#i really do have to wonder. nothing remains but the sense that something is terribly; terribly wrong.

[trainingdummyrabbit]

[gripping tablet pen so tightly it splinters] sometimes to get mentally well you have to be mentally ill .

[wasyago]

Falls in, i would love to hear about this decked out/failed cave exploration au pls pls pls already i am Bewitched

hehehe [in tango's voice] sighh i suppose...

really im very tempted to just let it sit and not tell anything, because it's so fun seeing people theorize and point out details in the notes. but yeah i guess i shouldn't gatekeep it, its a fun au!

i do want to state in the beginning that it was a one-off thing and i have no plans on continuing it or drawing more for it. if you do tho? feel free! (not asking for fanart by any means, but giving the green light if anyone was wondering)

well

-------

Pet crew were a group of cave explorers. They're no experts by any means but they were no amateurs either! (ignore the fact that they're not wearing any PPE, i didn't want to draw it, ok--) And recently they've been excited about mapping out a new cave system they found, completely unexplored according to their research.

Tango, always a big lover of his plans and spreadsheets, presumably decided to go in alone ahead of time to sketch out at least a rough draft for a map, so they had an idea of what they're going to be dealing with.

But see, this cave is not an ordinary cave, no matter how pristine and untouched it looked. It is one gigantic organism of unknown origin, and a hunrgy one at that, the air inside it is filled with little cells or spores that, when inhaled enough, start taking over the body and corroding it to the cave's will. Killing the host in the process.

So, obviously, after spending some time in the cave by himself, Tango did get some cells in him. Not enough to be noticeable, but enough to give him a headstart on the corruption when the group went in for a proper dive some days later.

The first symptoms of undergoing the change are pretty standard: light fever, weakness, dizziness — easy to mistake for a flu.

Which is exactly what Tango did. Of course, going caving with a flu is not a smart thing to do either, but the group has been planning this trip for so long, delaying it even more because someone was slightly under the weather would've been foolish!

The cave started off with a big drop, requiring a rope to be set up, and then sprawled into a system of tunnels. Tango and Pearl were very excited to find an entrance to some ancient tombs a couple of hours into the dive. There were stairs leading even deeper underground, which turned out to be an entrance to a bigger cave system, with a huge frozen lake in the middle and an entrance to abandoned mines.

Further symptoms include skin turning pale, graying hair, eyes starting to shift color to red. Previous symptoms remain and intensify.

Tango had always been pale, he had blond hair too, and in the dark it was hard to notice the white streaks in them. The pink cheeks were easily passed as a result of being in the cold. Pearl did express some concerns about Tango's well-being when he started to fall back a bit, but he dismissed it as just him getting tired. By that point Pearl seemed to also have some "frost" in her hair.

After the hair have fully turned white, the tips start to switch color to an unnatural blue. Skin eventually loses color completely, turning gray. Fever intensifies as body desperately tries to fight the infection.

At that point it was impossible to deny that something was wrong with Tango. There are no mirrors underground though, so to him it was just his flu getting out of hand. Guilty of hiding his illness, yes, but nothing critical. The blue hair however were not normal, and the other two were freaking out a bit more than Tango would've hoped for.

They had an argument.

Etho snapped and hit Tango to beat some sense into his stupid head.

By that point Pearl was clearly looking bad too, and Etho's own hair were apparently turning white. They were all feeling terrible, physically and mentally. They decided to head home.

As previously stated, the cave is in fact alive and can sense when something that belongs to it is trying to escape. In an effort to stop it, the whole cave system comes to life. Old animal carcasses rise and start walking, small screeching creatures begin patrolling the tombs, the ice melts and the cave blooms in dangerous ways.

When the crew exited the mines into the second level of the cave system, it was apparent that the way back would be a lot harder. By that point Tango was struggling to stand and Etho had to drop his equipment to carry him. But the fever and the dizziness were making it hard to move fast, the changed layout of the cave was difficult to navigate even with their map, and the way to the surface was still very and very long. It was obvious they couldn't make it out....

Unless they were willing to make some sacrifices.

Etho isn't proud of his decision, but leaving Tango was their only option! He and Pearl still had a chance to escape if they moved quickly, but Tango was just too far gone, he couldn't-- Etho couldn't carry him to the exit, he was getting too tired, and if they all stuck together it would get all three of them killed! Was it not better for at least two of them to survive instead of-

They had another argument.

Pearl stubbornly insisted on taking Tango, so Etho had to lie to her and say that they will come back once they scout out the way. Etho couldn't force himself to look at Tango though, if he did he would be met with this knowing look and he just couldn't bear it. Tango cried when they were leaving.

After the body succumbs to the fever it stays dead for a short period of time, while the rest of the changes set in.

It took a miracle for both Etho and Pearl to reach the tombs, but the hard part came after. Etho did everything in his power to convince Pearl to leave with him, he said they will come back later when they're better prepared, he said it was too late to help Tango, he said it was Tango's own fault, he said many bad things, none of which were enough to change Pearl's mind. She turned back and Etho didn't follow her.

He ran through the tombs and the caves alone, losing his eye to a monster he saw all too late. It was painful and it was disorienting, Etho doesn't even remember how he got to the initial drop they went down, he was panicking and only moving forward because of adrenaline and instinct. The ascend was a fever dream, Etho doesn't know how he didn't fall to his death then.

Through the rush of blood in his head, Etho heard the faint sound of Tango's voice. Too cheery for his feverish condition, and much, much closer, a lot closer than the place they left him to die in. He did not hear Pearl. The sound stopped when it was right under him, and he felt a light tug on the rope he was hanging of. And nothing else happened...

Etho emerged from the cave into the cold night, stumbling over his own feet, too tired to run. Their van was parked over by the entrance and Gem was already waiting for him. Him — shaking, bloody and alone.

...

The body reanimates again, now obedient to the cave's will. It is no longer alive but it is not dead either, frozen, stalking through the tunnels in a mindless haze.

[lowkeyremi]

YOU’RE DOING GREAT, MAMA !

pairing: ushijima x fem!reader note: this has been in my drafts foreverrrr. it’s finally seeing the world thank God. i need to write more abt toshi summary: your husband comforts you through postpartum depression. content: angst, fluff, bittersweet moments, marriage, implied pregnancy, reader doubts her ability to be a mother, etc

The three of you returned home after three days in the hospital. During those three days you haven’t really been yourself at all.

Your baby boy, Nao was born healthy and strong. He’s doing all the normal stuff a newborn should do, but for some reason when you look at his tiny face you feel dread pitted deeply in your stomach.

Shouldn’t you feel joy when you see your little baby’s face? A lump forms in your throat as you start to think of the worst outcomes. Are you… rejecting your child? There’s no way. You and your husband spent months waiting for little Nao’s arrival. You were so excited setting up his room and buying him stuff. The ultrasounds were also very amusing to look at.

None of that excitement remains right now. “You must be tired, honey. Since you’ve already nursed him I’ll put him to sleep.” Wakatoshi pulls you out of your saddening thoughts. He shoots you a look of worry, because you’re clutching your chest tight, like you’re struggling to breathe.

“O-okay. Thank you ‘Toshi.” A faux smile crosses your face just to try and reassure your husband. He walks off to Nao’s nursery with his baby carrier in hand, but you know that he knows you well enough to ask what’s wrong later.

While your husband put Nao to sleep you changed out of your clothes into some comfy pajamas and you head to the bathroom to pee, brush your teeth and wash your face.

As the minty paste foams in your mouth you start thinking about your son again and you don’t even notice that you’re crying until-

“Sweetheart, why are you crying?” His voice comes soft and he uses his big hands to wipe away your salty tears.

You spit out the toothpaste, and in a few seconds you’re rinsing your toothbrush and your mouth out.

“I’m not sure- I just- I-” you pause letting out a shuttering breath, how do you even explain something like this? “I’m not as excited about Nao as I had been before he was born…”

Wakatoshi engulfs you in a hug from behind. “I’ve noticed at the hospital how you didn’t want to hold him much.” He too pauses before continuing on, “I was reading into this a few months earlier, but many women get postpartum depression after their baby is born.”

“This doesn’t make any sense, we just brought a life into this world and I don’t even feel any excitement about it.” Wakatoshi rubs small comforting circles onto your stomach which hasn’t completely gone back to its normal size.

“‘Toshi am I a terrible mother already?” You ask looking at him through the mirror. His brows furrow at the suggestion and he shakes his head violently which almost cheers you up because it’s so out of character for him.

“Not at all. Please do not talk about yourself that way. You’re going to be an amazing mother. Just give it some time.” He’s telling the truth, Wakatoshi is nothing but brutally honest about things, so you have no choice but to believe him.

Although, everything feels like it’s not okay, you allow your husband to comfort you through these baby blues. It won’t last forever, you tell yourself, as you put your toothbrush back in the cup.

Wakatoshi kisses your temple, it’s so soft and delicate. “We’ve created a beautiful baby boy and he’s going to grow up with the most loving parents.” He means that too, Wakatoshi grew up in a divided household so it’s no wonder he wants his son to grow up in a household that’s warm and loving.

“You’re right, we’ll raise our baby boy the best we can. Thank you ‘Toshi. I really needed to hear that. I was starting to spiral.” He squeezes you in a hug again.

“It’s nothing, and if you ever feel yourself in these baby blues again, just let me know, so I can remind you that you’re a great mother.” What in the world did you do to deserve this man?

©𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐊𝐄𝐘𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐈 All works are written by me! Please do not copy, translate, or upload onto other sites thanks!

[simplyreveries]

Dorm Leaders watching their S/O beat up someone that shit talked them. And they do it without a scratch and walk off to them like nothing happened, and the only reason why they noticed was because of some blood on their uniforms

riddle rosehearts

the look on his FACE when he sees you straight up sucker punch someone for calling him names, most likely some student in his dorm telling him off frustrated and badmouthing riddle to their friends. he was speechless??? like??? he quickly regains his composure and manages to have you and the other (more so you) back off before anything more happens and it escalates. he may even temporarily use his magic on you two as a swift warning.

riddle will remove it once the student is gone and scold you for doing and resorting to such violence… though yes it was good that you had, good intentions with him and mind he’ll huff and tell you that is not how to do it! he’ll end up rambling in a flustered moment after having that happen and because out of defense? he's never felt that before or had someone to do that for him really.

he’ll ask and wonder if aces stubborn and fighting tendencies are rubbing off on you, he’d know as he GOT hit by him before. he’ll exclaim and be like “I told you, dear, they're a bad influence on you tsk..!” hehehe. he makes an effort to keep you strayed and quickly moved away if some situation like this occurs, especially after knowing just how far you are willing to go for him… after he’s gone on long enough to you about how that wasn't a good idea, you swore you could've seen a hint of a smile on him.

leona kingscholar

leona is used to hearing some sort of snarky hushed comments about him from other students, thinking he doesn't have such a keen sense of hearing, at times. he really could care less and mostly likely will not be caught thinking about it even later on. there were times where maybe yes, they would sting him slightly but that was when he was younger and, in the castle, hear comments regarding him and his place beside his brother. once again, he has gotten used to these kinds of things and finds it rather pointless to dwell on. he doesn't want to pity himself.

but… you are kind of the opposite when to him and he actually is genuinely shocked for once when he sees you getting personal and physical with some random octavinelle student that made some snide comment about him. leona had always known that you had an overprotective and forward flare to you— hell he loved that about you, but he actually was not expecting that one bit.

he will grab your arm and stop you from going any further from terrorizing this poor student, he’ll grumble what “an idiot” you are for getting yourself into such a mess, for a mere comment towards him. he’ll have some smirk on his face, he doesn't seem to be taking this seriously one bit.

azul ashengrotto

like leona he has had to learn to “toughen up” and learn to ignore them (though he does most likely take them to heart at times) he holds his front and persona ever the same remaining unbothered and frankly ignorant. he is quite used to others talking poorly especially as his reputation is poor among various students haha. but he doesn't seem to care, he is quite happy to see his business grow actually.

azul seems a little taken off-guard when you start a whole fight with not one but a group of students??? l mean, most violence he is used to is from the twins to some student who’s defiant to fulfill or deal with the effects of their deal. when he is past the initial surprise, he stops you and tells you to only ignore them, azul will claim its foolish to engage. he tries to keep a fake “oh terribly sorry about that...” to the students to make sure they won't do anything. if something were to happen though because you decided to pick a fight out of his defense, he could always send someone like floyd, not you!

not going to lie though, moving away he did feel a sense of pride knowing that you're someone that's so willing to go such lengths for him, not to mention, he's impressed. you’ll still find him going on and telling you that you shouldn't be doing that, it could lead you into some larger mess with other troublesome students. but he’ll chuckle and tell you he finds it endearing.

kalim al-asim

kalim is pretty liked for the most part by other students and his dorm, minus the whole fiasco that happened during his chapter. he is just the kind of person that wants to be able to get everyone's approval and he’ll stubbornly keep being persistent. however, in a school like nrc where they're so many people the opposite he is bound to get annoyed, mean comment from someone. SO, when you decide to take that extra personally, he is so??!! he is not one for violence like ever...

after he sees how willing you are to defend him by literally fighting the student, he absolutely will quickly get in between you two and stop the situation before it even begins to escalate, trying to make light of it all with a nervous smile and laugh, he doesn't want to see you or the other person fighting!

he'll look over you all worried, he doesn't want you or anyone to be hurt, especially on his own behalf. he just has this shocked and bewildered expression as he does so, like he is flattered and thinks it's nice that you care for him but not so aggressively! haha.

vil schoenheit

this man is a celebrity…. words do not affect him. he is really used to comments online but also around him during his school life, though he is surprised there are some so bold to be expressive about their thoughts of someone like him. he doesn't think much of them, at most shooting them some glare or even an unamused look from him. if he’s particularly stressed or upset about something beforehand he won't hesitate to throw his own comment as well.

he is shocked but carefully removes you before things get any sorts of serious after you decide to start that. the last thing he would want is for you to be hurt in some sort of silly reason, as he doesn't seem to care about what others think of him. if anything, vil would only be more concerned about you than that unpleasant student. he does know quite the temper and stubbornness you can get; he’ll move you by the arms away if he has to.

vil would look like he is frustrated but his face is just painted with concern for you— he’ll stubbornly bring you to his room and make you sit down in front of his vanity, leaving the student way being (frankly surprised that you decided to sucker punch them for talking ill of vil). vil will carefully tend to your hands, shaking his head. he’ll kiss your knuckles when he’s done, get your uniform cleaned and warn you not to do something like that again!

idia shroud

if idias feeling mean back (most of the time) he’ll probably just do something scummy to the person online and call it a day. but at the end of the day, he avoids people like the plague, so this happening is rare— he isn't exactly the most confrontational person either, unlike you who willingly get into the student's face getting slightly physical about to jump in and defend your boyfriend. that is until the student runs off.

he freezes and pauses for a moment, really unable to stop staring at you as the whole situation unfolding in front really trying to register what you just did. then he would give off his weird little snicker and giggle, after witnessing the whole thing, he finds it amusing that you're able to do that to some student, knowing you're a human— the magicless one yet you're able to do something like that for him??

honestly, he loves it, you've opened his eyes and made him realize that he is definitely attracted to that lmao. yet he groans when you go on and still fired up about the student, he’ll tell you it's too much of a trouble to do these kinds of things.

malleus draconia

he is quite used to hushed whispers and looks from passing students, though it is discouraging because he doesn't want that from others— there's another part of malleus if he's upset or feelings particularly spiteful for it… he could get really intimidating himself, no doubt about it, if he really wanted to. he never does anything too bad, but he sometimes messes with others if he is in the mood. at the end of the day though, he is used to sebek quickly charging up ready to defend his honor at any moment of the day and telling him calmly to let them be.

nevertheless, he is genuinely surprised when you suddenly are willing to fight people literally for him. he finds it entertaining at first but then when he realizes you're being serious and get tough with a particular student he's like OH. with the quick move his hand, he’ll quickly move you and pull you away with some magic and prevent you or the student form doing anything else.

he’ll have some amused look on his face, as he remembers the face on the student when you were about to swing at him. as he lightheartedly scolds you for being so rough and doing something that could end with you getting hurt.

[dyns33]

His Dark Sun

Time for me to post a bit more about Feyd Rautha.

"I dreamed of you."

First strange sentence from her betrothed when they met. Not really what Y/N expected from a Harkonnen, but not from anyone either. There were probably few people in the universe who would have dreamed of marrying her.

Children born under a dark sun were not highly regarded in most cultures. Bad omen, the certainty of something bad coming.

Absurd, according to the Bene Gesserit, who had often repeated that this had no impact on genetic heritage.

This kind of belief could serve them, like disrupting their plans.

This was almost the case following Y/N’s birth. Her parents, from one of the last great families of the empire, were afraid of her. They even wondered if it would not be wiser to kill her immediately, or if that would not risk bringing even more misfortune to them.

But they were also afraid of the witches, who ordered that they not touch the girl. She could be very useful in the future.

This was certain when Lady Jessica gave a son to Duke Leto Atreides. It was planned that she would only give him daughters, one of whom would marry one of the Harkonnen descendants, to ensure peace between the two families, but also for more confused projects.

Since it was not possible to marry young Paul to the Baron's heir, a new wife had to be found, because the lineage had to be assured.

The people of Giedi Prime worshiped their beloved Black Sun, so they were not the type to think that those born under an one were a problem. All their children were like this.

Under other circumstances, parents might have been reluctant to marry their daughter to a Harkonnen. They didn't really have a good reputation.

But at the same time, they remained an important family, one of the richest and most powerful in existence. In addition to forming an interesting alliance, they also allowed their clan to get rid of Y/N.

They could do whatever they wanted with her, even kill her, it would no longer be their problem the moment she left their planet.

As the eldest, it would have made sense for her to be given to Glossus Rabban, the Beast. But Baron Vladimir had favored his younger brother as his heir, and so she came to this dark city praying that Feyd Rautha Harkonnen was not as terrible as the rumors said.

He was more handsome than she expected. Anyway, as handsome as a Harkonnen could be, with no hair, eyebrows or eyelashes, his skin pale and his eyes icy.

