#hoping and praying and hoping the body chain makes a comeback

[hoforwonho]

Yeosang ✰ Deja Vu

[scarletwidowaf]

Imagine that no power AU where Natasha falls for this cute artsy girl and slowly finds out (to her horror) that Wanda's not just some random artsy crafts girl who plays guitar, but the (adopted) Granddaughter of the owner of the company Natasha works for. As in oh, oh no, that's Carter's grandbaby, Carter's gonna kill me.

baby carter

Wanda Maximoff x Natasha Romanoff (scarlet widow \ wandanat)

warnings: cursing? Terrible grammar and writing maybe because my brain's having hard time.

A\N: soft scarlet widow- Natasha being awkward and charming and Wanda being absolutely adorable. also, I honestly don't know what I feel bout it - I think it's kinda messy especially compared to my latest work.

words: idk... a lot? 

masterlist

Natasha's been working in carter's Law Firm for almost 3 years now, slowly climbing up the company's hierarchical food chain, yet not enough to get the well-deserved promotion she was aching to get.

Not that she was ungrateful, hell no. not long after she graduated she got the job in carter's, which was one of the best and strongest law firms in the market. This means that not only that she found herself working alongside some of the best lawyers in the world, she truly couldn't complain about the paycheck she was getting every month.

Natasha wasn't ungrateful, but she was driven and she knew she was great at her job, hell, she was the best young lawyer in her class, yet, after 3 years in the firm, she was still working under Coulson. Which naturally means, she did a lot of dirty work instead of representing her own cases. Working with Coulson was great, really, the man was nice, sweet, a bit nerdy at times, and of course, such a great lawyer. Looking back, Natasha should give him credit for many things she achieved in the last 3 years, and one of them was meeting the love of her life- the one and only Wanda Maximoff.

One Thursday evening, as she was just finishing up some paperwork at the firm's office in New York, she got a call from Coulson, who let her know they were cutting the day short following personal constraints.

Instead of going straight home to rest after the brutal week, as she probably should've done, she decided to text Steve and Tony to see if they were free. luckily for her, her two best friends were willing to sacrifice any plans they had for this fine Thursday night, to celebrate the rare occasion of Natasha getting out of the firm before 8 pm.

The bar steve chose was nice, rather quiet and chill. Naturally, tony didn't seem to be a fan of the blonde's choice, but since it was Steve's turn to choose a place there wasn't much he could've done about it.

"We should sit near the stage" Steve said as he spotted an empty table at the other side of the bar, near the stage.

"What's wrong with you rogers? Do you want us to sit near the stage where random people will try to squick their hearts out to a Celine Dion song?" Tony sneered out, his eyes shooting daggers at the blonde as they sat.

"It's not a karaoke bar, tony" Natasha defended steve's choice.

"Yeah, this bar hosts young talented artists, I think it's awesome and refreshing" the blonde explained.

"I still hate it" tony said.

"We don't care" Natasha said as a waitress came to the table.

Over an hour and a half later, 3 performances were over and two bawls of fries as well, the next artist got onto the stage.

The woman was young, probably younger than Natasha, and beautiful.

She was dressed rather simply compared to the other artists, just a plain white T and an old pair of skinny jeans.

Natasha noticed that some strands of her dark brown hair got stuck under her red guitar's strap.

The woman was smiling nervously as she introduced herself to the crowd and Natasha couldn't help but send her an encouraging small smile.

Surprisingly for her, the woman smiled back.

Tony and steve noticed it as well and they exchanged knowing looks.

The singer's voice was almost as beautiful as her.

Her fingers softly strumming on the frets- as almost as it was second nature, while her soft angelic voice filled the room, sending chills through Natasha's body.

Natasha smiled when she noticed how quiet the bar became, everyone seemed to be enchanted by the young singer.

When the singer finished her preference she smiled brightly to the audience, who cheered for her loudly- as she deserved, and got off the stage.

Natasha noticed the poor singer who was supposed to try and top her incredible performance. He seemed miserable.

"Earth to nat!?" Tony waved his hand in front of Natasha. The redhead blinked twice before tearing her attention from the singer and to her friends.

Steve was smiling at her, his eyes glittering in enthusiasm, while tony smirked at her with raised eyebrows.

"I'm sorry, what?" She asked.

Steve laughed and tony sigh.

"We said that she was really good" the blonde explained

"Not that you haven't noticed it, you've been practically drooling," Tony said.

"I was not" she defended herself

"You were," he said. "But we don't judge you Romanoff, its natural, she was pretty and you didn't get laid in a while. Plus- You always had a thing for the innocent looking ones" he explained and Natasha sent him her dirtiest glare.

If a look could kill tony stark would've been dead by now.

"Okay first, I wasn't drooling. Second, fuck you"

"Nice comeback" tony taunted her with a smirk, knowing full well he wasn't completely wrong.

"You should ask her out. You seem to like her"

Steve smiled at her and Natasha knew he meant it- he was was always the sweetest one of the three.

"Fancy her" tony corrected steve.

"She Like her" steve raised his eyebrow at his friend.

"Fancy" tony taunted

"Li-" steve was about to argue again until Natasha cut the stupid argument off.

"Fuck off you too," she said and waved to the waiter, hoping that another beer might make the two less annoying.

When the waiter didn't come, Natasha got frustrated, her two friends started to argue over another idiotic thing: steve's lack of love life and tony's girlfriend's lack of taste In men.

