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nyx-aira · 4 years ago

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Magical Bitching

Summary: When a new magical threat arrives in NYC Dr.Strange and Wanda need some magical help but Loki and Agatha in one place can only mean one thing, chaos and the start of a beautiful friendship

A/N: You can't imagine how much fun I had while writing this :)

Tag list: @escapetodreamworld @midnight-lestrange @king-star @ynscrazylife @booklovinbi @mysticfalls01 @adorkwithaplan @nathaslosttheirshit @agathaharkness-simp @paulawand

To say that Strange was busy was an understatement. He was currently fighting and evil interdimensional being that somehow had managed to get to New York, interrupting his Sherlock Holmes marathon.

The thing could be described as a big glibbery blob that could fly through the air and spit fire, to say he imagined his afternoon a little bit different wasn't really a surprise. He wasn't alone thankfully, Wanda fighting alongside him. The young witch had recently moved into the Sanctum, training her powers under his and Wong's guidance. Even though they were both pretty strong the blob was becoming more and more of a challenge, splitting into mini blobs if you hit it with the same spell twice. It was very annoying. So he did something he swore he would only do if there was no other option. He called for Loki.

After their, let's call it a disagreement, they had sorted out some kind of truce, deciding the fabric of the universe was more important than their personal differences.

He and Wanda were just fighting a horde of mini blobs when they started turning purple, crumbling to the ground and fading into nothing. They turned around to see Agatha fling another dozen of the annoying blobs against a building, crushing them against the wall.

He looked at Wanda who was staring at the other witch in disbelief, shock the prominent emotion on her face, annoyance not far behind.

"Did you call her?"

The young witch asked, Sokovian accent present. Something he had noticed that happened when she was emotional or annoyed.

He was about to answer when they saw green sparks dancing around another small army of the annoying creatures, capturing them in a magic barrier and crushing until there was only interdimensional alien goo left.

"No I called him."

Strange answered with a sigh, pointing to a building to their far right where Loki just teleported, throwing a couple magical daggers at the slime monsters.

Wanda dropped her head into her hands, staring at him in disbelief.

"Great now we not only have to fight that stupid blob thing but also have to deal with grumpy and petty."

He lifted an eyebrow at the nicknames and shot her an amused look.

"Who is who? "

She just wanted to answer him when they saw another horde of blobs heading their way. Looking at each other they nodded, ready to attack.

Flying high in the air Wanda shot some energy blasts in their direction, giving Strange the opportunity to catch them and send them back into their dimension. She was about to round the corner when she saw something flying towards her, turning around she brought up a barrier to defend herself but the attack never came as Agatha landed not far from her, using another spell to open a portal the witch flung them in its general direction, the portal catching them and making them vanish. More blobs started to appear and Wanda realised that the situation was getting more and more out of control.

She was ready to attack the remaining creatures when she heard a roar, whipping her head around she stared at the new creature that just appeared on top of a nearby skyscraper. It kinda looked like a dragon with for two sets of wings and tentacles, spitting some kind of toxin and fading in and out of existence. Wanda groaned, their day wasn't bad enough already with the blob thing, a fancy dragon squid wasn't really some she needed today as well.

Agatha floated next to Wanda, bored expression on her face. It wasn't something she hadn't seen before. These kind of creatures were annoying, sure, but nothing she couldn't handle if she needed to.

Deciding that she did not need to get toxin stains on her new outfit today she turned to Wanda, already regretting what she was about to say.

"You and Strange handle our new guest, I'll handle these fuckers."

Shocked at her offer Wanda turned to her, raising an unbelieving eyebrow.

"You want to help us ?"

"Don't think too long about it or I might change my mind."

Groaning Wanda shot her one last glare before she flew away to help Strange.

Looking around Agatha decided that chasing after each of the annoying creatures was too much of a hassle. She looked around to find a good spot to catch as many of them without doing much work. Spotting a suitable tower in the distance she flew towards it, blasting a couple blobs out of her way as she arrived on the top.

The sight that greeted her was almost comical, there sat Loki, on a beach chair with sunglasses on his head sipping a colourful cocktail, every now and then flicking his hand to catch a blob that got too close to the tower, flinging it towards a portal he had opened not far away.

He lifted his shades as she approached him, snapping his fingers to let another chair appear, nodding his head towards it.

She laughed at the gesture, settling down in the surprisingly comfortable chair, conjuring up her own glasses to block out the sun.

"Never imagined to see you in New York again Trickster."

He only snorted at that, flinging another blob into the portal, a green 178 popping up over the interdimensional gateway.

"Never say never."

Agatha chuckled, flinging a couple creatures towards the portal as well, a purple 154 lighting up. She grinned, she wasn't that far behind.

"I don't understand why heroes always have to be so dramatic, its far more entertaining this way."

The god commented, refilling his drink and conjuring some pastries, grabbing some for himself before he passed the floating tray in her direction.

"Exactly, they are always so extra, always so much drama."

Agatha remarked, grabbing a strawberry cupcake, absently flinging a couple blobs into the portal.

"Strange look out!"

Wanda was panting, she had a cut across her cheek and her suit was burned in a couple places, the toxin and fire having gotten to her at one point.

Strange ducked a blast and ran towards her, shielding himself as he yelled something she couldn't understand over the noise of the battle.

The count over the portal just reached a tie when Agatha had finished her cupcake, tossing the wrapper aside she looked at the tray, deciding which one to try next.

"The lemon cake is divine, you should try it."

Loki supplied, taking a bite from his chocolate covered strawberry, adjusting his shades as they had slipped down his nose a bit.

She took a slice of the lemon cake and refilled the drink the god had offered her as the count had reached 1000, plopping some more ice cubes into the cocktail, it was a hot summer day after all.

Wanda jumped over some rubble, running for cover as she was chased down the ally by not less than 20 slimy creatures. Sometime in the last hour she had broken her wrist, the dull ache in her hand nothing compared to the burning feeling in her legs. She had ran more than ever in her life today. Yelling at Strange who was running besides her to keep going the slid behind some garbage cans.

Panting she looked at him. He was missing an eyebrow and his right sleeve, his boots melted to his trousers from a pretty hot fire ball from one of the creatures.

"The weather is quite nice today, don't you think? "

Agatha remarked, taking a sip of her cocktail, adding more ice as most of it had melted already. They had conjured a sun shade as it got hotter, the temperatures pushing 30⁰C

"A little bit to hot for my liking but it's definitely nice."

Loki answered, taking a bite out of his ice cream. He had change into a sleeveless tunic, pulling his hair into a messy bun, his boots having been replaced by flip flops. He flung his hand towards the portal, a green 735 popping up.

"Seems like im winning Ms. Harkness."

Agatha just laughed as she twisted her hand, sending some blobs into the portal, the purple 737 making her shoot the trickster god a triumphant smile.

"Don't get cocky dear."

Agatha had changed her outfit as well. Now spotting a purple flower dress, the fabric flowing around her knees, sandals instead of heeled boots. They had exchanged the pastries for ice cream at some point, Loki opting for mint and chocolate as Agatha chose blueberry and raspberry. They were just about to decide whether or not to order pizza when they heard a loud bang and smoke started to form a couple blocks in the distance.

Lifting his shades to have a better look on what's going on Loki shot a questioning look in her direction.

"You think they are alright? "

Waving him off Agatha took another bite from her ice cream, settling back in the chair.

"They'll be fine."

"Run"

That was the last thing Wanda heard before all hell broke lose, the building behind them catching fire and the toxin starting to react with it.

Strange grabbed her by the hand and they portaled out of the collapsing building.

Landing roughly on the concrete a couple streets over they groaned. Wanda by now having lost her right boot and part of her jacket. Strange didn't look much better, having lost a chunk of his hair to the fire and a broken ankle thanks to a fall from the third floor. It really wasn’t their day.

Loki and Agatha were just debating whether two servings of bread rolls were too much when an orange portal opened. They turned their heads away from the menu to look at the new arrival.

It was Wong, wearing beach shorts and a hawaii shirt, dragging his own beach chair through the portal.

"The Sanctum is safe, these idiots just don't know how to fight efficiently."

With these words he plopped down on his chair, accepting the menu Agatha offered him.

"Alright we can order two servings of bread rolls now but this won't work without a salad."

Loki commented, scrolling through the menu, debating whether he should order a caesar salad or the tuna one, both sounded delicious.

Having meanwhile conjured a fire pit and some blankets, as the sun was starting to set, they had dragged a table from the Sanctums dining room onto their rooftop. It was surprisingly easy to find a restaurant who delivered on top of a building if you offered to tip a little bit more.

"What do you think, red or white wine?"

Agatha asked as she held up two bottles. She had moved to the table already and had kicked her feet up on the table, watching the sunset as they waited for the food to arrive, distant bangs of fighting heard in the distance.

"I'll take the red wine."

Loki commented from where he was standing, arranging the fairy lights around the roof top. You needed a nice atmosphere to have a nice dinner party after all.

"I think the pizza arrived, I'll be right back."

With these words Wong opened a portal and stepped through it, leaving Agatha and Loki to their own devices. The god was painting his nails, nail polish floating in the air as he carefully applied the second coat of midnight black.

Meanwhile the witch had leaned back in her chair, wine glass in hand as she absently played with a ball of purple energy, illuminating the whole table in a purple glow.

"Today has been a great day, I really needed a day off."

She commented, taking a sip of her wine, taking her feet off the table as Wong appeared with their food, unpacking the pizza cartons and sorting through the food.

Wanda and Strange were done. They had finally managed to defeat the dragon squid thing, the blobs having disappeared a while ago. She had wrapped an arm around his shoulder as he had problems walking with his injured foot, her own wrist hurting like hell.

They were exhausted, smelling like dead dragon and smoke, covered in interdimensional goo and first degree burns.

"This has been a fucking nightmare. "

The sorcerer supreme commented. Wanda just nodding her head, too exhausted to say anything.

"I'd like to make a toast. "

Agatha groaned at Loki's statement, hitting her head on the table. They had had clearly to much alcohol, Loki bringing out some asgardian liquor, Wong bringing some alcohol from his home and she herself conjuring a bottle out of her ever-growing wine collection.

Loki was leaning against the table, having to hold onto it for support. Wong wasn't much better, feet kicked up on the table, glass in hand, refilling all of their glasses with what he call the best liquor you can get on earth.

She wanted to disagree but had to admit it was quite good. Getting up from her chair she raised her glass.

"And what are we making a toast on?"

Loki winked at her, raising his glass as he helped Wong up, the other man the most intoxicated of the trio.

"To this beautiful day and this beautiful friendship. "

"No no no, to magic and bitching about stupid people. "

Wong interrupted, talking about their animated discussion on who had to deal with the most shit.

The two men started arguing, on what they would speak their toast on. Groaning Agatha snapped her fingers, catching the attention of the two sorcerers, lifting her glass she spoke, a little bit more slurred than usual.

"To bitchcraft and the imbeciles we have to deal with on a daily basis. "

"To bitchcraft. "

They all echoed, raising their glasses.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"

Wanda asked Strange as they stepped out of the portal onto the rooftop, watching the trio speak a toast.

He just shook his head and pulled her back into the portal.

"I think we both got hit in the head one too many times. "

#wandavision #agatha harkness #agnes #loki #wanda maximoff #dr stephen strange #wong #agatha harkness & loki friendship #agatha harkness imagine #agnes imagine #magical bitching

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inskz · 4 years ago

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raspberry popsicle - hwang hyunjin

pairing - hwang hyunjin + convenience store worker!reader

genre - lots of fluff, a bit of angst ??? idk i hope u cry a little at the end lmao

warnings - alcohol and cigarette

words - 12+k

summary - a beautiful stranger comes to the convenience store you work at during summer every single day to buy raspberry popsicles

note - this is the first time i finally managed to finish an english fic so i thought why not post it! please bear with the inconsistencies this was written at 3am while i was feeling rlly nostalgic abt a summer i didn’t have 🥴. enjoy!!!

-----

Hyunjin met you on the warmest day of August.

He could barely keep his eyes open, even hidden behind his square-shaped sunglasses, as he walked down the street, the scorching heat of the sun forcing him to take refuge in the closest 7/11 he managed to find on google maps.

The excessive air conditioning slapped his cheeks when the sliding doors opened. Even though he felt like his throat was already itching, warning him not to stay too long if he did not want to catch a cold, he was thankful to escape momentarily the living hell that was a summer in Jeju. Warm rays of sunlight were replaced by glitching neon lights. At this hour of the day, the convenience store was pretty much empty. The whole town must have been gathered at the beach. He could feel a bead of sweat dripping down his neck at the simple thought of all the bodies piled up on the sand. When he finally found the freezer, he grabbed a raspberry popsicle. It had always been his favorite for as long as he could remember.

At first, you did not notice him approaching the checkout, too immersed in the music blasting in your earphones. In fact, your music was so loud, Hyunjin was able to make out the bass. Indie rock, he assumed. An old fan was blowing lukewarm air in your messy hair. As you finished your umpteenth spin on your rusty stool, your eyes finally met his.

"Sorry. Did not see you there," you said, jumping up and taking off your earphones in a hurry, as if you were caught red-handed. Your boss must have forbidden you to listen to music on your shifts, he guessed. You stuffed the tangled cords deep in the pocket of your forest green sleeveless vest. Hyunjin couldn’t help but wonder how someone could look that good in this horrid uniform.

"It's okay," Hyunjin muttered but you did not seem to hear him as you were too busy taping on the cash register's screen. His cheeks felt hot all the sudden, but for once it was not from the heat of the sun.

"One fifty please". He proceeded to empty out his pockets, the golden coins landing on the counter with a loud noise. Without even glancing at him, you put them in the cash-drawer.

And as quickly as he came, Hyunjin was out the door, the burning air engulfing him again, sinking into every pore of his skin. But he could not bring himself to go home yet. Instead, he sat under the shade of the parasol installed in front of the convenience store’s window, glancing occasionally at you.

Unconsciously, a smile grew on his lips as he saw that you were already back to your antics, earphones in your ears, bopping your head to the sound of your playlist.

He did not realize how long he had been sitting here until he felt a sticky liquid running down his fingers. His popsicle had melted. “Fuck”, he muttered as he saw that his white vans were now tinted pink.

-----

You’d be lying if you said the stranger’s daily visits were not the only reason you looked forward to starting your shift at 6 in the morning while all your friends were still fast asleep after long nights of partying. He would come every day around 2, except on Sundays when the shop would be closed, to get his raspberry treat.

After a week, your exchanges still had not gotten further than the usual “hello”, “one fifty please”, “thanks” and “goodbye”. Not that you did not have the desire to, but because you have always been terrified of small talk. How you got hired despite your constant resting bitch face was an unsolved mystery.

On Thursday, he entered the 7/11 at exactly 2:13 PM and, as always, went straight to the freezer. You immediately turned up the volume of your music to silence your ridiculously intense heartbeat. Of course, you blamed it on your social anxiety. What more could it be?

While he was choosing his ice cream, you could not help but stare at his broad back. You noticed how strands of bleached hair escaped from his black bucket hat. How the collar of his Hawaiian shirt was slightly crooked, causing your fingers to ache to fix it. How the bottom of his jean shorts was getting a little bit more frayed each day. How his white vans were stained pink.

The sound of the freezer’s door slamming shut made you come back to your senses. You could not bring yourself to look at him in the eyes when he finally reached the checkout. Instead, the yellow color of the popsicle he slid onto the counter immediately caught your attention.

“Don’t we have any raspberry ones left?” you thought out loud. You only realized these words actually came out of your mouth when it you saw the boy’s eyes widen and his lips part in surprise. A wave of embarrassment hit you. He must have thought you were a crazy stalker, taking note of what he was buying every single day.

“Oh, no you got plenty left... I just wanted to try something new, I guess,” he said.

It was the first time you saw his true smile, not just the polite kind. It was shy at first, but then it bloomed across his flushed cheeks causing the skin of his nose to wrinkle and his eyes to turn into shining crescents. Never had you seen such a pretty vision. The type of vision that was making your heart ache. You wanted to answer him so badly, to keep the conversation going for hours. But no matter how hard you thought, nothing came to your mind.

"One fifty, please" were all the words you managed to say with your usual nonchalant tone. You fought the urge to slap yourself when you saw his smile slowly fading, a hint of disappointment crossing his face.

Not wanting this mortifying episode to last any longer, you quickly took his bill from his hands and gave him his change almost instantly. As soon as he disappeared behind the sliding doors, a loud sigh escaped your lips, resonating in the empty aisles. You let your head fall on the counter, your eyes already closing in an attempt to calm your nerves.

Why did you have to be so damn cold?

-----

Hyunjin’s vacations were about to come to an end, yet the heat was just as unbearable as when they started. Time had stopped. Days were endless, suffocating, empty. They blended together to create a vicious and infinite loop. The sun did not seem to be wanting to set and put an end to Hyunjin’s misery. It felt like a stifling drought interrupted his fast-paced life. Like scissors cut off his wings, violently bringing him back to the ground. No matter how hard he tried, he could not bring himself to enjoy his time off.

First of all, because it was not his choice. When the company announced a summertime hiatus for Stray Kids, it came as a surprise for everyone. It just did not feel right, not after their recent successes. But like many other decisions, it wasn’t in their power. They were sent home and forced to rest.

Mostly because he was supposed to join his parents on their trip to Jeju, but the universe decided otherwise. At the last minute, his grandmother broke her wrist by falling in the stairs and his father’s boss resigned. Nothing too alarming in itself, but his mother had to be by his grandmother’s bedside and his father had to take care of the tasks suddenly left uncompleted by his now former superior.

This is how Hyunjin, who was so used to be surrounded by seven brothers from another mother, ended up watching all the episodes of Hotel de Luna, twice, alone, in an empty beach house for two weeks straight. In the beginning, he found it kind of enjoyable. He spent the first few days sleeping-in, taking endless showers, eating snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But slowly he started to miss waking up at dawn, racing to get in the shower first, fighting for the drumstick when they ordered chicken. Now it was almost unbearable. He hated the silence that he once longed for.

Of course, he thought about calling his friends and family on the phone. And he did at first, but as soon as he would hang up his loneliness would grow, multiply, swallow him whole. So, he had stopped. He also thought about going out and meeting new people. But he got so used to always having his members by his side that he forgot about how you even make new ones. He felt like a fool, not even being able to do the usual tasks of a normal teenager.

The only interaction with another living being he had was with you. Each day, he was counting the hours until he would go buy a raspberry popsicle, especially if it meant that he would see your face. Admittedly, you did not seem as excited to see his. You weren’t cheerful nor loquacious. Your whole body screamed “go away” but he still felt drawn to you. Maybe it was the way you’d mimic the drums with your fingers when you were absorbed by your music. Or how pretty you looked in that green uniform. Or the fact that you remembered raspberry was his favorite flavor.

That day, he decided loneliness had become too heavy of a burden for him. He wasn’t really realizing what he was doing when he grabbed a second popsicle out of the freezer. Afraid that he might chicken out if he thought about it too long, he walked so fast to the checkout that he almost bumped in the pile of baskets sitting next to your stool. He felt a slight relief when he saw that you noticed his purchase was different than the usual by the way you had furrowed your brows.

“Hey. This one is for you”, he said, sliding the bright pink wrapper across the counter.

Instead of reaching for the treat, your fingers started to play with the cord of your earphones. For once, you looked at him straight in the eyes. Normally you would be too focused on your cash register's screen to pay attention to him. As his confidence was melting under your gaze like an ice cream under the sun, he wondered if he actually didn’t like it better when you didn’t stare at him. Your expression was unreadable, at least for him. He had never been good at those type of things anyways.

“It must be hard to work during vacations” he added with a voice that seemed to be about to crack. He could not help but scratch the back of his head in an attempt to fight back his embarrassment.

He swore he caught a glimpse of the corners of your mouth slightly curl up, betraying your regular nonchalance. “Thanks” you responded with your usual tone, as you grabbed the popsicle, but the ghost of a smile was still lingering on your face. “3 dollars please”. He gave you the exact amount and was already on his way to the exit.

He felt a bit disappointed by your reaction but what was he even expecting? As he was trying to convince himself to be content with just seeing your smile, as discreet as it was, he heard your voice, piercing through the noise of the neon lights and refrigerators buzzing.

“Wait. I have my break in 10 minutes… Can you wait for me? We can eat it outside”. Was he hallucinating or did you actually asked him to eat together? He had to check your face several times to make sure he had not gotten crazy. Considering the way you were staring at him with your eyebrow arched, he figured he wasn’t dreaming and you were impatiently waiting for his answer. “I have to go get some fresh air anyways”, you added, trying to fill the uncomfortable silence.

“Sure”, he finally said, doing his best to keep his cool but he knew too well that his face had turned crimson red.

“I gotta put the popsicles back into the freezer otherwise it will be melted by then”. Your fingers reached for his. He noticed how small your hand seemed next to his, how the black polish on your nails was chipped, how cold your skin felt against his.

Once he was sure you were holding the popsicles, he sprinted out of the convenience-store. It was only when he got outside that he realized he had been holding his breath all this time.

-----

The next 10 minutes felt like a real ordeal. Not even the last album of the Strokes blasting in your earphones could distract you from the fact that the cutest boy you had ever seen was sitting on the sidewalk waiting for you, right in the middle of your field of vision.

You decided to swivel your stool towards the old clock instead. Seven minutes left before you could take your break. Your foot was tapping frantically on the white tiles. You were not sure if you wanted the minute hand to reach the 6 already or to stop right here in its track. Get this over with already or never have to talk to the boy again.

No matter how hard you tried to ignore his presence, you just could not. Maybe if the small TV mounted on the wall had been playing something a little bit more interesting than ads for beers and tampons you would have been able to, but sadly it was not the case.

You finally caved in, your gaze going back to him. Once again, you couldn’t help but stare at his shoulders. Unfortunately, he ended up turning around, catching you ogling. “Shit” you whispered under your breath, mortified.

That was it, you thought. Even though there were still 2 more minutes left on the clock, you couldn’t stay here anymore. Otherwise you would have probably died of embarrassment by the time would be up.

You went to find the two popsicles you had put back into the freezer. You also decided to grab two cokes on your way out. You let out a loud breath, unsuccessfully trying to release the tension that had built up in your chest, before the sliding doors opened.

“Here” you said, holding out the popsicle and the drink to the boy. He grabbed it with a small “thank you” and a soft smile. The concrete burned the back of your thighs, left exposed by your worn-out denim shorts, when you sat by his side. The bright blue of the sky hurt your pupils. There wasn’t a single cloud on the horizon.

“I forgot how hot it was outside” you finally said. And you really meant it. It felt like you just went from a fridge to a 390 degrees oven.

“You work all day?” he asked, his face turning to yours. You noticed that he was already halfway through his coke. He must have been so thirsty. You felt bad for making him wait under the sun.

You nodded, as you took a sip of the beverage. “From 6 to 9. I start and finish my shift when the weather is still bearable” you explained.

You looked at your bare arms that were already heating up. They did not see the sun more than a few times this summer. You must have looked ill compared to the tanned vacationers. “I did not put sunscreen on” you said, thinking about how your mom used to nag you when you were young when you would stay under the sun for too long.

“You should probably go sit under the shade”, he suggested, his head turning to the plastic chair the convenience store had provided.

As you sat in it, you could not help but wonder if he purposely saved the place for you. It was positioned in such a way that you couldn’t clearly see the boy’s face, only his back and a bit of his profile. And what a profile. Chiseled jaw, delicate nose, pouty lips, pierced ears. You found yourself enjoying the view way more than you should have been. There was something so pleasant about being able to take a closer look at someone without being scrutinized back. But the lovely vision was disturbed by the beads of sweat that were forming at your eyebrows. You wiped it off quickly with the back of your hand.

“I fucking hate summer breaks” you sighed. The words came out harsher than you expected as you tore the fuchsia wrapper that protected the popsicle.

“Could not agree more” he said, between two licks. The way he was eating his popsicle was just sinful, you thought.

“Really? That’s an unpopular opinion though.”

“I guess I’m not used to breaks,” he shrugged.

“What do you do?” His answer had spiked your curiosity. He looked fairly young, around the same age as you. You wondered what kind of occupation would take up so much time of his life. Worker at a factory? Top athlete? Freelancer?

Oddly enough, he took a few seconds to answer as if he was not sure himself. “I’m a hip-hop dancer” he finally said, turning around to see your reaction.

“No offense but that sounds like an all year long vacation to me” you teased him.

A laugh escaped his pink lips. Ringing and honest. It was music to your ears. “It’s really not, trust me. What about you?”.

“I’m a college student. I’m majoring in macroeconomics”. His once innocent smile turn into a teasing one. You rolled your eyes but the corners of your lips, already curling up, betrayed you. “I know. Sounds boring. It’s boring actually”.

“I always wondered what the usual college student day looks like”.

“Wake up. Eat. Drink. Party. Sleep. Repeat. Oh, and sometimes go to class,” you counted on your fingers.

“TV shows are not lying then?” he asked, cocking his brow.

“They are. They make it seem fun when in reality it’s just the same stupid people doing the same stupid shit every single day. It gets exhausting really quickly... Oh and don’t get me started on hangovers, they make you regret going everytime.” You stopped your rant there and went back to eating your popsicle, afraid that you might have made him uneasy.

But it didn’t seem like it. Instead, he looked pensive, almost sad. “I wish I could live like that sometimes...”

“What’s keeping you from partying right now? You’re here with you parents?” Vacations were the perfect time to get wasted so it was surprising he did not seize the opportunity to do so, like all the other teens in town.

“I was supposed to, but something came up last minute. So, I’m all by myself. I don’t know anybody here,” he admitted. Although he turned his head to the other side, hiding his face from you, you could sense a bit of embarrassment in his voice.

You both fell silent, acting like you were too busy eating your popsicles to talk. You didn’t know when you decided to speak up. You couldn’t even remember what your train of thought was. But here you were, about to say a sentence you had never thought you would be saying to stranger one day.

“Hey, I’m meeting with my friends tonight. Do you wanna come?” The heat had probably melted your brain, you thought. There was no way you would have uttered those words if you had been in your right mind. You held your breath, waiting for his answer.

His eyes immediately went back to yours, lighting up with expectancy. “Will they be okay with it?”

“I think so. They always bring a plus one last minute without warning me. So that will be my revenge” you laughed, trying to conceal the nervousness that was growing in your stomach as you were realizing the implications of your offer.

“You sure?”

An old man was coming your way, a large shopping bag on his shoulders. A curse escaped your lips as you checked your phone. It was way past your break time. “If you insist, I’ll call them to ask. I gotta go.” As the client entered the shop, you quickly got up and threw the popsicle stick in the closest bin, along with the wrapper “I don’t get why you’re so obsessed with this popsicle, it’s really not that good”, you muttered on your way to the entrance.

“Wait. Where do we meet up tonight?” he stuttered as he sprung to his feet.

“Be there by 9” you yelled before disappearing being the sliding doors.

-----

When the client left, his basket full of oranges and peaches, you decided to call your friend as promised. You reluctantly pressed Minju’s contact picture. In order to have your hands free and be able to refill the aisles with ramen packets, you stuck your phone between your ear and shoulder. You regretted it immediately when she picked up the phone, her loud voice hurting your eardrum.

“You better not be calling me to cancel tonight’s plans.” You’d be lying if you said that the absence of any kind of greetings came as a surprise. Her answer was easily explainable by the fact that your phone calls were rarely auspicious since you despised calling and only did it instead of texting when you had something to apologize for.

“Yeah, about that… Just wanted to warn you, I’m bringing a friend tonight”. You could not help but wince at your own words, already predicting her answer.

“You have other friends than us?” She asked in her famous mocking tone, making you regret instantly your prior boldness. It was so unlike you to invite a total stranger and Minju knew it too well.

“I met him recently, he comes to the shop everyday”, you tried to explain.

“He? A boy?” She gasped and your mind could clearly imagine her shocked face as if she was standing right in front of you, hands on the cheeks and mouth agape. You’re pretty sure your eyes rolled all the way back to your head.

Your friend must have guessed it because you could hear her repressing a giggle. “Okay, okay” She said, regaining her composure. “What’s the lucky man’s name?” she allowed herself to ask. A sudden realization hit you.

You did not even know his name.

-----

As Hyunjin walked down the same street, his pace faster than usual, he felt his heartbeat increase and his hands getting clammy. The sun had not set yet, but the sky’s color had changed, shades of pink and oranges replacing the garish blue. A fresh breeze was tickling his nose and caressing his cheeks. The linen shirt he wore would probably come handy by the end of the night, when the air would have completely cooled off but for now, the tension in his body was making him sweat profusely. He felt like a frightened teenager going to his first party. Which, to be honest, was not that far from the truth.

When he entered the shop, you were running everywhere, apologizing for being late. He offered his help to close the shop, which you accepted but only after he insisted. Fifteen minutes later, as you were finally about to lower the shutters and leave, you stopped dead in your tracks.

“We can’t come empty handed”, you muttered to yourself. You went back into the 7/11 and grabbed a pack of beers and a bottle of coke from the fridge, as well as a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of vodka behind the counter. The night promised to be eventful and Hyunjin could not help but feel slightly excited as if he was about to break the rules. And in fact, he was probably going to break his company’s rules tonight.

Even at this hour, the subway was packed by teenagers going out for the night and businessmen coming home late to their family. It forced the both of you to stay quiet, the chatters and the rails’s screeching making you unable to hear each other anyways.

Hyunjin caught a glimpse of your reflection in the window. You looked tired, staring into space, as you were holding the heavy bottles. He could sense that you definitely weren’t as excited as him to go out. Your body was slouching against the metal door, as if you carried the weight of the world on your shoulder.

At each station, you would mindlessly move aside to let people get on and off. He could not help but stare at your features that had seemed to age in a matter of hours. You looked jaded, as if you already saw everything that life had to offer you and that it did not live up to your expectations.