Calm, polite, he advanced towards her before his uncle or brother could speak, making it clear that he wanted no one between him and his future wife.

"I've dreamed of you. Many times, since I was young." He said, kissing her hand to welcome her, his voice trailing slightly. “I suspected a witch.”

"I did not follow the teachings of the Bene Gesserit."

"I know."

The Harkonnens did not like witches. They had little esteem for their order and only respected them out of political concern, seeking every means to circumvent their authority.

It had been a surprise to everyone that the Na Barron would agree to a marriage they had orchestrated.

But Feyd Rautha was a man of honor, intelligent, ready for anything. On top of that, he had been intrigued by this story of black sun. He had inquired, he had seen a portrait of Y/N, and then declared that she was his.

Y/N had never dreamed of the Na Baron, and his attitude seemed strange, frightening.

She didn't believe in destiny. This was just another legend used by the Bene Gesserit for their own gain, nothing more.

But the Na Baron looked at her with amazed eyes, convinced that she was special.

It was very proud that he killed several prisoners in her honor in the arena, tearing out the heart of the strongest to offer it to her with fervor in front of the cheering crowd, delighted by the spectacle and the discovery of their Na Baroness.

Secretly, she thought that he could kill her like this the day he understood that there was nothing special about her, despite everything he might believe.

Y/N tried to make him understand it on their wedding night, afraid of what he was going to want to do while being convinced that she could accept anything from him.

"I am not as strong as my noble husband. I know that you have… You have particular tastes. If your expectations of me were too high…"

“Everything will be perfect.”

"Husband…"

"Say my name. Without shaking. My wife doesn't have to be afraid of me."

"… Feyd."

He didn't know how to be gentle, that was obvious, but for her Feyd Rautha did his best. At every nervous reaction from Y/N, he stopped for a moment to contemplate her, checking if she was just anxious because she was ignorant, or if she really didn't like what he was doing.

All her life, she had been mistreated, by her family, by other nobles, by her people. They were too afraid of the curse to touch her, but she had suffered greatly.

She never would have thought that the first person to treat her with tenderness would be a Harkonnen.

“No more tears for my Na Baroness.” whispered her husband, kissing her.

He didn't talk about it, but Y/N guessed that they had a past with similarities. It was common knowledge that young Feyd had been taken by his uncle to be raised on Giedi Prime, rather than staying with their parents.

In gratitude for this sacrifice, Glossus had killed their father, and his brother had killed their mother.

The slanderers claimed that they had acted on the Baron's orders, or with the aim of securing his favors.

But Y/N knew. She knew this bloody, dark desire that she had suppressed for a long time while standing next to her sleeping parents' bed. It would have been easy to slit their throats and be freed.

Feyd remained a prisoner, and not being able to kill his jailer, he attacked those who had allowed him to put him in a cage. Revenge, pure and simple.

Everyone had heard of the Baron's love for children. Why wouldn't he have loved his own nephew ?

He didn’t talk about it and Y/N didn’t force him to talk about it. Before each meeting with his uncle, he took her hand as if to give himself courage, and afterwards he avoided her for hours, days, because he did not wish to soil her.

Either he took out his rage in the training room and the arena, or he went to see his concubines.

He would have killed them all if Y/N had asked him to, just as he would have killed everything that had made her suffer.

But she saw that he cared about these creatures, obedient, without judgment, whom he could torture as he pleased knowing that that was all they were waiting for. There were things he couldn't do with his wife. He didn't want it, and neither did she.

So the Na Baron could continue to have his fun, while making sure his wife was happy.

The only time Y/N dreamed of Feyd, he was on a yellow planet. Sand everywhere, the sun beating down, and blood. A lot of blood. Bad omen.

Y/N could have said nothing. It was just a dream after all, nothing more, as all of Feyd's dreams meant nothing either, but he had been good to her, and she felt she had to talk to him.

He looked at her for a long time in silence, before nodding.

"Witches say there isn't just one path. Only possibilities. I saw us, ruling Giedi Prime, side by side, with our children. Your smile being the only thing that gave color at this place."

"… You think I saw your death."

"On Arrakis. My uncle just gave it to me. Rabban has failed, I must restore order there."

"It was very blurry. Feyd, I…"

"I will be careful, my Na Baroness. My sun. Now that I know of this possibility, I will be careful."

If she hadn't told him, no doubt he would have died with the Baron and his brother. Y/N could have said nothing, and she would have been freed from the Harkonnens, sent home where her family only wanted her dead, deciding to become the Baroness, or running away, far away.

But she had made a choice, and her husband was very honored by it. If she wanted him to live, then he would live, even if it meant some sacrifice.

He hadn't seen himself as emperor in his dreams, although he wouldn't have minded.

When a champion was asked to face Paul Atreides, Muad Dib, it was terribly tempting.

But he thought of Y/N, he thought of the dreams, and he bowed, knowing what awaited him if he accepted the fight.

In response to the emperor calling him a coward, he sneered that the old man should only take a sword and fend for himself.

Just before his uncle's death, Feyd had several tons of spices evacuated, to ensure a significant stock, while sending a message to the other great houses concerning the Imperium's betrayal of the Atreides.

Muab Dib had looked at him as if he were crazy, then something had changed in his face, a revelation, and all traces of judgment disappeared.

"… You dreamed too." he whispered, his face turning slightly towards a young Fremen girl, but his eyes not leaving Feyd, before quoting him. “Your pet.”

"My wife." the now Baron corrected him with a growl, refusing to let the Atreides compare Y/N to this savage he was going to betray to marry the Emperor's daughter. “My Baroness, who is waiting for me.”

"For her sake, I will let you go."

“Wise decision, because if you try to hold me back, I will cut your throat.”

And if they both knew the outcome of a fight for power, it was not certain that Feyd would not be capable of killing the young Duke with the motivation of finding the woman of his dreams again.

Both clever, none of them took the risk.

[lavendertales]

SEÑORITA: Chapter 9**

pairing: Javier Peña x Murphy!f!reader

summary: you get Javier to open up about his life in Colombia. meanwhile, when Steve invites the whole lot of you to brunch, it becomes tough to keep your relationship a secret, especially when Javier's confession burns on the tip of his tongue.

word count: 7k

series warnings: reluctant friends to lovers, lots of playful banter, mutual pining, slow burn, secret relationship, filthy smut; lots of flirting, love confessions, mirror sex, cunnilingus & fingering, some dry humping , cockwarming, lil bit of praise kink & gentle dom!Javi.

A/N: so hiiii yes I am not dead, I am just not really posting anymore but I will see this story through. idk if this is as good as I'd hoped, but I do hope you enjoy it nonetheless 💕

AGELESS/EMPTY BLOGS & MINORS WILL BE BLOCKED!

series masterlist | AO3

There’s loud screams all around him. Smoke, screams, and the unmistakable scent of death and despair, all around him.

Someone’s screaming for him. Saying his name on a loop. Javier, Javier, Javier. Followed by Javi. Then a toe-curling help me and please, and then—silence.

A silence so loud his ears are ringing and pouring blood.

Except when he looks around him, there’s blood everywhere.

Blood, mass destruction, and an impending sense of doom that no matter how far he runs, no matter what lies he tells, it never leaves him. It is then, in that very second as he’s looking down at the bloodied and bruised face of a woman he once thought he could be with and save, Javier realizes that sense of doom will never leave him. He will remain forever locked in its harsh and cold grip, forever followed by the inevitable shame and guilt, doomed to drown in them.

“I’m sorry,” he mutters. “’m sorry—I’m—I couldn’t—“

“Javi. Hey. It’s okay. Can you hear me? Javi. It’s me.”

His name on a loop, pronounced so carefully and sincerely, so rich with care and an almost soul-crushing sweetness, awakens him at long last. He’s disoriented as he looks around, his temples and forehead dripping with sweat. There’s a hand gently resting on his chest, steadying his heartbeat, and it’s then that Javier’s eyes come into focus and they see your face. And then slowly the realization that he’s no longer in Colombia, no longer surrounded by pain, comes into focus as well, and that he’s in his bed, next to the most wonderful woman he’s ever known.

“Are you alright?” you ask, gently rubbing his chest through the t-shirt.

“Yeah. I’m definitely better now.”

He cracks a reassuring smile and so do you.

“Nightmare?” you ask next.

Javier nods, rather hesitantly. “I was back in Colombia. In Bogota.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Upon noticing the hesitation on his face, you’re quick to add, “It’s okay if you don’t want to though. I don’t have to know everything about your past.”

Something about that feels oddly endearing; Javier hasn’t met anyone who has been as kind and understanding as you and for every genuine word you throw at him, for every gentle caress of his hand or his cheek, he feels his chest impossibly lighter, as if all the pain he has been carrying with him for the past few years is beginning to wear off at long last.

Though his tongue aches for verbal release, Javier isn’t certain that he wants to burden you with the horrors he had witnessed and done in Colombia. You are far too tame to handle such harsh realities, even if you clearly expect the truth and nothing but it.

“I did things I’m not proud of,” he lets out in a coarser than expected voice. “Terrible things. Either for information or out of… helplessness or desperation.”

You don’t say anything; you adjust your position so that you face him clearer, even in the darkness, and let him continue.

“I’m no saint, by no means. I guess sometimes I thought my actions were justified because the end result would be good. But it rarely ever was.”

And before he knows it, Javier is telling you the chapter of his life which he deemed closed some time ago, from start to finish: he tells you about him and Steve and how they worked together; he tells you about working with the most gruesome group in all of Colombia in order to get to Pablo Escobar; he tells you about Helena and how he cared about her and how he got her traumatized simply because he pushed her too much for information; he tells you of all the people he threatened, shot, of all the plans he made and failed, how he got the so-called promotion in Cali and how it meant that Steve was the one who ended Escobar eventually. By the end of it, it’s nearly morning and you’re cuddled at his chest, listening to him breathe and caressing his cheek.

“I appreciate you opening up about this,” you murmur. “I know it can’t possibly be easy.”

“It is. It feels easier with you.”

You smile, chastely kissing his lips. Javier’s chest rises and falls with each additional shaky breath he takes as he forces his mind to collaborate with his mouth in order to get out those pesky three words that have been pressing on his conscience for weeks now. Yet the way you kiss him tenderly and sweetly, as if to reassure him that he’s safe and sound from any harm in this world, it shuts him up real good.

His mother once told him that when he’ll meet someone special, he’ll know it and he’ll know just what to say and when. He was still a kid at the time and he dismissed his mother’s words, but now he feels them to be truer than ever.

“So if we were in Colombia,” you say suddenly as a smirk graces your lips, “would I be one of your girls?”

Javier turns to you, faintly amused. He cocks an eyebrow at you, his interest visibly peaked.

“What?”

“Would I be one of many girls that fall at Javier Peña’s feet? One of the lucky ones who get to go to bed with him?”

Something aches inside Javier as you pose that question. It’s a playful one and while you have no ill intentions behind it, it dawns on Javier that the idea repulses him on a certain level. The idea of you being just another pretty face to add to that seemingly endless list of conquests, another forgettable name on there… he doesn’t want that.

Especially not when the reality could not be more farther from the truth.

“No,” he responds, shifting closer to you and removing a strand of hair from your face. “No, absolutely not.”

You smile, somewhat confused. “Why not?”

“Because you’re—better. You’re—you’re everything, you—“

His heart starts pounding, his throat feels beyond dry and it feels as if there is a huge ball of fire in his chest, waiting to burst at the slightest movement.

“I—what?”

Tell her. Tell her now.

Tell her you fucking coward!

“We should get some rest,” Javier mutters, stroking your hair and coaxing you into his arms so that you fall asleep as soon as possible. Once you do, he finally exhales, still burdened and haunted, but much more secure in his decision to finally come clean to you tomorrow, no matter what.

Except that when tomorrow comes, Javier receives an unexpected invitation.

“You free in about two hours?” Steve’s voice asks through the phone, and Javier gulps out of instinct.

“Yeah, think so. Why?”

“How would you feel about having brunch with me and Connie?”

He falters, and it’s as if Steve can sense the hesitation on his part because he’s quick to add, “Hopefully my sister’s gonna be there too. Also Sylvie and her boyfriend Zack, they’re coming too. You know, my sister’s friends.”

“Right, yeah, I think she mentioned them at some point.”

“Yeah. I thought a nice friendly meal would do us all good. What do you say?”

Javier meets your face from the corner of his eye and notices the question written all over it. He shakes his head briefly, a little “I’ll handle this for us” sign, and resumes his conversation with Steve.

“Sounds nice, I’m in,” he tells Steve.

“Great. Just gotta call my sister now. Or hope to get in touch with her at least.”

“Just call her, I’m sure it’s gonna be fine.”

The moment he hangs up, he stares at you with the same guilty face he’s been having whenever Steve’s been around lately.

“You need to go to your apartment,” he tells you in a grim voice.

You frown. “Are you kicking me out?”

Javier makes a face. “No, of course not. But you need to go to your apartment because your brother’s gonna call you and you need to answer the phone.”

“I could be sleeping in. It’s Sunday, after all. I could’ve been out last night. Hell, I could’ve been with somebody. Maybe I was with Dean and we—“

“Okay, stop.”

You try not to smile seeing the bothered look on Javier’s face. Instead, you inch closer to him and wrap your arms around his neck.

“Aw, honey, are you jealous of Dean?” you peck his lips.

“I think we’ve already established that I was. But not anymore. I’ve got you, and he can go suck a lemon for all I care.”

You scoff, kissing him again, utterly enjoying the sensation of Javier simply melting into your arms, into the kiss you share.

“You really should stop with this because if you don’t, we’re gonna be stuck in here for the rest of the day, spent and sweaty,” Javier warns, to which you cock an eyebrow at him.

“Okay, so what did my brother want?”

“He invited us to brunch.”

“Us?”

“Well, me. And he should be calling you any moment, so if you could go to your apartment and answer the phone, I’d really appreciate that.”

“But I could be—“

“Please. For me?”

You roll your eyes, sighing. “Fine. You’re lucky I’m sweet on you.”

Javier presses a kiss to your cheek, stroking your hand.

“But we need to set up some ground rules for this brunch,” he tells you sternly.

“Rules? For what?”

“We said we’re not gonna tell Steve about us until we’re ready, and we’re not really there yet, so no sitting together, no touching, no looking at each other unless absolutely necessary.”

“Don’t you think that makes it more suspicious?”

“Hopefully not.”

You chuckle. “For someone who used to be a bad boy, you sure like setting down rules.”

“I’m just saying—okay, just—just go upstairs.”

“Ooh, yes, sir.”

He knows you’re joking; he knows you’re teasing him, especially in that falsely impressed and sultry tone of voice, and yet a part of him still twitches at the thought of you being so willing, so malleable and needy for him.

It’s a thought that will never leave his mind—or his body.

The little bistro Steve chose—aka claims, because everyone knows Connie is the one who actually picked it—for the brunch is quite cozy: floral arrangements adorn the outside windows, little lights hang from the walls on the inside, and plenty of people buzzing and chatting, completely immersed in their conversations.

If he were honest, Javier preferred if the two of you showed up at this brunch separately—although in hindsight, that would probably raise more questions instead of burying them for good. But he still has a knot in his throat even when you assure him that nobody’s going to bat an eyelash and that they will all think you coming together here was nothing more but an act of convenience.

“I’m telling you, it’s fine,” you sneakily squeeze Javier’s hand. “Could you at least try to look less constipated? Just—you know, for at least an hour or two.”

Javier frowns at you, taking a deep breath and taking one last, long look at you, as if he’s trying to memorize every single detail about you. You crack a smile.

“It’s going to be fine,” you reassure him. “You care far more about Steven’s opinion than I do. I don’t care if he finds out.”

“I kind of do.”

“I know you do. And it’s so sweet. But so what if he finds out? I mean… what’s he gonna uncover? That his little sister is in the healthiest and best relationship she’s ever had?”

“With his friend and partner whom he particularly asked not to fool around with his little sister.”

“Javi, we’re not just fooling around.” After a pause, you continue somewhat concerned. “Are we?”

“No, absolutely not.”

“Then you shouldn’t worry this much.”

It’s quite astounding how fast you’re capable of calming Javier down with minimal effort. But it works, and when the two of you enter the place and take your seats at the table, greeted by the rest of the party, Javier breathes a little easier. He avoids Steve’s eyes as he shakes hands with Zach and Sylvie, guilt weighing on his conscience like the heaviest boulder. He tries his best in remembering your words that this isn’t about Steve, it’s about the two of you and your newfound happiness, but alas, he remains just a little bit stiff throughout brunch as conversation starts flowing between all of you.

On the brighter side, Javier smiles to himself seeing you and Steve engaged in conversation, laughing with each other. You’re sitting side by side to your brother, which means Javier is right in front of you and gets to notice the two of you mending your relationship.

Then he thinks again of how hopelessly in love he feels with you, how he has been for the past several weeks, if not more, and how it’s all happening behind Steve’s back. Maybe you were right, though; maybe it wouldn’t be so bad for Steve to find out at last. He’d find out that his little sister is happy, and that his best friend is content, at peace.

Would that be so bad?

And then he feels your foot rubbing against his, sneaking its way up, just in the slightest; he inhales a sharp breath, giving you a death stare, and he gets his answer.

Maybe it would be so bad.

“I hear you finished writing your book?” Sylvie asks you, redirecting Javier’s attention to the subject matter.

“I did,” you proudly say. “I need to do the final editing, run it by someone, but I’m pretty confident it’ll be out by next year. At least that’s the hope.”

“That’s so damn cool,” Zach says in between mouthfuls.

“Truly amazing,” Connie adds.

“I’m so proud of you.”

Everyone turns to look at Steve, who’s got the brightest smile on his face and his glass raised up. They all follow suit with the gesture, toasting your accomplishment as you stare at your big brother.

“Really, I am,” Steve goes on. “I’ve always been. Always thought you’re amazing. Much cooler than me.”

“By miles.”

The table laughs.

“But it dawned on me that I never really told you this. So… I want you to know that I am very proud of you, every day. And I love you.”

“Thank you. And I love you too.”

“Here, here!”

