#i guess i have more time to do school work today

[fairytaleendingss]

Room for One More?

Chapter 9

Summary: Secrets are revealed on New Years Eve.

CW: Alcohol consumption, sexual references, mention of cigarettes, swearing, lots of drama.

Pairing: Poly!Marauders x fem!reader

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8

--

"YOU SLEPT WITH SIRIUS?!"

"Shh! Mary keep your voice down," you uttered, looking around to see how many of your coworker's heads had swivelled towards you in response to Mary's loud exclamation.

"Sorry," she grimaced. "I'm just.. I'm in shock."

You sighed and leaned back where you were perched on the corner of her desk. "I think I am a bit as well."

There was a pause.

"Well, was it good?"

"Mary! Oh my god!" you groaned and threw a hand over your face to hide your mortification.

"What? I'm just asking. I can't say that I haven't imagined it once or twice myself-"

You slapped her gently across the shoulder with the back of your hand. "You're distrubed. You know that?"

She smirked. "You know you love me."

You rolled your eyes affectionately at your friend. "Anyway, we'd been drinking and it was Christmas and we were having such a wonderful time. I think we just got swept up in it all and now I don't know what to do. Things have been kind of... weird between us."

"Well have you guys talked about it?" Mary inquired.

"That's the thing. Afterwards he just kind of moved on like it never happened. I don't know if he thinks it was a mistake or something but it's stressing me out."

"Hmm," a thoughtful look crossed Mary's face as she took everything in. "Well how are you feeling about it? Do you think it was a mistake?"

You bit the inside of your cheek. "No? I-I don't think so. I dont know."

A look of realisation washed over Mary's face. "Do you like him??"

"I mean, of course I like him. I'm just not sure I like like him."

Your friend sighed exasperatedly. "Oh my god! We're not in Primary School, just answer the damn question!"

"Fine! I guess the answer is... yes?" you sighed. "But whatever! Does it even make a difference? He's made it exceptionally clear that he doesn't feel the same way."

"Look," Mary huffed, her expression growing sincere. "Sirius is great. He's fun and friendly and a total flirt but he's also been known to be a little emotionally constipated. Just be honest with him. Talk to him about it. He's not going to be able to pick up on any signals you're trying to send him."

You squeezed your eyes shut and let out a breath throught your nose. "Ugh fine."

"Good girl," Mary smiled. "Now go away. I actually have some work to get done today."

"Oh fine. I suppose I know when I'm not wanted," you teased, getting up and walking back towards your desk.

"Love you!" Mary called lightheartedly as you walked away.

"Yeah, yeah," you joked in response.

As you arrived back at your desk and slumped down in your chair, prepared to get back to work, a head peaked down at you over the cubical.

"Oh, you're back, I see."

You jumped slightly at the unexpected voice and looked up to see its perpertrator.

"Yes, Glenn. Hi. Is there anything I can help you with?"

Glenn was a new employee in your office and he sat in the cubical opposite yours. He was only a few years older than you and he was tall and fit with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. In the few weeks you'd known him for, he'd been particularly friendly towards you and recently you'd been getting the idea that he had taken a liking to you.

You weren't interested of course. He was an attractive guy but not really your type. And with everything going on with Sirius over the last week, you'd been making a effort to put some distance between you. You definitely weren't looking for anything of that nature right now and you didn't want to give him the wrong impression. However, Glenn was nothing if not persistant.

"Actually, I was just wondering if you had any plans for new years tonight? A few of my mates are throwing a party and you're welcome to join us if you're interested."

You sent him you're most empathetic smile. "That sounds lovely but unfortunately I already have some plans with my friends."

He sighed, flashing you a grin that looked suspiciously rehearsed. "Oh well. No problem. It was worth a shot. You have fun tonight."

"You too, Glenn."

As the man dissapeared back over the divider, you let out a heafty sigh. Tonight was surely going to be interesting.

--

The view was impeccable from the bar where your friends had gathered to spend New Years. In fact, seated beside a huge floor to ceiling window, you suspected you'd have a clear view of the New Years fireworks.

It was a classy joint, one that Dorcas had managed to get you access to through one of her fancy lawyer contacts.

Everyone was assembled on stools around a table, looking out over the London skyline. It was about four hours until midnight and the group was chatting excitedly in the lead up.

"I've got shots!" Mary called out and everyone cheered as she returned to the table with a tray.

She passed the drinks around and then took her seat beside you.

"Well, I suggest a toast!" James called out, grabbing the attention of the group. "To a wonderful year ahead, and many more memories with old, and new, friends!"

He emphasised the last line with a pointed look in your direction and you felt your cheeks growing hot.

"Cheers!" Marlene shouted enthusiastically and the others echoed her sentiments, clinking glasses and swallowing their drinks.

The burning of the liquor was welcomed as the drink ran down your throat. You'd been thinking a lot about what Mary had said to you in regards to your situation with Sirius. And as he sat beside you, laughing animatedly at one of Peter's stories, it only confirmed your worst fears. Maybe you were starting to develop feelings for your roommate. You grimaced at the thought. Things were bound to get messy in situations like this.

"So guys," Sybil piped up from across the table. "Let's all go around and say our New Years resolutions."

"Oh, I'll go first!" James volunteered. "I hope my team continues to play a great season annnddd... I want to work out more."

There was a collective groan.

"Come on, James. That's not a real one!" Mary complained.

Sirius chuckled, taking a pointed sip of his drink. "Yeah! You already work out like 7 times a day!"

"Ugh, okay fine!" James responded with groan. He thought for a moment. "How about this one. I'd like to fall in love this year."

You didn't miss the way his eyes flickered across the table towards Lily and you felt your heart sink. Lily seemed to take notice a well as she averted her eyes, taking a heafty gulp of the drink in her hand.

"Aww, James. Always the romantic, aren't you?" Marlene chuckled.

"Shut up." James rolled his eyes playfully. "Your turn then, Marls."

"Okay," She took a deep breath. "My goal this year is to become super rich and famous and sucessful."

"I second that!" Mary called across the table and you giggled as they clinked their glasses.

"Y/n. Your turn," Dorcas announced.

"Oh okay, um..." you thought for a moment, your gaze flashing to James and Remus across the table, then over to Sirius, who was watching you expectanly, a playlful glimmer in his stormy eyes.

You then looked back towards the rest of the group. "This year, I'd like to spend some more time with you lovely people."

A round of cooing echoed across the table and Mary threw her arms around you.

"Well aren't you just the sweetest!"

"Oh, and I'd like to work more on my novel," you added.

"Alright, alright. Sirius, you're up!" Marlene chimed.

The boy beside you pursed his lips, looking off into the distance as if deep in thought. Then, after a long moment, he turned back to all of you with a mischievous smirk on his lips.

"This year, I want to have lots of amazing sex!"

"Ew. Sirius, you're so foul," Lily exclaimed, followed by a symphany of similar sentiments from the other members of the group.

While everyone else was distracted, grumbling and groaning about Sirius' bluntness, the man leaned down towards you.

"You look great tonight, by the way." He whispered into your hair.

You gulped thickly, not quite sure what to do with yourself. You opted for downing the remainder of your Vodka, Lime and Soda.

--

As the evening drew on, you found yourself growing more anxious in Sirius' presence. You weren't quite sure what his game was, whether it was the alcohol or he was just feeling extra bold tonight, but he'd been suspiciously flirtatious.

You didn't know how to respond. Part of you wanted to let him. To let him woo you and go crawling back for more of what you'd had together on Christmas Night. However, the other, more logical part of you, told you that was a terrible idea. He was your roommate afterall. The last thing you wanted was to start some complicated friends-with-benefits situation with a guy you lived with, especially one that you had sort of, maybe, possibly had caught feelings for.

You downed another drink, feeling the alcohol grip you and hoped it would help to ease the nerves ever so slightly. You realised then, that you were staring.

Sirius had gone to the bar to order another round of drinks and you'd been watching with bated breath as he sent his signature smile to a girl wearing an explicitly tight black dress. You noticed the way she leaned forward, pressing her cleavage up against the bar as she spoke to him. God, could she be anymore obvious?

"Calm the hell down, y/n!" You thought to yourself. "It's not like you guys are together. He can flirt with whoever he wants."

"Hey, are you okay?" you raked your eyes away from the scene as a voice came from beside you.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine," You muttered absently, too distracted to notice that it was Remus who asked the question.

"Okay, never have I ever... made out with more than one person on the same night!" Mary's voice rang out and you forced your attention back to the group.

You weren't sure when this game had begun but you suspected it was suggested by one of the girls (likely Mary or Marlene) as a way to pass the final hour until midnight. You hadn't participated in this game since probably highschool, but you were all a few drinks in at this point so you figured, what the hell?

You watched as Marlene, James and Dorcas all took a sip. Then Lily sent Mary a pointed look.

"Come on, Mary. That's not how the game works. You have to say something you haven't done."

"I haven't!" Mary responded. Then she paused. "Oh wait, yeah I definitely have."

Everyone chuckled as she took a drink.

"Alright! Dorcas! Your turn." Mary nudged the girl in the side.

Dorcas rolled her eyes. "For the record, I just want to say, I think this game is stupid."

"Come on babe. Don't be a party pooper!" Marlene exclaimed, leaning in towards her girlfriend. "How else are we supposed to learn everyone's deepest darkest secrets."

Dorcas sighed and shook her head but there was a hint of a smile on her face. She really could never say no to Marlene.

"Ugh, fine. Never have I ever stolen something."

"Well that's a hard one," Mary muttered. "What do we count as stealing? Because I've stolen stuff from James a ton of times."

"Oi!" James shouted, looking positively affronted. Mary sent him an apologetic smile.

"No, not like that," Dorcas clarified. "It had to have been from an actual shop."

You all sat up straight for a moment, curiously looking around the group to see if anyone had. Hesitantly, Peter lifted his glass to his lips.