Hyunjin couldn’t help but wonder if you regretted inviting him. He unsuccessfully tried to ease his mind by convincing himself it was probably the long day of work you had behind you and not his presence that was making this apathetic.

Moments later, you were already at the host’s door, pushing on the intercom’s button reluctantly. The person that picked up did not even care to ask you who you were before allowing you in.

Hyunjin was surprised there wasn’t any beer pong table or bowl of punch. No expensive mansion, no pool filled with girls in bikinis, no flashing lights, no blasting electro music. Only about twenty tipsy teenagers gathered around the couch and the dining table, sipping on cheap drinks and sharing cigarettes, listening to commercial music. It looked nothing like the movies but at least Hyunjin felt a little bit less nervous in this familiar setting.

-----

You could not bother to go around the room and say hi to everybody. Firstly, because you didn’t know at least half of the persons there and did not care to meet them. Mostly, because you spent the last month ghosting the people you did know and did not want to confront them. Instead, you went straight to the wooden dining table, barely visible under all the unhealthy snacks and beverages, where Minju was seated.

“Here comes Y/N, guys”, she yelled as if you were the literal messiah, but thankfully nobody was listening, too busy getting wasted. When her eyes went from you to your guest, they doubled in size.

“So, this is the guy you were hiding all this time”, she teased, and you could see the boy’s ears turning bright red, even in this dim lighting.

“I’m Minju,” she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.

“Hyunjin” he responded with a shy smile as their palms met. Even though you wanted to strangle her for embarrassing you in front of everybody, you had to admit her antics were useful for once, since it allowed you to finally learn the stranger’s name. And what a name. You found yourself repeating it in your head again and again and again… It fit his features perfectly: soft and dreamy.

You had to snap out of it, you thought. All these feelings were so out of character. “I need a shot. Want one?” You asked Hyunjin. Before he could even answer, you were already grabbing the bottle of vodka and hastily pouring the liquor in two small glasses.

“Sure” he said as he reached for the alcohol. You clinked your glasses, looking straight into each other eyes, before downing the bitter liquid in one shot. His face contorted dramatically as soon as his lips touched the vodka, making you chuckle.

The lighthearted moment did not last long since you saw Jiwon coming in your direction. You had met him at you first Halloween college party. He was your typical frat boy, friendly and noisy, but mostly silly. To your surprise, he had taken interest in you and made his mission to transform you into an extrovert by the end of the year, which, by the way, did not happen and was not about to happen anytime soon. His intentions weren’t bad but his constant nagging about socializing only made you drift further away. And tonight, you definitely weren’t going to put up with his bullshit. When he reached the table, you avoided his gaze by reaching for the bottle once again.

“I might need another one” you muttered under your breath as you quickly poured yourself a second drink, swallowing it in a matter of second, your throat burning and chest warming up.

“Y/N! It’s been a while. Where have you been?” Jiwon asked you, putting his arm around your shoulders.

“Working” you replied curtly. The boy just laughed at your boorish behavior, used to it by now, and playfully shook your shoulder.

“We’re gonna play ‘never have I ever’. Wanna join?” he asked at your intention but also at Hyunjin’s.

“I’ll pass”, you immediately responded, not in the mood for revealing all your dirty little secrets to strangers. When were you ever in the mood, anyway?

“If you didn’t already know Hyunjin, Y/N is the definition of a party pooper”, Minju slurred as if her mouth was full of marbles. You could already predict the fact that you’ll probably spend the end of your night holding your friend’s hair while she pukes in the toilets. “But I’m sure you’re much more fun than her”.

“It’s really not that hard.” Jiwon added, a teasing smile dancing on his lips.

Hyunjin looked at you as if he was asking your permission to participate in the drinking game. You suddenly felt guilty, realizing you were probably ruining his night by acting so sour. You nodded for him to go and not to worry about you. He smiled back at you as Minju was already grabbing him by the arm to drag him to the living room. He found a seat on the rug, between two pretty girls whose names and faces you couldn’t remember.

After hesitating between staying at the dining table, moping around and binging on sour cream and onion chips, or moving closer to the group of players, you decided to come and seat on the armrest of the sofa to observe the game. Hyunjin’s nervousness seemed to lessen a bit when he saw that you were now just in front of him, only separated by the coffee table filled with glasses, and you could not help but find it adorable. His eyes left yours to find Jiwon’s as he handed him a dark green bottle of beer.

“Okay so here is the twist. We’re gonna play the other way around. I say something I have done and people who never did it must drink. That way goody two-shoes get drunk for once. I’m sure the others don’t need help to get drunk anyways”, the girl on the right of Hyunjin explained and the partygoers approved loudly.

“I’ll start slow. I have had a blackout before” she said, a smile creeping up on her mouth. Hyunjin looked around as if he was waiting for some type of signal. When he saw a few other people drinking, he took a sip of his beer.

As expected, a guy was already bickering with his friend about whether or not he could really remember the time he danced naked on the kitchen counter on New Year’s Eve. With each statement, the players became more and more tipsy, more and more loud. It would usually get on your nerves and you would go take refuge in the bathroom to ease your growing headache, but surprisingly you did not mind the noise.

Probably because all you could pay attention to at the moment was the boy in front of you. You could not help but secretly watch his every move. You hoped nobody noticed you were staring. So far, he had drunk at almost every round. Thankfully it was just beer and not another strong liquor, otherwise he would have been too far gone to even be able to get up on his feet by now.

Your mind started wandering. It was filled with questions only him could answer but that you will probably never ask. You wondered what his life was like. You had never seen someone drink this much during a “never have I ever”. Certainly because people who knew they would be drinking this much usually abstained from participating. But Hyunjin looked like he was having the time of his life losing every single round.

How come someone like him had so little experience? He did not seem like the party animal type, so you weren’t surprised when he took large gulps when a girl said she had thrown up on a friend before and when a guy stated he once fell flat on his face because of how pissed out drunk he was. But how come he never had a long-term relationship nor a one-night stand? How come he never had to hide a hickey? How come he never broke up with someone? How come he never made out in public? To say the boy was a mystery to you would have been an understatement.

His actions were getting clumsier, his laugh getting louder, his lids getting heavier, his cheeks getting redder, yet you were mesmerized. The usual aversion you’d feel towards inebriated teens had magically vanished at his captivating sight. How could someone look this beautiful, even with their guard down?

As he finished his third bottle of beer, the blonde girl on his left was already opening him another one with her lighter. You could barely hear what he was saying to her above the music and the screams, but you sensed that the alcohol was starting to become a bit too much for him as she forced the drink in his reluctant hands.

“I’ll replace Hyunjin” you said, leaping up instantly to everyone’s surprise including Hyunjin’s. He stared at you with big eyes and you suddenly felt dumb, standing here while everybody was slumped on the Persian rug.

“Here comes your knight in shining armor, Hyunjin,” Jiwon said, breaking the awkward silence by laughing loudly as if it was the highlight of his night.

“Are you scared your boyfriend is gonna get out of control, Y/N?” the blonde asked, a smirk dancing on her bright red lips. Hearing your name in her mouth came as a surprise to you since you were pretty sure you had never seen her before. But it’s not like you paid attention to drunk girls at parties. You let out a forced laugh as you got around the coffee table, trying not to crush fingers or knock over red solo cups.

“I’m just way too sober for this shitty party”, you said while you finally managed to plop down gracelessly between Hyunjin and the blonde. You addressed her your biggest, brightest, sardonic smile before you snatched the bottle she was trying so hard to give to the boy from her.

You tried to avoid Hyunjin’s gaze by staring at the round stains left on the wooden table by previous glasses, as if it was the most interesting thing you ever saw. But it was impossible to ignore his presence when your bare shoulder was flushed against his. You suddenly became so aware of how cold your skin was compared to his. You felt your heart beat in your biceps. You secretly damned the vintage muscle tee he was wearing. You would probably have found it ugly on anybody else but, oh god, did it look good on him.

You finally dared to take a look at his face, only to meet his dark hooded eyes. He was looking straight into your soul, making you feel naked, stripped down from your armor. It seemed like any kind of shyness had left him as alcohol had infiltrated his body. You could have sworn he was gradually leaning forward, getting closer to your face inch by inch, second by second. As he suddenly lost his balance, you moved just in time to avoid his head, which ended up bumping against shoulder.

“Woah, sorry” he giggled while he grabbed onto your forearm for additional support. His fingertips were burning your skin, his smile was frying bour brain.

You could see Minju smirking out of the corner of your eyes, making you instantly get a hold on yourself. There was no way you would give your friend the satisfaction of seeing you flustered because of a boy.

“My turn,” you said, after clearing your throat. “I have gone skinny dipping before.”

-----

Hyunjin could not tell how much time had passed until he finally realized you had disappeared when he felt like he was on fire. Your coldness was gone and the little voice inside his head was urging him to go find it again.

He got up, his legs wobbly as if he was walking with high heels on quicksands, and wandered down the corridor. The alcohol had his head buzzing. He could not trust his senses anymore, his eyes were playing games, twisting and blurring his surroundings. Thankfully, there were no countless doors leading to dark rooms filled with strangers making out. Just your usual messy bedrooms and small bathroom, making it a lot easier to find you.

When he turned the silver knob of the second door, he was immediately warned by the scent of burnt tobacco. He could make out your figure, standing on the small balcony. Your features were lit by the moonlight. The smoke coming from your cigarette was creating shadows on your face and the fresh wind was blowing in your untamed baby hair. For the first time you looked soft, almost fragile.

You only seemed to notice his presence when he tripped on the windowsill, making a blaring noise that echoed into the empty street. Even though he was drunk, he could still see you were repressing a laugh.

“You look like you’re having fun” you said, backing onto the balustrade and crossing your arms over your chest, your halfway smoked cigarette stuck between your index and middle fingers.

“Yeah. Thanks for bringing me” he responded, climbing onto the bar of the balustrade like a kid would do to be able to look outside despite his small height. He did not know he had vertigo until he looked down the 5 stories. You grabbed him by the arm, pulling him back to the ground as his head was spinning.

He stole your cigarette and brought it to his lips to take a drag. He immediately regretted his decision when the smoke burnt his esophagus, making him almost choke. He gave it back to you with a sheepish smile. But you seemed amused by his childish antics.

“My friends seem to like you a lot”, you said, ignoring his embarrassing attempt at acting like a bad boy. “I’d say even more than they like me”.

“No, they don’t” he snorted.

“Yes, they do” you chuckled. You took a long drag of your cigarette as you turned around to look at the moon. A cloud of smoke escaped your lips and nostrils, tingling Hyunjin’s unaccustomed nose. “But don’t worry. That was the reaction I was hoping for when I invited you.”

Hyunjin’s eyebrows furrowed. He could not quite comprehend what you were meaning by that and the alcohol flowing through his veins was probably not helping.

“I knew they would pay attention to you and not me. It’s a win-win situation. You’re having a great time and they’re leaving me in peace for once. I don’t think I would have been able to put up with another ‘why are you so quiet’ or ‘smile a little more’ comment”, you explained, addressing him a small smile. He noticed you were trying hard to hide a certain form a sadness, but it shone through your steel mask anyways. He could see it in the way your eyes would linger for too long on the accumulated ashes and your breath would shake.

“You really hate them, huh?” He realized his question was gauche a second too late. A silence settled in between the two of you, only disrupted by the sound of the wind blowing in the trees. The moon was almost full and there was no cloud in the navy sky to soften the light it shone on you.

“I don’t hate them. I hate the way they make me feel”, you finally admitted as if you were dying to say those words out loud for so long.

“How do they make you feel?” Hyunjin inquired hesitantly.

“Like I’m out of place” you said. “Have you ever felt lonely in a room full of people? I feel that way each time I show up to those parties. That is why I stopped coming. The worst thing is my friends try so hard to make me feel like I belong here, to the point that it becomes annoying. They keep on inviting me and dragging me everywhere they go. Yet, it doesn’t work.” You sighed heavily and flicked the ash at the tip of your cigarette. “The problem is not them. It’s me”, you muttered to yourself, but Hyunjin could hear the pain in your voice.

“And how do I make you feel?” He dared to ask, preparing himself to have his feelings hurt.

“Honestly? Jealous. I wonder how you do… this,” you said, waving your hand in his face.

“What is “this”?” he giggled.

“Being so charming.” You looked at your shoes, your cheeks flushing red as if complimenting him was the most embarrassing thing you had ever done. He could not help but find your behavior endearing. A teasing smile was painted on Hyunjin’s face, making you roll your eyes. He bumped your shoulder with his to get a laugh from you. He felt relieved to see you finally smile.

“You’re gonna probably roll your eyes at what I’m gonna say but there aren’t only good sides to being well-liked” he started hesitantly.

Your reaction pushed him to continue. It looked like he had all your attention, like you were genuinely interested in knowing how he felt. It had always been hard for him to talk about it, even with his members since he didn’t want to be an additional burden. But he found a sense of comfort in telling an almost total stranger. If truth be told, he felt like he could tell you everything at this exact moment.

“I’m always wondering if the person they like is the real me or the front I’m trying to put up every single day. I’m scared they’ll find out who I really am and get bored of me. Or even worst, disgusted by me”. He was so used to hiding every single one of his flaws. A perfect man, that is what he was always asked to be. Perfect skin, perfect hair, perfect outfit, perfect personality, perfect performance. He was taught the smallest misdemeanor would lead not only to his downfall, but his friends’ too. What a heavy burden to carry when you’re still just a lost and confused teenager. “I feel like an impostor.” His members probably felt the same way sometimes, but it was obsessing him. He couldn’t count the number of nights he stayed awake wondering if he really earned his place by working himself into the ground or if was just lucky to be born with a pretty face.

“Then who’s the real you?” you asked quietly. Your eyes were shining in the dark, your long lashes surrounding them like the petals of two rare flowers. He felt like he could dive into them, get lost in the abyss and never come back up to the surface, as if he would find the answer to your question there. For a minute, it seemed like he forgot how to breathe, how to think. He finally came back to his senses when you stubbed out your cigarette, breaking the entrancing contact between the two of you.

“An insecure and sensitive drama queen”, he said with a fake solemn tone like a spy revealing his real identity.

“I would love to get to know her somedays” you joked, grinning from ear to ear. How badly he wanted to pinch your pink cheeks right now, to squeeze you so tight you’d pop in his arms.

“How about tonight?”

You spent the next few hours on the small balcony discussing your everyday lives, sharing your guiltiest pleasures, revealing your darkest secrets, keeping each other warm by huddling up. He discovered you were polar opposites. You despised coffee while he would kill for a good iced Americano. Hyunjin enjoyed listening to hip-hop, you preferred rock. You liked old black and white movies while he’d never say no to go see the new marvel one in theaters. He’d always pick sweet raspberry over any other flavor, but you’d choose bitter lemon. You strived at night, when no one was watching, whereas he lived under the constant spotlight, scrutinized by strangers. He felt like the sun and you looked like the moon. He was the summer, warm and welcoming, and you were the winter, cold and impenetrable. You were so far away from each other, worlds apart. Yet, never had he felt this close to someone before. In your presence, he felt at home.

The creaking sound of the door opening interrupted your conversation. “Guys, Yerin is kicking everybody out” Jiwon said. Minju, trying hard to keep her eyes open but loosing miserably against the alcohol and the sleepiness, was gripping the boy’s shoulder tightly, using him as a crutch.

“What time is it?” you asked, getting back inside the bedroom. Hyunjin followed reluctantly. Never had he hated someone more than Jiwon right now for putting an end to such a magical moment. He had to fight the urge to scream at the intruders to go away and leave the two of you alone. But it was too late, the atmosphere had already shifted, and you were back to the usual detached attitude you displayed in public.

“It’s already 3 am. I’m taking Minju back to her place” he answered. You thanked him, obviously relieved not to be the one in charge of taking care of your drunk best friend.

When your group arrived in the living room, Hyunjin saw a girl who was trying to clean up the mess the guests made. He would have offered his help if he had not seen that you were already out of the door, waiting for him. Jiwon and Minju left immediately in a yellow cab that was waiting for them.

Once again, you and Hyunjin were alone, surrounded by the silence of the dark night.

“I don’t wanna go home yet”, he whispered to himself, as he watched the few stars the polluted air of the city allowed him to see, his back pressed against the concrete wall of the building.

“Me neither”, you admitted. His heart jumped in his chest at the thought that you wanted to spend more time with him. His eyes dared to find yours. They were sparkling in excitement. A few hours ago, never he would have hoped to see you react in such a way. Only him seemed to be allowed to see this facet of yours. You made him feel so special.

“Let’s go somewhere else” he said.

“Where?”

That was a good question. Where do teenagers go in the middle of the night if it isn’t to a house party? “I’ve never been to a club before”, he suggested after racking his still foggy brain.

“Let’s make this night a night of firsts then”. Your cold fingers intertwined with his, sending shivers down his spine, as you dragged him in the alley lit by rusty streetlamps.

The night was young and so were the both of you.

-----

You couldn’t fathom how the fuck you ended up in a dingy night club at 3:30 AM, the place you despised the most on earth, right after public toilets and hospitals. Yesterday, a check to your name with at least two zeros would have been necessary to convince you to join the wasted partiers. Today, a sweet smile and a couple more shots of vodka had been more than enough. The effect the boy you met just a few weeks ago had on you was much more important than you would have liked to admit. How far were you capable to go for him if he asked you to? There was something scary about this intense sentiment you never felt before.

Hyunjin had you dancing in the middle of a crowd of total strangers as if nobody was watching. You, the person who was self-aware of every single one of her moves, constantly imagining how she looked in the eyes of the people surrounding her. For the first time, you let yourself truly exhale. You didn’t realize how long you had been holding your breath for.

Your intoxicated blood was pumping in your veins to the rhythm of the music blasting in your ears. Your limbs were moving as they wished, as if they had a mind of their own. The ground, sticky after all the drinks that were spilled on it, seemed to be rippling under your feet. Your whole world was tilting to the right, and then to the left, like a seesaw. Each flash of light felt like an additional shot of adrenaline. Your head was spinning and your vision getting hazier by the minute, making your eyes unable to distinguish the mass of sweaty bodies in the dark. But no matter how dizzy you were, you could still see him clearly.

Like Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, Hyunjin shone. In a tide of people, you only had eyes for him. His body was moving in the most entrancing way, swinging so effortlessly to the beat of early 2010 hits. You couldn’t help but stare at his glistening neck, his collar bones left uncovered by his white muscle tee, his defined biceps, his swaying hips. Every inch of him seemed to be the work of Apollon.

You knew people were admiring him but you did not care. How could you be mad at them for taking a glimpse of such a beautiful sight? Especially when his eyes were never leaving yours, making you wonder what you did in your past life to deserve even a second of his attention.

You did not know how many hours went by, watching him recreating the most ridiculous dance steps he could remember to make you giggle and listening to him butchering your favorite childhood songs. At some point, you joined him. You screamed at the top of your lungs approximative lyrics that faded into uncontrollable bursts of laugher as he would catch you in his arms, make you twirl around and lift you in the air.

As people were slowly leaving the club, you were coming down from your high. Hyunjin was holding you tighter and tighter, your chest crushed against his, not even an inch separating your bodies, as if he was scared you might vanish if he loosened up his embrace even just a little. You never were the affectionate type, too afraid getting closer to someone would only scare them away. Because this is how you’d normally react yourself. The proximity was terrifying, the intimacy even more. But being in Hyunjin’s arms just felt so right at this moment.

Suddenly, the music seemed to come from another room, so far away, muffled as if your head was underwater. You dared to remove your face from the crook of his neck. You were relieved when you saw his face. Relieved this was not just a dream, this was your present. You were both gasping for air, inhaling and exhaling at the same tempo.

Your fingertips found his right cheek, then grazed his cupid’s bow and finally touched his lower lip. They felt too rough against his plump mouth. No matter how hard you’d try, you would never be gentle enough for such delicate features, for such a pure soul, you thought. You would ruin him, destroy him, tear his heart apart. But then his hand wrapped around yours. He made you press your palm against his burning skin.

His deep brown eyes were screaming ‘You’re enough’. And for once you believed it.

-----

“There is one more thing I want to do tonight” Hyunjin told you.

The fresh breeze had replaced the smell of sweat and alcohol and all kinds of filthy things, as you exited the night club. The dew was already glistening on the blades of grass of the neighboring lawns, like thousands of diamonds. The dark sky, blurred by the morning mist, was just starting to lighten, turning shades of lilac and mauve. The sunrise would be soon, but the streetlights were still on, leading the way. The teenagers that were kicked out of the club looked lost and disoriented as if they had just regained consciousness after an endless dream, stumbling in the city streets at 6 in the morning on a Sunday.

Your makeup was smudged under your eyes, accentuating the dark shadows due to the lack of sleep. Your hair was a mess and your cheekbones red. Yet, the way you were looking at him, eyes sparkling with curiosity, made you look adorable.

“Which way is the ocean?” he asked you.

You cocked your eyebrow in confusion but pointed your thumb to your right anyways, giving up on guessing what he had in mind. He grabbed your hand, his fingers naturally intertwining with yours, and started to run in the direction you indicated, slaloming between the hangover teens.

Not once had he gone to see the ocean since he had arrived here. The loneliness had paralyzed him all this time. But now that you were by his sides, he had the strong urge to feel the sea spray on his face, the sand between his toes. To feel alive after all these days of numbness. And share this feeling with you.

He had to drag you for a few meters before you finally picked up the pace. The further you got away from the night club, the more the streets were deserted, the only living presences you encountered at this hour being stray cats searching for something to eat in the dumpsters.

“Wait” you faintly protested as you were already gasping for air after a few minutes of running.

“We have to hurry before the sun comes up” he told you, holding your hand a little tighter to give you some courage.

-----

When your Doc Martens finally sunk in the humid sand, your lungs were on fire and your heart was about to burst out of your ribcage. The slender boy did not let you catch your breath though. As you were bent in two, hands resting on your weakened knees and chest heaving, you saw Hyunjin taking off his shirt and his muscle tee out of the corner of your eye.

Taken aback by his sudden boldness, you stood back up abruptly. The way Hyunjin smirked at you made you realize you were staring a bit too obviously at his defined torso. You felt your face becoming even hotter when he pulled down his jean shorts. Once he threw his beat-up converse in the sand, only his blue boxers were left. Never in your life a boy’s behavior had made you this flustered.

As your brain was trying to register what was happening, your started to stutter foolishly. But Hyunjin did not leave you the time to ask what the hell he was doing, already sprinting to the ocean. In an instant, the crashing waves swallowed him whole. You tried to catch a glimpse of him, but the foam formed by the sea’s eddies were making it impossible for you to distinguish his figure.

You did not know what took over you, probably the same unknown feeling that pushed you to dance in a filthy club, but here you were undressing hastily on a deserted beach at dawn. You ignored the shivers that traveled down your spine and the goosebumps that were appearing on your legs as you took off your shorts. You kept your large t-shirt on, not brave enough to show your whole body to him. You knew your courage would falter if you took too long to enter the cold water, so you ran and dove, headfirst.

The water felt like liquid ice against your skin, wrapping every inch of you, hugging you dearly. Your whole body went numb. If it wasn’t your stinging cuticles that were raw from the constant biting of your nails, you would have forgotten you were even made out of flesh. Forgotten that your existence did not just consist of a tired soul floating around aimlessly in the limbo. At last, everything felt so serene and at peace.

Ever since you learned how to swim, you had always loved the ocean. The feeling it procured you was still unrivaled to this day. It was better than alcohol, better than drugs, better than sex. Underwater, everything would stop for a moment. Your heartbeat would start to slow down, to the point you weren’t sure you were still alive. Your eyes would cease to see, and your ears would cease to hear. The whole world would go quiet. Those minutes of nothingness were all you wished for. They left you craving for more. But as the years went by, the beach wasn’t the refuge it used to be anymore. It slowly became a place of deep insecurities and social obligations. You stopped going, always declining your friends’ invitations. Only now were you realizing how much you missed the ocean’s embrace.

When your lungs screamed in need of oxygen, you reluctantly swam back to the surface. The void the water left in your heart was immediately filled by Hyunjin’s smile.

“You’re crazy” you told him between two waves, your hands flailing around to keep your head over the troubled water. He beamed at you and you thought you could die happy right now, with the picture of his radiant face in mind.

You both let yourselves float on your backs, the water gently rocking you. The sun was peeking shyly on the horizon, like the flame of an old lighter, gradually turning the shades of blue and mauve into hues of orange and pink. You noticed the faint shadow of the moon, not wanting to leave just yet. Ribbons of golden clouds were now decorating the pale sky. The sea was no longer an abyss of dark blue, but now an infinite expanse of liquid gold, as the sun rays were dancing over its surface.

You were overwhelmed by such beauty, on the verge of tears. You weren’t sure if you had actually started crying or if your cheeks were just wet because of the ocean’s water. The memory of the last last time you watched the sunrise by the sea with your family came back. Your parents were still together at that time and your brother hadn’t left town to go study far away yet. Everything was so simple back then. You used to be so happy, so carefree, so eager. You thought you would never be able to feel this way ever again. You thought the best moments of your life were already behind you.

But Hyunjin proved you wrong. For the first time in years, you didn’t regret yesterday nor fear tomorrow. You didn’t think about the stupid shit you did at a party last year nor what you were going to do with your boring degree once you graduated. You didn’t wish time away, finally savoring the moment. You felt so alive by his side.

You didn’t know how long you were floating, watching silently the sky changing colors. Minutes, hours, months, years, an eternity had passed. When you finally got back on your feet, your fingers were all pruned. As you were about to get out of the water, Hyunjin grabbed your wrist. “There’s one last thing I want to do tonight” he told you.

“It’s not nighttime anymore,” you teased him.

But Hyunjin did not seem to be in the mood to joke around. The way he was staring at you so intensely made your chest ache in apprehension. He pulled gently on your wrist to bring you closer. So close you were able to see the droplets of water that clung onto his long eyelashes. The sunrise had turned his deep brown eyes into cognac-colored ones, shades of orange and amber tinting his irises. His tan skin was glowing, and you couldn’t help but wonder if he was really a human or an otherworldly creature. Your breath hitched in your throat that had suddenly gone dry.

“Alright,” you said, in a voice that was quieter than you expected. You cleared your throat, trying to regain your composure. “But I swear to god, Hyunjin, if you ask me to jump off a cliff I - “

You were cut off by his plump lips, pressing softly against yours. Hyunjin kissed you tenderly, carefully, as if you were made of crystal. He tasted like salt and vodka, like holidays and sunshine. At this moment, you felt whole, complete. But he pulled away only seconds after, much to your dismay. His expectant eyes found yours. He seemed to be waiting for a response that would hopefully calm his nerves.

You wanted to scream ‘what were you waiting for all this time?’ but instead you just kissed him back, craving the feeling of his mouth on yours so badly. Your hands trailed up his shoulder and cupped his cheeks. The kiss grew more intense as his arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you harder against his damp skin. Heat bloomed in the pit of your stomach, spreading ineluctably to the rest of your body. Hyunjin’s prior hesitation was long gone. His lips moved urgently, kissing you so hard you would have probably lost your balance if he wasn’t holding you this tight.

Your fingers pulled on his hair tie to free his bleached strands. You were finally able to run your fingers through his wet hair. You had been dying to do so all evening. You couldn’t help but tug slightly at the rough ends. You thought your heartbeat couldn’t get any faster until a soft moan escaped his lips, sending you over the edge.

Your head was spinning endlessly. Your mind was monopolized by the thought of him. Every bit of your sanity was out the window. You loved his blond hair that was a little too long. You cherished his delicate nose. You adored his full lips. You treasured the beauty mark under his eye. You worshipped his whole being.

When it all became too much for your body to handle, you reluctantly broke the kiss. You were both panting, breathing the same air as his forehead stayed pressed against yours. His thumb was rubbing slowly against your jaw and you couldn’t help but lean into his soothing touch. He looked so glorious, his eyes half-closed, and his lips swollen, that if you had listened to the mischievous voice in your head you would have devoured him at that very moment. But Hyunjin noticed the goosebumps that had spread across your arms and the way you were shivering. He finally became aware of the freezing waves that kept crashing against your thighs.

“We should go dry off before we catch a cold” he said to you with the sweetest smile, before leading you out of the water, his hand never leaving yours.

Just now did you realize how bad of an idea it had been to swim with your shirt still on. It was clinging onto every inch of your body, the salt making it even more uncomfortable. There was no way it would be dry before several hours, especially with the sun this low on the horizon. Once Hyunjin reached the pile of clothes you left on the sand, he handed you his linen shirt awkwardly and turned around to let you change. You couldn’t help but giggle at his adorable gesture.

You made sure nobody was watching, undressed as quickly as your sticky t-shirt allowed you to and put his shirt on. It was soft against your skin and smelled like his cologne. Hyunjin had taken the opportunity of you turning your back on him to put his tee and shorts back on. You laughed when you realized that he went commando, his dripping boxers still in his hand.

He tried to distract you from his blushing face by letting himself fall to the ground. You joined him, with a loud sigh, stretching you out on the golden sand that had just started to warm up. It was the first time in 24 hours that you were lying down but your eyes wouldn’t close.

“I can’t believe you never asked what my name was and just waited around to know it” Hyunjin laughed, interrupting your daydream.

You rolled on your stomach and leaned on your elbow so that you could look at him. “You didn’t ask what mine was either!” you exclaimed, on the defensive. But his infectious laugh only ringed louder in your ears. “I was stressed out, okay?” you pouted.

“Did I make you flustered?” he smirked.

“Of course, you did!” you said like he had stated the obvious. “It’s not that often that a cute boy comes to the store every single day to buy freaking raspberry popsicles…”

“Maybe I didn’t only come to buy popsicles.”

“Oh really? I would have never thought,” you said ironically.

“Not gonna lie, I was kind of shocked that you finally talked to me” he said while his fingers tucked a piece of hair that was falling over your face behind your ear lovingly.

“Was I that scary?”

