#i laugh freely and often loudly

[bea-ce]

Nobody loves me like you do

..or sweet gestures your boyfriend does for you that has your knees buckling and heart fluttering!

characters: wriothesley, childe, alhaitham, lyney

genre: FLUFF!! FLUFF!!! FLUUUUUUUUUUUUFF!!!

warning's: none really? wriothesley's can be interpreted as spicy maybe, but it wasn't intended to be taken that way. maybe obvious bias...

notes: in my healing era and my lover girl has finally gotten the courage of taking the leap of faith of love once more. this is a little tribute to that, and to my boyfriend who's the cause of it. also sorry for having been dead! real busy with school and being bombared with exams all the time (the things i do to get into medicine...)

Wriothesley

It had become routine for you to leave the Duke's bedroom with tangled hair and knots that would only come out by putting balm in your hair when you showered. The cause of it? The Duke himself, of course.

Alas, as the saying goes "there's always a peace before a storm". You feel yourself get thrown off of Wriothesley, hitting your back against the matress with a small huff before you feel his weight shift ontop of you, squeezing the air out of you as giggles erupt from you while you try shoving him off of you to no avail.

Finding yourself with half of your body outside of his bed, having long ago accepted that this was the way you'd be handled by your big, strong lover, you hear Wriothesley chuckle and grabbing hold of your wrist to pull you up, back up on his queen-sized bed.

"What are you doing with half your body outside of my bed, sweetheart?" He asks teasingly, causing you to loudly exclaim at him with mock irritation in response "you're the one throwing me around the bed like a dog with its chewing toy!" causing a laugh to erupt from his chest as he pulls you ontop of him to engulf you into another long, warm hug.

It was part of the routine for him to shove his hands under your shirt, his hands roaming across your body as if mapping every part of you out. Unfortunately for you, the Duke had also made it a habit to go on search for your bellybutton for some odd reason. You'd often find yourself kicking your legs to pry him off of you, screaming and laughing as you'd feel him tickling you as his fingers was searching for his destined goal.

"What's wrong with you?! Why are you so fixated on my navel?!" You'd yell at him between laughs, squirming and fighting against his freely wandering hands that come to a halt upon your words and being met by his icy grey eyes staring softly down at you before he so casually says the sentence that has you limp and melting into his touch.

"I'm fixated on you. All of you, and I'm trying to appreciate and love all of you. Am I so wrong for doing that?"

Tartaglia

There wasn't any special occasion today as far as you knew. No anniversary to be celebrated nor a sappy couples holiday to rub in all the singles people's faces with, so why was it that you could spot your boyfriend with a bouquet of roses in his arms from afar as he waits at the spot the two of you would always meet up on before heading out for your date?

"Am I not allowed to spoil my girl with flowers whenever I feel like it?" He had responded with a mock offended laugh as his free arm wrapped around your waist to return your gesture of pulling him into a tight hug (in all honesty you had just wanted to burrow your face into his chest to hide your teary eyes from him). You can feel his hand rub your side comfortingly, traveling its way up to pet the top of your head before pressing his lips against your forehead reassuringly, an unspoken 'I love you' before pulling you away from his chest to show you his soft smile, reserved just for you.

Inspecting the lovely roses enthrusted upon you, taking in their lovely red, almost pinkish, color as you walk besides Tartaglia. You can't imagine them having been cheap, given both their look of long stems, healthy leaves and from just how fresh they look, along with just how strongly they smelt of roses. Tartaglia's hand finds your free one as you aimlessly walk. A lighthearted laugh that escapes Tartaglia makes you turn your focus to him, noticing the way he's beaming at your fondness of the flowers. "You know I looked a really good while for those flowers you said that you liked, only to have the florist tell me that they only grew wild in another nation. I was super upset that I couldn't get you your favorite flowers!"

He'd give you the world if he could.

Alhaitham

Matching Alhaitham’s thirst for knowledge, you’d often find yourself searching for new subjects to learn about. It wasn't uncommon that the facts you had learnt for the day were things Alhaitham already were somewhat versed in, but to immerse oneself further into a subject was anything but adverse, and even if nothing new was added to his knowledge a bit of repetition never hurt either.

It did happen from time to time that you’d come across information that would never come to any use. Just fun facts to share with someone, and Alhaitham would often fall victim to your ramblings (not that he minded, much less had any complaints about that). As always, you find yourself walking hand in hand with the scribe, your mouth having gone dry from how long you had passionately held a monologue with yourself of a new useless fact you had learnt. Thinking that Alhaitham couldn’t be bothered with trivial, impractical information and that his silence was a sign of that, you can’t help but let a thought slip past your lips. 

“Are you even listening?” you had asked him with a whisper, your hand giving his a light squeeze as your footsteps had come to a stop, halting the man beside you and forcing him to face you. His light turquoise eyes scan over yours, softening before a faint smile traces his lips as he nods. “Of course I’m listening. Don't mind me if I just want to listen. It's where I find the most comfort."

Alhaitham’s unwavering focus is on you. It’s always on you.

"Tada!" You hear his voice burst your little bubble, a curious hum erupting from you as you glance in Lyney's direction. A faltering swan is handed to you from him, looking soggy and sad due to the tissue's soft material and perhaps even because of the magician's untrained hands from lack of practice of origami. You don't miss the way your boyfriend smiles at you before staring intently at you, awaiting your approval of his creation.

Lyney

Sitting across you at the small café Lyney can be seen fiddling with his tissue, his plate having long been empty with only crumbs left behind of the pastry that had formerly been there. Too distracted by the scenery around you, you fail to notice the magician's hands working away on a little surprise for you.

You can't help the laugh that escapes you, due to the cute gesture of his, causing the poor man to deflate in embarrassment and shame, mistaking your laughter as being directed at him because of how just pathetic the swan looks like- The piece of paper faltering too in solidarity with its creator.

Quickly placing down the gift from Lyney, you wave your hands in the air defensively, quick to reassure him, "No, no! I'm not laughing at you. I'm laughing over how cute you are being, Lyney! Thank you."

Your encouraging words is all that he needs to regain his confidence and smile right back at you with the same adoring gaze you always have saved for him.

[aemondluvbot]

𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖗𝖆𝖌𝖔𝖓 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖔𝖜 — 𝖎𝖎

✧ ⸺ aemond x reader︱part one

𝔞. 𝔫𝔬𝔱𝔢: this might make sense on its own, but i do think you should read part one for added context

𝔴𝔞𝔯𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰: fingering while on dragonback (poor vhagar, this is the targaryen version of joining the mile-high club i think), fluff apart from that

“she won’t hurt you as long as you’re with me,” aemond reassures you for what might just be the millionth time. still, with every step you take, you wring your hands together and pray to the seven gods for whatever’s to come. 

in the stillness of the night, your senses feel heightened. every footstep, every distant laugh and squeal and animal sounds ring loudly enough in your ears that they might as well be made right next to it. you clutch your cloak tighter, looking to aemond who does the same. 

“my prince…”

“hush, little sparrow,” he breathes. it’s a soft whisper, mostly so he won’t attract any attention, and yet your body obeys like it’s a command. “do you not trust your prince?”

“i-i do, but…”

“and do you not trust his dragon?”

well, that’s certainly debatable. how do you know you won’t instantly be burnt to a crisp the moment vhagar gets the tiniest whiff of you? how do you know you’re not marching to become her next meal?

“you don’t,” aemond says like it’s a firm statement. and perhaps it is. she is ancient and powerful and a god. you are just a servant girl in the red keep. 

“do you not trust your prince’s ability to command his dragon then?” aemond’s voice is low, careful. your body reacts to it instantly as a warning shiver passes down your spine. you must tread carefully. 

“i do, my prince.” 

“then there’s no need for you to worry, is it?”

there are a thousand different things to worry about, you think to yourself—sneaking outside the keep in the darkest hours of the night, sneaking outside with a prince, riding a targaryen dragon, sleeping with the prince… more times than one…

“i suppose not,” you answer just as quietly.

“i haven’t been outside the city gates all that often,” you confess a bit more freely once you step outside the gates. “it’s…different.”

“is it?” aemond’s voice holds the same curiosity it always does whenever he’s asked you a question about yourself—never condescension or a patronising tone, always a genuine desire to know the answer.

“the air smells better,” you laugh. 

aemond hums, smiling at you as you continue to make your way to his dragon. you know it’s not far now, vhagar usually sleeps right outside the gates so the prince can ride to her whenever necessary. 

and now as you hear stirring and great big breaths echoing in the distance, your heart picks up again, thudding wildly in your chest the closer you walk. there’s anticipation thick in the air—thick and cloying and suffocating, and you wonder if it would be wise to just turn around and make a run for it. 

but then aemond stops just a few steps ahead of you and turns around to extend his hand. 

“are you ready, little sparrow?”

the no is right there on the tip of your tongue. no i’m not, i will never be, lets just go back to your bed. i’ll keep you warm. that’s what you wish you were saying, instead you give him a shaky little nod and watch the prince’s face split into a gorgeous smile. 

“ynot!” aemond’s voice rings out in the crisp, quiet night. 

the beast stirs. 

if it weren’t for the prince holding your hand, you would have dropped to your knees right then, you would have dropped to your knees and curled into a ball praying for swift death. one look at her, and you know there’s not running away from her. 

there’s only aemond who stands there like a shield between you while you cower behind him as vhagar stands to her full height. 

you have seen her in the skies before, patrolling the areas around the red keep and king’s landing, flying like a giant bird in the vast skies. but up close she is bigger than you could have ever imagined. 

she’s big and beautiful and beastly. involuntarily you whimper. 

“they sense fear, little sparrow,” there’s a teasing note to his voice as you press yourself into his back, peeping at her from behind him. 

“well, i am afraid,” you snap, not even bothering to apologise and grovel for taking that tone with him. aemond seems anything but offended, though. he seems rather amused.

“do you wish to touch her, little sparrow?”

no. no no no. absolutely not. no! but aemond seems so eager and despite the fear coursing through your veins you can’t find it in yourself to deny him this small pleasure. 

“um…”

“come,” he leads you by the hand. closer and closer and closer until she moves again and you yelp, practically jumping onto him and burying your face in his chest. aemond’s sharp laugh rings in your ears. this is beyond embarrassing that a simple movement of her head should have you shaking like a leaf. 

but aemond’s arms around you feel nice and reassuring. so much so that you hold onto him a little tighter. 

“lykirī, vhagar,” the prince murmurs. you don’t know what the words mean, all you know is that hearing him speak in high valyrian has a few butterflies fluttering in your stomach, clearing away some of the dread. 

“lykirī…” he breathes softly, approaching her with you still clinging to him, a little bit less now that she’s still again, looking at you with her giant yellow eye.

up close you can see just how leathery and thick her skin looks, battle worn over centuries and tougher than even diamonds perhaps. aemond raises your hand that he’s been holding, and before you have the chance to beg him not to, places it on her neck. 

your heart stops beating entirely. 

vhagar’s nostrils flare like she’s sniffing you. sizing you up more like… perhaps she’s wondering if you’d even be worth one bite to her. her hide is the strangest thing you have ever touched, unlike any other sensation you have ever felt in your entire life. 

“what did you say to her?” you ask in a hushed voice. aemond stands behind you, his body pressed against yours, his hand atop yours as you stroke the dragon with shaky, hesitant movements. 

“i told her to be calm.”

“you told her to be calm?” you laugh, “what’s she got to be scared of? me?!”

“would you rather she startled?” aemond teases and that shuts you right up. 

the fear in you dissipates the more you stroke her. she’s calm after that, only huffing slightly every once in a while. slowly you even gather the courage to move a little closer to her. all the while aemond watches. you can feel his eye on you at all times, never once wavering, never once looking at anything else. 

“should we fly then, little sparrow?” aemond asks after a while. you freeze again. fly… on her… sure you’re no longer scared she might burn you to a crisp but to fly on her… 

but you’ve trusted aemond thus far, and he hasn’t let you get hurt. what’s a little more trust then.

“you need to let go of me, little sparrow,” aemond laughs, urging you to let go of the arm you’ve been clutching for dear life while sitting in front of him. 

the dragon’s still on the ground and you’re already so high up… what happens once she starts flying? 

“mm? oh, sorry,” you mumble, letting go and straightening just a little.

“i’m going to keep you safe,” he murmurs in your ear, raising goosebumps all over your body. 

his fingers trail up the side of your thigh, over the leathers he’d lent you for this specifically. it already feels odd enough to be in trousers but that’s nothing compared to the feel of a saddle beneath you. still, his touch soothes you a little, calms your racing heart. 

the night is still dark, with no moon in the sky. a million stars twinkle above you, and as much as it scares you, you can’t wait to touch the heavens just a little. see if you can pluck a star from the sky.

“vēzot!” aemond commands. beneath you, the beast flaps her wings. 

there’s a great rumble, a sound louder than any thunder you have ever heard. it’s her, you realise, it’s vhagar’s cry as she frees her wings and leaps into the air, up and up and up until you realise you’re half-screeching and half-laughing, hysterical and awed. this is…beyond anything you’ve ever experienced. 

wind rushes through your hair, making your eyes water at first. your hair will be a tangled mess after this, much worse than when the prince has his way with you, and yet you can’t care less as all of king’s landing lays right below you—building’s tiny as a grain of rice, lights burning below you just like the stars that twinkle above you. 

“aemond!” you grab his arm, screaming over the wind, “aemond look! the red keep, and that—” you point somewhere to its east, “that’s the sept, and oh! that’s…”

one by one you point to the buildings and the streets you’ve only ever roamed so far. the more you recognise them the more excitement floods in your veins. vhagar’s gliding over king’s landing now, gentle and soothing, only flapping her wings whenever necessary. 

“it’s beautiful, isn’t it?” somehow his voice still carries over the wind, over the blood rushing in your ears. it would… after all he speaks the words right in your ear, kissing the shell of it and flicking his tongue over it right after. 

“hold the reins for me, will you?” aemond asks, his voice hoarse, deep. 

“w-what?”

“hold the reins, little sparrow…”

it’s an order as he nudges your hands with his, urging you to take a hold of the leathers. you know you’re not really steering the dragon, not with your inability to speak any high valyrian or your lack of valyrian blood. still, it feels like the biggest responsibility in the world. bigger still when vhagar grumbles the moment you close your hands around the reins. 

but aemond’s there to pat the dragon. “rȳbās, vhagar,” he commands again and the dragon goes back to the way she was before, calm, gliding on the wind. 

“she listens to you…” you murmur in awe, more to yourself than to him. because of course it’s a stupid observation, she’s his dragon, of course she listens to him. and yet it’s awe inspiring to you that he can command the dragon the way he does. 

prince he may be, but he’s still a mortal man… it astonishes you that he commands so much power with just a few words. 

“you listen to me too, little sparrow,” aemond breathes softly, placing little kisses over the shell of your ear just like he had before. his hand, now free, rides up your thigh, over your stomach, while the other rests on your hip, holding you in place. 

“aemond was it? not…my prince?” 

your eyes widen when you realise. of course, in your excitement you’d forgotten all manners, addressing him by his name like he’d given you permission. 

“my apologies, my prince, i—”

“i like it, little sparrow.” he pushes his hand inside your trousers, shutting you up instantly. 

his fingers are cold from the night air, a shock to your system as soon as he touches your clit—cold, rough fingers, touching the softest, warmest parts of you. 

his fingers move, tracing circles and vague shapes until you’re a moaning, quivering mess, writhing just so you can feel a little more friction. it’s just the right pressure, the right pace as he works you up. your hand falls slack, only loosely gripping the reins now, back arching off his chest lightly as you moan as loudly as you want. 

there’s no one to hear you high in the skies above king’s landing. no one to catch you in the act. all your sounds belong to him and him alone. and you won’t deny your prince those simple little pleasures. 

this is nothing like you’ve felt before, nothing like how your own hands make you feel. this is like tiny bolts of lightning right under your skin as the wind rushes all around your body. 

“that–that feels so good…”

aemond hums behind you, keeping up with the pace he’s set. his fingers dip between your folds, teasing and inching towards your opening—keeping you on edge. the reins are bunched up between your fingers, back pressed to his chest. as he nips at your neck, right over your pulse point, using his other hand to play with your nipples; stimulating, sending jolts through your whole body. 

“always ready for me, aren’t you little sparrow?” he breathes, peppering kisses down your shoulder. his finger circles your entrance, rough and thicker than your own, better than you’re used to. 

it’s enough for you to cry out—whine really. because you want him, need to feel him. but he’s taking his own sweet time. 

“what was that for, huh? needy little thing,” he taunts, “what do you want?”

between the words and his gruff voice, all thoughts vanish out of your head for a second. he hasn’t even properly fucked you yet, and your head is already starting to feel like mush. 

“you, please,” you all but beg, “want your fingers in me, please my prince…”

“not afraid of vhagar anymore, are you?” his taunting tone gets you going more. 

this should scare you to death—to be at the mercy of a dragon so high up in the skies, and yet with aemond’s fingers buried between your legs and his hardness pressing into your ass, none of it matters. none of it except chasing that high he makes you feel every single time. 

you spread your legs wider. your hand reaches back, caressing the nape of his neck, scratching it in slow sensual circles. hearing him groan is enough to calm any residual nerves that remain. sure, the effect you have on him is minuscule compared to what he’s doing to you, but it’s a small victory regardless. 

aemond falters for a brief moment, head thrown back as you feel the spike in his heartbeat. it makes your own skip a beat. but he recovers quickly, teasing your folds a bit more, finger circling your entrance.

“my good girl,” he whispers, lips pressed to the shell of your ear. 

before you even have the time to react to that, he slides a finger in, just the tip first, teasing, before he pulling the finger out again and thrusting it in. it’s faster this time, rougher. your insides feel like liquid, melting further and further with each graze of his callouses, with each thrust.

you scream his name as loud as you can, louder every time his thumb presses into your clit, chanting it so thoroughly, reciting it like a prayer and chasing your high. 

it’s frankly a surprise that you still have the ability to speak because every single part of your body feels like it’s melting, blood zapping through your body, pushing your heart into overdrive.

this time when aemond thrusts in, it’s with two fingers. you cry out at the sudden stretch, the burn that accompanies it. he falters when you jolt forward.

“did i hurt you, little sparrow?”

hurt?!

“no, i—” it takes you a moment to gather your thoughts, and to take the whiney edge off your voice. “that felt good… better than before. keep going, please, just—”

the prince doesn’t let you finish, pushing his fingers inside you again. the hilt of his palm crashes against your clit, rougher than before, and you body trembles from all of it. 

“perfect little sparrow,” his tongue flicks against your ear, “taking me so well.” 

his words add to the heady intoxication. your head spins, completely blanking out on anything else—the dizziness from your desire and the vertigo of being so high up, that… you think, is the most addicting feeling you have ever experienced. 

all that matters right now is aemond and his hands and his voice. his lips latch onto your neck, sucking on your sweet spot and peppering kisses, and this time the buzzing that fills your ears is nothing like before. 

now as your legs shake and spasm, you know you’re close. 

his fingers keep moving in and out, plunging into you, drawing out wet and obscene sounds until you feel them hooking inside you, without warning. when he parts his fingers inside you, stretching you more, it’s enough to push you over the edge. 

with a cry, you slump against him, gushing onto his hand, incapable of doing anything else as waves of pleasure crash onto you, blinding you almost.

for a second the world falls away, tilts on its axis, as you experience a mind numbing orgasm on the back of a dragon you were terrified of mere hours ago. 

“aem…” you falter, gasping as he continues to slide his fingers in and out, letting you ride out your orgasm. 

“shall we go back to the keep, little sparrow?” he whispers a moment later, “continue this without traumatising poor vhagar.”

you laugh, it’s a throaty chuckle more than anything. aemond’s fingers are still buried deep inside you, making you clench around him. 

in apology you stroke the dragon. “she’s a good girl.”

“oh, is she?” aemond asks, and you can already imagine his arched brow as he stares at you with a little smirk, his eye glinting in the darkness. 

“lets go back to the keep, my prince,” you nod, “the things i want you to do to me are better suited for a bed anyway…”

[doctorwhoandfairytaillover]

What Makes a Home

Summary: When Sirius Black was still in Hogwarts, there were few places that he could ever feel that he truly belonged. At Hogwarts, with his friends, and a secret place that he held ever so dear. Somewhere he couldn't bring himself to talk about.

