#i had a zoom meeting with him once and it was the cutest thing

[hizerain]

challenge: meet with my advisor

level: impossible

will one student with a 170 hour workload in a 168 hour week who wants to do research for his bachelor thesis in a field that requires at least 1st year phd knowledge manage to meet his advisor, a mystical man that is in the department once a week and has, at any given time, eight other appointments that one day he's physically available?Find out next week

[itsallyscorner]

Favorite Time Of Day

Pairing: Tom Holland x reader

Summary: Taking naps with Tom when you’re done with Zoom meetings for school🥺

Warnings: none :)

A/n: I literally thought about this during class and couldn’t stop thinking about it. I always take naps when I’m done with all my Zoom calls for school, so I thought why not make it into a fic? So enjoy my loves💖

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

he’s so cuddly🥺

꘎♡━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━♡꘎

You listened to your professor explaining the lesson at hand. This was your fourth and final class of the day, it was around 1 pm and you were finally feeling the drowsiness of waking up at seven in the morning. As a college student, you could have chosen later classes and save yourself the hassle of waking up so early. You were considering it, but decided to go with a morning schedule since you’d be able to get your classes over with earlier and have the rest of the day to yourself.

You continued to jot down notes from the PowerPoint your professor shared on Zoom, not really paying attention to what you were writing. You already understood the lesson, he had gone over it last week, but decided to dive in deeper to the material today.

Your professor’s words went through one ear and out the other. Your mind was too far gone to focus on the lesson, too busy thinking of the cuddle fest that’ll happen after your classes. After every school day you had at home, you were drained of energy to go on with your day so you took naps to recharge. Majority of the time your boyfriend, Tom, joined you. He didn’t go to college; he spent his mornings doing interviews to promote his new movie, having meetings for future projects, and sometimes reading through new scripts for upcoming roles. Though his work at home was probably less taxing than yours, he also felt the effects of the day on him once his tasks were done. So once you were both done for the day (work wise), the two of you would meet in bed, quietly talk about your days, and drift off to sleep in each other’s arms.

You felt the sleepiness ease off your body once you hear your professor begin to wrap up his lesson, “Alright, well that’s all I could fit into this meeting. We’ll continue on Wednesday and I’ll see you all then!”

You bid your teacher goodbye and leave the meeting. Before getting up and leaving your makeshift office in the dining room, you double check all your work and tidy up your things. When everything seemed finished and clean, you got up and stretched your limbs. A content sigh passes your lips as the tension from sitting all morning releases from your body.

You hear light pitter patters from around the corner before Tessa enters the dining room. Her doe eyes land on your figure, moving to approach you. You smile, leaning down to greet the staffy with open arms. She nuzzles herself into your chest while you give her scratchies and kisses all over her face.

“What have you been up to all day, darling?” You coo at her, fingers scratching behind her ears. Tessa makes a noise as if she were replying, “Hmmm, sounded like you’ve had loads of fun today, Tess.”

You stand straight on your knees and motion to the hallway that led to your and Tom’s shared bedroom. “How do you feel about a nap, hm? You’d like that wouldn’t you?” You talk to the dog as you lead her into the bedroom. You pass by Tom’s study on the way and hear him talking about Cherry. Interviews must’ve gone over time today, you thought to yourself. Not wanting to disturb his interview, you quietly pass by the room and enter the bedroom. You softly shut the door behind you and settle into the comfort of your bed.

You exhale, letting the softness of the pillows and blankets consume your body. The scents of you and Tom linger in the sheets; the first thing you smell in the morning and the last before you go to sleep. It was your favorite smell, though it might seem weird, the combination of yours and Tom’s natural fragrances was like another symbol of your love.

You snuggle under the sheets, which have grown cold after being abandoned all morning. Tessa follows suit, making herself comfortable against your chest. You didn’t want to drift off without Tom, so you occupied yourself on your phone for a couple of minutes. You ended up on TikTok, scrolling through your FYP, while your other hand rubbed patterns onto Tessa’s short fur.

A few minutes later, the door creaks open, capturing both your and Tessa’s attention. Tom pops his head from behind the door, the look of uncertainty immediately replacing itself with a smile when his eyes land on you and Tessa.

“There you two are. I went to check up on you in the dining room but you weren’t there. Then I realized Tessa was also gone so I checked the back garden and you both weren’t there.” He explains. He pulls off the knit sweater he wore for today’s interviews, leaving him shirtless in only his boxers and socks.

“We haven’t been here for long, just a few minutes.” You hum. Turning your phone off, you reach over to your nightstand and set your phone onto it. Tom lifts the covers and slides in behind you. His chest is flush against your back, causing warmth to fill your body. Tom presses a few kisses along your shoulder and neck before your lips capture his. He maneuvers his arms around you so that he’s holding both you and Tessa.

“Mmm, my girls.” He nuzzles his face into your neck, his fingers reaching out to scratch Tessa’s head. The dog may have grown fussy, not even a minute of being wrapped in your and Tom’s arms she wriggles her way out of your hold and hops off the bed. Instead she walks over to a cool spot on the hardwood floor and settles herself onto it.

“Teenagers.” Tom playfully scoffs. He rests on his elbow to look at Tessa over you shoulder, “I’ve raised you since you were a pup and this is how I get treated. No affection whatsoever.” He tsks at his dog, who responds with a huff. You stifle a laugh while Tom dramatically gasps, collapsing onto the mattress. A giggle bubbles out of you.

Turning around, you’re met with Tom’s face smushed into your pillow. “Always the drama Queen aren’t you?” You tease him, fully turning your body so that it’s facing him.

Tom expressed a smug smile, “Well of course, darling, I’m an actor after all.” You shake your head at his antics. Tom chuckles at you. His buff arms pull you in closer so you’re once again flush against his chest. Nimble fingers expertly sneaking past the barrier of your shirt and now lightly dancing along your lower back.

He stares at you with his warm brown eyes, they look at you adoringly shifting between different aspects of your face. You eyes, your lashes, lips, blemishes—he loved it all. You probably found imperfection in them but to Tom they were the little things that created you—and he adored them.

In the haze of each other’s arms again, your fingers found themselves running through the mop of curls that were on Tom’s head. They were like silk and you enjoyed the feeling of it between your fingers. One of Tom’s hands remove themselves from behind you to gently hook your chin between his thumb and pointer finger. He tilts your head toward him and slots his lips with yours. Your lips move naturally against each other’s. The kiss was soft and sweet, with no intentions of escalating into something more steamy. It was simply two people in love savoring the moment of being in each other’s presence. He never fully breaks a kiss without pecking your lips multiple times. He didn’t know when it became a thing, but he could never just kiss you without following it with a bunch of little mini kisses that made your nose scrunch up and the cutest giggle to come out of you.

Tom lays on his back with your head on his chest, “How was your morning, lovey?” You tell him about your day and he listens intently. Even though he doesn’t understand half of the things you’re referring from class, he still loved to hear you talk. Especially when you ramble about something you were excited about, like right now. Your hand had removed itself from his chest, making gestures as you talked about the lesson from your Calculus class.

You stop midway noticing that Tom had been staring at you with a lopsided grin on his face.

“What?” You ask, a questioning smile on your lips.

“You’re so smart.” He hums, one of his hands stroking your hair and the other tracing shapes onto your back. You whine as he teasingly smothers your face with kisses. That giggle that he’s obsessed with escapes your lips, causing him to grin widely.

When you finally get him off of you, you ask him about his morning. He beams, excitedly telling you about all the things that happened during his interviews. The passion he had for his work shined through as he went on a tangent about how proud he was of the movie.

“And now it’s my favorite time of day.” He finishes, wiggling closer to you in the sheets.

You chuckle, “And what would that be?”

“Napping with my bubbs.” He murmurs against your hair. His grip around you tightens, locking you in his arms. Your arm rests on his chest, hand right above his heart where you could feel the distinct rhythm beating in his chest.

“I love you.” You whisper, pressing a kiss onto his bare skin.

“I love you to infinity.” He responds before the two of you drift to sleep in each other’s arms.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Tags:

Tom Holland Taglist

↪︎ @lovableparker @aprettyfleur @sunwardsss @dummiesshort @thotforcriminalminds @cuddlykoala101 @itstaskeen @whoslili @white-wolf1940 @tomsirishgirlx @roseke @kaylans-imagines @spideyspeaches @xxstrangegirlxxx @slutforsebstan

General Tags

↪︎ @quxxnxfhxll @thegirlwiththediary @agustdowney @bi-lmg @rqmanoff

[nagipops]

KONOHA ELEVEN IN A ZOOM CLASS!

FEATURING: naruto, sakura, shikamaru, ino, choji, hinata, kiba, shino, neji, rock lee, and tenten

WARNINGS: mentions of food

NARUTO

definitely has forgotten that he was unmuted multiple times

or his camera was accidentally turned on

you could just see him sprawled on his bed with a bowl of instant ramen on his lap and a blanket wrapped around himself

EARRAPE SLURPS!! rip headphone users.

sometimes he notices that his camera’s turned on and you can see him freak out and scramble to turn it off

but he accidentally unmutes himself too and so you just hear panicked yelling

his device topples to the floor with a loud crash and he screams so loud istg

the next thing you see is naruto’s face hovering over the camera in fear just before his camera turns off and he’s muted again

the teacher is so confused?? naruto should i call an ambulance

but when he’s not eating in class, he’s sleeping in class

too busy sleeping to leave the zoom at the end of class so he’s always the last one left in the meeting besides the teacher

always asks sakura what happened during the zoom and she is FED UP

SAKURA

enters the waiting room 15 minutes before class is actually supposed to begin

spends the next 15 minutes rearranging her work area, making sure she’s prepared for the day

sits properly at her desk with her hair smoothed down and her face positioned perfectly in frame

if no one else has their camera on, she’s the only one with it on

seriously, she ALWAYS HAS IT ON

and she never leaves the screen somehow

diligently takes notes, uses the “raise hand” feature every two minutes to ask a question

sometimes it can get a bit annoying, even for the teacher

but she almost always gets perfect marks

acts like in angel in class, but after class... no promises, naruto!

SHIKAMARU

this man can barely stay awake during missions, so during a zoom? HECK NAH

shikamaru is literally me,, half asleep during lessons but somehow gets amazing grades

everyone’s either pissed at or envious of him (especially naruto)

obviously does not have his camera on

and rarely ever unmutes

uses the chat feature to answer the teacher’s questions but this man is basically asleep so its so incoherent

“shikamaru, what is a hyperbole?”

in chat: “a hyeprbole is a exsaggerayed phras,e”

teacher definitely thinks he’s cheating on tests

INO

either a) daydreaming about boys or b) checking herself out in the zoom camera OR c) secretly fuming at sakura’s know-it-all behavior

the two girls definitely compete to see who can raise their virtual hand first

"ahem, ahem- sensei? could i answer this question?"

her voice gets all sickly sweet and sakura HATES IT

the two of them totally got caught insulting each other in the private chat

100% the type of student to rewrite her notes after classes with various markers and colored pens and pretty fonts and patterns and whatnot

loves doodling flowers in her notebook during boring lessons!

CHOJI

another strong contender for the Loudest Student award!

not on purpose though, he just forgets that space bar = unmute, and plays some jumping game in another tab (like the no internet dino game!)

also,, rip headphone users

c r o n c h munch munch munch

are you kidding this man's chews are loud enough in person, but with a HEADSET?! hoo boy.

has conked out several times during class

just imagine the name Choji Akimichi with a profile picture of a bag of chips light up with the green box around it with a thunk

the teacher and class is so confused

but then you hear mumbles of "barbeque... chips... barbeque..."

and you realize that the man fell asleep onto his keyboard

he sleeps through the rest of class

HINATA

shy bb has never ONCE turned on her camera

the only time she's ever unmuted was to say "here" during attendance on the first day of school

if the teacher ever takes attendance again, she just uses the raise hand feature

what if naruto-kun thinks my voice is ugly? what if i accidentally turn on my camera? what if the teacher thinks i'm not paying attention? what if-

poor baby is too busy worrying about showing herself on zoom to actually pay attention

actually gets good grades though and her classmates wonder if she’s even there

her zoom pfp is definitely just a purple google “H”

KIBA

has the CUTEST zoom pfp hands down

it’s a selfie of him grinning cheerily with baby akamaru

100% has his camera on the whole time to show off his pup

he loves seeing everyone’s faces on screen melt and aww at the lil big doggo

sometimes akamaru just walks in front of the camera and blocks kiba from view and you just see a massive wall of white fur on screen LMAO

even though kiba’s muted, you can see him and akamaru bickering about who knows what

or even play fighting,, these two get into full on BRAWLS during class

just imagine akamaru shoves kiba into his desk and his camera crashes to the ground overturned so you see the ceiling and the occasional dog tail wagging in the corner

seriously, can the teacher ever catch a break with this class?

the answer is no.

SHINO

his zoom pfp is just a tick.

a singular tick

totally answers questions in chat with proper capitalization and punctuation

shikamaru’s improper answers tick him off

“A hyperbole is an expression that is greatly exaggerated. They are used in order to create emphasis.”

has never unmuted in his life either

he’s so unfazed by everything that goes down in class that it’s funny

if anything the slightest bit RELATED to bugs comes up during class, in 0.00238 seconds this man has an entire essay about them posted in chat, almost like he had it copied and READY to paste

everyone's definitely shocked that there’s actually a human listening behind a tick profile picture

NEJI

a very diligent note taker

seriously, this man writes like a printer; perfectly even handwriting that looks like a font, a million words per minute

everyone asks him for his notes after the zoom because they’re so neat (especially naruto, to neji’s dismay)

he gets excellent grades since he’s so organized and focused

just wishes the zoom would be over so he can work alone in peace

really hates unmuting so he often gives one-word answers in the chat

“Yes” “47” “Present” “Goodbye”

has used a zoom reaction ONCE in his life and he has never wanted to crawl into a hole and perish more

it was a complete accident,, mans was just trying to open the chat to type in his answer, but in a cruel twist of fate he clicked on the 😂 reaction

and he just sat there for ten excruciating seconds in complete and utter shock and shame for ten excruciating seconds as he prayed for it to disappear

tenten would never let him live that down

ROCK LEE

Zoom Reaction Enthusiast

😂😮👍🎉❤️ 24/7

naruto accidentally unmutes himself? 😮

choji falls asleep on his keyboard? 😂

neji answers something correctly? 👍

tenten received the highest score in class? 🎉

akamaru appears on screen? ❤️

unmutes whenever he needs to, but he thinks the little emoticons are so silly and cute

otherwise, he is EXTRA FOCUSED and EXTREMELY DETERMINED to learn all of the things

he’s the first to unmute whenever the teacher asks if the class can see the screen share, hear them correctly, etc.

never takes his eyes off the screen!! he could be missing out on important information

I FEEL LIKE,, i feel like he would totally keep his camera off when he’s muted but whenever he unmutes he would also turn his camera on

so when he says a quick “yes!” his camera turns on but before his camera can adjust properly to the light he mutes and turns his camera back off so his face is just super dark for a split second LMAOOO

tell me im wrong

TENTEN

exasperated by this entire class

thinks her and neji are the only sane ones in the class and it’s true

wants to tell sakura and ino to stop competing and just focus on learning, since they’re the only other girls in the class besides hinata

plus she’s just fed up with all the lazy boys

takes great pride in passing every assignment, test, or exam with flying colors

teachers pet, but the quieter type who stays after every zoom and sends lots of emails regarding assignments and grades and whatnot (unlike sakura and ino who rub it in the teacher’s face)

doesn’t like helping other people besides neji, girl’s got a soft spot for him since they have a mutual respect for each other

but if you’re a handsome prince, maybe she’ll help you out!

if you enjoyed this post, likes and reblogs are much appreciated :) feel free to request here, and make sure to read the rules first! have a lovely day everyone <3

[ronnie-azumane]

Haikyuu guys as stuff my dad did

This idea has been in my brain for a while, so I'm writing it out. Hope y'all enjoy :)

CW: idn, its pretty wholesome

Daichi answers your frantic phone call home expressing that you forgot your backpack and laptop for college when you went home over the weekend. Expressing that all of your notes are in the backpack, he decides to wake-up extra early Monday morning and make the 2 1/2 hour drive to your university, then drive all the way back to your hometown to go to work.

Sugawara came up with the best hiding spot for you while playing hide and seek at your 7th birthday party. He squeezed you in-between the back of the couch and the back couch cushions. Then, he sat in front of it to conceal the awkward lump it made in the couch. It took the others 30 minutes before giving up and telling you to come out.

Asahi asks you to style his hair for a zoom meeting he has later that day. After some deliberation, you both decide to do a mohawk style. He braces himself as you run off to get the brush, hairspray, hair gel, and hairdryer.

Nishinoya still wears the Annoying Orange shirt you got him when you were in 3rd grade. It's faded and has a giant picture of Annoying Orange on it, which faded from popularity in 2010, but he still wears it. In public.

Tanaka makes the dumbest jokes while in the audience of your colorguard/dance competitions. For example, he asked your mom if he should shout "Go get 'em George" to the group of girls performing to confuse everyone. Another favorite joke o his is to chant "the worm, the worm,, we worship the worm" while the previous team is carrying out their floor.

Ennoshida talks with you as you make one of the biggest changes in your life. Midway through your second semester at university, you determine that business is not for you, however, you do not have a backup plan. Talking with him, you end up changing your major to Geography, and now you love every second of it.

Kageyama drinks the milk out of you cereal. You hate the taste of milk by itself, but you don't want to eat dry cereal. To not waste milk, he drinks it after you finish eating your cereal.

Hinata fails miserably when your mom tells him to reapply the medical glue on your forehead. The day before, your sister threw a wooden block at you, causing a major tear in your head. Your mom took you to the emergency room, but they were busy and it was a school night, so they told her to just take some liquid band aid (which we called glue) and close the wound. Your mom told him to replace the glue, and he took ELMERS GLUE and placed it on the open wound. It hurt like a bitch.

Tsukishima takes you to go see the museum of natural history once a month. He knows you're the odd girl out of your class that would rather play with dinosaurs than dolls, so he takes you to see the dinosaur fossils. He also gets a discount because his place of work donated a significant amount of money and resources to one of the exhibits.

Yamaguchi helped set up your setup once you moved to zoom university. He attached your laptop to a monitor his job had extra, so now you feel like a badass whenever you use the two screens.

Oikawa out of nowhere invites all his high school friends over to stay the week at your house. A trip that probably should have been planned in weeks, even months, is planned in just a weekend. Everyone ends up sleeping on air mattresses and blankets on the floor due to your mom just finishing up replacing the floors in the house (she was not too happy with the sudden trip, but was welcoming anyway)

Iwaizumi makes you watch Godzilla with him whenever it's on TV. Some of his fondest memories include receiving Godzilla themed ornaments from his mom ever Christmas. He also unironically watches those cheesy fan-made Godzilla fights on YouTube for hours on end. Man just likes Godzilla.

Hanamaki and you wear funny hats to a volunteer cookout. The organizers told every one to wear a hat so that their hair didn't get in the food, but you two take it a step further. You wear a banana hat while he wears a hotdog hat.

Matsukawa taught you how to make all kinds of breakfast food at a young age. Whether it was a simple as a fried egg or as complex as French toast, he worked with you until the recipe came out perfect.

Kyotani scares the other parents off when it comes to the silent auction selling the class are projects. Now the shelf you and your kindergarten classmates fingerprinted flowers and bugs on sits proudly in your closet holding crafting supplies.

Ushijima scolds you for leaving the lights on. Most parents do that already, but he takes it to a new extreme. Your mom explains that he would never turn the lights on in his apartment when he was in college and would simply get his homework done before dark. Sometimes, if he had something to do, he would light a candle to finish something up.

Tendou recalls a story in which he stole a bus battery with his buddies to power an air conditioned tent at boy scout camp. He also recalls the year he and his friends tried to build a pool in the wilderness at the same count, only to get caught and reprimanded for it before filling it with water which totally had nothing to do with a camp counselor finding it and having a Vietnam flashback

Goshiki watches anime with you. He always acts like he is uninterested in whatever show is on, but he soon gets super into it and it will be the only thing he talks about for a week.

Kuroo sits at the table with you until 2am working on that math assignment you have been struggling with. You've definitely run out of tears to cry, and had to redo the assignment twice, but he is guiding you through the answers

Yaku isn't a fan of all the pets you and your mom have collected over the years. I mean, in his defense, at one point we had 8 cats an 3 dogs. However, he is also super cuddly with them, always giving them nose boops and belly rubs.

Kenma plays Xbox, Wii, and the ds with you. He doesn't find the bulk of the games you play with him entertaining, but he is willing to run through LEGO Star Wars with you. His personal favorite to play is Mario Kart and he doesn't let you win >:(

Lev is trying to convince the family to let him take the position in Alaska with higher pay. When mom raised the concern that the long winters wouldn't do well for your mental health, his counter argument was, "Yeah, and that sucks, but hear me out. We could have a pet Polar Bear." We didn't move to Alaska

Bokuto was definitely the most enthusiastic dad at the girl scout father daughter dance. He twirled you around in your pretty little JC Penney dress and made sure you two were the center of the dance floor. At one point, he lifted you above his head with each foot in a hand like a cheerleader. Truly terrifying.

Akaashi drives out to the 24-hour pharmacy to pick up some cold medicine when you couldn't sleep due to a stuffy nose. He also checks up on you every hour when you are coughing with some mysterious disease (due to the lack of tests and priority of the high-risk, I will never know if I had Covid when I got sick in late March)

Aone gives you the biggest hug after you get released from the graduation ceremony. He isn't the best with words, so this hug speaks so much to you.

Terushima has been taking you to Mardi Gras in New Orleans since you were a baby. He doesn't care that it's mostly an adult party, he believes that everyone in the family should enjoy a good ol' Mardi Gras

Atsumu carries you on his shoulders all the time when you're small. He just thinks it's the cutest thing.

Osamu makes sure to host a crawfish boil every year. Whether its the neighbors, family, both, or just the household, you can expect some good, spicy crawfish with corn and potatoes whenever he cooks.

Kita teaches you how to drive a stick shift. He's frustrated that you cant move three feet before stalling, but then realizes that the issue was that you were in third gear, not first. He is now impressed that you were even able to start moving at third gear.

Sakusa takes you along with him to work. His job is full of tough men, so when they see him with you in a little blue dress-up tutu and a plastic tiara on your head, their hearts just melt.

[dream-a-little-bigger-x]

Quarantine Lovers (Part Two) | Charlie Gillespie

Part 2 in the “Life in Quarantine with Charlie” / “Quarantine Lovers” series! You can find part 1 HERE!! Hope you like this!

Pairing: Charlie Gillespie x reader 

Warnings: Implication of sex, more sexually tinted scenes

A/N: I used some songs in this one too, none of which are mine. Full credit for those go to the creators of the songs! 

How Can I Say No To This? 

So far, quarantine with Charlie has been a blast. Though things are scary and you both get a little anxious at times, you still have each other, and for now, that’s all that counts. It’s all you have. But it’s more than enough. 

One day, when Charlie has back-to-back interviews, you -- being bored as hell -- figured it would be fun to surprise Charlie and you knew exactly how. There was only one person you could call to help you with it. Tori Caro. The two of you had talked on FaceTime before when Charlie had a bit of a reunion over Zoom with all of them and all of them wanted to meet you after Madi, Owen and Jeremy told everyone about you. 

“Hey, girl!” you greet when the girl appears on your phone screen. “Hey, Peaches!” she greets back, her smile nearly reaching her ears. “What’s up?” She settles herself onto her bed, leaning against the bedframe whilst holding her phone up to her face. 

“I am extremely bored and Charlie’s doing interviews all day, but I kind of had the idea to surprise him, which I need your help for.” Her eyebrows raise in intrigue. “Do spill.” You place your phone on the coffee table, letting it balance against a glass of water. 

“I want you to teach me Madi’s part of the choreo to Perfect Harmony, so when we listen to music while cooking tonight, I might be able to surprise him by doing the dance with him?” You explain, then laugh at yourself. “That sounds lame, doesn’t it?” 

“What? No! Not at all! I think it’s cute! I’ll definitely help you!” And with that said, the two of you spend about an hour teaching the choreography. “I bet he’s going to be extremely surprised by this, Y/N!” You giggle at her compliment, panting a little from the exertion. 

“Thanks, Tori!” You say when you hear the door to the studio/office open. You quickly take a seat on the sofa, grabbing your phone with you and sipping from the glass of water. 

“Please, film it when you do it!” she tells you, and you  just simply nod vigorously. When Charlie enters the living room,  you look up, offering him a smile. 

“Who are you talking to?” he asks with a smile before sitting down next to you and glancing at the screen himself. “Tori!” he exclaims excitedly, his face lighting up entirely. 

“Charlie!” Tori retorts, matching his level of enthusiasm. “How were interviews?” He wraps an arm around you as you lean further into his body, a habit you’ve accumulated over the course of being together. 

“Great! We’ve played a couple games as well. It was good fun!” He explains. Though there’s a smile on his face, you can tell he’s tired and would rather curl up on the sofa with you. 

“Hey, Tori. We’re gonna go, start on dinner and stuff,” you tell her, to which she shoots you a knowing look. “Thanks for helping me out.” 

“Helping you out with what?” Charlie asks, his fingers trailing up and down your arm. 

“Uhm… She helped me pick an outfit for our date tomorrow,” you lie. It’s a plausible lie. Ever since getting to know Charlie’s friends and cast members, you’ve been calling or texting the girls from the cast to ask for help with stuff like that. 

“Aw, that’s cute!” he says with that same, excited, beaming smile on his face. “You could come in pj’s for all I care, and you’d still look gorgeous to me.” Tori pouts at this, and awes loudly. 

“Alright, we’re gonna go and make dinner,” you say, patting Charlie’s thigh twice. “See ya, Tori!” You offer her a wave and the brightest of your smiles, Charlie doing the exact same. 

“Bye, Peaches!” You hang up the phone and get up from the sofa, turning to Charlie and reaching your hands out to help him up. 

“Do we have to cook? Can’t we order something?” he whines, placing his hands in yours. You pull him up to his feet, but don’t really move, causing there to be no space between you. 

“We’ve ordered last night,” you remind him and lace your fingers with his. “Besides, I already bought everything from the shops!” He widens his eyes, faking shock. “Yes, I went to the frontlines, to the most dangerous place on earth at the moment!” You retort dramatically before a giggle escapes you. Charlie lets out an airy laugh before dipping down and kissing you on the lips. 

“Alright, let’s get cooking!” He leads you towards the kitchen and starts grabbing everything the two of you need whilst you turn on the music. You’ve made a lockdown playlist together with all of your favorite songs, including the entire Julie and The Phantoms soundtrack, which is what it starts with; Now or Never. You quickly queue up a couple other songs before adding Perfect Harmony to that list too. The two of you sing along softly at first, until the chorus hit and you’re belting the lyrics at the top of your lungs. This has occurred a few times during lockdown already; the sing-and-dance-along parties in your pj’s or during cooking. 

By the time your pasta is cooking and still has about five minutes left, Perfect Harmony chimes through the speakers. Now’s your time to surprise him. 

“Step into my world Bittersweet love story 'bout a girl Shook me to the core Voice like an angel I've never heard before”

You turn him around and grab his hands, doing the choreography Tori has taught you today. He’s surprised, but dances along as if on automatic.

“Here in front of me They're shining so much brighter Than I have ever seen Life can be so mean But when he goes, I know he doesn't leave”

You push him away to the living room where he has a little more space to do the floor work he did on the show, and does it flawlessly. 

“The truth is finally breaking through Two worlds collide when I'm with you Our voices rise and soar so high We come to life when we're In perfect harmony”

He picks you up into the lift with ease, as though you’re as light as a feather. 

“Whoa-oa-oa, whoa-oa-oa Perfect harmony”

He looks at you in pure surprise and delight, softly singing the lyrics along with the audio. 

“Whoa-oa-oa, whoa-oa-oa Perfect harmony”

“Is that what Tori actually helped you with?” he asks when you reach the part without choreography since the song was cut shorter in the show. He’s still holding onto your hands.

“Yup,” you reply with a cheesy smile. “I was bored and wanted to learn that dance anyway since you and Madi made it look so cool on the show… Plus, I wanted to surprise you after your long day of interviews.” A tender chuckle erupts from his mouth as he shakes his head in disbelief. 

“You’re amazing, you know that?” he kisses your knuckles before turning you around, so you’re with your back pressed against his chest, and throws your hands up, continuing the choreo. 

“We say we're friends we play pretend You're more to me we create Perfect harmony”

He twirls you out and away from him until you reach the wall you carefully place your hands onto to stop yourself. 

“That’s such a fun choreo,” you say as you turn back to the pasta to check how it’s doing. 

“Yeah, I know,” he agrees whilst walking up to you and wrapping his arms around your waist from behind. “Can I tell you a secret?” he whispers in your ear, then presses a kiss underneath it. 

“Of course,” you whisper back, trying to keep your composure. 

“I like dancing with you better than with Madi,” he lets out a giggle after, and it’s the cutest thing you ever did hear. “Don’t tell her.” You turn around, wrapping your arms around his neck and kissing him on the mouth softly. 

“My lips are sealed,” you say and kiss him once again. “With a kiss.” He plants his lips on yours again, for a longer, more passionate kiss this time. “Time for dinner,” you mumble against his lips. 

“I prefer starting with dessert,” he says. You giggle at his comeback, and squeal when he picks you up and brings you to the living room. 

“Charlie!” you protest, detaching your lips, “At least let me put the food off the stove so it doesn’t burn?” He retraces his steps backwards, and plops you back on your feet, so you can take care of the food. “All right, we’re good to go,” you say as you turn to him. “Catch me.” With no time left to think, you jump into his arms, wrapping your legs around his waist as you resume the passionate kiss from before. For once, you don’t mind starting with dessert before dinner. You’ve been bored all day without him, the least he could do is make it up to you… In bed… 

“People are asking to go live on Insta,” you tell Charlie when the two of you are back in the kitchen, heating up the food you’d left out. You didn’t even bother to put proper clothes on. You just grabbed the closest thing you found, which is Charlie’s Canada sweatshirt. 

“Yeah, sure, we could eat whilst chatting to them…” he says, grabbing two plates. After being introduced to the rest of the cast, you’ve been interacting with them a lot more on social media, and -- along with Madi’s blabbing in interviews about Charlie’s secret quarantine partner-- the fans have figured out it was you. And that the two of you are, in fact dating. Especially since Meghan, Charlie’s sister, couldn’t help but jokingly call you ‘sister-in-law’ when commenting on one of your pictures on Instagram. 

Charlie hands you his phone for you to set up the live whilst he grabs dinner from the microwave. 

“Okay, we’re live!” you exclaim when Charlie hands you the plate and a fork. “Thank, babe.” He takes a seat next to you on the couch and sets his plate on his lap. 

“Hello, people!” He greets the now about 1k people watching the live. You watch as a dozen of comments yell back at you that the two of you ‘definitely just had sex!’, and can’t help but giggle at that. “Do you guys have any questions for us?”

At the same time, Alexander Hamilton from the musical Hamilton starts playing through the speakers. You’d forgotten to turn the music off, but it’s quite nice having background noise all the time.

You gasp, capturing Charlie’s attention, and start singing along flawlessly. 

“The ten-dollar founding father without a father Got a lot farther by working a lot harder By being a lot smarter By being a self-starter By fourteen, they placed him in charge of a trading charter”

Charlie looks at you with a surprised smirk on his face while the comments about Hamilton start streaming in, neither of you paying attention. 

“And every day while slaves were being slaughtered and carted away Across the waves, he struggled and kept his guard up Inside, he was longing for something to be a part of The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter”

You smile down at your boyfriend as he simply watches you in admiration while stuffing his mouth with pasta. 

“Then a hurricane came, and devastation reigned Our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain And he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain”

The song goes on, but you turn to the phone to see what everyone’s been saying. You laugh when your eyes catch a comment. 

“Someone said ‘Get someone who looks at you the same way Charlie looks at Y/N’.” Others asked if you could do the rap from Guns & Ships, to which you replied with a determined “Yes! And Satisfied too!”  

“We’ve watched the movie on Disney Plus about a dozen times. Of course she knows it!” Charlie adds after swallowing his pasta. “Now eat your pasta before it gets cold!” You comply and eat your food whilst answering some of the questions here and there. Some of them are about Julie and The Phantoms, which Charlie answers, and others are about your relationship. Most of them want to know how you two met and how lockdown is going for you guys. All of which you answer very honestly, chiming in to add something when the other’s answering. 

“Ooh! Tori’s here!” you notice, “Hi, Tori! I’m sorry I didn’t film the surprise!” Tori comments, ‘BOO!’ in all caps, which makes you chuckle. And then all the questions about the surprise started flooding in. “Tori taught me the Perfect Harmony dance, and I surprised him with it when we were making dinner.” 

Everyone’s telling you to do it again, including Tori, so, you obey and put the song on again, showing what you did earlier that evening. 

“AMAZING!” Tori comments with a bunch of hearts plastered behind it. Some other fans comment something along those lines as well, others tell you they liked it better with Madi, but the bigger part of the comments tell you they think otherwise. 

Then, a One Direction starts to play, and you can’t help but sing and dance along from the couch, which gives you an idea. 

“Babe!” you exclaim, gripping his bicep, “We should show them what we do in Quarantine when we’re cooking meals!” Charlie chuckles, shaking his head in amusement. “Yes! Come on!” You turn to the phone again. “Guys! Tell Charlie we have to show you what we do whenever we need a break from work or we’re cooking together!” Comments flood into the box at a fast speed, all of them saying “DO IT CHARLIE!”. 

So, with a groan, he gets up from the couch, taking the phone with him and placing it a bit higher, so you’re both in shot completely. 

“But I need you guys to vibe along, okay?” Comments of assent pile in, and Charlie turns the volume up a little whilst you get up too. The both of you start singing and dancing along to the One Direction song, knowing everyone at home is dancing with you. After that song, Dead Girl Walking from the Heathers musical starts playing. 

“Oh! Where are my Heathers fans?!” you ask the audience, glancing at the phone for all the Heathers comments to come in. “I saw the West End version when I was in London in 2018!” You tell them, and Charlie, though he knows that. 

“Yeah, I know, babe,” he tells  you with a smile before you turn back to him, standing in front of him with barely any space between you. He towers over you, like he always does, and it would normally get you weak in the knees, but not this time. Not with this song playing. 

“Ssh…” You press your finger to his lips, a teasing smirk tugging at your lips. 

“Had to see you hope I didn’t wake you See I decided I must ride you ‘til I break you” 

You wiggle your eyebrows, both of you knowing that already happened earlier. 

“‘Cause Heather says I gots to go You’re my last meal on death row Shut your mouth And lose them tighty-whities!” 

Charlie knew you could sing, but he had no clue you could hit notes this high. 

“Come on! Tonight I'm yours I'm your dead girl walkin' Get on all fours Kiss this dead girl walkin' Let's go, you know the drill I'm hot and pissed and on the pill Bow down to the will of a dead girl walking!”

You see Charlie swallow visibly, glancing nervously at the phone filming all of this and decide to stop before he completely melts down into a puddle of sweat. Now or Never begins to play when you skip to the next song. 

Charlie’s demeanor suddenly changes and fully starts rocking out now, forgetting anything just happened mere seconds ago. You follow his example and start jumping around like a hyper rabbit. 

“When all the days felt black and white those were the best shades of my life!” 

You throw your hands up in the air at this, stopping the jumping. “That’s my favorite line ever!” you exclaim loudly, making sure the viewers hear too. 

Comments of agreement flash onto the screen as you and Charlie lapse into the bridge. 

The next song is one of your favorite Hamilton songs to belt; Say No To This. Though not your favorite scene from the musical, it is still one of your favorite songs. 

“You know this one, baby!” You say to Charlie. 

“No, I can’t, I can’t do--” he cuts himself off and starts singing along with Lin-Manuel Miranda. 

“That’s when miss Mariah Reynolds walked into my life, she said,” he points at you, telling you to take over. 

“I know you are a man of honor I'm so sorry to bother you at home But I don't know where to go, and I came here all alone”

“She said”

“My husband's doin' me wrong Beatin' me, cheatin' me, mistreatin' me Suddenly he's up and gone I don't have the means to go on”

He struggles with the next line, not knowing the musical quite as well as you do. 

