#him showing Vanessa saying how perfect it is

[chloesimaginationthings]

What Vanessa was actually thinking during this FNAF scene

[earthchica]

whiskey kisses

logan howlett x black! reader

summary: You are sexually frustrated and Wade tries to hook you up with Logan.

warning: explicit smut (18+), drinking alcohol, protected sex, dirty talking, foreplay, oral & vaginal fingering (f), pet names (sweet pea, baby, etc.)

__

"Hey Peter, how about another round?" You inquired with a smile, sliding your empty glass across the counter.

You were attending a party that your neighbor friend, Wade Wilson was throwing.

He's been encouraging you to socialize more ever since your messy divorce.

So here you were, all dressed up and feeling pretty. You were told there would be eligible bachelors here which got you thinking about having a lighthearted post-divorce fling.

You jolted back to reality when a familiar voice called your name. You swiveled around to find Wade.

"Anyone caught your eye yet?" He chirped, plopping down beside you at the small bar.

"Wade, you promised eligible bachelors at this party, but I'm not spotting any," You exclaimed, swiveling on your stool to scan the room.

"Yeah…I know sweet pea. I just told you that so you can hook up with the perfect guy to blow your back out" He quipped, gesturing towards Logan who was sitting in the corner, sipping a glass of whiskey.

"What about Logan? He's single, trustworthy, and easy on the eyes.," He whispered that last part with a grin.

"No, Wade. No, I can't ask him. That would be weird; plus he's a friend," You declined, shaking your head.

"Why the hell not? Maybe he'd say yes if you asked. Come on, you asked me for help and I've given it to you" He pressed.

"Ugh…what? No way…I can't just be like, 'Hey, logan feeling lonely, wanna…you know fuck?" You joked, rolling your eyes.

"Oh my god, if you go up and say that to him…I think I'll die happy" Wade says, sharing a glance with you, and you both burst into laughter.

"Okay, that was a bit much, but still. Logan….I don't think he's the type of guy who would be into that"

"_____, I'm gonna be honest. You gotta stop being so fucking uptight and just go with the flow, sweet pea"

"Whoa, hold up! I am not uptight," You fire back, arms crossed in defense.

"sweet pea, this is me you're talking to. You know I'm right" He teases, raising an eyebrow.

"Ugh…fine," You shake your head, slightly irritated. "Yay, now come on!" He chuckles, tugging you along.

"Where are we going?" You ask, feeling a bit jittery.

"Going to have fun, something you're overdue for," Wade replies, pulling you to the dance floor.

You take a deep breath, let loose, and groove to the music, swinging your hips from side to side.

"Oh look who's watching you," He whispers in your ear, and Logan looks at you with a deep gaze, jealousy gracing his face.

He was eyeing you like a lion tracking its prey, a new look that intrigued you.

It's kind of, a turn-on.

"Take the hint!" Wade nudges before going to join Vanessa. A favorite song of yours started blasting.

It was time to crank up the sass and put on a show for his eyes only. You shut your eyes and let your hips groove, causing a commotion with your ass.

A cheeky grin crept onto your face as a familiar hand landed on your lower back.

"You took your sweet time," You teased, sensing his flawless frame snug against yours.

His touch glided over the silky material of your dress as we swayed in sync on the dance floor, perfectly attuned to each other's beat.

"You look so gorgeous tonight, sweetheart. I couldn't keep my eyes off of you…I've been holding back saying this but I want you," Logan murmurs in your ear.

"What do you mean, you want me?" You inquire, fully aware of his intentions, yet craving to hear him verbalize them.

"You know what I mean! I'm attracted to you, always have been. When we first met I thought you were the most gorgeous woman" he declares, gently turning your body to meet his gaze.

His gaze pierced through you, those hazel brown eyes longing for something untold.

"You'll be amazed by how irresistible I am," You teased, nervously nibbling on your lip.

His lips inch closer to your ears, the warmth of his breath dancing tantalizingly on your brown skin.

"Can I kiss you?" he murmurs, and in a split second, you yank him closer for a fiery smooch, tangling your fingers in his hair.

His hands decided to take a detour from your waist to my backside, giving it a playful pat.

Breaking away from the kiss, he rose to his full height, enjoying how he towered you.

"Let's go somewhere…more private" he declares, not bothering to hear your response.

You both waved goodbye to everyone, made your grand exit, and quickly made it to your apartment

_

"I'm gonna fuck you so good, you'll forget your name" Logan whispered, leaving kisses down the back of your neck.

You both triumphantly crossed the threshold of your front door, while kissing and touching all over.

Logan pulls away to lift you up and secure your legs around his waist, before carrying you to your bedroom following your instructions.

He sets you down on the bed before enjoying you. He begins kissing and caressing your neck.

His hand moves under your dress to softly stroking through your panties.

You gently pushed him back, removing his shirt and tossing it across the room. Then, your hands move to his pants' belt.

You played with the belt for a second until it was finally unlatched. You noticed a noticeable bulge starting to emerge in his underwear.

You lightly grazed against his pants, and he let out a groan. You swiftly turned him onto his back and liberated him from his pants and underwear.

You couldn't resist a dramatic gasp! You looked at his big, juicy erect member.

How the hell was that going to fit?

"This is all for you, amor" Logan teases, almost tearing your dress off in one swift move!

He let out a gasp when he caught a glimpse of your big, plump breasts and your black panties

"Oh sweetheart, you have the most perfect tits I have ever seen," He says, cheekily flipping you over and playfully swiping your panties off!

He makes his way down to your entrance, giving you a few light circle strokes before inserting two fingers into your dripping core.

"Logan, please!" You moaned in pleasure, trying to push him away because the faster he thrust his fingers in and out of you.

The louder you get.

"Tell me what you want, baby? and I'll give it to you" He asks, pressing his forehead against mine while still fingering the heck out of you.

"I-I-want you to fuck me." You screamed through your orgasm and as you came down from your high.

Logan begins leaving sweet kisses down your neck as you catch your breath.

"Do you have a condom?" You asked, watching him slurp his fingers spotless. He nodded and dashed off the bed to grab one from his pants.

Logan gets back on the bed, rolling the condom on his member before spreading your legs open to position himself at your core

"Ahh Fuck!" You gasped, feeling how huge he was and loving how he stretched you out.

You placed your hand on his hip as he began to thrust in and out, holding your waist.

"Shit baby…you feel like heaven. I could stay inside of you forever" His thrusts became faster, looking down, admiring the way his member moves in and out of you.

"Logan, don't stop" You let out a dramatic moan as he lifted you and plopped down on his back.

"I would never stop" He starts pounding up into you with some unbelievable force, making you scream in pleasure.

You threw your head back, placing your hands on his chest; trying to match his rhythm of thrust.

"Yes! Yes! Just like that" You moaned, feeling another orgasm getting closer and closer.

"You like that huh, does it feel good? You've always dreamed of this moment huh, baby?" Logan moans, grabbing your breast for a second, letting you bounce up and down his shaft.

"Yes, so good! It feels so good, Logan" You cried as he kept going and going, feeling like you were gonna lose your damn mind.

He stopped you for a second and pulled out, changing the position with your face down and your ass up.

"Oh…baby. You also have the most perfect ass" Logan groans, smacking your ass over and over again while pounding into your core.

"LOGAN!" You cried, feeling yourself getting close to the edge. He brought you up and wrapped his hand around your throat while his other hand rubbed your entrance.

"Come. Come for me, my sweet girl!" He whispers in your ear, and you let out a scream, feeling the great release.

Logan curses while pulling out, rips the condom off, and comes all over your ass.

You landed smack on your belly, catching a mischievous grin on his face before closing your eyes.

"Fuck…I love you…You are so…" Realizing what he was saying, Logan went into full panic mode.

He looked down to see your reaction but breathed a sigh of relief realizing you were out cold.

[icarusredwings]

i *live* for your agere wade omg 😢🙏🏻 i also age regress there's just something about your favorite character being like you that makes me smile :) your writing is absolutely wonderful as well!! :3

Hi hon, Im so proud of you for doing what's good for you, and I am so happy that you've found something to enjoy that makes you feel good about yourself.

Thank you so much for the support. I've seen more people mention how excited they were to find cute, mild, and nonnsexual regressions for Wade, so I've decided to put it on A03 for more people to enjoy.

I actually was nervous about posting them in general because of the stigma around it but seeing how supportive you all have been (I dont know why im even shocked) it's made me a little more confident in my writing. I was abused quite a bit as a child, and while I don't regress, I do have a special attachment to my stuffed animals and find comfort in kids' shows. Annnddd, as someone who was working towards becoming a geneticist? It's comforting to know that some very intelligent and successful people also do.

While you're waiting for me to write more or upload to A03, have some HCs:

Depending on what's going on, he fluctuates between 5-8.

Wade has 3 caregivers, Al, Vanessa, and Logan. He loves them all so much but certian care givers are for certain things. Al (Mama) is he goes too for booboos, Ness (Mommy) is who takes him out the most, to the park and doctors (If things get too out of hand, she can pull the "He's my disabled son you bastard" card, and Logan (Kitty) is general. The one youll find when wade is casually colouring or playing tea party with.

He'll take "sippies" but hes a bit too old for them because he chews the tops off.

Cereal, mac and cheese, pizza, bassically anything he already eats as an adult, including spicy tacos.

He doesn't have a lot of toys (and if he does, they're from a give away or a dumpster) so is very possesive of them and will instantly get upset if you try to take them away or "hurt" them.

Wade is the type to just chill with you on the couch and eat snacks if you don't have the energy to play or take him to the park. Even as a child, he was very emotionally intelligent, and it shows.

Most kids would have tantrums, but he seems to either be understanding or go cry in silence while isolated (its what hes used too)

As much as people say he's a potty mouth, I don't see it. Not yet anyway. Sure he'll say "bad words" sometimes but as someone whos used to being screamed at to shut up all the time, I believe he talks so much as an adult BECAUSE he wasn't allowed as a kid so he's more of an observer unless you are unfortunately his favorite and then hes going to tell you random facts.

Oftentimes, the "perfect child" are ones that are independent, quiet, and who monitor their emotions/ actions around other kids and adults. This means being forced to act older than you actually are, walking on eggshells around adults and trying to do things by himself.

He likes to wear clothes that are too big for him rather then tight. (Bonus points if they're a hoodie or a sweater)

He likes baths and sometimes will tell you that his "Skin hurts" when really it's just itchy/peeling/ needs lotion.

He's not big on babytalk but "puppy" "mama" "mommy" "park?" "Kitty scratch bad guys" "I watch tv?" "Go home?" "Play horses?" Are common. Its either small unfinished sentneces or endless rambling with full sentences that repeat themself. Logan has once heard "Did you know-?" 30 times once all in 10 minutes

He has a stuffy of a Wolverine named Fluffy from Kitty, a unicorn named Buttercream from Mommy, and a bear shaped dog toy from Mama. In her defense she didn't know it was a dog toy (because shes blind and cant read duh) but Wade loves it more that it squeaks.

Because kidWade (He is "NOT little", he's a "Big boy") is bigger than them, he has issues playing a little... rough... with other kids. He has infact shoved a kid into the sand while playing tag.

Wade is very erm... possesive.. over his caregivers and will act out if he believes Kitty is ignoring him. Because of their history, hes even more prone to acting out with Ness and has gone as far as telling someone they looked like a burnt quesodilla that "had a baby with a wrinkled cucumber" before (and will do it again)

Flappy hands. Giggles. Screeches. That is all that needs to be said.

Wade likes music, arts, and crafts. Physical exercise is nice too but naps are needed afterwards.

Naps must be willing. If you tell him to go take a nap he'll just stomp his feet and cry that hes "being good" so "doesn't need one" bassically, naps are punishment.

Tw for sensitive topics such as mental and physical health

The worst part about having Wade isn't that he is a "brat" or "bad", no infact wade barley ever is a brat. He's very people pleasing because he just wants as much affection as possible. it's the fact that you can't trick him or keep him from doing something. He's too smart.

"Come on baby, we're going to the park"

"Yay!!- wait.... Mommy... Mommy the park is that way...Mommy this is how you go to the mean doctors! They're gonna rip my teeth out!"

It's even HARDER to care for a kid who can escape literally anything and can run all the way home if you upset him too badly. The only thing really you can do is call a different cg and double up on the reassurance. (And maybe a bribe)

Another thing is that just because he's in this headspace doesn't mean his issues are gone. Between the nightmares, the flashbacks, the scary hallucinations that he can't understand, intrusive thoughts about harming a person, impusive thoughts, and just straight up having to deal with cancer on top of it all, etc.

Do you know how hard it is to explain to a child that they're nauseous and exhausted because the cells inside of him are eating the other cells, dying, and healing all at the same time?

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

can i be honest? im a fan of azul but his dream felt like it lacked impact. there were some very interesting moments and its better than the prediction that he would already be rich and own the world

like really? azul becomes a famous athlete and bullies others, then he takes over night raven? i feel like his struggles with his own identity and food could have been further explored and he is based off of ursula, which should extend to vanessa, right? it was the perfect reason to give him a total makeover and show that he has to be comfortable in his own skin before anything else, even if his other ness was what made him a target of bullying in the first place

your thoughts and worries on book 7 post has affected my perspective and i cant help but feel like something is missing 🥲 maybe all the budget went into Jade and Floyd?

[Referencing this post!]

As I’ve previously expressed, I have a lot of my own complicated feelings about the direction book 7 is taking, specifically with how the OB boys’ dream segments are presented and resolved. Azul’s dream is no different; it felt very contrived due to the formula TWST insists on running with in every new installment. It’s becoming even more apparent with each update, and it is really grating on me.

But!! Before I get to what I believe are shortcomings with Azul’s dream, let’s review what Anon has to say.

I feel like, no matter what, there will always be people claiming that the OB boys’ dreams are “missed opportunities”. This is simply because these characters have much more deep and complex issues than the rest of the cast, so we will naturally scrutinize them more. TWST is basically only able to go with one angle when they tackle the dream, leaving the other threads unexplored. This will surely annoy or disappoint people who wish that TWST would have addressed a different issue instead, or perhaps something closer to their personal interpretation of the events. In Azul’s case, I feel like some people (particularly in the west, not so much in the east) see Azul’s weight concerns or relationship with food as a prominent part of his character, so they wish that book 7 part 10 had looked into that more. However, that was never a big focus in canon, so it follows that TWST would want to dedicate its time and resources to the most pressing thing (which would be more centered on Azul’s general self-confidence, greed, and how those tie into his sense of identity). At the same time, they probably wanted to avoid a lens that is too broad. Having the focus be on Azul’s “otherness” or being an octopus might veer too heavily into something way beyond the scope of the ~10 parts of the story he has to himself.

We also need to consider that these dreams are meant to be shallow interpretations of what the dreamer desires (according to Idia). Only the OB boys get to go more in depth due to bring dragged down into deeper layers of their dreams. Azul wants to be accepted by his peers and is insecure about his lack of athleticism (as one reason why he was bullied was due to not being able to swim as fast as other merchildren). So of course the surface level of his dream makes him a star athlete beloved by all. The whole “his plan succeeds, he steals everyone’s magic, he takes over NRC” thing happens in the second layer of his dream, which, like all previous OB boys, is a dark display of what would have happened had they not been stopped. And finally, Azul being a bully is nothing new—we saw this behavior back in book 3 as well. He became the very thing he despised back when he was a victim, and now he continues to perpetuate that cycle of bullying in an effort to affirm confidence in his “cool” new identity. I think the dream was very intentional in trying to entice him with the promises of power and acceptance. That, in turn, shows us that the desire to be a successful businessman (the thing many of us thought would be his dream) actually hinges on Azul’s longing to be accepted. His struggle with his identity and how it depends on how others perceive him was portrayed. I’m just not sure if the idea was executed in the best way, since it sounds like the message may have gotten muddled along the way and it definitely requires some reading between the lines.

I noticed that you cited my original post where I detailed my concerns about book 7 and how that has influenced your own thoughts 💦 I hope that it just… informed or supplemented your opinions rather than suddenly altered them to be more “in line” with my own. I never want to be the kind of person who claims their interpretations are the “most correct” I’m not Riddle’s mom, okay?? 😭

About Jade and Floyd’s dreams, I feel like those are less heavily critiqued because they, by virtue of not being an OB boy, have fewer stakes and are predominantly there to be silly. It’s like contrasting Epel wanting to be big and buff to Vil literally murdering Neige; there is just no comparison. Even then, I wouldn’t necessarily say Floyd’s and Jade’s parts received “all the budget”… They seemed like pretty basic storylines to me, perhaps dressed up slightly better thanks to the new undersea assets and bioluminescence reveal.

My issues with Azul’s dream segment is how… ham-fisted several elements were. All of it, for the sake of sticking to the pattern already established earlier. It feels so unnatural and stilted because you just KNOW it’s written this way to fit the template 😔 For example:

Why did Jade become SO dumb when they were trying to figure out where Azul had moved the contracts? He’s supposed to be much smarter than how he is presented here. Wouldn’t his immediate thought be to check Azul’s room? But NO, Jade can’t come to that conclusion on his own because we need a contrived reason for each student to use their UM before the ending :/ so Jade has to waste time using his UM to get the truth out of his dream!self.

Jade and Floyd sitting around and going “………….” while they watch Azul make an ass of himself was such a time waster. Clearly you have enough brains to know what would trigger him, so why are you not acting on it???? Oh yeah, because we need to show more cool stuff in this dream like La Grotta!

Azul literally turns to the camera and tells his OB self, “Unlike you, I’ve changed.” It’s way too on the nose with what it’s trying to communicate. It breaks immersion and makes it so obvious the characters are outright stating their character development to make sure we all “get it”.

What was the purpose of Azul using his UM to get the mermobs to sign a contract to give all their power to him???💀 Bro can just say “excuse me, I forgot something back at the Coral Rush field” and they’d probably let him pass. But again, Azul isn’t allowed to do that because he MUST use his UM before the ending. Because Azul’s UM requires that another person willingly agree and sign a contract, his mandatory UM use before the grand finale feels particularly forced.

How many times do I need to listen to Idia/Ortho or other characters warn us about how we can’t have too many people dream hopping or else bugs might happen or Malleus might notice… It’s almost like the devs realize how long this is being dragged out for so they have to remind us every so often.

Not only that, but we get such poorly constructed explanations to keep characters behind while a new character goes with the main group. Why don’t you just leave them all behind once they’re awake then?? Oh yeah, because we NEED to drag along the current student into the next dream so everyone gets a cameo. It’s so inorganic how the characters are chosen to stay behind, Jamil just conveniently volunteers himself while we also listen to another spiel from Silver and Sebek about how their training makes them more stable than the twins to keep dream hopping.

I would actually consider Azul’s dream… serviceable? Like it isn’t fantastic or anything but for what it is, it works. It’s cohesive enough. But god, did I dislike how rigid it was… Nothing happens because it’s natural, it happens because the script demands it happens. To quote another post:

If anyone has played the first Ace Attorney game, this feels a LOT like that part in case 2 where Phoenix is too dumb to check the back of a receipt until Mia literally tells him to. The [characters have] to actively be made stupider because the scenario calls for it, and that really rubs me the wrong way.

[thirtysomethingloser92]

Your Gambit x reader story is one of the best things I've read. The writing, the story line, the perfect characterization of the characters are perfection. So since you're writing such long chapters, and obviously we will probably have to wait for them, is there any possible way you love us enough to show us hints of the bits you've written?

please?

*Begging eyes* Pretty Please?

Thank you so much! You have no idea how much I appreciate it. But you're absolutely right, chapters will be a wait in between them (The current chapter I'm working on is around 10k words) because I want to make sure that A) I'm actually doing the characters justice, so I'm going back through my old X-men comics, and B) I'm trying not to make it horribly angsty or fluffy- yet that seems to be the direction each chapter I keep writing seems to take me. BUT! Anyway; Yes I'm happy to give you guys some sneak peeks of some stuff that I've written for a few chapters. Please keep in mind, these are future chapters and may be bound to change somewhat :)

Part 1. “This is great isn’t it?" You looked over at Wade and Vanessa who were sitting on your couch, Wade’s arm falling easily over his girlfriend’s shoulders. The man continued, ignoring your raised eyebrow; “I mean, it really is. We both have an alcoholic each. You with Remy Lebeau, me with the Wolverine. We could almost start up our own adoption centre if we keep collecting them like Pokemon,” You looked back over your shoulder at the two forementioned men who were talking lowly, both with a bottle of brown liquid in their hands; "Yeah well, they were bound to come with a little trauma. We did rip them from the only universes they've ever known and threw them smack bang into our bullshit," You commented lightly, hiding the worry that was building in your stomach as you watched Remy take another long drink. Part 2. "You can’t Instacart more bedding, Wade. It’s expensive, it’s stupid, and how often is it going to be used?” you argued, clearly exasperated.

Wade, looking up from your phone with a cheeky grin, replied, “Are you saying you don’t want more super special BFF sleepovers?”

You placed your hands on your hips, giving him a pointed look. “You’re like an ADHD child on crack. I am exhausted by you,” you said, though there was a trace of amusement in your voice.

Wade’s grin widened. “Well, you’d be able to rest and get some sleep if we Instacarted more bedding.”

You shook your head, throwing your hands up in frustration. “Fuck me. I’m out,” you said, retreating into the kitchen with a dramatic flourish.

Logan and Remy exchanged a glance, the conversation they had on the back porch clear in each their minds, Logan’s expression softening with a reassuring nod. “She’s going to be fine,” he said quietly, more to himself than to Remy. Remy looked back at the way you came, hearing the clattering of dishes in the sink. He didn't think he could cope if you weren't. Part 3.

Remy felt you stir slightly beneath his arm, his breath warm against your skin as he spoke softly. "I know you're awake, chère. Your breathin' changed." His voice was gentle, laced with that familiar Cajun drawl that always brought you comfort. He peppered the middle of your shoulder blades with tender kisses, the warmth of his lips making your heart ache even more.

When you didn’t reply, he paused, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He rested his forehead on your back, his breath hitching as he whispered, "You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you? That’s what this was all about." You felt him swallow hard, his voice barely above a murmur. "A last goodbye."

The words hung in the air, the weight of them almost unbearable.

You turned slowly to face him, your hand reaching up to cup his cheek. His eyes, usually so full of mischief and warmth, were now clouded with sadness and fear. "I have to," you whispered, your voice trembling as you spoke. "I have to stop this."

Remy shook his head, his grip on you tightening as if he could hold you in place, keep you from slipping away. "You don’t have to stop anythin’, ma chérie. Let 'em keep chasin' you. I’ll make sure they never get you, not until the day I die," he argued, his voice a low, fierce promise. He pulled you closer, his lips brushing against your forehead.

A soft, bittersweet smile tugged at your lips, though it didn’t reach your eyes. "I know, Remy. I know you would. But this is bigger than us, bigger than anything we’ve ever dealt with." A lump formed in your throat, your voice cracking as you spoke. "I’m sorry. I never—" You swallowed hard, trying to steady yourself. "I never meant to fall in love with you."

Remy closed his eyes, his expression pained. "But you did," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "An' now… now you’re gonna leave me." Part 4.