“Terrifying” he joked. You rolled your eyes and put his arm around you so that you could rest your head on his chest.

“Okay let’s start all over. Hi, my name is Y/N.” you said sticking out your hand for him to shake.

“Nice to meet you Y/N. My name is Hyunjin. Can we make out now?” he giggled, and you couldn’t help but hit him playfully.

You both grew silent as you admired the sky changing color. You snuggled your face in the crook of his neck, looking for his warmth. You wondered how he was always so warm, how he felt like pure sunshine. You thought you could spend your whole life here, just the two of you, laying on a beach at dawn, listening to his steady heartbeat, him playing with your wet hair. You would have wanted to catch this feeling in a bottle: happiness.

“Summer breaks aren’t so bad after all,” he whispered.

-----

Hyunjin’s shoulder had gone numb a long time ago but he didn’t dare to move, not wanting to disturb such a peaceful sight. You were sleeping, your mouth slightly agape, air coming in and out of it steadily. But when he felt like he would have to be amputated if he stayed like this one more second, he scooped up your head gently to put it on the sand. Unfortunately, your puffy eyes opened as soon as his skin wasn’t in contact with yours anymore, as if your body couldn’t bear to be separated from his.

“What time is it?” you asked groggily, trying to cover your face from the sun that was already a lot higher in the blue sky.

He took his phone out of his pocket, careful not to put any sand on it. “8:47” he said.

“I really gotta go”, you sighed. But you didn’t get up.

You looked so comfortable, laying there, hugged by the warm sand. Your whole body, which used to look lifeless, was now bathing in sunlight. White linen had never looked this good, he thought. The way his shirt was draping over your figure mesmerized him. Your delicate collarbones were peeking right above the collar. He noticed every freckle on your face, every mole on your body, every stretchmark on your hips, every hair on your arms and legs. He loved all of it. He had to repress the urge to caress your skin, too scared he might go crazy if he did.

You finally decided to move, much to Hyunjin’s dismay. You emptied your boots of all the sand that had found its way in them before putting them back on. Hyunjin had never seen someone struggle this much to tie up their laces before. You both managed to stand up, despite the exhaustion and the soreness.

“And I really need some Advil” you said, wincing in pain once you were on your feet. Your head must have been pounding, just like his, after this long night of partying.

“Piggyback ride?” he offered, and you smiled. He collected all your clothes before he let you jump onto his back. You had a hard time doing it, having no strength left in your legs, but after a few attempts and a fit of laughter, Hyunjin managed to hook his arms under your thighs. He took one last look at the turbulent ocean, in order to imprint this moment in his memory, before returning to the streets.

You acted like a GPS, indicating him the fastest way to get to the closest subway station. He had never seen a GPS be this confused though: you were changing your itinerary every two seconds and he was starting to wonder if you really knew were you were going. But the ways your arms were wrapped around his shoulders, your breath was caressing his cheeks and your hair was tickling his neck were totally making up for how exhausted he felt from carrying you for so long.

Once you finally reached the subway entrance after this long journey, he let you get down. Your hurtled down the stairs as you heard the loud screeching of the train getting closer.

As expected on a Sunday morning, the car was almost empty, so you easily found two seats. You let your head fall onto Hyunjin shoulder.

He couldn’t help but think about your previous ride. About how different it felt. About how world-weary you used to seem as you were staring out the window. It had only happened 12 hours earlier, but it seemed like eternity had passed since.

Sure, you still looked tired. But it was now a different kind of tiredness. The one that inevitably came after the excitement. The one you were trying so hard to fight not to miss any second of what the universe had planned for you. The one that was making you grin from ear to ear even though your eyelids were getting heavier. The one that meant you were still alive.

“I think this is my station,” you suddenly told him, interrupting his sweet reverie.

You got up in a hurry and as your body got away from his, Hyunjin felt like someone had ripped off a part of him. You grabbed your still dripping shirt with the tips of your fingers. You stood up before him for a second, your expression unreadable, before making your way to the already opening doors.

But just before you reached them, you stopped dead in your tracks as if you had forgotten something. You walked back to Hyunjin and leaned in to press a chaste kiss on his lips. A goodbye kiss that tasted so sweet. Your hand caressed his jaw soflty and he couldn’t help but notice how your skin was a little warmer than the usual.

The beeping of the doors startled the both of you. You rushed out just in time, giggling like a child. His heart broke a little when the doors closed behind you. You stayed on the platform while the train was leaving, waving your hand at Hyunjin. You looked like an angel in his white shirt that was fluttering in the wind, grinning candidly from ear to ear.

He did not know then it would be the last time he saw you.

You didn’t come to work on Monday and Hyunjin left for Seoul on Tuesday.

He didn’t know your number nor your address.

He didn’t even know your last name.

All the sudden, it seemed like you never existed. All he had left was the memory of you and surely this memory, one day, will become so old that Hyunjin himself will doubt of its reality, without any other witness to confirm it. He will probably think you were a creation of his lonely mind, a dream, a mirage.

Who will even believe him when he would tell his first love story?

But there was one thing he was sure of. He will never forget the look on your face.

Never forget how you finally seemed happy.

#stray kids #stray kids scenarios #stray kids fic #stray kids fluff #hyunjin fic #hyunjin fluff #stray kids imagines #hwang hyunjin #stray kids au #hyunjin au #stray kids fanfic #hyunjin fanfic #hyunjin scenario #kpop fanfic #i have literally no idea how youre supposed to tag your fics help

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geekys-corner · 3 years ago

Note

Mind listing the OCs/personas and a couple facts about them? (Might help with questions lol)

Sure! I’ve written 16 below lmao *sticks in a read more*

Anthony - Originally my version of Anti, he’s now a sweet bean who really likes plants. In his backstory and the start of his story, he was found in a tiny pocket dimension inside his old apartment while he and the place around him fell into disrepair with the only thing truly alive being his plants. After losing his entire family, he was very fragile and hurt himself quite a bit, but my other characters rescued him and nursed him back to health and stability!

Onyx - My angsty punk dude who I adore. He is on the autistic spectrum and is mostly non-verbal, once going 4 months without speaking before breaking the silence to tell his best friend that Viggo Mortenson broke his toe in that one scene in Lord of the Rings. They have a twin sister who is 13 minutes older and a firm witch while he is a firm nonbeliever. Sometimes he goes to the junkyard with a baseball bat to let out their anger.

Leon - His backstory is very dark so I won’t get into it, but he’s a very shy bean with one arm and a love for sewing. He has the fluffiest light pink hair, and is just the embodiment of pastel.

Kyle - The older brother of the duo! He’s friends with Onyx and also has a punk look with spiked blue hair, but he’s an absolute sweetheart! He’s eight years older than his brother, and ran away with him when he was a newborn to escape their abusive mother. He raised Joey on his own in the streets, escaping care systems that would split them apart and shove them in to foster homes, and grew up to be completely independent, albeit unaware of what it is like to have a loving family besides his brother. He may be quick to resort to fight or flight to protect his brother and grumpy to strangers, but he’s built them a good life!

Joseph - The little brother! Joey is a smart little kid, (ranging from 10 - 14 depending) with very bright ginger hair and freckles. He’s on the far side of the autistic spectrum and is completely nonverbal, but he’s very expressive, spunky, and loving whenever he’s able to. He adores peanut butter and milkshakes, and would very happily have them six times a day. While he can’t speak, he will send Kyle countless facts from astronomy or marine life through text at any time of day or night. He’s always seen in his blue skateboarding frog hoodie, a beetle backpack filled with his supplies, and his headphones and tablet. He loves to draw and he’s great at it, and always draws sharks, especially whale sharks.

Caelan - Another punk, but this time in bird form. He is a griffin, and in some AUs a dude with prosthetic feet. He has messy blond hair covering his eyes and is based around an Egyptian falcon. He’s very quick witted and very annoying to people who don’t know him, but would go to hell and back for his family.

Marioma - The model of a modern major general- this dude is the only one like him, meaning he has no AU counterparts! He’s different from my other characters since he’s technically self-aware, and acts in my stories if and when I want him to! He’s a grumpy, determined dude who’s trying to quit smoking per request of his boyfriend, Arthur. Before him, he was a sly, hardened, and cunning man who needed someone to rely on who wouldn’t die on him.

Arthur - Foster fails: 5. He owns a bookstore in the universe he inhabits and, just like Mari, he’s one of a kind! He lives the ideal rainy city aesthetic, with an apartment above his store with open windows, plants, cosy blankets and homemade food, handmade clothing, and animals. He’s got curly hair and his scarf is his comfort item, and he takes in animals if and when he can. He and Mari just live a comfortable life :’)

Clyde - A duo with Anthony, he was originally a version of Henrik, but is now completely different. This boy is a classic OC and therefore my teenage angst punching bag. He’s a doctor in his husband Lucas’ mafia, and is very strong-willed and the biggest sweetheart. He has water powers that I always forget about, and could very easily drown someone if he wanted to. Besides that, he does cry a lot over small things, and Lucas has walked in on him crying over their cat in a business-tie.

Levi - If he and Clyde fused, they’d make Henrik. He’s my 55 year old doctor who just the embodiment of grumpy cat and expresso. He’s very lanky and has joint problems after trauma in his late 20s, and sometimes you can hear his bones cracking as he walks. He has, can, and will slap the sense into Clyde when he needs to and hated him to begin with, but warmed up to him. But, he’s completely different to his husband Sage, and in the end, is a very caring guy who won’t take any shit. He’s also therapist, and gives sessions to most of my OCs- (he’s also the doctor at the end of Don’t Leave! Dr Allison!)

Tyrell (Cloak) - So I split the same OC into two halves, essentially from two AUs but in one? They’re not twins, they’re the same guy with separate families but they’re the same. They’re both POC with the same face, hair texture etc. Cloak-Ty is very grumpy, and is called Cloak because of the cloak he wears in his fantasy-based AUs! He wears an eye patch and lost his eye depending on the AU, and went through a lot. You can tell he’s angsty because half of his hair is buzzed off. He tried to push away his now-husband Demitri, but luckily he’s an absolute himbo who doesn’t know when to quit, and eventually melted through the icy layer to a loving, sarcastic, hard-working man.

Tyrell (Ponytail) - Same as above description wise! He’s taller and buff with a ponytail. He went through the same backstory, but was found by Daniel who took him to Lucas’ mafia where they recovered together and eventually fell in love. Half of his face is badly burned and the eye has pin-hole vision, but it doesn’t stop him from being the best sniper on the team. When at home, he loves tea, hanging with his family, and painting. He’s amazing at watercolour and earns money on the side from selling his work! Sometimes he and Dan team up and draw together!

Bloodbranded:

Wayde - He lives in the Winter Forest Region and hunts for his family with his exceptional archery skills. He’s witty and pretty spontaneous, making him good under pressure, but incredibly reckless. He has a bad claw scar across his right eye which cuts into his hair, but he can see just fine! He has beautiful green eyes with central heterochromia, so they turn brown in the centre. While he may be annoying and hot-headed, he cares a whole bunch and grows as a person to fall in love with Milo. He’s a hopeless romantic and protective as all hell, even when Milo can handle himself just fine.

Felicity - She wasn’t born in the WFR like Wayde, she was adopted by her two mothers and is Wayde’s cousin! She’s a POC with beautiful dark skin, and her parents style her hair in unique braids that are decorated by gold rings. She’s a magic user and a very skilled one at that, even when she’d just started out, and wishes to revive the old form of magic that had been taken over by the modern, corrupted magic form that’s based entirely on nepotism. She uses a staff and a book, and is clumsy to start out, but soon becomes a mage to be admired, or feared if you’re an enemy!

Milo - Unlike Felicity and Wayde, he was born in the desert region, and ends up in the WFR by mistake (which is a vast change in temperature for him). Because of the contrast in temperature, he’s always wrapped up in winter clothes, even in places where the others are sleeveless, just because he’s spent his whole life in the heat! When he’s at home, he lives with his Mother and goes out to collect lightning glass after the nightly storms to sell and turn into jewellery or windows etc. Milo was born deaf and uses sign language to communicate. He’s smart, energetic, and excited to see new things, but can handle himself with ease, and knows how to take care of himself through quick thinking and fighting skills from living in the desert. When he and Wayde start dating, he likes coming up behind him and cuddling him or giving him quick kisses!

Prism - Much like their name, they are very colourful. They are a dragon hybrid and live in a kingdom of others like them, but unlike any other dragon, their scales are - like their name - prisms. They gradient between rainbows across their body, but each scale has a rainbow shimmer when they move. Their wings are like stained glass, and their hair (as of now, it might change) is like labradorite! Prism is mute and doesn’t express much, usually communicating through eye rolls. They live as the King’s new heir after he took them in as he believes Prism is the symbol of their kingdom and species’ beauty. Because of this, they are completely untouched by any blade and don’t have a single blemish or scar as to preserve them. Many guards have died to prevent them from obtaining even the slightest scratch. Beyond their anxiety, they join the crew and act as the voice/sign of reason! Even if they are assigned to their kingdom, they soon learn that their friends truly care about them more than their appearance.

That’s most of my OCs, this is already super long so I don’t want to drag it on! If anyone is interested in any OC, feel free to drop an ask, I’d love to write one shots or answer questions! <3 ^^

#geekyfox1's ocs #oc #oc list #bloodbranded #bloodbranded development #oc description

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pinktintedmonocle · 4 years ago

Text

Dedicated Followers of Fashion - A Cobra Kai Lawrusso Fanfic - Chapter 1

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “That jacket is certainly something. Where did you even get that?”

Johnny shrugged. “Can’t remember. Had it since the nineties.”

“Oh yeah? Thought you didn’t own any clothes bought after 1989?”

When Johnny wears his sleeveless denim jacket to sparring practice, long buried feelings begin to emerge between him and Daniel. As they try to deal with their emotions, a few iconic outfits from their past make a reappearance.

Set post season 3, so beware spoilers if you haven’t finished it yet.

1992

“John Lawrence, here for the modelling gig.”

The receptionist looked at Johnny over the top of her wire rimmed glasses, pursing her lips in disapproval.

“You’re late.”

“Yeah, I know. I ran outta juice half a mile from the nearest gas station and me and my friend Bobby had to push my Firebird – ”

“Just sign here”, said the woman, pushing a clipboard towards Johnny. “Then take a left down there to get to costume and make-up.”

She pointed towards a corridor with a blood red nail and Johnny squiggled his signature then set off, walking briskly. He knocked on the door and it was quickly opened by a harassed looking man in a brightly patterned shirt.

“Are you the model? You’re very late you know, we were expecting you almost an hour ago.”

“Yeah, I know”, said Johnny. “But my car -”

“I don’t care, just get in here”, said the man, dragging Johnny into the room and starting to unbutton his shirt.

“Right, we need to get your clothes off and the baby oil on. Miranda!”

A small woman with a measuring tape around her neck materialised out of seemingly nowhere, brandishing a bottle of oil. Together, Miranda and the man prepared Johnny for the shoot, styling his hair and oiling him up. They gave him a pair of low rise designer jeans to change into; he quickly took off his own very much not-designer jeans and pulled them on.

“Right!” said the man, clapping his hands together and surveying his handiwork. “I think you’re all good to go! Oh – apart from one thing -”

He handed Johnny a sleeveless denim jacket and Johnny shrugged it on over his bare chest before the man pushed him out of the room and Miranda led him to the set.

After the shoot, Johnny walked up to the photographer.

“Hey, look I was just wondering if there are any more jobs like this going. It’s just I could really use the money and -”

“Oh, there are plenty of jobs like this going. For people who show up on time”, said the photographer, glaring at Johnny before walking off.

Back in the dressing room, Johnny scrubbed the baby oil angrily off his chest. He tugged his own jeans and shirt back on before his eyes fell on the denim jacket, now draped over the back of a chair. He slung it over one arm and left the building, more than ready for a beer with Bobby.

2019

“Maybe our new logo could be an eagle eating a snake”, suggested Johnny, picking up a pencil and beginning a crude sketch.

“Needs to have a bonsai in it”, said Daniel, not looking up from his phone.

“Alright. How about an eagle sitting in a bonsai eating a snake?”

Daniel tutted. “An eagle can’t sit in a bonsai, Johnny. It’s too big, the bonsai would just topple over.”

Johnny dropped the pencil and huffed, crossing his arms.

“Yeah, well, why don’t you try and come up with some ideas, LaRusso, rather than just staring at crap on your phone? What are you looking at, anyway?”

“Your Facebook page”, Daniel answered without missing a beat. “And you’re right, it is crap. Why is there a photo of you pouting while standing in front of a mural of some angel wings?”

“Oh shit, thought I’d got rid of that one”, said Johnny, pulling a face. “Can you delete it for me while you’re there?”

Daniel sighed. “No, Johnny, I can’t delete it for you, that’s not how it works.” He was for silent for a moment, still scrolling, then smiled.

“This one of you and Miguel is nice, though. You at a concert or something?”

“Yeah, Dee Snider, the most badass rocker ever.” Johnny stuck his tongue out and raised his hand to his mouth, two middle fingers held down, mimicking the pose in the photo.

Daniel rolled his eyes. “That jacket is certainly something. Where did you even get that?”

Johnny shrugged. “Can’t remember. Had it since the nineties.”

“Oh yeah? Thought you didn’t own any clothes bought after 1989?”

Johnny threw the pencil at Daniel across the office they had set up in Miyagi-Do. The smaller man caught it easily and scowled, but Johnny just grinned.

“Maybe I’ll wear it for you sometime, LaRusso”, he said with a wink.

“Lucky me”, Daniel muttered, looking back down at his phone.

Johnny wasn’t sure if it was just a trick of the light, but it almost looked like there was a faint blush on Daniel’s cheeks.

**********************************************************************************

Johnny could tell before he even got out of bed that it was going to be a swelteringly hot day. He woke in the early hours of the morning and couldn’t get back to sleep, the sheets sticking uncomfortably to his skin.

Eventually he got up and munched on cereal while aimlessly scrolling through Facebook on his laptop. (He had recently learnt that the box which asked him ‘What’s on your mind?’ was not a space for private thought, and that anything written in there could be seen by anyone else on Facebook. He discovered this after typing ‘How to take down Kreese and also what is cotton candy made of’ and Daniel had replied thirty seconds later with ‘You’re an idiot, Johnny’.)

As the heat continued to build Johnny took a cold shower before selecting an outfit for the day’s training. He threw on shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt and was just about to walk out of the bedroom when the denim jacket caught his eye, crumpled up on the floor of his closet.

Maybe I’ll wear it for you sometime, LaRusso.

Johnny picked it up, and before he could change his mind he shoved it into his gym bag and headed out of his apartment.

**********************************************************************************

“Good work today everyone”, said Daniel, nodding approvingly as the students filtered out of Miyagi-Do, wiping sweat off their foreheads and glugging from water bottles.

“Yeah, getting badass”, agreed Johnny. “Barely any pussies among you now. Well, apart from maybe you.” He pointed at Demetri.

The pale boy looked offended. “Hey, what’s wrong with me? I thought I did pretty well today!”

“You did, Demetri”, Daniel said reassuringly, patting him on the back as he left and frowning at Johnny.

Johnny just smirked and glanced towards the house, thinking longingly of the ice cold Coors Banquet waiting for him in the newly installed refrigerator.

“Hey Sensei!”

Johnny turned to see Miguel standing in front of him.

“You wanna come over to mine for dinner tonight? My mom says you’re welcome to join us if you don’t have any other plans.”

“Not tonight, kid. I’m gonna stay here for a bit, work on some new moves with LaRusso. But another time, yeah?”

“Yeah, of course”, said Miguel with a smile. “See you later, Sensei.” He started to walk out of the dojo, waving goodbye to Daniel as he went before looping an arm around Sam’s shoulders.

When the kids had left, Daniel turned to Johnny.

“You hungry?”

Johnny shrugged. “I could eat.”

He followed Daniel into the house, allowing his eyes to trail down the other man’s petite form. It had been a while since Johnny had seen Daniel train in anything that wasn’t a tracksuit or a gi, but due to the temperature Daniel was dressed similarly to Johnny in shorts and a sleeveless workout top. Johnny watched as Daniel’s long legs carried him out of the yard and inside, a slight sheen of sweat glinting on the tanned skin. Johnny bit his lip and fetched his longed for beer from the refrigerator, taking a swig.

“You want a cold one, LaRusso?” he asked.

“Do you have any beer, or in fact any form of alcohol, that isn’t a Coors Banquet?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll stick with water”, Daniel said dryly. He turned around to start preparing the dinner and Johnny held up his middle finger behind his back.

As Daniel busied himself Johnny opened his gym bag, reaching inside and pulling out a towel to wipe the sweat off his brow. He paused when he saw the jacket, scrunched up in the corner of the bag along with a can of deodorant and a packet of corn nuts.

Maybe I’ll wear it for you sometime, LaRusso.

Lucky me.

He took it out of the bag and pulled it on, feeling the rough denim scratch against his skin, before strutting back into the yard and sitting on the deck. He sipped his beer as the early evening sun beat down, trying and failing to think of something that wasn’t Daniel LaRusso’s legs.

Daniel soon emerged from the house and strode over with two plates of food. When he caught sight of Johnny he stopped mid-stride, mouth opening and closing a few times before he settled on just shaking his head.

Johnny grinned. “What? Told you I’d wear it for you sometime, LaRusso.”

“You’re ridiculous, you know that Johnny?” said Daniel, joining Johnny on the deck and handing him a plate and cutlery.

“I’m ridiculous? You’re the one who has a dojo in an ornamental garden.”

“What, as opposed to a more sensible location for teaching children karate, like a public park or a seedy strip mall with faulty wiring?”

Johnny ignored the jibe and poked at his dinner with a fork, wrinkling his nose in distaste. “A salad?” He put the bowl down. “Think I’ll go and grab a burger.”

“Really, Johnny? You want something hot in this heat?”

“Maybe I do”, Johnny replied, making eye contact with the smaller man.

This time the blush that bloomed on Daniel’s cheeks was definitely not a trick of the light.

After a moment Daniel coughed and looked away. “Come on Johnny, eat your salad. It’s good, I swear.”

Johnny pulled a face again but still speared a carrot and a lettuce leaf with his fork and popped them in his mouth, munching nosily. As green stuff went it actually wasn’t too bad. Not that he would ever tell Daniel that.

**********************************************************************************

After dinner they discussed potential new moves they could teach their students for the tournament, Daniel diligently writing them all down while Johnny lounged on the deck, nursing another Coors Banquet. (“Why don’t you just teach them that move you used on Kreese, the one that made his arms go limp? Then we’d win no problem.” asked Johnny. Daniel had rolled his eyes. “Funnily enough, temporarily paralysing your opponent is considered an illegal move in a karate tournament for children.” “But you can at least teach me, LaRusso.” “I’m not doing that, Johnny. You’d use it on anybody who annoyed you, which would mean practically everyone in the valley would have numb limbs.”)

Eventually Daniel put the pen down and stood up, offering a hand out to Johnny.

“You wanna try putting some of these moves into action?”

Johnny nodded and clasped Daniel’s hand, letting the smaller man pull him up. As he did, Johnny let his thumb rub gently over the back of Daniel’s hand for just a moment, noting with interest the slight but noticeable hitch in Daniel’s breathing as he did so. He thought of the blush from earlier, the way the pink tinge had spread prettily across Daniel’s olive skin, and swallowed thickly. The sensible thing would be to ignore these feelings, to push them back into the distant corner of his mind where they had been dwelling for the past three decades.

But Johnny Lawrence was not good at doing the sensible thing.

Daniel started to warm up while Johnny did a few half-hearted stretches of his own. Then they got into position in the middle of the yard.

“You gonna be able to move properly in that, Johnny?” asked Daniel, eyes flicking up and down Johnny’s denim clad torso.

“I can move in anything, LaRusso. Don’t think you’ve got an advantage over me just because you’re wearing some fancy-ass designer workout gear and $300 sneakers.”

“Whatever, Johnny. You wanna start with the new set of kicks?”

They trained for about forty minutes, moving from the kicks to a new punching technique and then into some blocks (“Can’t we just keep punching?” Johnny had asked. “’Cause you know, the best type of defence is just more offence.” Daniel raised an eyebrow. “That’s the winning attitude that got us into this mess to begin with. Come on Johnny, let’s just try it my way, OK?”)

The sun was low in the sky but it was still baking hot, and Johnny could feel the sweat running down his chest, exacerbated by the heavyweight denim. It was worth it though. Johnny hadn’t really planned what would happen once he’d put the jacket on, but the first time Daniel’s bare skin had come into contact with the fabric he had let out a breathy little gasp. Johnny had then deliberately started to make sure his jacket touched Daniel whenever possible, and by the time they had worked through most of the new moves Daniel was looking dishevelled, hair unruly and falling into his eyes, skin slick with sweat, breath ragged. He lashed out with a front kick and Johnny blocked as planned, but rather than backing off he spun Daniel around and pulled him into an embrace so the smaller man’s back was flush against his chest before dragging his jacket slowly over Daniel’s damp skin. Daniel shuddered and let out a small whimper. He went to move away but Johnny grabbed his wrist and pulled him back in so that they were face to face. Johnny let go of Daniel’s wrist, moving his hand instead to the other man’s waist, letting his fingers rub over the slight swell of softness at Daniel’s middle.

“Johnny”, Daniel breathed, voice breaking, eyes wide, leaning in just ever so slightly.

Johnny gulped. This was dangerous territory; flirting was one thing, but they were now on the verge of something else entirely. An image of Carmen and Miguel flashed into his mind, happily chatting away at their family meal, and he felt a sudden rush of guilt. Daniel was still staring at him with those big doe eyes, and he suspected that if he went in for a kiss the smaller man wouldn’t resist him.

Instead he stepped back, arms dropping to his sides, almost tripping over a rock as he put some distance between him and Daniel (who designs a dojo with freaking great lumps of stone in it, anyway? And Daniel had the nerve to criticise him for being unsafe).

“Uh”, he said, throat dry, voice coming out low and scratchy. “That was good. I mean, good – uh – session. With the new moves.”

Daniel just stared at him for a moment before he seemed to come to his senses.

“Uh, yeah”, he said, clearing his throat. “Good, uh, good work Johnny.”

“Uh, yeah. You too”, said Johnny, gesturing vaguely in Daniel’s direction. They were both silent for a second and then they both spoke at once.

“It’s getting late, I should –”

“So I need to get back –”

They smiled tightly at each other.

“See you tomorrow, LaRusso”, Johnny said awkwardly.

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

Johnny fetched his stuff from the house and left by the front door, slinging his bag into the back seat of his car. He pulled out of the driveway, glancing for a second in the rear view mirror. Daniel stood in the doorway, watching him, an unreadable expression on his face.

At home, Johnny peeled off the denim jacket and threw it back into the closet. He grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and drank it in one before cracking open another and sitting down in front of the TV. He let a mindless action film wash over him until he felt his eyelids start to droop and he drifted off on the couch to dreams of long legs and big eyes and a soft New Jersey accent that just whispered Johnny, Johnny, Johnny over and over again.

#cobra kai #cobrakaifanfic #cobra kai fan fic #cobra kai fanfiction #Johnny Lawrence #Daniel LaRusso #lawrusso #clothing kink

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gothamsforgottenchildren · 3 years ago

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The Forgotten Children Chapter 3

Zack

“Okay I get why you need to be here, but why did I have to come tonight?” Leigh Ann asks. She is tugging at the collar of her turtleneck like it is too tight or is uncomfortable. It’s a dark red sleeveless, turtleneck top, with built-in armor and has gold accents. It’s paired with a gladiator skirt, boots, and forearm guards. It’s a good thing we don’t have to worry about her getting cold.

I roll my eyes at the radiant girl. She’s been messing with her outfit since she put it on. That’s what she gets for wearing her new suit for the first time in the field.

“You’re here as backup so no one tries anything. Also, stop messing with that, you’re gonna stretch it out,” I say.

She groans, throwing her arm dramatically on the ground, “Do you honestly think anyone will show?”

I shrug, “It’s Gotham.”

She snorts, but nods. This causes her long brown hair to fall into her face. To anyone else, it would cause her features to be lost in a shadow, but for me, I can easily see the grin on her lips, and the fire in her dark brown eyes. Leigh Ann has always been easy to read if you can see her eyes. The light within them is currently dancing like flames in a bonfire, playful.

“Whatcha lookin at?” she asks me, pulling her hair up into a slick high ponytail.

“Just you,” I say. I know she won’t take it the wrong way. We’ve known each other too long for that to happen.

She shakes her head at me, “I love you but you’re a psychoanalyzing dork.”

She isn’t wrong, so I can’t really say anything. We sit in silence for a while, I’m just enjoying the warmth of her company. When I hear something from in the distance. It was footsteps, lots of them. “We’ve got company,” I warn her, standing up and moving into position.

I watch as she climbs off the roof of one of our warehouses by the sea pier in the Amusement Mile. She may not be as fluid as Kat, but she knows what she’s doing. By the time Penguin’s thugs show up, she’s waiting for them and I’m hidden in the shadows.

The Penguin not long ago was injured badly by the Red Hood, and ever since then, his gang has been wreaking havoc on everyone. They have no boss giving them orders, so they’ve turned into essentially a gang of anarchists. The main problem with that is they seem to think that we’re low enough on the totem pole to be a victim of their riots.

When they see Leigh Ann or as they know her, The Devil’s Flame, I see mixed reactions throughout the group. Some of them are scared, some notice that she’s by herself and gets excited, and some are angry. Ignatius Ogilvy steps to the front, he’s Penguin’s right hand within the gang.

He’s a white man with blonde hair. He’s dressed well for a guy who’s supposedly going to get his hands dirty. Honestly, I believe that he’s the boss who sits there and does nothing while his underlings do all the work. It’s going to get him killed one of these days.

I cock my head to focus my hearing on his heartbeat. It’s elevated. I can smell the fear rolling off of him. He’s nervous around Leigh Ann. Good, he should be.