Pairing: Sirius x Aunt Reader (PLATONIC)

A/N: I was inspired a lot by the song Find You by Sing Street and listened to it a bunch when writing this story. I think at this point we can all assume that I like making cute stories where characters get to have nice mother like figures.

Growing up for a young Sirius Orion Black was a bit difficult, he was not very fond of the rules of the house of Black, which is why he tended to be on the receiving end of punishment quite often. But there were two places in the whole world that the young Sirius felt that he could freely be himself, Hogwarts and the home of his beloved aunt (Y/N) (L/N) nee Black. A name that was usually said with vitriol if ever spoken at home and avoided when in the company of other wizarding families for formal dinners. 

But despite all that, Sirius loved getting to spend time with his aunt and running over to her place from time to time, even if it was not as often as he would have liked. The boy's rebellious soul felt freedom from the rules of his parents and getting to experience the warmth of being loved by his aunt.

Which is why, with his heavy suitcase in hand, Sirius had made haste to leave Platform 9 ¾ as soon as the train stopped. He said his quick goodbyes to his friends and booked it before his mother and father arrived to take Regulus and himself back home. He knew that they would have heard about his school antics and not been pleased, so with nothing else to lose, he left. 

When he finally arrived at her home was fairly winded and the bouquet that he purchased was a bit worse for wear, but he did not care. With how lovely his aunt was, Sirius knew that she would be pleased at just having the chance to see him. 

Sirius knocked on the door and loudly said. "Auntie! It’s me! Sirius! Please open up!”

The door swung open and there stood the woman of the hour. “My sweet, sweet boy!” she pulled him into a tight hug and pressed numerous kisses onto his ruddy cheeks

Sirius dropped his suitcase and hugged her. He was immediately enveloped by the smell that always made him feel better, a cozy homey scent of chamomile tea, parchment, and ink. 

"I missed you!" He said, hugging her a little tighter and burying his face into her soft sweater.

“Oh! you're getting so tall, stay little for a while longer won't you?” 

Sirius couldn't stop the smile that appeared on his face when she stroked his hair. With a grin, he pulled away a little to look at her and said, "Well, it's not something I can stop you know. But for you I’ll try.”

“Come in, come in and give me that suitcase of yours, you must be tired!” She said ushering him through the door.

“Okay.” Sirius obeyed, picking up his suitcase and entering after her. He immediately dropped down on the sofa. “I’m knackered.” He sighed tiredly, tilting his head against the cushions.

“Oh my sweet boy, it's always good to have you here” she said while setting his suitcase off to the side.

“I wish I could stay here forever,” Sirius muttered, closing his eyes. It was cozy here, warm and comforting. He didn't even want to think about returning home.

“Let's not think of that just yet, hopefully I don’t hear from Walburga too soon” she said wiping her hands against her skirt. “I actually have your favorite cookies in the oven right now.”

"Mmm, now you've given me a reason to stay," Sirius hummed in response, opening one eye and looking up at her. "You spoil me too much auntie.”

“I don't spoil you enough!” she said pinching his cheek lovingly.

"Hey!" He protested, wrinkling his nose at her with a laugh. "You really spoil me a lot. I come to you every summer and you feed me non-stop in the time I get to stay with you. I'm afraid I’ll put on weight and won't be able to recognize myself if I keep it up."

“Good! Wards the girls away and I'll keep you to myself” she teased. 

Sirius laughed and rolled his eyes, amused. “You act like a mother more than my real mother! I wouldn’t mind you keeping me all to yourself, you’re my favorite after all.”

She smiled softly, “I would keep you here if I could, if only your mother wasn't such a witch.”

Sirius smiled back, enjoying her caresses and soft voice. However, the mention of his “mother” darkened his mood for a moment. “Don't even mention her... “ He muttered bitterly, turning away and sitting up.

“I know, I know” she said with a sigh. “Just give me a moment and I'll be back with those fresh cookies and a pot of tea”

"Okay." Sirius mumbled. 

When his aunt left, he leaned back against the sofa with a heavy sigh. He really didn't want to think about his mother. Not when here everything was so comfortable, warm and nice. Here he could be himself and not the Black heir.

It took several minutes for his aunt to return. In the meantime, Sirius was staring at the ceiling, tapping his fingers on his leg restlessly.

"Auntie," he spoke up as she walked over to the table, “you’re positive that Father or Mother hasn’t called about me?"

“No, not yet!” She said bringing along her tray of cookies and tea

Surprisingly, this news left a strange feeling in his chest. A little part of him, tucked deep in his heart, always wanted their attention and care. But, on the other hand, he knew he would be better off not seeing them at all. Not while they treated him only as the future Black heir and not as their son.

Sirius looked at her and smiled, "That’s good. I can have all the cookies to myself."

“You'll take some of these to your brother, won't you? I worry when Regulus doesn't come for a visit.”

Sirius rolled his eyes at the mention of his brother and muttered under his breath but still nodded in agreement. He's going to give some of the cookies to Regulus. "But if you worry about him so much, why don't you just tell him personally?"

She sighed and poured him a cup of tea, “He never answers my letters or calls, your mother certainly has her clutches on that boy.”

Sirius grimaced and accepted the cup of tea, wrapping his fingers around it. The warm liquid warmed him, and he took a small sip, “You’re not wrong about that. Mother has her claws in both of us.” He looked at his aunt, his expression slightly bitter. "Why does it seem that she's always hated us more and more over the years?"

“She's always been bitter over the littlest things, she was a real nag growing up” she said. “Try not to take it to heart.”

Sirius chuckled at that description. He could easily imagine his mother being bitter, just like his grandparents, and always finding something to complain about. "Is there a part of her that ever loved us, I wonder? At least Father sometimes acknowledges that we’re children.”

“I wish I knew the answer my sweet boy, but if as her sister, she refuses anything with me, then I wouldn’t know.”

Sirius nodded silently in response, wrapping his fingers tighter around the cup, feeling the warmth and holding it tighter. "Yeah... I hope Regulus is alright. I doubt anything good awaits him at home." He said bitterly and took a large gulp of tea.

“But enough about your mother, how was school this year? Any new friends?”

Sirius visibly brightened up when she changed the topic. He took another sip of tea before enthusiastically answering, "It was pretty cool, honestly. James and Remus are still my favorites, of course. But we found a new friend Peter, he's cool too. It's hard to be with us, though. We always get in trouble," he said with a chuckle, as if being in trouble was something to brag about.

“Not too much trouble I hope,” she teased.

Sirius shrugged, the corners of his lips tugging up in a smile. "Not too much trouble, just a normal amount. James, Remus, and I have gotten detention multiple times this year, and Peter only once. But we've had a lot of fun.” He chuckled again, feeling a pang of mischief in his chest as he mentioned the pranks. He definitely had no plans on telling her about their pranks on Snape.

“That's good, have fun while you're young because you don't want to wind up like your auntie do you?”

Sirius burst out laughing, rolling his eyes a little. He shook his head and said jokingly, “No, no, of course not. I don’t want to grow up to be a lonely old cat lady.”

“Watch yourself boy, it's one cat and two dogs, thank you.”

Sirius grinned like a little kid. He reached out to poke her in the cheek, which he has done since he was younger, and said with a mischievous tone, “Still seems like an old cat lady.”

The skittering of nails against wood caught his attention and in just a moment, his aunt’s corgi ran into the room through the doggy door and jumped up excitedly upon seeing the boy.Sirius laughed, seeing the corgi run up happily to him. He loved animals and dogs were no exception. He leaned down and patted the corgi on the head and scratched his ears, "Hey, buddy!"

The dog barked with excitement, wiggling in joy at seeing Sirius.

Sirius laughed again and scratched the dog's head vigorously, clearly enjoying the pup’s excitement. He looked up at his aunt and joked, “Well, I think the corgi clearly missed me more than you did.”

“Well these old bones of mine aren't going to jump in excitement if that's what you want,” she joked with a sip of tea.

Sirius smirked, he was amused by her comment and the corgi's behavior. "Are you trying to hint that you're an old woman, Auntie?"

“You're the one that called me old, young man” she wagged a finger at him. 

Sirius chuckled and said with a cheeky smile, "It was in a humorous manner, of course. I know you're still full of energy and still a hundred years younger than Dumbledore."

She laughed, “Dumbledore has been hundreds of years old even when I went to Hogwarts.”

Sirius laughed imagining Dumbledore being old already when she was at Hogwarts. He sat up a little, still petting the corgi, and said, "Yeah, he must've been a fossil even then."

The dog barked again, licking Sirius' hand and demanding attention. Sirius smiled and continued to shower the corgi with attention, scratching its head and ears, and even giving it a little rub on the belly. "You know, I'm quite jealous of the corgi," he said with a cheeky tone, looking up at his aunt, "It has all your attention."

A thoughtful look came over her features, “He was actually meant to be yours, you know.”

Sirius looked at her in surprise, the corgi still wiggling in his lap. He thought for a moment before saying in disbelief, “Really? But you’ve had Pudgy for years!”

She smiled sadly, “When you were 5, I hoped your mother would finally set our differences and let me come to your birthday even when I hadn’t received invitations to the previous ones. He was supposed to be your gift, but she said finally responded that time and said I was never allowed to come. Not even over her grave.”

Sirius' expression darkened at her words, the smile disappearing from his face. He could feel the familiar bitterness well up inside him as he listened to her story. The anger at his mother only grew. "I honestly don’t understand her…" he said quietly, his gaze fixed on the corgi. He petted the dog softly, “Why does she hate you so much? You’re her sister, and you’re so much nicer.”

“Married your uncle who was a muggle, remember?” She reminded him gently.

“It’s honestly ridiculous…” Sirius muttered under his breath. He never understood his parents' obsession with blood purity and the importance they placed on it. He looked back up at her with an upset expression, "It doesn’t change the fact that you’re family. She should have let you come on my birthdays or let me visit you more often than I do.”

“She thought I would be a bad influence on you. But I just wish she hadn’t been so bitter. Your uncle would have loved to know you” she said sadly.

"I would have loved to have him in my life too." Sirius muttered quietly, continuing to pet the pup who was still wiggling in his lap. He was quiet for a moment before he spoke up again in a slightly bitter voice, "She didn’t even let us come to his funeral, just because he was a Muggle."

A few tears slipped down her face even as she tried to keep smiling for his sake, “I know he wouldn't have held that against you, he was always so proud that his nephews would be wizards.”

Sirius felt that familiar pang in his chest as he watched her wipe away the falling tears. He had always known she was saddened by his uncle’s death, but he hadn’t realized just how much. He gently put a hand on her knee. "We probably would’ve been his favorite nephews," he said with a half smile, trying to lighten the mood.

She smiles at his comfort, “I actually have something that he asked me to set aside for you and Regulus.”

Sirius' expression was surprised as he listened to her words. He hadn't expected that his uncle would have anything left for him. He was both intrigued and curious, and his gaze became more attentive. "Really?" he asked, his grip on the corgi tightening slightly.

She nodded, “Just give me a moment and I'll go get it”

Sirius nodded and watched as she got up from her seat to go get the things his uncle had left for him and Regulus. He continued to pet the corgi, its soft fur helping to calm his anticipation.

While he waited, Sirius sat in his chair, thoughts swirling in his mind. He wondered what his uncle had left him and what significance it would have. The fact that his uncle had set aside something for him and his brother was unexpected, especially considering his mother’s bitter rejection of his aunt and the family's strict beliefs. Losing the boy’s attention, Pudgy the corgi waddled out of the room. 

“Here... it... is!” she said struggling a little beneath its weight.

Sirius laughed again, standing to help her with the heavy present. He looked down at it, intrigued, "What did Uncle even leave us, anyway?"

“I’m not sure, your uncle was so secretive about this thing. He wanted to be sure you wouldn't open it until you were 14 or mature enough for it.” 

Sirius’ eyebrows raised at her words, his eyes now fixed on the present. It was clear that it was something important. He weighed the box in his hands thoughtfully. "Well, only a few more years until I can finally find out then. What about Regulus? What’s in his?"

“Boy, don't play with me. Your 14th birthday was a few weeks ago and I think you’re mature enough,” she sassed. “And I wouldn’t know about Regulus' gift either, he said they were for the two of you.” 

Sirius' cheeks grew warm and he let out a sheepish chuckle. He wasn’t for much fuss about his birthdays and tended to forget about them. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he rubbed the back of his head and said with an amused tone, "Oh right, I guess I am a year older. It slipped my mind."

“Well, go on” she said encouragingly. “See what he left for you.” 

Sirius looked down at the present in his hands once again, his curiosity now growing. He took a deep breath, the weight of the present felt heavier than any Christmas gift he’d received before. He slowly began to unwrap the packaging, pulling off the paper and revealing the contents of the box.

The wrapping paper was tossed aside, but Sirius eyes were transfixed on what had appeared once it was removed. He stared at the gift in stunned silence for a moment. He didn’t know exactly what he’d been expecting, but it certainly hadn’t been this. He could feel his heart thumping in his chest and his mind whirling. He hadn’t been this speechless in ages.

His jaw dropped as he stared down at the guitar, amp, and leather jacket (his main focus despite the other knick knacks). His mind was in a flurry of thoughts and emotions, but there was one thing he wanted to do more than anything else. He reached into the box, gently pulling out the guitar and running his fingers down its surface. His hands trembled slightly as he held it, his mind already filled with visions of him performing with his friends.

“These were his,” she said softly. 

Sirius looked up at her, his eyes wide and full of wonder. He could never have expected that his uncle would give him something like this. He held the guitar tightly in his hands, his heart filled with gratitude. The knowledge that these gifts had once been a part of his uncle's life made them all the more special to him.

"He loved music so much, didn’t he?" He murmured, still awestruck.

“He loved it,” she said wistfully. “He once came with this guitar to serenade me and my father and sister were furious. How could a muggle come and traipse around the family home?” she laughed fondly.

Sirius chuckled, imagining a much younger version of his uncle playing the guitar and trying to impress his aunt and her family. To most pure-bloods, it would be a major disgrace to bring a muggle anywhere near their family home and yet it sounded like the most romantic, exciting thing in the world to Sirius. "I can only imagine the look on our family's faces.”

“Horrified!” she laughed, “but I loved it and couldn't imagine anyone else but him after that.”

Sirius felt his heart warm slightly as she laughed, the sound filling the room. He could sense the love and adoration she still had for his uncle.

It reminded him once again of the fact that he had lost the opportunity to really know his uncle.

"I wish he'd been around longer." He said quietly, his fingers tracing the strings of the guitar.

“I know, sweet boy” she placed a hand on his in comfort. “But he was sick and in so much pain, he couldn’t keep fighting it.”

Sirius felt her warm hand on his and his heart ached at her words. He knew that his uncle had been ill for a long time before he passed away, but he hadn’t really understood the extent of his pain. He nodded silently, trying to push down the feeling of sadness that was welling up inside him. He swallowed and his voice was hoarse as he quietly replied, “Yeah… I know…"

“But make sure to check the box, I know that he wrote you a letter too” she said confidently about what she remembered.

Sirius looked up at her, his eyes widened slightly. His thoughts were distracted from the sadness for a moment at the mention of his uncle's letter. He reached back into the box and began searching through the items in search of the letter. His fingers finally brushed against a folded piece of paper and he pulled it out, holding it carefully in his hand. He stared down at the letter, his heart beating in his chest. He could see the familiar writing of his uncle's name on the front, but he couldn't bring himself to immediately open and read it.

He looked back up at his aunt, his expression a mixture of trepidation and anticipation. "I'm... I'm not sure I'm ready to open this just yet..." he said quietly, his grip on the letter tightening.

“And that's okay, sweet boy” she said softly. “You can read it whenever you're ready, that letter is for you only.”

Sirius nodded, feeling a weight lifted from his chest. He was grateful for her understanding and the fact that she wasn't pressuring him to open the letter right away. He carefully placed the letter aside and looked back at the guitar and amp. He couldn't resist the urge to hold the guitar again, so he picked it up once more. He strummed a few chords awkwardly, feeling the weight of the instrument in his lap. "I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time with these..."

“You'll learn eventually and I hope if it isn't too much, would you let me be the first to hear when you can play a full song?” 

Sirius's heart fluttered a little at her request, and he smiled warmly. He was honored that she wanted to be the first one to hear him play. He clutched the guitar in his arms and nodded vigorously. "Of course, Auntie! You'll be the first one to hear me play."

He was determined more than ever to learn how to play the guitar and make his uncle proud, and to express his emotions in music. He could already imagine all the songs he would write, all the pain and love he would pour into them. He looked back at her, his heart full of gratitude. "Thank you… for everything.." He whispered.

“It's my pleasure, sweet boy” she said comfortingly. “I hope you know that.”

Sirius continued to hold the guitar, staring down at it with a mix of wonder and determination. He wanted to become the best guitar player that the world had ever seen, maybe even better than that group his aunt liked, The Beatles.

"I'm going to work hard and learn everything I can," he mumbled, mentally making a plan to practice for hours every day.

“Are you going to want to try on the leather jacket he gave you?” She asked looking into the box again.

Sirius's face lit up at her question. How could he not want to try on a leather jacket? Especially one that had once belonged to his uncle.

He carefully placed the guitar down, then reached over and took up the leather jacket from the box. He held it up, admiring its sleek, cool appearance, and his grin widened.

"This looks awesome... I can't wait to see how it looks on me." he said excitedly, already anticipating how cool he was going to look. He slipped the jacket over his shoulders and zipped it up, taking a step back to look at his reflection in a nearby mirror. 

But it was slightly too big, as his uncle had been a much taller man. Sirius scrutinized his reflection, a hint of disappointment washing over him as the jacket hung a little loose on his frame. He pouted slightly, pulling the edges of the jacket tighter. 

"Yeah... it's a little big," he admitted, looking up at her with slight sheepishness.

She laughed fondly, “Nothing a little spell can't fix, want me to give it a try?” 

Sirius perked up at her words, his disappointment quickly disappearing. He had completely forgotten about the countless spells they could use as wizards. A small, sly smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, why not.” he chuckled, running his hands over the jacket, feeling the material against his skin.

He closed his eyes for a moment. Her hands came to rest gently on his shoulders and he focused his mind to her next words, as she murmured “Resizamento.” 

He felt a familiar tingly sensation washing over him as the jacket began to shrink and mold to his body, conforming to his form. Sirius eyes fluttered open, and he couldn't help but gasp as he looked at his reflection again in the mirror. The jacket now fit him perfectly, molding to his frame and accentuating his lean body. He spun around, admiring himself from all angles, a feeling of pure elation washing over him. 

"It's perfect..." he breathed, grinning widely.

She hugged him tightly from behind and pressed a kiss to his hair, “He seemed to know it would be.” 

Sirius smiled widely, feeling a burst of affection as his aunt hugged him from behind and kissed his hair. He could practically feel his Uncle's presence in the room, as if he had known that his gifts would fit just right.

He ran his fingers over the material of the jacket once again, a sense of belonging and happiness filling him.

"I'm never going to take it off," he teased, spinning around in her arms to face her.

“You’ll have to at some point, leather is a material that needs to be cared for” she said.

Sirius rolled his eyes dramatically, a small laugh escaping his lips. He knew she was right, of course, but the idea of parting with the jacket for even a moment felt like a small tragedy to him.

"Ugh, I know," he sighed, pretending to pout. "But it's sooo comfortable. I just want to wear it forever."

“Well with a little magic, you probably could” she said nonchalantly.

Sirius's eyes widened with excitement at her words. He hadn't thought about that before. If he cast spells to clean and care for the leather, he probably could wear it indefinitely without wearing it out. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, a mischievous smile on his face.

"Hm... now that's a thought. I could do that, can’t I?”

“Don't you get any ideas mister,” she said playfully.

Sirius put on a look of mock-innocence, fluttering his eyelashes and holding his hands up in defense. 

“Who, me? Get ideas? Never.” He giggled before continuing, “But can you imagine? I’d become known as the wizard who wore a leather jacket every day. I’d be a living legend.”

“As long as it isn't for the worst smelling, then that's all you. Have at it” she said taking a seat.

Sirius feigned shock, bringing a hand to his chest and looking deeply offended. “Worst-smelling? Me? Aunt, you’re underestimating my grooming skills.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I’ll charm the jacket to smell like new and fresh leather every single day. You won't be able to tell the difference.”

She laughed heartily, “Now I know all the girls will swoon with you around, the jacket and guitar are a powerful combination.” 