"Pete! What the hell!" James exclaimed.

"I don't know, I went through a phase in highschool!"

"What sort of stuff did you take?" Marlene pressed.

Peter shrugged. "Chocolate and ciggarettes, mostly."

There was an eruption of laughter that rippled across the table at Peter's revelation.

"Wow, I didn't know there was a degenerate among us," Lily teased, watching Peter's face flush bright red.

"Okay, okay. My turn!" Marlene said, once the laughter died down. "Never have I ever... gotten really sloshed and fallen down the stairs at my 18th birthday party"

"Hey! That's not fair!" James moaned, taking a sip of his beer. "You can't do targeted ones!"

Marlene just shrugged. "Sorry, but I don't think that was established in the rules."

James smirked. "Fine then! Never have I ever had sex with someone at this table."

Your blood ran cold for a moment as you glanced back towards the bar. You sighed in relief when you saw that Sirius was still over there. In that case, you technically hadn't slept with anyone at the table. You were off the hook for now.

Marlene rolled her eyes at James and took a drink, as well as Dorcas, Peter and Sybil, however, you watched James' eyes widen as Mary also took a long sip.

"Mary!" Lily hissed across the table. Your heart plummeted.

"What?" Mary shrugged, the alcohol clearly having gone to her head. "We have to! It's the rules."

"Wait! Hold on," Marlene murmered, her eyes drifting between the two girls. "Did you guys..."

There was a heavy anticipatory silence that hung over the table as you all awaited Lily's response. The girl grimaced, as she tried to muster some kind of explanation.

It was then that her eyes drifted up to meet James' pleading ones.

"Lily?" the boy asked softly. Your heart broke for him.

"So I guess the cat's out of the bag huh?" the girl sighed. "Mary and I have sort of been seeing each other. Romantically."

"Holy shit!" Marlene shouted, candid and straight to the point as she usually was in these situations.

"How long has this been going on?" Dorcas questioned.

"It's still really new," Lily explained.

"We were just trying to figure out the right time to tell you guys," Mary added.

"So you're the one Mary has been seeing?" James murmered.

"Yes," Lily responded. "I'm sorry James but you had to know it was never going to work out between us."

The boy sighed, running a hand through his unruly curls. "Yeah, I know."

Then he started to stand. "I think I just need some air for a minute."

"James, wait-" Remus reached out to grab his arm but James shook him off.

"I just need minute," he repeated, grabbing his coat from the back of his chair and hurrying towards the exit. Part of you wanted to go after him but the other part recognised that he probably needed some space to process things.

"Sorry, everyone. I didn't mean to ruin the night," Mary murmered folornly.

"No hun! you didn't ruin anything," you comforted.

"Yeah, we're really happy for you two," Dorcas added.

"Really?"

Everyone nodded.

"Absolutely. You both deserve to be happy," Remus confirmed.

Wide smiles crossed over the girls' faces.

--

It was two minutes until midnight and Sirius was nowhere to be seen. Despite your better judgement, you couldn't help but feel slightly disapointed. You supposed that there was some small aspect of your mind that hoped Sirius would be your New Years kiss.

You knew it was wishful thinking, especially when you hadn't even spoken about what happened between you, but with how he'd been acting towards you throughout the night, you'd allowed yourself to nurture that flicker of hope.

As people crowded around the window and the countdown began, you found your eyes searching the room for the dark haired man, wondering if just maybe, he'd make a last minute appearance.

"Five, four, three, two..."

You scanned the space one last time.

"One!"

You're last flicker of hope died out as your eyes finally landed on his form.

"Happy New Year!"

The shouts and cheers faded into the background as you watched Sirius press his lips to those of the boob-y blonde you'd seen him flirting with before.

The moment seemed to go in slow motion. You watched from afar as he tangled his hand in her hair, just as he'd done in yours only a week prior.

"Of course," you thought. "Typical"

It was Sirius Black you were talking about. You were stupid to think you meant anything more to him than a casual night of fun.

In an instant, you turned on your heel and walked towards the door, the sounds of the party fading into the background. You decided, instead of bumming around waiting for Sirius to notice you, you'd go look for James, just as you should've done much earlier.

The cold hit you like a block of cement as you stepped outside onto the street. It didn't take you long to find him.

He was sitting on the curb, outside of he bar, arms resting on his knees as he looked up towards the sky. Another explosion sounded and a flash of colour filled the air. In the distance, you could hear the cheers of excited people all around as they celebrated.

"Happy New Year, James."

He turned to look at you and in the flash of light, as another firework flickered across the sky, you were able to notice the faint tear tracks that lined his cheeks.

"Oh hey." he sniffled, rubbing a hand beneath his glasses and trying to regain a semblance of composure.

BANG!

You flopped unceremoniously onto the ground beside him as another flash filled the sky. You gave him a sympathetic smile. Funnily enough, in that moment, you knew exactly how he felt.

"Are you okay?" You asked him gently.

He let out a dry chuckle. "Yeah. I will be."

BANG!

"Good."

You both turned your gazes back to the display, taking in the beautiful array of colours filling the air. It wasn't quite the view you'd expected for the night, but somehow, that didn't seem to matter.

As you continued to watch the fireworks, you felt the gentle touch of a hand wrapping around your own. You smiled slightly as your fingers intertwined.

BANG!

Slowly, you shuffled closer and leaned into him, gently resting your head on James broad shoulder.

You stayed like that a while, just taking in the show, and each other's company.

--

Taglist:

@hisparentsgallerryy @navs-bhat @shushbruv @magicwithaknife @eeviee4 @notapoetjustscar @gugggu6gvai @robertsmithclone @ilovesugurugeto69 @taytayy178 @its-notkiee @bugworldsworld @switchingfandomslikecrazy @evangelquill, @delusional-4-fake-people, @ch4rlotte35, @insideoutjulie, @hiireadstuff, @laniirackssss, @starrystormwritings, @strategicsweetheart, @1800brat, @sammyreid, @frootloops1213, @ill-be-okay-soon-enough

[bruhnze]

Personal Records - Chapter 7

Summary: AU about Lucy being a personal trainer and Ona being a realestate agant. Chapters before this one: Personal Records Masterlist

Warnings: hurt/comfort - fluff

Wordcount: 5k

She took a deep breath in and out, and looked at her phone. A couple of texts from Ona.

’Do you know how late you’ll be home’ – being the last one of the bunch.

She looked at the time, more then an hour later then she’d normally be home on a Wednesday.

Wednesday was the day Ona had chosen to work from home, a thing she’d been trying since a couple of months. It was nice, Ona could take the boys to and from school, and they’d eat at home during their lunchbreak. Lucy did this on Monday, but she didn’t work from home then, she just drove a bit more that day. But it was worth it to spend a little more time with her kids.

She gathered her bag, her coat, the thermos cup from this morning and the empty bottle of water and got out of the car.

Quietly she got inside, setting her shoes where they belonged, putting her coat where it belonged. She walked further into the house. The sight of Lucas sitting at the breakfast bar with her wife brought a smile to her face.

‘’Hi guys,’’ she said, setting her bag down to be dealt with later.

Ona turned around, and looked at Lucy curiously, tough she didn’t question her, ‘’hi love.’’

‘’Mommy!’’ Lucas flew off the stool, - a bit too quick for Lucy’s liking, as he almost hit his head to the counter, - and launched himself against her legs.

‘’Hello my clever boy, what are you and mamá working on?’’ she asked, putting her cup and bottle on the kitchen before picking Lucas up from the ground and giving him a peck on the cheek as she walked with him to where he had been sitting.

She set him back on the stool.

Lucas eagerly started explaining that they had been working on the homework he had gotten today. Lucy smiled as he showed her, she found it ridiculous that a four year old had homework already, but Lucas loved it. Oliver had homework, so he wanted it too. She was curious how long this excitement about doing schoolwork at home would stay, but they’d embrace it for how long it lasted.

‘’Ahhh, so you have traced all the letters of the alphabet?’’ Lucy asked.

Lucas turned around and nodded at her, ‘’only,’’ he looked as his fingers and wonkily held three up, ‘’ics, i grega and zeta are left, so not done yet.’’  

"Wow, it seems like you’ve been paying close attention in class," Lucy said as she leaned in to kiss the top of Lucas’s head. He had already turned back, busy repositioning the pencil in the grip he had learned at school.

Then she turned to Ona, and leaned in to give her a peck on the mouth.

It didn’t feel like Ona fully reciprocated, but Lucy guessed it was fair enough since she’d some explaining to do.

‘’Where is Ollie?’’ she asked.

Ona tilted her head, ‘’Ollie is playing at a friends house, they’ll bring him home tonight after dinner.. I texted you about that.’’

‘’Oh, right.. I hadn’t.. you’re right I just read that actually,’’ Lucy scratched her neck, walking back to the kitchen to put her cup in the dishwasher. It was one of Ona’s annoyances if she left her dirty dishes out. ‘’do we have plans for dinner or should I-

‘’Did you have a busy day at work?’’ Ona asked raising her eyebrows, she smiled at Lucy.

Lucy shook her head, ‘’no, I uh, left early today actually.’’ She said looking in to the dishwasher.

‘’Oh?’’ Ona laughed surprised, waiting for Lucy to explain further.

‘’Done!’’ Lucas said loudly, dropping her pencil down and holding the paper up.

‘’Perfect, you go and put that in your bag for tomorrow,’’ Ona said, helping him on to the ground. Now that Lucas wasn’t sitting on the high chair anymore she could move again too.

Lucy was pouring herself a glass of water as Ona came up to her. ‘’Are you okay?’’ she asked dryly.

Lucy looked up at her, she studied Ona’s face and smiled, ‘’I went to see a therapist.’’

‘’Oh?’’ Ona said surprised, tough this time it wasn’t with a laugh, ‘’did it.. uh.. why..’’ it stayed silent for a couple moments, ‘’I thought you hated those?’’

