#i must have the lost trio in the fic

[bugwolfsstuff]

YOU KNOW WHAT? FUCK IT THE LITTLE FECKERS CAN ALL JUST SIT IN EACHOTHERS LAPS

Sad because I had a road-trip fic idea for the head counsellors (+Chris) but I didnt wanna remove Jake, Drew and Nyssa for Leo, Piper and Jason so now I either gotta pretend HoO never happened in the fic or they really just uninvited the lost trio plus the newer cabin counsellors :(

[oasiswithmyg]

First Meetings

So’lek x Sarentu!Reader

Hi everyone, this is my first fic ever for anything, this will be with AFAB reader in mind and will follow closely to the storyline of the game, so there will be spoilers. As I'm making this a series, each of these can be read as standalones. I hope you enjoy it ! Any Na’vi words or phrases I use, the English translation will be right next to it, if not then it will be at the end of the fic!

Word count: 2.6k

Masterlist - Next

“It's our world, it's lost…dying, because we didn't fight for it when we had a chance. Now we’re fighting for yours. We’re going to make a difference here. Together.” Priya passionately declared as she looked at you sincerely. Then her eyes widened as she remembered something, “Oh! So’lek was hoping to catch you too. Promised him I wouldn't forget. Tell him I didn’t forget !”

You giggled at how cute and bubbly Priya was, out of all the humans here at the resistance base, you liked her cheerful mannerisms a lot. You could tell that she would be a wonderful friend to have. You nodded and thanked her before you head over to find So’lek.

As you slowly walked through the base, your mind had shifted to the recent events that occurred while you and the others were at the TAP facility a day ago. The reason for the shift being a certain resistance Na’vi.

Oel ngati kameie. I see you.

Those were the first words you heard from him when you woke up after the cryo sleep. Even with all the chaos that was going on at the time, you couldn’t help but feel drawn to the Na’vi who seemed to be very straight-forward, blunt and yet understanding of the situation that you and the rest of the Sarentu had faced.

So’lek, he said, was his name (‘what a lovely name’ you had thought) when you asked him while on the run from the RDA, one of the last remaining survivors of his clan. Although, everytime you think of that memory, alone and running from the RDA, you remember the fear of being separated from everyone and wondering if they were safe. After what happened to Aha’ri, you couldn’t stand anyone else being hurt. But So’lek’s voice kept you moving forward and when one of the RDA in the AMP suit caught you, holding you down as that horrible man, Mercer looked down on you, comparing you to your sister, the only thing you wished and hoped for was that So’lek would keep the Sarentu trio safe, as you almost gave up, He came out of nowhere, shooting at the RDA to save you and told you to run.

When you finally got out of the TAP facility, Pandora was nothing like what Mercer or the TAP said it was. They said that it was a terrifying, vicious, and cruel world. However, to your eyes, It was beautiful, the bright sun, the sounds of the creatures and water of the forest. It was like a new world and you couldn’t believe that you spent so long without it all.

As you walked forward, finding So’lek and the others immediately became a priority, when you finally found So’lek, he was hurt, the concern in you washed over like a wave in your chest, he must have gotten injured while protecting you. You knew at that moment that you wanted to protect him as well, taking his bow and using your Na’vi sense that So'lek told you about, made you realize how much you missed out on life, then getting the dapophet plant to heal him and fighting the RDA, gave you a feeling like no other, it made you feel that you can help, that you can be a protector as well.

However, It was when So’lek asked about your songchord, that made your heart flutter. You can still remember the conversation even though it hadn’t been that long.

“You have no songchord.” So’lek said as he got up after repositioning his shoulder, noticing that the Sarentu he seemed to run into a lot was missing a songchord. There was just something different about her, she seemed very caring and yet so strong in spirit, as he could tell as they were on the run from the RDA. “We had my mother’s, but they stole it” Your voice cracked as you said it, the pain of losing both your sister and the songchord, the only piece of your mother left still hurts you to this day.

Hearing that, So’lek felt anger and resentment flare up in his chest. Not only did they kidnap the Sarentu children, kill his clan and hurt the lands of Pandora, they had the audacity to steal something precious from a child as well. He could not explain the feeling in his chest, he wanted to do something for the Sarentu. “Then we must change that” his voice seemed to soften as he said the words and as he questioned, “What is your name Sarentu ?”.

Hearing his voice being gentle brought heat to your cheeks, and more flutterings in your chest, a feeling of happiness seemed to spread through you, “Y/N, my name is Y/N” you looked at him as your name rolled out your mouth in a hurry. Hearing it, So’lek lips curved up a tiny bit, his smile although small was gentle.

The rest went on with him making sure you understood that you must find your own way as you are a Na’vi and by doing so on your own was the way you can learn and then he finally asked you to join the resistance, hearing how he talked about the resistance made you understand why he was in it and you wanted to join them to help other Na’vi, to help save Pandora. After reaching the resistance base and meeting many new human faces, it was a breath of fresh air, they seemed so kind and you could tell that they were sincere in their welcoming and the work that they do here. The only person you still felt a bit weird with was Alma, but you discarded it as it was probably a long time of not seeing each other. She must have felt that she lost all of you after putting you all to cyro sleep.

Seeing the rest of the Sarentu trio free was another happiness that you could not describe, as you saw them as your family. With you being the second to last youngest, you looked up to Ri’nela and Nor a lot, you tried to be there for them as much as possible, to be listening ear or someone they could find comfort in, especially Nor, as he lost his best friend, your big sister. He was the only one that would rebel at the facility, trying to follow Aha’ri’s footsteps. Ri’nela, she became a big sister to you, but was always worried about what would happen if things didn’t go the way TAP wanted. Then there was the youngest, Teylan, he was like a little brother you never had, he would always hold onto your shirt when he felt overwhelmed and sometimes at night when he felt no one would notice, he would sneak into your bed and cuddle wanting to escape whatever nightmares would plague him. It was why you made a very simple doll out of one of the old clothes you had, you gave it to him saying that at times if he couldn’t see you, that he can always hold on to it to know that you’ll always be there for him. The day you gave him that, he hugged you so tightly, he didn’t let go for a long time. But it worried you how much he seemed to praise and think about Mercer.

Then you were given your first mission, take down one of the RDA facilities near the base which was polluting the land, Pneumatic Tower Echo. It felt overwhelming at first but after seeing how the land, your land, the land of Pandora, was ruined because of the RDA, a determination had stirred up in you. It was what made you destroy the RDA facility as soon as possible. In wonder you had seen Eywa had worked in mysterious ways, the land rejuvenated after the facility was destroyed, with creatures from the forest returning to the land, the flora coming back to life. Teylan called you through the radio in worry after hearing the bang, he and the others were at a flower they found. He wanted you to be there with the others so you could check it out, you had hurried over to the group, slowing down as you and the others came closer to the flower, Ri’nela had gasped in wonder, saying how that it was the flower that opens only for the Sarentu, to connect to Eywa, a Tarsyu. You had looked at it in awe, as you could only barely remember seeing the flower when you were a toddler. Finally, pulling your kuru forward, you connected to Eywa and met your ancestor Entu, the first Toruk Makto, with your will renewed, your heart became content and excited at the prospect of learning more and more about what it means to be a Sarentu.

You stopped reminiscing as you finally headed over to the armory where So’lek was at, looking over his gun. For some reason you didn’t think twice when Priya told you that So’lek was looking for you, your feet seemed to have a mind of their own. So’lek ears turned to your direction as he heard your footsteps approach him, he looked up and his lips curved up automatically, he looked proud as he said, “You did well out there”. You felt happy at his words, that you had helped the resistance in some way. As you looked over at him, you felt curious about the weapon in his hand. “Did the humans teach you their weapons too ?” you asked.

So’lek’s eyes became dull at those words, a resentment growing in his chest as his thoughts went to his clan, from when he could last remember them. You wanted to take back the words immediately, not wanting to see his eyes fill with such emptiness ever again. “No, I saw the RDA butcher my clan. Their bullets slicing them to shreds. That was my lesson.” he explained, his voice low and tense as he continued, “I know how it feels to be among the last of your people. The humans…they are like their guns. Brought here to cause pain.”

You took in his words and you honestly agreed to what he exclaimed. Guns and those strange machines just brought more destruction to Pandora, especially the humans who operated them. But you were confused as well, were the humans here at the resistance base not RDA once ? Voicing this concern of yours, he firmly replied in a hurry, “and I will not make it easy for them to forget. They are our allies now, yes. But, this is not their war. They fight for the ghost of their home world. But we fight for our home.” His words made you think about your time spent at TAP. Although the program was to ensure a healthy relation between humans and Na’vi, it never felt like that. It felt like that evil man had won, “In the end, Mercer got what he wanted, he made us into soldiers.” Your hands clenched tightly at your sides, your tail swishing, agitated and just saying it made you frustrated.

So’lek looked at the Sarentu thoughtfully, he could understand her frustration, her pain and sorrow, he could see how much she wanted to change the way things were and he felt like he wanted to help guide her on her journey, to be her helping hand, he could not explain these emotions well. So he advised her, “You are not what they made you. You are Na’vi. You will learn what that means in time. Starting with this,” he pulled something from the back of his gear, it was a songchord, “I made it for you” he passed the songchord to you, looking at it, you could feel the crack in your heart when they had stole your mother’s songchord from you lessen. You held it in your hands gently, as if it was the most precious thing in the world, which probably was as this was the first time someone, other than your sister and mother, ever made anything for you.

“My own songchord, like my mother’s…” you gently noted.

“All Na’vi wear one. It is your life’s journey for the world to see. For you to remember” He explained the significance of the songchords to you.

“Her’s had more beads on it” you exclaimed in a low tone, trying to remember what it looked like when you last saw it, before Mercer had taken it right out of your hands. You tied the songchord that So’lek had given you on your wrist and examined it carefully, noticing a bead on, your eyes looked at him curiously.

“Each bead is a moment of great importance to the wearer. I have put one in place to commemorate your first steps to freedom. Build on it. Build your own memories. Each one, a new song in your heart.” So’lek explained, noting the soft and gentle look grace the Sarentu’s face. This expression was something he hoped to see, to brighten whatever dark clouds that had been swirling in her mind.

You looked at him, hoping to convey your will to him, “I hope we can. Ri’nela really wants to try. To know what it means to be Sarentu. But at the Tarsyu…Nor seemed confused. Upset.” Thinking about it, after your sister's death, Nor took it hard and felt that it was his own fault for her death, that he did not try harder. He always used to listen closely to Aha’ri with you when she would hum the songs or tell stories of the Sarentu.

“Eywa shows us who we are. And who we can be. But she also reminds us of what has been lost. For your people, that is a heavy burden” So’lek said somberly. He then picked up his gun and started inspecting it again. “The back exit is not so exposed, he may be there.” Noting the worry on your face for Nor, he stated. You nodded with a smile at him, you were about to turn and leave when you remembered, “So’lek,” he turned his head to your voice, a slight shiver crawled up his spine at the gentle caress in the way you said his name, he could see your expression and he felt shocked at the way your eyes looked him in gratefulness. “Irayo So’lek. Thank you so much. For saving me and the others. For giving me strength. For making this songchord and the bead, I will treasure it always and I hope that I can show you my journey through it.”

You turned to leave, feeling the heat rush back to your cheeks at the honest words you blurted out to him, your feelings all over the place. However, before you left, you heard him whisper to you, so that only you would hear, “Be safe.” You felt your heart skip a beat as you nodded to him and rushed out of the base in order to search for Nor.

So’lek did not expect the Sarentu to say such heart-felt words, he had to cover his face because it felt slightly heated. He did not understand what he was feeling, as he did not feel the same with the other Sarentu trio as he did with her. Maybe it was her honest and caring nature that made him feel flustered. For now though, he decided to ignore those feelings. He needed to focus on gathering intel about those who killed his clan and defeating the RDA.

Little did either of them know, that in the future that he would not be able to ignore his feelings and that there would be a bead that represents them on her songchord.

∘ Oel ngati kameie - I see you

∘ Irayo - thanks

Thank you if you've read through to the end ! I would greatly appreciate comments on how it was and any tips to further improve my writing.

[poutysprouty]

RUN WILD HORSES

Chasing The Wind

pairing: Ranch Hand!Gojo x Fem!Reader wc: 10.8k warnings: Still just fluff. Tiny bit of angst if you squint, I guess? a/n: It's been 70 degrees here in Kansas lately, which means I'm listening to more country music while driving for work. Which also means more brain food for this fic! Gojo is so cute I just wanna squeeze his cheeks SO BAD. chapter track: Chasing The Wind - Lanie Gardner

◄ masterlist ►

The first thing you noticed when you woke up was the smell—warm, rich, and sugary sweet, wrapping around you like a cozy blanket. The scent of pancakes, golden and fluffy, laced with the unmistakable warmth of maple syrup, drifted through the house. It was enough to pull you from the depths of sleep, stirring you from your drowsy haze. Blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, you stretched, your gaze landing on the unpacked boxes stacked near your dresser.

With a sleepy sigh, you slid out of bed, shuffling to the nearest box and digging through it until your fingers brushed against the familiar fabric. You barely registered what you grabbed, pulling on the clothes without much thought before running your hands over them in a half-hearted attempt to smooth out any wrinkles.

Navigating the house in the morning light was easier than it had been last night when you'd groggily gotten lost trying to find the bathroom. You made your way through the quiet halls, the scent of breakfast growing stronger with each step until you reached the kitchen.

Your mom stood at the dark soapstone counter, her back to you, flipping pancakes on a griddle. The sizzling sound filled the space, mingling with the occasional clatter of dishes as she worked. Sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over the warm, homey kitchen.

She must have heard your footsteps because she glanced over her shoulder, her expression softening into a smile.

"Good morning, dove," she greeted, voice rich with warmth.

You hummed in response, still groggy, stepping closer to peer at the pancakes. One side of the griddle held perfectly golden rounds studded with chocolate chips, while the other had slices of banana and fresh strawberries nestled into the batter. Your stomach rumbled at the sight, and your mom chuckled, shaking her head as she nudged you away with a gentle shrug.

"Go set the table, dear," she instructed. "A few of the hands will be joining us for breakfast."

You arched a brow. "Just a few?"

"Yes," she confirmed, expertly flipping a pancake with a practiced flick of her wrist. "Most are already up and working, so they feed themselves. But Geto, Nanami, and Yuji usually swing by."

She paused for a beat before adding with a knowing smirk, "Gojo always makes a point to pause whatever he's doing, too."

Of course, he did.

You exhaled a soft laugh, shaking your head as you turned toward the cabinets, pulling out plates to set the table. It had been years since you'd sat down for a proper breakfast like this; your mornings in Chicago were usually a blur of grabbing a pastry and coffee from your favorite café before rushing off to work. But here, things moved slower.

As you laid the plates down, the sound of the front door opening drew your attention. The familiar creak of old hinges was followed by the heavy thud of boots against the hardwood floor. A deep voice filled the space.

"Mornin', hope we're not too early," Geto called, stepping inside and dipping his head to you, an easy smile stretching across his face.

Behind him, Yuji practically bounced through the doorway, his bright grin as warm as the sunlight streaming through the windows. "Oh man, it smells so good in here," he inhaled deeply.

Nanami followed the two in more measuredly, offering a polite nod as his sharp gaze flicked over the scene. "Good morning," he greeted, mimicking Geto in dipping his head to you in greeting.

You smiled at the trio, setting down the last plate. "Morning, guys."

Your mom emerged from the kitchen and expertly balanced two large platters stacked with pancakes. The golden-brown rounds glistened with melted butter, the chocolate chip ones dark and rich, the strawberry banana ones bursting with color. The scent alone was enough to make your stomach growl.

Yuji looked positively starved, his eyes wide and practically sparkling as he stared at the feast before him. "Oh my God," he breathed, damn near drooling.

You chuckled, shaking your head. "I'll grab the syrup," you said, slipping past them as they took their seats and headed back into the kitchen.

The moment you stepped inside, you focused on gathering what you needed, reaching for the syrup bottle and, after a brief moment of thought, pulling open a cabinet to grab some glasses for the pitcher of orange juice you saw sitting on the counter nearby. You had just placed a few on the counter when a presence suddenly appeared behind you, the shift in the air making the tiny hairs on your arms stand up.

"Need any help?"

The low, teasing lilt of Gojo's voice sent a jolt through you, and you nearly jumped, turning to find him standing far too close with a crooked smile on his face, mischief twinkling in those pale blue eyes. His hair was still damp from a quick morning rinse, strands sticking up in different directions like he hadn't bothered to smooth them down.

You huffed, pressing a hand to your chest as if that would steady your heartbeat. "Do you always sneak up on people?"

His grin widened. "Only when they're fun to fluster." He reached past you, plucking the syrup from your grasp like he had every right to it, then winked. "Come on, we don't want Yuji to pass out from starvation."

Rolling your eyes but unable to suppress your smile, you grabbed the glasses and followed him back to the table.

You settle into your seat, realizing that Gojo has chosen the one beside you. There were plenty of open spaces, yet here he was, uncomfortably close, his knee nearly bumping against yours beneath the table. It flusters you more than it should, and as you reach for your fork, you can't help but wonder if this is where he always sits or if this was a deliberate choice.

Before you can dwell on it, your mom returns with the juice pitcher, making her way around the table and filling up the glasses you had set out. Each person murmurs a quiet "thank you" as she fills their glass. Once she's finished, she sets the pitcher down in the middle of the table next to the syrup before taking her own seat.

With that, everyone starts to dig in, the comforting sounds of breakfast filling the air, forks scraping against plates, the occasional clink of a glass being set down, and quiet hums of appreciation as the first bites were taken.

To distract yourself from the substantial presence of Gojo next to you, you turn to your mom. "Where's Dad?"

She doesn't hesitate, and her expression is straightforward. "He decided to haul a load down to Oklahoma."

You nod, but the news tugs at something inside you. Part of you had been looking forward to him being here for your first full day back. Your face must give you away because your mom chuckles softly, catching your fleeting disappointment before you can hide it.

"Don't worry, he'll be back before dinner," she reassures you. "He wasn't going too far. Besides, you've got plans today, I hear." Her eyes shift toward Gojo, a knowing smile on her lips. "I heard the two of you were gonna go for a ride. It'll be good for you to get back in the saddle instead of sitting around here unpacking."

Gojo, seemingly sensing an opportunity for teasing, shifts slightly in his seat, turning toward you with a lazy grin. He props his head on a fist, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"Sleep well last night?" he asks, his tone light, almost innocent—but you're not fooled. He doesn't even give you a chance to answer before his smirk widens, and he leans in slightly. "Or maybe," he drawls, voice dipping with amusement, "you were up all night, too excited about our little ride today?"

The sheer arrogance in his voice is enough to make you scoff, though you can't stop the quiet chuckle that slips past your lips. He's so shamelessly smug, so sure of himself, and it's annoyingly endearing for some reason.

Before you can shoot back a response, Geto beats you to it. From across the table, he shakes his head, smirking as he knocks Gojo down a peg. "Gojo, don't act like you didn't get up two hours earlier than usual just so you could finish your work faster and have more time with her."

A ripple of laughter moves through the table as all eyes shift to Gojo.

For once, he doesn't have a snarky comeback. Instead, he pointedly avoids Geto's knowing look. He busies himself with his pancakes, stabbing into them with exaggerated nonchalance before shoving a considerable forkful into his mouth. The syrup on his plate is excessive, practically flooding the edges, thick and glistening as it drips down the sides.

You arch a brow, biting back a smile. "Big fan of syrup, huh?"

Gojo finally swallows, turning back to you. His gaze is unwavering, just a little too intense. When he speaks, his voice drops to something smoother, lazier, and intimate, making your pulse stutter.

"What can I say?" He tilts his head slightly, his smirk deepening. "I like things sweet."

The words alone would be harmless if not for how he's looking at you. Like he's savoring something, letting the double meaning settle between you like the syrup pooling on his plate. Your stomach flips, warmth curling at the base of your spine before you tear your gaze away, shaking your head in exasperation.

Still, even as you turn back to your plate, you can feel his eyes lingering on you—steady, teasing, and just a little too fond, lingering like the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the window.

The conversation around the table hums with an easy warmth, voices and the occasional clatter of forks against plates mixing in an almost familiar way. Geto is teasing Yuji about something, and your mom chuckles as she listens, occasionally interjecting with a comment of her own. Nanami offers his own dry remarks, which only seem to fuel the lighthearted banter.

Gojo occasionally inserts himself into the chatter, stealing the spotlight whenever he pleases. His voice is smooth, but you find yourself barely registering his words. Your focus drifts, your body going through the motions of eating. At the same time, your mind lingers elsewhere—on the warmth radiating from the man sitting beside you, on the subtle shift of his movements whenever he reaches for his drink or leans back in his chair. He's close enough that you can catch the faint scent of his cologne, something crisp yet undeniably warm, mingling with the smell of syrup and coffee in the air.

But even that isn't enough to fully hold your attention. Not when something else has settled at the forefront of your mind.

Rosie.

The thought of her sparks something deep inside you, a restless energy that makes it nearly impossible to sit still. Excitement hums beneath your skin, a warmth that spreads through your chest at the mere thought of seeing her again, of running your fingers through her mane, feeling the steady rise and fall of her breath beneath you as she carries you across the land like she always had. It's been too long, years slipping by like sand through your fingers.

Your mind drifts, carried away by memory, back to those endless summers spent roaming the Flint Hills. Just you and Rosie, nothing but the open land stretching infinitely in all directions. You remember the wind pulling at your hair and tugging at your clothes as she thundered across the rolling pastures, hooves drumming a familiar rhythm against the earth. The land seemed to surge in soft waves, rising and falling like the ocean frozen in time, its golden grasses rippling beneath the vast blue sky. Here and there, pockets of trees clustered together, shading the winding creeks that cut through the plains like ribbons of liquid silver, the water calm and clear against your fingertips.

Some days, you'd ride for hours, chasing the horizon with no destination in mind, no constraints beyond the slow sinking of the sun. Beneath that endless expanse of sky, you felt weightless, untethered, freer than anywhere else. You knew every trail, every hidden dip in the hills where wildflowers grew in bursts of color, and every stretch of land where the grass grew tall, thick, and soft, swaying in the warm summer breeze. The scent of sun-warmed earth, prairie flowers and sweet grass would fill the air, mingling with the ever-present hum of cicadas. It was a world all your own, a place that felt untouched by time, where nothing existed beyond you, Rosie, and the sky.

And the sunsets—God, the sunsets.

You would slow to a walk as the world was bathed in gold, the sky painted in breathtaking strokes of fire and lavender, deepening into dusky purples as the evening crept in. The light would catch in Rosie's coat, turning her a rich, burnished red, her mane shifting like silk with every step. The land seemed to pause in those final moments of daylight, the wind holding its breath, the rustling of the tallgrass, and the distant, melancholy call of a meadowlark the only sounds breaking the hush of twilight.

It had been perfect. It had been your second home.

And now, after all those years away, you get to have that again.

You exhaled softly, setting your fork down as you blinked into the present. Around you, the conversation continued, but it felt far away, merely background noise compared to the anticipation thrumming in your veins.

Beside you, Gojo shifted, resting his elbow on the table as he turned slightly toward you. His eyes flicked over your face, sharp but curious.

"You're thinking pretty hard about something," he mused, voice low enough that only you could hear.

You glanced at him, your pulse kicking up when you realized how close he was—close enough that you could see the way the morning light caught in his pale lashes, the teasing glint in his eyes softened by something quieter.

A small smile tugged at your lips. "Just… thinking about Rosie," you admitted. "And how much I've missed this place."

Gojo watched you for a beat, something unreadable flickering across his expression. Then, slowly, a smile of his own formed. Not his usual smirk; this was something more genuine, something real.

"Well," he said, nudging his knee against yours beneath the table, "I'd say it's about time you got reacquainted."

Breakfast passed in a comfortable blur, the warmth of good food and familiar company settling into your bones. Yuji was the first to leave, stretching with a groan before grinning at the table. "Gotta go help Sukuna with the cows, or he'll have my head," he sighed, shoving the last bite of pancake into his mouth before heading out the door.

Geto and Nanami stayed behind, their conversation turning to quiet murmurs as they helped your mom clear the table and wash dishes. You lingered long enough to thank them before heading upstairs to change, trading your casual clothes for something more suitable for riding—well-worn jeans, sturdy boots, and a button-up you knotted at the waist to help keep cool. The anticipation thrummed beneath your skin, each step bringing you closer to the moment you'd been waiting for.

When you came back downstairs, Gojo was where you expected him to be—leaning lazily against the doorframe, peering out through the screen door with complete ease. The morning sun caught in the strands of his snowy hair, illuminating the sharp angles of his face.

You stepped up beside him and, without a word, poked him in the side, hoping to catch him off guard like he did to you earlier in the kitchen. But he didn't even flinch. Instead, he glanced over his shoulder, a slow, knowing grin curling at his lips.

"I don't scare easy, sweets," he murmured, voice dripping with amusement.

You pouted, crossing your arms. "Shame."

His grin widened, and before he could say something else undoubtedly cocky, you called out toward the kitchen, letting your mom know you were heading out. Her voice carried easily over the soft clatter of dishes. "Be safe, and have fun!"

With that, you followed Gojo out the door, rounding the house and heading down the gentle slope toward the main stables. The walk was quiet, neither of you speaking, but there was no need for words. The land itself was enough.

The morning air was crisp but warming with the rising sun, the sky an endless stretch of blue, barely touched by wisps of white. The rolling pastures, still glistening faintly with dew, spread out like a golden-green sea, the occasional wooden fence post standing like a lone sentinel amidst the vast openness. Birds flitted between the trees near the creek bed settled in the horse pasture, their calls weaving into the rustling of the prairie grass. The scent of earth, hay, and something familiar filled your lungs with every breath.

The sight of the stables sent another jolt of anticipation through you. The large wooden structure stood sturdy and familiar, its open doors revealing the movement inside—Nobara and Choso, along with a few other hands, were already hard at work tending to the horses. The rhythmic sounds of shuffling hooves, soft nickers, and the occasional clink of metal filled the space.

Nobara, dressed in worn jeans and a faded T-shirt, crossed her arms as she eyed Choso, who was methodically brushing down one of the geldings. "You are way too meticulous about this," she grumbled, though there was no real bite to her words.

Choso didn't even look up as he replied, "And you're not meticulous enough."