 The conversation begins to flow easily afterwards: Connie shares Olivia’s latest endeavors and how she started walking; Zach and Sylvie talk about their relationship and how it is to live together, to which you make a tasteful joke about her pretending to still live with you as well and how you and Zach basically share Sylvie; then Steve talks about work and how he enjoys it, being similar and yet different than what he used to do in Colombia. Javier remains silent during this portion, sipping on his black coffee and pretending not to feel your leg sliding up his.

“What about you, Javier?” Sylvie asks.

“What about me what?”

“How do you like it at the precinct?”

“It’s okay.”

You eye him briefly, affectionately rubbing your leg on his shin, concealing a smile as you see him squirm in his seat.

“Javi’s having a bit of a tough time adjusting,” Steve intervenes.

“It’s police work. It’s what I know, and it’s what I do.”

“It’s what gives you nightmares.”

Everyone at the table turns towards you, the same surprised look on all of their faces. You shrug, ignoring Javier’s deadly stare.

“And you know this how?” Steve asks reticently.

“By talking. By asking and by actually getting to know people, Steven.”

“Let’s move on, shall we?” Javier suggests.

“What do you mean?” Steve resumes, focusing solely on you. “I know people, I talk to them.”

You take a deep breath, maintaining a neutral tone even if your pulse increases rapidly.

“You refer to Javier as your best friend, but besides work, how much do you really talk to each other?”

“We talk.”

“Sometimes too much if you ask me,” Javier adds.

“Point is, he is my best friend.”

“Really? Did you know that he has night terrors? Not nightmares, terrors. And not every night, but he has ‘em. He mumbles and groans in his sleep, sometimes cries or even screams. He apologizes over and over to dead people, to you and to Connie.”

“Oh, Javi…” Connie mumbles.

“Do you know how I know this?”

There’s a lightbulb moment happening inside Steve’s head, and it is perfectly legible on his face as he stares at you, then at Javier, who gulps. Steve says your name, still processing, and it is only then that Javier stands up abruptly, his eyes shooting right at you.

“Can I talk to you for a minute? All the way over there?”

You raise your eyebrows, quite surprised, but nod and follow Javier all the way to the buffet table. You notice the little crease between his brows, the way he purses his lips and you can tell something’s making him uncomfortable. Suddenly the thought makes you feel guilty.

“Javi, I’m sorry if I crossed a line—“

“You thought at brunch would be a good idea to rub your leg against me? With your friends and brother right next to you?”

You furrow your brows, even more taken aback. “Okay, not where I thought this conversation was headed,” you confess.

“Tell me.”

As much as you’d like to deny it or pretend like it doesn’t affect you, Javier’s demeanor is getting through to you in ways you wouldn’t have thought possible; the way he’s being so adamant about his request, his voice low and husky—

“I thought it would be fun, yes,” you shamelessly admit.

“You gotta stop it because otherwise I might excuse us again and fuck you in that bathroom.”

Speechless, you stare at him, mouth ajar and heart pounding in your ears. You find yourself incapable of saying anything for the next few seconds, and even more shocking, you find yourself seriously debating Javier’s words.

“Don’t tell me you’re actually thinking about it,” he says.

“Don’t tell me you’re not,” you chuckle.

Javier huffs, frustrated to the point of taking his own words into consideration.

Except he is trying really hard not to be that kind of man and be more respectful and wary.

“Gotta be honest, I thought you were gonna be upset about me saying you have nightmares,” you mutter.

“No, I’m upset because you were rubbing up against me with your brother right next to you, and I can’t keep going like this. So either you tell him about us, or I do.”

You stare at him incredulously. “Wait, seriously? You wanna tell him?”

“I need a clear conscience. And I really need it so next time I fuck you, I won’t feel so guilty.”

You chuckle, stroking his arm. You’re fully aware that the gesture hasn’t gone unnoticed by the four people who are most likely still staring at you two, but all of a sudden, you no longer care. Javier is right; just as he doesn’t want to deny or hide it anymore, neither do you.

So when you return to the table, the perfect comeback is hatched from your brain.

“Sorry about that,” you smile, turning straight to Steven.

“What’s going on?”

“As I was saying, do you know how I know all of those things about Javier?”

“Don’t say it.”

“I’ve been spending the nights at his place. Every night for like three months now.”

Connie and Sylvie are the only ones smiling, except the latter is sipping from her cup of coffee with utmost interest.

“Three months?” Steven repeats. “So you chose to sleep with my best friend to what? To prove a point, to—to laugh in my face?”

“Neither. Actually, it did start as a way to get back at you. But as it turns out, he’s great in the sack.”

“As advertised,” Javier adds.

“And you wanted to skip brunch today,” Sylvie whispers to Zach, who’s watching the exchange as speechless as Connie.

“Don’t—“Steve shakes his head.

“Oh yeah, he’s fantastic. Knows his way around a woman’s body better than she knows it. I’m talking about waves and waves of endless pleasure.”

“I think I’m gonna throw up.”

“Actually, I think I might too. We haven’t really been careful, you know? It’s been a lot of sweaty, rough and yet so passionate—“

“Okay, stop! Why are you being like this? Both of you!”

You exchange a glare with Javier, both of you smiling at each other.

“Like what? Wild, unhinged?”

“Kind of, yes!”

“The way you’ve been treating me since I was 15? Which I haven’t been in years, by the way.”

“Please tell me you were using some form of birth control though.”

“Ew, shut up! Would you calm down already? We’re both responsible adults, we know what to do. Besides, we’re not just sleeping together. We’re going on dates and spending time together and… we like each other.”

“We’re not just fooling around,” Javier adds, unable to look away from you. “I’m in love with her.”

You stare back at him, ignoring Connie’s soft oh my God in your vicinity, even Sylvie’s I fuckin’ knew it towards Zach.

“Javi, it’s okay, you don’t have to—“

“I love her, Steve. And I did keep my promise to not fool around with her. What I can do is promise to keep her safe and treat her with respect and care.”

It dawns on you that this is the first time you’ve heard Javier say those words, and realizing he also hasn’t said them since his last real relationship. It’s a huge milestone in both your lives, and the fact that Javier chose this moment to confess makes you realize how much he must care about you.

“It’s true,” you add. “I—I love him too. I have for quite some time.”

“I fuckin’ told you,” Sylvie smiles. “I told you, and I knew sooner or later—“

“Not now, Syl.”

“Right, sorry. Continue.”

“Honey?” Connie presses her hand to Steve’s shoulder. “Don’t you wanna say something to them?”

“I’m really sorry, guys. I never wanted to… to treat you this way, to push you even further, sis. I guess I was just afraid that what Colombia did to me and Javier would be too much for you to handle. I know Connie got overwhelmed at some point. Rightfully so. But after all, I had her to come home to. Javier was… alone, and burying his problems in alcohol, cigarettes and random women. Relationships were out of question for him, and I saw what Colombia did to him overall, what all of that did to him. I didn’t want any of that for you. I obviously want you both to be happy, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. And I see you guys now being so happy with each other… it makes me happy.”

“We’re sorry we didn’t tell you earlier,” Javier says. “I guess we needed some time to figure things out ourselves.”

“Doesn’t matter now. Point is, I know my sister, she’s an amazing woman, and I—I missed the angle where that might be something good for Javier. Which it clearly is. And clearly he was full of shit when he said you’re not his type.”

“Just out of curiosity,” you intervene, “what exactly is Javier’s type?”

“The usual sexy, sultry woman.”

You raise your brows, to which Steve panics. “Not that you’re not! I mean, not that I think you as my sister are sexy… okay, this is weird, let’s move on.”

“Yeah, let’s.”

“I meant, you’re more the next door girl kind of woman, I suppose, and Javier usually went for the ‘right in your face sexy’ kind of a woman.”

“Relax, I know. I’m just teasing you.”

“Yeah, it’s what you do best.”

Everyone laughs, with Connie affectionately rubbing Steve’s arm.

“But listen, as glad as I am that we are talking about this and being open and mature about it, please do be safe, okay?” Steve says, and you make a face. “Also I know this goes without saying, probably—hopefully—but please don’t have a baby just to spite me.”

“Steven—“

“Please, I’ve learned my lesson, I swear. I promise I’ll be good! I’ll stay out of your relationship, just don’t—“

“Steven!”

“I’m not totally ready to be an uncle. I need to mentally prepare myself for a baby that’s half Murphy, half Peña.”

You roll your eyes. “Would you relax? We are not there yet. We may never be there. I don’t know. I don’t know what the future holds for us, but for now we’re good the way we are. Plus he’s teaching me Spanish too.”

“Oh, that’s nice.”

“But don’t worry, we only do it when I get a full sentence right.”

Seeing the scandalized look on Steve’s face, you burst into laughter, and the rest follow suit.

“I’m kidding! Oh my God, it’s so fun messing with you.”

“Something is seriously wrong with you.”

You can’t help but share the laughter with the rest of the company, never quite managing to capture Javier’s eyes in your direction, not even on the way home. It only hits you the weight of the words that had been hastily, yet calculatedly, been spilled at the brunch table among friends and family once you get the inside of his apartment. You look around, finally allowing the day’s events to hit you, and then you turn to look at Javier, a warm smile gracing your face.

He confessed to everyone present that he loved you, standing up to your overly protective older brother.

“What’s going on?” Javier asks.

It somehow still surprises you that he’s able to capture the concern on your face, even when it’s not there. You’re not concerned this time around. Quite the opposite; you’ve never felt more at ease and more impressed by a partner. Granted, not that you had many serious relationships in the past, but this right now with Javier, it has so much potential to be something grand that it astounds you.

“About what you said before,” you start, your heart thrumming in your ears. “At brunch.”

Then it hits Javier as well. He inhales deeply, steadying himself.

“Right. So here’s the thing,” he clears his throat. “I’ve only ever said those words once before, and as we know, it didn’t end very well. Okay, in all fairness, it wasn’t paradise city from the beginning, it was more of a masked—that’s not the point. Anyway—“

You conceal a chuckle, staring at him with anticipation and a warmth that exceeds any expectation.

“I’ve only said those words once,” he resumes, “and I did mean it at the time. But I wasn’t really… in love when I said them. It didn’t feel like it should. But now, I think for the first time in my life, I feel those words the way they should feel. I thought I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t do relationships because I suck at them and there was never any time back in Colombia but… I think I just needed to find my match.”

You take his hand into yours. “Javi…”

“I’m serious. I’ve never met anyone so witty and funny, so—so badass. Frankly you could probably kick my ass and I’d be hella turned on.”

You don’t stifle the hearty laugh that escapes your mouth this time, and it triggers the same reaction out of Javier.

“The point I’m trying to make is… I meant what I said. I didn’t just say it to shut Steve up. I—I do love you. The best that I can, which I don’t think is near enough to what you deserve, but… I’m trying to do better, to—“

You cup his cheeks, kissing him tenderly. Javier blinks surprised at you, and his flustered face with his big brown eyes is so sweet it weakens your knees.

“You’re doing just fine, Javi,” you reassure him. “Are you kidding me? You’re so attentive and sweet and—and I love you too.”

Javier blinks in surprise again. Somehow it slipped right by him that you could reciprocate his feelings, hence why he’s rendered speechless for several seconds.

“What uh—I mean… you do?” he finally asks.

“I do. I love you. I should’ve said it sooner, I think, after you turned my story into a book. That’s… kind of when I knew. I guess I chickened out.”

“You chickened out? Why?”

You sigh. “Because… I never said the words before.”

“Wait, you never said ‘I love you’ to someone?”

You shake your head, slightly shuddering. “Well, you know my dating history and patterns, so none of those boys stuck around long enough for me to actually develop real feelings. And there was never any real connection between us. All we really had—“

“Ah, okay, I can—I can visualize what you had.”

“Aw, honey, are you jealous?”

“No. Just… not really a fan of picturing you have sweaty sex with some douchebag.”

“How about if I have some sweaty sex with a very good man?”

Though his interest visibly peaked, Javier still gulps at the notion of being referred to as “a very good man”. It’s the lie he’s told himself countless times back in Medellin and Cali and Bogota, and the same lie he operated under with the hope of excusing his horrid choices. But to hear now as something factual, something that someone as wonderful as you actually believes in…

“You could,” he finally says, stepping closer to you.

His hands roam around your waist, teasing from the small of your back; shivers run down your spine, prickling your skin.

“Is this how you were with the women back then?” you dare ask.

“Why the sudden interest?”

You shrug. “Not sudden. I’m a writer. Everyone has the potential to be an interesting character. Besides, I find the Javier stories fascinating.”

“That so?”

“Mhm.”

“Well, that Javier isn’t really around. All he was good for was some fast and rough outlet for release and… not much more.”

“So I take it that dominant, needy Javier is gone?”

He raises his brows, chuckling at the way you’re sneakily handling him. A part of him still fears this power you hold over him, but a bigger part of him is thrilled even by the still of your hand, let alone the way you’re capable of handling him.

He’s never had that, he realizes; he’s never had a woman meet him right where he’s at, handle him like a pro and then some more, and he enjoys it far more than he would’ve expected.

“I meant gone as in… gone on a vacation, not dead.”

You smile, teasingly playing with the hem of his shirt.

“That what you need now?” Javier teases.

“I want whatever you’re comfortable with giving me.”

That’s what ultimately sets him off. So when he finally kisses you, it’s rugged, needy and asserting dominance, but there’s also something very tender in the way Javier is holding you, pulling you into his body. Javier’s sole focus right now is exposing more of you to him, feeling you as close as humanly possible; therefore, he doesn’t tell you just how affected he is by your choice of words. He doesn’t tell you that this is the weakest, yet strongest he’s ever felt. If someone were to ask him how he feels, he’d easily reply “disgustingly happy”, words which he never used before.

He doesn’t tell you any of this; he lets actions speak louder. Calloused fingers, accustomed to manhandling and roughhousing, caress and cup your ass. With each passing second, the kiss you share deepens further, his pulse quickens and his jeans become more and more constricted. Never mind that it’s the middle of the day, in broad daylight; Javier wants—needs—to marvel at every inch of you, exactly as it is.

“Whatever you want from me,” he tells you through a shuddering breath as he slowly undresses you, “it’s yours. Anything.”

Javier surprises himself at how malleable he finds himself to be, caught under your spell, but he does not care one bit. When you look into his eyes and see his blown out pupils, you know he means it. You feel his words to be true.

You smile as you close your eyes and pull him in for another hasty kiss, stumbling your way to the bed. Javier strips you slowly, stealing kisses down your body while a breath catches in your throat. The sun shines right through the big windows on this crisp fall day, so there’s nothing to hide. It’s only when Javier’s hands finally pull down your panties and expose you to him that you notice you’re facing the mirror hanging from the wall of his bedroom. You shiver and on cue, Javier’s hungry eyes look up to meet yours. He smirks—because of course he does, son of a bitch.

“It’s a great view, isn’t it?” he murmurs, tentatively licking a stripe up your pussy.

His eyes don’t leave you when you sneak another glance at the mirror: it’s not huge, but big enough to fit your naked body and Javier’s head right between your legs. No good words cross your mind, even if your mind is in overdrive, begging your mouth to release some form of verbal speech. Your knees buckle and your heart beats rapidly when Javier takes his first taste. It feels like the first time he’s ever done this, though it’s really old news by this point. Recently you thought Javier’s existence is limited to one place and one place alone, and that is in between your legs, based on how much he loves spending time down there—whether he’s snug inside you or eating you out.

“Watch how gorgeous you are when you come on my tongue,” you hear Javier’s voice, lustful and dark.

“Presumptuous, aren’t we?”

You laugh a little, but it quickly fades when you feel two digits moving slowly in and out of you, a tongue collecting the slick gathered in your most sensitive spot. His nose nudges your clit, his whole mouth is seemingly buried in your pussy, and all you can do is moan helplessly, let one of your hands grab a handful of his hair and keep your eyes locked on the way your body curves and aches at his mercy. God, he’s so needy, so eager to please you and to give you orgasms; almost like this is his purpose in this world.

“Does it feel good?” you hear his husky voice.

His fingers feel like they’re splitting you open while you nearly fall apart in his mouth, and at the same time it’s not enough. It drives you insane.

You nod frantically, locked in the same trance of watching yourself getting ate out by Javier.

“With words, señorita.”

Oh fuck. You hadn’t expected that, certainly not the reaction it triggers out of you.

“Yes,” you exhale. “It feels so, so good, Javi.”

“Good. Touch yourself.”

Though your mind is in a haze, you’re able to follow his instruction. Your hand bolts to your clit, rubbing in circling motions. That, paired with his fingers pumping in and out of you and his mouth like a hot furnace devouring your pussy, it doesn’t take that much longer to get you to where you desperately need. Seeing you like this, being able to make you feel this way, it’s all getting to Javier too; he’s gotten so hard by this point it’s borderline masochistic how much pain he’s voluntarily taking in, so he unconsciously starts to rub against the edge of the bed. The friction is so good, but nowhere near enough. It’ll have to do for now, he thinks. He needs to get you off first.

A moan is harshly ripped from the back of your throat, your legs jerk and nearly trap Javier between them as pleasure jolts throughout your body. It’s electric, overwhelming, and simply unmatched. It’s too much all at once, to look in the mirror and see how painfully needy you are for this man, how beautifully fucked out you look in at this very moment. You notice his hips, desperately humping the bed, unbeknownst even to himself.

Javier pulls out his fingers, only his tongue remaining on your overly sensitive area, the strokes of it now gentler. You tug on his hair to make him attentive, and when he looks up, you see his face contorted in a mixture of delight, pleasure and neediness. And just like that, your body aches again, only this time for something more.

“Ah fuck,” Javier groans in his fast attempt to dispose of his clothes. “Didn’t notice I was—“

He sighs right as you smile, taking in the sight of a naked Javier, all in broad daylight for you to savor. He’s so hard now it almost pains you, so when you make a motion to get to him and stroke him, Javier nearly swats your hand away.

“Why not?” you ask with a pout.

“Because it’s gonna be a fucking miracle if I last more than a few seconds and I wanna be inside you when we come.”

You raise your brows. “We?”

“What did I tell you in the beginning that you’ll always have from me?”

“At least two orgasms.”

“I live up to my words.”

