#i really want to be the one to come up with their ship name but im no head thought empy

[revelboo]

The scavengers?! YEEEESSS!!1! my precious darlings :D They deserve this <3 can't wait to see more :) Thank you for writing this, i really needed something positive right now.

No worries :) I just really wanted to write these five goobers struggling

A Lifeless Ordinary

IDW Scavengers x Reader

• “You realize that thing is sentient, right?” Fulcrum asks, leaning to watch Spinister trying to coax their new pet into saying his name. So far the only response has been for it to lift both hands, middle fingers extended in what he suspects isn’t a friendly gesture.

• Looking up, Krok vents as Crankcase hesitantly mimics the gesture at the alien and it starts laughing like a Cybertronian would. Everything about it, that it’s bipedal, its little face, its hands and legs, is uncannily like a Cybertronian in form aside from being organic. “Of course, I do,” he finally says, servos flitting over the controls to check everything is ready to go even though he’s already checked three times while they wait on Misfire. Knows he’ll check more times, but unable to stop since the repetitive gesture keeps him focused. And from overthinking exactly how much damage Misfire can do running a simple errand unsupervised.

• “Honestly, I’m surprised Spinister’s not forgotten it’s his and shot it yet.” Fulcrum winces in sympathy when the hulking purple medic seizes you and roughly runs a servo over your head while you try to smack him, chattering angrily before giving up and slumping in his hand. “Any luck with that language?”

• Krok hesitates as Misfire comes running into the ship, a tiny container in his servos. “We should probably go,” he says right as the natives start firing on the ship.

• “Did you steal that?” Fulcrum growls, as Krok powers up the ship. Not even sure why Fulcrum’s asking, because of course he did. Why wouldn’t he have?

• Indignities upon indignities. Dangling from the biggest one’s hand, you finally give up as his big servos pet your hair and he rumbles nonsense at you. As far as you can tell, you’re a pet. Not exactly flattering, but since they’re not hurting you and they’ve kept you trapped on their ship since finding you, there’s not much you can do about it. You’d made attempts to try and play charades with the big one and after hours of it you’d decided either you’re just awful at charades or he’s an idiot. But at least his hands are warm even if his touch is a bit rough as he tries to cuddle you against his neck.

• “In my defense, they refused to sell to Cybertronians. Something about us being warmongering abominations destroying the galaxy,” Misfire says, prying open the container and immediate leaning away from the stink. “Organic food for the organic.”

• Grumbling slightly, Spinister lowers you near the box and they wait as you look inside then back at them questioningly. “You think it knows what it can and can’t eat?” Crankcase mutters as Misfire huffs. But that is something Krok hadn’t considered. Surely you do know. Right?

• Whatever they brought you looks like blue noodles and smells like dirty socks. And they’re just staring down at you talking amongst themselves, because they can’t understand you. What even is this? It’s when the one with a chunk missing from his head bends and mimes eating that it sinks in. Surely they don’t think you’re going to eat this garbage? Apparently they do as the calmest of the five gently nudges you closer to the box. And inhaling to gather yourself, you gingerly pick up a slick noodle in your fingers and bite into it. By some miracle it does actually taste good despite having the texture of a raw potato. You suppose they’re trying to take care of you and that’s something.

• Listening to the miserable sounds that aren’t even marginally better than the tantrum Spinister had thrown threatening to shoot Misfire over the whole mess, Krok reaches out a servo and rubs between your shoulders as you keep dry heaving, because apparently you don’t know what you can and can’t eat as difficult as it is for him to grasp. The rest of the Scavengers had retreated a safe distance when you’d started noisily purging the food, so now it’s just the two of you.

• They probably weren’t trying to poison you. Maybe. Shaking and dehydrated, you slump over and the calm one carefully wraps his servos around you and cradles you to his chassis, murmuring softly as you press your palms against your eyes, head pounding and throat raw. His touch is at least gentle compared to the other’s as he runs a big servo along your spine over and over. When you’re less miserable, you need to try charades with him since he seems to be the leader. Maybe you can get it through his head that you’re not a pet. Right now, you just want to soak in the warmth of him and rest.

Previous

[multifandomdummie]

Zosan first kiss?

Right after they met in Sabaody.

I just know these guys were craving each other desperately when they were apart. At first they thought it was because they wanted to fight and pick on each other, but then they realized there was something else.

And Sanji felt it the moment he saw Zoro emerging on that ship he cutted, a lot bigger and stronger than he ever was. Sanji had to light a cigarette so his thoughts remain control. There was no doubt of his feelings at that point.

Zoro's full body trembled when he heard Sanji's voice for the first time in two years, the scent of Tabacco helped him realize it was not his imagination anymore, the idiot cook was really there, his body not as thin as he remembered, his legs seemed to be toner, only his brows remained the same.

Zoro swallowed thick as he got closer to the blonde one, his whole body felt hot and weak for some reason. The swordsman, after a long talk with Perona, realized that he might not despise Sanji as much as he thought, maybe not at all.

-you are such a headache, you know? - Sanji said as soon as they were together - always wasting time, I knew I had to look for you so you don't mess up my reunion with my beautiful ladies - Sanji smoked his cigarette, slowly - Nami-san would be really mad if you delay us - Zoro grin a little, looking to the cook's eyes, they seem bluer than ever

Sanji felt the air got stuck on his throat. Out of all the ideas he had made on his head about Zoro physical appearance after two years, the missing eye was definitely not on his list, let alone think it looked kind of good on him

-is it for Nami or were you so desperate to see me that you had to come find me?- Zoro said staring at the blonde one - there's no need to hide it, ero-cook - the swordsman started walking to the opposite direction of where they were suppose to go.

-you are even dumber than I remembered - Sanji throw his cigarette at the floor, stepping on it and started walking behind the swordsman who decided to take a turn to his left - fucking unbelievable - the cook had no other remedy than to take the same direction, but at the moment he got there, Zoro was nowhere to be found - you are always such a pain in the ass - Sanji started to complain while he walked through the empty street - always getting lost, always causing trouble, always so, so, so... - Sanji couldn't find another adjective to describe the swordsman when the felt a hand in the back of his neck, making him turn around.

- so what? - Zoro asked as he cornered Sanji against the wall, his other hand pressed against the wall near to Sanji´s head. He started to feel dizzy when his whole body was in touch with the blonde's - just spit it out, Sanji - the blonde had to swallow thick, hearing Zoro saying his name with him this close was definitely making his body weak - am I so what? - Zoro locked his eye on Sanji's, waiting for an answer.

- so stupid, you are always so stupid - Sanji said trying to play tough as he wasn't loosing his mind at that moment. Zoro smiled a little.

- you are driving me crazy - the green haired released his grip on Sanji's hair, moving backwards - you have no idea - Sanji hand grabbed his wrist, preventing him from moving further away.

- why? What's on your mind?- Sanji asked, getting closer again -want to get rid of me? you want to cut me in pieces? - Zoro had to breath slow to control himself, Sanji's soft tone was making his blood heat - want to kill me? - the cook whispered when their breaths were combining again

At this point they were just tempting each other, trying to find out who will give in first, but both are dying for the other, craving it like crazy.

- I wish that was the first thing in my mind, curly, I really do - Zoro clenched his jaw trying to remain focus on anything else other than Sanji´s face this close to his, provoking some dangerous thoughts on his mind.

- is it not? - the cook asked faking confusion - then what is it that you want? Mosshead - Zoro's fist tightened, he was trying to remain calm - is just you and me, no one will see you - Sanji got silent for a second, his craving for it as much as the mosshead is - oh, for fuck sake Zoro, just do it! - in Sanji's head that was an order, but to Zoro's ears that was the cook begging for it.