Your lips twitched at their familiar bickering as you stepped inside, your gaze scanning the stalls for a flash of chestnut red. For Rosie.

Nobara looked up as you and Gojo stepped into the stables, her lips curling into a knowing smirk at the sight of the two of you like she was aware of something you weren't. She wiped her hands on her jeans and stepped forward, her eyes flicking between you and Gojo with a look of amusement that you couldn't quite place.

"Miss Rosie's down toward the end," she said, pointing to the far stalls with a lazy gesture. "We already got her cleaned up for ya. Choso wanted to tack her up for you," she added, nudging the tall cowboy beside her with her elbow.

Choso glanced over at you and exhaled with a soft, amused grunt. He didn't miss a beat, continuing his gentle strokes on the gelding's coat. The gelding's muscles rippled under the motion of the brush, and the horse's soft sighs filled the air with a quiet rhythm. "Thought maybe it'd be helpful," Choso muttered, his voice low but teasing.

Nobara raised an eyebrow and grinned. "I told him you'd probably wanna do it yourself."

You chuckled softly and nodded. "I appreciate it. Really." 

Without wasting another second, you head in the direction Nobara pointed, your boots scuffing softly against the packed dirt floor. Gojo follows right beside you, his usual air of lazy confidence wrapped around him like a second skin. You're too focused on the anticipation building in your chest, the thought of finally seeing Rosie again, to notice how Nobara shoots Gojo a knowing wink.

Or the way Gojo—Satoru Gojo, who rarely gets flustered—flushes ever so slightly before schooling his features back into their usual playful ease.

The stable air smelled like hay and leather, with a faint scent of sweat and horses. The soft sound of hooves against the ground, the occasional whinny, and the quiet murmur of the stablehands filled the space as you walked past the stalls. You heard a soft shuffle behind you but were too focused on the sight in front of you now.

Rosie stood in her stall at the end of the stable, her chestnut coat glowing in the sunlight drifting in through the windows high above. The familiar sight of her made your heart skip. Her dark eyes flicked toward you, and everything else fell away at that moment. The world slowed, and it was just you and her.

"Hey, girl," you murmured, stepping closer, your hand instinctively reaching out toward her. "I'm home."

Rosie's ears flicked forward, her soft muzzle nuzzling gently against your hand as if greeting you. The warmth of her breath brushed against your palm, and a smile spread across your face as a wave of comfort washed over you. Her nostrils flared as she leaned into your hand. She let out a soft, low nicker, her breath warm against your cheek, and it felt like a welcome home—a greeting only a horse could give, full of trust and familiarity. You couldn't help but chuckle, reaching up to gently scratch her neck.

From the side, Gojo's voice cut through the peacefulness of the stable. "I'm gonna go get Rain ready. I'll meet you out front."

You glanced over and saw Rosie's tack neatly laid out on a nearby bench, and your heart swelled with gratitude. You stepped into the stall, moving toward Rosie's side, and wrapped your arms around her neck in a soft hug. Rosie shifted her weight, lowering her head gently and bumping your back with her chin, as though returning your hug in her own way.

You chuckled, pressing your cheek to her soft neck. "You always were the affectionate one," you said, voice low with affection.

Stepping back, you left her stall momentarily, your eyes still on her as you reached the bench. You picked up the saddle pad first. You ran your fingers over the soft wool before carrying it into the stall, placing it carefully on Rosie's back. You moved with practiced ease as you continued to get her "dressed," as your dad so fondly put it. However, the excitement still lingered in the pit of your stomach, the anticipation of getting back in the saddle and feeling the familiar rhythm of the ride.

You paused momentarily, your fingers lingering on the leather of her saddle. Typically, you would've taken Rosie to the tack room to get everything on, but this was a new stable, and you weren't entirely sure where it was.

Once you had finished tacking Rosie up, you led her out of the stall and toward the front of the barn. Gojo was already there, standing next to a large, beautiful dark bay mare that you assumed must be Raincheck. The mare's coat gleamed in the sunlight, and her mane swayed in the gentle breeze.

As you drew closer to Rosie, she suddenly whinnied, the familiar sound filling the air. Rosie gently bumped her nose against Raincheck's, a soft, affectionate greeting between the two mares. Rain responded with a huff and a nudge, her dark eyes bright and curious. Gojo chuckled at the sight, his voice full of amusement when he turned to face you.

"So, where do you think we should ride?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

You paused, scanning the horizon for a moment. "I was thinking we could go towards the creek that runs through the west side of the property. There should be a nice patch of wildflowers there right now."

Gojo's gaze flicked toward the direction you indicated. "Never been out that way," he said, his tone thoughtful.

You smiled to yourself, unable to help but feel a quiet thrill at how well you knew the land, how much it had become a part of you over the years. With one last glance at Rosie, you quickly hoisted yourself into the saddle. You took a second to relish in the familiar weight of the reins in your hands and the leather of the saddle beneath you, savoring the feeling of being back in the saddle after so long. The rhythm of your heart seemed to align with the quiet pulse of the horse beneath you, and the memories of all those years spent riding flooded back to you.

Gojo whistled in approval, breaking the quiet moment. "I've never seen anyone get up in the saddle that smoothly. Not even Nobara," he said, his voice full of admiration.

You shot him a teasing glance. "I've had a lifetime of practice," you replied with a playful smirk, knowing exactly how true that statement was.

With that, you clicked your tongue and gave Rosie a gentle nudge, urging her forward. Gojo followed close behind on Rain, and the two of you set off, heading toward the dirt road leading out to the property's western side. The horses' hooves kicked up small clouds of dust as you rode side by side, the quiet of the morning broken only by the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees and the steady clip-clop of hooves on the well-worn path.

The two of you rode in comfortable silence for a while. The morning sun bathed the rolling landscape in a warm golden light, casting long shadows that stretched across the plains. Rosie's steady gait beneath you was comforting, and you found yourself lost in the peace of it all.

After a while, you decided to break the silence. You glanced over at Gojo, riding alongside you, his tall frame relaxed in the saddle. 

"So, you obviously know where I'm from," you started, "But where are you from?"

Gojo glanced over at you, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Japan," he answered, his voice casual.

You blinked in surprise. "Wait—what?" You hadn't expected that answer and turned your head to look at him, half-expecting him to be joking. But his expression didn't change, and you were left a little stunned.

Before you could ask more, he continued, "My family immigrated to America when I was about seven. We moved to California."

You took a moment to process that, and before you could even gather your thoughts to ask more, Gojo kept going. "When I was growing up, I started watching a lot of old Western movies. You know, the classic kind. Cowboys and horses and all that. I guess something about it just clicked with me, and I decided I wanted to be a cowboy."

Your eyebrows raised in surprise. "A cowboy?" you repeated, imagining a young Gojo watching westerns. It didn't add up, but you were intrigued.

"Yeah," he laughed lightly. "I know, right? But as I got older, I started helping out after school at some ranches just outside the town I was living in. I mostly did odd jobs at first—feeding horses and mucking stalls. But the more I worked with the animals, the more I loved it. It felt like something I was meant to do."

You smiled, picturing Gojo working alongside horses in a dusty barn, and it seemed to fit him perfectly. "That's pretty cool," you said, "But how did you end up here, in Kansas?"

Gojo's smile widened a little, but there was a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Well, I met Geto in high school. He's also from Japan, the same area I'm from—Tokyo. We clicked immediately, both being immigrants, and we became fast friends. He'd always talk about wanting to go to college in the States despite his parents wanting him to study abroad, and I guess I just followed him. Geto's family had first moved to Kansas City because that's where his grandparents lived. So, we both decided to head there for college."

You listened closely, hanging on his every word, fascinated by how their paths crossed. "I didn't know you two were that close. What did you study in college?"

"Nothing too glamorous," Gojo said with a shrug. "I went for business. I thought knowing how to run things someday might be a good idea. But after we graduated, Geto and I stayed in the Kansas City area for a few years. He got into some corporate job, and I was still working on ranches here and there. It wasn't glamorous, but I was happy."

You nodded, absorbing everything he was saying, and then your curiosity got the best of you. "So, what brought you to White Stag Acres?"

Gojo's eyes lit up as if he was recalling the moment it all clicked for him. "Well, one day, I watched this horse show where Dez was performing. He was incredible, and I was so intrigued by everything. So, I looked up White Stag Acres, saw they were hiring, and… the rest is history, I guess."

You grinned at the way he told the story. He was not quite shy but still had an evident fondness for the events that led him here. "Well," you chuckled. "You definitely fit in."

Gojo chuckled, the sound light and filled with his usual playful energy, and just like that, the weight of the conversation had lightened once again. He flashed you a grin, and there was a glint of pride in his eyes like he was more than a little pleased with himself for finding his place in all of this. "I guess I do," he said, his voice easy, almost casual. "But, honestly, I don't think I'll ever stop feeling like the new guy here."

He turned his gaze to the vast expanse of land stretching before you, his eyes taking in the endless horizon where the earth seemed to blend with the sky in a perfect, untouched line. His posture relaxed, and for a moment, you could sense a quiet contemplation in him, as if he was still trying to settle into this life in the middle of nowhere despite everything he had already accomplished here.

You nodded, understanding the feeling all too well. The sensation of never entirely fitting in was something you were all too familiar with. It was the reason you had left for Chicago in the first place—fleeing to the city in search of something that would give you a sense of belonging. You had hoped that the hustle and bustle of urban life would somehow offer the clarity you needed, a place where you wouldn't feel like an outsider. But now, as you rode beside Gojo, you realized that feeling never truly left, no matter how far you ran or how much time passed. You glanced at him, seeing the same flicker of uncertainty in his expression that you had once felt so strongly within yourself.

"You ever get used to it?" you asked, the question slipping out before you could stop it. Your voice was quieter now, a hint of curiosity lacing your words.

Gojo glanced at you, and for a brief moment, there was a depth in his eyes—something that seemed to hold more weight than the playful exterior he often wore. He looked forward again, his hands steady on the reins as he considered your question. "I think you just... adjust. You find little things that make you feel at home, even if it's not the same as where you started. It's a slow process, but eventually, it feels like it's yours. But I'm still getting there, you know?"

You hummed in agreement, your thoughts swirling in the stillness of the vast, open plains around you. There was something comforting about the fact that for all his confidence and bravado, Gojo was still in the process of figuring it all out, just like you were.

The quiet settled between the two of you once again. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting long shadows as the two of you continued down the winding path. It was a comfortable silence, and neither of you needed words as you let the peaceful surroundings speak for themselves.

Gojo's presence beside you seemed to anchor you in the moment. You lost track of time, simply enjoying the feel of the saddle beneath you, the steady rhythm of Rosie's gait, and the breeze whispering between the grass. The world felt broad and free, untethered by the complications of everyday life.

It was Gojo who broke the silence first. He pulled Rain to a stop, his horse's hooves crunching slightly on the road. You slowed Rosie down in response, pulling her to a halt, looking at him and wondering what had caught his attention. He reached out, nudging your leg with the back of his hand, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he gestured toward the road ahead.

You frowned in confusion, following his gaze. At first, you didn't see anything—just the long stretch of dirt road ahead, the endless prairie on either side. But then, your eyes caught a flash of movement, and there, just off to the side of the road, you saw them: two small red fox cubs, their fur bright against the green backdrop of the tall grasses. They were playing together, rolling and tumbling, their little paws kicking up tufts of dust and grass as they frolicked in the day's warmth.

You couldn't help but smile at the sight, their playful antics reminding you of the innocence of youth, untamed and free. You watched for a moment longer, mesmerized by their energy before the sound of Rain huffing broke your reverie. The horse pawed at the ground, the noise catching the attention of the cubs. The two foxes froze instantly, their ears pricking up at the sound. They glanced over, eyes wide, before scrambling away from the road. Their tiny legs moved with surprising speed as they darted into the tall grass, their soft, fluffy tails the last thing you saw before they vanished into the thick grasses.

Gojo chuckled softly, the sound low and warm, his gaze following the foxes' retreating forms. "Well, that was a sight," he said with a smile, his tone light but filled with the moment's wonder. "They're quick little things, huh?"

You nodded, still watching the spot where the cubs had disappeared. "I've never seen them so close before. They were so—" you paused, searching for the right word, "so small. And fast."

"Yeah," Gojo agreed, his voice filled with amusement. He gave Rain a gentle nudge with his heels, urging the horse forward. "Nature's a funny thing. Sometimes, it gives you these little moments that make you stop and appreciate everything around you."

You gave a soft hum of agreement. The sound of hooves on dirt resumed as you gently nudged Rosie forward, guiding her away from the main road. Your gaze swept over the prairie, and you spotted a small, hidden trail off to the side, barely noticeable unless you knew where to look. With a light tug on the reins, you steered Rosie toward it.

Gojo followed close behind, Rain's hooves crunching on the dirt as the two of you descended a small hill, entering the thick, swaying grasses of the prairie. The trail wound its way through the landscape, curving with the natural dips and rises of the land, and for a while, neither of you spoke. It was as though the world had faded away, leaving only the sound of hooves and the soft whisper of wind through the grass.

The sun hung high in the sky now, its warmth pressing against your skin, and you figured it must be getting close to noon. The heat of the day was starting to make your skin feel hot under your shirt, and you were thankful that you had thought to apply sunscreen before leaving. The sun was relentless out here, but it only added to the vastness of the open prairie, amplifying the feeling of freedom as you moved further into the wild expanse. 

As you rode on, the trail continued to wind between patches of tall grass and scattered clusters of wildflowers, the colors vibrant against the golden landscape. The occasional bird would take flight from the tall grasses as you passed, adding brief flashes of movement to the otherwise still scene. Gojo stayed close behind. You glanced over your shoulder at him, seeing his eyes scanning the landscape as if taking it all in. 

After a while, you slowed Rosie to a stop, taking in the surrounding view. You glanced at Gojo again, noticing a slight glint in his eyes as he looked around. "Never been out this way before," he said, his voice thoughtful. "It's different from the rest of the land around here. Feels… quieter. Peaceful."

You nodded in agreement, the words escaping your lips almost before you could think of them. "Yeah, it's like it holds its own kind of secret. A place where everything slows down, just for a moment."

Gojo gave a slight, appreciative nod, his gaze lingering on the horizon. The warmth of the sun was starting to make your skin feel heavy. Sweat had already begun to bead on your forehead, and you reached up to wipe it away with the back of your hand.

You smirked to yourself, an idea forming in your mind. With a mischievous glint in your eye, you broke the comfortable silence. "You know, it's kinda hot out here," you said, smiling at him.

Gojo raised an eyebrow at you, clearly intrigued, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "What're you thinking, cowgirl?" he teased, his voice light and humorous.

You rolled your eyes but couldn't help grinning even brighter, your heart picking up speed. "The creek isn't too far away," you began, nodding toward the distant hill. "Once we round that hill up there," you gestured, "there'll be a big patch of trees surrounding it. Wanna race? The breeze should help us cool off a little."

He shook his head, clearly amused by your challenge. He glanced quickly toward the hill you pointed out and then looked back at you, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Race, huh? You sure you're up for it?" His tone was teasing, but there was an edge of competitive fire, a spark you hadn't quite expected.

You met his gaze confidently, narrowing your eyes. "I'm pretty sure I'll beat you to that creek, but if you need a head start, I'll give you a minute."

He chuckled, the sound rich and warm. "You're on, sweets," he said, voice laced with amusement.

Without another word, Gojo nudged Rain forward, his horse responding with an eager trot, the rhythmic sound of hooves stirring the dust beneath them. Gojo set his posture, his body language clearly preparing for the race ahead. You mirrored his movement, urging Rosie forward with a gentle squeeze of your legs, feeling the muscles beneath her coat ripple with anticipation.

The shift in the air was immediate, the heat from the sun not a concern now as the ground beneath Rosie's hooves seemed to open up before you. The steady beat of her hooves gradually grew quicker, matching Rain's, and the sound of galloping hooves filled the air, a thunderous backdrop to the exhilarating rush of freedom. The breeze surged past you, catching your hair and sending it flying behind you in wild streams, whipping across your face and neck. Your pulse quickened, and a laugh bubbled in your chest as the wind tore past you. You couldn't help it. With a holler of pure excitement, you threw your head back, the joy of the speed and the rush of the ride overtaking you completely.

The dust kicked up from the ground, swirling behind you as you raced towards the hill, the path ahead widening, stretching into the horizon. The earth felt firm and steady beneath Rosie's hooves, and you relished the familiar, comforting sensation of riding full-out across open land. The wind swept through your clothes, brushing against your skin like a cool touch amidst the heat that had been hanging heavy only moments before.

Gojo was beside you, tall and confident, perched easily in the saddle as Rain matched Rosie's speed effortlessly. You pushed your mare harder, leaning forward as Rosie's muscles rippled with every powerful stride. The breeze was picking up, offering a brief respite from the sun's heat, but it also stirred the competition in you. You were determined to keep the lead.

Ahead, the landscape unfolded as the hill loomed closer. In the distance, you could make out the dark green of the trees, a forest cutting through the sea of golden grass like an oasis. The creek snaked through the small woodland, the glint of water shimmering beneath the trees. You could practically taste the coolness in the air, and the thought of it urged you to push Rosie harder, coaxing more speed from her as you leaned into the rhythm of the gallop.

Gojo, though, wasn't far behind. The thunder of Rain's hooves was close now, and you could feel the challenge in the air as he began to close the gap. You grinned, the excitement building with every breath, every stride. Rain's speed and strength were impressive, but Rosie wasn't about to let up, either.

Your heart hammered in your chest, and the world around you narrowed to the rhythm of hooves and the distant trees. Adrenaline surged through your veins, and for a brief, beautiful moment, it felt like the whole world was at your fingertips. You were flying.

The trees grew closer, the creek just beyond them, and you urged Rosie forward with everything you had left. Gojo was right behind you, but the finish line was near. The exhilaration of the ride surged within you, and with a final burst of speed, you grinned as the trees welcomed you, the creek waiting just beyond them. This was what you'd missed—this feeling of pure freedom. 

You couldn't help the wide grin that spread across your face as you slowed Rosie to a stop once you crossed the treeline, and you glanced over at Gojo, still buzzing from the exhilaration of the race. Your chest was still racing, and the thrill of the victory pulsed through you, sharp and electric. You were about to tease him, but then your eyes caught Gojo's expression—his lips parted slightly, and a small, surprised smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. The soft pink tint on his cheekbones didn't escape your notice. It was almost too cute to ignore, but you decided to keep it to yourself, letting the victory linger in the air.

Gojo chuckled, though it wasn't his usual confident laugh. "Good job, cowgirl." There was a slight shift in his posture as if he was trying to hide something. He quickly looked away, his gaze dropping to the trees ahead. He nudged Rain further into the treeline, his movements a little too deliberate, almost as if he was trying to act like nothing had changed. You stifled a laugh, caught off guard by the slight embarrassment coloring his usual calm demeanor.

The trees opened up as you both rode closer and soon, the sound of flowing water reached your ears. The creek appeared, winding lazily through the land, the water cool and clear, catching the sunlight and reflecting it in glimmering patterns across the rocks. You breathed in the scent of the water and the earth, and a sense of contentment settled over you.

You dismounted, the heat of the ride lingering in your muscles. Your legs felt a little wobbly, the adrenaline still pumping through your veins, but it didn't take away from the satisfaction of the race. You led Rosie closer to the creek, tying her reins to a nearby tree but giving her plenty of leeway to drink from the water. Gojo followed suit, giving Rain a quick scratch behind her ears as he did so.

The two horses seemed content to relax, the water refreshing them after the gallop. You turned your attention back to the creek, stepping closer to its edge. The breeze, cooler here near the water, lifted your hair, and the faint rustling of the leaves above felt like a soft melody. You knelt down, bringing yourself closer to the water, and peered at the smooth rocks below. The current was steady, swirling gently around the stones, the water so clear you could see small fish darting between the shadows of the rocks.

You reached out a hand, your fingers hovering above the water's surface. The current tugged gently at your fingertips, inviting you to dip your hand in and cool off. For a moment, you watched how the water flowed, hypnotized by its steady rhythm.

"Pretty peaceful, huh?" Gojo's voice cut through the quiet, his footsteps softer now that he had approached. You glanced at him for the first time since dismounting, his figure outlined against the dappled sunlight, standing a few feet away.

You smiled to yourself, still feeling the calm of the creek wash over you. "Yeah, it's perfect," you said quietly, your gaze returning to the water. You let your fingers graze the surface, the coolness a sharp contrast to the heat baking your skin earlier. You breathed in deeply, feeling the tension from the ride and the rush of excitement slowly fade.

Gojo leaned in slightly, watching you with that familiar spark in his eyes. However, there was something different about it now. "Think you'll ever get tired of this place?" he asked, his tone playful but with an underlying curiosity.

You chuckled softly, still distracted by the tranquil scene before you. "I don't know," you mused. "I've been coming to this creek since I found it in high school, but it always feels like there's something new to discover."

Gojo nodded thoughtfully, kneeling beside you, the faint rustle of his jeans the only other sound between you. "Guess you're lucky then," he smirked, "finding a place that always feels new."

You glanced up at him, the warmth of his voice surprising you. "Yeah, I suppose I am." You paused, thinking for a moment before speaking again, the words almost coming instinctively. "Maybe one day, I'll show you all my favorite spots. We can race again, if you wanna."

Gojo's grin widened. "I'm up for the challenge," he said, a wink accompanying the words. "But next time, I'm definitely winning."

You laughed softly, feeling lighter than you had in a long time. The quiet that settled between you two was different now—more comfortable, a kind of understanding passing without the need for words.

As you sat back on your heels, you glanced at Gojo again, the way his expression had softened, catching your attention. The usual cocky grin and playful gleam in his eyes were replaced with a quieter, more thoughtful look. It was almost like he had forgotten about the bravado, letting the peacefulness of the creek and the moment settle over him. The sight tugged at something in you, and you couldn't help but smile to yourself.

You pushed yourself up, the cool breeze brushing against your skin. With a little grunt of determination, you kicked off your boots, letting them land beside the creek. Then, you rolled up your jeans as far as they would go, your legs feeling free as the fabric bunched just below your knees. You shot a quick glance at Gojo, who was still standing in the same spot, watching you with a bemused expression.

"What?" you asked with a smirk, catching his eye.

Gojo raised an eyebrow in question, clearly intrigued but not entirely sure of your plan. "You gonna do something crazy again?" he teased, a hint of amusement in his voice.

You didn't answer right away. Instead, you stepped into the water, feeling the coolness creep up your legs as you waded deeper. It was refreshing against your heated skin, the current gentle but steady. The water barely reached your mid-calf, perfect for cooling off without fully immersing yourself. You glanced back at Gojo, the playful smile still on your lips. "C'mon, let's cool off," you called over your shoulder, your voice light and carefree.

Gojo laughed, shaking his head as if he knew what was coming. "You just can't sit still, can you?" he said, but you could tell he had already decided to join in. He removed his boots, rolling up his jeans like you did, and followed you into the water.

As he stepped into the creek, you giggled and splashed a small amount of water in his direction, watching his reaction with amusement. The water hit his chest and face, and you could see him freeze for a moment before his lips curled into a dangerous smile.

"Oh, it's on now," he muttered, and before you could react, he kicked water back at you, sending a splash that soaked you from the waist down. The cold water hit you unexpectedly, and you spluttered, swatting at the air, but your grin widened.

"You're gonna regret that," you warned playfully, and with a mischievous glint in your eye, you charged toward him.

The two of you were soon caught up in a flurry of splashing and laughter. You darted through the creek, your feet finding purchase on the slippery rocks beneath while the water cascaded around you in all directions. The sound of your giggles mixed with the slosh of water as you raced back and forth, sending waves toward each other in playful retaliation.

Gojo was faster than you expected, the way he effortlessly dodged and retaliated, keeping you on your toes. Whenever you thought you'd outwitted him, he was there, grinning like he was waiting for the next round. You dodged one of his splashes but slipped on a rock and lost your footing, sending a massive wave of water crashing over your head as you fell. You laughed loudly, the water dripping from your hair when you sat back up, and you were still smiling as you wiped your face.

"I'm totally gonna win this time," you teased, gathering your balance to stand back up and splash him again.

"Ha! We'll see about that," Gojo challenged, eyes lighting up with the same playful fire. He started running, dodging the water you splashed at him with an agility that surprised you. You were laughing so hard it was hard to focus on your next move, but you charged after him anyway.

The creek was a blur of cool water, splashes, and happy shouts, each of you trying to outdo the other with bigger splashes. The world felt distant, as if the only thing that mattered was the current of the creek, the cool air, and Gojo.

You managed to send a large splash his way, watching with a triumphant smile as the water splashed over him. Gojo paused for a moment, eyes widening in mock disbelief before his lips curled into a grin, a maniacal laugh escaping him. "Sweets, you're gonna regret that," he teased, his voice deep and playful, sending a shiver down your spine.

You squealed, suddenly feeling a shift in the air, and your heart raced as Gojo charged at you with surprising speed. You tried to dodge, but it was too late—his strong arms wrapped around your waist, lifting you off your feet. "No, wait! Gojo, no!" you protested between giggles, but it was all in vain as he twisted, and in a split second, you were falling backward into the creek with a loud splash.

You landed on top of him, the cool water splashing around you both, your body pressing against his as the two of you sank into the creek. The water swirled around you, the chilly embrace of it mingling with the warmth radiating from his body beneath you. You could feel his chest rise and fall under you, his breath shallow from the sudden tumble.

For a long moment, you stayed there, on top of him, the two of you caught in the peaceful silence of the creek. The water lapped gently around you, and you felt your heart beating in your chest, both from the thrill of the splash fight and how close you were to him.

His hands were still on your waist, but they were gentle now as if he was holding you not just to keep you in place but as if he was memorizing the feel of you. His fingers brushed against your sides, sending goosebumps rippling over your skin.

Gojo tilted his head, the wet strands of his hair falling in messy strands around his face, and brushed a stray strand of your hair away from your forehead. His touch was light, and you felt a flutter in your chest at the sudden tenderness in his eyes. "You good?" he asked softly, his voice quieter now, as if the playful energy between you had shifted into something more serious.

You puffed your cheeks in mock defiance, knowing full well you'd been bested. "Okay, fine," you sighed playfully, trying to ignore how your heart skipped a beat from the moment's seriousness. "You win this time."