‘’I do,’’ Lucy nodded as a breathy laugh escaped her, ‘’but it was good, I uh, made the right decision in going I think and..’’ she turned slightly so her body was facing Ona’s, ‘’I think I’ll go a couple more times.’’

Ona nodded, ‘’well you know how I feel about talking to a professional.’’ She smiled as she took Lucy’s hand, ‘’I’m proud of you.’’

‘’Mhm,’’ Lucy brought Ona’s hand to her lips, pressing a soft kiss to her hand before pulling her in. ‘’sometimes I have to listen to you more.’’

Ona smirked, tilting her head, ‘’only sometimes?’’ she teased.

Lucy rolled her eyes, her hands moving down to pinch Ona’s sides, ‘’I love you.’’

Ona’s face screwed up as Lucy didn’t tease her back, ‘’will you tell me what it was about?’’

Lucy nodded.

‘’-I’m hungry’’ a whiny voice cut through their moment.

Lucy and Ona turned to look at Lucas. Lucy looked at her watch; almost seven thirty. ‘’it’s not dinner time yet.’’ She said sympathetically, ‘’but you can eat some fruit if you want?’’

Lucas shook his head, looking at his moms offended as he did so, his nose crinkling.

‘’We’ve got strawberry’s,’’ Ona joined in, ‘’or pineapple, you love pineapple’’

‘’I already had fruit.’’ Lucas crossed his arms, ‘’no fruita.’’

‘’What are you suggesting then?’’ Lucy chuckled.

Lucas looked up with a cheeky smile, ‘’ice cream.’’

Ona and Lucy looked at eachother trying not to laugh.

‘’ice cream?’’ Lucy repeated.

Lucas nodded as he walked to the fridge, ‘’is in here.’’ He pointed at the bottom door of the fridge. ‘’Només una bola.’’ He held up his hand with his other hand as he put his pointer finger up, ‘’una.. please.’’ He added as he saw no progress at his moms’ side.

Lucy and Ona shook their head, Lucas knew they stood no chance against him. He was just way too cute.

‘’What would you say about fruit and ice cream?’’ Lucy said, pretending to herself and Ona that they still had a bit of saying in all of this.

Lucas moved from one foot to another as he thought about it.

Ona and Lucy waited curiously, already amused by what his next move would be.

‘’But..’’ he started, then he looked up at his moms as he seemingly thought of something brilliant, ‘’maybe my belly would be too full for sopar.’’ He said, clearly smug with himself.

‘’Ohh, well maybe we should wait on dinner then?’’ Ona said.

Lucas shook his head, ready to explain himself. ‘’No, mamá.’’ He looked down, ‘’fruit is big, and ice cream is only a small space.. so I can eat dinner and ice cream.’’

Lucy laughed, ‘’do we even have ice cream?’’

‘’Yes,’’ both Ona and Lucas said at the same time.

Lucy didn’t know why, but it brought a warm feeling to her heart.

‘’Okay,’’ she walked up to the fridge, ‘’so what you’re saying is you just need a small scoop of ice cream and then you will eat all of your dinner tonight too.’’

Lucas stepped aside for his mom to get the ice cream.

‘’Not very small,’’ he said, looking at the fridge drawer, ‘’this one.’’ He pointed at the ice cream Ona loved. Gelat de Màlaga. Horrible choice, she couldn’t understand why anyone would ever voluntarily eat it, let alone it was anyone's favorite.. but here Ona and Lucas where. Preferring it every time.

But instead of the usual disgust by the choice, she smiled as got the tub out. The boys both had stuff in common with Ona.. she thought back to what the therapist and her had discussed.

Ona had set a small bowl and a plastic spoon on the counter, and Lucy scooped in some ice cream for him.

‘’Not too much, he already had a merienda too.’’ Ona said.

‘’Ohh, what did he have?’’ Lucy said, closing the lid and giving Ona the spoon she’d scooped the ice cream with, having left a bunch on it on purpose.

‘’Bocadillo,’’ Ona hummed as she took the spoonful in her mouth, ‘’hmm.’’

‘’Here you go, silly,’’ Lucy said, giving the bowl to her son, ‘’eating ice cream in the winter.’’ She shook her head laughingly.

‘’autumn.’’ Lucas said as he eagerly took the bowl.

Lucy shook her head at his know-it-all attitude. Though she didn’t say anything as he was correct, after all. ‘’Careful with eating that,’’ she called after him, ‘’try not to spill.’’

She placed the tub of ice cream back in the freezer and turned back to Ona, ‘’you bunch are crazy.’’

‘’Is this about the ice cream flavor again or the fact we’re eating it in pre-winter.’’ Ona joked.

‘’Yes.’’ Lucy joked back.

‘’For dinner I was thinking pasta.’’ Ona said.

Lucy nodded, ‘’perfect, shall I cook or do you want to do it?’’

‘’It’s still early,’’ Ona said gently as she closed the gap between them, ‘’do you maybe want to talk first?’’

Lucy glanced over at Lucas, who was sitting on his knees at the coffee table. ‘’I’ll put the tv on for him.’’

Ona nodded.

Lucy plopped down on the couch next to Ona, in the main living room. Though they were still within view of Lucas, they were far enough to be out of earshot.

‘’Come here.’’ Lucy said, opening her arms up to Ona as she shifted.

Ona went to lay on top of her, shifting until they where both comfy.

‘’Hmm,’’ Lucy hummed as she closed her arms tightly around Ona, taking a second to enjoy the embrace, ‘’I’ve missed you today.’’

Ona stayed silent, though her thumb soothed the skin of Lucy’s side below her shirt in a sign of compassion.

‘’So I, uh, I made an appointment with.. a psychologist..’’ Lucy started, looking up at the ceiling, ‘’I made the appointment after you.. after we..’’

‘’You don’t have to say it,’’ Ona whispered against Lucy’s chest, ‘’I know.’’

‘’I should be able to say it,’’ Lucy said unsteadily, ‘’I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to talk about my feelings, sorry.’’

Ona pulled her hand from under Lucy's shirt, shifted upwards, and gently cupped Lucy's face, meeting her gaze. "You don’t have to apologize for trying your best," she said softly.

‘’Well, what you asked.. uhm.. mentioned,’’ Lucy bit her lip as she looked away from Ona, ‘’I want to start by saying that I’m all for it, I’m very exited and ever since you mentioned it I’ve been imagining our family with.. another.. little one.’’

Ona nodded, stroking Lucy’s cheek with her thumb. Brushing the tears away. 

‘’I just felt this.. uhm.. I uh..’’ Lucy licked her lips frustrated, she remembered what she’d discussed with the therapist. ‘’There’s two things.. I-‘’ she looked back at Ona, meeting her eyes. Her sympathetic eyes. That beautiful face. Her wife. 

‘’I love you so much, you must understand that,’’ she said.

Ona nodded.

‘’And it will sound selfish and there’s so many layer to it… but these are feelings that I’m having too.. and I need to talk about it.’’ Lucy said thoughtfully.

Ona leaned in to kiss Lucy’s cheek, ‘’you’re so strong my love,’’ she whispered, ‘’your feelings are valid no matter how selfish they seem.. it’s..’’ her eyes started to water too, ‘’we… you.. have experienced a loss... it was.. it is a grieving process.. Luce, I-‘’ she bit her lip.. what more could she add to this.

Lucy shifted, guiding them to lie on their sides, still holding each other. But now, facing one another, it felt even more intimate. She cupped Ona’s cheek and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

They looked in to each others eyes as they let the silence linger.

‘’Two things,’’ Lucy whispered after her breath had steadied again.

Ona nodded.

‘’the realization of the fact that I’ll.. nev-,‘’ a whimper cut through her words, it felt as if there was a lump in her throat making it hard to talk.

‘’I know,’’ Ona whispered, shifting to tuck Lucy’s head into her neck, she rubbed Lucy’s shocking shoulders, ‘’I know,’’ she repeated, ‘’let it all out mi vida. You don’t have to say it, I know.’’

Lucy sobbed quietly into the nape of Ona’s neck, thick tears leaving her eyes as her mouth twitched in grief.

It took a couple of moments before she could calm down again, she took a couple of deep breaths. ‘’The sEconD,’’ she cleared her throat against Ona and sniffed her nose. God, if it wasn’t for the fact they’d been married this long she’d be worried about being perceived as gross. Though, Ona would probably wave that off immediately, especially now. There was no other human being on the planet that Lucy felt more comfortable around then Ona. But she liked to stay a bit attractive to her.

‘’The second,’’ Lucy tried again, whispering softly, ‘’the second thing is… that… the baby..’’ she swallowed hard, ‘’would be yours… and you’d carry it.. and it’d be a half sibling to it’s brothers.. and’’ she leaned back to meet Ona’s gaze, ‘’you have such a good bond with-.. you.. you.’’

Ona shook her head softly, tears rolling down her cheeks.

‘’It doesn’t have to be m-‘’

Lucy shook her head, ‘’it should be, I want it to be.’’

‘’We still have y-‘’

Lucy took Ona’s face in her hands carefully, ‘’do you have a good connection with our sons? Did you.. have you ever felt like..?’’ she didn’t know how to even finish that question.

Ona smiled at her, ‘’having a good bond with them isn’t only about sharing blood with them.. dna.’’ She said softly, ‘’sure I have thought about it, what if something happens between us and..’’ Lucy’s face screwed up at those words, making Ona chuckle, ‘’what if,’’ she repeated, though she couldn’t finish what she wanted to say.

Lucy crinkled her nose, interrupting her, ‘’won’t happen.’’

"See, this is why it doesn't matter whether they're your blood or mine," Ona said, gently tracing Lucy's nose. "I love our little versions of you. I see so much of you in them... and all it fills me with is love, because I love you more than anything."