"I'm gonna get a refill," she said as she got up. The two sent her quick okays before getting back to their bickering.

When Natasha approached the bar she noticed a familiar face.

The singer was sitting in front of the bar's counter with a glass of mojito. She seemed to be having a polite conversation with the bartender.

"Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt but can I have a refill?" Natasha asked the bartender. The man smiled at her and nodded before he replaced her empty cup with a new one.

The singer smiled at her softly again- Natasha smiled nervously at her.

"I'm Natasha" Natasha said awkwardly to the girl, her cheeks flushed.

Wanda smiled back at her "hey Natasha, I'm Wanda" Wanda, the singer said as she held out her hand for a handshake.

Natasha took her hand, praying to whatever god exist that her hand wasn't sweaty.

'What's wrong with me?' She thought as she mentally faces palmed herself.

"I liked your performance," Natasha said and Wanda smiled at her.

Natasha smiled back, happy she had the privilege to be the reason the singer smiled.

"Thank you" wanda thanked her.

"I saw you at the front line," Wanda said and Natasha nodded.

"Yeah, my friend likes this place. He chose the table" she admitted.

"That's nice, I'm guessing it's your first time in here"

"Yeah, it is actually. Was I that obvious?" Natasha joked and Wanda laughed.

"Just a little bit," Wanda said with a smile "what do you think about it so far?"

"It's really nice, honestly" Natasha admitted.

"Yeah, I think that as well. I come here often with my cousin and brother but its the first time I was on stage"

"Well, you were great. Seriously. You were" she started before gazing at the stage briefly, catching the sight of the young singer who went up after Wanda. "sorry, are- the best singer" she continued and Wanda blushed.

"Thank you it means a lot"

"Anytime," Natasha said back

"I should really go... It was lovely meeting you Natasha." Wanda said as she checked the time, a small frown on her lips.

"You too," Natasha said.

Wanda nodded at her before getting up and turning around from Natasha to pull her guitar.

when Natasha took a small sip from her beer she catches the bartender's eye.

The guy was giving her the 'are you kidding me?!' look- who was a well-known look she was familiar with from years of friendship with tony.

"Hey Wanda-" Natasha said to Wanda, who was about to walk away. The singer turned back around with a small confused smile.

"Yeah?" She asked

"Would you like to, maybe, I don't know.. go out sometime?" Natasha stuttered.

'Did I just fucking stuttered!?' She mentally kicked herself.

"Yeah.. id like that" Wanda said with a smile. The brunette took a pen out of her jeans pocket and scribble something on Natasha's arm.

"Call me," Wanda said with a smile before she smiled at the bartender, who tried to look busy with anything but them.

"Bye bucky" she laughed at his antics and left.

Natasha looked up from the scrabble on her hand, who was- of course Wanda's number with a small heart at the bottom, and exchange looks with bucky the bartender.

"That went well, right?" She asked him dumbfounded and he laughed before handing her a shot glass with vodka.

"Yeah it did.. friendly advice, don't fuck it up" he said as passed her a slice of lemon.

Natasha downed the shot, nodded at him as she took her beer, and left the lemon on the counter. Her legs taking her back to her table. both of her friends were staring at her with wide eyes.

"Hell yeah Romanoff!" Tony said excitedly.

Natasha smiled at tony before looking at steve with a chuckle "the bartender is your type" she said as she set.

Steve gave her a 'are you kidding me look before his eyes traveled from her to the bartender at the bar.

----------------------ᱬ----------------------

Not long after Natasha and Wanda met again, a few times actually. 10 minutes into their first date, Natasha knew she was in trouble.

Wanda was completing Natasha on almost every level she thought about.

Wanda was carefree and dorky as Natasha was a stressed workaholic.

Wanda liked homemade meals and cooking while Natasha was practically living on boxed mac and cheese or takeout.

Natasha loved to binge movies and random tv shows into the night while Wanda liked getting up early to watch the sunrise.

Wanda loved fruity alcoholic drinks while Natasha preferred it clean.

Wanda was a splash of color in Natasha's black and white life.

Not long after, Natasha asked wanda to be her girlfriend- it happened in a month and a half after their first meeting as the two women laid in Wanda's bed, naked and sweaty with their limbs intertwined.

She could've done it more romantic, but both girls truly couldn't give a damn about it.

Wanda's apartment was incredible.

The studio apartment was big and bright.

The apartment's walls color was cream and the tall window frames were covered with white curtains.

In the beginning, Natasha didn't really understand why wanda even bother to use these curtains since the sun would light the room either way, (she found out about this terrible trait when she first stayed over and found herself awake and cursing under her breath at 7 am) But, luckily for her, Natasha learned rather fast why the younger girl's windows where ALWAYS covered. It was simple, really.

Wanda had this habit to walk around the apartment half-naked, or completely naked on better days, and as much as Natasha was grateful for that (and she was), she truly wasn't the one to share, especially not the image of her naked girlfriend as she walked around the apartment or squirmed under her touch on the bed- or anywhere they chose, really.

"Nat?" Wanda whispered softly as she was playing with her sleepy girlfriend's hair and spread soft kisses on her back.

"Hm?" Natasha hummed, half asleep.

"There's something I need to tell you" Wanda said softly. Her voice barely a whisper.

"Is everything okay, baby?" Natasha asked as she turned around to face the taller woman.