“You're too kind, sir,” you sing anyway with a smile on your face. He does know the next line. 

“I gave her thirty bucks that I had socked away She lived a block away, she said”

“This one's mine, sir”

You try your best to imitate Jasmine Cephas-Jones’ husky, warm tone. 

“Then I said, "Well, I should head back home She turned red, she led me to her bed Let her legs spread and said”

“Stay”

“Hey”

“Hey”

Then both of you started to sway back and forth, twirling around the living room, singing along to the ‘no’s and ‘go’s from the ensemble. 

“Ooh! This is my favorite part!” you say excitedly, preparing yourself for the belts. 

“No, sir”

“Half dressed, apologetic, a mess, she looked pathetic, she cried”

“Please don't go, sir” 

“So was your whole story a setup?”

“I don't know about any letter”

“Stop crying God dammit, get up”

“I didn't know any better”

“I am ruined”

“Please don't leave me with him, helpless”

“I am helpless, how could I do this?”

“Just give him what he wants and you can have me” 

“I don't want you, I don't want you”

“Whatever you want, if you pay You can stay”

You grasp Charlie’s bicep as a support to keep your balance while you throw your head back to belt out the note. This shuts Charlie up entirely, impressed with your singing abilities. 

“I knew you could sing, but damn, babe, you got pipes!” He turns to the phone where fans voice their impression and awe, complimenting your voice. 

Connecting with Charlie’s fans and doing things like this with Charlie is literally one of your favorite things you’ve ever done. There’s nothing better than rocking out with a bunch of friends, even if you don’t see 2k of them. 

“Alright, guys,” Charlie says, turning down the volume after a few more songs, “We’re gonna go.” He wraps his arms around your waist from behind, placing his chin on your shoulder to peer at the screen. “Thank you for jamming out with us today! We’ll see you later!” You offer a smile and a wave before ending the livestream. 

“That was fun!” You exclaim excitedly, bouncing up and down as you make sure to save the video onto his IGTV. Charlie turns you around, placing his hands on your hips and pressing a kiss to your forehead. When you’re done, you lock his phone and put it into his pocket, looking up at him with a happy smile on your face. 

“Can you hit that last note again?” he asks with hope in his eyes. 

“That gets you going, doesn’t it?” You wiggle your eyebrows as a teasing smirk creeps onto your face. He bites his bottom lip, which to be fair, gets you going. So, you cough and place your hands under his biceps on his ribcage, gripping at his shirt tightly. “Just give him what he wants and you can have me. Whatever you want, if you pay, you can stay!” 

“We ought to get you on season two,” he whispers before crashing his lips onto yours for a passionate kiss that leads you straight to the bedroom again. 

“How can I say no to this?” You mumble against his lips cheekily. 

This lockdown and quarantine thing isn’t as bad as you thought it would be. If you’ve got Charlie by your side, you’re good to do anything. 

Taglist: @hannahhistorian92​ @marinettepotterandplagg​ @thequirkybookaholic​ @bookdealer5​ @tenaciousperfectionunknown​ @hemmingsness​ @iainttakingshitfromnobody​ @ifilwtmfc​ @angryknightstatesmantrash​ @kiss-themoongoodbye​ @parkeret​​ @lukeys-giggle​ @gingerxarmy​ @lovesanimals​ @lolychu​ @perfectlywrongformend3s​ @luckylouiebug​

[dontcare77ghj]

Five

Four times Peter didn't ask for a hug, and one time he did.

Tony x reader x Steve x Bucky

Peter Parker was quite possibly the sweetest kid in the world. When you'd first met him at thirteen, you thought he couldn't get any more. He'd come into the Tower with wide eyes, refusing to use anyone's first name, as he ran around Tony's lab.

He didn't grow out of the first name thing until after May had passed, and the four of you had adopted him. 

But he was still the sweetest kid in the world. And bubbliest, smartest, cutest, whatever cute verb you could think of, could be related directly towards him.

It was probably because of how sweet the kid was no-one could help wanting to hug him.

"Hi Miss Black Widow, I mean, hi Miss Romanoff." Peter stammered as he and Tony entered the living room.

"Peter, I thought I told you it's just Y/N." You smiled at him. "Are you having fun with Tony, Pete? He's not distracting you too much, is he?"

"Excuse you! I am the least distracting person ever! Aren't I spider kid?" Tony asked, throwing the teen a drink. "You want food, spider kid? I know what your metabolism is like."

"I'm fine, Mr. Stark," Peter said, standing in the kitchen doorway. Tony narrowed his eyes at the teen and grinned when Peter's stomach growled. 

"Sure, you are. Take a seat. I'll put on a pizza." Tony ordered him. 

"Come on, Pete. You can sit next to me." You said, patting the couch beside you. "I was about to put on a movie."

"What are you putting on?" Peter asked as he gingerly sat next to you.

"Corpse Bride." You smiled. "It's my favorite."

"It's her comfort movie," Tony called from the kitchen.

"Now who's spreading lies?" You asked, throwing a pillow in his direction.

"It's okay to have a comfort movie. Mine's the Lego Movie." Peter told you.

"I don't think I've ever seen that one." You admitted, causing the teen to gasp.

"We have to watch it after the Corpse Bride," Peter said firmly. "You can't go through life without watching it."

"Okay. I can agree to that. Are you going to join us, Tony?" You called, leaning your head back on the couch.

"I'm coming. I'm coming." He said, entering the room. "Do you want this back?" He teased, holding up the pillow you'd thrown.

"Give it." You demanded, making grabby hands.

"Alright, alright, bunch up, you two," Tony said, coming over and jumping onto the couch.

"Bloody hell, Tony." You groaned, shifting closer to Peter. 

Remains of the Dead had just finished when a loud alarm jolted you back to reality. 

"That's me," Tony said, grabbing his phone as he stood. "Pizza's ready. I'll bring it in." He added, pressing a kiss to your cheek before exiting the living room.

"Are you okay, Miss, uh, Y/N?" Peter asked you.

"Yeah, I'm okay. Sorry, I'm not better company today." You apologized, rubbing your eyes as you shifted on the couch.

"It's okay, Y/N. I'm enjoying today, honest." Peter promised, shifting closer. "Corpse Bride is a classic."

"It really is." You smiled, resting your head against the back of the couch.

"How come this is your comfort movie?" Peter asked.

"When I babysit Clint's kids, we always make forts and watch movies. One day I wasn't doing so well mentally, so Lila dragged me downstairs, and we watched Corpse Bride and Coraline all day." You told him with a small smile. "It's a comfort. It makes me not feel so alone."

"You know you're not alone, right, Y/N?" Peter questioned you after a second. "Sometimes, it seems like you're alone, and it feels like it, but you're not alone. And I've been told I'm a pretty decent listener you can always talk to me."

"You're too sweet for your own good, you know?" You commented, kissing his temple as you pulled him into a hug. "Thank you, Pete." You said, releasing him from the hug.

"Okay, so somehow both the pizzas burnt. What do you say we order in?" Tony asked as he rushed back into the living room.

Non-reader POV

Though Peter preferred working in the lab with Tony, once a week, Peter trained with one of the Avengers. Just because he was an enhanced spiderling didn't mean he didn't need combat training.

It was usually Steve or Bucky who trained with Peter. Thor would when he was on world because the three were the only ones who could handle getting hit by the spiderling. 

Today Steve was working with Peter. 

"Sorry, sorry, I'm late." Peter hurried as he ran into the training room. "I got held up on patrol. A cat got trapped in a gutter, and when I tried to get it out, I realized it had kittens too. And then I had to find a box so I could take them to a shelter-"

"Pete, kid, it's okay. It sounds like you've had quite a day." Steve smiled. "Isn't that your third trapped cat this week?" Steve asked as Peter dropped his bag in the corner.

"Yeah, the poor guys keep getting stuck." Peter chuckled. "Alright, I'm ready. What are we doing today?"

"Offense," Steve told him. "Your defense is getting much better, but you still need to work on your offense. We'll do a couple of laps to warm up, though."

A couple of laps didn't actually mean two or three with Steve. A couple of laps usually meant twenty to thirty.

"On your left!" Peter exclaimed, passing Steve on his twelfth lap. 

"First, that was my right. Second, you're never allowed to talk to Sam again." Steve groaned as Peter laughed giddily. 

"Mr. Wilson said you'd get it. He also said it's payback." Peter informed him as he zoomed past.

"Alright, that's enough warming up," Steve said after the twenty-second lap. "Come on. We got to work on your offense now."

"I thought my offense was good. That's what you said last time." Peter recalled.

"I said it was good, but we all saw you get thrown through a building last week. That means extra training." Steve informed him. 

"Okay fine." Peter sighed.

"You're pulling your punches," Steve announced after several minutes. "I thought we agreed you don't pull your punches with me?" Steve asked the teen who flushed and refused to meet his eyes.

"I know," Peter mumbled, shuffling his feet awkwardly.

"Okay. Water break time." Steve announced, leading Peter over to a bench. "Pete, what's going on? You haven't pulled your punches with me for months."

"I'm just trying to watch my strength," Peter mumbled. "I don't want to hurt you."

"Peter, I've already told you I can take it. You're not going to hurt me." Steve promised the boy, taking a seat beside him. "But you can't pull your punches in training. You can't do it on the field, and you can't do it here."

"I could hurt you, though. I don't want to hurt anyone." Peter told him.

"I know, Pete. I know you don't want to hurt anyone. I trust you, Peter. You're not going to hurt me." Steve assured him. "Do you want to try that again?"

"Yeah." Peter nodded after a minute. "Yeah, let's do it again." He said, jumping to a stand.

"Alright, let's do it, kid," Steve said, standing and pulling Peter into a quick hug. "I'm proud of you, Pete."

Tony was in bed with all three of his partners when he got the call. He'd quickly moved to pick up his phone before it could wake his partners.

"Hello?" He asked after he left the bedroom. "Tony Stark speaking."

"Mr. Stark. I'm Veronica Montgomery." Veronica greeted. "I work for Queens Hospital Center. May Parker was admitted three hours ago after her nephew called 911. Unfortunately, May Parker passed away around an hour ago. Her nephew is in the waiting room, and you are listed as Mr. Parker's second emergency contact."

"I'll be right there," Tony said without hesitation. "Don't let Peter leave. He'll be coming home with me." Tony told Veronica as he rushed to the elevator. 

Tony hung up soon after that and rushed into the closest car he could.

"JARVIS, if Y/N, Steve, or Buck, wakes up, inform them what's happened," Tony said as he was halfway to the hospital.

"Of course, sir." JARVIS agreed.

Tony sped as quickly as he could to the hospital and barely remembered to turn off or lock the car when he arrived. 

"Peter!" Tony shouted as he raced into the waiting room. Peter sat slumped in a plastic chair, eyes blankly trained on the floor, and didn't react at his name. 

Tony rushed forward until he was standing right before the teen who still did not react.

"Pete?" Tony softly asked as he kneeled in front of him. "Come on, kid. Talk to me." 

"Tony?" Peter whimpered, finally looking up at Tony. 

"Yeah, it's me, kiddo." Tony nodded. Tony watched as Peter's face began to crumble, and then he had his arms full of a sobbing spider kid. "It's okay, Pete. You're going to be okay."

Peter didn't respond, merely clung tighter onto Tony as he continued to sob loudly.

"Come on, Pete. You're going to stay at the Tower tonight." Tony said after Peter had quieted. Peter numbly nodded as Tony helped him stand.

Tony led the teen back to the car, where Peter curled into a ball. Peter didn't say anything the entire drive back to the Tower. Tony had to look over multiple times, checking if the teenager was asleep only to see him wide awake and blankly staring out the window.

Tony helped Peter out of the car when they arrived back at the Tower, and half carried him into the elevator.

Every Avenger had a floor they occupied at the Tower, except Peter. Peter had a room on Tony, Steve, Y/N, and Bucky's level.

Upon entering his bedroom, Peter stumbled forward and landed first face on his bed. The exhausted teenager was asleep in seconds. After covering him with a blanket, Tony moved back into his room to see his partners sitting up awake.

"How is he?" Y/N asked him.

"Asleep." Tony sighed, collapsing back in bed. 

"Did he tell you what happened?" Bucky asked him, drawing circles on Tony's neck.

"No." Tony shook his head. "The poor kid started crying once he saw me and didn't say anything after that." 

"Jesus. Poor Pete." Steve murmured.

"I want to adopt him." Tony blurted out. "He doesn't have any other family, they'll put him in the system, I can't let that happen. He's just a kid."

"I'll support you, Tony." Y/N told him. 

"We all will," Steve said as Bucky nodded in agreeance. 

"He won't be alone."

Peter was rarely asked to go on Avenger missions. Spiderman was the friendly neighborhood kind of man. He kept mostly to the ground. 

This made all four of his adoptive parents, and adoptive aunts and uncles, very happy that he was safer than they were. 

But when the fifteen-year-old was asked to join his family on a mission, he rarely said no. 

In this case, though, he didn't exactly need to be asked.

"You're supposed to be at school, Pete," Tony said as Peter swung onto the scene.

"Little hard to focus on Algebra when the city's being invaded," Peter commented, webbing a creature in the face. "What are these guys?"

"I'm not sure, but considering how much Thor's enjoying himself, I'm assuming they're Asgardian," Bucky grunted.

"Enjoyment doesn't equal knowledge." Y/N reminded the soldier. 

"Hey, Thor, you know these guys?" Bucky shouted at the God who was boisterously attacking the creatures.

"Of course!" Thor boomed back. "Loki and I would play with them as children! Why I skinned my first at seven!"

"Okay, disturbing facts aside, how do we defeat these guys?" Natasha asked.

"Find the Queen!"  Thor informed the team. "Once she dies, the whole colony follows!"

"How can you tell who's the Queen?" Steve asked, slamming his shield into the chest of a creature.

"She's the biggest and the deadliest!" Thor cheered.

"Joy." Y/N groaned. 

With Thor's advice, the team began taking out as many of the creatures as they could. 

"Dad!" Peter shouted, rushing to Bucky's aid as several of the vile creatures surrounded his injured father. 

Peter quickly webbed the monsters into a ball, and webbing that ball to a wall.

Peter dropped to his knees beside his father and pressed his hand onto Bucky's bleeding shoulder.

"We have to move. You can't stay here." Peter said, pulling the man to his feet.

"I'm fine, kid." Bucky groaned as Peter dragged him through the street and into an abandoned building.

"You're bleeding," Peter argued, pushing Bucky's hand onto his wound. "Hold that." He ordered.

"What happened to respecting your parents?" Bucky joked.

"You'll get your respect when you're not bleeding," Peter told him, grabbing scraps of cloth.

"You're not going to be able to fix it," Bucky told Peter, taking the fabric and holding it to his wound. "I'll have to get Bruce to look at it later. Go on, kid, I'll be okay."

"I'm not leaving you. What if those things come in here?" Peter argued. Just as the words left Peter's mouth, the door burst open, and several monsters rushed into the room.

"You had to jinx it, didn't you?" Bucky sighed, grabbing his gun with his metal hand.

In tandem, Peter and Bucky disposed of the creatures. 

"Duck, Pete!" Bucky ordered, raising his gun. Peter did as he was asked and ducked low. Bucky quickly shot the creature that was behind Peter, and suddenly the remaining monsters turned into rubble.

"I think you might have got the Queen," Peter said, rising to his feet. Bucky laughed slightly before pulling Peter into his arms.

"You're okay, right? They didn't get you?" Bucky asked, pulling Peter's mask off.

"I'm fine, dad." Peter nodded. "I promise."

"Good." Bucky sighed, embracing his kid again. "What do you say we find your mom and other dads?"

"Sounds good."

Reader POV

Peter hadn't been acting like himself for the past several days. His regular bright and sunny disposition had turned moody. He hadn't gone out on patrol in days, an activity he was usually all too eager to do, had seemingly dreaded going to school, and had shut himself off from his friends and family.

"Are you sure we can't just ask him what's wrong?" Tony asked aloud. "Why aren't we allowed to ask him?"

"Because he's a teenager, Tony." Steve sighed. "All the books say he'll shut us out even more than now if we do that."

"Fuck your parenting books," Tony grumbled. "I bet half the people who wrote them have never had a child."

"We need to give him space." Steve reasoned with Tony.

"We've given him space." Bucky cut in. "This is different to when May died. He's different." He added as the elevator dinged. The four of you went quiet as Peter trudged in.

"Hey, kiddo." You greeted him with a bright smile. "How was school?" You asked him.

"Fine," Peter mumbled. "I've got homework." He said before he shuffled into his room. 

"Tony's right." You began as you stood. "Fuck the books." You said before marching down the hall. "I'm coming in, Pete." You loudly told the teen and opened his door.

Peter was not sitting at his desk when you entered but was instead huddled in a ball underneath his quilt.

"I don't remember ever getting homework like this." You commented, strolling in and taking a seat on his bed.

"You didn't go to a normal school. You went to an assassin school." Peter mumbled.

"Well, you're not wrong." You said, chuckling a little. "What's going on, Pete?" You asked, laying a hand on his back. "I need you to talk to me."

"Nothing's going on. I'm just tired." Peter denied, popping his head out of the covers.

"Don't think that bullshit will work on me." You shook your head. "Assassin school, remember? Reading body language is a class." You told him. "Peter, we're scared. We don't know what's going on with you."

"Nothing's wrong." Peter denied again, though this time, his voice cracked.

"Pete, please." You begged. 

"You're not alone, Pete," Bucky announced from the doorway. "We're all here for you." He added as he, Steve, and Tony entered the room.

"Always have been, always will be, underoos," Tony added, sitting at the end of the bed.

"Promise." Steve nodded, sitting next to you.

Peter looked between each of you before he broke. Peter sat up in the bed and pushed himself into the corner as he started sobbing.

"Pete." Steve started, reaching his hand forward only to pull back when Peter flinched.

"Peter, you have to tell us what's wrong." You said, clasping Steve's hand tightly.

"Please, Peter." Bucky pressed. The four of you sat in anticipation, waiting for Peter to calm himself so he could explain what was happening.

"We have a new social studies teacher," Peter whispered, avoiding eye contact. "Mr. Westcott. He asked me to stay behind after class last week.  He wanted to talk about my work, and then he started touching my shoulders. I didn't think anything of it until the next day."

"What happened the next day, bud?" Tony quietly asked him.

"He made me touch him," Peter whispered. "I didn't want to. I didn't. But he said if I didn’t do it, if I told, he'd make someone else do it. He threatened Ned." Peter told you all.

"Peter, what else did he do?" Steve asked.

"I wanted him to stop." Was all Peter said.

"Y/N, get your gun. I'll grab mine." Bucky said, pushing off the wall.

"Wait, both of you stop," Steve said, grabbing your hand as you stood. "You can't kill him."

"Why not Steve?" Bucky growled, folding his arms.

"He hurt our kid." You snapped, pulling yourself free. 

"Don't kill him," Peter begged. "Please, mom, dad, don't kill because of me."

"He's not getting off scot-free." You sighed, sitting back down. 

"Not in the slightest." Tony agreed. "I'm thinking of the SHIELD prison."

"Why can't we just throw him in a pit, and throw away the pit?" Bucky muttered.

"Peter, what do you need, kid?" Steve asked, looking at Peter's small form.

“Whatever you need, you can have it.” Tony agreed. “A therapist, a new car, a trip to Legoland with Ted?”

“I’d really like a hug.” Peter admitted, his voice breaking.

“Come here, Pete.” You said softly as you opened your arms to him.

Peter leaped forward and buried his face into your shoulder. You wrapped your arms around him tightly and rested your head on his. Peter let out a content sigh as Steve, Bucky, and Tony also joined the hug.

“I’m sorry.” Peter whispered.

“You have nothing to be sorry about.” Steve told him, running his fingers through Peter’s curls.

“Nothing at all.” You agreed.

“We’re going to fix this. We’re going to help you.” Bucky promised.

“We promise, kiddo.” Tony added.

Taglists and requests are always open. 

Taglist

@rvgrsbrns @smilexcaptainx @hopingforbarnes @starlingelliot @piper-koko-barnes-rogers @jelly-fishy-babie @skeletoresinthebasement @agent-barnes40 @reann-loves-sebstan @skadikh @summergeezburr @buckybarton03 @sunshinepower17 @bindythedemon @natasharomanoffismywife @keenmarvellover @bbybarness @storiesbystarlight @buckybarnesplumwhore

[ray-ray-writings]

💫 anon came zooming haha

A lil c!Sapnap thing where he essentially takes reader home to meet Skeppy and Bad (since they're his parents I think) and the reader is really nervous about it, but when they get there, Bad and Skeppy ADORE them and fawn over them and then start poking at Sapnap, asking when he's gonna finally make the reader an official part of the family via marriage and he and the reader get all embarrassed and it's just cute fluff

💫 I love you so much. Thank you for this blessing!

Yes! So you and Sapnap have been dating for a while now. Sapnap is always talking about you to his parent, Bad and Skeppy. And finally they’ve had enough of just hearing about you from him, they want to hear about you from yourself and so they ask Sapnap to bring home this person that he’s in love with. Sapnap is so excited for it because he loves you, he loves his parents, it’s his three absolute favorite people meeting and he wants it so bad. The next time he’s with you, he brings up the idea. You really don’t want to accept because it makes you really nervous to think about, but then you see the really hopeful and excited look in Sapnap’s eye and you let out a sigh and you agree. Sapnap would shout in excitement and pull you into a really big hug, press lots of kisses to your face, and promise you that you won’t regret it and you can’t help but become a little excited about it too. When Sapnap goes home that day, he has the biggest grin on his face. He tells his parents that you’ll be coming over for dinner in two days and they are so excited. The next day, Bad literally spends the entire day scrubbing the house to make sure that it is spotless when you come over. Sapnap tries to convince his father that he doesn’t have to do that, that you won’t mind, but Bad simply thrusts a mop in his hands and commands him to go clean the bathroom. Skeppy spends the day pouring through cookbooks and old family recipes, searching for the perfect one to make for you when you come over. He finally finds one he thinks you may like and goes to the bathroom to ask Sapnap what he thinks of it. Sapnap is in the middle of taking a pee when the door flies open and his father strides in with a piece of paper in his hand. “Dad!” Sapnap yells, “Get out!” Skeppy brushes him off and holds up the recipe, “Nothing I haven’t seen before. Do you think Y/N will like this?” Sapnap quickly finishes his pee, flushes, and while he’s washing his hands he looks at the paper. A soft smile graces his face, one his father immediately notices, “Yeah… It’s actually their favorite” And Skeppy can’t help but be filled with pride because not only did he pick out their favorite food, but Sapnap knew that about his s/o off the top of their head. Skeppy gives Sapnap a pat on the back, “Thanks son” The next day is the day. The whole day, Bad and Skeppy are in the kitchen carefully making the dinner, being sure to follow the recipe to a T. The two dads had sent Sapnap out of the house until dinner time. Sapnap grumbled something out about “You forget to add water to ramen noodles one time” before he goes over to your house, where you are freaking out. When Sapnap arrives, your entire closet is strung out on your bed. You’re pacing in front of all of your clothes, searching for the perfect outfit. Sapnap can tell how nervous you are so instead of trying to make some funny joke, he simply helps you pick out your outfit. “Are you sure they’ll like this?” You ask, staring in a mirror as you smoothed the outfit down. Sapnap walks up behind you, wraps his arms around your waist and sets his chin on your shoulder, “Of course they’ll like it. I like it so they’ll like it.” And you can tell that his words just weren’t referring to the clothes on your body. So you let out a soft breath and turn around and place a soft kiss on his lips. “Thanks” You two just hang out until it’s time to go to the house for dinner. Your hands are shaking so bad as you approach the house. Before Sapnap opens the door, he stops and turns your body toward him. He grabs both your hands and brings them up to his lips and presses soft kisses to your knuckles, “They’re going to love you baby. Just like I love you.” His reassurance calms you down a bit. You give him a small nod and he gives you one back before he removes one hand from yours to open the door and pull you inside. “Dads! We’re home!” Sapnap calls as he closes the door behind him. Immediately two sets of footsteps rush from the kitchen. Sapnap’s fathers appear in front of you with wide and excited grins on their faces. You let go of Sapnap’s hand and hold it out in front of you, “Hello Mr. and Mr. Halo, I’m Y/N. It’s so nice to meet you,” you state nervously, your hand visibly shaking as you hold it out for a handshake. “Oh aren’t you just the cutest thing ever!” Bad exclaims before rushing forward and pulling you into a big warm hug. You’re a little shocked, but you relax into the hug and hug him back. “Alright dear, don’t hog them.” Bad lets you go and throws a playful glare over his shoulder at his husband, “then get over here you little muffin.” Skeppy chuckles as he steps forward and gives you a hug too. It’s shorter than Bad’s, but it’s still nice. “It’s so great to finally meet you kiddo. And please, just call us Bad and Skeppy. There’s no need for all that formality” Skeppy tells you with a grin. You give him a shy smile back and a little nod, “Okay Mr. Ha-- Sorry, Skeppy,” You correct yourself causing Bad to let out a small squeal. “Oh you are just the cutest little muffin. Sapnap why didn’t you bring them home sooner?” Suddenly all of the attention shifted to your boyfriend who was just leaning back and watching the interaction with a big smile. “Oh--” He exclaims, extremely caught off guard. “Well… Um… I don’t know! You never asked!” He exclaims defensively causing the three of you to laugh. “You do that all the time baby, maybe learn to take some responsibility” You tease your boyfriend. Bad and Skeppy pause and you worry you’ve said something wrong. But then laughter rips through their throats and they’re patting you on the back, “Oh my gosh! You got him so good!” Skeppy cackles. Sapnap pouts and walks forward and wraps his arms around you, “That’s not fair babe and you know it.” You only give him a wink and a kiss on his nose. Once the laughter dies down Bad ushers you two into the kitchen and you let out a gasp at the sight. “Is this okay?” Bad asks, gesturing to the meal that the two had spent all day preparing, “Okay? This is perfect, I don’t know if you know but this is actually my favorite dish,” you explain shyly, your eyes scanning the table. Bad and Skeppy exchange a glance before looking back at you, “Well don’t be afraid, sit! Eat!” Sapnap is quick to pull out a chair for you and pushes you in before sitting down himself. Bad and Skeppy exchange another fond look, they’ve taught him so well. The four of you begin to dig in and Bad and Skeppy begin to ask you questions which you answer with ease, your nerves completely gone at this point. At the end of the night, Bad and Skeppy have decided that they love you and they never want you to leave. “So Sapnap,” Skeppy begins after the table had been cleared off, “Yeah Dad?” He responds, looking up from where he was playing with your fingers, “When are you two going to get married”. A sharp gasp comes from both of you as the question passes through Skeppy’s lips so easily. “Yeah, when are you? Y/N here is basically apart of the family already, when are you going to make it official?” Bad backs up his husband. Sapnap is staring at them with wide eyes because even though he’s thought about it, he hasn’t actually talked to anyone about marrying you. But in your eyes, tears prick. Bad and Skeppy think of you as part of the family. Bad and Skeppy approve of you. They want you to marry Sapnap so that it’s official. Bad’s eyes catch on your face and he immediately panics, thinking he’s gone too far. “Oh dear, we didn’t mean to upset you, it’s just-” And a huge smile crosses your face and a sob that sounds like a laugh escapes your lips and you bury your face in Sapnap’s shoulder and just press a kiss to it. Sapnap immediately understands what it is you’re feeling and what you’re trying to say. So he lets out a small laugh and wraps an arm around you and pulls you close. “They’re not upset dad. Quite the opposite. They’re really happy that you like them and think of them as a part of the family.” And again, pride wells up in the two fathers because it’s so amazing that Sapnap can tell that about you, just from a look and a touch. “I love you so much sweetheart” Sapnap murmurs in your ear as he leans down and presses a kiss to the side of your face. Bad and Skeppy stand from the table and walk over to you and squat to your level on your open side. You pull yourself from Sapnap and fling yourself in their arms. “Thank you. That means so much more to me than you’ll ever know” Bad strokes your hair as Skeppy rubs your back. “Of course sweetheart. Welcome to the family”

I want this so bad you guys. I just want to date Sapnap, is that too much to ask for?

[bbarican]

life updates: november 09, 2021

work:

my seniors recently complimented me again saying na im a really efficient junior designer and that my main senior is so lucky to have me work with her in all of her projects

yung makati project namin nakakatawa nalang kasi ang daming extra na gustong pagawa nung client namin so syempre madedelay yung turnover pero sila din tong atat mag move it; pls make it make sense po

yung alabang project naman namin, hindi mafinalize ng boss namin yung mga details kasi magboboracay daw muna siya; basta ako ill finalize everything on my end para wala siyang masabi

also! im super duper excited for this one: my ninang asked for my help in designing her condo unit so thats basically going to be my first ever freelance project! wish me luck! im about to prep for our meeting tomorrow too before i go to bed

praying to god na wala kaming ganap masyado sa work para keri kong pumunta ng ust after lunch

last for work: i have officially decided to take the board exam next year meaning i have to email my bosses already regarding my plans on filing for leave from march to july; fingers crossed they allow it!

family:

im so glad my dad is feeling much better; yes, i always am annoyed at him but i really do love him and care about him so much

i am: confused cause my younger brother didnt enjoy bungalow's homer donut as much as i did; IT WAS THE BEST DONUT EVER

my lola is staying over for the night and having her here at home always makes me feel safer than usual

i miss my mom and brother; i cant wait for my mom to come home

syempre di na ko magkukunwari, excited na din ako sa mga pasalubong ng nanay ko yahu

friends:

im so fucking excited to see my bestfriends; we're going back to the beach for tiger's birthday and im just so excited to spend a weekend with them especially since its been so long since we all last hung out

i miss my tumblr bestfriends a lot; sometimes i wish it was 2020 again when all we were doing was staying up late on zoom and literally just playing games and watching movies and talking about everything under the sun and planning random meet ups and actually ending up meeting up with almost everybody

im really excited to review with my bestfriends too and go cafe hopping once review season starts! also syempre matik na din yan, lagi sila matutulog dito sa bahay

personal life:

my puson is hurting a bit and im kind of getting worried na its either 1.) pcos related since i do have pcos or 2.) its something to do with the fact na ang lakas ko nanaman sa juice, soda, and coffee

i have to drink water ONLY i swear to god i do not want to get sick at all, especially in this pandemic

got my first ever 13th month pay today! i really really really need to save kasi i dont want to go into review season with an empty bank account

which means, no coffee or pastry runs whenever im out of the house; i seriously need to discipline myself para din i dont keep gaining more and more weight

i am itching to fix and reorganize and clean my room; cannot wait for the weekend kasi ito talaga gagawin ko

eamon and bec, you have stolen my heart; plus your accents are the cutest thing ever

watching their videos just made me really really want to visit morocco soon cause ive been wanting to go their for so long already

love:

syempre wala

if youve made it this far into my post, thank you so much. i just felt extra chatty this evening and i feel like i had to type everything down cause if i dont, i wont remember them with how busy i am. i hope you guys are doing okay and please know that if you ever feel like just typing everything as well, go for it. just go for it! who cares what other people say? either way, again, i hope you guys have a really lovely tuesday evening and i hope the rest of the week treats us well!

[poedameronloverx]

Best Birthday Ever!

Modern Poe Dameron x F!reader

Word Count: 852

I wrote some more dad Poe for you guys in honour of Oscar’s birthday. It’s not the best but I wanted to put something out today!

You decided to go all out for your husbands birthday. He was having his second lockdown birthday and the previous year had been a bit of a non event as the country had only just been locked down and you were navigating a completely new life with your two young daughters. You and Poe went to bed together as normal and you lay awake waiting until you knew he was asleep. You carefully slipped out of his arms, crept past the sleeping dog and headed downstairs to the living room. You'd stored all the birthday décor in the cupboard by the stairs. You and the girls had gone all out, Shara was 6 so had plenty of demands of what she wanted to do for daddy's birthday. Leia was only 2 so her only request had been balloons. You put up banners and balloons and laid all the gifts you and the girls had bought out on the coffee table. You'd ordered a cake from a local bakery and it would be delivered in the morning. Once you were done you headed off to bed, knowing you'd have to wake up early in the morning so you could get the girls ready before Poe woke up.

The second you woke her up, Shara ran down to the living room to see the decorations. You had to remind her to keep quiet or she would wake Poe up before it was time.

“Shara, get yours and your sisters drawings and put them on the coffee table so daddy can see how amazing they are”

“Okay mama”

Once everything was sorted you made a start on breakfast. Poe loved pancakes and waffles so you always made sure to cook him them for breakfast for his birthday or on your anniversary.

“Girls, I think it's time for you to wake daddy up”

They didn't need to be told twice, the two of them headed for the stairs. You put the breakfast preperation to the side and followed them, opening the baby gate on the stairs and scooping Leia into your arms to help her upstairs. Once you reached your bedroom you let her down and watched as both girls ran to the bed and climbed up. Shara sat on top of Poe and Leia went to his side. A chuckle left your lips when you saw BeeBee jump up to join the fun.

“Wake up daddy!” Shara shouted “Wake up”

“Wakey up” Leia added

“It's your birthday daddy!”

“Daddy birthday”

“What's all this noise about?” Poe asked, scooping both girls into his arms and rolling onto his back “Little rascals!”

“Happy Birthday daddy” Shara said

“Thank you princess”

“Lub daddy” Leia said

“I love you too little one”

“Why don't we head downstairs?” you said “The girls have planned a lovely day for you daddy”

“Oh really?”

Shara scrambled off the bed “Come on daddy, lets go!” she ran out the room and headed back downstairs. Poe handed Leia to you and grabbed his underwear from the floor from the previous night and shoved it back on. He walked over to you and took his daughter back.

“I like it when you call me daddy by the way” he whispered to you as he passed.

“Behave” you said rolling your eyes “Come on BeeBee, you've got to give dad your card too”

Poe opened all the gifts you'd all gotten him, his favourite being the canvas you'd had made of a photo of the 4 of you plus BeeBee. The day was low key but hugely enjoyable for the birthday boy. He'd booked a day off work, so had you, so it meant the 4 of your had the full day to just be together. Nobody needed home schooled, nobody had to go on Zoom for a meeting. It was just nice family time. After you ate breakfast, the 4 of you headed out to the local park to walk BeeBee. The girls got to play in the playground, BeeBee ran after a ball and Poe kept you warm by pulling you close and wrapping his coat around you. When you got home Poe played with the girls, the birthday cake was delivered as was a lunch you'd ordered from a local restaurant. You had a movie night, your head was in Poe's lap, Leia lay on top of you and Shara curled into her fathers side, BeeBee on her lap. You must've dozed off during the movie, because next thing you knew you were being woken up by Poe.

“Hey sleepyhead” he smiled “I've put the girls to bed. I think it's your turn now”

“I'm so sorry I fell asleep. This was supposed to be your day and I fell asleep”

“I've had the best day sweetheart” Poe replied “The room looks great, we had my favourite breakfast, had a great walk, ate some amazing food and had cake. And I got to spend the day with my beautiful wife, our two adorable children and the cutest dog that's ever lived. What's not to love. Thank you, for making this my best birthday ever”

[myfeetkeepdancing]

Summer Breeze | Peter Parker x Male!Reader

Summary: Reader takes care of Peter who is stressed and tired from his superhero duties.

Words: 1880

Requested by: @marvelgbt-posts​ ​

The sun set high above Queens. The warmth of its rays shining down onto your face. You shift in your seat of the bus, Peter's backpack on your lap. Making sure to catch as much sunlight as you possibly can. Just observing people from your seat was relaxing. Simply watch and observe. See as the world goes by. Once in a while, you glance up, peaking past the vast lengthy skyscrapers. Hoping to catch a glimpse of Spider-Man swinging in-between. The thought of him only stretched your smile further.

The summer was as good as ever. Long sunny days. College was almost at an end. So you got to spend nearly every day with Peter. Your lovely boyfriend. The kindest person you would ever meet. Someone who'd bring up the best in you. The bus zoomed past several stops before coming to your halt. Stepping out onto the street, you feel the summer breeze welcome you. The smell of salty water and flowers in full bloom. A little music coming from the balcony above you.

It’s such a beautiful place. Down at the docks, with that small stretch of boulevard, littered with small shops and terraces. Ice-cream trucks on every corner.