You felt Remy hold you tighter, his forehead pressed against yours in front of the door; knowing that the small piece of wood was the only thing standing between you and an unknown fate. "You just had to make me fall in love with you," He said simply, closing his eyes, trying to hold on to this small bubble you had both created. But now you stood in front of him, Wade, and Logan, the three of them tense and ready to fight if it came to that. Remy's fingers were bouncing off each other, counting in his head as a way to try and stop himself from blasting every agent out the field, Logan's jaw was clenched, and Wade's usually carefree expression was uncharacteristically serious. The large group of TVA agents stood across from you, their dark uniforms making them look like shadows against the dim light of the early dawn.

Your heart pounded as you looked at your friends, then back at the agents. The leader, a stern-faced woman with an air of authority, stepped forward, her eyes cold and calculating as she assessed the situation.

"No more tricks, no more running," you stated simply, your voice steady despite the fear gnawing at your insides. "I'll come with you."

The agents exchanged wary glances, clearly prepared for a fight, but surprised by your compliance. The leader took another step forward, her eyes narrowing as if she suspected a trap. "Mutant 1900148, you are hereby under arrest for the crime of disturbing the multiverse without authority," she announced, her voice echoing in the silence.

You didn’t resist as she pulled out large metal cuffs and a choker, placing them on you with an almost clinical precision. The cuffs were cold against your skin, heavy with the weight of the choice you had made. You felt the choker snap into place around your neck, a shiver running down your spine as its power dampened your abilities, leaving you feeling vulnerable and exposed.

As the agents grabbed you by the arms, you looked back at your friends, your heart breaking at the sight of their expressions. Logan’s fists were clenched, his eyes blazing with barely restrained fury. Wade’s hand hovered near his weapons, his face a mask of anger and helplessness. And Remy... Remy looked like he was about to shatter, his usually confident demeanor replaced by a mix of anguish and desperation.

"I'll be okay," you promised, your voice firm as you met each of their gazes in turn. It was a promise you weren’t sure you could keep, but they needed to hear it. You needed them to believe it, even if you didn’t.

The leader signaled to her team, and the agents began to lead you away, their grip on your arms firm but not rough. With each step you took, you felt the distance between you and your friends grow, a physical manifestation of the chasm opening up between your worlds.

Remy took a step forward, his hand outstretched as if he could pull you back, but Logan grabbed his arm, holding him in place. "Let her go," Logan muttered, his voice thick with emotion. "This is her choice."

Wade looked like he was about to say something, but the words died on his lips as he saw the determination in your eyes. He knew there was no talking you out of this.

As the agents led you toward the waiting portal, you glanced back one last time, etching their faces into your memory. Remy stood frozen, his eyes locked on you, as if trying to memorize every detail of your face, every nuance of your expression. Logan had turned away, his shoulders hunched with the weight of his own regrets. Wade gave you a small, sad smile, his way of saying goodbye without actually saying the words.

And then, with a flash of light, you were gone, the portal swallowing you up and leaving your friends behind in the dawn of a new day that felt colder, emptier, without you. Part 5.

The sterile halls of the TVA echoed with the sound of your footsteps as you were led into a vast chamber, its ceiling high above you, disappearing into an expanse of swirling, fractured light. The sky—or what passed for it in this place—was splintering, the once solid lines of reality breaking apart and intertwining in chaotic, dizzying patterns.

Kang the Conqueror, or as he was known now, Kang the Destroyer, stood at the center of the room, his presence commanding and imposing. His dark robes flowed around him, and his eyes, sharp and calculating, seemed to see through you as you approached.

"You see it, don't you? You feel it," Kang's voice was calm, almost too calm given the chaos around you. "The multiverse… all the timelines… they’re splintering. They’re changing, interweaving with each other, and eventually, they will collapse." He spoke with a matter-of-fact tone, as if discussing the inevitable fall of the universe was merely another day's work. "The whole universe will fall into itself, a chain reaction that cannot be stopped."

You stared at the shifting sky, the weight of his words pressing down on you. "Why are you telling me this?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

Kang stepped closer, his gaze never leaving yours. "Because you are the key. You are the anchor that can keep all the universes running, stable. Without you, everything will unravel, and all will be lost."

The enormity of what he was asking settled heavily in your chest, but one thought rose above the rest, pushing past the fear and confusion. "Will they be safe?" you asked quietly, your eyes fixed on the fracturing sky above. "My friends. If I do this, will they be okay?"

Kang's smile was slow, calculated, and though his lips curved upward, the coldness in his eyes betrayed no warmth. "Of course they will be. They will thrive. You have my word."

But even as he spoke, a nagging doubt gnawed at the edges of your mind. Kang’s words were smooth, too smooth, and the promise of safety felt like a lure, a carefully crafted trap. But what choice did you have?

[factual-fantasy]

23-ish Asks! :DD Fun pictures ahead!

--!!FNAF MOVIE SPOILERS!!--

@mbm-artist @pinkbomb08 @tadssstrange

AH! Happy Halloween! Sorry I am late to respond to you trick or treaters. I have been really busy lately with a project. For your patience and for waiting at my door step for several days- I reward you with only the finest delicacies I have to offer,

Be sure to devour it all in 1 sitting ya hear? :}

@jackal-lantern @trotg2367

I have seen the FNAF movie. And I have more negative things to say than positive <XD

The positive things being, MAT PAT YEAAAAHHHH- The first spook with Bonnie following the formula of the first game was THE BEST THING EVER. I'm so glad that Markiplier was fully intended to be a part of the movie. Its a bummer that he couldn't make it but its the thought that counts. <:) (He was busy working on Iron Lung and the schedules just didn't line up. He explains it all in this stream-)

Now for the negatives. Oh boy <XD Out of order- the movie wasn't nearly as scary as I expected. I was kind'a disappointed really. That 1 tense scene with Bonnie disappearing off stage was EXCELLENT but otherwise the scares were kind'a lackluster.. I feel like the scare with Foxy running down the hall needed the added sound of his thumping foot steps getting louder as they approached. Like in the game. That would have been scarier to me and would have been a call back, like Bonnie! Although I do appreciate that it was added at all. I would have been more disappointed if there wasn't a Foxy running down the hall scene <XD

Of course I wasn't a fan of the carbon copy of Vanessa being Williams daughter for obvious lore reasons. I didn't like how much the animatronics moved and how blatantly alive they were. It took away so much of the horror for me. Also how quickly Mike just.. accepted that they were ghosts?? It took like 3 minutes to convince him. I wished they had stuck with the scares and the atmosphere of the first game. It would have been a lot scarier to me that way. Also not even mentioning the missed scare of someone opening one of their stomachs and finding a dead child all disfigured and crammed inside..

Also the animatronics looked FANTASTIC, although.. considering that Freddy's has been shut down for a while. Wouldn't they be a bit more worn? Like, they're in mint condition. While the building around them is in shambles and dirty. You could say Vanessa has been keeping up the maintenance, but I still think they'd show some age.. also missed opportunity to make them scarier by making them look like the withers! Bonnie's face falling off to show a disfigured childs face behind?? Dude the missed potential!

I also don't like the inclusion if Springtrap for lore reasons. That happens later! Also WHY is the Spring Bonnie suit all worn and messed up? That happens AFTER he gets spring locked! People would still know its William/Springtrap without making the suit already worn and old- GAAHHH! I could ramble on and on about all the stupid little nit picks I have about this movie. I have been a fan for a long time and had high expectations. But that doesn't mean I should rip this movie to shreds.

I gotta stop looking at all the down sides and really focus on the things I loved. The animatronics looked amazing, they were perfect. Especially Foxy. The inclusion/intended inclusion of Mat Pat, Markiplier and Cory(?) was wonderful. And a total surprise to me! The movie wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. It definitely wasn't as bad as it could have been. And for that I am grateful.

Overall I give ittt.... mmmm, a 5-6 out of 10..? <:D

Over the span of 10 years? Yeah.. likely 100s.. :(

I kind'a imagined the mirrors as like.. pressing the walls of two timelines/AUs together and poking a hole through them. There isn't really a space in between, its like a doorway. Now that's not to say that those void spaces don't exist- I'm just saying that how I imagined Jevil mirrors to work.

Could poking those metaphorical holes in the walls of an AU be more.. literal? Could Jevil going in and out of an AU multiple times eventually harm it in someway? Who knows.. Jevil would rather not dwell on it <XD

You're right on the money pal. All of Jevils food is given to Seam. He wont eat unless Seam has eaten. He wont sleep unless Seam is already asleep. He cant sleep when he tries but still All their new clothes and blankets go right to Seam. If they're camping out in the woods? Jevil will stay awake the whole night to keep the fire going.

Its really hard for Seam to see Jevil like this. Seam tries really hard to cover up when he's uncomfortable or unwell. He tries to keep up an image and tries to reassure Jevil that he's alright. But sometimes he just cant. Sometimes he's so hungry he's doubled over in pain with tears welling in his eye. Sometimes he's aching so much that he cant move. Sometimes he's so cold he loses feeling in his hands and feet..

He cant hide it then. And he cant convince Jevil that he needs to eat too. That he needs sleep too. Its really hard for the both of them..

Thaaaat would not work for my Seam <XD

My Seam is more of an organic creature rather than a stuffed doll. Cutting off his hands would just cause him to bleed. A lot. And without a powerful Darkener that can heal, I don't know if they could be reattached-

Peach/Mario and Daisy/Luigi are like, the ONLY exceptions I can think of. Both of those pairings are like, 99% canon/heavily suggested. If not just straight up canon.

Also unlike other ships/canon stuff, I really like those two pairings. I think they're neat :}

Its hard to say who had the worse punishment. I mean, suffering is suffering. And if you asked Seam, he'd say Jevil suffered more. And if you asked Jevil he'd say Seam suffered more. I guess its a matter of what you think is worse.

Jevil was locked away for years, by his own best friend. That magical aura that used to be his only comfort was now oppressing him. He was locked away with no contact with anyone for years. Except maybe occasionally King would venture down there and beat him up. Just to make Seam upset or becuase he just felt like it.

He was alone for years. It was dark, cold, and maddening. Always on the edge of starving and living in fear everyday that King would come back and beat him up again. His best friend had betrayed him.. yet he was still scared for Seam. He was all alone up there. Who knows how the King is treating him.. it was horrible..

Then you have Seam. Forced between a rock and a hard place. He betrayed his best friend and has lived with the crushing guilt ever since. He tried to visit Jevil to apologize, to explain himself- but he was caught.

His eye was gouged out and his mouth stitched shut. His neck and wrists were bound by shackles. He did his very best to bend to the Kings will. In hopes that King would not hurt him. But it was never enough. Seam suffered constant abuse by the King for years. The shackles drained his energy but he was still required to preform for the King. Its like King was toying with him, trying to see how far he would bend before breaking.

It took Jevil disappearing from his cell to break him. Seam thought that Jevil had died. His best friend. Who he had wronged and locked away, just died. All alone in a cell that he made.

As if it couldn't get worse. King accused him of letting Jevil go. And he was going to be punished for it. With Jevil dead, and a no doubt horrible punishment awaiting him.. there was nothing left to live for.. so he tried to.. well. You know..

Thankfully Jevil showed up just in time and got them both out of there! Ahahahahh aaaa <:DDDD Yeahh,,,,

Yes! Exactly! :D I go off the idea that Undertale and Deltarune are the "original" timelines. And everyone from my AU is from some kind of offshoot of those two timelines.

The chains don't make him sick to his stomach thankfully. But they do make him weaker in every way. His immune system is weakened, so he's more vulnerable to catching viruses.

His energy is also completely sapped. He feels sore and hungry all the time. He likely deals with back and shoulder pain due to the neck shackle and having to hold up his arms all the time.. :(

As much as Asgore might want to give that wretched King a piece of his mind.. Asgore isn't a fool. If he ever encountered the King, his immediate goal would be to get himself, and the rest of the group as far away from him as possible.

He didn't mistake him for another Spade King no,, but Seam and Jevil immediately noticed his royal vibe/appearance and was rather unsettled.. :{

@neojet280

Awww, the gang take big sleepies :}}

Grillby does eventually come around and apologize for beatin up Jevil. Jevil is quick to forgive him and states there's no hard feelings. :}

Thankfully Jevil does end up fully healing with minimal to no scarring. The burns looked pretty bad but Jevil was only held for a few seconds. Plus Darkeners probably heal differently so I'd like to say he ended up just fine :} 👍

I wasn't able to find the sketches I made of this--

But what I had in mind was DA was like this giant flat sun/moon with 2 white gloved, disembodied hands. He looks like this basically-

He is attached to the ceiling/walls and probably roams around playing music and monitoring everything. His personality is somewhat the same but he's more mellow and relaxed. He runs the arcade naturally.

I pictured DJMM looking like my Glamrock DJ but clown themed maybe? His proportions could be different and maybe his face is changed up a bit.. but overall its just DJ as a clown and he runs the daycare. His personality is mostly the same but he's more energetic.

@tallchest13-blog

XD I'm thinking that King will get what's coming to him eventually..

(Also thank you so much! :}})

The sad part about that is Seam isn't even that old. He's maybe in his 40-50s I imagined. He just looks so much older because all the stress and abuse has really weighed him down/aged him.. :'(((

Almost,, but no. Typically a generational gap is measured by 15-20 years. I imagined that the age gap between Seam and Jevil to be around 10-15 years or so..? So not quite intergenerational. :/

@soft-kachan

That miiiiiight make his grief worse..? I'm no expert on grief thankfully- but I imagine having a plushie that looks like your dead child miiiight stunt the healing process..?

What Grillby needs is to heal and move on from those deaths. So maybe not a plush of his child, but just a plush of something in general? Something that he can hold/hug when he needs too. If not that maybe Seam could make use of that fire proof fabric and make him some new clothes? 👀

@petra-creat0r

AAAAAA THANK YOUU SO MUCH!!!! 💗💗😭🍤💗

A while ago I actually drew what I imagine true swap Vanessa to look like! :}

Short-ish blonde hair that's tied up in a ponytail, purple Bonnie sweater and maybe bowling ally friendly yellow sneakers? Bandages on the face and baggy socks, all what you'd expect.

Now for Gregory I imagined his hair is cut neat and short. Maybe he's totally clean shaven as well. He's unusually neat and spiffy.. Almost like he's trying to keep up a clean and organized image..? 👀

His backstory will probably be similar/the same as Vanessa's. And his costume will probably be based off Fredbear instead of Spring Bonnie. Not sure what his other name would be though.. 🤔

@beryl-shade

This post I made talks all about Grillby's color changes and what they mean. So I'll take a snip bit of it! :}

If its hard to read the TLDR is that he's sad and burning very hot. :( Though the Deltarune AU Grillby is less "I'm sad :( I burn hotter now" and more "I am overcome with grief and have completely lost control of my body" :x

[ghostlypainterslimeclod]

Michael Schmidt x Male Reader underwear theft dacryphilia and masturbation.

2/2

They be horny

NSFW

For the rest of the day was spent with you doing your normal routine or working from home and chores. Boring ass stuff the closer to the time you got to come over to see mike the harder it was to not get a boner so you decide to shower before you go over. Plus it was the perfect time to rub one out. All you could think about was how hot he was how his tongue felt in your mouth and how good he would look on his knees using him mouth for something other than kissing. After those activities you ate your dinner and walked over to Mike's. When you got there and knocked on the door Abby answered excitedly jabbering about how excited she was to have you over to play and when asked where her brother was she said "with Vanessa" and then continued on as she drug you inside. No clue who this Vanessa chick was but it did kinda irk you that you had to wait to see the messy haired boy. You and Abby settled onto the middle of the floor to draw. You had been over for 20 minutes when you heard the door open and Mike made his way to Abby's room to say bye to us both. Abby said a quick goodbye, compared to yesterday, and then got right back to coloring. You and him share a warm look before he leaves for work.

The day is very similar to yesterday except Abby decided to tell you about her imaginary friends which was kinda concerning but you had imaginary friends as a kid it's normal but the way she talked about them was odd. She also showed you all the pictures she drew while you were gone one with her, her brother, and yourself. It was endearing that was for sure. Once she went to bed you wandered into Mike's room. It's not weird you just want to know how it looks you thought to yourself turning on the lights. It was about as messy as you thought it would be. So you took it upon yourself to gather up his dirty clothes and put them in the laundry lingering a little on his boxers, that you couldn't explain away to yourself, you tucked one into your bag. Yes you're a pervert but it's not like he'll notice you thought.

After your guilty escapades you sat down on his couch and fell asleep like the night before. A few hours pass, it's now morning and Abby is at school, and you wake up to the door unlocking and a pissy Mike ploped down next to you "what happened pretty boy." You asked setting your hand on his thigh. He huffed out "nothing." You gently pressed your shoulder against his "would a kiss make it better?" You asked "mmmm... Yeah." He replied and then leaned in for a kiss, the kiss was quite rough on his side, him climbing into your lap his hands going up to tangle his hands in your hair yours going to grab his hips. Him grinding on your lap trying to get friction on his cock as he whined and moaned into the kiss. you break the kiss "what do you want sweet heart?" All he could muster was to mumble out "please please please touche me y/n please." And who were you to deny him such a request he begged so prettily after all. You unbuttoned his jeans and pulled his dick out of his boxers and then licked your hand for lube and wrapped your hand around him as you continued your kiss. His whimpers grow louder before he breaks the kiss "can we go to my room?" He asks, a string of drool dripping down his chin. You nod releasing him and helping him walk to his room as his legs are like jello once he climbs into his bed it's basically a race for both of you to strip.

He lays in the middle of his bed completely bare, god he looked so pretty pale skin against the gray back ground of his bed the warm morning sun peaking through his blinds illuminating parts of his skin. You climb onto the bed pressing him into the mattress as you look into his pretty eyes that seemed to consume you "how do you want to do this love?" You asked "I-I don't know I've never been with a guy like this before." He replied "well do you have lube?" You ask, he nods and wiggles to his drawer pulling out a bottle of lube and then wiggles back into his spot on the bed. You uncap the lid and pour some onto your fingers before pushing one into his hole gently while your other hand occupies itself with his dick, your own cock sadly leaking onto the mattress as much as it hurts to leave it you had to make sure to properly prep him if this was his first time. His gasps and whines were adorable and sooo worth it. His eyebrows furrowed his eyes screwed shut as little tears were in the corner of his eyes mouth luled open as you slowly stretched him out. First one finger then a second then a third you had to take small breaks so he didn't cum before you were inside, but finally it was time for the main event. You pulled your fingers out drawing a whine from the mess of a boy under you. You gently kiss him as you put lube on your cock before pressing into his hole. God it was good and you made sure to let him know it "you're so fucking good" you said pushing all the was into him. At this point he's not even fucking here his brain is fully in the clouds as little tears run down his face and slober is dripping out of his mouth and all he can say is a mix of please, yes, and your name as he clings to you his stubble scratching your neck and nails digging into yours back as he chants "please can I cum please." In between broken moans. "Of course baby." You say holding his cock in your hand and whispering how good he's doing, and finally he finished with a loud gaspy moan. You kept pistonning your hips into him chasing your own release him whining and crying "god you sound so pretty." You groaned into his ears his short hair tickling your cheek. Then finally you push your cock as deep as possible and finish with a huff. Then you both lay there basking in the after glow clinging to each other as you both fall asleep.

[fluideli123]

Thinking about Trans!Logan

Thinking about how he got gender affirming surgery for his chest at a place where no one really knew how to do it, before his mutation of regeneration really developed

His scars aren't the nicest, perfect, they're noticable if you know where to look but that's pretty much it

He tells stories about it, about the operation and what it was like at that time and how much he struggled to get it from being a mutant, being trans at all

I'm thinking about Laura saying she never knew if her Logan was like him, but Laura compliments Logan that the older he becomes the more rugged, half way to the grave he'll look/aff

Thinking about Wade being Intersex and never really knowing until he was diagnosed with Cancer, all the physicals he went through and everything Vanessa asked of him to ensure every angle was considered

Thinking about Peter being oh so loveable but confused, asking respectful questions and saying such encouraging things about it, how he understands and actually took the time to research it properly after work

Thinking about Althea and being AroAce, thinking about her not giving a shit about anything but willing to listen and provide support in your usual grumpy way, her younger years and all the experimentation, drugs, and people she's met and situations she'd gone through, how much their little family listens to her endless stories

Thinking about Mary Puppins and how much she reflects so many aspects of people in Wade's life. Loyal like Logan, Affectionate like Yukio, Honest like Megasonic, Open-Hearted like Colossus, Dorky like Peter, Listens like Dophendir, and just...fitting so well with everyone, always greeting everyone, being so friendly and cuddly and somewhere in everyone's hearts they know she represents something Wade doesn't show as freely as she does

Thinking about them all knowing Wade so well, but slowly getting to know each other as well, just a close lil found family of a bunch of weirdos, outcasts and everyday people

Just can't stop thinking about them

[parznite]

DETROIT BECOME DCA

I FINALLY FINISHED MY DETROIT BECOME HUMAN DCA AU DESIGNS! More information about the AU will be under the cut.

TW: MENTIONS OF ABUSE / NEGLECT / VIOLENCE / DEATH - Similar to the original game. They can be found under the tags "detroit become DCA" or "detroit become daycare attendant"

MAIN CAST

Moondrop; who is a detective prototype similar to Connor in the original games. He is an android created to work on all deviant and missing children cases. He works closely with Lieutenant Vanessa, who despite his best efforts to work with, never really seems to like him due to her own personal reasons with Androids. They work together with the idea that Deviant Androids are the reasons Children are missing. Moondrop eventually turns to deviancy after seeing the impact humans have on them and how neglect affects others. (After Moondrop met Sunny and Y/N)

Sundrop or just "Sunny" as Y/N has called him ; who is a caretaker similar to Kara in the original games. He is a caretaker who was purchased by Y/N's parents to take care of Y/N where they lacked. However, things turned to the worst and Sunny did what he thought was best. Run away with Y/N and take Y/N to a safe place, away from the neglectful hands of Y/N's parents.

Y/N or "YOUR NAME"; who is in place of Alice from the original games. However Y/N is a full human. A child who enjoyed the simple things in life, now on the run with the only companion they have left in the world. Terrified and scared as the revolution begins, never turning their back on Androids. Knowing that Sunny has only ever done stuff that was best for them, even if that meant saying goodbye to those who hurt them.

SECONDARY CAST

Freddy; who is a caretaker similar to Markus, taking care of Gregory a child set under his care. In an accident due to the neglect of Gregory's parents, he unfortunately dies. As the authorities arrive, the parents turn the story on Freddy having him decommissioned. However, Freddy returns with a new lease on life and is ready to show that Androids were never the problem. Wanting justice for all androids and wanting those who hurt children to be brought to justice.

Lieutenant Vanessa; who is a police officer with the DPD, similar to Hank in the games. She is assigned the deviant and missing children cases. Forced to work with Moondrop, she despites it but only looks forward as he makes her job easier. Vanessa never seems to fully bond with Moondrop, only really seeing him as a colleauge.

Trap "Glitch" ; who is similar to Amanda from the games. Trap is the inner mentor for Moondrop, who has more ill intentions, looking to resume the deviants programing at the perfect time. To solve the deviancy case and the missing children cases once and for all. However, despite his name being also known as "Glitch" - He is known to abuse the fragile code of Moondrop so he can get better outcomes that will favour Cyberlife.