He chuckled, his hands still resting on your waist, his touch warm and reassuring. "I told you not to mess with me," he said, his voice teasing, but there was a softness to it now that made you feel like you were the only thing in the world that mattered at this moment.

You shook your head, your smile still wide despite the emotions swirling within you. "You always have to win, don't you?" you teased, but there was no bite to your words, only the lingering warmth of being close to him in the cool creek.

Gojo's lips curled up again, and his gaze softened as he stared up at you, his body still beneath yours. "Not always," he murmured, and for a moment, you both just lingered there, not speaking, taking in the moment.

The air felt different now; thicker, more charged. The playful energy was still present, but something else was underneath it. You weren't sure what it was, but you couldn't deny the way your pulse quickened as you lay there, still on top of him.

The cool water flowing around you, the closeness of his touch, and the way your breath mingled with his created a cocoon where everything outside of this moment disappeared. You stayed there for a little longer, just breathing, your heart beating a little faster, the stillness of the creek somehow amplifying everything you felt.

Only when the sound of Rosie snorting broke the silence did you realize how long you'd been lying there, lost in each other's presence. Slowly, almost reluctantly, you pushed yourself up, your hands bracing against his muscular chest, and you looked down at him.

"Alright, alright," you said, the teasing tone returning, "but I'm not going easy next time."

Gojo chuckled, watching you stand before doing so himself. "Oh, I'm counting on it, sweets."

x x x x

A little while later, you both had settled on the creek bed, the warm sunlight casting its golden glow over you. The water around you had cooled down, and the gentle current rippled lazily through the creek. You lay back on the soft bed of dirt and sand, your body drying in the sunlight as the warmth from the day seeped into your skin. Your eyes were closed, the quiet sinking into your bones. The murmur of the creek, the rustle of the leaves in the trees, and the occasional soft whinny of the horses filled the air. Rosie and Rain had found a small patch of grass, grazing contentedly, and the world was still. 

But then you felt it. The weight of Gojo's gaze was unmistakable. You didn't need to open your eyes to know he was looking at you, studying you in that quiet way he seemed to do when he was thinking deeply, trying to figure something out. You had a sense of what was coming. Sure enough, his voice cut through the quiet, his tone casual but with a touch of curiosity that was hard to miss.

"So, what else did you do to pass the time out here?" he asked, his voice low and inviting like he was fishing for something deeper.

You kept your eyes closed for a moment longer, taking a slow breath before finally opening them and turning your head toward him. He had shifted, now lying on his side with his head propped up on one hand, his posture relaxed but still giving off that characteristic chaotic energy that you were starting to notice more and more. His blue eyes were focused on you with curiosity, as if waiting for you to answer. His hair, still slightly damp from the creek, fell in soft waves, some strands catching the light as it flicked playfully across his face in the breeze. You swallowed, the faintest flutter of nerves settling in your stomach, but you pushed it away.

You thought for a moment, the memory washing over you like the gentle current in the creek. "Sometimes I would sneak out of the house and go for a drive," you said, your voice soft but steady. "Nothing really beats the clear night sky." You paused, turning your head to stare up at the canopy above you, remembering the feeling of those late-night drives. The cool air rushing through the windows, the quiet hum of the engine. It was one of your favorite ways to clear your mind, second only to going on rides with Rosie. "It was always so peaceful. Going for a long drive to nowhere, nothing but the sky and the stars and the moon as my companions."

You let the words hang in the air for a moment. Something was soothing about the memory of those solitary drives, the stillness wrapping around you as you drove aimlessly through the night. The world felt smaller at night, like it was just you and the vast expanse of the night sky, stretching on forever.

Gojo was quiet for a few beats, his gaze never leaving you as he processed your words. His expression softened slightly, the teasing grin he usually wore replaced by something a little more thoughtful. You could tell that your answer had caught him off guard somehow. He seemed to be weighing your words, and the pause stretched slightly longer than usual.

"That sounds... nice," he said, his voice quieter now. He shifted slightly, propping himself up further on his elbow, his gaze still fixed on you. "I've always liked the quiet, too, but..." He trailed off, his eyes flickering toward the trees, then back to you. I'm not really great at being alone with my thoughts.

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Yeah? I'd never have guessed." Your voice had a hint of teasing, but it was still light and gentle, like you were trying to keep the conversation from becoming too serious.

Gojo chuckled softly. "I'm always surrounded by people," he said, his smile small but genuine. "It's not like I'm complaining; it's just... different, you know?" He paused, his gaze drifting back toward the horses, expression thoughtful. "Can't really hear your own thoughts when you're surrounded by people, so when you finally get a bit of quiet… It can be overwhelming.

You nodded, understanding the need to fill the silence with action, to keep yourself busy so you didn't have to confront whatever thoughts were swirling beneath the surface. You'd always found peace in the quiet, in the stillness of the world, when it felt like time had slowed down.

"Yeah, I get that," you said softly.

There was a brief silence between you two. You could feel the connection between you both growing in that silence, the way you had been circling each other, testing the waters, trying to figure out what it was. You shifted slightly, your body settling comfortably into the creek bed, letting the sunlight warm your skin. You could feel Gojo's gaze linger on you, but you didn't shy away from it this time. There was no need to.

After a moment, Gojo sighed and sat up, his legs crossing beneath him. "I think I get why you like it out here," he said with a faint smile, his eyes scanning the peaceful surroundings—the creek, the trees, the horses grazing nearby. "It's peaceful. A good place to think."

You also sat up, stretching your legs out in front of you. "It's the kind of peace that doesn't need explaining. You just feel it, you know?"

Gojo nodded slowly, his lips curling into a thoughtful smile, but he didn't respond.

You both sat there awhile, watching the horses graze and the water drift lazily. The silence was comfortable, not awkward, just two people sitting side by side in the sun's warmth, allowing the world to keep turning around them. Every now and then, your eyes would meet, but neither of you said anything more, content to be in each other's company for the moment.

Eventually, Gojo broke the stillness with a sigh, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He glanced at the horses grazing nearby, then looked down at his watch.

"We should probably get to heading back now," he said, a hint of reluctance in his tone. "Already missed lunch. Don't wanna miss dinner."

You couldn't help but laugh, a teasing smile curling on your lips as you turned toward him. "Always thinking about food, huh?" you remarked, raising an eyebrow. "I swear, you never want to miss a meal."

Gojo grinned, his eyes sparkling with the familiar mischievous gleam. He leaned back slightly, stretching his arms out as if preparing to make his following statement with all the drama in the world. "Oh, it's not just about the food," he said with a wink, his voice light and playful. "I don't want to miss your mom's cooking!"

The words hit you with such a perfect blend of sincerity and humor that you couldn't help but laugh. Gojo chuckled, too, standing up and offering you a hand. You took it without hesitation, letting him help pull you to your feet.

Gojo shot you a playful look as he pulled you upright. "Come on, let's get back before your mom calls me out for being late again. I'm not trying to be her next target."

"Well," you teased as you adjusted the sleeves of your shirt and brushed dirt and sand off your jeans, "you're the one who insisted on tackling me into the water."

He rolled his eyes with a grin. "Fair enough," he muttered, then gave you a mock pout. "But I'm still gonna blame you if we're late."

With a final laugh, you both turned your attention toward the horses, content and unaware of the drama unfolding around them. You walked over to Rosie and gently untied her reins, and Gojo did the same with Rain. The horses flicked their ears at the sound of your footsteps but otherwise paid you no mind as you mounted up, settling into the familiar rhythm of riding.

Gojo was already in the saddle, adjusting his reins. You followed suit, pulling yourself onto Rosie's back and taking a moment to ensure your balance before looking at Gojo.

"Ready?" you asked, a smile tugging at your lips.

He gave you an exaggerated look of concentration, pretending to think it over. "Oh, I'm always ready."

You nudged Rosie forward with a nod, and Gojo followed suit with Rain. The two horses moved side by side, and the soft clopping of hooves on the dirt path was the only sound as you started your journey back toward the house.

The ride back was leisurely, the afternoon sun now lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. The cool breeze that had picked up during your time by the creek now felt perfect against your skin, and the light chatter between you and Gojo kept the atmosphere easy.

As you neared the house, you glanced over at Gojo, catching him looking at you with that same glint in his eye.

"You sure you don't want to race back to the house?" you asked, your lips curling into a teasing smirk as you glanced over at Gojo.

He returned your smile with one of his own, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Let's do it," he replied.

Without another word, you both spurred your horses into motion. The sound of hooves hitting the dirt was almost drowned out by the rush of wind as Rosie and Rain galloped forward.

The path ahead became nothing but a blur of dirt and green as the two of you raced, the air rushing past your ears, the thundering of hooves like a steady drumbeat in the background. Gojo's laugh rang out, full of life, and you echoed it with your own laugh. Every stretch of the path was an opportunity to close the gap between you, the wind biting at your skin, but his laughter was always just ahead, egging you on.

The race wasn't about who would win anymore. It was about the thrill, the exhilaration of being caught up in the moment, the rush of freedom. Of feeling like, for once in your life, you belonged somewhere.

You only wished the ride could last forever.

Tag List: @tequilya @lunastar888 @ritsatoru @byakuya61085

all dividers made by me @/poutysprouty. please do NOT use.

[a-land-lacking-sleep]

A brief thought on the parallels of the Subway Bosses, The Tao Trio, and Warden Ingo's place

@waywardstation just made an amazing post on her thoughts of Warden Ingo's parallels to Kyurem. Nothing in the game directly connects the two, just like nothing in the game connects the Subway Bosses to the Dragons in Generation V. But the connections are still there regardless, because Game Freak made sure to fill Unova with so much symbolism.

These are the basic thoughts that connect each Man to their Dragon.

Subway Boss Ingo - Ideals; Aspire to greatness, never give up in your journey

Subway Boss Emmet - Truth; You are who you are, there is no need for a mask

Warden Ingo - Void; What is there when you lose who you are? No drive for greatness, nothing to mask. Ideals, Truths, nothing matters except the ground beneath your feet.

In each game that they appear, Ingo and Emmet are relatively flat characters. In Gen 5, they have enough personality to stick in your mind, and nothing past. And in PLA, Ingo's whole personality is "I lost my memory and am depressed, but have hope". Instead, we end up looking at word choice, and in the Subway Bosses cases, other media.

Subway Boss Ingo, across most media, embodies Ideals. He has his eyes to the future, always pushing himself and others to continue onwards. He frames battling and training as a journey ("What can I see after winning, winning, and winning? Where is my destination?"; "Your talent has brought you to the destination called Victory!"; "There is no terminal called End in your life!"), most often when he is victorious. He seeks to create his Ideal self, and wants to push others to do the same.

This comes up in Pokemon Masters EX as well, where the "no terminal" line returns (in an appropriately spooky tone), he also spends time in the Day With Ingo story event talking about how he seeks to better himself and "break through the mold of [his] past self". This event is also the first time he mentions the phrase "greater heights", which appears another 6 times in various snippets in Masters. And finally, we have a triple whammy of travel metaphors for growth in his level up lines.

For Subway Boss Emmet, his connection to Truth is admittedly a bit more tenuous. He doesn't have any tendency for truth-seeking or investigations (outside of the famous behavior in the manga where he likes to eavesdrop on drama, which gossip isn't exactly truthful), but what he has is a strong showing of being truthful, even if he ends up being blunt or disrespectful.

As a consequence of his writing in Japanese giving him a very casual way of speaking, the English translation has him speak in shorter clips, just the bare essentials. The naked truths of his thoughts. He doesn't seek the Truth, or give a Universal Truth; Emmet is True to himself and to those around him. (As a side note, I love when people give power to other usages of the word True through Reshiram. I did it in my fic with a turn of phrase, but I've seen it done beautifully in other works too).

In Pokemon Special, Emmet doesn't hide the truth of why they asked White to train on the Battle Subway ("We're studying you as an example of a Trainer who gets overwhelmed and loses every battle!" "That's not nice, Emmet."), not because he is intending to be rude (Ok, a little bit), but because that *is* what they are using her for. In the games, he speaks of how Pokemon battles can be decided on luck ("I won against you. But I think I just got lucky."), because the Truth of the matter is, you can be highly trained and just have a bad day or get hit by a critical hit. But, most importantly, he believes that battles must be serious for them to be fun. Because what fun is there in putting up a fake fight, when you could just be True to yourself?

Now, to speak on the connection of Warden Ingo to Kyurem, we must first understand what Kyurem is to Zekrom and Reshiram. On a surface level, it is a Husk, a leftover revenant that can be reassembled into a simulacrum of the Original being. But looking into the actual symbolism of them all is where you find threads of connection to the Warden.

Reshiram, the Dragon of Yin, is representative of a more static element, receptive of change but passive in how it does so. It is a recursive existence that reaches out and pulls back towards itself - Everyone has an individual Truth, but that is still able to be changed by The Truth. However, one does not go out and change The Truth, only altering the perception of it while it passively exists. You cannot change what is already there, only create something new. In comparison, Emmet is never really shown to focus on the future, but rather on the present. He knows of the Truth in his life, and while it can be changed by present actions, he knows that he cannot go back to change it, so there is no need to try, or to hide it.

Zekrom, the Dragon of Yang, is active, ever expanding, and pushes up against those around it in it's search for Ideals. Ideals cause you to seek out a goal, to leave your home, your comfort zone, and push away from the past. To represent Ideals is to be in constant flux; Settling into a form makes you into a Truth, as an Ideal is a goal, something attainable, yet unreachable. We've gone over Ingo's future-forward gaze, constantly thinking about what is to come. Life is a journey, and every step you take in life is a step to self-improvement.

Kyurem is a Husk, a Shell. According to Bulbapedia, it is representative of Wuji ("Without a roof"), the absense of Yin and Yang, or "The Ultimate Nothingness". For this reason, I personally also attribute to it Mu, a concept of non-existence and negative space, specifically the lack of something normally there (modern Japanese actually uses "mu-" as a prefix the same way English has the suffix "-less"). Interestingly, the Japanese transliteration of Wuji is "Mukyoku" (lit. Non-polar, another translation of Wuji), connecting the two concepts neatly. In short, Kyurem represents Nothing and Everything.

Kyurem was supposedly the Original Dragon, the deity of Unova that represented Truths and Ideals in unison, a embodiment of Yin and Yang's harmony. In a sense, the Original Dragon was an embodiment of Everything, Unova's spirit of unity. Then, with the war between the Twin Princes (another pair also frequently compared to Ingo and Emmet, in case you think I forgot my boys), it was split into 2, but secretly 3, parts. This third secret part became Kyurem, a being lacking in its original qualities, leaving Nothing but the Husk.

Now, finally, we can get to everyone's favorite uncle, Warden Ingo. His connection to Kyurem is probably the least intentional of them all (which is saying something, because I'm honestly convinced that the Subway Bosses' own connections aren't intentional, but rather just a result of how Unova games were written with Truth vs. Ideal being ingrained heavily), but there still is one. As Wayward says in her fateful post, "Warden Ingo is an empty husk of who he once was ever since he was separated from his life, and from Emmet." Ingo as the Subway Boss may not have embodies the Everything that the Original Dragon has, but pairing with Emmet so closely still meant that Truth and Ideals mixed so cleanly that it might as well have been Everything.

However, the most important connection for Warden Ingo are the concepts of Wuji and Mu. To be "the Ultimate Nothingness" or "Non-Polar" means to be devoid of Everything, yet still have the capability to be far more than Nothing. The singular concept of Mu may mean that Warden Ingo is missing who he is and was, but that is not who we grow know in the game; We connect with a man who is slowly piecing together his sense of self, remembering facets of his past and growing happier with who he can be. Thus, the Mu transitions into Wuji, a void that isn't Empty so much as lacking.

The importance of distinction is that Mu is by nature Empty, while Wuji is Empty and Everything, limitless and confined. Similarly, Ingo is devoid of what made him him (His drive for self-improvement is impaired, even while he pushes the player to climb to greater heights), but becomes something new in the meta-narrative of the story. His actual, plot-related story ends when you quell Electrode and he becomes a challengeable NPC at the Training Grounds, but he becomes something of a kindred spirit in the greater plot of the game. He's like you, a Faller who has lost themselves, and also like you, an avid battler who pushes the system to it's limits (especially in the Path of Solitude).

In short, the connection between Kyurem and Warden Ingo isn't anything in the text, as Kyurem has no explicit in-game theming attached to it like Zekrom and Reshiram, and Warden Ingo doesn't have strong philosophical points that seeps out of the words he says to you. But when you look at the meta-theming for Kyurem, and subsequently Warden Ingo's meta-narrative, the connections become clearer.

Does some of this make no sense? Of course! A lot of this is extrapolating what was said in Wayward's post, and what came from my head as I thought of it. A lot of the connections of the twins to the Dragons has been discussed since 2010, but for all intents and purposes, Warden Ingo is a different character from Subway Boss Ingo. Narratively, he is the same person, hence why his appearance is a tragedy in Legends Arceus, one which we never get to solve. But on a meta level, he functions so differently, and lives so differently, that the themes he inhabits do not match up to the Subway Boss in any way. To end this on a sad note, Warden Ingo is exactly like Kyurem - Broken. He has lost what made him whole, and we've been shown that just reinserting Ideals isn't enough. Hopefully, if Game Freak decides to touch upon the Warden once more, we can find a way to reinsert his Truths as well.

[lovedivers]

Sent from Below, Fell from Above. [pt.1]

—> an angel meets the demon who killed her all those years ago.

⤻ reader is a female, reader is a bunny-type angel(?), canon-typical cursing, very bad use of 1920s slang, reader takes part in the 'welcome to heaven' song, i even wrote an extra verse, heavily inspired by @jazjelspen 's angel baby fic, death, betrayal, angst, spoilers for all of hazbin hotel season one, alastor went up with vaggie and charlie to heaven in this fic, will be a series

The pearly gates of hell shone brightly as you stood there, waiting to welcome in any winners that may have unfortunately just died. Saint Peter had been out for hours by now and looked like he might just have collapsed from how exhausted he was. Like the angel that you were, you let him go take a break while you manned the podium. After all, you had done so multiple times already in the hundred years you've been in heaven!

Just then, you watched as a portal opened up, seemingly out of nowhere. You put on your best smile and waited to greet them.

"Look at this place, Vaggie, Alastor! It's so clean!" Your smile faltered for a moment. Not because of the familliar name — you had long since gotten rid of your fear regarding that name — but because people who just died wouldn't act that way.

"Yeah, super cool." The girl beside her mumbled as she dragged her feet over towards the stand.

As for the man at the back, all dressed in red, he hummed as he walked towards the glowing gates of heaven.

"Hello there!" You greeted, making sure your halo was glowing as bright as possible. "Welcome to heaven, darlings. Could I get your name, please?" You asked politely, pulling out the book of names Saint Peter had entrusted you with.

You stared at the trio ahead of you. A tall gal dressed in a suit with rosy red cheeks that almost made her look like a doll, another doll by her side that had ashen-grey skin and a giant x over her eye, poor thing she must have lost it when she died. And the man that accompanied the two ladies, standing at the back in a dapper looking suit.

"Charlie... Morningstar." The girl in the red suit said.

You nodded your head. "Charlie Morningstar." You drawled out the name, opening up the book and scanning your eyes through the book as your bunny ears flapped about, wondering where you had heard that name before. You frowned when you could not find Charlie's name anywhere in the roster. "Charlie... Morningstar. I'm really sorry, dearie, but you really aren't on my list. A-are you in the wrong place?" You questioned.

"Um, my dad got me this meeting so maybe you could try Lucifer Morningstar?" She mumbled, but the name was loud enough for you to hear.

"Oh dear lord in heaven!" You gasped.

The three of them looked at you. You noted that the man in the suit and deer antlers gazed at you the most intensely, tilting his head over as he narrowed his eyes at you.

"Darling, I really think all of you shouldn't be here-" you frantically said as you flapped your wings out, flying down towards them. Your skirt flapping in the wind alongside your feathery wings.

"Oh lord, here we go." The girl at her side muttered.

"No, uh, we're here for a meeting."

"[y/n], we can take it from here." A mature voice from above said as you looked up to see Sera and Emily — the Seraphim sisters — descend down to you, along with Saint Peter who was holding a milkshake in his hand.

You nodded your head, understanding your place, before stepping aside. Though, you felt the burning gaze of that man boring holes into your head. You turned towards him, a frown present on your face as you stared at him, confused. Noticing that you had noticed him, he turned away, his sharp-toothed grin faced towards Charlie now. That smile... you had seen that smile before. Even the way he dressed, it screamed that he died during your time period.

You continued staring at him, even as he avoided your gaze.

"Dearly beloved, it is my pleasure to say onto thee," Saint Peter suddenly started singing, and you realised that you had lost track of the conversation. "Welcome to Heaven, oh!" He sang as the pearly gates slammed open. You flew up alongside Saint Peter, your wings flapping as your bunny ears twitched. "Where the virtuous reside, 24/7, oh-oh! People are happy that they died," Well, that was certainly an exaggeration considering you didn't exactly... like the way that you died.

As he sang, you flew through the streets, rallying the rest of the winners to join in song. As you flew back, you landed back onto the floor with Saint Peter just as he finished his verse.

"Welcome to Heaven, where everyone hopes to go! Oh-oh! Where angels always glow! Oh!"

You sang as you ran towards all your winner friends as they danced in the streets for the envoys from Hell. Just as you finished singing, you felt those dark eyes on you once again, and you stopped dancing in the street to stare back at him.

Your head hurt as radio static filled your brain, and you struggled to keep yourself upright. You almost toppled over. You grabbed your head, attempting to get the static out of your brain. "Wha-"

"'Cause every single day in Heaven, is a happy day!" Both Emily and Saint Peter belted out as they flew in the air, causing you to break your gaze from the man and focus on the soaring duo in the air.

"Welcome to Heaven!"

The song ended, and you immediately fell to the ground. You had been dead for so many years, so it had been decades since you felt breathless, of all things.

"My, what is a dame like you doing on the floor!" There that static was again, but this time it was accompanied by an eerily familliar voice. You wanted to call out to Emily, or Sera, but they had already run off. Charlie and the girl by her side with Emily, and Sera to God knows where, leaving you alone with this shady man.

"I-" you began.

Without even extending his hand, this strange deer- whatever he was, pulled your hand up abruptly, holding onto it so tight you felt your blood stop pumping through the veins of your hand.

"What is your name, Sweetheart? I have to say, you and those little angels put on quite a show! All you little Oliver Twists are so adorable." The demon chuckled as he pulled you uncomfortably close.

"Please let me go." You said to the man, attempting to push him off but he only held you tighter.

"Aren't I quite the rude chap, I should have introduced myself before asking for your name." He grinned wider, spinning you around in a painfully familliar way.

"Alastor, my dear, pleasure to meet you!" He said, grabbing your hand and kissing it.

✧ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ✧

Alastor grabbed your hand, bowing down as he looked up at you, that sweet grin on his face. "Alastor, my dear, pleasure to meet you." He said, before sealing your fate with a kiss on your hand. "I hope that we can get along well." You gazed at him with wide eyes, your eyes raking over his bronzed skin and brown — almost red — hair. Glasses lined his gleaming eyes.

Those eyes were the same words that echoed in your mind in your worst nightmares.

✧ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ✧

And now here you were, reliving that nightmare.

"What the fuck!" You yelled out, which caused some angels to look over at you. Sure, cursing was normal, but it was typically somewhat taboo on cloud nine and this was one of the only times you had ever cursed. You reeled your hand back, your eyes widened as you stumbled back. "I-it's you." You commented, holding your hand close to the pearl-white blouse that you wore.

"Yes, my darling, it is!" Alastor laughed once again, that sinister shit-eating grin still present on his face. "I'm surprised it took you so long to realise it." He commented, grabbing your hands in his, causing you to freeze up. "I had my suspicions the moment I saw you, but when you sang... oh..." He murmured. His face was filled with ecstasy, his claws going up to his face as he grinned deviously.

"I need to get out of here." You muttered as you turned on your heel and snatched your hands away, preparing to leave.

Alastor just grabbed you back into a tight embrace, his face propped against your shoulder. "I knew it was you, little bunny." The nickname only made you more uncomfortable than ever as you remembered the intimate moment when he first gave you that nickname.

"What's wrong, little bunny?"

The moment he spoke, your wings shot up, pushing him away from you and slapping his body aside. You flew up as he stumbled onto the pristine roads of heaven.

Don't come near me again, you wanted to say, but you couldn't find the courage to spit in the face of your murderer, not even now.

So, this time, you ran away.

You should have done that years ago. Maybe you would have lived longer then.

[pt.2]

[penvisions]

return the favor {chapter 25}

Pairing: Post-Outbreak! Joel Miller X Smuggler! Reader

Summary: Your intentions are to spin a web of lies to protect Ellie, but Marlene doesn't seem to mind and is willing to trade one body for another. Her righteousness knows no bounds and you realize she's set her sights on you.

Word Count: 5k

Warnings: canon typical violence, canon typical language, cursing, insults, blood, minor injuries, fighting, physical fighting, guns, use of guns, minor character death, end of the world politics, end of the world rhetoric, misplaced heroism and hope, degrading language, marlene needs her own warning, talk of infection, talk of infected people, cordyceps is scary, reader is described as having red hair, reader has a nickname, please let me know if i missed any!

A/N: this was so fun to write, i hope y'all are ready for the last stretch. these two mean so so so incredibly much to me, which i will gush about in each chapter and the epilogue notations from here until the end. this is where the fic gets away from canon a lil bit but it's all for the best, please believe! love y'all

ao3 link || series masterlist || main masterlist || ko-fi

“I can’t believe you made it all this way alone.” She’s stepping close, almost as if she wants to inspect you from head to toe. But you both know there are no teeth marks or infection to be found. Her men would’ve already had you in cuffs and retrained. Condemned to a room with no sunlight until they were ready to deal with you, the Infected something Marlene was rightfully afraid of. But not so much so that she wasn’t cautious to the extreme, to the cunningly meticulous. “Thought you were lost in the aftermath of the convoy we lost outside the QZ.”

“I was scavenging nearby when that explosion went off, FEDRA was all over it within an hour.” You can feel the way her eyes rove over your body, from the simple, dirty clothing you donned to the pack that had seen better days and better loads. It was pretty sparse, you and Joel back to milling through every house or building for the chance at a next meal for Ellie. You two had taken to hunting again, on the way up here, the season warming up and spring allowing for some game to be caught. But you were all tired, this entire journey felt like it was coming to an end.