You continue to walk further up the road. By now, you know the location like the back of your hand. The alleyway. You double-check your surroundings before treading further. Putting Peter's backpack at the usual spot. Hiding it from sight. To top it off, you put on a small post-it note. One on the zipper, revealing your location. The other on his clothing. A little love letter. Peter lived for them. Small notes of encouragement. The cutest of it all, he collected each and every one of them. Neatly collected in a notebook, pictures of you adorned. It couldn’t get more wholesome.

You make your way back to the boulevard. Texting Peter that his backpack is in place. Finding a good spot to sit wasn’t difficult. The half concrete wall down the docks was perfect. It ran for several meters, separating the terraces of the walkway from the boulevard. Your legs dangling free as you take place. Looking over the water and the small strip of sand. The soothing sound of the waves washing ashore. Before you sat down, you made sure to pick up a drink for the two of you. The anticipation of Peter on his way made your stomach flutter of excitement. Waiting there, not a care in the world.

You feel arms reach around your chest. Strong arms. Closing tightly. His face pressed against your neck. It didn’t make you jump. His lips connecting with the skin of your neck. Peter loved to cuddle. Hours on end. Listening to music, or just chatting. No matter the time. Cuddles where Peter’s thing.

You can’t help but chuckle as you try to pry him free from you. Helping him climb up the half wall. His face lightens up the moment your eyes meet. Leaning in towards each other. Your lips meet in the softest possible way. But not without bumping into each other’s noses. Sharing a silly giggle. “I got you this.” Passing him his drink, still ice-cold to the touch.

“You’re the best.” He beams, taking the straw between his lips. Taking in the sweet drink. “I loved your little note.” Pressing a kiss on your cheek with his cold lips from the drink. Making you jump a little. “Thank you.”

His legs swayed back and forth, slow and relaxed. While you both sat there, overlooking the sea. Watching the tide roll away. And the sun slowly sinking to the horizon. "How was your day?" Putting an arm around him. Pulling him closer against you. Peter giving in, letting his head rest on your shoulder. Making himself comfortable.

"It was tough (Y/N)."  Letting out a long sigh. "Really tough." Peter was someone who kept a lot to himself. The responsibilities he felt pressing down on his shoulders. Not only as Spider-Man but also as an Avenger. The need to prove himself. And things that happened because of him. He struggled to put it to words. Making it difficult for him to open up. It took time. Trust and confidence. But eventually, he opened up. Beneath those layers of Spider-Man and Avenger's worries, there was a sweet, caring, and, most of all, loving personality. With a heart too great for this world.

“What’s troubling you, sweetheart?” Swaying him to and through by his shoulder. With your other hand, you push a little strand of hair from his forehead. "Something bad happened?"

"I'm doing everything I can, yet… bad things keep happening. I just… I can't be everywhere at the same time." He sighed defeated. "Even now, I feel like I need to be out there." You refrain yourself from asking any more. He looked tired, eyelids heavy with sleep. And body weak of will. "But I can’t… I'm so tired."

“That’s alright. I get it.” You whisper to him. "Relax."

"I...I... just can't." He said with sadness in his voice. "I should have gone home instead of burden you with my troubles."

"Peter… I can’t take away that feeling. But I’m always there for you.” You slowly rest his head back on your shoulder again. “Wherever you go... I'll be there." Pressing a gentle kiss on the top of his hair. “Just lay your head to rest… It’s going to be fine. I mean… look at that stunning view.” Circling your fingers on his shoulder. “Isn’t it lovely…”

You notice a small smile curving his lips. A long sigh followed, feeling the tension in his body subside. Leaning against you. “Yes, but so are you.”

Watching the sun setting on the horizon. People slowly retreating from the beach. Making place for the seagulls and other birds. Scavenging the leftovers. The beautiful blue sky slowly turning yellow and into orange as the sun sank down further and further. All the while, Peter had sunken in a state of sleep. Snoring quietly against your shoulder.

Eventually, you need to start moving. With the sun sinking towards the horizon, so was the temperature. Determined not to disturb his well-deserved rest, you manage to get him on your back. Carrying most of his weight by holding onto his legs, you prop him up against your back. His arms slung around your neck. And head cradled on the side of your neck. Quietly snoring into your ear. Your backpack slung forward on your belly. Packed and ready to go, you make way for the bus stop. Luckily, it wasn't that far.

But nonetheless, Peter was becoming quite heavy to carry. The muscles in your arms burned and ached. Legs heavy, feet hurting ever more with each step. Your back was hurting. Yet Peter heaved so softly into your ear. It was worth it.

You seat him carefully into the seat of the bus. His arms falling loosely from your neck. You chuckle as you see his somewhat lifeless body propped against the window. Snoring peacefully. ��Bringing a smile to your face.

Arriving at your stop, you muster all your strength. It takes a few tries to get Peter on your back. The bus driver wishing you good luck. And you needed that. You stood before the building were Peter and his aunt May lived. From memory, you recall eleven or twelve flights of stairs. No elevator. You’re determined to do this. With a steady pace, you take the first four. Momentum was everything you keep telling yourself. But your muscles told you otherwise. Your arms burn from the strain. Legs shaking slightly. But you keep your gaze to the steps. Not focusing on counting down the flight of stairs…

One by one, you steadily climb the stairs. One two three. Breath in, and out. And again. Your body was starting to give in. It couldn't do this. Your heart was hammering against your ribcage. Breathing heavily as you brave the last one. Your legs tremble, dragging your feet forward. Legs like stone.

Until you manage to lay Peter to rest. Comfortable in his bed.

With your last bit of strength left, you undress and slip into the shower. Soaking in sweat. The only thing you wanted more was to sleep. Crawl beside Peter. All comfy and cozy. The thought alone made you soft. Sneaking back into the room, you spot movement between the blankets. Soft moans and exhausted wheezes.

“We’re… back... home?” Peter groaned as he rubbed in his eyes. “B-But… How?”  Looking around the room. “Uughh… I’m such a wreck.” Falling back into his cushion with a sigh.

“Well, you’re my little wreck.” Pressing a kiss on his forehead. Followed by his nose. “Did I wake you while showering?” Ending on his soft lips. His lips curving into a sweet smile.

“Not at all.” Hearing a slight chuckle coming from him. “You are staying… right?” Throwing his sheets open beside him.

“I’d love to…” Releasing a long drawn yawn. “First have to find me some pj’s.” Searching his drawers.

“Uhm… Well...” He mutters slightly, rubbing the crook of his neck, trying to get your attention. “I… Ehm… wouldn’t mind… if you came… to bed like that…” His little cheeks burning up.

“Alright, but isn’t it a bit too warm for cuddles.” Crawling onto the sheets. Peter’s bed wasn’t that big. You could fit with two, but it meant spooning one way or the other. Something you don’t mind.

“Never with you.” He smiles, pulling his shirt off. “I sleep best when you’re around…” Releasing a soft hum, crawling up against you. Pulling your arm over his waist. Peter adored being the smaller spoon. Loved being played with his hair. Those brown curls, twirling between the tips of your fingers.

“Is that how you got me home?!” Peter beamed with adoration. As he looks onto your phone, lying onto the floor. A notification lighting up the screen and the background with it. The background being the selfie from earlier today on your way to the bus stop. Peter’s arms slung around your neck, and his head cradled on the side of your neck.

“You looked so cute.”

But Peter’s smile was disrupted by the faint sound of sirens in the distance. Peter’s eyes shoot wide open, sitting straight up in bed. “Should… I…?”

“I certainly won’t stop you.” Slowly trailing a finger down his spine. Peter releasing a shuddering breath. “But what does your gut tell you?”

“I dunno…” He mutters, doubt setting on his face. “You think they got this?”

“I can’t speak for Spider-Man.” Pressing a few gentle kisses down his spine. "But, I do know you need your time off."  

“You’re right...” Falling back into your embrace. A genuine smile curving his lips. Curling up onto your chest. Snuggling close to you. His head moving along with the heaving of your chest. Followed by his breath fanning across your skin. His legs intertwining with yours. Arms wrapping around your neck. “My gut tells me, I want to be with you.” He whispers softly, kissing you along your jawline. Up to your lips. “You’re too good for me.”

“I got that from you.” Slowly raking your fingers through his curls. Returning the kiss. “It’s infectious.”

"I love you (Y/N)…"

[doodle-zombie]

Lamia Bonding Drama

Finished RP with @theriverpersonshadow that turned into an absolute monster once we both sat down and started it. I think we finished this in under a week? The final word count is...25,546 (after some editing by me).

The only warnings that may apply are for language. If anyone has any triggers please let me know.

It's so long that it's under the cut.

Caring Coils was having one of its community events this week. While the shop was always open to the public (within business hours), the weather had been nice lately and they’d managed to rent out some outdoor space in a local park. The Lamia were absolutely loving it, in their own ways: a hoard of miniature pygmies were chasing after an RC car “driven” by a bitty Papython and actually driven by a Honeybo, the trees were draped with various Lamia but especially Chains, one of the larger rocks in the area had become a community nap pile for Cornies, and no small number of Kraits (and Oozy) were enjoying the pond as a few Mambas terrorized/were terrorized by the local goose population, thankfully far from the rest.

Nikolai was a mixture of happy and absolutely harried, trying to keep track of everyone who’d come. Some Lamia had opted to stay inside, like Hux, and some were too young (Piper was allowed to come, barely), but the park was absolutely teeming with various Lamia. It made his soul swell to see them so happy, but also, he probably needed to deal with the goose situation on top of general PR.

Keith was hanging out near the edge of the park, draped in a tree and soaking up some sun rays. Trousle was hanging with him - pun intended - and looking at the humans as they passed into the park, chirping out hellos with his little speaker. Piper, meanwhile, had claimed a bird nest as “his” and was enthusiastically showing it off.

“Oh! Look! That human has one like you!” Trousle said, tugging lightly at Keith.

Keith looked over towards Val, giving a wave. “Yo, nice to meet ya. Name’s Keith.”

“Look! I’mma mom!” Piper chirped loudly as his little lungs(?) could manage. This is clearly a child in a bird nest.

“Hello human!!!”

*

Valerie adored her boys and did whatever she could to make them happy but this was, admittedly, more for her than it was for any of her boys. She had joined tons of different groups geared towards Lamia, including a site that allowed her to see when a center was having any special events, and she stalked those sites when she had a few minutes to herself. It was through her obsessive need to stay on top of all things Lamia related that she heard about a center that was having a community day.

And it was open to the public.

Marmalade watched, so in tune that he picked up on her excitement before any of the other boys, as she prepared for a trip. It wasn't too far but it was enough distance that she was careful to pack a cooler full of snacks and blankets to create a nest in the back of the van. Because it was a given that Currant would be tagging along and Sangria would be the guardian of the property while she was away. His Mamba brother took his duties incredibly serious and he had a prankster Corny to watch over and a recovering Pygmy to take care of. Val left instructions on what to do if she wasn't back within a few days, leaving behind a phone she'd picked up just for them.

None of them liked to be away from her with no means of making sure she was alright, Marmalade didn't blame them.

Despite being the largest in the house, Marmalade had made no secret of his desire to go with Valerie and Currant on their trip. He coiled on the back seat, soaking in the light and enjoying the breeze, while Currant claimed the front seat with a nest carefully crafted. Val filled the trip to this community day with belting along to whatever song played, nudging Currant until he joined in and beaming at Marmalade in the mirror until he went along with their shenanigans.

Stars, he adored his bondmate.

Their arrival was met with little fanfare. Currant wanted to stay in the van, unwilling to risk getting lost or injured by whatever was going on at the park, and the windows were left cracked for his comfort. Val gave his skull a pet and eagerly left the car behind, Marmalade tagging along at her side. It was clear that all the Lamia were enjoying their time outside and he snickered at the sight of a cluster of Mamba trying to assert their dominance over a flock of geese.

Sangria would have been absolutely delighted to show the smaller Mamba how to go about proving their superiority.

Marmalade found his gaze drawn to his fellow Chains, draped across tree branches like, particularly strange vines. Val must have felt his curiosity because her gaze was also drawn towards the trees and she gave a delighted squeak. Her soul pulsed back pure joy at him.

"'sup," he drawled, acknowledging Keith's greeting. "'m marmalade."

"Ohmystars," Val breathed, clutching her chest. "You are just the cutest little thing."

Which Lamia was she talking to? Well, all of them if Marmalade had to guess.

"y'all don' get out often, do ya?"

*

"Not really! It's big out here!" Trousle said. If he was being honest with himself, it was kind of overwhelming. Thankfully, Keith didn't seem to mind hanging around with him, and it was nice having a familiar face as he tried to get used to it. Mostly he worried about how his speaker would work. It was small enough to be portable... for a normal-sized person, but it'd be a pain trying to carry it around at his size. But there was plenty to do just here! People to talk to, things to climb and play around in, it was all so much and it was great!

"They say 'm too lil. But I'm not! Not a hatchling! Nuh-uh!" Piper said. He grinned down at this human and looked at "his" eggs. He couldn't actually keep these, so... He slithers down to Valerie's level, tail wound around a tree branch while he makes grabby hands her way. The little one looks like he's got some scales stuck to his skull and arms, but a closer look reveals that they seem to be growing there (though might be in a shedding phase right now too, based on the flakiness). He chirped for her, little tongue darting out to catch the taste of the air.

Keith just chuckled at the little one. "Nope. What can I say, I've got my dice inside." He yawned and readjusted himself on the branch, muscles rippling as he found another position. "But it's pretty nice out here honestly. At least right now. It gets dang hot sometimes." Which might explain why there didn't seem to be many Firerings. While they probably would've enjoyed the usual summer heat, it'd be uncomfortable or even possibly deadly to those around them. "Heh, where y’all from anyways? I don't know you." The other Chain's scent was unfamiliar to him, and they were kind of the place to get a well-cared-forlamia in the state. Marmalade might've been a little roughed up from hunting in the woods, but he didn't really have the look of a rescue, and the linger scents were new too.

*

"nah," Marmalade teased, sockets narrowing as he smirked. "yer jus' small."

And adorable. Marmalade was so accustomed to being around smaller Lamia that he felt an instant need to protect any smaller Lamia around him. Lapis was the smallest at home and Marmalade often kept him safe from predatory birds and other larger creatures that might make a snack of a Lamia. Keith keeping Trousle close was something Marmalade approved of, it was what made Chains so reliable as companions.

"You certainly don't look like a hatchling," Valerie complimented, putting her hands out so he could slither onto her. Honestly, the spattering of scales upon his bones was beautiful. Val found the scales of Lamia to be incredibly pretty. If they didn't turn to dust when they came off, she would be tempted to collect them. "But your scales are really pretty! Currant would love you, he'd think you were a little gem."

Marmalade found Keith to be a little strange, for a Chain, but he figured that they couldn't go out into the woods from their center. It was the part he loved about his territory, there were so many huge trees he could climb and bask on. Plus, the rock that Sangria often showed off on when Valerie was taking a break from work. In fact, all the Lamia around here were pretty immaculate. He didn't see any signs of scars or any hints of lacking care.

"val drove us here," Marmalade shrugged. "we're a coupla states away, middle a nowhere. my home center was in a big city."

*

Trousle let out a breathy attempt at a "Nyeh", huffing. "That's not my fault! I was born small! I'm a good size for a Papython bitty too!" Though sometimes he did feel a little out of place with most of the DnD group being full-sized, but being small just meant he had more things to look at and slither into! More to explore, and a lot of puzzles just getting around!

Piper enthusiastically wound his way on there, letting out little chittering purrs as he accepted the compliments. "Thank you! You've got pretty too!" He was idly playing with the fabric of her clothing, but his eyes were on her hair. A stray strand caught his eyes and he zoomed up, pouncing for it and squeaking as he overshot, grabbing onto the back of Val's clothes as he fell. "I'm 'kay!" He said, little claws helping him climb up to her neck. With a little purr, he settled in against the warmth. "Smells nice."

Keith was gently stroking Trousle while watching Marmalade, curious about this other Chain. "Really? Huh... you're from far out, ain't ya? I haven't gotten around much myself. What can I say, I'm a bit lazy." That was a lie, partially. Part of him wouldn't mind getting out and about more often, see more of the outside, more of the world. He was old enough that he was pretty sure Nikolai could get some stuff sorted for him if he asked, but leaving would mean not living with Hux anymore, almost certainly. Hux didn't exactly want a human, and he seemed perpetually peeved at Alex...

"How'd you two meet anyways? I mean, like... How do you know?" He'd assumed he'd known, but Alex never said anything, so maybe he was just getting desperate. Could it work that way? Nikolai had assured him it couldn't, but he was too nervous to bring it up. What if she was avoiding it for a reason? "Ya seem pretty happy."

"Keith hasn't found his human yet," Trousle said.

Keith looked to the side, unwilling to dump his anxieties on the little guy. He wasn't leaving. Period. No reason to worry him.

*

"jus' kiddin', kid," Marmalade laughed. It had been a few months since he'd last been around a Papython, his home center had a high turnover rate for them, and those that were old enough to go tended to get adopted faster than he could learn about them. There was nothing wrong with Trousle, if you asked Marmalade, and he would have liked to talk more with the little guy. But Marmalade was a stranger to these Lamia and he didn't want to cause any fights by climbing into a tree with the Lamia here. "yer decent size. bigger than lapis at home."

Heaven. This must have been heaven. Valerie was very used to having a Lamia slithering on her, Lapis did it all the time, so she wasn't phased in the slightest by the little Pygmy darting around. She laughed as he zoomed, looking over her shoulder and putting a hand under where he was dangling. Affection filled her at his little compliments, her fingers gentle when she rubbed his little skull. "Thank you, sweetie."

Marmalade glanced over to Valerie, blinking as she cuddled with the small Pygmy. He could feel the waves of affection that were rolling off her soul in gentle waves. It wouldn't have surprised him if every Chain around could feel how much she adored the little guy. Well, he should have known she wouldn't be able to resist.

"you'd get along well with Currant then," Marmalade said, studying Keith carefully. Huh, a Chain that just... didn't know how to tell who his human was? At least Marmalade was used to offering advice, usually to his housemates. "she came in for a coral bitty, originally. an i jus' knew she was mine. soon as i saw her. she knew i was hers right after i bonded with her. val's more in touch with her soul now."

He looked at Val, the happy smile on her face as she pet the small Pygmy. "she's the best thing that happened to me. A real gentle soul, patient too. she even adopted the mamba from my brother clutch."

*

Trousle grinned, typing away. "Yes! And thank you! You seem good-sized yourself! I guess I'm just not used to being places where things aren't all bitty-sized. Well, other than the DnD table! And the humans. Humans tend to be human-sizedfor lamia, though children of course are smaller." All was forgiven, just like that. "It's good to meet you! Have I introduced myself? I'm Trousle! That little one is Piper, and this is Keith."

"You're welcome!" Piper chirped. He grabbed at one of her fingers, holding it to him to nuzzle against it. A few of his loose scales flaked off which was met with little sighs of relief - those had been itchy! "Like you! You like games? One time I got to be a dragon! I was the boss! Rawr!" He tries to roar, but it's squeaky and he devolves into giggles.

"Oh geez, that was sure an interesting session," Keith said, laughing at the memories. It was an absolute mess and it was amazing. "We let him join a DnD game once, he was my little Co-Dm."

"Mm hmm! I was the Boss!"

"He was also the dragon they fought... And the trickster god that our cleric summoned. Who immediately attacked his own follower."

"Was a mouse!"

"That it was." Alex had been playing a Mousefolk cleric and used a mouse toy as a token, so really that was almost set up that way, and it was hysterical.

Keith turned back to Marmalade, "I run a DnD game afterhours for some of my friends. Alex is a new girl, or was I guess? She's been visiting a while, seems pretty nice. Brought us Peanut butter and chocolate no-bake cookies, and wasn't gonna say no to that!"

"They were delicious!" Trousle said. "Liam tried to say he brought them, but he'd just stolen them! Nyeh! He's so silly!"

"He got caught pretty fast. But yeah," Keith said. "She, uh... seems nice. Like, real nice. But I don't think she thinks I'm anything special. Other than a good DM of course, and hey, what else can a nerd ask for?" He was hesitant to outright say it.

Sure, most of his friends were technically special needs in one way or another, but those were just surface level, right? Having a faulty soul-bond meant something was deeply wrong with him, not to mention he hadn't even tried until then.

Keith was idly clawing at the bark, muscles tensing and untensing as he slowly swung there, filling moments where he wasn't talking by humming the same few bars of a song.

If he was going to tell someone, maybe it ought to be them? Marmalade didn't ask for that though, and that's a lot to put on someone. But who else could get it and not have it get back to Hux? Nikolai had enough to deal with...

Nah, he was being silly. Might as well just enjoy the sunshine, if he could. "I'd offer to show you around, but I don't know the place much better. Plus it looks like part of the park is under attack by geese."

In the distance, Nikolai was trying to get some of the younger Mambas to leave the fucking geese alone while Liam tried to scare the geese into leaving the mamba alone. Oozy was making puns about this "fowl situation" while watching and being generally unhelpful.

*

Well, Trousle certainly made it obvious why Papythons were so popular. His temperament was excellent and things just seemed to roll right off his scales. It was a shame that Marmalade had never really connected with any Papythons when he'd been at the center still because they seemed like he would have gotten along great with them. "nyeh heh, thanks kid."

"Oh stars," Val squeaked, delighted beyond measure. She also took immediate note of his relief when several scales flaked away, revealing pristine blue beneath, and she gave soft scratches to areas that looked like they were ready to come away. "Oh, sweetheart, I love games! I bet you were the biggest, best dragon around!"

She feigned a shocked gasp at his attempt at a roar, grinning down at the little guy. Her heart was gone, he'd stolen it. All of these Lamia were adorable. As much of her attention as Piper had stolen, Val still didn't ignore Keith and Trousle. They were good with Piper, harnessing the chaotic energy of a young Pygmy.

"Every Lamia is special," Val refuted, cuddling Piper closer to her neck. "Maybe you should talk to Alex?"

Marmalade nodded along, giving Keith a curious look. He didn't know what DnD was but he knew about the soul and the bonds that Chains forged with their humans. Keith seemed awfully curious and cautious when it came to those bonds.

"you think you got the wrong human?" was Marmalade's astute observation.

"Oh!" Val perked, wide eyes turning to Keith. "You wanna stay with your friends, don't you? But you want a human too, maybe?"

Inevitably, her gaze was drawn towards the honking of geese. Not a sight that was common at home but nothing she had never seen before, either. It was certainly lively over at that side of the park!

*

Trousle nodded, “No problem!” He paused and typed more, tongue flicking as he did. “What’s it like where you guys are from? Do they have Papython there too?”

Piper was purring, rubbing against her hand both out of affection and in eagerness to shed some of his scales. He had stars in his eyes as he looked up to her. “Yeah! I love games too! I’m a great dragon! Mweheheh!” I dun hurt you though is ‘kay.” He gave her a little pat of reassurance. “Can only hurt the tokens. But I win good!” Piper made happy purrs and chitters, enjoying the warmth and affection. This was so exciting!!! “I special! You too!”

Keith couldn’t stay buried in his thoughts with that happening. A grin split his face. “Heh, hope you were looking to adopt.”

A twinge of jealousy rose up in Trousle’s soul, bitter and venomous, but he took a deep breath and swallowed it with a smile. He’d find someone one day. It wasn’t fair to hold it against Piper. Besides, he wanted to live closer to his friends anyway. “You can talk to Nikolai when he’s done with the geese if you’re thinking of taking him home! He practically owns the place. He’s the King.”

“Don’t let the fangs fool you. He’s basically a mom,” Keith said. “Gotta love him… Heh. You might get along, or else I need to get better at hiding things. Am I that obvious?”

Trousle looked up at him. “Alex is yours then?” He hadn’t known but wasn’t surprised either.

“I don’t know,” Keith said honestly, shrugging. “Thought I felt something, still do, but she hasn’t said anything, so I ain’t gonna force it. Besides, I’d rather keep hanging with y’all.”

“I appreciate it, but don’t stay just for my sake! You’ve been here longer than me! If you think you’d be happy with her…” Then he’d say goodbye.

“Ain’t my call anyways lil dude, but thanks,” Keith said. He turned back to the others. “I might just live here long as they’ll have the gang and me. Made peace with it a good while ago.”

*

This time it was Valerie who answered Trousle, happy to soothe the Papython that there was someone out there who would love him and take him home. "Oh, I see Papythons everywhere when I go into town! Everyone loves a Papython. You guys are super helpful."

She was quickly distracted by Piper once again, enthralled by how adorable he was. The point of coming here hadn't been to adopt but she wasn't going to rule it out, not when faced with a Lamia this adorable. Valerie had always assumed Pygmy were too energetic for her but Piper was just perfect. The right amount of energetic and sweet, with a little bit of snuggle tossed in. "A precious dragon," she beamed, "Oh, Admiral and Sangria would love you!"

Valerie laughed at Keith, keeping Piper close to her. "I'm not opposed! I have plenty of space at home... and toys. And I already have the perfect little bandana that would look just adorable on him."

"course ya do," Marmalade huffed, amused. "ya got a lil' bit o' everythin' at home."

"That I do!" Val agreed, smiling at Keith and Trousle. "I even brought a couple things to give out, if you want something Trousle. I think you'd look really cool in this little red scarf I bought. None of the Papythons at the other center were the right size for it."

"don' let val think she'd get along with a king," was the mumbled warning from Marmalade, his gaze mischievous. "she debated on a king or a mamba once. still don' know if she won' bring home a king some day."

Her answering laugh was completely unapologetic.

"Gotta say, Keith, if you feel like she's yours then she probably is. There's a lot of reasons a human wouldn't react. Maybe she doesn't have the space for you and all your friends but she doesn't wanna separate you?"

"don' count yourself stuck, keith. even if ya don' live with her she's still yours. an you're hers."

*

Trousle beams, puffing out his little chest as much as he can and showing off his scales. He's a bit too busy posing to type right now, but his grin is practically splitting his face. He nods enthusiastically at the idea of a little scarf. Wouldn’t he just look great?! Even greater than now, he wasn’t sure it was even possible!

Keith smiles down at him. "Yer pretty cool, y'know? Can't believe you haven't been scooped up yet. But hey, this way I get to keep ya. Wouldn't be the same without such a cool guy at the gaming table."

Trousle's face was bright orange. He attempted to hide it behind his hands, flustered, but he kept moving his hands to peek out.

Piper purred, too enthralled by Val to pay much attention to Keith and Trousle. "Yeah! 'm the best dragon. They love! And I love! Where they?" He looked over at Marmalade, squinting as he tried to figure out which one he'd be. "Sangria?"

Keith chuckled, "That's Marmalade." With so much happening, he didn't blame Piper for missing a few details.

"No. Sangria."

"That's not how that works...“ Trousle said.

"Sangria," Piper insisted, crossing his arms. Guess Marmalade's been renamed now, sorry dude. "Gonna play toys with Sangria! Mweheheheh! Toys toys toys! Yes yes yes!" He tightened around her neck - not nearly enough to hurt - in enthusiastic cuddles.

"He really likes you!" Trousle said. Feeling a bit bolder, he started winding his way down towards her and Marmalade too. Keith helped by stretching his arm out towards her for him. Dude wants cuddles too it seems like.

Keith's soul ached at the thought of Trousle leaving too, but Val seemed nice, and it sounded like he wouldn't be low on company. It was a bit early to call though. "I hope ya'll're right. I mean, she keeps coming back, so hey, that's a good sign! Just don't wanna come on too strong, y'know?" He turned to look over at the goose situation. Some park administrators had managed to catch and contain most of them, but Liam had the tell-tale sign of a successful hunt around his fangs. Good for him. Nikolai had redirected the younger Mambas towards something less destructive: showing off for humans with posing and play-fights. "If ya wanna keep the kiddo, you can talk to Nikolai or Maia, the old lady. She owns the place, but Nikolai's been keeping it running the last year or two. She's getting too old fer it."

*

Oh. Oh no. Trousle was adorable too and Val felt awful knowing she would gladly take him home too, away from his friends and so far from what he'd known that he might never be able to visit when they had their sessions. But Keith brought up a good point... why hadn't Trousle been snatched up yet? He was a sweet Papython, perfectly sized for apartment living but also the right size that he could help out around if he wanted.

Her attention was taken by Piper once again, cooing at just how sweet he was. Her poor heart couldn't handle all that adorableness. If she combined him with Admiral... Val would probably collapse from the combined cute of two Pygmy, even if they were different sizes. Her face actually hurt from how much she was smiling.

"I only brought Marmalade and Currant with me, Piper," she gently told him, grinning at Marmalade with waggling brows. "Sangria is my big Mamba, he's protecting the territory and making sure Admiral doesn't get lonely. But Sangria is so awesome I'm sure Marmalade doesn't mind."

Marmalade narrowed his eyes at her but it lacked any real heat. Sangria was a Mamba that defied his species, a far more tolerant creature that was essentially the den mother of all Lamia Valerie had at home. It wouldn't surprise any of them if Sangria was cuddled up, beyond exhausted dealing with Admiral and Lapis, when they got home. Val was good for them, he was somewhat surprised she didn't have a whole hoard of Mamba roaming around.

"I really like him too," Valerie told Trousle, offering a hand so he could join Piper on her. Papython cuddles were the best. And she'd only ever cuddled a few full-size ones! As much as she would have loved to take him home too, Valerie didn't feel like Trousle was destined to stay with her. Someone out there would adopt them all together, she could feel it. But she would never deny a Lamia some cuddles. "I should go get Currant, though. Don't want my grumpy boy to laze away in the car. It's about time to exercise, anyway."

"she probably feels somethin'," Marmalade shrugged. "i bonded with val as soon as i saw her. didn' wait a second."

"It's true," she laughed. "I walked in for a grumpy Coral and wham! Soulbonded to a Chain within minutes. I can kinda feel all my boys, now."

Valerie trailed off, not knowing how to ask Keith if he wanted to go to the car with her so she could get Currant and the things she could give to other Lamia. Marmalade saved her from having to ask, aware of her on a level deeper than anything she'd thought to have.

"wanna come with us to the car, keith? val wants to grab some stuff and trousle an piper are safest if she holds 'em. you can meet currant."

*

Piper nodded, "Mamba can be mean, but can be nice! Some go hiss, but others like hugs. Like Cobalt!" Cobalt was hatched around the same time. The little mamba could be protective sometimes, especially when some of the meaner mamba or corals teased him about his weird bone-scales. (The fact that Piper was quick to give affection and fawn over him miiiight've helped). "Can I meat Cur-Currant... Curry! Curry!"

Trousle slithered up Val's arm and draped himself across her in one big cuddle, clicking softly in a muted purr.

Keith smiled down at Val, she had such a way with the kiddos. If she ever needed a job, she could probably work here, provided she didn't try to adopt the entire store. And knowing that Alex might know something, well... Maybe he should have a chat with her. Lost in thought, he stretched himself out wordlessly in answer, winding down and placing himself next to Marmalade, ready to go meet Currant. Hopefully he'd be nice to Trousle, or they'd have a problem.

*

"Sangria is nice," Val assured Piper, knowing it was true. He could bluster and yell insults as much as he wanted but he was the first to investigate any noise, the first to take the others outside without her asking, and she had woke up on a few occasions to already thawing food for her boys. Piper would be adored at her house, she had no doubt. "We're going to meet Currant."

Marmalade was shamelessly snickering over Piper's nickname for the Coral, slithering along as she walked towards the van. It was a dirty thing, big enough to transport her collection of Lamia and the large amount of groceries she got monthly. Some curious Lamia had slithered close, likely to scent the new smells she'd brought around, and Currant could be seen in the front seat. His face was barely visible over the door, just eyes and the dome of his skull. Well, what wasn't covered by the blanket he'd been snuggled in. His deep red eye lights enlarged when he spotted Val.

Before they even got to the van, Currant was bolting out and winding around her legs. Val laughed, petting Trousle and Piper while Currant made himself at home around her ankles and knees. He shamelessly slithered up her legs and wrapped around her torso, clinging in the way he was used to. The fact she had other Lamia didn't bother him in the slightest. His purrs were deep and happy, gloved phalanges kneading in her shirt and sneakily petting Trousle and Piper.

"And this is Currant," she told Keith, completely wrapped in Lamia but loving it. Her current situation was nothing out of the ordinary, after all. "He's still a little anxious but he's such a sweet little gem!"

"spoiled, ya mean."

"jealous?" Currant grinned, both golden fangs on full display. "sup. 'm currant."

*

Safely riding on a human, Trousle looked around, trying to take in all he could of the big, wide world. And it was definitely big! It was hard to imagine that even this much existed! It was all so exciting! His tongue was flicking in and out, trying to catch every taste he could. Instinctively, he hissed when Currant moved so fast, rearing back, but let out little huffs as he laughed it off. His "voice" came from Keith's pocket as he said, "You startled me!"

Keith similarly had tensed up, not expecting the other to dart out like that, but relaxed just as quickly seeing Val react so well. "Aaaaw. Heh, he really likes ya. Man, he's a world different than Hux. Good to meet ya dude, I'm Keith."

"I'm Trousle! Er, I'm the Papython." Trousle said, leaning his head up to let Currant scratch some of his favorite spots.

"Oooooh! Curry! Curry's a Coral!" Piper gasped. He was partly hiding behind Val's neck, hoping that this Coral at least wouldn't make fun of him. Not that every single Coral did, but it was mostly corals. Still, he was getting pets, so maybe this one was a nicer one? His eyes closed as he let out happy little chirps, occasionally play-nipping at Currant's fingers.

Keith was just internally cooing. "Ya'll too dang cute. How dare. Geez..."

One of the local Cornies was trying to slither into Val's car, seeing a nice blanket and a warm, sunny nap spot, and a random Honeybo was trying to see if he could sneak stickers onto Currant's clothes.

*

Confined as she was beneath coils, Val couldn't do anything about the other Lamia clustering around. She made a careful mental note about the Corny but didn't attempt to prevent him from sleeping in the blanket pile, Lapis did just that. Before she left she would do a sweep of the van, to make sure she didn't have any tagalongs. Currant was well adjusted, careful work done to make sure he knew how to articulate and that he could always hide if it became too much for him. He was a far cry from the grumpy boy she'd brought home.

"sorry," Currant muttered, butting his nose against Trousle's back. "oh man, val! lapis woulda loved this."

"He would!" she chirped. "All the bitty Papython from his brother clutch got adopted out so I couldn't get one. He would love to have a Papy that would pester him awake, I just know it."

"maybe we can bring 'im next time," Marmalade shrugged. "make a day o' it. let everyone meet everyone."

"it'd be chaos," Currant deadpanned. "imagine sangria bein' around all these mamba? his tail is a lot nicer."

Well, Valerie didn't want to say that but she hadn't seen another Mamba with the same level of iridescence that Sangria had. Currant was drawn to Piper, the little Pygmy hidden from sight until a nip finally registered. Val mentally counted down, smirking with the knowledge that Piper looked like a true prize. Bright blue, even where his scales needed to shed, and so unique that Currant's eye lights swelled huge. He loved pretty, unique things.

"yer scales are pretty," he wheezed, shimmying closer to Piper. His instincts told him Piper was still young and he needed to shed those itchy, dull scales. So Currant just... gave a little lick. Val likened it to a mother cat bathing her young and it was adorable.

"Aren't they just the prettiest!" Val agreed. "All the others must be so jealous of such a handsome boy like Piper!"

*

Keith was helping that one Honeybo sneak stickers onto Currant. He was gonna be covered in glittery smiley faces and hearts by the time the conversation was over at this rate. Naturally, Keith regrets nothing about this... Okay, maybe he has one regret, but that's that they're stickering Currant like this and not Hux. It'd be hysterical seeing him turn red as he realized what had happened.

Trousle gives him a few little scratches in appreciation. "I might consider it! I'm just not sure about living so far away. Though I'd love to have a person! And it seems like you have quite the troupe!" If it weren't for the distance, he'd be on this faster than Liam was on a bowl of sour candies. "I'd love to meet him!" It was always nice meeting new friends! Or seeing old friends again, in some cases!

Keith chuckled, "I feel that. I wish I could vouch for Liam, but he can get a bit showy around other Mamba. I mean, and in general, but it's worse around his own. Though given that he was the only one to actually beat a goose, he might have a point." Sometimes Mamba and Kings were rented out for pest control... and occasionally Chains, when the pests in question were snakes.