But the swordsman couldn't take it anymore, his hand was back in Sanji's hair, pulling back to make the cook get against the wall again, kissing him without waiting anymore. Theirs lips frenetically moving against each other, their breaths heavy and agitated. They have been waiting for this for two years, they don't have time for sweetness and delicate touches, they have a desire to satisfy and they need to do it now

Zoro pushed Sanji's head closer as he hand in the wall wrapped around Sanji's waist, he wanted to feel every inch of the cooks body. The cook´s hands were travelling around Zoro's bare chest, trying to save in his brain the sensation under his fingers as the swordsman kisses him with such a fervour.

They stopped kissing after their chests were out of breath, blushing a little after what just happened between them.

- you see how right I was about you being desperate to see me? - Zoro said while raising and eyebrow, moving his hand from Sanji´s hair to his waist, forbidding him from move.

- shut the hell up - the cook frown - you were the one who kissed me first, stupid mosshead - Sanji´s hands slowly moved from Zoro chest to his shoulders

-you were begging for it - Zoro sight moved to the cook´s lips, feeling the urge to kiss him again. Sanji wanted to respond, he really did, but that look on Zoro´s face while looking at him, made his brain struggle to process information.

They looked at each other, silently. They needed to feel that they were real, that it was not longer their imagination. When Sanji's arms were around Zoro neck, the swordsman couldn't help it but to kiss the cook again, this time slower, taking his time to enjoy every sensation. The softness of the cook's lips, the way both mouths danced in synchronization, how their bodies fitted together.

- fuck, you really drive me crazy, ero-cook - Zoro said as their kiss broke, joining their foreheads.

- is because you are really stupid, mosshead - they both laugh a little, trying to decide if they should go or if they wanted to stay s little longer in that dark street Zoro found for them

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•••~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hear me out!

Sanji definitely learned how to flirt with men in Kamabakka Kingdom and Perona 100% taught Zoro how to behave with the people he liked

But they are still Zoro and Sanji, they need to send the other to eat shit before they eat each other's mouth. That's why I think it happened like that

[suroweczka]

Love Potion (reader x Zoro)

Summary: You and Zoro share a quiet night out drinking, both secretly harbouring feelings for each other. That’s until you order a cocktail with a striking name, claiming to make people speak up about their feelings…

female reader in mind

I think it’s a fluff or something (??) Nothing not really explicit anyway. Might write a smut continuation in 50 years though because why not 😌💅🏻✨

🍸🍹It was supposed to be just a night out as friends.

Everyone on the ship could see there was something more between you, but neither of you would admit that. Especially not Zoro — he could barely handle his feelings, let alone actually speak them out loud.

You picked up the menu, flipping through it casually until a certain drink caught your eye: Love Potion. The description boasted about making people spill their true feelings, claiming the cocktail had some "special" effect.

You snorted and nudged Zoro with your elbow. “Look at this,” you laughed. “A drink that makes you confess your feelings.”

Zoro’s expression twisted in amusement. “What a load of crap” he chuckled. “Any alcohol does that… If you’re a loser who doesn’t know how to drink. Which is clearly not me” He folded his arms, with a cocky smile on his face. “Oh, that’s indeed an achievement” you giggled.

“I’m tough. I don’t need to get wasted to talk about how I feel.”

You smiled at him. “They do look nice though, I think I will give it a go, would you like one too?”

“I don’t mind as long as it’s alcohol” he shrugged, leaning back with that confident, careless ease of his. That was classic Zoro; he would drink anything if it had a good kick. So, you ordered the so-called Love Potion, more as a joke than anything else.

When the drinks arrived, you took a cautious sip, but Zoro, in typical fashion, downed his in one go. 

“You didn’t mention it would be sweet” Zoro gave you a grimace of disgust.

“It’s called a Love Potion, what did you expect?” You laughed, shaking your head. 

As you were slowly sipping on your drink, you felt a subtle warmth start to spread through you, though Zoro’s reaction was even more surprising.

“Hey, (Y/N)…” He reached over, a strange glint in his eye as he locked onto you. “Did I ever tell you how pretty you are?”

You blinked, taken aback. “What? No, you haven’t…”

“I mean it,” he continued, his voice was clear. “When I first met you, it was your strength. You never backed down. Always threw yourself into the fight with no fear. Then I… started to notice other things.”

He leaned closer, his eyes wandering over your face and then down your body. “Like how hot you are” he murmured, his voice rough, almost reverent.

You blinked, caught off guard. “Where’s that coming from?”

“Just saying the truth, that’s all” he replied with a smirk.

But he wasn’t done. His hands, usually so steady with his swords, rested on your shoulders, and he was suddenly right there, his lips grazing your neck in a way that made your whole body shiver. His breath was warm, his mouth soft yet unrelenting, as he kissed down the side of your neck.

"Strong and pretty, what’s more to wish for?" he whispered to your ear, giving you chills. His hand brushing along your arm in a way that sent sparks through you. "Your courage… it’s one of the first things I noticed. But it’s more than that now" His voice grew husky. “I’d never been interested in any woman that way before.”

Your heart pounded, and the warmth from the drink seemed to blend with the heat of his words. Emboldened, you took a longer sip from your own glass, feeling that strange drink work its way through you until it gave you the courage to admit something you'd kept hidden for so long.

“When you took Luffy’s pain,” you began softly, “when you stood there after fighting Kuma without saying a word. I realised how far you’d go for Luffy, for all of us. I was in awe of your loyalty, strength… I was in awe of you, Zoro. I wanted to be someone who could stand by your side… and, I think I fell for you then.” Your words hung in the air, your face flushing with a mixture of nerves and adrenaline.

As you finished your drink, you reached out, pressing a hand to his chest. “And, I mean… have you looked at yourself?” you whispered, your voice carrying a flirtatious edge as you let your fingers slide along his defined muscles. “How could I not be into you?”

And without another word, he took your hand, pulling you toward the exit.

You never thought a drink could change everything—but in that moment, as you both tumbled onto his bed, you knew you wouldn’t be turning back.

And neither would he.

[feuillyweek]

So, as you may know if you've been watching the tags, I spazzed and completely missed Feuilly Week. So, as per the poll I sent out this week, the majority of people wanted to just extend Feuilly Week through the end of November, so you have a chance to finish (or start! ;D) any works you would like to. Enough people were interested in a second Feuilly Week before next October, though, so I may consider running one in early April, perhaps? But that's not set in stone.

So, without further ado................

Hello, fellow Feuilly lovers!

Feuilly Appreciation Week is here!

All  fanworks are welcome: fanfiction, fanart, photosets, gifsets, fanmixes,  fanvids, polyvore sets, cosplay, moodboards – you name the medium, it’s  welcome.  ^_^  The only requirement is that your fanwork be centered on  Feuilly.

Gen works are welcome.  Ship works are welcome  (platonic or romantic).  As long as Feuilly plays a starring role in  whatever you’re creating, anything else can fly.  ^_^

And because this has come up a few times, yes you absolutely can tag your any works for other events for Feuilly Week as well. (For example, I think @brickrenouveautions is kicking off soon?)  The more Feuilly, the merrier!  ;D

The week will run from November 12th to November 30th.  

The tag for the week is #feuilly week or #feuillyweek (or #feuilly week 2024 / #feuillyweek2024).

I  will be doing my best to track the tag and reblog everything posted for  the week to this blog, but tags have been really dodgy since... forever... so if you really want to be sure I’ll see it, please @ this blog!