The energy of your trio something palpable, tense currents underlying every move and every day. The anxiety of Joel leaving you behind to go your own way underlying each conversation. Each interaction when the two of you were alone or Ellie was sleeping. He was trying, so goddamn hard, to make her feel okay. To bring out her manic giggling, her snorting laughter, a wide and gummy smile to her face. But none of it reached her eyes quite the way that it had before.

Marlene must mistake your silence for submission, because she heaves a great sigh and shakes her head.

“I sent Joel this way months ago with a girl in his charge. Haven’t seen hide nor hair of them as of yet. They were supposed to meet up with the convoy, the best protection we could offer for the journey.”

“I ran into them just outside the QZ, there had been an explosion. Too much noise, too much ruckus, it attracted a lot of Infected before FEDRA got their asses out of their heads.” You reach into a pocket, retrieving the map you had torn from the campus grounds so far away now. Well, that Joel had torn from the remnants of their lab. He had told you that nearly everything had been destroyed, no telling how long since they had packed up and moved on. But he had found a scrunched up map, a trail outlined to here.  

Her mouth is a thin line as she regards you, her plush lips taut as she mulls over the recollection and sees evidence that her people weren’t as thorough as she had intended for them to be. Her eyes cut up at you, meeting your own and her next words are a statement, not a question. “You’ve been travelling with him.”

“For a little while, we parted ways in Kansas City. The city was in the middle of an insane civil war once FEDRA was taken out. A hoard took over, from the underground tunnels when someone made the stupid decision to open fire on a crashed vehicle. We got separated.”

“And the girl?”

“Regular infection. From the chaos of getting away from the hoard.” You nodded your affirmation, you recalled the panic in her eyes. The weight of her as you tried to carry her out of that insanity, the pain of your broken arm. The desperation and heartbreak that turning off of the blocked freeway instead of backtracking had ended in. It could’ve been worse, it could’ve ended up the way you’re spinning the facts, an exaggeration of what actually happened.

But there was truth to your words. Ellie had indeed lost something that night, it just hadn’t been her life. It had been her hope in finding a cure, when her blood hadn’t worked on Sam. It was the beginning of her realizing the pedestal Marlene had placed her on with ill intentions.

“She’s dead.” It wasn’t a question. Just like you weren’t asking for her forgiveness for the loss of the young girl and acceptance for your sudden appearance. Your working relationship had always been just that, business. Straight to the point and no nonsense.

“Didn’t survive the infection she got. From trying to save a kid younger than her. Got bit, got clawed. Didn’t turn, but it took her down all the same.”

Marlene sees the challenge in your eyes, the truth of what you know she had been hiding from everyone involved in the convoy. The very reason Ellie had grappled with the meaning of her life for the past six months. The reason she had been so conflicted over whether or not to meet up with the woman before you as you finally caught wind of her whereabouts.

“I see.” Hands that are clasped in front of her go to her hips, a stance you know conveys the way her mind is working to process the false information you’ve brought her. “Well, come on. Let’s get you looked at a little closer. I see that nasty scar on your arm, bone broke through I’m assuming?”

“Yeah, happened in Kansas City. Did what I could for it too, hurt like a bitch when it was healing, it nearly took me out too.”

“Must’ve been rough, dealing with it all alone.”

“Hunkered down for the winter, found a cabin in a state park somewhere in between here and there.”

It’s nerve wracking, not being able to turn your head and see the form of Joel. Hovering on the outside of your eyesight, his presence something you were so used to even in the time you had spent apart. A time you hadn’t wanted to repeat in such extreme parameters. But the situation was dire, Ellie’s well-being at stake. The threat of someone looking for her, tearing apart earth and ash for her blood if they even suspected she was alive. If Joel so much was glimpsed himself, Marlene would make you both recount your stories over and over again, to find the flaws, to find the lies she would suspect were there.

The “doctor” that looked you over was nice enough. But he lacked cognitive skills, the ability to read someone the second he came in contact with them.

Jerry Anderson.

His only credentials happened to be a bachelor’s degree in science, yet he called himself a trained surgeon. Which makes sense to an extent, he worked alongside Marlene and the Fireflies. Tended to them, took care of them medically, he had on the job training. But to say that he was their best, that he was the one leading the research team trying to concoct a cure?

That was absolutely absurd.

You knew more than him, something he was quick to gauge. Asking after your own schooling, stating you were too young to have a degree, too young to have the knowledge he had.

“Doesn’t matter if you think I’m as skilled as you. I’ve got my EMT and Paramedic certifications while in high school, used them to get the upper hand at my own university, and managed to get an associates in two years. Medical anthropology. Granted its not science proper, but it’s still in the medical field.” You crossed your arms, not willing to be talked down to by the man currently looking over the chart he had filled out during your physical, it was paired with the diagram of injuries Marlene’s soldiers had asked of you when confronted outside the building before being let inside.

“I just don’t understand why Marlene thinks I need your assistance, you said it yourself that you didn’t want to stay too long.” The man is stocky, even as he stands at his full height and leans against a small desk he’s got set up in what had once been an administration office. The medical bay is just beyond the door, the rooms shoddy but clean enough to treat and house people. They’re using the hospital as their ground zero, their home base.

“I’m helping her to fine tune her set up, that’s all. She knows I worked under FEDRA in the Boston QZ, even if it was all just to stay alive and hide my own smuggling. But they paired me with a trained ER physician, and he taught me everything he knew.”

“Still doesn’t equate to a higher degree.”

“No, but it does give me a better understanding of modern day solutions rather than dated procedures we’re unable to conduct anymore. Sparse or surging power, outages, lack of equipment, lack of relevant medication, different ways of sterilizing tools and bandages. All of that is adaptive, regardless of proper education on the matter.”

“She wants you to go over my notes, the ones I had for the girl.” He levels you with a harsh look, eyes narrowing as he catches your own fiery ones. “But it doesn’t matter if she’s not alive, right?”

“Might not, in terms of immediate experimentation. But perhaps she wants a second opinion on the logistics of what she’s trying to do.”

“Cordyceps infects the brain, takes over. We both know that. That’s why the girl would’ve been on the table as soon as she was delivered. To ensure it could be looked at and studied. The way her brain connected with the infection instead of succumbing to it.”

“Seems like a waste of a human life if you got your way. How would you like it if someone wanted to cut your kid open and take their brain on the off chance it could tell you something more than just testing their blood and live responses? It’d feel pretty shitty, wouldn’t it?”

“How do you know I have a kid?” The man’s eyes narrow at you, color rising from the collar of his shirt to show the affect you were having on him. Calm and collected he was not, but you knew that the second he had refused to shake your hand when first meeting, even with Marlene standing beside him.

“I didn’t, not until you confirmed it. But you don’t act like it. Bringing her into the mess of the Fireflies, of having her housed her in the middle of Infected city, protected and patrolled even as it is.”

“And what do you know about being a good parent? Marlene says you’ve been alone for as long as she’s known you. No family, no friends, just parasocial relationships that depend completely on your skill set and what you smuggled into the zone for trade.”

“Mr. Anderson, there’s no need to insult me. I’m simply having a conversation with you, truly. I’m not the one tearing apart your every word, you’re the own who seems pretty self-righteous. But you have to admit, studying someone who is immune, that would surely give you more data than just immediately cutting out the part of them that houses the cordyceps?” You try to appease him, to appeal to the way he seems to want to be talked up and not talked with, switching from outright denying his plan of action to merely suggesting he could learn more than anyone else knows about the infection instead.

“I suppose it would, but simply running tests and gathering data wouldn’t make the cure. That could only be made from the fluids housed in the brain, the part of the body that is working in tandem with the infection.” He heaves a deep sigh, rubbing at his eyes as he thinks over your words. “Marlene wants a cure, the sooner the better. And then some semblance of normalcy can begin to be restored.”

“Do you really think Marlene has the resources and authority to distribute a cure on a scale large enough to make a difference? That she’s not going to use it as leverage in her challenge to whatever is left of FEDRA and their governing forces?”

“Are you questioning her intentions?” He freezes, eyes jumping to the window pane in the cracked open door. That alone tells you he’s thought the same before, but perhaps not dared to voice it lest it get to the wrong person. That he doesn’t want to be associated with the thought.

“I’m questioning the effectiveness of a farfetched cure for something that left humanity to its own devices for far too long. Do you realize that it won’t be able to undo the sheer lawlessness nature that’s taken over the world? Not to mention the adaptability and incredible evolutionary advantage the mycelium has over us? It’s older than most life itself and you think we have the ability to combat it on such a large scale so long after it’s ruined everything we’ve created as a society?”

The man is quiet, taking your words and mulling them over. You can see the shift in his shoulders, tension easing and then building taut again. He gestures to the notebooks and textbooks scattered over the surface of his desk, and you see a small photo peeking out from beneath a chart.

“I have to try, for my daughter. She deserves a better world than this.”

“To save your own daughter, you’d willingly kill another’s?”

“It’s a means to an end, one loss for the survival of many.”

“And that’s exactly what I’m talking about- the life of one that needn’t die doesn’t justify the small possibility of creating a cure.” You’re shuffling through the faded and water spotted pages, trying to see the man who in the words transcribed there and compare them to the one standing across from you and preaching his knowledge as something that could change the world. But he was a man of science once upon a time, that shows in his words that you skim over. But when you look back up at him, he’s not the one you see before you.

You see a man willing to do whatever it takes to save his family and while you understand that, have done just so to ensure the safety of your own people- it’s a vastly different scenario that you don’t want any part of.

“I just don’t want you or your daughter to end up dying for a future that’s impossible.” And with that you push away from his desk and walk past him. You can only hope that your words made him see things a little differently. Otherwise, it would be his demise, it would be his daughter’s. Both susceptible to the manipulation of Marlene and the Fireflies, at the whim of those who couldn’t be trusted. “You’re a man of science, see the truth to what can’t be and what is.”

You eat in the cafeteria with everyone else, the twenty or so people that are left of the faction. Military freeze-dried food is all they have left, but it’s crates and crates piled up in the kitchen. The power working off a generator they’ve rigged up. But there’s no tour for you, you don’t pass the security check to warrant one.

You can feel eyes on you as you insist on making your own pack, on boiling your own water and supervising each step of the food you’re about to consume. You aren’t taking any chances with them, not ever again. You had been trusting once, had fallen into the trap of hospitality and false narratives before. But not this time and not ever again. Maria had seen in it you, when you refused to eat the food placed in front of you in the mess hall back in Jackson.

They leave you be, for the most part. Attention half on them surrounding you in their own little pairs and trios, half of Jerry’s notebook open in front of you. The textbook he references multiple times beside it. A low hum of conversation permeates the air, and you know you’re presence is a part of it.

But you focus now, on the words in front of you. The notes a man who has given his life and skills to Marlene deems important enough to write down.

And it’s all utter nonsense.

Regardless, Marlene would never stop looking for Ellie. For her replacement.

You’re unsure exactly how Ellie gained her immunity, but you know it can’t be replicated without grand risks of not only being Infected yourself but your morality.

It’s dark by the time you seek her out, her room one of the many used as personal quarters in an upper floor. Her room is the only one occupied at the end of a hallway. Armed men at the front of it and surely one at the bottom of the stairwell for the floor just beyond the doors that lead to it.

“What questions do you have?”

She knew you were approaching, and her stance tells you as much.

She’s not allowing you into the room, but greeted you at the doorway. Left open just a smidge.

“The immunity. Depending on how it’s gained, would affect the research.” You try not to cross your arms but you regard the notes you’ve taken in your own small, palm sized journal. “If it’s gained as a child, it would explain the symbiosis between the brain and the mycelium. It could be entirely dumb luck, the timing of the bite, the type of blood someone has, their immune system, bloodlines, potential exposure to the mycelium in a different setting and an almost…”

“The girl, she was born with the immunity.” Seeing that you need some sort of answer or confirmation, the reasoning being Ellie’s immunity only one you had theorized about. Staying up many nights when you first met her and you spied the scarring along her forearm. She hadn’t needed to tell you she was immune, you had dealt with enough bites in the QZ infirmary to know. That she was alive, that she was her own person and seemingly healthy- it may not mean a cure is possible but it meant that adaptation was possible. Even on such a small scale as to affect one, very important person.

“There’s no way. If the mother had been bitten, the infection would’ve changed the baby too.”

The thought of being clawed open from the inside out terrifies you, it steals the next question from your mind as you picture a woman who looks faintly like Ellie holding tight to a swollen belly and tending to an angry wound rung in teeth marks.

“Amnio fluid is a miracle worker, but it’s not able to cure something like this.”

“Tell that to my dead friend. To the baby I had to protect.”

“Marlene…”

Suddenly shifting, her arms uncross and land on her hips. If you weren’t on immediate alert for the change in her demeanor, you would laugh at the comparison of Joel doing the same stance so often.

“Had some men come back from a trip to the old sight, they had left weeks ago.” Marlene keeps her voice even, but you already know. The web of lies you concocted; they’ve been spun around the end of a broom. The bristles of it catching your silk and turning it into an ugly failure.

“Seems that a settlement had quite the run in with a man matching Joel’s description and a young girl he was traveling with.” The muscles in her arm give her away and you take a few steps back only to feel a sting in the soft part of your shoulder. Looking down, all you see is the butt end of a dart sticking through your shirt. “They also said there was a woman with red hair. Scared the hell out of them as she tore the place apart.”

The lines of the tile and the marking along the walls drip, whatever was in the dart steals your center of gravity and you’re suddenly landing harshly on your knees. The metallic snap of handcuffs around your wrists has you struggling to hold your head up and meet Marlene’s glare.

“You fucking lied to me.”

“Want to fess up and tell me where they’re hiding? I’ll send every person I have at my disposal, Ellie is key to the cure. You have no fucking idea what you’re messing with.” Marlene is standing in front of you, your body sore and muscles twitching as the contents of the dart wear off. The door slams behind her, lock engaging.

“I took out a fucking bear and you think you’re gonna be the thing that traps me? You have no idea what it’s taken to get this far! You think you had a rough go of it, with your crew protecting you and your fucking vehicles? Your military meals and your steady supply of fresh water? You may have been strong once. Hell, you may have been the one to bring hope to people but right now you’re nothing more than a body in my way.” Struggling to stand, as if you’re a newborn foal, Marlen doesn’t bother to stop you or force you back down. She’s reading the weakness you’re displaying and it’s going to be her downfall.

The cuffs are tight, wrists sore and red even with how you had tried to avoid the irritation. But hours had gone by, it was surely well into the night if not the next day now. You wondered if Joel had grown worried, if he had left the post even with your plea to stay put, the last words you spoke with him.

“You’d rather risk your life out there than lend us a hand here? You’re more delusional than I thought, you have nothing to go back to. The QZ is a fucking mess, even worse than when we left. It’s only a matter of time before it falls like so many others before it. You have nothing, your life will have no meaning if you have to fight to survive everyday in endless travel.” Her anger flares, breaking her cool demeanor and showing you a glimpse of the woman she really is.

“I have my integrity.” You spit at her, crouching down to contort yourself easily. Not at all the shaking mess of limbs you had just been moments ago. Shoulders protesting the movement, you’re able to step over the links of the cuffs. With them now in front, you stalk toward her with intent. “I refuse to be a pawn in your ill-conceived endeavor. I refuse to be a part of your plan to kill innocent people on the off chance that your ignorant doctor can actually make something with deadly fluids and decaying brain matter.”

She doesn’t seem to realize that you aren’t going to hurt her, that your intention isn’t to get your hands on her. You want to rattle her, to scare her. To make her see that the way she’s going about keeping you here, forcing you to work with her, for her is never going to work. Her arms come up, one to ward you off from coming any closer while the other goes to the handle of her gun.

But you don’t want the gun and you don’t want her. You shove at her with your shoulder, feet quick after those first few slow steps across the room. The keys skid across the floor when she lands, the clasp keeping them secured to her beltloop breaking from the force. Swiping the belt of grenades you had found in the room earlier, you scoop them up and are out the door just as two shots break the glass panel. Cursing, you pull the door open and slam it shut behind you, the lock automatically engaging.

You wave at her through the crackled glass before running off down the hall before her men can close in.

She needed you, your knowledge, your skill set, your determination. She needed you to find Ellie, the girl she claims to have raised in honor of her friend, only to turn back on that promise and take her life. But  you had other people who wanted you. And after being alone for so long, that’s all that mattered. They are the only ones that mattered and you’d be damned if someone tried to keep you from returning to them. You would do anything to protect them, even take out an entire faction of self-righteous mercenaries.

Joel and Ellie both jump when the explosion echoes out, the plume of smoke that billows up into the morning sky as the smell of ash permeates the air. Even as far away as they are, deep suburbs of that surround the city, almost on the cusp of total wilderness they’re witness to it all. One of the tall buildings crashes loudly, the bottom floors caving in and it collapses in on itself. They can only assume it was the hospital that was marked on the map Joel had found but given over to you for your solo excursion into the depts of the city.

Brow furrowing, Joel watched as a wave of birds take to the air and flee, his attention focused on the erratic way they scatter in an attempt to escape the dark smoke pluming up endlessly. Movement out of the corner of his eye has him aiming the shotgun in his arms towards the source, but it’s too late. There’s a man and a young girl facing him, a gun aimed at him as Ellie scrambles to hide behind his frame.

They’re a mirror image of each other. A man shielding a young girl behind them with a gun cocked and ready to fire. But Joel can see the panic and hesitation in the man’s eyes, in his stance. He knows with just a glance that the man has been protected, has had people doing the shooting for him, keeping him safe, keeping him alive.

Ellie’s hand reached for the back of his jacket, gripping tight but he doesn’t dare take his eyes off the pair in front of him. But the man does, his glance behind him, landing on Ellie before he lowers his gun.

The girl behind him clings to him much the same way as Ellie does to Joel, even as the man holds his arms up gun above his head. It’s quiet in the street as he begins to slowly step back, making space between them. He sees Joel tense, the metal of the gun creaking in his grip as he keeps it aimed at the moving man.

They don’t exchange any words as they pivot, always facing each other even as the distance grows longer. Once they’re at the opposite end of the street, the man turns around an overgrown hedge that’s swallowed a picket fence lining the corner house and then they’re gone.

Neither of them knows what to say, the explosion and the pair of them too unique a set of events in your absence. Joel feels his stomach lurch at the thought of you being either trapped by Marlene or being in the vicinity of the explosion. His mind plays memories of each of your injuries:

The fall that you had taken in your haste to get them to safety after the explosion that started this whole journey, the way your head had bounced on the broken asphalt in a way that throbbed atop his head now. Forehead lighting up where his own injury scars the skin.

The way your voice echoed as a guttural, animalistic scream tore through your chest. Up in that house and too far away to do anything to help, the sight of you holding your arm tight to your chest, white bone peeking out from the fabric of your shirt and the bloody mess of your exposed skin.

The roars of an angry bear as it barrels towards him, Ellie tripping and you shoving her into his arms. The sight of you standing up to the great creature despite fighting off an infection.

The crack of ice that plunged you deep into freezing water, a man tangled with you as he tried to end your life. Joel frantically fighting off the last of their group and jumping in after you. The way it took forever to get you to wake up, your lips ice cold and your body shivering fiercely.

The way your voice was hoarse as you shouted out threats an swinging your machete at anything that came within five feet of you. Blood and spittle flying off of you with every move to stain the snow around you. The crazed and unhinged look in your eye when you finally honed in on him, his own state not the best.

No.

He dares to clench his eyes shut for a second and takes a deep breath, centering himself and forcing the thoughts back.

And then his memory plays each time your eyes found his after everything calmed down, how you would reach for him with such small, strong, capable hands. Time and time again, even after he failed time and time again to keep you safe.

That explosion was because of you, not something you would fall victim to. He believed that with everything in his soul.

He was still watching the far end of the street when the distant sound of tires squealing as they pivot meets his ears. The sound so rare now paired with the rev of an engine. And then he sees it, turning toward the other end of the street. A dark SUV, headlights off and windows down, with you in the driver’s seat.

The vehicle stops a few feet away, closer to the other curb lining the street. Despite the blood that stains your exposed arms and the dirt marring your face, your smile makes his heart skip a beat. You look beautiful and his chest swells with warmth where it had just been anxiety, your presence melting it away.

“Need a ride?”

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[wrongcaitlyn]

wrongcaitlyn 2024 fic recs masterlist

SO. i always like to keep track of how many fics i read throughout the year, and in 2024 i read about 28.3 million words of fanfic. i know. i don't have a life. most fics read were in july (4.4m words) and least fics read were in september (797k words). BUT throughout those 28.3m words i do think i found some incredible fics throughout the year, which i bookmark as recs to reread :) because of this, i thought i'd do a little ao3 wrapped sort of thing and share all of my bookmarked fics this year as recs!! i read pretty much all kinds of fics so please check tags/warnings/ratings if you choose to read them

and, as it's a new year, i'm also always constantly bookmarking more recs. if you wanna check those out they're on my ao3! i highly recommend reading every single fic there bc they're all incredible <33

this is going to be long, so i decided to split it up by fandom - and all of these lists are ordered by the date i read them, not any specific ranking or anything. gonna include the date bookmarked, ship (if there is one), ch count and word count bc,,, yeah these are going to be very varied!!

fandoms included:

percy jackson - 21 fics (jan 6 - nov 5) tsoa/the iliad - 7 fics (jan 26 - oct 18) miraculous ladybug - 2 fics (feb 19 - feb 23) harry potter - 6 fics (june 30 - july 8) the secret history - 1 fic (oct 4) arcane - 18 fics (nov 13 - dec 31) + 2 honorable mentions

PERCY JACKSON - aka, the main hyperfixation

The Request Revolution by tiredpjofan - 1/6/2024, gen, 3 ch, 4.8k

Percy sees that some of the newer campers don't feel 100% comfortable with requesting stuff from their godly parents, so he decides to rectify that the only way he knows how -- dramatically. i know this one is insanely popular but i only got around to reading it this year, and!! genuinely just a funny, fluffy piece that makes me happy :))

whoopsie daisy! by buoyantsaturn - 1/21/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 3.2k

Will almost missed the way Tartarus had dulled his senses, distracting him from his own pain and preventing him from knowing the full extent of Nico’s.  angst. i love angst. i vividly remember reading this at like 2 am and then bookmarking it and then reading it again in the morning and having to re-experience the pain

long story short by takeimi - 2/25/2024, percabeth, one-shot, 4.5k

percy starts a youtube vlog channel and raises one too many questions. i mean it's a socmed fame au need i say anything more

i'm put in awe (of something so flawed and free) by CordeliaRose - 3/2/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 15.9k

Right. Well. Nico squares his shoulders, reminds himself that nobody’s perfect and this guy has to be ugly, and knocks on the door. He is met with a Greek God, and forgets how to function. AKA: the archaeologist!Nico & trauma surgeon!Will AU. i already included this (and probably a few other fics i'm gonna mention) in my solangelo fic recs list, so i'm not gonna say that much but just know i prob reread this like 4 times already it's so <33 AND IT HAS A SEQUEL NOW

paper/plastic by Rosyredlipstick - 3/10/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 14.2k

When Nico di Angelo's favorite, most dependable gas station for midnight snacks etcetera is shut down due to some incredibly far-fetched and completely unnecessary health code violations, he's forced to start going to the sister franchise down the street, where a certain blond clerk seems to always be working (like, almost in an unhealthy way). Also, on a definitely unrelated note, Nico now volunteers to do any & all gas station convenience store runs. Leo — stop laughing. i'm also 99% sure i read this before 2024 and then lost it and found it again, BUT I LOVE THIS ONE SO MUCH IT'S SO SWEET AND AGHSDF love background lost trio, their dynamics are so perfect

a letter to the moon (it is not brighter than you) by theroyalsavage - 3/12/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 7.1k

When his kingdom is plagued by a series of unsolvable murders, Prince Will Solace must confront several things: tragedy, helplessness, and the dizzy-sweet inevitability of falling in love. just solangelo medieval au that's absolutely perfect

I Need a Hero by theroyalsavage - 3/12/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 3.8k

The "Nico is a superhero, Will is a med student" AU nobody asked for or wanted. SUPERHERO AU HELL YES!!! no srsly the way this author writes their dynamic i'm in love <33 (also yes both this and the previous one were written ages ago, okay i was catching up on solangelo fics i missed from being late to the fandomJSDF

Solar Powered by Caora - 3/19/2024, apollo/naomi but also gen, one-shot, 14.8k

Apollo, god of music, was how he had introduced himself. Naomi had assumed he was joking, and he didn't correct her. She had dated musicians and poets before. They all had an ego, and those same words would not have felt out of place from either of her exes. She merely downgraded Apollo from potential boyfriend to potential fling, and didn't think twice about it. Now though…. Now her son could heal wounds with a single touch, and her world was tipping on its axis. this is actually canon to me now. i love naomi solace so much. THIS IS CANON TO ME. also just so beautifully written <33

la vita è fatta così by HowlingAlchemist - 3/19/2024, solangelo, 25 ch, 109.4k

When Bianca somehow comes back from the dead, she, Nico and Will are sent on a quest that will hopefully answer some lingering questions. But Nico and Bianca are not the kids that they once were, and things get very difficult as a result. i love fics that straight up feel like they could be their own books and this is one of them. so well-written and the angst!!!! i died but i was happy about it

hold me, thrill me, kiss me by restinreeses - 3/29/2024, valgrace, one-shot, 3.5k

“You love me,” Leo declares, his smirk widening with every passing second. “You, the great Jason Grace, love me.” He fumbles for his words, but they melt in his mouth as Leo's hands snaked up the small of his back – those delicate fingers tracing patterns into his skin that burnt worse than his SPQR tattoo. “I wouldn’t call myself great,” he mutters at last. Leo leans in, raising one thick eyebrow. “I dunno,” he says, “I’d say you’re pretty great.” His lips brush over Jason's, once, twice. “You know. For loving me.” me being briefly obsessed with valgrace and this was definitely part of the reason this fic was so <33 i love them so much and this fic was incredibly written

but we were in screaming color by tunacucumber - 4/2/2024, valgrace, one-shot, 3.2k

It feels inevitable, somehow, when he grabs Jason by the collar of his shirt and tugs him forward. it starts with a ridiculous heatwave. starting off with an incredible title, but AHHSHDFHSD THE VALGRACE DYNAMIC IS JUST PERFECT

Champion by TsarinaTorment - 4/5/2024, gen, one-shot, 1.3k

She always said she was going to make it to the Olympics, and aged eighteen, it finally happened. yall already know how much i love their fics and the kayla centric of it all!!!! THIS IS CANON TO ME ITS LITERALLY PERFECT.