Tears welled up in Lucy’s eyes again. God, this had to be one of the most romantic things Ona had said to her. Lucy leaned in to kiss her.

‘’Yuck,’’ Lucy said in disgust, pulling away just as quickly as she’d leaned in. ‘’really don’t know how you got him hooked on that god awful ice cream.’’

Ona could only chuckle, ‘’see, you can learn the kid everything you want, not everything is passed through genetics.’’

‘’Wise woman,’’ Lucy smiled, leaning in again.

‘’Thought you hated the taste,’’ Ona murmured against her lips.

‘’Love you more then I hate gelat de Màlaga.’’ Lucy murmured back.

Ona chuckled between kisses, ‘’so romantic.’’

After breaking the kiss they stayed there for a while, just holding eachother. Both digesting the conversation they’d just had.

After a while the sound of small feet pattering against the floor caught Lucy’s attention, her ears perking for any signs of things being not alright with Lucas, but she assumed it was just him coming to ask something.

Sure enough, seconds later, Lucas stood next to the couch.

Lucy and Ona shifted to be able to look at him, though they kept cuddling.

‘’The video ended,’’ Lucas announced.

‘’Oh,’’ Lucy shifted, trying to get her phone from her pocket, ‘’should I put something new on the tv?’’

Lucas leaned in to look at the Netflix screen on his moms phone.

‘’This one?’’ Lucy asked, hovering above a series about cars that she knew Lucas had watched before.

Lucas looked at her, though he seemed to think about something else then what he was going to be watching next.

‘’Sad?’’ he asked, his eyes moving from his one mom to his other.

Lucy smiled and reached to the coffee table to lie her phone down, ‘’mamá and I where a little bit sad, yes.’’ She said, taking the boys’ small hand in hers.

‘’Nightmare?’’ he asked sympathetically, ‘’when you have a nightmare you sometimes have to cry because you are scared and then you get sad.’’

Ona smiled at her wife as they turned to look at eachother.

‘’Yes, that’s right,’’ Ona said, ‘’if you have a scary nightmare sometimes you have to cry, but mom and I didn’t have a nightmare.’’ She said softly.

The boy tilted his head, thinking for a couple of seconds before he smiled. ‘’hug?’’

Lucy grinned, relieved at how easily they seemed to have gotten through this, and lifted Lucas to lie between them.

"n abrazo hace todo mejor," Lucas said, wrapping his arms around both his moms' heads.

Lucy pulled him close, wrapping her arm around both her son and wife. "Mhm, a hug makes everything better," she repeated, smiling.

…

The rest of the afternoon and evening passed smoothly. Lucy made pasta for dinner, and Lucas sat beside her and Ona, chattering animatedly about his latest obsession. Oliver returned from his playdate in high spirits, just as they were finishing eating.

Later, the four of them went for a walk with Nela, their dog. The boys raced ahead, their laughter echoing through the quiet estate as Nela tugged at her leash, eager to join them.

Bedtime had become routine—perfect, even—for the past couple of weeks. Lucy read Oliver a story while Ona tucked Lucas in, listening as he rambled on about whatever crossed his mind. Lucy cherished this balance, the way they alternated spending bedtime with the boys. They’d switch kids each night if they were both home, a rhythm that felt just right. Lucy hoped Oliver wouldn’t start wanting to stay up later than Lucas anytime soon; things were good as they were.

Once the boys were asleep, Lucy headed downstairs. Ona had insisted she take a shower, and Lucy had already showered at work, so she used the time to tidy up the living room and kitchen.

When Ona still hadn’t come down, Lucy lit a few candles, set out snacks—ice cream for Ona, chocolate chip cookies for herself (though she knew Ona would steal a few)—and made two steaming cups of tea. She plopped onto the couch and paused the TV on the series they were currently into, waiting for Ona to join her.

A few moments later, Ona appeared, her robe tied loosely at the waist, her damp hair brushing her shoulders.

Lucy glanced up, smiling as Ona walked into the room. “Good shower?”

Ona nodded, her gaze sweeping over the room.

“You cleaned up,” she said, her lips curving into a smile as she circled the couch and settled herself comfortably on Lucy’s lap.

Lucy nodded, wrapping her arms around Ona’s waist. “And I got snacks out, made you a cuppa.”

“Mmm, you’re the best,” Ona murmured, burying her face in Lucy’s neck.

Lucy chuckled, her hand moving to soothe Ona’s back through the fluffy fabric of her robe. “Tired?”

“Mhm,” Ona hummed. “You?”

“A bit,” Lucy admitted thoughtfully. “But it was a good day.”

Ona sighed softly, leaning further into Lucy’s shoulder. “Yeah, I think so too.”

Lucy ran her fingers gently through Ona’s damp hair. “..and? ..are we doing it?”

Ona tilted her head to look up at her wife. “It’s a big decision.”

“It is,” Lucy agreed, her voice steady but thoughtful. “But I keep thinking about all the good things. Like, we’ve got that spare room upstairs, it’s just a playroom now.. it could be a nursery easily. The cars all have a empty seat left if we put Nela in the back like she’s supposed to be. We wouldn’t even need to upgrade anything major.”

Ona chuckled. “You’re already thinking logistics.”

“Of course… but not just that.” Lucy’s tone softened, and her hands settled on Ona’s waist. “I was also thinking about how amazing Ollie and Lucas would be with a little sibling. I can already see Oliver being the protective big brother and Lucas wanting to teach it everything he knows.”

Ona’s expression softened, her eyes glimmering. “They’d be good with a baby.”

“They would,” Lucy said confidently. “And… there’s always the chance it could be a girl.”

Ona’s cheeks turned pink, and she looked away, biting her lip. “That’s not the most important thing, you know.”

“I know,” Lucy said gently. “I just… I know you’ve always dreamed of a daughter. But of course, it being healthy is what matters the most.”

Ona nodded. “Mhm. But yeah, it would be cute… she’d have two big brothers.”

Lucy smiled, leaning in to kiss Ona’s temple, her voice dropping to a soft murmur. “You know what else I thought about?”

“What?” Ona asked, her lips curving faintly in anticipation.

“You,” Lucy said simply. “How you look when you’re pregnant. You’re always beautiful, Ona, but when you were carrying the boys…” She trailed off, her gaze warm and adoring. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you… the glow, your cute baby bump.”

Ona buried her face in Lucy’s neck, her ears turning red. Lucy smiled at her reaction. Ona had been the same way during her pregnancies—always shy about the compliments. Lucy found it adorable.

“You’re just saying that,” Ona mumbled.

“I’m really not,” Lucy insisted, her hands resting on Ona’s hips. “I mean it. You’re stunning. I think about you like that sometimes, and I can’t help but want to see it again.”

Ona peeked up at her through her lashes, her lips quirking. “Weirdo.”

Lucy huffed. “How am I weird?”

“You have a thing for pregnant ladies,” Ona teased, pulling a face.

“No,” Lucy shook her head quickly, “I have a thing for you.” She smiled lopsidedly. “It’s kind of a problem.”

“Why is it a problem? You’ve been saying this for the last eight years,” Ona laughed, reaching up to trace Lucy’s jaw with her thumb. “..but you make a convincing case, you know.”

“I try,” Lucy teased lightly, her expression earnest. “no.. I’m serious, the more I think about it, the more I want this, Ona. I really do. But only if you do too. We’re in such a good place right now. The boys are happy, we’ve got our routines down, and the business is doing well… I just feel like it’s the perfect moment.”

Ona’s eyes searched Lucy’s face, her resolve softening. “You really think it’s a good idea?”

“I do,” Lucy said with quiet certainty.

Ona smiled and leaned in to press a tender kiss to Lucy’s lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Lucy whispered, pulling Ona closer.

After a moment of silence, Ona spoke again. “But the room is the boys’ playroom. How would we explain—”

“Your home office,” Lucy smirked. “We can use that one.”

Ona frowned. “No. First of all, my office is on the ground floor, and I need that space.”

“We’ll make that the playroom and turn the playroom into the bedroom,” Lucy joked.

“Maybe we’ll make your gym the playroom,” Ona teased.

Lucy scrunched her nose. “You wouldn’t dare.”

Ona shrugged. “It’s the least essential room we have.”

“The boys barely play in the playroom anyway,” Lucy countered.

Ona and Lucy exchanged a look, realizing the same thing at the same time.

“How do you think they’ll react?” Ona asked.

“When do we even tell them?” Lucy wondered aloud.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, do we consult them? Tell them we’re thinking about it and see if they’re happy with a family expansion? Or do we keep it a secret until it’s almost here? I think the latter cus they can be very impatient… and there’s a big chance they’d tell people…”

Ona chuckled. “You keep saying ‘it.’”

“Well, we don’t know what it’s going to be. And ‘they’ sounds so plural.”

“What if it doesn’t… work out?” Ona asked carefully, her voice hesitant.

Lucy took Ona’s hands. “Are you worried there’ll be troubles?”

Ona shrugged. “It’s been a few years… maybe.”

Lucy smiled, nudging her wife. “Remember what the doctor said?’’ she put on her impression of the doctor ‘’‘Congratulations you two! It’s rare to see success on the very first attempt’,’’ she laughed, ‘’how did he say it again?.. ‘physiologically speaking.. it’s a beautiful uterus.’”

Ona smiled faintly, though she couldn’t laugh—knowing how painful the subject was for Lucy.

“It’s okay, babe, you can laugh,” Lucy reassured her. “Just because mine is a mess doesn’t mean I’m not happy that yours is perfect.”

“Luce…” Ona whispered.

Lucy pulled back to meet her gaze, tilting her head, ‘’it’s okay, really.’’

Ona cupped her face and looked into her eyes intensely.

‘’It’ll go well,’’ she put her hands over Ona’s, ‘’I think we can do this.’’

Ona nodded, ‘’I think so too.’’ She said softly, leaning in to kiss her.

