violent, quaking motions. Extraterrestrial sounds were being wrested from his chest as if there were beasts to be unleashed. Jerome wraps around him like a clinging babe to bosom. Bodies intertwined; dexterous hands tickling relentless at bruising ribs; eyelashes a feathered caress upon hypersensitive flesh.

If laughs were infernal, Jerome was the exorcist.

Ill humour from Apollo thinks the bespectacled saint was beyond saving. No crescendo of hue and cry could rescue him now. By comic design, three-ring circuses epitomised the lungs of laughter. Inexorably, his orchestra of cachinnations were muted to eardrums of the ordinary. To an opera of abominable hysterics, he succumbs to an incurable strain of jocosity’s contagion.

Yet, for all his surrender, the hidden feelings were indelibly obstinate in their broiling simmer.

There was no refuting the liberties of truth.

Jeremiah often fantasised about escaping this place.

Delving in perennial fountains of brown studies, keening for the sapid relish of mazes and the art of getting lost.

No trace of his screaming DNA to be found amid soundproof walls abound.

He romanticises the thought of being impossible to find.

Teeth would sooner be plucked before he ever confessed it: The most enticing mystery…

What it would be like to get lost inside his brother’s mind.

A mesmerising lullaby.