Natasha's eyebrows were tightened together in worry and Wanda couldn't help but kiss her on the nose.

"Yeah" she whispered and Natasha waited patiently for her to continue "it's just that.. there's something I need to tell you... about my family"

"Okay.." Natasha encouraged her to continue.

"My family-" she started, but got cut off by Natasha's phone buzzing on the nightstand.

"Fuck" Natasha cursed before turning around to check who it was- and if she can ignore it.

The name on the screen was definitely a sight she could not ignore.

"Just a second baby, it's my boss" she said as she pulled herself up to answer the phone. by doing so, Natasha missed wanda's guilty lip bite.

----------------------ᱬ----------------------

That's how things went for another month. In this month Natasha got the promotion she wanted which meant she was enthusiastic for days later- and Wanda couldn't bear the thought of ruining it for her.

And that's how it went overtime.

Every time Wanda manage to muster enough courage to tell Natasha whatever she wanted to say, something happened and ruined it.

But jean Racine was indeed right: 'there are no secrets that time does not reveal', and unfortunately for both women, wanda's secret got revealed in a rather unpleasant and awkward situation.

It was a pretty normal day for Natasha.

Or at least it started as one. she spent the night at Wanda's again, which means she had a hard time leaving bed in the morning but she managed it so now, a few hours later, she was having lunch at a deserted meeting room with a few friends from the office

"hey, nat.. is that your girlfriend??" Sam asked, his eyes following a girl who passes near the glass door.

"Wanda?" Natasha asked him confused.

They weren't supposed to meet today for lunch, didn't they?

"Do you have another girlfriend I'm not aware of?" He asked

"Shut up Wilson, why would Wanda be here!?"

"I don't know Romanoff, she's your girlfriend. All I can say is that she seemed to be in a deep conversation with Sharon"

"Carter?"

"the one and only" Carol whispered and Gamora rolled her eyes at the girl.

"Will you stop being weird?" Gamora asked and Carol shook her head.

"Why would she have a conversation with Sharon fucking Carter" Natasha asked confused

"Maybe you should ask her...?” the man asked

"Oh shit I think they're coming over here, pretend to be busy," Carol said as she dived back into her salad.

The others do the same as well.

A few moments later the glass door was pulled open by Sharon.

Her smile wide.

"Hey guys" Sharon said as she opened the door and git into the room, wanda following behind-

Probably unaware of her girlfriend's presence until moments later when their eyes met.

Wanda looked like she was about to die.

"Wanda?" Natasha asked. Her eyebrows knitted together.

"Wait, You know each other?" Sharon asked as she turned to the brunette

"Yeah-" she started

"How do you guys know each other" Natasha cut her girlfriend off. Her eyes were still wide with confusion.

"We're cousins" the blonde explained and Wanda bit her lip.

Natasha stared at her girlfriend, hoping to get an explanation from her.

"Wait how do you to know each other"

"She's my girlfriend," Wanda said softly as Natasha got up from her chair.

Sharon's eyes were wide "didn't see that coming" she muttered

"Tell me about that" Natasha said, more to her girlfriend than to her boss.

"I'm going out for a smoke," she said simply before leaving the room.

"Nat-" Wanda started as she followed her, leaving the other remaining members of the room confused.

"Really?" Sharon asked again.

"Well, that was something," sam said and gamora nodded.

"That's classic," Carol said as she quietly laughed to herself

Meanwhile, at the elevator, things were going less smoothly for the couple.

"You're my boss's niece and you didn't think about telling me this?" Natasha shot at Wanda as the elevator door opened and the two went outside.

"I was trying to tell you, nat. I swear. That was the thing I tried to tell you about this whole month But every time I tried to something happened" Wanda explained as Natasha lit her cigarette.

"Why didn't you say anything when we started dating and got to know each other?" Natasha asked.

The lawyer wasn't sure if she was more hurt by the fact Wanda kept this secret from her or terrified by the fact she was dating her boss's niece

"Because I didn't want you to look at me the way you look at me right now" Wanda defended herself.

"How do I look at you wanda?" Natasha asked hurt.

"Like I'm no longer the same artsy girl you met at the bar" Wanda whispered

Natasha laughed bitterly

"Come on Wanda you know I don't give a shit about it. I love you and the fact you're a carter won't change it. You are the same artsy girl from the bar, who happened to be my boss's nephew. You should've said something."

"You're right, I shouldn't have kept this away from you. It was destined to get out eventually and the last thing I ever wanted was to hurt you" Wanda took the cigarette out of Natasha's lips.

"I made a mistake and I can't change it."

Wanda continued and Natasha sigh

"I wanted you to know me, and I was scared you'll judge me or see me as a carter like most people do."

Wanda put her hand on Natasha's cheek and Natasha kissed her palm, encouraging her to continue her speech.

"Fuck, nat, I'm not even in this business- yeah they're my family but that's it. the only other connection I have to this firm is the fact I'm in love with one of its lawyers" Natasha's eyes lit up and Wanda blushed furiously.

"You're in love with me?" Natasha asked as she played pulled her girlfriend closer, A small cocky smile on her lips as Wanda rolled her eyes

"For someone so fucking smart you can be so dense sometimes," Wanda said and Natasha laughed "Of course I do moron."

"I love you too," Natasha said before kissing Wanda softly on the lips.

"Can you forgive me, then?"