He’s wrapped the condom around his cock, now crawling in between your legs, the place he has claimed as his own and by far the most incredible place he’s ever resided in. He’s done this plenty of times before now, it’s nothing new; and yet, this very moment which reeks of anticipation and desire, this single moment in time when his hand is curled around his cock, guiding himself to your already soaked entrance, Javier wishes he could freeze it, keep it to himself forever.

When he slides right at home, deep inside you, you both moan in tandem. And it is the most damnable, beguiling and intoxicating sensation he’s ever known.

Probably because you’re not just another girl passing through his life and his bed. You’re not another random face or a number to the list of women he’s been with.

You’re the woman he loves, the woman he’d take a bullet for if he had to, the woman he’d move mountains for.

“Javi?”

You have this ability to bring him back with his feet to the ground whenever he tends to wander off, and Javier is nothing if not grateful for it, particularly now.

“Can you move? Please?” you plead and it’s so sweet he could come just from that.

Javier chuckles, the sound resembling that of a madman—and he supposes he is one, in a sense.

“Keep lookin’,” he instructs, a little bit of his Texan roots slipping in his tone as he starts to roll his hips. “Want you to watch how good you take me. How—beautiful you are when you take me.”

The grip you have over his shoulders tightens as his hips pick up a moderate pace, pounding into you with a mixture of greed and love. The more he sinks into you, whispering sweet nothings and giving the occasional order, the more you feel pressure building inside your belly. You do as he says, watching your body writhing beneath his in the mirror, and you shudder. His back covers a lot of the frame, so you mostly notice him from behind, pounding into you, and your nearly limp body underneath, taking him as he is giving himself to you.

The sensation of having him atop of you is stellar, something almost like it was meant for you and you alone; Javier’s stealing the occasional kiss from you, his hips more erratic with each additional thrust and his mouth whispering that he’s so close, so fucking close.

“D’you see?” he manages to get out through a wicked smile. “See how—how fuckin’ good you look hmm?”

“Yes—yes, I see it—“

“Mhm—good girl. My good fuckin’ girl.”

Javier loses any train of thought, be it rational or not, and when his orgasm finally hits, it’s all too much and too sudden, and when he can’t stop cussing or thrusting furiously into you, you cup his cheeks and tell him a simple “I love you”.

And he lets go, almost violently.

He’s struggling to catch his breath when he feels you spasming around him, and there’s pride to be felt even when he’s dumbfounded that you came almost at the same time.

“I’m sorry,” he says, and you make a face at him trying to regulate his breaths. “I was kinda hoping… I’d last longer.”

You kiss him sweetly, gently, still feeling him ache inside of you. “It’s the sexiest thing,” you murmur.

“Having the endurance of a teenage boy?”

“No, the idea that someone needs you this desperately they can’t hold themselves in one piece. I love that. And I love you.”

Javier pecks your lips. “I don’t think I’ll get used to you saying that.”

“You should.”

“I love you too.”

You stay snugged up like that for who knows how long, while the sun rays beam down on your naked bodies. And then it starts to get dark, and you’re on Javier’s lap, slowly riding him and kissing him, aiming for nothing in particular but intimacy.

previous | next

tags: @pedrostories @psychedelic-ink @milkymoon2483 @ifall4dilfs @casa-boiardi @fallenkitten @jenispunk

[thetarttfuldickhead]

It would never have happened if not for Dr. Fieldstone. Now, Leslie’s delighted about her joining the Richmond team on a more permanent basis – she works wonders with the lads (and one head coach who shall remain unnamed, if only because he’s still a little sensitive about seeing a therapist) – but it does mean that Leslie’s once more out of an office. Just for the moment, of course, until he can find a suitable space without kicking anyone else out of their room. It’s really no hassle. He’s doing fine on the bench just behind the recyling bins outside of the copy room.

Or he was, until Roy Kent stops by just on the other side of said bins and, seemingly entirely unaware of Leslie’s presence, starts fiddling with his phone in what can only be described as an angry way.

It’s Roy, so that’s nothing out of the ordinary, and Leslie’s just about to offer a friendly greeting when he hears the hollow rings of an outgoing call and ah, it’d be terribly rude interrupt, wouldn’t it? 

For a long moment there’s nothing but beep after beep and Roy’s muttered pick the fuck up you fucking prick and then—

“What the fuck do you want?” 

Jamie’s not on speaker, but the sound’s loud enough for Higgins to not only recognize the voice but to hear every word, and the jagged, slightly petulant edge to them. 

“Where the fuck are you?” Roy growls. 

“How’s that any of your business? Training’s fucking over for the day, Coach.” Spat, more or less.

“Don’t be a fucking— “ Roy cuts himself off. “I need to see you.”

“Why?” 

“Fucking hell! I wanted to… I want to fucking apologize, all right!” Roy sounds very, very annoyed about it.

“You can do that over phone. Or in a text.” Jamie sounds slightly less annoyed, but not by much.

Leslie dares crane his neck just so to sneak a peek at Roy’s face. Roy has closed his eyes, looking pained as he grits out a simple, strained: “No. I can’t.” 

“Why the fuck not?” 

Roy looks to the ceiling. Looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. Still he plods on, and Leslie feels a small surge of pity, small surge of pride. 

“Because you’ll want to hug me afterwards,” Roy says, “and you can’t fucking do that over phone, can you?” 

There’s a long pause. Leslie finds himself holding his breath, and not only because he’s halfway terrified he’ll start nervously gagging if this goes on for much longer. 

“Fine,” Jamie says eventually. “You can meet me back at my place in twenty.”

“Yeah, okay. Cheers.” 

A snort, somewhere between derisive and exasperated. “You better fucking hug me back.”

With that, Jamie hangs up. Roy takes a few deep breaths before stomping off and leaving Leslie to carefully consider what he’s overheard. Obviously something must have happened at training and if their head coach and star player have a proper falling out and Ted’s not there to talk some sense in them—

Eh. They’ll sort it out. Leslie returns to his e-mails.

[lucagray813]

Short Drabbles

Summary: Short reflective drabbles for a variety of LMK characters

Chapter: 1/?

Chapter Navigation: First | Prev | Next | Last

Chapter Information

Rating: T

Word Count: 1,067

Characters: Macaque, Wukong, MK, Mentioned LBD

Relationships: Hints of Macaque & Wukong (could be interpreted as Shadowpeach), hints of Wukong & MK

Additional Tags: Angst, Character Study

CWs: Heavy Angst, Musings as to the damage to the body and soul caused by resurrection, mention of impotency

Link to AO3 Version

----

Macaque - Soul

Binding one's soul to a body was no small task but it could be done. And even done relatively pain free if the one casting the spell had the skill and inclination. And while the Lady Bone Demon had doubtlessly had the skill, she'd had no such inclination.

She had torn his soul apart just so she could stitch it back together again.

He couldn't say for certain that she had even stitched all of it back together, for all he knew there was very little of his original soul left, and he wasn't sure if it was worse to imagine it with gaping holes or as an unholy amalgamation of many.

Either way it was infused with her magic, her very essence threaded with his to keep it all together. And he was sure it must be a grotesque thing to look at, deformed almost beyond recognition. The Ten Kings would likely just have it destroyed if they ever got their hands on it again.

But now that she was gone, the magic that had kept it together was fading.

His soul was coming undone at the seams and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

[A/N - Similar vibe to Better to Forget (AO3 | Tumblr)]

----

Wukong - Immortality

Wukong had once feared his own death more than anything else. And that fear had driven him on an obsessive quest for immortality. Taoism, peaches, wine, pills, the book of the dead - he was possibly more immortal than the gods themselves and yet his fear persisted.

Even now, as his immortality haunted him, he still felt twinges of fear at the thought of his life coming to an end. But it was a manageable fear - he no longer ran from it, he no longer obsessively tried to stop it.

Heaven could rest easy.

In its stead however a new fear arose - the fear of another's death. Something that he'd never even truly considered until Macaque's bloody corpse lay at his feet. But the seed had been planted and with every subsequent death its roots dug deeper into his heart.

Where once he ran from his death, he now hid from others'. He isolated himself, he refused to give any soul the opportunity to leave him again. The loneliness was terrible but the grief was unbearable.

And then MK happened.

Wonderful, incredible, mortal MK.

There wasn't a day that went by that Wukong didn't sit with an immortal peach in his hand and consider the possibilities.

----

MK - Pain

We both fight for what we think is right, and that pursuit only leads to one thing...

To pain.

The Lady Bone Demon's last words haunted him. They filled him with a terrible fear of himself - of his destructive powers and of the dire consequences his decisions could result in. He had the potential to cause untold suffering to so many people and the fear was almost crippling in its intensity.

But he was slowly realising that that wasn't all that the Lady Bone Demon had meant, if that's what she had meant at all. He had been so focused on the pain that he could inadvertently cause others, he hadn't stopped to consider the pain that they could cause him, nor the pain he could cause himself.

----

Macaque - Senses

Resurrection really wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Sure, he was alive but there was no denying his body wasn't what it had once been, his senses irrevocably damaged.

Food had to be over seasoned to near toxic levels for it to taste or smell of anything, his remaining eye was less reliable than his shadows for perceiving the world around him, and he could only be grateful that his hearing had been supernatural in nature before his death, for while diminished, it was still more impressive than that of any mortals.

Gentle touches barely registered and his tolerance for pain was now so high he had to regularly check himself over for injuries, not able to rely on himself to register it without physically seeing it. It was a bit of an annoyance to not realise you were bleeding or had broken something but honestly it was a worthwhile trade off to finally have a reprieve from physical pain.

He supposed he had to be grateful as well that he'd never had a great deal of interest in sex prior to his death and that he had little time for it now he'd returned or he was sure he might feel something about his apparent impotency.

Had he come back to life with anything other than a desire for revenge he was sure he'd be agonised over his body's shortcomings. As it was however they were just inconveniences that made his mission all the more difficult. If anything they only added more fuel to the fire.

It would have been nice to get his revenge and live out a life finally free of Wukong but his body had clearly not been resurrected with that in mind, the Lady Bone Demon had just needed him functional enough to complete his half of the bargain.

This body just had to suffice in order to fulfil his revenge. As long as Wukong was finally burning in hell Macaque didn't even care if he was right there with him.

[A/N - Idea explored further in Shadow (AO3)]

----

Macaque - Peace

Finally free, Macaque had taken to doing absolutely nothing. He'd find a spot on Flower Fruit Mountain for the day and just kick back and relish every breath he was alive to take.

Today he lay in the middle of a field, the sun shining upon him as the grass gently caressed him, and his appreciation for the gentle breeze that rustled through his fur could not be put into words.

He didn't yearn for adventure, he didn't want for more, neither had ever brought him the peace that simply lying here with a familiar heartbeat just on the peripherals of his hearing did.

He ignored the small whispers and stirrings in his mind and heart that wanted to reject the peace that stone heart brought him. Let him have this, he told them. In this moment, let him indulge in peace without questioning why it was Wukong that it was forever intrinsically linked to.

--Chapter End--

Next Chapter

LMK Fanfic Masterlist

[dairy-farmer]

It's almost midnight and I'm not entirely sure how to phrase this, but this idea will not leave me alone.

Bruce, Dick, and Jason are good people; obviously, they wouldn't be heroes/vigilantes if they weren't. And part of being a good person is being revolted by sex crimes, especially against children. The Bats always hurt the sex criminals a little more than any other bad guys... And yet they're all fucking the underage new Robin, Tim.

Jason has forbidden children from working the corner, and kills a pimp who tries to turn out a kid anyway - then goes back to the manor and bends little Timmy in half. Dick saves a young woman from a date rapist, breaking the guy's arms in three different places - then goes back to his apartment where Tim is visiting and they 69 for almost an hour. Bruce helps the Justice League take down a worldwide sex trafficking ring - and returns home wake up Tim with a surprise fucking.

Eventually someone in the hero community finds out (it's honestly shocking how little effort the bats seem to be putting into hiding this horrific thing they're doing), and because it seems so out of character they bring in Martian Manhunter/Constantine/Wonder Women's lasso to check if they're being a mind controlled or lying about being good people or something. But? There's no sign of mind control or magic spells. And when Wonder Woman questions them they don't try to lie, even in the standard bat 'lies of omission or talking around in circles so it seems like they answered but they actually didn't' way. Of course they're fucking Tim. Yes, it's been a few years and no Tim isn't even 15 yet. Things get very odd though when Diana offhandedly asks how they could possibly do such terrible things, because all three say that there is nothing bad or terrible about what they're doing ... and the lasso doesn't blow or burn them. They are telling the truth, or more specifically, they believe what they are saying is the truth.

After a lot of back and forth it's established that Bruce, Dick, and Jason only feel this way about Tim: when the situations and circumstances around Tim are presented in an ambiguous way, the three are rightfully angry and horrified. But as soon as those actions are applied to Tim, they immediately change tune. It's completely baffling and makes absolutely no sense!

Until they go to question Tim and Constantine, having never met Tim before, exclaims that 'he's a fucking succubus!'. Turns out that Tim was not aware of this, and neither were the bats, yet Tim had managed to somehow subconsciously edit in a type of 'Tim Exclusion Clause' to the Bat's sexual morality about minors and children. The reason Constantine hadn't caught it before when he scanned for magic is that it's not a compulsion or an enchantment or anything like that, but more along the lines of a 'glamor' - Tim isn't making them want to have sex with him, he's just kind of editing out of the morality and rational thought that would point out why they shouldn't be attracted to him or want to.

Honestly not sure where to go with this from here. The Justice League probably ends up not doing anything because like, Tim is totally into it and also needs to have sex to remain healthy, and his morality edit glamor has no effect on the bats actions towards any other people or children. I don't know why, I just really liked the idea of "The bats find 'xyz' actions absolutely horrific... Unless it's them and Tim, in which case it's totally different and cool".

yessssssssss!!!!!!!!!this is so good!!!!!! tim being a succubus and no one knowing and him ending up using his powers unconsciously to make it so that tim fits in his own category, outside of 'grown up' and 'child', existing outside the barriers that would normally prevent the bats from fucking him.

the way that none of them see anything wrong with the fact that they're fucking and sharing tim, they don't make any effort to hide it and in fact the justice league aren't the first people to find out. there have been visitors to the manor who have seen or heard things and have just never bothered to say anything because bruce is...bruce and the amount of money he has would ensure their silence if they ever tried to say anything so they don't even bother trying and just resolve that it's typical rich people depravity.

tim being a succubus and it affecting his sweet admiration for batman and nightwing and robin. he's a young succubus, a baby succubus and so he can't fully control his power- the ones that allow him to cross paths with them one night while he's spying on them with the telescope he got for his birthday on the roof of his parent's penthouse.

tim had always been a little different from his peers, from the other children. he'd always been more...advanced. more mature with an indepth knowledge about people and what felt good, what made them lose sanity and control. tim couldn't help it, couldn't resist his own body and the way it just hummed with a hunger and need.

but all that had happened was counselors and teenagers bringing his parents in, accusing them of things and their son of being a seducer and that this was a school for decent people. and so tim was made to home school.

until robin stumbled across him. until he was charmed by tim's earnest demeanor and need to please. for nightwing and batman it's the same.

they stop by to visit tim, increasing the length, they don't reject tim's invitation in, eager to show them his photos taken from his telescope and his room.

tim's room in that quiet little penthouse is where they fuck him for the first time and fill tim's belly in more than one way.

they bring tim home eventually, to the manor to play more and also because they liked him, they liked having him around and seeing him giggle and laugh when they weren't crouched over him fucking their cocks into his little hole.

sex with tim is different, it's better, deeper. it's like they can feel at peace with the world when they're with tim and not fall so deeply into the darkness of nihilism and crumbling faith in the world after doing their jobs for so long and seeing the worst humanity had to offer. tim grants them reprieve from that and so of course they grow attached to him.

for the most part sex with tim doesn't feel like sex, it doesn't carry the heaviness it usually does. where before dick and bruce would balk at sharing a partner, with tim they did it without blinking. they'd even keep talking about a case through it while tim whined between them.

dick and jason would discuss entire sex abuse cases while taking turns fucking into tim's little hole, neither of them seeing anything off about spending time with their timmy.

even after they find out tim is a succubus nothing in their brains switches. they still never see anything off about what they do only that their friends go green with sickness when they talk about fucking tim. it's not like they dislike tim either, if anything they seem very...concerned for tim?

either way nothing ultimatly changes but it does take the league awhile to...adjust. they're not sure how to tackle it.

constantine had told them that depriving a succubus was akin to torture and removing the succubus from their...feeding ground was tangential to genuine abuse especially since tim was essentially harmless and wasn't actively praying on people instead opting for willing donations.

but...they can't just ignore how it looks. if new members join the league, if other people find out about it...it just LOOKS bad. it makes them feel weird to act like they approve of it.

but constantine just huffs at them, says their sensibilities are surprisingly delicate and that they need to learn that the world and wider universe won't always necessarily obey their version of morality.

they just need to make peace with the fact that succubi can fuck anyone and thing, that they mature at different rates than humans and while this one might look like a human at a sexually underdeveloped state it was in fact very much a succubi that has begun to feed and establish territory.

and that unless they could prove a compulsion, which constantine had already said there wasn't, there was nothing more they could do.

but constantine sees how unsure and shaken they are and moves to give them some modicum of comfort, telling them that this is no different to finding out their colleague fucks dogs, only difference was that this dog could talk and assure them it was okay.

oddly enough that still doesn't make any of them feel better but constantine had tried and so takes his leave knowing all was right with the world since he got that phone call asking for help because batman was fucking kids.

in the end the league does have to let things be. no one was getting hurt and their colleagues weren't being made to do something.

they do write up a brief to forewarn memebers who might cross paths with the bats. they don't go into much detail but do their best to make sure they're aware of the situation.

that doesn't end up helping much when a pair of dimension travelers stumble across the unfortunate sight of batman with his adopted succubus some years later but they intervene when things get ugly.

of course it doesn't get any easier explaining it to others but they try.

[tessatales]

The Sins of the Winter Soldier Chapter 2

Pairing: Bucky x Female reader

Warning: Non really, Nightmares still?

Notes: slow burn romance, find the first chapter here.