Piper turned yet another gorgeous shade of blue in the face, partly covering his cheekbones as he squealed and chirped, not really sure what to do with all the sheer happy stuffed into his little body. Kid purred like a kitten as some of the scales peeled off, revealing the vibrant, fresh hues underneath. Shedding was always the worst, but also such a relief to get out of his too-small skin.

Keith mentally relaxed. Currant seemed like a pretty cool dude so far. "Dang you're too freaking sweet. Geez. Ya sure you didn't adopt a Papython?"

*

Currant was aware that he was being covered in stickers, this wasn't the first time he'd been on the recieving end of some shenanigans, but he had long since grown used to things like this. Val had taken great care in making sure he was capable of handling whatever could be thrown at him. She wouldn't let anyone tell her that he was too dangerous to go anywhere, his behavior would guarantee he made anyone that called him a menace eat their words. Grooming the young Pygmy was much more his speed, he tended to do the same with Lapis if he caught him in shed.

"Oh, Trousle, I know there's a human out there for all of you," Valerie assured him. She felt a little sad that she couldn't take every Lamia home... but maybe she could volunteer here, sometimes. "I'll bring Lapis next time. Even if I don't take you home you could always message him and be friends that way."

"ooooooh," Marmalade drawled, feeling the need to talk up his brother. "jus' a goose?"

"Marmalade, hush! They don't have a forest around here, not like Liam could hunt foxes like you and Sangria do. But I bet he'd catch one!" She didn't actually know if that was the case because she didn't know which Mamba was Liam but if he was anything like Sangria he would have a high prey drive. She had many hunted stuffed animals that were displayed around her home. "Piper... are you alright with Currant holding you? I'm going to grab some things."

Marmalade huffed, amused at Keith's comments towards Currant. "nah, he's a gremlin. val jus' hates how people talk shit 'bout currant when we go out so she helped him get better adjusted."

Said gremlin was carefully holding Piper, grooming the Pygmy with loud rumbles in his ribcage. Piper had Coral approval. Val opened the back of the van, grabbing a couple of bags that had some gifts she'd brought along. The whole reason she'd come to the park was to give some things to Lamia that didn't have homes. Marmalade took some of the bags while Val plucked a little red scarf out just for Trousle. It was made of a soft material and the shade of red was bright but not eye burning.

"You can have this, Trousle," Val announced, looping it loosely around him. "And you can help me hand out the other stuff! Maybe I have something for each of your friends."

*

Piper nodded, "Mm hmm! Like Curry! Is real nice." He was purring back, mostly letting Currant do his thing and thoroughly enjoying the attention, only squirming to give him better access to some of the scales that needed to come off. "Best Coral!"

Keith also felt the need to defend his own brother's honor, standing up and huffing, "I mean, if he hunted a dog, I think he would've gotten in trouble. People love those things! Also, have ya ever fought a goose? Those things will..." Shit there are children present. "They've got more teeth than we do. Some of which are on their freaking tongues. I have questions for whoever thought up geese, 'cause they're nightmare birds. Dude's pretty dang cool if ya ask me."

"Thank you, I'd love to meet him and see you again! But I'm not sure that anyone would want, well... Us. We're kind of weird, honestly. I mean, I'm mute for starters, and, well... But maybe there's a human that lives here, at least who could take me! Then I could visit a lot, probably! Or I guess I could live with Nikolai, but I think he wants to focus more on Maia right now." Trousle said. His head darted up as he caught a familiar scent. "Oh! Alex is here! Hi!"

Keith's soul skipped a beat as he looked over and saw her. "Howdy. Heh, good to see ya."

"Look! I just got a scarf!" Trousle wound the scarf around himself, arcing himself up to show himself off. The scarf fluttered in the breeze; he had stars in his eyes.

"Oh my gosh! That's so cute!" Alex squealed.

"Right? Heh, this is Val. She's from out of town."

"Oh! Good to meet you! I'm Alex. I'm from in town! Or at least from the suburbs."

Keith got a little closer to Alex, not enough to crowd her, but enough to feel close. "Wasn't sure if ya'd make it honestly."

"I've got Fridays off dude. 'Course I came!"

*

"heh, i like ya too kid," Currant mumbled, taking Piper's directions to heart and moving to a new patch of dull scales. Piper wasn't the first Pygmy that Currant had been around but he was the youngest and he needed to be protected and cared for. He was so invested in his task that he ignored Keith and Marmalade's posturing.

"we've hunted geese before," Marmalade snorted, puffing his chest out. "val don' care what we eat out in the woods. they're bears an stuff out there too."

Not that Sangria or Marmalade had hunted full grown bears but if they had snatched a cub or two from a mother before they ran her off. Well...

"Anyone who judges you for what makes you unique can get punched in the kidney," Val grumbled, momentarily sour over just the thought of anyone thinking ill of Trousle and his friends. "You'll get adopted, I know it. Sweet guy like you? Pfft, you'll find the best human out there."

Valerie was kind of nervous around another person but Alex didn't seem like a very mean person and she had similar taste in what looked adorable on Trousle. Anyone that could enjoy these Lamia as much as Val did wasn't capable of being a bad person. So she gave a little wave, petting Currant's head to soothe her own nerves.

"I'm Valerie," she greeted, tugging on her stretched lobes. "You can call me Val, though. Everyone else does. I was just about to hand out some presents to the Lamia here."

"we're from a few states away," Marmalade supplied. "'m marmalade, the coral is currant.... an it looks like we'll be adopting piper today."

"As soon as I hand out the gifts I'll look for Nikolai."

*

Piper absolutely beamed up at him, making the task of grooming him slightly harder as he insisted on trying to hug and give little nuzzles and licks to Currant's face. He was trilling in joy, already enamored with this big Coral who had decided he was a cute lil guy. Maybe he was going to get adopted! This was so exciting!

"Have ya ever wrestled a burglar? 'Cause I know Liam has. He ain't supposed to kill, so had to hold back on the venom and everything. Dude had a gun." Or, well, a taser, but Liam didn't find that out until after the police had already taken the guy into custody.

Trousle blushes, signing a quick thank you at her and sinking into the warmth.

"Really? That sounds terrifying," Alex said.

"Eh, you know how Liam is. He's a cool dude," Keith said. "Got him before the rest of us even realized we were in danger, he's just that cool."

"Heck yeah," Alex said. She looked at Piper being groomed by Currant and grinned, "Aaaw, they're really getting along, huh? Guess I won't be casting Divine Intervention anymore."

Keith laughed at the memory, "I don't think it ever actually helped."

"It was cute though!" Alex said. "But I'm glad he's getting someone. Little guy seems pretty happy! Trousle too. You thinking of adopting him?" There was a bit of an edge in her voice. She didn't want to admit that maaaaybe she'd been considering the little guy...

Keith swooped in, "Nah. He'd rather stay local."

Relief washed through Alex alongside guilt at being relieved, "Gotcha. Can't say I blame ya. It's nice being near friends, isn't it?"

Trousle nodded. "Maybe we can all get adopted together?"

"I'm sure someone would try!" Alex said. She was keeping a bit of a distance from Currant, which Keith noticed...

"This is Currant. Dude's a sweetheart to lamia and humans alike." He knew that she wasn't oblivious to Hux's opinions, even if she wanted to hang around the rest of them enough to deal with it.

Alex nodded, "Nice. Good to meet ya then!"

*

Currant finally seemed to twig to the fact that there was another person around, turning his large eye lights onto Alex for several moments while Piper nuzzled him. His teeth parted and he could smell her nerves, not an unusual occurence whenever someone happened to be around him. It wasn't even Currant's fault. Coral Lamia were known for their tempers and nobody would look at him and think he was different than his species. He made no move to attack, content to keep hold of Piper like Val wanted him to, but he wasn't instantly friendly either.

He just... stared. Gauging her.

"dude," Marmalade droned, looking incredibly done with the posturing already. "there's a reason Sangria is in charge of watching the house."

Which wasn't a lie. Val didn't often get trespassers on her proprty. Not ones that she was aware of, anyway. But there would always be people up to no good deep in the woods, where they thought nobody would find out what they wanted to do. Sangria and Marmalade had chased off their fair share of would-be burglars and wannabe hermits.

"Yeah, I'm gonna grab this little guy and take him home," Val booped Piper as she said it, enamored with his scales and his squeaks. "I would love to take Trousle, he's a sweetheart don't get me wrong, but I just feel that he's not for me. Ya know? I did wanna bring my Corny, Lapis, to meet him sometime! Maybe Admiral and Sangria too."

"'lo," Currant finally muttered.

"He really is a sweetheart, Alex," Valerie insisted, yanking her phone from her pocket and quickly scanning for pictures. She had plenty of snapshots of Currant and her other boys in various stages of absolute cuteness. Currant sleeping on Sangria's glittering scales, the Coral's blushing face when he got to eat his favorite snack, and the one memorable image she had of him dancing with her. "See? Corals are so sweet. Cute grumpy faces and all!"

"not cute," Currant grumbled.

"Cutest," Val sang, smooching his skull.

*

Keith realized he was going overboard a little and chuckled, “Guess ya got a point. Sorry, just think he’s pretty cool, y’know? Maybe ya’d like to meet him.” His soul twisted in sympathy for Currant. Poor dude… “Corals can be really sweet in general honestly, if ya can get through a layer or two of posturing. Currant seems better about that though.”

Alex grinned at the photos, bouncing a little in place at the cuteness. “Aaaaaw! That’s precious, oh my gosh. My heeeeeart!” She looked over at him, “Mind if I pet you? Sorry. Just not always good with people sometimes…”

Keith gave her a lazy hug from behind her, “Eh, ain’t for everyone.” He’d been around her enough to know that she at least couldn’t get along with Hux. She didn’t mean to, but she tended to rub Hux the wrong way. Though Hux sometimes seemed to be looking for reasons to snap at her. Still, what was he supposed to do? Kick out his soul-bond, or kick out his best friend?

“Yeah, but I just feel bad…”

“Don’t. Hux just ain’t great with humans. Currant is.”

*

Before Marmalade could comment on how it would be cool to meet another Mamba, Val piped up with an affirmative. "We'd love to meet Liam! He sounds super cool."

Currant puffed up at what he took as praise, knowing he was arguably the best Coral around. He still had his days where he tended to want his space but they were few and far between now. The people that wouldn't give him a chance just because he was a Coral were missing out. Alex had calmed down once she'd seen his general cuteness so he offered his head for a pet, making sure to keep Piper safely tucked against his chest.

"Don't feel bad about not getting along with everyone," Valerie tried to soothe. She didn't know Alex very well but she didn't want any awkwardness between their mismatch group. "I worked a lot with Currant. Maybe you won't ever be best friends with Hux but you can learn when he needs his space! It might not seem like a big step but it's something to keep in mind."

Marmalade nodded along, having plenty of experience with all kinds of Corals. Some were sweet and just couldn't communicate what they wanted but there were others that earned their bad reputation. Unfortunately, that bad reputation was more common than the good because they were such a naturally emotionally constipated Lamia.

"here we go..." Marmalade muttered.

"I have some stuff Hux might like," Val confessed. "If he's the type to enjoy a treasure hoard or blankets and stuff. I have a lot of Lamia stuff that none of my boys wanted so it should get put to good use!"

*

Keith grinned, “Oh yeah, he’s cool.” Being a lazy bastard who didn’t want to stop this conversation, he just texted Nikolai to send Liam this way.

Alex stroked Currant’s head, smiling. “You’re really good with these guys, aren’t you? I don’t think I have quite the same knack for it, but I like visiting and stuff! Nikolai lets me in the nursery sometimes and it’s absolutely precious! Baby Lamia are adorable!” She was bouncing on her feet again as she scratched underneath Currant’s chin. Piper was also getting in on the affection, giving Currant little pats and purring.

“He does have a little hoard, I bet he’d enjoy it! He can be kinda prickly though. Don’t take it personally,” Keith said. “He’s just like that.”

A Mamba of about average size came over and cleared his throat to announce his presence, splaying out to show off his scales as he set his head on his hands all sassy-like. “I heard I was called~?” He was keeping his good side towards Val and Currant, not that the hole in his skull was particularly noticeable, he was wearing his fitted mold today. It was a bit hard to make out the tacky substance holding it in place through the layer of bone-colored makeup, but he couldn’t hide that one of his eyes were dark.

Keith slithered over to cover Liam’s bad side out of protective instinct and habit. He was fairly certain there was no sneaking up on the dude anyways - he’d gotten crazy good at feeling vibrations in the ground - but it made them both feel a little better. “This is Liam.”

“Good to meet you~”

*

"I did a lot of research before I decided to adopt," Val admitted, plucking nervously at her sleeves. Currant was basking in the attention he was getting, more tolerant than blatantly loving having someone else patting him. Alex was gentle with her pets so he didn't attempt to pull away. The words coming out of Alex's mouth finally registered and she wished she could have stars in her eyes when she heard about baby Lamia. Her voice was an excited whisper. "Baby Lamia?!"

Marmalade and Currant both rolled their eyes at her glee, knowing that she should never be allowed to see the babies or they would never get her to leave. Valerie already adored bitty sized Lamia but if you added in babies... she would be a goner.

"we got some geodes," Marmalade told Keith. "coupla things that any coral would love to have in their hoard. currant don' collect 'em as much since his hoard got too big to fit 'em all in his nest."

A new arrival pulled Valerie's attention away from talk of babies and she brightened immediately. It might have been biased but she felt like Sangria's scales were a little glossier than Liam's, not that she would tell him that. She didn't react at all to the site of one darkened socket, used to Admiral's darkened socket looking in her direction. Marmalade was careful about how he slithered, not knowing how Liam might react to movement he couldn't see.

"You're a very handsome Mamba, Liam," Val complimented, the words nearly second nature after dealing with Mamba for so long. "The way you hunted was really impressive!"

*

Alex kept scratching, watching her hands instead of looking to Val as she said, “They’re SO CUTE! I’d offer to show you, but Nikolai might try to kill both of us… Keith took me there to meet him and I thought he’d bite my head off, but he apologized afterwards! He’s really protective of them though, like, murderously protective.”

Keith grinned, “Daaaang. He’s gonna love that! And if he’s pissy about it, I’ll gladly take them instead…” Subtle dude. Subtle.

Liam took good care of himself, but he couldn’t stand up to Sangria in size or shine. That said, he would absolutely try to fight Sangria anyways if given the chance.

Liam stood up, hands on his hips and chest puffed out, moving his tail to make his scales glimmer. “Glad to see someone can recognize a hunter around here.” There was still a bit of blood on his teeth where he’d bitten the goose and hadn’t completely managed (or wanted) to lick it away. “Do I smell another mamba on you? You’ve got good taste, but I bet I could take him.”

Keith sighed, “Liam, don’t…”

“I’m just saying!” Liam huffed.

“It’d a sight to see,” Alex said neutrally.

“How big is he anyways? Four foot?” Oh Liam noooooooo… He’s huge sweetheart.

“I maybe should’ve warned ya that he can be competitive with other mambas,” Keith said.

“It’s not my fault they’re all so spoiled.”

“You literally have plush pillows and a heated blanket in your enclosure,” Alex said.

“And I hunted them myself!” Liam said, arms crossed and grinning. “I can take care of myself just fine, unlike those little pipsqueaks. Losing to a goose, hah!”

Keith was realizing he should’ve let Liam cool down more first. He’d just proved superiority over his breed and wasn’t gonna shut up for a while, was he?

*

"Oh, I don't want to make Nikolai angry! I'd ask first, of course." She might not have had any experience with Kings but she knew that anyone who was charged with protecting babies would have their instincts dialed up to max. Add on the fact that some Mamba would gladly eat the babies... she didn't blame Nikolai for getting angry that Alex had been brought around the younger Lamia without him approving it beforehand. Piper was close enough to a baby for her, for now, and that was all she needed if she wanted to be able to leave. "I'd never leave if I saw them now."

"if he don' take 'em he's got awful taste in treasure," Currant grumbled, giving Keith a grumpy look. Yeah, he was onto you buddy.

Now Liam had touched on a weakness of Valerie's. She loved to talk about her boys and Sangria was among the prettiest Lamia she had ever seen. Sure, he had knicks and scars from his tousles in the woods but she still adored how he shined in the light. When Liam mentioned smelling another Mamba on her, well, she lit up. Marmalade chuckled, knowing she was almost as bad as he was for bragging about Sangria. Nevermind the fact that Liam was declaring he could fight a Mamba larger than himself. It would be funny to see them posture at each other.

"Oh, don't worry! Sangria, that's my Mamba, is pretty good around other Lamia so I wouldn't worry." She giggled at the guess at Sangria's size, finding the isea of a Mamba that small to be hilarious. Liam was shorter than Val was tall! "Oh no, Sangria is seven feet long. Or there about!"

"maybe a few inches longer," Marmalade tacked on.

"Maybe," was Valerie's agreement. "Sangria protects the house and the property. I live on a couple of acres of forested land and it would really suck if I had wild animals stalking me when I went outside!"

She may or may not have been teasing Liam, just a little, to see how riled she could get him. Just enough he might show off some more!

*

“Oh definitely,” Alex said. “He probably wouldn’t say yes until he knows you better though.”

“Not gonna lie, that first meeting was me being dumb. Shoulda told him I was bringing her, but still took a few months,” Keith said.

“Oh yeeeeeeah! Nick went HISSSSS!” Piper said. “I was there! Mm hmm!”

“Were you one of the ones curled on him?” Alex asked.

“Mm hmm! Was hiding. Am a sneaky!” Piper said, hands on his hips.

“Ya sure are kiddo,” Liam said, giving the world’s gentlest fistbump to the kid. He moved around a little, getting a look at the car and taking in some of the scents, curious about this new place, aaaaand… “Are these what you were talking about? I might keep them for myself honestly.” Liam had 100% actually stolen the geodes while you were watching him, somehow. He’s the real sneak.

“Liam no,” Keith said, trying to stifle a laugh. “I called them first.”

“Finders keepers~” He held the rocks to his chest, sticking his tongue out at poor Keith. “I bet that Sangria can’t manage that. Maybe he’s bigger, but I could slither circles around him! He wouldn’t even know what hit him! Size isn’t everything, after all.”

Keith couldn’t help himself, “Then why is Nikolai the only one who can tell ya what to do and you listen.”

Even from here, it was plain to see that Nikolai was on the larger end of the spectrum for Kings, a good foot or two larger than even Sangria.

“His bite is worse than his bark, when he chooses. I’m not suicidal,” Liam said. “He’s worse than anything that could possibly be in your woods! Just let me come over one day and I’ll make the whole forest bow to me!”

“Huh, I thought he was playing a Sorcerer, not a Druid,” Alex said.

“… no fireballs irl,” Keith said, secretly a little terrified by sudden mental picture of Liam with fire magic… or a flamethrower.

“Not yet at least!” Liam said, almost certainly unable to actually follow through with that threat. “I just need to trace myself back to a dragon…”

*

"That's fine, I'm probably gonna come back a few more times!" Considering she was looking to take Piper home, she wouldn't deprive him of coming back to visit the place he'd called home for the start of his life. She may have hated interacting with people in large number but being surrounded by Lamia was leagues better than that. It helped that these guys were all hilarious. Valerie had only passing knowledge of DnD so she kept that to herself, lest they assume she was going to be able to come and join their games. Sure, that would have been fun but...she lived too far away and worked too much for it to be consistent.

Currant was slightly wary when Liam got close to Piper, edging back just a hair, but the little Pygmy didn't seem anxious so he kept his hissing to himself. He did end up scooting backwards a little so his tail could coil around Valerie's legs once again. Unlike his first meeting with Sangria, Currant wasn't mesmerized by the sight of Liam's scales.

"Are you sure you want the geodes?" Val asked, biting her cheek to keep from grinning. She wasn't surprised that Liam had managed to grab the geodes, those had been with Marmalade and her Chain was always weak for the wiles of a Mamba. It was a good thing she had kept the Mamba specific treats. "I mean...I was going to give you a bag of candy."

"warheads," Marmalade tittered, knowing her usual bribe when she wanted to convince Sangria to do something. "she woulda got toxic waste but sangria thinks the package is ugly."

"Sorry, Liam, I think Piper is the only dragon here." Val outright laughed, petting Piper along the length of his spine. "Actually confirmed dragon. The best dragon."

All this talk of Kings was making her want one, deep in her mind, but she knew that Sangria wasn't ready for another large and possibly aggressive Lamia.

"But you guys could come over to see the forest, if you want. So long as you had permission to leave."

*

"Bring your Corny next time! He was... Azul?" Trousle said, drawing a blank on the name. He remembered it had to do with blue at least? "I'd love to meet him!"

"And I'll gladly settle it on who'd win," Liam said. "It'll be me, of course, but he can certainly try!" He was internally considering the trade... The geodes were gorgeous, of course, but sour candies. His mouth was already salivating, and catching the scent on his tongue didn't help in the slightest. "I think that'd be a fair trade..." Liam said, keeping his eye trained on the delicious candies while he handed back the geodes. The second they were in his hands, he bolted away a few feet, intent on keeping his prize. Immediately he ripped the bag open, sticking a candy in his black-coated mouth and crunching down on it. He took more time with the next candy, letting it dissolve to savor it, but he kept the pack on his good side, just in case any of the smaller upstarts got any funny ideas...

Piper chirped happily, "Yeah! Yeah yeah! I'm the best dragon! RAAAWR!!!" He pretended to breathe fire, wiggling lightly in place.

"Wouldn't mind getting out a little more. Real trees are way better than fake ones," Keith said.

"I'll decimate it," Liam purred. "I'll ask about it. It'd be nice to get to stretch my tail. Rabbits and geese are nice and all, but I've always wanted to go after a wolf. Or maybe a buck!" They wouldn't just let him loose on the countryside to roam free, or he'd try catching one in the state (plus there were laws and legal issues about it), but if he was temporarily under the jurisdiction of another....

*

"Lapis?" Valerie reminded. It was a point in his favor that Trousle even remmebered that her boys were usually named after colors. Obscure colors were something she took great delight in making into names. "I'll bring him! I would have brought him along this time but he'd have eaten the snacks I brought for the Cornies here."

Although it was looking like Trousle and all his friends were going to be getting everything she'd brought! It was nice to have her presents appreciated. Particularly when Liam made the trade for the candies and she was once more in possession of the geodes. She could see a few Mamba with their tongues flicking, likely already aware of the treats, but Liam seemed intent on keeping them all to himself. Sangria was similar at first, hoarding his sour prize away from anyone else, but now that he was the only one in the house that ate sour candy he was less aggressive about it.

Currant cooed at Piper, nuzzling him. Marmalade made a dramatic attempt at ducking the pretend fire, a hand over his soul and widened eyes. "whoa, kid. watch the fire."

"an then there's the baskin' rock," Currant whispered, giving the coveted rock its due by his hushed tone. "'s right outside val's work window, gets light all the time."

"sangria loves that rock."

"I certainly have a lot of trees," she told Keith. "Caves too, decorated for whenever the boys need some space and wanna sleep outside. And no neighbors so...you could absolutely hunt whatever you wanted, Liam."

Valerie didn't know the particular laws about hunting local wildlife but she'd made sure that her local rangers knew she had Lamia that hunted in her woods. Of course, she also kept plenty of contacts so she could purchase live food if they didn't go hunting.

*

"Yes, him! I'll get it sometime!" Trousle said. "Understandable too! Leave some for Oozy! I think he's in the lake right now."

That Corny who had previously been napping stirred upon hearing that there were snacks for cornies. "Mine?"

Liam was absolutely keeping these all to himself, just as he always did. One of the younger lamia - not quite at their adult height yet - loudly called him out on it... So he sat on him, cackling and putting another candy in his mouth while the smaller one screeched... But there were multiple mamba in one place. There was no stopping the swarm. They'd smelled candies and saw them in the hands of That Jerk, so it was a matter of seconds before they put aside their differences and all decided to tackle and constrict Liam at once. A dozen or so bony hands all scrabbled for the remaining candies as Liam screeched about dishonor, cheating, and betrayal.

Keith was laughing his ass off and being of absolutely no help whatsoever. Alex was trying to hide it, but she was absolutely laughing too.

Piper saw the action happening and tried to wiggle over, not wanting to be left out of this game.

*

"I'll tell him all about you," Valerie promised. She gave a delighted little sound, bringing out the little melonpan she normally reserved for Lapis (and herself, she loved the ones with custard inside). They were a little big for bitty sized Corny Lamia but Lapis had never seemed to care about that and she doubted her little stowaway would. "Here you go, a token of confection that's Corny approved."

Marmalade, Currant, and Valerie all turned to the Mamba shenanigans and none of them attempted to hide their amusement. Looks like the pack had decided to overthrow their ruler when it came to the unfair division of the coveted sour candies. She had expected something like this but Sangria had only been convinced to part with one bag of his favorite, all the other sour things she had were less sour. It didn't make them less sought after among Mamba, or so she'd found, so she set the bag down for perusal.

"careful, kid," Currant said but he didn't hold Piper back for long. A Pygmy that wasn't allowed to zoom could become quite the sassy thing. Despite letting Piper go, Currant stayed close by in case he needed to snatch him away from a bad situation.

"guess we should summon the hoards to get their gifts," Marmalade said. "before we get swarmed like liam."

*

The stowaway very much didn't care! He was a snake, and he'd stuff himself as much as he could! Sometimes. When wanting sweets overcame being lazy at least. Caught up in the treat, he took a minute to notice the pun, but he broke into a grin and started laughing into the treat as he did, falling into a happy, laughing lump. He couldn't even top that! "Like you!"

Liam whined as his rightful treats were stolen from him. He managed to shake some of the mamba off, but it was hard when they were ganging up to beat him! "Not fair!" He could take two, maybe three, but there were at least six!

Piper zoomed over to help tame Liam, making little roars and holding onto his arm, play nipping his clothes. He was being no help whatsoever, but was sure having fun doing it!

Alex nodded, "Oh yeah. I don't wanna get caught in the snake swarm. Or at least not in this way."

*

Honestly, Valerie felt a flood of warmth in her chest at just how happy the Corny was. He made her miss Lapis, knowing her little prankster would have been punning away at her. Lapis was the whole reason she'd gotten so deep into pun hell in the first place. She couldn't resist petting his little head, expression going soft and fond. "Thanks, bud. I like you too."

Currant huffed, sparing a warning glance towards Val so she didn't get any funny ideas. Lapis was already a massive handful when he got into the mood to dish out chaos, they didn't need him to have a partner in crime. Speaking of pranks... Lapis would likely have a lot of chaos to rain upon the inhabitants of this adoption center.

Marmalade took the initiative to wrap the geodes into his coils so they wouldn't be snatched up. The bags had other shiny things that some of the Lamia might enjoy hoarding but the geodes were going to be offered to Hux first. And if Hux didn't want any then Keith would get to take what he wanted, provided Liam didn't get them first. Once they were safely tucked away in his grip, he nodded at Valerie.

"Hey!" she called, hands cupped around her mouth so she could gain the attention of every Lamia around. "I got some presents! Candy, blankets, and anything you might want."

Then...then she braced for the swarm. And oh, what a swarm it was.

*

HOPE YOU WERE PREPARED FOR THE SWARM.

Alex stands a bit away, having fun watching but a little overwhelmed at even the idea of being in the middle of all that... No thanks. Keith cuddles her by the sidelines, content to watch as well. Piper is chirping back at all the lamia, going absolutely nuts trying to catch absolutely everyone. Pygmy or not, he'll definitely need a nap when all this is over. Liam nurses his wounded pride off to the side.

The sheer numbers of the swarm draws over Nikolai, though he hangs back and lets the rest take their picks. He's very well cared for, after all. He just waits until the herd thins to introduce himself. "Good to meet you. I'm Nikolai, vice manager of the company." His eyes dart over to all the happy lamia playing with toys, blankets, snacks, and his soul just absolutely melts. "You've made them quite happy. Thank you. It's good to meet you." He gives a little bow, bringing himself slightly lower than Val's level. Dude's absolutely huge, about twelve and a half foot total, and standing a little over six feet tall.

He'd probably be more intimidating if there weren't a handful of bitty kraits peeking out from his pockets, a mini-corny napping around his neck, a young chain wound around one of his arms, and a full grown honeybo deciding to be a cheeky bastard and flop down right over his tail.

"This would be the local mom-friend," Keith said. "I will say outright, you can't take him home with you. He lives with Maia already."

"That I do. She's having a lovely time really, it's good to see her getting to be out and about like this, and she's having fun seeing everyone else outside too." He spoke warmly of her, body relaxed as he turned to wave at her. She was sitting on a bench with a corny curled up next to her like a scaly house cat.

*

Valerie was completely prepared for the pure chaos. Toys getting snatched up and tossed around, blankets disappearing and reappearing in suspicious lumps, and the steady stream of content sounds that meant the candy and junk food snacks had been well received. She didn't back away when the swarm hit, used to being in the mix of large crowds. Currant was darting after Piper, keeping the Pygmy in his sights, but he lacked the energy to keep up that pace for very long. Marmalade tolerated the small hoard that had decided he made a good perch to get higher.

Nikolai is slightly intimidating by his sheer size but his tone and expression are both incredibly relaxed. It's easy to forget that he could very easily decide to take a bite out of her or drive her off. As much as she would have loved to fawn over him, Valerie kept her interaction with Nikolai friendly and semi profressional. Keith had already mentioned that Nikolai helped Maia so it had been easy to guess that he must already have a home.

"It's nice to meet you, too. I'm Valerie." She can't resist leaning forward to quietly greet the Kraits that she saw peering from Nikolai's pockets. He certainly looked like a mom, with all sorts clamoring over his bulk. "It's my loss but I don't think Sangria is ready for me to bring another large boy home."

Now she found her nerves kicking in, nails lightly scratching at her left wrist until Marmalade grabbed her hand. Their bond pulsed gently with confidence, his soul telling her that she could do this.

"Keith was telling me that I should talk to you about adopting Piper," she finally rushed out. "Sorry. How could I say no to such an adorable guy?"

*

The kraits waved back. Mostly. One got shy and hid his face, he seemed younger than the rest, not used to strangers at all yet.

Nikolai spotted the little one and smiled, “I see you’ve adopted before.” His tongue flicked out, but he couldn’t even hope to pick out what all Val had after that swarm. It was a jumbled mess of tastes that felt so very much like home. “And they look to be getting along well too. It’s always for the best when people bring their Lamia and/or pets, that way we can be sure they’ll get along, but I see we’ll have no issues.”

Piper was trying to keep awake, wanting to be part of the fun, but all the excitement was starting to tire him out. He was wrapped loosely around Currant and yawned, doing that thing kittens do when they try to fight sleep. His head bobbed up and down, eyes fighting to stay open, but sleep was intent to steal him.

Nikolai couldn’t help but coo over it, “Aaaaw. Nyeheheh. I knew Piper wouldn’t be staying too long, but he looks pretty happy, and you seem to know what you’re doing.” He wasn’t willing to completely streamline the process, but honestly? She seemed perfectly ideal, provided… “I will say that he might need a bit of extra care for his scale condition. The scales on his bones might shed more frequently or out of synch with the rest, that’s nothing to be concerned about. Likewise, it’s not unheard of for scale patches to flake off entirely, though the area where it was might be softer and more prone to infection or injury for a day or two. But it’s equally likely he might grow more scales over his bones. The areas where bone and scales meet do get irritated sometimes, especially since dirt likes to get stuck there. Clean it carefully with a q-tip and apply ointment and he’ll be fine.” It was his first priority, after all, yo make sure he was cared for. “We have a spare tube of the cream we’ve been using on him. If you’ll come inside, you can have it for free, my treat.”

He turned to look at the honey-bo half-assedly pretending to be asleep (he had one eye peeked open, looking right at him, and was grinning), rolled his eyes, and gently removed him.

Piper had utterly lost the fight against sleep, completely conked out while snuggled with Currant.

Alex took a picture. How could she not?

*

As adorable as the Kraits were, Val was careful not to overwhelm them with her attention. She didn't want to risk paying one so much attention they got sad if she didn't take them home with her. Besides, Nikolai was talking and it felt more important to hang onto what he was saying.

"Yeah, almost all my boys are adopted from a center but I do have a rescue." Nikolai had a way about him that made her more willing to talk about Admiral than she had before. "My full-size Pygmy, Admiral, was given to me by some kid at a park. His family was using him as a free babysitter and one of the kids cracked his eye open, so his left socket is empty. He's come a long way since then."

Piper's crash came at a perfect time. Currant was also getting tired but far older and capable of resisting passing out after some play. He pet Piper instead, hoping to ease him into sleep easier. Poor guy was likely going to deal with similar crashes for a while once he met Sangria, the Mamba had the most energy out of any Lamia Currant have ever met.

"I figured he would have some special needs," Valerie admitted. She didn't know what the condition was but she had noticed Piper had scales on his bones that seemed itchy but it didn't seem he was in a full shed. The grooming necessary wasn't anything she didn't already do for Sangria, though it would likely take far less time for Piper. "I already have a brush to get dirt from scales, my Mamba insists on being groomed at least twice a week so I have tons of supplies I can use for his scales. I can always message you if I have more questions about how to care for his scales."

Since all the gifts had been handed out she put the bags into the van and closed it up again, grabbing Currant so he could once more settle around her. He was grateful for the reprieve from having to slither after them when he was already tired. If Liam thought Mamba were spoiled he was in for the true spoiled boy of Val's.

Holding onto Currant had the added benefit of allowing her to keep an eye on Piper. "Lead the way."

*

“How many do you have, if I may ask?” Nikolai said. He asked partly out of curiosity, and partly to make sure she wasn’t getting into more than she could handle.

He hissed under his breath heating about Admiral, “Some people… ugh! I won’t say it’s the worst possible idea, I’m technically a service Lamia myself, but I’m certified, an adult, and, well… I’m well aware that I’m bigger than most people. But even then, there’s a difference between that and being a babysitter!” He did his best to keep his anger in check, well aware that he could be terrifying and not wanting to scare Val or anyone currently present. He sighed, trying to let some tension go, “I’m not mad at you of course. I’m mad at those imbeciles! But it sounds like he’s in better hands now. Do you think he’ll be okay having a little one around after that though? I know Piper isn’t exactly a human child, but…” He had to ask these things, of course.

Nikolai let’s her into the shop. It’s mostly empty, but there’s still a person at the cash register. A few Lamia run around the front, bitty and full-sized alike, but the vast majority are outside. A few chirp hellos at Val, some hide, everyone’s got their own thing.

Nikolai motions to let her further in, past a door saying “Full sized area” and then to a supplies closet. He pulls out a tube of cream and a little pamphlet. “Here. I’d had this prepared for whoever might adopt Piper. It gives a basic overview, some good links, and diagrams.” It’s got the name of the condition on it (whatever that is… names are hard) and is smattered with images of Lamia with scales growing over bones. One extreme case, a Krait apparently, had scales covering his full body.

Meanwhile, that Corny was absolutely still napping in the car. He’d moved away from the blankets, finding a shady, safely enclosed spot to sleep off his food-coma: the glove box.

*

"I have five boys, currently," she admitted, knowing it might seem like a lot to the casual asker. "But I work from home so I have plenty of time for all of them and a few more."

She was of a similar mind when it came to what a full-sized should do. One as large as Nikolai could be a service Lamia because he was of a size where he wasn't likely to be taken advantage of my humans. But a Pygmy like Admiral was nowhere near large enough to babysit human children, regardless of how much energy he possessed. She could also understand his concerns of whether or not Admiral would be able to handle having a young Lamia in the house but this was one thing she had tested. "Admiral is fine with all Lamia, even young ones. It's just human children he panics around. Piper already has experience with Liam so seeing Admiral with one blank socket shouldn't startle him."

Currant looked around the center, more at ease since he knew that Valerie wouldn't drop him off here, but wasn't overly concerned with anyone who greeted Val. He rather liked that his human was so coveted by other Lamia but had chosen him instead.

"You take such good care of everyone here," she told Nikolai. "It's no wonder everyone respects you... I'm happy to be good enough for Piper, thank you."

Since she has her arms full, Marmalade takes the tube and pamphlet from Nikolai and puts them carefully into one of his jacket pockets. Valerie will obsess over them later.

"anythin' piper might wanna have when we go?" her Chain asked Nikolai. "he's young so a new place might be scary."

*

Nikolai looked worried at first, but nodded when he heard her situation. “He’ll have company then, that’s good.”