If you have any questions, feel free to direct them to the blog ( @feuillyweek ) or the mod’s blog ( @eirenical ).

For more information, please try the FAQ.

And please feel free to signal boost this elsewhere (Discord or Twitter or wherever fandom people are congregating) if you feel comfortable doing so!

[screamintoad]

Cherrycard’s Relationship and Dynamic

“Cherrycard” is the ship name of my oc Rory x Ace, since they’re my main oc x canon ship I felt like this post was long overdue. 

How’d they start?

 -Rory is my Yuu so him and Ace met on Main Street in the beginning of the prologue and obviously, they didn’t get along at first. 

 -During the prologue Rory was silently cursing both him and Deuce for their brash actions that broke the chandelier. 

 -In Book 1 Rory was even more put off when Ace stumbled to Ramshackle’s front door claiming that he had no where else to stay while his dorm leader was angry at him. 

 -He let him have the couch but quite frankly he wanted to give him the front porch. 

 -But then Ace defended him to Riddle, he even punched him for insulting him. He had to have been an idiot to defend a stranger. 

 -As a thank you, Rory would spend some nights at Heartslabyul if the conditions at Ramshackle caused him to have a health flare up. 

 -Then came Book 2, the time where everyone grew more competitive. Ace and Rory continued to bicker this entire book. 

 -Book 3, the turning point for their friendship. This was the first time that Rory truly yelled at Ace and Deuce. 

 -He blamed them for getting them into a contract and especially for losing Ramshackle. 

  -Yet Ace didn’t react negatively compared to Deuce, he sighed and said that it was about time that Rory told them how he was really feeling. 

 -To which Rory responded, “You’re an idiot!” Yet he stayed the night at their dorm room per usual. He didn’t immediately go to sleep, he stayed up and thought about what Ace said. 

 -After Azul’s overblot and Rory got a part time job at Mostro Lounge, Ace would come by sometimes to make sure he’s not overworking. 

 -Book 4, the beginning of their crushes. 

 -When winter first began Rory didn’t have any thick jackets to wear in the cold weather so he made do with his school blazer that he despised wearing. One day he ran into Ace who was going on a grocery run for Trey and Ace let him borrow his hoodie. 

 -Afterwards, Rory invited Ace to stargaze with him. 

 -Rory: Do you like the stars? Ace: They’re there. Nothing much. Rory: I see. 

 -When students left for winter break, Rory noticed that he felt lonely without the presence of his friends. Most especially a certain red head. 

 -Stuck at Scarabia, Rory’s stress got the best of him and he sent an sos message to Ace and Deuce. When it said it didn’t send he decided to push his own anxiety away and focus on taking care of Grim. 

 -At the party after Jamil’s overblot the last things he expected to see were Ace and Deuce running through the desert towards Scarabia. When they explained what they had to do to get there and how much they panicked when they saw an sos from Rory he didn’t know what to say. The duo panicked even more when they saw that Rory wasn’t just being quiet. 

 -He was crying. He didn’t think that people would go to such lengths for him. 

 -Ace tried to awkwardly comfort him while stating “Of course we would help you. We’re friends idiot.”

 -Friends. Friends. 

 -As they walked back to the mirror chamber Ace suddenly remembered something and had Rory wait outside of the Heartslabyul mirror while he ran to the dorm to get something. Deuce went ahead home but not without making sure that Grim and Rory would be okay. 

 -When Ace came back he held out a small box wrapped in wrapping paper. It wasn’t the prettiest job but it was charming to Rory. 

 -He hesitantly took it and began to unwrap it. Ace began rambling about whatever. 

 -“I chickened out from giving it to you before I left. Obviously I don’t have a lot of savings so it’s nothing lavish-if you hate it then that’s completely fine I know I didn’t ask you what you wanted-“

 -Except it was one of the sweetest gifts that Rory could’ve received. It wasn’t just one thing in the box, it was multiple. 

 -A notebook for him to journal in that had what seemed like Twisted Wonderland’s constellations on the cover, a few different colored pens, and a bookmark that at the end had various beads dangling off of it. The one at the end being in the shape of a heart. The bookmark looked homemade. 

 -Overcome with everything that’s happened, Rory pulled Ace into a hug. “Thank you.” He mumbled. “You’re welcome.” Was returned in an equally soft tone. 

 -When they parted ways, Ace was almost sad that he had to leave again. Whereas Rory didn’t feel nearly as alone as before. 

 -Book 5. When everyone returned from winter break Rory finally gave Ace his gift. A portrait of Ace. The red head was surprised at first, by both the gift and the thought behind it. 

 -The portrait even included the more subtle details that Ace didn’t think much about but apparently Rory thought about them a lot. Such as the faint freckles along his nose and his dimples and his long eyelashes. 

 -For once, Ace didn’t have a teasing remark. Instead his face started to feel really warm. 

 -It wasn’t until AFTER the SDC and that hard loss that Rory finally got the courage to ask Ace a question. 

 -“Would you like to-“ “Do you wanna-“ They both paused and went back and forth on who should speak first until they finally shouted “go on a date together?!” 

 -After their date, Ace asked Rory to be his boyfriend and promised him that he would never be the reason he cries again. 

Fun facts! (They aren’t all fun)

 -They are so sitcom coded it is actually sickening. 

 -Rory was incredibly devastated when he realized he liked Ace. So much that he told Crewel about it, who became equally devastated and disappointed. 

 -When Rory’s health issues flare up and he just wants to lay in bed or nap, Ace is right next to him. Helping in any small way that he can. 

 -When Rory finally told Ace about his trauma and what his home world was like, it all clicked to him why Rory had the mannerisms that he did. Following that he took care to be careful with what noises he made or sudden motions. 

 -Rory does his best to go to every one of Ace’s practices and games, to a lot of the other students surprise he’s one of the loudest in the stands when cheering. 

 -Ace has a habit of leaning on Rory. Whether they’re sitting or standing, he’ll find a way to lean on him. 

-They’ve spent countless nights on the roof of Ramshackle stargazing and talking about anything. From their lives now to the future.

 -Their love languages tend to overlap with Rory’s being quality time, words of affirmation, and acts of service with Ace’s being quality time, physical touch, and gift giving. 

 -They don’t call each other by nicknames very often, mostly when teasing each other or during a sentimental moment. Rory’s go-to is “Lovey” and Ace has a few he likes to cycle through such as “Honeybun”, “Sugarplum”, “Babe”, and “Sweetheart”.

Rory: Do you like the stars?

Ace: Yeah, I like ‘em because you do. Rory: I see. They remind me of you.

WOOOO THAT’S A WRAP PEEPS. THANKS FOR READING :D Tags!: @blood-red-hummingbee @gimmeurmoneyagh @twtysevapr

@angelwishess @babyghoul138 @the-rini-rush @beneathsakurashade @moonyasnow

@4necdote @h0neybane @bunniehunn @justm3di0cr3 @theolivetree123

@skibidibabygirl DEUCE MENTION

[sadplaguedoctor]

god loves you, but not enough to save you.

⤷ curly & gn!reader

summary: you didn’t talk much anymore— definitely not to him at least. you refused to work with anyone when he handed out tasks and always asked for the longest ones. even daisuke had come to him in private to ask about you, claiming to be too nervous to reach out directly in fear of upsetting you. your talks with swansea had dimmed as well. you avoided everyone.

but one in particular seemed to get the worst reactions from you. one he couldn’t even stomach admitting.

tags: crossposted on ao3, you take the place of anya, referenced/implied rape, angst, hurt no comfort, unresolved trauma, responsibility

ao3 version

Another restless night of tossing and turning led Curly out of his bed and into the lounge, thinking maybe a drink would do him some good. His stress levels had skyrocketed ever since he stepped foot on this ship— yet he had to keep composure. No one wanted a man so inadequate as a Captain.