She stands her ground. Her body is open and in a relaxed stance, but one she could quickly fight in. To be fair though, she doesn’t really have to move much to hurt people.

“This warehouse is under the protection of the Second Borns, you need to leave,” Leigh Ann says. She is looking Ignatius dead in the eye, waiting for his move.

I hear his heart rate spike as he debates what he is going to do. He lifts both hands in the air in the classic “I surrender” pose, but then he tilts his head, dropping his hands and shrugs. “It’s dangerous for a beautiful lady like yourself to be all alone in Gotham at night,” he says.

“I can handle myself just fine,” she says.

“We’ll see about that,” he says, before pointing a finger at her, yelling, “Get her!” Then I watch as all of his men storm at Leigh Ann or should I call her the Devil’s Flame because that’s who she truly is in moments like this. She is no longer the girl I know with kind eyes that have a dancing flame, she is now a roaring forest fire that only wants to burn everything in its path. Her entire body becomes alight. Her onyx-colored eyes are engulfed in flames along with the rest of her body. She is the human embodiment of destruction and she does it all with a smile on her face. I have to look away because looking at her is like staring at the sun, which is too much for my sensitive eyes. I hear the screams though. I’m sent here to protect her, as backup, but I’m rarely needed.

I make myself busy by watching the skyline. The entire area around me is illuminated by her power. It makes it harder for me to hide, but it also makes it harder for others. I notice movement in a window a ways away from us, in a building that should be abandoned. There’s a sniper in that room taking aim at Leigh Ann. Or at least trying to. It’s hard to aim at something so bright, I bet they didn’t think it was going to be here in charge of watching the docs. It’s normally just me. We’re currently trying to claim them for ourselves.

I take off anyway though. With one leap from the ground, I unfurl my wings, pushing them down to gain height from the ground. Now even though I am flying I still try to stick to the shadows the best I can. If they try to shoot at Leigh Ann, they will most likely miss or the bullet will melt because of the heat. If they shoot at me, I can be shot out of the air, which sucks.

Flying is one of my favorite things, even if I don’t like how sore it leaves me after. I love the feeling of the wind flowing through my hair. I purposefully keep my brown hair longer than I should because it makes the sensation so much better.

I get to the spot where I can quickly fly across and take the person out. I fly across to the window, left to where they are. I move so quietly that they don’t notice me. I open the window and slip in. The room is empty and dark. I can see a door on the right wall, joining the two rooms. Once I finish picking the lock, I open the door to see an older man’s back facing me. He is a white man in his late forties. He isn’t anyone important, no one I need to think twice about before crossing, or killing. I walk across the room, silent. When I finally get to the other side, where I stand right behind him. I clear my throat. I wish I can see his face, but his back is to me. Before he can even turn around, I’m grabbing his head in my hands and snapping his neck.

I let his body drop to the ground, grabbing his gun and unloading it. Then I step over his body and climb out the window he had shot out of.

I take off again, this time flying towards Leigh Ann. I can tell that she’s finished most of them off, or at least scared them off. Leigh Ann typically tries to maim instead of kill. I swoop down to one of the men trying to escape, grab his head, and twist it while flying up. Once I’m twenty feet in the air I drop his body on a woman trying to run away as well. I look up in Leigh Ann’s direction, her bright flames are starting to dim, as she’s powering down.

I land next to her, just as the last few disappear into the shadows that are Gotham City. She is grinning when she turns to me. She’s upset about something though, judging by the dampened light in her eyes. It looks like a fire out in the rain; fighting to stay alight against the force of the cold attacking it.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her. It isn’t right for someone as radiant as her to be so dim.

Her grin slips for a second, “It’s nothing important, I’ll talk to you about it when we’re somewhere secure. We need to leave because this fire show is likely to attract unwanted attention,” she whispers. She knows I can always hear her.

With that, we start our walk home. I feel the ache in my shoulders and back start. I should take a long hot bath when I get home. I must be walking weirdly because Leigh Ann wraps her arm under the coat concealing my wings, applying warm heat, soothing my sore muscles. I wrap my arm over her shoulder, and she leans her head against my side as we walk.

“Does that help at all?” she asks.

“Yes,” I say, trying not to shudder. Apparently, I don’t succeed, because she chuckles when I do. “We need to stop and let you change though, or at least throw on a coat. You’re too noticeable in that outfit,” I tell her.

“Okay Dad,” she says, pulling apart from me, and reaching into the garbage bin where we stored her clothes earlier and sliding on a pair of black pants, a red turtleneck, and a dark brown mini trench-coat.

We walk along in silence for a while, just trying to blend in. We have to make sure no one is following us back to our home. I decide that it was safe to start the descent home, when I hear a sound, my knees buckle and I fall, clutching my head. I vaguely catch Leigh Ann’s scared expression out of the corner of my eye before I blackout.

I wake up to warm hands and silence. I’m now in an alley with sound-canceling headphones on. My head is laying in Leigh Ann’s lap, her hands combing through my hair. I reach up towards the dial that controls how soundproof the headphones are, and turn them down slightly. I can still hear the noise, but it’s manageable now.

I look around, taking in my surroundings. There are brick walls on either side of me, Gotham’s starless night sky is overhead. It’s as dull and lifeless as always. There is too much pollution in Gotham to see stars. The weirdest part is the fire escapes. They are the kind installed in residential areas.

“In an alley. We’re just a couple blocks over from where we were,” Leigh Ann said.

I look at her in a panic. Why would she bring us to a random ally in Gotham if one of us is down?

“Don’t give me that look, we’re totally safe,” Leigh Ann said, rolling her eyes at my paranoia, “This area of Gotham is relatively safe. Plus, you’re super heavy.”

I pull myself out of her lap and lean against the brick wall, shuddering from the sudden lack of warmth. I lean my head back, looking up, trying to piece together what happened. I remember the sound. Knowing that the headphones are probably blocking out the noise, I turn the dial down. Then I hear it. It is a high-pitch ringing. It’s super familiar.

My eyes widen, “We have to go! The sound it’s someone’s emergency beacon.”

I watch Leigh Ann’s head whip towards me, causing her ponytail to hit her in the face. She ignores it. She whips her phone out of her pocket. I watch as she presses the first number on her emergency contact list. Riddle.

I know because my phone’s set up the same way. All our phones are programmed to have him listed as our first contact on our emergency contact list.

“Riddle? We have a problem,” Leigh Ann says into the phone, getting up to pace the ally.

I can’t hear his side of the conversation because of my headphones. I’d be willing to bet his response was a shortcut, “What?”.

“Someone’s emergency beacon has been activated,” says Leigh Ann. She stops pacing, tilting her head to the side, and furrowing her eyebrows in the way she does when she’s really trying to pay attention to what someone is saying. This is until her eyes widen, the flames in them sparking for a second. She pulls the phone from her face saying, “Of course you knew this already.” She then turns to me looking exasperated. “Who told you?” she asks, before exclaiming, “Robert!”

I roll my eyes at her. It’s not a hard puzzle to figure out. Robert very rarely leaves the house, and when he does, Riddle’s normally with him.

“Ask Riddle what he wants us to do,” I tell her.

I watch as she asks Riddle my question. She makes that face again, before pulling her phone away and quickly shoving it in her coat pocket. “He wants you to find whoever's triggered the alarm. Once you do make sure it’s safe to enter before you engage. He explicitly told me to tell you not to throw yourself in danger if it can be avoided.”

I stand up, nodding, “Am I taking you with me, or leaving you behind?”

“Behind for now. Once you get intel on the situation, your orders are to engage only if necessary and then call in using our phones to get more orders,” she says quickly. She is clearly upset but trying to stay focused. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to stop and console her, but I know that I don’t. I have to go.

Leigh Ann is caught up in her thoughts. She’s looking towards the mouth of the ally. I take off my jacket, wad it up, and chuck it at her. I listen to her shriek in surprise, before jumping up to take off into the air.

Before I even got to the building I could smell the blood. I know it’s Kat’s. His blood smells different than everyone else's because of his mutation.

“Shit Kat,” I whisper when I land on the neighboring building, “What did you do?”

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cartoonfangirl1218 · 4 years ago

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True Colors

Looking at my old messages from FF.net, I found this old descendants story so I decided why not, I'll post it. Heavily inspired by @screaminginternallyalleternity's Jane characterization and JanexCarlosxJay ship. Mainly cuz I had been messaging her. Anywho, hope y'all enjoy.

"So what do you say?" Jordan asked taking a huff of silph.

"It's funny." Jane smiled dreamily, her mind already wandering off as the effects of the silph relaxed her. Though she was sharing her room right kow, she felt at peace and alone, and safe.

"No no" Jordan said waving her hand as if to clear the fumes "I'm serious, we should go to the homecoming dance as ourselves. Our natural forms."

Jane was tempted to roll her eyes at Jordan's ridiculous idea. Go to the dance in their real forms. Ones that were technically "banned" because of how obvious they were magical. Ones that she hid all these years.

She wanted to roll her eyes but Jordan was being oddly insistant about it.

"Why?" Jane asked, evading having to answer or even think about her playing a role in this scheme. She couldn't. She never showed her form to anyone. Her blue freckles were disguised with concealer, her wings and tattos carefully hidden through clothes in which she had never taken them off ever.

"Just for fun. To show those stupid mortals what they are missing? How dare they make us hide what we really are and suppress ourselves." Jordan snorted, clearly gearing up for her usual rant against mortals and the magic ban. "So worried about what we could do to them. How we are technically better than them, hotter than them"

"That's just the silph talking" Jane said softly but already she could feel her panic coming. Barely but it was there. The silph was suppressing it making a odd conflicted emotion.

She felt like she was about to drown, her head trying to reach the surface for a breath of frenetic air and energy but also underwater where it was calm and still.

"No, I thought of doing it before...Non-silph talking. Zoning out during class and stuff."

"Really?" Jane said, trying to keep the conversation heading back to her.

"Yeah. Like one time when I was 13, I had really considered it. Sorta stupid and immature. I wanted to show up Audrey. You know, because of how she is always bragging how she is the prettiest and the fairest. Also I used to have a crush on Ben."

"You had a crush on Ben" Jane murmured.

She never would have guessed, Jordan didn't seem the type. She always figured she would be with a more confident, brash person. And a Fae at that too considering how she always complained of mortals.

"Ben's...Ben. He's so generous and caring. Unselfishness, such a turn on." Jordan sighed wistfully.

"If it's just for the dates, you shouldn't do it." Jane advised.

"But it's not just the guys. It's showing off to the girls too. It's an ego boost. Aren't you tired of being ignored, and considered to be plain when you just KNOW that you could top those mortal girls any day of the week." Jordan protested.

Jane blanched. No! That sounded horrible. It was enough people thought of her as a freak and avoided her now. Not that she wanted to hang out with others and their shallowness. She didn't want people to look at her like she was some sort of object. Her form wasn't even that pretty. "But but it looks weird, it's not pretty." She said.

"Please." Jordan scoffed. But seeing Jane's uncertainty she changed to a softer tone.

"Even if you don't think so. The mortals will. I mean I have bright pink skin for goodness sake" she pulled at her pink streaks "That doesn't look good but the people think it's hot as hell. It's because we are Fae. It's a novelty, we are exotic and exotic is erotic. It reminds them of who we actually are. Magical, mysterious, thus incredibly unattainable and sexy." Jane looked down nervously, taking long calming breaths. "I'm not doing it."

To Jane, this step of showing off was too overwhelming and intimate. Her wings, her tattoos were personal. Whenever she did unfurl her wings alone she felt exposed but free because she was alone. To do that with people staring at her would be unthinkable and clustraphobic. These over-entitled royals would see her as exotic alright. A exotic toy or object to be touched and viewed over. Just more bullying over why Jane wouldn't serve them or help them.

Jordan frowned, "I was hoping but I figured you wouldn't. Oh well better yet to make a solo entrence. With your lithe curves you might have taken even more attention than me. After all people wouldn't expect you to do it." Jane sighed. No they wouldn't and she was perfectly fine with playing up to THAT expectation.

Two weeks later was the homecoming dance and Jane waited nervously outside the courtyard doors for her dates, Jay and Carlos. It was the second dance they were coming all together and she felt as fluttery as she did the first time.

They made her feel normal in a way. They all had issues but they understood each other. She felt safe, and even if people stared at the threesome she didn't care. The people that mattered to her were with her. As she waited patiently for the two to show up, she looked around at the expanse of darkness.

How things had changed. She wouldn't have gone to one of these events last year. Too boring. But now with the incursion of VKs there were quiet a few changes even some repeals of the magic ban even though she had disapproved Mal's actions in ignoring the ban and giving magic and an even worse rep.

From the corner of her eye, she saw one of the ornately shaped hedges rustling and went over to it.

She saw Jordan applying the finishing touches of black lipstick as she stared into a compact mirror.

"Hey,” Jane waved.

"Oh hi,” Jordan said distractedly.

"Are you still doing your big entrance?" Jane asked shyly. Even though Jordan seemed fine showing off her form, it still felt like an intimate act to Jane so she felt that it and to be whispered with the respected amount of privacy.

"Yeah," Jordan clipped her compact shut, and transformed.

Jane tried not to be so obvious in her astonishment but her mouth dropped open anyway. She could see what Jordan meant by the pink skin looking odd but at the same time, it was incredibly alluring.

Her hair had lost its' pink streaks and was out of the usual ponytail in long pure black waves. The hair itself looked like it was constantly moving in slow-motion as if she was underwater. Her eye were still light blue but now circled with azure. Same blue eyeshadow with three distinctive spots over her left eye. Her black lips provided a contrast to the skin.

The rest of her body had changed as well. A more pronounced curvy figure to say the least. The light green sleeveless tube top was cut off at the midriff and Jane secretly wondered how the hell it was holding up Jordan's pronounced bust considering that it looked like it was one jump away from popping out completely.

Magic she supposed.

Meanwhile her matching skirt laid loosely over her now obvious hips, and where her legs were, now was a smokey wave as if she had just emerged from a lamp. Jordan had also highlighted her look with shiny jewels that Agrabah was famous for. A diamond/emerald necklace. An amber jewel coming from her belly ring. Tiny ruby, amethyst and Amber jewels decorating the dress itself in patterns. Plus the golden cuff links genies were known by.

It was an awe-ing sight altogether and she couldn't or wanted to look away from how Jordan moved and glistened.

"So that dress..interesting," Jane said.

Jordan tugged on her pointed ear with it's single gold hoop, "I'm the embodiment of wish fulfillment. You learn to deal with the no clothes thing."

Jane merely nodded than comment, "It's cool that you're doing this. I just wouldn't...it's scary."

"I know, I'm scared too." Jordan said which took Jane aback. She had showed no fear throughout this whole thing.

"You think I don't know what might happen. Being objectified, moreso than usual. More demands for wishes. The usual entitled mortal comments. People that forgot how magical I am will remember, and want favors. Trust me. I'm sticking by Aziz or Ben the entire night. No casual one night stands today." "You don't have to do it." Jane assured her.

"I'm going to." Jordan said firmly "Even though I hate how people see me. I hate hiding who I am even more. Hiding magic is painful, and using silph is okay but still that is a small consolation. There has to be more."

Jane thought of Starlight Valley with her father. How wonderful it was. "Good luck then" Jane murmered as Jordan started toward the door. Then paused to pull up Jordan's tube top up a little more so the bust was safely cradled in them. Even though it still looked a bit unlikely to stay that way.

"Thanks. Have fun tonight." Jordan said and went inside.

Jane resumed her position outside but couldn't ignore the pounding wave of thoughts she felt from inside. As well as the actual noise of whistles and catcalls.

Jane sighed and summoned some courage and wiped off the concealer from her cheeks as Carlos and Jay ambled toward her. The move revealed her light blue freckles that danced across here face.

"Hi Jane" Carlos smiled with a hint of nervous excitement. His bright white teeth made an unconscious smile dance across her lips. "Pretty" Jay, ever the blunt one, poked at her cheek, to which Jane playfully swatted his hand away.

"Have you always had them?" Carlos asked as he took her hand. "Yeah" Jane bit her lip, smiling.

"They're pretty" Carlos complimented "They match your eyes."

Jane nodded her head bs shrilly and grabbed Jay's hand to head inside.

#jordan #jane #fairygodmother #disney descendants #carlos de’vil #jay #son of jafar #true colors #my fanfic #my fanfiction #d1 #poly #jaynlos

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what-is-your-plan-today · 5 years ago

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Riding High Ch 3: Chicken Wings and Confessions

Chapter Summary: Fliss heads to Franks and Mary’s for a cookout, and they both learn a little bit more about the other’s troubled past.

Chapter Warnings: Bad Language words.

Chapter Pairings: Frank Adler x OFC Fliss Gallagher

A/N: Again, as you will all know I’m a Brit so apologies if too much British horsey lingo slips into this…ASK away if you don’t understand. Tagging all my SSB/CSI readers…if you want in or off the list PLEASE just tell me. This chapter is a bit of a filler, things start getting a bit more interesting in the next one, and then we’ll be diving into the Gifted story line in Chapter 4.

As always I’m a ho for a REBLOG and COMMENT!

Chapter Song: Fighter by Christina Aguilera

Series Masterlist Main Masterlist

“Frank goes out most Fridays, but Saturday we hang out.”” Mary said, explaining about her weekends to Fliss as she sat on the chair with her juice box. Mary had finished her riding lesson roughly 15 minutes ago and they were now sat in Fliss’ office waiting for Frank to finish working on the tractor. Fliss had noticed instantly that Mary’s demeanour around the 2 other girls on her lesson had changed, she had become a lot more introvert. Almost like the children bored her so to speak. It had surprised Fliss a little, as normally it was the other way round, kids happy to be outgoing with people their own age and more reserved with grown-ups. But she had ignored it and introduced the 3 girls to one another, simply carrying on as normal. Mary had simply focussed on her riding, not really speaking to the other kids. Fliss was starting to understand now why Frank thought she needed to socially interact a little more with children. “That’s cool.” Fliss smiled “So what are you doing tonight then?” “He said he was gonna do a BBQ.” Mary said, “Roberta’s coming over. She’s our neighbour. She turns up uninvited all the time so Frank said we might as well ask her if she wanted to come as she’d just rock up anyway.”

Fliss grinned “Is Frank any good with BBQs?”

“He BBQs better than he cooks.” Mary answered and Fliss chuckled. “But that’s because it’s not really cooking is it? It’s just heating meat to a temperature so that all the bacteria is killed.”

“Talking about me again?” Frank leaned in the doorway of the office, wiping his hands on an old rag.

“She was just telling me about your cooking.” Frank snorted “Yeah it’s not much to write home about.” “It’s bad.” Mary shrugged “Unless you get it out of a jar.” At that Fliss tipped her head back in a loud laugh. “Oh God…”

Frank shook his head smiling to himself before he changed the subject. “Tractor’s all done.” “You, Sailor are a God send.” she smiled “What do I owe you?” “Nothing” Frank shook his head “I had the parts lying around so…” Fliss frowned, before she smirked at him “ok then, today’s lesson is on me again.” Frank looked away shaking his head before he turned back, smiling “That’s how it is?” “That’s how it is.” she nodded.

“Alright, quid-pro-quo.” he said, tucking the rag he had been using into his back pocket.

“What are you doing tonight?” Mary asked and Fliss smiled.

“Well my Mum and Dad are away so I have the house to myself. So I’ll probably grab a beer, lay by the pool for a bit and then…” “You have a pool?” Mary’s eyes widened, cutting her off.

“My mum and dad do.” Fliss said.

“That’s so cool.” she looked at Frank “Why can’t we have a pool?” “We do…” “A communal one.” Mary rolled her eyes “ A private one is way cooler.” “Yeah, well, sorry life is such a disappointment to you.” Frank looked at her, Mary rolled her eyes and Fliss smiled at the easy to-and-froing that was going on between the two. “And here’s another disappointment, time to go.”

“Why?”

“Because you’ve taken up enough of Miss Gallagher’s…” “Fliss…” “Fliss’ time, and I need to get to the store if you wanna eat anything tonight.”

Mary grumbled but stood up and trudged slowly towards the door.

“Before you go do you wanna book in for next week?” Fliss asked.

“You gonna let me pay for that one?” Frank looked at her.

“Depends if I find anything else for you to fix.” she shot back, Frank snorted and shook his head. “Same time?” He nodded “That’s great, thanks.” “No problem.”

She bid them both goodbye and Frank and Mary made their way to the truck.

“Do you not think Miss Gallagher might be lonely tonight?” Mary asked Frank suddenly.

“Lonely?” Frank looked at her, “Why do you think she might be lonely?”

“Because she’s on her own, at home.” Mary shrugged “her parents have been away since yesterday. And she told me that she doesn’t have a lot of friends round here.”

“Neither do you.” Frank looked at Mary.

Mary scoffed “I have you and Roberta, and Fred…” “Well then Fliss has her family, her horses…” “But why not us?” “I’m not following?” Frank shook his head. “I mean why can’t we be her friends?” “Well, we are.” he said, “Sorta, anyway.” “So why doesn’t she come round tonight as well?”

“Well, I…” Frank he paused and looked up. He’d only know the woman a week but he couldn’t deny he liked her company. They chatted a little over text each night and again when in person but he didn’t know her in any detail… well, not yet anyway. He was hoping he would in time because he found her a breath of fresh air to be around. She was someone who didn’t know anything about him, his life. She took him for who he was and he liked that. He looked back down at Mary “you think she’d wanna come?”

Mary shrugged before she hopped round to the other side of the truck. Frank patted the roof and leaned through the open window of the driver’s side. “Wait here a minute…” he said, before he turned and walked back onto the yard.

“Fliss?” he called and she turned to face him.

“Forget something?” she asked, smiling.

“No, well kinda, erm, look. If you want, only if you want, you’re welcome to join us tonight. It won’t be much, but…” “I wasn’t angling for an invite.” she said shaking her head.

“No, I know…” he assured her “But the offer’s there if you fancy it. Although my limits are burgers, sausages and steak.”

“No chicken wings?” she frowned “What kind of BBQ is that?” “You want chicken wings, you can bring them.” he laughed.

She looked at him for a second before she smiled “Alright, deal.”

“Say about half 5? Will you be done here or…”

“I can get one of the girls to close up.” she smiled. “Half 5 is fine.” “Ok, well I’ll text you the address.” he said with a nod “It’s not hard to find, we live in the prefabs near the dock so…”

He trailed off, waiting for the usual judgmental look that came with that but it never arrived. Fliss smiled and nodded.

“Near the dock huh.” she grinned “That’s pretty cool.”

“Well it means the commute to work is acceptable” he said and Fliss laughed. “Ok, right, so I guess I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah, you will.” she smiled.

***** “Hi guys!” Fliss waved at the screen of her phone.

“Hey Titch!” her Dad grinned back “How’s it going? Burnt the house down yet?”

“Yeah, fire brigade are dealing with it now” she smiled “How’s Seattle?”

“Hot, like muggy hot, and full of people.” her dad grimaced and she heard her mum tssk in the background before she too appeared on the screen.

“Ignore him!” Verity rolled her eyes, smiling “It’s wonderful!”

“Hmmmm” Bill rolled his eyes “I tell you what won’t be wonderful, my bank statement when I get it. You’ve hit every shop going.” Fliss laughed as her parents began to bicker affectionately.

“So what are you up to tonight?” Verity turned to her daughter “Making the most of the peace and quiet?” “Erm…actually I’m going out. Well, to a BBQ…” she said, trying not to roll her eyes at the surprised look her parents exchanged.

“A BBQ?” Bill asked.

“Yeah, Frank and Mary invited me so…” she shrugged “I thought it beat sitting at home alone.” Another significant look was exchanged between the parents.

“Oh and he fixed the tractor” Fliss said, in a hope that would divert her Dad’s attention. Luckily for her, Bill was a tactful man and could recognise when she was trying to change the subject so to avoid her mother digging further he took the initiative and began to ask her a few questions about it, which she answered as best she could. The call lasted for another 10 minutes or so before the oven sounded, telling her the marinated chicken wings she had cooked to take with her were ready so she bid them both goodbye, promising to be at the airport to pick them up the following evening, and headed into the kitchen.

Once the wings were out cooling, she headed for a shower then set about trying to decide what to wear. Her stomach was churning a little, why she was so nervous she had no idea. This was just Frank, and Mary. In the end she settled on a pair of cut off jeans which grazed her ankles, a pair of brown sandles and a light green checked sleeveless button down. She kept her make up light, and pulled her long hair back into a loose bun. Once she had made sure the dogs were ok she grabbed the chicken wings and the beer she had also bought to take with her and then once she had double checked the directions she set off.

It wasn’t a long drive to the park Frank and Mary lived on. Fliss slowed down carefully, looking for the number she had been given and soon spotted Frank’s truck parked outside. She pulled her Jeep up behind it and clambered out, only to be almost bowled over by a flurry of blonde hair.

“Hi!” Mary said, giving her a hug. Fliss chuckled and bent down to hug her back.

“Mary you saw me like a few hours ago.” she laughed.

“I know but, I’m glad you came.” she said, letting go. She reached down to pick up a ginger one-eyed cat which was following her. “This is Fred.” “Nice to meet you Fred.” Fliss said, giving the cat a scratch behind his ear.

“Mary for Gods sake give it a moment before you start bugging her half to death.” Frank’s voice sounded and Fliss looked up, smiling at him as he appeared from the side of the house. Fliss gave him the once over from behind her sunglasses. He was dressed in a pair of light blue jeans, a dark blue T-shirt, a pair of grubby white sneakers and his ever present aviators were perched on his head. He made his way down to her and frowned as she opened the passenger side of the car and pulled out a ceramic dish.

“You told me to bring chicken wings.” she said as she handed him the dish “I also brought beer.” He laughed and shook his head “I wasn’t being serious…” “Well, I did them anyway. And they’re already cooked so you just need to char them. No chance of food poisoning.”

“Good to know.” Frank nodded, before he gestured with his head “Come on…”

Fliss followed him round to the back of the house and up a set of steps into a small kitchen.

“Come on I’ll show you round!” Mary said, grabbing her hand. Fliss let the girl lead her into the main room of the house. It was small, packed with personal touches. She looked around smiling softly. There was a small bookcase in the corner by the window near the front door in front of which sat a small table and a tool box. In the other corner was a small desk which was loaded with books and school supplies. Along another window sat a small leather couch, and the walls were adorned with the same, slightly shabby light coloured wooden panelling which gave the place the feel of a beach hut. It was bright, homely and Fliss instantly felt herself relax, there was just something about it that made her feel at ease.

“Probably not what you’re used to huh?” Frank said, watching her as she looked around, suddenly a little conscious that she was more than likely coming from a fairly opulent background with the job she did and her family and sporting heritage.

“No, but…” she smiled at him “I love it, feels like a home.” “It’s not much but it does us.” Frank smiled at her comment as he moved back to the fridge. “Beer or…” “Yeah, beer’s good…” she said, standing in the doorway and nodding to the carrier bag of bottles she had put on the table.

“You know you didn’t need to bring any more.” he said, as he glanced inside it “I got plenty” “I’m sure you do but my Mum always told me it was polite to take something with me when I go to someone’s for dinner so…”

Frank smiled and began to place the bottles in the fridge before he pulled out two already chilled bottles of Bud Light and flipped the tops off with the opener he had stuffed in the pocket of his jeans.

“Thanks” she smiled.

Mary walked past the pair of them, Fred shooting ahead of her as she tossed a ping pong ball into the grass of the yard and Frank gestured with his head, questioningly. Fliss nodded and they stepped back outside onto the lawn area, where a BBQ and a small table and a few chairs sat were set up.

Fliss took a seat as Mary flopped onto a beanbag to their left on the grass.

“Frank bought the special burgers” she stated “Said if we had company that wasn’t just Roberta we should wheel out the good stuff.” Frank groaned at his niece “Mary…”

“What?” she asked, and Fliss laughed.

“I’m glad you think I’m worthy of good burgers” she teased, and Frank noticed the corners of her eyes that weren’t hidden by her glasses crinkling up as she smiled.

“And I’m offended to know I’m not…” A voice said, and Frank jumped slightly. Fliss turned to see a kindly faced black woman with chin lengthy curly dark hair rounding the side of the house. Mary jumped up to give her a hug and the woman greeted her before she smiled at Fliss who had stood up.

“You must be Fliss.” “Roberta, yeah?” Fliss asked nodding as she shook the ladies hand “I’ve heard a lot about you.” “Same here.” The woman nodded before she turned to Frank. “You going to get me a beer?” “Get one yourself.” Frank shot back “Make yourself at home. You usually do.” Fliss grinned as Roberta aimed a slap to his head and he dodged the hit as if he knew it was coming. Which he probably did, Fliss realised. There was a comfortable familiarity between the two of them, even if Frank was trying to be all gruff about it.

Roberta came back and dropped into a chair and they all settled info a comfortable chat. Roberta asked Fliss questions about her Yard, Mary interjecting comments here and there as Frank stood by the grill observing their food. Any tension that Fliss had been feeling quickly evaporated as she became even more comfortable in her surroundings, and she happily chatted away. She told them about her brother, Steve and his 2 twin boys Charlie and Joel who were both Mary’s age, where she was from in England, and her parents, revealing to Frank’s surprise that Bill wasn’t actually her biological father.

“I didn’t know that.” Frank looked at her.

“Why would you?” Fliss shrugged “It’s not important really. My actual dad left my mum before she had me and then he died when I was 4 months old. I never met him. Bill brought me up from the age of 2 and adopted me when he married mum, so he is my dad, in everything but blood.”

“So you said they were out of town?” Roberta asked. “Anywhere nice?”

“Seattle.” Fliss said “Mum’s always wanted to go and, well last year they didn’t get much chance to travel what with everything that was going on so they’re just starting to get round to it. Kinda strange them not being around, first time since I’ve been in Florida that they haven’t.”