“They live in the woods too, so the bigger, stronger ones have room to hunt,” Keith said.

Nikolai smiled, “Great to hear then. That is one of the downsides of cities, it’s hard to let all of these guys outside as much as they ought to.”

It seemed like she had everything in order then. Admiral would be fine, she had a good track record, Piper seemed to love her and her Lamia already, and even asking for something for him. “I think I know. Give me a minute, I’ve got to go get it.” He slithered off towards the nursery, looking around for one particular toy…

And in the meantime, Hux had caught scent of a human and unfamiliar Lamia. “Heh… Surprised to see you in here. Figured you’d be outside. Like, most of us who ain’t out there are fine staying here y’know.”

Keith bit back a sigh, putting on a lazy smile instead, “And that’d be Hux.”

“Yo,” Hux said. His eyes wandered to Trousle, who was still casually draped on Val, and his soul dropped. He picked up Trousle and stuck Trousle on his own neck instead. “There. Better.”

“I was fine over there too.” Trousle said.

“Yeah, well… Yer with me now.”

*

"Yeah, I have a lot of space." She rushed to assure Nikolai. "Honestly, I think Sangria wants me to have a gaggle of Lamia sometimes. He acts like he hates when I bring someone new around but he's the biggest mom in my house. Piper won't ever be in danger with all my boys, that's a promise."

"she drove kinda far to get us from our center," Marmalade revealed with a shrug. "plenty of stuff to hunt but we got safe havens set up all over the woods. pretty sure at least a couple of wild lamia have taken refuge in our caves too."

The whole situation was exciting. Piper was adorable and he would encourage Currant into being more active without bribery, since it seemed he'd taken an intense liking to the little Pygmy. Currant's coils tightened around Valerie's waist, his sockets narrowing at the arrival of another fucking Coral. He wasn't threatened, Val didn't seem to notice Hux was there yet, but he did make his displeasure known with a single warning hiss.

"Oh!" Val startled, not expecting Trousle to be suddenly taken off her. She smiled at Hux, figuring he was treating her to the grumpiness she'd heard he was known for. "No, I'm not adopting anyone from inside! I was just getting some stuff for Piper, I'll be taking him home."

Currant narrowed his eyes even further, almost closing his sockets, and carefully situated Piper within his jacket so Hux couldn't grab him too. Marmalade rolled his eye lights towards Hux, keeping an eye on the situation in case he neeeded to diffuse any tension.

"Do you like Trousle's new scarf?" Val asked, turning to give Hux more attention while she adjusted her grip on Currant. "I had gifts for everyone. Liam almost took yours."

*

Nikolai couldn’t help grinning when he heard that. It sounded like a perfect environment with enough hunting Lamia to keep little and lazy ones safe.

Hux just laughed at Currant’s hiss. “I promise, I ain’t here to steal your bitch. You can keep her.” He was hesitant to take his eyes off the bunch, not sure how to feel about strange Lamia in his home, so he compromised and brought Trousle up to look at him. “Looks good on ya, Trus. Compliments your scales.”

Trousle beamed, hiking himself up to show off, throwing the scarf behind him like he was in a beauty commercial and it was long, flowing hair.

“Nice.” His pride wanted to not accept gifts… but his desire to hoard things won out. “That sounds like Liam alright. He calls himself a hunter, but pretty sure he’s just a fucking thief. Slick fucking bastard, thinking he’s the shit.” He lowered to a mumble as a dusting of red started to glow from his cheeks, “Just ‘cause he’s strong and could kill me with those fangs - thinks he’s so great. I’ll shove it down his throat sometime, but he’d probably just laugh and push me down. Fuckin…”

Keith was not the least bit oblivious to Hux’s crush, but chose not to comment on it… with other people there. In private, he’d gladly tease him mercilessly.

… okay, maaaaybe Keith couldn’t resist. “Dude fought through a flock of geese. Actually caught one or two. You should’ve seen it.”

“Of course he did!” Pause. “Did he save any?”

“Absolutely not, but maybe you can lick the blood off his fangs.”

Hux turned bright red, eyes going huge at the idea, and Keith laughed uproariously.

Desperately wanting to change the subject, Hux yelled out, “OKAY PRESENTS NOW.” But he couldn’t drown out Keith and glared at the traitor. “I hate you.”

*

Ah, now Alex's wariness made plenty of sense. Hux was one of those Lamia that had high defenses up at all times. Valerie wasn't surprised that he seemed particularly against her, either. She was a stranger and if he already didn't like humans then she was doubly on his shit list. It was a good thing she didn't have a burning need for him to like her, and being insulted wasn't new either.

Currant, on the other hand, never liked to hear her be insulted. He wasn't normally a very confrontational Lamia but he would happily throw his weight around if it meant she wasn't sad. His hidden bastard side came out to play the moment he sensed something that he could pick at, the only reason he didn't let loose on a barrage of verbal hatred was because Piper was there.

"hope ya never have kids with that mouth," Currant hissed, cupping a hand around where Piper's head was. Like that would prevent him from waking and hearing the garbage Hux was spouting.

Marmalade didn't understand the teasing. Of course Hux would want to mate with a Mamba, it just made the most sense. Sure, Liam wasn't as great as Sangria but a Mamba was a great catch as a bondmate. It likely helped that Liam and Hux were closer in size, any larger of a Mamba and Hux would be pining forever. But there was more important things to worry about, other than what some stranger wanted to mate with.

Hux had insulted Valerie.

At any other time, Marmalade might have let it go. He was a gentle Lamia at his core and Val really disliked when they fought but he was more than capable of defending himself and her. Better Marmalade take care of this than Sangria decide that Hux no longer deserved the pleasure of being alive. Should they ever meet, that is.

"dude," Marmalade deadpanned. His tail coiled around Val, a flash of warning in his gaze. "insult whatever human ya fancy but keep yer opinions on our human to yerself, got it?"

The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife... holy shit. "Anyway!" Valerie blurted, pulling one of the geodes out so Hux could see it. Hopefully nipping any fights in the bud. "I have some geodes. Liam seemed to think they were pretty and I'm sure that he would love whatever you didn't want."

Please, she mentally begged. Take them and don't fight.

*

Hux wasn’t so easily dissuaded, at least not from Marmalade. “Wow, geez. Ya don’t have to be so desperate to suck her lady-“

“HUX! CHILD!” Keith knew too well what was probably about to come from Hux’s mouth. “Also that’s just rude!”

Hux huffed. “Right right, whatever. Soul bonds and whatever, who needs that shit! You don’t, right?” He looked up at Keith, grinning in a fakely laid-back way.

Keith stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking away, “Right.” He was lying through his teeth.

“Bros before hoes,” Hux said. “But geez. That weirdo can’t keep her hands off nobody, huh? How do you guys stand that? She tastes like bug spray and dirt.”

Keith sighed, “She works outside.”

“Whatever.”

…

“Do you want the rocks?” Keith said. “No. I know you want the rocks. Are you gonna stop being a butt long enough to take them, or should I keep them forever?” He could take the guy’s vitriol, and he’d rather Hux come at him than the others. That shit could just roll off his scales, and they’d make up when he wasn’t as tense. The others didn’t have that option.

“… yes please,” Hux said, looking aside and blushing. “Oh. And good. I’d be a shit parent, mom or dad. Why have them anyways? Not like they wouldn’t end up being given out… But the rocks will be mine forever!”

*

Valerie usually had no trouble keeping her own vulgarity in check, because she didn't want any of the boys to pick up on her own foul mouth, but Hux was clearly deserving of a brand new title. It was a lot harder to insult her than it was to piss off her boys. Of course he would cause her filter to fly out the window. "Wow. You're a little shit."

Currant huffed, annoyed but amused at the same time. Hux was obviously no threat, likely all talk, so he was easily dismissed. At least by Currant. Marmalade, however, was giving Keith a peculiar look and making no secret of it. It was obvious that nobody else knew about the bond he shared with Alex and he was lying about it. Badly, at that.

Which, fair. Hux clearly didn't like humans for whatever reason and they did live in the same center. But to deny a soulbond... no Chain should ever want to do anything like that. Marmalade cocked his head, staring at Hux now and occasionally shifting his attention to Keith.

"every chain has a soulbond," Currant huffed, not paying attention to Hux but keeping half a mind on the conversation. "even a baby knows that. an unless yer bonded died they're out there."

Probably not the best thing to say but Val hoped to distract Hux with the geodes. Now it was her turn to be a bit of a little shit because he wasn't getting one unless he took it from her. She was likely just as used to hearing nasty comments from someone as Keith was. Hux kind of reminded her of her brothers, thinking that everyone wanted the same things out of life.

"I don't get the craze about having kids either," Val shrugged, waving a geode. "And they're geodes , not rocks. What kind of idiot do you take me for? Rocks can be found anywhere but geodes are rocks with crystals inside."

*

“I ain’t denying it,” he huffed. “Keeps the weirdos away.”

Keith couldn’t meet Marmalade’s eyes. He could guess we’ll enough what the other was thinking. Hiding a soul bond, he must be nuts! But he’s not even sure if it’s legit, not if Alex hasn’t said anything, and she hasn’t made any move to adopt either, so why get Hux all worked up?

“Yeah, well, either the fucker’s dead, or ain’t interested,” Hux said, curling protectively around Keith and hugging him insistently. “We’re lifers, right dude?”

“‘Course we are. Twenty-four years and nothing, why would there be…” Maybe it was just sheer desperation making him drawn to Alex. Maybe the cookies, or the dice. Could you be so wanting that you accidentally faked one with the wrong person just fo have something?

Hux went, “Pffft. A Crystal is a rock. It’s just a good rock. I mean, Great Danes are good dogs, but they’re still dogs. And hey, I ain’t above a rock collection…” He was still coiled around Keith, physically insisting on affection from the other (who, indeed, gave him a hug, stroking his skull) as he kept his eyes on the prize. “What do you say dude? Split ‘em best we can? Look like they come in halves, so I take one half and you the other?” It was like a friendship bracelet, but expensive and actually something they both wanted.

“Ya gotta convince her to give you your half first,” Keith said.

“You said you’d get them otherwise! So just give me half.”

“Eeeeh… I’ll consider it.” He was grinning cheekily, tongue flicking out as he leaned his weight against Hux.

“Rude.”

“I know ya are, I’m just another victim of gravity,” Keith said.

Hux was getting slowly crushed. “Why are you like this.”

“You looooove me.”

“Shut up… but yeah…”

*

Hux wasn't wrong. Being a little shit did keep the weirdos away. That was something Valerie knew from experience. She felt that, had things been different, she might have gotten along with Hux and even liked how blunt he was. The way Hux acted about humans and getting adopted made her wonder why he acted that way. Had something happened or had he just been passed up too many times?

Keith should certainly have been wary of meeting Marmalade's gaze because Marmalade was staring even harder. He doubted that the bond between Keith and Alex was fake, he'd never heard of a Chain that couldn't form that bond, so whatever foolish thoughts Keith was having were likely false. Unless... did Keith just not know anything about soulbonds? Humans didn't always feel it, especially if they were a little more on the dense side.

It would be a miracle if Marmalade kept his mouth shut.... and he just couldn't allow Keith to get away with denying it. "or the human jus' don' know what it feels like. ya can' acknowledge a bond without knowin' it's there."

"A crystal is not a rock," Val denied, already having researched this because Sangria hated rocks being in the house. "Crystals are made up of a highly ordered arrangement of atoms that repeat in a three dimensional pattern, they're closer to minerals."

The dedication Hux had for his friendships was admirable but he was still a little shit and he riled Val's inner sass to maximum levels. She still held the geode aloft, fully prepared to offer them to someone else if Hux continued to resist.

"I mean I guess if you're too chicken to grab one," she hummed, pretending to look around for someone else to give it to. "I can always find another Lamia that might want a geode."

"snrk!"

Trust Currant to recognize her game, she'd played it with him often enough.

*

“I guess?” Keith said. “Some people can have trouble with they stuff I guess…”

Trousle looked at Keith, unamused, “It’s not like it’ll change everything. You’re not a slave to it, you know.”

“Really? ‘Cause, uh… honestly, I don’t know how you guys do it,” Hux said, looking at Marmalade, “Or even why. Someone hijacks your soul and makes you feel shit, so you get closer and make it worse. Why deal with that? Why not just run and hope it goes away? ‘Cause it sounds like some kinda fucked up brainwashing to me.”

Keith kept his mouth shut. In the past he’d agreed with Hux to some extent, but now he wasn’t sure… Was that proof that Hux was wrong though, or that he was right and Keith was just falling victim to it?

While Keith was distracted, Hux tried to slither out from under him to grab the geodes, but Keith still had the presence of mind to flop down even harder, quietly delighting in the noises of rage even through his thoughts.

Nikolai finally walked back in - making Hux stiffen up because he was absolutely caught being a dick again - with a light blue teddy bear that looked like it’d been through its paces. The scent of home was soaked into it, and he’d noticed that Piper especially tended to like it. “Here. He likes curling around it when he’s tired or not feeling the best.” He’d gotten oddly protective of the toy at times, fending off those who’d try to hunt it. Best he could tell, he was trying to mimic Cobalt - the little mamba who defended him from teasing - but with Mr. Bluebeary.

“Now then, what exactly’s happening here?” Nikolai followed up.

“Keith’s crushing meeeeee,” Hux whined, making grabby hands for the geodes while trying to wiggle out. Maybe he could get sympathy?

“Hux is being rude.” Trousle said.

Nikolai was not remotely surprised. “Hux. Don’t be a jerk. Especially not if you’re the one seeking out the people!”

“I didn’t!”

“Why are you in the supplies closet then?”

“…”

Nikolai sighed. “Sorry about him. Are you all alright?”

*

"'s nothin' like brainwashin'," Marmalade said, a slight hiss in his tone. The very idea that he would be forced into a bond was insulting to everything that he was. It clearly showed that none of them understood the bond at all. If Keith did, he wasn't showing it. "the human has nothin' to do with the bond. 's all in the chain. we feel the bond an we decide if we forge it or not. 's a matter of feelin' complete, havin' someone that understands."

Trying to explain how right a completed bond felt was not dissimilar to attempting to explain astrophysics to a toddler. Marmalade's gaze was inevitably drawn to his bonded human, the one who had calmed his doubts and made him feel like he had worth beyond his species. He hadn't thought he would ever get a human either but Marmalade had known as soon as she walked in that she was his and that made her perfect.

"yer bonded fills a void you didn' know you had," he settled on. "but tha's not all they do. 's different for every chain. you jus'... you know tha' the human is fer you and that you would make their world brighter."

It was in no way accurate for what the bond was, any Chain would know that, but the soulbond wasn't so easily defined by one Lamia. What the bond meant to Marmalade would likely not be what it meant to Keith, or any other Lamia.

"Aw," Val cooed, tucking the bear into Currant's jacket so Piper could cuddle it in his sleep. "Thank you, Nikolai."

As much of a shithead as Hux was being, he still didn't deserve to be punished for caring about his friends and not wanting to be alone. So Valerie allowed him to try and hide his blunder, even if it didn't work, and didn't even try to hide her snicker. Hux may have been an asshole but he wasn't a complete lost cause.

"Clearly he wanted the geodes he must have smelled," Val countered. She was giving Hux an out, giving him a way so he didn't have to seem like he'd sought out a human and had just been drawn by presents. She did take pity on his woes and gently laid the geodes into his hands, a collection of them ranging in color and size. "He's quite the character, Nikolai. An absolute little shit."

"snrk!!"

"val," Marmalade laughed.

"I'm fine," she beamed. "Honestly, Hux may be a little shit but Keith seemed to have him well in coils."

*

Piper subconsciously coiled around Mr. Bluebeary in his sleep (apparently just absolutely exhausted since he slept through this), letting out a sleepy purr.

Keith should theoretically know better, and Nikolai and other Chain have told him better, but… Well, after all those years without one, all those years of him and Hux living together, all those years of watching others leave and clinging to those who’d probably stay…

It hurt less to convince himself that it was brainwashing. Hurt less to say he didn’t need one. Hurt less to pretend to pity those who went off happily with their bond mates instead of being jealous…

And then he found one, and she’s actually pretty sweet and fun and just a bit of a weirdo, just like them. Then he started looking forward to her coming. But the old thoughts still haunted his mind, saying he’d been forced into it, that it wasn’t real, but why not?

Keith kept his mouth shut on the matter.

Hux, thankfully, took the bait this time and decided to keep his mouth shut, instead greedily putting as much of himself as he could over the geodes as he inspected them. “Thanks.” His eyes were starting to go wide like Currant’s as he looked inside, peering at the crystals and the way they shimmered, catching the light. “Changed my mind. I ain’t sharing.” He was absolutely keeping these forever.

Nikolai attempted to stifle his laugh, but a chuckle still slipped through, “An apt description of him.”

“I love you, but yes,” Trousle said. Even he wouldn’t deny it.

“Eh… He’s my buddy,” Keith said. “Just a bit prickly.” He captured Hux further in a big hug. Only Hux’s head was sticking out now, the rest trapped under Keith. “Kinda a goober too.”

Hux pressed his face to the floor to hide the rising blush.

*

Currant cooed at Piper, delighted and so enthralled with having a young one to watch over that he didn't care about anything else. Didn't care about anyone else. Marmalade finally allowed the conversation about soulbonds to drop, feeling he had made his point. He peeked closer at Piper, the little guy not having been handed to him, and carefully made sure to take in the Pygmy's scent. Piper would be safer if Marmalade made sure he remembered what he smelled like.

Now Hux was starting to sound like Currant, too. Hoarding the geodes beneath his coils. It was always a little strange to see just how similar different Lamia were within their own species. Yet they were so different too. Hux had finally taken his eyes off her and she didn't feel like he was waiting to take a bite out of her if she moved wrong.

"I've found that the little shits are worth the most," Valerie said, agreeing with Keith. "It's the ones you work with, the friends you make that you have to fight for, that are the best you can have. Hux is one of those lifer friends, isn't he?"

"seems that way," Marmalade muttered, eyeing Hux's position on the ground.

But this was also an experience that Valerie couldn't pass up! She whipped out her phone and snapped a quick picture of Hux, trapped beneath Keith's coils, and sent it off to the boys at home with the caption a little shit being taken in coil with an appropriate amount of giggling. The picture she got in return was.... not a picture at all. Loud laughter spilled from her phone.

"LITTLE SHIT," Sangria wheezed in the video and she saw the grin Lapis directed at the phone camera, along with his typical finger guns.

"Why didn't I think of that?" she whisper-yelled. "A video call with my boys at home... ohmystars I feel like an idiot."

"eh," Marmalade grinned. "val's kinda a goober too."

*

Piper is happily snuggled against his teddy in his new best friend’s pocket with his favorite teddy. That is one blissful bitty bones.

Keith nodded, “Yeah, Hux is a lifer. I ain’t leaving him in to dust for anything or anyone.”

Hux groaned as he realized he was being laughed at, “Just end me now.”

“Nah. You’re trapped in cuddle land,” Keith said lazily, giving him an affectionate squeeze.

“How dare,” Hux said with absolutely no bite, enjoying this but also super embarrassed.

Nikolai chuckled, “These two are quite the pair. Good to hear from you.”

“I’m guessing one of ya is the famed Sangria,” Hux said. “Hey Currant, wanna show ‘em your new lil treasure?” Let the dude show off. It’ll be adorable.

Nikolai had no objections to this. If anything, he was trying to get closer to see Sangria and Lapis’s reactions.

*

Sangria puffed up in the video, gloves hands upon his hips and grin widening at the fact that people knew his name without having to be introduced. Yes, his malevolence was well known to Lamia all over! He didn't quite know how to ask Val how everything was going but things seemed to be going alright. Lapis was giggling, obviously being the one that was holding the phone.

He was hoping that Valerie wasn't bringing any of the full-sized hooligans into his territory, perking at the mention of a treasure.

"Oh, Sangria, he's adorable!" Val was gushing, pointing the camera towards Piper's sleeping face. "Look at him!"

Everyone was treated to the sight of Sangria's eye lights going huge in his sockets, slit pupils expanding into circles that nearly overtook the color. Lapis peeked around the phone so he could see what had caused that reaction. His grin widened.

"IS THAT A CHILD?" Sangria whispered, looking like he wanted to get closer. "ADMIRAL COME LOOK!"

Within seconds there was a cluster of eyes and skulls looking at Piper, a group of cooing Lamia enthused to see him. Well, Valerie hadn't expected this kind of reaction. They had even ignored Nikolai's introduction!

"HI!" Admiral squealed at them, being the first to notice all the others. His darkened socket and scarred cheek momentarily taking up the screen. "Baby?? BABY, BABY, BABY!!"

Aaaand he was off, distantly screeching.

"'pologies," Lapis drawled lazily. Sangria squeaked, demanding he be released so he could speak to everyone. Looks like Admiral was overcome by the zoomies. "mighta gave the kid a lil' too much caffeine."

Caffeine? A caffeinated Pygmy?

That was terrifying!

*

At all the noise, Piper started to stir, eyes peeking open as his mouth opened in a yawn. He started stretching out to wake up, but his coils instead tightened around Mr. Bluebeary. His head bobbed up and down as he fought to wake up, squeaking and chirping, but he lost and drifted back to sleep against his fuzzy little friend.

Nikolai chuckled, giving Piper a little head pat, “He got so excited when he found out about our park week that he didn’t sleep for a few days. Between that and all the excitement of being outside and meeting you, I’m sure he’s exhausted himself.” He then turned to Lapis, “And you. What in the vast reaches of the entire universe possessed you to over caffeinate a Pygmy?”

“Dude. You’re braver than me,” Hux said. “The zoomies would be horrifying.”

“Good luck Sangria,” Keith said, not wishing this fate on any. Well, at least they didn’t over-caffeinate a mamba…

*

The little sounds Piper made as he settled back into sleep were the most adorable thing Valerie had heard in a while and she barely resisted the urge to scoop him up and cuddle him close. He was going to do well with her boys, they'd keep him busy and make sure he was able to sleep through the night. Soon, he would have them all wrapped up in his adorable shenanigans.

"Lapis," she groaned, horrified at the idea of Admiral hyped up on caffeine. "I know you love your pranks but this... I don't see the a peel here."

Lapis beamed, giggling to himself and turning the phone so they could watch Sangria zip around after Admiral. The Pygmy was climbing all over the furniture and babbling too fast at the windows for his words to make any sense. These zoomies were fast-paced and chaotic, Admiral's voice so enthusiastic that Sangria was grinning.

"not brave," Lapis corrected. "jus' need to make sure sangria sleeps tonight. what better way than to have him chase admiral?"

"Its possible Sangria doesn't care," Valerie laughed. "But you had better not caffeinate Piper, Lapis. We don't need two zooming Pygmy."

She had to pause to mentally picture that and it was.... enough to make her nervous. Lapis would absolutely do that to her if he felt like she could handle it and it would be funny.

"thought it'd be funny," the Corny shrugged. "they were both mopin' around."

*

“He’s too young for it right now anyways,” Nikolai said, always the responsible parent. “And keep in mind, at his size, a little caffeine goes a much longer way. I wouldn’t give him anything stronger than white tea and dark chocolate, even as an adult.”

“That sounds like a way to do it though,” Hux said. “And a hilarious way at that! Why deal with mopes when you can watch ‘em zoom?”

“I almost wanna argue against that, but I can’t,” Keith said.

Even Nikolai had to admit, “I suppose that is a strategy…”

*

Valerie turned a mildly horrified look to Hux and Keith, knowing it was already too late to stop the monster they'd created. Lapis was a lazy guy, sure, but when it came to pranks and causing chaos he was the best in the house. And they were fueling his fire by the way he grinned at them.

"jus' make sure nothin' breaks," Currant grumbled with narrowed sockets. "they could go outside."

"a great idea," was Lapis' easygoing reply. "more roomie for the zoomie."

"What have you done?" Val groaned, watching the train wreck happening at her home. Lapis had opened the front door and Admiral was off like a rocket, Sangria hot on his tail. She couldn't help but smile at the way they zipped through the grass and trees, Admiral briefly posing on top of the basking rock with a 'MWEH HEH HEH' that was too cute.

"an when three o' them zoom together..." Marmalade shuddered. "stars..."

*

Nikolai was thinking to himself… partly out loud. “I suppose if Liam gets bored, that’s a way to do it…”

Hux laughed and flashed a devious grin, “I apologize for nothing.”

“I’m guilty as charged,” Keith said. “Agent of chaos, right here. Fear me.”

“Good luck if Piper zooms too,” Hux says. “Kid tried to fight Liam, he might try Sangria too.”

“I am glad they are getting exercise, but there are better ways!” Trousle said, the electronic voice muffled between Hux and Keith. “Like watching Avatar and trying to do the martial arts despite not having legs.”

*

"Oh stars," Val giggled, so horrified by her own imagination that she had ascended beyond groaning. "Imagine if someone caffeinated all the Mamba and Pygmy, though. It'd be an apocalypse!"

Now that she had said it aloud, Valerie felt like she might have just put pure chaos into the center's future. The only benefit she could find was that caffeine didn't last forever and the Lamia would crash pretty quickly.

"eh, sangria likes a challenger on occasion," Marmalade said with a snicker. "an piper 's already a dragon so sangria 'll be impressed. kid has guts."

"but he's jus' bones."

"Oh, Trousle," Val smiled. "Sweet summer child. My boys are basically feral when it comes to having fun and exercising! Even Lapis, the laziest noodle, has chaotic ways he moves when it's time."

"but val," Lapis cackled, "thought ya liked corny zoomies?"

"you jus' do the worm, though."

*

"Oh stars," Nikolai gasped in sheer horror at the thought. "I'm putting locks on all the coffees and tea. Staff only."

"Noooooooo...." Hux groaned, "I wanted to do it."

"I take no responsibility whether it does or does not happen," Keith said. He wasn't gonna bring the apocalypse, but wouldn't stop it either...

Trousle grinned, "Well then! We should hang out sometime! I bet I could "worm" better than you! Lazybones! Heart. Heart. Heart." He stuck his tongue out, wiggling playfully.

*

"That's probably for the best, really." She shuddered a little, cursing her own imagination with every colorful swear she knew. "Better watch the keys too. If you have any Cornies that are even remotely like Lapis, those keys might get stolen. Or the locks picked."

"or you could convince someone on staff tha' you wanted tea an jus' encourage a Mamba an Pygmy hoard to attack the hiding place," Marmalade said with a grin.

"whose side are you even on?" Currant demanded.

"anarchy," was the deadpan response.

"oh," Lapis peered closer to the phone. "hey there, kid. didn't know a papython was around. cool scarf... the worm ain't exactly a papython move, not cool enough, but it'd be fun."

*

"It's okay, I'm the small one! I understand." Trousle said. "Thank you! Val gave it to me! It looks so great!"

"There's no stopping the apocalypse. Just stock up while you can," Nikolai said.

Hux and Keith were laughing.

"I heard that we're not telling Cornies something?" said a Corny. "Also, pass the water bandages, will ya? Rings got cut on a rock."

"Oozy! My man!" Keith chirped.

Nikolai gave Oozy the bandages.

"Give him a pet, yeah? He likes those," Hux said to Val. The layer of ooze on Oozy was thinner and clearer than usual, water having diluted and washed quite a bit away, but there was still a hard-to-see the layer of slime on him.

Oozy was too wrapped up in what he wasn't supposed to be doing to pay attention to the waterproof wrappings (or Hux) though. "Soooooo... what am I absolutely not supposed to know?"

*

"yeah, she loves to give gifts. can't wait to meet you, kid."

There was no doubt that Valerie would be going to the center to see Trousle and all of them again. Next time it would be a big thing where everyone would go.

This new side to Hux was a far cry better than him being a little shit. It felt more like the real Hux had made an appearance and Keith was right, he was a huge goober.

"anarchy now," Marmalade declared. "didn' want a corny to know someone was plannin' on caffeinatin' the mamba an pygmy to bring about the apocalypse."

"don' forget the lockpickin'," Lapis delighted in tacking on.

But Val wasn't really listening to them. She was looking at Oozy and trying to decide if Hux was playing a trick on her or not. It wasn't typical for her to just reach out and pet a Lamia without asking first but even if Oozy did bite her, he wasn't venomous and the worst that could happen is it would hurt. It wouldn't even be the worst pain.

So Val reached out and pet Oozy on the back of the skull. The resulting mucus on her hand was disgusting but also very interesting to pet and she became far more invested in petting it than was normal. She made a noise of intrigue, reminded of patting mud pies as a kid.

"gross," was Currant's hiss.

*

“I look forward to meeting you too!” Trousle said. “Have you ever played DnD? My friends here and I play a few times a week!”

Oozy’s eyes widened, “That sounds like a disaster…” He was totally saving that idea for when he got bored. “Lock Picking Lawyer is pretty cool. I started watching him on one of my YouTube dives. Heh. Learned a lot about locks.”

Oozy’s eyes were on Val’s handy; he was giddy with anticipation, both for the affection and the almost inevitable gross-out. The dude couldn’t help giggling at the face she made, but would never say no to some friendly pets. He shrugged at Currant, used to it, “Eh, it’s life. Slimy, slimy life. Name’s Oozy, good to meet y’all.”

Hux was also laughing at poor Val for falling for it. Keith mentally gave her props for petting him anyways, even if it might’ve been morbid curiosity.

“Mmm… Geez, this has been a good year with girls for me. Might get spoiled at this rate,” Oozy said, longing to capture her in a cuddle, but he got the feeling that would just gross her out. Ah well, someday maybe.

*

"i've helped val make dnd characters before, when she was feeling like drawing chaos. never played any."

"lapis can pick locks, somehow." And Marmalade was still in awe of that random talent. None of them even knew where he'd picked up that skill from. Val couldn't reliably hide anything from him if he became determined enough to get it.

Currant was staring at Val's hand as she petsOozy. This must have been how people felt when they witnessed a horrible accident, horrified but unable to look away. The more she pet the more interested she became and the most enthusiastic about continuing to pet him. It was gross, yeah, but she was fascinated by the fact he was slimy. Like a frog or a salamander.

"Ohmystars," she breathed, using both hands to pet and probably resembling a kid meeting Santa for the first time. "This is so gross but so cool too! You feel like a salamander, ohmygodwhydidtheynameyouOozywhenyoufeellikethis???"

"oh no..."

*

“I could teach you if you want! Keith DMs.”

“I’m Keith,” Keith says, trying to keep Lapis up to speed, “The one I’m sitting on is Hux. Our King is Nikolai.”

Oozy’s eyes went starry and he splayed himself out for maximum petting. “Right? Heh. We can’t quite figure out why? But it’s a thicker ooze when I ain’t wet… or haven’t been in water recently, I’m always kinda wet. And, well, there have been worse Corny names. We seem to attract them.”

“Poor Spoon,” Nikolai said. “I should get naming guidelines…”

“Still better than Radish,” Hux said.

“I think Radish was a honeybo though,” Keith said.

“Still kinda respect the hastily renamed Mamba ‘Little Tucker.’” Oozy said with a grin, bearing his throat for some neck-scratches.

“Princess Garbage Lamp thankfully had that name changed,” Nikolai said.

“Didn’t YOU start that nickname?”

“In my defense, you weren’t born yet to witness that fiasco.”

*

"that'd be great, kid."

The amount of shenanigans that Lapis could inflict upon them is enough to make Currant and Marmalade giggle like schoolgirls. Lapis is still smiling but they can tell he wishes he was the one getting the pets and attention that Oozy is getting. Val was so excited about something different.

"I named my boys after colors," Val's voice was distracted, the feel of Oozy beneath her hands much more interesting. She itched to take pictures so she could draw this later, knowing it would be a huge boon to her visual library. "Color names are the best."

"val's an artist so she likes to name us after stuff she likes an knows." Currant paused, flushing a little. "she also tends to call us gems."

"the truth comes out," Marmalade teased. "nikolai can't name."

"Does it float in the water?" Valerie asked, moving her petting to Oozy's neck and using her nails to scratch lightly at his prompting. "Like, does it come off you and float? Or does your body absorb it, somehow? Does it have a taste? What does it mean for your scales? Do you shed?"

*

Keith smiled, “That’s adorable actually. Like, it’s freaking precious when someone shares part of what’s special to them with you.”

Nikolai agrees with the sentiment, but is also blushing, “I have many talents. Naming isn’t one of them.”

Oozy purrs deep in his chest, eyes shutting in bliss. “Depends on how thick it’s gotten. Fresher ooze might thin out a little bit, but if I’ve been sleeping in it a while, it’ll probably slough off and dissolve after a while. I’m kinda numb to the taste, but apparently, it’s got a salty and tangy vibe, but gets bitter if it stays there too long. I apparently have really uneven shedding, more like parts of the skin just get really soft until a slight bump tears it off. Usually dusts before it fully leaves the slime. I can’t really feel it when it happens though. From what we can tell, this stuff has ups and downs. Have to be careful about fungi, but I out-ick most other grossness. It seals up any cuts, burns, or whatever I might get and keeps them more or less sterile. Not that I get hurt much…”

*

"prolly also helps that none of us had names," Marmalade added. "the center we came from didn' give us names, we knew who was being talked to without that. Jus' easier to let adopters name us."

"don' think piper will get a different name though," Currant said, finally having enough and slithering off Val. "'s a cute name."

Valerie was far more interested in what Oozy had going on. She wasn't inclined towards science but she was curious about everything new that she found out. It must have been a little inconvenient to be covered in goop but it was fascinating that he knew so much about it. She was almost tempted to taste it just to see but Valerie wasn't that adventurous when it cameto trying new things. His word that it was salty-tangy was more than enough.

"Shame you didn't use the pun," she finally grumbled. "Coulda said something about how you can't become too much of a fun gi... But it's really cool. Like a protective layer, right?"

*

“We tried that, but names stick,” Nikolai says. “It’s almost impossible for them NOT to end up called something.”

Oozy’s eyes went wide and he laughed, “Dude. That’s hissterical. You’re really treating me to a good slime here!” He laughed a little more, then went back to explaining, “Maybe? I won’t say I’m entirely unique, but it’s a super rare condition. Ain’t been many chances to study if, so no one’s fully sure what causes it. I’ve had some science dudes and doctors and stuff come look at me. Nothing bad of course. Pretty sure Nikolai would’ve maimed them if they tried to go mad scientist.

“We’ve got a few theories. Some think that my soul is really stubborn in believing that I’m supposed to be an amphibian, or maybe I had an ancestor or two who were part frog or salamander or something. Others think there’s an issue in magic processing, like maybe my body just doesn’t know to slow down, or maybe something in that whole process is just completely borked. Point is, we ain’t sure. We’ve narrowed out a few possibilities, but don’t know why I do this, how to make it stop, or if that’d even be a good idea.

“But eh… whooze worried ‘bout that anyways?”

*

Oh no, he was a typical Corny all right. Puns, something Valerie had only really started to find funny after getting Lapis, spilling forward so easily she was momentarily stunned. He was slightly better than Lapis was and that feat was impressive enough she would have made sparkle eyes at Oozy if she could.

"Or maybe it's just you being such a slick guy that you can't contain it." She wiggled her eyebrows comically, a wheeze from Marmalade accompanying her words, and wasn't she just the smuggest person ever at that? "I guess you could also come from mixed genetics... maybe you had someone aquatic in your history? Aquatic creatures produce a slime too."

She was trying to resist commenting how he might actually be aslug, a lazy slug, but figured that would be rude. And then she had a sudden epiphany that caused her so much glee it almost physically manifested in a subtle glow from her chest.

"Or maybe..." she bit her lip, fighting back a massive grin. "You're a sea slug."

*

Oozy didn't even try to stifle his chuckling as a grin split his face, but he absolutely lost it at sea slug, letting out one of those "Pffffft"s of when you're caught off guard, then throwing his head back in laughter with his hand on his face. "Dude. Omg. That's a newt one. Good thing I'm a sea slug though and not a regular one, 'cause I'm being assalted with puns! Eel give you that, you're pretty good."

Hux was audibly groaning, getting more and more exasperated with every passing pun. Keith was laughing along while Nikolai fondly watched.

*

Valerie lost her battle with laughter, Currant's sockets narrowed in warning while Marmalade nearly collapsed as he wheezed along. She also heard Lapis giggling from the phone, beside himself with the fact he had so thoroughly corrupt her sense of humor with his own shenanigans.