Upon reaching his destination, he was met with you instead— sitting alone on the couch, staring at the huge projection of a starry night sky. He stopped in his tracks for a moment and pressed his tongue to the front of his teeth, debating on whether he should leave you be or reach out. That was until he thought back on your recent developments.

You didn’t talk much anymore— definitely not to him at least. You refused to work with anyone when he handed out tasks and always asked for the longest ones. Even Daisuke had come to him in private to ask about you, claiming to be too nervous to reach out directly in fear of upsetting you. Your talks with Swansea had dimmed as well. You avoided everyone.

But one in particular seemed to get the worst reactions from you. One he couldn’t even stomach admitting.

Curly approached the lounge area, stepping down the stairs quietly so as to not startle you— quietly calling your name to direct your attention to him for a moment, letting you know he was there.

The way your shoulders jumped was almost unnoticeable to anyone who wasn’t looking for the movement— but Curly saw it clear as day. It made his heart clench in his chest and he resisted the urge to curse under his breath at himself, regretting bothering you at all and wanting to turn back around and take his sorry ass back to bed.

But, the need to be there for you was stronger than the need to flee. For once.

“Sorry,” he muttered, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

His words earned a much needed nod of assurance from you, a long, quiet sigh exiting his lungs. The sight of you was enough to make a grown man’s chest ache. You had abandoned your work enforced jumpsuit for a woolen gray sweater and black sweatpants that hung off your skin— bunching up at the ankles from the way you had your legs bent at the knee and nestled up against your chest.

A month ago, he would’ve sat right down next to you and smiled like he always did. His arm would find purchase around your shoulder as he nudged you during the aftermath of one of his absolutely horrid jokes.

But now, he couldn’t remember the warmth of your body next to him— let alone the thought of touching you. Last time he did that you looked at him like he was getting ready to strike you. That was the first real indication, he thought. Silent confirmation that something had happened to you under his protection.

“It’s okay, Captain.”

Ah. Captain.

He had drilled into your head the moment you had joined them that he really didn’t care for titles, and to call him by his name. And for a while, you listened. He had become Curly to you, just as you had become a friend to him.

But after this unspoken event. The way his title rolled off your tongue made him feel sick. It was foreign and familiar at the same time.

“You know you can call me Curly,” he spoke with a kind smile, trying to lightly tease you to get you to at least crack him a smile— tell you you were okay and he had nothing to worry about. But when met with your silence, he suppressed a sigh of disappointment.

He stood there for a few beats, waiting for something, anything to happen. When it didn’t, he took a step forward and sat himself down on the couch— next to you, but not too close. He knew he should keep his distance no matter how much it jabbed at his heart. This wasn’t about him.

“Couldn’t sleep? I couldn’t either.”

You didn’t have time to respond to his question before he answered it himself. He had a habit of doing this— no matter how many times Jimmy would dog on him in the past for interrupting or asking him things just to take away his right to answer them. It was all in good fun then, but with you, he couldn’t help but inwardly curse at himself.

“You.. haven’t been sleeping lately. I keep seeing you up here more frequently and uh.. it’s worrying me,” he confessed to you, keeping his voice down. He didn’t have a reason to. No one would hear him if he talked normally anyway, but he figured you would appreciate it.

Your silence was deafening and it made his leg bounce at the knee. He wasn’t good at this. He didn’t know how to confront these emotions when he felt them personally, so how was he expected to help anyone else?

Curly allowed the silence for a little longer before he tried to start another conversation. For some reason, he couldn’t give up. He felt a sort of entitlement to get a response out of you. It’s what a captain does, right? They help their crew when they need it— and you.. you need it.

“Please talk to me.. I want to help you so badly, but I can’t if I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours,” again— and like always, he used humor to cover his slowly growing discomfort. He hated not knowing. Whether it was something simple or as serious as he assumed this was. He hated it.

“I wish I was one of them.”

Your meek voice echoed in his ears like it was spoken through a megaphone, his head immediately turning to look towards you to watch for any indication of what you may be feeling. Of course, there was nothing. No trace of anything at all. No sadness, no anger— just nothing. It made Curly’s throat feel dry and he forced a swallow before speaking.

“The stars?” He asked, looking in the direction of your blank stare which was staring intently at the fake projection.

“Yes.”

“Can I ask why?”

A small part of him almost didn’t want to know despite trying so hard to find out. He had always been afraid of confronting a problem head on— constantly trying to find ways to avoid them altogether or ignore them until they didn’t affect him any longer. This wasn’t his realm and he didn’t feel welcome in it.

“They don’t have to think or feel like we do,” you began, your words already tugging on his heart, “They don’t regret. They don’t cry or complain. Yet they burst under the slightest indication that something has gone wrong.”

“They remind me of myself at times,” with the final words of your confession, went your contact— eyes drifting away from the pixelated stars and over to Curly. His eyes locked with yours and he felt a chill run down his spine when you spoke again.

“You too.”

What did you mean by that, he thought— having a hard time deciphering your rather bold statement. He didn’t know how to react. Your words ran through his head over and over and he tried to pinpoint where he related to them. But, of course, in his flawed mind— he had no idea.

“How so?”

He didn’t expect the smile that graced your face at his words. He wanted so desperately to see it earlier, but he didn’t want it now. Your eyes looked over his body before returning to the blue luminance of the projection— causing his gaze to stutter and flick between you and the supposedly calming sight in front of them.

“With all do respect.. you aren’t made to be a leader. You’re too reserved and too.. protective of your convictions— and when someone goes against that, you play the mediator. A very flawed mediator.”

He stayed silent, looking down at his hands and now still leg. He fought the urge to defend himself and tell you how hard he tries to be good for the crew, but he knew this was not the time. His most closed off crew member was finally opening up to him after so much pleading, so he listened. He did what he should’ve done from the very start, and listened.

“You tell everyone they can talk to you and that you’re there for them.. but, are you really?”

He felt different. He had never had his whole self picked apart and put into words for him to hear. Something deep down told him that he needed too. He was living in purposeful ignorant bliss and it was time to smell the roses. If only they weren’t wilted and rotten.

“I’m..” he started, cutting himself off with another thick swallow, shaking his head slightly to clear his mind and try to figure out what to say. His teeth pinched the sensitive skin of the inside of his bottom lip and gnawed at it— finding solace in the momentary sting before he was forced to face reality. His own reality.

“I’m so sorry,” vulnerability was clear in his voice, “I really am.”

He opened his mouth to say more, but when he looked over to see you shaking your head and adjusting your seat— legs stretched out and planted on the floor underneath them instead of tucked up to your body.

“I don’t want your apologies, Curly. I want you to take responsibility for what you’ve done.”

Curly’s eyes grew dry and he found he couldn’t blink anymore. His eyelids stopped responding to his brain and his body stiffened. He couldn’t move, couldn’t see— his skin was burning.

Once his brain cleared and the clouds were gone, all he could see was the projection of the night sky— this time much smaller and directly in front of his face. Unshed tears pooled around what was left of his bottom eyelids. He should’ve done more. He could’ve helped you— helped them all.