"It depends," Natasha said with the best poker straight face she could muster.

"On?" Wanda asked with her eyebrow raised.

"Is there any other relative- who can fire my ass, I need to know about?"

Wanda smiled kissed Natasha's lips deeply.

"No!" She said when they broke away and the two laughed.

Natasha wiped away the younger woman's tears before kissing her lips again. This time softly.

"Good, now if you don't mind maximoff. My break's over and I should really get back before your cousin will fire my ass"

"Well technically.. she's my cousin in law, I'm peggy's grandchild, adopted one, and she's her nephew" Wanda explained

"Can she fire my ass?" Natasha asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well.. yeah..?"

"Then my point still stands.

"Shut up Romanoff! you and I both know Sharon won't' fire your ass' because you're the best lawyer in this damn place" wanda argued

"Who fucks her cousin..-"

"You're right.. she might fire you" wanda joked and took her girlfriend's hand in hers.

"Or murder me" Natasha continued as her girlfriend pulled her back into the building and to the elevator.

"Yeah" Wanda laughed when they got into the elevator and the doors closed.

Wanda kissed Natasha's lips softly before pressing the button of their destined floor. "Or murder you"

[wizardingbeasts]

how long? (will you stay?): Chapter V

Raelle’s POV:

Here she was again. Waking up in a strange bed. A body pressed to her own. Her arms held Scylla tight, the other woman’s face hidden in her shoulder.

They had fallen asleep together then.

The clock showed half past twelve. Time had passed since she had returned to her reality. She had fuzzy memories of waking up in the Camarilla cell. Chained to a stone wall, shivering in the cold. Harsh voices ringing in her ears while they forced a nasty liquid down her throat.

They whispered important words. Words that slipped further away each moment. They wanted her to do something.

Something important.

Scylla was sound asleep. Breathing deeply, evenly. Raelle twisted to get a better look at her face. It was peaceful, unworried, settled. Different from the anxious undertones of this morning.

Taking advantage of the moment, Raelle relaxed into the pillows and let her thoughts come and go as they pleased.

In her reality, she was on the outs with Scylla to say the least. Scylla had been locked away in Fort Salem, was probably already transferred to the Caribbean prison where goddess knows what would happen to her. Her screams filled Raelle’s dreams most nights. Even now they echoed in her mind accompanied by the cruelty of her own words, provoked by hurt and betrayal. Scylla had been heartbroken in their last encounter, on her way to death with no hope. With no absolution.

The same Scylla slept so trustingly in her arms now.

Perhaps it would not be such a bad idea to live this life. If only for a moment. Even if it turned out to be a hallucination in the end. Some cruel trick of the Camarilla. Yet it felt real. The skin touching her skin, the warm beat of a heart next to hers was as real as the cold stone wall had been against her back.

Scylla stirred, nuzzled closer to Raelle, and grasped her shirt with a fist as she whimpered.

“Rae.”

A plea. A desperate one.

Her heart thundered against Raelle’s own chest as her breathing sped up. And Raelle froze.

She had long gotten over the anger. The impulse to hurt Scylla back. There were plenty of people hurting her now that she was a traitor.

No. Raelle was not angry. She was hurt, but that hurt was overshadowed by a strong urge to know that Scylla would be alright. Not necessarily alright with Raelle. But alright somewhere. Alright in a world that would not kill her.

Her own dreams often featured Scylla dying. Alone. Helpless. Crying out for her. Was Scylla dreaming this same dream now?

Raelle stroked Scylla’s hair and whispered soothing words. A sense of protection fueled her on. Now perhaps she could make up now for what she failed to do.

“It’s alright,” she heard herself saying.

Scylla jolted, gasped in a few short breaths, and started up so violently she bumped heads with Raelle. But as soon as she met Raelle’s eyes, her own fell closed with a relieved sigh.

“Bad dream?” Raelle asked, her voice raspy.

“Yeah.”

“Want to talk about it?” Raelle’s asked, unsure of what to say.

Scylla shook her head. “Seeing your face is enough. You know my nightmares are always about losing you.”

Raelle swore her heart stopped beating. A wave of affection, safety, and mostly guilt kickstarted the rhythm again. All she could think about was how she had left Scylla in that cell. Alone. Tortured. On her way to death without a word of comfort.

The atmosphere was thick and heavy. She needed to get away from this feeling. This guilt.

“Lucky I put up with you then,” she joked.

And Scylla laughed before lifting herself up on an elbow to smirk at Raelle. “I think it’s the other way around.”

A giddy feeling filled Raelle, harkening back to the carefree days when they first fell in love. She had let herself live in the moment then and she did that now, pushing aside any tainted memories in favor of the trust this Scylla had with her Raelle.

Before she could think of a comeback, Scylla shifted on top of her, kissing her pulse point.

“Sure you’re feeling alright? You hit the floor pretty good. Maybe I should check for injuries?”

Her voice was low and sent a warm sensation straight to Raelle’s center.

Scylla pulled back to look at Raelle, a teasing glint in her eyes. Her face was too close. Her thigh shifted dangerously close to –

“You know, I am feeling pretty hungry. All that passing out really upped my appetite,” Raelle said with a nervous laugh.

Scylla moved away after a peck on the lips. “And that’ll be me cooking for the second time today,” she said seriously, with a less intense glint in her eye. “See? I can survive without you. And you were worried for nothing.”