Sirius smirked, a hint of pride in his expression. He couldn't deny that the thought of making girls swoon was appealing. He was a teenage boy after all.

“You think so…?” He asked, running a hand through his hair with a cocky confidence. “I bet they'll be fighting over me with a guitar and a leather jacket.”

“Well it certainly worked on me back then.” 

Sirius raised an eyebrow, a cheeky grin on his face. “Did it, now? I guess these gifts were quite the winning combination.” He smirked, eyeing her up and down, his tone teasing. “So are you saying you have a weakness for leather jacket-wearing, guitar-playing boys?”

She sat back comfortably, “Well I married the "bad boy", didn't I?”

Sirius let out a loud laugh, throwing his head back. He thought that was a very accurate description of his uncle. He had definitely fit the part of a "bad boy." He ran a hand through his hair again, grinning. 

“Ah yes, I guess you did. And I assume that all of this...” he said, gesturing to his new gifts, “…had something to do with it?”

“Some of it, because despite all appearances, your uncle was a gentleman”

Sirius smiled warmly, his heart filled with a sense of pride and affection. He could imagine his uncle acting like a gentle and courteous gentleman around his aunt, even with his bad boy looks. 

He chuckled slightly, his tone teasing. “A gentleman with a bad boy image... he really was the complete package, wasn’t he? I bet all the girls fell head over heels for him,” Sirius continued, his grin widening. “He probably had them all swooning left and right.”

She shrugged, “I suppose so, but your uncle just always made it a point to make sure I knew that I was the only one for him.”

Sirius's heart melted a little at her words. The devotion and commitment his uncle and aunt had for each other was incredibly romantic, and Sirius couldn’t help but feel a pang of longing for a love like that one day. He let out a soft sigh, looking at her with a mixture of admiration and hope. “He really loved you, didn’t he?”

“Til death did us part,” she said softly.

Sirius felt a lump form in his throat at her words, a bittersweet smile on his face. He knew that his uncle had loved her deeply, that their love had been strong and passionate, right up until the very end. He reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

He looked up at her, his gaze intense. “Auntie…” he started, his voice a little hoarse. “Is it okay if I ask you something? Something a little personal?”

“Of course, sweet boy. You know that I try to be as honest as I can with you?”

Sirius nodded, feeling a sense of appreciation wash over him. He knew that she would always be honest with him, and he felt comfortable asking her personal questions. He took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before asking, “I... I was wondering... what it was like? You and him, when you first met. What was he like…? How did you know that he was the one…?”

“It was all the little things coming together that let me know he was the one for me,” she said swooning a little at the thought. “But we were young, your age actually when we met by chance.”

Sirius smiled at the dreamy look in her eyes as she recalled their first meeting. He had a feeling he knew what she meant. It wasn’t just one thing, but a combination of things that had drawn her to his uncle. 

“By chance…” he repeated, his voice soft. “Like fate?”

“Don't know what else you could call it, because to think that the bad boy would do all that he could to see a girl he had met only once, it couldn't be anything else but fate“ she said fondly. 

Sirius chuckled softly, shaking his head slightly in disbelief. It sounded like something out of a romance novel. A bad boy seeing a beautiful girl, and then doing everything in his power to get her attention and make her his own.

He smiled warmly. “He really wanted to make sure you were his, didn’t he?”

“Oh yes, I was dressed all prim and proper on our outing as a family and that sneaky scoundrel snuck his name and address into my skirt’s pocket.”

Sirius let out a loud scoff, both amused and surprised at his uncle's sneaky tactics. He could imagine his uncle slipping his details into her pocket when no one was watching, a cheeky smile on his face.

“Sneaky, but effective. I guess he was pretty determined to get your attention,” he said, his tone teasing.

“He certainly had it alright, because I had never met a muggle like him before or ever,” she said honestly.

Sirius chuckled again, imagining his aunt’s confusion and curiosity encountering a muggle for the first time. He could only imagine how different his uncle must have been from the other pure-blood wizards she was familiar with. He leaned back, his tone light hearted, “I bet that must have thrown you off. A muggle boy having that effect on a pure-blood witch.”

“It certainly startled me, because most young wizards wouldn't even talk with me because the family name was intimidating but also because Walburga was meant to be the first choice.”

Sirius's expression softened as she spoke, feeling a pang of sympathy for her. He could understand that family name bringing about some hesitation and intimidation, as the Black family held a lot of status and influence within the wizarding world.

He reached out to take her hand, squeezing it gently. “I bet those wizards were idiots then, not wanting to get to know you because of the family name.”

“For the best really, gave your uncle and edge over the rest” she shrugged. 

He smirked, his tone teasing. “But, I bet that wasn’t the only reason you chose him over the rest. You just couldn’t resist a bad boy in leather, could you?” 

“You think all of the boys with ties and sweater vests could have made me swoon?”

Sirius laughed heartily at the image of stuffy, straight-laced boys in ties and sweater vests trying to make his aunt swoon. It was a comical sight, and he couldn’t imagine her being even remotely interested in them.

He shook his head firmly, a teasing grin on his face. 

“No, definitely not. Those boys would have had no chance against a bad boy in leather. I mean, come on. It’s not even a competition.” He chuckled again, his tone mischievous. “Besides, I think you’ve got a thing for leather-wearing bad boys, don’t you?”

He waggled his eyebrows jokingly, trying to gauge her reaction. He was just teasing, but he wouldn’t be surprised if she actually did have a soft spot for bad boys like his uncle.

“Bad boys tend to be misunderstood young men, and they hold a special place in my heart” she affirmed. 

Sirius felt a warmth spreading through his chest at her words. It was a testament to her kind and understanding nature, that she saw beyond the surface of things and understood people on a deeper level.

He smiled warmly, his tone soft. “Yeah, I guess bad boys are just misunderstood sometimes. They don’t all live up to their reputation, do they? And you can see through that, and still love and care for them despite their flaws.”

“When we learn to look past the appearances, we can have the honor of knowing those worth having in our lives,” she said kindly. 

Sirius nodded, his expression thoughtful. He could sense the wisdom in her words, and he knew that she was speaking from years of experience and insight.

He squeezed her hand again. “You’re right, I guess. It’s important to look past the surface and really get to know someone before making judgments. It helps us understand them and love them for who they truly are, flaws and all.”

She squeezed his hand in return with a smile, “Now, how about you try and play your guitar a bit, while I make us a quick dinner. Okay?”

Sirius felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of trying out his new guitar. He had been itching to play it ever since he unwrapped it and now he had the perfect opportunity. He gave her a quick hug before hopping off the couch and darting into the living room, guitar in hand. As he settled on the couch, guitar in his lap, Sirius began to strum the strings, his fingers plucking at them with a bit of clumsiness. He closed his eyes, a smile on his face as the music filled the space around him. He let the music take him away, his fingers moving over the strings, creating a simple but beautiful melody that echoed throughout the house. He forgot about everything else and lost himself in the moment, feeling free and alive as he played. 

His aunt from the other room hummed along and Sirius smiled to himself as he heard his aunt’s humming to his playing. It was a small moment, but it added to the warm and cozy feeling that filled the house. He continued strumming the guitar, playing with increasing confidence and feeling a sense of accomplishment at the sounds he was creating. Every now and then, he strummed a wrong note, but he didn’t let it bother him, correcting his mistake and carrying on.

Oh yes, moments like these were truly what made it feel like home. 

Which is why he never spoke about it in adulthood, because he lost it.

[demigod-shenanigans]

Snippet from an entry for my canon divergent oneshot series that I’m still working on (idk why this is in present tense, either, that might change in the actual fic, we’ll see):

Reyna watches them for a moment.

Leo is splashing Jason, showing no signs of stopping and loudly complaining that it’s no fun if Jason doesn’t retaliate. She waits for Jason to tell him to knock it off.

He doesn’t. He smiles serenely, then raises a hand and uses the winds to push a whole bunch of water right in Leo’s face.

“Dude! Foul!” Leo splutters, but he’s laughing. He makes a very poor attempt to dunk Jason—he doesn’t have the arm strength to do any real damage—but Jason lets himself fall backwards, and then they both go under.

When they reappear they’re both laughing.

Jason is looking down at Leo, beaming, and something clicks into place in Reyna’s head, a puzzle piece that hadn’t seemed to fit suddenly slotting in perfectly.

“You good?” Piper asks when she reappears at her side, now wearing a baseball cap and slightly smudged sunscreen.

Despite the responsibility she so obviously holds for the other campers—expertly demonstrated by every fight she’s broken up between their respective camps these past few weeks—her expression is utterly carefree in this moment. The concept seems foreign to Reyna, but there’s something incredibly powerful about it, too. With the sun illuminating her from behind, Piper looks almost celestial.

“I’m- yes. I’m alright.” Reyna realizes she’s been staring, and judging by how she’s smirking, clearly Piper has noticed. Reyna swallows, forcing herself to direct her gaze back to Jason and Leo, who are still busy splashing each other.

“I’ll resist the urge to tease you because I’m nice.” Piper could have said it smugly, but halfway through her tone melts into something much softer. “I never asked before, but from how you two interact, I get the feeling that this Jason is pretty different from the person he was before Leo and I subjected him to our combined chaotic energy. That has to be hard.”

And it is hard, to look at the best friend that’s been missing for months and find him, suddenly, a stranger. To realize you might never get him back.

This Jason has always seemed wrong to Reyna, somehow. Like some part of him broke that she doesn’t know how to fix.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jason laugh like that,” she says, and the moment the words leave her mouth the truth of what’s changed slams into her like a boulder. He’s different because he’s happier. This Jason that laughs freely and thinks of childish retaliation as a perfectly acceptable response to Leo’s splashing is whole in a way no version of him Reyna knew had ever been. Things don’t seem off to her because there’s anything wrong with Jason—it’s because they grew up with twin holes in their chests, and now his heart beats vividly while her chest still rings hollow. “I can’t remember the last time I let myself laugh like that, either.”

She doesn’t mean to admit that last part out loud, but it slips out regardless, like it so startlingly often does with Piper. It’s been happening more and more since she’s first offered to share Reyna’s burden.

Something about being around Piper gets her talking, emotions bleeding out of her like through an open wound she doesn’t know how to staunch. A wound she isn’t sure she wants to staunch, if she’s fully honest with herself. It makes her feel light-headed.

“I can get you into the lake, too, if that’s what you want,” Piper offers immediately.

Reyna raises an eyebrow at her in amusement. “You could not push me in if you tried.”

“No, but I could always use my charmspeak.” Piper grins. “It is really hot today. And they look like they’re having fun, don’t they? Why don’t we join them?”

[marigold-hills]

June 20: hippo | @wolfstarmicrofic | word count: 549

PREVIOUS PART • NEXT PART • FIRST PART

Maybe because it’s someone’s birthday, or because everyone has handed in their dissertations, or maybe just because they’re all tired and a little fed up and need to relax – regardless of the reason, the Gryffindors are having a party.

Sirius, enjoying his well-established status as an attention whore, goes all out: tight jeans and a white billowing shirt open down to his navel, tattoos on display, hair down. Black smudges of makeup around the eyes.

James is off flirting, bumbling through his conversation like a hippo in an owlery. Doing better than expected - he’s not been hexed or kicked in the shin yet. The wide beam on his face and the way he keeps ruffling his hair suggest he might be actually getting somewhere.

(Go Prongs, Sirius thinks. You’ve got this. Stay the course. Don’t say anything too idiotic.)

Peter has found a group of stoned Hufflepuffs and has gotten high with them, head in the lap of some girl a year below them.

And Moony? Their often shy, a bit awkward, reliable and sturdy Moony –

Well, Moony lost a bet to James. (About a number of jelly-beans Moony could put in his mouth, of all things. Yes, they were both drunk already. Yes, the reason he lost was that he looked at Sirius and whatever he saw on his face made him laugh so hard he spat some of them out.)

Moony is on top of a table, singing along to Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy, and wearing James’ quidditch jersey, cropped so it just covers his ribs. Marlene is with him, never one to stay away from the fun.

Sirius is standing there, in the middle of the room, drink and conversation all forgotten, feeling rather starstruck.

“Are you done being oblivious then?” Mary asks. He’s pretty sure they were talking about the good hair conditioner he got from Hogsmead.

“Umm.”

“Because you look like you’re done, but then again who can tell with you.”

On the table, Remus sings about where he learned his passion from and twirls Marlene around.

“Yeh,” Sirius concedes, “I’m done.”

“Finally. Lily made us swear not to say anything and let you sort yourself out, but Merlin’s balls was it difficult to watch.”

“Huh,” Sirius takes a deep drink, vodka and orange juice, glad to be at that stage of tipsy where embarrassment is just a word. “Did everyone know before me?”

“Just about, I’d say. Maybe not your James.”

“Nah, he figured it out too.”

“There you go then.”

“Yup. There I go.”

Moony finishes his song, laughs loudly and freely, dips down in a bow towards where James is wolf whistling. There is a lovely blush on his face, from exertion or from alcohol. Pretty pretty pretty.

“Merlin you’re pathetic. Going to do anything about it?”

“Like what?”

“Talk to him? Jump of the Astronomy Tower? Up to you.”

“Will talk to him after the exams. The tower thing is a possible second, depending how the conversation goes.”

“Pathetic. Thought you’re meant to be suave or whatever, Black,” she pulls at the cuffed sleeve of his shirt as if that proves her point. Sirius doesn’t respond, because Remus turns around, and the cropped shirt he’s wearing shows off an expanse of skin on his back he’s unaccustomed to seeing.

@moon-girl88 @digital-kam @tealeavesandtrash @sweetstarryskies @alltoounwellll @hunnybeemarie @hoje--aqui @annaliza999 @hihimissamericanbi @gipitothefrog @shamelesswolfstarshipper @a-pine-cone @cosmicweeds @cocoabutterandbooks @bloodoffire @residentdisaster @shamelesswolfstarshipper @ravenwordss @prancingpony42 @themoonlovesthestars @starving-marauder-lover

(let me know if you do/don’t want to be tagged in next parts)

[multific]

Old Friends

Osferth x Reader

Summary: Osferth invites over two old friends to introduce someone very important. 

"Lord!" both men turned at the voice. A voice they didn't hear since the fight.

"Look at our little monk!" said Finan as he and Uhtred both walked in the direction of their friend.

"Long time no see, Lord." Osferth smiled and the two men who he freely called friends nowadays.

Osferth went his own way after his near death, it was only a couple moons ago that the two men received an invitation from the once-monk asking for them to visit.

"Follow me, please, I have tea and everything." said Osferth who guided the men through the village he called home, towards his house.

During the walk, both men had time to take a closer look at their friend.

His hair has grown but his face didn't change throughout the years. He had regular clothing on. But he did look a tad bit taller and broader. Neither could deny, he looked like a true warrior. 

"So, tell us Osferth, are you married?" smirked Uhtred at Finan, both expecting a no, the question only being a joke.

They entered a garden, bit further from the rest of the houses of the village.

"Of course, Lord. Found a beautiful girl, it is one of the reasons I wish for you to both be here, to meet her." he said as they arrived at a house and Osferth opened the door. "Darling, I'm back."

As the two men entered, they looked around the home, it was small, but it looked comfortable, it was clean and soon a woman emerged from the back.

"Oh my, and I thought you were only pulling my leg, Husband, you do have friends." you smiled as you greeted both. "I heard stories of you two, lovely to finally put faces to them, my name is Y/N."

"Lady Y/N, nice to meet our baby monk's wife." both of them were kind as you guided them towards the table, sitting down as you put food on the table along with drinks.

"I'm afraid we only have fresh water or tea." Uhtred's watchful eyes didn't miss the way you walked as if you had an injury of sorts. But he knew better than to stare. "The smell of ale makes me sick to my stomach still."

"You must tell us, Monk how you met such a lady! And married her!" Finan insisted as Osferth told the story.

A simple story really, he came to the village you lived in, you used to work in the market and that is where you met. You sold many hand made jewellery, clothes and pottery. Not something Osferth find himself interested in, but after seeing you he often stopped by your stall. One thing let to another and you found yourself in love and married.

"I'm no monk anymore, I'm a married man." his confession made both of your guests laugh loudly.

But everyone immediately stopped when a loud cry of a young child was heard from the back of the house.

"I'll get him." you said as you quickly walked back. Both of his friends eyed Osferth.

"It's the reason I wanted you to visit. Although he mostly only sleep now, he was born only a week ago. Y/N went through a lot of pain but she gave birth to a healthy boy." Osferth stood up as you appeared with the child in your hands. The babe clearly stuck to you, observing the new people in the room. "I wanted my Lord-no, my friends to meet my firstborn."

Both men were stunned, staring at the babe as you smiled.

"Congratulations! He looks just like you... poor boy." said Finan as he stood up, his comment made you laugh a little but Osferth frowned. "May I hold him?"

You nodded and handed him your son before sitting back down in your chair.

Finally, Uhtred also found his voice.

"Congratulations, Osferth. You both should be proud, he is a very precious boy."

"Thank you." Uhtred even offered a hug to Osferth before he too begged to hold the babe.

Soon, your son got hungry as you retreated into the nursery to feed him.

"You are lucky." Uhtred spoke up as the three of them sat by the table.

"Oh please, you both have a lot of children it is only one."

"Perhaps but it's your only one. Lovely house, a kind wife and a strong son. That battlefield changed you into a man."

"Nearly dying can do that to a person." Osferth noted as he took a sip from the tea.

"I do wish we had ale to properly celebrate." said Finan as he too drank his tea.

"I say tea is perfect, we wouldn't want her to get sick." Uhtred noted as even now the way you walked made sense. He has seen it before, women tend to walk 'funny' after birth.

"She is special, I prayed for a kind woman and God gifted me an angel."

"You deserve it. You deserve this all. So, what do you work as now? Farmer?"

"Actually, before she gave birth we ran her old business, I got quite skilled in jewellery and pottery, also learned how to make baskets." Osferth told proudly, sure it was no fight or swords, but it was something the people needed and bought.

Both guests looked at one another smiling from ear to ear. They feared that day Osferth would die, and to see him make it so far, they were both happy.

"I put him back to bed. We do have a pie if you crave something sweet." you said as you walked back into the kitchen.

"We have pie?!" turned your husband towards you.

"Of course, I kept it from you, you would have ate it all before they arrive!" Osferth pouted as the men laughed, this time minding their volume.

"Pie sounds amazing, Lady Y/N." Uhtred said as you placed it in front of them.

You were glad they were here and they got to meet your son. Osferth talked a lot about his adventures and it was nice to meet the men he used to travel with.

You offered him a smile along with a slice and he grabbed your hand squeezing it slightly, his eyes shining with happiness.

Taglist: imreadinggoaway @fleursirvart @v-2bucky ehsebastiancrunch-time-sports  @pxstelrainbow ablogbypeteparker liamssmilersmexylemony @greenarrowhead feelingsareharddd @thisismysecrethappyplace @sincerelyfan @theoneanna @aestheticsandmarvel @rororo06 @castellandiangelo @avengers-r-us @destynelseclipsa   @spilledinkindumpster celebsimagine @capsiclesdoll snoopy3000 @firstangeldragonranch @puknow @crazzyter  @alwayshave-faith @soleil-dor @alex12948 scream-kiwi79  @lxdyred  @imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl @liveforkarljacobs @anonymoussherlockandmarvelgeek @paola-carter @stunkbiggu @violet-19999​ @praline357​

~Masterlist~

ˇAO3ˇ

             DO NOT REPOST OR TRANSLATE ANY OF MY WORKS

[s8nny]

—HE was sure he had put on his skates wrong because the clasp was too tight. But he wasn't going to say anything. Even if someone pointed a gun at his head at that moment, he wouldn't complain. He had tried to follow his senpai's actions but had gotten lost at some point. He didn't think Fubuki would notice his mistake.

"Yukimura, do your feet hurt?"

He swallowed audibly. "No. Not at all."

Finishing adjusting the hem of his pants, Fubuki looked up at his student, who was staring at his feet with suspicious interest. He couldn’t hide his discomfort. For someone so direct, Fubuki didn’t understand why it was so hard for him to tell the truth when it came to his own well-being. Thankfully, training teenagers had sharpened his perceptiveness. He raised an eyebrow as he noticed how Yukimura had tucked his pants into the skate. He sighed loudly.

"Well, maybe they do hurt a little."