A/n: Hey! Thank you everyone who read the first chapter! Here’s the second with several more backed up ready to go :)

Tags: @scott-loki-barnes @kandis-mom @identity2212

Chapter 2

It took exactly one week for you to break your promise. You never intended too, but something about that night had drawn you to exactly where you shouldn’t be.

You’d woken up from another nightmare, your alarm clock clutched in your hand like a weapon as you scrambled to ground yourself. Once the demons had run away and your heart rate had calmed, you’d decided to go for a walk, the shadows in your room looking more and more like bad memories the longer you stared into the dark. Padding through the halls, you’d picked up a bag of cookies you kept for bad night’s as you passed the kitchen; your feet silent as you wondered the dark corridors.

You’d been wondering for a while before you realised where you were, the normal halls and doors being replaced with the reinforced scaffoldings and deadlock entrances.

Shit

You were stood in the doorway of the Pit then. Panic rising in your throat as you wondered if you’d already messed everything up.

Does he know? Can he sense me? I’ll have to leave again. Shit shit shit

Placing your hand on the door, you took several deep breaths, imagining the square technique Natasha had told you about. The memory of her hand on your back from the first time you’d experienced an attack at the tower throwing itself to the forefront of your mind as it battled against itself. When your breathing finally steadied, you watched as the subtle glow from your powers faded from your skin. With the room around you no longer spinning, you steeled yourself for something stupid.

With a final deep breath, you engaged the lock on the Pit deck. Striding into the quarters before you had chance to bottle it.

The room was dark, the only light coming from the edges of the cell itself. Since your first visit, the Winter Soldiers cell had been furnished with a simple bed. Or at least it looked like a bed. The remains of it were scattered about the cell floor like they’d been imploded from the inside. The only thing intact being the thin army style blanket that must of once covered the frame.

He wasn’t stood this time. Instead he sat amongst the chaos, legs crossed and eyes closed as he seemed to sleep. You knew he was awake though. You knew it in the slight hitching of his arm as he heard you approach.

“Hello” You said to the dark, your voice loud in the empty observation deck. The Winter Solider didn’t move.

“I know you’re awake.” You carry on, taking a step closer till you stood at the very edge of the main cell deck. He opened his eyes then. You couldn’t see him properly in the dim light, but you felt the chill of his gaze as it settled.

“Are you comfortable?” Your hands fiddled with the bag of cookies clutched in front of you as your voice echoed around the room. He said nothing.

Unsure what to do, you took a seat on the top step, opening the cookies and taking one out.

“These are my favourite. When I was younger, I had a terribly good imagination. Still do really.” You began to ramble, needing to fill the silence.

“My issue was my imagination was very good at taking bad things I’d see on tv and such and making them worse. So I’d have a lot of nightmares” You continue, taking a small bite of the cookie.

“So when I’d wake up after a nightmare, my mom would scoop me up and take me down to the kitchen. We’d bake any cookie or cake I wanted, then stay up eating them with milk until I was so full I’d fall asleep” You finish, taking the final bite. The Winter Soldier remained motionless, nothing in his posture showing that he was even listening.

“I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I shouldn’t even be here. Your handlers want me for my powers. Though I’m sure you already know that. You’ve probably been plotting how to get out and take me to Hydra since I was stupid enough to wander in here.” You say, your voice becoming fragile as you thought out loud.

“But I’ll tell you a secret. I’ve decided I’m not going to fear you. You know why?” You ask the motionless man before you.

“Steve doesn’t shut up about you. You’re his best friend. And if he believes the old you is in there somewhere. I’ll believe it too.” You finish, brushing the crumbs off your legs as you got up.

“Goodnight” you say over your shoulder, never looking back at the man in the cell as you left.

A/n: Chapter 3 can be found here

[thenightfolknetwork]

I am an antichrist.

The Real thing, born to a seventh virgin daughter after her soul was consumed by my father, Satan, in a ritual of fire, glory and light.

I was raised as instructed by The Book— Don't ask which Book, you don't want to know, the knowledge would melt your eardrums— to be the destroyer of the world, the prince of sins and the devourer of souls. I am the One Who Will Bring Fire to the earth, I am the One who will run the blood of innocents through the streets and boil the sea with my mere desire, I am the dark side of the moon, I am humanity's nightmare, I am—

I am 12 years old.

And I'm at school.

I just learned about ecosystems: The delicate balance of a food chain, the harmony that exists in the earth when a network of fungi extracts nitrogen from the earth and a rotting tree leaves the soil rich for next spring.

I found out about corals recently too. They are alive and an extremely complex life form for something that will never move, corals don't die as long as nothing kills them, isn't that a strange and wonderful concept?

I always wanted to be the World Destroyer.

It never occurred to me that bringing hell to earth would mean no deer or bees or coyotes.

If you increase the average sea temperature by more than two degrees, millions of corals will die. I don't know if I want to boil the sea if that's the end result.

But I am the Antichrist and I like being the Antichrist. I like to be Apotheosis, the crack in the glass, the rotten apple, the mercury in the water.

But I also like the world as it is, even if it doesn't bow down to me in fear.

What do I do?

(What do I say to my father?)

This is the problem with prophecies – they always put the subject under such a tremendous amount of pressure! I feel sure that, if your father had simply not mentioned his plans for your future, you would have grown up without these anxieties and likely gone on to fulfil your unholy purpose without a second thought, in a time frame that felt sensible and natural to you.

Instead, you've been burdened with a terrible and unreasonable amount of responsibility. No wonder you're feeling torn! This is more than any twelve year old should have to consider.

The important thing to remember is that you don't have to make a decision about this right away. You are the Antichrist and you will remain the Antichrist while you take a little while to decide the best course of action for you. The end of the world will still be there when you're ready for it.

As to the apocalypse itself, this is the other reason prophecies can be so frustrating. They are simply never specific enough to be helpful. Yes, you may be destined to end the world – but which world, exactly? And how much of that 'blood of innocents, boiling seas' stuff is literal, and how much is just a religious scribe getting carried away with himself?

In my experience, there are many, many ways a person might fulfil a prophecy without having to bring a fiery demise to this particular realm of existence. You might take a short hop over to another reality and destroy an uninhabited world, for example.

Alternatively, you might take your prophecy in a more metaphorical sense. “The world” we live in today is one that allows billionaires and business magnates destroy our environment in the name of profit. Perhaps you could fulfil your great purpose by destroying the social and political structures that make that world possible.

I understand your trepidation about bringing this up with your father. However, I really do think that you should consider it. Looking after you is his job, after all, and I'm sure he wouldn't want you struggling with these feelings alone. Reach out to him, and let him know how you feel.

You don’t have to decide this all at once. Whatever else you say to your father, you need to make it clear that you will not be embarking on any sort of apotheosis until you've at least finished your GCSEs. You are a child, and you deserve to have a proper childhood, whatever the future might hold for you.

[For more creaturely advice, check out Monstrous Agonies on your podcast platform of choice, or visit monstrousproductions.org for more info]

[scribefindegil]

ok i'm soooo happy you talked about the mind control thing with the divine tree arc. it rubbed me the wrong way a lot and is the reason why i still don't really like dimple, even though i know it's an important story point and all, i feel like brainwashing is a huge violation and it was never really talked about afterwards. it also rubbed me the wrong way when mob wondered if he did something wrong by stopping the brainwashing even though it made peopl happy, like i feel like that's so disrespectful to autonomy and such (even though, it is a fictional story)

i really like what you're doing with the brassica heresy, with tsubomi taking center stage bc she is one of my faves, i'm really excited where it will go!

Okay. It is possible that you will not like what I have to say. That's fine; you don't have to agree with me and you certainly don't have to like a fictional character who has done fucked-up stuff.

That said.

I feel like you're approaching this with framing that's pretty at odds with the themes of the show. Everyone agrees that the brainwashing was bad. A lot of Mob Psycho characters have done things that are bad. Pretty much everyone I know spent most of the Divine Tree confrontation absolutely furious with Dimple. But the question is: Okay, a character has done something awful. Now what? A lot of people would say that the only solution is punishment and rejection, that Dimple has done something too terrible for him to remain a sympathetic character, and he needs to be exiled or killed or imprisoned or otherwise removed from the show.

But Mob Psycho 100 believes, completely and utterly, with its whole chest, with every arc and with every character, that there is nothing you can do that is so terrible that you are undeserving of human connection, that you are incapable of changing for the better. It believes that there is no fundamental, ontological difference between the people you hate and the people you love, between a terrorist trying to take over the world and a kid who lashed out once and accidentally hurt his brother. Which isn't to say that actions don't matter; obviously they do, and they have consequences. But regardless of what they've done, everyone is just a person. Everyone can grow.

And, crucially, it isn't interested in punishment. Did the character realize their mistake and begin to change? That's what matters. The show doesn't have people constantly rehash the bad things they've done; it just gives them the chance to stop and choose a different path. And Dimple does. Dimple realizes that his goal of godhood wasn't going to make him happy, but his friendship with Mob was.

And people can have boundaries; people can decide that they don't want to be associated with someone any more; forgiveness, in Mob Psycho, is always a choice. But it's a choice that the characters continue to make because the show values kindness and transformation.

So like, yeah, the brainwashing was truly, deeply horrifying. And Mob loves Dimple anyway. And I do too.

(Also, to your point about the LOL cult: Mob is extremely anxious about doing the right thing and specifically about following social rules. And those people did seem to be happy, so of course it makes sense that the fear that he made their lives worse is going to eat at him. That's why Reigen's there, to reassure him, to tell him "You saved some people that only you could have saved," to listen to him tell his story and say that no, those people weren't really happy, and he did something good and important and necessary by breaking the spell.)

[witchofthesouls]

I am in a mood. I want nothing more than to kiss Op all over his face and tell him how handsome he is.

(That's a Mood, anon. Here we go with TFP Optimus because that mech really needs some soft moments that won't kill him.)

This is a rare moment of privacy between you and Optimus. Something precious as everything seems to be in order long enough for him to step away for a break, and made far more dear with the clear night of constellations hanging above and no other humans for miles and miles. Whole areas are blocked out due to massive mudslides and the subsequent damage to popular trails. An easy fix to get around with the ground-bridge and a being that's nearly 30-feet tall to step around most obstacles.

Optimus has a fondness for nature, particularly for the deeper wilds that are relatively untouched by the modern day. There's something wistful and nostalgic in his expression as he gazes out.

And right now, you're straddling him. Optimus is mass-displaced, putting his height and frame in a more human-friendly size. Still large, but far more manageable to reach.

You lick your lips and his gaze flickers down for a moment, and your mouth dries out a little more at that subtle tell. "So anything I want, Big Guy?"

"Yes. Anything." He says with that gentle self-deprecating ghost of a smile as his servos curled over your waist, digits resting on the hem of your shirt.

He still feels guilty that there's only so many places you and he can go. Between his obvious paint-job and the tumultuous levels of Energon production at the base, it's better to cautious with his holomatter usage.

"Okay. Close your optics," you command and he obeys.

"You," you say clearly, "are wonderful." You press a firm kiss to the base of the decorative grill piece.

Those 'brows lift, startled but then his face smoothes out, optics clicking but still shut-closed, mouth parts slightly. His fingers curl across some bare skin, but he remains under you.

"Strong." You press a feather-light kiss over his left optic.

"Attentive." You do the same to the right one.

"Absolutely gorgeous." You kiss the subtle hint of a nose-bridge and he makes a noise, engines thrumming as you linger over his mouth but you go to his chin instead, lips brushing over the protective gear. "Stupidly brave."

"And yet you still have kindness in you after everything." You press your lips over his cheeks, feeling the slots of his mask on both sides.

"That was two," he murmurs and a far happier smile graces his own lips.

"A freebie," you quip as you steel yourself for this one.

You don't have his easy way with words or that innate sense of poetry, but this had been mulling in your thoughts for a long while and you might as well spit it out before you lose your nerve. You cradle his face in your hands and press your forehead to his. Optimus has to hunch down to meet you as you stretch up. "If you are the ocean and I am the lighthouse, then I hope I shined enough light to guide you through some terrible storms."

There's the immediate prickling of intent upon your skin, leaving goosebumps and shivers, and your throat catches as he pulls you close and rasps out, "You've been holding out on me."

Your tongue fails to language properly, so you meet his mouth with your own and Optimus falls back and you follow.

[genork-the-fandork]

Thesis

Word Count: 585 Prompt: & Takeru A/N: I stopped fighting my clear need to write about Kizuna era. Perhaps that will make the rest of these easier. In any case, I've always adored the dynamic between Taichi and Takeru, almost more than the dynamic with their biological siblings. Found siblings are always so much fun to me, I don't know why! (Maybe because I have so many.) @taichiyagamiweek

"I never would have taken Patamon for a caffeine addict," Taichi mused, watching Patamon slurp down the frappuccino Takeru had ordered for him.

"Honestly, me neither. I think he really likes the whipped cream." Takeru was typing furiously on his laptop, reminding Taichi of the days when Koushiro had been furiously typing on his in the Digital World. But unlike Koushiro, Taichi knew that Takeru was writing instead of researching. Well, he was researching, too, in his own way, he supposed.

"Thanks for meeting me," Taichi began, nodding to Patamon. "I just… I had to see for myself that you all were fine."

Takeru nodded, giving the older boy the understanding smile that he'd always had. Even when he was eight years old, he'd had a strange wisdom about him. It was nothing like Yamato, but everything like Hikari. No wonder they got along so well. "I get it. Really, it's weird that we weren't affected." He frowned. "Well, weird that I wasn't affected. I met Patamon the same time you met Agumon."

Taichi shrugged. "The rules have always been different for you, special kid that you are." Takeru rolled his eyes, and Taichi chuckled before turning serious again. "I'd wager a guess that you're not done yet."

"Why did I have a feeling you'd say that?" Takeru sighed, reaching out to scratch between Patamon's wings. "Am I the Jou of my generation of Chosen?"

"Now that's a comparison I never thought I'd hear." Taichi let out a hearty laugh, drawing the attention of other café patrons. "But I know you can handle it. You've always been more mature than you've realized."

"It's a blessing and a curse." Takeru dramatically fanned himself, and the boys grinned at each other. The blond's eyes returned to his laptop, and he smiled. "Maybe it's something about my Crest or whatever, but I'm sure we'll all see each other again. It wouldn't make sense for them to just take them away with no hope of seeing them again."

"Always filled with hope, I get it." Leaning back in his chair, Taichi folded his arms behind his head as he'd been prone to do as a kid. "You and I are on the same page, then." But then, it was rare when they had not been on the same page, even when they were younger.

"There's another reason you asked me here, I suppose?" Takeru said, eyeing the bag on the table between them.

Taichi grinned. "I was hoping you'd ask." He dug through his bag and whipped out a sheaf of paper, presenting it to his friend. "I wanted your opinion on this."

Takeru took the papers and scanned the first page, his eyes lighting up as he took in the contents. "Your thesis? Taichi, this is—" He bit his lip and kept reading. After a few minutes, he set down the draft and smiled over at Taichi. "It already sounds fantastic."

"I'm glad you think so. Would you mind terribly taking a look through it and giving me some feedback? I don't want to turn in something half-assed. I owe Agumon that much." Taichi cupped his hands around his drink, smiling down at it. "It's because of him that I could even figure out what to do."

"I'd be happy to help out, Taichi." Takeru smiled at him, and Taichi returned the expression. Patamon slurped loudly on the remains on his drink, and the two of them laughed.

With Takeru's help, Taichi knew his thesis would be perfect.

[hoshipills]

Double-crosser- Part 3

Wicked plans

" I wish we never met."

Pairing: Mafialeader!mingyu x Fem!reader

Warnings: MCD( Main character death, weapons, mentions of gunshots, profanity, let me know if more.

Genre: mafia, angst

Word count: 2k

Synopsis:The sudden news of information leak of a secret mission leaves all the members of mafia perplexed. They closed their eyes and the next second, their leader was arrested. Someone betrayed and the taste of betrayal wasn't sweet.

Note: Not proofread yet so sorry. And guys, I wondering if I should put the warning about MCD in the teaser or Masterlist or will it be a spolier?

Masterlist

|Previous| |next|

The door of the black room opened, almost so quietly that it wasn't even audible. Somehow, that sound waked up Mingyu who was sleeping. Truthfully, he was just closing his eyes. Ever since the arrest happened, he haven't slept.

" Get ready.", Y/n's voice was sharp. It had taken away all the drowsiness in Mingyu. He got up and walked closer to her.

" You and the boys will get shifted to affliction rooms.", She said dryly. Mingyu left a chuckle, surprising her. His face was stoic as he moved it closer to her, their noses almost touching.

" Affliction room? To torture us?", he licked his lips.

"What's more of a torture than knowing that the person you love is the reason for your suffering?", Mingyu calmly stated while his eyes were boring through her figure. He swore to God that he saw her face twitch but decided to assume that it was his imagination.

" Speak something. Got no words to reply?", Mingyu said. Y/n stiffened a smile. Mingyu hated that it reminded him of the same smile she showed him when they first met. The forced smile she tried to give but couldn't.

"I just came to say that you'll be transferred to affliction rooms. Not to deal with your bullshit." Mingyu looked away after hearing her words. He wondered if she really felt nothing at that moment. He tried to search for some emotion on her face but failed.

Is she even human?

He scoffed upon seeing her turn away from him and walk towards the door.

" Bullshit?", He said, making her stop.

" This is bullshit for you?", his voice now displayed nothing but pure agony.

"I have no idea how this situation is making you feel but in my case, it's making me hate you.", he finally spit those words. " you know what? I never thought there would come a day when I'll say this to you.", He gulped the lump in his throat.

" I wish we never met."

Y/n's back was facing Mingyu, still he could sense her body stiffening at his words. Mingyu hoped it was because of his words. She resumed her movements, walking towards the door.

"She has always been good at this.", he mumbled to himself, making sure she didn't hear him.

Y/n exited the room, her face not visible to Mingyu all the while.

He heard the door getting locked and the keys jingling faded away second by second.

She has a business to warn all the members about this, right? Mingyu stared at the closed door for few minutes before going back to the corner of the room. He slid his body on the wall to fall down and sit against it.