If only sorry was enough.

i wanted to post some of my ao3 fics here as well, so why not start with curly? i’m going to keep jimmy there and not bring them here though just because i feel more comfortable that way. if you are from ao3, expect the enji one soon! and if you’re not from ao3.. expect the same <3

[waterfire1848]

An au where Azula was saved by Hakoda from shipwreck when she was 2 years old and raised by him and Kya as their daughter (and got a new name since her original one is unknown)

Hello, anon!!!

1. The Royal Family goes on one of their trips to Ember Island one summer except there is a massive storm that they didn’t anticipate. The storm badly messes up their directions, causing them to start to sail south and starts to tear their boat in pieces. Ozai, Ursa and Zuko are able to stay with the biggest parts of the ship but Azula is thrown into the sea, hugging a piece of the boat so that she doesn’t drown. Because of the severity of the storm and the fact that Azula is only two, her family assumes that she passed away. She did not. Instead, Azula is still resting on the piece of the ship that she clung to when Hakoda spots her in the middle of the ocean. (Hakoda: Is that…SPIRITS! *Jumps into the ocean* Bato: Hakoda! What are you doing?! Hakoda, swimming over to Azula: It’s okay, sweetie. It’s okay. I got you. Azula, weakly: Mama? Hakoda: Not mama. I’m sorry, but I can help you. Let’s get you warmed up and get some food in you.) Hakoda brings her back to his ship where they dress her in warm furs, give her drinkable water and fish to eat.

2. When she’s got clinging to life, Azula is a pretty happy and “chatty” toddler. She loves following Hakoda around the ship—she become incredibly attached to him since he saved her life—, giggling at the other men on the ship and is pretty content with sitting on the rug and listening to stories. All in all, Azula is a really easy and happy toddler. Since she’s all alone and was seen with what looked like a piece of wood from a ship, everyone assumes that her family passed away in a shipwreck. (Hakoda: We’re bringing her with us. Bato: Hakoda- Hakoda: Kya will love her and she wouldn’t forgive me for not bringing her back. Bato: Kya will love her but can you guys handle three kids? Hakoda: It’ll be good for this little one to have siblings. Plus Katara and Sokka will get along great with her. I’m sure of it. Bato: Alright. I mean, none of us are going to argue that we put her in the Earth Kingdom orphanage so….I guess you got a new daughter). Hakoda is right. Kya loves the baby girl when she first meets her and she agrees with Hakoda that the best option is for them to take her in. There’s just one problem. Azula is two and can’t say her name and Hakoda and Kya don’t know it. (Hakoda: She needs a new name. Kya: Korra? Hakoda: No. Kya: Ivalu? Hakoda: No. Kya: Eska? Hakoda: No. Kya: You pick one then. Hakoda: How about….Hinata? Kya: Hinata. I love it.)

3. Hinata(Azula), Katara and Sokka grow up close. Despite the fact that they’re from different nations, the kids never let that stop them from being siblings and calling each other brother and sister. Azula grew up just like any other child in the South Pole. When Azula’s firebending comes in is when the family reaches its first problem. Because up until that point everyone had believed Azula was an Earth Kingdom child and finding out she was a firebender makes them realize how wrong they were. Plus, Azula has been raised to see firebenders as monsters and villains so finding out she is one is heartbreaking to her. (Azula, crying into her mom’s jacket: I don’t wanna be a monster! I wanna be a waterbender like Kat! Kya: Hinata, baby, the spirits can’t change what element you bend. Azula: But I’m a monster! Kya: You’re not a monster. Those firebenders we told you about…they were raised to be horrible, but you? You’re the sweetest girl. You could never be like them. Azula: Promise? Kya: I promise. I love you, Hinata. Azula: I love you too. mom.) Azula finally accepts her moms offer to go to the caves and train in secret with Katara. Kya doesn’t want them bending in public but she doesn’t want them to ignore their skills either, so they go to a hidden cave where the girls can practice away from possible eyes.

4. Sadly, that’s not the last challenge the family faces because 2 years after Azula and Katara get their bending, when they’re eight and Sokka is nine, a raid is done on the South Pole, looking for the last waterbender. Azula initially runs to the tent and finds her mom and the soldier. Kya tells Azula to leave, saying that she can handle this but Azula refuses to leave her mom. The solder recognized that Azula is Fire Nation but he doesn’t know who she is. He tries to take her which results in Kya going full mama bear on him and grabbing a nearby sword to stab him with repeatedly. After she’s sure her daughter is okay, she hides Azula under some furs and leaves the tent to see the fight is mostly over. Hakoda returns and tells her that they didn’t take anyone but Kya tells him that they were there for Katara and what she did. The parents agree to go through the village and find whoever betrayed them but also that Katara and Azula are officially banned from bending. The raiders do not return, (funding issues) and the tribe continues on with Hakoda eventually leaving for war with all the men. This time, Kya is there to hold her three kids as they watch their father disappear into the horizon.

5. Years later, Azula, Katara and Sokka are out fishing when they come across a familiar iceberg. They break Aang out and bring him back to the village where Kya is nervous about the introduction of an airbender into their village and, low and behold, a few days later the Fire Nation is back but this time it's not a man but a young boy. (Kya really wants to ask this child where his parents are but holds herself back). This time, Azula tries to fight Zuko by firebending her blue flames at him. (Zuko: You're a firebender? Who are you!? How could you betray your own nation?! Azula: My nation? The Water Tribe is my nation and, to answer your question, my name is Hinata. Zuko: You're a....a firebender in the South Pole. Azula: Wow. I'm glad the Fire Nation is teaching basic deduction skills.) Zuko can only think of one reason why a firebender would be in the South Pole because she's the Avatar. She must have hidden her tattoos which is how no one discovered her. Azula decides to go along with this in exchange for him leaving the village alone. (Of course Kya tries to stop this and begs Zuko not to take her daughter but Azula is still taken away). Aang arrives right after Azula is taken away and promises to help get her back. Katara, Sokka, Kya, Aang and Appa all fly off to go get Azula back which is where Aang is revealed as the Avatar and the group fly away, intending to go to the North Pole so Aang and Katara can learn waterbender.

6. I didn't have space for this but just as an extra add on, Kya does eventually tell Azula that she's not biologically related to them and her real family was from the Fire Nation. Azula does know this, but still wants to call Kya and Hakoda her mother and father which they are completely okay with. No one figures out though that Azula is part of the Royal Family until Ran and Shaw. The dragons are able to sense Azula's ancestry and, with the help of the Sun Warriors, tell Zuko and Azula that they're siblings and tell Azula what her original name was. Since Zuko is the only child of Ursa and Ozai, Azulon never ordered him dead and Ursa never left, meaning that she's there when Azula returns to the palace and knows who she is. Ursa is beyond thrilled to see her daughter again but there is some tension between her and Kya for obvious reasons. (Ursa: The...replacement mother can wait a few moments. I want to spend time with my daughter. Kya: I think Hinata can decide for herself. Ursa: Hinata? An odd name choice, don't you think? Kya: And naming her after a genocidal dictator was the best name in existence? Ursa: Azula is my daughter. She needs to spend time with the woman who gave birth to her. Kya: And the woman who apparently didn't have enough common sense to grab her two year old when a storm was approaching.) They do eventually get along but it's a tough few months.

[schrijverr]

I Didn’t Mean to Say I Do, but I Do. I Do. 19

Chapter 19 out of 50

Secret marriage of convenience buddie slow burn AU, where Buck and Eddie have been married for years so Buck could adopt Chris and no one at the 118 knows.

In this chapter, Buck and Eddie hover as Chris hangs out with the 118 then Maddie, having promised to not mention papi, but still a kid. Meanwhile Maddie is planning to start living for herself and solving a problem for them.

On AO3.