Smiling, the adult approached and began explaining step by step how to put on the skates to avoid getting hurt. Yukimura smiled, relieved. He didn't like having to explain things twice, and he often forgot that his teacher, unlike him, had the patience of a saint. Fubuki handed him the knee pads while continuing the conversation.

"I still find it incredible that, having grown up in Hokkaido, you’ve never set foot on an ice skating rink, especially knowing how good you are at sports."

Hyouga remained silent, feeling his cheeks flush at the compliment. His parents were not very involved in his life. They worked a lot and were hardly ever home. He was used to being on his own in every way. He would go out to train whenever he wanted and could return home knowing no one would be there to greet him. He was still not used to an adult being interested in his affairs for the first time.

"Yeah, well, the opportunity just never came up." With his hands resting on his knees, he noticed how his teacher’s eyes never stopped watching his every move. He should have been used to the extreme vigilance his coach subjected them to, but it always made him nervous.

"I'm sure you'll have a great time." Approaching the door to the rink, Shirou gently and politely called out to the attendant to let her know they were about to enter. The young woman smiled at him with bright eyes and blushing cheeks. Yukimura turned his head in embarrassment and huffed. He always had to endure all of his coach's flirting scenes. "Let's go!"

Yukimura grabbed onto the railing as soon as the blades of his skates touched the ice. Taking small steps, he tried to slowly approach Fubuki, who was skating freely a bit further away but always watching Yukimura out of the corner of his eye.

He knew that if he offered help right away, Yukimura would feel embarrassed and refuse. As usual. Being his coach for the past year had taught him a lot about the young man. He had a good heart, but his stubbornness often got the better of him. Although, that last trait couldn’t be held against him too much.

Yukimura continued taking steps while holding onto the railing, but he was starting to gain more confidence. Letting go of one hand, he began to observe the movements of the people around him. Gradually, his legs started to adjust, and the trembling in his knees began to disappear.

"You're doing great, Yukimura." He smiled, satisfied. He would never admit it out loud because Fubuki would never stop teasing him if he knew, but his coach's praise always felt amazing.

Yukimura was now skating with more confidence, moving with small and timid glides. When he was close enough to Fubuki, he tried not to show how relieved he felt for overcoming the challenge.

"I told you, Yukimura, it wasn't that hard," Fubuki commented with a mischievous smile.

Yukimura, still holding on to his pride, replied, "Maybe. But if I fall, don’t you dare laugh."

Fubuki let out a laugh and spun gracefully on the ice, stopping right beside his student. "Deal."

Yukimura, feeling his senpai's confidence, let out a sigh of relief. He decided to try gliding without relying on the railing so much. Slowly, he raised both arms to maintain his balance and took a firm step forward. To his surprise, his legs responded well, and he managed to move forward without stumbling.

"Wow, look at that. You're quite the skater now," Fubuki joked as he watched closely, always ready to step in if needed.

Yukimura rolled his eyes, though he couldn’t help the small smile that crept onto his lips. "Don’t exaggerate. I can barely stay on my feet."

"That just means you're learning," Fubuki replied with a kind but firm tone. "It's a good start. Next time, we'll try something a bit more challenging."

Yukimura looked at him with a mix of curiosity and reluctance. "More challenging? Like what?"

Fubuki raised an eyebrow, his smile widening slightly. "You'll find out when the time comes. For now, keep practicing. You'll see how, little by little, you'll feel more comfortable."

The two continued skating in silence, with Yukimura focusing on his movements and Fubuki staying close, like a protective shadow. From time to time, Yukimura glanced at his teacher, grateful for his patience and support, making sure he hadn’t left. That he hadn’t left him behind.

Finally, after a few more minutes, Fubuki broke the silence. "You know, no one expects you to be perfect from the start. What matters is that you keep trying."

Yukimura nodded, this time not hiding the gratitude on his face. "I know, it's just..." I don’t want to disappoint you.

Fubuki suddenly stopped, turning to face Yukimura with seriousness. "Listen, Yukimura. It's not about not disappointing me or anyone else. It's about pushing your own limits, about being better than you were yesterday. And you’re already doing that."

Fubuki's words resonated with Yukimura, filling him with renewed determination. He nodded again, this time with more conviction. "Understood."

Fubuki smiled, satisfied. "Good. Now, how about we try skating without looking at the ground?"

Yukimura lifted his head, meeting Fubuki's eyes that were watching him with that mix of challenge and confidence. Oh, how he admired him. "Let's do it," he replied, determined not to let the ice defeat him.

As they both skated, the sound of the blades gliding across the ice mingled with laughter and the echo of their conversations, filling the air with a warm camaraderie. In that moment, Yukimura knew that no matter the challenges ahead, he was ready to face them.

And even better, when he did, he wouldn’t be facing them alone.

a/n. i love these two with all my heart. they deserve the entire world and i just want to create more moments because their bond is so dear to me <3 hope you enjoyed this :) sorry if there's a mistake <3

[lovableapocalypse]

quietly yours

bassist!remus x fem!reader

wc- 1.2k

warnings- fluff, like one f bomb, mutual pining, alcohol, smoking

a/n- sooo this is when they start to show their feelings more and stop being somewhat stupid!! but i love them so its okay. love u guys im really into writing their past rn so lmk if theres anything u wanna see <;33

The room was buzzing with people and music and the stench of weed was pungent in the air. A fog had settled over the party- people coming in and out the back door for a smoke, others passing blunts around freely. The boys were currently sharing this small run down house, splitting the rent while trying to get anyone to sign their band. You came around often but Remus normally preferred going to your flat, seeing as there was more quiet and less chaos. 

The boys had thrown a party tonight for no particular reason. They just wanted friends around and to see some familiar faces. And to get high. You decided you were just going to have a few drinks and socialize, not wanting to get plastered at the start of the weekend. You’d had a pretty hectic week and hadn’t seen the boys yet, so you were excited to come around. 

You’d arrived earlier than everyone else with Lily and Marlene. You all had a nice catch-up and people started showing up around 9. The party got more crowded and rowdy and you and Remus were stuck to each other trying to find any quiet spot. You ended up in the back garden with a few other people, sitting on the concrete patio. 

Remus was having his first cigarette of the night and you were nursing a cold beer. You were chatting about work and the boy’s new song they were working on. You heard a crash from inside and saw Sirius and James loudly high fiving over a makeshift beer pong game. 

More and more people were outside now and Remus stood putting out his smoke. He gently leaned down and grabbed your elbow to help you up. His touch was soft and sent unnecessary butterflies up your spine. 

“Where are we going?” You asked. 

“I don’t know. Somewhere more quiet.”

You were aware finding somewhere quiet to talk wasn’t convenient at a party of all places, but you two were desperate to catch up. As Remus pulled you inside Lily spotted you both. 

“Are either of you wasted?” She asked. 

You could tell she was tipsy and you laughed as you replied, “No.”

“Good. We’re out of beer and everyone else is not sober enough to go get more.”

Remus sighed but a smile pulled at his lips, “So you want us to go get more.”

“Yeah, that’d be great.” Lily sent you both an overly bright smile. 

“Fine.” Remus squeezed your arm, “We’ll be back.”

“You guys are life savers. Thank you.” She smiled and headed towards where James was standing. 

You gave Remus a look and he knew what you were thinking, “It was either agree or hear everyone’s bitching.”

You sighed and tilted your head back, “That’s fair.”

Remus shuffled around you towards the front door, grabbing his keys from the bowl on the small entryway table. He shoved them into his pockets and grabbed both your coats from the hook by the door. He handed you yours as he pulled his on and opened the front door. He held it open for you and the loud sounds were silenced as he pulled it shut behind him. 

You started walking towards the familiar small corner store, Remus right beside you. 

“I guess this is definitely more quiet.” You smiled. 

He laughed. “Oh for sure.”

He moved his hands into his pockets and bumped his shoulder into yours a few times. “Felt like I didn’t get to see you this week.”

“I know,” you replied, “honestly work was mad. I’m fucking glad it’s Friday.”

“Me too.” 

“Remus, isn’t everyday like Friday to you?” You laughed, looking up at him. 

He smiled down at you, “I suppose. Not when we get signed I’ll tell you that.”

“It’ll happen soon. What happened to that guy? The one who said he knew a manager or something?”

Remus shook his head, “Yeah, wasn’t worth it. Guy seemed shit and a bit sketchy. Disappointing, really.”

“I’m sorry.” You frowned. 

“Don’t be.” He looked at you and his skin was flushed and his smile was warm. You felt your own cheeks heat and hated that even his simplest actions made you react foolishly. You looked at the pavement and felt your hair cover your face. You heard him laugh and smiled in return. 

The small shop was empty and you grabbed two packs of the cheapest beer they had. You each carried one as you started your trek back. 

“How come it’s always us making these runs, never Peter or Marlene or anyone.” Remus broke the comfortable silence. 

“Probably because we’re always too busy chatting to actually get drunk.” 

He laughed and his smile was contagious, “That is true, love.”

His endearment was everything to you. It was pitiful how much you clung to his every word. Every passing glance, every skim of flesh on flesh. It was pathetic, really. 

“I say we drink as many of these on the way back and see if anyone even notices.” He raised his eyebrows, asking. 

“Alright, fine.” You stopped your walk and placed the pack on the nearest building's front steps. You sat down and Remus followed. You both pulled out a drink, opening them and bumping them together in cheers.  

You laughed as you took a sip. Remus made a dramatic Ah sound and shot you a smirk. 

“You’re the only person I will ditch a party, where I could potentially get heavily stoned, for.” 

“Wow, thank you Remus. That’s so sweet.”

“Truly the highest compliment I could give someone.”

You laughed at his stupidity and took another sip. 

You both stood and continued sipping your beers and slowly making your way back. When you finished you threw it in the nearest bin and Remus followed. When you turned to keep walking he grabbed your hand and laced your fingers together. He didn’t look at you or even say anything. He just asked you the next question on his mind, completely ignoring your hands. Your heart rate picked up and you were staring at your interlocked hands barely registering his voice. You didn’t want to ruin this so you quickly relaxed your hand against his and tried your best to pay attention to him. 

He was asking you about the novel you’d told him you were reading last week and if you’d finished it yet. You answered, your brain going into overdrive trying not to think about his palm against yours. 

Your other arm was getting heavy from holding the case of beer, but never in a million years would you let go of Remus’ hand. As you continued your completely normal conversation you saw the small house come into view. Remus squeezed your hand and you squeezed back. 

He dropped your hand to open the door for you and followed you in closely. You both placed the cases on the counter and he leaned down saying, “Told you no one would notice.”

Your face was burning from holding his hand and you tried your best to formulate a response but all you could get out was a small laugh. 

He held your hand. What did that mean?

You heard Marlene shout your name and you too quickly excuse yourself, shuffling out of the kitchen. You looked back over your shoulder and he was smiling at you, a similar blush coating his cheeks.

[boydepartment]

OMG DRABBLE IDEA

friends to lovers - hoon invites y/n on an arcade date (or in this case hangout) that also has an ice rink. he uses her clumsiness on the ice as an advantage to hold her when she falls and it’s all cutesy and shit. finally at the end of the day they take photos in one of the photobooths where it also takes a video. mid photo he confesses he loves her anD SINCE THERE’S A VIDEO YOU CAN SEE HER CUTE REACTION AND WHEN THEY HUG AND KISS AFTER THE CONFESSION OMG 😍😍😍

ANON I GOT YOU this request is so cute :( thank you for requesting this 🫶

Knee Pads- Park Sunghoon x Reader

MASTERLIST

wc- 1.2k

warnings- none :)

Whenever Sunghoon decided to ask you to hang out with him you always made sure to wear knee pads under your pants. You knew at some point or another he would want to take you skating. You never understood why, you couldn’t skate well, and you always held him behind. He couldn’t skate freely with you, not that it made you sad or anything, just confused. You never wanted to become a skating master. You put on a nice sweater and made sure your pants were baggy enough to hide the knee pads. For sure, Sunghoon would tease you if he knew you wore them.

---

“We are at an arcade?” You questioned looking at him. Sunghoon giggled as he opened the door for you. You walked in and you wanted to be surprised that the arcade was connected to an ice rink.

“Wow…” You said sarcastically, then smiled at his goofiness.

“It’s something different this time…! Kinda!” He put his hand on your shoulder and led you to get you the rental skates, he sat you down on a bench while he walked up to the desk. Sunghoon had always offered to buy you your own pair, but you don’t skate by yourself, you only skate because of him. Hell, you barely went out and when you did it was because of him.

“Ta-da!” Sunghoon walked toward the bench you were sitting at. He kneeled in front of you and went to take off your shoes.

“Wh-What are you doing?” You asked, confused, he never tied your skates.

“I’m helping you; you take too long.” He said bluntly, then laughing to himself. This whole situation was confusing you. Even the small touch on your shoulder was a little out of the ordinary, yeah you two were friends but this was definitely something else! You watched as he focused on your skates, it was hard trying to stop your heart from fluttering. The way Sunghoon would move hair out of his eyes every so often, how his tongue would peek out of his lips, he was so-

“Alright all done!” He went to stand up and use your knee as support but then his brows furrowed. He knocked on your knee now, he was confused, “are you wearing knee pads?”

Oh boy.

“NO!” You said quickly and stood up. Losing your balance, you fell into him. His arms immediately wrapped around you.

“It’s okay if you are, safety is key, and you definitely fall a lot.” He chuckled; you looked up at him. Your hair was in your eyes now and he softly moved the strands out of your vision. Your jaw went slack as he sat you back down and put on his own skates next to you.

You could not calm your heartbeat down, where did this flirty Sunghoon come from? What happened to the guy that would relentlessly tease you? Why is Sunghoon hitting on you? Is he even hitting on you?

Your heartbeat and questions refused to calm down even when you were gripping Sunghoon’s hand on the ice.

“You’re doing well today!” Sunghoon said to you and laughed loudly.

“Don’t jinx me!” You yelled at him. This only made him laugh harder. You let yourself giggle.

“Calm down angel-baby!”

ANGEL-BABY?! What is going-

You were so taken aback that your lost balance almost immediately, he softly but strongly gripped onto you and saved you from falling.

“You okay?” Sunghoon asked, smirking down at you.

“Yeah-Yeah I-I am all good!” You laughed a little trying to calm down your nerves. Like he didn’t just call you a pet name.

As you two skated, he would catch you, tease you minimally, and compliment you. Sunghoon’s laugh was like music to your ears. He was so pretty BUT ACTING LIKE A MENACE. This was not safe for your heart!

“Do you want to go to the arcade?” Sunghoon asked before guiding you to the rail. You looked up at him, his cheeks were rosy, and he was smiling softly at you. If you were in motion, you would’ve surely fallen because of him.

“Yes please…” You said softly, Sunghoon nodded, and you got off the rink. He made sure to help you adjust to the regular ground. He sat you both on the bench while he got your stuff from the table. You were still sat in shock about today. What has gotten into him? He couldn’t possibly like you right? I mean you’ve known him for a good amount of time, has he always acted like this? Or was your brain playing it up because you recently started seeing him in a different light?

Next thing you knew, he was helping you put on your regular shoes.

“Before you say anything let me help you.” He looked up at you and smiled before quickly looking back down. Oh, you were DOOMED if he didn’t harbor the same feelings for you.

---

It felt fantastic to be walking back on two feet without the blades.

“Do you miss skating?” You asked him suddenly. He looked down at you.

“I skate with you, so no.” Sunghoon spoke simply.

Your brows furrowed, “that’s not what I meant Sunghoon! I meant freely!”

Sunghoon turned his head to the side, “I do skate with you freely.”

“That’s not true! I hold you down like an anchor!” You said and looked up at him. Sunghoon huffed and rolled his eyes.

“That is not true! I skate more freely with you than I did when I was a kid.”

Now it was your time to laugh, “we go like 2 miles an hour!”

“That doesn’t matter to me.” He said and put his hand on your shoulder again, grinning down at you, “now take a photo with me!” Sunghoon dragged you to a photo booth.

“This is the only reason why I wanted to go to an arcade.” Sunghoon confessed when you both sat down.

You looked at him after fixing your hair and makeup in the camera in front of you, “for photos?”

Sunghoon was setting up the photo booth as he spoke, “yeah why?”

“Well, you have a phone for photos! And those photo booth cafes.” You teased him. Sunghoon looked at you with a deadpanned expression.

“Just pose!”

You giggled and got ready for the photo to go off.

“Oh, by the way I’m in love with you.” Sunghoon spoke before posing.

WHAT?!

Your jaw dropped and the photo snapped, Sunghoon started losing it next to you.

“Are you joking with me?! It’s not funny!” You shoved him. Sunghoon looked at you, he stopped laughing.

“No, I’m not kidding.” He was fully serious.

You felt your entire world finally connect, all of the ‘hang outs’, teasing, actual flirting, it was true. You looked down at his lips then his eyes again.

Another photo snapped.

“Can I kiss you?” You asked, Sunghoon smiled.

“Yes, you can, knee pads.”

“Oh, come on is this my new nick- mmph!”

Sunghoon giggled as he kissed you holding you close to him as the last photo was taken, little did you know, he also paid for the video. He was surely going to tease you for awhile about it.

[janthewriter]

Melancholy of the Mindful

I am constantly trying to convince myself that I am normal and that the emotions that visit me are normal. It is intended for each emotion to pay their respected visit. But I know some people are prone to overstaying their welcome. Hosting and maintaining the range of emotions, is a silly idea. It is a lie. One that I tell myself I am capable of, over and over. For a while, I almost believe it. I am someone who is fond and obsessive. Over ideas. Ideas of love. Ideas of happiness. Ideas of everything working out. But I couldn’t tell you the last time happiness and contentment came around, it’s been so long that I can’t remember anymore. But I know it exists for some people. I see it all around me. It is a beautiful thing to witness. I couldn’t name one time love genuinely chose me. It visits out of curiosity. Teasing me. It gets me excited and hopeful, but something always happens and it leaves. I am left ripped apart and devastated every single time. I beg it to come back. I scramble to try and find it again. I’ve gotten close, but close is never enough. Everybody wants what they can’t have. The closest thing that I could probably attain is, generosity. I could learn to give love freely and abundantly. I would know that I was never meant to receive the same in return. I think I could find peace with that, I think that could be a really good feeling to live with, I will tell generosity to pay me a visit. What a conundrum, someone who is obsessed with the idea of love, but knows that probably would never receive it. I can’t help but laugh. That is a long and painfully slow poison to live with. With love, comes sadness. They are almost a package deal. But when love leaves, sadness stays. My sadness comes the most natural. It is familiar. It is not a stranger to me. Over time, you will get to know someone well if they visit quite often. But I have been shutting him out. I told him he’s not allowed back. I locked the doors. I boarded the windows. Only leaving a small sliver of transparency that allows us to look at each other. I stare at him through the window, and I do it with a smile because I know I would let him back in one day. And eventually, I do let him back in. He speaks to me in whispers, but my ears hear him loudly. He tells me I am worthless. That I am unlovable. And I believe him, because why would he lie? Why should I even bother to fight it? I know this feeling could end me, but somehow it makes me feel like I know myself. I will take a life where I am sad and lonely. A life where I could still try to be a good person even if I know that I probably never will be. Over a life where I am full of anger, hatred, and hurt towards others. I can’t even say I am envious of the people out there that don’t feel like this, I am relieved for them. I am a coward who lacks the courage of ending the fight. The annoyance of non acceptance is worth navigating. I know I will probably live everyday in torture until I can learn acceptance. Maybe one day I can become an escape artist, escaping the place I reside to somewhere else, where sadness cannot find me. But for now, I will allow this feeling to takeover.

[wikiangela]

Do I really have to tell you how he brought me back to life?

so I wrote a lil something after 6x18, not sure if it makes sense at all - just a bit of Buck not being able to share his life with the Diazes with Natalia, and some feelings realization hah (also kinda emotional cheating? lol idk)

words: 2.9k

[read on Ao3]

“I’m at your door and no one’s answering.” she adds, and for some reason, he feels extremely guilty, as if he was doing something horrible and shady, and that she can’t know. “Uh, did we have plans?” he asks, frowning, peeking into the kitchen, where he sees Eddie throw a kitchen towel at Chris, who’s laughing loudly, probably after another joke. He can’t help a smile. “No, I just wanted to see you. But it’s fine, it’s my fault for coming over announced.” she laughs. “When will you be home?”  “Uh, I-” he’s already home, right now. There’s no place on earth that feels more like home than Eddie’s house. But he can’t say that. “I might not be back tonight.” he admits, distracted by a loud thud, and he peeks into the kitchen again, to see Eddie crouch down, picking something up.  “Buck!” Chris calls. “Come back before dad destroys the kitchen!” OR, Buck spends time with Eddie and Chris, and for some reason finds himself incapable of telling Natalia, which leads to some realizations.