The bed shifted as she stood up. And just like that, Raelle’s hopelessness returned. Just as she thought she could fit into this time, Scylla referenced something she had no knowledge of. There must be so many memories. Years of closeness. Of inside jokes, thousands of day-to-day happenings.

And just like that, she was on the outs again.

Alone.

Lost.

A hand found her face.

“Hey. You look pale. Why don’t you rest here? I’ll bring something up.”

Raelle did not know if she could handle looking at Scylla right now, into those knowing eyes. So, instead she buried her face in Scylla’s stomach, clutching her closer with a nod.

“That would be nice. Thank you.”

Scylla’s strong hands found her shoulders held her without impatience, waiting for Raelle to end the embrace, stroking her hair gently all the while. When Raelle pulled away her face was wet. She turned away to hide it, but Scylla wiped the tears away with a light touch and a kiss on the forehead.

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

The teasing tone was gone. Her voice was only calm and comforting.

So, Raelle relaxed into the pillows and closed her eyes, praying she wouldn’t be taken back to the Camarilla prison anytime soon.

 

She had never had breakfast in bed before – although technically this was lunch. She flashed a contented smile at Scylla in between shoveling large bites into her mouth.

“I see your appetite is still intact,” Scylla said, trying not the smile and failing.

Raelle made an appreciative noise. “This is so good. Aren’t you going to have some?”

Scylla glanced at the untouched plate on the bedside table, which she had abandoned after a few bites.

“Maybe later. I had a big breakfast.”

A calculating expression filled Scylla’s eyes as she moved closer and leaned her head on Raelle’s shoulder.

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

Raelle froze. Scylla was looking out the window, and although her face was relaxed her eyes were not.

“I’m nervous,” Scylla continued, running her hand up and down Raelle’s arm.

“Why?” asked Raelle. Because she was nothing if not blunt.

“I’m always nervous when you leave,” Scylla said, words spoken so quietly Raelle almost missed them.

Leaving. Always nervous. A sinking feeling filled her gut and she gripped Scylla hand.

“I don’t want to leave you. Not again.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but it came before she even realized, her voice lined with deep emotion.

This was apparently the wrong thing to say, for Scylla turned in surprise.

“Really?”

It was getting worse and worse. Now Scylla had a hopeful look in those eyes.

It was time to backtrack.

“I mean if I had the choice, of course.” She stumbled over the words.

“But you do have a choice,” Scylla said strongly.

Would it be suspicious to feign a headache? But Scylla might make her sleep and if she went to sleep, she might be taken back to the Camarilla. She needed to stay here as long as possible.

“Yeah. Yeah, I know,” she said weakly. “I just meant –"

She had no idea what she meant.

Scylla must have sensed her stress.

“Hey. I know. It’s alright,” she hushed, kissing Raelle’s shoulder. “It’s been a long day. We’ll talk about this later.”

So, Raelle let Scylla soothe her. Let her chat about random day to day things. Let her be a distraction from cold reality.

Because this was not real. Not her real. A respite from heaven perhaps. The goddess pitying her plight before death. A hallucinogenic grace at best. Or, some psychotic break brought about by torture. She had heard of such things.

Whatever this was, she was content to be here with her soulmate. For that much was clear now.

She could not live without Scylla. Kind, forgiving, patient, careful, wild Scylla.

She would not.

[nad-zeta]

Mitsuhide Akechi- Nightmares

Hi, loves I hope everyone is doing well! (˶◕‿◕˶✿) Sorry I’ve been so slow with my matchups I am going to slowly start doing them this week in between writing me dissertation which was approved so yay (◕‿◕✿) that’s one less stress in life! So I dedicate this piece o trash fic to @choi-jiyu, and @i-sleep-like-napoleon, @nuttytani love ya gals, and I know yall love sneki boi just as much as I do! 

Fandom: Ikemen Sengoku 

Pairings: Mitsuhide x reader 

Genre: Fluff- with a touch o angst 

Warnings: Depression, nightmares, and anxiety 

Words: 2010

Comments: So I have been going through a tough time lately and need some sneki boi comfort (◕‿◕✿) soo I decided to write this self-indulgent fanfic, but I also know a few friends of mine is also going through a rough patch, and I didn’t know what to do to help, so I decided that his might brighten their days, even if it sucks! Love ya! 

It was a bright and sunny day. Rays of warm, lush sunshine streamed through your window, into your room. It was well past noon, and you were still nestled up in your warm bed. Despite the cheerfully chirping outside, you felt cold and numb. You had, had another one of your nightmares last night, leaving you an anxious mess. You wished you could stay in the comforts and safety of your bed all day, just hiding beneath the fluffy cover, but alas duty calls. You had no motivation or strength to get out of the safe haven of your bed. In fact, thanks to your nightly nightmares, you were now left exhausted and jittery. You laid back, head sinking deep into your pillow, staring up at the ceiling for a few more moments, letting your mind wander and play in the darkness. Soon it wandered a little too deep into the forest of memories, and fear and terror slowly started creeping in. They filled your head with lies, lies speaking of not being good enough, strong enough, pretty enough, they would whisper in your ears that no one would ever love you. It insisted that you were destined to live your life in fear and isolation, shackled in the chains of your own sorrow and trapped in the cell of your own mind forever. It was days like these when your fear manifested into the warden of your mind, taunting you in your cell. You felt like shards of shattered glass spread across the floor, beautiful and shimmering to all those looking from afar, yet soon to realize that you were actually a broken mess shattered beyond repair. 