Lucy’s hands travelled to cup the back of Ona’s head, pulling her closer, before heading south, kneading Ona’s hips below her bathrobe, dragging her hips against her own.

‘’I actually cant wait’’ Lucy breathed between kisses, wrapping her arms around Ona grabbing her ass.

Ona hummed in to the kiss, ‘’wait for what?’’ she asked, her fingers threading through Lucy’s hair in the back of her neck.

Lucy broke the kiss as she pulled back, ‘’for you to start showing.’’

Ona rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Let’s make an appointment first before you start with this.”

“Mhm, we will do it tomorrow,” Lucy said.

Ona bit her lip as she took in Lucy’s pupils, which seemed impossibly dilated. Lucy was brimming with an excitement Ona didn’t completely understand. She didn’t understand the fascination, though she knew—because she had told her many times—that her wife adored how she looked when she was pregnant.

“But you’re always beautiful,” Lucy added, as if she could read Ona’s thoughts.

Ona smiled and leaned in to give Lucy a quick peck. “What’s our agenda like for tomorrow?”

Lucy considered this, her brows furrowing slightly. “Hmm… I have work, you have work. You’ll drop the boys off at school, and I’ll pick them up. I think that’s it.”

Ona nodded. “Want to have lunch together? Do you have time for that?”

Lucy shrugged. “I think so. I’d have to check.”

Ona grabbed the phone lying beside them on the couch. As she unlocked it, the first thing to pop up was a collection of photos—her pregnancy photoshoot from years ago. While not fully nude, the images were intimate, showing her in barely-there attire.

She raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lucy, who didn’t even attempt to look sheepish.

Instead, Lucy grinned back at her, unapologetically.

Shaking her head with a blush and a small eyeroll, Ona navigated to Lucy’s calendar. Spotting a gap around two in the afternoon, she added an appointment ‘Lunch with Ona’.

“It’s a date,” Lucy said, her smile widening. “We haven’t done that in a while—having lunch together during work.”

“Mhm true,” Ona agreed, nodding. “Can’t wait.”

Lucy leaned in for another kiss, her voice soft and thoughtful. “You know, I’ve been thinking… what do you think about taking a longer maternity leave this time? Not working right up until you physically can’t anymore, but taking a proper few months off instead?”

Ona shook her head with an amused smile. “Is this secretly another one of your plans to get me to work less?”

“Eh,” Lucy laughed, shrugging. “You’re the one who brought it up, not me.”

“Hmmm,” Ona hummed, her tone mock-disapproving. “We’ll see when it’s time…”

---

Who says yes to happiness and time skip to 🤰 for the next chapter? 🙃

Personal Records Masterlist

[maddy-k-reads-all-day]

Butterflies! Kate Is Alive AU Part Two!

Butterflies!

Riley sat there, rather stunned. Despite everything Kate knew, it did not do more than confirm what Riley had already suspected. The information was interesting, for sure, but it didn’t lead them any closer to their goal. Then again, if it would then Kate wouldn’t have given up. I suppose. Riley thought to themself.

“Look, there are some tapes scattered around this room if you want to watch them…” Kate sighed.

“Are you going to stick around to watch them with me?” 

“No… I’ve already watched them all… over and over… you know that, I gave you my notes. But I suppose two eyes are better than one. Let me know if you catch something I guess…” she turned to leave. Riley had never heard her sound so drained before. “Wait! Amanda has been talking about you! She says she misses you, and wants to talk to you again! Please, just this once, will you watch a tape with me?” 

“Fine. But afterwards I really do have to go.” She pulled a tape out of a bug catching net and handed it to Riley, who put it in the VCR. 

The tape begins with Amanda coming out of a store, silently staring at an at-home butterfly habitat for kids. She seems content. There are little caterpillars crawling around inside.

“Don’t worry little guys… you’re safe. I’m going to take care of you…” She says gently in a soft, caring tone. The tape changes to Amanda’s living room, where she carefully carries the habitat into the room and places it on the couch. Wooly is already there.

“Whatcha got there Amanda?” he asks. 

“For today’s episode, we’re raising butterflies, remember?” 

“I think we did that in elementary school a long time ago…” Wooly remincises, “It was fun! Until all the butterflies… died for some reason. Hmm…”

“Well there is absolutely no way these ones are dying on my watch!” Amanda announces. She realizes that the episode has started already. “Oh, hi there! Didn’t notice you for a second, sorry. I’m Amanda!” she beams. There is an awkward pause, like Amanda is waiting for something, but Wooly seems to be staring into the distance, deep in thought. “I’m Amanda.” she repeats, but gets no response. “Whatever.” She scoffs and looks around for somewhere to put the habitat. She sees the lamp on the table and a devilish grin forms on her face. 

“Gee, I wish we had a TABLE to put this habitat on!” she says, looking at the screen smugly. Riley taps on the lamp. She grins mischievously, and walks over to the lamp. She shoves it off the table causing it to break and make a super loud crashing sound on the floor.

“Huh?! What are you doing?!” Wooly gasps. “You’re going to scare the caterpillars!” Amanda panics and looks at her caterpillars. 

“Shh… shh… it’s okay little fellas you’re absolutely safe here.” Amanda says softly. Wooly rolls his eyes, then he glances at the screen. He seems surprised, then a little annoyed. 

“Oh… the episode has started already?” 

“Yeah Wooly.” Amanda scoffs. She looks at the screen again and does a double take. Her eyes widen and tears start to form “No… no way… it can’t be…” her voice cracks, “Ka-” 

“Don’t say my name! They’ll hear you!” Kate snaps. Amanda flinches a bit, Riley does too. It is very unlike Kate to speak in such a harsh tone. She seems… scared. 

“You’re alive…” Amanda cries, “I can’t believe you’re alive.” 

“Yeah Amanda… I’m alive…” Kate sighed, sounding completely exhausted. Amanda’s smile fades a bit. 

“Today we’re raising caterpillars into butterflies! These ones are called Monarchs!” Amanda beams, “Oh… but I guess you already know that huh? Heh heh.” She laughs nervously. 

“Say, why don’t you help us!” Wooly suggests.  

“Yeah! See…” Amanda pulls out a diagram, “Butterflies start out as eggs… then they become caterpillars… then they turn into a chrysalis and then into a butterfly!” 

“Ooh! Ooh! What do they turn into after that?” Wooly asks eagerly. Amanda gives him a weird look, as this is a very strange question. 

“They die, Wooly. You know that.” 

“O-Oh… that’s… really sad.” 

“Not really, that’s just the cycle of life isn’t it? Honestly I think they’re kind of lucky, they get to fly south for the winter. I bet they see all kinds of different places.” 

“Mmm… I don’t know… I feel like there could be dangers along the way. I mean, not every butterfly makes it right?” Wooly says. Amanda ignores him.

“We have to help these caterpillars grow into butterflies! Do you remember the cycle I showed you before?” She asks. “I'll start us off, the eggs have already hatched into caterpillars, so what comes next?” A voice prompt shows up on the screen. 

“Shoe.” Riley replied. Amanda giggles a little bit.

“What the?” Wooly mumbles looking completely confused. “That's not right.”

“Yeah I know Wooly.” Amanda grumbles. “Come on, try again.” the voice prompt appears again.

“Grasshopper.” Riley said with a mischievous grin. Amanda looks kind of mad now. 

“Come on, didn't you learn this in grade school?!” Amanda snaps.

“Maybe they failed grade school…” Wooly comments. Wow Wooly, rude. Kate paused the tape.

“Riley what are you doing?!” She hissed.

“Pissing them off on purpose.” Riley shrugged. 

“Why?!”

“Dunno, they reveal more information when you do that I guess.”

“Really…” Kate sounded intrigued. She walked over and unpaused the tv. 

“Alright.” Amanda takes a deep breath, “let's try this again. After the egg hatches into the caterpillar, what happens?” the voice prompt appears once more.

“Frog.” Kate answered. Riley started cracking up. Amanda's jaw drops. 

“Riley! You are SUCH a bad influence!” Wooly groans in frustration. Now everyone is staring at him with surprise. “Wh-whoa… what'd I do?”

“I've never heard Wooly… ever refer to a viewer by name before.” Kate mumbled, tapping her chin with interest. 

“Me neither.” Riley said.

“Wooly… you just called Riley by their name.” Amanda points out. He immediately covers his mouth, looking incredibly freaked out for some reason. “Frog… Grasshopper… SHOE what kind of answers even ARE those?!” Amanda shouts in annoyance, “The answer is-”

“Chrysalis!” Wooly shouts out suddenly. 

“That's right. Chrysalis.” Amanda says, unenthusiastically. The caterpillars crawl up and begin to weave their chrysalises. 

“Ha! Yessss!” Wooly appears quite proud of himself. Amanda rolls her eyes. 

“Alright and out form the chrysalis emerges a…” the voice prompt appears again. 

“Dragonfly!” Riley calls out. This time Amanda is not amused.

“Do you think this is funny?” Amanda says, her right eye twitching a bit. 

“You seemed to think it was before.” Wooly points out.

“It's not funny anymore! It hasn't been for a long time!” she shouts, stamping her foot. Red glitches cover the screen. “I'm so sick of all of this!”

“Amanda, don't say that!” Wooly says worriedly looking at the screen.

“DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” Amanda screams in his face, Wooly puts his hands up defensively, “I hate this place! I hate you!” Wooly suddenly looks very hurt. The tape glitches red again. Amanda starts to morph into her demon form. Wooly backs away slowly. This time it feels a lot more eerie. Like Amanda is completely in control, she almost seems calm. Too calm. “What are you so afraid of, huh?!” She says calmly, almost too calmly.  

“I- um… I… I…Whoa!” Wooly trips onto his butt and freezes up. “I'm no-not afraid!” he says defensively, Amanda looms over him. “Yo-you don't know anything!” tears start welling up in his eyes. Amanda looks disappointed, she returns back to normal and turns back to the screen with a fake smile on her face. 