____

The kitchen is filled with sounds of conversations and laughter, and music in Spanish that Eddie tries to sing along to, but he’s very off-key, and doesn't know all the lyrics, which in turn causes Buck and Chris to make fun of him. Eddie clearly sees how much fun they’re having, how much Chris is enjoying it, and continues to be a huge dork, goofily dancing around and singing, just for his entertainment. They all cook dinner together, like they tend to do pretty often nowadays, each having their own specific task, assigned by Buck. Chris sits at the table, carefully cutting vegetables, while Buck and Eddie move around each other as easily and seamlessly, as they do at work, knowing what the other one wants or needs without even saying a word. And whenever they pass each other, Eddie makes sure to touch Buck in some way, his shoulder, his forearm, the small of his back – and Buck feels hot, breath hitching each time, and he tries to ignore the way it makes him crave more.

Right now, Buck and Chris are laughing, as Eddie uses a salt shaker, that he was just about to use, as a microphone, almost yelling the lyrics, looking between Buck and his son, and Christopher covers his face in embarrassment.

“I can’t believe how lame my dad is.” Chris tells Buck, but Eddie obviously hears it, as he starts laughing as well. And Buck, well, he doesn’t think it’s lame. It’s dorky and cute. And he can’t help a fond smile that forces itself onto his face as he watches Eddie. He rarely gets to see him just be silly and goofy. It’s a very recent thing, but he’s clearly felt more free to just let go and have fun, and it’s amazing to see. 

“And I can’t believe how he got such a cool kid.” Buck shakes his head, obligated to join in on the teasing. Chris looks at him with a grin.

“My mom was pretty cool.” he says, and Buck can see Eddie falter for a moment, a soft smile on his face. They’ve been mentioning Shannon more freely now, too, and Buck learned more about her in the last few weeks than in all the years they’ve known each other. That’s pretty awesome, too, to see Eddie heal and move on. He even actually asked someone out and went on a couple of dates, and Buck ignores how thinking about it makes him feel, but then he just told Buck it didn’t work out, no details. Buck didn’t ask.

“I bet she was. Because I’m sure you didn’t get all your coolness from… that.” he comments gesturing towards Eddie, who gives him the middle finger with a laugh. Buck sticks out his tongue in response.

“You guys don’t know how to have fun.” Eddie comments, turning back to where he’s seasoning the meat, still slightly swaying his hips in rhythm with the music, and Buck tries very hard to look away.

“Look who’s talking! We have fun!” Buck exclaims, but before he can add anything else, his phone rings, and he fishes it out of his pocket and checks who’s calling. He feels… slightly less happy than he just was, and he really doesn’t want to. He wants to get excited at seeing Natalia’s name on the screen. He wants to feel butterflies in his stomach, and his cheeks warming up, and heart racing just at the thought of hearing her voice. He knows that feeling very well, and he doesn’t want to think about who makes him feel like that. But she’s his girlfriend now, they’re dating, so he should answer… he wants to answer, he’s happy to hear from her, of course. “Hey, I’ll be right back, make sure nothing burns.” he says to Eddie, pointing to the pan, where a part of their dinner is already frying, then turns to Chris and adds, “Keep an eye on him.” Christopher nods with a laugh.

Buck exits the kitchen, stopping just outside the door, and is still able to hear the music and laughter, and Chris’ comments, as he teases Eddie about using too much spice – which turns into a dig at Buck, but he’ll let it slide.

Buck reluctantly answers the call, trying to convince himself he’s excited and happy, and not regretting anything, and that the thrill of a new relationship hasn’t worn off before it even started. The thing is, he does genuinely like her, and he really wants this… but he feels like his heart isn’t his to give anymore, and the person holding it has no idea he has it. Buck doesn't even want to admit to himself who he accidentally gave it to.

“Hey, what’s up?” he asks when the call connects.

“Hey, where are you?” her melodic voice sounds in his ear. It’s nice, he likes her voice. He likes her. She’s great, and kind, and understanding, and… he really wishes he could fall for her, it’d make everything so much easier. “I’m at your door and no one’s answering.” she adds, and for some reason, he feels extremely guilty, as if he was doing something horrible and shady, and that she can’t know.

“Uh, did we have plans?” he asks, frowning, peeking into the kitchen, where he sees Eddie throw a kitchen towel at Chris, who’s laughing loudly, probably after another joke. He can’t help a smile.

“No, I just wanted to see you. But it’s fine, it’s my fault for coming over announced.” she laughs. “When will you be home?” 

“Uh, I-” He’s already home, right now. There’s no place on earth that feels more like home than Eddie’s house. But he can’t say that. “I might not be back tonight.” he admits, distracted by a loud thud, and he peeks into the kitchen again, to see Eddie crouch down, picking something up. 

“Buck!” Chris calls. “Come back before dad destroys the kitchen!”

“It’s fine, it’s just a plate, it happens-” Eddie starts saying, standing up with the shards, cheeks pink. Buck has the urge to go over there, take the broken pieces out of his hands and make sure he didn’t hurt himself. Which is ridiculous, Eddie’s a grown man and a medic, he’d be fine if he did hurt himself. 

“What do you mean? Where are you?” Natalia asks. “Buck.” And Buck realizes she’s been asking him this for a while, but he tuned it out.

“Uh, nothing, I’m just-” he stops, seeing Eddie walk over to him, or, to the trash can that’s right next to the door right now, since the kitchen is such a mess, everything’s out of place. But it’s their mess, that they’ll clean up together, as always, and have fun while doing it. Those domestic evenings with Eddie and Chris are Buck’s favorite thing that he always looks forward to the most.

“Who’s that?” Eddie asks curiously when he’s next to him, gesturing to the phone. He’s still holding his phone to his ear, and Natalia’s asking questions, but all he can focus on are Eddie’s warm eyes on his.

“No one.” Buck responds and is about to hang up, but then remembers he has to say goodbye to the woman he’s dating now. “I’ll just be a sec.” and he disappears behind the door again.

“No one?” Natalia asks, confused and a little hurt, clearly having heard Eddie’s question. “Buck, what’s going on? Where are you?”

“I’m-”

“Buck, something’s burning!” he hears Christopher yell.

“Shit, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.” and he hangs up the phone, cutting off whatever she was saying. And… it’s shitty. He’s acting shitty. He’s the worst boyfriend. Natalia deserves so much better, she deserves someone who can appreciate how awesome she is. Someone who won’t pretend and lie.

And the thing is, he doesn’t know why he didn’t just tell her where he is. It’s not like it’s a big deal, he’s just hanging out with his best friend and that friend’s kid – or, actually, his best friend and that friend’s dad. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s normal, it’s nothing to hide, no big deal. Except… except it’s Eddie, and it does feel like a big deal, with Buck feeling like he does around him. He feels guilty. And you shouldn’t feel guilty and try to hide from your girlfriend that you hang out with your best friend, right? Buck’s spiraling, and he feels so guilty, as if he at least cheated- he feels more guilty than when he kissed Lucy and basically cheated on Taylor. It’s weird, he shouldn’t feel this way, because he’s not doing anything wrong right now… He feels like he is, though. Shit.

Besides, what’s even worse, is that whenever he’s with Natalia, all he thinks about is Eddie, and then he feels even more guilty – but that guilt doesn’t disappear as soon as he looks into her eyes, like it does with Eddie. He feels guilty when he’s with his girlfriend, and it’s for literally no fucking reason. Because Eddie is not his, and he’s not Eddie’s, and that’s just how it is. Maybe he wants it to change… He needs to sort it out somehow, because, well, he can’t live like this, endlessly riddled with guilt.

He runs into the kitchen to see Eddie take the a-bit-too-well-cooked meat off the pan, and put in another two pieces he just seasoned.

“Crisis averted, we’re good.” he says, grinning at Buck, and Buck’s heart immediately settles from panicked racing into calm and steady rhythm. Even just the sight of Eddie makes him feel at peace. He never wants to leave here. He never wants to be apart from his kid and his Eddie- well, from Eddie’s kid and his Eddie. Though, at least in his head, he likes referring to Chris as his. Because he loves him so much, as if he was actually his. But that’s not… it’s not true, and he doesn’t want to overstep. But it’s not like Eddie can read his mind.

And maybe that’s another thing. Maybe he’s worried that Natalia will freak out again, because it’s no secret that he and Eddie are really close, maybe closer than regular friends should be. They’re basically raising a kid together, and she was already freaked out when she found out Buck was just a donor. And it’s not like he’s Chris’ dad, as much as he’d love to be. There’s nothing to freak out about. Except, why can’t he just tell her?

They settle back into their routine, and later, as they’re both at the sink, cleaning up, while the dinner is just about to finish cooking, and Chris has gone to the living room, Eddie's arm brushing against Buck’s, Eddie says quietly:

“You know you don’t have to hide your girlfriend from us, right?” he sounds amused, but there’s also a tinge of something else, suspiciously similar to hurt. “You can, you know, invite her here for dinner sometime.” he shrugs, but he seems suddenly tense.

“Uh-” Buck hesitates. He knows he should, but he really doesn’t want those two aspects of his life to collide. He’s not sure how he imagines it looking in the future, if things with Natalia turn serious… but they probably won’t.  “Sure, I, um, maybe?”

Eddie gives him a confused look and laughs.

“Or are you hiding us from your girlfriend? Come on, we’re not that embarrassing.” he teases.

“I don’t know, Chris might not be, but you…” Buck jokes, but he feels something heavy sitting on his chest and almost not letting him breathe. It only loosens when he looks into Eddie’s eyes, and their hands brush when Eddie hands him a bowl to dry. Eddie smiles that wonderful smile, and there’s so much fondness and, maybe, possibly, love in his eyes…

“Shut up.” Eddie laughs again, and this, this is the most wonderful sound, that Buck never wants to end. Then Eddie starts quietly singing along to whatever song’s playing now, and Buck is just so enamored… He could stand here and watch Eddie be so carefree and silly for the rest of time. He’s so beautiful, and cute, and just his presence is enough for Buck to feel comfortable and at ease, and so happy. He brought Buck’s heart back to life, metaphorically and literally, and then took it and never gave it back. Buck doesn’t want it back. Oh, shit. He thinks… he thinks he’s in love with Eddie. It’s the first time he allows himself to acknowledge it, and somehow, it feels like the rightest thing in the world. He’s never felt this certain and content about anything. He loves Eddie so much, and it might kill him if he never does anything about it. And timing really is a bitch, because how is he having this realization right after starting a new relationship with a wonderful woman, who definitely deserves so much better?

Buck can’t stop staring at Eddie, wide eyes, as all his thoughts overwhelm him a bit, and he doesn’t notice when he tries to hand him a washed cutting board. He only comes back to himself when Eddie gives him a funny look. “You okay?”

“Uh, yeah, of course, I’m fine.” he chuckles nervously, and takes the board, dries it, and puts it in the right spot, not even wondering where it should go, because he knows this kitchen like the back of his hand. This is his home. This is where he’s supposed to be. And now that he acknowledged it, he doesn’t think he can go back to pretending. “I’m not fine.” he admits, going over to check on their dinner, turning the stove off when he sees it’s ready.

“What’s going on?” Eddie asks cautiously and worriedly, turning the water off and Buck can see out of the corner of his eye Eddie drying his hands. Buck shakes his head. “Buck, hey, talk to me, please.” he takes a few steps towards Buck.

“I think I fucked up.” he takes a deep breath, feeling panic rise in his chest. But then he looks at Eddie, with his concerned and loving eyes, and everything settles. Maybe he can have this. Maybe it’s possible. Maybe not. In any case, it’s not fair to himself, and especially not fair to Natalia to string her along, when he knows damn well he can’t give all of himself to her. He can’t even share the best part of his life with her, because it’s his. They’re his. Not really, not yet, but also they are, and Buck can’t do it anymore. He needs to break up with her, let her go before he messes it up more or it gets serious and he ends up breaking her heart. And only after he breaks up with her, he can wonder if maybe Eddie feels the same, which, lately it does feel like that sometimes. But one thing at a time. “I’ll fix it, though. Don’t worry.” he smiles, and Eddie still looks worried, but doesn’t say anything. Just helps Buck plate their dinner, and goes to tell Chris that it’s ready. Buck watches them take their places at the table, chatting easily, and including Buck in conversation, making him feel like he belongs here. They eat dinner, filled with more talking and laughter, and it’s perfect. Something settles in his heart, last puzzle pieces sliding in their places, and make the picture clearer than ever.

This is Buck’s life. He wants it to be his life, the rest of his life. He wants to cook dinner together, do grocery runs, and do all the other mundane things together. He wants to come home to them after a shift, curl up with them on the couch to watch a movie, with Chris pretending he’s too big for cuddles, but eventually falling asleep on Buck’s shoulder, and go to bed wrapped in Eddie’s arms. He wants to wake up together and prepare breakfast, and tease Eddie for always burning eggs, no matter how his cooking skills improve. He wants to be able to hold his hand, and run his fingers through his soft hair, and kiss his lips. He wants to keep raising Chris together. He wants it all. 

They’re his family, this is his life, and he’s determined to keep it. He’ll fix it, he’ll fix everything, he always does. And next time they cook dinner together, he might just be a little bold and reckless and carefree, and lean in to kiss Eddie, shutting up his adorable off-key singing, and if he’s lucky, Eddie will kiss back, and Chris will make fun of them both for being gross, but he’ll be so happy. And Buck will get them forever. He’ll get it all. For the first time in a while, Buck lets himself hope. Because suddenly his biggest dream doesn’t seem all that unreachable. They’re right here at the table with him, Christopher’s telling them about his day, and Eddie’s knee is pressing into his thigh, and his eyes are sparkling and looking at Buck in that way that makes him feel hot all over, and Eddie’s smile is the brightest thing in the room. There’s a moment, just a second, before Eddie remembers that Buck’s not single, where he reaches under the table and intertwines their fingers, squeezing reassuringly. Buck feels truly alive for the first time since he died. Maybe he’s felt this way with Eddie this whole time, actually, but refused to see it. He’s not sure how he missed this, while it was right under his nose, the answer to all his questions, the thing he’s been searching for. 

His boys, his family, his heart. This is it. They are it for him. At last, he found it. Now he only needs to do everything he can to keep it.

____

Tag list (if you want to be added pls interact with this post): @idealuk @thebravebitch @this-is-moony-lovegood @greenfairrryy

[opinated-user]

Ooh lily appears to be going down the radfem rabbit hole with that Dworkin defense she posted.

Hope she gets to the part where radfems have a bad habit of supporting right wing groups and generally unintentionally making rights worse for women

i... i have a lot of thoughts about this. 1. she wasn't just "critical" of the porn industry, she thought of it as intrinsically, inherently violent and sex workers as perpetual victims that needed to be freed, whether they wanted to or not. the idea that marginalized people could do their own pornography in their own terms to reclaim their own bodies and sexuality or, worse even, that some women actively, freely, choose to be sex workers is completely out of the table, which means robbing them of their own agency. this didn't cause people to be critical of the industry. it caused people to marginalize sex workers, often disabled, often already oppressed in some other way, so they industry itself very rarely is properly regulated, which ironically makes it even more abusive, and the sex worker to always being on the edge of becoming criminals, losing their jobs or be at the mercy of police enforcement. LO didn't just went completely mask off on being a fully supportive radfem, she went full swerf mask off. any statement that she ever made about how sex work "is just another job" has been completely and utterly rendered meaningless now. LO just loudly proclaim to any sex worker who could ever be interested to follow her that they're not safe with her, they don't have an ally with her and, as far LO's concerned, they don't have any free will. 2. even if she was trans inclusive, she was still the foundation of SWERFs to cause the irreparable damage that they have done to sex workers and undermining their rights for decades. being trans positive or not doesn't suddenly make that okay. many other people, including sex worker themselves, have already criticized the industry without painting it as inherently flawed and damaging, as not worth saving at all, exactly because they also want it to improve, so why invoke Andrea Dworkin at all... unless you want to associate yourself with the kind of people who actively abuse and make life harder for sex workers?

3. i googled "andrea dworkin transgender rights" and i was about to post the articles that can provide some quotes showing that Dworkin was trans positive on her work (for the time her works were written that is), but then i found this:

this is rowing using quotes from Andrea Dworkin on a thread where she pats herself on the back for her TERF manifesto. again. you can read it full here: https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1277265589782929410?lang=es of course, one can argue that she was trans inclusive and have actual quotes from her work to show that, inclusive testimonies from people who knew her intimately, as another way to argue against TERF... but is that changing anything? is it really worth it to repair the reputation of a woman injustly accused of being transphobic because her work has been appropriated and used by hateful people like rowing and her associates for decades at this point, if all we gain instead is a woman who would hate sex workers... many of them trans anyway? aren't we just helping SWERF and validating their branch of bigotry? this without even counting how anti-kink her views also come across. maybe LO is comfortable making that trade off. she was rather conflict free when it came to laughing along and promoting a bonafide real life nazi if that meant having someone willing to attack the transfemme person she hates. but i don't think that's an attitude that should be imitated.

[behindthescenesoftaylor]

Heyyy not sure how many charas I can request so just do whichever ones are most fun for you if you don’t do all but could I get general hcs abt when they’re drunk/tipsy for aged up/college Stan, Kyle, Kenny, Craig, and Tweek? Maybe ur thoughts on what type of tolerance they have, do they get touchy/emotional/angry, fav drink? Thanks a ton!!

When the boys are drunk/tipsy Hc!

Aged up | if you don’t like request again and I’ll be happy to rewrite! | Stan, Kyle, Kenny, craig, tweek, and bonus: Eric cartman

Stan Marsh:

Stan has a moderate tolerance for alcohol. He can handle a few drinks before feeling the effects.

He might get a bit sentimental and nostalgic, reminiscing about past adventures with his friends.

When he's tipsy, Stan becomes more talkative and starts expressing his thoughts and opinions more freely.

Stan's favorite drink is probably a classic beer or a simple cocktail like a whiskey sour.

If you guys are romantic he’ll definitely be touchy

Kyle broflovski

Kyle has a low tolerance for alcohol and tends to get drunk quite quickly.

When he's drunk, Kyle becomes more relaxed and carefree. He lets loose and often ends up dancing or singing loudly.

He might also get a bit argumentative, passionately defending his opinions or engaging in debates with others.

Kyle's favorite drink could be a glass of red wine or a flavored vodka mixed drink.

He will not be touchy because even when he’s drunk he’s all about consent! And if your drunk you can’t consent! Maybe cuddles but nothing sexual

Kenny McCormick

Kenny has a surprisingly high tolerance for alcohol, possibly due to his rough childhood and his early exposure to alcohol. He can handle a lot of drinks without appearing too intoxicated.

When he's tipsy, Kenny becomes quite mischievous and adventurous. He might suggest doing something reckless or daring.

He tends to become the life of the party, making everyone laugh with his crude jokes and unpredictable behavior.

Kenny's favorite drink is likely a strong beer or a shot of whiskey.

Very touchy, very sexual, even in public.

Craig tucker

Craig has a moderate tolerance for alcohol. He can handle a fair amount of drinks before getting noticeably drunk.

When he's drunk, Craig becomes more relaxed and carefree. He lets go of his usual stoic demeanor and shows a more playful side.

He might engage in playful banter or teasing with his friends, often with a dry sense of humor.

Craig's favorite drink could be a craft beer or a glass of scotch on the rocks.

Not touchy at all, craig is still Craig

Tweek Tweak:

Tweek has a low tolerance for alcohol, and even a few sips can make him noticeably tipsy.

When he's drunk, Tweek becomes incredibly hyperactive and talkative. His energy levels skyrocket, and he bounces around the room.

He might become overly paranoid and start worrying about random things, even more so than when he's sober.

Tweek's favorite drink is probably a cup of strong coffee with a splash of alcohol, like an Irish coffee

He’s touchy, but just so he can have some comfort, he thinks you bring him comfort. So if he’s freaking out, y’all gonna be cuddling.