The loud sounds of the birds chirping away outside your window sill brought you back. Your fingers gently ghosted your cheek to wipe away the tear that managed to escape.

You could hear the castle start to come alive with the buzz of the day. The maids began doing their rounds, to clean the castle rooms and hallways. You could hear the clinging of pots and pans in the distance, as Masamune made breakfast for the troublesome Mitsu’s.

At the thought of food, your stomach gave a loud growl. You sat up and rested your head on your knees, for a few moments, you really didn’t want to face the world today. The voices still ringing in your ears, coaxing you to lay back down and sleep away the numb pain, but you knew their tricks. Sleep never helped, for with sleep came the nightmares, always the same and ever leaving you to awaken in a state of terror. 

You got up and dressed, readying yourself for the day ahead of you, yet you just couldn’t shake this strange mood you were in. You dragged your feet through the castle halls leading you up to Nobunaga’s room, to get your list of duties for the day. You passed smiling faces, and chatty maids and the sense of irritation grew with each happy face you saw, it made you spiral further and further into the void of darkness. You reached Nobunaga’s door and gave a gentle knock, hoping, no praying he wouldn’t be in. Alas, he called out for you to enter. 

You entered into the mightly warlord’s room to see, Mitushide and Hideyoshi sitting before him drinking a cup of tea and exchanging light conversation. Today of all days you didn’t want to deal with small talk, cause you knew the second either of the men would ask you, what was wrong, you would breakdown into tears, and you most definitely did not want to do that. You wore your mask and sent the men a strained smile, leaving with your list of chores.

Litlle did you know your strained smile and faltering mask didn’t go unnoticed by the three men. Hideyoshi was the first to break the silence, “She seems down today, I wonder if we shouldn’t perhaps have given her the day off.” Nobunaga looked at his vassal worry for you clear in his ruby eyes, “Mitushide, I entrust you with our fireball, see to it that you chase away the demons that are clearly haunting her mind.” Mitushide gave the two men his snakelike smirk, although the worry and concern for you was evident even with his schooled expression, “Very well, my lord, I will now take my leave.” Nobunaga simply nodded as the kitsune left his room, to go and search for his dearest mouse.

He had spent the day watching you from the shadows, like a guardian angel of sorts. He knew that you weren’t in a particularly social mood, so he made sure to direct any pesky maids or warlords away from where you were working. He could see you spiralling further and further as the day progressed and it broke his heart. He would have approached you sooner, but for the first time in his life, he was afraid, he didn’t have the words to comfort you. He who always had some comeback or witty remark, he who armed himself with words, making his tongue his greatest weapon and strength, now couldn’t find the words.

Your work was finally done for the day, yet you still felt empty, you still felt numb, and you still felt terrified. You made your way to a secluded part of the castle garden and sat down on the fountain’s edge. You looked at your reflection in the water, “Gosh, you are pathetic, I don’t even recognize you.”

You were suddenly started by a smooth calming voice, “Dearest me, whoever are you talking to little mouse, for the only person I can see is, a beautiful princess who has been fighting her own demons alone for far too long.”

You turned away from the silver kitsune balling your hands in a tight fist, trying your best to hold back unshed tear stinging your eyes, “I don’t know what you are taking about Mitsuhide, as you can see I am perfectly fine, so you can go and find someone else to tease.”

Before you even knew what was happening, you were pulled into Mitsuhide’s lap and cradled in his arms. You looked up and the man shining in the moonlight. Blurred golden eyes filled your field of vision. Gentle fingertips soothingly traced up and down your arms in an attempt to calm you down. At this point, there was no stopping the tears, the dam wall had just broke, and hot tears came streaming down your face. You tried to speak once more, to insist that you were fine, that nothing was wrong, but your throat constricted and the words came out like hiccupping sobs.

Mitsuhide brought one of his hands to your cheek, to cradle your face, he carefully wiped away the tears with his thumb. His fingertips danced from your cheeks to make their way into your hair, gently he tightened his warm embrace on you, as he started to pull his fingers through his hair. “Would you like to talk about it little one, perhaps there is something I can do to assist you.”

You searched his golden orbs for traces of his usual tricks and teases but found none; instead, you saw a comforting affection and love for you, fill his molten eyes. As if reading your mind, he set your heart at ease, he spoke in a low soothing, comforting voice “I will not tease you tonight my dear, so please tell me what is the matter.”

You closed your eyes and buried your face in the crook of his neck, taking in his warm, comforting scent. The warm, soothing scent of incense- it smelt like a mix of agarwood, and cedar with hints of cinnamon and gun powder. When you were with him, you felt, calm and safe, your cluttered mind stopped buzzing and gave you a moment of peace, a moment of silence. Finally, you thought. 

You started to tell him of your nightmares, your past, doubts and of your depression and anxiety. You bore your heart to his mysterious moonlit kitsune, who simply sat and continued to stroke your hair while he listened to you speak.

His heart broke for you, he didn’t know what he could do to help, so he just sat there in silence and listened. He would occasionally tighten his warm embrace or give a small nod, as you continued to hiccup your way through your story. He knew all too well of the treacherous demons that would plague the mind with doubts and insecurities. All he could think to do by the end of your tale was to nuzzle your cheek and whisper words of reassurance in your ears. “You have put up a gallant fight my love, but you shall fight alone no more.”