“When the caterpillar emerges from the chrysalis what does it become?” She asks with an eerie cheerfulness. The voice prompt appears once more. 

“Butterfly.” Kate said quickly. There is a long pause before Amanda says anything. She just stares at them for a long time with a creepy smile. 

“Amanda?” Wooly mumbles.

“That's right!” She beams, “A butterfly!” The tape glitches and they hear the brief sound of Amanda screaming but it's glitched out. She returns to a smiling state once again. Wooly looks seriously disturbed. 

“Amanda, are you feeling okay?”

“Never--- better Wooly, why?” Amanda smiles. Wooly looks unconvinced. The tape glitches again, Wooly looks startled.

“That's right!” Amanda beams, “A butterfly!” Just then, the butterflies all came out of their chrysalises. “Look! Our butterflies are all grown up now!” 

“Oooooh… they're so pretty.” Wooly grins, he leans on the couch's arm, watching them happily. Amanda sits on the floor and watches them as well.

“Now that they're all grown up, we get to do my favorite part!” Amanda says excitedly. 

“Hm? And what's that?” Wooly asks, also getting a little excited. Amanda picks up the habitat. The tape glitches and suddenly they are in the backyard. Now Wooly looks nervous. “So… what are we doing Amanda?” 

“Letting them go!” Amanda cheers. 

“What?! NO!!!” Wooly shouts, the tape glitches. He snatches the habitat from her and hugs it protectively. “These are our friends! We didn't even get to have them that long!” 

“But they deserve to be free!” Amanda argues. Wooly looks like he's about to argue back but then the tape glitches. He looks down at the habitat sadly. The sparkle in his eyes goes dim. 

“I… guess you're right…” he sighs, handing the habitat gently to Amanda, who looks at him with confusion and a bit of concern. Just then, the opossum shows up. 

“Oh um, hi there opossum!” Amanda says awkwardly. “Look at these butterflies we raised, pretty right?” The opossum runs up to her and starts trying to grab at the habitat. “Wha? No! You can't have this!” She snaps, pulling it away from him. He snatches it from her. 

“He's gonna hurt the butterflies! Do something!” Wooly shouts.

“What do we do?” Kate asked. Riley taps their finger on the VCR screen. The opossum clearly notices them, he stops for a moment, then glares at Riley directly in the eye and drops the habitat on the ground.

“No!” Amanda and Wooly shout. They wait a moment, the opossum does nothing.

“Wait… they look… fine…” Amanda says, sounding relieved. 

“Now we just need to carefully take them back inside where they’re safe…” Wooly whispers. The opossum glares at them and opens the door to the habitat. All the butterflies fly out of it.  

“No! No! NO! Come back!” Wooly cries out, trying to reach for them, but Amanda watches in awe.

“Isn't it beautiful?” Amanda smiles. 

“Beautiful?!” Wooly says angrily, “th-they’re gone! We lost them!”

“Wooly… they can’t stay with us forever…” Amanda says gently. Wooly looks at her sadly. 

“I know…” Wooly sighs sadly, flopping down onto the grass, “But I'm going to miss them.”

“Me too…”

“But you wanted to let them go!” 

“I wanted to set them free.” Amanda explains, “Look at them, they’re right where they belong. Aren’t you happy for them?” 

“They would've been safer with us…” Wooly grumbles. 

“But now they’re happy… now they’re free.” Amanda says longingly, “I wish I was a butterfly.” 

“Why’s that?” Wooly asks. 

“So I can fly far far away.” Amanda stretches her arms out, feeling the sunshine and the breeze. Her eyes seem to sparkle. She lays down in the grass and watches the butterflies fly around above her. 

“Butterflies don’t live that long, you know.” Wooly pouts. Amanda rolls her eyes. 

“Better a short and happy life than a long and miserable one.” She grumbles.

“You think so?”

“Yeah…” Amanda sighs, sounding a bit more at peace. Wooly stares at her for a bit, looking like he wants to say something. Then he looks away and stands up. 

“There are other kinds of butterflies right? Don't you have any books on them?” Wooly asks. 

“Mmm yeah I think so.” Amanda replies nonchalantly, without even glancing up at him. 

“Don't moths also come from caterpillars?”

“Sure they do… why?” Amanda answers, looking suspicious of Wooly. 

“Just curious… I kinda forgot… it's uh… been awhile…” Wooly laughs sadly. Amanda looks sad for a moment then shakes it off.

“AN-Y-WAY!” She shouts jumping up off the lawn, “That's how caterpillars become butterflies!” The credit music begins to play. “WAIT- WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!!” Amanda calls out frantically. “Before you go I- I need to ask you something. K-" she freezes, remembering Kate's words from before. “Fr-friend…” she says awkwardly, “Are you bored of me?” The voice prompt appears. 

“NO!! NEVER!” Kate shouted. Amanda's eyes widen. 

“But… you left… and you started making other people watch the tapes for you… I mean don't get me wrong I like them both but… I missed you…” Amanda whimpers. “I missed talking to you… and I finally remembered who you were but you disappeared and I had so much I wanted to talk to you about…”  Amanda cries softly. The voice prompt hasn’t disappeared yet. 

“Well… we can talk now.” Kate says softly. 

“Okay… um… Di-did you get the cookies? Did you like them?” 

“Cookies? What cookies?” Kate asks Riley, sounding extremely confused.

“We… got you some cookies… and sent them to you.”

“Oh… I'm sorry I never got any cookies… but I wasn't home so I wouldn't know.” 

“I see…” Amanda says sadly. 

“Um… well it's good to see you're back and okay!” Wooly says nervously. Amanda looks surprised at this.

“You didn't like K- her…” Amanda points out. 

“Well unlike a certain someone I know I don't wish the people I don't like would DIE.”

“Well maybe you should, Wooly.” Amanda mumbles. “Maybe we should want them dead…” wait… she's not talking about us. Who is she referring to? Probably the people at Hameln, right? Riley theorised.

“Look if this is about Hameln I'm sure they had a good reason-”

“Good reason?! Are you out of your MIND?!” Amanda snaps. Wooly falls silent. “You don't really still believe that nonsense do you?!”

“I don't know…” Wooly pouts. Amanda shakes her head with an annoyed expression.

“I’m not completely sure what's going on but… don't be a stranger… okay Kate?” Amanda smiles sadly. The tape ended and fell out of the machine. Kate slowly begins to break down in tears. 

“I'm sorry Rebecca… I'm sorry… I can't save you… I know I can't save you…” Kate sobbed.

“What do you mean, save?” Riley questions.

“I mean… getting her out… bringing her back…” 

“I don't think we can do that… but… I think we can set her free… her and all the kids…” Riley explained. “I mean… she will never be able to return to how she was… but I think she would rather be free than trapped in these tapes like this…”

“I can't do it… I can't let her go… I promised Sam… I promised…” 

“Sam would want her to be at peace too…” Riley sighed.

“I know… I know…” 

“So will you help me? Can we stop Hameln? Together?”

“You don't know what you're up against!” Kate argued. 

“Maybe…” Riley mumbled, “But I want to try!” Just then there is a knock on the door.

“Kate… it's me.” an unfamiliar voice says. Kate immediately stands up and opens the door. 

“Wait here, I'll introduce you… in a bit. You can handle the puzzle till then right?” She asked. Riley looked behind them. A children's butterfly puzzle is now on the table. They looked back at Kate and nodded. Kate nodded back and left. Riley heard some muffled conversation on the other side of the door. They looked at the puzzle. The pieces are gone. They looked around the room and found a piece with butterfly eggs on it. They placed it into the puzzle. Maybe I need to rewatch the tape to solve this one. Riley thought.

“You did WHAT?! Have you LOST your MIND?!” Kate shouted. What's going on? They wondered. Well hopefully she'll fill me in later. They take the tape and put it back into the VCR. 

The episode begins with Amanda and Wooly sitting on the couch watching some caterpillars in a butterfly habitat. She notices us.

“Oh hi again! I'm Amanda!” She beams. She waits again for Wooly, who is still watching the caterpillars, kicking his feet in the air happily. “He's in his own little world, huh?” Amanda grumbles. She elbows him sharply in the arm. 

“Ow! What is it?!” Wooly snaps, sounding really annoyed then he notices us..”Oh… um… and I'm Wooly!”

“So she isn't here this time?” Amanda questions. The voice prompt appears.

“She's talking to someone outside.”

“Oh, probably our other friend!” Amanda smiles. “Today we're raising caterpillars!” 

“Say, why don’t you help us?” Wooly points out. Amanda pulls out the diagram, she looks at it for a bit with disinterest. “Amanda?” 

“You remember the life cycle right?” she asks. The voice prompt appears.

“Yeah.” Riley replied. 

“And you’re not going to mess with us again right?” 

“Maybe.” Riley shrugged. Amanda and Wooly look annoyed. “Okay fine, I won’t.” Gotta speedrun this anyway.

“I’ll start us off… the eggs have already turned into caterpillars, so what comes next?”

“Chrysalis.”

“Correct!” Amanda grins, snapping her fingers. The caterpillars crawl up and start to form their chrysalises. Riley paused the tape and looked around for the chrysalis piece. Once they found it, they put it in the puzzle. They turn back to the TV and find the chrysalises fully-formed much faster than before. They walked back to the TV and hit play. 

“Whoooaaa…” Wooly marvels.  

“When the caterpillar emerges from the chrysalis what does it become?” 

“Butterfly.” Riley answers. 

“That’s right! A butterfly!” she grins. Just then, the butterflies come out of their chrysalises. Riley paused the tape and looked for the butterfly puzzle piece and added it to the puzzle. When they returned to the tv the butterflies had already emerged. 