Eric Cartman:

Cartman has a moderate tolerance for alcohol. He can handle a few drinks before feeling the effects, but he may exaggerate his drunkenness for attention.

When he's drunk, Cartman becomes even more loud and obnoxious than usual. He becomes the center of attention and tries to dominate conversations.

He might become even more arrogant and self-centered, boasting about his supposed accomplishments and belittling others.

Cartman's emotions can be unpredictable when he's intoxicated. He may swing from being overly confident and happy to getting easily offended or angry.

His favorite drink could be a sugary cocktail or a mixed drink that masks the taste of alcohol, as he tends to enjoy indulgent treats.

Very touchy, he will touch you just to make others jealous and brag about how pretty you are.

[queenharumiura]

“Quit babying me! I can protect myself.” - ((ooc: me sending to myself bc I need this from Lambo? YES. ))

Taken from meme: [x] ||Accepting|| (To anyone else reading: this is basically me exercising my Lambo muse. Issok. Don't mind me.)

A gasp.

Is this how a parent feels when their child is leaving the nest? Lambo wasn’t her kid by any means, but he was that younger brother figure that she just adored. Look at him, growing so much, being rebellious about being looked after. He doesn’t need his big sis Haru anymore.

She dramatically drops to the ground, “Ahhh, Lambo-chan is a big boy now, he doesn’t need anyone looking after him anymore.” The dramatic sniffs. “Soon he’ll be saying that he doesn’t need any more candy or that he is fine playing on his own.” Woe is a Haru who is now experiencing attachment issues with her favorite cow child.

Is she about to shed some real tears? Maybe. She’s always been an emotional and dramatic bean. “Big boys can have candy too!” The child protests. Ha, she’s got you now, Lambo.

“You’re right~! So smart! That means big boys can also still be protected, ne?” Haru bounces right back to being chipper again. “Doesn’t Tsuna get protected sometimes too? So, you can still be protected sometimes. Okay?”

"But, Haru will stand back more so you can practice being a big boy more often, okay? Promises." She respects the fact that he's getting older and wants to be more self-sufficient. She understands how he feels, but she did wish that he would slow down some more and enjoy his childhood a bit more freely before he really has to be all-- you know, MAFIA.

The two lock pinkies to seal the promise. "Lambo-san is a big boy now, I can protect Haru too!" The child laughs loudly, seemingly proud of himself.

That was such a sweet sentiment, but-- "Maybe that can wait for when you're older, okay? I don't want to see you get hurt. Just a liiiiittle bit older and Haru will always feel safe when you're around." Haru will have a heart attack the day you protect her and get hurt.

A mental sniff. They're growing up so fast and they need to slow down.

[theskeletoninthegarden]

I'm answering these questions for Quinntav, since they're still my blorbo on rotate and I'm currently working on (one of) their sequel stories.

1. "I'm fine" was going to be my answer here, but this is something they honestly believe, but which is outright wrong for...quite some time. Thankfully it becomes a drop in the water of their life eventually, but I digress. On the other hand, Quinn does a lot of lying by omission; like a majority of my MCs they don't like lying outright. The correct answer would be "I'm not lonely", because they horribly are, and at least that's something that they're aware of, if more so unwilling to admit then...a majority of their secrets (they'll admit they're Bhaalspawn beforehand, but that particular topic comes about from a moral standpoint; again, I digress).

2. Quinn uses "my friend" sometimes when talking to strangers, but mostly when they're dealing cards, doing readings, and otherwise performing. They'll sooner use a nickname than they will call someone a friend; they almost immediately give Shadowheart, Astarion, Gale, and, well, the entire party nicknames before going so far as to call any of them friends. They aren't difficult to trust or adore other people in so much as they've only had so many long lasting relationships up until the events of the game/their stories, so it's more like they aren't used to allowing themself to outright recognize that they have a new friend, let alone call someone that to their face.

3. The funny thing about this question is that they do a lot of faking to make it to even themself, so the line blurs a lot here. People notice that their default expression seems to be a content smile with some honest warmth in their eyes, but everyone has layers and they spend a lot of time burying a lot for everyone's sake (mostly themself, unknown to Quinn; they're more unconsciously protective of their more vulnerable half than they think). Eventually said default expression brightens, but all in much due time. Otherwise Quinn is a lot more open, at least with their positive emotions, then anyone might assume? They laugh freely, and love easily, to say the least. It's much easier to give into their urges when they're angry, though, and they've denied themself the option to give into their sadness for far too long to make it an easy thing to share.

4. Probably card readings. A lot of small things like that. Their more performance based skills drop off, understandably, after they leave the Circus. Although after they defeat the Big Bad and settle down somewhere they're encouraged to start performing musically again. (If you wanna be dark and more Dark Urge leaning then it's something gruesome but weirdly satisfying but I'll leave it out).

5. No! They're actually really bad at it, because they don't like to have Bad Thoughts or anything adjacent, so. Something really funny could help but it's less instantaneous and who can believe that they're miserable if they're laughing that hard (it's ironic on the other hand how often that line applies to their life in general, but).

6. Every Dark Urge Ever, okay. (That's a lie, they've probably recommended Something to Minthara or Astarion, because they Get It more than most people.)

7. My Sweet Darling Childe (or something along those lines), and they'd come sprinting (Quinn adores nick names and have very few of their own, sadly). Astarion would either yell their name, or, idk, Darling, or My Dear. They're probably the only person he would call out loudly to in that way, but otherwise he uses it with a lot of people, so it's not unique (he just doesn't strike me as the pet name/nick name sort, or I certainly haven't thought of one; maybe Sweetling/My Sweet???). ((If they had ended up with Wyll, on the other hand...))

8. IDK if we want to go into angst territory, but as easily as they love, saying "I love you" or being allowed to outwardly say as much is worse than calling someone a friend. Even with Astarion it's...said a precious few times. It's sad, really, but anyone who knows why understands deeply that when they do They Really Fucking Mean It and It Hurts. (It's possible that I've had them say it as a part of a joke but although that's also rare it's Different, my dudes, and I'm trying to avoid that). They'll sooner say I adore you, because I love you is Harder, ok?

9. Uhhhhh... I'm somehow more familiar with writing Tough Love with them, idk how that's happened. Not that they're averse to either, actually. It just depends, but Tough happens a lot.

12. Gosh, there's so much. Astarion doing any sort of impression of the party, after he's dropped his own knee jerk performative nature. *

10. It's funny how many questions come up that I unexpectedly have to say "they don't do that" to just because they're a performer who doesn't like to intrude too much on anyone's space, which is wild. But, well, they don't do that. They have interests, don't get me wrong, but they're probably what you call a reserved extrovert.

13. A one hundred percent, entirely false smile? When they're having a break down. Like, just before. It's a very short window. They may be constantly a little sad but if they've got a bit of a grin they're probably thinking "well, at least I have (blank) going for me" or something along those lines. The moment they realize things aren't fine and they allow themself to feel that devastation the change happens.

14. Normally they blow on one, but if it's down low, they'll use their tail, or, Hells, they've licked one more than once. Quinn and pain are very old friends.

15. It's all mostly the same. It's mostly the case of what they're allowed to do (like how much clothing they can get away with taking off) as a societal norm or what whomever they're comfortable with is comfortable with. The only thing they Do Not Do around others is fall into one of their depressive episodes, and depending on the circumstance (about...two AUs, my brothel one and the Hanged Man one, but that decision is made for them in both) Scratch is allowed to be there after some serious discussion. Karlach and Astarion manage to eventually also be present, and I'd like to think that everyone of the party will, eventually, but it all takes time.

16. Themself, next question.

17. Their yes, and they're eyes. Originally, at least, their eyes are bloody red pools on a background of purple, so they sort of stand out.

18. Scratch, next question. (There are things everyone else is possibly capable of doing in some weird dark timeline, I guess, but Scratch??? The boy???)

19. That would be The Dark Urge, which is them, but in some iterations they can sort of interact and that always ends in physical confrontation. Even Gortash they don't avoid, if only so they can maul the man.

20. Raphael (maybe??????????), and the Duke. Next question.

24. Cookies and other things aren't safe around Quinn (silverware, candy, pens, etc). If you mean something bigger? Yeah, there are timelines where they killed Gortash for Karlach (who doesn't know they killed Gortash, only that they dealt with him). They've done a few things via Raphael that not everyone knows about.

21. I guess deferring to people in places of power with a default level of elevated respect, if...that makes sense. Quinntav will treat these people with the same amount they do anyone else, or even less, but with some added, general skepticism thrown in.

27. Does their cage count? They use it to sleep in so they don't accidentally murder someone while unconscious. In which case it's a pretty useful one, if miserable for them.

25. They know who Raphael's heir is if he is given the crown.

28. They tell people that they could use some beachfront property, something silly like that. What they need is a home they can love and feel like they deserve.

29. This is incredibly circumstantial, but mostly they shrug it off. It really depends. There are a few instances where Astarion doesn't understand the severity of how dangerous the Dark Urge is, but his participation varies with every AU. The ones where he's basically another person, when Astarion ignores Quinn's rules about interacting with him, they react with what could actually be called rage. They'll snarl and call him some form of an idiot but it's almost all out of a place of absolute terror over what they think they're going to have to witness once they're in control again.

30. Professional mistakes result in some minor chagrin, unless someone is hurt. It's pretty different than a personal mistake.

31. When they've hurt or killed someone as the Dark Urge, basically. I like to keep it pretty consistent that in every timeline they've met Alfira and at least have nearly killed her. And sometimes she's a kid. The Alfira incident always happens pretty early in their third life as Quinntav, and I can't really think of what they were like pre-Urge.

32. Wait, just one. They do many crimes. Many. All crime, all the time.

33. If "Hi, fuckface" had a smile, it would be their's. With Raphael they're a pretty sarcastic little shit. They're pretty stone faced around several people, like Duke Ravengard.

34. With someone like Karlach they will full-tilt fling themself at a person they love. It depends on what they know you can take, because you could be getting a flying Tiefling. They will immediately get closer to whomever it is, though. Expect a lot of tail wags.

35. Again, petty theft. But they haven't stolen from anyone who was exactly lacking.

36. No, Quinn has a lot of stuff sometimes, but anything that really matters they keep on their person. But they don't have anything *

37. They don't have anything they haven't told Astarion. One of the reasons why they never end up with certain people is because said people are those they wouldn't ever have the heart to confess certain things to, for different reasons. Astarion is so morally skewed their own fear, however irrational, of being jilted because of things they've done, however unintentional, is pretty lacking. On the other hand if he does anything they personally see as "pretty fucked" they'll call him out on it (the Gur racism being an example).

38. Reading. It's harder for them to focus on quieter tasks when certain people, or too many in general, are around. Mostly strangers. So people are pretty surprised that when they're alone, if they aren't humming or singing while doing busywork, they're actually pretty quiet.

41. Zara, their Circus Mother, signs as one of her forms of communication, and they learned from her; they have her growl of disapproval, and sometimes certain common gestures of hers leak into their day to day conversations. They have Lully's tight but dramatic penmanship and between Zethino and, again, Zara, they can find perfect calm in sitting around in relative quiet. They didn't grow up or develop, per se, around other Tieflings, but I'd like to think that they pick up some tail language from Karlach eventually. And they spend a bulk remainder of their existence with Astarion, and the other long lived members of the party, so the same can be said there.

39. They'd like to be invited, even if they don't want to be there and/or don't want end up going (they likely will, since you asked).

46. They're having the best time when they're listening (they're the friend listening to a friend rant about quantum physics even if half of what they're hearing makes zero sense). But if you ask them a question about anything they'll do their damndest to explain in their own way (their discussions on hemotergy aren't what I would call by the book). Otherwise they'll go off about plenty of things that either get their goat or make them endlessly happy.

43. Again, they didn't grow up around Tiefs so they've no cultural background to go off with them at all, let alone signs that could be communicated through the tail. That said since they were raised in the Circus, among people typically alienated for being different, they're very good at apologizing for faux pas and wanting to learn how to make up for them.

47. Plenty of people pre-Orin-incident, really. Gortash, for example.

48. Karlach and Wyll, without a thought.

49. Yeah, but they're a freak like that. Especially if it gets a laugh out of someone else.

50. Quinn and I are pretty 1 to 1 on a great number of things. They're more extreme in not trusting anyone in positions of significant power, but trust is a weird word to use in that regard, anyway.

52. Sometimes one, sometimes the other. Their thought process is pretty, um, emotionally driven, but they're more calculating then people give them credit for. I like to think that the Dark Urge is damned clever in many regards, even if they come off as some sort of meat head sometimes, and that translates pretty well into Quinn as a Tav.

53. I mean, no one. There are some people that they're willing to follow to the ends of the earth in regards to their opinion-- Wyll is one of them, but have you met the man? But, still using Wyll as an example, they don't agree with what his father has done in response to Wyll's choices in the least bit. It's probably the only point of contention in their relationship, outside of Quinn's view of themself as something that sadly exists.

54. Like I said, Quinn is actually pretty calculating. In a battle they'll likely know when it's better to flee, and when they can fight. Freezing happens most often during unexpected comments that hit on their more vulnerable aspects of themselves, but it has to be pretty unexpected or that won't last long.

Fawning is constant, they're almost always flirting with someone.

55. They work in the Circus, but caging the more animal like and/or monstrous members of the troupe makes them uncomfortable (fortunately Shadow-Whiskers can just nudge the thing open or, idk, teleport out whenever), but that's done as part of the act, anyway. Any circus that uses whips and etc for the same reason, they don't like. There are other troupes that pretend to rile up their creatures using devices like that, and until Quinn recognizes that they'll be considering some grand acts of...petty theft. It will always be unpleasant to them, though. As much as it's probably a good thing to avoid Displacer Beasts in the wild, they don't like them being used to frighten an audience for the purposes of entertainment.

They don't like using members of the troupe to weird out guests. If one of them happens to be Some Elf with three arms, his thing might be to juggle swords, but it's not going to be "look at this guy with an extra arm! what a weirdo!"

IDK, the Circus is a place of refuge for their family. When entertaining the worst they should have to worry about is accidentally forgetting a line. Being different is a part of the attraction, but it should never be used to invoke horror or disgust or fear. An appreciation, admiration, and a basic education that many unique, and wonderful people exist in the world, yes.

56. Quinn may romance Astarion, but they don't play favorites. If they know that someone is willing to lend an ear or, better yet, an hour or so of physical affection, when they're particularly uncertain or afraid, they'll go to anyone in the party or in the Circus. Some people they know are more comfortable with giving certain types of affirmation, etc, of course. If they want to cuddle, for example, I imagine it would take years for Shadowheart or Lae'zel to be open to it (I crave the image of either, though; just Quinn wrapped around either like a particularly large ferret). But it's easy to imagine any of the guys being open to some degree of physical touch pretty early (except for Az, but they get there).

Astarion's really good at making comments that cut to the quick. Things they Need to hear, and want to hear in their heart of hearts, which other people might sugar coat. They wouldn't necessarily be looking for it, though. Not intentionally.

58. All. They've tried so much, but like myself they usually fall back to the same hobbies/skills pretty often.

WEIRDLY SPECIFIC BUT HELPFUL CHARACTER BUILDING QUESTIONS

What’s the lie your character says most often?

How loosely or strictly do they use the word ‘friend’?

How often do they show their genuine emotions to others versus just the audience knowing?

What’s a hobby they used to have that they miss?

Can they cry on command? If so, what do they think about to make it happen?

What’s their favorite [insert anything] that they’ve never recommended to anyone before?

What would you (mun) yell in the middle of a crowd to find them? What would their best friend and/or romantic partner yell?

How loose is their use of the phrase ‘I love you’?

Do they give tough love or gentle love most often? Which do they prefer to receive?

What fact do they excitedly tell everyone about at every opportunity?

If someone was impersonating them, what would friends / family ask or do to tell the difference?

What’s something that makes them laugh every single time? Be specific!

When do they fake a smile? How often?

How do they put out a candle?

What’s the most obvious difference between their behavior at home, at work, at school, with friends, and when they’re alone?

What kinds of people do they have arguments with in their head?

What do they notice first in the mirror versus what most people first notice looking at them?

Who do they love truly, 100% unconditionally (if anyone)?

What would they do if stuck in a room with the person they’ve been avoiding?

Who do they like as a person but hate their work? Vice versa, whose work do they like but don’t like the person?

What common etiquette do they disagree with? Do they still follow it?

What simple activity that most people do / can do scares your character?

What do they feel guilty for that the other person(s) doesn’t / don’t even remember?

Did they take a cookie from the cookie jar? What kind of cookie was it?

What subject / topic do they know a lot about that’s completely useless to the direct plot?

How would they respond to being fired by a good boss?

What’s the worst gift they ever received? How did they respond?

What do they tell people they want? What do they actually want?

How do they respond when someone doesn’t believe them?

When they make a mistake and feel bad, does the guilt differ when it’s personal versus when it’s professional?

When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?

If they committed one petty crime / misdemeanor, what would it be? Why?

How do they greet someone they dislike / hate?

How do they greet someone they like / love?

What is the smallest, morally questionable choice they’ve made?

Who do they keep in their life for professional gain? Is it for malicious intent?

What’s a secret they haven’t told serious romantic partners and don’t plan to tell?

What hobby are they good at in private, but bad at in front of others? Why?

Would they rather be invited to an event to feel included or be excluded from an event if they were not genuinely wanted there?

How do they respond to a loose handshake? What goes through their head?

What phrases, pronunciations, or mannerisms did they pick up from someone / somewhere else?

If invited to a TED Talk, what topic would they present on? What would the title of their presentation be?

What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?

What language would be easiest for them to learn? Why?

What’s something unimportant / frivolous that they hate passionately?

Are they a listener or a talker? If they’re a listener, what makes them talk? If they’re a talker, what makes them listen?

Who have they forgotten about that remembers them very well?

Who would they say ‘yes’ to if invited to do something they abhorred / strongly didn’t want to do?

Would they eat something they find gross to be polite?

What belief / moral / personality trait do they stand by that you (mun) personally don’t agree with?

What’s a phrase they say a lot?

Do they act on their immediate emotions, or do they wait for the facts before acting?

Who would / do they believe without question?

What’s their instinct in a fight / flight / freeze / fawn situation?

What’s something they’re expected to enjoy based on their hobbies / profession that they actually dislike / hate?

If they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?

What’s a simple daily activity / motion that they mess up often?

How many hobbies have they attempted to have over their lifetime? Is there a common theme?

[shiorihyugawrites]

Tides of Fate

In a world where powerful creatures known as sirens come to the shores of Paradis, the scouts are thrust into an unexpected alliance—one that is sealed through an ancient and seductive bonding ritual. Each siren has chosen a mate, and through their connection, the scouts are granted extraordinary powers.

As the bonds grow Mikasa’s jealousy threatens to unravel her. But the real danger lies not just in broken hearts, but in the lurking threat of Marley and those who seek to capture the sirens for their gain.

Power, desire, and duty collide, forcing the Scouts to navigate new emotions and alliances in ways they never imagined. Through danger, love, and sacrifice, the tides of fate will decide if their world will rise or fall. (Eren, Levi, Floch, Jean, Armin, Connie, Bertholdt, Reiner x OCs)

Chapter 26: Instinct, Loyalty, and Love

The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the night sky was now dotted with stars. The air was cool, and the camp had quieted down after a long day of strategizing and patrols. Inside Eren and Luna’s quarters, however, things were far from quiet.

Luna, ever the organized leader, had arranged for a girls-only sleepover for the sirens—a rare opportunity for them to bond and relax together. The room was filled with the sound of laughter and playful banter, a stark contrast to the usual tension at HQ. Aria, Solara, Rue, Bria, Melody, Caspia, and Sera were all sprawled around the room on makeshift beds of blankets and pillows. Their hair down, relaxed, and in high spirits, the sirens chatted freely, enjoying the rare break from the intensity of their duties.

“Out,” Luna had said earlier, smiling sweetly but firmly as she gave Eren a gentle nudge toward the door.

Eren had protested—only half-heartedly—before reluctantly being ushered out into the cool night air. Now, he sat in the common room, looking more than a little put out. He wasn’t used to being kicked out of his own quarters, especially not for a sleepover. And while he tried to keep his face impassive, it was clear that the absence of Luna stung a bit.