He pretended that he wasn't effected by the news but he was. Affliction rooms were the rooms for the most notorious criminals. They would be tortured, repaying for the sins they have committed. Some would call it hell on Earth.

He was worried, he was worried about the boys. He didn't know what they were doing in the other rooms. They must be feeling as miserable as him.

He felt terrible.

He shook his head trying to clear his mind for a while. On the positive note, they will finally get to see light, he tried to think.

The hopes about the not-arrested members saving them still remained in his heart. He knew his team. They would save him and the others.

--

The whole atmosphere of the hideout was filled with silent chaos. There wasn't a single sound but everything was all over the place. There was hastiness in the room but it was in absolute quietness.

Hansol and Chan were sitting side by side, trying to break into the security system of ICS. Their fingers worked on the keys of the keyboard vigorously as their eyes focused on the screen Infront of them.

Wonwoo settled beside Minghao and Jeonghan who were sitting in the corner, carefully examining the layout of The black room prison.

When the members got arrested, they made an assumption that they would be taken to the Black room prison. They were right. Thanks to Jihoon and his information finding skills.

Even then, Jihoon was still sitting in his usual spot, eyes glued to his laptop. God knew what the laptop held. He seemed to find anything with that.

Chan's eyes glowed up suddenly. His fingers stopped their movement and closed into fist. He smirked, lifting his hands.

This made Hansol look into Chan's computer briefly. Hansol stopped his actions and bought the attention to them." He did it, guys."

There it was, Lee Chan managed to crack his way into the system. He could see all the files lined up. He quickly checked all of them while the others waited for him to find something useful. Chan's smirk suddenly dropped, followed by Hansol groaning in frustration. Chan cleared his throat, ready to shock the members with his words.

" The boys are getting shifted to affliction rooms tomorrow.", He said. A few disappointed sighs were heard. Most of them thought it was over. However, the planners had a different idea.

" Its a great opportunity for us to get them out.", Jeonghan spoke. Minghao nodded, agreeing with him.

" Don't be ridiculous", Wonwoo said, shaking his head.

" While they are on their way to the affliction rooms, we can get them out pretty easily.", Jeonghan said as he went near Chan and Hansol.

" Tomorrow is a special day, President is coming to the town. The security will be focused on him. Sure, Mingyu will have security for obvious reasons but the security will be easier to tackle compared to that of The Black room prison." , Jeonghan said in one go.

Everyone still looked hesitant, wondering if it's good to go. One wrong move, all of them will be in hell. They can't fuck up the last chance they have.

Its a do or die situation.

Jeonghan seemed confident that it will work. He also mentioned how it's their last chance and once they reach affliction rooms, it'll be harder to get them out.

Yeah, they could get caught but suffering together sounds better than not even trying to save them. Just when the others were about to leave comments, Minghao got up and started to set things for the plan. All of them fixed their eyes on him.

" What are you looking at? We have no better option."

--

Mingyu was brought to the vehicle with his figure surrounded by bodyguards.

By the time he was near, he saw his members there. They were just like how he expected. They looked worn out. Their faces narrowed and their muscles didn't look defined anymore.

Mingyu doubted if they even ate anything the past few days. At the same he had no right to ask them when he himself didn't care about food for a long time. His profile reflected the pain he felt. That explained the worried expression on the members' faces as they saw him. They got in the vehicle and started driving to the affliction rooms.

They passed an ungodly number of gates and security passes, making them realize how well built and safe this place was.

The vehicle finally reached the roads which were empty. They saw a poster, the information of president coming to town written on it.

Bang.

The sound of the gunshot emerged out of nowhere, they noticed that the car Infront of them was shot in the wheel. It flew in the air and dropped on the road, its roof hitting the ground.

The vehicle they were sitting in abruptly stopped. The officers in it got down while the members tilted their faces to look around.

It must be them.

Before the officers could do anything, the place was filled with smoke.

Nothing was visible except for the light figures the members saw. They could see Wonwoo coming forward, with some guards behind him, while his hands held a gun.

The members were finally out of it.

--

Mingyu entered the meeting room, his figure more confident than the previous time they saw him. He seemed to be fully recovered from the past betrayal and his face was a proof of it. Nevertheless, the need to take revenge still didn't leave him.

That was the reason why this meeting was being held. It has been almost 6 months since the grand escape. They could find no trace of Y/n or her dear friend, Yangyang.

They have been waiting for a right chance to get hold of her and believed it was finally the time. They can't go against such a big organization like ICS, though they might have the enough power to do so.

Well, they had to develop it.

The security to the number of guards, everything has increased after the incident, everyone got more cautious and private.

He sat on his chair, the 12 others waited for him to speak. " We all know the reason for this conference-"

His words were interrupted by the door opening harshly, revealing a guard, trying to catch is breath.

Mingyu was ready to erupt in front of the guard but stopped when some words left his mouth." Someone from ICS came to meet you, boss. He is currently surrounded by around 30 of our people. We are waiting for your orders."

Mingyu's pupils dilated, wondering who took the risk to visit such a dangerous place. He looked around at the members, finding them with the same expression as him. " Get him here."

Mingyu tapped his fingers on the table as he waited for the guards to bring the supposed member of ICS. If a ICS member took such a risk, it either must be something important or a threat. If ICS really planned to attack, it would have been done by now, he couldn't see a reason why they would use a member of theirs as a bait.

As the door opened, they found a familiar person entering the room.

It was Yangyang.

Except he didn't have his annoyingly large grin plastered on his face, neither he had the enthusiasm in his eyes. He wasn't the same Yangyang the members encountered 6 months ago.

Mingyu ran his fingers through his hair, slowly getting frustrated.

"Yangyang?", Seokmin whispered, not expecting to see him.

Even the members who weren't arrested knew about him, they immediately recognized his name as Seokmin spoke.

Yangyang showed them a little smile as he said, " I have to talk to you."

Mingyu got up from his chair and made his way towards him. The guards around Yangyang moved away to give him way.

" Give me a good reason to let you have a conversation with me." , Mingyu stated.

" Y/n was the reason you guys escaped.", as soon as these words left his mouth, Mingyu backed up.

" We are not stupid to believe your lies.", Junhui said.

" Do I look like I am lying?", Yangyang continued as he saw the members not convinced, " How else do you think you did this? Of course, you all are capable but ICS security system is one of the toughest systems known to the world."

Yangyang moved the gun that was pointed towards him by a guard.

" She managed to remove most of the security from her side, arranged the transfer of members to affliction rooms on the day of president arrival to divert security and recruited uncapable guards to send along Mingyu. she was able to do this as ICS put immense trust on her. She broke it.", Yangyang seated himself on one of the chairs without permission.

" If you don't believe me, see this.", he threw some papers on the table which showed the details of Y/n's arrest reports, the stamp of ICS clearly on the corner of the paper. " She got arrested the next day you guys escaped."

Mingyu rushed towards the table to see the papers, only to know its the truth.

" Where is she now?", Soonyoung spoke up in the midst of the tension.

Yangyang diverted his gaze downwards and left a sharp breath.

" She is dead."

Taglist: @calssunflower @woo8hao

[stevenblueniverse]

Steven BLUE-niverse chapters 25-30

This is the zoo arc and the first real arc in BLUE-niverse! This is when the fic starts getting good(?) These chapters are very old so I have added some new small things and fixed spellings (these where originally planned in about 2017 but published about a year ago so contain some weird stuff made by 10 year old me)

Chapter 25 the kindergarten

The crystal gems warped back to their headquarters in shock, "is homeworld going to try and attack earth again!? Is this another plan by the diamonds!?", the pearl said, panicking and pacing around. Amethyst stayed quiet, she saw Steven and blue diamond there, they seemed just as confused as they where, she wished she could speak with them but knew for sure something was up with them and the crystal gems, she knew nothing about homeworld but Pearl's mentioning of "the diamonds", confirmed her theory that this blue diamond must be someone special.

"I think I also heard that peridot or whatever she's called mention the kindergartens too!", rose said, sounding very serious, everyone turned to look at Amethyst when she said this, pearl looked disgusted, "we must never let a terrible mistake like that ever happen again!", she dramatically vowed to rose. Amethyst couldn't take how everyone was staring at her and stormed off to beach city, maybe eating some food would make her feel better, no one, not ever rose, who she felt very close with chased after her or asked if she was okay, they just kept theorising about what the peridot would be doing on earth.

"So, how are we going to fix this, my diamond?", lapis asked. Her and blue diamond stood in front of the destroyed barn. "I don't know", blue said, picking up a large chunk of what used to be the walls and throwing it, "let's just look around and see if there's anything we will like in here!".

They both surprisingly found a lot of interesting things in the barn, old tapes of TV shows, a guitar and one thing that blue really liked, white shorts with stereotypical green alien heads printed on it. "Look at this beautiful work of fashion", blue proclaimed, quickly putting on the shorts and pulling up her dress to show lapis. "My diamond you look beautiful!", lapis said, admiring blue's amazing fashion sense, "but may I ask, what is that on your legs.." She gestured down to blue's long white leg hair and strange plushie looking feet. "Oh I've been on this planet for so long I've started to grow hair!" Blue explained, lapis looked at blue with wonder in her eyes, "may I touch it" Lapis asked, "you may", blue replied.

As lapis was stroking the glorious leg hair of her diamond, the familar mr universe van pulled up right behind them, "Hey guys I'm just wondering if you want a ride home-", Greg stopped, in shock of what he was seeing, then noticed the barn, "what are you-THE BARN!", he yelled as lapis let go of blue and panicked, "IM SO SORRY IT WAS MY FAULT I DROPPED IT!!!", lapis apologised as Greg ran to the remains of the barn to see the damage. "You dropped it!?", Greg looked at lapis with shock and confusion "HOW!?". "Yeah she dropped it on me!" Blue joked, Greg looked at her horrified, "BLUE WHY DO YOU KEEP MEETING THESE CRAZY PEOPLE!".

During this, steven was walking around beach city with Connie, he was telling her about the recent events with peridot. "So, we don't know who she is but my mum said she works for yellow diamond, who is her mean sister" Steven said to Connie. suddenly, something grabbed Steven from behind and picked him up, it was amethyst! "Hey! Ste-man how ya doing?", she asked, putting him back on the ground and high fiving him. "Amethyst you scared me!", Steven said. "Who's this girl here? Is she your girlfriend??", amethyst joked, pointing to connie, both Steven and Connie blushed in unison.

"Are you another one of Steven's gem friends?", Connie asked amethyst, "I guess so, anyway it's great to see you ste-man, back with the other gems it hasn't been going so great", amethyst said, Steven wondered if the crystal gems had saw her looking at him back at the warps and she was yelled at for it. "Why? Is it because of peridot?", steven asked, his tone sympathetic. "Kinda", she replied, stuffing a hotdog in her mouth, "the rest of the gems where weird to me about it, they say peridot is trying to do something to my home", she said with food still in her mouth. "Your....home?", Steven asked, interested in what she meant.

The Mr universe van returned to the home in mostly awkward silence, lapis was terrified of Greg using his influence over her diamond to punish her for the barn, blue was scared Greg saw lapis touching her leg hair and Greg was just shocked at how blue's friends kept appearing and destroying stuff. As they got out they saw Steven, amethyst and Connie walking up to the house, blue quickly got out to greet them.

"Hey you three, perfect timing! We just got back from the barn, great to see you amethyst!", blue greeted them, she could see amethyst looked sad. "Mum, could you possibly bring us to amethyst's home?", Steven said, this peaked blue's interest, "She said the crystal gems where annoying her with questions about it and claiming peridot was going to do something with it". "Yes I could easily take you three there", blue said, making Steven and amethyst happy. "Oh mrs universe im so sorry but I gotta go soon I have violin class soon!", Connie said, checking the time on her phone and quickly leaving.

Steven blue and amethyst quickly went to the warp in the house,lapis went back to bed and Greg went to work, pearl watched them as they walked in, especially amethyst and lapis. "I can't wait to show you guys around!", Amethyst excitedly said as they got on the warp, Steven smiled at her and replied, "I'm excited too, I hope i can really learn a lot about gems there".

The three of them warped on top of some sort of hill and where surrounded by large dark mountains and old broken black injector looking things hanging off the hills and on the floor. "welcome to the kindergarten!", Amethyst said, jumping off the warp, "I can't wait to show you around!", she held Steven's hand and guided him around while laughing. It was very foggy and abandoned looking, the hills and mountains where Littered with holes, holes shaped like people.

"Steven! B.D! check it out!", Amethyst excitedly showed them a smaller hole, much closer to the ground than any of the other ones. "This is where I came out of, pretty cool right!". Steven looked into the hole and back at her, "you came out of this?", he asked confused. "Yeah it's me-sized!", she said, sliding perfectly into the hole and to the back as Steven looked in. Blue was mostly looking around at the old once grand kindergarten but then finally approached amethyst.

"Amethyst....wasn't it empty when you came out of this hole?", blue diamond asked, "yeah, I spent all my time here before rose quartz found me", she replied, sitting down in the hole. Steven looked at his mother and thought, "she was alone before rose found her! I feel so bad!", blue read his thought and just nodded, she needed to really think about what she was going to say. "So...you don't know what the other amethysts look like", blue said. Amethyst got out the hole and looked at all the other ones, "probably like me...right?", she turned to blue, who was struggling with what she was about to say.

"Not just like you.. you have the hair.. the personality....but not the tall size", she nervously said, not wanting to offend the amethyst. "Not the size? What am I supposed to look like?", she asked blue, more intrigued than offended. To show her in the least bad way she could think of, blue diamond quickly shape-shifted into the average amethyst soldier who was much taller than amethyst and towered over her, then quickly returned to her normal form. Amethyst was shocked, "I'm not right?", she asked, sounding upset, blue was scared and tried to reassure her, "no no its ok, you still seem to have the same powers and the other amethysts will love you! I know they will! They'll accept you unlike those crystal gems! They are your family!", these words stuck with amethyst, she was right, the crystal gems hated the fact she was made on earth, they saw her as a immature child, even rose, who bascially raised her was no longer treating her as kindly.

"Hey its okay", Steven said, hugging amethyst, both he and blue read all her thoughts, they knew she wasn't some kind of crystal gem spy or any potential threat, they wanted to help her. Suddenly, the warp went off, blue panicked and amethyst sighed, "here comes the fun police".

"Amethyst!, where are you! I know you're here!", a voice echoed across the kindergarten, blue recognised that voice, it was the crystal gem's pearl. She quickly grabbed Steven and flew to the top to watch, as the pearl got closer blue hid Steven in one of the old gem holes and shapeshifted to be much smaller to hide in the hole next to him.

"What are you doing in this...horrible place!", the pearl said in disgust, kicking some rocks away from her. "It's my home pearl", amethyst mumbled under her breath. "How cruel of her!", Steven said to blue as they where hiding, "she's the one I fought as frybo", blue said, "she was so dramatic and annoying". "This place is one big, horrible mistake, get back to the temple, rose has been looking for you!", pearl commanded, cornering amethyst. "We need to do something!", Steven yelled, jumping out the hole and landing on his face, landing right in front of the pearl.

"Hey you! stop that! leave My friend alone!", Steven said, getting up from the ground, he was now covered in dirt, blue just rolled her eyes and continued watching, preparing herself to kill this pearl if she ever touched steven. "Steven! There you are!" Amethyst said, pearl looked at Steven horrified, "you brought a HUMAN to this horrendous site!" She shrieked, this really offended Steven, he wasn't just some human he was basically a prince! The son of the great blue diamond! He was keeping cover right now but he really wanted to show this crystal gem rebel who's boss!

"Human, please get out of here, this place is truly terrible" pearl gestured her hand to steven but amethyst smacked it away, "LEAVE HIM ALONE!", she yelled, summoning her whip and hitting pearl away, pearl hit one of the injectors and fell to the ground. Pearl quickly got up and summoned her spear, "you leave me no choice amethyst!", she shouted as she rushed to the purple gem, they both where now putting Steven at risk as they started to fight eachother, making blue ready to jump in and destroy that pearl until....

As the pearl rushed to amethyst, Steven jumped in front of her and summoned his scythe, quickly knocking away pearl and her spear. "I knew it, I knew I saw you before BLUE DIAMOND!!!", pearl yelled at steven who was holding his scythe in front of him.As she tried to run to him again, amethyst's whip wrapped around her legs and tripped her up, "leave Steven alone!", Amethyst yelled at pearl.

Blue diamond finally flew down from the hills, clapping and congratulating her son and mocking the pearl. "Well done, you two are an amazing duo together" both steven and amethyst smiled at each other. "I'm very sorry you had to deal with that thing for so long!", she joked, amethyst and steven both laughed at this as pearl tried to plead with them, "amethyst please! You dont know who that is!", but no one listened. "Now, amethyst I'm going to be taking you to see your family, the crystal gems would definitely be mad if you came  back to them after this", blue flew amethyst and steven to the warp and waved to pearl, then summoned a large ball of energy and shot it to her before leaving.

Not long after, rose quartz warped to the kindergarten, to see how pearl was. The kindergarten was now in ruins and somehow pearl hadn't lost her physical form from blues final attack but her gem was badly cracked from it. Rose ran to her, "did amethyst do this!?", she asked pearl, sounding very shocked. "It was b-blue d-diamond..." pearl said, struggling through the pain, "I can't believe it!", rose cried, "ill try and heal you! Quickly!".

Chapter 26 meeting the others

Steven, amethyst and blue diamond warped back home, Steven felt so proud of himself, he really showed that traitorous crystal gem who's boss! Amethyst on the other hand was having some doubts and guilt, Steven read her mind and saw those worries and went to comfort her. "Don't worry, my mum didn't damage your kindergarten or kill pearl", he told her, putting his hand on Amethyst's shoulder "it was mostly a fake attack to only slightly hurt her and we promise we won't lie to you and will show you all the other Amethysts"

To congratulate Steven and amethyst blue ordered them some food. Steven had never had fast food delivered and was very excited, Amethyst was too, it quickly put her mind off how worried she was and now only thought of all the food she was going to be eating. They ordered a lot of food, Greg was rich from his music career so they where able to without spending an amount that would effect them, and Greg never spent too much anyway, preferring to live a life far away from luxury.