"They just keep coming and I didn't even planet that way. Lapis' humor just seemed to mussel in when I brought him home. I'm not shellfish with the puns, either. Feel free to use 'em anytime."

Marmalade was wheezing so heavily that she was honestly concerned about his health and Lapis had descended into such high pitch giggles that she felt proud of herself. No Corny stood a chance now.

*

Oozy wasn’t sure he could top that. And he DEFINITELY couldn’t while he was too busy laughing his ass off to breathe. Hux was screaming into the floor in exaggerated anguish. Keith was howling. Even Nikolai was laughing along with the rest. This was the best possible result.

And through it all, a confused Krait awkwardly takes the water bandages from where Oozy sat them down, slithering back to the rest and avoiding whatever all this is.

*

It was comical, how she sat back with such a smug look on her face while surrounded by hysterical Lamia in various stages of horror or laughter. They were all lucky they wouldn't pass out from laughing so much or she might have been in trouble. Currant had grown used to the insane amount of shenanigans so he wasn't quite screaming but he certainly wasn't amused by the chaos.

Well, Marmalade had declared that it was anarchy now!

"Don't terrier yourself up about this. I'm pawsitive you can pun back. Though all this laughter is a nice jester from you."

Marmalade was on the ground, almost convulsing with laughter and she didn't even know Lamia could do that.

*

“Hey, hehehe,” Oozy was trying to talk through snorts of laughter, “Oh geez, pffft. Throw me a bone here! You’re doggone good at this, but I’m feline fine!”

“How did we get to cats and dogs? We’re snakes,” Nikolai said with amused befuddlement.

“Eh, she’s petter at some puns than me, but she’s not weaseling her way out of this so easily!”

Hux let out a muffled scream of, “I’M IN HELL.”

Trousle was trying to hide laughter behind an exasperated facepalm.

*

"Oooh, getting into a tearable pun territory now," she teased. "Well, I have a meowtain of puns. Dog puns are a bit ruff but I'm sure I can mange a few. Don't worry, you'll achieve grapeness if you wine a little."

The puns were all over the place and that was what had Marmalade on the ground, flailing around. Lapis never punned with Val like this and now that he knew she could they were all doomed. Just a little taste and Marmalade was unable to control himself. Lapis was sobbing now and showed no signs of stopping.

"look what you did!" Currant announced with a small screech of dismay.

"no grater way to go," Lapis wheezed.

*

“These puns are starting to get cheesy, but I’ll brie fine. Cheddar get ready, I can milk this for all it’s worth if ya let me have my curds ‘n way.” Oozy was NOT one to back down from a pun-off.

This was the most effort Nikolai had seen him put in in a while, so he wasn’t going to stop him…

Oozy kept going, “Cheese and crackers, sometimes I can go against the grain. Wheat’re ya gonna do plow?” He has no regrets. “I’ll keep punnin’ till the cows come home, no need to raise the afarm, but y’know, there’s a reason they call me - (snrk) - Corny.”

*

Oozy was good at this! Val had to pause for just a moment to try and think of a few things she could use. His means of punning was very one track, with a single vein that he went into and kept on, but she tended to like chaotic punnery instead.

A pun battle it would be, then.

"You've goat to wait for gouda puns. Don't pastaway on me now or we'll have a latte problems. Meow you've gone and bun it. Beating you at a pun battle won't be impastable for someone like me. Beclaws I've been practicing."

*

“I’d say it’s your mewve, but I’ll whisker ya away with these, and cat’s not all I have to say.

“Victory’s fleece-ing, but you can sheep well tonight. Cow about ya keep trying, or are ya chicken?

“‘Cause that won’t cut it. Not to hammer in the point, but I’ve nailed it. You saw it, right? I’ve got the tools to win.”

*

Val resisted her laughter for all of five seconds before she snorted. It was loud and hurt a little but it heralded the end of her pun game as she then descended into her hysterics. Keeping up with a Corny was difficult but her mind felt good from having to think up all those puns and her soul felt lighter. He'd been a perfect opponent to flex her punning muscle against.

"I don't think I can top that," she giggled, petting him with barely a twitch. "Probably a good thing too because I think Marmalade is having a fit."

Which was only partially true. Marmalade had exhausted himself and was flopped into a pile on the ground, twitching every time he snickered.

"that was a pawesome pun battle," Lapis declared from the phone. "Cornies win again."

*

Hux was still just screaming into the ground, muffled under a pile of Keith. Keith was coming down from his bout of hysterics (albeit as much from Hux's reaction as the puns themselves), and Oozy grinned. "That was great. Heh, haven't done that in a hot minute. You're dang good at this, y'know? Like, super good."

*

Hopefully, Hux would realize they weren't punning anymore and calm down. It had felt good to be able to sit back and dish out whatever randomness her brain conjured up, pun battle or not. Valerie was just happy to have not made a complete fool of herself. Shame no other Corny had joined in, it would likely have caused permanent mental damage to someone.

"So it's been a cold minute?" She couldn't prevent the question, grin turning smug once more. "Lapis has ruined my sense of humor for all eternity. Puns were one of those things I used to do without realizing but I notice them a lot now. And they're funny!"

*

"I think you mean he improved it, heh," Oozy said. "Man, that was great. Thanks, lil corny. Lil popcorn. Nah, popcorn's too energetic. You're a Kernal. Thanks, Kernal."

"Bet you wish you were that good at nicknames," Keith said to Nikolai.

"It was ONE time! And you know good and well what that Corny did with that lamp."

Hux huffed, finally calming, "What did I do to deserve this?"

"Many things," Trousle said. "You might be prickly, but you still deserve Keith’s cuddles!"

"... You can't pull that surprise sweet shit on me like that," Hux said, red-faced.

"I can. You cannot stop me."

"Nikolai, make him stooooop."

"No," Nikolai said, heading towards the door, "I should be getting back now, who knows what's gone on while I was gone. I don't know when you'll be leaving, Val, but if you can, try to wait until Piper wakes up so he knows what's going on and gets a chance to say goodbye. Thank you."

*

"Depends on who you ask, I guess." Clearly, Hux and Currant thought her sense of humor was ruined, although Currant changed his tune when she was telling him knock, knock jokes. "I'll never hear the end of it. He'll call himself that and Sangria will throw a fit until Lapis says he's waiting to pop into corn."

Which, again, was fair. But Sangria would be equal parts disgusted and horrified. They were lucky he hadn't heard their pun battle or she would never have been able to get away with leaving him out.

"nah, thank you buddy," Lapis said. "clearly I need to come along next time."

"clearly," Currant parroted, a pained look upon his face.

"Puh-lease," Val directed towards Hux. "It was obvious from the start you were secretly a huge softy beneath all the prickles. Just like a cactus."

It was, too. After a while, anyway.

"anarchy," was Marmalade's grave response to what had likely gone on in Nikolai's absence. "pure chaos."

"Oh yes, it was probably a Mamba apocalypse," Valerie agreed. "We'll stick around until Piper wakes up, let him say goodbye, and get numbers so you guys can talk to him until we come back around. I'll be making another donation to the center sometime in the next few weeks."

*

"I apologize for nothing," Oozy said with a shit-eating grin. "I look forward to seeing ya Kernal. We'll have a good slime. Hehehe."

"I'm glad I ain't the only sane one here. Other Coral. Help me!" He managed to wiggle an arm out, reaching for Currant. He was blushing more as he tried to ignore Val's assessment of him.

Nikolai let out a sigh that turned into a chuckle, "I shouldn't expect anything else. Oh well. I guess I'll go save the world." He went for the door, stopping long enough to say, "Thank you. We all appreciate it. I'm sure he'll be really happy with you." Then he left.

*

"as marmalade said, anarchy now," Lapis took great delight in repeating. "we'll have a whale of a good time."

Currant's initial assessment of Hux may not have been very nice but he did have some species pride. He huffed, as if aiding Hux was the greatest weight upon his shoulders, but reached out with his magic nonetheless. The fact that he had magic to spare was a matter of pride, his meals were so carefully planned out just for this reason. A crook of his fingers and he yanked Hux forward.

"Go save the day, Nikolai," Val said with a wave. "I'll try and make sure none of these hooligans get into trouble."

*

Hux whooped and stuck his tongue out at Keith as he managed his great escape… with aid. “Thanks, dude, owe us one.”

Nikolai chuckled, “I appreciate it. And good luck with that.”

Everyone waited for five seconds after he left. Then Oozy immediately said, “Alright, who wants to storm the coffee?”

“NO!” Hux snapped.

“Maaaaybe,” Keith drawled.

“Can I have some?” Trousle had a wide grin, bobbing back and forth in excitement.

“… what have I done,” Oozy said, staring down Trousle.

*

Now Val might have said she would watch the others but she doubted she'd be able to stop any shenanigans that might occur. Currant and Marmalade wouldn't join the chaos, she hoped, so it came down to watching all the others and making sure they didn't cause trouble. But of course Oozy would be the one that would have pranks on the mind, seeing as Cornies were agents of chaos.

"COFFEE?" She heard from the phone, a battle cry that sent her calm expression diving into horror. Sangria had a very distinct tone and he must have out zoomed Admiral to still be awake. The stamina of a Mamba was no joke. He didn't sound like he was as full of energy as usual but not tired either. "DO NOT GIVE COFFEE!"

"no roomie for the zoomie," Lapis announced sadly. "you're all in the city. too much could happen if ya give everyone coffee."

"like that would stop anyone," Currant huffed, cradling Piper against his chest and wondering how the kid could sleep through this.

"anarchy now," Marmalade agreed solemnly.

*

This did not discourage Oozy, "I'm gonna give 'em coffee. Just you wait! I'll do the Boston tea party, but in a krait pond with coffee! JUST TRY ME!"

Hux, trying to stop the apocalypse, pounced on Oozy, nose scrunched as he held the other down. "No. Nope. Nope nope nope nope."

"... ya have to get off eventually," Oozy said, not remotely struggling to get free.

"Bold of you to assume you can out-lazy me," Hux said.

Keith was laughing... and slithering off to grab some coffee.

Piper was stirring some now and then, making noises of displeasure at all the noise, but he'd been on and off zoomies for a few days without sleep. His body finally forced him...

Or tried to. "Coffee!" Piper yelled, demanding.

Oh no.

*

Secretly, or not so secretly, Val doubted Hux could out-lazy a Corny and that the apocalypse wouldn't be happening. She had resolved herself to witnessing the zooms that would be happening, feeling the looks of horror upon her for not stopping this. All she could hope is that it wouldn't be too bad.

And then she heard the little demand and all the terror crashed upon her shoulders. Currant was looking down in shock and Marmalade pressed his face into his coils.

"Oh no," Valerie whispered, scooping Piper up so she could pet him. Even if he wanted coffee she couldn't resist some cuddles from an adorable Pygmy. "I don't know if you'll like coffee, Piper. It's pretty bland."

Please let him be easily convinced by thinking coffee had to be served plain and nothing else.

"UNLESS YOU ADD SUGAR," Sangria muttered from the phone, drawing her stare. "ADMIRAL DRANK THE SWEET STUFF."

"Sangria," She whined but it was too late.

Oh no, indeed.

*

Keith has found a 12 pack of a certain type of cold-brew coffee in the fridge. He shook some of the snacks from the snack machine in trade, sticking a note on there that he regretted nothing.

Calmly, he went out and started distributing the contraband to Mambas and Pygmies.

“Nnnnn!!! But! Need zoom! Get to play outside but ‘m tired and ‘s not fair! Dun Wanna sleep…” He was getting fussy in the way an over-tired child does when they desperately want to keep having fun, little tears budding in his eyes and hiccuping. “Gimme zoom juice! Wanna play!”

*

Piper was hitting her right in the underdeveloped, curdled maternal instincts. He sounded like he was on the verge of a full-on tantrum and she didn't want him to get that upset over some coffee. It had been a while since she'd been around a fussy child that didn't make her want to run in the other direction.

It was an awful idea. She knew it was an awful idea. But Valerie couldn't deny Piper a little bit of fun before they left.

"OK," she took a deep breath. "You can have a small sip of zoom juice. Just a little bit. You can play but we do have to say goodbye. Sangria is waiting at home for you."

"INDEED," her large Mamba huffed. "IF YOU ZOOM NOW YOU'LL SLEEP ON THE DRIVE AND YOU CAN ZOOM AGAIN AT HOME."

*

Piper stared for a moment like he didn’t expect that to work. But once it processed that he had more playtime, he broke into giggles and a grin, trilling happily. “YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY YAY! YA… Yawn AY!”

“Told ya you can’t stop me. I didn’t even have to escape,” Oozy said.

Hux had his jacket hood over his skull and was trying to melt into the ground to escape (ignoring that he could just, like… leave).

Outside, trouble was already brewing as the more energetic Lamia began to ZOOM! One mamba was trying to declare himself king of the entire world, hampered by the Pygmy who had decided to be a superhero all of the sudden and was playfully fighting him. A few bitty mamba were trying to tip over Val’s van (without success, thankfully). Nikolai was holding back swears as he tried to stop one mamba from starting a fire. A Pygmy had somehow trapped himself in a tire swing. It was chaos.

Keith was wondering when he should tell them it was decaf. Placebos are killer sometimes.

*

Some distant part of Val's brain thought she might have been played but she ignored it. Piper had no way of knowing of her soft spot for cute and small creatures, that the sight of tears would break down her walls faster than a wrecking ball. A sip of coffee wouldn't cause him any harm.

"You gonna come out with us, Hux?" She asked, looking at him from the corner of her eye. "Most of the humans should be gone now that the zoom is happening so you don't have to worry about getting adopted. Plus... won't it be funny to see Nikolai handle this?"

Currant huffed at the blatant manipulation but even he doubted Hux would go out to see what had been brought upon the park. He was keen on watching Piper but just keeping up with his excitement from earlier had tired Currant out and he would have preferred going back into the van to sleep.

"let's get the kid some coffee," Marmalade drawled, slithering out before stopping at the chaos.

"Oh my," was Val's faint response, eyes wide as she stared at the sight of the zoomies. It was frightening. She didn't even want to go out there. "I don't know if I'm scared or impressed..."

*

In his defense, Piper wasn’t TRYING to be manipulative, he was upset about it. But usually, when he’d get fussy about needing sleep, people took him to bed and tried harder to have him sleep. But now he’s happy! He gets more zoom!!!

Currant could try to sleep in the van, but there were even MORE bitty mamba trying to push it over, some of them pushing from inside. Even with their combined might, it wasn’t happening.

Nikolai had to hiss some very stern warnings at Liam to keep him from helping, all while holding onto a teenaged, full-sized Pygmy that was trying his best to wiggle free.

Keith was coiled up next to Maia, having told her his trick.

And Hux was willing to watch from afar, if only to see the madness.

This only got better/worse when some random dude decided to make an impromptu donation of three dozen beach balls, including two gigantic ones. No one could escape from the park-wide impromptu game of dodgeball… except the pygmies and mamba that were reenacting the boulder scene from Indiana Jones.

*

Valerie groaned at the hoard gathered around her van, hoping that nothing went missing from inside and holding Currant back from storming it and driving the hoard away. It was just lucky that no larger Mamba or Pygmy were attempting to join in.

"I'll let you go find some coffee to drink but please come back to me when you start getting tired," Valerie fussed, lowering Piper to the ground. "Make sure you tell everyone goodbye too. We'll come back to visit but ask for numbers and bring them to me to save."

She fussed over Piper for a little bit longer before she let him zip off to get himself some zoom juice. The grass was soft enough that she had no shame sitting down, cheek propped on her palm. Currant and Marmalade wrapped around her to keep away the worst of the shenanigans.

"At least everyone is having fun..."

*

Piper nodded and gave Val a little kiss on her hand before going off. Keith was kind/smart enough to give the kid some Mountain Dew: much better tasting, but with actual caffeine, even if not as much as coffee.

Once it hit his system, Piper started to ZOOM, alternating between playing and excitedly talking about his adoption, hugging all his little playmates, and bringing some over to meet Val, Marmalade, and Currant.

He was explaining to some of the mamba - who had given up tilting Val’s car and were now grumbling about it being full of bricks - that he was gonna go home in that car (while chasing a beach ball in circles) when a particularly young bitty mamba shot out and glomped him.

“NO! No you don’t! Mine!” The mamba screeched.

“But I leaving!”

“No! You stay here! I protect.” Cobalt the mamba pouted, holding Piper to his chest and wrapping around him protectively.

“Isssss ‘kay Cobalt! Val’s nice! And Curry loves! They not hurt me.”

“No no no no no! No! You stay! No leave! Is mine!”

“You gonna get a person too!”

“I wan’ YOU!” Cobalt had worked himself into tears, not wanting to let go of Piper…

Piper wasn’t sure how to handle it, “Sssshhh! Shhhh! No cry! No cry! Is ‘kay! You’re real good! They just jealous! ‘Cause pretty scales!” He was just mimicking some of what Cobalt had said to make him feel better.

“I pretty?” Cobalt said, sniffling. “I miss you…” He thought for a little bit, then went over to Val and slithered on her with Piper in tow, “We go now!”

*

Even though there were a lot of Lamia zipping and zooming, Valerie tried to keep her attention on Piper instead. He was a ball of energy, making her tired just watching but filling her chest with joy right along with that. She was introduced to so many Lamia that she had no hope of remembering all the names being tossed at her.

She didn't see what was going on but she heard the screeching, the absolute dismay in someone's little scream. Her soul throbbed with pain and she hoped someone would come along to offer assistance because there was no way Valerie would be able to crush someone's feelings. Marmalade tensed beside her, feeling the feedback of pain within his chest.

It was made even worse when the owner of the screech slithered onto her and she was torn by how small the Mamba was. He was the smallest bitty Lamia she had ever seen and there was the hint of tears upon his face that tore her up inside. The little guy had nothing on Sangria's iridescence, few did, but he was such a pretty color.

Valerie looked around, hoping for someone to offer assistance before she gave in and took him home too. Petting his little head as soon as he seemed to have settled.

"Oh, little dragon," she cooed at the Mamba. "What has you so upset?"

Maybe if she stalled...

*

"You can't have Piper! Is mine! He no go! I keep!" Cobalt hissed. He knew better than to bite, even in the midst of a tantrum, but he was tempted. But then Piper would probably cry...

"But I want go!" Piper said.

"No!" Cobalt said. He clung stubbornly to Piper. "I protect forever! Can't go..."

"You protect good! But I go now."

"Noooooo!" Cobalt sobbed.

Hux couldn't watch any more of this, slithering back inside. It'd been mostly fun watching the others cause chaos, but he knew all too well how Cobalt felt...

Thankfully, the freed Oozy came to the rescue... "Heya kid... why the long face?"

"Piper's LEAVING! But he can't!"

"Sure he can. Yer old enough now. Both of ya."

"But-But..." Cobalt sniffled, nuzzling Piper.

"It ain't like you'll never see him again," Oozy said. "I've had friends get adopted, but they still come back all the time. And I know Val's gonna keep in great touch. He can still call you."

"Not same..." Cobalt said, half holding and half leaning on Piper. "He's friend..."

"I know kiddo... I know. But hey, you'll get someone too one day, y'know?"

"You haven't," Cobalt said with a huff.

"I'm a high-maintenance Corny, you're an awesome little mamba. We're two different things entirely. You'll be loved."

"... I want Piper with me," Cobalt said. "You stay?"

Piper kissed Cobalt's cheek, "Love too! But I go. I come back! And bring toys!"

"Promise?"

"Mm-hmm!"

"And talk! Phone talk!"

"Yeah!"

Cobalt sniffled, holding Piper close. "... 'kay." He then looked at Val, little stare withering. "Take care! Be extra nice and give treats! Tell him he look good! If you be mean, I bite you!"

"She nice!" Piper insisted.

"Better be..."

Meanwhile, in the background, Nikolai let out a loud shout of, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT WAS DECAF?!"

*

She knew there was something wrong with her when she found the tantrum to be more adorable than anything. In typical Mamba fashion, his tantrum came down to someone taking what he viewed as his and a lot of yelling. Nikolai must have told them that biting was a very bad thing to do because he didn't try and take a chunk out of her in the midst of his ranting.

Oozy was a gift. Calming down the tantrum and saving her from giving in to the cuteness of the little Mamba's attitude. If he had been full-size she would have been more intimidated than she was but he was adorable before he was frightening.

"If I didn't have Sangria at home I'd take you too." Valerie couldn't hold the words back if she wanted to. "But I know a little dragon-like you will get a good home. Who wouldn't want such a pretty Mamba?"

Hopefully, the compliments helped because she would rather not get bitten.

"don' worry kid," Currant said, calling attention to his own warning stare. "val 'll take good care of piper. he'll have his own rock to bask on, his favorite candy, an' so many toys he'll be able to share with ya that all the other mamba 'll be jealous."

"not ta mention she might let piper bring ya sour candy jus' for you next time," Marmalade added. He heard Nikolai's shout and had a devious idea. "an' we can bring more coffee next time."

*

Cobalt sniffled again, but wiped his face and smiled up at her, "Yeah... 'M pretty cool! I gonna get good! Mm-hmm!" He giggled and nuzzled Piper. "You get good too. Deserve it. Miss you..."

"Miss you too. But is 'kay! I see again."

"Yes! And bring sour candies! And coffee!"

"Okay! We do!"

"Good!" Cobalt said. That said, he was still reluctant to go just yet... "We go play now."

"Okay!"

And they did! The two zoomed around the park together until Piper once more started losing the fight with sleep. Cobalt had to half-drag him back, and even then almost started crying again, but they said one see-you-later, and Piper curled up to sleep on the ride home...

And that Corny, who ate more sweets and has now conked out in the glove box, is apparently coming too.

*

Disaster averted, Val flopped back against Marmalade and Currant while Piper ran through his caffeine buzz with his friend. It was much better to see a happy Mamba than to see one that was likely contemplating biting. It likely wasn't long enough for the Mamba to come to terms with having to say goodbye but he did. Currant accepted Piper and they all wished everyone a good evening, saying their own see-you-laters.

"Everyone will sleep good tonight," Val mused, helping Currant into the front seat of the van so they could settle into the blankets. She searched around to make sure there weren't any stowaways and Marmalade assured her they'd all left. "We got a long drive ahead of us, I'll stop and get more snacks for the road."

She climbed into the drivers seat, feeling warm and good about how the day had gone. It was one of those perfect days where she made plenty of friends. Once at home she would put numbers into the phones and have Piper call so everyone would know he'd gotten there safe.

Marmalade picked a song for the start of the ride, Val singing along, and they began their journey home. Unaware of the hidden Corny in the glove box.

[starlightswitch]

Childhood Crush

(for writer’s month day 16 prompts photo and college AU. College AU for Real Love. This seems to be the year of spinoffs of Real Love.)

From the moment Paige heard Paul say “Mount Bradley”, she was sitting on the edge of her seat.

She had to wait through almost his entire intro speech, since where he was from had been one of the first things he said. She’d thought it was silly when the professor had said they would have to do a Q&A after their intro speech, not thinking she would have any questions about her classmates’ history and personal lives, but she hadn’t expected someone to say they were from Mount Bradley.

As soon as Paul concluded, with “And that’s me. Any questions?” her hand was in the air.

She didn’t even bother to make it a question. “I’m from Mount Bradley too!” And then she thought of the question��� “How come I don’t know you?”

“Really?” said Paul, and then he shrugged. “It’s a big central high school.”

“True.” Before someone else could ask a question, she added, “It’s cool to meet someone else from there, here.”

Paul gave her an easy grin and said, “It is.”

Through the next person’s speech, Paige tried to remember anyone she’d known in high school talking about someone named Paul. It was an unusual name, a little old fashioned, so you would think she would remember it if she’d heard it.

Just as the speech was ending, she sat up straight. Paul. Wasn’t that–

And this time she couldn’t ask him a question.

Well, it might be better not to ask him this question either way, until she found out if she was right about what she was thinking.

As soon as she got out of class, she texted her mom. She’d decided to go vague first. Can you send me a picture from my elementary school yearbook?

She ran into someone else from her dorm and ended up walking back with her, but the whole time she was waiting for her phone to go off. It did just as they were badging in the front door of the dorm, so she said a quick goodbye without explanation and texted her mom back as soon as she pushed into the stairwell. Any year. Wasn’t it pretty much the same every year?

She was in her room on her bed when it arrived. She narrowed her eyes as she opened it and zoomed in. And there it was– there was a Paul. She couldn’t really see the guy from her public speaking class in that little kid, but if he was her age and was from Mount Bradley, it must be him.

Sucking in a breath, she texted her mom the rest of what she’d been thinking. Didn’t I like Paul?

I certainly thought so, came the reply. You talked about him all the time.

Paige nodded to herself. Hard to say if she’d actually had a crush on him, when now she’d say third grade was way too young to have a real crush, but when all the girls in her class had started saying they had crushes on boys, Paul had been the one she had picked. She’d thought he was by far the cutest, and he wasn’t loud and annoying like some of the boys, and he was always nice to her if she had to work with him.

He’d seemed nice in his speech today. Friendly. And he’d been friendly when he found out they were from the same town. She wouldn’t call him cute now, and she wouldn’t really call him hot. Good-looking, yes. And handsome? Yes, handsome.

She had to wait until her next public speaking class to talk to him again. Of course it was a Tuesday-Thursday class so she had to wait the entire weekend. She kept an eye out for him any time she was out on campus, but she didn’t see him. Of course. A college campus, even a small college campus, was much bigger than the Mount Bradley elementary school.

She got to Public Speaking early on Tuesday. Paul was already there. Even though it seemed like in college people assigned themselves seats, she dropped down in the seat in front of Paul. “I think we knew each other in elementary school,” she blurted out, expecting him to be somewhat shocked.

“I was thinking that,” said Paul. “Once I thought about it I was pretty sure I remembered a Paige.”

“I got my mom to send me a picture.” She unlocked her phone, where it was already pulled up, and handed it to him.

Instead of looking for her in the rows of pictures at the top of the page, he zoomed in and slid down to look at the class picture at the bottom of the page. He pointed at himself, in the front row sitting on the floor.

Paige glanced at him and then pointed out herself– the little girl with her hair in curly pigtails standing right behind him.

They looked at each other over the phone. “Wow,” said Paul in a whisper, with maybe a touch of awe.

“Yeah, wow,” said Paige, hearing the same tone in her voice, not sure how to put words to what she was thinking but hoping he was thinking it too.

[atlafan]

Take it Slow - Part Sixty-Nine

a/n: okay this is my first shot at a harry:y/n fic, and it will be multiple parts. y/n had a bad experience with an ex over a year ago, and finally accepts her coworker and good friend Niall’s invitation to go on a blind date with his friend Harry.

Warnings: Fluff, smut, and angst. Long part, whoops! 

Masterpost (all previous parts can be found in the masterpost)

The next morning, you get up at 4:30 to take Buster out. You wanted him to get used to you taking him out in the morning. He was still asleep when you picked him up out of his crate. You take him down to the street, and walk him a bit. Once he’s tired out you bring him back up. You get his breakfast and some fresh water ready. He plops on the floor and watches you do a quick home work out. He thinks you want to play when you start jumping up and down. Eventually you decide to just play with him on the ground and toss a tennis ball for him to play fetch with. He was so smart already.

Harry eventually wakes up and comes out just wearing his boxers. Buster trots over to him and you smile as he crouches to pet him.

“Hey little guy, how’d yeh sleep?” The dog yips at him and Harry laughs. “Oh good, mummy and I were worried.” He looks at you. “Take him out and all that?”

“Mhm, he took the cutest little poop.” You giggle. “Fed him too. I’ll probably have to take him out again soon.”

“I’ll take him, or we could take him together.”

“Yeah!” You look at your watch. “Oh! Niall will be leaving for work soon, let me text him to wait down at the street. It’ll be good to start socializing him.” Harry nods and goes to get dressed. “You look so cute in your painting pants.” You kiss his cheek and put the leash on Buster.

Niall crosses the street and picks Buster up immediately.

“Can yeh believe it? I’m an uncle!”

“Wait, let me take your picture with him.”

“The ones you posted yesterday were so cute. Your eyes were all red and puffy.” He laughs.

“She cried like a baby at Adam’s barn.” Harry explains.

“Surprised it wasn’t you.”

“Me too.”

“You can come play with him after work if you want. Sarah can come too of course.”

“Yeah, I’ll see what’s doin’. She’s getting’ stressed from end of year stuff. I didn’t know a third grade class could be so crazy.”

“Well she doesn’t exactly teach at the easiest school.” You say.

“No kiddin’.” He puts the dob back on the ground. “Well, I’ll see you all later. Hey, you should put him in the zoom chat later today. I’m sure everyone would love to see a puppy.”

“Will do! Have a good day.” You smile. You and Harry head down the street so Buster can pee again.

“He gets tired so easily.” Harry says, cradling him to his shoulder as he carries him back up.

“He’s still a baby. Baby’s get tired.”

“Will you bring him by around lunch time?”

“Of course! Would you like that Buster?” You say as you take him back from Harry. “Would you like to visit daddy later?” Harry’s face lit up, and you scrunch your face at him. “Don’t get too excited, I’m not bringing that word into the bedroom.”

“Don’t wantcha to.” He kisses your forehead. “I gotta go, love you.”

“Love you too, have a good day. Wave bye bye to daddy Buster.” You take his paw and move it back and forth. Harry takes his phone out and takes a picture of you. You stick your tongue out at him and he takes another picture. “Oh would you just leave already?!”

“Sorry, you’re just too cute.” He blows you a kiss and leaves.

You do your work up in the loft. Buster stays in your lap for most of the day. You take him for a good walk once mid morning hits, and you show him to everyone in your zoom meeting. Once it’s a little before noon you get him in the car and head to the studio.

Harry was upstairs in his office painting when he hears you come in. He comes right down and Buster runs to him. He picks up and swings him around (gently). Buster licks his cheek and he chuckles.

“I could certainly get used to this.”

“Wanna go for a walk, it’s beautiful out.”

“Sure!” Harry grabs his keys and locks up. He holds onto the leash as Buster walks. “How’s your day with him been?”

“Really easy. He’s been sitting on my lap while I’ve been working. He only peed on the floor once, and that was in the kitchen. I took him right out after it happened. Other than that he’s been going when I take him out. He’s a baby, so he’ll have accidents.” You shrug.

“I can’t wait to be able to just bring him with me to the studio once it’s up and runnin’.”

“My supervisor said I could bring him to work with me until you’re able to start bringing him.”

“Oh that’s great! They won’t mind?”

“He barely makes a peep, plus it’ll help socialize him.”

“Right.”

“I was thinking too, we could keep his hair on the shorter side. I don’t like floppy looking dogs.”

“My hair’s floppy and yeh like me just fine.”

“Yeah, but I don’t think Buster would like using a scrunchie to keep the hair out of his face like you currently are.”

“You’re just mad because I keep stealin’ yours.”

“I’m just going to buy you your own package.”

“The more the merrier.” He flashes you his shit eating grin and you nudge him.

//

Over the next couple of weeks, you and Harry take the time to train Buster. He has a few accidents, but nothing serious. He’s good about sleeping in his crate, and he’s been wonderful to bring to work with you. Harry keeps making progress on the studio. The furniture has been delivered and its’ starting to look like a real place. Mariah and Isaac both put their two weeks in, and start coming in to help Harry with the equipment.

“So I’ve been thinking, we should have a grand opening for your studio.” You say over dinner one night. “We could make a big social media event out of it. I think it would be nice for people to walk around and see everything. We could put some large prints up on the walls, and then get some booklets made. Isaac could book appointments on the spot.”

“I love the way your mind works, I think that’s a great idea.”

“Yay! So what I’ll do is put an event on the Facebook page, and then we can share it everywhere. I was thinking the beginning of June.”

“Sounds good to me. Thanks again for all your help. I feel like I get notifications every day asking when it’ll be up and running.”

“It’s been so much to-“ The dog yips at you. “What is it baby? Need to go out?” He yips again. “Okay, mumma take you out.” You get up from the table. “Mind cleaning up for me?”

“Sure.”

You put the leash on Buster and take him out to pee. He really needed to go.

“Good boy, Buster!” Harry hears as you come back inside about ten minutes later. “He needed to poop too.” You take the leash off and he rushes over to Harry.

“Good boy! Want daddy to get you a treat?” Buster yips at him. “Alright.” He goes into the kitchen and gets a dog cookie. “Now, yeh gotta sit, Buster. Sit.” Harry makes a motion with his hand, and the dog does so. “Good, down.” Buster lays on the floor. “Up.” He sits back up. “Good boy!” He gives Buster the street and scratches his head.

“I can’t believe how much bigger he’s already gotten in just a few weeks.”

“I know. His coloring is really startin’ to come in too.” You start tearing up, and Harry looks at you. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s just growing up so fast.” You sniffle. “He’ll be huge before we know it.”

“He’s only gonna be like twenty-five pounds. He’s one of the smaller ones, remember?” He holds you close to his chest.

“He’s just my precious baby and I want him to stay that way.” You say against him. Buster walks over to you both and looks up at you, wagging his tail. “C’mere my doll.” Harry closes his eyes to kiss you, but you’re bending down to pick Buster up. “God, pretty soon he’ll be too big to pick up, Harry.” You sniffle again and snuggle your face into Buster’s hair. “Let’s go snuggle on the sofa.”  Harry stands there and watches you walk away. You look back at him. “Why are you just standing there?”

“Sorry, I honestly couldn’t tell if you were talkin’ t’me or the dog.” He walks over and sits down with you. Buster plops into his lap. “You call us the same names.”

“Aww, Buster, I think daddy’s jealous of how much attention I give you.” You scratch the top of Buster’s head and his tail wags.

“M’not jealous. You could just be more clear of who you’re talkin’ to. Like, could you leave doll for me?” You chuckle and shake your head.

“Sure, I’ll leave doll for you.”

“S’all I ask.” He turns the TV on, and he throws an arm around you. “Hey, babe?” You hum your response. “I left my laptop upstairs and I need it for a second, do yeh mind grabbin’ it? I’d get up, but I’m afraid he’s snoozin’.”

“Sure.” You get up and Harry watches you go up the spiral staircase. There was a box on top of his laptop. You furrow your eyebrows when you see it has your name on it. You open it up and he hears you gasp from upstairs. You come running down. “What’s this?!” You say holding a watch in your hand.

“Happy nine months, love.” You come over and give Harry a big kiss.

“Thank you sweetie, you didn’t have to get me anything. I feel like shit, I didn’t get you anything.”

“You give me somethin’ every day.” You put it on and sit back down.

“What’s that?”

“A life that I love so much.”

“Put the dog in the crate.” You say, giving him your bedroom eyes.

“Yes ma’am.” He salutes you and carries the dog to the crate. You smack his butt while you race by him. “Oi! None of that tonight.” You turn to look at him and pout. “Okay…maybe some of that.” He chases you into he room and you squeal.

//

“Kyle, I’m gonna be super busy this weekend. I’m getting things together for the house warming in a couple weeks, and I’m planning Harry’s grand opening.”

“Please! Mum had to back out and we’re desperate. We’ll bring over everything you need. Lily doesn’t want him with Bridget or Erica, she really only trusts you.”

“Bridget is a fucking nanny what do you mean?!”

“I know it doesn’t make a lot of sense, Lily just feels more comfortable leaving him with you. I know you just got the dog and everything, but we haven’t had a weekend away in a really long time, please.”

“I can’t believe you’re doing this to me three days before…ugh fine. We’ll watch him this weekend. But you’re picking up and dropping off.”

“Thank you! We owe you big time.”

“Yes, you do.”

You sigh and hang up the phone. You turn around to Buster who’s laying in his dog bed in your office.

“Well Buster, you’re gonna have a visit from your cousin Michael this weekend.” The dog yips and you giggle. “Yeah, it’ll be fun.” Niall comes to your office.

“Ready to take him for a walk?”

“Sure thing Uncle Niall.” You both laugh, and put the leash on Buster.

“He’s like our little office dog now.”

“I know, everyone’s been so nice about having him around.”

“He’s so well behaved, how could we not like havin’ him.” You get down to the street and he trots along a pace a head of you, looking back occasionally to make sure you’re there. “Quite the mumma’s boy, huh?”

“He takes after his father.” You say with a smirk and Niall bursts out laughing.

“Monkey see, monkey do, I suppose.” He smiles at you still laughing.

“Get this, I have to babysit my nephew all weekend.”

“You seem annoyed by that.”