“Look! Our butterflies are all grown up now!” Amanda beams. Wooly looks around awkwardly, like he wants to say something. Amanda sits on the couch watching the butterflies happily. “You’re right Wooly, they are really pretty.” Wooly doesn’t come and watch them this time. He looks uncomfortable and unsure, like there’s something on his mind. “You’re not going to watch them?”

“WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!” Wooly shouts, then he panics a bit like he didn’t mean to say that.

“What are you talking about?” Amanda says, confused and kind of offended. 

“YOU! You were acting… strange earlier!” 

“Earlier? What do you mean earlier?” Amanda asks mockingly. Wooly scowls at her. 

“Nevermind.” he sighs, “it’s nothing.” Amanda shrugs. 

“Are you ready for my favorite part?” Amanda grins. 

“How did you do that?” 

“Do what?!” Amanda snaps. 

“La-last time they watched the tape! You turned into your demon form and nothing bad happened!” 

“Yeah so?” 

“What do you mean yeah, so?!” Wooly shouts. “No no… that’s not what I meant to ask atl all… ugh forget it!” 

“Really? Because it seems like you have something to say…”

“I uh… um… hmm….” Wooly thinks really hard for a couple seconds, “uuuuh ugh… no… I… mmm… You-” his voice gets really quiet… he sounds almost… small all of the sudden, “You don’t really hate me do you?” 

“What was that?” Amanda asks, looking confused. She didn’t hear him.

“Nothing. I forgot.” 

“Okay then… So can we let the butterflies go now?” “Fine. Let’s just get this over with.” he groans. The tape fast-forwards on its own and ends. That was weird. Riley thought. They turn around and the next tape is behind them.

Authors Note: Experimenting with some new fic stuff to make it feel more like the games! Also did a lot more research this time to keep everything in character. Obviously though, this is a direct continuation of the second game... and I don't know what will happen then. So some stuff is kind of just made up on the fly. I have no idea if Amanda is actually able to control her demon form or not, but I thought it was a cool idea so I tried it.

Constructive criticism is totally welcome btw, if I didn't say so before! I'm writing fics to improve my writing skills, so seriously, any feedback is welcome (as long as it's not like... straight up rude. If you say "this sucks" with no elaboration that's not constructive criticism).

[illdothehotvoice]

Dude this week has sucked ass I'm so sad

[seaofreverie]

Anyway how is everyone doing

[zemnarihah]

art students are suuuuch babies dude i actually can't believe all the profs are so nice i'd be grabbing people by the shoulders and shaking them and yelling "JUST REMIX THE FUCKING COLOR WHY HAVE YOU TAKEN 3 PAINTING CLASSES AND YOU STILL WONT EVEN ATTEMPT TO MATCH A COLOR THAT YOU MIXED BEFORE WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS WHOLE TIME DO YOU HAVE LITERALLY NO DESIRE TO IMPROVE OR DO YOU HONESTLY THINK THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU AND THE PERSON WHO IS ALWAYS MAKING INCREIDBLE WORK IS ONLY OUTSIDE FACTORS YOU CLAIM TO HAVE NO CONTROL OVER RATHER THAN WORK AND A WILLINGNESS TO TRY CHALLENGING THINGS

[insanechayne]

~ ~ ~

[britneyshakespeare]

the middle school principal wants to hire me in a full-time position so bad.

and who can blame him? i'm that substitute 💅

[wutheringmights]

.

[dragons-and-yellow-roses]

Guess who applied for college??

[musicrunsthroughmysoul]

An adorable student who I worked with last year told me today that she has roses in her backyard and, after I told her how much I love roses (they're my favorite flower!), that she'd pick one and bring it to me. 😭 And had I not been literally in the middle of doing the job that is expected of me that I get paid for, I might've cried.

[c0rpsedemon]

something abt realizing you're listening to someone sing for the last time really hits in an awful way

[floral-hex]

real sad boy hours

[histoires-en-bouteille]

[ID: screenshot of a Word document, cropped to show only the number of pages and wordcount. It reads "Page 9 sur 9, 2696 mots" in French. In English, it means "9 pages out of 9, 2696 words". END ID.]

[my-castles-crumbling]

Hi guys!

So I have been hit with a bit of the sads today and I’m trying to convince myself that it’s okay to like…ask for help and reassurance 😅 and I think I need some right now. There’s some things I’ve been putting off working on for a while that I need to do and I could use your encouragement! So..

50 notes and I’ll clean up around my house

100 notes and I’ll work on some job applications to find a less toxic school that accepts my identity

500 notes and I’ll talk to a friend about some issues we’ve been having that I’ve been avoiding

1000 notes and I’ll make a goal to drink at least 4 glasses of water a day because I’m chronically dehydrated lol

2000 notes and I’ll make a goal to be active five times a week (right now it’s three and I really need to do more)

3000 notes and I’ll actually listen to my doctor about how to treat my new health condition instead of just ignoring it until my next appointment (don’t do what I do, kids!)

4000 notes and I’ll force myself to write nice things about myself and I’ll post them here.

5000 notes and I’ll question all of your sanity for being so dedicated and I’ll…idk I’ll do whatever you guys want to take care of myself. I’ll take your suggestions I guess. As long as it’s not expensive. And I’ll post proof on here.

[totally-here]

3 times Phantom's Guardian was Mentioned + 1 Time He Showed Up

One

Phantom’s introduction to Young Justice wasn’t as dramatic as Empress’ or Slobo’s, or even Arrowette’s first introduction to the cave. No, it wasn’t during the Olympics, or on a battlefield, and he didn’t come in injured and looking for help. 

Impulse just brought Phantom in one day and insisted that he should join because he’s their age, interested in justice, and now that Greta’s human again they need another ghost member. So Phantom stayed, popping in and out for missions but never really sticking around all that long. 

Today is one of the days that Phantom’s with them on a mission, that being looking around a lab of the Brain’s that had an energy surge recently, despite it being presumably abandoned. 

Kon got paired up with Phantom to check the rest out first, since they both have better hearing than Anita and Tim, who were both still in the main room working on checking the computers for previous activity. 

The room is dark except for the light green ball glowing slightly above Phantom’s hand. He waves it around enough for it to reflect off of glass, then throws it up to the ceiling. The light expands enough to illuminate the room. 

Phantom mumbles about not knowing he could do that. Kon ignores him and moves closer to inspect the glass tubes to the side of several monitors set up. 

“Looks like cloning equipment,” Phantom says, casually. He drags a finger through the dust gathering on one of the monitors. “Don’t think they’ve been activated recently, though, so that’s good.”

“What? You got a problem with clones or something?” It’s a quick and defensive answer, and Phantom puts his hands up in surrender. 

“Not in concept.” He shrugs and joins Kon near the tubes. “But not a lot of people ask before making clones.”

“So I don’t need to sic Superman on you?” Obviously Kon could chew Phantom out himself, but few can do a “not mad, just disappointed” face better than Clark. 

Phantom scrunches his face. “Why would you need to?” 

Kon stops pretending to inspect the tube and stares at Phantom. “You do know I’m a clone, right?” The blank look on Phantom’s face tells him that no, he did not. “Well I am. Clone of Superman, though we’re pretty much brothers now.”

“Cool,” Phantom says, not a bit less friendly. He hesitates for a second before continuing, “Could I maybe ask you how you got there? Me and my clone have landed on cousins, but that was also, like, given to us by her evil dad. So.”

Phantom trails off. Huh, that makes three members of the team that have been cloned. Not a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened three times. 

“You’re making sure she feels accepted, right?” 

“Yeah! Well, whenever she’s around. She,” Phantom waves his hand around, looking for the right word, “She’s a wanderer. Exploring the world and stuff. But Richard has a room for her at home, and I remind her of that whenever she does stop by.” 

“Well, first of all, don’t push it so hard,” Kon says. Phantom nods enthusiastically. “And second, who’s Richard?”

Kon doesn’t know a lot of Richards, and he doesn’t think that Phantom ever mentioned one before. Or even if he remembers his living life. 

“Oh, he’s my, uh, guardian? I guess that’s the best term. The guy I’m living with who forces me to go to school sometimes.” Phantom looks away and back to the tubes. 

Before Kon can ask for more details, Robin and Empress come in with a report of dead computers and wanting to know where they’re at with the cloning room.

They’re unimpressed with their lack of progress.

Two

Wally doesn’t really need to come by the Hamilton Lodge that often, not when that’s Young Justice’s territory and he doesn’t want to get involved in all of That.

But Red Tornado said that the team has a file on a planet that’s very quickly becoming a league problem, and he figured it might be a good time to try to check in with Bart, anyway. Make sure he hasn’t run any cars off cliffs again and all that. 

So he stops by Manchester to ask Bart about the file, then they both head East to actually find it. 

When they arrive at the hotel minutes later, Wally’s surprised to actually find it… clean? There’s no visible trash or overturned furniture or anything else he’d expect from an abandoned hotel filled with teenagers. Well, maybe not filled, lately. He doesn’t think anyone’s living here currently, with Greta at Elias’ for the school year and Slobo gone. 

Still, the room smells slightly of artificial pine scent, and Bart perks up before disappearing and reappearing rapidly, holding a teammate up by his armpits. Said teammate just accepts this, his legs folding into a wispy tail, and head rolling against his shoulders. 

“This is Phantom!” Bart holds him up higher. Phantom waves. Wally’s only heard of him through Max’s updates, the same way he would hear about Preston or Carol, but with more wariness about the supposed ghost. 

Actually looking at the pale face and glowing green eyes contrasting against the darker than dark jumpsuit, Wally’s a little more ready to accept his claim at being undead. 

“He stress cleans,” Bart explains, moving to carry Phantom under his arm. Wally bites down the urge to tell him to put him down, but only because Phantom doesn’t resist the hold, only moving to get into a more comfortable position. His hands are touching the floor. “So what happened?” 

Bart directs the question downwards, and Phantom heaves a very dramatic sigh. Definitely a teenager. It does raise the question of who exactly this kid’s mentor is. Hopefully he does have one. Maybe he’s the Spectre’s kid?