[weirdozjunkary]

OKAY SO! I literally JUST got back from watching the FNAF movie and HOLY FUCK DID I ENJOY IT! I have SO MUCH to talk about from it oh my god! I would give it a solid 8 or 9/10. Not prefect but I enjoyed it so much.

Non spoiler right below and full spoilers under the cut.

Spoiler free- I absolutely adored the movie! The entire cast did a splendid job! I couldn’t be happier with everything that I saw on the screen! For what it is it was astounding! So much love to the fans and everyone that had worked on FNAF in the past. My only complaints was the pacing and dialogue as the pacing was a bit jumpy and the dialogue felt awkward at times, as well I know that the whole lore of FNAF itself would limit a fair bit of an audience. But other than that I loved it so much. From the animatronics to the actors to the cinematography, all of it was beautiful and I truly hope that Scott makes at least one more, but if not I’m still happy what we got.

Full spoilers- I adored everyone who was on screen, from mike to Abby to Vanessa, the animatronics and William, all of them were a delight to watch. The movie truly felt like it was one of Scott’s works, from the serious stuff to the jokes, it was brilliant. A lot of my favourite jokes were with Abby and Mike not taking any shit.

What I found interesting was how they made Vanessa the daughter of William Afton, wether adopted or by blood. I think she could have been more of a use than she did, as she mostly just warned Mike until the very end where she did one thing and then got stabbed. But other than that I think she had a good amount of screen time.

Mike and Abby were great from the start, I do wish we got more backstory from Mike though, like to show more how he’s troubled rather than just keep repeating that his brother got kidnapped. But Abby was really good from the start. I did like how she saw the ghosts kids before Mike got the job rather than right after from what you usually see in movies with ghosts.

The animatronics were stunning onscreen. They looked so good! The perfect balance between creepy and cute. They all had great moments showing both how they are just both kids stuck in children’s entertainment animatronics, and also animatronics needing to kill people for Afton.

Speaking of which, my BIGEST complaint about afton was that he wasn’t in the movie enough. He had a total of I think ten minuets of screen time, and that’s only five from the beginning and five at the end. But still, he was exceptionally off putting every time he was onscreen. Mathew did an excellent job at that.

The fucking matpat cameo though. Oh my god that was fucking hilarious. Him just being a waiter in a diner was the best fucking way they could’ve put him in without just being that crazy guyTM. And the fact he literally says “that’s just a theory” my god. ALSO THERE WAS FETCH! THE MOST FAMOUS FUCKING FNAF ROUMOR EVER!

The ending was great, and the perfect sendoff. The kids finally realizing that Afton was the guy who killed them. And the fact that they made the spring locks of his suit go off. And then watching the kids drag him away from the main floor was bone chilling. And at the very end seeing the kid in the golden Freddy suit stare at Afton as he’s bleeding out, always inches from death but he’s not letting him die, then shut the door as Afton quietly reaches his hand out to him, that was my favourite moment of the entire movie. And of course there was the famous line “I always come back.”

[heavyhitterheaux]

Ghost in the Machine (collab with @harlowsbby 😘💕)

AN: Yall not ready for this lol 😘💕

Synopsis: Jack has been promising you to make you his girlfriend for several months. However, it all comes crashing down around you when you find out he wanted to have you and someone else instead

Pairing: Jack Harlow x Reader

Please Do Not Repost My Content Anywhere

Lately you felt like your mind was on autopilot and you just wanted any and every distraction that came your way, after everything that went down with Jack, you were throwing yourself in any and everything. You just needed something to get your mind off the fact that he was no good for you and what he did was his doing not your own. He made his bed and now it was time for him to lay in it.

Broken promises after broken promises and you had reached your breaking point.

He was a charmer

A smooth talker

He could be reading a grocery list, and it would make you intrigued

“Baby, just a little while longer. I promise.”

“You keep saying that, but it’s already been seven months. I’m starting to think that you don’t want to be with me at all.”

“Y/N, come on now. You know that you’re the only person that’s on my mind all the time.”

“I’m tired of going to events with you and we can’t even act like we’re together. I mean technically we aren’t, but…”

“I promise it will all be worth it. Everyone is going to know about us when the time is right. I just ask you to be patient with me.”

In the back of your mind you knew that you probably should not have agreed to this, but of course you did anyway.

Not realizing the shit storm that would be coming right around the corner.

“Okay.” You said as you smiled up at him and he leaned down to kiss you.

“There’s that smile that I love so much on my pretty girl.”

Urban being Jack’s best friend honestly thought that you were a rebound after Jack got out of his long term relationship. However, the way he talked about you made him think otherwise. When Jack wasn’t focusing on his music, at events, or performing, the entire conversation always circled back towards you.

Urban thought that you were perfect for him and would be a breath of fresh air from the toxic relationship that he had previously been in. You were sweet, kind, considerate, and honestly a fun person to be around. If Urban had met you first, he would have definitely made you his girlfriend and not be stringing you along like Jack was doing. 

Even though the conversation always circled back to you, it also circled back to his toxic ex-girlfriend Vanessa. They had been in a whirlwind of a relationship for three years and Urban had been so happy when they broke up. Time and time again he would tell Jack how she wasn’t good for him and needed to find someone that wanted to be with him because of who he was as a person and not because of his famous status. 

You still remember the first time you actually met Jack.

You were a huge fan and had been since Loose dropped and would finally be able to go to one of his club appearances.

From the moment he hit the stage, his eyes locked on you and it had been that way ever since. 

And since you didn’t want to go by yourself, of course you dragged Ella with you.

“He’s totally looking at you, there is no way he isn’t.” Ella has been your best friend since diapers and she tended to have this habit of being delusional.

“There is no way he was looking at me Ella like let’s be serious here.”

“Fine don’t believe me but all I’m saying is every time he looks over here he’s looking at you.”

Jack was in the middle of performing Sundown when he looked your way again and sent you a wink

“See! I’m not crazy, he just winked at you.”

“Oh hush” you told Ella playfully

After the show the two of you began to walk back towards your car when you noticed a black suv driving behind the two of you slowly.

“Is that car following us?” Ella asked

“I was just about to say the same thing, should we run?” She nodded her head yes quickly but before the two of you were able to run someone had yelled from the suv.

“I promise I’m not going to kidnap you, I just wanted to get your number.” Looking behind you your mouth almost flew open seeing it was Jack.

“You want my number? But why” he laughed “Because you’re beautiful”

You regretted that day you ever gave him your number if you knew the emotional rollercoaster you’d he on back then you wouldn’t have ever given him your number or have him a chance to ever play you.

You and Urban had gotten close from the time that you had met Jack and since he was doing a few interviews and had a full day ahead of him, Urban decided to take it upon himself to keep you company.

The two of you were currently sharing a large plate of nachos at one of the most popular Mexican restaurants in the city and you were sharing with Urban what classes that you wanted to take in the spring in order for you to be able to get your degree faster.

“Y/N, that sounds like a lot. When are you going to sleep?”

“I’ll be fine, Urb. It’s only one semester.”

“Only one semester my ass. You pulled the same shit last spring and you slept for like 2 hours in your car every day for almost 5 months because your schedule was so full. You CANNOT do that again. Jack flipped his shit when I told him about that.”

“Yeah, that definitely was not a pleasant conversation.” You said while adding more sour cream to the plate in front of you. Jack was concerned that you had barely been sleeping, but it had been worth it in the end when you had gotten straight A’s. 

“And of course he was like why didn’t you tell me?! And I was like I only found out when I went to get her to bring her to the video shoot that day otherwise I wouldn’t have known either.”

“Aww, Urby is worried about me!”

“Ehh, I guess I do worry sometimes. You’re good for Jack and I want to see my best friend happy. He couldn’t have dropped Vanessa fast enough.”

“That’s his ex?” You curiously asked and Urban nodded.

“It's weird that he never mentioned her to me.”

“Why should he mention his ex to a girl who is a million times better?”

“Stop, Urban!” You said while shying away from him. 

“I call it like I see it. They were…. not good for each other. But you two are.”

Just then Urban got a call from Jack on his phone and quickly answered it putting it on speaker.

“Jack, you good?” Urban asked as the two of you continued to eat your food.

“.... Y/N? Not a chance in hell. She’s a sweet girl and a good fuck and that’s about it. I keep promising her that I’ll make her my girlfriend but she hasn’t gotten a damn clue yet. It’s been seven months and she’s still here so I highly doubt that she’s going anywhere. And she’s so insecure like it’s insane. If she sees me glance at another girl, she’s all up on me. I’m like you not even my girl, so why are you getting so upset? I can never see myself being with her. Compared to Vanessa? She’s a 6 on a good day with Nessa is a 15. Oh and me and Nessa are back together anyway. Have been for three months.”

Urban immediately hung up the phone and looked over at you to see that your eyes were now watering.

“Y/N…. I….”

“Urban, I want to go home. Now.”

“But….”

“I’ll change my flight, whatever I have to do, but I need to go.”

“Maybe there’s an explanation, just hear him out… maybe?” Urban was pleading with you as you gathered your purse and threw money down on the table to pay for the nachos which Urban quickly shoved back towards you.

“There is no explanation, Urb. I heard all that I needed to hear. And let me pay for this!”

“No, I got it. Just… we’ll go back to the hotel and I’ll help you pack your stuff.”

You were a crying mess the entire time while packing and Urban was helping you. He told you that he would go to the airport with you to make sure you got there safely and to text him the moment you landed back home.

“I can’t believe I really fell for this. I’m so stupid.”

“You aren’t stupid!

“Yes I am! He strung me along for seven months just to go back to his ex!”

“Y/N, I’ll talk to him.”

“Forget it, Urban. Tell him to lose my number and to never call me again.”

You had hugged Urban once he had made sure that you had gotten to the airport safely and he watched you until he couldn’t see you anymore.

Your flight was leaving in thirty minutes when Jack had suddenly been blowing up your phone.

Jack- Baby, I can explain

Jack- Come on babe, I didn’t mean anything I said

Jack- You’re the only one for me. She doesn’t mean anything to me

Jack- Babe, please just answer me or call me back

Jack- I love you so much and I’m going to fix this

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[nesshartwipe]

Distance - Rhys Montrose x Reader

Description: You and Rhys get ready for his campaign and there is some obvious tension that Kate can read that you try denying it until…

Rhys Montrose x reader

Female love interest

Warnings: Sexual Themes + Spoiler free

“Okay, let’s go over the speech,” I say, looking at Rhys, trying to choose a formal but casual outfit. “Rhys?” I say again, however, no use. He is too nervous about the whole thing. I sigh and walk over to the anxious man putting a hand on his shoulder. Rhys looks up, tired.

“Did you get any sleep?” l spoke softly, rubbing his arm. “Don’t be so worried about me” He brushed off my arm and continued to look at his bed, where clothing was sprawled out.

I slowly walk over and pick up a dark blue silk button-down. Rhys examines me while I hold it near him, seeing if this look would work. “Casual, but the silk makes you look professional,” I smile. “Perfect” Rhys takes the shirt to the bathroom.

“How is everything going so far?” Kate walks in with heels clicking on the wooden floor.

“The usual, Rhys being all panicky” I sighed and began to fold the untouched clothing. “He calms down around you, no?” Kate says, leaning closer to me and giving me a wink.

“Kate, it’s not like that. Give that up, will you?” I groan and push her away slightly, earning her a chuckle. “Whatever you say, Miss Y/n,” Kate winks again.

“Well, ladies, how do I look?” Rhys comes out cuffing his sleeves. Rhys is shaped like a God himself. His biceps slightly peaking through the somewhat tight button-up. The veins on his hands showed more with the movement of cuffing the sleeves, slender and large fingers-

“Dashing,” Kate responds

“Great! but something is missing,” I say, and Rhys scrunches his eyebrows in confusion. I walk closer and undo one button. Rhys looks down at my face, never looking away. Almost admiring. “Perfect. You look less like you’re choking on something.” I straighten out the shirt and walk back to Kate, who won’t stop grinning. I ignore her and go back to folding the clothes.

“Alright, I’ll be on my way and see you two later,” Rhys states, grabbing a coat from the chair beside him. He gives Kate a quick kiss on the cheek and then does the same to me but starts squeezing my shoulders. Rhys leans down to my ear. “I’ll be on the OOBI channel in ten minutes” I nodded in response. We both give a quick smile then Rhys follows us out the door. “Try not to be late for this event,” Kate calls out to Rhys, who leans on the open car door. “Don’t worry, I plan on buying every painting just for you, Kate,” Rhys says. “Y/n” gives me a wink to me before getting in and driving off.

“God, Y/n, that man wants to have sex with you,” Kate scoffs. I look at her wide-eyed. “Oh my god, Kate. Stop being so bold.” I shove her shoulder before getting into my car. She laughs before knocking on the window, which I roll it down.

“In all seriousness Y/n. I think he genuinely likes you, but something is happening. Tell me I’m not the only one?” Kate says softly, and I shut my eyes for a second, then respond. “He’s my friend who just got a divorce-“ I began, but Kate stopped me. “Bloody hell Vanessa.! Two years ago! He got a divorce two almost three years ago! Rhys is hot and single. Just go for it.” Kate yells in frustration. “Are you done?” I calmly say. “Yes. Fine, see you later” Kate backs out, and I drive back to my flat.

Rhys is charming and sexy. I can’t deny that. However, it’s different for me. Rhys wants to help the people of London. He cares about every little thing, his voice is like dark chocolate mixed with honey, and the raspiness makes my knees buckle. Most of all his eyes, his eyes remind me of morning skies. Rhys is polite and kind to everyone he meets. When we are alone, there is this force of wanting to be close to him. I have a crush on this god sculptural of a man, but I won’t admit that to my friends, not even to my dog (who I tell everything). That’s how private and precious this feeling is to me. I promised myself a year ago that I would never escalate this feeling, but now it feels so different. I honestly think about him, and whenever I do, I get a message or call from Rhys. I always catch him staring or stealing glances from one another. It makes me wonder if he feels the same. I’m an adult, and life’s too short, but having a crush is the scariest feeling in the world, in my opinion.

———————— three hours later ———————

I walk out of the limbo, already bombarded with flashing cameras and dozen questions. I just reply with thank you and a smile when asked about my new book series. In all honesty, I’m grateful to have become a somewhat known author, but today, I felt too drained to talk to interviewers about it.

I quickly walk into the white building greeting a few people along the way into the middle of the large room. It was like a ball, with chandeliers that lit up the room, the dark wooden floors that complimented Kates's paintings surrounded in the circle all over the room. It was a beautiful sight. I stood in awe, admiring the large stained glass windows. "It's beautiful, isn't it?" A familiar raspy voice interrupted my thoughts. "Rhys! You're here earlier than usual," I hug Rhys tightly. "Everyone keeps saying that. Do I come that late to these events" Rhys chuckles in my ear before letting go of me."Well, you usually come after everyone else arrives," I say before Rhys nods. I know the reason why he comes late it's because of these annoying rich pricks. Rhys and I come from a not-so-happy childhood, and growing up dirt poor can humble you, unlike these assholes who need major humbling. That is why we get along with each other. We are both hard-working people that earned our way here. "I see, I see," He mumbles, looking around before locking eyes with each other. We hold a glance for a minute, almost in a daze. The kind of look where we are the only two people in the room. "Hey, Rhys, you made it to the show," Adam interrupts out of nowhere, casually holding a glass of whiskey. They greet each other in a hug and start talking about a random topic. I couldn't pay attention as the feeling of desire kicked in as I looked at Rhys. Take a shine on his smile lines and the sudden look of confusion about whatever Adam is saying. His slightly raised eyebrow was followed by a deep chuckle.

“That’s why Y/n, we Americans have better breakfast than all of the UK. Right?” Adam slightly nudges my shoulder, and I nod, hoping they wouldn’t notice I wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. “Hey, there’s Simon. Let’s say hi” Adam eagerly grabs Rhys in Simon Soo’s direction. I laugh as Rhys stumbles slightly from the deathly grip.

I turn around to see the amazing paintings done by Kate. I love the ones with scenery that she amazingly captures with warm colors. Although my favorite would have to be the one she did for the cover of my recent novel. My eyes dote on the paintings as I slowly walk around the room. Feeling as though someone was watching me.

Rhys IS staring at you from across the room while trying so desperately to engage with the conversation between annoyed Simon and energetic Phoebe. He can’t help but be infatuated with you…

In this room is nothing but filled with beauty on canvases than there’s the painting created by Kate.

I swear you were painted by Aphrodite herself, I can’t help but stare whenever you are near me. But for now, I will love you from across a crowded room, my eyes catching your light, like a firefly in the dark of night.

My thoughts are silly, I know but do you feel the same?

I converse with Timothy Black, who is cousins with Phoebe. He is handsome with black hair and dark features, followed by dark green eyes. He is flirting, and I flirt back. If I can’t have the attention of Rhys or the balls to admit that I like him. Why not have fun with a sexy man willing to take me back to his place.

Out of habit, I suddenly look at the time on my phone. “Oh wow, we have been talking for an hour. Can you believe it?” I chuckle, taking a sip of my wine. “It feels like ten minutes,” Timothy says, raising his eyebrows. I nod and catch a familiar pair of blue eyes from across the room. Rhys looks annoyed. Time to save him from whatever conversation. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you, but I must go and save a friend” I squeeze Timothy’s shoulder, and he gives me a smile before leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “See you around, Vanessa,” He whispers and starts another conversation with a friend. I quickly stride over to Rhys, who, surprisingly, is talking to no one. “I couldn’t help but see you looking annoyed, but I see no one in sight to annoy you whatsoever” I laugh but get no reaction from Rhys. I squint my eyes. “Are you okay?” I lean closer. “Wonderful,” Rhys says before chugging down a drink. “You’re obviously not fine. What is wrong? You know you can tell me anything,” I whisper, linking our arms together. “Can I?” He sarcastically remarks, looking at me with a hurt expression.

“Okay, come on, let’s talk” I grab his hand, leading him into a room that is secluded and far from the event.

“Rhys?” I say, looking at his back. He stopped and turned around. He looked frustrated. “Yes, darling?” Rhys sarcastic remarks. “Seriously, why are you mad? What is bothering you?” I plead, walking closer to him. Rhys huffs, finally looking at me, his gaze softening. “Do you like him? Do you like Timothy?” He said, quite agitated. My eyes widened. “Hell no, he’s not y- I like our conversations, but no, I don’t like him.” Rhys let out a sigh of relief, stepping closer to me. Fuck he looks good with his half-lidded eyes right now.

“Good,” He mumbled, looking around the room. “Rhys, what is this really about” “I say quietly, rubbing circles in his arm. His breath hitches and his eyes close. “God, I love it when you say my name like” that,” Rhys spoke lowly. My face suddenly gets hot. “This is not a time to mess around. I’m being serious.”

"So am I, love," He said with a severe tone. Looking at me with pleading eyes

God, is this actually happening. This is too much

"I hate you" I turn around, heading towards the door. Please stop me

"Fucking hell Y/n" Rhys grabbed my wrist, causing me to stop. I sigh, standing in the middle of the room and looking back at Rhys.

We are too close.

"Is there truly nothing going on between us?" He said with a hurt tone

"Is there Rhys? Because you flirt with every goddamn person in the room right after I think you like me. Am I joke to you?" I yelled angrily, throwing my hands out of his grasp.

"No absolutely not. Don’t ever think that Y/n because, because…" Rhys fades out looking at the ground with his eyes tightly shut "Fuck!" He yelled running hands through his hair. I scrunch my eyebrows with a pleading look. Say it please say it because I’m too scared to. "Please say it" my voice breaks barely above a whisper.

"Because I love you" Rhys finally says.

"Rhys…" I began to speak but was quickly silenced when he moved a couple of strands of my hair behind my ear. My lips remained parted as I studied his face. He stares at them intensely.

His eyebrows scrunched, eyes finally meeting mine, dazed, hypnotized even.

“You’re all I think about,” He whispers with deep a raspiness than his already deep voice. Moving closer towards me. The space between us was barely there now. Rhys closes his eyes for a second before letting out a sigh. His arm hesitantly reaches my waist with the other resting on my face. “Rhys…” I whisper again, hoping to gain some answer from him. He opens his eyes, searching for something to say as he leans closer, flicking back and forth to my lips and eyes. Soon our lips are a hairline apart. I could smell him. The soft vanilla scent mixed with a rich shampoo.

I audibly gasped when his hand brought our waist closer. I grab onto his bicep, squeezing it for support. The tension is too much. His thumb softly caressed my jaw as he tilted my head back. Holy shit. Rhys clenches his jaw, releasing a breath.

My breathe became shaky, "What are we doing?"

His eyes dipped to my lips for a split second before he could find my gaze again. I hadn’t noticed that I’d been staring at his lips. His eyes softened, and my whole body melted. Oh, how I hate and love this feeling. “What we should’ve done sooner,” He says, leaning closer. Noses grazing each other “Are you sure?” I am sure you are sure.

"Just a taste," he whispered, "please."

I tried to speak but was lost for words, but I could tell he understood how my body trembled underneath his touch, as did his. My free hand was placed on his chest while the other reached for his hair. Rhys shuttered under my touch.

“Kiss me then” I finally get my words back

Only then his soft lips met mine. Shy and hesitant, waiting for me to deny him. But I didn’t. How could I? I’ve wanted this, and so did he. I cupped the back of his head, kissing each other harder, hand squeezing my waist. The kiss then became soft but desperate. The sound of our faint breath fills the cold empty bedroom.

Rhys smiled against my lips. I kissed him again, making the first move.

Rhys's hands reached down to hug my waist while I moved mine to cup his face. I kiss him again more slowly and deeply. We both moan into the kiss. Rhys backs us up to a table, causing a few items to fall over. I giggle before meeting our lips again. Rhys swipes his tongue across my bottom lip, indicating he wants more. I part my mouth slightly, letting his whole tongue slide in. Rhys then leave trails of kisses on my face before reaching my neck. He kisses lightly on my ear, then sucks on my neck, earning a soft moan from me. I reach up and start undoing the buttons on his shirt.

“Wait,” Rhys says, out of breath. I pull away, confused, then realize. “I’m sorry, I should’ve asked” I bit my lip, savoring the taste of him. “No, it’s not that. I want to properly take you out for dinner and another one before we do this.” He says while creasing my face. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea” I softly smile and look up at Rhys. “Then it’s a date” He leans into my ear, sending chills down my spine. “Yes, it is.”

We both chuckle and hold stare for a few seconds. My heart skips a beat as I loving gaze upon Rhys's eyes. We are still catching our breath while still holding each other. So much can be said without saying a word. Like a work of art, our eyes cannot help but gaze upon golden colors in which a god created something so beautiful that it feels wrong to stare at.

Rhys suddenly caresses certain areas on my face. “What you you doing” I giggled.

“I’ve always loved the tiny moles on your face. Gods, do I really deserve this man? “That’s the first thing that I noticed about you. It’s like a star fell from the sky to make a constellation on your face,” Rhys faintly said.

——————————

Notes:

Que cinnamon girl by lana del rey

Also posting this on A03 with same title

Name- nessashartwipe

I don’t why but I like to think Rhys would make poetry for his s/o

He’s a complex character and made it, even more, challenging for me to write, especially after You pt2, but hopefully, y’all liked this as much as I did :)

[halogenrobotics]

Birthday Burrow

This story was again not written by me, it was written by the amazing EclipsingJelly036. Please check out his amazing youtube channel to see some more of his amazing works of art!

https://www.youtube.com/@eclipsingjelly9572

TW: Nightmare and panic attack. If you would like to skip these parts, stop reading where the "XXX" appears and scroll down to where it appears again

Read on AO3!