He wasn’t alone, though. Across the room, the rest of the scouts—Jean, Connie, Armin, Bertholdt, Floch, Reiner, and Levi—sat in various states of discomfort. They were all trying to act like it didn’t bother them, like they didn’t miss their siren mates, but it was obvious that the mood in the room had taken a hit. Even Levi, who sat in the corner with his arms crossed, wore a slightly irritated expression, though he’d never admit that he missed Aria’s presence beside him.

Jean sighed, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe they kicked us out,” he muttered, glancing at the ceiling as if he could hear the laughter from above. “It’s too quiet without them.”

Connie, sprawled out on a couch with his arms behind his head, nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s weird. I thought I’d enjoy the peace and quiet, but… I don’t.”

Eren, who had been sitting quietly, glanced toward the ceiling as well, his eyes narrowing. “They’re having too much fun up there,” he muttered, half to himself.

Armin, always the voice of reason, tried to maintain his composure. “It’s just for one night,” he said, though even he sounded a little forlorn. “They deserve some time to themselves.”

Floch, ever the dramatic one, groaned loudly. “One night? It feels like an eternity.” He crossed his arms, looking more like a sulking child than the fierce warrior he often tried to be. “Bria’s up there, laughing and probably making fun of me. I just know it.”

Reiner, who had been staring at the fire quietly, let out a low chuckle. “You sound ridiculous, Floch.”

Floch shot him a glare. “You’re one to talk. I bet Rue’s up there giving them all the details about you.”

Reiner turned a bit red but didn’t respond.

Jean leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. “What do you think they’re talking about?”

Connie perked up, sitting up straighter. “Probably us.”

Levi, who had been silent this whole time, finally spoke up. “It doesn’t matter what they’re talking about,” he said, his voice its usual calm and clipped tone. “They kicked us out, so we leave them alone.”

Eren, however, wasn’t so easily swayed. He glanced at Levi, then back toward the ceiling. “It’s too quiet,” he said again, his voice more thoughtful now. “I want to know what’s going on.”

Jean raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the idea. “Are you saying we should—?”

“Spy on them?” Connie finished, grinning.

Armin’s eyes widened. “Eren, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

But Eren was already standing up, his mind clearly made up. “We’re not going to interrupt,” he clarified, his tone firm. “We’re just going to… listen.”

Levi shot him a sharp look. “This is stupid,” he muttered, though he didn’t make a move to stop them. His arms were still crossed, but there was a faint glint of something in his eyes—curiosity, perhaps, or maybe just an excuse to be near Aria again.

Jean, Connie, and Floch were already on their feet, clearly excited by the idea. Even Reiner, though hesitant, stood up, not wanting to be left behind.

Armin sighed, shaking his head. “You’re all going to get caught.”

“Not if we’re careful,” Eren said, already heading toward the door.

The group, with Levi trailing reluctantly behind, made their way up toward Eren and Luna’s quarters where the sirens were gathered. The laughter and chatter were louder now, drifting down the hallway and fueling the scouts' curiosity.

As they reached the door, they all paused, exchanging glances. Eren crouched down, pressing his ear to the door as Jean and Connie followed suit. Even Levi, though trying to maintain his usual air of disinterest, stood close enough to hear.

Inside the room, the sirens were relaxed, their guards down as they lounged on pillows, their laughter echoing through the room. They had begun talking about their time with their mates, and the scouts outside could already feel their cheeks heating up as the conversation continued.

“So, how was everyone’s honeymoon?” Solara asked with a teasing grin, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders as she leaned back on a cushion. "I’m dying to hear all the juicy details."

Rue was the first to jump in, her fiery red hair bouncing as she sat up with a wicked grin. "Well, I’ll tell you this—Reiner tries to act all tough and stoic, but when we’re alone… let’s just say I’ve never seen a man blush so hard."

Reiner, who was pressed up against the door, went rigid. His eyes widened in shock, and his entire face turned bright red. Connie, standing next to him, bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud.

“Reiner?” Caspia giggled, her orange eyes sparkling. “I thought he was the unshakeable warrior type.”

Rue waved a hand dismissively, her grin widening. “Oh, he’s tough, alright. But I know exactly how to make him lose it.” She winked, and Reiner, who was already blushing furiously, groaned inwardly. 

Beside him, Floch stifled a snicker. "Unshakeable, huh?" he muttered under his breath, glancing at the towering man who now looked more flustered than he'd ever seen him.

Inside, Aria, ever the bold one, chimed in next, and Levi, who had been trying to maintain his composure, tensed.

"Levi?" Aria started, a playful smirk on her lips. "Oh, you should have seen him during our honeymoon. For all his ‘humanity’s strongest soldier’ act, I’ve never seen someone try so hard to keep his composure while I was…testing him."

Levi’s eyes widened ever so slightly, and he felt the heat rise in his cheeks. He could practically feel all the eyes of the other scouts shifting toward him, but he refused to react.

Jean, crouched just beside Levi, raised an eyebrow and muttered, “Oh, this is good.”

Aria continued, her voice taking on a more affectionate tone. "But honestly? He’s the most caring man I’ve ever met. He tries to act like nothing gets to him, but I can tell. Underneath all that discipline and toughness, there’s a softness there—something I wouldn’t trade for the world."

Levi clenched his jaw, his face burning red now. He glanced at Eren, who was trying his best to keep a straight face, and shot him a glare. "Not a word," Levi muttered under his breath.

Eren, despite himself, smirked. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Inside, the conversation shifted to Luna, and Eren stiffened slightly as he leaned in closer to the door.

Solara was the one who asked, "And Luna, what about you? How’s it been with the Devil of Paradis?"

Luna chuckled softly, her voice filled with warmth. "Eren… well, he’s intense, that’s for sure. But he’s also thoughtful in ways that most people wouldn’t expect. Our honeymoon was... powerful. I don’t think either of us expected to connect the way we did. He tries to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, but when we’re alone, he lets me share that burden."

Eren’s breath caught in his throat, and his heart pounded. He hadn’t realized how much Luna had noticed about him—how deeply she understood him. His face flushed, and he swallowed hard, trying to shake off the overwhelming feeling that her words stirred in him.

"That sounds like Eren," Rue teased. "Always serious. Did he at least let loose a little?"

Luna laughed softly. "Oh, trust me, he’s got a wild side."

Eren, now burning with embarrassment, turned away from the door, his hands covering his face. Jean, noticing Eren’s state, snickered quietly. “Wild side, huh?” he whispered, elbowing Connie, who could barely hold in his laughter.

Armin, who had been trying to stay out of the conversation, suddenly froze when Melody spoke up.

“Well, Armin’s… different,” Melody said quietly, though her voice was filled with affection. “He’s thoughtful, so sweet, and always gentle. He’s not one to rush into anything. Honestly, it made everything so much more… special.”

Armin’s face went from pale to crimson in seconds. He could feel everyone’s eyes on him now, and he ducked his head, wishing he could disappear into the shadows. Connie, barely able to contain himself, whispered, “Gentle, huh?”

The conversation inside continued, the sirens sharing more about their honeymoons, each scout outside getting more flustered by the second.

“Jean’s always trying to impress me,” Solara said with a grin. “But I’ve got him wrapped around my finger. He doesn’t know what to do with himself half the time, but he’s always eager to please.”

Jean, wide-eyed and red-faced, groaned softly. “Great. Now they all know.”

Caspia added her own story, laughing as she described Connie’s antics. “He’s such a jokester, but when we’re alone, he gets so shy. You wouldn’t believe how cute he can be when he’s not trying to be the class clown.”

Connie, now burning with embarrassment, shot a glare at Jean. “Don’t say a word.”

Floch, meanwhile, was barely holding it together as Bria chimed in next.

“Floch? Oh, he’s got a tough guy act,” Bria said with a smirk, “but he melts the second I give him that look. Honestly, it’s adorable.”

Floch turned red, his hands clenched at his sides. “I am not adorable,” he muttered.

As the sirens continued to talk about their mates, the scouts outside were slowly turning various shades of red. Every word seemed to dig deeper, making it clear that their siren mates knew them far better than they wanted to admit. And yet, despite the embarrassment, none of them could bring themselves to pull away from the door. 

Levi, ever the stoic one, finally muttered under his breath, “We’re done here.”

But despite his words, he didn’t move—and neither did the rest of them.

As the hours dragged on, the atmosphere inside Eren and Luna’s quarters became more relaxed, the laughter of the sirens growing louder and more unrestrained. The faint clinking of glasses and giggles could be heard through the door as the sirens indulged in some of the drinks they’d brought with them. Their usual grace and composure had begun to melt away, replaced with a carefree, almost wild energy.

Outside, the scouts were still huddled by the door, exchanging wide-eyed glances as the noise from inside grew louder and more chaotic. They had thought the sirens’ gossip was bad enough, but now the sounds of thudding footsteps, laughter, and something that sounded suspiciously like singing echoed through the walls.

Jean glanced at Eren, his brow furrowing. “Are they… are they dancing in there?”

Connie, his curiosity piqued, pressed his ear harder against the door. “I think so. Sounds like they’re having a full-blown party.”

Floch, still reeling from the earlier gossip about him, shifted uncomfortably. “They’re drunk,” he muttered, as though trying to convince himself. “What could they possibly be doing now?”

Reiner, who had been mostly quiet up to this point, looked uneasy. “They’re sirens. They could be doing anything.”

Levi, who was standing a little ways back from the door, his arms crossed and a scowl on his face, narrowed his eyes. “This is a waste of time. They’re probably just…” But before he could finish, a loud crash from inside the room made everyone freeze.

The sirens had become a whirlwind of activity. Solara and Caspia were laughing uncontrollably, spinning each other around the room as their golden and orange hair flew wildly about. Rue, with her usual fiery energy, had jumped onto a pile of blankets, dramatically belting out a song in a drunken attempt at a melody, while Aria and Sera were swaying with drinks in hand, giggling as they watched the chaos unfold. Even the usually shy Melody was dancing with Luna, their faces flushed as they moved with the carefree abandon of the heavily intoxicated.

It was pure chaos, but the sirens were having the time of their lives.

Outside, the scouts were trying to piece together what was going on, but the noises—thumps, laughter, and Rue’s off-key singing—only deepened the mystery. Levi’s scowl deepened, his patience wearing thin, while Eren and Jean exchanged uncertain glances.

“What in the hell is happening in there?” Eren muttered, his usual cool demeanor faltering.

Armin, still blushing from Melody’s earlier comments, cleared his throat nervously. “Maybe we should just leave them to it…”

But before anyone could act, the door suddenly burst open with a loud bang, and in an instant, everything went haywire.

The sirens, drunk and in high spirits, stumbled out of the room in a chaotic rush, crashing straight into the unsuspecting scouts. The next few moments were a blur of tangled limbs, drunken laughter, and startled yelps as the sirens collided with their mates in a whirlwind of movement.

Rue, ever the little firecracker, was the first to go down, crashing right into Reiner with so much force that she practically knocked the towering man off his feet. “Reiner!” she giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck as she clung to him, clearly far too drunk to stand on her own. “You missed the party!”

Reiner, wide-eyed and completely flustered, caught her before she could fall, his face bright red as he tried to balance them both. “Rue… you’re drunk,” he muttered, though there was a softness in his voice as he tried to steady her.

Next to them, Aria came stumbling out, her lavender hair a wild mess as she giggled uncontrollably. She spotted Levi standing a few feet back, his arms still crossed, though his eyes had widened slightly at the sight of the drunken chaos unfolding before him.

Aria, with a grin that could only be described as mischievous, made a beeline straight for him. “Captain,” she teased, her words slurring slightly as she swayed on her feet. “You’re always so serious.”

Before Levi could react, Aria had thrown her arms around him, pulling him into a sloppy, drunken hug. Levi stiffened, his face flushing crimson as Aria pressed herself against him, her lavender eyes twinkling with drunken affection.

“Let go,” Levi muttered under his breath, though the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. But Aria wasn’t letting him off that easily. She giggled again, planting a quick, sloppy kiss on his cheek before letting out another round of uncontrollable laughter.

Jean and Connie, meanwhile, were struggling to stay upright as Solara and Caspia barreled into them, their laughter infectious as they clung to their mates. Solara, her golden hair spilling over Jean’s shoulders, leaned in close and whispered something in his ear, sending the usually confident Jean into a blushing, stammering mess.

Connie wasn’t faring much better. Caspia, giggling like a madwoman, had practically tackled him, her arms wrapped around his waist as she leaned against him for balance. “You’ve gotta keep up with me, Connie!” she teased, her voice breathless with laughter.

Floch, for his part, found himself nearly bowled over by Bria, who had emerged from the room with a confident, slightly tipsy smirk. She crashed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck as she stared up at him with her half-lidded burgundy eyes. “You missed all the fun,” she whispered, her voice low and teasing. Floch, his face bright red, could only stammer in response.

Eren, meanwhile, stood frozen as Luna stumbled out last, a knowing smile on her face as she approached him. “Eren,” she purred, her voice soft but playful. “You should’ve been inside with me.”

Eren’s face flushed as Luna leaned up and kissed him on the cheek, her lips lingering just a little too long. “Luna…” he began, but his voice faltered as her lips brushed against his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

Armin, watching the chaos unfold, could only stand there, wide-eyed and speechless, as Melody stumbled into him, her face flushed and her normally shy demeanor replaced by an unexpected boldness. “Armin,” she whispered, her voice soft and slurred, “you’re adorable when you’re embarrassed.”

Armin’s entire face turned bright red as Melody giggled softly, her fingers lightly tracing the edge of his jaw.

The hallway, once quiet and peaceful, was now filled with the drunken laughter of sirens and the flustered reactions of their mates. The scouts, who had come to spy on their siren mates, had gotten far more than they’d bargained for—and now, caught in the whirlwind of their tipsy partners, there was no escape.

Levi, despite himself, couldn’t suppress the small smile that tugged at his lips as Aria clung to him, her laughter contagious. And though none of them would admit it, the scouts—each of them red-faced and flustered—couldn’t deny the warmth that spread through them as they held their siren mates close.

As the night continued, the sirens, now fully intoxicated and filled with unrestrained energy, suddenly got a wild idea. Laughing uncontrollably, they all exchanged glances before sprinting outside, making a beeline toward the beach. The scouts could only chase after their mates as they watched their feet kicking up sand as they headed for the ocean. Their laughter echoed through the night, a carefree sound that filled the air as they reached the shore.

The scouts, who had barely recovered from the earlier chaos, watched in stunned silence as their siren mates charged toward the water. Jean, Bertholtdt, Reiner, Floch, Connie, Eren, Armin, and even Levi exchanged bewildered glances before they quickly followed.

“What the hell are they doing now?” Eren muttered under his breath as he jogged after Luna, who had already dashed ahead of the group.

“I don’t know, but this doesn’t look good,” Jean said, picking up his pace.

Connie, his face filled with worry, ran alongside them, his eyes wide with panic as Caspia, laughing wildly, dove into the water without a second thought. “Caspia, wait!” he shouted, his voice filled with concern. “You’re gonna—”

But before he could finish, all eight of the sirens reached the water, diving gracefully into the waves as they transformed mid-leap. Their legs shifted, scales shimmering under the moonlight, and in an instant, they were fully in their siren forms. Tails splashed as they swam beneath the surface, disappearing into the depths with effortless grace.

The scouts skidded to a halt at the edge of the shore, their jaws practically dropping as they watched the sirens disappear underwater. The only sound that remained was the gentle lapping of the waves.

Connie stood at the shoreline, his heart pounding. “They—they just—”

Jean, ever the practical one, shot him a glance, raising an eyebrow. “Connie, they’re sirens. They can breathe underwater.”

Connie blinked, the panic still visible on his face. “But—what if Caspia’s too drunk? What if she—”

“She’s a siren, Connie,” Jean repeated with a smirk, though he looked just as flabbergasted as the others. “They’re literally made for this.”

Still, Connie couldn’t shake his worry, his eyes glued to the spot where Caspia had vanished beneath the waves. “I just… I just wanna make sure she’s okay.”

Eren, who stood beside him, crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in confusion. “I’ve never seen them like this. They’re usually so… controlled.”

Armin, slightly out of breath from chasing after Melody, wiped a hand over his face. “I guess even sirens let loose sometimes.”

The scouts all stood at the edge of the shore, watching the dark, rippling water with wide eyes, unable to wrap their heads around what had just happened. Levi, standing just behind the group, remained stoic, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something torn between confusion and amusement.

Aria, Luna, and the rest of the sirens were still nowhere to be seen, having fully submerged themselves beneath the water, their tails flicking through the depths as they swam gracefully under the surface. The moonlight shimmered on the ocean’s surface, casting an almost magical glow over the scene.

“I think they’re fine,” Eren said after a long moment, though there was still a trace of bewilderment in his voice. He glanced at Luna’s silhouette moving beneath the waves, the glow of her white hair barely visible through the water. “They’re probably just… letting off steam.”

Jean ran a hand through his hair, still shaking his head in disbelief. “Letting off steam by swimming drunk in the ocean?”

“That’s the least crazy thing that’s happened tonight,” Floch muttered, still staring at the water as Bria’s shadowy figure darted through the waves.

Connie, still pacing at the edge of the water, finally let out a frustrated groan. “I’m going in.”

Before anyone could stop him, he had already waded waist-deep into the ocean, his eyes scanning the water for any sign of Caspia. “Caspia!” he shouted, his voice filled with worry. “Come back!”

Jean rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of affection in his voice as he called after him. ��Connie, you’re being an idiot! They’re fine!”

Just then, a loud splash echoed from the deeper part of the ocean, and a figure shot out of the water like a dolphin—Caspia, her orange scales glistening as she burst through the waves, laughing hysterically. Her bright eyes sparkled with mischief as she flipped in the air, sending water flying everywhere before diving back down beneath the surface with a graceful flick of her tail.

Connie, still standing in the shallow water, watched in stunned silence, his mouth hanging open. “Caspia…” he muttered, though he couldn’t help but laugh. “She’s showing off!”

“I told you,” Jean said, crossing his arms as he smirked. “She’s a siren. Relax.”

Levi, standing back with his arms crossed, let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered, though his eyes never left Aria’s silhouette beneath the water, watching as she darted through the waves with the other sirens.

Aria, sensing his gaze, suddenly shot up from the water, her lavender tail shimmering as she emerged with a gleeful laugh. Her eyes locked onto Levi’s, and with a playful grin, she waved him over.

“Come in, Captain!” she called out, her voice filled with drunken joy. “The water’s amazing!”

Levi’s expression remained stoic, though his lips twitched ever so slightly. “I think I’ll pass.”

Aria pouted, flicking water toward him with her tail. “Come on! You’ve faced Titans. Surely a little water doesn’t scare you.”

The other sirens, hearing Aria’s challenge, began to join in, splashing the water playfully and calling out to their mates.

“Jean!” Solara shouted, her golden tail flicking beneath the surface. “Are you too scared?”

Jean, unable to resist the challenge, grinned and began pulling off his boots. “Alright, alright, I’m coming.”

Soon enough, Jean, Connie, Eren, Armin, Reiner, Bertholtdt and  Floch had waded into the water, their mates splashing them playfully as they tried to join in. The sirens, though still drunk and uncoordinated, swam circles around the scouts, their laughter and splashing filling the night.

Levi, still standing on the shore, watched the chaos unfold with a raised eyebrow. He could hear Aria’s laughter echoing through the night, her joy infectious even from a distance.

After a long moment, Levi let out a quiet sigh, finally taking a step toward the water. “This is stupid,” he muttered again, though this time, there was the faintest trace of a smile on his face.

And as he waded into the water, Aria’s delighted laughter rang out louder than ever, the sound of pure happiness filling the air.

The moonlight shimmered across the ocean as the scouts waded further into the water, the cool waves lapping at their legs. The air was filled with the faint sound of the ocean's rhythm, but it was quickly overtaken by the joyous, drunken laughter of the sirens as they moved through the water with effortless grace. Their scales glistened, catching the light and turning the scene into something almost magical. 

Luna, Aria, Melody, Solara, Caspia, Rue, Sera, and Bria each exchanged mischievous glances, their excitement bubbling over as they dove beneath the surface of the water. Without warning, each siren darted toward their mate with lightning speed, their tails cutting through the waves with precision.

Eren barely had time to react before he felt Luna’s cool hand grab his arm. In one swift motion, she pulled him deeper into the ocean. Eren’s eyes widened, caught off guard by Luna’s strength and speed. His body was dragged through the water, but as he looked down at her, the corner of his lips twitched into a rare smile.