Blood-Soaked Flowers by TsarinaTorment - 4/8/2024, gen, one-shot, 4.8k

Will knows what’s wrong with him. He just doesn’t know why. another one of TsarinaTorment's ToApril fics and god. this one made me so. i can't even. like i still remember reading this for the first time the twist made my heart WRENCH platonic angst will be the death of me

apple cider and freezer burn by yrbeecharmer - 4/10/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 2.4k

“Somebody pissed off McCaffrey,” Cecil says miserably from the Iris message flickering in midair, in the middle of Nico’s cabin, at two in the morning on a godsdamn Thursday. “So she sent, like, a dozen karpoi to surprise attack us in the middle of the night. We’ve been trying to get rid of them, but they just keep respawning. Can you come poke them with your magic sword?” Nico stares at him. “No.” “Oh, come on! Why not?” “It’s two in the morning! I was sleeping!” i just love general camp shenanigans and this one was SO PERFECT

And I Miss My Lover, Man by MaryaDmitrievnaLikesSundays - 4/17/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 3.6k

In a single well-aimed strike, Nico knocked Riptide out of Percy’s hand and sent it skittering into the forest. Before Percy could react, Nico shoved him down, and stood over him, about to claim victory. And that was when the world shattered. His entire chest suddenly felt like it was being fractured, torn apart bit by bit. He felt a soul leave a body, alone and in pain and miles from home. He saw, in a hazy mental image, someone else’s last view of the sky overhead, and then silence. pure angst. proceed with caution and read warnings. this broke me at like 2 am in the morning

i do adore by rabbit_soup - 5/1/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 1.8k

“I appreciate it,” he said. “I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t…okay for a while. I’m definitely still not.” “Look who you’re talkin’ to,” Will said with a smile. Nico snorted, “Yeah, that’s true. You are feeling better, yeah?” Will detangled himself from Nico, rolling up his sleeves. The Empousa injuries had since faded in the past month. Now, they were nothing more than thick white scratches, and even those were fading by the day. this entire series is just so wonderful and so sweet and i love these boys so much omfgjsdfj they deserve everything :(((

my home wears your face by solisaureus - 5/29/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 9.8k

Three years after being dumped by Will Solace, Nico pushes himself too far with shadow travel again. Unfortunately, the only person on Earth who knows how to treat advanced shadow sickness happens to be his ex-boyfriend. THE EMOTIONS I FELT READING THIS AT LIKE 9 IN THE MORNING RIGHT WHEN I WOKE UP I LITERALLY DIED. like seriously this fic is so insanely good. omfg. please. please go read rn. i can't even it was so sweet but also heartbreaking but hopeful and the solangelo dynamic was just absolutely perfect

the first lovers in the world by rottenpomegranate - 9/15/2024, solangelo, one-shot, 6k

Their relationship changes, from the way it was when they were fourteen, clammy hands and shy smiles, to how it is when they're nearing the edge of adulthood, working together to figure out what to do with all this love they hold. just the most gorgeous and perfectly written solangelo coming of age fic, i love them

Son of Sea Foam by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle - 10/20/2024, castor/percy, 12 ch, 196.4k

AU where Percy has to hide the fact he's a Big Three kid otherwise he'll be killed on the spot. Unfortunately for him, unclaimed kids tend to raise the most suspicion... but he might have found a loophole in the form of Aphrodite. okay yea this one just left me reeling for days. weeks even. this is a total rewrite of what pjo could have been and though i may have questioned it going into it, i should have never doubted any bit of this- this is just a masterpiece of writing, like, seriously. the way that all of the character arcs were written, the deaths meaningful, the plot insanely well-thought out?? i am in awe. i read this and the sequel within a 6 hour car drive bc i was just so insanely hooked on every detail of this universe- seriously, the worldbuilding was insane, the oc's so perfectly intertwined, and the lore perfectly incorporated. SERIOUSLY if you want a pjo fic to completely alter your brain chemistry, this is the one.

Set in Stone by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle - 10/24/2024, gen, 7 ch, 38.2k

Medusa’s sculptures are mysteriously coming back to life. Percy doesn’t think murder is an unreasonable action given the circumstances. THIS WAS SO PERFECT. it was so hilarious while at the same time keeping a serious tone, but the banter and the dialogue and everything just made it such an enjoyable read (oh, and the ending. the ending is perfect.)

say you want a hero (you don't) by pjowithbluecookies - 11/5/2024, percabeth/gen, HP CROSSOVER, 12 ch, 4k

Narcissa Malfoy will do whatever it takes to save her son, and if that meant blackmailing demigods into saving the world again, then so be it. wasn't sure whether to include this in pjo or hp but so far the characters have been mainly pjo centric so i'd say that. and like. i know this was last updated in sep 2023 but god is the premise so insanely good. im so invested in the plot even tho it was only 12k words and unfinished. went through a brief phase of looking for good quality pjo/hp crossovers and this one just holds so much promise

THE SONG OF ACHILLES/THE ILIAD - aka, the one that pops up every few months

Sunset in Your Veins by Baejax - 1/26/2024, patrochilles, 24 ch, 100.4k

Achilles recognizes Tartarus when he sees it, dark, and gray, and ugly and freezing. Pat cannot explain why he brought home the lunatic who stole a dog and burst into the veterinarian office where he works. The man can't even speak English. This is a disaster. im almost 100% sure that i read this in 2023 and then i lost it and then i found it again, reread it, and bookmarked it, and then reread it again some other time this year, which just goes to show how much i love this fic. like. damn just thinking abt it i should read it again. absolutely incredible

Our numbered days by Baejax - 4/15/2024, patrochilles, 2 ch, 10.1k

It's their senior year of college, Patroclus has his first serious girlfriend, and Achilles is happy for him. Really. something about this made me want to cry so bad like the angst was just. god. but it was also so absolutely wonderful at the end and made me want to scream with joy. idk dude the emotions this made me feel in just 10k words was insane

Death and Fate by Baejax - 8/10/2024, patrochilles, series of 21 works, 444.5k

[Series summary] In every universe... I will have them divorce and then get back together. so i think the proper name for this fandom's section is actually just me being obsessed with everything Baejax writes. bc like. seriously go read every fic here. absolutely insane quality. this is basically just a collection of patrochilles au's and they're all incredible !!!!

The Spindle by AMBlue - 9/24/2024, patrochilles, 5 ch, 26.9k

After Patroclus’ death, Achilles begs for the chance to change the past. His wish is granted, but he finds himself trapped repeating the same day over and over as he tries and fails to save his beloved. Character death but I swear this is a fix-it fic with a happy ending. HELL YEAH THE ILIAD FIX IT FIC

Sweet Victory by Baejax - 9/29/2024, patrochilles, 9 ch, 21k

Achilles and Patroclus are just friends, friends who are now roommates since they've started university and who just happen to make out with each other on the regular, but that's just their own weird friend thing that no one else needs to know about. It's not a big deal. Right? this was absolutely hilarious. they own the idiots to lovers tag

you're a walking disaster, and yet- by Johaerys - 10/6/2024, patrochilles, 23 ch, 148.2k

"You'll meet my son, Achilles, soon," Mr Pelides told Patroclus on their drive there. "You two will get along just fine. He's as wild as they come, though." The indulgent pride with which he said the words made them sound almost like a compliment. "Don’t let him talk you into anything." Patroclus blushed as he swore, with strong conviction, that he would absolutely not do that. No sir. He knows better than that. modern patrochilles friends to lovers done perfectly, this was just an insanely good read

Twin Flames by Johaerys - 10/18/2024, patrochilles, 12 ch, 70.1k

Achilles is the young Prince of Phthia, Patroclus is his squire, in a story where they come together, come apart, then find each other all over again. THIS FIC. THIS FIC. OMFGJSDFJSDF THE MEDIEVAL AU I NEEDED THIS WAS ABSOLUTE PERFECTION. their pining throughout all of this made my heart ache but it was all so worth it this is perfect

MIRACULOUS LADYBUG - aka, the hyperfixation from four years ago that randomly showed up for a few weeks

The Great Banana Search by walkingonthestars - 2/19/2024, gen, 3 ch, 10.6k

A small, careless move by Hawk Moth exposes his identity to a citizen of Paris. But this citizen has a secret identity of their own, and that makes finding them and taking care of the situation a rather slippery pursuit. Basically, Mr. Banana sees Hawk Moth detransform, and Gabriel and Nathalie work to find out who's behind the banana suit so they can shut him up before he talks. As Gabriel fears that the person in the peel was none other than Cat Noir himself, he also notices that Adrien seems to upset and hiding something. i have no idea what possessed me to read mlb fanfic in the year 2025. i haven't watched the show since quarantine. but god is this probably the funniest fucking fic i've read all year. i was in tears laughing at 3 am. PLEASE READ.

Imbalance by thelibraryloser - 2/23/2024, marichat, 16 ch, 42.4k

Chat Noir is fighting evil all on his own, not aware he’s supposed to be half of a whole. Hawkmoth is desperate to get his hands on the Black Cat and Ladybug Miraculous, knowing that if he causes enough destruction the world will demand balance and the Ladybug will have to appear. And when she does, she's not what anyone expected. Chat thought having a partner would feel different- maybe like how he feels talking to the girl on the balcony. again, i really don't know why i was in a brief mlb phase, but i was- and this was just so well-written and beautiful <33 i was scouring ao3 for interesting au's and im a sucker for marichat so this was perfect

HARRY POTTER aka, the hyperfixation that came out of nowhere during the summer and proceeded to flip my world upside down with the fics i read during this phase

Dog's Best Friend by Ray_Writes - 6/30/2024, gen, 6 ch, 16.3k

When Rubeus Hagrid is placed in the cell next to notorious murderer Sirius Black, truths are revealed and events are changed. man i just love a good fix-it. this felt so realistic and just made me so happy. i don't know why i was reading harry potter that wasn't marauders this year but for some reason i was and this was wonderful

Disrespect Authority by Ray_Writes - 7/1/2024, hinny, 17 ch, 122.9k

Harry chooses to confide in Ginny about his miserable Occlumency lessons, not realizing the youngest Weasley might just have a thing or two to say about someone poking around his head when he doesn’t want it. Together, they hatch a plan to get him out of the lessons that has a variety of unintended consequences: an opening for Dolores Umbridge to tighten her hold over the castle, a clue to set the last true Marauders on the trail of Voldemort’s secrets, and a beginning of something more between Harry and Ginny themselves. some wrongcaitlyn lore for y'all, my very first fic that i read was hinny. my very first several fics. i know im such a bore for having the main canon ship be what introduced me to fandom but it turns out i still have such a soft spot for them and this fic is way better than canon was so i'm just going to pretend that it is canon bc any way to ignore what j*r wrote is great. anyway this is ootp canon for me now

This Is Just What Human Means (For Me) by WoodenSuitcase - 7/1/2024, gen, one-shot, 6.8k

Out of the family, only Bill knew Charlie was aroace. It wasn't that Charlie didn't want to tell the others – he just never seemed to find the right moment for it! When the perfect opportunity arose in the form of a Christmas visit to the Burrow, Charlie made it his mission to finally come out. As it turns out, things never go as smoothly as one intends, even with his older brother by his side. aroace charlie my beloved <33 went through a brief obsession with him and honestly all of the weasleys throughout this time period (and like seriously. i just went from one weasley family member to the next idk why) but this was so sweet

Ben Folds's Series by orphan_account - 7/5/2024, perciver, series of three fics, 37.8k

[summary from the first fic of the series] Wherein book 7 is completely ignored because wars don't tend to happen so quickly; Percy Weasley runs a safehouse [because that's as close to administrative work as you can get in a war], and everyone gets a chance to play minor character bingo. Get your cards and markers ready! the way this author wrote perciver... god this was just perfect like seriously. if you want to start reading this ship PLEASE read this one

James Potter, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, (pause for breath) and the Prisoner of Azkaban by gonzoclock - 7/6/2024, wolfstar/gen, 17 ch, 32.7k

At the end of first year, Harry pocketed the Philosopher's Stone- in a secret pocket that everyone else missed. Now, two years later, Harry is in his third year, his friends are having the time of their lives in Hogsmeade, there's an escaped mass murderer running around, and Harry is going stir-crazy. Fortunately, the twins have a solution! Although- they're going to need something in return, and it needs to be good. Good thing Harry kept that Stone, huh? And then things go completely bat-shit crazy. (featuring the Marauders vs 1993, an exhausted Professor Lupin, a bewildered Harry Potter, and an opportunistic Hermione Granger) pure crack. i love it.

The Second String by Eider_Down - 7/8/2024, harry/gideon, 45 ch, 409.8k

Everyone knows Dementors can take souls, but nothing says that they have to keep them. After the Dementor attack in Little Whinging ends disastrously, Harry must find a place for himself in a new world, fighting a different sort of war against the nascent Voldemort. *deep breath in* okay. okay hear me out. okay listen please. like seriously. this may just be the best fic i read all year. AND I PUT SERIOUS WEIGHT IN THAT. AND I REALLY CAN'T BELIEVE IM SAYING IT ABOUT AN HP FIC. BUT LIKE. IM BEING SO FR RIGHT NOW. the way that this fic literally altered my brain chemistry and left me in shambles. the amount of detail that went into the plot and the lore. i could read another 400k words of this universe and it still wouldn't be enough. the author is literally so crazily talented they made me ship harry potter x gideon prewett (no weird age gap going on trust me, there's a lot of time travel stuff going on- they are around the same age biologically and mentally). like seriously if i had to recommend one fic from this year it would be this. which is insane to say. but i cannot understate how incredible this work of fanfiction is like genuinely, i hope that this author is out there writing incredible original works because they integrated oc's into the plot so seamlessly, made these incredible relationships and orchestrated the plot so perfectly that i was just completely immersed. i could go on for way longer but like. all i could think when finishing this was woah. holy fucking shit. idk if i'll ever read a fic as insane as that again.

THE SECRET HISTORY aka, i read the book and needed more

No Room For the Present by lessnearthesun - 10/4/2024, francis/richard, 3 ch, 65.9k

Post-canon, Richard and Francis, and all that comes after. A drama in three parts. no seriously this reads perfectly as a continuation of the book. like it's genuinely- every word, the writing style, the characterization, it's all so perfect. breaks my heart at times but it wouldn't be the secret history if it didn't, if you read the book please please go read this!!!

ARCANE aka, the return of the lesbians; aka, home sweet home; aka, my life's entire purpose starting in november; aka, the literal love of my life arcane writers please take my soul and turn it into more caitvi fanfics

no seriously. why are there no other recs past nov 6 in the other fandoms? bc it was literally all this. 20 arcane recs in a matter of less than two months. 7m+ words read from just arcane fics in nov-dec.

now on to the recs!!

Promise on both sides by paxbanana - 11/13/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 10.4k

Caitlyn seeks to right the wrongs she dealt Zaun. She doesn't expect to get the opportunity to do the same with Vi. For her part, Vi's not one for last words or martyr shit, and she's not about to let Caitlyn get away with it either. now canon divergent bc it was written right after act 1 came out, but god was this so heartbreaking to see. such a good take on what could have happened in place of act 2/3, and the characterizations were just perfect

knit them tight by qwahaXahn - 11/22/2024, caitlyn & jinx, 3 ch, 3.4k

The hunt for Warwick goes horribly wrong, and Jinx can only think of one person to help her save Vi. Unfortunately, Caitlyn Kiramman wants her dead. A character study of two women in the process of changing, and how they finally, finally start healing. CAITLYN AND JINX ARE MY EVERYTHING (IN A SISTER IN LAW KIND OF WAY) AND THIS WAS SOMETHING SO GUTWRENCHINGLY PERFECT FOR THEIR INTERACTIONS BOTH OF THEM ARE JUST WRITTEN SO WELL AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS

Too Close / Too Late by AiLaikJedi - 11/24/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 7.7k

As Caitlyn recovers from the Battle at Piltover, Vi learns that caring for her means facing the grief she’s tried to bury. filled the void i had searching for post-canon fics, this was just so perfect. no words it was beautifully written

The Willingness to Walk Away, The Courage to Try Again by Barakis - 11/24/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 7.1k

You let go for them, to save them from themselves. Otherwise, they’ll never find the strength to do it on their own, Vi realizes, and that realization only adds to her pain and heaving sobs. Jinx understood what Vi didn’t. She saw what her big sister couldn’t until it was too late. That in order to break the cycle of pain and violence, one of them needed to have the strength to walk away. And that person was never going to be Vi. another post-canon fic, honestly a blend of all of these are canon to me because they're all just so well written and perfect for the characters <3

i love you, i'm waiting for you by thehaakun - 11/24/2024, caitvi, 2 ch, 11.8k

Growth sometimes only came from discomfort, from a healthy fear of the unknown, from an innate desire to move out of old habits, dead pasts. She can’t accept what you and I both know. Caitlyn and Vi recover from the aftermath of the war. There's a long path ahead for them both, and their cities. can you tell the finale broke me??? because it did. but ao3 is curing all my wounds. this was so beautiful, a perfect glimpse into post-canon

will you fix me up (will you show me hope) by CharKoal - 11/29/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 2.8k

The last piece of Vi’s heart lays here, broken and bleeding, and somehow finds the nerve to smile. In the aftermath of the battle, Vi finds Caitlyn. another incredible post-canon fic, the glimpse into vi's mental state after the explosion was just so perfect

Shotgun by Cenodoxus - 12/6/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 8k

"Vi, you can either stay here with your severely injured girlfriend, or you can go desecrate a corpse. You can't do both." "What the fuck kind of bullshit ultimatum is that?" Vi finds Caitlyn after the climactic battle. i'm repeating myself a lot on these because YES technically they're all covering the same topic, but seriously, all of them add little details that just help complete my picture of everything that comes post-canon and compiles into my vision of what happens, and i need all of them to breathe, and this one was absolutely lovely

crash into me (i'm drowning here alone) by CharKoal - 12/8/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 7.3k

The color marks Vi like a scar. Blue hair, blue smoke, a glowing blue sphere and a bright blue explosion. Three bright blue explosions. It follows her, threatens to drown her in its depths. Blue haunts her dreams. She learns, later, that red tarnishes Caitlyn's. In the days following the battle, Vi grapples with the burden of her grief and finds that guilt has already crushed Caitlyn beneath its weight. okay yeah just from the summary you can tell that this is one of the most gut-wrenching fics i have here. seriously the writing quality of this???? absolutely astronomical. literally insane. PLEASE go read this and have your heart torn out

Restitution by dilapidatedcorvid - 12/8/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 2.3k

By all definition, they marvel, she is a medical miracle; her soul sewn back into this mortal vessel by the heroic efforts of the finest Piltover had to offer and cradled in a web of tubing and lines dripping saline and blood and therapies into her veins until they were reasonably sure she was ready to move from the antiseptic sterility of the hospital to the comfort of her own room to recuperate. Caitlyn doesn’t feel like a miracle. Or, Caitlyn is concussed and on bedrest, so she does the only thing she can: think. i love a good character study and this one just dove into caitlyn perfectly. y'all already know she's my fav character, so it makes me extremely happy when her character arc is done justice like in this fic- this is canon, to me

the love we let ourselves deserve by taq - 12/9/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 7.2k

Caitlyn watches the Noxian ships leave the harbor, stands there at the edge, the wind whipping her hair about, the chill sharp in the early morning sun. She watches words she wishes she could have said fizzle into the salty air, watches the tiniest specks of red disappear into the horizon, flecks of blood trapped beneath her nails that she’ll never wash out. There’s a tug to her hand. She turns, and there Vi is. There Vi is, warm and open and loving like she doesn’t care, like it’s alright, like there’s nothing wrong. It’s too much. another post-canon healing story, this one diving more into caitlyn's mental state after the war and it just. god. the guilt the pain the angst it's so perfect.

il y a toujours quelque chose d'absent qui me tourmente by lazy_universes - 12/9/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 11.1k

If pressed, Vi would probably say she couldn't really see the point of yet another monument. Graves, at least, were private enough, but a statue of Jinx in the middle of Zaun was hardly the place where she could mourn for her sister in solitude. If Pilties wanted to assuage their guilt or if Zaunites wanted to send a message, she honestly couldn’t care less. If she had her way, she’d have nothing to do with it. At that point in life, Vi should already be aware she hardly, if ever, had things go her way. this is actually 100% canon to me, seriously just thinking about vi and the alternate universe and her place in the world in the main universe now just makes me want to cry, but this fic just explored it so well and has one of the best vi characterizations ever.

Heart Made of Glass, My Mind of Stone by Phoenix314 - 12/25/2024, caitvi, 18 ch, 104k

In order to avoid time in Stillwater Prison, Vi must complete community service after getting caught stealing from Jayce Talis, the protégé of the wealthy and intelligent Councilor Cassandra Kiramman. Instead of spending her nights working at The Last Drop and her days looking after her siblings in Zaun, she now has to be the errand girl to one of the most powerful people in Piltover. However, Vi soon realizes that something isn’t right. What secret project is Jayce working on? Why does the councilor keep sending Vi on strange assignments? And why won’t Caitlyn Kiramman leave Vi alone about what life is like in Zaun? Something is festering in the underbelly of both cities and Vi is beginning to suspect that the Kirammans know more than anyone realizes. okay thIS. THIS FIC IS INSANE. first of all i just wanna say holy shit author for writing 104k words in less than a month and it still being ongoing. mad respect. made even more insane by how high quality every bit of this fic is, i LOVE a good young caitvi au and this just flew to the top of my ranking of them since i started reading- excitedly awaiting every update on this because i just love how in-depth the worldbuilding and characters are. oh, and cassandra?? MOST ICONIC CHARACTER EVER. LOVE HER. this one just dove so deeply into the kiramman family and that makes me SO happy, and i can't wait to see where it ends up going <3

Coming home to you by mkhhhx - 12/27/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 20.2k

“You are not taking good enough care of yourself,” Caitlyn starts, looking towards the fountain. She’s lost weight and her cheeks are hollowed, the knuckles of her hand too pronounced into Vi’s grasp. “I need you now, more than ever, Violet.” “You have me,” Vi says, as a matter of fact. As if she has anyone else to live for, to give her loyalty to. “In any way you’d want me.” another post-canon fic that's just so beautifully written. like srsly what are they feeding caitvi authors. this was insanely good, and just makes my caitvi heart so happy. HEALING TAG I LOVE YOU!!!

one single thread of gold tied me to you by piltovervscogirl - 12/28/2024, caitvi, one-shot, 10.8k

five lifetimes where caitlyn and vi found each other & one where they didn’t THE AMOUNT OF THOUGHTS I HAVE ABOUT EACH OF THESE UNIVERSES LIKE HOLY SHIT!!!! they are THE invisible string couple

A Family Affair by orayofsunshine - 12/28/2024, caitvi, 6 ch, 30.8k

Vi doesn’t introduce girls to her family. First, she’s not one to date or see a girl for more than a date or two, so there’s never anyone to introduce to them anyways. She’s too busy and too broke to keep a steady girlfriend. Second, her family is nuts, and no one should be subjected to their unique brand of torture. Or, How Caitlyn Ends Up Meeting Vi’s Whole Family On Accident this just made my heart so happy while also making me cackle. like woah an arcane fic that doesn't make me want to rip my heart out (in a good way). this was so so cute and perfect and A FULL FAMILY FOR VI!!!! HELL FUCKING YEAH

Hotshot by SarcastCity - 12/28/2024, caitvi, 50 ch, 242.6k

Caitlyn's route to work as a detective at the 51st Precinct takes her right by Fire Station #516, and Vi's been pining after the gorgeous Mystery Woman for six months...what will happen when she finds out that Caitlyn's a cop (AKA: The Enemy)? okay so. WOAH. OMFGJSDFJSD. i was a *tiny* bit late to the train on this one but boy am i glad that i read it when it was all complete bc i literally read this in the span of one day. yes. i was hooked to my phone on yet another 6 hour drive, absolutely consumed by this masterpiece of a fic. and then went on to go read everything else by this author bc the fucking TALENT this is just. insanely good!!!!

Ginkgo by Mango_Magpie - 12/30/2024, caitvi, 5 ch, 22k

Vi never thought she'd get a second chance at life. Now, thrust back into a world she no longer recognizes, she sets out to reconnect with lost loved ones, bonding with a new one along the way. missing scenes from s1!!! holy shit this just made me so nostalgic for 2021 again what the fuck!!!! this is canon to me. like, entirely. the fic before this in the series is also a depiction of vi's time in prison and is also canon to me. this author just writes so beautifully, and everything feels so in character, like i could genuinely imagine these scenes playing out in front of me as part of the show. absolutely incredible, will most definitely be re-reading

taking a leap forward (means leaving a few things behind) by thefifthchris - 12/31/2024, gen, 9 ch, 37.5k

Time slows. Four seconds. Ekko shouts. Something is wrong. There’s no time to think. Heimerdinger jumps out of the singularity, and, in his place– Powder takes the leap. In another timeline, Piltover tries to rebuild. No Hexgate, no fancy Hextech, nothing. Vi is familiar with this: raw labor, strength as its own language, sweat dripping between her shoulder blades. No, she thinks. There is no time to mourn. A tale of two sisters. Even worlds apart, they'll still always find each other. got to read this one as it updated and this was just a beautiful exploration of what could've happened if powder tried to recreate the anomaly (a question that im pretty sure everyone asked after the end of ep 7) - it was a wonderful fix-it while also staying true to all of the characters and exploring their relationships post-canon <3

and that is the end <3 shout-out to two honorable mentions:

hold me (like I never did anything to hurt you) by WishingonAStar, which just barely didn't make the cut off bc i read it past midnight on new years day.

and Run at the Cup. by TheHomelyBadger which i can firmly say is one of my top 3 best reads of the year (the others being The Second String and Son of Sea Foam), but wasn't included in this list because i first bookmarked it on may 27, 2022 back when it was originally updating. bc i sort of fell out of the fandom i didn't end up keeping up with the updates and so i got to re-read it in its entirety in december and was just completely blown away by how incredible it was, i could easily read 300k more words about this universe, it's an absolute masterpiece - i mean, it made me care about sports, which let me tell you is the most impossible job there is.