The Pizzaplex’s Atrium was decorated with a horde of balloons canopying the ceiling, as the room’s wave of lights shone like lasers, piercing darkness midair. The floors were coated in confetti, upbeat music playing in the background. Vanessa strolled through the center holding a parcel in her hands, looking for the nearest route to the party room.

She passed a few mop bots cleaning outside the Atrium. Holograms of the star animatronics formed into shape on the show stage, as Vanessa exited the room. As she entered the lobby, her eyes gazed at how empty the place was, just like she had planned. Tonight was a special night. It had to be perfect.

Vanessa looked at her watch with concern, reminding herself that she was early. The party room’s door handle was soon in her reach. Shrugging off any hints of waiting, she entered, noticing a young boy in a party hat.

He was playing on his Fazwatch, too busy to notice Vanessa coming in. Typical. Vanessa smiled, thinking of something quick to say, as the young boy’s eyes narrowed on his watch’s screen. Vanessa took a deep breath and proceeded.

“Happy Birthday Gregory!” Vanessa put on the biggest smile you could ever see. This strength of joy captured Gregory the instant her voice reached his ears. He jolted up, half surprised and yet a smile broke on his face.

“Vanessa! You came!” The young birthday kid ran over and hugged Vanessa tightly, clearly happy to see her. Vanessa handed him the parcel after he finally let go. Gregory placed his present on the table, right next to the cake. Vanessa’s hand flew to her back pocket, remembering her cue.

Gregory planted ten candles into his delicious cake. The frosting cream thickness rests on the chocolate layers of goodness. Vanessa noticed two cherries plucked and placed beside the cake’s plate. Oh right, he hated those. Vanessa laughed in her head, finding this amusing.

But nothing could take her attention away by how overjoyed and excited Gregory was feeling. His eyes flexed on Vanessa with a mirroring smile. Vanessa was living in her moment. Gregory had trusted her after all that had happened, and now she was here, on his most important day.

She flicked her lighter on, and set the candles alight. The candles calmly spread into sparks.

“Whoa….” Gregory’s jaw dropped. He had been quite the brains with tech, but this was new to him. He had seen tons of kids get their birthdays celebrated like this, but these candles were something that felt fresh, perfect for his big day.

Vanessa lowered the lights of the room by placing her finger on a switch panel until the area was dark enough for the candles to appear like small fireworks. The blue and green neon lighting still showed, but it would have to do. Vanessa looked at the boy with caring eyes, and she started to sing Happy Birthday. Such a simple song that everyone knew by instinct, and yet, she could tell Gregory really treasured this moment. It had been so long, if not forever, since he last remembered a similar event such as this.

As Vanessa finished singing, she noticed the young boy giving her the same meaningful look when he watched the animatronics performing on stage. You did it! You’re his star! Vanessa cheered in her head.

“Make a wish, my little knight” Vanessa said tenderly, her voice reaching into the boy’s heart.

Gregory stared at the candles happily. I wonder, new fazwatch? An arcade machine? Butters? Vanessa giggled in her mind as she wondered where she got that last thought from. Gregory proceeded to say his wish.

“I wish…” Gregory’s pursed lips neared the candles as his eyes closed. “That this party would last forever.”

He blew the candles, Vanessa completely moved by his birthday wish. The room was now darkened. But Vanessa could still see the cake and the knife. She carefully reached for the knife and walked to the light's control switch. She flickered the brightness back on, but as she did, she felt an anchor’s weight in her head.

She could feel her head bent forward in a split second. As if something had snapped within.

“Mom, are you ok?” Greg had noticed something was off.

Vanessa pulled herself together, trying to forget the surge of what she just felt. Somehow Gregory’s words were trying to stay as the only reasoning on her mind. She slowly turned around. Gregory’s smile had been replaced by a curious, concerned expression. Vanessa sighed in relief, it was probably nothing. She took one step to the table. Her foot caused a split second blackout as it hit the floor. The lights went back on instantly. Vanessa nervously froze, slowly looking around. She could have sworn she saw it happen. Gregory didn’t seem to notice. The kid’s eyes fixated on Vanessa.

Come on, just cut the cake. Don’t mess this up! Vanessa blinked in her thoughts. She took another step. Nothing happened. She took two more steps. Still nothing.

“Is everything ok?” Gregory started to look worried.

Great, now look at what you did. Vanessa made it to the table to continue the party. “Yes Gregory, nothing could be better.”

As she held the knife just over the cake, she caught the glance of herself in the mirror wall of the party room. Everything looked normal. Gregory was still waiting for her to slice the cake.

“Here goes,” Vanessa resumed her joyful smile.

“Wait,” Gregory paused. Vanessa stood still. The birthday kid smirked and moved her knife over to where the cake had the most cream. “That’s better,” he grinned, licking his lips with delight.

Vanessa giggled. She sunk the knife deep into the cake. A wave of shock struck her head, as she stepped back in a rapid jolt. The feeling was so sudden, she nearly had struck herself with the knife. Her fingers were clutching on the knife as though her life depended on it. Her nerves clicked at the sudden emotional surge. Vanessa swore she could hear screaming in her head. A loud, sharp, piercing scream. Her hands held to the sides of her head as she tried to bear with the noise, the knife dangerously close to her cheek.

The screaming stopped. Vanessa flinched and shivered. What is going on?! Her nose caught the scent of a strong odor. Wait is that- The strong stench of blood was present. Vanessa noticed the knife she held had vanished from her grasp. Her fingers were drenched in what could only be fresh blood. Her uniform was also stained with crimson splats. Vanessa was horrified at the sudden change of the room. The balloons popped, the floors trashed, and the table was making her vision blur. The cake stood on the table perfectly, the knife already buried in. But wait, what was that red liquid dripping from the utensil’s handle?

Vanessa touched the handle, the same horrible smell reaching her nose again. The cake started to shift and warp. The illusion continued to unfold, as Vanessa gazed in fear. She was too afraid to blink or scream. The warping of the cake vanished. The delightful treat had been warped out of existence, with the real result now in view. The knife was still plunged in something. A child’s lifeless body!

Nothing prepared Vanessa for this sight. She let out a terrified scream, seeing Gregory face-planted on the table, blood leaking into a pool below. His party hat was still intact with the knife buried deep into his back.

A whisper among the scene grew into an evil undertone of a familiar voice. Vanessa could feel it crawling into her ears.

“Now his happy day can be forever——“ the voice of Vanny mocked her. “You did excellent!” Vanny said, her voice curling into a glitchy roar.

————————————————————-/

Vanessa shot straight out of bed, her eyes widened as she gasped. The view of everything she saw faded. The Pizzaplex, the blood, Gregory. All faded away in a flash of a second. She felt like she had been snatched from an awful reality and tossed back into her home. The screams were replaced by the cries of her alarm tab ringing.

Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! 6AM

Vaness dropped her heavy hand on the snooze option. She leaned back on her pillow and sighed. Her eyelids caved in, trying to relax her mind with blindness. Her hand rested on her forehead, as she slowly turned to face her alarm clock. She caught the blurry sight of a photo frame next to it. Vanessa yawned as her breathing resumed to normal. The picture grew sharper and clearer to make out. Vanessa paused, noticing it showed Gregory and her playing at an ice cream shack.

Vanessa let out a tired sigh of relief. “Just a dream…” She gazed at her blank white ceiling. It was time to start the day.

She slowly got up and went to the bathroom sink. The water tap ran as she lazily brushed her teeth, giving her reflection the rather bored stare. The mirror stared back as expected. Vanessa took a gulp from her rinse glass and spat into the sink. With a soft yawn, she stretched her hands in the air and walked slowly as if she was carrying a bag of bricks.

She reached the kitchen and turned on the stove. She got out two bowls, poured some cereal. Vanessa propped open the fridge door, sounding a clink of glass as it shook the whole containment. Her hands grabbed a few eggs, some bacon, and a jug of cold milk. Her head turned to see Gregory’s room door still closed. The dining table was littered with crayon drawings. Vanessa remembered last night that she and Gregory had played Pictionary. He eventually fell asleep and Vanessa had to be the one to carry him and place him in bed.

The popping sound of fried eggs threw Vanessa out of her thoughts, making her focus more on cooking rather than her daydreams. She quickly packed his lunch with a tupperware box, before wrapping it in a paper bag. Gregory was asleep longer than usual. Vanessa turned off the stove and walked back to her room to check the time. Hopefully she wouldn’t have to wake him up herself.

6:39pm. It read. I’ll give him five minutes. She told herself. Vanessa scrolled through her phone as she returned to the kitchen. She checked her messages. Nothing from Luis yet. You talked to him last evening, give him a break girl. She chuckled to herself, texting a “good morning”. Vanessa moved on to her phone’s calendar. There was a notice showing up.

Vanessa smiled as she checked it. “Oh! Gregory’s birthday is in a week” she told herself. She tipped the jug of milk into the two bowls. They grow up so fast. It felt like it was only days since she had taken the responsibility as his legal guard-

“Wait a minute…” Vanessa then came to a conclusion with her thoughts. Her arm felt stuck like stone, still pouring the milk. Gregory’s birthday is in a week! She checked her phone again. The calendar wasn’t lying. It really was a week! Oh no! I haven’t gotten him a gift! Vanessa’s eyes fell on her hand’s posture. She quickly lifted up the jug, the cereal bowl nearly overflowing with milk.

She felt the urge to double check her wardrobe, despite already knowing there was nothing in it for Gregory. Her instincts had simply taken over in response to the panic consuming her excitement. Gregory’s door flew open. Vanessa’s foot tripped at this instant, catching herself before she could fall by the kitchen counter.

“Good morning,” Gregory looked at her tiredly. Already dressed in his uniform, Gregory walked to the kitchen table, completely oblivious to Vanessa’s stammered position. Thinking fast, Vanessa slid the bowl closer to Gregory. “I made you breakfast.”

Instead, the young boy took the bowl that had less milk. Vanessa didn’t blame him. FazCrunch cereal always tasted better the more dry it was, at least that’s what Greg said. “Thanks mom,” Gregory chimed. He was starting to notice something about Vanessa. She looked like she was thinking hard. Gregory ate a spoonful of cereal before he spotted her holding her phone.

“Don’t tell me,” he guessed, munching his cereal. “You’re nervous because Luis hasn’t replied yet.”

"Uh…yeah…” Vanessa pulled herself together. It was part of the reason, though it wasn't completely right.

“Mom?” Gregory called out. Vanessa clicked back out of her thoughts. She really needed to stop doing that. “Yes yes, it’s hard to text him sometimes.” She sighed, continuing off topic. “Like, it feels like forever when he doesn’t text back.”

Gregory laughed as he shook his head. “He’ll reply I’m sure,” The kid finished his cereal. What was it with lovers always being so nervous around each other? Gregory just didn’t get it. Why be so afraid to even text if you already are close to that person?

Vanessa could hear the bus arriving outside. Before she could say a word, Gregory had already grabbed his backpack and tied his shoelaces. He was outside in seconds. Vanessa suddenly darted after him, he had forgotten his packed lunch.

Outside, Vanessa called out. “Wait Gregory! You forgot your lunch!” The bright yellow school vehicle had halted with an air’s hiss.

The bus doors swung open, Gregory had just enough time to look back and see Vanessa unzip his backpack and place his lunch inside.

“Almost forgot your lunch, sweetie,” Vanessa reassured as she zipped the bag up. A few kids on the bus planted their faces at the windows, amused at Gregory.

“Mom, you’re embarrassing me…” Gregory’s face turned a tint reddish. She definitely wasn’t gonna hug him now, she knew better than to do that in front of his friends.

“Have a great day at school Greg,” Vanessa gave him a rather awkward pat on the shoulder, trying not to shoot the kids on the bus a serious stare. Gregory returned her smile and waved goodbye as he boarded the bus.

The vehicle started to move as the doors closed. As the bus drove into the distance, Vanessa stood by the porch and waved. She was left to watch Gregory drift further and further away, until she couldn’t see him. Gregory was her son by heart. I need to get him a present. He’s counting on me. This will be the best birthday ever! Vanessa vowed in her warm heart.

A quick buzz in her hand drew her eyes back to her phone. A text reply from Luis had arrived at last. Her face beamed brightly. She tapped on her phone as she made her way back inside, excited and nervous as ever. For Gregory and Luis. This week was gonna be fun, she hoped.

——————————————————-

Vanessa sat on the couch with a clouded head. Her thumbs tapped a reply to Luis as she went on her usual routine of asking how he was. The replies she received were taking awhile, Luis was working on something at this time.

As she waited, her eyes dipped down, thinking what she could get him. It had to be special. It had to be something she hadn’t already given him. But what could that be?

The ideas that would usually pool out in Vanessa’s head had turned into a blank canvas. No matter how hard she thought, she wasn’t getting anywhere besides the casual gifts that anyone would get as a regular treat. Gregory’s birthday was more than that to her. He deserved the best, and only the best.

Her eyes fell on the crayon drawings Gregory had left behind again. This time she picked one of them up and inspected it closely. She felt like she was running around a maze with no prize. She needed a lead. A clue. Something that would point the way to help her decide.

The drawing was mainly scribbles adding up to the overall abstracted picture: A giant spaghetti of wires and metal having the head of a metalic bear fighting a space cadet. The next drawing showed him and Freddy on what appeared to be a rocket-shaped coaster. Vanessa looked in awe at the boy’s creativity. She took the next drawing, halting in her search. This last drawing had herself in it! She recognised the blonde hair and security uniform she wore. She was embracing Gregory in the drawing.

“Oh my…” Vanessa felt the warmth in her heart. She felt so touched by how Gregory saw her. She was his mom, sure. But this said it all the more with a deeper meaning. These drawings were a part of his life. And Gregory had placed her in it. Vanessa got up and folded the drawing. Somehow she felt she would need it to find the perfect present.

The door to Gregory’s room was wide open. She calmly walked inside, seeing the child’s decorative room. Most of the things here were space themed. Glowing stars on the walls, a rocket shaped bed, alien figures and space toy guns. There were also a ton of plushies from the Pizzaplex. Expired coupons, drawing notepads, Faz action figurines. “So he likes space and adventure,” Vanessa noted.

She finally caught the Pizzaplex poster hanging behind the door. Glamrock Freddy was shown handing out balloons and presents. This sparked an idea. The animatronics had spent around enough time with Gregory as she did. He visited them three times a week to hangout while she worked. They may have an idea of what to get him right?

She sat back on her couch and flipped her phone to the side. She was gonna do a video call. She had contacts with each of the animatronics personally. They all had devices in their personal rooms. She scrolled through her list of options. She tried reaching Glamrock Freddy. If anyone knew Gregory like the back of their hand, it was Freddy.

The call rang repeatedly. There was no answer. “Freddy must be on his routine shift,” Vanessa reasoned. She tried asking someone else. The screen flashed a green loading screen. Her call was answered. She heard a noise of wreckage as the screen came to show an alligator’s jaw with a smug voice answering. “Yo, wassup?” Monty answered, his claws pulling down his shades as he focussed on Vanessa.

“Hello Monty, “ Vanessa replied. “I was just checking to see if you had planned anything special for the weekend.”

“Heh, ain’t much going on for this punk,” Monty flexed his biceps, showing off his strength. His fists clenched with spiked knuckles.

Monty’s head turned around to peak as if he was making sure he was alone in the room. Vanessa looked in confusion. “Except for that lil guy’s birthday.” He muttered quietly.

“You knew?” Vanessa chirped, keeping her voice low as his. Monty rolled his eyes. “Of course, that lil guy had to enter his details to get the VIP Pass here in the Pizzaplex. Unfortunately, the others picked up on this too. It was my idea to get him a gift,” Monty bragged about his knowledge.

“Roxanne thinks she can get him a cooler gift than me,” He gritted his teeth, and laughed out loud. “She’s gonna lose big time!”

Monty flexed his muscles and grabbed a large present from off screen, placing it down for Vanessa to see. “Nothin gonna beat this!” He huffed, whatever that thing was, it made him exhaust his joints just to bring it into view. “A chainsaw always crashes down the party,” He bragged again.

Vanessa’s eyes widened. “A chainsaw?!”

Monty suddenly gulped, remembering who he was talking to. His tough voice now replaced with a defensive tone. Vanessa frowned. “It’s not what you think, I mean uh,” Monty grudged as he scratched his chin.

“He’s just a kid Monty!” Vanessa told with a worried voice, her face painted with concern.

“I know, I know,” Monty heaved his hands as he backed off. “I was just kidding,” he chuckled. “Like I would actually give him something twice his weight,” Monty’s tail jumped up and down, landing on the package. The hardware machine inside turned on and shredded the wrapping to bits. The chain saw halted with a sharp jolt as it dug into his tail.

“Whoops,” Monty’s glasses swapped up as Vanessa raised an eyebrow. “Hehe new plan.”

“Nothing sharp alright?” Vanessa frowned.

“You’re no fun,” Monty joked while giving her a rock and roll pose with his fingers. “But alright. I’m still gonna beat Roxanne anyways!” Monty roared in confidence.

“I heard that!” Yelled a female groan from outside Monty’s room.

Monty gulped again. “Gotta go bye!” He punched the end call button literally, and his voice disconnected. Vanessa was left at a static screen. She sighed and tried to dial Freddy again. But there was still no answer, much to her avail. She dialed the next contact on her list.

Her call was answered. “Oh hey Vanessa,” A wolf in a red crop top appeared on-screen, folding her arms and smirking. “Finally figured out it was your boy’s birthday?”

Vanessa nodded, feeling a little heavy. “I just can’t believe I didn’t notice until today. Would you be able to help suggest a gift I could get Gregory?”

Roxanne peeked at the cam, reading Vanessa’s face. She tapped her curled claws and pulled out a wrapped red gift. “I’ve hosted many VIP birthdays before, and all presents share one thing in common.”

Vanessa was about to ask before Roxanne continued. “They all have to be something the child can relate to. Something familiar but also something new. But the best presents always mean something special to both the giver and the receiver.”

“But-“ Vanessa was about to ask. Roxanne smirked. “If I told you exactly what gift you should get him, then it wouldn’t be “your” gift to him.”

“I guess you’re right…” Vanessa admitted, not feeling any better.

“You’ll figure it out I’m sure,” Roxanne smiled, hoping to see Vanessa’s face brighten. “Thanks Roxanne,” She replied.

“As for Monty, well-,” Roxanne placed her red present aside, and sprayed perfume on it to give an extra scent. “He's gonna lose ha!”

Roxanne placed her hands on the sides of hips and threw her hair back in the pose, saying her iconic line. “I’m the best!”

“Tell me that when you eat hot peppers when I win!” Monty yelled from afar.

“Shut up Monty!” Roxanne barked in a growl. Vanessa was confused but laughed a bit, it was just that amusing. She said bye to Roxanne and ended the call.

Freddy still wasn’t picking up. “Leave a message Superstar.” Vanessa looked blankly at her phone. Glamrock Chica’s name appeared as the final option. Vanessa was in such a mood she completely forgot about the animatronic that had the best ties with her. She dialed without another thought.

Glamrock Chica’s room was littered. Empty pizza boxes everywhere. Torn parcel wraps, popped balloons, splats of cheese stained the floor. It looked like the leftovers of 30 birthday parties. Vanessa heard a cluck, Chica’s head coming into view. She squawked as she was trying to stuff something inside a box. “Pizza!” She yelled.

“Um hey Chica?” Vanessa cracked a smile and waved. Glamrock Chica cocked her head, before springing up out of her squat.

“Vanessa! Hi bestie!!” Chica left behind whatever she was doing and raced to the front screen. “Sorry I didn’t notice you earlier. I was erm…busy,” Chica chuckled, wiping off her littered beak as she did a peace sign with her fingers.

“I just wanted to check if you could help me with something. You see, it’s Gregory’s birthday and-“ Chica cut her off. “You forgot?!”

Vanessa winced but nodded. Chica shook her head. “Haven’t you learned anything from the times we hung out?”

“Always eat pizza?” Vanessa quoted. Glamrock Chica shot back an annoyed yet admitting look. “Aside from that,” Chica chuckled, folding her arms. “I may not be the brightest, but I always remember the birthdays of everyone that’s close to me.”

Just then, a staff bot came in, holding a tray of fresh pizza. Chica’s jaw hung as her primitive instincts kicked in. “Pizza!!!!” She yelled, having her arms outstretched with grabby fingers. The staff bot dropped the tray and ran, leaving Chica to get her reward. Her beak pulled the food apart as Vanessa waited the right time to ask. “I still don’t know what to get him…”

“Get him pizza,” chirped Glamrock Chica, biting into her food again. Vanessa raised her eyebrow again, still unable to tell if she was joking after all these months. “You can’t be serious.”

“What?” Chica pecked and wiped her mouth. “No birthday is complete without food! A party needs a cake!”

“A cake?! Oh I didn’t think of that!” Vanessa added that to her list. Everyone was so focused on getting a gift that no one even brought up cake.

“Duh, sometimes I wonder how you got that security guard role,” Chica playfully joked around, tearing open a wrapped box and gobbled whatever was inside.

“Thanks Chica!” Vanessa said, cheering a bit, happy she had a clear goal for one of the things needed for the party.

Chica suddenly gulped, realizing she had cheese all over her beak as she held torn wrappers. “Oh no I did it again,” Chica squawked at herself with laughter.

Vanessa was about to ask what gift she should get. But she paused, perhaps remembering what Roxanne said. This was for her as Gregory’s mom to figure out. It wouldn't be special if Chica just gave her the answer.

The doors burst open, a jolly yet panicked figure stepped in. He wore jester boots, jingly bells, and a gold and red striped outfit. His face resembled the Sun. “Chica there you are!! The main stage is madness! Freddy needs your help to join him on his encore right this instant!” The Daycare Attendant brought the news.

Chica yawned and stuffed her face with another pizza. “Do I really have to?”

“You must hurry! Some of the kids started throwing pizza at-“ Sun the Daycare Attendant tried to explain.

“PIZZA!!!!” Chica flung out the door instantly, completely forgetting about the call and Sun. Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! Those words rung in her head in a loop.

Sun then noticed the room. “Oh no no!” He grabbed a broom and looked around the whole place. “What a mess! Clean up, clean up!”

Vanessa felt like saying hi, as Sun didn’t even notice the call was still streaming her face. But the constant stressed look in Sun’s face just told her now was not the time. She gave a silent wave at Sun, wishing him luck. The call ended.

Ok so we need a birthday cake, but…I still need to think of a gift……

She looked back at her text messages. She had missed a few replies from Luis. He was free now, asking if she wanted to go out somewhere. Vanessa wondered at her phone, but chose that it was now or never. She dialed Luis.

“Yo Ness, how are you?” answered Luis’ gentle tone.

“Luis oh thank God!” Vanessa sighed in relief. “I’m not doing too well. I just realized Gregory’s birthday is in a week. But I haven’t gotten the cake or a gift ready for him. I really need help to pick a present for him…”

“I see, maybe we could go to the mall this afternoon?,” Luis offered, hearing Vanessa’s sensitive voice. She needed him the most right now. How could he refuse? “I could pick you up around your house in half an hour!”