“Relax, Eren,” Luna said with a chuckle, her white hair billowing around her like a halo as she led him through the water. “I’ve got you.”

Eren nodded, his usual seriousness giving way to a quiet sense of trust. He felt the current around him as Luna swam effortlessly, her glowing blue eyes reflecting the moonlight above. “I know,” he murmured, his voice softer than usual. “I’m not worried.”

Nearby, Aria swam toward Levi with a burst of energy, her lavender tail flicking through the water. Levi, ever the stoic one, watched her approach with his usual composed expression, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something like anticipation. 

“You’re not escaping me this time, Captain,” Aria teased, a grin playing on her lips. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him with her, her laughter ringing through the night air.

Levi, caught off guard by her boldness, felt himself being pulled into the deeper water, his usual protests lost to the sound of Aria’s joy. Despite himself, he let out a small sigh, though there was no denying the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “You’re relentless,” he muttered, though he didn’t pull away from her.

Aria just smirked, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “And you love it.”

Melody, ever the shy one, hesitated for a moment before gently taking Armin’s hand in hers. Her sky-blue hair floated around her, and her soft smile made Armin’s heart skip a beat. “I hope you’re okay with this,” she said quietly, her voice just loud enough to be heard over the sound of the waves.

Armin, still flustered from everything that had happened, nodded quickly, his face bright red. “Y-Yeah, of course!” he stammered, though his voice betrayed just how nervous he was. Despite his nerves, he allowed Melody to pull him into the water, her gentle touch calming him as they swam together.

“Good,” Melody whispered, her cheeks slightly pink as she guided him through the water, her tail shimmering beneath the surface.

Jean, ever the showman, was already chest-deep in the water when Solara appeared in front of him, her golden hair glowing in the moonlight. She grinned at him, her playful energy infectious. “What’s wrong, Jean? Scared of a little swim?” she teased, splashing him lightly.

Jean smirked back, his usual bravado kicking in. “Scared? You wish.” He took a step closer to her, his eyes gleaming with challenge.

Without warning, Solara grabbed his wrist and yanked him into the deeper water, her laughter echoing around them. “We’ll see about that!” she shouted as she pulled him beneath the waves, her tail flicking powerfully as they swam together. Jean, still trying to keep his cool, found himself grinning as he was pulled along, the exhilaration of the moment taking over.

Caspia, meanwhile, had already grabbed Connie, pulling him further out into the ocean with a burst of speed. Connie, ever the joker, was laughing loudly as he tried to keep up with her.

“Caspia!” he shouted between fits of laughter. “You’re too fast!”

Caspia giggled, her orange tail flashing beneath the water. “That’s the point, Connie! You’ve gotta catch me!” She swam in circles around him, her energy boundless as she splashed him with water, clearly enjoying the game.

Rue, with her fiery red hair and bold personality, wasted no time grabbing Reiner by the wrist and pulling him with her into the water. Reiner, though always the stoic warrior, was caught off guard by the sheer force of her pull. He was used to being the strong one, but Rue was relentless, her smaller form moving through the water with incredible speed.

“Hold on tight!” Rue called out, her eyes flashing with excitement as she dragged Reiner along with her. 

Reiner, for all his strength and size, couldn’t help but smile, his usual stoicism melting away in the face of Rue’s unrelenting energy. “I think I’ll leave the swimming to you,” he muttered, though the faint grin on his face betrayed his amusement.

Sera, ever the quiet and shy one, gently led Bertholdt into the water, her teal hair flowing around her like waves. Bertholdt, always nervous, followed her lead with a soft smile, his eyes filled with admiration for her grace.

“You don’t have to be nervous,” Sera said softly, her hand resting lightly on his arm as they moved through the water together. “I’ll take care of you.”

Bertholdt, blushing furiously, nodded, his voice barely audible over the sound of the ocean. “I know… thank you.”

Finally, Bria, with her bold and seductive nature, had already grabbed Floch by the waist, pulling him deeper into the ocean with a sultry grin. Floch, completely smitten, could only follow along as Bria led him through the water with ease.

“Don’t fall behind,” Bria teased, her voice low and playful as she swam circles around him, her burgundy hair flowing like silk.

Floch, his face flushed with both embarrassment and excitement, nodded eagerly. “I’m right behind you.”

The scouts, now fully immersed in the water, swam alongside their siren mates, each of them caught in the magic of the moment. The ocean was vast, but with their mates guiding them, none of them felt lost. Instead, they felt the bond between them grow stronger, each pull of the water binding them closer together.

And as the moonlight shimmered on the surface of the ocean, the scouts realized something—they weren’t just soldiers or fighters anymore. They were something more, something deeper. They were partners, bonded to their siren mates not just by circumstance, but by love, trust, and the magic of the sea.

As the sirens swam gracefully through the water, their mates trailing behind them, the world around them seemed to disappear. The cool embrace of the ocean wrapped around them, the flickering moonlight creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere. The scouts were still adjusting to being submerged in the water, but with their siren mates guiding them, everything felt natural—effortless.

Luna swam ahead of the group, Eren close by her side, her hand resting on his arm as they cut through the water. But just as the group began to settle into the peaceful rhythm of the ocean, Luna’s sharp eyes caught something in the distance—a flicker of movement beneath the waves. She slowed down, her eyes narrowing as she gestured for the others to stop.

The other sirens, sensing the change in Luna’s demeanor, quickly noticed it too. A pod of sirens, unfamiliar and unmated, was approaching from the darker waters. Their shimmering scales glinted in the moonlight, and their eyes—bright and curious—were locked onto the scouts.

The new sirens swam toward the group with smooth, fluid movements, their interest clear. They were all beautiful, each with striking features and tails that shimmered with colors that rivaled those of the mated sirens. But there was something different about them—the way they moved, the way their eyes lingered on the men swimming beside the sirens. It was as if they were sizing them up, intrigued by the presence of such strong, capable warriors.

Luna, Aria, Rue, and the other mated sirens immediately felt the shift in the water. Their playful, carefree energy vanished, replaced by a tense, protective instinct that flared up in each of them. A low growl escaped Aria’s lips as she swam closer to Levi, her lavender eyes narrowing at the newcomers.

One of the unmated sirens, a striking figure with long, indigo hair and scales, swam forward. Her gaze lingered on Eren, clearly drawn to his powerful presence. “These men,” she said, her voice a soft but commanding ripple through the water. “They’re strong. We can feel it.”

Another siren, her scales and hair a deep emerald green, circled around Jean and Solara, her eyes gleaming with interest. “We haven’t seen men like them before.”

Immediately, Luna positioned herself in front of Eren, her blue eyes flashing with warning. “Back off,” she growled, her usually calm voice filled with an edge that sent a shiver through the water. “These men are ours.”

The other mated sirens quickly followed suit, moving in front of their mates with fierce protectiveness. Aria tightened her grip on Levi’s arm, her tail flicking aggressively through the water as she glared at the approaching sirens. “We don’t share,” she said coldly, her playful demeanor from earlier completely gone.

Rue, was already bristling with anger, her red curls floating wildly around her as she swam protectively in front of Reiner. “Get lost,” she spat, her sharp eyes locked on the siren who had been eyeing Reiner. “Or we’ll make you.”

Caspia, her usual playful energy replaced with something far more dangerous, swam in front of Connie, her orange scales glowing in the moonlight. “We can sense what you’re trying to do,” she said, her voice low and menacing. “Don’t even think about it.”

The unmated sirens exchanged glances, clearly taken aback by the intensity of the mated sirens’ reactions. They hadn’t expected such a strong territorial response, but the tension in the water was undeniable now. They could feel the primal instinct radiating from the mated sirens, and they understood what was at stake.

Luna, ever the leader, was the first to speak again. Her voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable warning in her tone. “We’ve already chosen our mates,” she said, her blue eyes locked onto the newcomers. “And we’ll fight to protect them. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll swim away. Now.”

The other sirens, realizing that they were outmatched by the sheer force of will and determination radiating from Luna and the others, hesitated. The tension between the two groups was palpable, the water charged with unspoken threats.

Eren, sensing the danger, instinctively moved closer to Luna, his eyes flicking between the unfamiliar sirens and his mate. He could feel the intensity rolling off of Luna, and he knew better than to interfere. This was her fight—her territory. The same was true for the other scouts, each of them staying close to their sirens but letting them take the lead.

Aria, her voice laced with barely contained anger, leaned closer to the siren who had been eyeing Levi. “If you even think about getting near him,” she whispered, her voice dripping with venom, “you’ll regret it.”

The other siren’s eyes widened, and she quickly backed away, sensing just how serious Aria was. It was clear now that the mated sirens were ready to fight—to the death if necessary. It was instinctual, primal, and undeniable. Sirens didn’t just choose mates—they bonded for life. And they would defend that bond with everything they had.

Seeing that the situation was rapidly turning against them, the unmated sirens finally began to retreat, their eyes still lingering on the scouts for a brief moment before they swam away into the darkness of the ocean. The tension in the water slowly began to dissipate as the mated sirens watched them go, their protective instincts still on high alert.

As the newcomers disappeared into the depths, Aria let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She turned to Levi, her expression softening as she met his eyes. “You’re safe with me,” she whispered, her voice filled with both love and determination.

Levi, ever stoic, nodded but didn’t pull away from her. He understood now—more than ever—that Aria would fight for him. And as much as he hated to admit it, the thought of her protectiveness gave him a sense of comfort.

Luna, who had been watching the water closely, finally relaxed her posture, turning to Eren with a soft smile. “I told you,” she said quietly, her voice gentle again. “I’ll always protect you.”

Eren, his gaze steady, nodded. “I know.”

The other scouts, who had been caught off guard by the entire encounter, exchanged glances, still processing what had just happened. They hadn’t fully understood just how deep the bond between a siren and her mate was until now. But seeing the fierce protectiveness of their siren mates, they understood that they weren’t just partners. They were bound by something far stronger.

And as the water around them calmed once more, the mated sirens moved closer to their mates, their territorial instincts slowly ebbing away. They had defended what was theirs, and they would do it again if they had to.

But for now, at least, their bond—unbreakable and eternal—was safe.

….

The moonlight bathed the beach in a soft, silvery glow as the scouts trudged back onto the sand, the weight of the encounter with the unmated sirens still heavy on their minds. The rhythmic sound of the waves was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere that lingered in the air, and for the first time in what felt like hours, they were out of the water, back on dry land.

The sirens, now back in their human forms, stood by their mates, each of them quiet but alert, their protective instincts still simmering just beneath the surface. Luna, Aria, Rue, Solara, Caspia, Sera, Melody, and Bria had each stood between their mates and the unmated sirens with an intensity that left the scouts speechless. Now, back on the beach, the weight of it all was starting to sink in.

Jean was the first to break the silence, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared at the ocean with wide eyes. “Okay, seriously, what just happened?” he muttered, his voice filled with disbelief. “That was… something else.”

Connie, standing next to him, shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. “Yeah, man, I mean… those other sirens… they were looking at us like we were—” He hesitated, searching for the right word. “Like we were prey or something.”

Caspia, standing beside Connie, scoffed lightly, her orange hair falling over her shoulders as she glanced at him. “They weren’t looking at you like prey,” she said, her voice teasing but sharp. “They were sizing you up. They saw strength and wanted it for themselves.”

Connie’s face turned red at the comment, but he quickly shook his head. “But you guys—” He glanced at Caspia, his expression softening with confusion and awe. “You guys were ready to fight them. Over us.”

Aria, leaning against Levi’s side with her usual playful grin, spoke up next. “Of course we were,” she said casually, her lavender eyes gleaming in the moonlight. “They came after what’s ours.”

Levi, ever the stoic one, raised an eyebrow at her but didn’t say a word. He was still processing everything himself, though his expression remained calm. Despite himself, he knew that the moment Aria swam in front of him, something deeper had clicked. There was an unspoken understanding now—that she would protect him just as fiercely as he would protect her.

Eren, standing with Luna by his side, crossed his arms as he looked out at the water. His expression was pensive, his thoughts swirling in his head. “I didn’t expect that,” he said quietly, his voice firm but thoughtful. “The way they looked at us… the way you looked at them.” He glanced at Luna, his brow furrowed. “It’s more than just loyalty, isn’t it?”

Luna, her white hair catching the light of the moon, nodded slowly. “It is,” she said softly, her voice gentle but filled with conviction. “When we choose our mates, it’s for life. It’s not something we take lightly. And if anyone threatens that bond, we will fight to the death to protect it.”

The scouts exchanged uneasy glances, still trying to comprehend the gravity of what had just happened. The sirens weren’t just partners—they were something far more intense, more instinctive. The bond they shared with their mates wasn’t just about love or companionship—it was about survival, about protection, about claiming something that couldn’t be taken away.

Reiner, who had been silent for most of the conversation, finally spoke up, his deep voice rumbling in the quiet night. “Rue,” he began, glancing down at the fiery redhead beside him, “you were ready to take them on. Even if it meant… you know.”

Rue, ever the bold one, snorted and crossed her arms over her chest, her fiery curls bouncing with the motion. “Of course I was. You’re mine,” she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I don’t care how strong those other sirens are. I’ll fight anyone who tries to take you from me.”

Reiner blinked, clearly taken aback by the fierceness in her voice, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he nodded, his expression softening with a quiet understanding.

Melody, who had been quietly standing next to Armin, finally found her voice. “We didn’t want to scare you,” she said softly, her sky-blue eyes flicking up to meet his. “But it’s part of who we are. We can’t control that instinct when we feel our bond is threatened.”

Armin, still flustered but clearly moved, nodded slowly. “I-I get it,” he said, though his voice was still tinged with uncertainty. “I just… didn’t realize how deep it went.”

Solara, ever the bold one, let out a sigh as she tossed her golden hair over her shoulder. “That’s because you humans are too practical,” she said with a playful grin. “You think everything’s about logic and strategy. But for us? It’s instinct. It’s in our blood. We protect what’s ours.”

Jean, ever the skeptic, scratched the back of his head, his expression a mix of awe and confusion. “I guess that makes sense,” he muttered, glancing at Solara. “But still… I didn’t expect it to be so intense.”

Floch, who had been relatively quiet throughout the conversation, finally spoke up, his voice filled with both pride and a hint of disbelief. “Bria was ready to tear those other sirens apart,” he said, glancing at his mate with wide eyes. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Bria, standing beside him with a sly smile, shrugged casually. “Like I said,” she murmured, her burgundy eyes gleaming in the moonlight, “I don’t share.”

Levi, who had been silently observing the conversation, finally stepped forward, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. “It’s clear now,” he said, his voice calm but commanding. “This isn’t just about us or them. It’s about the bond we share.” He glanced down at Aria, who stood beside him, her eyes filled with unwavering confidence. “And that bond is not something to take lightly.”

The scouts nodded, each of them processing the weight of Levi’s words. They had entered this partnership with the sirens not fully understanding what it meant for their sirens, but now, after the night’s events, they understood. It wasn’t just a connection—it was a vow. A bond forged in something deeper than they’d ever realized.

As the waves continued to lap gently at the shore, Eren finally let out a quiet breath. “We protect each other,” he said, his voice steady but thoughtful. “That’s what this is.”

Luna, standing close to him, nodded in agreement, her blue eyes soft as she looked at him. “Yes,” she whispered. “Always.”

The scouts, now standing alongside their siren mates, knew that this was more than just another night on the beach. It was a turning point—one that cemented the bond between them and their mates in a way that went beyond words.

And as they stood together, the moonlight casting long shadows over the beach, they knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

Bound by instinct, by loyalty, and by something far deeper than any of them had ever imagined.

….

As the night deepened, the sirens, exhausted from the events of the evening and their swim through the ocean, finally succumbed to sleep. The soft sound of their breathing blended with the gentle rhythm of the waves crashing against the shore. Their human forms were sprawled across the sand, nestled beside their mates or curled up in small, comfortable piles, their faces peaceful in the moonlight.

The scouts sat nearby, just out of earshot, gathered around a low-burning fire. The flickering flames cast long shadows over their faces, highlighting the quiet intensity of their expressions as they stared out at the sleeping sirens. The weight of the night’s events still hung heavily over them, and for a while, no one spoke.

Jean was the first to break the silence, his voice quiet but thoughtful. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that before. I mean, we’ve fought Titans, we’ve faced death, but… the way they were ready to fight for us, to protect us…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “It’s different. It’s personal.”

Connie, sitting next to him with his hands resting on his knees, nodded in agreement. “Yeah. It’s more than just, you know, them loving us. It’s like… they’re bonded to us in a way I don’t fully get yet. It’s deep…really deep.”

Eren sat across from them, his gaze fixed on Luna’s sleeping form. She was curled up a short distance away, her white hair glowing faintly in the moonlight. His expression was serious, as always, but there was something different in his eyes—a sense of awe, of realization. “It’s not just love,” he said quietly. “It’s loyalty. It’s in their nature to protect us. Like it’s not even a choice for them.”

Armin, who had been quietly contemplating everything that had happened, glanced up from the fire. “It’s almost instinctual,” he added softly. “They weren’t just defending us because they wanted to. They were defending us because they had to. Like it’s part of who they are.”

Floch, who had been leaning back on his hands, glanced over at Bria, who lay nearby, her face serene in sleep. “Bria looked like she was ready to kill those other sirens,” he muttered, still slightly in shock. “And she barely knew them. It was just because of me.”

Reiner, ever the quiet one, nodded. “Rue was the same. It’s like the idea of losing us wasn’t even an option. It’s more than just them choosing us—it’s like we’re a part of them now.”

Levi, sitting off to the side, his arms crossed over his chest, remained silent for a moment. His sharp gaze flicked over to Aria, who was resting close to him, her lavender hair spread out around her like a halo. His expression was as unreadable as ever, but there was a faint softness in his eyes as he watched her sleep.

“I didn’t think it would be like this,” Levi finally said, his voice quiet but firm. “When we first met them, I thought it was just a matter of convenience. We needed their powers, and they needed protection. But it’s more than that.”

Jean nodded, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Yeah. It’s like… they chose us, but we didn’t realize how deep that choice went.”

Connie let out a low sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Caspia was ready to fight for me, like, really fight. I’ve never had anyone look at me like that before.” He paused, glancing over at where Caspia lay sleeping. “It’s intense.”

Armin, still processing everything, rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know if we’re ready for it. I mean, we’re used to fighting for each other, but… I don’t think we’re used to someone fighting for us like that.”

Eren, his gaze still fixed on Luna, spoke again, his voice quieter now. “It’s almost like they live by a different set of rules. We’ve always fought for freedom, for survival. But they fight for something… deeper. It’s like their love isn’t just a feeling. It’s a duty. A bond they can’t break.”

Levi’s eyes flicked to Eren, and for a moment, the two locked gazes, an unspoken understanding passing between them. Levi’s face softened ever so slightly. “It’s more than duty,” he said, his voice low. “It’s instinct. And that’s what makes it powerful.”

The group fell silent again, each of them lost in their own thoughts as they reflected on the bond they now shared with their siren mates. It wasn’t just about the physical attraction or even the affection. It was something primal, something that went beyond what they had ever experienced before.

Jean let out a low chuckle, breaking the silence once more. “I guess that’s why they call sirens dangerous, huh? Not just because of their powers, but because when they love you, they love you completely.”

Connie nodded, a faint grin on his face. “Yeah. And once they’ve got you, there’s no going back.”

Armin, still blushing slightly from Melody’s earlier protectiveness, smiled softly. “I don’t think I’d want to go back.”

Reiner glanced down at the fire, his deep voice rumbling as he spoke. “Neither would I.”

Eren, after a long pause, finally let out a quiet sigh. “We’re in this now. Completely.”

Levi, his gaze never leaving Aria’s sleeping form, nodded in agreement. “Yeah. We are.”

As the fire crackled softly in the background, the scouts sat in a comfortable silence, each of them feeling the weight of the bond they had formed with their siren mates. It wasn’t just love, or even loyalty. It was something deeper. Something primal.

And for the first time in a long time, they didn’t feel alone.

They had their sirens—and they knew, without a doubt, that their sirens would fight for them, protect them, and love them fiercely, no matter what came next.

And in that moment, the scouts realized that they were bound to their siren mates not just by circumstance, but by something unbreakable.

Something that would last a lifetime.

~

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