She pondered that for a moment, her nails lightly tapping on her beer bottle before she gave a grin and looked up at Frank. “I face timed them before. Their reaction when I told them I wasn’t simply sitting at home tonight like a total loser was priceless. I thought Mum was going to tell me to give her a ring when I got back safely…”

Frank gave a little laugh as he recalled their conversation earlier. He was about to reply when Mary cut in.

“Why’s that? You’re a grown up.”

Frank rolled his eyes at Mary’s nosey demeanour but Fliss didn’t seem to mind.

“Well like I told you sweetie, I don’t really have many friends here so I don’t go out a lot.” Fliss shrugged “I only really know the guys from the yard and a few people through my parents. My friends are all in the UK really… even the people I knew in Boston were more…” she trailed off before she took a breath and smiled “Well, I left them all behind when I moved.” “Well now you got us, right Frank?” Mary said simply as she sat on the large bean bag as she tossed a ping pong ball for Fred who obligingly chased it across the lawn. “Sure does.” Frank smiled “And we’re kinda hard to shake off. ” “Like a dose of the clap…” Roberta dropped her voice so only Fliss and Frank could hear. Fliss choked on her beer, sputtering a laugh as Frank flipped the woman off. “Fuck you” Fliss wiped the beer she had slopped onto the front of her shirt. She took little longer, than she needed as her eyes had watered up at the sudden sentiment of the moment. She had only known Frank and Mary a week, yet here she was in their home. Friendship was something she had been aching to feel again for months and now she found herself suddenly surrounded by it and she was a little overwhelmed if truth be told. When she finally looked up Frank was surprised to see there was a shine in her eyes as they had watered over. He shot her a wink, tactful enough not to mention it and then asked her if she would mind grabbing him a beer from the fridge whilst he kept an eye on the steaks, giving her chance to escape and compose herself. She shot him a grateful nod and headed inside, taking a deep breath.

“She alright?” Robert asked, watching.

Frank shrugged “Yeah, I think so, why?” “No reason.” Roberta said, standing up and moving to the grill “She just looked a little upset.” Frank shrugged again, focussing on the grill before he looked at Roberta “Think I should go after her?”

Roberta shot him a look as if he had just asked the most stupid question in the world. “Dur.”

“Watch that…” he instructed, handing Roberta the tongs before he headed inside.

“You alright?” he asked, as Fliss turned to look at him, gesturing to the beer on the side.

“Was just about to try and find the bottle opener…” Reaching into his pocket Frank handed it to her and smiled. “You ok?”

“Yeah…honestly, I guess, well, I’ve just…not done anything like this in a while…other than with my family so…” “Overwhelming?”

“A little, maybe. It’s just…nice.” she shrugged.

“You might not be saying that when you taste my cooking.” he shrugged and she laughed, following him back outside.

******

To Frank’s delight the food was actually pretty damned good. Roberta had brought a potato salad with her and everything got eaten, there wasn’t a scrap left which was why he and Fliss were now sat on the chairs in the garden, Fliss groaning about being in a food coma. Roberta had left half an hour ago and Mary was now flat out on the bean bag, covered by a fleece blanket. Frank had moved the grill away and lit the small portable fire pit before he had retrieved another blanket for Fliss and himself from the stash down the side of the sofa.

Their conversation had turned to Frank’s work and he was telling Fliss about some of the people he had met, the pair of them giggling as he spoke about a real stuck up couple he had fixed a boat for, who had then only gone and crashed it into the side of another boat on the first day of them taking it back out.

“What a waste.” Fliss laughed, “All your hard work gone up in smoke.”

“Well I got paid so…” Frank shrugged “And it was a nice boat to drive…”

“Sail.” Fliss corrected him and he rolled his eyes.

“I’m as much of a sailor as you are a cowgirl…”

Fliss grinned as she took another swig from her beer bottle before she turned to him, the reflection of the fire pit flashing in her eyes “well, if the boots fit”

Frank laughed “Do you actually have a pair of cowboy boots?”

“I used to.” She said, taking a deep breath “I spent a week in Texas one summer on a ranch, just to try my hand at Western riding you know. They gave me a pair of boots and a hat when I left. And then my husband burned them one night after I was late home. You know once he broke 3 of my pandora bracelets that I spent years collecting charms for because I bought the wrong coffee…”

Frank bowed his head.

“Sorry.” She smiled, “that kinda killed the conversation didn’t it?”

Frank shook his head and shook his head softly “In all honesty I was just thinking about what a prick he is. Something I’ll never understand, a man laying hands on a woman.”

“I tried to understand it for years.” Fliss said “even after he was sent down I still wondered what I did to make him behave like that but now, well now I know it’s him with the problem not me.” she paused and shook her head again “I have no idea why I’m telling you all this, sorry…”

“Don’t apologise.” he shook his head “like I said the other night, I’m a good listener.” “Yeah, you are…you don’t talk much though.” she looked at him.

“What do you think I’m doing now?” “That’s not what I mean.” she looked at him. “Just a pity I can’t google you like you did to me.”

Frank took a deep breath and grimaced as he looked at her “My dad told me” “Yeah, sorry about that, Mary…

“Its fine.” she sighed “It was a public case and a lot of interest amongst the circuit. The main reason I left boston was to get away from all of it…seems it just follows me all over.” Frank had a sudden flashback to the moment she had asked him what he was running from and took a deep breath. “Well, no matter how much you try and leave the past behind it always has a habit of catching up on you.” he said, glancing at Mary to make sure she was still asleep. He reached for his phone, tapped something into the search bar and hesitated for a second. Was he really sure he wanted to do this?

He supposed it was only fair. He gently handed it to Fliss. “And you can’t google me but…” Fliss took the phone from him with a questioning look before she glanced down at the article on display. It was from the Boston Herald.com and her eyes were immediately drawn to the black and white picture of a pretty woman with short, blonde hair. She was the double of Mary. Across the top the headline read “A Mind for math: Is Diane Adler the missing female variable that finally solves the Navier-Stokes Equation?”

“This is your sister?” Fliss said softly, “Mary’s mom?”

Frank nodded “She was a genius. The The Navier–Stokes equation they’re talking about, they’re of huge interest in a purely mathematical sense. It hasn’t yet been proven whether solutions always exist in three dimensions and, if they do exist, whether they are smooth or…”

“You’ve lost me.” Fliss chuckled “I was an English major, numbers and maths…” Frank chuckled “Sorry, force of habit.” he said as Fliss handed him the phone back.

“So, what happened to her?” Fliss asked softly. “I mean, I figure something must have for you to end up with Mary but…”

“She killed herself.” he said softly

“Shit.” Fliss said, “I’m sorry Frank…” He took a deep breath. “She was only 27. I was running late for a date of all things. She just showed up, on my doorstep. And she never did that unannounced, and more to the point she never showed up with Mary either…”

Frank swallowed and Fliss waited patiently for him to continue.

“She said she needed to talk. I told her I would talk to her when I got back and I left. I mean, couldn’t be late for a date could I…god forbid it damage my chances of getting’ laid.” Fliss noticed the bitter edge in his voice as he continued “Came home that night. Mary was on the couch…and I found Diane on the bathroom floor.” Fliss gently touched his arm “Frank, there’s no way you could have known.” “But I should have.” Frank said, softly “She was my little sister…you know, I was 2 years older than her. I was only 8 when Dad died but I promised then I’d always look after her but…”

He shook his head. “Anyway, here we are. A few months later we moved here. Fast forward 6 and a half years and…we’re still here.”

“I take it Mary’s father isn’t about?”

Frank snorted “Diane was, well, just like Mary really. Socially awkward. She didn’t date enough really to be able to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Mary’s father didn’t even last a month.” “And your mom?”

“She turned her back on Diane when she got pregnant. Didn’t fit with her plan. That’s part of the reason I moved Mary and me here. She’s a very exacting woman, uncompromising, very British.” At that Fliss raised an eyebrow and Frank looked at her, suddenly realising what he had said.

“She’s from England.” he added, and Fliss smiled. “She hated the fact I gave up my job and…well we don’t speak.”

“What did you do before becoming a Sailor?” Fliss smiled and Frank chuckled slightly.

“I was a Philosophy professor at Boston University” he said.

“Wow.” Fliss smiled “That’s pretty smart.” “You sound surprised?” he looked at her

“No, not at all.” Fliss protested.

He smiled again, “You know, sometimes I see so much of Diane in Mary, and she’s just a child. She comes out with stuff that’s way beyond her years. I mean earlier this year she asked me what I thought Executive Order 13769 was going to mean for all those refugees being refused entry…what 7 year old talks about stuff like that?”

“A very smart one.” Fliss replied.

“Exactly.” Frank nodded “I don’t want that life for her, the pressure associated with being a childhood genius like Diane was. Which is why she’s going to School in September, where she’ll hopefully learn how to be a kid.”

Fliss looked at him.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice it before when she was with the other kids on the lesson.” Frank eyed her and Fliss looked down a little “See, she doesn’t know how to a normal 7 year old…well, very rarely anyway. In fact the only time I’ve seen it recently is when she’s at the yard with you.

“She’s just a little awkward…but that’s nothing to worry about.” Fliss looked at her.

“But I do worry.” Frank sighed,

“Because you care.” Fliss said gently, her hand falling to his arm. “I think you’re being a little hard on yourself and her. She’s a good kid.” “Yeah, considering I brought her up.” Frank chuckled.

“Well I think you’ve done a good job so far.” Fliss shrugged “It can’t have been easy.”

“Still isn’t” Frank sighed. “It’s not how I envisaged my life panning out that’s for sure.” “Neither’s mine.” Fliss snorted “If you’d have told me 10 years ago that by the time I was here, aged 33 I’d have had my dreams cut short at the age of 28, then divorced after being hospitalised by a man I moved thousands of miles to be with I’d probably have laughed but here we are.” “He hospitalised you?” Frank frowned, suddenly feeling an inexplicable surge of anger towards this fucker, one which he really shouldn’t feel so strongly considering he had known Fliss for all of a week.

“Did you not read that bit?”

Frank shook his head “No I stopped reading after it mentioned domestic abuse. Was none of our business.”

“He wanted us to have a baby and frankly the thought of bringing a kid up, with him, in that environment…so when I found out I was pregnant in January last year I got rid of it. He found out and he beat me so hard he broke 3 of my ribs, ruptured my spleen and fractured my eye socket. I was in hospital for over a week.”

“Shit, Fliss, I had no idea…”

She wave his apology away “In a sick, twisted way I’m almost glad it happened. It was the final push to leave him for good. Wasn’t easy mind, I was low. Very low for a while and when the trial was going on…” she stopped again and shook her head “You know he plea bargained? Pleaded guilty to a lesser level of assault and got 4 years last summer. He’ll be out next summer I expect if he applies for parole, which he will because, well, that’s John all over.”

“Fucker.” Frank bit out between gritted teeth.

“Yeah, well it’s behind me now.” she said “I’m in a good place. I’m happy, my business is taking off and it’s a job I love. I have my family and, well, some friends.”

Frank smiled and nodded “What Roberta said before is true you know. We’re harder to get rid of than an STD.” Fliss laughed loudly and drained her beer bottle “Well I’m glad to hear it, because I kinda like you Sailor.” “Back at you Cowgirl.” They changed the subject then, Fliss talking about her horses, in particular her chestnut mare that was her pride and joy, and then when Mary stirred Frank glanced at his watch and realised it was past midnight. He didn’t want to kick Fliss out but when he stood saying he should get the little girl in bed, Fliss nodded and agreed she should be going as it was late.

Frank told her to wait whilst he swept Mary up and carried her into the house before he came back out to walk her down to her car.

“We should do this again.” Fliss said, “Only this time you can come to me. Although I’m a better cook than BBQ chef.” “You’re on.” Frank said, “Although don’t mention it to Mary. It’s all I’ll hear about.” Fliss grinned and then leaned up on her toes to press a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thanks Frank.”

He smiled as she climbed into her car and as she set off he tossed a hand at the tailgate as she rounded the corner. He headed back inside, contemplating the evening. The chat had been hard going in some places, he hadn’t told anyone about Diane in a long time. Hell, Mary didn’t know a lot about her mother, he tried to keep her sheltered but he knew that as she grew older that was going to get harder. He also knew how much it must have taken Fliss to open up the way she did. It left him with a puzzlingly warm feeling in his chest that she trusted him enough to do so, one he couldn’t really explain. And he had a feeling it was to do with the fact that he actually wanted to spend time with the woman and get to know her, instead of simply getting her into bed.

Yup, that was it. For the first time in forever Frank realised he’d extended an offer of no strings attached friendship to a woman.

And he couldn’t deny, it was nice.

@the-omni-princess @momobaby227 @geekofmanythings16 @angelofhell-666 @thewackywriter @marvelfansworld @cobalt-gear @asgardlover75 @jennmurawski13 @jtargaryen18 @saiyanprincessswanie @navispalace @patzammit @joannaliceevans-fanficblog @djeniiscorner @ayamenimthiriel @coldmuffinbanditshoe @disneylovingal @madzmilllz @sgtjaamesbaarnes @sweater-daddiesdumbdork @southerngracela @goldenfightergir @kellymat @official-and-unstable-satan @icanfeelastormbrewing

#frank adler x ofc #frank adler #gifted #gifted fan fic

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ellaofoakhill · 4 years ago

Text

Oak and Stone, Part Two

Oak and Stone was a bustling town, with fey and creatures briskly going about their business. There were mice like Jasper here, as well as voles, weasels, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, stoats, a few bats, and many other creatures Ella knew.

As well as a few she didn’t.

Creatures like the lizards Ella had encountered on Gaea, or a bit more commonly on Fey. But no lizard she’d heard of had four arms. The smallest of these was a head taller than her. Tusks twisted down from their jaws. Their bodies were a uniform grey-brown or mottled green, with frills on their jaws and crests on their heads, which many had painted or tattooed or pierced with rings and studs. According to Meline, they called themselves drakles, and most of those in Oak and Stone were sailors.

What most surprised Ella about this place—unknown beings were really to be expected—was the abundance of elves. Well, relatively speaking; abundance was not a word that fit well with elves. But there were more of them here than Ella had ever seen outside of Fey. To be fair, impeccable manners and upturned noses aside, elves were known more than anything for their love of the sea. And the sea Oak and Stone did have in abundance.

Meline showed her down to the shipyards, where vessels from across this world—the drakles called it Nidd—docked and unloaded their goods. These went to the seaside market, a paved square by the water with a stream running through. The stream allowed smaller boats to paddle or pole into town and drop their goods right by the stalls.

There were fabrics Ella had never seen, some softer than velvet, others smoother than silk, still others so strong Ella’s knife couldn’t cut them; according to Meline, those needed crystal-edged scissors to cut into shape. There were spices alien to Ella’s nose and tongue, including one somewhere between lemon and banana that she particularly liked; Meline laughed at the incredulous delight that flashed across Ella’s face when she tasted it. There were strange rocks and shells, scales shed by massive beasts, and gems that seemed commonplace here which Ella had only read about. There was a wood here, one a fairy could mould with her bare hands while it was green—or, more accurately, orange—and once it seasoned became like fairy silver. Ella shaved the hair from her arm with a knife made from it. There were metals as well—the mayor had banned the import of iron for all but a few specialized purposes—but this claywood, as it was called, was so easy to work hardly anyone used any metal not found as a nugget.

The moonbeams were strange too. Nidd had four moons and two suns, and each moon made beams different not only from Gaea’s moon, but from Nidd’s other moons as well.

Beyond the market were shops. There was a shop bordering the market that sold crepes filled with berry and honeyed cream; Ella laughed at the white moustache on Meline’s upper lip. Another sold kebabs of sweet and spicy fruits, of roots savoury, sweet, and spicy, and of the spiced meats of different fish and insects, or whatever the equivalent was here.

There were shops that sold fine berry wines, cordials, and ciders, and shops that sold candied chocolate mixed with granules of nuts and dried fruits. There was stronger drink as well, but Ella had hardly more than a sip of a spiced liqueur that made her fingers and toes tingle. Too much made a fool of anyone, and Ella was in a town she didn’t know, in a world she didn’t know, surrounded by fey and creatures she didn’t know.

And Meline knew a great deal about this town in another world. Many shopkeepers and stall-owners in the market waved or greeted her by name, and she knew not only them, but their families, and how business was doing. And she presented it all masterfully.

After they were quite full, Meline led Ella across the bridge and out of the square. Ella had heard the sounds of industry from this section of town for some time, but she suspected Meline had been building toward this.

Ella worked a wide variety of metals, woods, and some fabrics, but would have freely admitted her grasp of other materials was lacking. She saw a water fairy weaving six different materials into one cloth, a mole and a frog setting gemstones into a brooch, a squat, spiny

local—they called themselves ekidnes, according to Meline—throwing a clay pot, and a squirrel blowing glass.

Meline led Ella around a corner, and Ella’s fingers thrummed to the melody of hammer on metal. A shop with a sign depicting a hammer and anvil drew her. Beneath a slate lean-to, a drakle so green he was almost yellow held a bronze bar in two pairs of tongs while his upper arms operated a hammer and punch. Ella watched as he twisted and worked the cherry-red metal into a whorl of vines and leaves. He’d already finished the central portion, which had what looked like three vines braided around each other. He had two trays of tools in easy reach, and the fluidity and precision with which he picked up and set down tools—hardly taking his eyes off his work—gave Ella to know this drakle might have plied his trade as long as she had.

Finally he set the piece on a frame and stood, reaching for the ceiling. His crest and frills were bright red. He wore a thick apron, and heavy trousers with a third leg for his tail. He wore a grey sleeveless shirt with two wide armholes.

His eye wandered in their direction. “Ah, Meline,” he said, stepping out from under the awning, “good to see you again.” He had a thick, unfamiliar accent, with something of a lisp.

Meline went forward and took his hands—well, two of them, anyway—with a bow. “And you, Art.” She turned to Ella. “Ella, this is Arthur Bronzemonger, the best metalworker in Oak and Stone.”

Ella bowed. “It’s always nice to meet another of my kind.”

Meline turned back to Art. “Art, this is Lord Ella of Oakhill. She recently did me a great service, and to repay her I’m showing her around town.” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper. “Her smithing might give you a run for your money.”

Art raised a pair of scaly eyebrows as he took Ella’s hands and bowed. A forked tongue flicked out of his mouth. “You smell of metal, charcoal, and wood—mostly oak, but also willow and poplar—but you have overlaid it with lavender.” Ella reflexively moved back from the tongue. Art’s eyes widened, and he sucked it back into his mouth. His frill reddened more. “Forgive me. Fairies are new to Nidd, and your ways do not always come easily.”

“I could forgive a smith of your caliber far worse than a small eccentricity,” Ella said. She felt a flush creep up her neck. “Could you… would you honour me by showing us around your forge?”

Art’s eyes gleamed. “I would be delighted to show another smith my work.”

“Then lead on, good sir!” Ella said.

Arthur reached for a clay pitcher by a sturdy door leading into what was probably his house. “Would you like a glass of ice water?” he asked. “Smithing is good work, but hot.”

“How do you keep your ice?” Meline’s ear-points wiggled. With interest, as far as Ella could tell.

“Carters bring the ice down the mountain packed in crates with sawdust,” Art said as he opened the door to his cellar and hopped down. He came back up with several finger-sized chunks of ice, dropped one in each glass, and put the rest in his pitcher. “and I put it in my ice

box downstairs.” He took a long draught from his cup. Ella noticed his frill start to pale. “You can also have a water fairy freeze some water for you. But the genuine article tastes better. Now,” he rubbed two of his four hands together, “let me show you some of my projects.”

Hanging from the ceiling was a bronze-bladed scythe. On two hooks on the far wall were a pair of axes, one with a silver head, the other copper. Tools of various kinds hung on the wall, including a number Meline was unfamiliar with; the only one that stumped Ella turned out to be a set of scale clippers. A pair of silver shields shaped like gigantic scales intrigued her.

Art, unsurprisingly, proved a fount of knowledge regarding his craft. There were a few points he was unable to clarify for Ella, though she suspected this was due more to a slight want in his vocabulary than a lack of understanding. He’d no trouble making silver and gold as hard and strong as any fairy.

“I have a question,” Meline said, as she examined a set of caterpillar shears. Art and Ella both raised their eyes from the minutia of a serpentine-handled camp knife (which had a blade below the municipal length limit).

“What is it?” Art said.

Meline looked around the shop. “You have a lot of high-quality items here.”

Art’s eyes lit with understanding. “You are wondering how, in a busy port town, I keep thieves from walking away with my wares.” Meline nodded. Art looked between her and Ella. Ella felt her own eyes widen as a thought occurred to her.

“We’ve just met,” Ella said, “so I understand if you’re uncomfortable talking about the security of your forge. I don’t tell strangers about mine, either.”

Art smiled; Ella hadn’t realized a drakle’s grin split its head in two. He gave a coughing, raspy laugh. “From anyone else, I might have taken the question amiss.” He shook his head. “I will not go into details,” he lowered his voice. “But it stems from my kind being dragonkin.”

Ella felt the blood drain from her face. She remembered from long ago the whump of colossal wings, a roar that shook the bowels of the world, a column of flame so hot it burned white. A pair of eyes larger than she was, a five-part pupil so huge it could have swallowed her, slamming shut as the flame poured out. And a voice, so deep Ella felt it in her bones, howling fire and blood.

“Ella?” She jumped at Meline’s touch on her shoulder. Judging by her and Art’s concerned looks, she’d been elsewhere for a while.

She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” she said, handing the knife back to Art. “Dragons have occasionally wandered into Fey.”

“And massacred and extorted everyone they could, I would guess?” Art asked. Ella nodded. “It is good to know, I suppose, that they are consistent.” Art hung the knife back on the wall. “They have been exacting the same cruelty on us since before our most ancient writings.”

He refilled their cups. “I have set foot beyond Nidd thrice in my life. Once to visit Gaea and learn a special technique for forging steel.” He held up a hand. “I have not used it in Oak and Stone, if anyone asks. Twice I visited Fey; yes, I visited your home world. Once when I was

still in my father’s care, and much later with my wife.” He sipped his water. “And it seems to me both worlds are less wild than mine. Though still full of dangerous creatures, I’m sure.

“Dragons are the worst, though wyverns and drakes are plenty vicious. Wyrms cause serious problems, though they usually stay deep underground. Sea wyrms are actually good to deal with; we give them baubles," he gestured to the silver shields, “and they leave our fishing vessels in peace. And the lung are kindly creatures.”

Ella leaned back. “So… this is where the lung come from?”

Art and Meline both stared at her. “I mean, yes,” Art said. “But they are rare on Gaea, much like the dragons, yes?”

Ella nodded. “I saw one once, shortly after I left Fey.” She sipped her water. “It danced on the clouds, even though it had no wings. And it conjured rainclouds as it danced, weaving in the sky like a glittering ribbon.”

She met Art’s eye. “They’re so different from dragons, I never made the connection before.”

Art shrugged. “Understandable. Take away the long bodies and scaly hides and there is hardly any similarity.” He looked at his own scaly hide. “But kin we all are.”

Ella did not ask which drakles were closer to, dragon or lung. Maybe they didn’t know. Either way, it seemed an unpleasant topic.

#the fairy tales of ella and meline #TFTEM #oak and stone part 2 #chapter 7 #my original work #fantasy #lgbtq+#fairies #iyashikei #healing #fairy tales #romance #all ages #fey #fae #magic #family #strong female protagonists #backyard fantasy

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snarkwrites · 5 years ago

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FFT: a visit from the sugarplum fairy; daryl dixon

Notes:

So this kinda.. turned weird. Like a vision / dream type thing in some parts. Pretty sure this would fall in either the timeline where Daryl and Evie arrive at quarry camp married or in their non apocalypse au, maybe both. Anyway, here tis.

Summary:

Daryl has an accident while hunting, that leads to a vision. That kind of comes true to an extent when years later, he meets Evie at a bar his brother Merle frequents and they wind up dating..

Warnings:

uhh, supernatural element - visions, injury mention, vague hints of Shane past and fluff.

Pairing:

Daryl Dixon x OFC, Evie

Everything went black and for a few seconds, Daryl Dixon found himself sort of just lingering, floating somewhere between conscious and unconscious. As he slipped between the two, everything around him outside of his mind carried on.

Daryl shielded his eyes at the blinding pure white light. “What th’ fuckin hell?” he muttered. His stomach churned. He couldn’t be dead. The anger bubbled forth, he was supposed to go out fighting, not be thrown from a damn horse. He was too young to die.

He didn’t particularly want to, either.

Maybe that’s why he called out, “Hey, yo, JC.. There’s a mistake, man. I ain’t dyin today. Not like this. Me n Merle, we’re gonna start our own garage when he gets outta th’ pen.”

His voice echoed.

The light seemed to flicker and pulsate and laughter bubbled out from within. Daryl’s brow raised and he stepped forward, hand raised. Into the light he went, despite everything in him knowing it might not be a good idea.

The lanky 16 year old stood there, watching a leggy blonde move around a kitchen, a little boy who looked like he did when he was a younger kid hot on her heels.

“Momma?”

“Yeah, Daryl?”

For a minute, Daryl thought he was seeing what could’ve been. What life might have been like if his mother bothered to sober up and his daddy was outta the picture. If she hadn’t nearly lit the whole damn house on fire and burned to death in her sleep because of her one last cigarette.

But things were… Off.

The house was too clean. There were things inside it that Daryl had only seen on commericals prior to that point. And his momma wasn’t blonde. She had light brown hair like his. The leggy blonde standing in front of the stove at the moment looked like she’d been ripped out of one of his wildest dreams.

He found himself drawn to her, unable to stop himself from moving closer.

The little boy spoke up again.

“When daddy gets home, think he’ll take me out to shoot my new bow?”

Daryl’s mouth curved upward in a smile and he chuckled. He noticed the calendar and he gaped at the date “December 21st 2009”, blinking and rubbing his eyes.

The little girl with her momma’s blonde hair raced into the room, genuinely excited. Like someone had given her all the dolls in the world, a fairy wing flapping crooked and dirty bare feet.

“Momma! Daddy’s motorcycle’s comin! I’ll get him a plate. I bet he’s real hungry.”

The blonde knelt down to the little girl “It is, huh, praline? Well then, I guess you better go get those hands washed. You let Momma worry about the table, m’kay?” and then she turned to the slightly older child. “You too, son. And I mean wash those hands. Don’t just go in and run water.”

“Momma, c’mon. My hands ain’t dirty.” the boy argued, pouting when his mother gave a firm shake of her head and pointed down the hallway. Daryl’s eyes followed her finger’s direction and he turned his attention back to the blonde and the boy, swallowing hard, waiting. Suddenly, he felt like he was standing on pins and needles. Hot ones at that. Her next words had him nearly choking.

“Daryl Jr, you get to that bathroom and wash those hands, sir.”

The boy slunk away, muttering to himself and making Daryl laugh as he observed it. And then, the strangest thing happened.

The little girl looked dead at him and took off at a run towards his denim clad legs, hugging them. Hazel eyes darted around the room and she motioned for Daryl to bend down, whispering into his ear in a rush, “We don’t have much time.. But I know who you are. And you’re not supposed ta be here, you’re supposed to grow up big and meet momma.”

Daryl swallowed hard as the reality of what was happening hit him like a speeding car. “That’s… I’m… We’re married?” he scoffed about it, a little more than shocked. For one thing, he didn’t really see himself married. For another, he didn’t see someone like her, marrying him.

… ain’t no way a woman like her gon’ marry trash like me… she looks like a fuckin angel… the thought came and Daryl found himself just staring at the blonde, watching the way she laughed, hugging what were apparently their kids. He looked from little girl to little girl and scratched his head, confused. She was there, and yet she stood right in front of him also.

… I gotta be dead, there ain’t no other explanation…

The little girl cleared her throat, making Daryl look at her again. “You gotta remember the name Evie. Cos that’s my momma and she loves you. You love her too.You gotta protect each other, okay? Promise me. Keep her away from a man named Shane.”

The little girl hugged him and Daryl, despite his not being a very affectionate guy, hugged the little girl back. He couldn’t be the same man his own father had been, refusing to show any form of affection to his own kid.

As the scene around him began to fade away and the little girl began to fade, he asked her one more thing. “What if she don’t want the likes of me?”

“She will. Please, you… have to believe me…” the girl was gone, leaving Daryl standing alone in the darkness to puzzle over what he’d just witnessed.

“Hey, kid! Yo! You alive?” the voice kept repeating, poking and prodding. Daryl shrank away, throwing his arms up as a defense before finally opening his eyes and sitting up. He eyed the other teenage boy suspiciously, there was just something totally off about the guy, from the way he stared down at Daryl like he thought he was better or something to the way he held the hunting rifle over his shoulder.

“Shane, is he good? We need to get my daddy out here?” Another teenage male called from the distance.

The name that the little girl had given him came rushing back and Daryl sprang up to his feet, glaring up at the taller teenager. “ I’m good. Don’t need no goddamn help. From either of y’. Fuck off cos yer scarin off th’ deer I was chasin.”

Shane scoffed at the lanky kid, squaring up and Rick grumbled, moving to step between the two, fixing his gaze on his best friend. “Hey, Shane. Calm the hell down, buddy. Let’s just go… Leave this kid to it. He’s obviously fine, despite us findin’ him on the forest floor.”

Shane glared at Daryl and Daryl glared right back.

As the two teenagers wandered off, Daryl stood there scratching at his head, trying to process, remembering what the little girl dressed as a sugarplum fairy from his dream said in vivid detail.

He shook his head and turned away, taking the opposite direction in the forest, heading back for home…

That whole thing had to be a coincidence. Or a concussion, Daryl thought solemnly as he shook his head and wandered through the door of his father’s old trailer.

XXX

Evie eyed the biker bar and took a deep breath, steeling herself. The biggest step to being independent, to standing on her own two feet was a job. And she needed money. Shivering in the December wind, she made her way inside the bar, trying her best not to stare at any of the men present for too long as she made her way to the back, behind the bar.