Ships: Buddie (slow burn)

Warnings: referenced domestic violence, ableism mention, internalized misogyny, insecurity

~~~

Chapter 19: Building a Life for Yourself

If everyone knowing about Chris feels weird, seeing everyone interact with him is even weirder. He doesn’t know how they know, but they’re all awaiting them when they arrive, looking curious and eager to meet Chris.

Eddie feels a little nervous as he walks in behind him, unsure if Chris can keep his promise not to say and if the others will react okay to Chris. They’ve been nice to him about Chris so far and they deal with disabled people a lot in their line of work and he’s never seen them be anything but compassionate and normal, but the anxiety lingers anyway.

It is assuaged slightly by Buck, who seems relaxed under these circumstances, loudly greeting everyone with: “We come bearing bribery coffee.”

“I would say who cares about coffee when you’re bringing such an esteemed guest, but I really need my caffeine fix,” Hen jokes, a big gentle smile on her face.

Eddie smiles slightly at that as well, waiting for Buck to make a joke about Chris being way more important than some coffee and more than enough of a fix to get you through the day. He is surprised when it doesn’t come, before he realizes that it isn’t Buck’s place right now and instead it’s his job.

“Hey, Chris is way better than coffee,” he tries clumsily, wanting to disappear the second he does it, which is only somewhat mitigated bit by Buck’s grin and Chris’s beaming smile.

“I believe you,” Hen says, before turning to Chris and holding out her hand: “Hi, I’m Hen. I heard a lot about you, you’re a real smart kid.”

“Hello, I’m Christopher,” Chris says shaking her hand. “You’re really cool, daddy says so.”

“Oh I like him,” Hen tells Eddie, twinkle in her eye.

“Hey, what about me. I’m cool,” Chimney butts in immediately, also holding out his hand. “I’m Chimney.”

“Chimney! I know you. You have a silly name,” Chris informs him seriously, getting laughs from everyone.

Eddie lets out a relieved breath as Chris keeps his promise to them and is accepted by everyone without question and with a lot of love. These people don’t seem to think badly of him for needing to have Chris here for a bit. They don’t seem to think he’s ruining Chris’s life. They’re just happy to meet Chris and get to know him. It would choke him up, if that were a thing he did.

Buck must catch something in his face, because he squeezes his shoulder in a comforting manner, before joining the others in going up the stairs.

Chris seems to be determined to do it alone and Eddie waits for the inevitable moment that someone will jog ahead or sigh in annoyance or offer help in that tone. But it never comes. They just walk with him as they talk, asking him about school and talking about the trucks and the ambulances when he asks.

Much like Eddie, Chris is easily absorbed into the 118 and he finds himself on the couch with the three others and Chris, laughing like it’s something they’ve always done. As if Eddie hasn’t known these people for almost three months, but for much longer than that.

It feels good. So incredibly good. It reminds him a bit of showing up frantically to the Johnson farm only to be met with understanding as Buck got him to laugh about Chris accidentally repeating ‘fucking’ before they hid out among the chickens so Eddie could talk about Shannon leaving and organize his thoughts. That quiet acceptance and space and understanding, the kind that makes a bad situation okay again.

He flies high, so his stomach sinks heavily when Bobby comes up to everyone, saying: “What’s this? I don’t remember asking the chief for reinforcements. You any good with a hose, kid?”

“I can try,” Chris smiles and everyone chuckles.

“Alright,” Bobby smiles back, because Chris’s smile is infectious. He got that from Shannon.

It’s a joke. Eddie knows it’s a joke and a joke means they’re probably okay, but he panics anyway, scrambling to his feet as he explains: “So sorry, Cap. Pepa, my tía is taking him tonight, but Maddie’s getting off work early so she can take him before that, but you know LA traffic, so until then w- I- I didn’t know where to take him.”

“Yeah, you did,” Bobby says, making Eddie confused, before his chest explodes with warmth at the follow up. “Right here. Buck gave me a heads up,” he nods to Buck, who gives him a smile, probably called while waiting for coffee. “I already cleared it with the chief.”

Eddie is at a loss for words. He wants to cry a little, but also grin brightly. He has no clue what to do with his face or his hands and he knows he needs to figure it out quickly, before it gets uncomfortable.

Luckily, he doesn’t have to figure out shit in the end, because the alarm starts ringing, so the moment gets ruined.

They all get up to run to the fire engines as they’re informed of what’s happening. Both Buck and Eddie are working, but he doesn’t just want to leave Chris. So, he stands there near the couch, trying to figure out what to do.

He sees Buck tell Bobby something as he jogs past to the pole and Bobby looks back at him, calling out: “Come on, Diaz. Bring the kid.”

“You wanna ride in the truck?” he asks Chris, who nods excitedly. “Alright, we need to hurry, so I’m giving you a ride.”

Chris is already reaching out, before Eddie is even done speaking and together they hurry down the steps. Eddie hands Chris over to Buck without thinking so he can get into his turnout gear. He is glad when no one questions that.

On the drive over to the accident, which is nothing big or too traumatizing for Chris, Hen and Chimney entertain him. While they’re working, Bobby takes Chris easily, telling him all about what’s happening and feeding his ever growing curiosity, which he definitely gets from Buck.

It’s nice how they all step in to make Chris comfortable, to accommodate for Eddie’s job, while not making him feel helpless and in need of their help. It’s a lot like hanging out with Abuela felt to him when he was a kid.

When they return from the call it’s to a message from Maddie saying she’ll be a little later due to traffic.

The news makes Eddie slightly anxious again, because the longer this goes on, the easier it can go wrong. It seems like Buck isn’t the only person on the team in tune with his emotions, because once he’s shared the news, Chimney says: “Well, Chris, seems like there is enough time for me to show you the pinball machine we have. Think you can beat your dad’s record?”

And with Chris’s enthusiasm and Eddie’s nod, Chimney leads Chris away so they can play pinball while Eddie gathers himself a bit.

“You okay?” Buck asks once it’s just the two of them downstairs.

“Yeah, just stressed,” he sighs, rubbing his face. “I think I’ll only relax once Chris is safe with Maddie and none of this has blown up in our faces.”

“Same,” Buck snorts, though there isn’t much humor in it.

Shame creeps up Eddie’s spine once more as he realizes this is all stressful for Buck too and he hasn’t been there for him at all, drowning in his own anxiety instead. It’s not like him. He’s supposed to be the steady protector, not the emotional one. “Are, uh- are you okay?”

“Hm?” Buck looks at him in surprise, before the question registers and he smiles tiredly. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just weird. You know. To not know him.”

And Eddie gets it. He remembers how weird it was to not know Chris that after that second tour when he came home, even if he hadn’t actually been in Chris’s life for years at that point. Buck has been consistently in his life since the kid was three years old, Eddie can’t imagine how much worse it might be for him, especially because he knows Buck worries about belonging.

He places a hand on Buck’s shoulder, hand automatically finding the juncture between his neck and shoulder. “You still know him and he knows you too. When you come home tonight, that kid is going to bombard you with questions that Hen and Chim didn’t answer to his satisfaction, because you gave him incredibly high standards when it comes to getting answers.”

At that Buck’s smile becomes more real. “Thanks, man.”

“Course.”

With that established they break apart to go restock and clean, which is their duty for today. They work in tandem yet separate, somehow both thinking that being seen together will make what they’re trying to keep hidden visible.

Because they’re busy downstairs and walking around, they miss Maddie coming in. Instead, finding her chatting with Chimney at the pinball machine as Chris is smashing the buttons with glee.