He brushed away the last of your tears with his sleeves and kissed your forehead, nose and then…. Lips. Your eyes widened slightly in surprise, and finally, a real genuine smile graced your lips. Mitsuhide continued to whisper the sweetest of words in your ears, words filled with love and adoration, the words that were only meant for his one and only soulmate, words that were meant for you and you alone. 

Between the soft tracing of his fingers lovingly playing their way through your beautiful strands, the safe warmth radiating from Mitsuhide’s body as he embraced you, and the soft constant hammering of his heartbeat, you found yourself being lulled into a peaceful sleep. Mitushide looked down at your tear-stained face and made a silent vow to always be by your side, to love and protect you. His fingers moved from twirling your hair between his fingertips, to now lightly stroke your cheeks. With one final kiss of the nose, he gently stood up and tenderly cradled you in his arms. He moved swiftly through the hallways to take you back to your room. 

He carefully laid you down and tucked you in. He stayed for a few moments to watch over you and just before he turned to leave, he saw your delicate features contour in pain. You let out a few soft cries, you were having your nightmare again, tears started flowing down your face anew, but it wasn’t until one single word slipped from your lips that Mitsu was probed into action, “Mitsuhide.”

He was by your side in a split second, climbing in beneath the covers, pulling you closer to his broad chest and enveloping you in his warmth. “Hush now my love, I’m right here.”

As if sensing his presence, you turned around in his arms and nestled closer to him, hands sneaking their way into his kimono to pull him closer to you. You clung to him like your lifeline. He kissed your forehead and snaked his arms around you, to bring you to lay flush against him. He moved his hands to draw tiny circles on your back, “I’m right here, little mouse, there is no need to be afraid, I will slay all those who mean you harm.”

Your breaths started to even out, and the soft whispers of his voice seemed to chase away the very nightmare that had haunted you all throughout childhood into your adult life. You finally let out a content sigh and your facial features softened once more, a small smile coming to rest itself on your lips.

Mitsuhide watched over you for a while longer, nuzzling his nose into your hair and dropping small kiss. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, joining you in the land of dreams

Never again will your nightmares haunt you, never again will you be alone, for every night without fail Mitsuhide will pull you into his arms and chase away all your fears. He will watch over you like a guardian angel, swooping down from the heavens to pull you out of the dark void and back into the light. He will be by your side, every day and night to aid you in slaying the demons of your mind. He will go to the ends of the earth to fill your life and heart with unimaginable amounts of love and happiness 

Hope ya guys enjoyed! (◕ᴗ◕✿)

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Grammys 2018: Six stories you need to know, including Carrie Fisher's nomination

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Grammys 2018: Six stories you need to know, including Carrie Fisher's nomination

Image copyright Getty Images

Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar are the main contenders for the 60th annual Grammy Awards, leading a crop of nominations that is heavy on hip-hop and R&B but has left mainstream pop stars like Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga out of the running for the major prizes.

The awards will be announced at New York’s Madison Square Garden on 28 January 2018, and will be screened on 4 Music the following evening.

Here are six of the stories highlighted by this year’s nominees.

Carrie Fisher gets a nomination

Image copyright Reuters

Eleven months after her death, Carrie Fisher gets a posthumous Grammy nomination in the spoken word category for a wry, self-aware reading of her autobiography The Princess Diarist.

The book also features Fisher’s daughter Billie Lourd, who narrates her mother’s diary entries from the 1970s, which mostly concern her relationship with Harrison Ford.

Elsewhere, the Grammys give posthumous nominations to Leonard Cohen, Linkin Park’s Chester Beningfield and Chris Cornell.

Hip-hop and R&B rule the roost

Image copyright Getty Images

Image caption Kendrick Lamar has received multiple Grammy nominations

It was becoming embarrassing. In the last 20 years, only two black artists have won the Grammys main prize, album of the year. Two years ago, Beck controversially beat Beyonce’s ground-breaking, self-titled video album to the title. Then, last year, Adele did it again.

Adele seemed embarrassed by the accolade, and spoke for many Grammy-watchers when she said her rival deserved it more, describing Lemonade as “monumental… beautiful and soul-baring”.

Following that, Canadian superstar Drake withdrew his album, More Life, from consideration for the Grammy Awards; echoing Frank Ocean, who withheld his 2016 album Blonde, citing the ceremony’s “cultural bias”.

It all amounted to a wake-up call and, this year, the main categories are dominated by rap and R&B.

Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar’s multiple nominations were expected; but the recognition for Bruno Mars’s 24K Magic and Childish Gambino’s brilliant, psychedelic P-Funk album Awaken, My Love were both surprises.

The latter, in particular, seems responsible for pushing aside Ed Sheeran’s ÷ (Divide); which many Grammy observers assumed was a shoo-in for album of the year.

Image copyright PA

Image caption Ed Sheeran was the surprise of the day receiving no nominations in the main categories

But the story goes deeper than the main awards categories – the top nine most-nominated people at the 2018 Grammys are non-white performers.

Neil Portnow, chief executive of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, which runs the Grammys, called the mix of nominees “a really terrific reflection of the voting membership of the academy”.

It’s a pivotal moment; and you have to hope that those voters don’t fumble the ball by giving album of the year to Lorde’s Melodrama, the only pop record on the shortlist.