One of them, a regular named Merle called out, “Hey! Sugartits! Give daddy a beer, yeah?”

“Dixon, I have a name.” one of the female bartenders called out with an annoyed look at the man. Evie tapped the bartender who’d just spoken on the shoulder.

“Hey, I’m… I’m real sorry to bother but I was supposed to be interviewin for a job?”

The brunette eyed her up and down and smirked, shoving a uniform at her. “You’ve got it, congratulations. Go on back and change, darlin because it’s about to get real hectic out here.”

Before Evie could ask where she needed to go, the brunette bartender had turned away and was pouring a round of shots for a local branch of Hell’s Angels, leaving Evie to her own devices. She hurried towards the general direction the other woman had bothered pointing in and in the process, she collided with a man wearing a sleeveless plaid shirt.

“Shit. I’m.. I’m sorry.” she stammered as the man turned, swearing and on the verge of snarling. Something in his eyes changed and he steadied her, staring at her a few long seconds, almost as if he’d seen a ghost.

“You new round these parts, hon?” the man asked and Evie managed to pull herself out of the depths of his eyes to nod. “I am, yeah.. Tonight’s my first night.”

He chuckled and my god, the sound. Deep and husky. Evie bit her lip and tried to focus anywhere but on his lips. But that lead her eyes straight to his biceps. She felt her cheeks heating up and she cleared her throat. “I don’t suppose you could tell me where a girl needs to go change, right?”

“Ladies room is down ‘at hall and to yer left.” the man stepped a little closer, almost as if to shield her when the group he was shooting pool with started to make little comments. He leaned in a little. “Ignore these fuckin assholes. I’ll keep my brother outta yer hair, he’s always had a thing for blondes and he’s the biggest asshole of us all.”

Evie could only nod… and of course stare like a complete idiot.

“Daryl, it’s yer shot, brother.” Merle staggered over, eyeing the blonde up and down and smirking as soon as he bothered to make eye contact. Evie gulped, backing further away from Merle and as a result, closer to Daryl.

“Merle, go on. Leave ‘er alone. Poor kid’s nervous enough without you runnin ‘er off.”

“What’s yer name, sugartits?”

“It’s Evie. Evie Grimes.”

“You new in town? I never seen you round these parts before.” Merle was inching closer. Daryl’s fists clenched at his side and his jaw tightened. “Goddamn it, Merle.”

“Shoot yer shot, brother.”

“Ain’t shootin shit til ya leave ‘er alone.” Daryl stood up straighter, eye level with his older brother and Merle chuckled, glancing from his brother to the blonde with the killer curves. “I see how it is. Well then, I’ll leave y’all to it.”

Evie let out a ragged breath and Daryl told her in a firm tone, “Best get movin, darlin. He’ll come back in about five seconds, he’s fuckin dumb like that.”

As Evie walked away, vanishing into the women’s room in back, Daryl let out a breath he’d been holding as a December afternoon years ago came flooding back. A dream about a little blonde girl in a sugarplum fairy costume her momma made for her and what she’d told Daryl during that dream.

He scoffed about it, chuckling to himself as he turned his attention back to the pool table.

It was just a coincidence, that was all.. It had to be.

XXX

Shane sat on the couch in his living room, watching the ball drop for New Years. The six pack he’d bought on his way in was long finished and the half a bottle of Jameson was on it’s way to being gone and all he wanted to do was drive to Atlanta and find her.

She had to miss him.

He missed her so much sometimes he almost couldn’t breathe.

… but it was yer own fault, you let ‘er go… you let ‘er think there wasn’t no future for y’all…

He stood and pocketed his keys. Maybe a drive would help clear his head. As he rode backroads and sobered up, all he kept thinking about was Evie and what she was doing in Atlanta. How much he missed her and how badly he messed it all up.

As he got closer to the interstate, rather than turning around and going back home, he kept going. By 2 am, he was sitting in the parking lot of the apartment complex she lived in. He saw a motorcycle zip past, stopping in front of her building. Evie got off the back of it, and Shane felt his stomach sink.

“Well. There went that, reckon.” he mumbled to himself, even though every part of him wanted to say something, let her know he was there and he was sorry.

The urge to do so took hold and before he could stop himself, he was getting out of his Bronco, hurrying towards the two.

“Hey! Evie, darlin.” he called out.

Evie tensed and bit her lip, eyes flitting between Daryl, who she’d just had a nice time with and considered a friend to Shane… Her ex. The one she’d hoped would be her happy ending. She sighed when she saw the look in his eyes because she knew then and there that Shane was only there to be all hot headed and cause chaos.

If he said he was sorry for anything, he wasn’t going to mean it. He hadn’t learned, hadn’t changed a damn thing.. And meeting Daryl had been a real eye opener for her in that she’d started to realize there were several varying degrees of love and sometimes, once you leave something behind in the past, it was best if it just stayed in the past.

“Shane, don’t. You need to leave.”

“I drove all a’ this way to see you, darlin.”

Daryl looked from Evie to the familiar looking dark haired man and the man glared right back at him before turning his attention back to Evie. “C’mon, hon.. Come home. You won’t have to do nothin, okay? I just… I need you.”

Evie swallowed hard. She’d been putting off driving that final nail in the coffin for a while now, but she was starting to see that the longer she just didn’t say anything about their relationship either way, the longer Shane would hold onto hope.

….just like he let you do for so long…. The thought came to her and she tilted her head, looking up at him. “We’re over, Shane. I can’t go back there with you and just pretend you won’t change your mind about us… About me… Every single time something better comes along. I’m not gonna spend my life waitin on you to grow up.”

“Evie, it ain’t like that.” Shane reached out for her and Daryl stood, moving closer, glaring at him as he stood taller and made it a point to put Evie behind him. He didn’t like the look of desperation in the man’s eyes. “She said it’s over. Have some fuckin respect for yerself and git.”

Shane eyed him dismissively. “Who the fuck are you?”

Daryl chuckled, “Gonna be yer worst fuckin nightmare if y’ don’t git gone like Evie here wants y’ to do.” as he stepped even more in front of Evie. He wasn’t sure why but something in the guy’s demeanor felt a little off. He could smell the alcohol on the guy and it made him think back to all the times his dad got out of the way with his mother just because he was drinking and she happened to be there. Evie was a close friend -and maybe he felt a little something more, so he wasn’t about to let her get hurt.

Evie looked from man to man and after a few seconds, she leaned against Daryl’s back and answered the question Shane asked.

“Daryl is my boyfriend, okay? Now will you please just go? Don’t keep at this, Shane. I’ve made up my mind.”

Shane felt like he’d been punched in the gut and he glanced at Evie, who was mostly hidden from his view by the other guy. “Darlin..”

“Go.”

“Get goin, man. She said she don’t want you startin nothin.” Daryl tensed, senses going into high alert as he squared up, ready and anticipating a fight.

Shane looked at them and shook his head, walking back towards his Bronco. “You get tired of playin house with that fuckin guy, just come home. I’ll be waitin.” - and even as he said it, he got this strong feeling that Evie wouldn’t be coming back to him. He got into the Bronco and drove away, the shock wearing off about halfway back to King County and becoming this overwhelming numbness instead.. Like someone who’d just lost a limb and wasn’t used to it yet.

He felt emptier now.

If he had to be alone, so be it. He’d go it alone. Because if he couldn’t have her back, he didn’t honestly want anyone.

Daryl turned to face Evie, staring down at her as he chuckled. “Yer man, huh? That really all you could come up with, darlin?”

Evie swallowed hard, her heart about to beat right out of her chest. Before she could stop herself, it was all pouring out. She stepped closer, her arms going around his neck as she pulled him down to her level, mumbling into his mouth, “Maybe that’s all I wanted to come up with, Daryl. What’s so wrong with that, huh?”

Daryl’s hands slowly moved down from her hips to her ass, fingertips digging into her jeans as he pulled her even closer, bringing her mouth into the kiss deeper answering quietly, “Nothin, darlin. Nothin at all. Just shocked I guess.”

“Happy New Year, Daryl.”

“Happy New Year, darlin.”

After a few more lingering kisses, Daryl nodded towards her apartment building and gave a smirk. “Wouldn’t be yer man if I didn’t walk y’ up.” he held out his arm to her and Evie slipped her arm through his, smiling up at him. “You still wanna go ridin again tomorrow? I really like ridin the motorcycle with you.”

“Anytime you wanna, hon.” Daryl answered, giving her a teasing wink as they walked up the stairs leading to her floor…

#daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon oneshot #daryl dixon fic #// okay so I think this goes into their non apocalypse thing but idk...#either way I really enjoyed writing it.

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deathbyseventeen · 5 years ago

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I’ll be your Heaven, I’ll be your Hell || Guardian Angel! Woozi

Title: I’ll be your Heaven, I’ll be your Hell || Guardian Angel! Woozi AU

Member: Woozi x Reader ft. Hoshi and Joshua

Genre: Fantasy, Romance (and Fluff), and Angst

Words: 4.5k

Blub: He saw you often, even through the pain because it was the only wish that kept coming true.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Woozi’s wings flapped languidly as he laid on the soft accumulations of water droplets that formed a single cloud. To the newly anointed, it would seem that his attention was on the living humans that roamed the land that was Earth.

In the palm of his right hand, he rested his chin, and the other hand picked aimlessly at the cumulus like he was picking apart cotton candy.

Those who had known him for ages knew that he wasn’t really paying attention to the humans. Nor was he working—which in reality, is what he should have been doing, two of his other friends had already been banished to work on land as scout angels. But his closest friend Hoshi who worked in the same department as him, always let him get away with it.

In reality, Woozi was daydreaming—not that he’d ever admit it, nor would anyone believe it. He dreamed of what his life may have been like if he had managed to stay alive. If he had managed to stay away from his love for a single day.

If only he had met you some other day.

Perhaps then he’d be able to see you again.

Perhaps then he’d be able to hold your hand one more time.

Perhaps then he’d be able to you in the eyes again, without feeling his heart come alive only to be shattered into a million pieces when he remembered what you both were.

“Ji,” Hoshi screamed as he ran towards him, sword sheathed on his hip, “we have to go now! A fight broke out in Joshua’s sector.”

Woozi turned to look at him with a bored look in his eyes, “Can’t they deal with that themselves?”

“Not this time buddy,” Hoshi said, grimacing, “they’re out of Joshua’s sector but it seems Jeonghan chased after them. Now they’ve called reinforcements.”

Woozi turned away from Hoshi and let his head fall into the cloud and groaned. He didn’t really care if Hoshi could hear him, or that he possibly looked like an angel that was unwilling to do his job. He wasn’t unwilling. He was just dreading it.

“Alright,” He sighed as he stood up, and dusted himself off.

“Where’s your sword?” Hoshi asked they flapped their wings, lifting themselves off the cloud.

Woozi looked down at his waist, and at spotting it swordless, he waved a hand at it and materialized it out of thin air. He avoided looking at it, but nonetheless, nodded at Hoshi. “There.”

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“Jihoon!” You screamed as you ran down the hall of his dorm’s building. Most of the doors on his hall were closed, but the few that were open had other students, other guys, poking their heads out of their door to see who was making a commotion. When their eyes fell on you, some of them snorted and went back to work, others rolled their eyes and put headphones on.

You knew they wouldn’t close their doors. The days were too hot. It was mid-September, but the heat had yet to go away.

“Sorry.” You said, slowing down so as you passed the open doors you could apologize. It was nothing new, you always came over—but you swore to Jihoon, that they probably hated you by now.

Jihoon had yet to come out of his own dorm room as you approached it. He was probably busy composing some new song or maybe doing his GE homework. He was always doing something—it made you smile. For as long as you knew him, he was someone who liked to be lazy but couldn’t help but do something.

A month ago, he had given you the key to his room so that you could let yourself in. He said it was because you had always found your way to his room since the day you met him.

You giggled as you took the key out of your bag and put it in the lock. He was right. But it didn’t look like he minded much.

As you opened the door you to his room, your eyes widened as you saw his head lying against the desk. Light snores filled the messy room you knew like the back of your hand. You smiled to yourself as you closed kicked some clothes on the ground around to be able to close the door properly.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

You stopped then, to take in the room properly. It had seemed like clothes strewn around were the only problem, but there were also empty food containers thrown around and stains on the carpet that, really, you didn’t want to know what they were. The sweltering heat only made it worse. The room felt like a sauna and with only one window that was blocked by an overgrown tree outside, opening it wasn’t an option.

Then there was the smell coming from the rotting food.

You grimaced.

Then, you stepped closer to him, peering over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of what he fell asleep working on.

Calculus.

You swallowed the laugh that was fighting to escape from you. If you knew him well, then it would be a couple of hours before he woke up himself—if he even woke up at all.

You glanced at the clock to his left, sitting at the edge of his desk. 6:30pm.

You smiled to yourself. It was time to go shopping.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

It was almost 8pm when you made it back to Jihoon’s building, dragging a large box across the hallways with other paper bags sitting on top of it. Your wallet inside your bag was considerably lighter and your bank account had a slight change in numbers. But even as you struggled to get the stuff down the hallway, you didn’t regret it.

Almost all the doors on his floor were already closed, save for a few that had only partly closed their doors. Even then, you knew Jihoon would not be awake. When you reached his door, you unlocked it yet again and brought everything inside. You pushed some clothes off of his bed and laid it all out there.

Then, you got to work.

Silently, you brought out a box of trash bags you had bought, took out a bag, and started to throw away all the empty food containers you could find. you wanted to gag at the amount of food you found that was starting to turn a green color or was growing hair.

When you were done, you left to go throw away trash at the end of the hall. Then, when you came back, you walked up to Jihoon and draped yourself across him and squeezed him awake.

“Jihoon.” You said, dragging out his name softly.

He whined.

“Jihoon--” You said again, this time wrapping your arms around his torso and pulling him to sit upright, “You have to help me clean.”

“Why would I want to clean,” he said, groaning as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. “Why are you cleaning?”

“Because,” you started, “it’s hot and the smell is driving me insane. How am I supposed to hang out with you if there’s no space for me?”

Jihoon looked at you passively for a few seconds before a small smile bloomed on his face. “Alright, alright.”

“Besides,” You started again, “I’ll help you with your calculus homework when we’re done.”

Without another word, Jihoon stood up and made his way to his closet where he pulled out a new, unused hamper. He opened it and set it on the ground. Then, he started to pick at his clothes and alternate between dumping it in the hamper or throwing it in his closet.

“Stop. Stop.” You said, giggling. “Just tell me which are the clean clothes, and I’ll put them away. You can do the dirty ones.”

“Sorry,” Jihoon said to you with a small smile, “I just really don’t want to clean.”

“I know,” You grinned, “there’s a reason your room is this dirty in the first place.”

For half an hour, you both cleaned, throwing clothes around the room and to each other so it could by quicker, at least on his end. When he finished putting way all the dirty clothes he had, he sat down on the floor and watched you work quietly.

It didn’t take you long to notice that he was staring at you. His gaze was something you had never been able to ignore, no matter how hard you tried.

“Why don’t you wipe the floor while I finish here?” You asked, “I bought some cleaning supplies too, you know. They’re on your bed.”

He snorted but stood up anyways, “Only you would make us work when we hang o—what is this?” He looked at the box resting on his bed, startled.

“A portable air conditioner. What does it look like?” You said, avoiding his eyes.

“I know what it is. What is it doing here?”

“I bought it for you.”

“You what?” Jihoon asked, his voice suddenly growing hard.

You finished folding the pair of pants you had in your hands and hurried over to his side.

“Please don’t be mad.” You said, wrapping your arms around his torso and hiding your face in his chest. “Take it as a personal investment.”

“Y/N,” Jihoon sighed, ��That thing costs too much money.”

“I know,” You said, letting your voice take on a pouty whine, “but your room is too hot, and I want to stay over.”

“We can open the window.” Jihoon huffed, putting your hands on your shoulders and pushing you away so he could look you in the eyes.

You shook your head and toyed with the hem of his loose, sleeveless, muscle tee, “You can’t, there’s a tree in the way.” Then, looking up through your eyelashes, you tried to plead with him, “Please don’t make me return it.”

You tried to hold back a grin when he started to avoid meeting your eyes. There was a small frown on his face when he told you he was going to pay you back, but you insisting that you weren’t going to accept his money made his frown disappear as he started to insist that he was going to shove the money into your bag and you wouldn’t even realize it.

A few hours later, as the date began to change and the room grew beyond refreshingly cool, you shivered as you brought your knees up to your face, eyes growing wide at the growing intensity of the horror movie you were both watching.

“Are you cold?” Jihoon asked, leaning down to whisper in your ear.

You glanced at him to find his face centimeters away from yours, eyes looking straight into your soul. A blush ran up your cheeks as you let out a breathless laugh, “Just a little.”

Jihoon hummed, looking around his room for a blanket, “We put away the blankets because it was too hot.”

“It’s fine, Ji,” you smiled at him, “We can just turn down the air conditioning a bit.”

Nodding, he reached over your lap to grab the small remote that came with the unit and lowered the setting.

An hour later, after the movie had ended, you were listening to the gentle whirring of the unit releasing cold air to go to sleep. Besides you, Jihoon was resting on his back, arms crossed under his head like a pillow.

The air was starting to get stuffy and hot but not so much that you couldn’t handle it, at least so you thought. When the air itself was starting to keep you from falling asleep, you twisted around so you could look at Jihoon.

He had his eyes closed and his breathing was even, so you assumed he was asleep. A wave of relief washed over you and you lifted an arm to string over him.

“Y/N,” Jihoon groaned quietly, “I’m sweaty.”

You snorted, “I don’t mind.”

“Y/N,” he whined this time, “I’m gross.”

“I don’t mind,” you whispered to him, smiling as you clung to him tighter, “Besides, sweat is good for your skin. It’s healthy.”

“But the stickyne—“

“So what?” You asked. When he didn’t answer, you assumed he had relented and fallen asleep. But, as you snuggled closer to his side, sleep starting to fall over you, you heard Jihoon mumble “I don’t want you to be so okay with a sweaty me. That’s like putting me in the friendzone, I want you to like me, Y/N. I like you. Why do you think I took calculus when I don’t even need it.”

A giddy smile bloomed over your face at his confession. You had feelings for him too, hidden away because you thought he only saw you as an overbearing friend. But now...now you wondered how many times you had slept over and had unknowingly tortured him by sleeping next to him. How many times had you two cuddled while he liked you? Had you tortured him?

“I like you too, Jihoon,” you whispered back to him and before he could shoot up, panicked over the realization that you had heard him, you pushed yourself up and planted a long kiss on his lips that he responded to after a few seconds of shock.

When you pulled away, you grabbed the remote you had placed on the ground and made the setting on the air conditioner cooler.

“Guess you’re going to have to cuddle with me to keep me warm.” You flirted with him, biting your lips as you looked down at him.

There was a light blush that you couldn’t see on his face as he responded. “Gladly.” He smirked and pulled you down on top of him.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Hoshi glanced worriedly at Woozi from the corner of his eyes as they flew over a tuft of clouds. He had a stoic expression on his face, even as they suddenly met with gusts of cold air that slapped their faces.

Woozi’s wings flapped in time with his own wings, but at times they would flap harder than his own, like he was trying to push away something that wasn’t there.

“Ji,” he said, hesitantly, “you doing fine over there?”

It took him one too many seconds then he would have liked for Woozi to respond.

He blinked back into existence before answering, “Yeah. I’m good.”

“Maybe you should fly back? I’m sure I could call in some newer reinforcements instead?” Hoshi laughed, slowly, hoping that he wasn’t offending his friend.

“No, it’s cool.”

“A-Are you sure? It’s okay if you don’t want to go. Nobody would blame you…”

“I’m fine,” Woozi answered, rolling his eyes at Hoshi, “Let’s just fly faster or the fight will end before we even get there.”

“Okay,” Hoshi said, flapping his wings harder as Woozi did so too. He could already see Woozi putting his hand over his sword, ready to unsheathe it.

Hoshi gulped. He hated having to go to these fights—they never felt right, especially with Woozi by their side. But it was their job and he knew that even if Woozi always got hurt during these wars, Jihoon would never say no to going.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“Jihoon!” You yelled, waving your hands in the air to beckon him. You grinned as a gust of cold wind brushed past you and into the dark tunnel behind you.

Jihoon blushed when he saw you waving excitedly at him. After weeks of planning and not being able to pull through with any of your plans, you were finally going on your first date. The semester was nearly over, so you didn’t have much homework to work on since finals were going to come soon.

In the end, he had grown so frustrated being unable to take you out, that you had told him to let you plan the first date. Then, you hadn’t told him what it was, claiming that it was a surprise.

Now, there you stood, in front of a dark and most likely slimy tunnel that probably had rats crawling inside; and, with the sun going down and the wind picking up, he was all but ready to convince you to have a small, home date.

“A tunnel?” He asked when he reached your side.

“A sewer tunnel,” you smiled, nodding like that was somehow better. You noticed the disbelief on his face and grinned, “Just trust me alright?”

He pursed his lips but nodded anyway. When you offered him your hand, he smiled shyly and tugged you into the tunnel, almost tripping over a single brick.

“Careful,” you laughed, “there are traps, everywhere.”

“Traps?” He asked as you pulled out a flashlight.

“Traps.” You confirmed.

When he saw you were smiling mischievously, he grew wary of where you were taking him. This all hadn’t been a trap, right? This was a date, right? You weren’t trying to humiliate him and leave him for dead here?

“I heard that,” you scoffed, nudging his shoulders with your own.

“Sorry,” he said, rubbing his neck with his free hand, “I’m just really nervous.”

“I can tell,” you said, bringing up your hands, “this is the first time we’ve held hands after all.”

Jihoon laughed as you both walked onwards, reminiscing about the troubles you had both gotten into after you had met. When the floor started to feel steeper and slippery, you stopped him.

“Alright, we’re almost there. But we have to be careful now there are stairs here.”

“Where are we going?” He asked, pulling you back before you could keep walking, “This seems too dangerous…”

You sighed but pointed down the tunnel before bringing the light to illuminate the both of you, “In another five minutes, we will have reached the ever elusive, ever secret, underground music association.”

“What?” He asked, slack jawed.

“I managed to score us an invitation anda session in the archive lab.”

You smiled widely at him, waiting for him to say something. His expression was stoic, empty as he looked you without saying a word. But still, you didn’t let his silence get to you. In fact, in the darkness and silence of the tunnels, only reinforced your assumption that he was excited and at a loss of words because of it.

You were sure you could even hear his heat beating harder and faster.

And just as you were about to ask him to keep walking so you could get there soon. Jihoon dropped your hand and reached up to cup your face. There was no time for you to react as he smashed his lips onto yours and kissed you with a force you hadn’t felt from his before.

Despite the coolness of the room, you even felt like the room was growing hotter. You didn’t know how long that kiss had ended but by the time he had pulled away, you could have sworn you were seeing stars.

“That was our second kiss…” you whispered breathlessly as you started to come to.

Jihoon chuckled as he cupped your face again, running his thumbs over your cheeks before giving you an eskimo kiss, “Thank you.”

“No problem,” you blushed, “Shall we?”

“Of course.” He grinned and grabbed your hand again before pulling you down.

The staircase was long and fairly easy to descend despite the slimy texture under your shoes. Thankfully the space was gradually growing narrower and both of you could feel ridges in the walls.

Luck wasn’t on your side though.

It took a single step to throw you off your balance. You had placed your foot on the stone step carefully, planting it firmly. But the slime on the stone managed to overtake you. You yelped as you felt your yourself kick into the air.

Jihoon shot out to grab your hand before you could completely fall.

“Be care—”

Then it hit.

You heard a loud crack, like a ruler being split in half and a giant boom followed it. You could only think of the sound as a bomb going off.

Beneath you, the ground started to shake, and the steps start to crumble. Even Jihoon’s hold on you couldn’t stop either of you from being thrown off your feet.

You tumbled down the stairs, hitting your head against the stone walls and steps on the way. Eventually, you felt yourself fall on the ground, but the shaking didn’t stop.

The flashlight was gone.

You couldn’t see Jihoon.

You couldn’t move your hands; and, eventually, a funny smell made your eyes flutter shut.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

When Jihoon’s opened his eyes, he was met with total darkness and a funny smell lingering in the air. He ignored the headache he was getting and started to feel around for the flashlight he remembered you having.

“Y/N?” He coughed, “Y/N?”

He clutched the flashlight and turned it on as fast as he could when he found it. Dust floated in the air and when he pointed the flashlight upwards, he noticed a bust pipe leaking a fume. He fell into a heaving coughing fit then; and, as he struggled to breathe properly again, he aimed the flashlight elsewhere, looking for you, his heart racing in fear as he noticed the large rocks on the floor.

Then he found a pool of blood and you at the center.

That was the first time his heart broke.

“Y//N!” He screamed as he scrambled to get up.

Falling to his knees at your side, he pushed the large rock that had fallen on your leg off and pushed your hair out of your face. He cried as he tried to clean the blood off your face, off your mouth.

He listened for your breathing, but when he heard only the faintest of breaths, he screamed, “Somebody help! Please help!”

When a white light flashed in front of him and a man appeared in front of him, he failed to realize he was in the presence of a guardian angel. But he didn’t fail to plead for your life.

“Please help.” He said.

“I’m sorry but only one can live this time. There won’t be enough air for the both of you until they come to find you.”

“Then save, Y/N. Not me, please.” He pleaded.

The guardian angel nodded and flapped his wings as he reached out towards Jihoon and did as he was asked.

A minute later you awoke in a coughing fit, with an unbearable pain in your leg and a teenage couple standing in front of you.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

“We’re here,” Hoshi said as they hovered far above a field of wheat. Below them, Guardian Angels and Dark-Winged Angels fought sword to sword.

They observed the field for a moment, trying to figure out where the best place to help was. Jeonghan seemed to be doing fine by himself, barely a sheen of sweet on his face. But when they saw Joshua, not only was the sun baring down on him, so was a group of Dark-winged Angels, trying to pin him to the ground.

“There,” Woozi pointed with the tip of his sword. He didn’t wait for Hoshi to agree. The moment he laid eyes on the group of the Dark-Winged gaining an advantage on Joshua, he took off. But just as he was about to swoop in and help Joshua, another figure flew in front of him and struck him with the blunt end of their sword.

Before he was even able to regain his baring’s and fly up, he already knew who had flown in front of him.

“Hello again, Woozi.” You sneered as you flew up to him, your sword at the ready. “Haven’t I told you before to stay out of our territory?”

There wasn’t time for him to respond, the moment you had finished talking you had pivoted and aimed your sword at his wings.

He grunted as he fought with you, swords clashing and wings sending gusts of winds at each other.

With every clang that he heard, his heart broke a little more than the last time he had seen you.

Neither of you spoke as you fought. You found speaking useless and he found it distracted him from you— the you he knew, the you that he loved.

This wasn’t you.

Those eyes that always held so much warmth and love for him. Those eyes that had a mischievous glint in them but meant no harm.

Instead what he saw was anger in your eyes. A sharp glint that reminded him of your sword, ready to harm those that crossed you.

Ever since he had first seen you after becoming a Guardian Angel, he had rushed to your side unaware of the side you stood on. That was the first time you attacked him, and after he was the one you were always on a look out for.

The other Guardians told him it was bad luck that he had seen you, found out that you were on the other side. But to him, it wasn’t bad luck. He had found you.

He just wished you remembered him.

“I thought warrior Guardians were supposed to be good at fighting?” His jaw clenched.

He knew he could never really hurt you, it’s why Hoshi always hesitated to tell him about these battles. Still, his sword clashed against yours just as hard as it did with anyone else.

Around the both of you, the fights were startling to dwindle, Guardians starting to overtake the others. Neither of you realized it though, too busy focused on each other.

It wasn’t until you had managed to drive him against the earth’s ground, that either of you stopped for a moment.

You snarled at him as your sword dug into his neck, face inches from him that you were both brought out of your bubble.

“Jihoon!” Hoshi yelled as he took off toward him.

Like a gust of wind had hit you, you were thrown backwards, clutching your chest in pain. ‘Jihoon, Jihoon, Jihoon, Jihoon,’ echoed in your thoughts.

Jihoon clamped his eyes shut, trying his hardest not to yell at Hoshi-- he thought the gust had come from him.

Looking around, you noticed almost everyone was gone except for the Guardians. You threw him a final glare, hand still on your chest, above the heart, and then took off.

Still, on the ground, Jihoon tried not to scream as Joshua and Hoshi landed gently besides him and pulled him to his feet.

Being close to you was pain.

Being close to you was like breaking his heart over again and over again.

Oh, how much he wished hadn’t met you that day. How much he wished he could have kissed you more than twice, confessed sooner.

And as Joshua and Hoshi pulled him into the skies, he couldn’t help but wish he hadn’t seen that flash of recognition in your eyes as you were thrown backwards. It hurt too much to hope that you remembered him. It hurt too much to hope that you were back.

#seventeen imagines #seventeen au #seventeen fanfiction #Heaven and Hell AU #seventeen #seventeen Woozi imagines #seventeen Woozi AU #seventeen Jihoon AU #seventeen Jihoon Imagines #Lee Jihoon Imagines #Lee Jihoon AU #Woozi Imagines #Woozi AU #My Writing #DeathBySeventeen

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name-me-regret · 4 years ago

Text

Till I Touch The Sky - 6/9

Till I Touch The Sky Chapter Six: Fly On Wings, Forever

Summary: The night before Pride...

Warnings: Implied/Refrenced Child Abuse, Mentions of a Child Murder

Read on AO3.

FANFICTION MASTER POST

- ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

“It can turn the whole world upside down Shake it 'til the sky falls to the ground We don't have to reap the fear they sow Friends, as long as we hide our love away

In the good they'll never know It can see us through these dark days Though they seem to darken as we go

Our love will see us through these dark, dark days sister 'Til it lights the way back home Sister, hide our love away...”