“Normally I’d be over the moon, but I’m planning two parties, and we’re still training Buster. I’ve got my own baby now.”

“Well, now you’ve got two.” He nudges you. “He gettin’ jealous at all?”

“Of what?”

“How much attention you’re givin’ the dog over him.”

“Not jealous…more like a slight annoyance. But it’s cute.”

//

Harry gets home from the studio exhausted. Him and Mariah were hanging things on the walls all day while Isaac dictated where everything should be.

“I’m home!” He yells when he doesn’t see you. “Where the fu-“

“Good boy Buster!” You giggle as you come in through the door. “Oh hey, did you just get in?” You ask, kissing him on the cheek.

“Yeah, didn’t know where yeh were for a second.”

“Baby needed to do his business.”

Buster sniffs at Harry’s feet and looks up at him with his tongue hangin’ out.

“Hey buddy, missed yeh today.” He looks at you. “Thought you might’ve brought him by…”

“Too busy today. Niall and I took him out for a quick walk at lunch, but that was it.” You take the leash off Buster and he follows you around. “Dinner’s wrapped up in the kitchen for you.”

“Thanks.” Harry scarfs down his food and joins you and the dog on the sofa.

“So get this.”

“What?”

“We’re babysitting Michael this weekend, like overnight.” Harry blinks at you. “Shit, I thought you’d be more excited.”

“I have two weddings on Saturday, I’ll be gone all day, and most of the evening.” He runs a hand through his hair. “When are they bringin’ him?”

“Friday night…”

“Two nights? Well, at least I can help a bit Friday. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, I’ll be able to handle it.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” You were slightly annoyed, but there was nothing you could do.

//

Friday night Kyle and Lily bring Michael over with everything he’ll need.

“I just ask that he sleeps in the room with the two of you. He’ll sleep comfortably in his pack and play, but I don’t want him to get scared if he wakes up and doesn’t know where he is.” Lily explains.

“Sure, we can do that.” You smile and she helps you set up the pack and play in the bedroom.

“How’s the pup treating you guys?” Kyle asks Harry.

“Oh, he’s been great. We got lucky with an easy one.” Buster was on the floor sniffing away at Michael who was in his bouncy loving the way Buster’s hair felt on his skin.

“Okay, all set up.” Lily says.

“All the food for him is in the fridge. He’s usually good, but he’ll cry the second he’s hungry. Make him wait a few minutes though. He needs to know he can’t get what he wants the second he wants it.”

“Kyle…I’ve watched him before, I know what to do.” You laugh.

“Okay, okay. Thank you both again.”

You say goodbye to them and looks over at the two babies on the floor.

“So…he’s really sleepin’ in the room with us?”

“Yeah, Buster’s gonna be pissed.” You pat his head and then take Michael out of the bouncy. “It’s almost your bed time, dude.” You give him a little raspberry on his cheek and he giggles. You cradle him to your chest and rock him back and forth. Harry watches you lovingly. “Don’t even look at me.” He starts laughing.

“Why?”

“A dog is plenty right now.”

“I didn’t even say anything!”

“Shhh! He’s starting to doze off. It’s easier to get him into the pack and play if he’s already asleep.” You press your lips to his head. “Can you take Buster out while I put him down, he’s out.”

“Yeah.”

When Harry comes back he finds you leaning over the pack and play stroking at Michael’s head, lulling him to sleep. Harry stands in the doorway with Buster at his side.

“Stay.” He says quietly to him as he walks in. He smiles at you and you gesture to leave the room. You grab the baby monitor and close the door.

“Did he go?”

“Yup, took a massive dump for his daddy.”

“Don’t be gross.”

“You tell me about his shit all the time, why can’t I?”

“Because you say things like massive dump.” You make a disgusted face. Buster lays at your feet as you sit on the sofa.

“Wanna have a shag out here?”

“Harry, what the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Well, we can’t in there with Michael sleepin’. Surely you couldn’t keep quiet enough.” He smirks.

“I’m not fucking you out here.”

“How about in the kitchen then?”

“No.” His face falls into a pout. “Three babies. I have three babies in the house this weekend.” You sigh and rub your temples.

“S’not very nice. M’gonna be gone all day tomorrow.”

“I’m aware.”

“Are you mad?”

“No.”

“Really, because yeh seem mad.”

“I’m gonna get mad in like two seconds if you don’t stop.” You grab the remote and turn the TV on. Harry stays quiet while you both watch TV. Eventually you lean your head on his shoulder and he throws an arm around you. Buster sits on both of your laps and you mindlessly pet him.

“I gotta go to bed.” Harry says around nine. “I have to be up really early.”

“Okay, I’ll join you.” You yawn. “I’m tired too actually.” You look at Buster. “Time for bed baby.”

Buster goes right for his dog bed and plops down. You and Harry quietly do your things and get into bed. He spoons you for most of the night. Luckily Michael was at a point where he was sleeping through the night. He woke up around when Harry did. You groan when you hear him cry.

“I’ll take care of it, and then I’ll put him in the bed with you.” He whispers.

“He needs to be changed and fed.”

“I’ve got it.”

Harry grabs a fresh diaper and everything else and brings Michael into the guest room.

“Oh good, you took a massive dump too.” He sighs, but takes care of it. Michael giggles when he’s all cleaned up. “Yeah, yeah, Uncle Harry’s real sweet to you, huh?” He carries him into the kitchen to get him a bubby and he feeds him.

Harry waits for Michael to burp up before changing him into some fresh pj’s, and he brings him to the bed with you.

“Auntie?” You groan your response. “Michael’s here.” You mindlessly reach out for him and Harry lays him on your chest. He smiles as he watches you cradle him to your chest.

“Do you have time to take care of Buster?”

“Uhhh, yeah I can do that.”

Harry rushes around taking Buster outside and getting him fed. He’s a little less quiet while he gets his suit on. He kisses you before he leaves, and out the door he goes. An hour or so later you hear Buster whimpering from the other side of the door. You carry Michael on your hip and open the door.

“Need to go out again baby?” The dog yips and you sigh. You slide a pair of sneakers on and go out the door in your pj’s. “Shit, how am I supposed to shower?” You look at Michael as if he would have the answer. “I could stick you in a laundry basket I suppose. Would it be weird to take you in with me?”

It’s not like Michael would remember seeing you naked, but you still felt weird about it. You pick up the phone and call the person you knew you could.

“Be over in a few minutes.”

“Are you sure? Sarah’s not with you?”

“No, her and Rachel wanted to have a roomie night last night. I’m actually free today.”

“Great!”

Niall comes over and you open the door for him.

“Thank you so much, I’m desperate for a shower. I just changed Michael and he’s had a new bubby so he shouldn’t be hungry. Buster’s just been out too.”

“Y/N, it’s fine. Go take your shower, and relax”

“Thanks.” You sneeze loudly.

“Bless you.” He laughs.

“Thanks.” You sniffle.

“Feelin’ okay?”

“Honestly, no. I have a headache and my ears hurt. I think I’m getting my seasonal sinus infection.” You groan.

“Take a very long shower then, clear all that shit out.”

“Thank you, you’re a lifer saver.”

Niall takes Michael and sits on the sofa with him. Buster sits on the on cushion next to him. You get into the shower and stand under the warm water for a while, getting all your hair wet. You blow your nose as much as can, but you’re super congested. You get out of the shower, eventually, and brush your hair out, leaving it wet, something you rarely did. You put on Harry’s grey joggers and one of his over-sized sweatshirts. Actually, it looked normal on him, it was just over-sized on you. You throw on some fuzzy socks, and head out to the living room.

“Uh oh, wet hair, that’s not a good sign.”

“I don’t have the energy to dry it.”

“You sound even worse.” He frowns. “Are you sure it’s not a cold?”

“I know it’s not. It’s the beginning of a sinus infection, I can feel it.” You plop down and Buster moves to your lap. “You can put Michael in his bouncy you know? It’s pretty cute.”

Niall drags it over and puts him in. You both watch as he entertains himself.

“Thanks for helping out. Harry has two weddings today. I don’t know how I’m supposed to watch the both of them by myself now that I don’t feel good. But I guess people do it all the time.”

“Y/N, I told you I don’t have plans today, I can hang out and help.”

“I couldn’t ask you to do that. It’s a nice day out.”

“When was the last time you and I just spent a day together? Besides, you need someone to help take care of you.”

“Do you wanna binge Stranger Things from the beginning?”

“God, yes.” You both giggle and he fires up the TV. “I’m gonna make yeh some tea.”

“Thank you.” You grab his hand and squeeze it. You smile at each other and then he goes into the kitchen.

You and Niall have a great day together. He helps you with Michael and Buster so you can rest. Your head was killing you, even after having taken some Tylenol. You both also enjoy your binge of your favorite show. Harry texts to check in a couple times, but you forget to answer.

“I’m gonna go put Michael down, could you take Buster out?”

“Yup, got a spare key f’me?”

“Mhm, in the bowl by the door.” He nods and you both go to complete your tasks. “He’s so good, falls right asleep.”

“Do yeh think your brother and Lily went to go make another?” He says with a cheeky grin.

“God, I don’t even want to think about that.” You laugh and pat Buster’s tummy as he lays at your feet.

You end up putting a pillow in Niall’s lap so you can lay down. He keeps a hand on your head and plays with your frizzy hair. There were only so many people in the world that you let see you like this. It had been so long since you and Niall had a proper cuddle, you missed it so much. You eventually drift off, but he doesn’t mind. It was a long day, and he was enjoying the continued binge of the show.

Harry walks in around 8:30PM. He was exhausted and already starting to take his clothes off. He stops short when he sees Niall, who has a finger pressed to his lips to signal to be quiet. Harry looks at him extremely confused.

“She’s not feelin’ well.” He whispers. Harry walks around to the sofa and doesn’t like what he sees. Niall’s hand in your hair and your face nestled into his stomach.

“What do you mean she’s not feelin’ well? Why didn’t either of you call me? She didn’t text me back all day.”

“What would callin’ yeh do? You were workin’.” He sighs. “She called me cause she needed a shower, and I didn’t have plans. When I got here she didn’t look great, and she got worse as the day went on so I stayed to help. Baby’s sleepin’, dog went to his bed on his own. Think she’s got a sinus infection. She gets a really bad one this time of year, she was due.”

“Right, well, I’ll take her to bed now…thanks.”

“You could be less of a prick you know?”

“I’m not!” He hushes himself. “I’m not bein’ a prick.”

“Yeah, ya are.”

“Look at her, she’s all cozied up to you.” He gestures.

“News flash, mate, not the first time her head’s been in my lap.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh my god, you’re impossible. What are you, cranky? Get her off of me if you’re so bent outta shape.”

Harry huffs and gets his arms under you. You cling to Niall’s shirt at first and then you loosen your grip. Harry cradles you to his chest and you whimper.

“Shh, just me, baby girl.” He coos. You barely wake up. “Stay there, I’ll be right back.” Niall nods as Harry carries you to bed. You groan as he tucks you in. He kisses your forehead and goes back out to Niall. “Alright, set this scene for me, will you?”

“She needed to take a shower, so she called me. She said she didn’t feel comfortable being naked in the shower with Michael. She came out lookin’ worse than she did, so I helped her out. She napped when the baby did so I took the dog out a few times. I helped her feed both of ‘em. She cuddled Michael for a bit while we watched TV and then she put him to bed.”

“And then her head ended up in your lap?”

“There was a pillow there. We’ve done it plenty of times, not recently, obviously. I’ve taken care of her plenty of times while she’s been sick, and she’s done the same for me. We’re comfortable with each other. I’ve been her friend for almost three years, Harry. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

“I should’ve been home with her today, not you.”

“You had to work.”

“I just don’t like that you’re her go to for every little thing.”

“You know, if Sarah had been here too you wouldn’t even have an issue.” He crosses his arms.

“Where is she anyways?”

“Roomie weekend. Her and Rach haven’t been spendin’ a lot of time together lately. We texted all day believe it or not.”

“And Y/N couldn’t text me back?”

“She was drowsy all day, and she had a terrible headache. If you hadn’t noticed all the lights are off.”

“I noticed.”

“You can be a grouch all you want, but I was a good friend today, to both of you. You could say thank you.”

“Thanks for cuddling with my girlfriend, mate, that’s a big help.” Niall pinches the bridge of his nose.

“I really can’t fuckin’ stand you sometimes. You’re jealous for no reason.”

“It’s hard to be pissed when I walk in and see the love of my life curled up with you!”

“Her head was in my lap! It’s not like my dick was pressed to her ass and we were spoonin’!”

“You might as well have been!”

“You two woke the baby up.” They both whip their heads to look at you.

When Harry put you to bed you had woken up and changed into just a t-shirt, you were sweating from the heavy clothes. Michael started crying right when you had fallen back asleep. You got him back to sleep, but you were pissed.

“Y/N, go put some clo-“

“Niall, thank you for all your help today, may I speak with Harry privately?”

“Yeah, lemme know how you’re feelin’ tomorrow, alright?”

“Mhm.”

He grabs his things and heads out. You glare at Harry. You weren’t sure where to start, so you don’t. You didn’t want to wake Michael up again, and you didn’t want Buster getting riled up.

“I’m going back to bed, please sleep on the sofa.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t feel well, and I’m so far beyond aggravated. I don’t want you near me right now.”

“I’m sleeping on our-“

“If you don’t want to sleep on the sofa then sleep in the guest room. I don’t really care where you sleep, just as long as it’s not with me. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.” You turn on your heel and get back into bed.

Harry stood there and groaned. All he thought about all day was coming home to you. Now he was forced to sleep in his old bed, alone. The next morning you’re feeling a little better, but still congested. You knew you’d have to go to urgent care at some point for some antibiotics.

You get Michael out of the pack and play, and lay him on the bed to change him.

“There’s a happy boy.” You smile while he giggles.

Harry was just coming in with Buster when you come out with Michael.

“He’s, uh, fed…”

“Thank you.”

“When will Kyle and Lily be here?”

“Soon.”

“Okay.”

Harry leaves you alone until your brother comes to pick him up.

“How was he?”

“Perfect, as usual. I have a little cold, but I’m not contagious. Sinus thing I think.”

“Alright, we’ll keep an eye on him. Thanks again!”

They pack everything up and head out. You cross your arms and look at Harry. He looks at you.

“I don’t feel like I’m wrong.” He starts.

“No? Okay, present your case to me then.”

“You didn’t text me back all day, if I had known you didn’t feel well, I would’ve come home.”

“And leave those poor people without wedding photos?”

“I have a backup, I’m not an idiot.” He sighs. “No, instead you call your other boyfriend, sorry, your husband, to come over and help you.” You burst out laughing, you can’t help it, you were so angry. “This is funny?”

“It’s hilarious! Do you even listen to yourself? Who the fuck else was I going to call? Rachel or Sarah? Niall’s right across the street, he was here in two seconds.” You scoff. “Also, Rachel and Sarah are terrible with children, absolutely terrible. I wouldn’t trust either one of them with Michael. Niall, however, has been around Michael since he was born. I told him he could leave after I showered, but he insisted he stay to help. And I’m glad I let him because I didn’t feel well, I still don’t.”

“I’m sorry about that, but-“

“And then what do you do?” You ask, cutting him off. “You come home, already in a bad mood because you were probably tired, and instead of being grateful that your best friend came to help your sick your girlfriend take care of your nephew and puppy, you blew up at him! I don’t care if you don’t apologize to me, but you certainly owe Niall one.”

“My nephew?” His face softens.

“Harry for the love of god!” You feel like you want to rip your hair out. “Yes! Your nephew! He’s my nephew, he’s yours, he’s ours! You’re his fucking uncle now, don’t you think?!” Harry can’t help but smile. “Stop fucking smiling! I’m so mad at you! You get so jealous and worked up for no reason!”

“No reason! Y/N, your head was in his lap, you had your arms wrapped around him, and you face was pressed into his stomach! Totally comfortable!”

“You’re damn right I was comfortable! Niall and I used to cuddle all the fucking time!” His jaw drops. “That’s right. Never like spooning or anything, but that’s typically how we’d lay. We’ve taken care of each other a lot when the other’s been sick, and that’s usually what happens. And it’s not like my head was against his crotch, there was a fucking pillow there. Grow up, Harry.”

“Grow up? Grow up?!”

“Yeah! I am so sick of having this same fight with you! This is the last time I’m going to say this, I do not now, nor have I ever wanted to fuck Niall. He has not now, nor ever wanted to fuck with me. I do not plan on risking our entire fucking relationship to fuck your best friend.” He opens his mouth to speak and then stops himself. “Have I made myself clear?” He nods yes. “Good, because I swear to god if we fight about this again, I’m done.”

“What do you mean you’re done?”

“I mean I’m done. This is the stupidest fucking fight, and we’ve had it several times. I don’t appreciate you not trusting me, and I’m sure he doesn’t appreciate you not trusting him. So, if you find this to be worth risking our relationship over then you can just-“

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“Yeah, okay. You’re right, this is a stupid fight, and it’s not worth risking our relationship over.”

“So how do we move forward? I mean, clearly you have this like jealousy thing…I need to be able to interact with him the way that I do. I need to be able to laugh and whatever with him without worrying if it’s going to set you off.”

“I don’t know, honestly. I can’t help that I feel…ugh, how do I explain this? Um, remember when Julia made a pass at me?”

“Which time?” You scoff.

“When you walked in…and you said you didn’t anyone to think they could touch me like that. I feel the same way with you.”

“But Harry…Niall’s not into me like that. It’s platonic. I was also asleep, I didn’t know I had curled into him like that.”

“He was like playin’ with your hair and stuff.”

“And?”

“That’s super intimate!”

“It’s platonic! He was comforting me. I’ve played with his hair before too. We’re both touchy people, it’s how we show affection. I’m very affectionate with all my friends.”

“So you’re basically tellin’ me I just need to be cool with it.”

“No…but I don’t want you to think a touch or a smile means anything more than friendship between us. I mean, how many times do I need to remind you that I knew him before you? I have a whole history with him Harry.”

“I just didn’t think you two were that close because he never brought you out or around.”

“A lot of that was on me. He’d invite me to a lot of things, but I usually had plans with the girls, or I didn’t feel like going to a party where I’d only know him. He and I got into just hanging out one on one, and that worked for us.”

“And there was really never any moment between the two of you where you felt like you wanted to take it a step further?”

“Never, and I know he feels that way too. We’re just close.” You start sniffling as tears prick at your eyes. “You make me feel so guilty sometimes for loving him…and it’s not fair.”

“Please don’t cry.”

“I can’t help it.” You wipe your eyes. “I’m allowed to have friends, male friends.” You cry harder and Buster comes over to you. “When I was in high school, and even in college I had a lot of guy friends. And time and time again they would tell me they couldn’t be my friend anymore because their girlfriends didn’t trust me. I’m a very nice person, and I would never put someone in that position. I don’t know what’s so non-trusting about me, but it makes me feel like shit that my own boyfriend doesn’t even trust me.” He crosses the room and takes you in his arms.

“I do trust you.”

“Then it’s him you don’t trust.”

“I’ve known Niall a lot longer than you. He’s…a great guy, but I’ve I know what he’s capable of.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It was years ago, so it doesn’t matter. People change.”

“Harry.”

“There was a girl he dated in grad school and he cheated on her. She found out and broke up with him, obviously. I was no saint myself, but I knew I didn’t wanna be with one person. He shouldn’t have gotten into a relationship in the first place.”

“You can’t blame your own issues on something he did years ago.”

“I know.”

“So then why do you have these issues?”

“I don’t know, I just feel like you’re my girlfriend so you should come to me.”

“You were working!” You push him away.

“But if you had called me, then I could have told you to call him. At least I would’ve been in the know. You didn’t text me back all day. I walked in completely blindsided!”

“So I need to ask daddy permission in order to have my friends over, is that it?”

“Don’t be such a brat, that’s not what I meant.”

“Would you like to sleep in the guest room again tonight? Is that what you want?”

“Why, because I called you a brat?”

“No, because you’re acting like an asshole still.”

“Okay.” He nods.

“Okay what?”

“Okay, I’m actin’ like an asshole, you’re not wrong.”

“You know what?! I’m going to take the dog for a walk, a long walk. I suggest you go fix things with Niall. He’s pretty pissed.”

“How would you know?”

“I’ve been texting him all day. Wanna check my phone to make sure we haven’t been sexting or sending dirty pictures?” You put the leash on Buster and slip your sneakers on.

Harry takes a few deep breaths before going across the street. He keys right into Niall’s apartment. Him and Sarah were cuddled up on the couch.

“Jesus, Harry.” He says. “Glad we weren’t naked.”

“Sarah can I speak with Niall privately?”

“Whatever you have to say to him you can say in front of me.” She crosses her arms and Niall smirks.

“Great, so you’re mad at me too?”

“Harry, listen, I felt the same way you did months ago, remember? Y/N and Niall have a very special bond. There’s no need to be jealous or threatened.”

“I’m not threatened.”

“Then what’s your problem?” Harry’s jaw tenses.

“Babe, maybe you should go hang in my room for a bit.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah, he and I need to talk one on one.”

“Alright, but if I hear yelling I’m coming out.” She gets up and goes into Niall’s bedroom. Niall gestures for Harry to sit and he does.

“I’m sorry for flippin’ out on you. I know neither of you would do anything to hurt me, I don’t know why I get like this.”

“Look, after what I did to…Molly…I would never dare do it again. I’m close with Y/N and I don’t want you messin’ that up. I really cherish the friendship I have with her. It was bad enough when Sarah made things difficult, I don’t need you makin’ it worse. You know yesterday was the first time she and I hung out alone in months. Months, Harry. That’s not right. Sarah makes time to hang out with her friends, why can’t we?”

“So if Sarah had a really close guy friend, you wouldn’t even be a little suspicious?”

“How could I be? Especially if she had a friendship before we even met. If someone new came into her life and she all of a sudden was giving all her free time to them, then okay, I’d be suspicious. It’s just me, you know me.”

“She told me if we fought over this again then she’d be done with me…” Harry starts to tear up. “She’s really mad.”

“Do you blame her? Put it to rest. You have nothin’ to worry about when it comes to the two of us. At the end of the day, I’m sure it was you who she wanted to be curled up with and comforted by. I wasn’t steppin’ in as her boyfriend for the day either. I’m her friend and I was there for her, that’s it.”

“Okay.” He takes a deep breath. “I’m not gonna risk losin’ her over this, so I just need to get over myself.”

“Just don’t jump to the worst conclusion. I have nothin’ but the purest intentions.” Harry runs a hand through his hair.

“She made me sleep in the guest room last night.”

“Good, yeh didn’t deserve to sleep next to her.” He nudges him.

“I really am sorry. I was being ungrateful. I’m happy you’re right across the street, it’s the whole reason we moved there. She wanted to be closer to you. Probably for situations like yesterday.” He sighs. “I’ve not been a good friend.”

“You know what we need. We need a boy’s weekend. The weather’s gettin’ nicer. You, me, and Lou should all go campin’ like old times.”

“Man…that actually sounds like a good idea.”

“We could go memorial day weekend. Then the girls could get together too so no one would be alone.”

“I’ll run it by Y/N, send something in the group chat to see what Lou thinks. He could probably use the weekend away too.”

The two stand up and hug.

“Awwwww.” Sarah says and they look at each other.

“Were you listenin’ the entire time?” Niall asks.

“I couldn’t help it! I didn’t know if you two were gonna try to kill each other.” She smiles. “Group hug?”

“Jesus, c’mere.” Harry opens an arm up for her.

“You better go fix things with Y/N.”

“M’gonna. She should be back from walkin’ the dog now anyways.”

You were sitting on the sofa with Buster when Harry got back. He approaches you slowly.

“Um, hi.”

“Hello.”

“I apologized to Niall.”

“And did you mean it?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“I feel really bad for makin’ you so up set. I’m-“

“Harry, is it all done now? Are we done with this entire subject?”

“Yes.” He sighs.

“Okay, then we’re good.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” He comes to sit next to you.

“You sound a lot better.”

“I took a decongestant.” You both pet the puppy. “I feel a lot better actually.” You start blushing.

“That’s good.”

“Like, a lot better.” You put Buster on the floor and crawl into his lap. You nuzzle your nose against his neck.

“Wanna make up?” You smile against him and start kissing his neck. “I’ll take that as a yes.” You bite down on his skin harshly and suck. “Ah, shit.” He holds you close to him as you suck harder. You come off him and rub your thumb over the mark.

“I don’t wanna fuck in front of the dog, bring me to the bedroom.”

Harry picks you up and brings you to the room. Buster makes his way to his dog bed. Harry lays you down, and looks at you. You caress his face.

“What is it?”

“I just…can’t believe I was doin’ somethin’ that was enough to make you leave me.” He starts to tear up and you sit up on your knees to pull his head to your chest.

“I should not have said that. I’m sorry, I won’t ever say something like that again. I just hate that we kept having the same fight, I was so frustrated. I love you so much, Harry. I’ll never leave you.” You looks up at you with red and puffy eyes.

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

He kisses you, cupping your face in his hands. You tug at him as you lay back. One of his hands moves to knead of your breasts.

“Can we just be sweet on each other tonight? I missed yeh so much last night, I wanna be as close as possible.”

“Whatever you wanna do, doll.”

You strip each other of your clothes. Harry lays down all the way and lays your body on top of his. He licks at your core while you pump him, rubbing your thumb over his slit. You wrap your lips around him just as his tongue goes up inside you. The groan from your throat causes him to buck his hips up. His tongue swirls all around you and laps up at your wetness.

“Hold on.” He says. “I don’t wanna come yet.” You pop off him and lay down next to him.

“What do you wanna do now? That was feeling really good.”

“I wanna just slip inside you and stay there.”

“Okay.”

Harry hovers over you, and slips inside. You both moan at the contact. He doesn’t move, he just stays there. You stick your tongue out slightly and he meets it with his. You wrap your legs around him as the kiss deepens. He nips at your jaw and works his way to your neck.

“Ah.” One of your hands grips at his hair, and the other finds one of his hands so you can intertwine your fingers. He licks over the spot the spot he’s sucking on to soothe it, and moves onto another area of your neck.

He was kissing all over you and you loved it. His free hand moves to rub your slit. He starts with soft, slow circles. He looks at you and sees your lips are parted and your eyes are scrunched up. His thumb keeps working your clit, agonizingly slow.

“Harry.” You moan. You start tightening around him. He grits his teeth, but he keeps doing what he’s doing. “That feels so good.”

“You’re so wet.” He kisses on your collar bone and nips at the skin.

You tighten around him again as he rubs you just right. Your toes start to curl and you clench around him the tightest you have.

“Harry, ah, I’m gonna come.” You start thrashing underneath him, but he holds you in place. You squeeze the hand of his that you’re holding.

He feels you flutter and pulsate around him, and his cock throbs and twitches inside you.

“Shit, shit, shit.” He groans.

You both moan loudly as you come at the same time.

“God, that felt so good.” You say pushing his hair out of his face.

“I didn’t mean to come, I’m sorry. I could just really feel all of you coming it was incredible.” He kisses you and pulls out.

“Harry?”

“Yeah?”

“Do that thing I like…”

He smirks at you and sticks his middle and forefinger inside you before his come can spill out. Usually he pulls out right away and sticks them right in your mouth, but he starts pumping in and out of you.

“What, what are you doing?” You start panting.

“You didn’t really think we were done did you?”

“Fuck.” Your head rolls back into your pills as he pumps faster. “Flip me over, do it from behind.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. You two were making a mess, but neither of you cared. He fingers you from behind and it feels amazing.

“Want your cock again Harry, please, need it so bad.” He pumps himself a few times, and pulls his fingers out. You look at him over your shoulder and open your mouth.

“Fuck.” He says as you suck on his fingers. “Love it when you do that.” You lick your lips when he takes his fingers away.

“Put it in, fuck me up.”

His eyes grow wild. He lines you up with his tip and he thrusts inside. He hits bottom right away.

“God, that’s it.” You moan. “Fuck me, Harry.”

He pulls in and out harder and faster. You clutch at the blankets. His fingers press brusies into your hips. You loved how you two could go from having such a sweet, intimate moment to just be absolutely rough with each other. You push back against him and he groans. He gives your bum a harsh smack and your back arches.

Harry reaches around to grab your throat and pulls you back to him, back flush with his chest. Your head rests on his shoulder, and he uses his other hand to rub your clit while he rocks in and out of you. He keeps a firm grip on your throat. The lack of oxygen to your brain just adding to the intensity of the feeling he was giving your throbbing center. He feels you start to tighten around him again.

You gasp as you come and he loosens his grip on you so you can get some air. His thrusts slow and he kisses your temple. You lean back down on your elbows as he fucks into you even harder.

“Fill me up again, please.”

“Want me to come?”

“Yes, want you to feel so good.”

You tighten around him and he loses it, filling you up for the second time tonight. He collapses next to you after he pulls out.

“Love you so fuckin’ much.” He yanks you onto his chest.

“Love you too.” You kiss him tenderly.

“I’m sorry I’m such an idiot. I’d never do somethin’ to jeopardize all this again.”

“Harry, it’s okay. Please, I don’t want you to start worrying about be going anywhere. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, no one else I’d rather be with.”

“Sweet girl.” He says, moving some hair out of your face. “I wish I could’ve been with you and the baby more this weekend.”

“Me too.”

“I would’ve taken such good care of you too. I would’ve made that noodle soup you like, and wrapped you up in a blanket, and just cuddled you all day.”

“Mm, that sounds really nice.” You nuzzle against him. “You always make things so cozy, Harry.”

His arms tighten around you, and suddenly you just don’t care about anything bad that happened. You two could get through anything as long as you kept trying. The good with Harry always outweighed the bad. Everything was worth it when you got to these moments. When he was just hold you and caress you. A proper cuddle with Niall was nice, but nothing was better than being wrapped in Harry’s strong, tattooed arms.

[moonfox281]

Can you make a fic about John having his friend Jensen over to his house? Ya know, mobwife! Au? And John being so nervous while Dick and Jason try to embarrass him in front of his friend

“Can I get a friend over?”

John dropped the question right before dinner, right when the table was about to be ready.

“A friend?” Dick asked, then quickly gasped. “A girlfriend?!”

“No, what the fuck? I said friend. Jensen!”

“5 bucks, buddy.” Jason grabbed the swear jar and handed it over to John’s face. Dick’s customized “swear jar”, it was. It used to be just a real jar made off from an old jam jar, but since it was Jason and John living in the house, it soon turned into a whole casserole pot. Dick so far had contributed 12 dollars.

“And you want him over for…”

“Homework, what else can it be? I’ve got buttloads of homework and an exam next week and I’m not letting any douchebag in my class laugh at me again.”

“Just homework, huh?” Jason smirked.

“Ye...yeah? Can you make it sound less gay, or bi, or whatever? I have a thing for boobs and a girl I’ve crushed for over a year? He’s got no boobs and a dick.”

“Yeah, Dickie here used to be surrounded by boobs, and guess where he landed? Me. I have a dick too.”

Dick whacked Jason in the head with the kitchen towel and pushed the plates onto his hands. “Stop messing with him and get the table ready.” And then he slapped Jason’s hand off his butt.

“So can I have him like, over? Just aking, if you guys don’t want to we can go to a coffee-”

“No no no, have him over.” Dick put the clay pot down the middle of the table and suddenly froze. “On second thought, have him over the penthouse.”

“Good idea, have him over the penthouse so he can be the talk of the school the next day.”

“Pop!!!”

Dick whacked Jason in the head again. “Security first, remember?”

“It’s Jensen.”

“And we don’t want anything bad to happen to Jensen, do we?”

 Jason nodded. “You heard him.”

“But he’ll make fun of me!”

“I’ll make sure he gets something else to talk about other than the scale of our house.”

And Dick whacked Jason in the head with his palm, again.

“Okay, that’s it, I’ll just go to his house.”

“Stop worrying, Jason’s only joking. We’re not going to scare him away, he’s your only friend.”

“Yeah...wait, he’s not my only friend.” 

“Jefferson and Hank don’t count. Just because they slipped you into a bar behind my back and play football with you at the park every weekend, doesn’t make them your age-appropriate friends.”

“Dad took me into a bar too.”

“Oh did he?” Dick turned and glared at his husband, who cowardly held the plates and cutleries and ran away. 

_______________________________________________________

When Jensen got a text from John about the address, he thought he was hallucinating. Last time he checked, his best friend was living in Crime Alley, not rolling around on the floor on top of one of Gotham’s biggest skyscrapers penthouse. 

They even got their own elevator, and a hotline number down the reception desk. And that elevator even had a hand scan lock.

And that son of a bitch said he didn’t go to school by a limo!

The elevator music was Death of a Bachelor. Once Jensen got out, there was a lounge with a red velvet couch, glass table, dark wood furniture and Persian carpet. Not even meeting the owners yet and Jensen had already felt like leaving.

There was a door. He came to it, intended to knock when the door opened on its own.

“Hello there.”

It was Richard Grayson.

Oh fucking God. It was Richard Grayson. And Richard Grayson was the loudest pretty face Jensen had ever ever met.

He was so beautiful it felt like he was slapping people in the face with those soft kind eyes. 

“Nice to see you, again.”

Jensen stayed frozen on his feet, because that was what a sensible person did when facing Richard Grayson, right? He looked even more gorgeous up close. But of course, Jensen was more than just sensible, he was the cool action guy that got a lot more up their sleeves than what they flashed outside. He collected himself fast enough and leaned over with his forearm on the frame.

Okay, it looked way cooler in his head, which he kinda accidentally picture Richard Grayson was shorter than him, and in reality, he wasn’t.

“I...um...I’m Jesen, you probably...uh, don’t remember me.”

“Of course I remember you. You’re John’s friend.”

“Really?” Oh god, he was so sweet. And his teeth, they were so...white.

“And you’re the kid that got knocked out by a softball in the middle of PE. I held your head to stop your nosebleed.” 

Okay, Jensen was going home now.

“Dude!” 

John jumped out from behind his father’s back. It was just the start of last year that he was still the scrawny kid with a shady attitude and hid himself in the corner of the classroom like a bat in a cave. Look at him now, a reserve midfielder standing head to head with his dad with his bare arms out in that rolled up Queen tee and a big dick energy. He looked like one of those guys who used to tuck Jesen in the locker room, even though he was now the one scaring off those guys. 

Puberty hit him like a Superman punch. 

“Whatcha doing out there? Get in.”

John’s hot father smiled down at him and left the door. When John came over, he looked like he wanted to punch Jensen in the face.

“Quit it or I punch you in the face.”

He knew his best friend.

“Look, I’ve got enough straight people being bent like an elastic ruler by pop. And I kinda don’t want you on the list behind my dad’s gun...”

“Haha, that’s funny. Relax, he’s your dad.” Even when he was such a DILF.

“Okay. That wasn’t a joke though.”

He really got Jensen with the serious face he put on.

The house looked like it was scraped off from some lousy pages of Fifty Shades.  Shoes off wooden floor, lights everywhere, and a whole lot of windows. Half of the place was literally glass. The living room alone looked bigger than their school cafeteria. 

Great, his best friend turned out to live a Great Gatsby life behind his back and he couldn’t even let Jensen borrow his Xbox. 

“Dude, my room. Come one.”

Jensen quit staring and followed his friend’s feet. “Dude, last time I checked, your house was in Crime Alley.”

“No, it’s not. You checked it wrong.”

“The fuck? So you just round Crime Alley for fun then jump back to Diamond District?”

“No, I go to Crime Alley to sell drugs then fly my way back here with my own chopper parked on top of this building.”

“Really?”

“No, you fucking idiot!”

“I heard that!” John’s father's voice echoed back from somewhere in the house. Literally, this place was so massive Jensen couldn’t remember where he had passed through. There were so many doors, and everywhere was either white or wood cover walls, or full glass windows. And it was a particularly sunny day in Gotham, the lights just hit Jensen right in the face. 

“So, where’s your other dad?”

“He’s out shopping… Why do you care about my dad?”

Okay, if he had to admit to himself, Jensen must say John’s dad left a very striking impression to him the last time they met. 

“I like him.”

John burst out laughing. “Yeah, no shit. You won’t be liking him once you get to know him.” And then he muttered something else under his breath that Jensen couldn’t hear.

“What? He seems cool, but nice.” Way cooler than Jensen’s dad, to be frank. He had nothing against his dad, but his old man didn’t exactly sport a leather jacket and kicked off a Hummer bumper looking like he was cool with running over people and got away with it. 