Kesha seals her comeback

Image copyright Getty Images

Kesha’s first incarnation as a heavily autotuned wildchild pop diva was roundly ignored by Grammy voters. But following accusations of abuse against her producer, Dr Luke, the singer produced a potent and cathartic album, Rainbow, channelling all of her personal drama into the best music of her career.

She’s rewarded with a nomination for best pop vocal album; and she must be a favourite for best pop performance for the remarkable high note she hits four minutes into the gospel ballad, Praying.

Non appetit for Katy Perry

Image copyright Getty Images

Katy Perry has yet to win a Grammy – something arch rival Taylor Swift alluded to in the vicious video for her single Look What You Made Me Do. However each of her albums had received a nomination. Until now.

Her misfiring fourth album, Witness, fails to garner any recognition from the Recording Academy, despite Perry launching the project with a spirited performance of Chained To The Rhythm at the Grammy ceremony earlier this year.

She’s not the only pop artist to be overlooked. Harry Styles’ debut album is absent from the shortlist, despite the fact it produced two big hits and was coaxed into life by 2016 Grammy producer of the year Jeff Bhasker.

Is rock redundant? Has country come a cropper?

Image copyright Reuters

Rock and country – in fact, all songs played on a guitar – are notable by their absence this year.

Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age failed to break out of their genre categories despite delivering strong albums; while crossover act Imagine Dragons, whose singles Thunder and Believer have been a major presence on the US charts, are consigned to the pop ghetto.

And while the Grammys traditionally recognise one country artist in the album of the year category, even Sam Hunt – whose album Body Like a Back Road, which spent 25 weeks at number one – failed to make the cut.

Taylor Swift will have to wait for next year

Image copyright Getty Images

Taylor Swift’s Reputation is the biggest-selling album of the year in the US, but it was released after the Grammys’ cut-off point, so she won’t be a big presence at the 2018 ceremony.

The star had hoped to secure nominations by releasing two singles before the deadline, but neither Look What You Made Me Do nor Ready For It impressed the 13,000-strong Grammy panel.

However, the star does receive recognition for writing Little Big Town’s single Better Man, which is up for best country song; and for her duet with One Direction’s Zayn Malik, I Don’t Want To Live Forever, which is featured on the Fifty Shades soundtrack.

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What It's Like to Have A Mental Illness ✋

Having a mental illness is no joke. It’s not something you have control over. Sometimes, it’s hormones, lack of attention and trauma. But it takes over our whole being just like poison spreading out in our body killing every good thought we have about ourselves. Severe depression, anxiety and the likes - they’re torture to us who experience it.

It’s like having no motivation to get out of bed every day. It’s praying we’ll get through the each day without breaking down, whether we’re alone or in a crowd. It’s like wearing a mask or a different personality so people won’t judge us. It’s hoping we won’t embarrass ourselves because we’re often nervous and sensitive at times when we’re emotionally unstable. It’s like going home after school painting and writing or sleeping or crying away our gloom. It’s going AWOL for days to stay within our comfort zone or safe haven which wouldn’t even do better, just to cry our hearts out and fill our canvas or our skin, with cuts by blades to release and pacify our inner turmoil. It’s wanting to lose weight so badly that we skip meals and eat in a binge after, making us even more depressed. It’s looking in the mirror and hating what we see so we cancel out on parties and social gatherings and hide between four walls of dismay which we may or may not call as home. It’s having no will to live and getting embarrassed of our own state of mind for we often lose our sanity. It’s having to fight thousands of battles in our head every minute of every day - battles against the emotional triggers that make us do stupid things with blades and more.

The worst part is, it isn’t really the world that is our enemy; it’s ourselves. And you know what hurts?

It’s seeing people we love slowly fade away or get sick of our catch-22 for they’ve ran out of words and energy exerted on us. It’s seeing them worry about us, trying to help us through this uphill drag. It’s always being told to help ourselves - which is not bad - but being told that it’s our fault and choice that we’re still stuck in the same rut as if we wanted be here in the first place. Whether we experienced something traumatic or what, our mental illness put us in chains and made us addicted to it. We’re succumbed to grave, pessimistic thoughts like that of joy is an illusion.

To cut to the chase, we did not want nor chose to be this way. And telling us to let go of something we’ve held onto for years is like telling a stage _ cancer patient to get well asap.

Don’t get me wrong but we’re trying real hard to get over and cope with it. Yes, we’re fighting everyday to push out all the negative thoughts and deeds away for our mind is a deep pit of darkness. We try our best to resist the blades but they are so appealing when all that you’re looking for is pain to quench the guilt and urge for self-loathing and self-harm. We try to pray but we can’t find the words to say anymore. Our insecurities and all eat us and tear us into pieces.

Coping with it is like trying to put together shattered glass with our bare hands that we cut ourselves and bleed fixing ourselves. It’s an uphill climb and we keep on backsliding.

Yet, despite the fact thay life pulls us back in a slingshot, I know God is preparing us for a greaater comeback and we’ll get through this together. Although sometimes it may not seem like it, we are grateful for people who stay, listen and stick up for us through the struggles and all because you all help a lot, really. You are the reason why we’re still alive and surviving. You are our stronghold of faith, our healping place, our home and just knowing that helps us slowly recover and become a better version of ourselves.

So please, please don’t judge people suffering from depression, anxiety, the suicidals, etc., nor even make fun of them and what they do. It’s emotional murder.