Maddie and Chim both look caught when they spot Eddie coming up the stairs, Buck right behind him. Maddia tucks her hair behind her ear and says: “Oh, we were about to find you. I didn’t just want to take Chris without giving him a chance to say goodbye.”

“It’s fine,” Eddie assures her with a smile, wanting to make her as comfortable as possible, both after what she’s been through and what she’s doing for him. “Are you sure you’re okay with taking him?”

“Of course, it’s no problem at all,” Maddie tells him with a kind smile. If Eddie hadn’t heard about her parents, he’d say kindness and helpfulness must be a Buckley trait.

“Still, it’s really appreciated.”

“And it’s really not a problem. If Abuela needs any help after coming home from the hospital I’m always here and happy to help. It’ll only be repaying the favor.”

“There is no favor that needs repaying, Abuela would scold me if she heard me letting you say that,” Eddie says. “She’s probably moving back to Texas. We already can’t find someone to look after Chris, it’ll be easier for her to be closer to more family with less busy schedules. But thank you, truly.”

Something flashes in Maddie’s eyes that Eddie vaguely knows from Buck’s face, but he can’t place it on hers quite yet, only that she has decided something. However, she doesn’t say and he doesn’t push, instead she smiles: “Well, I don’t mind hanging out with this little man here,” as she ruffles Chris’s hair.

Chris is done with his game and looks up at her with a big smile as he greets her. He already knows her from the time he spends at Abuela’s house. Eddie is glad he won’t be leaving him with a stranger.

Buck has gathered Chris’s crutches and joins them as Chris gears up to leave with Maddie. Before he goes, Eddie looks Chris in the eyes, cupping his cheek. He can’t help but smile, always feeling at ease when he has his son right there, safe and well. But that’s not the point right now. “You be good for tía Maddie, okay, mijo?” he tells Chris.

Maddie’s eyes widen slightly and Eddie half regrets the bold move made to indirectly include Buck, but he’s not regretting it entirely either with the way Buck’s eyes sparkle as Chris nods.

She leaves with Chris next to her, Buck giving him a quick ruffle of his hair, obviously dying to say something, but staying quiet. The others just waving and calling out their goodbyes.

Eddie stays standing there at the edge of the balcony until Maddie and Chris have left the firehouse, aware that Buck and Bobby are both behind him. Probably hovering for different reasons.

Once they’re gone, he turns back. Bobby gives him a gentle smile and says: “You have a good kid, Eddie. He was a pleasure to have in this firehouse and he is always welcome here.”

Emotion overwhelms him and it needs to get out. In an out of character moment, he hugs Bobby tightly, hoping it will convey the sheer thankfulness he feels in that moment. How grateful he is to have this acceptance, this help that doesn’t feel like help.

Then in further boldness, he lets go of Bobby and hugs Buck too. They’ve never been huggers before, not really. Often living more alongside each other than with each other, but in recent months they’ve become more tactile and right now Eddie might need the hug as badly as Buck does. If he thinks it’s weird, he doesn’t say, just hugs back.

When he lets go of Buck, he suddenly feels awkward about his outburst. Today has had him thrown off since he got that call, maybe even since he was flirted with so bluntly. He doesn’t know what to do with himself and is grateful when the alarm rings again so he can go.

No one mentions the hugs after and the day continues as normal. He gets a text from Maddie – who got his number through Buck – that Chris has been handed over to Pepa without any trouble and then in the morning he gets a text from tía Pepa that Chris has been dropped off at school.

They visit Abuela when their shift is done, glad to find her awake and in relatively good spirits after what happened to her. She has already charmed the hospital staff and befriended the other woman that she’s sharing her room with.

After their visit, the two split up. Eddie drives home, collapsing on his bed to nap for an hour, before he has to go pick up Chris. He normally has longer to sleep, but their last call ran over.

Buck, meanwhile, is driving to Abuela’s house to check up on Maddie. He is still kind of processing yesterday and just wants to see his sister for a bit. Eddie doesn’t seem mad at him anymore about the whole PT thing, even calling Maddie Chris’s tía and hugging him, but those few moments where it seemed he ruined everything still make his heart stop.

Not to mention how heart wrenching it was not to be able to be there for Chris like he wanted. Not being able to scoop him up in his arms and tell him all about their gear. Not being able to brag to the others about how he had the best kid. Not being his papi.

Having experienced that, he can totally see why Eddie would be mad at him, but he isn’t, not as far as Buck can tell anyway, which truly is a miracle in and of itself.

Maddie opens the door after a quick knock and Buck reminds himself to not be as familiar in this house as he actually is when she ushers him inside after a greeting.

“So, tía Maddie, huh?” he asks, maybe a little too eager, but needing to know what she thinks of the title and of Chris. Wanting a bit of validation after everything.

“Yeah,” Maddie blushes. “It feels like I’m overstepping, but it has to be fine, right? Eddie said it first, Chris is just following his dad.”

“It’s totally fine,” Buck assures her. “Did he behave?”

“Chris? Yeah, he’s a sweet kid. Very smart and funny in a kid kind of way,” Maddie smiles.

Buck feels his chest puff up with pride, even though that is mostly just Chris being awesome. It always feels a bit weird to claim credit for that – even if the jokes he taught Chris are hilarious no matter what Eddie says.

“Did Eddie or Pepa explain what’s happening with the child care situation to you?” Maddie asks. “I mean, Eddie mentioned something about not being able to find anyone, but there are programs.”

A warmth spreads through his chest at that. His sister is still here trying to help him, even if she doesn’t know. And helping Eddie. It’s nice to still see the bits of her he used to know, to have that familiarity.

“Eddie’s working on it,” he answers keeping it at a distance from himself, while outing his own frustrations with it all. “He's got insurance. And there’s other stuff through the city, state and county, but the requirements are all different. You can apply for one, and it can disqualify you from another. It’s a whole, giant bureaucratic mess. I-I can’t get my head around it.”

She leads him to the couch and grabs her laptop as she says: “Well, I was a nurse, remember? The only people who truly navigate a bureaucracy are the people who work inside it. So, I got some recommendations, but I feel weird about texting them to Eddie.”

“You can send them to me,” Buck immediately offers. “I can bring them up instead. We’re pretty friendly.”

“Really? Thank you,” Maddie says.

“Course, no problem.”

She taps away on her laptop and Buck gets a notification on his phone. Then she opens something different on her laptop and says: “I also have some news. I found an apartment. It’s not far from work. Two bedrooms, secure building, parking included.”

“You’re moving out?” Buck frowns. “You can stay here for longer, Abuela wouldn’t mind you being here while she moves out back to Texas.”

“I don’t want to be more of a bother when she’s already done so much for me. And you can’t just offer that for other people. Besides, I was never planning on living here forever,” she says.

Buck isn’t entirely convinced she isn’t just doing this to make herself small and it must show on his face, because she goes on. “Look, when I left Doug, I didn’t have a plan. I just grabbed up all my stuff and ran as fast and as far as I possibly could, but then you convinced me to start over, make a brand new life in LA.”

“And I was right about that,” he quickly points out, suddenly scared this apartment she found is in a different city and she’s leaving again.

“You were,” she rolls her eyes fondly, luckily. “But it’s just not gonna feel like mine unless I’m standing on my own two feet. That’s the only way I’m gonna know it’s real.”

“Alright. Okay. Yeah, no, I get that,” Buck says, even though it feels like he’ll be a horrible brother if he lets her out of the circle of carefully vetted people she’s been staying in. He hadn’t been there to protect her the first time around, he needs to protect her now. But she needs this, so he merely says: “Show me the apartment you found.”