Phantom phases through the arm holding him only to lay on top of Bart’s hair. “I accidentally called Richard dad. And then fled.” 

Bart nods sagely. “Classic. One time I accidentally called Max dad, so I had to start a fire to distract him.”

Phantom sighs again, almost dreamily. “Genius.” 

Wally doesn’t have time to unpack all of that. Well he does, but he’s not going to, because there’s really only one Richard that comes to mind that might have the heart to take in a dead kid, even if he doesn’t go by his full name.

But surely Dick would have told him, or any other Titan, if he had adopted a kid. Right?

But there’s still a little shadow of doubt. Maybe Dick wanted it to be a secret, or it was really new or had a rocky start. Phantom doesn’t seem to hold himself like a Bat, but it’s not a guarantee Dick would have trained him. 

“The lodge looks nice,” Wally offers out loud, which Phantom shrugs at and wraps his tail around Bart’s head to keep secure. “Anyway, Impulse. The file on Myrg?” 

“Oh yeah!” Again, Bart disappears then reappears a few seconds later with a paper file. They really need to start digitizing more of these things. “That’s the planet where we played baseball so that they wouldn’t destroy Earth!” 

“You what.” 

The prospect of Dick following in his dad’s footsteps is forgotten in the face of what the hell Young Justice got up to on Myrg. 

Three

Tim may be in a…Predicament. 

It’s not his fault. Really. He knew what he was doing. He couldn’t let a civilian fall for the trap. But they were already so close, so he just, kinda, pushed himself into the rope instead. 

So there Robin is, tied upside down in a warehouse, with the Joker below next to an overly complicated control panel. The clown’s rambling about bombs hidden all over the city that Tim knows Batman is already tracking down with Batgirl. 

Tim’s not really paying attention to the rant because of that, more focused on wiggling enough to get the spare mini-birdarang out of his glove to cut the rope without notifying the Joker. 

“Yikes, bad time?” Asks Phantom’s voice beside him. Based on the source and accounting for the slight echo, he’s floating with his head near Tim’s, likely upside down. “Want some help?” 

Tim gets the birdarang out and starts sawing at the thick rope. They should be fine anyway, but stalling the Joker for extra time would be helpful. “Can you possess the Joker? Just hold him still.”

“The correct term is overshadow, but sure.” The voice disappears, and a few seconds later the Joker freezes. 

His body jerks forward, then backward, and a laugh chokes out of his throat. His hand claws over his mouth at the noise and he hunches over. All movement halts before he rights himself, shaking out his hands and rolling his shoulders. Phantom looks up at Tim and his eyes are glowing. 

Tim cuts through the rope, kicking and using the momentum to right himself and land on his feet. He brushes past Phantom in Joker’s body to handle the control panel. He turns off the radio broadcast and dismantles the bomb strapped to the panel.

Threat handled, he turns to Phantom and holds up some handcuffs. “Let me arrest you?”

Phantom obliges, turning the Joker’s body around and putting his hands behind his back. Tim lets him walk by himself out of the warehouse and moves the handcuffs around a lamppost. The Joker’s body jerks again, then slumps forward, just as Phantom reappears next to him, scowling down at the unconscious body. 

“That felt really slimy. Zero out of ten, would not do again,” Phantom grouches. 

“Why’re you in Gotham?” Tim asks. It’s not like Phantom makes a habit of visiting. The last time he came into the city, he complained about feeling the dead under the streets. Fortunately, that let Tim uncover a few tunnels that Talons travel through. Phantom, however, was unnerved by the Talons and left quickly. 

“Oh, Solomon Grundy’s back in our sewers. Richard said I should probably tell one of you Gotham heroes, since you keep track of those guys.” He shakes out his hands like they were cramped in the Joker. 

They hadn’t seen Grundy in a while. Tim assumed he was currently in a less violent personality. “What’s he doing?” 

Phantom shrugs. “Just chilling. Mostly underground. I tried to talk to him but he only grunted back at me. He also tried to pick me up, dunno what that was about.”

“Maybe because you’re both dead?” Tim guessed. That would be a surface level connection. Ivy and Woodrue have had more luck working with Grundy than anyone, and Phantom definitely doesn’t have the connection to the Green that’d help with that. 

Police lights turn around the corner, and Tim shoots a grapple to get to the roof above them. Phantom follows, but disappears as soon as they’re on the roof. Going back home, probably. 

Cass drops down from the roof she was listening on. “Richard?”

“Not the same one.”

They both stick around long enough to watch the Joker get put into the cop car. 

Plus one

A spaceship landed in the forests of New York, and Cassie’s team was the first to respond to it. Technically not respond, but check it out, since there wasn’t any alert or anything. 

Still, Wonder Girl has Empress, Robin, and Superboy on the other side of the ship, watching what looks like the back door, while she, Impulse, and Phantom watch the other door and main window. She has binoculars, but the windows are so tinted she can’t quite make anything out. 

No aliens have come out yet, and she hesitates to have anyone go in, in case whoever inside does turn hostile. 

Impulse has offered to run through a total of five times already, and it’s a testament to his restraint that he hasn’t, and a testament to Cassie’s that she hasn’t yelled at him yet. Phantom at least isn’t being annoying, but he’s not necessarily helpful, either. He’s not even watching the spaceship anymore. Now he’s trying to make a flower crown out of dandelions. 

“Door’s opening on our side,” Robin says from the comms. “But no one’s coming out.” 

“Alright, good enough to try to get in,” Cassie decides. She turns to Phantom, who’s closing off the circle of flowers. Beside him, Impulse has since pulled out a gameboy. “Phantom, go in invisibly through the open door and report back. Try to see what their plans are.” 

“Oh, sure. One second.” Phantom finishes the crown and tries to put it on Bart’s head. It doesn’t quite fit over his mane of hair, but Phantom shrugs and leaves it sitting there anyway before going invisible. 

“Maybe I should shave my head again,” Bart says as his game character dies. 

He gets a resounding no in response. 

Half an hour later they have a very annoyed Green Lantern lecturing them about league jurisdiction and knowing when to call someone else. 

Apparently, the alien ship was just stopping to complete some maintenance, and did not appreciate any spying on them, and especially did not appreciate who did it. Green Lantern was more than happy to explain that Wonder Girl’s team is not really a part of the Justice League and he can help with their maintenance. They denied his help and left to find a place with less people in it. 

“-and you!” Green Lantern rounds on Phantom next, but Cassie knows none of them are really listening. Sure, they messed up by freaking out the visiting aliens, and yeah maybe they should have contacted the league about it, but they’ve dealt with stuff worse than this! It’s not Cassie’s fault she thought that this would have stuck to the formula. 

“Who even are you?” Green Lantern runs a hand through his black hair, stupid green gauntlets shining in the sunlight. “Do I need to call your mentor?” He frowns. “Or do they know you mess up alien technology by just being around it?” 

Phantom scoffs and rolls his eyes. “How was I supposed to know their tech would go all fuzzy when I came in?” 

“You wouldn’t have to know if you just stayed out of the spaceship!” 

“Hey!” Cassie cuts in. “Technically that was my call. It’s not all on Phantom.”

“I still could've been more careful,” Phantom says to her, ignoring Green Lantern as they argue about blame. 

“Cut it out for a second, okay?” Green Lantern puts a hand between them and they stop to glare at him. He pulls the hand back. “Look, can I just talk to one of your adults about this?” 

Robin glares. “We don’t need an adult. We have this under control.”

“Only because I’m here now.” 

“I’ll call my mentor,” Phantom says. Kon opens his mouth, most likely to offer to call Superman instead in hopes of a lighter sentence, but Bart covers his mouth, smiling like he knows something Cassie doesn’t. Tim and Anita share a look, and don’t intervene as Phantom pulls out a phone from his chest. 

It rings once before it’s picked up. Cassie can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but Kon’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “Hey, do you think you can pick me up? Green Lantern wants to talk to you.” Phantom looks Green Lantern up and down then says, “No, this one doesn’t have a cape.”

Phantom says goodbye after rattling off their coordinates, hangs up, and stares at Green Lantern in silence for a few seconds. 

And then a swirling mass of black seeps into the space next to Phantom. The end of a cane steps out of it, followed by a leg, then the rest of the immaculately dressed man holding the handle of the cane that’s shaped like a bird’s head. 

“Phantom,” The man says. His voice drips with condescension in only a way a british accent can, yet Phantom smiles up at him. The shadowy portal behind him disappears. “What, exactly, happened?”

“That’s the fucking Shade,” Anita hisses to Robin, who shrugs noncommittedly at her. Green Lantern seems to recognise him too, taking a step back and clenching his hand that holds his ring. 

“Well, the team and I were staking out this spaceship–super cool, by the way–and I went inside to check it out, but my presence messed with their tech–which was an accident–and they freaked out, so I freaked out, and then we kinda got into a little fight until Green Lantern came to mediate.”

“Hm. Is that right?” The Shade asks Green Lantern, who nods slowly, still anticipating an attack. “It seems like the problem’s fixed, then.”

“Well, yes, but–”

“And it does seem about time for these kids to get home, doesn't it?” The Shade pulls out an actual pocket watch, chain and all, from his suit pocket and takes his time in checking it. “I’ll see them home.” 

Shadows grow from behind the team, swirling until they become a giant, gaping maw that swallows them up and spits them out in a different forest, or maybe just a different part of the same forest. 

Either way, Cassie has to take a moment to make sure she doesn’t throw up from the sudden vertigo the shadow portal caused. 

The Shade looks at Phantom, and raises an eyebrow. “You can’t expect me to always bail you out.” 

Phantom shrugs, looking guilty. “I know. Thanks, Richard.”

Oh, so that’s who Richard is. Annoyingly, neither Tim or Bart look surprised by this revelation.