[muiitoloko]

I’m sad because your series of fics about Judge Turpin has ended… I don’t think I could ever recover from that hoping you write more about him😭

Title: Love? Love!

Summary: Lord Turpin loves his family, albeit in his own way.

Pairing: Judge Turpin × Fem! Reader

Warnings: Smut and Fluffy

Author's Notes: Alright, let's get real for a sec—I may or may not have shed a tear or two when the story came to an end. Those characters? Yeah, they grew on me like a clingy sock in the dryer! But hey, seeing you guys enjoy it makes it all worth it. And guess what? I found this hidden gem tucked away in the archives—a forgotten scene that slipped through the cracks! Whoopsie daisy! 😅

First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and ninth parts here.

As you busied yourself in the kitchen preparing dinner, the sounds of your husband's deep baritone voice filled the living room. Turpin was attempting to teach the children proper dance etiquette, insisting that all lords and ladies must know how to dance properly.

You listened with amusement as Turpin's patience wore thin with the energetic trio, who seemed more interested in giggling and goofing around than learning the proper steps. He sat on the sofa, shaking his head in disappointment as William, Sophia, and Belladonna stumbled over each other in their attempts to follow his instructions.

Just as Turpin was about to launch into another lecture, you heard Belladonna, the boldest of the two children, mutter something under her breath. Turpin's expression darkened, his hooked nose twitching with indignation as he turned to scold her.

"Father, you're being annoying," Belladonna declared defiantly, her voice carrying through the room.

Turpin's eyes widened in disbelief at his daughter's audacity, his baritone voice rising in indignation. "How dare you speak to me in such a manner!" he exclaimed, his tone laced with anger.

Sensing the tension in the air, you decided to intervene, stepping into the living room to address your husband. "Richard, perhaps it would be more effective if you showed them how to dance instead of just giving instructions," you suggested gently, hoping to diffuse the situation.

Turpin paused, considering your words for a moment before nodding in agreement. With a determined expression, he pushed himself to his feet with the aid of his cane, his posture straightening as he approached you.

"Very well," he said, his voice firm but resigned, "if that's what it takes to teach these rascals proper manners, then so be it."

He extended his hand towards you, a silent invitation to join him. You hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to expect, before placing your hand in his and allowing him to lead you to the center of the room.

Turpin positioned himself opposite you, his baritone voice softening as he began to explain the steps of the dance. "Now, watch closely," he instructed, his movements precise and controlled as he demonstrated each step with grace and poise.

You followed his lead, mirroring his movements as best as you could, your eyes locked on his as you moved together in perfect synchronization. And as the music swelled around you, filling the room with its sweet melody, you found yourself lost in the moment, swept away by the rhythm of the dance. Turpin's grip on your hand tightened, his eyes never leaving yours as you twirled and spun across the room together.

For a brief moment, it felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from your shoulders, leaving only the two of you suspended in time. Lost in the graceful movements of the dance, you found yourself utterly captivated by the warmth in Turpin's eyes, the tenderness in his touch. Despite his stoic demeanor, there was a gentleness to his movements, a sincerity that spoke volumes about the depth of his love for you. His hand felt strong and reassuring in yours, his touch sending shivers down your spine as you moved together in perfect harmony.

But as the dance progressed, it became apparent that Turpin's attention was no longer focused on the lesson he was supposed to be giving. Instead, his gaze seemed fixed on you, his eyes sparkling with undisguised affection as he watched you with a fondness that took your breath away.

Caught up in the magic of the moment, you couldn't help but return his smile, your heart swelling with love for the man who had captured your heart so completely. For a brief moment, it felt as though the rest of the world had faded away, leaving only the two of you entwined in a dance that transcended time and space.

But just as you were about to lose yourself completely in Turpin's embrace, a sudden commotion broke the spell. Belladonna, ever the spirited one, had grabbed William by the hand and was attempting to drag him into the dance, her laughter filling the room as she twirled and spun with reckless abandon.

Sophia, not to be outdone by her sister, ran towards your father, her eyes shining with excitement as she tugged on his pant leg, imploring him to join in the fun. Turpin, torn between amusement and exasperation, couldn't help but laugh at the sight of his determined daughter, his hooked nose twitching with amusement.

"Father, you must dance with me!" Sophia exclaimed, her voice filled with determination as she looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Turpin feigned confusion, his brow furrowing in mock seriousness as he pretended not to recognize his own daughter. "And who might you be, young lady?" he teased, his baritone voice tinged with amusement.

Sophia giggled mischievously, playing along with her father's game. "I am Sophia, of course!" she declared with a dramatic flourish, her curls bouncing in time with her laughter.

Turpin pretended to ponder her words for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Ah, of course, how could I forget?" he replied with exaggerated solemnity, "Very well, Lady Sophia, shall we dance?"

You couldn't help but laugh at the exchange between father and daughter, your heart swelling with affection for the man who had once been so stern and unyielding. Despite his efforts to maintain his composure, it was clear that Turpin was thoroughly enjoying himself, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he took Sophia's hand in his.

With a flourish, Turpin led Sophia into the dance, his movements awkward yet endearing as he attempted to accommodate her smaller frame. The sight of the once formidable judge dancing with his daughter filled you with a sense of joy and wonder, a testament to the transformative power of love.

As the music played on, you watched with a mixture of amusement and affection as Turpin twirled Sophia around the room, their laughter mingling with the sweet strains of the melody. Despite his efforts to maintain his stoic facade, it was clear that Turpin had been utterly enchanted by his daughter's infectious energy, his heart melting with every step they took together.

And as you watched the man who had once been a harsh and unforgiving judge reveling in the simple joy of fatherhood, you couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the life you had built together. In that moment, surrounded by the ones you loved most in the world, you knew that no matter what the future held, you would face it together, united by the unbreakable bonds of family and love.

But Turpin's coughing fit interrupted the dance. You moved to help your husband, concern etched across your features. However, Turpin waved dismissively, insisting that he was fine, though his stern demeanor quickly returned as he directed his attention back to the children.

"Enough frivolity," Turpin declared, his baritone voice commanding attention, "it's time to focus on your dance instruction."

Reluctantly releasing Sophia's hand, Turpin walks away, his expression once again stern as he fixed his gaze on his three children. With a firm tone, he demanded their full attention, his hooked nose twitching slightly with determination.

"Now, pay attention," Turpin instructed, his voice carrying the weight of authority, "we shall begin with the basic steps."

As Turpin began to demonstrate the dance steps once again, you complied with his request, putting another song on the phonograph before heading back to the kitchen. The sweet melody filled the room, providing a backdrop for Turpin's instructions as he guided his children through the dance.

And as you busied yourself in the kitchen, you couldn't help but steal a glance at the living room, where Turpin stood in the center, his imposing figure commanding the attention of his children. Sophia and Belladonna watched him with rapt attention, their eyes shining with excitement as they attempted to mimic his movements.

William, ever the dutiful son, listened intently to his father's instructions, his expression serious as he focused on mastering the steps. Despite his young age, he understood the importance of upholding the Turpin name, of carrying on the family legacy with honor and pride.

As the song reached its crescendo, you watched with a sense of pride as Turpin led his children through the dance, his movements precise and controlled despite his declining health. There was a strength in his demeanor, a resilience that spoke volumes about his character, his commitment to his family unwavering even in the face of adversity.

And as you looked at his three children, their faces illuminated by the warm glow of the phonograph, you couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for the man who had given you so much. Despite his flaws, despite his past transgressions, Turpin was a devoted father, a pillar of strength and stability for his children.

As the song came to an end, Turpin turned to you, a hint of exhaustion visible in his features. "Put on another song, my dear," he requested softly, his baritone voice tinged with fatigue, "let them practice a bit more while I catch my breath."

You nodded in understanding, quickly selecting another record and setting it on the phonograph before returning to your duties in the kitchen. As you worked, you couldn't help but steal glances at the living room, where Turpin sat with his children, his eyes shining with pride as he watched them dance.

Despite his declining health, despite the challenges that lay ahead, Turpin remained steadfast in his commitment to his family, his love for his children unwavering and true. And as you watched him interact with his three precious heirs, you couldn't help but feel a sense of hope for the future, a belief that no matter what trials may come, your family would face them together, united by love and devotion.

As you stirred something in one of the pans, focusing on the task at hand, you were surprised to feel Turpin's presence behind you. His arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you close as he pressed a gentle kiss to the back of your neck.

Startled by his sudden affection, you turned to face him, a hint of amusement in your eyes. "Hungry already?" you teased, raising an eyebrow in mock disbelief.

Turpin's lips curved into a playful smile as he leaned in closer, his breath warm against your skin. "Always hungry," he murmured huskily, "especially for you."

You couldn't help but laugh at his boldness, pushing him away gently as you reminded him of the children in the other room. "Behave yourself," you scolded teasingly, though there was a warmth in your tone that belied your words.

Turpin chuckled softly, his baritone voice tinged with amusement as he reluctantly released you from his embrace. "You're no fun," he teased, though there was a hint of affection in his gaze as he watched you work.

With a playful swat on his arm, you turned back to the stove, determined to finish preparing dinner before the children grew too restless. But Turpin had other ideas, his expression suddenly serious as he spoke.

"After dinner, we'll send the children to bed," he declared firmly, his tone brooking no argument, "and then you and I will retire to the bedroom."

You raised an eyebrow in surprise at his suggestion, reminding him gently of his weakened condition. "Richard, you're still recovering from your illness," you protested, concern etched across your features, "perhaps it's best to take it easy for now."

But Turpin shook his head resolutely, his gaze unwavering as he met your eyes. "I'm strong enough," he insisted, his voice filled with determination, "strong enough to be with you, to show you how much I love you."

You couldn't help but be moved by his sincerity, his unwavering devotion touching something deep within your heart. Despite everything, despite the challenges you had faced, Turpin's love for you remained steadfast and true, a beacon of hope in the darkness that had threatened to consume you both.

With a nod of acquiescence, you relented, unable to deny him the opportunity to express his love for you in the way he desired. "Alright," you agreed softly, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips, "after dinner, we'll go up to the bedroom."

As Turpin hummed in satisfaction and gave your rear a playful slap, you couldn't help but feel a rush of embarrassment, though you tried to hide it behind a playful swat at his arm. His unexpected displays of affection always left you feeling flustered, a stark contrast to his usual cold and stoic demeanor.

You focused on finishing dinner and setting the table. The savory aroma of the meal filled the air, making your stomach growl in anticipation. With everything in its place, you called for your family to gather around.

Turpin, ever the disciplinarian, sent the children to wash up before dinner, his voice carrying the weight of authority as he directed them to the washroom. Once the kids were occupied, he joined you at the table, taking his seat at the head as was his custom.

"Richard, did you wash your hands?" you asked with a teasing smile, knowing full well that he often forgot such trivial details in his eagerness to eat.

Turpin shot you an irritated look, his hooked nose twitching slightly with annoyance before reluctantly pushing himself to his feet. Grumbling under his breath, he made his way to the washroom, leaning heavily on his cane for support.

As he returned to the table, you couldn't help but feel a surge of affection for the man sitting before you. Despite his flaws, despite his tendency towards cruelty, Turpin tried his best to be a good husband and father, even if he didn't always succeed.

"Thank you, dear," you said softly, reaching out to squeeze his hand gently, "for always taking care of us, even when you don't have to."

Turpin's expression softened at your words, his baritone voice tinged with emotion as he met your gaze. "I may not always show it," he replied quietly, "but I love you, more than anything in this world."

There was a sincerity in his words that took you by surprise, a vulnerability that he rarely showed to anyone, least of all you. And in that moment, surrounded by the ones you loved most in the world, you couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude for the man who had stood by your side through thick and thin.

As the children returned from the bathroom, Turpin watched them attentively, his stern gaze softening slightly as he observed their interactions. He nodded approvingly as William dutifully pulled out the chairs for his sisters, a small gesture of chivalry that did not go unnoticed by their father.

"Good boy, William," Turpin remarked, his voice carrying a hint of pride, "always remember to look after your sisters."

William nodded in acknowledgment, a faint blush coloring his cheeks at his father's praise. He took his seat at the table with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that he had earned his father's approval.

Turpin turned his attention to Sophia and Belladonna, his expression expectant as he waited for them to take their seats. "Well, what are you waiting for?" he prompted, his tone firm but not unkind, "Say thank you to your brother for pulling out your chairs."

Sophia and Belladonna exchanged a glance before turning to William with grateful smiles. "Thank you, Willy," they chorused in unison, their voices sweet and sincere.

Belladonna, ever the bolder of the two, added with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "You're such a gentleman, just like Father."

Turpin's lips twitched with amusement at his daughter's cheekiness, though he made a show of feigning indignation. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Bella," he chided gently, though there was a hint of affection in his tone.

Belladonna grinned unabashedly, her curls bouncing as she giggled at her father's mock scolding. "Sorry, Father," she replied with a playful wink, "but it's true."

Turpin shook his head in mock exasperation, though there was a warmth in his gaze as he looked at his spirited daughter. "You're incorrigible, Belladonna," he remarked with a fond smile, "but I wouldn't have you any other way."

With a satisfied nod, Turpin settled into his seat at the head of the table, his posture straight and dignified as he prepared to lead his family in prayer before the meal. As he began to speak, his baritone voice filled the room, a comforting presence that brought a sense of peace to those gathered around him.

And as you bowed your heads in prayer, surrounded by the ones you loved most in the world, you couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the man who had stood by your side through thick and thin. Despite his flaws, despite his past transgressions, Turpin was a devoted husband and father, a pillar of strength and stability for his family.

In that moment, surrounded by the ones you cherished most in the world, you knew that no matter what challenges might come your way, you would face them together, united by the unbreakable bonds of family and love.

As the night progressed, the intensity of your passion with Turpin grew, the thrill of being intimate with him in such a daring and precarious position adding to the excitement. With each thrust, you couldn't help but cling to him desperately, your body arching against his as waves of pleasure washed over you.

Turpin's hands roamed your body with purpose, his touch igniting a fire within you that threatened to consume you both. You bit your lip to stifle your moans, your senses overwhelmed by the sensation of him filling you completely.

Feeling the need for more, you whimpered softly against his neck, your voice muffled by the fabric of his shirt as you pleaded with him to give you what you both desired. "Richard," you whispered hoarsely, your breath hot against his skin, "please, I want you to fill me. I want your baby inside me."

Turpin's eyes fluttered open at your words, his expression softening as he gazed down at you with a mixture of desire and affection. "My love," he murmured huskily, his baritone voice sending shivers down your spine, "as much as I want to give you another child, I can't."

You whimpered softly in protest, the ache of longing echoing in your heart as you pressed yourself closer to him. "But why?" you pleaded, your voice filled with desperation, "I want this, Richard. I want to carry your child again."

Turpin's grip on you tightened, his eyes filled with sadness as he explained his reasoning. "I'm old, my love," he whispered softly, his breath warm against your ear, "and my health is declining. I can't risk leaving you pregnant with no one to support you."

You felt a pang of sadness at his words, the reality of his declining health casting a shadow over your desires. Despite his stoic demeanor, Turpin's concern for your well-being was evident in his actions, his love for you shining through even in the midst of passion.

With a heavy heart, you nodded in understanding, accepting his decision with a mixture of resignation and gratitude. "I understand," you whispered softly, your voice filled with emotion, "but just know that I love you, Richard. And I would gladly bear your child, no matter the risk."

Turpin's expression softened at your words, his eyes reflecting a mixture of desire and admiration as he continued to thrust into you with increasing urgency. "Hmm, you perfect, perfect girl," he murmured huskily, his baritone voice sending shivers down your spine, "so eager to please your old man."

Feeling his arousal building, Turpin pulled your leg higher around his torso, his movements becoming more frantic as he pounded into you right there on the nightstand next to the bed. His pants gathered around his ankles, he was still wearing his shirt, a stark contrast to your nakedness, which only fueled the fire burning between you.

"You look like such a slut," Turpin whispered hoarsely, his breath hot against your ear as he leaned in closer, "trying to keep quiet so as not to wake the children. But we both know they won't hear a thing over the sound of your moans."

His words sent a jolt of excitement coursing through you, the thrill of being caught adding to the intensity of the moment. With each thrust, you couldn't help but cling to him desperately, your nails digging into his back as you surrendered to the pleasure washing over you.

Turpin's hands roamed your body with purpose, his touch igniting a fire within you that threatened to consume you both. You whimpered softly in protest, the ache of longing echoing in your heart as you pleaded with him for more.

"Please, Richard," you begged, your voice barely above a whisper, "give me everything you've got. I need to feel you inside me, filling me completely."

Turpin's eyes darkened with desire at your words, his resolve crumbling as he gave in to the primal urges driving him. With a fierce growl, he redoubled his efforts, his thrusts becoming more forceful and erratic as he sought to claim you completely.

As the pleasure built to a crescendo, you felt yourself teetering on the edge of oblivion, the intensity of your climax threatening to overwhelm you. With one final thrust, Turpin pushed you over the edge, sending you spiraling into ecstasy as you cried out his name in a voice that was both desperate and unrestrained.

He stopped, waiting for you to calm down before pulling away from you. His eyes were dark with desire as he watched you climb down from the bedside table. With a grace that belied your desperation, you dropped to your knees in front of him, your mouth watering with anticipation as you eagerly took him in.

Turpin's hand found its way to the back of your head, his grip firm yet gentle as he guided you, his stoic facade crumbling in the face of his primal desires. He watched in awe as you pleasured him, your lips wrapped around him in a sensual dance of desire and submission.

"You're so good at this, my love," Turpin murmured huskily, his baritone voice sending shivers down your spine as you worked him with practiced precision. "So eager to please your husband, to make him feel good."

Your heart swelled with pride at his words, your own desire burning hotter with each passing moment. Despite his cold exterior, Turpin's appreciation for your efforts was evident in the way he held you, his fingers tangling in your hair as he lost himself in the pleasure of your mouth.

As you continued to pleasure him, your own arousal building with each stroke, Turpin's control slipped further and further away. With a guttural growl of satisfaction, he tore off his shirt, his chest heaving with exertion as he surrendered himself fully to the pleasure you offered.

"You're mine, my beautiful wife," Turpin whispered hoarsely, his voice thick with desire as he gazed down at you with unabashed adoration. "And I'm so lucky to have you."

With each flick of your tongue and every gentle suckle, you felt Turpin's arousal reaching a fever pitch, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he neared the edge of ecstasy. And as you brought him to the brink of release, you reveled in the power you held over him, knowing that you alone could bring him to such heights of pleasure.

With one final, desperate thrust, Turpin cried out your name, his body tensing as he spilled himself into your waiting mouth. You swallowed him eagerly, savoring the taste of him on your tongue as you milked him for every last drop of pleasure.

And as he collapsed against the bed, spent and trembling with the force of his release, Turpin pulled you close, his arms wrapping around you in a fierce embrace. "I love you, my beautiful wife," he murmured, his voice filled with warmth and affection. "More than words can express."

You nestled against him, your heart overflowing with love for the man who had captured your heart. Despite his flaws and his past transgressions, Turpin was yours, and you were his, bound together by a love that transcended even the darkest of shadows. And as you drifted off to sleep in his arms, you knew that no matter what the future held, as long as you had each other, you could weather any storm that came your way.

[deathbyoctopi]

Xuexiao Art Shoutout ^-^

It will be soon 2 years since I asked for my first art commission ever, after months of wanting to do so, but being deathly scared by it.

What if I ask it wrong, what if I don't like it, what if I pay but then it is a scam, what if it's too expensive and I have to back away in shame, what IF these are all my fears and I didn't even know any reliable artists or had asked any mutuals for tips or recs.

What motivated me for the big step forward was me writing a gift fic for someone very dear to me, which featured a piece of art within the story itself. It seemed so fitting, to make art for it. I held my heart in courage and dared to ask an artist I had seen here, in tumblr.

This artist was @wrathyforest.

Now, I don't remember anymore why I choose them. Probably I saw some xuexiao fanart by them that I liked, or saw somewhere that they were available for commissions, but the thing is with trembling hands I wrote a long dm asking about whether they would accept to draw an art such and such. This turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made in this website.

For the last two years, I've had the privilege of receiving more artwork by them, all xuexiao (because my BELOVEDS!!!) and all of exceptional quality and deep understanding of the characters. This is why now I want to make a little shoutout to these works, and to the process that went into asking them, in part to show other people how engaging, fascinating and rewarding it is to commission artist.

This is (with ONE exception) my little xuexiao art collection. Have at it!

Family portrait

My first art commission ever. My heart goes with it! This is the aforementioned art for the fic To carry a bit of yesterday, written for @itellmyselfsecrets97 and which features the Yi City trio going to make a portrait of themselves.

This was also very special to me, since it was only my second xuexiao fic ever written, and the first that was a self-contained oneshot. It must have left an impact, it remains a well-loved fic to the point that a fic was written from it (The Tell-Tale Art by @fieri-sentio-et-excrucior).

I explained the artist what I needed from it, gave the full paragraph in the fic where they were described, and pointed out little details to adjust once the first draft was show to me (Forest, forgive me for being so picky with Xiao Xingchen's legs). I cried with the results.

My second commission came a few months later, with a pic for another work of art...

Defenseless

Now that I see you is an amazing fic by @10holmes with the incredibly exciting premise of a non-visually impaired Xiao Xingchen coming across Xue Yang, on the brink of death and... completely honest-to-god amnesiac.

I had followed this long project (still ongoing) for months, and had left some comments to the author, but at some point this sparse comments became a conversation, and the conversation a deep friendship... And there was a specific bit of their fic that remains one of my absolute favourite non-canon xuexiao moments.

Cue the art. In this occasion, I really wanted to make this as accurate and true to my feelings as possible, so not only did I send a detailed explanation and context (I would NOT expect the poor artist to read 30 chapters of a fic just for a commission!!), but also I made a little sketch. Me, who can't draw a smiley without botching it!

See if you can spot the difference:

You can imagine my shame and mortification to show this horrible doodle to any other human being, BUT the artist actually said this helped a lot to understand the positions, the intention, the expressions even, so it was a good call. I lost my fear of giving directions like that, and I have more-or-less tried to for all my other asks ^-^

The end result of this particular story is this and this:

My next commission was for something a bit more selfish.

Daozhang in a veil

I had in mind a story the premise of which was purely an excuse to put Xiao Xingchen in a dress, and what better than to have visual of that? The fic is called A Comedy of Yi City Errors, a light-hearted xuexiao adventure very fun to write and (I'm told) to read.

Once more, I made quite an explanation and provided a little sketch.

ANd once again, despite the terrible example, the concept that I wanted to send was received well enough and delivering again wonderful results. Look!!! <3 <3 <3

I love them so much.

Around the same time, I decided to make two gifts for what were then becoming my closest friends in this fandom (I think that must have been around some important festival or something) so I asked for these lovely pics next:

Prisoner Xiao Xingchen

Art for the fic The Prisoner of Jinlintai by @fieri-sentio-et-excrucior, which is a treasure I recommend for anyone who loves canon divergence and enemies-to-lovers done just right!

And this:

Mermaid Hunter Xue Yang

The beautiful mermaid AU Down in the Black Sea by @10holmes, which is cute beyond compare and inspired another fic I wrote in which I brought that pirate and merman couple to sneak into Versailles. Random anecdote is random.

Anyways, this last one didn't come with a sketch, but I MUST show you my rendition of Xue Yang by the cell door for the earlier fic >w< and the first sketch they did, which is unbelievably cute. See if you can tell which is which.

See? Completely undistinguishable! XD

As for the next, this is a cute little piece I commissioned to celebrate a beautiful friendship.

Under the rain

One of the first xuexiao fics I remember reading was The Taste of Rain on Skin, and once I had the opportunity to meet its author, I could not let something so special pass. Xue Yang and Xiao Xingchen look so lovely in this one, so lively and happy and free...

By the way! Notice from my sketch that the artist was the one who made me realize... uhm... Xue Yang should NOT be holding Xiao Xingchen with his left hand, right?? XD So the running direction was reversed >w<

Well, what I want to show you next is something truly exceptional

Pleasure Yang

Not long ago, i was unbelievably surprised with a gift by a group of co-conspiracists I will call... Lionforest. no... Wrathyfish. Hm. It was an amazing surprise, which made me incredibly happy. Art for one of my fics!!! And a very sexy one, at that!!!!! >w<

Just, just look a it!

Look at that cheeky Xue Yang! Xiao Xingchen's fascination with that sexy ruffian!! Song Lan's discombobulated face! This is no more, no less, what I had in mind when I wrote Gentle breeze, cold frost, sweet crimson drizzle, and I could not be happier for it if I tried.

Thank you, you two ❤️❤️

And now... the last pic was spicy. The next is Wei Wuxian-approved congee.

Ok next, the spicy goodies >w<

There is a certain piece of art I still am keeping in my pocket, which one day I hope to use for a spicy Xuexiao fic. At any rate, it is another masterpiece by Wrathyforest and it deserves to see the light of day, finally.

I swear, every time I look at them, they feel so alive. The details!!! The expressions! The obvious and wonderful love! The other things this picture has to offer, omfg the first time I saw it, it was PERFECT!!!

(before you ask, yes. This also has a sketch XD)

In conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed my little collection. Look at all the xuexiao art we have, and from one incredible talented artist. I am over the moon with every single one of these pieces!

Artists deserve so much love and admiration. Greet your local artist, comment on their content, even if it's just a random keysmash, I can tell you as a writer that seeing these kinds of notifications are soul-repairing.

And if you take the step forward and talk to them, (and you SHOULD!! don't be shy, it is really engaging to get in a conversation!), I can guarantee you that you will make a person's whole day.

This is me, showing appreciation for this lovely art. Share it, comment it, love it. The love and passion we all share in fandom is fragile, but it is also so, so precious.

[gingernut1314]

One Piece Reading List (Pt. 1)

I have a tendency to read really good fics that I want to re-read weeks later only to find I can't find them in the void. Soooo I came up with this little reading list solution--kinda like a GoodReads vibe lol. I want to be able to share what I’ve read and be able to show my absolute love for them!! This is part 1 of this little list so there will be a part 2 (mainly cause it isn't letting me add more 😂).