Vanessa felt her heavy breath speak tenderly. She always somehow did that by instinct everytime she felt bad. “That would be nice… but I don’t want to interrupt your plans.” Vanessa expressed her concerns, wanting to make sure she wasn’t bothering him.

“You don't need to worry about interrupting anything, Ness,” Luis confirmed with a caring smirk. “I’m not doing anything, so I'm free all day.” Luis heard Vanessa sigh happily on the other end of the phone. It made him happy whenever he could help his girlfriend. “I’ll be right over there.” Luis said.

——————————————————

Vanessa got what she needed ready, her wallet was packed in her handbag. She banded up her hair in a knot, checking her phone repeatedly. As she was dressed for the mall, topped in a leather jacket, she exited the door. A gust of fresh wind greeted her face. Luis’s car had pulled over by the walkway, sounding a friendly horn.

Vanessa reached her side of the car door and got in. She gave Luis a quick kiss on the cheek before putting on her seatbelt. Luis’ eyes beamed at his girlfriend, thinking just how lucky he was to have her.

“How was work?” Vanessa asked.

“Work was-good,” Luis nearly forgot everything that happened prior. Same response every time she kisses you. Luis’ admitted to himself. Why couldn’t he be more engaging, he wondered sometimes.

“Did you have lunch yet?” Luis continued, noticing there was something about Vanessa’s face that he wasn’t too sure. Her smile felt forced. Just a mask that hid her true emotions. He was on the money about that.

“Oh uh..” Vanessa had no time to think about lunch. She had been so preoccupied, it felt like time was flying faster than she could cooperate. “I had breakfast,” she replied in a folded tone.

“You must be hungry Ness,” Luis looked at her sweetly. Her eyes didn’t seem to hold that sparkle he was familiar with. She looked tired, beat up, thinking so hard on what to do next.

“I’ll be fine,” she said flatly. She was clearly upset about something. Maybe she didn’t get much good sleep? Luis decided to ask.

Touching his foot on the pedal, the car drove off towards the mall. At least he still remembered how to drive, Luis chuckled in his head.

“How was your morning?” He asked.

“Terrible…” Vanessa sunk into her chair.

“That bad, really?” Luis looked at her for a moment as he drove onwards.

“Everyone remembered to get him a gift. Everyone except me….” Vanessa hummed. “Like, I’m supposed to be the one responsible for Gregory. I’m his mom, and yet-“ Vanessa closed her eyes and sighed. “I should have remembered. All this is making me question myself if I’m just not good enough to be his caretaker.” Vanessa felt her eyes water, but she held back the tears.

“Oh Ness….” Luis let the brakes slow down the ride so he could talk to her without much distractions. It was a narrow straight road through the hillside to the mall. It wasn’t too busy on the streets. “It could happen to anyone. The best of us,” Luis tried.

“Even Chica remembered. Chica of all people!” Vanessa commented. This was just a low point that she felt was the deepest she could go.

Luis opened his mouth to object but then closed it, recalling Chica’s primitive mentality . “Ok yeah that’s really bad but … .you remembered now right? Isn’t this why we are here, driving to the mall? It’s one thing to forget, sure, but you didn’t just give up back then. The instant you found out, what did you do?”

“I…well,” Vanessa thought back to earlier. “I tried finding out what he may like, and I contacted his Glamrock friends for help.”

“That’s already more than determined of you,” Luis complimented. “That shows you want to make sure that Gregory will have a great birthday.”

Vanessa’s face lit up a bit as Luis continued. “And you still are making the effort, we are shopping for his cake and gift.” Luis added hope. “A week is longer than it sounds Ness-“

Luis slowed down the car and reversed parked into a corner. The mall peaked over them like a mountain, bright as glitter, and stairs leading to its wondrous entrance. It wasn’t the Pizzaplex, but it will have to do. Luis placed his hand on Vanessa’s. “And I’ll help you find the perfect gift, whatever it takes.”

Vanessa threw a hug to Luis, embracing him tightly. “Thank you Luis,” she whispered.

The couple got out of the car. Vanessa felt lighter. Talking to Luis in the long run always lifted the anchor off her shoulders. He was a good listener, and Vanessa loved that about him. The mall’s entrance doors spun like a carousel, lights flashing to lure curious eyes to its warm welcome. Any kid would drag their parents to enter such a marvelous location where it seemed it had everything.

“Ready to do some shopping?” Luis spoke in an excited tone, offering Vanessa his hand, as they stepped through the rotating doors.

“Let’s do this.” Vanessa nodded, now feeling confidence quench her dread. She took Luis’ hand and walked with him. I’ll make this the best birthday for you Greg. She promised.

The store was lit and packed with hundreds of people. Kids ran around excitedly, running to the hottest toy displays. Vanessa noticed there were quite a variety of families wherever she looked. It felt warm to see how happy everyone was, if this wasn’t a surprise, she would have brought Gregory too. That’s what Gregory felt like to her, he was part of her family.

Vanessa and Luis stopped by the bakery. The cakes on display made her tummy rumble. So sweet and tasty they looked, she could spend hours imagining herself eating everything.

“Does Gregory have a favorite flavor?” Luis asked.

“Hmm…” Vanessa recalled back as she hummed. She had mostly bought Gregory ice-cream popsicles of either caramel and chocolate. But which one did he say was his favorite?

“Strawberry?” Luis guessed, partly trying to spark something in Vanessa that might help her remember.

“That’s your favorite flavor,” Vanessa teased, nudging Luis with her elbow playfully. He laughed and nodded.

“Ah chocolate,” Vanessa remembered. “He loves chocolate a lot.”

She selected a cake that had suddenly arrived on scene. It was a milk chocolate layered cake with a hardened Freddy head chocolate shell on the top. It still had some decorations to make it suited for a party, but Vanessa felt like this was fate. This was the perfect cake right before her. She noted the additions she wanted.

“Would it be able to fit in your fridge?” Luis raised a question.

“I don’t think so,” Vanessa turned to Luis. “Gregory might also take a peak in the fridge if he gets hungry at night.”

Luis thought about it. “Hey Ness?”

“Ya?” Vanessa wondered what he would suggest next.

“I could take the cake to my house?” Luis offered. “Y’know keep it ready until the big day?”

“Oh Luis, that's a wonderful idea!” Vanessa lit, before she folded her arms playfully. “No sneaking bites from it, k?” She toyed in her cop voice.

“Would I get arrested?” Luis flirted back.

“I’ll shoot you,” Vanessa smirked jokingly.

“No promises,” Luis continued, receiving a sharp glare from his girlfriend. “I mean yes ‘officer’.” He gleefully replied, they both laughed. The cake’s decorations would be ready in half an hour. Vanessa had made sure she picked the extra frosting and lettering on the cake, followed by the spark candles. This left plenty of time to search for his gift.

The two continued deeper into the mall’s wide array of stores. Luis started to see coloured eggs and Lily flowers scaling the walls and floors of scenery. Kids were getting their faces painted, wearing bunny headbands and shaking egg-shaped maracas.

“I didn’t even know Easter was around the corner,” Luis commented.

Vanessa looked where he was looking. The theme really stuck to her mind. Easter was just days away. This mall was prepped up ahead of schedule, not wanting to miss out on the Easter Spirit. Vanessa was mixed in this instance, she felt joyed to see everyone having a good time, but there was uncertainty she felt within. Unease. But why?

“I never asked much about how things are between you and Gregory,” came Luis' voice. “How would you say you both get with each other? He’s not a handful right?”

“Well,” Vanessa thought back and smiled. “He’s the sweetest boy. He’s so smart too. Always planning his weekend. Gregory often draws me in his cute art pictures with Glamrock Freddy.”

“Aw that’s nice. So he’s used to you being his parent?” Luis implied.

“You could say that. He also dreams of joining me at work. Gregory wants to be just like me. He loves tech and games, so it’s not surprising why he admires my work as a fun job.” Vanessa flashed back.

“He sounds like he’ll have fun beta testing like you. Silver Parasol could always have talented gamers like him around,” Luis pointed out, putting his arm around Vanessa.

She leaned on his shoulder. “I wished they’d let us work the same work shifts…”

“Aw Ness, I wish that too,” Luis tried to think what it could be like. “We both would distract each other though,” He grinned sarcastically.

“Shut up,” Vanessa giggled, giving a friendly punch to Luis’ arm.

“Ow! Ness-“ Luis frowned tightly.

“Oh sorry! I didn’t mean-“ Vanessa swore she didn’t throw a hard punch. Luis was hurt?! How could she? Her terrified shock was suddenly cut off by Luis laughing at her. “Gotcha!” he said. Vanessa flushed her cheeks red at his antics.

“Luis, don't scare me like that!” She punched his shoulder again, harder this time. Luis shuffled and rubbed his arm. “Ok that one hurt a lil,” he chuckled. She rolled her eyes. “But would it really be good if he joined us at work when he grows up?”

“You said it yourself right? He’s good at games and enjoys it. Being good at something and loving it as your life makes it the dream job,” Luis paraphrased.

“It’s just, well,” Vanessa held her hands behind her back as she stretched, she often did this when she felt stressed about something. “I’m not too keen on letting him tryout for a job there..”

“Oh why not?” Luis asked. “The pay’s good too. The hours eh, manageable.”

“Whenever someone is doing good at their job there, they often get promoted to test the latest games. Gregory might do too well… and it won’t be long before they start to use him to test VR games as part of his work.” Vanessa explained in a voice that was growing softer, her arm holding her opposite elbow.

“What’s wrong with-“ Luis’ cut off his voice before he could finish, noticing Vanessa having herself in a stressful position. “Oh…right… you don’t want him around those types of games do you?”

“No…not after what happened to me,” Vanessa’s tone was hushed but audible enough to nearly sound pitiful. “I haven’t touched a VR game since the day I was freed.”

“What did it feel like…y’know, being controlled and all that?” Luis spoke calmly as he placed his hand on her shoulder, trying to piece together a part of her past that she didn’t talk much about in detail.

“It felt like I was locked in a box. Trapped in a room without a key…a burrow with no light. I felt lost and scared….” Vanessa’s face grew saddened. “I can’t go back to playing VR…I can’t let that happen to me or Gregory.”

Vanessa continued. “Whenever he asks me if he could play a VR game, I tell him no. I feel terrible whenever I do. I mean It’s not like he did anything wrong… ” She turned to Luis, looking him in the eyes. “That’s more to the reason why I have to make it up to him with this birthday present.”

Luis said nothing at first, taking in the amount of emotion Vanessa was putting into her whole plan for Gregory. Dammit Luis, you just had to ask her that…look now she’s clearly upset.. “Gregory is very lucky to have a caring mother like you. Never forget that,” Luis very much wanted to hug Vanessa. But he didn’t know if now was the right time.

“Do you think there could be a gift that Gregory would be happy with that isn’t a VR game?” She sniffed as she singled out those words.

“Hey, don’t give up hope,” Luis spoke in a warm voice. “This mall is huge, we just need to keep looking. Now you said Gregory liked games , right?”

Vanessa nodded. Luis followed up. “Then that’s where we should start searching. It doesn’t have to be a VR game. I just happen to know the best gaming stores around here. The mall doesn’t close until ten.”

Vanessa breathed and nodded again as she lifted her head. “You’re right. There’s still time.”

“More than enough,” Luis offered her his hand again. “We can circle back here to pick up the cake once we buy a gift.”

Vanessa’s face curved into a small smile, taking Luis’ hand.

——————————————————-

The games store had its neon lights on with the stock spread wide across the giant display cases and shelves stored inside. It wasn’t too busy as Luis remembered, but that would just make it easier to find what they were looking for. Whatever it was. Vanessa looked at the store’s name from outside. “This has to be the right place.” She whispered to herself.

“Damn it,” Luis nudged her, getting her attention to a promotion sign. 30% off all products. Final offer before closing today until next month! “Seems today is the last day this store’s gonna be open.”

Vanessa looked at her watch. “They close at 9pm. That leaves us 3 hours. Let’s split up. I’ll search from this aisle. You start searching from that side.” Vanessa pointed towards the opposite end. “We’ll cover more of the store faster this way.”

“On it,” Luis agreed.

Vanessa checked out the console aisle. Loads of controllers hung on display. Some were as old as the retro arcades while others seem to be crafted from a sci-fi world. A mix of old and new devices. This store had everything it seemed. She stepped into the first row that featured playable games. Gregory did have a console at home.

She looked under the Adventure and Space section. Her mind had to work harder to recall what games Gregory already had. He collected so many over the months that she started to worry if she accidentally got something he already had.

Freddy in Space VII, Carnival Quest, Into Madness, Help Wanted 2, Revenge of the Blob.

“He’s beaten all of these games…” Vanessa’s heart sank. There’s nothing new for his favorite theme. But maybe I could search other categories, I mean, he could love something new?

Vanessa strolled past the Space themed shelf, noticing the abundance of games under Fazbear Ent’s name. There were also Silver Parasol brands, but they were the needles in a haystack when it came to attention grabbing to the likes of Fazbear’s.

Vanessa reached the Collectibles category. Not surprisingly, she found that most of them had already been played by Gregory. Vanessa continued walking onwards. There was always something new in the world of gaming. She just needed to look in the right place.

She approached the Latest! aisle. This category was flashy, with marked prices at every turn. This was supposed to be the hottest sales in town, and the store was capitalizing on its promotions. Vanessa’s eyes lit and she smiled widely for the first time in this store. Gregory didn’t own a single game in this whole shelf.

Fnaf World The Return, Fruity Maze 3D, Playhunt, Terisma, Roxy Racers, Pizza Fest, Spend The Night-

Vanessa’s excitement disappeared with a crushing wave of realization. Just as rapidly as her hopes had soared, they plummeted faster than anticipated. All of these games…they were exclusive to the VR platforms…

Vanessa felt acid in her stomach. Why…why did it have to be like this…? Her hand reached out to one of the games, picking it up for a closer look. A fun experience for all families to enjoy! Her eyes folded in despair, remembering all those times she kept Gregory from playing VR. All of this to keep him safe. But who was she really keeping safe with this? Gregory or herself?

Vanessa could feel tears beginning to form from behind her sockets. She put back the game and walked away, wandering into the next category of games. She felt completely distraught.

The Joy of Creation, Cherophobia, Bunny Call360, CASE, Jnr’s, The Hare, Plushtrap Chaser, Eclipse Hunt, Nightmare Circus-

Vanessa blinked. She had wandered into the Horror category. She had never been a fan of it, but she never really feared it. But she couldn’t help but feel that something was making her uneasy. She continued to walk, trying to narrow her vision away from the parting shelves as she strolled. Her sight felt claustrophobic, the appearances of bunny mascot horror themed games coming into view the further down the aisle she walked. It made sense, Easter was only around the corner, so of course they would make horror games based around the holiday…

Vanessa halted in her tracks, some of the covers starting to take the shape of something familiar. Something she had burrowed in long ago. She was hallucinating, feeling ill. She wanted to walk away, but the further she went, the more Easter themed horror she came across. It felt like the eyes of the covers were staring at her. Why was she seeing red eyes?

Vanessa grimaced and sped up to reach the end of this “rabbit hole.” It felt twisted, a shoved reminder of something she wanted to forget. I need to breathe. Vanessa headed for the exit. She needed fresh air.

Vanessa made it out, feeling her vision grow heavy. It was at that moment she saw it.

Not too far across the lit hall, danced an animal mascot. Its white fluffy ears flopped and flipped as the figure took a bow and skidded to the nearest child. It held a basket of wrapped chocolate eggs, passing over one of the treats to a young boy. Another child noticed the mascot and ran towards it. The bunny suit waved flamboyantly, doing a few bendy movements. The choreography made it seem like the mascot had no bones, fluently synced like water. It handed a young girl another one of its eggs. Vanessa could only stare in horror as she imagined the bunny’s face staring straight back at her.

She was beginning to hallucinate again. Red eyes. Red glowing eyes pierced her heart as though they were daggers. It’s mouth now a toothy grin as it pulled its arm towards its mouth to a shushing gesture. Blood flashes.

Are you having fun yet?!

Vanessa couldn’t take it any longer. The weight of her exploding guilt now made her head feel heavy. A tear snaked down her cheek as she collapsed on the ground. The fall didn’t hurt as much as her thoughts. Her legs felt numb like jelly. She couldn’t muster the strength to help herself.

“Vanessa?” Luis called from afar, noticing her leave as the lobby door closed. Something was not right. She wouldn’t just leave like that.

Luis stacked whatever he had gathered behind and went after her. Hang on Vanessa. Whatever it is, I'm coming! Luis rushed, feeling he had to know what was up. He noticed merely the mascot smiling at him and waving flamboyantly. Oh no…I think I know what might have startled her!

“Vanessa,” Luis assisted his girlfriend by supporting her arm around his neck. “Are you hurt?” Vanessa remained silent, her face upset and wrecked with tears. A few people were starting to notice both of them on the floor. Luis quickly helped her up. “Vanessa, let's talk somewhere quieter, away from everyone.” Luis whispered.

The pair slowly got up and walked to the lobby doors, leaving the commotion they made a mystery to onlookers.

Luis and Vanessa found a quiet corner by the back stairway. The trail led on to the underground parking lot. Vanessa leaned against the rails as they stopped walking. Luis was more worried as she sobbed, her sleeves soaked with tears. “Vanessa, what’s making you feel like this?” Luis approached, taking out his handkerchief.

Vanessa shook her head and sniffed. Leaning further back with a loose grip on the rails. “It was that mascot wasn’t it,” Luis slowly put his words together. Vanessa responded with a brief nod. Luis had known she was never happy about what she did in the past. But he didn’t realize it broke her this badly. Until now.

As he tried to wipe her cheeks, Vanessa wrapped her arms around him tightly and cried again, Luis could feel his shoulder drenched. Her cheeks, which were usually warm, were just cold. “Vanessa…”

“I’m sorry Luis…” She spoke in a fragile voice. She loosened her hug on him, hearing Luis gasp very quietly in relief. “I just can’t leave it behind…”

“Leave what behind?” Luis placed his hand on her back to comfort her. Vanessa clinged onto his arm. She had a tough grip that felt like iron. Luis simply didn’t back down. Now wasn’t the time for him to act weak. He needed to help her, not make her panic more. He couldn’t imagine what was going through her mind.

Vanessa went back to her mutual silence. “Vanessa, whatever it is that’s hurting you….we can solve it….together…like we always have…”

She continued to remain silent for the time being. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Vanessa slowly looked up as the minute went by. “I feel like I shouldn’t involve you in this…” She told Luis blankly, the emptiness in her voice siphoning her dread. She had bottled this feeling up that she could no longer hide it again.

“Everyone is doing perfect without me. I just can’t seem to forget what happened all those months back. I’ve always tried to act like it’s been ok, but nothing really feels like that.” Vanessa sipped in another breath of air as she proceeded. “Thinking about you and Gregory helped me out many times before. But I keep circling back to the past. Our very own relationship somehow keeps making me think about the past.”

Luis held a thought about what she said. Vanessa wasn’t finished just yet. “Gregory was able to move on. He doesn’t see me as the monster I was. Even you didn’t hold on to that fact. But I did. And I feel like I’m holding both of you down from moving forward. It’s all my fault…” Vanessa’s eyes pooled out salty tears.

“But you didn’t kill those kids. It was that glitch. You told me yourself-“ Luis objected.

“I still was the vessel. I’m not a murderer, but that doesn’t mean I deserved what I have right now either. I feel like I don’t fit in, “ Vanessa cried, her blonde hair messed in shambles. “I feel there’s always something wrong with myself. When I was Gregory’s age, I never was brought up in a good family. I never had a proper childhood..and now it’s making me ask myself if I’m always the problem. Everything feels like it’s my fault.”

“But Ness,” Luis comforted, “It was you who started this little family. It was all you. After you were freed, you accepted my idea to get some coffee together, remember?”

“And?” Vanessa sniffed, wondering where Luis was going with this.

“And that only was possible because you said yes. You opened up to me about what happened to you. And then you felt you wanted to make it up to Gregory and adopted him. You, Ness, are the core of this family. You’ll always have a place in our hearts.” Luis spoke warmly. “You don’t have to feel bad about the past…”

“But it’s my past that made me like this…” Vanessa pointed out. “Now I realized why it was so hard for me to pick a gift for Gregory. It wasn’t because I couldn’t find what he wanted. It’s because I knew what he wanted deep down. But I buried that idea because I was afraid. I was afraid of his wish that reminded me of something from my past. I’ve been so selfish…”

“These things take time to heal Ness,” Luis gave her the biggest, warmest hug as he said this. “Tell me, before all this. Before the glitch and fear. What were you like?”

“Well…” Vanessa flashed back, trying to recall further past her dreaded experience. “I was all alone. No one to look after me. I was just out for number one.” The thought of Luis meeting her for the first time came to the picture in her head. “I don’t think I cared much about my colleagues back then…I had nothing to share with”

Vanessa sobbed. “I’m sorry…”

“Ness, don’t you feel like you’ve come a long way? Your past may have not been your proudest pet of your life, but, would you say you’ve changed?”

“I…well..I guess…” Vanessa replied halfheartedly, unsure what he was going to state next.

“You’re a mom to Gregory. Despite the stress the responsibility of his care would bring, you felt like he needed it. You put aside your goals and shared a life with him. And with me…” Luis brought it up. “You gave me a chance and allowed me to be part of your family. And how do we make you feel in return?”

“You make me feel…” Vanessa held her tongue before she spoke. She could only think of one answer. It was so obvious to her, that it came out smoothly. “Happy…you both make me feel happy..”

“And you deserve to be happy.” Luis boldly reminded Vanessa. “There’s nothing to be scared of. I’m here for you in your life. And so will Gregory. No matter how long it takes, we won’t leave you behind. That’s what makes us your family.”

Vanessa shed another tear along her cheek. But this wasn’t a tear of regret or sadness. She could feel that hint of hopeful joy sprout back up from inside. It was like Luis’ words had made her realize the very thing she was missing the whole time. Everyone knew the real her. Her true self would care for her family and would be loved by those she cherished. Somehow Vanessa no longer felt like the threat. Luis made his point clear. None of the good things she had right now would have happened had it not been for her selfless actions. Why be afraid of the past if her future was so much more?

Vanessa looked Luis in the eyes. “Thank you Luis..for reminding me.”

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The pair had a long evening. Luis and Vanessa were strapped in seat belts as he drove her home. Vanessa held Gregory’s gift in her arms, all nicely wrapped up. The cake was in the back, steadily secured.

I won’t be afraid of the past anymore. Vanessa thought as she stared out the car window. The woodland trees running by as the moon poked its face to join the clouds in the starry sky. Gregory, I love you my son. And I want you to be happy as you have made me. Vanessa’s fingers patted the wrapped gift. And I believe that you’re gonna love what we have for you. I know I’ve said many things about this before. But now it’s time for the future. You’re my future Gregory. And I want to be there with you every step of the way. I never got the wish to be happy in my childhood. So let me make yours come true…

Vanessa thought about how everything had unfolded as Luis drove into her neighborhood. Her worries had completely faded as of now. The excitement was all that was left in her heart.

Her house appeared in the view as Luis’ car slowed down. Her doorstep faced the driveway as she unbuckled her seatbelt. “I’ll take the cake to my house until the party as we agreed, right?” Luis double checked.