They end up catching up for hours and he has to text Eddie he’s not making dinner tonight and to not burn the house down while he’s gone. Eddie sends two thumbs up back, because he is an old man, then a middle finger, because he’s a bitch. Buck loves him dearly and he hates that his heart does a little flip over the stupid emojis.

He is home in time to tuck Chris in, not telling him a bedtime story, but answering all his questions and telling him more about the firehouse, much like Eddie had predicted.

When Chris is fast asleep, Buck joins Eddie on the couch where he’s watching a telenovella he claims to only watch so he has something to talk about with Abuela and tía Pepa. Buck doesn’t call him out for it tonight, instead excitedly sharing the links Maddie shared with him. The top one had apparently been shared with her by a coworker, who heard about Carla through another coworker who had left, so they had a character reference for her.

The worries about Maddie moving out forgotten for a bit as they focus on getting a meeting of sorts set up with this Carla, hoping she can be their savior.

However, they’re back in full force the next day when they’re on the job. He doesn’t want to add to Eddie’s worries, so instead he unloads on Bobby. “The only way she knows it’s real is for her to live in a two-bedroom apartment in Eagle Rock. What does that even mean?”

“I think it means she’s not comfortable squatting in an injured, elderly woman’s place, who is a stranger to her.”

“Abuela is not a stranger. She’s Eddie’s grandmother,” Buck protests. Bobby gives him a look that makes Buck want to defend himself in ways he can’t, because then he needs to explain why that makes total sense. Both Maddie and Abuela are family.

“I just feel like it’s all happening too fast. I mean, how many years did it take her before she was ready to leave Doug?” Buck says.

“That hardly feels like the same thing.”

“My point is she just got here and now she’s leaving again.”

“Buck, she’s moving to Eagle Rock, not Alaska. It’s ten minutes from Eddie’s grandmother’s place, you live near there too, right?”

“I mean, yeah, but she’ll be in a place I don’t know. What if her neighbors are horrible? What if she feels alone with no one else living with her?”

“Your sister is building a new life for herself. Be proud of her,” Bobby tells him and he has a point, which Buck hates.

He also hates it when he later tells Eddie all about it anyway, because he is practically incapable of not sharing things and hopes Eddie might have a different reaction, since he also has sisters. However, Eddie, the traitor, agrees with Bobby and thinks Buck should let Maddie built her own life.

They’re annoyingly correct, but he makes his peace with it. Because he is proud of her, despite his protective instincts going haywire. He just wants her to be okay and he knows this is the best way to have her be okay, but it feels wrong anyway.

Still, he supports her regardless, because that’s what she needs from him and he’ll always try to give her what she needs. Especially when she does the same.

The meeting they have with Carla is a huge success. She is kind and fun and non-judgmental. She even takes their explanation about their platonic marriage that is a secret at work with a minimal amount of blinking.

All in all, she is a great fit and a big help in getting through the bureaucratic nightmare to ensure they can actually employ her without going bankrupt. Chris loves her immediately and she is charmed by Chris too.

It’s a heavy weight of off both their shoulders, but especially Eddie’s. Buck can see how he moves differently, as if he actually feels physically lighter. It breaks his heart a little, but also makes him so glad that they were able to organize this, that he has helped in lightening Eddie’s burdens.

When they tell tía Pepa about it, she makes them tamales as celebration and they take them to the hospital to share with Abuela, who is glad to get some real food.

A week later, he finds himself on the couch in the loft with Chimney looking over security systems for Maddie. He apparently knows about them, since he tried to be an entrepreneur before and Buck can use all the assurance he can get.

He still doesn’t feel great about Maddie moving out of Abuela’s house, even if he understands her wanting to have her own place. One that is wholly her own.

But if he wants to be able to have any sort of peace of mind when she does live on her own, he’ll need to get her the best security system. Hence recruiting Chimney. Though, he seems not that unhappy about being recruited into Buck’s protective spiral, even inviting himself to help her move since apparently they struck up a conversation and he thought she was nice.

When he asks Maddie later if it’s okay, she smiles and tells him she’ll text him thanks, since she gave him her number apparently, something Buck is trying not to think about too much.

She is building a life for herself, he should let her, he reminds himself.

Not that that is going to stop him from keeping an eye on Chimney. No matter how much he loves the guy, it’s different when he thinks he has a chance to his sister’s heart. He learned his lesson about not being too careful.

It’s not that he thinks Chimney will be a Doug 2.0, he just has to focus his protective instinct elsewhere now that he doesn’t have Abuela to keep an eye on her 24/7. Not to mention that he got to witness the disaster that was Chim’s relationship with Tatiana.

He’s just playing it safe, nothing else. Everything seems to be going well for them recently, it’s natural to be suspicious of that, he reasons.

~~

A/N:

I keep trying to not let this fic get out of hand, yet here I am, spending two chapters on one episode, so that’s not working out well for me lmao xp

Also, for the sake of this fanfic’s plot, I request you all do not think too closely about the time Maddie spend with Chris after picking him up from the 118 firehouse, please and thank you <3

[dayurno]

so sick and tired of people writing fics about jeremy treating kevin like shit over kevin leaving jean at the nest like that is either 1) in character 2) something jean would appreciate or 3) fair. do you even bother to read the books you’re writing fanfic about or is the urge to create cheap angst so overwhelming you can’t see past the tropes you write for every other fictional pairing you like? the idea that jean would appreciate jeremy going out of his way to poke old wounds in his and kevin’s relationship when jean himself does not even like for jeremy to joke about kevin near him is absurd, and that’s without mentioning the fact that jeremy is not so clueless as to think he has any idea of what the nest was like, or why kevin felt he had to leave the way he did. if you need something to make your ship more interesting thinking beyond your flat interpretation of it is a lovely start, but don’t use kevin’s name and storyline if you’re just going to butcher it for the sake of a milquetoast sob fest the characters involved in would not even appreciate

[rist-ix]

https://www.tumblr.com/rist-ix/749015401700229120 not you reblogging this when you ship bloom with the man who murdered her family 😭

Bloom's into ppl who slay! Hope this helps :3

[adorablemonk643]

Paul and Ted should team up and kill Sam for Charlotte me thinks

[mostdefinitelyahumanperson]

old men yaoi, but they hate eachother

[nato-obenkrieger]

OK I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS ALL DAY AT SCHOOL. POTENTIAL CHRIS AND JOHN SHIP NAMES (THEY ARE ALL BAD)

firecracker (john likes setting fires and chris can get explosive when hes mad)

molotov cocktail (similar reasoning, chris has explosive anger issues and john likes to use substances)

weedwacker (i came up with this as a joke cause john smokes weed and chris punched him)

sparkplug (john called chris a sparkplug once and i cant really put it into words but it just seems. them to me)

high anxiety (we just steal the ship name from the dear evan hansen fandom /joke)

thats all i came up with theyre kinda mid

[kakusu-shipping]

I wasn't even keeping up with the MHA manga but I did read the last three chapters without context and I've already decided how to fix the ending for my Self Insert

[millionsknives]

*starts listening to the thg playlist*

augh -1 health

oof -1 health

ugh! -1 health

mmf -1 health

ugh! -1 health

augh -1 health

etc

GOOD that’s the effect i wanted >:)

[rwby-confess]

i know you are a an of qrow and winter, but id love to see a shipping chart Qrow and Willow aka as alcoholics anonymous

It would be funny if the vol 10 happened and we saw them flirting, what a power move that would be (and then Weiss going like "omg mom do you even know who that guy is, he's crusty" >:-/)