Amethyst and steven quickly ate the food and discussed their plan to take her to see the other amethysts with blue. "The other ones are in space quite far from here but I could easily take you there in my ship", blue said, amethyst stopped eating and now dedicated all her time to listening to blue carefully, "that place where they are is also a place where humans live but also quite a sad place for me, I used to go there to mourn a lot", this peaked Steven's interest and he nearly dropped his fries when listening.

"Humans!? Living with gems!?", Steven exclaimed, nearly spitting out his fries. "Not really like that...erm the name of this place is awfully misleading they call it a human zoo but its nothing like that...", blue became quite nervous, the name and the idea of the zoo must sound terrifying to humans. "Pink diamond, really liked humans so she took them to live there in space, they just live there they're not watched and mocked like what humans do in animal zoos", she tried to explain, fearing Steven would think gems are now crazy and kidnap humans.

"Pink diamond liked humans?", Steven asked, he regretted it after as mentioning pink diamond usually really upset blue and his father always warned him to never mention her. Amethyst looked at the both of them confused, "pink diamond? Who's that?", she asked, this shocked blue, those crystal gems really sheltered her from everything to do with her true homeworld. "you'll learn at the zoo, it's a very long....and sad story", blue said, becoming quieter and sounding sadder.

Greg finally got home from work and was surprised to see amethyst still there, "what are you guys talking about?", he asked them in a friendly voice, waving to amethyst who excitedly waved back. "Greg, I need you for something", blue suddenly said, her tone serious, "what is it?", Greg asked, sounding concerned. "Amethyst spent her whole life away from her family, her fellow gems, ones who are just like her and spent her entire life with the crystal gems", blue said in a sad voice, gesturing to amethyst who was still smiling at greg "I know where her fellow amethysts are but you and steven will need to come with me", this confused Greg why would he need to come to space for gem things?

"Where would you be taking me and steven?", he asked, quite protective of his son and fearing blue would take them somewhere very dangerous. "It sounds bad but the name is a lie, it's called the zoo, the human zoo, it was a creation of pink diamond", blue knew he'd react to this badly so nudged Steven to get him to explain for her as she was known to be awful at explaining things in a good way. "NO! BLUE WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOME ZOO FOR HUMANS! ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Greg yelled, this upset amethyst and she looked away from him and crossed her arms. "DAD PLEASE!" Steven pleaded, "we need to do this for amethyst, she's my friend and she really looks up to you too! and my mum could weaken the crystal gems by doing this!", Greg rolled his eyes, "fine but I'm not becoming some attraction for aliens!" He told blue.

Blue woke up lapis and got everyone on the warp-pad, this will be a very important moment for Steven, his first time in space, his first time in the diamond ship that will one day become his. They warped to korea, where blue and Greg met. Blue diamond stood atop a mountain and raised her left arm, suddenly a giant blue ship shaped like a left arm appeared from the ground and flew into the air. "Wow mum, I can't believe I finally get to see your ship!", Steven said as he looked up in wonder. Blue summoned her wings and grabbed Steven and Greg, lapis also summoned her wings and grabbed pearl and amethyst and flew them into the palm of the hand, a small circle opened up in the very middle and they entered it, then the hand closed.

Steven looked around, amazed at all the rooms and high tech machines used to power the ship, amethyst looked out the windows of the main control room and saw that they where just above earth, she couldn't believe this was actually happening, she was finally having her dream come true!

Blue returned to her true gigantic form and sat on her throne and placed her left arm on a control panel, light covered her arm, now she could move and control the ship properly. "It's been a while since I've been here", Greg said, sitting on blue's shoulder, "I remember when you and my diamond used to have what you called make out sessions in front of the windows looking down earth", pearl wispered, this made blue blush purple and quickly tell her to go away and instead show steven and amethyst around.

Pearl went to see Steven and amethyst who where just outside the main control room. "Welcome to my diamond's ship", pearl formally said, bowing to them both, "Hey there! You're nothing like the pearl I know", amethyst loudly greeted, slightly angering pearl,"I will show you around the many rooms here and afterwards take you back to the main control room", pearl continued, in her most polite voice.

Chapter 27 Steven's first space adventure

Pearl guided amethyst to a small room where gems besides blue and her pearl stayed, it was small and cramped and felt almost like a prison cell, it had a small tablet you could use to message blue, see a map and look at other rooms. amethyst didn't care about the conditions of this small room she was just happy she'd be seeing her family soon, she could see a estimated time at the top of the tablet too, in 3 hours they'd be there.

Now that pearl only had Steven she guided him to more, "private" places like blue's music collection. It was mostly a very impressive amount of anything lana del rey themed, she had all the vinyls, put all her rarest unreleased songs on c.ds or saved them onto the ship and had every imaginable piece of merchandise. "My diamond got really into earth music because of you father", pearl said, picking up blue's favourite album, an album named paradise and showing it to Steven, "my diamond will probably start to play these songs soon, she always does when she's on this ship", pearl said under her breath, her dislike for her diamond's music taste being very clear by her tone of voice.

The arm ship formed into a fist and flew into space extremely quickly, pushing the clouds out its way. Blue pushed a button with her free hand and suddenly a large, white, diamond shaped portal opened and the hand flew in, the diamond quickly closed after they went it and they flew through space quickly in seconds, bringing them closer to the zoo and lightyears away from earth. Greg looked through the windows amazed as he saw them zoom through the portal and emerge so far away, "I have so many new song ideas now", he wispered, wishing he'd brought a notepad with him.

"So my diamond, what will we be doing at the zoo? Just dropping off the amethyst?", lapis lazuli asked, she was working with blue in the main control room, looking at maps and seeing where about in space they are. Blue's mood had changed, as they got closer and closer, painful memories started to reappear in her mind, memories of pink. Blue became quiet and covered her head with her hood, "I want to stay there for maybe some time for....personal reasons ", she said under her breath, lapis didn't ask for a explanation she understood and went back to work.

"And this is My diamond's room", pearl said, opening a huge door. Steven walked into the room amazed, "woah...this is where mum sleeps?", he asked pearl."my diamond mostly relaxes and draws here, your father stayed in here a lot with her too, she even made it accessible for humans", pearl said, touching the wall, leading to a bathroom and then touching another hidden button leading to a fridge. Steven quickly got a sandwich from the fridge and walked to the ginormous bed, "how will I get on here?", Steven asked pearl, looking up, as he looked up he noticed the entire ceiling was decorated with posters of his father.

"AAAAAH MY STEVEN DONT LOOK UP!", pearl shrieked, covering Steven's eyes, the posters of Greg where drew by blue herself and portrayed Greg as Young and very muscular."ow! Hey! Pearl! Get off me!", Steven cried as pearl covered his eyes and pulled him out the room, only taking her hands off his face when they had got out. "you did not see what you just saw my Steven! Do not tell a soul!", pearl warned him, quickly moving him away from the room and back to where amethyst was so she could take them both back to blue.

The screen now read that they'll be at the zoo in less than 30 minutes, amethyst gulped, she didn't know what the other amethysts would be like, blue did say they where like her but she also said she didn't look like them. "Hey! Amethyst!", Steven said, scaring her as he knocked on the transparent door, amethyst touched a switch making the glass door disappear and walked out to see Steven. "Hey ste-man we are gonna be here soon!", she excitedly told him, pointing to the screen. "Yes that's why we are here, you two are going back to my diamond", pearl said, quickly walking off with Steven as amethyst followed after.

"My diamond, we are nearly here", lapis said, showing blue the maps and estimated time on the screen, "oh my stars...I didn't even get a chance to play a song", blue huffed, getting out her chair and preparing herself, she moved Greg off her shoulder and held him in her hand, "it's weird seeing you big like this, it brings back so many memories", Greg said, looking up at her. As blue and Greg went to go find Steven and pearl the door opened.

"Hey b.d or.....my diamond? We are back!" Amethyst greeted blue, slightly freaked out about how tall she actually was. "Hello....amethyst", blue quietly replied, Greg looked up at her, he could tell she was upset. "Hey mum, when we get to the zoo, will the gems think me and dad are here to be kept in the zoo?", Steven sheepishly asked, pearl looked back at him like he was a idiot. "I- I don't know", blue huffed, placing greg back on the ground and going back to sit down on the ship.

"What's up with mum?", Steven asked Greg, pearl watched them as she went to stand near blue, giving them both angry looks. "She's thinking of pink diamond, I'm sure of it", Greg whispered. "Who is that again?" Amethyst asked them both quite loudly. Greg whispered in amethyst's ear, "pink diamond was a very close family member to blue who was killed and she has been mourning her death ever since", amethyst looked back at greg and nodded, realising she really shouldn't ask anything else in case blue heard and gets very sad.

"We are here", pearl said, loudly enough to get everyone to notice. Steven looked up through the window and saw it, the zoo, it was shaped almost like a pink sword and one of those eyes he saw in the sky not that long ago was floating near it. "I forgot this even was a thing" Lapis whispered as she looked out the window in wonder. "We are here", blue said, standing up and grabbing both steven and Greg in her hands and starting to walk to the exit with amethyst and pearl quickly following after her. while they did this lapis moved the ship into a opening in the zoo and landed them.

Chapter 28 welcome to the zoo

As the ship opened, blue diamond stepped out in her ginormous form, pearl stood next to her with lapis behind her and amethyst also behind, slightly scared of what she was going to see. Blue held Greg and steven tightly in her hands as she walked into the zoo's landing place for ships, the first thing they where met by was 2 harsh looking, amethyst guards standing by the door.

Amethyst gulped as she looked at her "family", they quickly saluted blue as they saw her, and then they noticed amethyst. She could see the two amethysts speaking about her as they passed by, blue told her she'll be able to speak to them later. As they where speaking with eachother a loud voice interrupted the amethysts. "What are you doing?", the voice said, it belonged to a blue skinned gem, with strange white horns that connected to her white hair, long, white, knee high boots, black pants and a sleevless black shirt, a blue shawl covering the shirt with a blue diamond in the middle and her gem on the back of her head.

"We are sorry Holly blue agate!", the two amethysts said in unison, saluting her, the agate quickly changed mood as she saw blue diamond and saluted her. "Oh my stars! My diamond! It is great to see you here!", she said, bowing to blue, Steven was going to say something but blue lightly squeezed him to keep him quiet. Holly blue kicked one of the amethysts, "why didn't anyone of you tell me blue diamond was here!", she quietly hissed to them.

"Hello there...Holly blue", blue said, greeting the gem quietly. "My diamond you haven't been here in a while, are those two humans for the zoo?", holly blue agate asked,looking at steven and greg in her hands. Lapis and pearl looked at eachother shocked, amethyst looked up at steven and was about to say something but noticed holly blue giving her an angry look. Blue diamond looked down at greg and steven who where now very scared, "yes, this one will go in first, I'll hold the smaller one for some time", blue said, handing Greg to some amethyst guards who took him away. "MUM! MUM! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS!?", Steven yelled but was squeezed after. "Those humans truly make such hideous sounds don't they my diamond", Holly blue said, mocking Steven.

"Agate can you not understand all languages like me?", blue asked, looking down at Holly, the agate started to become worried, maybe she showed off her hatred for those organics too much. "My diamond...I couldn't make out what it said besides its wailing", she studdered, blue raised an eyebrow and looked back to steven, "I could understand him perfectly", blue said, her voice sounding offended that holly would speak about her son like that.

"Agate, we are also here for another reason" blue shuffled to the side to fully reveal amethyst to her, "as you saw I found an amethyst on earth, she never knew of her kind before now so I took her here to be with her family, may her fellow amethysts guide her around", blue commanded. The agate quickly called on two other amethysts to take her and guide her away, before she left with them,amethyst looked back and gave blue a smile and thumbs up, blue did the same back and Holly looked at them both shocked."I'm suprised someone like you has such respect for such gems, especially ones from earth, you're so merciful and beautiful my diamond, you truly love everything!", Holly blue dramatically said, praising blue very loudly.

"Since we are here I think it will be good if I take lapis lazuli and pearl on a tour around this zoo", blue said, holly blue agate quickly agreed and took them around the pink building. as this happened Greg was dragged across the corridors by the amethysts and thrown into a small opening in the wall. Lapis stood next to holly blue as she went on a long explanation about the zoo, begging for her to be quiet, "this zoo was once operated by pink diamond, but because of the terrible short ending of her life", she loudly proclaimed, her voice echoing through the corridors "my diamond and her trusted agate, that's me! Preserved this place in pink diamond's memory".

Steven wanted to ask many questions but that agate really didn't seem to respect him, or even understand what he was saying eventhough he was the son of her diamond. "How do you get in the zoo?", he asked, struggling as blue held onto him tightly, blue looked down to him, enraged and hushed him. The agate turned around, looking up at steven disgusted, "why is that one so loud My diamond?", she complained.

"how do you get in the zoo?" Lapis asked, asking the question for Steven. "Oh I'm so glad you asked! There's many different important doors that allow us into the zoo, like here", holly pointed to some bigger pink doors, that looked different and had a much more intricate design than most of the other doors in the zoo "but we can also look down to watch them while still staying here", she pressed a button making the floor under them become transparent, Steven squirmed in his mother's hands to look down but couldn't, holly quickly pressed the button again turning it off and continued the tour.

"Interesting, you're keeping the zoo in great condition", blue congratulated holly, who saluted her and bowed, "now I think we should take this human and put him in the zoo now", she passed Steven to some amethyst guards who quickly grabbed him and marched off with him. "WAIT! MUM! STOP!", Steven yelled, trying to fight the strong amethyst's grip, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM! I AM THE SON OF BLUE DIAMOND! OBEY ME!!", he cried as they threw him into the same small opening in the wall, "my stars this one is so loud", the amethyst guards joked to one another as he was thrown in.

As Steven went through the small hole, the floor became a ramp and moved him through a small pipe, strange blue fingers, that looked like peridot's started to pull on him and scan him. "MUM!!!!", Steven yelled, still trying to get his mother's attention but the fingers quickly distracted him as they tried to pull his clothes off, first his Mr universe shirt, then they tried to pull of his pants, Steven slapped the fingers and tried to run away but in the end was powerless and let them take the pants.

Now Steven was embarrassed, and nearly naked, then he started to approach a terrifying looking machine, it was slamming up and down, Steven tried to out run it but couldn't, as it slammed down on him it gave him new, odd clothes. "Ew what is this...loin cloth!?", Steven huffed, he was now wearing a white cloth and a blue sleeveless jacket. then, the machine gave him pink earrings, "ouch!", Steven yelped, snacking the fingers. Suddenly water fell from the sky and covered Steven, he swam up the water and came up from the surface. As he looked above the surface he realised where he was, the human zoo.

Blue diamond told holly to keep guiding around lapis but she and pearl stayed in the corner, planning something. Blue followed where the amethysts took Steven and found the place where humans where put in the zoo. "Alright pearl, after I do this, you go back to holly and lapis", blue told pearl, preparing herself for the plan she had just created. "Are you sure this will go well?", pearl said to blue, quite scared of even asking her diamond such a question. "I don't know but I'll try!" Blue said, shape-shifting into her smaller form she used on earth and taking off her dress and giving it to pearl. she was wearing those alien shorts underneath and a white shirt she stole from Greg. "Alright, here it goes!", blue said, jumping into the hole and shape-shifting her colours to be more human like, pearl hid blue's clothes in her gem and quickly left the scene to find lapis and Holly blue.

"And this place was specially designed by pink diamond", Holly blue explained, showing lapis around, lapis really didn't want to be here and didn't really understand why she was even here. Pearl quickly found them and ran to them, "I'm sorry, my diamond had to go somewhere", she apologised. "She has probably gone to pink diamond's old room, oh my diamond is still in such a upsetting state because of pink's tragic demise!", holly dramatically proclaimed. Suddenly two nervous looking amethysts ran to holly blue.

"Holly blue agate! We have important news for you!", they frantically told her, "WE DO NOT RUN OR SHOUT IN THESE HALLWAYS!", holly yelled at them, her voice echoing across the whole zoo."it's just we-" the amethysts tried to explain but holly interrupted them again, "How can I tell what you're saying when you're MUMBLING!" She loudly lectured them. "It's just-YELLOW DIAMOND IS ON HER WAY TO THE ZOO!", the two amethysts finally where able to speak.

"Oh my stars! Two diamonds in one day!", holly blue gasped, "we must prepare ourselves!", she quickly ran to every amethyst she could find, making sure they where standing straight and not doing anything that wasn't their job. "Where is blue diamond?", lapis wispered to pearl, "she has gone into the zoo undercover to see Steven and greg", pearl explained.

Chapter 29 gareg, stayvaan and laysuh

Steven looked at his surroundings in shock, this was it, the human zoo. As he stood in the fake water that took him here, three people caught his attention. It was his father, sitting by the fake water with two other people who where braiding his hair, all of them where wearing the exact same clothes Steven was also wearing.

"DAD!", Steven yelled, running to his father to hug him, "Steven!? She put you in here too!?", Greg exclaimed, running to his son and hugging him tightly. "Yeah! But I don't know why!? Is she trying to hide us!?", Steven asked his father, he felt so hurt that his mother was treating him, the son of a diamond in such a way.

"Gareg! Is this your friend!", one of the humans who was with Greg said, this human was a tall, dark skinned man with brown hair and the other one was a pale woman with blond hair and green eyes. "Wy-6, this is my son Steven!", Greg replied, Greg had already found friends in the zoo and had become a known name across all the other humans here. "Greetings stayvaan!", wy-6 said, "Hello there stayvaan! I am jay-10", the blond human also said.

As they where speaking, another person shot out the water, this time a woman. "Did mum bring another person here!?", Steven said, looking back at the person, "wait a minute...", Greg said, looking closer and realising how familiar that person looked as they got up, "blue-blue!? What are you doing here!?", Greg gasped and ran to see her.

"Hey Greg!", blue said, in her human disguise, "they took my shorts", she huffed. "You're also here?", Steven asked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh my! you also know this new girl?", wy-6 asked Steven. "Erm yeah...me and her are family", he replied, weirded out by how these humans acted and spoke, they sounded so fake and happy all the time. "Why did you put us in here!", Greg said to blue, he was mad but tried to keep calm. "Erm...", blue looked at the floor embarrassed, "ok...this is really stupid but I kinda got too scared to explain to the gems that you and steven are special", she studdered, trying to make eye contact with greg, "soo....I had a bit of a brain fart and just put you guys here and was planning to get you back when we're about to go home but then I felt bad right after so I came here in My disguise to save you!". Greg face palmed at this, he knew blue could be quite stupid but this was next level, "well at least you're here now", he mumbled under his breath.