Vanessa nodded and smiled. She felt her hand reach out to grasp Luis’ arm. “Hey also..”

“Yeah?” Luis realized his eyes were locked deeply at his girlfriend’s line of sight. Something else was happening. Vanessa’s face was getting closer, Luis felt himself freeze. It took him completely by surprise. He felt Vanessa’s soft lips brush against his. The pair closed their eyes as they shared the kiss.

Vanessa slowly pulled away after a while. Her cheeks were gushing pink. There was nothing more to say. Words weren’t enough to beat the compassion she had just been shown. She slowly got out of the car, present tucked in her arm. Luis still felt speechless. No way! That was… wow! Was I dreaming?

Vanessa mirrored Luis’s gleeful smile and waved. Luis waved back, eventually driving off. He glanced back using his side mirror to see Vanessa enter her house. It’d been a long night.

Tomorrow is another day…

“I’ll see you again Ness,” Luis replied to himself as he safely drove home.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The alarm rang.

Vanessa slowly peaked at the greeting sunlight as her head sunk deeper into her pillow. She pressed the snooze button and slowly sloughed up. Today’s the big day!

It felt funny, to pretend like it was an ordinary morning when Gregory awoke. Same schedule as usual. He got ready for school and boarded the bus. Not suspecting anything. He doesn’t know- Vanessa giggled to herself, proud of how everything was coming together. She spent the whole afternoon texting Luis, making sure everything was in place. This feels new. There wasn’t a feeling of stress present. She no longer had a drive to achieve perfection. She knew that she was enough. No, more than enough. Gregory was going to enjoy this.

Soon enough as school ended, Luis picked up both Vanessa and Gregory. The child’s bored out face suddenly glowed with a cheered smile as he noticed that Luis was driving towards the Pizzaplex.

“Oh, are we gonna hang around the arcade?” Gregory asked, peaking his face at the window.

“Mhm, I think you deserve a well-earned treat for studying so hard.” Vanessa said with a merry voice. Gregory shot his arm in the air with energy. “Alright! Let’s go!” He exclaimed blissfully.

As Luis parked, Vanessa and Greg hopped out with Luis behind. Luis was about to open the trunk before his hand came to an abrupt stop. He turned to Vanessa, realizing Gregory was watching him.

Vanessa’s instincts clicked, she nudged Gregory playfully and took off. “Race you to the entrance!”

“Hey no fair!” Gregory raced after her. “Last one’s a lazy mop bot!”

Luis laughed softly and slowly popped the trunk open, taking the cake and gift with him. Now that he’s distracted, that’s my cue.

Gregory and Vanessa burst through the doors at full speed. Everyone else had already gathered at the lobby. Roxxanne and Monty continuously shot stares at each other, before they saw Gregory had entered the scene. He raced straight into a hug of Glamrock Freddy. “Back for more fun superstar?”

“I sure am!” Gregory punched the air again, clicking his heels. He caught a glimpse of Glamrock Chica wiping her stained beak as she yelled “Pizza!” repeatedly. The Daycare Attendant was following her lead, cleaning up torn wrapping paper and cheese stains after her. Sun cocked his head towards Gregory, reacting as fast as he could to dump the trash in the nearest bin. He awkwardly skipped to waving at Gregory, who waved back without suspicion.

“So which game are we gonna play first?” Gregory called out eagerly.

Roxanne was about to suggest something before Monty pushed her aside to interrupt. “Gator Creek!” He roared with pride.

“Gator Creek is for toddlers,” Roxanne mockingly objected. “Howl Mayhem is a good one if you want to show you’re the best,” she shrugged her hair and flexed her arm.

“How about we let Gregory pick?” Freddy suggested, pointing his finger as the idea sprung up his circuits. Gregory tapped his finger in his chin, wondering how he was gonna choose out of the hundreds of arcade games. Chica stumbled right back on the scene, fumbling as she squawked “Pizza!” again.

“Good idea,” Gregory remembered. “Let’s head to the Pizzam machine!” Gregory sprinted, leaving Roxanne and Monty speechless at Chica. “HOW?!!” They both asked, wondering why everyone listens to Chica.

It didn’t take long for Monty and Roxanne to go after Gregory. They didn’t want to miss competing again. Vanessa walked to Chica, noticing that she was in a dizzy stance.

“Pizza!” She squealed, almost as if she was resisting a powerful urge within her.

“Chica what happened?” Vanessa inspected her bestie, looking very worried. Chica’s eyes twitched heavily, her beak hung open and snapped shut.

“Chica couldn’t find much of a gift to get for Gregory,” Freddy explained. “So she tried wrapping the one she liked that she knew she could give him.”

“Pizza…” Chica interrupted weakly, placing her hand on Vanessa’s arm, resting on the floor as her eyes jiggled in her sockets.

“Unfortunately she kept ripping open her gifts of pizza due to her having quite an appetite. So she tried hiding tons of wrapped pizza from herself all around the Pizzaplex and attempted to stay on…diet,” Glamrock Freddy shook his head pitifully.

“Oh my, you must be starving,” Vanessa helped Chica up. She really was fighting off her instincts to not eat. But she could easily have snapped into full hungry mode at any moment. Vanessa walked her to the party room. “Freddy, help me keep Gregory occupied. Me and Chica will set up the surprise with Luis.”

“You can count on me Vanessa,” Freddy flashed a “rock and roll” hand gesture, before going after Gregory.

Chica weakly pointed towards a ticket booth. “I’ve hidden….. my last gift in there…. I need to stay away from it until the time is right…”

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” Vanessa hummed. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you fixed.”

“Wait for me! I want to help too!” Sun danced after them in an altered state.

“I have an idea,” Vanessa looked at Sun in relief.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The Pizzam Machine spat out a stream of tickets as the bright words of “New Best'' flashed at the draw-dropped faces of Roxy and Monty. Gregory jumped up and down energetically. He basked in his victory as the name GGY took the top spot of the high score leaderboard.

“We uh,” Roxanne and Monty looked at the floor, swallowing their pride ever so bluntly. “We went easy on you,” they both commented in sync.

“Sure you did,” Gregory blew his hair and collected his winnings. “Now should we chill at the VIP Party Room?”

“NO!!!!” Roxy and Monty exclaimed, taking Gregory by surprise.

“Uh what I mean is-“ Roxy thought hard, scratching her paw against her chin.

“There’s so much else to do!” Monty raised his finger, nudging Roxanne.

“Right right,” Roxanne nudged back, giving an annoyed yet silent stare at Monty. “Freddy, what’s the latest addition to the Pizzaplex’s arcade?”

Glamrock Freddy stared blankly as his system searched for the latest intel. He then robotically stood tall and pointed his finger up before explaining. “The Fazer Blast has received numerous updates in the past week from-“ Freddy went on to ramble about every specific detail. Closing his eyes fashionably as he explained with a glamorous smile.

Gosh this is turning into a lecture….. Monty listened boredly to Freddy’s tutorial guide, realizing Roxy is already racing Gregory to the Fazer Blast. “Hey wait up!” Monty Gator took off.

“-coin consumables each sold separately , if you have a VIP voucher you may play modes like Zombie Mode and Frenzy, discounts apply-“ Freddy opened his eyes, finally realizing he was talking to no one. “Oh-“

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Luis stacked all the gifts by the other Glamrocks on the side table. The cake sat in the center. He noticed a scuffling voice as Glamrock Chica was helping herself to an endless supply of slushie in the next room. Sun was multitasking between hanging the decorations and mopping up excess slush leaks coming from the other room. He looked exhausted but determined to keep up with the max process.

Vanessa took another deep breath and blew the last balloon, tying its knot. Luis hung up a Happy Birthday banner and strung it to the corner poles of the room.

“Ok let’s see….balloons?” Vanessa eyed her list.

“Check,” Luis presented.

“Cake and presents?” She called out.

“Done.” Luis replied

“Food?” She asked, looking worried.

Both Luis and Ness turned to see the table of snacks and delicacies unspoiled and untouched, causing the pair to sigh in relief. Sun scrambled back to Glamrock Chica’s room as his jester heels clicked, causing him to fall over. Before Vanessa could react, Sun shot his hands straight in front of him to counter his fall, his palms cushioned the floor, tipping his entire body into a forward somersault. He spun flamboyantly in an almost similar fashion to a looney tune cartoon. Sun landed right back on his feet and proceeded to grab the mop before the mess would grow.

Glamrock Chica sat there under the slush machine, her beak widened to intake more fizzy liquids, causing it to spill on her room floor. Her eyes suggested she was lost in another world. Sun shook his head, once the machine runs out, it’s gonna be hopeless. Sun looked at the food table nervously as he mopped.

Vanessa heard her phone buzzing. She answered her call. “Freddy?” She could hear laser beam sound effects in the background.

“Gregory is about to head back once we finish this round. Is everything ready?” Freddy’s voice beeped in.

“Yes yes, the party is set,” Vanessa hushed in an affirming voice. “No more stalling. Thank you Freddy.”

The call ended quickly. Vanessa looked at the Daycare Attended working hard to clean up Chica’s leftover spillings. “Sun, are you able to keep this up until Gregory arrives?”

Sun spun and rotated his head like a wheel before nodding, keeping his ever stained smile. “Just a lil longer,” Luis encouraged, “You’re doing great!”

Vanessa shut the binders on the window panels to make sure no one could see what they were up to from outside. She and Luis prepped up confetti blasters and faced the doubled doors. Any moment right now, Gregory would be in for the big surprise!

Seconds ticked by, they could hear the slightest footsteps of a child sprint across the carpeted hall followed by multiple metallic foot stomps parading after.

“I win!” Gregory shouted at the top of his lungs as he burst through the double doors as sudden as a Jack-in-a-Box. He felt alive, springing forward as the champion of the race. His victory call was instantly interrupted.

Gregory was frozen with shock as his jaw started to hang open. The surprise wasted no time. Confetti shot out and fired at Gregory, flailing ribbons and puffs of coloured paper shards at his entrance. The balloons kissed the ceilings and dangled their tails over the tables. The cake was lit and sparkling with its candles.

“SURPRISE!” Everyone chanted.

“Whoa what?!” Gregory stood back at the sudden exclamation of the party. His eyes started to water as his smile grew. This scene he witnessed, there was something speaking to his heart. He felt just right at home and was touched emotionally. “You all planned this just for me?”

Vanessa started to clap in sync. The Glamrocks arrived behind. Sun recognised his cue and lowered the lights, making the candles more ambient. Chica kept herself from asking about eating some cake. Vanessa took a deep breath as did everyone. “Happy Birthday to you….”

Gregory felt his hand reach his heart. The others chimed in as they sang this lovely song. Gregory had never looked so happy. This felt new to his eyes, it promised him that his friends cared about him.

As the song ended, Vanessa softly placed a party hat on Gregory. “Make a wish,” she whispered.

Gregory sipped in the air and blew out the candles. “You are all my wish,” he replied sweetly. Everyone cheered in response.

Roxanne and Monty got into their cues, holding their gifts forwards. Chica stumbled out from the other room, holding her crumbled gift. The Daycare Attendant dusted her beak with a hope of polish before grabbing his own gift as he turned back on the lights. That was a close one… he thought to himself.

Freddy got his gift and Vanessa took her place in line behind him. Luis got out his camera and started taking pictures. Roxanne flushed her hair to sway from the side and knelt in front of Gregory. “Happy Birthday.”

Gregory opened her red parcel wrapped in purple ribbons. He pulled a hand mirror and some appliances for styling his hair. “With this you might even look cool as me,” Roxy joked playfully.

Gregory chuckled. “Thanks Roxy.”

Roxy smiled as she let out her most humble line. “You’re the best.”

Next, Monty stepped ahead and placed a large green box topped with a yellow bow. “Are you ready for this kid?”

“You bet!” Gregory pumped, unwrapping the gift to find two gator themed dumbbells. He picked one up and slowly lifted it.

“Remember kid, if you wanna be like me, take care of em biceps,” Monty flexed.

“Thanks I will,” Gregory flexed back, also putting down the dumbbell. It was heavier than it looked! Next came Sun, holding a very small dark blue parcel. Gregory unwrapped it to reveal a Moon shaped night light.

“Aw,” Vanessa warmly admired.

“To help you sleep better when the night turns the lights off,” Sun presented humbly.

“Thank you Sun,” Gregory appreciated, “I’ll be using this a lot!”

Chica shook as her turn came. Her beak twitched open. “Oh my, Chica what happened?” Gregory asked, looking worried.

“Nothin-“ Chica’s voice cut as she presented her gift in Gregory’s arms. “I got something for you.”

Gregory could smell something baked and delicious underneath. He opened his crumpled pink parcel to see a mass of cheese, tomato sauce, and crispy dough. “Lasagna?”

“P-pizza!” Chica chirped assuringly. “Do you like it?”

Gregory smiled back at Chica, seeing the effort she went through. “I love it,” Gregory patted Chica. “You know, it is more fun to share,” he handed her the box. Are you hungry?“

Chica nodded in delight, as Gregory let her devour the pizza mass as he watched in satisfaction. “Thanks Chica.”

Now it was Glamrock Freddy’s turn. It was smaller than the others. No larger than Greg’s doubled fist. It was bright orange, tied off neatly with a cyan bow. Gregory’s eyes fell on Freedy, who smiled in return. “Happy Birthday Superstar.”

Gregory lifted off the lid of the gift. Inside was a brand new faz watch. “Oh wow!”

Freddy pointed his finger up and explained the qualities of the watch as he slid his eyes closed in a humble fashion. “The faz watch is an upgraded version of the one you have. Aside from apps like games and learning tools, the faz watch is also connected to our systems. Which means you can finally contact us whenever you like.”

“Wait, really??! Anytime?” Gregory’s mouth spun into a gleeful smile. Freddy’s eyes shot open as he remembered. “Well except for school hours,” he let out a mechanical chuckle, scratching his ear with a tweak. Freddy felt something suddenly wrap around him. He looked down to see the young birthday boy giving him a big bear hug. Freddy calmly patted his mopped hair. “I promise I’ll call you guys everyday!” Gregory cheered.

Finally it was time for Vanessa’s present. She stood strong and firm, but remembered to smile as she gracefully approached Gregory. The parcel was pinkish white with red ribbons and a bow. As Gregory examined the parcel, he could feel its weight. Books?

Vanessa could see that Gregory was confused a bit. But as he slowly unwrapped, Gregory’s draw dropped hard. “Oh my-“

This present was the largest. But Gregory could never have predicted what he just got.

“A VR headset!!” Gregory exclaimed at the top of his lungs. “Wait, but didn’t you say-“

Vanessa nodded. “My fears kept me from letting us have fun. I always wanted to protect you from anything. It took me a while to see that.” Vanessa turned to Luis for a moment. “But I know now that no matter what happens, as long as we are together, nothing can hurt us. That’s why-“ Vanessa motioned Gregory to unwrap the present further, revealing that there were three headsets in that box. “I wanted us to play together. I knew you always wanted a VR headset. We can spend time on everything as a family.” Vanessa finished her words warmly.

Gregory started to wipe his eyes, he felt so touched by her words. Tears, but tears of joy, ran along his cheeks as he gave Vanessa the biggest hug ever. “Happy Birthday Gregory.”

“Thank you-“ Gregory sniffed and hugged harder. “Mom.” He finished.

“Aw.” Everyone smiled in awe. Vanessa could feel a release in her heart that she hadn’t felt for so long. She felt this was her new beginning. Luis, Gregory, and everyone present. This was her family now. And she would treasure them to her core. With only joy erupting out of her, the future had never been so bright as a lit torch, guiding her through her brand new life.

“So who wants cake?” Chica wiped her mouth. Everyone laughed in response, celebrating.

The End.

[austinslounge]

Girl, Austin really said I ain't even trying to make it look convincing anymore. Kaia relies heavily on the paparazzi pictures and red carpet events to sell their love story. As of late, Austin hasn't been playing along.

Even in private, candid photos still show they have no connection. I'm hoping things come to an end soon. It's just getting more pathetic as time goes on.

I mean I fully believe they didn't speak at dinner. They've both been using their phones as a distraction for awhile now. Austin has never been seen on his phone really ever, until recently. Every time he's spotted out with Kaia, he's on his phone. She always looks mad. Just do yourselves a favor and pull the plug. I doubt her parents really care enough anymore to sabotage Austin at this point.

Girl right?? 😅 It's looking to the point now where I'm like, "just do yourselves both a favor and breakup so that you two can be happier with other people".

It's looking pretty pathetic atm.

Take a seat because I have lots to say.

I definitely think Kaia tries to sell their relationship as more than it actually is. To me, Austin looks like a man who is checked out and has been checked out of this relationship for a while now. He seems to just be going through the motions now. Their relationship is not giving: "I'm in a relationship with the love of my life and my best friend, and I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life" at all imo.

Say what you will about Dua & Callum, and Taylor and Travis, but those couples (whether real or not) actually look genuinely happy, excited, and passionate about each other.

Austin and Kaia meanwhile look like:

I must say, their Kaustin relationship looks to be one of the most boring and lifeless relationships that I've seen between two young, attractive people in Hollywood in a very long time. 🥴

It's to the point where I almost feel sorry for him and her. As a woman, I would want to feel passion, friendship, and be genuinely happy and excited with the person I'm with. Look at how happy Dua looks with Callum. That's how I want to feel. When I look at her, she looks like she's having the time of her life. Kaia, on the other hand, doesn't even seem all that happy with Austin unless she's on the red carpet w/him celebrating one of his successes. Other than that, this couple looks DOA.

Kaia is young (22). She could be dating someone she is truly excited about.

I feel even worse for Austin. 😔 I saw the way that he was when he was with Vanessa. I'm sure they weren't a perfect couple, and I'm sure they had their issues like most couples do, but the fact is, they actually looked genuinely happy and in love with each other. He seemed so happy with her! Austin even looked happier having a fling with Lily Rose Depp than he does with Kaia. That says a lot!

That L&S article that stated that they have "nothing in common" is seeming more and more true.

And girl yes, I do believe that they were at that restaurant and barely said anything to each other. There are so many pictures we've seen of them together and they look like they don't even interact.

This relationship (imo) looks to be dying a very slow and painful death. They're trying to hang on by a thread, but to me, they don't even seem like they are as happy as they could be? To me, they would more than likely both be happier with other people. The body does not lie. That's all I'll say.

[craomy]

The Little Mermaid! Azul Ashengrotto x Yuu (Part 1/3)

Prompt: The story follows a plotline similar to The Little Mermaid. Down in the depths of the Kingdom of Atlantica, Yuu is known as the treasured daughter of the Sea King. Azul has disguised himself as Vance (Like Vanessa in the movie) in order to strike a deal with Prince Elias (Prince Eric) on a traveling ship as a human and Yuu is captivated. When the ship gets caught in a terrible storm, Yuu saves Azul and he’s unable to get her singing voice out of his head but doesn’t know who it is. When Yuu comes to Azul for a contract for her to become a human, he doesn’t realize that she was the one who saved him until after she obtains her legs. Now it’s up to Azul to come up with a plan to stop a romance caused by a misunderstanding.

Author’s Note: This story has a total of around 18k words, so I thought it would be easier to read if I broke it up into three parts. 

Part 1: You’re reading it! :)

Part 2: Here!

Part 3: Here!

            There was a lighthearted atmosphere to the sailing ship. Fireworks burst in the night sky, plentiful cheers, and instruments being played by those full of merry. The liveliness was almost contagious, but not enough to impress Azul who watched the drunk men carry on in their festivities. He had made preparations beforehand, and his disguise would not be easily detected, but it is said that the way the world looks changes depending on one's perspective. The same could also be true of appearances. Instead of his cool light-grey wavy hair, it was a dark brown one, as well as his darker silvery eyes hidden behind a violet hue. Of course, this was a temporary look, at least one that may hide his true identity as the powerful and benevolent Sea Sorcerer. His beauty mark was nowhere to be seen, concealed and absent for the sake of not giving away the signature look. At least he had kept his glasses, though they are now circular framed due to the fashion of the time and that things could be quite blurry at a distance without them.

            Floyd and Jade on the other hand are acting as Azul’s bodyguards, ensuring their boss’ safety in case any event were to happen. Oftentimes there are scuffles if a client is upset with the terms of agreements, and having loyal subordinates are quite helpful in attaining more contracts. Either way, Azul is sure to be successful in capturing the perfect opportunity for business. Unlike Azul, Prince Elias, a brash man that was next in line for the throne, is not as serious as Azul about the potential benefits he could reap from their current discussions. His playful foolishness is not something Azul wishes to involve himself with any further than he needs to, but Prince Elias is quite the insistent one.

            “Vance! Get over here you party pooper! You should listen more about how Princess of Glowerhaven and I spent the night together,” Prince Elias lightly slapped the back of Azul’s shoulder while firmly grabbing onto him to bring him closer. A bit alert but slightly annoyed after the surprise, Azul maintained his composure and stood tall, clearing his throat to call attention to himself.

            “Ahem, I understand that you are quite the… woman charmer as you say. However, I have no interest in your external affairs.” Azul attempted to say in a polite yet stern voice, almost in a disgusted manner while carefully picking Prince Elias’ hands off of his shoulder by each finger. He averted his gaze to make eye contact with Jade and Floyd, hoping they’d catch his drift while he keeps up a friendly charade with his potential contractor. The close stench of liquor from the prince had reeked, and once again Azul is quick to maintain his distance.

            The night is young and many of the men on board were partying to their heart's content. The firework show continued to light the night sky and had certainly caught the attention of a young mermaid, the youngest daughter of the Sea King. You see, Yuu is labeled as the rebellious daughter by her father, but in her eyes, she saw it as being curious and adventurous. Life under the sea was amazing and all, but she yearned for the things she didn’t know about above and on the surface. Her father, the Sea King, was very strict with how he dealt with his daughter all for the sake of her own safety. Ever since the Sea Queen was hunted down for her beautiful scales and voice, there were rules that were set in order to keep the merpeople and the humans from mixing like oil and water. This, however, had only further piqued Yuu’s interest. She’s captivated by the foreign illuminations and was quick to show her amazement to her best friend, Grim, who is tasked to stay by her side.

            “Yuu, what are you…” Grim’s head raised above the water trying to understand why Yuu was so distracted and gasped when seeing the unfamiliar large ship in the distance, “Jumpin’ jellyfish! What is going on over there?” the little seal’s jaw dropped. Yuu had never seen anything like it. It was so close, yet for every moment she waited, the boat continued to create its distance. 

            “Well, we’ll just have to find out Grim!” and without hesitation, Yuu swam with her glistening tail that gleamed under the moon to the exciting scene. Climbing aboard the ship from one of the astray ropes, Yuu propped herself and Grim to watch intently from the deck while remaining hidden.

            Yuu’s eyes panned the unfamiliar environment and saw some humans celebrating with each other, whether it was by playing instruments or moving their feet to the music. There was one figure in particular that caught the little mermaid’s eye and it was a human who appeared to be forced to dance with one of the other men. With dark brown hair and violet eyes, the human was quite the gawky dancer who had tried his best to remain serious but to no avail.

            “Hey! Quit this insistence on dancing, Floyd!” Azul ordered in a loud whisper, but the laid-back bodyguard couldn’t help but get a rise out of his boss. 

            “Come on, if you don’t learn how to dance once, you won’t be able to make the most out of those two legs of yours,” Floyd bore a toothy grin, leaving Jade to chuckle on the side due to his brother’s silly antics.