His own dad was a lawyer and served his time and energy to people that got run over by people like John’s dad, and lost. 

“What’s he buying?”

“Dinner grocery- Okay, that’s it. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Dude, the father of my best friend is Richard Grayson, who secretly married an attractive mysterious man and now you’re living in a penthouse and your grandfather is Bruce Wayne. I may or may not about to fail PE but I'd be dumber than those football jocks to not be curious.”

“Dude, is this why you begged me to come over to my house? For this shit?”

“That’s Richard Grayson!” Jensen shouted back under his breath.

“That’s it. Get in.”

John shoved Jensen into his room and shouted “Don’t fucking get out!” before slamming the door shut. If Jensen wasn’t so distracted by his room, he would have probably shouted back something.

His room was probably bigger than Jensen’s family living room. No, not probably. Definitely. 

Ah, he knew John was the Patriot kind of guy. The number of blue posters in his room. He had a three monitors setup, which had looked so cool until Jensen turned on his feet and caught a bed full of clothes. 

Dude… 

He was no better than Jensen at all.

He was about to go look around, when there was a huffing sound coming from somewhere inside the room. He turned round and round on his feet, trying to work out what the hell was that sound, until he saw something came out from under the bed…

“UAaahhhhhhh!!!”

Jensen rammed headfirst on John’s dad when he zoomed across the hallway.

“Jensen! What’s wrong?”

“There’s a lion inside the house!”

“A what!?”

And just because his luck was shitty, the thing had run after him too. Jensen threw all his pride out of the window and jumped behind John’s father’s back. 

“That!” He pointed his finger on the furry thing.

“That? Oh, there you are.” John’s father laughed and knelt down on his knee, calling the thing over. “Have you slept in John’s room again, my cutie bear?”

The thing rubbed his head over John’s father’s hand. And for crap sake, it was even bigger than him.

“Jensen, this isn't a lion. This is Beast.”

“Beast?”

“Yes, our family’s dog. He’s a Tibetan Mastiff.”

“He doesn’t look like a dog.”

“What are you saying? He’s the cutest thing ever. Aren’t you boy?”

Okay, John’s dad was hotter than a Christmas turkey fresh out of the oven, but there was something seriously wrong with his eyes.

That thing he was petting, was a deadly creature of hell. 

The dog suddenly barked and ran off. Jensen swore a part of his soul had left his body.

“Oh, Jason’s home. Let’s go down.”

They went downstairs after the dog. Halfway down the staircase, Jensen saw him, finally. There was no leather jacket this time, only a long coat. If he had looked like a cool biker last time they met, then this time, he looked more like a businessman. More like someone’s farther. 

“Honey, John. I’m home.” He shouted while setting the grocery bags down the floor to pet the dog. 

He looked even bigger, up close. Jensen hurt his neck trying to take a good look at him. Slicked back hair, black and grey from head to toes, gold watch, and gloves. That was so unfair, not only did he look like an attractive killer, but he also dressed better than two-third of the people in this city.

“Hey, Jay.” John’s father went over and went on his tiptoes to kiss his...well, other father. Okay, now Jensen understood why John addressed his fathers by name sometimes, this got really confusing.

“This is Jensen.”

His father pulled off his gloves and smirked. “Hey, young man. You’re having fun?”

“Ye...yes sir.” Jensen blurted out of nowhere. Okay, he did not mean that! 

Both of them stared at Jensen like he had grown a second head. 

“Okay…” He glanced at his husband and pushed a bag onto his hands. “How about you help me bring this in the kitchen. Straight to the living room then turn right.”

That was a save. The last thing Jensen needed was embarrassing himself even more, so he dashed into the kitchen without looking back.

Surprise surprise, he found John there.

“Dude! I told you to stay in my fucking room!”

“Excuse me, asshead. There’s a fucking lion under your bed! And everyone is OKAY with it! What the hell is wrong with your family?!”

“First of all, Beast is a beauty, don’t you fucking dare insult him. Second, you’re the one that begged to come here. You think I want you drooling over my dad and then soon get a blood and bullet talk from my other dad?”

“Why… just, why do you always have to say it like your dad is a serial killer?! Just because I like your dad doesn't mean you have to act like he’s the fucking Red Hood.”

“Oh ho no, you fucking take that back.”

Outside the living room, Jason and Dick hid behind a wall poking their heads in watching the two boys screaming their necks at each other.

“Are they fighting in the kitchen?”

“They are fighting in the kitchen.”

“I have frozen berries and fishes to put away and they’re screaming and swearing in the kitchen.”

“At this point, the swear jar’s gonna earn John enough for a convertible.”

Dick shrugged. “Or two minivans.”

“Haha, right… You’re not gonna actually buy our son two minivans instead of a convertible, right?”

“It’s money from a swear jar. It’s supposed to be a punishment.”

Jason looked back and gulped. “Babe, the fishes need to go now. Beast is sniffing through the bags.”

“Break them off then.”

“What am I supposed to do? Pretend the house is on fire?”

“We have an automatic fire distinguisher system. That’s not gonna work. Pretend you want to show him your gun collection, also, give him a talk about alcohol and drugs. You know kids this age.”

“Dick, I’m starting to think you want me to play the bad guy. Is it not enough with our alter egos?”

“What are you talking about? The JL loves you.”

Yeah, they loved Jason so bad they sprayed holy water after each step he took inside their facility. The Lanterns called them Hades and Persephone behind their backs, for Christ's sake.

“Honey, I think Beast took one of the fishes out. Beast, buddy, spit that out. Yours are in the freezer.”

“Alright, that’s it.”

Jason walked into the kitchen just in time when the boys had each other’s collar by their fists. Great, boys would be boys, they said. Well, boys would be animals if not educated, he said.

Nobody got to bleed in that kitchen except for Jason.

“Gym room, now.”

Jensen looked over John. “You guys have a gym room?”

“Oh just shut the fuck up.”

Jason pushed the swear jar at John’s face before hushing both of the boys out of the kitchen. On the way, he held Jensen’s head with both his hands just so the boy didn’t see how Dick sweet-talked Beast to give him back the fish in his mouth.

________________________________________

It wasn’t until all three of them stood frozen staring at each other in the gym room that Jason realized he had no idea how to handle this situation. 

Usually Dick was blessed in this category, and Jason’s best impression in loosening the knot was pulling out the gun and turning all attention on him.

“So um… you play anything, Jensen?”

The boy looked over John like he was begging for help before answering. “Overwatch and LOL...”

“He meant sport, dumbass.”

“Oh… not really...”

“Huh, so you’re the bullied kind.”

“Dad!”

“What? I’m just being honest. You looked like the type that gets squeezed in a locker or gets clothes stolen after PE.”

Okay, John wasn’t going to admit it aloud, but both of those had happened to Jensen before.

“Don’t get offended by it, okay? John used to lock himself in the bathroom for 30 minutes before he figured out the door opens the other way.”

“Oh.My.God. Dad!!!”

“What? It’s not even half as embarrassing as the time you got in the washing machine just because you saw 10 bucks in there and the door slammed shut so Dick had to get you out.”

“Okay now you’re doing this on purpose. Pop!!!”

Jason was pretty sure it was Dick John was calling on top of his lungs. And yep, it was Dick running at the door a few seconds later.

“Who died?” was the first thing he said. When nobody seemed to be dying, he put a hand over his chest and waved off them like they had jumped scared him. “God, it’s just you three? You made me think grandfather bought Walmart or something.”

All four of them stared at each other. And the first thing Jensen could think of when he turned over to his best friend, was pity.

“Dude, you’re gonna die a virgin.”

_________________________________________

Lunch was grilled tilapia on lemon, chicken salad, soybean paste soup and cold noodles, with a blueberry New York cheesecake for dessert. Okay, that was what John’s dad said. Jensen didn’t even know what the hell was a tilapia until he tasted it. 

One more thing Jensen learned today, rich people equal healthy home-cooked diets. Honestly, tofu had never tasted that great in his life until now.

“So, um, you’re a stay-at-home dad, Mr. Grayson?”

John’s dad smiled and took a sipped of his white wine. The way he drank oozed refinement of someone who lived on the top of the hierarchy. “It does seem like that, doesn’t it? No, actually I’m not. I’m on the board of advisory for Wayne Foundation.”

Wayne Foundation. Of course he was in Wayne Foundation. 

“Really? That’s so cool. My parents and I have come over the building sometimes. It’s always a change of sight in the urban area.”

“Well, it conveys its positioning even on the visual aspect. I only visit the office every now and then though, I mostly take care of things at home.”

“Wow, that’s so admirable. So, what do you do?” 

John’s other dad coughed a little when the question hit. Jensen wasn’t being rude, was he?

“Don’t choke on your food, honey.” Mr. Grayson gave his husband a smile that raised a little hair down the back of Jensen’s neck.

“Well, how do I explain… I take care of shipments and cargoes, in and out of this city and some others.”

“You mean, like, trade and logistics?”

“Yes, somewhat like that. I’m surprised, not a lot of kids your age know those terms of words.”

“Dad, he’s half Asian. Not knowing something is kinda insulting.”

“Yeah right, who am I kidding. He’s not you, I’m sure iGEM couldn’t be easier than separating red and white in a laundry batch, right?”

John turned beet red in a second. Jensen wasn’t sure how to react to that. But, because he was a good person with a kind heart and the will of a hero, he decided to save his best friend's ass.

“So, what do you take care of mostly?” And they were back on the game.

John’s dad coughed again, this time he relaxed himself by chunking down his glass. “Substance…. Medicines. All good things in life. I help the medical industry a lot. And also...adult...limited... equipment.”

Adult limited equipment? He didn’t mean sex toys, right?

This time it was Mr. Grayson choking in his drink. 

“Aaand also I run a liquor shop. That’s right, I have a liquor shop, a French restaurant, a motel, two garages and a newspaper booth. And also an instruction compan-Ouch!”

What the…

“Nothing. I just...bit on my own tongue...” He glanced over to Mr. Grayson, who calmly ate his food like he wasn’t even interested in the conversation. 

“...I thought you work in trade and logistics.”

“A man can multitask, young man.”

“That much?”

“Hey, nothing is impossible if you know how to dream big and work hard.”

“Wow, that’s so inspiring...Hold on, last time John told me you work in the supply sector.”

“Okay, who’s ready for dessert?”

__________________________________________

Lunch was a disaster. If grandpa suddenly visiting with an out of character announcement and a heart to heart talk was a third-degree disaster, this was a fifth-degree.

Now not only John was gonna die a virgin, he was gonna die a lonely virgin. 

Now that they found peace in John’s room and finally, finally, got to studying, a new problem arose.

Was it John or Jensen was being too cool with everything?

“Jensen,”

“Hold on, I’m wrestling with number 9 on Earth Science.”

“You already got to number 9?”

“Hey, I skipped 5 and 7.”

See, he was acting totally normal. And that got John’s pants all twisted. 

He thought about it, really. If he was Jensen, he would be taking this so easily like this. It was just the other day when he half-joked about wanting to visit one of the Wayne Towers… Well, now he had skipped all the steps and jumped his ass on the penthouse on top of one of those buildings. 

John was still fidgeting for his words when there was a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Papa came in all dressed up with orange slices, ice creams and juices. “I hope you guys can catch a break.”

“Thank you, Mr. Grayson.”

“Don’t stress too much. John, if there’s anything too difficult, just call Aunt Babs or Uncle Tim, okay?”

“Okay.”

Jensen pulled John over and whispered in his ears. “By Uncle Tim, did he mean Timothy Drake? The ex W.E CEO?”

“Yeah, that’s my uncle.”

Papa went over to ruffle his head. “You and Dad take care of dinner tonight, roger? I forgot some papers at the penthouse so I have to go get them now. After that, I have a meeting at Wayne Tower until 7, so I’d probably be home late.”

“Okay.”

“You two have fun. And Jensen,”

“Yes?”

“You just tell my husband whenever you want to go home. He’ll send someone.”

He shut the door just in time for the two of them to hear him calling after Dad asking if the car had arrived. Next to John, Jensen’s eyes were glowing.

Ah, here they went again.

“He looks like he just walked off a runway.”

Okay, on his defense, Papa was a model every now and then.

“How many penthouses do you guys have?”

“Well, just this one and the one top of the Wayne Foundation buil...Hey, I know whatcha doing!”

“What I’m doing?”

“Yeah, that’s right motherfucker. You’ve been hiding it this whole time, but you’re secretly running through your head right. This and that and oh his dad is so handsome, his dog is so big and his other dad looks like the kind of guy who walks off an exploding car with a smoke in his mouth. Well listen here, you can snip those to Gotham Gazette or those Gotham Knight wannabes or whoever you want, my pop is a goddess and Beast is my boy, and my dad can parallel park his Hummer with his legs. Say whatever you want, I may be Princess Mia and you may be Lily, but you’re my Lily! You stick through this shit till the end, you hear me?”

John literally poured his heart out that his head was spinning a little. 

“Did you just refer us as The Princess Diaries?”

“You- you only got that?”

“Dude, you watch The Princess Diaries!?”

“Shut up! My dad made me!” He didn’t. Sorry, dad.

“Can you calm down first?”

“You calm down. I am calm!”

“Why are you yelling!”

And just when John was about to scream back, his dad stuck his head in by the door.

“I knocked, no one listened. You know I can hear you from across the hall, right?”

“Daaaaad!”

“Okay okay, geez.”

Once his dad left, they immediately forgot what to say. It was a break of flow, and John honestly didn’t know if it was a good thing or bad thing. So when Jensen picked up his Earth Science papers and fixed his throat, John knew they were back on the usual pace.

About an hour or two later, when John was biting his nails for a question, Jesen suddenly broke the silence.

“I don’t care, you know.”

John blinked. He almost thought he had heard it wrong . “What?”

“I don’t care about...well, all of this. I don’t have to come here to know you live a different world than mine. Your dad is a celebrity, J, and your other dad.... Well, whoever or whatever he does. I don’t care. You’re kind to me, and you’ve stayed kind even when you can have gone and become one of those guys at our school. But you didn’t, so if you don’t change, why should I?”

John lost his words. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Jensen, it just that… this was a lot to take in. Not even including the vigilantes part, Papa being who he was, Dad being who he was, and them being together and taking John in and giving him all of...this. It sure felt like the universe coming all at once for him. It still put him at daze thinking this was his life from now on in some sleepless nights. 

So he didn’t expect much from his friend. He couldn’t have. 

Guess he must have thought too little of Jensen.

“By the way, your toilet looks more expensive than my healthcare.”

Okay, John took it back. 

“Does this mean you’re gonna forget about the 20 bucks?”

“Oh hey, you owe me 20 bucks, asshole.”

“Oh come one, you live in a castle on the sky, just forget about it.”

“That’s not even my money. My parents gave me that.”

“Right… Hey,”

“Yeah?”

“Did I ever tell you I went to iGEM last year?”

John snorted.

“What’s an iGEM?”

___________________________________

Jason washed his face and came back with a warm towel. Dick laid spread on the bed, heaving. Just one of those rare nights they went to patrol on peaceful streets and got off early. Well, they better spend the spare energy for some quality time before hitting the bed for real, right?

“Water?”

Dick sat up and leaned over the headboard. “Thank you.”

He drank with eagerness when Jason cleaned him. He had to change the sheet after this. 

“You okay?” 

“Yeah.”

“Still hot?” He swiped Dick’s hair back and checked his forehead.

“Not anymore.” Dick set the bottle down and suddenly grabbed on his arm, pulling him down. The dry towel he set on the table was snatched and flopped on his head. 

Jason knew this cue, so he slipped off the bed, hung Dick’s legs on his shoulders and kissed his thigh as Dick dried his hair. There was a hickey there, just on his calf, what a shame he had to wear pants.

“You slipped today, did you know?”

“Well, gotta give that kid something to think about on the way home.”

“You didn’t have too.” Oh, but the way Dick said it made Jason understand he was smiling mischievously behind his back.

“You know, he’s a very nice kid.”

“I know. The best our punk can have in that school. This is exactly what we wanted for John, you know. Having a nerd friend, crushing over girls, getting bullied and going on fistfights and growing up from all of that. He’s had enough when he was on the street, I wanted him to at least live like a kid for a time. Gotham Academy may sound fancy, but he doesn’t belong there, just like I never did, he’s not gonna get to be a child among those silver spoon licking pricks.”

Dick stopped his hands and touched his cheek, looking down from where he sat on the bed. “I was one of those pricks, you know? The children aren’t...wrong. They just never get to live their ages.”

“I guess being born with a million-dollar last name means you come out of the womb with a speech instead of crying.”

Dick wiggled his toes when he hummed an old Romanian lullaby, the one Jason never knew the name, but remembered every melody. He used to sing this song whenever it rained big enough outside for nightmares to creep in, now? Simply feeling the familiar warmth by his side, did the trick. 

“You know, I never liked the Academy.”

“Really?” That was surprising to know. All the kids at the school never shut up about him.

“Yeah, some kids there were mean, and their parents were even worse. They used to call names behind my back, Circus freak, Gypsy boy, Esmeralda...”

“I’m not even sure if Esmeralda is an insult.”

“You should have seen the Principal’s face when Bruce threatened to cut down financial support if he couldn’t get the situation handled. And things would look worse on papers, right? A billionaire filing a complaint about his son’s study, doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, it’ll be bad for the school. So of course, Bruce was being Bruce, and him doing that only made the situation worse.”

“So what did you do?”

Dick leaned down and kissed his hair. “Nothing. I changed, made friends, became one of them. I survived.” 

Jason took the towel off his shoulder and climbed over his husband. Dick’s stomach was warm, his muscle was decent, but not too hard. Jason’s personal body pillow, very good to heal the soul.

“I won’t let anything like that happen to our John.”

“I know. But when it comes, let it come. I want John to understand how this world works. The sooner he learns, the less painful it will get.”

“It’s like learning Superman is scared of rock.”

“Oh leave Clark out of this. He could be listening.”

“Yeah? Well, I have a better idea.” Jason opened the drawer and took out a condom. “Why don’t we, let’s say, scare him away?”

Dick huffed but he rested his naked leg on Jason’s shoulder. “So young, but that’s a debatable idea.”

The night was still young, just like they were too.

[daisies-write]

Hi Ari! Emm I hope you are doing well.

I have a hedgehog so what about clas 1-A with a friend that has that type o of pet in the dorm or just Todoroki, Bakugo and kirishima react to a S/O with a hedgehog if it is easier .

Make sure to eat,sleep and drink water! Take care!

🤡anon.

Reactions to S/O with a pet hedgehog

Todoroki Shoto x reader; Bakugou Katsuki x reader; Kirishima Eijiro x reader

First of all, how could you tell me you have a cute pet and not send pictures >:0 

And second of all, yes, I’m doing good, thanks for asking :D

Anyways, here’s your fic, I hope you enjoy it! 

Requested by: 🤡 anon

TW: none

Writer: Ari

Word count: 668

Todoroki Shoto

Todoroki hasn’t seen you all day

Until you suddenly burst into his room

And dragged him all the way to yours 

“Where are we going-” “Shush you need to see this” 

As he stands in front of the door, perplexed,  you very excitedly keep repeating “So? So?” while bouncing up and down next to him

“Your room looks very nice?” “...- Not the room silly, what’s in it!”

He looks around looking for something unusual, before his eyes zeroed in on the cage sitting on your desk.

“Isn’t she the cutest thing?!” you exclaim

Cue Todoroki beginning to lecture you on impulsively getting a pet 

To which you reply that you’ve always wanted one, and have done the necessary research, but your mom didn’t let you get one, so you kinda took advantage of the fact you are now living in a dorm but that’s besides the point.

You guys spend the rest of the afternoon bonding with your new, adorable hedgehog

Once you let out your hedgehog of her cage, and placed her on the floor, she sniffed a bit, before suddenly zooming around, trying to explore every corner of your room

“I’m naming her Sonic-”

You were blessed with the sight of your little hedgehog sniffing Todoroki’s hand, who had a small smile on his face (Needless to say, you took a picture)

“You’re a dad now Shoto, how does it feel?” 

The look of confusion mixed with worry on his face made you burst out laughing-

Bakugou Katsuki

He first met your pet when you guys decided to have a study session in your room

You had talked to him about your pet before your class moved into the dorms on your walk home

 “Oh, by the way, you got a twin brother” and showed him a picture on your phone

His “twin brother” was apparently this grumpy-looking hedgehog

(It truly is a good thing you can run fast-)

But this was their first “official” meeting 

Unsurprisingly, the guy just glanced in your pet’s direction for a split second, before plopping down and getting to work

You were disheartened, to say the least

You were used to everyone fawning and gushing over your Cactus (it made you feel like a proud parent) 

You pestered him and subtly-not -so-subtly dropped hints while you did your homework

But gave up after finding out that neither worked, and decided to focus on your homework instead

After a while, you got hungry

So you leave the room to go grab snacks from the dorm’s kitchen

When you where done, you head back to your room 

The door was slightly open, so you noticed something before going in

Hiding your grin, you enter the room

Bakugou was right were you *cough cough* left him 

So you decide to say nothing for now, and start mindlessly munching on your snacks 

But when he was leaving, you tell him:

“You know, if you want to pet Cactus, you need to let him get used to you”

Kirishima Eijiro

When you were doing the room tours, you introduced everyone to your pet

“Everyone, I would like you to meet Butterball!”

Everyone thought she was adorable

But Kirishima got a soft spot for your pet and is now the second owner, you don’t get a say

He will think it is the manliest pet ever

The two will bond, like instantly

“But it took me a week to get Butterball to trust me-”

Will randomly get toys for your pet

Expect him to sometimes pop up to check on her 

(You gave him a spare key so that he didn’t have to keep standing in front of the door like a lost puppy)

Was so proud of her when she went through her first quilling and collected the little quills (he cried a little too-)

Once you found Kirishima calming Butterball down cause she was afraid of the thunderstorm

She was on his lap and he was just making sure she felt safe

You fell in love harder that day-

All in all, it’s really fun playing with those two, and you thought it was really sweet how close they are :’)

[dejayoonw]

the most  |  taeyoonseok

part five: runaway

word count: 4k

song rec: runaway by eric nam

taglist: @purelyecstacy @joonies-babyy @soulstaes @vantaescupid

—

"Good morning, guys." you said groggily to the camera, rubbing your eyes to rid them of the sleep resting in the inner corners.

"Today I have plans with Hoseok, I mean Jhope from my last vlog. I think we’ve decided to go to a theme park since it's supposed to be really nice outside and I haven't been in so long. He says he hates rides but maybe we can get him on a few." you laugh remembering the conversation you had trying to convince him to promise to ride at least one ride at the park.

Over the last week you'd been texting Hoseok nonstop and even had a few late night phone calls. You couldn't lie and say you weren't excited for this date even if you were nervous and a bit confused. Hoseok turned out to be even sweeter than you thought, if that were possible. You’d really started to like him and that worried you, because your feelings for Taehyung had not changed.

You explained more about your plans for the day and that Jungkook was sitting this video out but would still be editing while you got ready, doing your hair and makeup in front of the camera. You let your viewers 'help' you pick out an outfit and ended the first clip when you finished cooking your breakfast.

"You know for someone who isn't sure if they even like the guy they're going on a date with you sure do look nice." Jin commented, helping himself to some of the fruit on your plate. You rolled your eyes at his remark. Since you and Hoseok had been getting along so well all week Jin had been teasing you any chance he got, you knew he did it out of love and was more than likely just trying to make you more comfortable.

"You're hilarious Jin and as much as I'd love for you to share your wit with the world I do like Hoseok so when he gets here if you'd please not do anything to embarrass me I would really appreciate it."

"Hey! Me? Embarrassing? I can't believe you'd accuse me of such a thing. I'm hurt, Yn, truly." Jin never failed to make you laugh and even though you were partly serious you let it go, knowing while he loved to mess with you he'd never do anything to really mess something up for you. Jin was one of the best friends you'd had since moving to Seoul. While Tae was surely your best friend, you were grateful you got the opportunity to move and meet new people, even more so that Tae came with you even if he did go on his adventures from time to time.

Thinking of Tae sparked a feeling of guilt in the pit of your stomach that you'd had since Hoseok asked you on this date. You weren't sure why you felt that way but it was hard to ignore, even though Hoseok was proving to be a pretty good distraction. Maybe the guilt wasn't because you were betraying Tae but because deep down you felt like you were leading Hoseok on. You couldn't ever see yourself not having feelings for Taehyung, you couldn't even remember a time when you hadn't.

You still had every intention of being honest with Hoseok and that scared you a lot because truthfully you had gotten attached to him in a way you didn't expect. He was funny and sweet and you couldn't deny how attractive he was not to mention he actually liked you. Yet still in the back of your mind Taehyung consumed your thoughts. All week he'd been acting weird, being shorter in his replies when Hoseok was brought up, not being as supportive of the date as the rest of your friends, things that had you second guessing whether or not he could possibly reciprocate your feelings but then the memory from all those years ago would come rushing back and you wrote off any of those stupid thoughts as a figment of your imagination, or him being worried as a friend.

"Stop overthinking. You're going to have a good time today with someone new. Focus on that and don't stress about it, you'll get wrinkles." Jin said, pulling you from your thoughts. You smiled softly at him, nodding once and deciding to actually take his advice.

-

"Hoseok and I are on our way to the uber now and I'm starting to feel a little bad guys, he seems so scared." you moved so that the camera was on both you and Hoseok, showing your viewers the unamused expression Hoseok had been sporting since Jin told your date about all the rides you'd forced him on in the past.

"Don't overreact." he said, the look in his eyes going against the words he was saying. It was obvious he was scared but he wouldn't back out or ask to go somewhere else. You had already wondered if you should ask to change the location yourself and seeing the way his face fell the second the camera was off him was all the convincing you needed.

"You know I had a dream last night about that arcade that we went to for Jeongguk’s birthday last year, that place was so fun and I haven't been since." you said to the camera so your intentions wouldn't be so obvious. "Actually I'd really love to smoke Hoseok at DDR one day."

"Impossible, have you seen my moves?" he fired back making you laugh.

"I'm notoriously amazing at DDR though, I even beat Jin and that like, never happens." you paused to look over at him to find him already smiling down at you. In that moment you felt your heartbeat quicken at how close you two were, for some reason it hadn't really clicked that you were actually on a date until that moment. "Can we go there instead Hoseokie, please." you gave him your best puppy dog eyes to hide the fact that in all honesty you'd rather be outside today, but for some reason you didn't want to ever see him look so scared ever again.

"Is that really what you want to do?" he asked, eyes narrowed, seemingly knowing what you were up to but being too happy about the change of plans to want to argue. Not to mention what hearing you say his name in that tone was doing to him, he could actually feel a piece of his heart soften so much that it had fallen off into his ass. You nodded, still looking up at him with the cutest expression and he of course agreed. It wouldn't have mattered if you said you wanted to murder every firstborn male in Seoul because Hoseok would've agreed to anything you said.

When you got into the Uber Hoseok told the driver about the change in location and you filmed the two of you talking about the games you were going to play and who would win what. Joking with him came so naturally that you'd forgotten this was a first date and not a fiftieth. You were surprised at how comfortable you were the moment he walked through the door of your apartment and even got a little giddy seeing how well he got along with Seokjin.

-

You zoomed in on Hoseok at the front counter, purchasing your tokens then laughed when he turned around with four full cups, almost dropping them all when he nearly ran over a random child. He made his way to you with a blush on his face from the incident, your laughter calming him a bit. The two of you had already decided to start with DDR, both eager to try and destroy the other.

"What song are you going to do?" you asked, filming Hoseok in all his determined glory. He was careful to pick a song he thought would be easy and you'd both agreed to play on the hardest level. "Ooh house music that's going to be hard." you teased laughing at the glare he quickly shot you before his round began.

"Ah! This is hard!" he looked genuinely shocked at the difficulty of the game and you almost couldn't even hold the camera still with how much you were laughing.

"Try using your hands!" you told him, all but doubling over when he crouched down, smacking the squares to the beat of the song. He did start to get a bit better when he was using his hands but it was clear that the song he'd chosen was not a good one. Once it was your turn you passed the camera over to him and tried to ignore the butterflies knowing he didn't care so much about you vlogging your first date.

You'd both agreed not to specify to either of your viewers that this was in fact a date since neither of you knew where it would lead. When you thought about dating, which was rare since you really only thought of Tae, you always hoped you'd find someone that wasn't offended or intimidated by your lifestyle. Hoseok was far from either of those, in fact he seemed to enjoy it, making jokes and even helping you out with angles since you weren't exactly the best at that aspect of it hence the reason you had Jungkook.

"I'd just like to say I'm sorry in advance for how badly I'm about to beat you." you jokingly told him before pressing start on the game. You'd chosen the song you always had, in fact you knew it so well you'd practically memorized the steps.

"You said you hadn't been since Guk's birthday!" Hoseok complained, shocked by how good you were at the game. Sure you'd warned him, but he thought it was mostly just for the camera. While his ego was a tad bruised he couldn't ignore the way his heart fluttered watching you have such a good time. You finished with a score considerably higher than his and an adorable bow, standing up straight with a smile beautiful enough to make his heart skip a beat. He barely had time to recover when your hand grabbed his, dragging him to the racing games.

After a long discussion of whether you should do three rounds or one on the racing game Hoseok finally gave in and agreed to three, you sucked at the game but unfortunately you also sucked when it came to losing anything. Even though you'd somehow passed him during the second round you still lost that game in the end, Hoseok was a lot better at this game than he'd let on and you playfully accused him of hustling you regardless of the fact that there wasn't even money involved.

"I think we need to do something to tone down the competitivness in this vlog," you glanced around for something you knew you'd be able to just have fun with when you remembered the karaoke room they had. "Karaoke! That's perfect!"

"I'm down, but fair warning, my best friend is a professional producer and rapper, shoutout to AgustD." Hobi shamelessly promoting his friend on your channel was something you never thought would happen but you couldn't be mad, he was too cute.

"No way, you’re friends with him? Taehyungie loves him." you'd done well not thinking about him throughout the date, but it was only a matter of time.

"Ah he's the travel vlogger you're friends with right?" you smiled, happy that Hoseok knew of your best friend. Taehyungs only dream growing up was to travel the world and that's exactly what he's doing, and he's able to make a living doing it. Hearing that people know him just for doing something that he loves never fails to make you happy.

"Yeah, he's my best friend. I've known him since we were seven." it was hard to avoid the places your mind always wanted to go when Taehyung was mentioned but out of respect for Hoseok you were doing your best. You wanted to be honest about your feelings but you weren't sure when the right time would be. The car ride wouldn't have been right since you took an uber and you weren't alone. It was then you realized the two of you were alone in the karaoke room.

"That's great that you guys are still so close! It must be so cool being friends with someone for that long. Does he live with you and Jin?" you turned your camera off, turning all your attention to the conversation.

"Yeah, actually he and I moved here right out of school and met Jin through an add. Jin was accepting two roommates and we were the first and only ones he interviewed." you weren't sure how you were going to bring up your feelings for Tae, but you wanted it to come naturally.

"Well I hope I can meet him soon, I can introduce him to Yoongi too if he wants." you couldn't help but brighten up at the idea of Tae meeting someone he loved so much. You recalled the countless hours your best friend had kept you up making you listen to new songs by his favorite rapper on soundcloud.

"He would absolutely love that! You have no idea how much he loves his music I swear he never shuts up about it."

"This is going to sound so cheesy but hearing that he has such dedicated fans makes me so happy, like they're not my achievements but I'm almost more excited about his than I am my own." the more he spoke the more you realized just how similar the two of you were.

"Okay but no lie that is exactly how I felt earlier when you knew who Tae was." you confessed. you wondered if Hoseok had ever felt anything for Yoongi before, or if they were just really close. Either way it was clear that he cared about him.

"Wow, we're such good friends. They're so lucky to have us." you laughed at his jokes and agreed. Building up as much courage as you could you decided to finally spill your secrets and hoped that he wouldn't be angry with you.

“I've never felt as happy as when I'm with Taehyung, even just thinking about him puts me in such a good mood and it kind of makes everything confusing and difficult for me. I know this isn't really great first date etiquette but I'm actually so in love with him." you paused to let him take it all in. It was clear that you had caught him off guard but he didn't seem angry, at least not yet. Deep down you knew that he wouldn't be mean to you even if he was upset about it you could tell it wasn't in his nature to be mean. "I guess I just, I don't know I wanted to be honest with you because I really don't want to hurt you. You're such a great guy and honestly I really do like you so much, I just also happen to have some feelings for Tae."

"Wow." he took a breath keeping his eyes locked on the floor. There was no way he was going to be okay with it. He might still be your friend but no one in their right mind would take this kind of baggage on. "I'll be honest I wasn't really expecting that."

"I know, I'm really sorry that I didn't just tell you to begin with but I just, nothing is ever going to happen with Taehyung and I, I mean he doesn't feel that way about me."

"How? I don't mean that in a fuckboy 'ohmygod how has he not fallen for you if I was him I would've jumped at the chance' but how the fuck has he not fallen for you if I was him I would've jumped at the chance." you laughed lightly, earning a cute smile from him. His happy personality and teasing tendencies helped to lighten the conversation in a way that you were so thankful for.

"He just doesn't see me that way. We're best friends, we're not supposed to fall for each other. He's seen me at my absolute lowest, ugliest point, if there was any chance before then it would've been ruined after that." you tried not to dwell on the painful memory, quickly moving on from all the reasons Tae would never want you. "I want to try this, I want to move on from him and fall for someone that can love me just as much. But the last thing I want is to hurt you, so if you don't want to be involved in this I completely understand. Regardless I really hope that we can be friends because I wasn't lying when I said I liked you."

"Let's do it." you blinked dumbly at him not sure if you'd heard him correctly. there was no possible way he had already made up his mind and it wasn't to tell you to fuck off.

"Wait, what?" he smiled at you chuckling lightly.

"Let's try this. We don't have to put any labels on it yet, I like you, you like me, we can leave it at that for now until you're ready for more. I'm willing to wait."

"I half expected you to laugh in my face and walk out." you told him honestly. Even now you couldn't believe that he was serious, you just knew he would call you later on and tell you never mind or that it was all one big joke.

"You were honest and upfront with me and I respect that a lot. It just proves that you're even better than I thought you were." he told you. You weren't sure what to say anymore, you'd had a great date so far and somehow not even confessing your love for someone else had ruined it.

-

“This has been so much fun, I’m not ready to go home yet.” you whined, hanging onto Hoseok’s arm while the two of you walked along the sidewalk together.

“Well we could go watch a movie at mine, but Yoongi and Jimin are there having dinner because Yoongi lost a bet.” Hoseok said. “Oh wait, I know this place close to yours actually, it’s a bar that me and the guys go to sometimes, do you want to go get a few drinks before we call it a night?”

“That sounds great, let’s go.” you said, taking his hand in yours. The walk to the bar wasn’t far and the two of you spent the majority of it just gazing at the stars and the lights around you. It was nice, being with Hoseok. You felt safe with him, like you could fully open yourself up to him even though you’d only known him a short while.

Once at the bar the two of you ordered your drinks and talked about your lives, your ambitions and your past. You learned that he had always dreamed of being a dancer. He’d started out as a street dancer when he met Jimin at an event, the two had really hit it off & from then on they built their company together. It was really nice hearing Hoseok talk about his passions. You only wished you had something like that. You’d never really found anything you loved that way.

It started getting late and Jin had texted you a few times to see how it was going so the two of you decided to let the date end there. You were both thoroughly buzzed when you did decide to leave so Hoseok offered to walk you the short distance to your apartment before calling himself an uber.

“That song they were playing at the bar was so good, I can’t get it out of my head.” You said before running out into the empty road, screaming the lyrics to runaway by Eric Nam.

“Yn! Get out of the road you’re going to get hit!” Hoseok said, although his laughter made it hard to believe he was serious. Even he could see that it was far too late for this road to be very busy.

“Come dance with me, isn’t that your job?” you said, continuing your little song, starting to spin in circles and dance like you were insane. Hoseok watched you for a minute from the sidewalk, thinking you were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen before joining you.

It may not have been what he expected, but this had been the best date of Hoseok’s life. It almost scared him just how much he liked you already. He’d only been in love once before and it had been messy, but that was a story for another time. Right now he was happy, happy with you.