I recommend every last fic on here because they are amazing and they and their authors deserve all the love in the world!!!! 🩷

↞ to One Piece Masterlist | Request Rules | Blog Navigation ↠ Part 2

Buggy: 🤡

Buggy x smuggler!reader @ay0nha

I can't keep crying @galaxycunt

Unlovable @httpwintersoldier

lady marmelade. @httpwintersoldier

Funny Business @constantmourning

Like lighting when I'm Swimming in the Sea @rorywritesjunk

Didn't Mean to Make Your Heart Blue: @wood-white-writer Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9

Kid Buggy Series: @rorywritesjunk Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6/Epilogue

The Show Must Go On: @empressofmankind Part 1 | Part 2

Mihawk: 🟡👄🟡

The Warlord and the Duchess @dino-fart

Mihawk with his S/O @writingoddess1125

On the Run @constantmourning

Bloodhound @httpwintersoldier

Let Go and Grip Me Tighter @sordidmusings

Crocodile: 🐊

Sandcastle by @sunshinescribes

Croc x Chaotic pairing by @jesterwriting

On My Silent Days, I Miss You Louder @empressofmankind

Shanks: 🍺🧑‍🦰

I want your eyes only on me @luna0713hunter

Jolly Sailor Bold @httpwintersoldier

Net @sinning-23

Confession @hiddndaydreams

Sanji: 🧑‍🍳

Sanji x Vampire!gn!Reader @jesterwriting

bon appétit, baby @httpwintersoldier

"Love Cook" @theladyofmanyfandomsfanfiction

You're being mean @buckysxgal

Commit to the Bit @writingmysanity

Luffy: 🍖

To Breath Underwater @sinning-23

Usopp: 🤥

Retwist @sinning-23

Zoro: 🗡️🥦 ⚔️

Starless @stray-kaz

Zoro Jealous @undiscovered-horizon

Imagine Your "Zoro's Keeper" @gojo-mochi

Roronoa "I could eat a peach for hours" Zoro @yourtamaki

Nami: 🍊

I kissed a girl. @miloonmetis

Multiple Characters: 🏴‍☠️

What Marriage Life would be like with the Seven Warlord of the Seas by @one-piece-aus

"I feel kinda ugly" ft. Monster Trio! @coffetears

Shake a'lil Ass by @sinning-23

Supa Freak @sinning-23

Blowing Bubbles, Blowing ZAZA @sinning-23

Zoro and Sanji have their eye on the same girl @undiscovered-horizon

One piece kisses - Monster trio @indydonuts

Bickering in Love ft. the Monster trio @indydonuts

What they might call their fem s/o @one-piece-fluff-hell

How they lost their virginity @writingoddess1125

Shanks and Mihawk...share @thus-spoke-lo

Masterlists:

Fanaticsnail's Masterlist @fanaticsnail

One piece headcanons masterlist & One piece Masterlist @httpwintersoldier

The Curious Courtship of Buggy the Clown Masterpost @sporadicthingcollection

Clipped Wings @honeybeezgobzzzzz

Something Dread, Something Red @honeybeezgobzzzzz

Sordidmusing's Masterlist @sordidmusings

[empressgeekt]

Trolls/Batman Crossover - Branch Wayne

Okay, so I've kind of been making little fic prompts where Branch falls through the walls of canon as a child and is raised in alternative universes. Today, lovely people of tumblr, we are going to send our wonderful little grumpy bean into the care of one of fiction's most notorious adoption addict, Bruce Wayne.

Not entirely sure on when it happens, but considering that Branch is around 24 at the time of modern canon, that would put him in the same age range as Dick Greyson (I'm going by Wayne Family Adventures, because that's the most wholesome batfam in canon, and likely this post i made a while ago pls read it for context), so, he and Branch would be taken in around the same time. Maybe Gotham first left Branch with the Flying Greyson, before going with Bruce along with Dick.

In this world Batman would have two child side-kicks, Robin and Meadowlark (I was going to go with Raven but that was taken and Meadowlark are birds that mean the end of suffering). I'd imagine that Branch wouldn't be as vengeful as little Dick, but he'd still follow Dick to make sure nothing bad happened, and did agree to training when Bruce offered as he wanted to protect himself.

For the next few years things are peaceful, for Branch. He loves going to school, he loves his foster father, Dick is the best brother he's ever had, he loves being Meadowlark, Alfred is a saint, and the Batman's legend continued to grow. The trio really leans into the spirit garden accept of their mysterious nature, half the city thinks their demons. And all the rogues say it's true, because it's less embarrassing to get their butt kicked by demon's of dark justice then just a guy and two kids in furry costumes.

Of course all goo things must come to an end. While Branch can put up with Bruce's overprotective nature as he got older, Dick cannot and so he and Bruce are constantly butting heads. The hostile home environment, eventually boils over with Dick striking out on his own, but Branch does not take it well. Once more a brother has abandoned him, and it climax's in a total panic attack where Alfred gets the story of how Branch lost his bio-family, and he's terrified that it was happening again. All this Alfred, does tell Bruce and they both work to assure to Branch that he'd always have a home at Wayne Manor. Branch is one of the kids who didn't move out after he moved in.

When the other children come along, at first Branch is worried about doing what Dick and his brothers did and screwing up the littler ones even more, but eventually he finds confidence as his role of one of the oldest in the Bat's brood.

Jason is the one who has to deal with Branch's awkwardness the most, but the kid didn't really mind. Both of them were academically inclined and were often found cuddling after falling asleep from reading too long. Jason's adoption also prompts Branch to Ask Bruce if he could be adopted too, and when his request is granted he's nearly brought to tears. Because of all of this, Jason also grew much more attached to Branch then to Dick. Mostly because Branch was there, and wasn't fighting with Bruce every time they came in contact.

Speaking of post move out, Branch and Dick. After Jason's death (a crushing blow to Branch that forever solidified the joker as his least favorite rogue), Dick tries to come around more at Alfred's request, and well, Dick is heartbroken when he learns that Branch thought he wouldn't ever comeback. In Branch's mind, Dick fought with Bruce, left and wasn't ever going to come back. Dick will spend years trying to make it up to Branch, but they will never be as close as they were as young kids.

Tim had to deal with a grieving Branch and that Branch was mad. Mad on Tim's behalf that is. The Drake neglect hit all to close to him, making Branch remember the neglect that Troll village had for him. It like looking in a mirror, watching Tim go above and beyond to prove himself, as Robin. Branch is also pissed at Bruce, he gets it, Jason's death hurt him too, but that's no excuse to treat Tim like shit, when the kid was only trying to help. Knowing what it was like to have no one in his corner, Branch would do his best to be in Tim's both in and out of the Mask. They would bond over trying to solve famous cold cases, and sci-fi movies. With Branch, Dick, and Branch knocking some sense into Bruce earlier, Tim flourishes.

When Cass shows up, Branch's awkwardness returns, after all he's never had a sister before, and she doesn't talk. However, Branch would join in on the sign language lessons, and over time learns just how sweet of a girl she is. He teaches her to cook, and help her find herself.

Stephine (Yes, I count her, she might not be Bruce's kid, but she's definitely a bat-sib), is a little much for Branch. Her boundless energy is a lot like a certain pink Princess', but Branch can see the difference, Gotham knows Poppy would never be able to kick butt like Spoiler. Their not the closest but they know they can count on each other.

When Jason comes back as Red Hood, its bitter-sweet for Branch. On one hand Jason is alive, but the Red Hood is not same person that was once Branch's first little brother. Still Branch tries to get Jason to come home, it takes a while, after all Pit Rage is no joke. But Branch does help clear up a lot of the misconceptions between the stupid people in his family who won't communicate (not that he's any better at it).

For Damian, Athanasia, and Mara (The latter two are Damian's bio-sister and cousin/ Bruce needs more daughters people), Branch's job is simply, "Don't let them kill each other or anyone else". Athanasia is sweet enough, and is the least trouble maker out of all of them, but the other two? Mara seems to think she needs to compete for her place in the manor, and Damian is constantly trying to kill Tim, as he thinks that the middle child is after the batman title, which Damian wants for himself.

When Terry, Matt, Dana and Max, universe jump to save themselves, Branch is just there. He helps them adjust, but his role isn't that major.

By the time that he turns 24 in Gotham, Branch has a college degree (nothing about a bachelor's since, most masters/phd's holders become rogues and have been banned from the cave/manner), a father, a step-mother who cares (Selina), two loving Grandfathers (Alfred, Thomas Wayne [flashpoint]), Three badass aunts (Kate, Harley and Ivy), what ever the heck Luke and Babs are, and a gaggle of siblings he'd seriously maim anyone for (Dick, Jason, Cass, Stephine, Tim, Duke, Cullen, Harper, Damian, Athanasia, Mara, Terry, Max, Dana, Matt, and little baby Helena [also Keith, Zuko and Jet, if you count the other crossovers in the mentioned linked post at the top]), who all come over on Tuesday for a family dinner. His life is seemingly perfect.

However, for his bio-brothers things are very much not. By some miracle, they pull together to save Floyd, but it was a really close call. They all (+viva and poppy) make it to Gotham, via a very disgruntled John Constantine and a letter that Gotham left in Peppy's care.

I'm not entirely sure plot wise where it would go. I think they would probably land in Crime Alley, and be horrified by the place. The trolls world is bright and colorful, and Crime Alley is not. Maybe they'd come across some of the Alley kids and they would point out some grafiti of the Batfamily. Though, the would definitely get jumped once the sun goes down. Jason likely coming to their rescue.

Brozone's reaction to the Batfamily is a mix of shock and confusion. Branch has his own new family, and his new siblings aren't making it any easier. The adults (Bruce, Selina, Alfred, Kate, and Thomas) are civil, but still intimidating. The children however? Branch is their big brother, they are going to get a little petty revenge for him. Jason and Tim would just off the hand mention how dangerous their lives are and how Jason died. Cass would sneak up on them. Mara, Damain, Matt and Attie would openly threaten their lives. And the rest of them would totally flaunt how close they were as siblings even if they literally have tried to kill each other in the past.

A breakout would definitely happen at one point. Not sure when, but i'm tempted to pump up at least one of the Brozone members on Fear Toxin.

Also Bruce Wayne and TBruce meeting would be weird. Like two guys by the name of Bruce with over ten children each? Yeah, BW would take the possibility of them being multiversal counterparts way too seriously.

So ya'll thoughts? I have people from both of these fandoms watching my account, so I'm interested in what ideas ya'll have.

[fandrawsart]

Do I know you?

So I have been experimenting with art styles, and when I was making this piece I wasn't all that happy with how it looked in my usual colouring style. I was like- I really really want it to look like it was plucked straight out of a comic. So I thought might as well hit two birds with one stone, and make this piece a Style study as well. The artist whose style I tried to study is one of my favourite One Piece artists. Their Shuggy art just gives me the butterflies. Shoutout to @huyandere

I have fallen in love with the fem Naruto design that I made for @bugbeee 's 'In Sound Judgement' and I adore creating fanart of her.

So here is a continuation of the Mission disaster - wherein Kakashi and Nana get separated from the rest of the team 7 and are attacked. In my mind, they were hit by a stray jutsu and were blasted to the past. The scenario was also influenced by that one Boruto episode, where he and Sasuke go back in time and meet 12-year-old Naruto. And I know we already have the Lost Tower and Road to Ninja, but that’s different. In them, Minato was older and there was a criminal lack of Kushina. I was like damn, what if Naruto/ Nana were to meet their parents when they were 12? Before they got together, and Kushina still had a major chip on her shoulder, and Minato and his team were- according to my timeline calculations- freshly abandoned by Jiraiya in favour of the Ame trio in the middle of a war.

I included both Kakashi and Nana because they are both Minakushi’s kids and deserve to know more about them. Kushina is this shining beacon of wonder in Nana’s mind. Someone whom she admires and who can do no wrong. She is the parent whom Nana has yearned to meet and make proud. Vs Minato who, she wants nothing to do with and ignores so much that she doesn’t even see him as her father, much less process the messy feelings she has regarding him.  

Nana knows when she meets Minato he will find her lacking and doesn’t bother, but she fears what Kushina will think. Because Nana knows without a doubt that Kushina loves her child, and that means a lot to a kid who keeps getting abandoned by the people around her. Kushina is a part of Nana which she selfishly guards, but if Kushina were to reject her then it would kill Nana.

This experience would make Nana realise that she is a lot more like both her mum and her dad than she realises. It would also make Nana get to actually know who Minato was before he was shaped to be the co-dependent martyr he was by the major traumas he suffered.

Same for Kakashi who thinks, he is the only unlucky bastard who got screwed over by a benign village, and much like Nana and Minato refuses to process the trauma.

I must emphasise- that this is a hypothetical scenario and is not canon to the actual fic- In Sound Judgement.

[bunkernine]

do you think jason and leo could find happiness if they were trapped in a time loop together. maybe permanently maybe not

I tried writing a time loop fic where it repeated the last week before Leo died in boo. No matter what, one of them died. The conclusion was no, neither is built to be happy. I firmly believe that they will always be trapped in a cycle of chasing and running, but any happiness that can be derived from that will always be ephemeral. If they are both happy, then something bad will come. Really entranced with the way every time they have a conversation, one of them nearly dies within the next hour. It's fate, man. If they both survived Gaea, then the world fell. In the past, my comparisons were Pyramus and Thisbe, Romeo and Juliet, Hyacinthus and Apollo, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Echo and Narcissus for various reasons, but all tragedies. HERES THE THING: Jason and Piper are explicitly drawn to compare with Paris and Helen, while Leo sees himself in Echo, lmao. Lots of love stories and lots of fleeting moments, all tragic. In the way the earth has multiple ice ages and then returns to normalcy, Jason and Leo would have many conflicts (surrounding/between/about) them because that's the way it is. When we look at the prophecy, To storm or fire (Jason OR Leo), the world must fall.... that "must" does so much... tragedy is inevitable; that is how Greek mythos has functioned; it was NOT going to happen. Anyway, that's the point of time loops, lol. You know how it ends, but you still try to change the ending. Never works. This is where the argument that "Jason died to make up for Leo's cheat" comes from anyway... core valgrace belief 🙏 The Lost Trio tried to fuck with undoing death multiple times (they all die once in TLH, Midas and Hera LOL) and that's something the universe will always work out. 🤔 it's always made sense to me that Jason is Roman, and Leo is Greek, by nature of the books and opposing camps, but before they knew that, they were just friends.... think ultimately that's the point: even if they are to be by each other, they'll always be separated by the world and fate fr.....

[sitp-recs]

Hello again, how are you? I hope you do well ! I'd like to see if you can recommend me any survival Darry fic. I'd like some fic where Draco and Harry get lost and have to survive together, just the two of them, and they end up forming a very strong bond

Hi there! I’ve had better days tbh but thank you for asking, I hope you’ve been well 💜 here are some fics that came to mind:

World's Edge by RurouniHime (E, 15k)

In the harshest environment on earth, Harry finds that escaping is harder than simply running.

All the Ashes Like Leaves by firethesound (M, 21k)

Nothing about being the Chosen One had prepared Harry for this. With most of the population blinded and man-eating plants running amok, he can only stay close to his friends as they make their way to safety. Not that he’d call Malfoy a friend, but the end of the world does rather make their ongoing feud seem trivial. And it just figures that it took nothing short of an apocalypse to make Malfoy seem like less of a git.

Draco Malfoy, It's Your Lucky Day by Faith Wood (E, 37k)

Even though he's unarmed, injured, lost in the Forbidden Forest, and facing a possible murder charge, Draco Malfoy gets lucky.

Annus Mirabilis by Ren (E, 39k)

Harry and Malfoy are trapped at Hogwarts around the time the school was founded. Stuck with a different way of doing magic, with no chocolate, and with each other, they have to find a way to work together if they want a chance to go home.

Survival of the Species by @romaine2424 (E, 46k)

Draco approaches Harry on the 9 ¾ platform, after their sons have boarded the Hogwarts Express, and invites him over for tea. The discussion they have leads them on an adventure that neither could have expected. There be dragons! HPDH compliant but before any other canon info had been released.

9 ½ Days by @magpiefngrl (E, 69k)

After the events at the Manor, Harry and Draco find themselves stranded in the countryside with a broken wand and Death Eaters on their tail. This is the story of an uneasy truce, featuring faerie forests, seaside caves, Romani camps, kind old ladies, and a shared bed in an attic. Or how two boys fell in love in the midst of a bloody coup.

Consequences of Redemption by bobbirose (M, 120k)

When Draco makes an impromptu decision to rescue Harry Potter from Malfoy Manor, the two find themselves completely alone and facing the looming climax of the war against Voldemort. Harry must start from the beginning with Draco--and starting over has more consequences than either of them anticipated.

Walking the Line by SilentAuror (E, 179k)

Sixth year is over and Draco Malfoy is on the run. The war is on and an unwanted assignment is forced upon him by the only people he trusts - and a one-time arch-enemy just may be out to kill him.

Temptation on the Warfront by alizarincrims0n (E, 180k)

Draco Malfoy is forced into hiding with the Golden Trio and dragged into their search for horcruxes. What ensues is a journey of redemption, unexpected friendships and an unwanted, turbulent romance with Harry Potter. Warnings for swearing, sexual content, and dark themes.

Eclipse by Mijan (T, 287k)

Draco swore his revenge on Harry for Lucius's imprisonment, and Harry all but laughed at him. But Draco is planning more than schoolyard pranks this time. The old rivalry turns deadly when Draco abducts Harry for Voldemort. It's the perfect plan, guaranteeing revenge, power, and prestige, all in one blow. But when Draco's world turns upside down, the fight to save himself and Harry begins, and the battle will take them both through hell and back. If they come back.

In The Dark by @bixgirl1 (E, WIP)

In the aftermath of an apocalypse, Harry receives an order to find and bring Draco Malfoy nearly a thousand miles, to the tenuous safety of Hogwarts. But more than distance separates them from their goal. The world has fallen, and death is hungry.

[queenjunothegreat]

AAAAAAAAALLLLLLLRIGHTY! I've got more of my self-indulgent Coraline AU fic for @lost-trio-week!!! :D I have SO much fun writing these three as kiddos I swear to god. It's neat because they are all very different (because 11 year olds don't act like 15 year olds) but you can still see who they are under it, you know? Also, they're so fucking cute. I love them.

Anywho, may I present Chapter Two of Mechanical Lullaby!

“What are you doing out here?” Leo demanded. “I’m taking a walk,” the blond boy said simply. “What are you two doing out here?” “Huntin’ monsters. Duh.” "Leo found tracks." The blond boy looked more than a little skeptical, likely remembering the fact that she and Leo both had been in near-tears when he found them, but he was nice enough to not say anything. “Tracks? Where?” Piper gestured over to where Leo had found the tracks and the blond boy laughed after a moment of investigating them. “That’s not a monster! That’s Lupa!” “Lupa?” Leo asked. “What the heck is a Lupa?” “My dog,” the blond boy beamed. “Well, not really. My dad won’t let me have a dog, so she lives in the woods. She’s my friend, though.” “Oh.” Piper suddenly felt very silly and her cheeks grew warm. “Can we, uh, see her?” The blond boy shrugged. “Maybe. It looks like she came through here recently, so she’ll probably show up. She always does eventually.” Then he smiled and stuck out his hand. “My name’s Jason.”

First

Piper dreamt of mice. Lots and lots of fuzzy little mice with shiny black buttons for eyes that squeaked at her and danced around her feet. She giggled brightly and danced along with them skipping and twirling through a flurry of brilliant ocher leaves as they led her through the trees. Then they came to a sudden halt and she stumbled before coming face to face with the tree portal she and Leo had found the day before. Around her, the mice squealed in delight and raced through the hollow tree, though none of them came out the other side.

Come with us! Come with us! the mice coaxed in one unified voice. Come with us to the other world! The world where things are better!

Without a second thought, Piper got down on her hands and knees and started crawling forward. The mice crooned out a cooing noise and pressed up against her sides and she hummed happily, letting them draw her forward.

Just as she was about to enter the tree, there was a loud, ferocious growling sound that made her freeze in her tracks. The mice’s squeaking turned shrill and desperate now, and she felt her heart thump high in her throat. “What– What is that?”

It’s her! the mice wailed as one. It’s that nasty, awful she-wolf! Quickly! We must go before she comes and swallows us whole!

Piper’s breath hitched in her throat and she started crawling faster, but every movement forward she made sent the tree farther and farther away. “I-I can’t make it!” she cried. “She’s gonna get me! Please! Help me!”

The mice spoke again, but this time, they sounded like her dad, his tone resting heavy on a disappointed sigh. There is no one who can help you, Piper McLean. No one who would even try. Perhaps next time, though.

Then the ground fell out from under Piper’s hands and knees like a trap door and she was left tumbling through a swirling abyss of black and green and purple and white and yellow, crying out for help to the sound of a victorious wolf’s howl.

Piper fell to the floor with a yelp, her black sheets and rainbow comforter tangled up around her. She rubbed the side of her now-throbbing skull and scowled at her bed in betrayal. “That hurt!”

As expected, the bed had nothing to say in its defense.

Piper got to her feet, still pouting, and ran into the hallway, determined to complain to someone about the injustices she’d faced. “Daaad! Dad, where are youuu?”

She walked past the fridge before coming to a stop a few steps away and backing up so that she could read the note taped to the front

Pipes –

Sorry I wasn’t around to wake you up, but I had to go in early to film. I have some Lucky Charms in the cupboard for you. If anything happens, go ask the Gray Sisters for help. I talked to Mr. V, too, but he’s a very busy man, so try not to bother him. I’ll be home for dinner.

Love,

Dad

Piper frowned down at the paper before crumpling it in her fist and half-heartedly throwing it towards the trash can, not even bothering to see if it actually went in or not. She’d told her dad she didn’t like Lucky Charms anymore. Fortunately for her, the toaster was plenty accessible, along with the peanut butter and marshmallow fluff. She could have breakfast all by herself.

Once she was done with her toast and her mess was cleaned up, she stomped out the front door, this time taking her time to hunt down her big yellow rain boots, seeing as it was still gross and gray and damp outside. Her dad hadn’t exactly been thrilled about the state of her sneakers when he’d finally noticed them the night before, and she doubted another layer of caked-on mud would help her case much. 

As soon as she was outside, though, all thoughts of her dad’s disappointed scowl vanished, and she grinned, shouting at the top of her lungs. “Leo!”

Leo startled so bad he gave a full-body flinch that Piper could see from across the yard, and he whirled around at the sound of his name, his face pale and eyes wide. When he saw it was just Piper running towards him, though, he grinned. “Piper! You actually came!”

“Duh,” Piper scoffed as she trotted up to him. She took in a few deep, heaving pants to catch her breath and then she cocked her head at him. “Why wouldn’t I have come?”

“Figured you’d come to your senses and decide to avoid me,” he said matter-of-factly. “Everyone does eventually.”

Piper frowned, but shrugged the words off. “Well, you’re my only friend right now, so you’re stuck with me.”

“Okay,” he agreed easily. Then he squinted at her, his eyebrows furrowing in concern. “What… happened to your face? Did your dad do that?”

“Huh?”

“You’ve got a big old bruise right…” He leaned forward and jabbed her in the cheek, and she jumped back with a yelp– “here.”

“That hurt,” she scowled for the second time that morning. “And, no, my dad didn’t do it. I fell out of my bed.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I had a bad dream.” She cast her mind back to all the fuzzy colors and sounds from the night before and rubbed at her sore cheek. “I don’t remember much of it, but I think I was running away from a monster at the end.”

He nodded sagely in sympathetic understanding before he brightened. “There’s supposed to be a monster in the woods. You wanna go find it?”

“Yeah!”

Immediately, the two of them ran towards the woods as one, darting in and out of the trees and shouting at one another. That lasted for a little while until Piper came stumbling out of the treeline, clutching her stomach with laughter because Leo had slipped in one mud puddle and landed flat on his butt in another. She looked up to see a very clean house with sharp white edges and stern gray walls, and she puckered her mouth up into a contemplative little knot. “I didn’t know people lived in the woods.”

“They don’t,” Leo scoffed. “We came out the other side already. This is Theresa’s house.”

Piper perked up. “You mean the lady you live with?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool. Can we go inside?”

Leo furiously shook his head, his eyes going wide. “Uh-uh. I told you yesterday: she doesn’t let me inside until sundown.”

“Oh.” Piper trailed her gaze across the house again before her eyes spied something of interest and she grinned. “There’s bars on that window over there. Do you have a monster that lives with you? Or a criminal?”

Instead of rolling his eyes or laughing and playing along, Leo shrank back at her words. He grabbed the hem of his shirt in both fists and pulled down on it, refusing to look Piper in the eye. “That’s my room.”

“Oh.” Piper bit her lip and glanced up at the window again. Suddenly, it didn’t seem nearly as cool and fun anymore. She instead turned to Leo, who was just as un-cool but still fun as she remembered, and she cocked her head to the side before giving him a decisive nod. “You should come spend the night at my house. It would be fun. You’ll like it.”

Leo looked at her suspiciously for a moment. “I’m not allowed to do stuff at night until summertime. Theresa said so.”

“Well, can I stay at your house?”

Leo actually laughed at that. “Even if Theresa wouldn’t kill me for asking, I wouldn’t. You don’t want to stay the night at that house.”

Piper puffed her cheeks out in a pout at the injustices of the world. “Okay, fine. We’ll wait for summer. Then we’ll have a sleepover.”

“If you’re still friends with me by then, sure,” Leo agreed easily. “Now, come on. Let’s go monster hunting.”

Piper nodded and she and Leo went back to the woods. This time, though, they didn’t run. They walked side by side, examining every broken stick and trampled leaf for any evidence of the beast they sought. She was in the middle of poking at the entrance to a little rabbit trail with a stick when she heard Leo call out, “Piper! I found something!”

Piper hopped over to his side, expecting to find him proudly displaying a snapped bush branch like last time, but instead she froze in her tracks, a vicious chill running down her spine.

It’s her! It’s that nasty, awful she-wolf!

There, in the mud, clear as day, was a massive paw print, nearly twice the size of her own hand, with several trailing off into the distance. It looked fresh. She swallowed heavily. “L-Leo?”

“Yeah?” Leo glanced up at her, but he was clearly startled by the look on her face. “Piper? What’s wrong?”

“Leo, are there wolves in these woods?”

“I-I dunno,” Leo stammered. He stood and backed away from the trail, a lot less thrilled about his discovery. “I’ve never seen any.”