            Yuu couldn’t help but stare at that man for a bit longer than she should. Something about him is different than the other humans, perhaps something is missing in his appearance. The only thing she could think about was how charming the man was, despite not gracefully dancing to the hectic rhythm of the party. “Wow. Would you look at him use his feet, Grim? He’s very handsome, isn’t he?” the girl leaned against the floorboards with a dreamy far-off look, captivated by the sight of the young gentleman. 

            “I don’t know. He looks like he’s too busy getting drunk,” Grim snorted, looking at Prince Elias who is close to tumbling over like a bumbling fool. Yuu scrunched her nose and smiled, and she held onto Grim’s cheeks to bring his attention in the right direction. 

            “No, no, not him. The one with the whatzits on his nose.” Sighing and sinking with her back to the wall, Yuu could only imagine what it would be like if she could join and dance along with the dreamy man. Wishing to see new sights, discover more thingamabobs, and maybe even get closer to finding someone who could understand her and her fascination with this vast world.

            Prince Elias staggered to the side of the boat, startling Yuu and causing her to shy away from the view. Azul followed after, leaning on the railings as he pressed his palm to his chin.

            “Vance… Have you ever thought about being able to meet the right girl? Someone who can really leave a long-lasting impression on you? Someone you can love?” The prince began to slur his words, perhaps a bit tired of sleeping with every maiden in the kingdom given that he’d ask such a question.

            Azul paused for a moment and straightened his posture, adjusting his coat and falling back on a memory that may be close to what was asked. Most of the time he was left in isolation because of his appearance, the mockery of others is what comes first to mind, and even worse, those who only seek him only for the sake of gaining something in return. Even if he wanted something genuine, it may not be possible because of how he kept up his mask from outsiders. It isn’t easy being the oh-so-benevolent Sea Sorcerer when it comes to finding a meaningful relationship.

            “Well, Prince Elias, I have thought about it once or twice but those thoughts have yet to stay afloat when you’ve got a business and corporation to attend to. There’s a tradeoff to everything, and I’m afraid that I bargained for my strong ambition and have to stray away from things that may distract me,” Azul looked out to the current of the waters and saw how his reflection was in disarray in the quick movement of the waves. Who was he kidding? His plans on taking over the kingdom of Atlantica after being ostracized and outcasted for being an octopus are something that still lingers in the back of his mind. This meeting with the humans is just another stepping stone in the grand scheme of events. He needs to remain focused.

            “Ah… Love at first sight? Those are stories told to give children hope. Maybe to even explain why someone may be enticed despite the overlooking real requirements of a connection needing to be mutually beneficial. It’s more complicated than what’s on the outside. Surely even for you, you’d understand that every relationship comes with a price. Even if I do find someone, I’d hope that they’d see me for who I am,” and so Azul began to drown out the sounds around him, thinking about how this was his life’s purpose while hinting at his other possible life beyond being human. To bargain and to exchange. To hold debtors accountable and maybe even have the Seven Seas bow down to him. Yet, even then, love is a commodity that’s hard to obtain.

            Yuu listened to the man’s words carefully and sympathized with him. She wished to give a word or two to cheer him up, but if she were to say anything, she’d expose herself and she’d be a fish out of water. The mermaid had instead begun to pat Grim’s head as she intently took notice of his answer.

            Lightning struck in the distance. A strong gust of wind had gathered and began to cause chaos onboard. Sailors were rushing to get into position to prepare for the hurricane. Azul quickly withdraws from the edge and his eyes darted to Jade and Floyd.

            “Twins! Assist the men with the sails!” he ordered, taking the lead in helping the sailors while Prince Elias is half awake. The men were fighting with the waves, a large one sweeping the deck of the ship with several men defenselessly succumbing to the strength of the body of water. Azul wasn’t one for his brawn, but he had rushed to the wheel of the ship and attempted to steer it in the right direction, feeling as if he was fighting against the winds of the Caspian sea. Yuu saw how he bravely took charge until the currents became too strong and knocked her back into the ocean.

            “Grim! Are you okay?!” she looked around for her precious friend. Amidst the rocky waves, she saw that recognizable ball of fluff pop its head out of the water.

            “I’m okay, but we have to get outta here!” Grim tugged on her tail, but Yuu was too preoccupied with what was happening with the human she had kept an eye on. 

            Lightning struck the sails and was caught ablaze, along with a forceful disturbance to the ground that had caused Azul to lose his footing. The businessman had contemplated whether or not he should risk being caught in his octopus form, but it was too late to decide when the back of his head collided with a heavy broken plank of wood. His glasses were knocked off of his face and his vision began to blur even more as black dots began to dance around his line of sight, losing consciousness as his body plunged into the waters. 

            Yuu gasped and panicked as the ship exploded. Her altruistic nature caused her to move before she could think as she swam to save the fallen man. “Where are you going, Yuu?!” Grim cried out but fell on deaf ears amongst the storm. She dodged and maneuvered around the falling debris, eyes darting around to see any sign of life around. In her peripheral vision, she saw the handsome gentleman grasping onto a floating plank, passed out. Slowly, his grasp began to slip from the board and his body was now consumed and hugged by the empty waters around him. Yuu dove down and grabbed a hold of the man with her arms pulling him up from the chest, losing no time in returning him to the surface.

            Gentle waves crashed onto the shore of the land and returned to their owner, repeatedly and continuously following the same cycle. Azul, disheveled and blacked out, was set on the sand where Yuu had laid him. She held the back of the human’s head and had a hand on his chest, cautiously observing any signs of life. Grim swam closer to the two and was shocked to see the sight.

            “Is he… dead?” Yuu asked as Grim hopped closer to the unconscious human. 

            Grim’s voice wavered with the human’s foot pushed against his ears and shook his head, “I can’t make out a heartbeat…” with a mournful tone.

            “No, look! He’s breathing!” Yuu stared in awe, eyes locked on his resting face. Her hand pushed back the stray strands of hair behind his ear.

            “He’s so beautiful,” she confessed as if it was the ultimate truth. Azul, is handsome, even in disguise. Perhaps this little mermaid could see through him, even if it’s just a little bit, even if they have yet to have a conversation together. She traced her fingers upon his cheek, almost as if she had known him all her life in every scenario.

            “What would I give to live where you are?

            What would I pay to stay here beside you?

            What would I do to see you smiling at me?” 

            Azul shifted slightly, feeling a hand gently placed on top of his chest. This unfamiliar warmth was nothing he’d experienced before. The soft touch of a kind soul, a comforting one at that, had begun to sprout a seedling different from any other within Azul’s chest. There is no panic in his awakening, only serenity, and peace.

            “Where would we walk?

            Where would we run?

            If we could stay all day in the sun?”

            The Sea Sorcerer needed to find this ray of light. Half-awake yet conscious, he had reached a hand out to the tranquil voice, grabbing hold of a smaller hand that rested on his cheek.

            “Just you and me

            And I could be

            Part of your world.”

            The gentleman's eyes fluttered open, seeing a blurry figure of a woman who stared deep into his soul. The melody of her singing had struck a chord within him, a tune that lingered in the passage of his once solemn thoughts.

            “Heyyyy! Where are youuuuu?” Floyd’s disconcerting call had caused the figure in front of Azul to quickly depart to avoid being discovered. The pleasant atmosphere had now died down with the waves crashing onto the shore once again, but this time, as a sign of applause for the performance that it had witnessed.

            Azul stared at his now empty hand, not minding that Jade and Floyd had finally found him washed up on the sand.

            “There you are, Azul. We were worried sick.” Jade gave his signature polite smile while leaning over Azul as he lay on the sand.

            “You don’t look that worried, Jade.” the gentleman slowly sat up, wiping sand off of his clothes despite not actually cleaning himself from such particles. That’s right. He needed to continue conducting his work. Both of the twins stayed by his side as a reminder of that, for they needed someone interesting to follow. The angelic singing had still rung through his ears, echoing the last bit of traces of the person who had saved him. He felt indebted to the voice, feeling as if he had been given temporary shelter and then taken away to return to what was before. Even so, his body felt at ease after the beautiful singing.

            “What a peculiar thing.” Azul was now interested.

            The Octotrio had returned to the depths of the ocean. There has been hot news that the Sea King’s most beloved and youngest daughter failed to show up for her musical debut in the high Atlantica society. As an outcast whose been exiled, this hasn’t been too much of a great concern for Azul. Though, gathering intel and information on how others may be despairing is exactly what he needs in order to give his customers what they wish for. Having returned to his octopus mer-form, Azul had carefully watched his magical crystal with careful eyes, observing the sights that Floyd and Jade are collecting for him. He had initially sent them off to find out more information or possible clues to the owner of the voice who had saved him previously, but now a greater fish to catch was now at his hands.

            Displayed through the looking glass was a sorrowful, susceptible, and vulnerable mermaid. As Azul’s silvery hues examined the little mermaid in his crystal ball, he couldn’t help but notice what a catch this customer will be.

            “So this is Yuu, the daughter of the Sea King? The rumored headstrong and lovesick girl?” he peers at his garden of anemones, the lot of poor unfortunate souls who couldn’t keep up the end of their bargain. He turned back to take another look at Yuu. With the beautiful scales on her tail, it was clear as a shard of sea glass that she was of noble origins. This is proof that even someone of high esteem has their own problems.

            “She would be the loveliest of them all. This is a little bit too easy for me, Floyd, and Jade.” Azul chuckled to himself quietly. Finally, the perfect opportunity to snatch the crown away from the king. The chance he may never get again in his lifetime. The octopus quickly devised a brief plan. Once the little mermaid is bound to him by contract, he’ll take the upper hand and use her as a bargaining chip against the Sea King. How could the king refuse? The safety of his most loved daughter comes first before his crown. Love takes sacrifice.

            At the entrance of Azul’s lair swam an oh-so-familiar mermaid along his loyal eels escorting his catch straight to his plate. Speak of the devil and she shall appear, he thought. She was much prettier in person, as rumors say, and she certainly has his attention. The apprehensive look on her face was evident as she swam above the garden of unfortunate souls.

            “Welcome, Angelfish.” Azul’s voice echoed through the eerie chamber, “Don’t be shy. It’s rude to leave someone waiting.” Climbing out of a large seashell, the octopus made his presence known as his body flowed with his movements. Yuu nervously gulped as she approached the rumored Sea Sorcerer, and Azul took note of her behavior with a chuckle. Oh, how easy it will be to exploit this girl, he thought. The boundless amount of opportunities will only continue to expand if things go according to plan.

            “Now, then, the reason you’re here today is that you’ve fallen in love with a human. He must be a catch if he’s piqued your interest.” Azul absent-mindedly guessed, love being the game he most often participated in pulling the strings. Usually, it’s one who wants to become thinner and another one wanting to win over the girl– and did he help them? Yes, indeed.

            “He’s just so interesting. I really want to learn more about him. There are a lot of things I want to discover up on the surface as well–”

            “Yes, yes. You’ve got yourself an appetite for the unknown. Instead of a wager, how about we make a deal, yes?” Azul interrupted, a bit too excited about taking advantage of the situation.

            “The only way to get what you want is to become human yourself,” the octopus lifted Yuu’s face by the chin with his finger.

            “Can you really do that?” the mermaid gave a look of surprise and pondered with astonishment.

            “Why of course. I’ve been fair with no foul plays. They don’t call me Azul Ashengrotto for nothing, Angelfish. Helping unfortunate merfolk like yourself is simply what I’m called to do,” he proudly claimed, keeping his posture and maintaining steady eye contact with his sincere client. 

            “Some merfolk say that you don’t exactly keep your promises. How can I trust your word?” Yuu asked with some suspicion. He chuckled inwardly.

            “Come on, I know you need a little magic and magic is my specialty du jour,” the cunning man twirled around the little mermaid with his tentacles. Yuu didn’t realize how much larger the Sea Sorcerer appeared until he got closer. A part of her screams that she should be intimidated, but the grief of her grotto being destroyed by her enraged father was stronger to overpower the adrenaline that was commanding her to swim away.

            “Don't just stand there looking sick. Would I kid you? Play a trick? Like I told you, I don't do that anymore, ” Azul began to open his cauldron, causing the jaws of the pot to release, emitting a soft light for both of the merfolk to pay attention to. The Sea Sorcerer continued to keep a poised expression on his princess, sliding a few side eyes to Floyd and Jade to poke some hints of future trickery.

            “Listen to this darling, I will make you a potion that will turn you into a human for three days. Three and only three days,” Azul’s tentacles had gently ushered and pushed Yuu near his potion cauldron. He quickly directed Yuu’s attention to his face with his hand that held a grip on her chin. Seeing her up close, he analyzed her face in his hands, a moment where his intense gaze met her determined eyes.

            “Before the sun sets on the third day, you’ve got to have this human fall in love with you,” he put a hand to his chin, “he’s got to kiss you, but not just any kiss.” The cauldron arose with an image of a heart rotating in place. “It must be a kiss of true love. If he does kiss you before the sun sets on the third day, you’ll remain human permanently,” an illusion of Yuu’s human self freely walking above the pot. “But if he doesn’t, you’ll turn back into a mermaid…” Azul captured the illusion with his hands in a strong grasp. He leaned forward to Yuu and held her wrist by his tentacle, yanking her close to his body, not minding the close proximity because the thrill of securing this deal was much more important than how he was feeling.

            “You’ll belong to me!” he chuckled, giving a mischievous laugh. The thought of having Yuu to be under his control didn’t sound that bad of an idea. He’d be able to sit on the throne and terrorize those who mocked him and maybe keep Yuu by his side. Daughter of the Sea King, it’s a rare commodity.

            Grim opened his mouth to object for his friend, but was quickly silenced by the Leech twins. “Shhh… We don’t want to disturb them, do we, Azarashi-chan?”

            “Have we got ourselves a deal, Angelfish?” Azul inquired, examining the mermaid’s facial features very carefully. How will she react? What will she do? Is she going to beg and plead? It would be a sight to see the Sea King grovel and ask for forgiveness for his daughter’s sake.

            “If I become human… I might have a chance to see that gentleman I saw above shore again,” she softly spoke. Azul raised his eyebrow. Instead of worrying for her family and friends, she’d rather gamble her life on something so unpredictable as luck. What strategy or plan does she have if her plans to swoon the man she wants don’t turn out right? It’s almost too easy for Azul. It’s two fish with one stone.

            “How fascinating. You truly are willing to risk it all for a man you hardly met? Do you even know this man’s name?”

            “Yes, his name is–”

            “On second thought, maybe I don’t want to hear it.” Azul interrupted. The thought of a beautiful mermaid-like her throwing her life away to some guy just doesn’t sit right with him. However, knowing this mystery guy’s name is not necessary, anyways. If things go according to plan, then she won’t even end up with him. “We haven’t discussed the subject of the payment. You can’t exactly get something from nothing, can we? I won’t ask for much. Just a token really, a trifle. You’ll never even miss it,” Azul lifts Yuu’s face once again with his finger.

            “What I want from you is… your voice.”

            Yuu pressed a hand to her throat. Word has gotten around that she hadn’t been at her debut, but to think that she’d have to give up one of the very precious gifts she had. She wasn’t left with many options. Her hopes had been dashed with her father previously and there was no one who could really comprehend why she found beauty in the human world.

            “So I think you ought to take my little bargain. Yes, I think you ought to make my little deal. Sure, it's hard to leave your life, but you could be a charmer’s wife. Why don't you let me take that dream, and make it real?” Azul threw many potions into the pot, causing multiple fumes to arise and explode with its exotic ingredients. He’s never had a better moment like this. After all, he has to put on an impressive show to the sweet princess of what he’s capable of doing.

            “Come on, you poor unfortunate soul. Poor doll! Poor fish! Aren't you glad you brought your problem to a man that you can trust? Won't you let me grant your wish?” Azul’s a very busy person and he hasn’t got all day. It won’t cost much…just Yuu’s voice!

            “You poor unfortunate soul! Poor sweet! Poor dear! Aren't you lucky that I'm ready with a potion and a plan? Aren't you glad you came and asked if I could help you? And I can!”

            A golden scroll had appeared from thin air, the luminosity glowing in an ever-so-taunting way. Yuu couldn’t make much of what was said on the contract but the last few words were written big and bold, “for all of eternity” with an empty signature slot.

            “When a mermaid comes to Ashengrotto…he has just one demand!” the octopus’ eyes widened greatly, and the circumstances were just right. His contributions, her desperate yearning, the strings beginning to attach to Azul’s fingertips, almost feeling Atlantica in the palm of his hands!

            “You poor,” Yuu grabbed the pen.

            “Unfortunate!” Azul grinned, almost madly.

            “Soullllll~!”

            It was already too late. The moment Yuu finished writing her name in elegant cursive, Azul had eagerly clutched the shining scroll and it disappeared without a trace.

            “It’s a deal!” 

            For a moment, Yuu for some strange reason had accepted what may come. She was prepared if she could see that man up on the shore once again. The Sea Sorcerer must know what he’s doing, so it’s going to be okay… right?

            The Sea Sorcerer recollected himself after safely securing the contract. Now everything will go according to his plans. As Azul began to chant the spell, he ushered the little mermaid, to sing for him. It's the final piece that he needs in order to have the upper hand in the deal. Thoughts of possibly having Yuu’s voice replay her soft pleas to the Sea King are sure to be a sight! Everything he’s ever worked for has finally felt like he’s going to get what he deserved… or so he thought.

            The moment Yuu began to sing, a chord was struck within Azul again. For a second, he felt enchanted, and he left his guard down when he heard the girl’s voice. 

            There’s no mistaking it. 

            The voice that he was hearing in front of him belonged to the one that saved him. 

            Azul’s shoulders were no longer tense and his cunning smile had faded to an almost dazed look. Yuu’s voice was extracted by the magic and had been transferred to a nautilus shell that Azul had held in his hand.

            Instead of laughing in victory, Azul had his thoughts flooded with his feelings clashing against his plans. Oh no, he thought to himself. In exchange for Yuu’s voice, her glimmering tail had begun to undergo a transformation into legs. There wasn’t enough time for Azul to think, she was becoming a human too soon!

            “Floyd! Jade! Take Yuu to the surface, quickly!” Azul ordered with a hint of desperation. The twins had been shocked for a moment that they’d be tasked with doing something nice for the girl, but continued to follow instructions while releasing Grim to swim to the girl. The baby seal had coughed and sighed in relief for air, but then regained his strength.

            “You better not be tricking Yuu, you hear me?!” the little seal hollered at Azul, only to regret his words a little bit later once Azul had grabbed Grim with his tentacles and brought him near his pot.

            “It seems I must change my plans. If she was the one, that means you were probably there too,” Azul muttered to himself and bit his nail on his thumb, thinking about how he can have Grim assist Yuu. Assisting Yuu? Why in the Seven Seas am I thinking about doing something out of goodwill…

            Azul’s tentacles were already moving on their own to create another potion for Grim. Yes, I’ll turn him into a cat so that he can guide her, he thought. Grim yelped as his tail also began to transform, forced to swim to the surface for air.

            “What have I done?…” once the room was empty and it was just the Sea Sorcerer, he cursed the Sevens for having the girl who saved him being the one he made a contract with. He held the glowing nautilus shell in his palm, listening to the remnants of Yuu’s singing play back to his ears, just like how it did when he was on shore. Floyd and Jade shortly returned to Azul’s chambers.

            “Azulll, why’dya have to make us take her up there?” Floyd complained, rubbing his arm.

            “It is quite strange. Why the change of heart?” Jade inquired with a hand on his chest.

            Azul turned away from the twins, not quite sure why he ordered that. Should he tell them what happened after the storm? If he doesn’t, then they might not understand where he’s getting at. He’s never been interested in a girl like this before.

            “This was an unfortunate turn of events, and I’m afraid I may have to get involved more than I should.” the octopus alluded, swimming around his cauldron to gather more ingredients.

            “How so? This is no different than the other love contracts you’ve helped with.” Jade commented.

            “This is different Jade.” Azul managed to string his words together, “the human that she fell in love with was…me.”

            …

            There was a moment of silence between the three of them. Floyd couldn’t contain his laughter after hearing that. Not too long after that Jade also started to laugh. Azul, feeling incredibly embarrassed after saying something so preposterous, felt that he need to explain himself.

            “I’m serious! Oh, I’ve greatly miscalculated what I needed to do.” He repeatedly tapped the side of his head, “Ever since she saved me from the shipwreck, I couldn’t get her voice out of my head! Curse this all…” he was conflicted with what he should do. He thought he had everything laid out ready for him, but the thought of Yuu waltzing on land with someone else who isn’t him had upset him even more.

            Jade swam in front of the octopus to take a look at his face, “Azul, what are you talking about?”

            “…Should I just wait for the three days to be over? No– no, she could possibly fall in love with someone else during that time.” Azul started to ramble to himself as he thought about what he should do next.

            “Jade, I think he’s finally lost it.” Floyd nudged their boss, but to no avail, he didn’t move.

            After coming to his senses, Azul managed to explain the whole situation to the twins, about how he was knocked out during the storm, and the voice that saved him was one he was looking for earlier, not realizing or noticing why he had been caring more about this than he should. In the end, Azul started to act alone on his own accord. Despite all of this going against what he believed, he can’t help but think that he needs to take proper responsibility, at least to clear up the misunderstanding. The twins understand that he won’t be at ease if things are left on their own.

            I can’t believe I’m doing this, Azul prepared a potion for him to become human as well.

            “Yes, after all, this is all merely a part of my design. I’ll be going in and about, let all of her time run out, and long before she’s his she will be mine.”

            Slowly emerging from the waters, Azul had fixed his coat and stood tall and confident not too far from Yuu who had managed to cover herself with a torn sail around her body, which hardly even complimented the shape of her figure. Grim yelped, a bit alarmed that Azul would come up to the surface. After all, he is a sketchy businessman known as the infamous Sea Sorcerer.

            “Ah, I forgot,” Azul offered his hand to the helpless Yuu that struggled to stand with her brand-new pair of legs, “I’ll teach you how to walk like a human. This way, you’ll be able to blend in with the people in no time.” He was no different from her when he first learned to gain the ability to walk on two feet. Thankfully the twins weren’t there, or not they wouldn’t shut up about his previous struggles adjusting to his human form. 

            Trembling knees like a newborn fawn, Yuu stumbled forward into Azul’s arms. Instead of getting frustrated, she showed pure adoration for this brand-new experience. It’s obvious that the sheltered princess would take this opportunity and enjoy every moment of it. She looked down at her now-standing feet and then back up at Azul with a proud innocent grin. It’s kind of endearing to see, Azul thought with his business smile on his face. Although they were close in proximity, he quickly set an appropriate distance between their bodies and cleared his throat.

            He held one hand in his and his other on the other side of her waist. “Now then,” Azul gently pulled her forward so she can instinctively use her feet to prevent herself from falling once again, “we’ll begin step by step.” 

            “You got this, Yuu! If I can do it, then you can too!” Grim pranced around in his new form as he ran around, eventually wandering off to somewhere else on the beach.