Jay-10 and wy-6 quickly ran to blue to greet her and ask her name, Steven followed after them and looked at blue as they spoke to her, he was also very angry at her. "What is your name miss!", jay-10 asked blue diamond, this made her think for a while, going through all the fake human names she used over the years to find a good one. "I am.... Lisa hannigan!", blue proudly told them, Greg face palmed again and wispered "oh my god" to himself as Steven cringed. "Oh hello there laysuh welcome to our home!", wy-6 said.

Suddenly, while where all speaking, the matching pink earrings that everyone wore started to light up and a voice came from them. "Good morning everyone, you must be very hungry right now", the voice said, all the humans in the zoo quickly agreed with this and went to plants where purple fruits appeared. "What is this...", blue said, playing with her earrings. "You don't know? Don't you run this place!?", Steven questioned her as he ate the very fake looking fruit. "Gareg today the fruit is purple!" Wy-6 exclaimed to Greg, the people of the zoo really seemed to love him. "Honestly...I barely looked into this place, its my first time actually looking at the people here", blue whispered to steven.

"Laysuh! Here you go!", jay-10 said, suddenly appearing from behind Steven and giving blue one of the purple fruits, blue looked down at it and gave it to Steven when no one looked. As everyone ate the fruits the voice appeared again, "are you enjoying the fruit?", it asked, all the humans said they loved the food right after in unison, it creeped blue out. "What a strange place you made...pink" she whispered to herself, thinking back to all the memories she had of pink diamond talking about the zoo and people.

"Now it is time to play!" The voice said, all the humans started to roll down hills and laugh, Greg joined in but Steven and blue just looked at eachother. "Mum, get me out of here!", Steven complained, blue just looked at the humans and gulped, thinking about how weird this place this, "I'll try", she said to steven. "Come on you two, play along!", Greg said, coming up to see them after he saw they didn't follow him to "play". Blue reluctantly agreed and rolled down a hill, "maybe this isn't as bad as I thought", she said to Greg, Steven followed after, but he was having no fun at all.

Now everyone was laying on the floor after rolling around and the voice appeared and spoke to them again, "now raise your hands like you're going to touch outer space", all the humans once again obeyed and raised their arms to the ceiling, it was glass and revealed all the stars of space around the zoo. As everyone had their hands in the air Steven attempted to send a thought to blue, "Mum! Get us out now! You are a diamond! You can command the gems to save us!", but blue wasn't listening, she was just following the commands the earrings told her and had her hands in the air. "Mum please", Steven said out loud, shuffling towards blue, "I don't wanna wear these weird costumes anymore", he wispered to her. Blue looked down at him and sighed, putting her arms down, "I'll find a way soon OK? It's just, I want to see what this place is really like, this place....she made". "Pink diamond?", Steven asked, blue, ignored this and just turned around and went to speak with wy-6 about something.

"Now it's time to smell the flowers", the voice commanded (albeit still in a friendly soft voice), blue and Greg had their long hair braided by the humans during this. "Isn't this so fun stayvaan?", jay-10 asked Steven, he just rolled his eyes and said, what if I don't want to smell the flowers?", this seemed to have shocked jay-10 as she thought for a second and asked "why wouldn't you!?", she put one of the flowers in his hair. Steven stormed off to blue and Greg and knocked the flower off his hair, blue grabbed it and put it in her's. "Steven, come on, we will get out here soon", Greg said, trying to cheer up his son. "It better be soon, I can't take this crazy place anymore", steven said under his breath.

"Now it is time to take a relaxing bath", after all the "fun" it was cleaning time for the people of the zoo. Everyone flocked to an oasis and bathed or played in it. "Watch My splash gareg!", jay-10 said, jumping from a small hill and into the water, the splash was very small and barely made a sound. "You wanna see a real splash? Watch this! CANNONBALL!", Greg yelled as he dived into the water, making all the humans laugh, blue quickly copied him and did a much more dramatic dive, this time Steven actually joined in and jumped into the water to play with his family, using some of his water powers to splash his dad. "It seems you're having some fun now, right schtu-ball?", Greg joked to steven. "Laysuh, gareg! Your splash was amazing!", wy-6 said, as the other humans congratulated them on their splashes.

The sun in the sky was now covered by a dark sheet to represent night on earth and the entire zoo went dark, "it is now time for bed everyone" the voice said and everyone got out the pool and went to sleep. Greg sat on a Bush and quickly fell asleep with everyone else but blue and steven stayed awake. "Now is our chance to get out!", Steven said, pulling his dad awake and making him and blue look for any door. In less than a minute they easily found a pink door badly hidden by some fake plants. "mum how do you open this", Steven asked her, "there's no lock on this side, only on the other side it can be opened", she said, moving some of the plants covering it to look for a lock. "Then I guess I've got no choice!", Steven said, taking a running start and slamming on the door as hard as he could, the slamming was very loud and echoed throughout the entire zoo.

"Gareg!", wy-6 said, suddenly appearing from a Bush, "stayvaan!", jay-10 said, also appearing from a Bush, "and laysuh you're here!" They both said. Greg, Steven and blue looked back embarrassed and in fear that they got caught. "So you three where the ones making all that noise!", wy-6 said, the tones of their voices were so happy and friendly sounding all the time it sounded fake, it felt unsettling almost. "What are you three doing?" Jay-10 asked, "is it a game? If so can we play". "No we are trying to open this door!", Steven told them.

"What is....a door?" Jay-10 asked completely clueless, blue nearly yelled "what!?" Out loud but stopped herself in time. "It's like...a wall that opens!" Steven said, trying his best to explain something he never knew would even need to be explained. "Walls don't open!", wy-6 joked but jay-10 quickly responded, "I do remember hearing a story about a opening wall once!", this quickly got everyone's attention. "I remember hearing that a very long time ago a gem came through a wall to help someone who was......hurt".

"Hurt? What is this hurt?" Wy-6 asked, "I don't know", jay-10 replied, blue and Greg looked at eachother in shock, blue was shocked pink diamond was able to make such a place and Greg was shocked blue diamond was able to allow such a thing to exist and be so stupid about it! "I know what hurt is!", Steven suddenly proclaimed, jay-10 and wy-6 looked at him, fascinated. "Hurt is...like the opposite of good, its a bad feeling, like you're upset", but Steven's explanation didn't work, they where still completely clueless about any of these "bad" feelings.

"Everyone it is time for the choosening", the voice suddenly said, Jay-10 and wy-6 quickly became very exited and changed the subject. "Gareg! laysuh! The choosening is about to happen!" They proclaimed, taking ahold of Greg's hans and guiding him through the fake bushes as Steven followed after them. They lead him to a circle where everyone was standing around, Steven wasn't allowed to stand with everyone, only to watch outside. "The choosening Is a very special occasion we are so glad you are here", wy-6 told Greg as he stood next to him.

Somehow, without anyone noticing blue diamond didnt go to the circle Steven noticed this and was able to spot her through the bushes, he watched her, closely. She was going back to the walls and constantly looking around making sure no one had followed after her. She stood by one of the walls then a door opened, revealing pearl! Steven was about to run after and follow her but the door closed right after in an instant.

Chapter 30 face to face with yellow diamond

Blue diamond had now mysteriously disappeared and Greg was now stuck with all these people during some sort of ritual with Steven watching on the outside. now it was time for this "choosening". The voice in the earrings said then called the names of 2 humans to step in the circle and when they both stepped in they started to kiss and hold hands, now it became obvious to Greg and steven was this thing was. "IS THIS SOME KINDA MATCHMAKING THING!?", Greg exclaimed, steven just watched on in horror fearing his father may be next.

"Jay-10 please step into the center of the circle", the voice commanded, before walking into the circle she looked back to greg and said, "who ever is choosened to be with you will be very special, gareg!". Greg looked back to his son, terrified, "steven help me", he wispered, but Steven was powerless they could only hope he won't be chosen. "Gareg please step into the center of the circle", their hopes where sadly useless.

The humans clapped and congratulated Greg as he was chosen but he stayed still he didnt walk into the circle. "gareg! Jay-10 is waiting for you!", wy-6 said, pushing Greg towards her, Steven knew that if his mother was here she'd be literally foaming at the mouth and fighting people for Greg so maybe it's a good thing she ran away at this time. As greg was pushed further and further to jay-10 by wy-6 he yelled, "HOLD ON! This isn't how we do this!", silencing everyone who was cheering for him just moments ago.

"Back on earth we 'choosened' who ever we wanted! We fell in love on our own!" Greg attempted to explain to the humans, Steven joined in, "my parents weren't told by a voice to choosen eachother they did it by themselves!", he said. The humans all whispered among eachother, taking in what they have been told, greg took a deep breath, "good now can i-", "well them....I CHOOSE GAREG!" Wy-6 proclaimed, grabbing Greg's hand, soon after every other human ran to Greg proclaiming that they have choosened him. "NOOOOO! STOP! I CHOOSEN NONE OF YOU", Greg screamed, the humans all froze then, started to cry, some falling to the floor, some tearing their clothes in anguish and most running away. "Wait, don't cry", Greg said, trying to stop literally every other human besides himself and his son hysterically crying and throwing themselves around. Steven pulled him away, "dad what do we do", he said, looking up to his dad scared as everyone around them shrieked and rolled around on the floor. "Is this hurt???", wy-6 said, tears and snow all over his face, "Gareg has hurt us!????", "Why has gareg hurt us???", jay-10 cried, "Take this hurt away!!!" The humans sobbed and reached their hands up to space.

The doors suddenly opened and many amethyst guards ran into the zoo, trying their best to calm the crying humans down, "let's get out of here!", Steven yelled, pointing his dad to the now open door and running to it as fast as they could. "Where do you two think you're going!", an amethyst guard yelled, picking them both up and taking them away. They where taken to a room filled with all sorts of other amethysts and similar looking red and orange skinned gems, in the middle stood the amethyst Steven knew, she looked scared. "Steven! Greg!, these new amethysts they are....they are", she studdered as they all laughed. "THEY'RE ALL SO GREAT!" She yelled, laughing at how she scared Steven and Greg. "These guys are just like me! Blue was right!". Amethyst ran to steven and greg hugging them "And what are you guys wearing!?", she laughed, poking their zoo clothes.

But their reunion was cut short as the door behind them opened revealing holly blue agate. "WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING! GET TO WORK!" She shrieked, pulling the amethysts around and pushing all sitting gems too the ground, "NOT ONLY IS BLUE DIAMOND HERE, BUT YELLOW IS! AND YOU ACT LIKE THIS!? GET TO WORK NOW!, all the Amethysts stood up and quickly ran out, saluting her, Steven and greg followed after, hiding amongst them, "get out of here now, just go through that door!", Amethyst told them, pushing them to a random door that lead to a very pink corridor.

As they opened the door they where met by a large pink room with pillows on the floor, and large pillars. the door closed as soon as they stepped in and steven wasn't able to open it anymore, they were locked in. In this room where many bubbles, with gems in them, pink gems, Steven looked up wondering what they where. "Are those gems in there?", Greg asked his son, "it seems so", Steven replied. Their conversation was suddenly cut short as Steven randomly burst into tears and fell to the floor this also triggered his powers and made Greg start to cry too.

"Schu-ball what's happening!?", Greg said, helping his son up, "These tears they must be....mum's!? She must be here!", he yelled, but Greg quickly covered his mouth and hid them both behind a pillar. Another giant door on the other side of the room opened, revealing blue diamond, she was back in her original size and was covering her eyes with her hood, pearl was also there and closed the door after she came in with blue. Blue diamond knelt down and took of her hood, looking up as tears ran down her eyes. "This must be pink diamond's room", Greg wispered as he watched blue crying, Steven tried to turn away, he couldn't bare seeing his mother in such a awful state, but Greg made him keep looking, he kept him in place behind that pillar.

Then the door opened again, revealing an equally as giant woman, standing with her arms crossed and looking annoyed, it was yellow diamond. "Please tell me you're joking", she sighed as she rolled her eyes. Blue flinched seeing yellow and quickly wiped away her tears, "yellow!?...what are you doing here", she squeaked, "I'm here to bring you back to reality blue", yellow said, walking around blue to face her. "I honestly thought you where getting better, last call I saw genuine improvement but what is this!?", she complained, blue just looked away, she didn't want to deal with this right now. Along with yellow diamond, her pearl also came with them, her pearl was dressed very similar to blue's pearl, just with high socks and large flowing fabric on her shoulders. Yellow's pearl, smirked at blue's pearl and she just looked away, similar to how their diamonds where acting. "So this is how mum's sisters treat her!?" Steven wispered to his father but Greg just hushed him.

"You said you where working but you're here at this stupid zoo, looking at these things of the past that should he destroyed", yellow said, moving around some of the bubbles with her hands. "What's next you're telling me you've been to earth? you're not that pathetic right? but then again you keep these things in bubbles", yellow said under her breath, this angered blue as she stood up and was now face to face with yellow. "They where HER gems yellow! This zoo! Her planet! All HER'S!", blue yelled, fighting back tears. Yellow just laughed, she laughed in blue's face and blue wasn't having it. "Oh my stars blue! you're such a fool sometimes, she was shattered by a rose quartz yet you keep the rose quartz gems alive in bubbles!", yellow laughed as she grabbed one of the gems in the bubbles and casually crushed it with her hands without a second thought, blue just looked down in horror, "but they where hers....", she wispered, looking at the shards in yellow's hand.

Both steven and Greg had to stop eachother from yelling or gasping at what they just saw, yellow diamond just shattered a gem right in front of blue, to prove a point too! "Now shouldn't we do this to the rest?", yellow asked blue, wrapping her arms around her and stroking her hair, "NO!", blue yelled, smacking yellow's arms off her. "WHY DO YOU THINK JUST DESTROYING EVERYTHING WILL MAKE IT BETTER!?", the pearls both flinched and looked at eachother, they haven't seen blue like this in a while, well yellow's pearl hasn't. "YES PINK IS DEAD BUT MAKING IT OUT LIKE SHE NEVER EXISTED JUST MAKES IT WORSE!". Yellow sighed again, "I guess you'll never learn", she said under her breath, "what?", blue asked, sounding furious, her eyes wide and making her look unhinged.

"Earth will be gone soon, thanks to my cluster, this zoo and those gems will be gone soon as well", yellow said before leaving, her pearl followed after too. Blue just broke down crying again, covering her face and rolling into a ball onto the floor. "Mum?", Steven asked, scaring blue, who looked back at him shocked. "Steven!? How did you get out!? I was going to get you two I just had to go here for a while....for the memories", she said, picking up Greg and steven and hiding them in her hair loop. "Let's get out of here", Greg said, smiling up at blue.

The giant door opened once again, this time revealing holly blue and a very annoyed lapis lazuli. "My 2 great diamonds! It is great to see you- oh I mean my 1 great diamond!...Only you blue are my diamond....", Holly blue studdered, shocked yellow wasn't there and sad she couldn't use her planned greetings she made just for this occasion. "You just missed her", blue said, her voice still sounding quite sad, "we will be going now, lapis will be going in my ship again, thank you for the tour", blue returned to her commanding voice, walking out to see lapis and wave to the amethysts who where thanking her for bringing over a new member of the family.

Blue took Steven and greg out her hair and let them walk alongside her as holly blue walked them back, going on one of her dramatic long monologues about how much she loves blue diamond. "How did you handle her alone?", pearl quietly asked lapis, "barely!", lapis said, laughing loudly enough to get the agate's attention, "what are you saying pearl?", she said, turning to look at the pearl. "She said nothing", blue snapped, this quickly made holly stop looking at her and go completely silent.

Now they where right in front of the ship, about to leave, the amethysts all stood behind holly blue and waved them off, the amethyst Steven and blue met on earth came up to them and thanked them, much to holly blue's, annoyance. "Thank you so much blue- or my diamond!" She said, blue smiled and gifted amethyst a diamond-line, "use this if you need me, just connect the two blue sides to call me", she said, as all the Amethysts cheered. Holly blue looked at this in horror, "my diamond!? How do you think such a disgusting chunk of earth could operate such a thing!" She yelled. Blue just glared at her, she was mad and all the Amethysts knew it, they laughed at Holly and made her blush and yell at them.

To make holly blue's day worse, she also saw that two humans where getting on her diamond's ship. "MY DIAMOND LOOK BEHIND YOU!", she screeched, "THERE'S TWO ESCAPED HUMANS AND THEYRE GETTING ON YOUR SHIP", holly blue summoned her weapon, an electric whip and attempted to grab steven and greg with it but was quickly stopped by blue grabbing the whip. "They're coming with me!", blue said, breaking the whip and making holly blue fall to the floor, embarrassed and shocked. "and I was also at the zoo, does this make me escaped too?", she joked, revealing she was still wearing the zoo clothes under her robes. Blue jumped into the ship and waved off the amethysts as they all laughed and mocked holly blue, who lay there in shock, "bye bye agate!" Blue said, taking off her earrings from the zoo and throwing them right into holly blue's face .

"So let's go back home! I hope Connie hasn't missed us!", blue said, stretching and getting ready to control the ship. Steven stood by his mother and stroked her long white hair, "mum? Is yellow diamond always like that?", he asked, blue looked back to him, his question had taken away her happy tone so suddenly, "you shouldn't have seen that, I'll tell you it all when we get home, this time I won't be too emotional", she said, she could see how much yellow had scared him, she felt awful.

"Thank the stars that's over!" Lapis said, recovering from the nightmare that was holly blue, "she's always like that, I don't understand how My diamond does it!", pearl joked, they both stood by the windows and waved off the zoo, "well they do call blue merciful for a reason!", lapis laughed, all throughout their journey home lapis and pearl spoke to eachother none stop, they joked about their time with blue and how they where much more in common than they thought, all of Pearl's suspicions about lapis had disappeared in an instant.