“Have you ever heard them howling?”

“I dunno!”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Piper snapped. “You either heard them howl or you didn’t!”

“I’ve heard howling but I dunno if it was wolves!” Leo explained. “I just figured it was dogs!”

“What if it wasn’t?” Piper asked. Her breath was rattling in her chest as she took in terrified lungfuls of air. “What if there’s a pack of wolves in these woods? What if that’s what the monster is?”

“I– There isn’t a real monster!” Leo protested. “It’s all made up!”

“Is it?” Piper demanded. “You mean to tell me that no one has ever gone missing in the woods?”

Leo’s eyes widened and he was hyperventilating now, right along with her. “That-that doesn’t mean anything! People go missing in the woods all the time!”

Piper wasn’t listening to him. “I bet the whole pack is here. I bet they’ve got us surrounded,” she lamented. Tears pricked at her eyes. “Leo, I don’t wanna die in dumb old Laketown!”

“I don’t either!”

There was a rustling behind them and Piper and Leo immediately jumped together, clinging to one another in fear. “We’re gonna die, Leo!”

“I know!”

“They’re gonna eat us!”

“I know!”

“They’re gonna–”

“Why do you think you’re gonna die?”

Piper and Leo both screamed at the top of their lungs and spun around. Well, they tried to, at least. What they actually did was land in a big tangled mess of bruised limbs and stinging egos. Piper got her bearings first and she shook her head and scrambled out of the pile, scowling at the newcomer with her hands on her hips. “What’s the matter with boys in this town!? Don’t any of you know it’s rude to sneak up on people?”

The boy in question frowned gently at her and cocked his head to the side. He was about their age, and with his big blue eyes (only made bigger by the glasses he wore) and his fluffy blond hair, he reminded Piper of a Golden Retriever puppy. “Uh, sorry?” he said, sounding genuinely apologetic, unlike some very rude boys she’d met the day before.

“What are you doing out here?” Leo demanded. He was still on the ground, but he was in a proper sitting position at Piper’s side, arms crossed over his chest in an attempt to make himself look bigger.

“I’m taking a walk,” the blond boy said simply. “What are you two doing out here?”

“Huntin’ monsters. Duh.”

The blond boy didn’t look all that impressed with the answer, but he did seem interested. “That’s neat. Have you found any?”

“Not yet,” Piper admitted. “But Leo found tracks. We were gonna follow them and hunt the monster down!”

The blond boy looked more than a little skeptical, likely remembering the fact that she and Leo both had been in near-tears when he found them, but he was nice enough to not say anything. “Tracks? Where?” Piper gestured over to where Leo had found the tracks and the blond boy laughed after a moment of investigating them. “That’s not a monster! That’s Lupa!”

“Lupa?” Leo asked. “What the heck is a Lupa?”

“My dog,” the blond boy beamed. “Well, not really. My dad won’t let me have a dog, so she lives in the woods. She’s my friend, though.”

“Oh.” Piper suddenly felt very silly and her cheeks grew warm. “Can we, uh, see her?”

The blond boy shrugged. “Maybe. It looks like she came through here recently, so she’ll probably show up. She always does eventually.” Then he smiled and stuck out his hand. “My name’s Jason.”

“Uh, I’m Piper, and this is Leo,” she said, shaking his hand. 

Jason nodded, then offered his hand to Leo, too, who looked surprised that he’d gotten the same gesture as Piper, but shook it just the same as Piper had. Jason looked at Leo’s arm with his eyebrows puckered. “What happened to your arm?”

Piper glanced down to see that Leo had some dark bruises around his wrist, and she frowned as well. Leo just casually shrugged like it was nothing, though. “I tracked in mud and Theresa got mad at me.”

Jason nodded seriously. “My dad’s the same way. If I make a mess he’ll yell at me for, like, an hour, even if it’s not a big mess. He used to not be so bad, but my sister ran away last year, and he’s gotten extra mad and mean since then.” He looked over at Piper. “What about you?”

Piper considered that for a moment. Back in Oklahoma, making a mess would likely have gotten her a stern talking-to from her dad before he made her help him clean it up, but since they’d moved to LA it had taken more and more for him to pay attention to anything she did, good or bad. Since moving to Laketown, she’d occasionally wonder if he even remembered she’d come with him. She just shrugged. “He probably wouldn’t notice. He never notices me.”

There was another round of understanding nods before Leo huffed and flopped back in the leaves. “Well, now what? Our monster’s just a dog, so we can’t do that anymore.”

“Sorry,” Jason said sheepishly.

Piper tapped her chin in thought for a moment before she perked up. “Jason, do you wanna play Other World with us?”

“What’s Other World?”

“It’s pretend,” Leo explained before Piper even had the chance to open her mouth. “We found a cool tree yesterday, and Piper made up a whole world to play pretend in. She’s kinda bossy, but it’s still fun.”

“I am not bossy!”

Jason just laughed. “Yeah, that sounds fun!”

“We’ll have to see if we can find it again,” Piper said decisively. “Have you seen it before? It’s this hollow tree that makes a little arch. It’s got yellow leaves.”

Jason wracked his brain for a moment before he shook his head. “I don’t think so. I thought I’d seen every tree in the woods before, but that doesn’t sound like anything I’ve ever found.”

“That’s what I said when we saw it yesterday! ” Leo grinned. He hopped to his feet and started running into the trees, shouting over his shoulder at them. “Not it!”

Piper shrieked in delight, taking off after him with an echoed “Not it!” leaving Jason to chase them, once he’d gotten over his momentary confusion. They all ran through the trees, and Piper was horrified to learn that she was the slowest one in the group, though she could outmaneuver Jason when she put her mind to it, and Leo was so easily distracted that she caught him plenty as well. She got the feeling both of them just let her catch them more than a few times, but she was having too much fun to really care that much.

Then, just like it had the first time, the tree seemed to appear out of nowhere, though it didn’t require Leo to trip again. Its brilliant leaves stood out against the backdrop of green in a way that stole Piper’s breath and made her heart race, the same way it had the day before and in her dream. “Guys! I found it!”

Jason stepped up to the tree and gave it an appreciative once-over. “I didn’t know trees could live all hollowed out like that.”

“Cool, huh?” Leo grinned. 

“It is.”

Piper beamed, feeling an odd sense of pride before she dropped to her knees and started crawling. “Come on! Follow me!” Jason and Leo fell in line behind her, but before she could make it to the tree, a deep, threatening growl filled the clearing, making her blood freeze in her veins. 

It’s her!

Piper looked over her shoulder to ask Leo and Jason if they’d heard the growl like she had. Leo met her gaze, looking just as terrified as she felt, but Jason was on his feet, a delighted smile spreading across his face. “Lupa!”

As if on cue, the trees along the edge of the clearing parted and in prowled the single biggest dog Piper had ever seen in her life. Her fur was a thick, wiry gray, and her big yellow eyes shone like lamplights in the gloom, and they were both fixated entirely on Piper, who stayed frozen like a fawn in a wolf’s sights. Her movements were slow and deliberate as she walked between Piper and the tree to sit herself down in front of Jason.

“Uh, Jason?” Leo squeaked. “Are you sure that thing’s a dog?”

Piper honestly had the same question, but Jason just laughed and threw his arms around Lupa in a hug. “Of course she is! She’s the best dog in the world!”

In reply, Lupa thumped her tail on the ground and licked Jason’s cheek with her big slobbery tongue, making him laugh again.

“Uh, if you’re sure she’s a dog, I guess it’s fine,” Piper said hesitantly. She got to her feet and offered her hand for Lupa to sniff. “Nice doggy?”

Lupa watched her for just a moment, and Piper could have sworn she arched one of her eyebrows, but Jason scratched her behind the ear and said, “This is Piper. She’s nice,” and she leaned forward and licked the back of Piper’s fingers.

“That’s so cool,” Leo breathed from where he was half-hiding behind Piper’s back.

Jason looked pleased with the assessment. “Do you wanna pet her?”

Leo made a terrified choking noise and scrambled back, more than giving his answer, but Piper tightened her jaw. “I’ll pet her.”

Jason beamed at her and nodded eagerly, so she slowly lifted her hand and sank her fingers into the thick gray fur on Lupa’s cheek. Lupa watched her carefully, but she still tilted her head to make it easier for Piper to continue petting her. “She’s so soft,” Piper marveled in a hushed voice. She glanced over her shoulder at Leo, who was watching her like a hawk. “Leo, come on! You gotta pet her!”

“Okay,” Leo agreed, clearly not super excited about the prospect. Still, he lifted his shaky hand and patted it between Lupa’s pricked ears. 

Lupa watched him for a moment before she pulled her lips back and lunged forward just a bit. Piper and Leo both ripped their hands away from her and leapt back with a shared yelp, but Jason just laughed brightly. “She’s just playing, guys!” he said as soon as he caught his breath. “She won’t actually bite you. Promise.”

Piper was more than a little skeptical, but as if on cue Lupa inched forward to softly snuffle at Leo’s side before giving him a gentle headbutt. Leo was trembling from head to toe and looked about on the verge of tears, but he still reached up and petted her again. “N-Nice doggy.” Lupa made a quiet chuffing sound and licked Leo all over the face like she had with Jason, until Leo was a giggling mess in front of her. “Okay! Okay! Nice doggy!”

Piper grinned at the display before she turned to Jason. “Do you think she’ll play the game with us?” Then she frowned at the tree with a contemplative scowl. “Course, I don’t think she’d fit through the portal.”

Jason considered that as well. “Maybe she’s just part of the Other World. She could–”

Jason was suddenly cut off by the sound of a loud, menacing snarl, and they both turned to see Lupa had her teeth bared at the tree, her hackles raised and fur bristled all the way down her back. Leo was right in front of her, about to crawl through the arch, but now he was completely frozen in place, eyes wide and staring down the dog who looked like she was about to eat him for lunch. 

Immediately, Piper felt indignation swell in her chest and she stomped at Lupa, trying to look as big as possible. “Hey! You dumb old dog! You leave him alone!”

Lupa’s head swung around to stare at Piper, a deep growl rumbling in her chest. Piper wanted nothing more than to turn and hide under the nearest bed, but instead she held that steady, lamplight gaze and puffed her chest out and did her best to not look scared. A moment passed, then two, before Lupa made a disgusted-sounding huffing noise and she turned and fled into the trees. 

Piper let out a slow, shaky breath before she turned to Leo. “Are you okay?”

“’m fine,” Leo mumbled, refusing to look at either of them.

Jason was at his side, helping him to his feet, and he looked almost as shaken as Leo. “I’m sorry that happened,” he said earnestly. “I’ve never seen her do anything like that. I don’t know what’s wrong with her.”

“‘snot your fault,” Leo huffed. His gaze flicked to the side and he frowned. “Man, she really doesn’t like this tree.”

“She’s definitely not allowed to play Other World with us,” Piper agreed.

“I’m sorry,” Jason repeated, shamefaced. “I really didn’t know.”

“It’s okay,” Piper assured him. “We’ll just have to make sure your dog’s not around next time we play.”

Jason looked surprised at that. “You… still wanna hang out with me?”

Piper glanced over at Leo to gauge his reaction, but he just shrugged and nodded so Piper grinned at Jason. “Yeah! We can play now, if you want.”

Before Jason could reply, there was a sharp KRCH-BOOM! of thunder overhead and Leo scowled. “It’s gonna rain again.”

“It always rains in spring,” Jason reminded him with a remorseful sigh. “I’ve gotta go. If I get rained on, my dad’ll get mad at me and I don’t wanna get yelled at. Again.”

“Same here,” Leo agreed. “I can’t afford to bring any more mud inside.”

“Okay,” Piper huffed. If she had her way, she’d stay out in the storm, but playing in the rain wasn’t as much fun by herself. “You guys wanna meet here tomorrow?”

“Yeah!” 

“Sure!”

Piper nodded, satisfied with their answers before she turned and ran towards the woods. “Bye, guys! See you tomorrow!”

“Bye, Piper!”

This time, Piper did beat the rain home, and right as the front door slammed shut, she heard the bottom fall out of the stormcloud and a white wall of rain poured down from the sky. She heaved a deep sigh and kicked off her boots before flopping over the arm of the couch. Her dad liked to fuss at her for using the furniture like a jungle gym, but she figured if he wasn’t here to fuss, she could jungle gym all she wanted. She wished her dad was home to fuss at her, but he wasn’t. He had important movie star stuff to do. It was just her (and her weird neighbors) all alone in this big ugly house.

Just as the thought crossed her mind, the phone on the wall started to ring and she sat straight up to look at it curiously. After the third ring, it clicked off before starting back up, and she scrambled across the room to go answer it.

“Hello?”

“Yes, hello. Is this Tristan McLean’s daughter?”

“Uh.” Piper paused for a moment, deciding on her answer. “Who’s asking?”

“My name is Jane,” the lady on the other end of the line said shortly. “I am an assistant on the film set where your father works. He asked me to call you.”

Piper clutched the phone closer to her ear. “My dad? He told you to call me? Is he okay?”

“Mr. McLean is perfectly fine. However, due to the storm, filming has been delayed. He wanted me to tell you that he will not be home for dinner, but that he would arrange for a pizza to be delivered instead.”

“Oh,” Piper said softly, feeling her shoulders slump. “Okay.”

“Your father has also asked that I wish you good night, and to remind you to brush your teeth,” Jane added. “Now that I have, I believe we have concluded the need for this conversation. Good night, Miss McLean.”

“Good night, Jane.”

Without a moment’s delay, the phone went dead. Piper stood there with the phone pressed to her ear for a few more seconds, like she thought that if she waited long enough, her dad would pick up and tell her it was all just some silly joke. He didn’t. He never did.

Piper sighed heavily and hung up the phone. She slumped over to the waiting couch and wrapped herself up in a blanket like a little Piper burrito and pretended like she didn’t want to cry. 

Well, at least I get to have pizza.

[amazingmsme]

Wake Up (Proto)Call

AN: FINALLY, MY FIRST NPMD FIC!!! Been wanting to write this since I saw it, the brainrot is strong with this one. Just some Spankoffski bros fluff ft. Steph. This fic was an absolute blast to write! This trio literally own my heart now, wtf. Here’s day 29!

Ted walked down the hall toward's Peter's closed door, hands shoved deep in his pocket. He barely gave a knock before opening it.

"Hey Pete, got a min- oh. Well hello." Ted stood in the doorway awkwardly, looking like a deer caught in headlights.

Stephanie Lauter looked about the same, sitting on the leaning against the headboard with a book in hand and Peter napping in her lap. A blush quickly spread across her cheeks as a teasing smirk tugged on his lips. She gave a shy wave.

"Um, hi."

Ted walked into the room, milling about as he inspected his brother's shelves of action figures, comics and other nerdy memorabilia. He held a hand out for her to shake.

"I'm Ted, Pete's older brother." She arched a brow, but didn't shake his hand. He held his hands up in surrender. "Too cool for a handshake, hey, I get it." This seemed to snap her out of it.

"No! It's not that, you just- caught me off guard is all."

Ted gave her a skeptical, albeit amused look. "Mmhmm." He turned his back to her and grabbed a stack of comics. "I owe him 20 bucks now, so thanks a lot." Steph scoffed.

"Excuse me?" she asked incredulously, setting her book aside.

"I thought he was full of shit when he said he was meeting the mayor's daughter at Pasquale's, so obviously I made a bet," he explained as he started to sift through the stack. It was Stephanie's turn to smirk.

"And obviously you lost."

Ted snorted, but didn't pay her much attention beyond that. Steph frowned. "You know he's really particular about his stuff, right?" Ted turned around on his heels, bending at the waist to get closer to her height.

"Seeing as I've known him since birth, uh, yeah I do, lil miss," he snarked. Steph glared at him and flipped him off.

"Don't fucking call me that. I'm sure Peter doesn't want you snooping around his room anyway," she sassed back, crossing her arms, careful not to jostle Peter as he slept.

Ted rolled his eyes, somehow putting his whole body into it. "Yeah I was hoping he'd be gone, but asleep is the next best thing," he said, turning back to face her. "If you must know, I'm just trying to keep track of everything he's got. All this junk looks the same to me, and I can't just ask what he doesn't have, 'cause then he'll know what I'm getting him-" he started rambling.

Steph's expression softened into a grin. "His birthday's still a month away."

"Yeah, and I'm running out of time," he mused, setting the comics back where he got them. He even made sure they were ordered correctly, Stephanie noticed. He glanced at her, looking as though he wanted to say something. Stephanie scoffed and looked him up and down. "What?"

"I really wanna do this thing, but if I do Pete's probably gonna be pissed," he said, mischievous eyes glued to his brother's sleeping form. Mischief came off of him in waves Steph hummed as she reached for her book again.

"Then you probably shouldn't do it."

Ted took one step closer to the door, but meandered his way back to the side of the bed.

"Oh but it's a tradition. You see, it was always my job to wake him up for school, dude sleeps like a fuckin' log-" he started. Steph frowned and shook her head, a hand carding through his long hair.

"Don't wake him up, he's tired. I told him he could nap."

"Yeah but he has a guest over, and that shit's just flat out rude in my opinion. Besides, I think you'd really like it," he said the last bit in a singsong tone. She rolled her eyes and returned to her book.

"I'm serious, don't bother him." Then quieter, she added, "He's cute while he sleeps." He made a gagging motion while she was distractedly looking down at Peter, stopping right before she looked back at him.

Ted turned around in "defeat" and headed to the door, muttering, "Even cuter when he's being tickled." Now that got her attention.

"What?"

Her tone was joyous and inquisitive and when Ted looked at her, she had an evil smile spreading across her face. That's more like it.

Ted sauntered back, sitting on the bed next to his brother. "Oh yeah, one thing you need to know about my lil bro is that he's like, crazy ticklish. Seriously, you're welcome, I just gave you the key to getting anything you want from him," he chuckled, only have joking.

Steph was looking at her boyfriend in a new light. "Thank you. That is... very intriguing information."

Ted made a show of cracking his knuckles as he spoke, "This is one of the only ways to actually get him up. Yeah an alarm will wake him up, but he won't actually get outta bed, ya know?" He was hunched over Peter's sleeping frame with hands hovering over his torso. He gave her a sly grin. "I don't get to do this as often as I used to, so I'll take any chance I can get."

Steph giggled and ducked her head, "I don't blame you."

Peter was laying on his side with his head resting on Steph's thighs, his knees tucked close to his chest. Ted started poking up and down his side, slow at first but gaining speed as he went. To Stephanie's delight, sleepy giggles slipped past his lips as he began to stir.

Sporadic poking turned to scribbling and the small huffs of laughter grew more consistent. His hands swatted blindly at offending ones, but lacked the strength or accuracy to protect himself.

"C'mon Pete, time to wake up," he cooed, one hand trailing up to scribble at his neck. A tiny squeal slipped out as Peter scrunched his neck, burying his face in the flannel tied around Steph's waist.

"Tehed leave mehehe alooone," he whined in his half asleep state. It took a second for his foggy brain to connect the dots, but once they did he was wide awake. He shot up so fast it startled both of them, Steph even letting out a startled squeak. "TED WHAT THE FUCK? GET OUTTA MY ROOM!" he yelled and pointed at the door, face quickly turning red.

Ted sat on the edge of the bed, completely frozen with his hands in the air as if he'd been caught by the police. He was fighting off his own laughter, mouth gaping open in shock at the outburst. Shock quickly gave way to amusement.

He wore a sly yet somehow sheepish grin as he looked at Stephanie. "I promise he usually isn't like this," he joked, shooting her a wink.

"GET OUT!" Peter repeated, using his long legs to his advantage, kicking his brother in the back to shove him off the bed. Ted stumbled to his feet, giving his brother a bewildered look. What the hell was his deal? Oh right, they weren't alone.

"Alright aright, I'm leaving," he admitted defeat. He only made it two steps before Stephanie spoke up.

"No you aren't." Peter stared at his girlfriend, a look of utter betrayal in his face. Ted's brows furrowed in confusion as he turned back around.

"I'm not?"

"Yeah, he's not?"

"Ted here was just about to give a detailed demonstration on all your tickle spots," she said, so matter of factly. Both Spankoffski brothers scoffed in shock before she continued, "Weren't you?" She looked at Ted expectantly, cocking her head to the side. There was something almost... challenging in her eyes. As if she dared him not to comply to her demands.

"I wasn't planning on it, but if you insist!" It took little to no convincing for Ted to take the golden opportunity presented here.

"No wait!" Peter protested, about to bolt off the bed when a hand around his wrist pulled him back. His nervous smile grew wider by the second. "Steph, let go."

"No," she said, an evil grin firmly in place. She snatched for his other wrist, and he moved it out of reach just in time. He held his arm out to the side as far as he could while Stephanie stretched across him, trying to grab him. She took the cheaters way out in the end and scribbled in his exposed armpit, causing him to slam his arm against his side for protection, a bark of laughter escaping past his lips. She easily caught his wrist and pulled both of his arms above his head.

"Thanks for being so cooperative babe," she said and Peter rolled his eyes.

"You're not welcome," he snarked.

"I'd be nicer if I were you. She doesn't look like she holds back," Ted chuckled as he sat on his ankles to keep him in place. Peter kicked and tugged on his legs, but they remained firmly trapped.

"C'mon guys, this isn't funny!"

"Really? Then why're you laughing?"

"But I'm not-" Peter was cut off with a shriek when Ted struck, squeezing his younger brother's boney knees. He yanked his arms down, catching Steph off guard with the level of strength he displayed. His hands immediately moved to cover his face and clamp over his mouth.

"Oh yeah, forgot to warn you, he's stronger than he looks," Ted added casually, as if he wasn't making Peter scream with laughter. "But knees: major weak spot." Steph nodded in understanding as she wrestled Peter's arms into her hold once more.

"Ohoho you're one toho tahahahalk!" he managed through his laughter.

"This isn't about me though, is it? Nooo, it's about you," he emphasized his point with a poke to his tummy, making him try to curl in on himself with a squeak. Ted continued, "Anyway, his belly's also pretty bad," he noted, forming a claw with his hand and hovered it in the air. Peter saw what he was doing and shook his head frantically.

"NO! Tehehed Ihihi'll kihihill you!" he threatened through giddy, nervous giggles. His older brother merely shrugged.

"I'd like to see you try," he said, not quite as condescending as usual.

Steph had had enough just watching and shifted his hands under her legs so she could join the fray. She looked at Ted expectantly.

"Where should I start?" she asked, smiling at the indignant cry Peter let out. Ted chuckled in amusement.

"Well he's ticklish just about anywhere, so knock yourself out," he encouraged, ignoring the indignant protest that mingled with Peter's laughter.

"Yeah, but what's a good spot?" she pressed further, seemingly unsatisfied with the vague answer.

"Well if you wanna hear the cutest giggles ever then go for his neck. Oh! And if you scratch at this one spot behind his ears he'll snort really loud, it's hilarious!"

"TEHEHED! Shut thehehe fuck uhup!" he shrieked, his cheeks taking on a dark pink hue from the flustering conversation taking place overhead.

"Wow, is that how you talk to your brother?" Steph asked in a taunting tone. Peter shook his head, babbling protests spilling from his mouth as she skittered her nails over his neck. Ted really wasn't kidding: this was probably the cutest sound she'd ever heard her boyfriend make. She was smiling down at him, her grin stretched from ear to ear as she scribbled her nails just behind his ears.

Peter snorted and tried hiding his face in the crook of his arm, but it still left half of it exposed for Steph's viewing pleasure.

“Oho my God, that’s so cute!” she exclaimed, leaning so far into his personal space they nearly touched noses. Ted fake gagged behind her back, for no one’s benefit but his own. “Do it again,” she ordered, using both hands to scratch at that spot.

A loud squeal was abruptly cut off by a giggly snort, and Peter turned a shade darker.

“Steheheph nohoho!” he whined, kicking his legs futilely where they remained pinned.

“Steph yes!” he cried, ducking down to blow a raspberry on his neck. Peter threw his head back, wild cackles filling the air. Ted leaned back, looking impressed and proud.

“Wow, and I didn’t even have to tell you about that!” he teased, reaching out to tweak Peter’s hips. He yelped, twisting side to side.

When Steph blew the third raspberry, Ted decided to show a little mercy. He grabbed a lock of Stephanie’s long hair, giving a few gentle tugs to get her attention, “Hey, we wanna keep him alive, yeah?” Steph looked over her shoulders, leveling him with a harsh glare as she yanked her hair back.

“You do?” Peter asked breathlessly from where he laid beneath his tormentors. They both chuckled and finally relented.

“Mhm,” Ted hummed cheerfully, standing up from the bed and dusting himself off.

“You got a funny way of showin’ it.”

“Hey, what’re brothers for?” he asked with a shrug. He held his hand out for a fist bump. Peter scoffed, looked at the hand, then at his brother. He sighed in defeat and gave him a fist bump. He turned back towards the door, ready to leave for real this time, when he was stopped once again by a familiar voice.

“I’ll get you back you know!”

Ted stopped in the doorway, one arm resting against the frame as he casually leaned on one foot. Peter was sitting up now, leveling him with a determined stare. It was a look Ted had seen before. He smirked; Peter rarely followed through on his threats.

“Yeah? I’d like to see you try,” he said, classic condescending snark returning to his tone. He turned back around, only taking one step before another voice spoke up.

“He’s a lot braver now, you know.”

Ted spun around on his heels, retort ready on the tip of his tongue when he saw his brother standing by his bed, a confident smirk on his face.

Ted’s own cocky smile faltered into something a bit more nervous. He took a step back, holding his hands out in front of him.

“Hang on now, Pete. W-wait!”

Peter cocked his head, like Ted had done so many times at him. Well shit.

“Why would I do that?”

Ted saw movement from the corner of his eye and noticed Steph also stand.

“Hey, I helped you!”

“Actually, I asked for a comprehensive list of his tickle spots, and IIII don’t knooow… that didn’t seem like a fully comprehensive list to me.”

That little bitch!

Ted scoffed, “Did you just use me to get your way?”

Steph wore a truly radiant smile. “Get used to it.”

Ted took another step back. “I had to leave you some surprises!” he defended himself, shrieking when Peter lunged at him. He just barely escaped when Peter caught him by the shirt, sprinting out of his grasp. His celebration was short lived when he was tackled to the ground.

“Oh Ted, I bet you thought this day would never come. But it’s about damn time you had a taste of your own medicine.”

He could never take what he dished out.