~Dark Days - Punch Brothers

- ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

June 28, 2015, Sunday, 02:34AM

Peter shot up in bed with a gasp, getting a mouth and lungful of medicine. It seemed someone had put on the BiPap mask on him as he slept, and as his stomach heaved, he clawed at the mask to get it off. He tumbled off his bed in his haste, landing on something soft that grunted in pain, but pushed this to the back of his head as he scrambled to the bathroom.

He was barely able to get the toilet cover and seat up in time before he was throwing up everything he’d eaten earlier. The floor was hard and uncomfortable under his knees, grounding him since the room spun around him. Then he felt a hand on his back and another holding his hair away from his face. The hand was warm and gentle as he wondered when his hair had gotten so long, but his stomach roiled once more, and he was violently sick again.

“No more,” he sobbed, tears running down his face, or maybe it was sweat. “Please,” he whimpered as he felt his stomach lurch and he was vomiting a third time. He hadn’t even known he had eaten so much.

He would have collapsed if it wasn’t for whoever was helping him as they held him up. “May?” he moaned weakly, not remembering that the woman was at work. A voice shushed him and pressed a cup of cool water to his mouth, he rinsed his mouth and then spat it in the sink that was suddenly in front of him, and then drank greedily from it.

“What are you doing?” a voice, cold and unkind, asked. Peter thought he recognized it but couldn’t really be sure, and the arms around him tensed. He realized that he was in someone’s lap and they were sitting on the toilet seat, not even realizing that it had been flushed to take away his sick.

“He was throwing up. I was helping him,” he heard Riley’s voice said. Peter realized that he was in Riley’s lap, the one who had rubbed his back as he threw up had been Riley. He would have been having another Bi panic if he wasn’t feeling like shit.

He thought he knew who he was talking to, but Peter didn’t care to acknowledge this person as his eyes closed without meaning to. “I’ll take him. Go back to sleep,” the mean voice said and felt them step closer.

Peter was scared and didn’t know why, and he must have made a sound because the hands pulled him against a firm body; Riley’s body he realized. “I got him, Chris. We’re sharing a room anyways. I’ll get him into bed.”

He must have dozed off, because he suddenly felt Riley jerk backwards and he gave a groan as that caused his stomach to lurch unpleasantly. Peter realized that there was someone talking, but he wasn’t able to make out what they were saying. He tried to force his eyes open, not realizing when he’d even closed them. “Change his shirt,” the voice —Chris’s voice, he suddenly realized— snapped, sounding disgusted. “It’s got vomit on it.” He was then leaving, the bathroom door slamming closed and involuntarily pulling a whimper from his throat.

“You’re okay,” Riley murmured against his ear. He might have considered himself lucky at having the older boy so close if he wasn’t feeling sick and gross. Peter drifted in and out of consciousness and didn’t even realize they’d left the bathroom, Riley asking him something but he felt too exhausted to respond. “Fuck,” Riley hissed, voice sounding odd.

He felt his shirt being pulled off and forced his eyes open, seeing Riley over him as lay on the bed on his back. The other paused, probably seeing his eyes in the dim light, since he’d turned on the closet light. “Hey, are you awake?” he whispered, hand moving to his cheek. “I’m changing your shirt. Do you think you can pull the clean one on?” He paused and moved a bit to the side so the light could shine on him. “Shit, hold on.”

Riley moved away and left the room, Peter letting his eyes close as he heard the sound of the water running in the sink. He startled awake when he was suddenly back at his side, a cold, wet wash cloth moving over his neck and chest. “You have vomit on you,” he apologized, seeing him flinch from the cold water.

Peter moaned as he pulled him up after he was finished, sitting up as he sagged against the taller boy. He had already noticed he was at least six feet tall, since Peter wasn’t that tall himself. When he pulled a clean shirt closer, Peter lifted his arms in an attempt to help him, starting to feel embarrassed at the other having to dress him.

His face felt hot now that he realized that he was shirtless in front of Riley, the boy he had a crush on. The same boy that had seen him throwing up as he held his hair back, and then had all but carried him to the bed. “I c-can do it,” he stuttered when he reached behind him to pull down the sleeveless shirt. Damn, it was a tank top, and he’d not worn any on purpose since they’d gotten here so they wouldn’t see his flimsy arms.

“Peter, you can barely sit up,” he said, continuing to pull the shirt down. Peter was so glad he hadn’t gotten any sick on his pajama pants, since that would have been so much worse. Finally, he was finished and leaned forward to help him lay back and Peter pulled his legs up before he tried to help him like some invalid. He managed to pull the blanket up with a sigh, feeling way better. “Do you want your mask back on?”

The younger boy groaned and shook his head, stopping when it made the room spin. His chest hurt and knew that he needed it, but he was so tired of being sick all the time. “No, please,” he begged. “I don’t want to be sick anymore.”

07:46AM

That was all he remembered, not even having stayed awake long enough to hear the other’s response. When he next opened his eyes, there was sun filtering through the partially open blinds, and he realized he was alone in the room. Riley must have left early, since when he checked his phone he saw that it wasn’t even eight yet. It was likely that him and Hailey had gone to visit their mother, since they tended to go in the mornings. They were usually back by the time Peter returned from his internship, which was usually just before two in the afternoon.

Peter got up, since he knew he had to get showered and dressed if he wanted to go to the parade. There was never anyway to get a good parking spot whenever there were parades, so his aunt had said they’d take the train and probably get a taxi back. As he went into the restroom, he heard her puttering around in the kitchen, and hopefully any breakfast wouldn’t be burnt toast and eggs with eggshell pieces in it. Maybe if he got out quickly he’d convince her that he was fine with cereal.

He was still a bit shaky but not terrible, like he could face plant, and he wondered if she knew he’d been sick last night. Peter barely recalled that Riley had helped him last night, and another voice. His memory was hazy at best, but maybe he’d remember later.

After dressing and a bowl of cereal (she hadn’t gotten past the burnt toast and had trashed it and had a bowl of cereal as well), they were ready to go. After saying goodbye to Chris who was still sleeping on the couch, they left the apartment and she held out the bi flag so he could drape across his shoulders and he’d smiled and taken it, but it was when she’d pulled on a Ally pin that he beamed joyfully. He felt happy that she was not only taking him to the parade, but supported him.

There were a lot of people on the train that wooped or cried out when they saw them, and both he and May reciprocated their greeting, albeit a bit more subdued. As they moved along, more and more people heading toward the parade got on, some more flamboyant than others and Peter looked at them a bit in awe at their daring and not caring who knew they were of the LGBT+ community and where they were going. Peter hoped to be like them one day, since he hadn’t dressed too flashy and in fact, he hadn’t even worn anything remotely having to do with the Pride Parade. He was actually wearing one of his pun shirts, which were usually science but today it was a math one with the words ‘Do The Math Dance’ and then several figures doing dances according to the math equations below it.

It always made him laugh, even if some didn’t get what math and dancing had to do with the other. He usually didn’t bother to explain, preferring to have a private laugh with himself whenever he wore it.

However, the shirt was black, but hoped that having worn shorts he thus wouldn’t get too hot. His aunt had packed his backpack with water, snacks, sunscreen, some hats and a small first aid kit. There was also an extra shirt for him, which was another one of his science pun t-shirts, but this one was gray one that had a heart on it, but the heart was made up of all science related things. He’d been told that it was a bit of a girly shirt, but he didn’t think so. After all, science was gender neutral; anyone could love it.

She carried it, since Peter had to carry his oxygen tank. He didn’t need to have it every day but his aunt had said that with the heat, the smog and the crowd, it’d be best for him to use it. Peter was only glad he had left the mask behind and now had the nose cannula. By then he’d mostly gotten use to the weight of the small oxygen tank.

When they finally arrived on street level, he could already feel the change in the air from how it usually was. There was a charged feeling, an excitement that he could feel that felt like it was flowing into his body and he just wanted to move. He grabbed his aunt’s hand and pulled her forward, the oxygen tank not slowing him down as they both ran down the two blocks away from where the parade was. Peter heard his aunt telling him to slow down, but he couldn’t, hearing the beat of the music playing, felt it.

He was winded when they finally got there, the press of bodies all around them not helping, and suddenly there was glitter and music, and so much color. Everyone looked so excited, and the pulse of the music led to some dancing or jumping up and down. It was almost poignant for Peter to be here now, at his first Pride Parade, when just two days ago the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in all 50 states.

Peter knew he was too young to be married, or to even think about it, but it was nice to know that if he ever wanted to marry another boy (or man, since by then he’d be one too), then he would be free to do so. And now, as they moved along enjoying the parade, dancing with his aunt as he giggled and had a good time, he was able to see several marriage proposals both of two women, and two men.

The teenager thought it was the most romantic thing he’d ever seen.

Peter saw that a lot of people had rainbow flags, and wondered if they were being sold somewhere. He would liked to have one in his colors, and when he asked his aunt if they could look, she wholeheartedly agreed. She made it her mission to make sure he got a little flag to wave around, and they went into several shops. A lot of them had Pride merchandise for sale, and grew curious as they entered the book store.

There were many books by LGBT+ authors being showcased there, and he grew curious as he lifted one that looked interesting. He wondered if Michelle, who had a great love of reading, had read any of these, since he knew she was part of the community. Peter was ashamed to realize that he didn’t actually know if she was bisexual like him, a lesbian, non-binary or perhaps gender fluid. They didn’t really talk all that much, even if she almost always say close to him and Ned.

Peter decided to speak to her more next year, their first year of high school. They’d had Midtown come to their school for a fair to present the electives available to take next year, and he’d seen her talking to a pretty girl from the decathlon team. Peter and Ned had already signed up for robotics and math club, and since they were in band already, they’d likely transition to the high school one. However, Peter had been thinking of quitting band, since he played a wind instrument and he couldn’t keep at it due to his asthma.

He would ask Ned if he wanted to quit band with him and join the decathlon team instead. If not, it was fine, but he was quitting either way. Maybe being on the same after school club could mean that he became friends with Michelle. Then they’d become a trio instead of a duo. The Golden Trio, like in Harry Potter.

As they left the bookstore, book tucked safely away and a new small bi flag in hand, he lifted up as he saw the marching band passing by from the police department. Now, there were literally thousands (if not more) people at the parade, and it stretched far down the street, so the chances of seeing someone he knew were slim. It was almost impossible, unless they met up somewhere. So, he was shocked as he saw someone he knew on that other side of the street; Riley Jones.

He had on a black tank top with a rainbow on the front of it and dark green cargo shorts, and his usual dark brown boots. Of course Peter had seen the other without his shirt on, because he’d walked in on him changing (he’d thankfully unfortunately already put on his sleeping pants). However, there was something attractive seeing him in the clothes the older boy wore, which wasn’t overly gay, if clothing could be called as such. Peter could almost say the other dressed like a straight boy, but not in a bad way. He just liked this one faded blue jean jacket a lot, since Peter had seen him in it before they’d ever become acquainted.

Riley was hand in hand with another boy, that looked to be about Peter’s height, since he reached about his shoulder, and was probably Riley’s age. He had light hair that could be considered dirty blonde; he had on some flamboyant rainbow leggings, black ripped booty shorts and a white tiny tank top with something on the front that Peter couldn’t make out from where he stood. From this distance the other, whom he realized had to be the Evan from Riley’s phone, looked attractive and Peter knew that if he met him out of context he’d be a bisexual mess. Except, he was with Riley, whom Peter had a crush on.

Now Peter knew why they called it a crush.

“Hey, bud, you alright?” May asked as they left the parade. It was almost 2pm but they decided to head out so they could get to the Dance At The Pier early, which would start at 3pm. May wasn’t too much of an Ariana Grande fan and neither was Peter, but it was sure to be a nice time and the tickets hadn’t been too expensive.

“Yeah,” he said with a smile. She didn’t know of his crush on the older boy and wanted to keep it that way. Ned was the only one that knew, the second person he’d come out to after his aunt. He’d been accepting and their relationship hadn’t changed. Ned Leeds was definitely the best friend ever.

He decided to put the whole thing to the back of his mind and just have fun. Even if he didn’t know many of the songs, he danced and had fun. They had to leave before it got too dark since Peter had started to get really tired. He hated that they had to leave even as his aunt reassured him that it was fine, since she was tired as well and had a shift early tomorrow morning.

Even so, as they left they strolled along the path that would lead them along the Hudson River Park before taking a taxi home. His phone started ringing and Peter wondered who was calling him, since he always texted with his friends. He was surprised to see that it was Tony Stark. “Hey, Mr. Stark, what’s up?” he asked, glancing at May as she titled her head in question.

‘Pete, where are you?’

“Uh, leaving Pier 26,” he told him. “We’re at Hudson River Park but about to head home.”

’Wait there. I’m coming to get you both.’

Peter frowned, wondering what had happened. He sounded strange, a hard edge to his voice. “What’s happening?” he asked, thinking that maybe there was a problem with his internship; perhaps with his project.

‘I’m coming.’ Peter only heard the line beeping to signal that he’d hung up.

“Was that Tony?” May asked, even if she knew it had been. “What did he want?”

“Uh, he says he’s coming to get us.”

May blinked in bewilderment. “Whatever for?”

Peter shrugged and the woman sighed, telling him to sit down in a nearby bench while she went to get them something to drink. While the sun had gone down, the night was still hot and she could always tell when the heat was getting to him and they’d finished the water she had brought that day. While she was gone, his phone started to beep and frowned as he wondered what that meant.

“Pete!” The teenager’s head lifted in surprise and saw Mr. Stark striding toward him. He was wearing a suit, almost like he had just walked out of a meeting or something, since he had started to spend more time with him in his lab, he’d gotten use to seeing him in casual clothes. Peter stood with a frown at the serious look on his face.

“What’s happening?” Peter asked as he grabbed him by the sleeve, getting a bad feeling. There was something wrong, he could see it in his face. “Tell me,” he demanded when he hesitated.

Tony sighed, lifting his face when he saw May Parker coming back their way. “Sit down a moment, Pete,” he said. He would have refused if the man hadn’t sat down first. Peter lowered himself slowly onto the bench, his aunt sitting down close to him as she put an arm around Peter’s shoulders. “I usually have someone keeping tabs on the interns, making sure they’re safe due to the increased risk from being involved with SI.”

Peter wanted to tell him to get on with it, to stop stalling but held his tongue. “So, you have someone spying on us?” May asked, her hands tightening on Peter’s shoulders.

The man shook his head. “No, it’s nothing like that. There are just several people that work with the police department that are friends of mine, and if one of my interns names or even their address appear on any kind of report, they give me a call.” He glanced out toward the water as the fireworks started to go off, lighting up the night sky in an array of bright colors and wondrous designs. “Your apartment building came up when that woman was attacked, but since it wasn’t your apartment number I dismissed it. Only later did I realize that the underage John Doe they’d carted off was Peter.”

“What’s happened, Tony?” May asked, mirroring Peter’s impatience.

Tony looked at them both. “The same address came up again late this afternoon, and I got a call.”

May’s hands tightened almost painfully on Peter’s shoulders now, but the teen barely felt it as his heart pounded loudly in his own ears. “W... what happened?” Peter whispered.

Peter had told Tony of the twins, Hailey and Riley, which had come to live with them for a time. The man had given the boy a knowing smirk as he spoke of them that he never acknowledged. He knew of them, what had happened to their mother that made them come to live with the Parkers. Tony knew what the two older teens had come to mean to Peter, that he cared for them beyond his stupid crush; both him and May.

“I... I’m sorry,” he said, Peter never having heard him sound so hesitant. “That bastard came back. Some of the neighbors heard the commotion and didn’t let him get away... but they were too late.”

Peter reached out and grabbed him by the suit jacket. “What happened?!”

“The girl... Hailey,” he said softly, hands coming to cover Peter’s own. “She’s gone. He killed her.”

May gave a sob, arms coming around Peter’s shoulder as she pulled him back against her in a comforting gesture. Peter didn’t even feel her arms and just stared at Tony in disbelief, mouth opening but no sound came out; no words able to describe the grief and horror he felt in that moment.

Hailey Jones was dead?

- ~ - ~ - ~ - ~

#Till I Touch The Sky #Peter Parker #May Parker #Tony Stark #Things That Go Knock In The Night series #fanfiction #myfanfiction #name-me-regret #regret writes #regret fanfiction

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snowpeawritings · 7 years ago

Note

a one shot: lotor x fem!reader ??? :'D (oh! it can be a fluff?? or like, both are pining for each other, and the fem!reader can either be a paladin or a side character in the series huhuhu thank u!!!)

I took inspiration from the story of Star Guardians and Soraka, a support hero, in League of Legends so I hope that’s alright!

also beware that this is ridiculously long. Longer than I could afford bc i love my beautiful prince

Reader is female

CW (CONTENT WARNING): Blood mention

Nobody told you that having the power of the stars can lead you to having thoughts about destroying a planet by using a huge star.

Not that it would actually do anything. Despite being huge balls of gas, your newly blessed power would only heal your fellow Paladins. You weren’t complaining at the limits of your powers. In fact, you were grateful that you were even helping. Much like the Garrison trio, you were swept in with Keith and Shiro inside a sentient mechanical lion and outside the confines of your solar system. Then one thing led to another, you were one of the protectors of entire galaxies.

Yet, you were nobody special. You didn’t have a chosen Lion, you didn’t have powers like Allura, you couldn’t even fight.

Maybe that was the reason why the elusive Star Guardians had blessed you.

Star Guardians… more myths than truths, Allura told you and Pidge these stories during a girls only night in her room. It was said that the Star Guardians were the protectors of the galaxies when Voltron nor the Paladins didn’t exist yet. 5 Guardians-much like 5 Paladins- 5 Guardians that harnessed the power of the stars and bend them to whichever way they want it. Whether this was an actual thing that happened years ago or maybe it was a bedtime story made up for her, you never would have guessed that saving a dying planet from the Galra can lead you to being blessed with powers.

You could still remember it like it was yesterday.

Nobody told the team that attempting rescue on a dying planet could lead to everyone being ambushed by aliens that weren’t Galra.

The castle had gotten a transmission on a rural planet about Galra attacking them. You were pretty sure that you were the only one who was skeptical about the message, wondering how a backwards planet managed to relay a quite clear message to the castle ship. Next thing you know, the lions, the ship, even Lotor’s cruiser had been compromised by alien tech that didn’t make sense to you. Heck, a battle ship looked like a giant snake with multiple eyes as its “mouth” blasted powerful green lasers at Lotor’s cruiser.

Call it recklessness or bravery, you went down there in one of the castle’s escape pods as the joined voices of Allura and Coran screamed in unison to try and stop you from entering the fight. As you avoided the numerous lasers from the dark purple ships, your communicator began bugging out on the account of everyone begging you to go back to the castle. Gulping at the sight of the draconic ship, you barely had time to reach Lotor as one laser managed to burn out the entire side on the pod.

The wind against your ears didn’t even matter. The hot burning sensation of the laser made your senses numb and it didn’t even graze you.

How weak could you be?

Yet when you were diving head-first down on the foreign ground, with no Lion or cruiser to save you since they were preoccupied with the fleet, your body somehow felt lighter as you got your senses back. With a strangled gasp, you realized the wind wasn’t blowing past your ears as fast as it should and no human should have a body that is a literal galaxy.

What once was your space suit disappeared in a flash as your nude body was covered by liquid-like movement of green galaxies. With a flash, a tight, sleeveless white tailcoat clung to your body as it’s tails flew outward like wings. Your skirt was green, with the same color streaks across your hair. Your legs were covered by white thigh-high socks with the same colored boots. Those, your chest, even next to your temple were adorned with green stars and tiny white wings.

With how sparkly and ridiculous the outfit looks, you might as well be in those magical girl cartoons you used to watch as a kid.

Even though you looked like a cosplayer amidst the war, the staff in your gloved hands glowed with light as you flew towards Lotor’s cruiser. Starlight immediately gathered around your staff as a stream of starlight slithered towards Lotor’s cruiser. You tapped the ship’s window, seeing Lotor’s gaping expression behind his helmet. Not stopping from your support, you raised your staff high in the air as the sky began to brighten. 8 green stars began falling down as they blessed all of your teammates with renewed energy.

Because of your sudden powers, Team Voltron turned the entire fight around as they fought back the armada. When you regrouped with the others, imagine their faces when you landed in front of them with sparkles littering your body. Mainly Allura, Lance, heck even Lotor looked as though they witnessed a goddess. Which isn’t very far technically. Maybe Lotor knew about the stories of the Star Guardians.

Which brings you to today.

Being the only team member that heals everyone, you were an integral part of the during and after fights. The least that were hurt were usually Pidge, Shiro, Allura and Lotor since they were careful enough while Hunk and Lance were the most injured since former was the one tanking everything while the latter was hurt more when he kept leading and trying to flirt with you whenever you heal him.

“You know I told you before that your eyes held the stars? It turns out I’m a seer this whole time!”

“Very funny, Lance. How about I feed you a star fragment then I’ll consider dating you.”

You could never get tired by seeing the Blue Paladin’s face pout from your rejections. Having the last of the starlight heal his wounds, you put your staff away as it floated besides you. Having these powers is amazing but the complete downside of it is how you have to wear a ridiculous yet arguably fashionable get-up.

“Please be careful next time, Lance. The stars can’t save you always, you know.” You said to him as he stretched his now-healed limbs.

“No promises, mi estrella. Can’t rest easy when galaxies are getting screwed over every second.” He replied back, patting your back gently. “We have you and Coran to support us every step of the way. You don’t have to stress yourself too much.”

Hearing those words come out of his mouth, you would assume that he was a parasite in the form of Lance, but you knew better. With him as the new Paladin of the Red Lion, his flirtatious attitude soon dwindled down as he began to act more like Shiro… scarily enough.

The doors opened, turning your head to see Lotor with an angry wound on his side. The different colored blood made you squirm slightly but you dismissed it as you went over to Lotor’s side and held him up. “Give us some privacy, Lance. You still need to debrief the team on our next mission.”

Lance nodded and left, not before giving a wary side-eye glance at Lotor’s shaking form before exiting the room. Bringing the alien to the nearest cot, you grabbed your staff as it glowed gently with starlight.

“I’m guessing level 11 training sequence is too hard on you?” You joked at him, waving the staff across his wound as his body stopped quivering.

He huffed, looking elsewhere from you. “I do not need your sympathy. My well-being has nothing to do with you.”

A sharp sting went through your heart. “It has everything to do with me. I’m the one healing you and everybody else after all.”

He sighed through his nose, noting that he was no longer sweating too much as the wound began to close. The stream of stars surrounded the rest of his minor wounds such as a hidden scrape on his shoulder, his legs, and a tiny scratch on his forehead nearing his eye. With the way the stream surrounded him, it made him look like he was bathed in starlight that complimented his ethereal looks.

And oh how you loved it.

“Do you enjoy watching your patients as you heal them?”

QUIZNACK.

“N-No!” You exclaimed, replying quicker than intended. “I mean-I’m supposed to but not in that way–”

“My apologies…” Lotor cut you off, putting himself in a sitting up position when he began feeling better. “I did not intend for you to be uncomfortable. It’s just that you seem to enjoy supporting us from the backlines that I assumed fate must have done something right for once.”

You heard the bite in his last words but you chose to ignore it. You let your staff float beside you as it continued to let out a stream of starlight. “Well… if I’m being honest, I love it. Before I felt so useless because of everybody having something that’s useful for the coalition and then there’s me. I just happened to be with Lance when all of this happened.”

You sat down on the cot with him, smiling softly at your hands. “I could only provide support after a mission since I have a bit of background knowledge on medicine but even then I never felt so ashamed of myself whenever the team gets hurt. I know it’s a stupid reason but… I guess fate really did do something good for me.”

You were a bit out of breath, not prepared to give out a bit of your life story to the Galran prince. When you heard nothing from him, you turned your head only to see his beautiful eyes staring back at yours.

“I…” He trailed off, breaking eye contact momentarily to stare down at his lap. “I am glad that you were able to have something that you worked hard for. Truly you deserve it.”

Somehow there was more than what he implied but you stayed silent. Pursing your lips, you turned your body to him fully before taking one of his hands in yours. You didn’t miss the flinch of his body when you did.

“I know we don’t talk much and I know the team doesn’t trust you fully but you’re a part of the team now. You can tell us what’s wrong.”

It took a while for him to respond back but he placed his other hand on top of yours as he whispered your name softly, “Thank you. I do not deserve your kindness.”

Your heart could only beat faster when he said your name and touched your hand with his own. Your eyes wanted avert away from his face, realizing at how soft his expression became when he began talking to you. Yet nothing could remove your sight from his own.

It took way too much time to have your gaze tear away from his as you grabbed your staff. “Looks like you’re fully healed. Please be more careful when your in the training hub.”

In half a second, you swore you saw his eyes dull from you leaving him but he stood up quickly, already towering over you. “Thank you for healing me.”

You regarded him with a nod, before feeling warm when he took a step closer to you. It took all your courage to lift your head up and see his eyes shining like the stars surrounding yours.

“And thank you for being the team’s shining star.”

You gulped down a lump in your throat but wanting to play with his little game. “I didn’t take you to like puns.”

He shook his head softly, his hair swishing like white waves of water. “I am not joking. You are the light and hope of the team, especially for me.”

You swore Lotor could hear how hard your heart is pounding by his small smirk playing on his lips. “Where is this coming from?”

“From my heart, most obviously.” He joked, grabbing your wrist gently as he raised it near his chest. You gasped inwardly when you hear it beating as fast as yours. “This is what humans do during courting, am I right?”

A choked sound tore away from your throat as the alien stared down at you confusingly. He honestly looked like a kicked puppy that you wanted to coo at him.

“Well,” you started, trying to ignore your pounding heart, “your ‘techniques’ are… something. But I can’t deny that it’s making my heart race.”

He snorted, lips quirking upwards a tad bit to reveal fangs. “Most obviously.”

You quelled your ongoing flirtatious comments about him. “And if you’re asking… I would love to be your partner.”

You were pretty sure that it was supposed to be unnoticeable but his shoulders sagged almost as though a huge weight was removed. He placed his forehead against yours, laughing softly as his breath fanned against your face like a warm breeze.

“This should be the part where humans would initiate a ‘kiss’?” Lotor tested the word. “Though embarrassingly, I have yet to have full grasp on the action.”

You giggled, bringing your arms on his chest. “We’ll take our time then. I won’t burn out like the rest of the stars out there.”

You felt a hand on your waist, feeling it squeeze the area around it, like your would actually burn out. “Let’s hope you won’t then.”

#requests #scenario #this got too long good lord #excuse my love for the magical girl genre but the crossover was too good #voltron #voltron imagines #lotor #lotor imagines #lotor x reader

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ko-chan-the-blueberry-donut · 7 years ago

Text

O Fortuna Chapter 9: Hell Hath No Fury

Chapter Nine: Hell Hath No Fury

Marinette remembered what it was like transforming with Tikki for the first time. She remembered the sensation of sweetness and warmth surrounding her form, encasing her being. Now with Duusu, she felt the rush of a gentle breeze upon her body, the softness of feathers brushing against her arms and legs, making her feel weightless. She felt the soothing presence of Duusu all around her, making her heart and body feel like it was air itself.

“Woah…” Chloe gaped, the light of Marinette’s transformation fading away, allowing her and Gabriel to see the new hero. Marinette’s feet softly touched the carpeted floor, and she looked down at herself to see her superhero suit. It was a lot different than her Ladybug suit. She wore a dark teal sleeveless leotard that ended at mid-thigh, her collar resembling a cheongsam. However, the main focus was the royal blue robes over the leotard. The robes were off the shoulder, with the sleeves bellowing out to show her royal blue sleeves take on an ombre effect from blue to light green peacock feathers at her hands. Around her waist was a teal sash to match the teal trim at her collar where the pin resided in the middle above her chest. The robes flowed down her legs, with a slit opening at the thigh to allow free movement. Darker teal wings were embordered into the trim of the lower part of the robes to match the trim of her hat, which was also a royal blue to match her robes. Her legs were covered in dark teal thigh-high boots and her mask was a regular teal, bringing out her bright blue eyes. The peacock pin glinted beautifully in the middle right above her chest.

Surprisingly, the robes felt like nothing upon Marinette’s form, who thought the robes would get in the way of her fighting. She examined herself curiously, not quite believing what she was seeing. Gabriel nodded in approval.

“You’ll find the Peacock Miraculous is not the same as her sibling Miraculous like Ladybug’s and Chat Noir’s.” Gabriel told her. “While not as powerful as theirs, it is certainly not a Miraculous to be messed with.”

“Where’s my weapon?” Marinette questioned, finding she had no weapon in her arsenal. Furrowing her brow, Marinette grew frustrated that perhaps she would be useless after all. Gabriel held up a hand to prevent her from her irritated thoughts.

“The peacock does not need one. As I have said before, this miraculous is different from the ones we’ve seen so far.” Gabriel gazed upon her intently. “A peacock is the essence of life and air itself. It is above material weapons.” He then gestured to her form. “Imagine you are weightless, and you shall see one of the peacock’s abilities.”

Marinette blew her bangs out of her face and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Like her transformation, Marinette found herself feeling weightless, the air currents breezing around her in a comforting manner. Chloe’s yelp roused her from her mind and Marinette found herself floating briefly through air before crashing to the floor ungracefully.

“Y-You were flying!” Chloe exclaimed. Gabriel gave her an exasperated look.

“Mademoiselle, if you would be so kind as to not interrupt so Marinette can actually get somewhere, that would be appreciated.” Chloe flinched at his harsh tone. Marinette dusted herself off.

“Okay… so I can fly. That’s good to know.” Marinette muttered.

“To use your power, you must use great concentration.” Gabriel advised her. “Your power is all around you. Your mind just needs to reach out to it and it will appear.”

“I’m sorry, Monsieur Agreste, but that sounds very cryptic.” Marinette spoke, not quite understanding his phrasing. Gabriel gave her a small smile and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“It will make sense when you do it. However, please remember you only have five shots until the countdown starts and you have five minutes to make sure no one sees you transform back.”