            Something about her unadulterated excitement for simple things such as walking had been enough to make Azul feel a bit softer than usual. He felt a twinge of guilt, seeing how delighted Yuu was with him in his company already with trust. After a few more moments of walking together, it seemed that Yuu was ready to walk a bit faster. The Sea Sorcerer slowly released the girl from his grasp and the girl appeared more gorgeous to him than before. Her eyes lit up as she took a few steps backward confidently on her own. The man watched with a steady gaze, feeling a sense of pride that she was able to learn so quickly. Yuu beamed, then attempted to spin around in a circle but had gotten too caught up in her elation that she missed a step of her own.

            “Careful!” Azul quickly rushed forward and caught Yuu by the waist, leaning more forward than he should’ve, leaving the awed girl to stare into his silvery eyes for a bit longer than she should’ve. The man gulped, not quite sure how he could play off the situation smoothly without stuttering or skipping a word. The longer he watched her, the more he began to appreciate her presence and be warier of touch.

            “There’s someone coming this way, Yuu!” Grim interrupted the precious moment between Azul and Yuu without a care in the world. He leaped into the arms of Yuu, and purred happily. 

            The sound of approaching footsteps signaled that it was time for Azul to take his leave, slowly releasing the princess from his grasp. That’s right, she’s the princess. The daughter of the Sea King. Things couldn’t possibly work out between us, Azul thought with the insecurity of his incompatible position to court her.

            Despite the numerous amount of times that he rejects his feelings, he has inevitably been drawn in by her.

            “Ahem. Good luck, Yuu. May you find the man you seek of.” How ironic, isn’t it? To purposefully set someone up for failure just to utilize them for their worth. Although these thoughts were on his mind, they didn’t affect the look of excitement that had never left her face as she eagerly waved with one hand goodbye to him. Adjusting the hat on his head, Azul promptly disappeared from her sight.

            Yuu was getting jittery, fixing her hair as much as she can and determined, hoping that the man who turned around the corner was the one she was looking for, but to her disappointment, it was someone else. It was the man that was getting drunk on the boat– Prince Elias was it? The girl wore a smile, either way, not wanting to show her displeasure for this man.

            As for Prince Elias, he gave a low whistle the moment he laid eyes on the princess. His eyes raked her body up and down in one of the most disrespectful ways without blatantly hiding it, but he coughed into his fist and approached her. She was quite the jewel and a maiden that he hadn’t seen before in the kingdom. Something about the way she held herself, the way that she confidently stood tall and had not seemed to have too much of an interest in him. This would be another trophy he’d conquer if he got her to marry him.

            Out of all people that were to show up, why did it have to be this guy?! Azul anxiously watched from afar, hidden from the line of sight of the crowd on the shore. With the time spent on the human lands, he knew exactly what kind of guy Prince Elias was! A womanizer, playboy, and fool who cannot properly recognize the high-value woman standing right in front of him! Oh boy, Azul was gritting his teeth together, as if this whole situation could get any more complicated. He needs to come up with another plan. Although he may benefit from all of this if he stayed out of the equation, he can’t just let Yuu be around him!

            Prince Elias had walked up to Yuu and Grim began to hiss at the man approaching. Perhaps Yuu can find that charming gentleman again if she were to go with the prince to his residence. The prince, on the other hand, was thinking about how his assistant the other day was ushering him to get married. Looking up and down at the girl once more, he started to have ulterior motives of his own.

            “Shipwrecked? Hey, let me take you to my castle and get you cleaned up.” Prince Elias invited, trying to snake a hand around the girl’s waist, but she pushed herself away. The man raised his eyebrow and took this as a challenge. “You can’t talk? Well, that’s alright. I’ll help you and make sure you’re taken care of,” he said as they both walked off in the distance, leaving Azul to his own thoughts.

            The rage started to bubble within him, I don’t want her to be viewed like eye candy to a foul man like Prince Elias, he thought. She should be admired like a piece of art– not like a pile of food in front of a starving man! Men like Prince Elias would immediately lust over her rather than worship her for her worth.

            Azul trusted that Yuu’s devoted friend, Grim, would keep an eye on her. He watched as Prince Elias led the princess to his castle.

            “If you really want things to be done right, then you really have to do it yourself.” Azul was going to make his next move.

            After getting cleaned up and dressed by the maids, Yuu admired everything around her. The warm light shining on everything and through the large windows of the palace was a big change from the cool colors that she saw every day in the waters. Not only there were many people in various clothing, but the gadgets and gizmos were more complex and actually functioning compared to the ones she had under the sea! The Dinglehopper is a personal favorite that she has in her possession (she borrowed it from the dining hall).

            Her own bedroom was illuminated by a candle on her nightstand. She combed through her hair with the Dinglehopper and walked toward where she was supposed to sleep. Grim sat on the nightstand and yawned, “We can brainstorm ideas on finding your dream man tomorrow.” She patted the cat’s head and sat herself down on the bed, and to her surprise, the bed sank under her. What an incredible invention! And a comfortable one, too.

            Yuu sank into the soft mattresses of her own bed, relishing the joy of being on land like she always dreamed of. Grim jumped on the pillow next to her, “This is amazing, who knew being on land could be so much fun?” The princess excitedly nodded her head as she shook his little paws. She couldn’t help but kick her legs with joy against the bed. It was going to be a long day ahead of her tomorrow as she searches for that gentleman she saved. A whole new life awaits her! She can’t be any more grateful to Azul for doing this for her.

            After a while, the energy from Yuu had finally calmed down and she is fast asleep with Grim in her arms. The fluffy grey cat pulled himself free from her grasp and leaped on the nightstand. He smiled at his dear friend, oh how much has happened within this short amount of time. 

            “Good night, Yuu.” And he blew the candle out.

Part 1: You finished reading it! :)

Part 2: Here!

Part 3: Here!

[maxverstappensflatbrim]

Show Me Yours | Matty Healy [19]

chapter nineteen, act three: so far (it's alright)

masterlist

April 21st 2014

liked by... phoebebridgers, bedforddanes75 and 3,568 others @thomasthetankengine: so… this is Button

trumanblack: she’s evil | thomasthetankengine: you’re such a baby

User15: dog mum | User6: i want Tommie to adopt me | thomasthetankengine: okay, woah, I’m probably younger than you | User6: mother replied

Tommie finds herself smiling as she picks up the phone and holds it to her ear, giggles leaving her lips as she sits on the floor, “Hey, babe.”

“Uh, hey, Tom. How’s it going?”

She laughs, “Pretty good, you alright?”

“Yeah, yeah.” 

“We still on for our date later?” She questions, “I went shopping with Adam this morning and found this cute skirt I think would be perfect-”

“Sure. Uh, that dive bar, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

Button jumps at her and she laughs again, “Uh, anything happen lately?” Caleb pushes, “Significant?”

“Um,” She leans her head back in thought, “Well, Coachella was shit, I don’t know why you guys like that festival so much, it’s just a PR stunt for struggling models. Oh, I met Vanessa Hudgens, though, she’s lovely.”

“Is she?”

“Yeah, she was nice.”

“Nothing else?” He asks.

She shrugs her shoulders as if he can see, “Uh, no?” She laughs again, “I saw you three days ago, Caleb, talked to you yesterday morning too.”

“What about Button?”

She smiles at the dog, “What about her?”

“You didn’t tell me you were getting a dog, Tommie.”

Her smile fades a little and she glances at the other guys, Ross is lying on the floor letting Button jump all over him and lick his face with Matty on his stomach beside him, squeaking a little stuffed cow in his ear.

George and Adam are both sitting crisscrossed, their backs against the sofa, George records them playing and Adam encourages Button to beat them both up.

“I didn’t realise I had to-” She pauses and looks up catching George’s eye, she nods to the door and he nods back, “Tell you every time I made a purchase. Besides, she was free, got her from a homeless guy.”

“A-A homeless guy, Tommie, you need to be more careful, what if-”

“Ross was with me, I couldn’t just let the guy kill her.”

“I-” She hears him sigh and then the background noise gets quieter, he had the same idea as her, move away from prying ears, “I love that you care, I do, it’s one of my favourite things about you-”

“But?” She asks.

“No, but, I wasn’t going to say anything different.” It's quiet, she thinks he’s going to continue but he doesn’t. There was a ‘but’, they both know it.

She sighs and picks at the broken skin on her thumb, “Are you okay, Caleb?”

“What?”

“The past couple days, you’ve been, just weird. Are you okay?”

He clears his throat, “I’m fine-”

“Caleb…”

“Just… stressed,” He admits, “We’ve been sitting in this studio for five days and they haven't done a thing, I feel like I’m the only one who cares, and then when nothings done they’re turning on me as if it's my fault.”

“Then tell them that, tell them how you feel, don't hold it in.”

He scoffs, “You gonna take your own advice?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You and Matty,” He says, “And his stupid flirty personality, he makes you uncomfortable, Tommie, I can see it, just tell him to stop. He’s your friend, he probably will if you ask him to.”

She wants to start an argument at that.

But she stays silent.

She and Caleb argued a lot for the first couple months after the short (three week) honey moon phase passed them by.

He’s stubborn, and so is she. But she likes him, and she doesn't want to lose him. So after a while she learnt to remain quiet. That way the arguments don’t happen, he’s happy, and he makes her happy.

“I’ll pick you up at six.”

She doesn’t respond, doesn’t tell him she’ll be waiting like she usually does, she hangs up and puts the phone into the back pocket of her jeans.

“He’s jealous.”

She jumps and turns to see Matty leaning against the doorframe, “What?”

“You asked why he’s been acting off with you the past couple days. He’s jealous.”

“Of what, my dog?”

“No,” Matty says slowly and pushes off the door frame, “Of us,” She raises a brow and he quickly clarifies, “Us as in the band, we’re at coachella and his band is struggling to get gigs at shitty pubs.”

“They’re not struggling,” She says in defence, “They’ve got an EP lined up for recording.”

Matty shrugs, “He’s jealous. He hates that you’re better than him.”

She turns away from him, a humourless laugh leaving her lips and he catches her arm, “I’m telling you the truth, Tommie. He’s great, don’t get me wrong, and I love that he makes you happy, but he’s… he’s obsessed.”

“Obsessed?”

“With your band.” He clarifies, “When's the last time you guys talked about anything other than either of the bands?”

“Well, I-” She pauses, he’s right. Everytime she tries to talk about something he somehow turns it music related, constantly circling back to both of their bands.

She realises then how focused he becomes when she talks of the band and how they found success.

Then she shakes her head, this is Caleb, her Caleb. And then it's also Matty.

Matty sighs and tilts his head down, “I didn’t come out here to give you relationship advice, we both know I’m not exactly qualified for that.”

“What you come out here for then?” She asks, trying to keep her voice from going harsh. She reminds herself he’s her friend, and that he only has her best interest at heart.

He finds himself pausing a little too long until he fishes a box of cigarettes from his pocket and waves them around, she looks down at his socked feet and back up again and he walks on down the corridor.

“Matt?”

He hums as he turns before the final corridor and she sighs before clarifying for him, “He does make me happy.”

Matty smiles, teeth showing, “I’m glad.”

⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ

She walks forward slowly, hands in the pocket of Adam’s leather jacket she stole for the night.

Caleb’s head practically snaps as he looks up, a bouquet of roses in his hand that he passes to her with an apology following right behind.

She sighs, “Caleb, it’s fi-”

“Don’t say it’s fine, please don’t.” He practically begs, hands holding her free one.

“Caleb.”

“No,” He shakes his head, “That wasn’t right of me. To take my annoyance out on you, I’m sorry. The guys, they’re- doesn’t matter, just know that I’m sorry, okay?”

“Okay.”

“Forgive me.”

“It’s okay.” She says again, lips curling up as she lets herself smile.

He walks up the one step separating them so he’s on the one below her, the few inches make them almost the same height and he connects his lips to hers.

“I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“Gag.”

They both turn slowly to George, who is grinning behind them, Matty stands in front of him leaning back against his chest as they share a joint between them.

“What are you doing?”

“Getting high.” Mattty says, using his ‘duh’ tone.

She nods and lets Caleb take her hand, “We’re going now.”

“Have fun.”

“Watch the dog.” She tells them sternly.

Caleb tugs her further down the street, they walk hand in hand until they get to the bar, only pulling apart from him so he can open the door for her.

The rest of his band are already at the bar, drinks in hand with two sat ready and waiting for them.

“Hey guys.”

He looks over to where James and Shane stand at the pool table, “I’m gonna go make fun of them.”

She laughs, “Don’t bruise their egos too much, Caleb.”

He gives a little half shrug as he walks back, hands clapping Shane on the back as he goes to take his shot which makes him miss the ball completely and turn to start shouting at him.

“Hey, Tommie.”

“Alright.”

“You know what, I’m okay, had a good day, thanks, you?”

She clears her throat sipping on her drink, “I’m alright.”

“Good, good.”

He watches as Caleb takes a glance to her, eyes filled with love as he watches her stare around the bar.

“How’s the band?”

“They’re good.” She tells him with a nod, cradling her drink.

He nods, “So… what does your family think of your success? They proud?”

“Well, Adam’s my cousin, so I guess I get to share it with him, you know, his parents are proud, very.”

He nods again, “What about yours?”

“Oh, well, I-” She taps her foot against the floor, fingers picking at her thumb nail, “They’re uh… my mam, she died, few years back.”

“Oh,” His shoulders fall, “I’m sorry, I didn't realise.”

“It’s okay.” She nods, “I don’t really like talking about it. I mean, we weren’t really close, but, still my mam, you know.”

“So you lived with your dad, then?”

She winces sucking air in through her nose, “Not entirely, dad and I never got along. He stopped being my dad before I said my first word.”

“So, you should be just fine by now then?”

“What?”

“Like, you’ve had time to heal, I mean,” He says shaking his head and pinching his nose, “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

She turns away, “Uh, it’s okay.”

He quickly changes the subject, asking her about the tour, eventually though they circle back to the topic of her family.

“How’d it happen? Your mom?”

“Uh,” She fiddles with the sleeve of her jacket and looks to Caleb, he’s filling in for James who’s gone to the bathroom and she wishes he would look up, see how uncomfortable she is.

Sensing her eyes on him he looks up and smiles at her, she gives a tight lipped smile back and he goes back to his game.

He makes a noise to encourage her to go on and she chews her lip before answering, “Ovarian cancer.”

“I’m sorry, must've been hard, yeah?”

She nods, “Yeah.”

“Why weren't you close?”

“Uh, she worked a lot, she had me when she was really young, teenage pregnancy, she lost a lot of people because of it. So when I was like five she finally made new friends and was just… never there I guess.”

Caleb makes his appearance then, swooping in, a kiss on the cheek and a hand grabbing his glass.

Mitchell turns his body away when Caleb ducks his head to whisper in her ear, “See that guy over there?”

She nods, “The one with the snake tattoo?”

He nods, “Doesn’t it look like the snakes trying to strangle him.”

She laughs and agrees with him quietly, her eyes follow the snake wrapped around his neck slowly, “It does. Oh my-” She giggles, tapping his waist and when he sees the bright blue jewels in the snake's eyes as the man turns a little further they both start laughing.

“What time is your flight?”

“Got to leave as soon as I get back. Already packed up and ready.”

He sighs, moving his chin to rest on her head, “When do we cross paths again?”

She leans back into him and thinks, “Backyard BBQ, next month.”

“Too long.” He mutters, dipping his head to kiss her neck.

She shifts a little so he’ll stop and he goes back to just holding her.

“You said something about the studio?” He asks.

She nods, “When we get back Matty has a song he wants us to work on, see if we can make something of it.”

“What’s it called?”

She shrugs, “Like, Medication or medicine or something, not sure. He won’t let me see it.”

“Probably insecure,” Caleb says with a cocky grin, “You know, you being a poet and all.”

He lifts his head up to look at Micthell, “Did you know she was going to become a journalist?”

Mitchell raises one brow, “Really?”

She opens her mouth to answer but Caleb proudly butts in, “Not one of those shitty ones who make up lies about what celebrities sleep with who. She was gonna be a real journalist, covering important news and spreading awareness. Got into a top university, too.”

She grips his hand to tug him around beside her, “Well, it was an option, I got in to study English lit, not journalism. And I wasn’t gonna change anything,” She says, going against everything he just said, trying and make her seem better than she is, “Wanted to be one of those rugby commentators, or like, work on an F1 broadcasting team, something like that, you know?”

“She’s being modest,” Caleb says, “She would’ve changed the world.”

Tommie sighs, she doesn’t bother arguing, she slides off the chair slowly tugging his arm so he steps aside, “I’m gonna have to go, I didn't finish packing, was too excited to come and see you.”

He nods, “I’ll walk you out.”

“Okay.”

She wants him to walk her home, it’s California, it’s scary and she doesn't want to be alone. Instead she follows him out, hands in her pockets, leaving behind the bouquet of roses on the counter top.

“Sorry we had to cut it short.”

“Why don’t you come back? Meet Button.”

“I would but….” He gestures back to the bar, she nods. 

“Of course, sorry. Keep me updated about the studio sessions.”

He nods, “Maybe next time you’re in LA you could come in, give us some advice. Help us get on track.”

She steps back but he moves forward to kiss her one last time, she shakes her head and sighs, “Caleb?”

“Yeah?”

What’s wrong?

“I’ll call you when we land.”

He nods.

When she arrives at the hotel Matty is outside, sitting on the steps smoking a cigarette, he looks up as she approaches and says nothing as she drops down beside him, tugging off her black heels she bought just because Caleb mentioned once how he usually dated women taller than him.

“You’re back early.”

“Where’s Button?”

“George took her for a walk, should be coming back any minute now.”

She nods rubbing at her sore feet, “What happened?”

“I don’t know, I was excited and when we got there his band was there. I mean, not that I mind, I didn't say anything cause you know, we didn't clarify if it was just the two of us or not, but-” She stops talking and shakes her head.

He hands her the cigarette and she takes a long drag before handing it back, “Better?”

“Much.”

“How long has it been since you had one?”

“Week?” She guesses, “Trying to quit.”

He rolls his eyes, “Let me guess, Caleb doesn't like it.”

She shrugs, “It's unhealthy, I think he’s right.”

“What’s unhealthy is his-”

“Don’t say obsession.”

“Obsession with the band.”

She rolls her eyes, “Do you ever think maybe he’s just happy for me? Maybe he’s just proud?” She stands abandoning her heels as she sees George approaching in the distance, “No?” She presses further, “Because I’m a mate whose easy for a quick fuck?”

“God, will you stop bringing that up all the time? Not even talking about that-”

“Hey,” George grins as he walks up the steps, Button pulls harshly until she can get to Tommie’s feet and the girl crouches to scratch behind her ears, “Back early.”

“Yeah, I decided to come back and pack my bags instead of rushing later on.”

Matty stands, crushing the cigarette beneath his shoes before heading inside without a word.

George sighs watching him go on inside, “I’ve been worried about him.” He admits, “He’s been acting weird lately.”

He turns to her, one hand in his pocket the other holding a joint, “It’s since he broke up with-”

“We slept together.” She blurts out.

She freezes and turns to look up at his wide eyes slowly, his mouth opens and closes repeatedly and she hurriedly grips his arm as he starts walking forward, “G…”

“What the fuc-”

“G.”

“What the actual fuck, Tommie!”

“Don’t shout at me!” She says loudly.

His eyes widen, “You let Matty cu-”

“Alright.” She says, rolling her eyes and covering his mouth.

He grimaces, “That’s, what, when? Oh my god, did you cheat on Caleb?”

“What, no, it was before that, the day before I saw Caleb again.”

“You know, back then I would’ve thought, finally.”

“What do you mean finally?”

“I mean, you know, the two of you… bound to happen.”

She sighs and hangs her head down, her hair falling around to hide her face, “He told me he was high and it was a mistake and shouldn’t have happened.”

“Oh.” He lets his hand rest on her back as she stretches a little,. “Were you high?”

“No, and… I didn’t think he was either, but maybe he was. Maybe I misread it, oh God.”

She groans head in her hands before looking up at him quickly, “Is that me taking advantage of him? Am I- Am I a bad person? For not checking first-?”

“What, no, Tommie, hang on, were you still, you know…” He hesitates, waving his hand around and raising his eyebrows, the ash falling between them, “Pure, unbred…”

“I’m not a dog, George.”

“I know, but, were you?” He leans closer, despite it only being the two of them in the little alley behind the venue and whispers to her, “A virgin?”

“Yes, George, I was still a virgin. Unshagged, the cherry was untouched.”

He grimaces at her analogy, “So, there's a lot to unpack. You know, fault wise, on one hand he took something very sacred-”

“Jesus George, virginity isn’t like the crown fucking jewels it just a social construct, means nothing, I’ve shoved a fucking tamp-”

“Don’t want to hear it, please, just hear me out.”

She waves him on and when he’s sure she won’t say anything further he unplugs his fingers from his ears, “Point is, you were both at some kind of point of vulnerability.”

She drops her unfinished cigarette, no longer caring enough to try and soothe the ache in her jaw she feels every time she craves the nicotine.

“What was it like? When he, you know-”

She turns to him slowly, “Are you asking me to describe losing my virginity to you?”

“No,” He pulls a face, “You’re my sister, don’t want to hear about your sex life, I meant before…”

She shrugs, “We were in the lift, he took those heels off for me, I uh, forgot my hotel room key so he let me stay with him, messed around play fighting when I realised he had my old t-shirt I thought I lost, then one thing led to another….”

“Tommie?”

“Hmm?”

“He wasn’t high.”

“How do you know?”

“He didn’t have any weed in LA,” He tells her, “Been sober for a week, maybe two. I was supposed to go get him some that day, forgot.”

“He wasn’t high?”

Her voice is so weak, fragile, like glass about to break.

“No.” George affirms. “And, I don’t know what’s happening with him. I mean, when Gemma broke up with him he didn’t seem to care, I think you’re the reason why. Usually something like that would’ve had him down for weeks.”

“What?” She sits up a little straighter, “Gemma broke up with him? He told me it was the other way around, that the distance was too much-”

“No, Gemma broke it off with him. She said it was because of-” He cuts himself off and shakes his head.

He purses his lips tightly, “Point is Matty’s attracted to you and has been for a while, so it’s not a complete surprise he slept with you.”

“Matty’s not attracted to me, he made it pretty clear after he humped and dumped me.”

George’s nose crinkles at the words and he raises his brows, “Is that why you’re with Caleb?” George asks, “Get back at him.”

“I-” She pauses as she turns to look at him then lets herself slowly deflate into the concrete below her.

Is it? Is that why she's been forcing herself closer to him the past couple of months? To get back at Matty for abandoning her.

No, no. She likes Caleb. He’s sweet, and he is there and he hasn't once abandoned her.

Except for today, but that wasn’t abandonment. If anything she abandoned him.

George reaches out to touch the back of her hand before she spirals and shakes his head, “That was a stupid thing to say, I’m sorry.”

“Am I?” She asks, “Is this just me being my petty self?”

George shakes his head quickly, “I’ve seen the way you look at him, you love him.”

“Woah,” She laughs awkwardly, “We’re not talking about that word.”

“Do you? Love him?”

She shrugs, “I don’t know, I mean, how am I supposed to know what love feels like?” She questions, “I mean, my own parents didn't love me, if I’ve never felt the love of a parent how am I supposed to feel the love of someone else?”

“He loves you.” George tells her, “We love you, all four of us. That's love.”

She leans her head on his shoulder and his arm wraps around her as Button climbs into her lap.

“You’re not unloveable, Tommie, don’t ever think that.”

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