“Okay…” Marinette blinked. Deciding that she wasn’t going to get anymore answers, she took a deep breath and imagined herself being weightless. Her body lifted clumsily off the ground and she levitated to the open window where Ladybug, Chat Noir, and Volpina fled out of. Perching on the windowsill, she gulped at the drop she would make if she couldn’t fly.

“One more thing, Marinette.” Gabriel called. Marinette’s inquisitive blue eyes turned to his icy ones. “Never, not even in dire circumstances, say the command Eyes Open. It is too dangerous.”

Marinette, despite being confused, nodded in agreement. Then she leaped out the window, pushing herself through the air like a new baby bird who was flying for the first time.

-------------------

Ladybug and Chat pursued Volpina vigorously across rooftops. Chat Noir made a noise and skidded to a stop, with Ladybug following.

“Chat! What are you doing?” Ladybug exclaimed.

“Why are we chasing her so hard?” Chat asked his partner. “We know I’m right here.”

“Her powers are illusions, Chat.” Ladybug told him. “If we don’t pretend we don’t know that, it could give off suspicions that we know about our identities. We can’t let Hawkmoth know that we are aware of Volpina’s powers and our identities. We need to act clueless until we catch her off guard.” She readied her yo-yo, only to wince when she felt a sharp pain from her injured arm. Chat Noir gazed upon her worriedly.

“You all right, LB?” Chat Noir questioned. Ladybug nodded.

“Yeah, just a scratch. Come on, let’s put an end to this wannabe superhero.” Ladybug grinned at him. Chat smirked.

“Of course, LB.”

---------------------------------------

Marinette skidded to a halt atop a building. Not being that great at flying yet, she had to take a break every couple of rooftops. She surveyed her surroundings, trying to locate where Volpina could have gone. Finding nothing, she glanced down at her hands, wondering what Gabriel meant about the Peacock not needing a material weapon.

“All around me? So am I like an airbender or something?” Marinette wondered out loud. Shoving her fist forward, nothing happened. “Well I guess that’s not it.” She tapped her foot impatiently. “What is something that is all around you besides air?”

She took a deep breath, holding up her hands and closing her eyes, her mind searching for something, anything, to visualize. She felt something stir within her, the air around her stifling, as she held her hands forward. Her thoughts raced to catch the feeling, to harness it, closer and closer—

A hot, crackling sensation sparked in her hands, and Marinette’s eyes snapped open to find glowing blue energy coming to life from her very fingertips. The energy sizzled and sparked, crackling like both lightening and a flame. However, Marinette gasped when she realized she wasn’t getting burned.

“Energy…” she whispered. “I can use energy?”

Nothing answered her except the cracking light in her hands. She tried to turn it off, but instead it ended up becoming bigger, flinging from her fingertips and destroying parts of the roof.

“Eep!” Marinette squeaked, hoping no one saw that. “Well I guess I have four more of those to go…”

A hiss of a wire being launched reached her ears and Marinette zeroed in on Volpina, Ladybug, and Chat Noir facing off at the Eiffel Tower. Her heart stopped when she saw Volpina dangling Adrien off the side of the tower with a malicious smirk on her face. Marinette snarled, energy summoning itself from her fingertips, burning with intensity, and she flew forward.

-----------------------------------------

Chat Noir and Ladybug glared up at Volpina, who was holding the illusion of Adrien in a threatening manner.

“Give it up, Volpina!” Ladybug growled. “You can’t win against the two of us!”

“Ha! Some talk! But I have the upper hand here!” Volpina grinned, dangling the illusion. “Give me your Miraculous or else he dies!”

“Yeah right!” Chat snorted. “You love him, right? You wouldn’t drop him.” At least he hoped she really wouldn’t consider dropping the real Adrien.

“Hmph. True.” Volpina admitted, but her smirk was back, even more insane than before, “But seeing the despair on Ladybug’s face at losing a civilian is more joyful to me!”

She loosened her grip on the illusion and Ladybug and Chat Noir readied their weapons to call her bluff. However, suddenly, a shock of energy blasted them. They coughed through the smoke.

“Is this Volpina?!” Ladybug coughed. Chat Noir couldn’t respond due to coughing up a storm.

“What the--?” Volpina yelled, the smoke making tears come to her eyes.

“How dare you!” the assailant bellowed. The smoke cleared, and three pairs of eyes widened at the newcomer.

‘Two akumas?!’ Alya and Adrien thought in disbelief.

The new akuma appeared to be able to fly, as she floated in the air with some difficulty. Her eyes were bright and vicious, as if they were a tsunami coming to wipe them all out. Around her eyes was a teal masked and she appeared to be peacock themed.

“How could you think of risking a hostage?!” the newcomer screamed. Ladybug and Chat Noir’s eyes widened when they realized the girl was purposefully aiming her attack at them to get them to stop attacking Volpina. They glared at her, steeling themselves to face two foes at the same time. Volpina smirked, happy that she had back up—not that she needed it, thank you—and gave off a taunting smirk.

“Well well, let’s like luck is not on your side for once, Ladybug.” Volpina sneered. Yet, her laughing was cut short when the newcomer summoned another ball of energy, her eyes zeroing on her.

“And you,” the girl snarled furiously, “Release Adrien Agreste or else I will make sure this light is the last thing you see before falling to your death.”

Volpina actually paused at the threat. The butterfly mask appeared on her face, signaling that Hawkmoth was communicating with her. It was clear both of them were not used to death threats made against them. Nevertheless, Hawkmoth seemed to have given Volpina the encouragement she needed, and she grinned evilly.

“Sure. I’ll release him.” Volpina conceded. Her fingers let go of the illusion heartlessly, the illusion screaming as it fell to its demise. “There—I released him.”

“No!” the girl cried and flew down to reach it before it hit the ground. Ladybug and Chat Noir took this distraction to their advantage and shot their weapons at the cackling Volpina.

-------------------------------------

Nononononono! Faster! I gotta go faster! Marinette pushed herself to reach Adrien with all her might. Tears rose to her eyes, heart pounding in her ears, and her hand was reached towards him like he was her salvation.

Adrien reached for her in desperation, and she sped up faster, hand stretched out—

She gave a strangled cry of agony as their fingers just brushed each other and he fell from her grasp, heading to the ground.

Marinette’s heart stopped.

Upon contact, Adrien dissipated into smoke, revealing he was not the real thing. She pulled herself up in the air to avoid meeting the same fate, and she panted heavily, tears running down her face. Her mind was at a standstill.

‘What…?’

That wasn’t Adrien…

Hands shaking, she brought them to cover her face as she cried at the trauma at having to witness one of her dear friends die. Her whole body convulsed with sobs as she felt her sanity slipping from her.

‘But… it was so real! How wasn’t that Adrien?!’

She had a hard time wrapping her mind around the fact that it wasn’t Adrien that was dead, but just an illusion. She brought her hands away from her face, studying her hands to retain herself in the present. That wasn’t Adrien… Adrien wasn’t dead… he wasn’t dead.

“But where is he?” she whispered brokenly. Her shaking hands gave her no answer. She heard the combat happening above her, registering Ladybug and Chat Noir fighting Volpina’s illusions. Her eyes focused solely on Volpina. Her smirk. Her cold eyes.

Fury filled her.

‘She wanted me to see Adrien die.’ Marinette hissed in her mind, her fist clenching so tight, her palms started bleeding. ‘She took Adrien, but that wasn’t the real one—she still has Adrien somewhere!’

The fury boiled in her body like a volcano waiting to erupt. She narrowed her eyes into the most hateful glare she has ever given another human being.

‘Hawkmoth is willing to make people think that he’s killed their loved ones…’ Energy crackled at her fingertips, the intensity of it like hot lava upon her skin, burning her fingers slightly, but she didn’t register the pain at all. All she could think about was all the times Hawkmoth has akumatized someone and put people in harm’s way just to get what he wanted. Volpina was a monster. Hawkmoth was a monster.

‘It’s time the monsters have something to be afraid of.’

Energy pulsed through her body as Marinette ascended towards the top of the tower with speed. It appeared the three heard her coming as Marinette flew closer, shooting a blast at all of Volpina’s clones. The real Volpina yelled as she was immersed in smoke. She tried to use her flute to summon more illusions, but Marinette was too fast for her and grabbed her by her necklace, yanking it hard. Volpina gasped at the dark expression on Marinette’s face. Ladybug and Chat Noir gaped in astonishment at her abilities.

“Are you listening, Hawkmoth?!” Marinette hissed furiously, grasping the necklace so hard that it was choking the akumatized girl. “Ladybug and Chat Noir may be playing your games, but I will not! I will surpass your Miraculous with my own and I’m coming for you, you hear me?!”

Volpina gagged and kicked Marinette in the gut, causing the girl to let her go. Volpina gasped for air.

“Another Miraculous?!” Chat Noir exclaimed. Ladybug’s amber eyes were wide as she looked upon the self-proclaimed Miraculous holder.

“There are more Miraculous?! More Kwamis?!” Ladybug shouted, not believing what she was hearing. Alya had always thought that it was just the Ladybug, Black Cat, and Butterfly Miraculous that existed. There were more?! And how many were there?! Were they also being misused?!

“What’s a Kwami?” Volpina coughed as she held her throat. Marinette appeared behind her, holding her hand out in front of her.

“It means god.” Marinette hissed, her hand conjuring up pure, thunderous energy, “Now bow.”

Volpina didn’t have a chance to dodge as the energy hit her square in the face. Volpina screamed at the burning sensation against her skin. She cried in agony while her skin melted off her face, the layers bleeding out. Marinette didn’t give her a chance to recover as she punched Volpina straight in the face, causing the akuma to fall down on the tower. The assault didn’t stop there as Marinette kicked her into the air, and then held her hands together in the giant fist as she brought her hands down and slammed them on Volpina’s back making a sickening crack.

Ladybug and Chat Noir came out of their stupor as they realized this girl was going to kill the akuma. Ladybug shot her yo-yo out to incase Marinette’s body in midair while Chat Noir caught the unconscious akuma, tearing her necklace off and destroying it with his cataclysm. The akuma flew free and Ladybug cursed, having to release the girl to capture the akuma. She purified the akuma quickly, landing on the top of the tower where Chat Noir brought Lila and used Miraculous Ladybug to restore everything and heal both Alya and Lila’s wounds. What was once melted off was perfect again, and the girl remained unconscious.

Marinette began to fly off, intending to look for Adrien, when Ladybug wrapped her yo-yo around her torso. Blue eyes surveyed the spotted hero peevishly.

“She’s healed now. We gotta find Adrien.” Marinette told them, but neither hero was having it.

“What was that?!” Alya screamed at the self-proclaimed hero. “You nearly killed her! What is wrong with you?!” Marinette’s eyes narrowed.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you? You had no idea if that was the real Adrien or not! You could’ve killed an innocent person!” Marinette shouted, trying to free herself from Alya’s yo-yo, but the wire was latched tight. Marinette huffed angrily.

“But it was an illusion!” Chat Noir chimed in. “We knew it was an illusion the whole time! Adrien is safe!”

“Oh really?” Marinette snapped. “Then where is he, hm? If you two were aware that he was safe why didn’t you say so?!” That shut Chat up, for if he answered that, it would compromise his own identity. Alya spared her partner a glance before surveying the peacock hero again.

“We had no time.” Alya said, not letting this newcomer know anything. “Who are you?”

“No one of importance.” Marinette snipped back. Alya sighed in impatience, rubbing her temples.

“That isn’t an answer you should be giving right now. You claim you have a Miraculous—a big claim. Miraculous are given to those who will protect, not hurt. You proved that you seem to only know the latter.” Ladybug scolded, and Marinette felt the gravity of what she did hit her. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, eyes becoming clouded.

“I… you’re right. There was no excuse. I was not acting like a proper hero.” Marinette admitted guiltily. She felt the reality of what she nearly did sink in. Hawkmoth took control of his victims and they had no recollection or ability to control what they do while akumatized. She was going to kill a puppet, not the puppeteer. She clenched her teeth in frustration that even after all this time, Hawkmoth was just a phantom enemy who was able to escape all consequence.

“Who gave you your Miraculous?” Chat Noir asked Marinette, and she found it so weird that he was looking at her with caution and seriousness instead of his usual warm and inviting smile, but she knew that it came with the mask.

“Can’t say…” she finally confessed. The superhero duo furrowed their brows in confusion.

“Okay Miss Can’t Say, you’re not really helping your case here.” Chat crossed his arms as he observed her with suspicion. Marinette winced.

“I’m sorry but I really can’t say. It would give too much information away.” Marinette explained. “I didn’t get it from Hawkmoth if that’s what you’re wondering.” She added. Ladybug and Chat Noir glanced at each other unsure of how to proceed with this. Suddenly, Chat’s ring beeped, and he cursed.

“Go on, go recharge and then inform Monsieur Agreste Adrien is safe. I will take care of this.” Ladybug assured him.

“Yeah, but what about those energy blasts of hers? She could melt your face off if you’re not looking!” Chat protested.

“I only have one blast left.” Marinette admitted. “And anyway, I’m tied up by Ladybug’s unbreakable wire. Nothing could get me out of here unless she decides to do so.”

Chat Noir surveyed both girls warily. It wasn’t until Ladybug gave him a reassuring smile that he felt more at ease.

“Don’t worry. She’s right. She can’t get out unless I let her.”

He nodded his thanks and lept away from the tower, tail bellowing behind him. Ladybug turned her molten amber eyes to Marinette, squinting her eyes as she examined her. Marinette looked at her with a shy smile.

“Thank you for reminding me a hero’s main goal is to protect. I… when I saw Adrien fall and disappear into an illusion, I lost it.” Marinette told her, remorse lacing her tone. Ladybug eyed her in suspicion.

“How do you know about my yo-yo being unbreakable? And how do you know Adrien?” Ladybug demanded sternly. Marinette sweated as she thought about an explanation to give the other girl.

“Errr you could say I’ve been watching you for a while. As for the yo-yo, I think it’s kinda obvious how I know considering I used it before.” Marinette prayed her confession was the right decision. She needed to drive attention away from her being Marinette. If she could lead them off her trail into thinking she is someone else, then so be it.

‘Hopefully I am making the correct judgement call.’ Marinette thought.

Ladybug—Alya’s—eyes widened in absolute shock as the realization clicked in her mind. The wire of the yo-yo loosened, and Marinette sighed in relief at being released from its hold. She rubbed her robes to rid of the wrinkles as Alya gathered her thoughts.

“You’re her?” Alya whispered. “You’re the previous Ladybug?!”

“Eehhh… surprised?” Marinette replied sheepishly. Alya just gaped at her like she was a fish.

“I… you disappeared without a trace! Chat and I had no way to contact you! Tikki said you just gave up the earrings and left!” Alya told her. Marinette flinched at the mention of her abandonment of Tikki.

“Err yeah, I didn’t think I was right for the job…” Marinette responded. Alya raised an eyebrow.

“But you’re here again… with another Miraculous…”

“Circumstances have changed.” Marinette told her firmly. “I see now the city needs my help and I’m up for the task.” Alya felt insulted, and voiced her thoughts as so.

“The city is fine with Ladybug and Chat Noir!” Alya growled. “We are doing just fine!”

“I didn’t say you weren’t.” Marinette tried to placate her. “But there’s nothing wrong with there being more heroes to help out.”

“Ugh! You can’t just disappear and then show up with another Miraculous and say you’re here to help! Who are you really?” Alya exclaimed.

“I’m sorry, but I really can’t tell you.” Marinette repeated. Alya glared at her.

“But you know who I am! You gave me the earrings! It’s only fair you tell me who you really are if you want me to trust you!” Alya bit out. Marinette felt her heart seize itself in fear. Anxiety bubbled in her body at the very thought of revealing herself to Alya right now. She wasn’t ready.

“And I know I made the right choice!” Marinette insisted with conviction. Alya’s eyes widened at the certainty in the girl’s tone. “I… I wasn’t right for the Ladybug Miraculous. It needed a holder with confidence and a strong sense of justice. That wasn’t me…” Marinette looked down at her hands, clenching them, and rose her gaze to Alya’s again, “But it was definitely you. I know you don’t trust me, and that’s fine, but believe me when I say I didn’t make a mistake in picking you for Ladybug.”

The two heroes stared at each other, trying to read what the other was thinking. Ladybug was shocked, and touched, that someone believed in her so much, but that didn’t satisfy her yearning to know who it was under the mask that thought so highly of her. Meanwhile, Marinette wanted Alya to believe in her choice, and hoped she would accept that as an explanation for the time being. She didn’t know what she would do if Alya kept demanding answers towards her identity.

“I know I gave up the Ladybug Miraculous…” Marinette spoke finally. “I know that in your eyes that doesn’t make me fit to stand beside you as a hero, but I realized I can’t sit on the sidelines anymore and let innocent people get hurt. If I do that, that makes me just as guilty as Hawkmoth who’s misusing his Miraculous to hurt people. If I can just help you even a little in stopping him, then that would be enough.”

Ladybug observed the peacock themed hero silently, weighing her words in her mind. Finally, Ladybug sighed. She crossed her arms and gave her a serious look.

“Listen… I don’t trust you, but I’m willing to hear you out.” Marinette breathed a sigh in relief, but Ladybug continued, “But Chat and I both have to agree to let you on the team. It’s not just me. He’s my partner and you owe him an explanation even more so than me. You left him without answers and it’s caused a rift in our partnership. You’re responsible for putting this wedge between us, so I will allow you to try and fix it.”

Marinette nodded solemnly, showing she understood what Alya was demanding. Confronting Chat was definitely something that she couldn’t avoid, especially since she revealed she was the previous Ladybug Miraculous holder. Her heart hurt at the thought of Chat screaming at her and saying hurtful things to her for her absence, but Marinette knew it was necessary for them to accept her as part of the team. She would bear the guilt and the hurt for Chat, who always helped her in her times of need, and told herself she could do it.

To protect Adrien, and her loved ones, she would bear it.

“I understand.” Marinette told Ladybug.

“Good. Meet us when you’ve got your shit together.” Ladybug told her firmly. With that, the spotted hero flung her yo-yo out and swung off, leaving Marinette on the Eiffel Tower alone. A groan caught her attention and Marinette realized that Ladybug and Chat Noir, in their surprise at seeing her, had forgotten Lila. Sighing in guilt, Marinette picked the unconscious girl up and clumsily flew off towards the school. Making sure no one was around, she placed Lila gently on the courtyard ground, knowing a staff member would come across her while closing down the school for the night. Once that was finished, she retreated towards the Agreste mansion, accidentally landing in a bush. Blowing leaves out of her face, she released her transformation.

“Feathers fall.”

A blue light engulfed her and Duusu flew out of the pin, floating beside Marinette. The kwami had a shy smile on her face.

“How was it, Marinette?” she asked, nervous that Marinette didn’t like being the peacock after all. Marinette gave her an encouraging smile and stroked Duusu’s head.

“It was fine, Duusu. Just some stuff I need to get used to.”

Duusu’s smile grew at Marinette’s statement, glad that she hadn’t decided to give her up. The two then glanced at the Agreste mansion.

“What’s wrong, Marinette?” Duusu asked in concern. Marinette shook her head and gave her a tired smile.

“It’s nothing, Duusu, but perhaps it is time Monsieur Agreste and you give me answers, is it not?”

“I believe so, Marinette.” Duusu conceded. With that, Duusu hid in Marinette’s scarf and the midnight haired girl traveled to the front door. Natalie opened it, gazing down at Marinette in surprise.

“Adrien is not accepting visitors right now.”

“She’s here for me, Natalie.” Gabriel appeared, placating his assistant. Natalie’s eyes widened a fraction at Gabriel Agreste continuing business with a schoolgirl. However, she didn’t dare voice her inquiries out loud in fear of receiving his wraith. Stepping aside to let Marinette in, Marinette and Gabriel locked eyes, a silent message conveyed between them. Gabriel cleared his throat and gestured her to follow him.

“Natalie, I will be busy with Mademoiselle Dupain-Cheng for the time being. Make sure Adrien is comfortable and doesn’t disturb us. He’s had a hectic day.” Gabriel instructed. Natalie nodded.

“Yes sir.” And with that, she was off to attend to Adrien. The two remaining occupants of the foyer journeyed to Gabriel’s office where it all began. Locking the office door tight, Gabriel gestured they sit down. He pushed a plate of fruit towards her.

“Here, Duusu must be hungry.” He said. As if summoned, Duusu flew out of Marinette’s scarf and began chomping down on some grapes. Marinette squirmed in her seat, memories of the first time she was in his office coming back to her. She tried to slow her anxious heart, but it seemed like it would continue to pound against her chest regardless of her consent or not.

“I understand you have many questions, Marinette.” Gabriel spoke evenly, observing her. Marinette took a deep breath to calm herself and nodded. Despite being in on Gabriel’s secret, he was still quite intimidating. “Please feel free to take some fruit for yourself. You must be hungry.”

“Thank you, Monsieur.” Marinette replied, shakily grabbing an orange and began peeling—anything to distract her while they talked. “And yes, I do have questions.”

“You decided to keep Duusu.” Gabriel said. It was not a question.

“Yes, I have.” Marinette affirmed.

“May I ask what made you change your mind?”

“You know why.” Marinette replied, cheeks aflame. “I couldn’t let Adrien be hurt.” She managed to put an orange slice in her mouth.

“I see.” Gabriel said, intertwining his fingers, “And what if I had told you that Adrien wasn’t in any danger at all?” Marinette choked on the orange slice. Duusu flew over and patted her shoulder as Marinette beat her chest a couple of times.

“I’m sorry... what?” Marinette coughed. Gabriel gave her a serious look.

“We both know that the Adrien Volpina took was an illusion, Marinette.” He said. Marinette gaped.

“You… how long did you know?!” Marinette exclaimed. Gabriel calmly studied her.

“Ever since the illusion was conjured.”

Marinette’s jaw dropped.

“Then—then why did you yell at Ladybug and Chat Noir to go get him back if you knew he wasn’t really there the whole time?!” Marinette yelled. Duusu offered her another slice and she declined—too confused by Gabriel Agreste.

“I couldn’t compromise my son’s identity. Especially with Mademoiselle Bourgeois around. Cosmos knows the girl has a mouth on her. The only reason she is quiet now is because I threatened to expose her father’s corrupt acts as Mayor if she didn’t keep silent about all of this.” Gabriel explained. Marinette gaped, cogs turning in her head.

“Your son’s… identity?”

“Yes. Which is why I knew it was an illusion. My son can’t make copies of himself to be in the same room as him after all. The Black Cat Miraculous doesn’t have that power.” Gabriel explained casually, as if he was talking about the weather. Marinette fell out of her chair in surprise. Duusu flew down to see if she was okay while Gabriel surveyed her dumbfounded expression from his desk. Meanwhile Marinette was gazing back at him, her eyes the size of dinner plates and her mouth opening and closing like she was a fish.

“B-B-B-Black Cat Miraculous?!” she shouted. Gabriel nodded.

“Yes, Marinette.”

“He-he has the Black Cat Miraculous?!”

“Yes. I’m honestly surprised you haven’t figured it out what with Chat Noir’s tendency to dote on you.” He stated. Marinette just gaped at him. Realization flooded her mind as she looked back on all the times Chat Noir was very familiar with her, all the convenient times he seemed to be around to address something with her when it came to Adrien and Gabriel. She remembered how he came to her balcony to thank her for saving Gabriel Agreste—his father—and when he came to comfort her after the dinner at Adrien’s—his—house.

“Holy shit…” Marinette murmured. She blinked a couple of times rapidly while her entire face became red as a tomato. It was Adrien this whole freaking time bestowing her with affection and pet names and flirtations! “Y-you! Why didn’t you say anything?!” she yelled.

“If I did, you wouldn’t have ever accepted Duusu’s Miraculous. You needed the push to realize your potential.” Gabriel told her. Marinette glared.

“I thought Adrien died! I thought I didn’t save him in time! I watched an illusion of him fall to his death!” Marinette cried, tears coming to her eyes at the memory of the despair she felt when she thought she missed Adrien’s hand as he was falling. She gave a hiccup and wiped her tears with her arm while Duusu comforted her. Gabriel gave her a look of sympathy.

“And that is why I chose you to wield Duusu’s Miraculous. He could very well die in the future.” The older man said solemnly. Marinette glanced up to see the face of a broken man. “I’ve lost so much in my lifetime. I… I couldn’t bear it if I lost my son to the Miraculous too.”

“You… you weren’t the one to give him his Miraculous?” Marinette whispered, eyes widening at the reality that Alya and Adrien weren’t connected to the Peacock Miraculous at all. It wasn’t some big ploy to get her to take a Miraculous. Their friendship was genuine!

“No. If it were up to me, he wouldn’t even have one or ever know of them.” Gabriel said firmly. “Sadly, my old mentor has a habit of meddling.”

“Old mentor?”

“The Guardian of the Miraculous. He selects wielders for the Miraculous to use for good.”

“Hawkmoth doesn’t use his for good.” Marinette reminded him. Gabriel sighed.

“Sadly, not all Miraculous end up in righteous hands…” Gabriel admitted, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Nooroo was lost to the Guardian years ago. It seems he was discovered by Hawkmoth and is used for his own devices.”

“So, this Guardian was the one who chose Adrien and Ladybug’s holder…” Marinette trailed off, recalling the hexagon box she found in her bedroom so long ago. It was nice to have answers to the persistent questions she’s had since that day.

“Correct. Wyazz, the Guardian’s kwami, must’ve felt Nooroo being activated negatively and it forced the Guardian to distribute the two most powerful Miraculous in order to combat him.” Gabriel explained. Duusu offered Marinette an apple slice and Marinette tentatively took it, patting Duusu’s head, who cooed softly.

“How many Miraculous are there?” she asked. “How are the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous the most powerful?”

“There are seven in total. The Turtle, the Fox, the Bee, the Butterfly, the Peacock, and you already know about the Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous.” He answered. “Each represents an aspect of the cosmos they were created from: Creation, Destruction, Order, Chaos, Perseverance, Death, and Life. The Ladybug and Black Cat Miraculous—creation and destruction—are the most powerful. Combining them would result the user to become a God able to warp our very reality.”

Marinette gasped, dropping the grape that Duusu gave her onto the floor. She stood up abruptly, slamming her hands on the desk.

“Then why give them to two separate people? They could easily stop Hawkmoth in his tracks!” the blonde-haired man shook his head.

“Sit down and calm yourself, Marinette. It’s not that simple. Yes, they can create a God, but if used together to warp reality to fit the user, something of equal value must be given in return to reset the balance. Ladybug and the Black Cat Miraculous are always at a balance. Everything must be maintained with balance. You cannot take too much without having to give something in return.” Gabriel advised. Marinette slowly took her seat, thinking hard.

“Then… if Adrien and Al—Ladybug have such strong Miraculous, why give me one? It sounds like they don’t need it.” All of this wasn’t making sense to Marinette. It didn’t seem necessary to give out more Miraculous when the two most powerful ones weren’t having issues.

“Regardless of everyone’s opinions of Ladybug and Chat Noir being invincible, that is not the case.” He told her. He picked up one of the grapes off the plate. “They wield the most powerful of the Miraculous, but they are facing off against a more experienced foe. They are young, naïve, and inexperienced compared to their enemy. They may have the advantage of power, but they lack severely in discipline. Hawkmoth has Nooroo to guide him. Adrien and Ladybug only have themselves and what their kwamis are permitted to tell them. This is not a game—something Ladybug and Chat Noir do not understand. They are strong on the outside, but if they present even the smallest weakness, Hawkmoth will crush them.” He ended his explanation by crushing the grape, the juices leaking out along his hand.

“Then why hasn’t the Guardian told them any of this? Better yet, why haven’t you?” Marinette countered back. Gabriel shook his head as he cleaned off his hand.

“The Guardian only shows himself when he feels they are ready to meet him.” Gabriel stated. “And me revealing what I know to Adrien will make him want to know things I am not inclined to share to my son.” He admitted, a sad glint appeared in his eyes, and the young girl wondered what this man had been through, and what he buried deep inside him.

“Then why not use the Peacock for yourself?” she finally asked. Her fingers gripped the fabric of her sweater tightly. “Why choose me instead of yourself?” heart pounding in her chest, Marinette waited with baited breath for the man’s answer.

“It’s quite simple—I don’t believe in the same convictions you do. I don’t believe good always triumphs over evil. I don’t believe in one’s will being the strongest against a foe—I am too jaded and broken to believe in those things anymore.” Gabriel confessed to her, his hand clutched at his heart, likely remembering what had made him become so fractured. “I needed a successor that would protect my son with the same ferocity I would myself. When you had stood against the akuma trying to kill me and proclaimed your devotion to my son the night of the dinner, I knew that you were the person I needed to be the next Peacock holder.”

Marinette stared at Gabriel across his desk. She stayed silent, processing what he had revealed to her.

“You really love your son, don’t you Monsieur Agreste?” she finally spoke, whispering the words, as if afraid speaking them too loud would shatter them. “People think you don’t care about Adrien, but in reality, he’s truly your greatest treasure.” Gabriel gave her a weary smile—his eyes showing her of the horrors he’s seen. Of the tragedies he’s witnessed.

“He’s the most precious thing in the world to me, Marinette.” He said strongly. “I… I lost my wife… he’s all I have left.” Duusu flew over to Gabriel and rubbed against his cheek, singing softly. Gabriel rubbed his hand under his eyes, to rid of tears that didn’t even get a chance to form. Marinette slowly got up from her seat to walk around the desk. Gabriel watched her curiously as she held out her hand.

“I’ll do it.” She said. “I will protect Adrien in your stead.”

Gabriel smirked, gasping her hand and giving her a firm handshake.

“Very well. I may not be able to put my faith in heroes, but I will put my faith in you, Marinette.”

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